Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Dr. Sao-Kpato Hannah Isatta Macarthy, is set to represent Sierra Leone at a high-level session of World Water Week 2026 in Stockholm, Sweden, taking place from August 23 to 27.
Dr. Macarthy will participate in a session titled “Catalyzing Action: Strengthening Monitoring of SDG 6 Means of Implementation,” which will bring together representatives of national governments, development partners, UN agencies and water-sector practitioners.
The session will focus on how stronger monitoring of financing, governance, institutions, capacity and data can help countries accelerate progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6), which seeks to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
Discussions will build on the 2025 financing for Development process and the 2026 High-Level Preparatory Meeting in Dakar, where participants underscored the need to improve monitoring of the factors that enable countries to deliver on their SDG 6 commitments.
Financial flows will be a key area of discussion, alongside institutional leadership, governance, capacity development and national data systems. The session will also draw on data and tools developed by organizations including the World Health Organization (WHO), Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the World Bank.
Dr. Macarthy will provide a country perspective from Sierra Leone, highlighting practical challenges and opportunities in strengthening national systems for monitoring progress on water and sanitation.
According to the Minister, improved monitoring can help countries identify systemic bottlenecks, strengthen investment readiness and accountability, and make better-informed policy and investment decisions.
Her participation is expected to place Sierra Leone’s water resources and sanitation priorities within the wider international dialogue on mobilizing resources and translating global commitments into tangible improvements for communities.
The session will further examine how countries can integrate monitoring of the Means of Implementation into national planning and sector-review processes. Discussions are expected to contribute to preparations for the 2026 UN Water Conference and the development of the post-2030 global monitoring framework.
Dr. Macarthy’s participation underscores Sierra Leone’s continued engagement in global efforts to strengthen water governance, mobilize investment and advance progress towards SDG 6.