InfraWASH Project Year 3 Quarterly Report 1 (October - December 2021)

The projects are pivotal to USAID/Liberia's Water and Development Country Plan to leverage the WASH sector to improve the Health Status of Liberians. The plan addresses two of four strategic objectives, increasing equitable access to environmentally friendly and sustainable water and sanitation services, and promoting hygiene behavior change at scale. According to the USAID Water and Development Country Plan for Liberia and the World Bank's Government Constraints to Service Delivery, WASH Overview, a considerable constraint to WASH improvements is the lack of synchrony across ministries, stakeholders, and rural communities. Liberia underfunds water and sanitation interventions, with the government only using 0.34 percent of the overall budget, and community members choosing cheaper, unsanitary alternatives. Domestic investment is crucial for the long-term success of this and other WASH projects. The Liberia Network Expansion, WASH Oversight, and Utility Management Support projects, funded by USAID, facilitate private operator's financial and sustainable management of water supply services in the cities of Voinjama, Sanniquellie, and Robertsport under the overall contract and authority of the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation (LWSC). The projects support the construction of water distribution system expansion in the cities of Voinjama and Sanniquellie, and WASH infrastructure in select health facilities located in 24 sites in Lofa, Bong, and Nimba counties. USAID/Liberia has been implementing for the last two years the water Capital Improvement Project (CIP) with oversight from the Liberia Municipal Water Project II (LMWP II). Although major components of the water supply systems are included in the CIP, the anticipated service level only provides water supply to the inhabitants through kiosks located in different parts of the city. Therefore, it has become necessary to refine the management support and continue the densification of the distribution network, including installing tertiary pipe networks, private individual households' connections, and business connections. The 24 health facilities prioritized for construction of WASH infrastructure include boreholes, solar-powered pumping systems, toilets, hand-washing facilities, septic tanks, and waste management facilities (drainage channels, manholes, incinerators, and placenta pits). Tetra Tech is implementing the Liberia Network Expansion, WASH Oversight, and Utility Management Support projects under USAID Contract No. AID-OAA-I-15-00052 / 72066920F00002. The report summarizes the activities for the private operator support, water pipe expansion project in Sanniquellie & Voinjama, as well as the WASH upgrades in 24 selected health facilities completed by the Construction Contractor (B360) from October 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021. The objective of this Task Order is to fully realize the highest results possible from the envisaged WASH infrastructure projects implemented by USAID Liberia. By providing direct services and supporting other USAID partners during the construction phase of infrastructure projects, the activity aims to foster higher quality construction work than would be realized without the services, oversight, and quality management provided through the Task Order. The Task Order aims to ensure that USAID's implemented infrastructure results, both network expansion and WASH upgrades in health facilities, are safe, functional, and long-lasting and generate the desired development outcomes. The report highlights the challenges faced during the quarter, including COVID-19 status in Liberia, procurement of materials, water network construction, health facilities construction, and utility management support. The report also provides lessons learned and recommendations for future improvements. The financial status report for the quarter shows a total expenditure of $X, with a balance of $Y remaining in the budget. The progress indicators for the quarter include the completion of WASH upgrades in 24 health facilities, the expansion of the water distribution system in Sanniquellie and Voinjama, and the provision of quality assurance services to USAID. The report concludes with a summary of the deliverables for the quarter, including the completion of the WASH upgrades in health facilities and the expansion of the water distribution system. The report highlights the importance of domestic investment in the long-term success of WASH projects and the need for synchrony across ministries, stakeholders, and rural communities. The report also emphasizes the need for higher quality construction work and the importance of providing direct services and support to USAID partners during the construction phase of infrastructure projects.