USAID engages counties to boost sanitation, menstrual hygiene

USAID Kenya Western Sanitation Project has organised a workshop to strengthen and initiate dialogue between counties and the private sector to enhance access to improved sanitation and menstrual hygiene.

The two-day workshop at Ciala Resort is on Private Sector Engagement in Sanitation and Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM).

The workshop's theme is catalysing private sector participation and investment in sanitation and menstrual hygiene market space within the target counties.

Its objective includes understanding the entrepreneurs’ perceived barriers and risks in engaging in sanitation and MHM businesses.

They also aim to build stronger partnerships between USAID WKSP, the private sector and county governments towards improved managed sanitation and menstrual hygiene management.

Participants in the workshop include the counties of Busia, Bungoma, Homa Bay, Kakamega, Kisii, Kisumu, Migori and Siaya, the Lake Region Economic Bloc and the United States Agency for International Development.

Others are Kenya National Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the Kenya Private Sector Alliance, Kenya Association of Manufacturers, the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis and entrepreneurs in sanitation and menstrual hygiene. 

Paul Orengoh chief party USAID WKSP said the workshop will provide a dialogue platform for delegates drawn from the different sectors across the counties.

This includes donors who will lay the foundation for structured engagement to establish and build stronger partnerships towards improved managed sanitation and menstrual hygiene. 

Orengoh said the workshop also aims at supporting improved coordination of stakeholders to strengthen the policy and regulatory environments while increasing the capacity of county governments to effect lasting change in sanitation and menstrual hygiene management.

"With the dire situation facing us comes a need for collective responsibility. The situation at hand calls for the application of the principle of collective responsibility in transforming sanitation and menstrual hygiene management in the region," Orengoh said.

In this workshop, Orengoh noted that they  have an opportunity to develop intentional collaborations among key stakeholders to tackle fundamental challenges affecting sanitation and menstrual hygiene in the region.

He said effective partnerships provide an opportunity to develop innovative solutions to sanitation and menstrual hygiene challenges.

"Improving sanitation and menstrual hygiene status in Western Kenya is, therefore, a multistage agenda that calls for individuals, organisations, partnerships to front for sustainable strategies to marshal the necessary resources, skills, ideas and even platforms," he said.

"Take up the call for collective responsibility and impute co-creation and co-engagement with the intent of tapping a hybrid of ideas and tested actions that transcend beyond showcasing expertise to advance sanitation and menstrual hygiene agenda."

The USAID WKSP is a five-year activity being implemented in Busia, Bungoma, Homa Bay, Kakamega, Kisii, Kisumu, Migori, and Siaya counties.

The overall goal of the project is to create a financially sustainable, transformative, replicable and locally owned sanitation marketplace in the target counties of Western Kenya. 

The objectives to achieve this goal are increased access to and uptake of market-based improved sanitation and fecal sludge management (FSM) products and services.

Other objectives include increased access to and uptake of market-based improved MHM products and services at the household level.