Senior Programs Officer for Safe Water at Conrad Hilton Foundation, Nabil Chemaly, on Monday 3 to Tuesday 4, October 2022 paid a working visit to the Asutifi North District.
The visit formed part of efforts of the Foundation to check on ongoing grants as well as meet grantees, partners and local authorities to learn and better understand the safe water model being implemented in the district.
Since the launch of ANAM in 2017, Hilton Foundation has been a major donor for projects under the Initiative.
Nabil, accompanied by officials from IRC, Netcentric Campaigns, World Vision, Aquaya and Safe Water Network after a meeting with the Management of the District Assembly visited some selected project sites in the district.
The team first visited the Ntotroso Information Centre where they engaged the operator on how his works contribute to getting WASH information disseminated through radio rebroadcasting, live community engagement, Network Building and further support in relaying complaints through the WASH Desk Office. This was followed by a visit to Ntotroso Resettlement Water Station where the facility management as well as Nananom of the area were engaged in their activities and challenges.
At Atwedie (Kenyasi 3), the team interacted with Nananom and some community members and visited World Vision’s Mechanized Solar Water station as well as WASH in School and Healthcare projects. Safe Water projects at Wamahinso and Kenyasi Beposo were also visited where officials from Safe Water Network were engaged in their modules of operation and status of implementation on the project. Consequently, the client’s unit office of the District Assembly was visited where the Customer Support Assistant of the WASH Desk Office was engaged.
Speaking to the ANAM WASH Desk after the site visit, Nabil said, “It is very encouraging. There is very high political will from the district administration. And there are very good results that we were able to see in just a short period of time. “Communities that we met with just clearly stated that the problems were addressed by the project. I’ve seen that we have exceptional and talented grantees and partners we are working with”, he added.
Speaking on what needs to be done to address problems that haven’t been addressed yet, Nabil said, “the biggest challenge now is to mobilize other donors to continue supporting...And also bring all the evidence here to other districts and national level so that there is a clear understanding of this approach and there is support and mainstreaming.”