By: Aminata Sesay
The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), through its Regional Hub in Dakar, has successfully concluded a week-long technical appraisal mission in Freetown, marking a major milestone for the proposed Grafton Water and Sanitation Project a critical component of the broader Freetown WASH & Aquatic Environment Revamping Project (WASHAERP) in Sierra Leone’s Western Area.
Held from September 8th to 12th, 2025, the mission was the second of its kind in under three months and aimed to conduct a comprehensive technical review of the Grafton Water Supply and Sanitation initiative.
The mission focused on reviewing the technical scope, cost estimates, and design features of the project. It also validated the proposed project structure, implementation arrangements, and procurement strategies, ensuring alignment with both national priorities and IsDB standards.
During the appraisal, the IsDB team held high-level consultations with stakeholders, including representatives from the Ministries of Finance, Water Resources and Sanitation, the Guma Valley Water Company, Freetown City Council (FCC), Western Area Rural District Council (WARDC), and both local and international WASH-sector NGOs.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Dr. Sao Kpato Hannah Isata Macarthy, warmly received the IsDB delegation and reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to achieving water security for all Sierra Leoneans. She emphasized the Government’s ongoing efforts to attract strategic investments in water infrastructure, safeguard vulnerable water systems, mitigate water-related risks and hazards, expand equitable access to essential water and sanitation services, and implement integrated, sustainable water resource management.
The appraisal also included field inspections at several key sites, including Kongo Dam and Babadorie Reservoir in Regent, the Allen Town Treatment Plant (under rehabilitation and expansion), and the proposed WASH project sites in Makaiba (Grafton) and the Grafton Camp for War-Displaced Persons.
Led by Eddie-Omar Davis, the IsDB delegation met with local residents and stakeholders, assuring them that the upcoming interventions would greatly improve access to clean water and sanitation across Grafton and surrounding communities.
At Makaiba, the Managing Director of Guma Valley Water Company, Ing. Maada S. Kpenge, emphasized the Government’s commitment to treating all Project Affected Persons (PAPs) fairly and transparently, in accordance with both national regulations and international best practices on resettlement and compensation.
Key outcomes of the mission included validation of the results framework, greement on procurement packaging, confirmation of compliance with land acquisition laws, the Resettlement Action Plan (RAP), and the Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP).
The IsDB team expressed strong satisfaction with the quality of documentation and insights from the field inspections. The final technical appraisal report is expected to be submitted to the IsDB Board of Executive Directors in November 2025.
Once approved, the Grafton Water and Sanitation Project will move into the implementation phase bringing substantial improvements to water supply and sanitation infrastructure in the Western Area and directly benefiting thousands of residents.
This initiative represents a critical step forward in advancing Sierra Leone’s national development goals in the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sector and promoting long-term community resilience and public health.