USAID|Nigeria Effective Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Services (E-WASH) Year 1 3rd Quarter Report May 24, 2018–June 30, 2018

The project is part of the United States Government's efforts to address gaps in urban water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services in Nigeria. Implemented by RTI International, E-WASH works toward achieving four mutually reinforcing objectives: creating professionally managed and commercially oriented SWBs, improving the financial and operational viability of SWBs, strengthening policy, institutional, and regulatory frameworks for improved WASH services, and building national and state WASH advocacy, coordination, and communications for reform. These efforts align with Strategic Objective 1 of the USAID Water and Development Strategy 2013/2018, Improve health outcomes through the provision of sustainable WASH, as well as with the USAID/Nigeria Country Development Cooperation Strategy Development Objective 3, Strengthened good governance, intermediate result (IR) 3.2, Improved responsiveness of selected government institutions, and IR 3.3, Increased capacity for civic advocacy, monitoring, and engagement. The majority of start-up activities in the first month of the project focused on securing operational resources and structures required for project implementation in Nigeria. Key accomplishments included completing all key mobilization plan milestones necessary for operation during this period, identifying office space, and procuring equipment and internationally approved contract items, with the exception of vehicles and a generator. All key personnel, including the Deputy Chief of Party, have confirmed mobilization in accordance with the mobilization plan, with the exception of the Chief of Party. Work planning will commence in Nigeria the first week of July. The primary focus in this first month of implementation was on operational start-up activities, including recruitment and onboarding for key technical staff to enable a rapid start-up of technical work. Specific technical implementation activities were limited to planning with E-WASH partners and work plan preparations. The project has not yet implemented any activities under Objective 1, Create Professionally Managed, Commercially Oriented SWBs. No substantial inputs to project activities were provided by staff, short-term technical assistance (STTA), or partners in this period. The project is expected to commence work planning in Nigeria in the first week of July. The E-WASH project is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and is part of the USAID/Nigeria Country Development Cooperation Strategy. The project aims to improve urban water service delivery in Nigeria by strengthening the governance, financial, and technical viability of six state water boards (SWBs). The project is implemented by RTI International and works toward achieving four mutually reinforcing objectives. The project's efforts align with Strategic Objective 1 of the USAID Water and Development Strategy 2013/2018 and the USAID/Nigeria Country Development Cooperation Strategy Development Objective 3. The project has completed all key mobilization plan milestones necessary for operation during this period, including identifying office space and procuring equipment and internationally approved contract items. The project's primary focus in this first month of implementation was on operational start-up activities, including recruitment and onboarding for key technical staff to enable a rapid start-up of technical work. The project is expected to commence work planning in Nigeria in the first week of July.