Abidjan – The third High-Level Forum on Water and Sanitation for All is taking place from November 21 to 23, 2013, in Abidjan, organized by the Pan-African Inter-governmental Agency Water and Sanitation for Africa in cooperation with the Government of Côte d'Ivoire. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is an official forum sponsor.  The theme of this year’s forum is to promote vibrant and effective cooperation to accelerate access to hygiene, sanitation and water for all in Africa.

“Access to water and sanitation remains a major development issue in Africa,” said Bradley Wallach, USAID West Africa Deputy Mission Director. “For over a decade, USAID has worked with African governments and the private sector to improve populations' sustainable access to water and sanitation. This forum will allow leaders in this sector to assess current gaps and seek collaborative ways to provide sustainable services.” 

In addition to contributing $100,000 to sponsor the forum, USAID is supporting the participation of ten individuals, representatives of governments as well as non-governmental organizations, from Burkina Faso, Ghana and Niger.  As USAID’s water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) activities in West Africa target those three countries, the Agency will also hold side meetings with their ministers in charge of WASH issues.  At the forum, USAID representatives will give presentations on the Agency’s work in WASH, and will have an exhibition stand focused on these activities in West Africa.

The USAID WA-WASH Program, implemented by the Florida International University, is a four-year, $28-million project that contributes to meeting West Africa’s Millennium Development Goal of providing improved access to water and sanitation to 50 percent of the population. In addition, WA-WASH provides access to water for productive uses via multiple use systems and improves resilience to climate change in three target countries: Burkina Faso, Ghana and Niger.