Oxfam West Africa Blog

Yes Sanitation and Water for All !

By  Muyatwa Sitali, Advocacy Coordinator Essential Services, West Africa

As I write this blog, news coming from the second High Level Meeting on Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) is that most African leaders are united in their resolve to deal with the scandal of bad sanitation –hopefully once and for all. Liberian President, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf is said to have just  re-echoed that ‘Water is life and sanitation is dignity’. Other developed country representatives such as the US have just firmly announced that they are joining this great initiative and are encouraging others to do so asap. This can’t be more exciting and timely given the challenge facing the world discussed here. Well over 2.5 billion people have no proper place to call a toilet and the MDG on sanitation is only likely to be met in the next decade –possibly one of the few to be met well over the deadline. Even though the water target is on track, still over 600million people are not likely to have safe and clean water in 2015. The inequality haunting the sector is astounding but so has been the inertia and failure by both developing and developed countries to invest in the most critical areas. This initiative and commitments currently happening at the SWA High level meeting are therefore significant for at least three reasons.

Firstly, the commitment from countries that are off track (by their own country and international standards) are critical to ensure political will and commitment is marshalled and channelled in the right direction. A recent UN GLAAS report indicates that 83% and 70% of countries are reportedly falling significantly behind the trends required to meet their defined national access targets for sanitation and drinking-water, respectively. This national push and commitment therefore coming from leaders such as the Liberian President is much more than a political stance, it is a key ingredient in solving a national problem. In an earlier paper, challenges facing Liberia’s water sector including institutional overlaps, poor financing, inadequate human resources etc where highlighted and seeing this move by the government to heighten action to deal with sanitation and water is key. This is not only happening in Liberia but other West African countries too. While in Sierra Leone last week, I had a chance to meet with some of the Ministers that I believe are now at the SWA meeting and was glad to see them jointly thinking of how they will ensure that water and sanitation is a reality for all. Firm commitments where being made on both institutional reforms and financial support to ensure key infrastructure and services are delivered.

Secondly, it will be important that both domestic and external resources are channelled to the right sector and to the countries that need it most. The UN GLAAS report highlights that in a number of countries, funding for water services surpasses sanitation funding–this goes a long way to explain the haunting inequality between water and sanitation coverage. Both developing and developed countries should therefore redefine their priorities and ensure that while they maintain focus on upholding the success of the water target, resources to sanitation should receive a significant boost.

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Act 4 Africa – A Song for the last Famine in Africa

Three of Nigeria’s well known musicians–Lami Phillips, Sound Sultan and Africa’s finest 2Face have collaborated to put out  this single titled Act 4 Africa  to raise awareness on the importance of addressing Africa’s food security crisis. The trio have pooled together their talents, skills and influence to this song which they hope will serve as a call for action to end hunger and famine in Africa. This is part of  Oxfam’s  effort in the GROW campaign to mobilise Nigerian public particularly the youth to take action to end food crisis in Nigeria and in Africa.

Food prices and food crisis

By Brenda Bepeh and Robertetta Rose

Lafiabougou market in Bamako, capital city of Mali did not strike me like a market in West Africa where I come from, I am used to rowdy, noisy, crowded markets especially the ones you find in Lagos, Cotonou, Monrovia and Dakar just to mention a few. Would it be related to the looming food crisis in the sahelian region?

Bintu Removing chaff from her onions

A chat with Bintu, a Potatoes and onions seller confirmed my worst fears…, the effects of the low rainfall from last year has started to bite strongly leading to low crop yield and hike in food prices in Mali and other countries in the Sahel. Bintu a mother of 8 (eight) and a widow is not finding life easy.  “I now cook a kilo of rice for my family of 9 (Nine), it is difficult because I no longer practice the African extended family system which I was born into, my husband is no more and each wife now cares for her children”. She says

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Jamillah Mwanjisi

By Jamillah Mwanjisi- Campaign Manager Nigeria

 This week has been exceptionally good for me. After being in Nigeria for over a year, I have finally got my 15-minute of fame by ‘hanging out’ with Naija celebs! It may seem something small for some of you but for me (and my friends!) it’s a big deal! You see, it was their dream that they see me on Africa Magic—acting in one the Nigerian films well known all over Africa and beyond.
Well I did not appear in any of the movies (at least not yet!) but ‘hanged out’ with a number of them and since they are supporting me and my work, I call them my friends. My moment of fame was during a recent press conference to release a new song titled Act for Africa—a cool, hip hop number talking about food crisis in Africa.

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Understanding the Food Crisis in the Sahel region : A visit to Mali by Penny Lawrence

  Penny Lawrence, International Director at Oxfam GB, visited Mali to understand the food crisis in WAF, share learning from the Horn response and launch our appeal. In this video we meet some affected families, and look at some programme work which aims to prevent many from feeling the full force of the West African food crisis. See video of the visit.

A Glimpse into Liberia & Sierra Leone World Water Day Celebration

By Robertetta  Rose, Advocacy and Communications Coordinator Liberia WaSH Consortium

World Water Day like many other global celebrations, is the day we as developmental organizations create and facilitate the process for civil society to engage government on commitments and demand basic essential services.

Ma Massa of Slipway community displaying her placard before the petitioning ceremony at the Capitol building.

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En parler c’est bien, y croire et agir est encore mieux : le personnel d’Oxfam au Niger célèbre la Journée Internationale de la Femme

Par Ibrahim Weifane et Joumana, Oxfam au Niger

Cette année, les activités organisées par Oxfam au Niger visaient la sensibilisation spécifique des 80 employés, hommes et femmes, du bureau de Niamey. Des activités à caractère tantôt ludique, tantôt sérieux ont permis de réunir tout le monde dans un esprit festif et rassembleur. En effet, le but recherché cette année était de motiver chacun des membres de l’équipe à agir individuellement pour améliorer la condition des femmes dans la prochaine année ou à poursuivre dans la bonne voie. Pour y parvenir, une belle équipe de personnes d’Oxfam Niger s’est engagée à rédiger, à répéter et à présenter des petits sketchs rigolos sur différentes thématiques liés à l’intégration du genre dans notre travail, avec comme principe de base que nous devions inverser les rôles des hommes et des femmes pour illustrer différemment le propos. L’utilisation de ce médium avait pour objectif d’allumer une petite étincelle de conscience tout en demeurant dans la zone du divertissement. Aussi, au cours de la semaine précédente, nous avions demandé aux employés d’écrire sur une feuille blanche un mot descriptif qui, selon eux, illustrerait leur vision globale de la femme. Ces mots ont été rassemblés sous la forme de photos et se sont retrouvés dans un petit film simple mais vraiment inspirant. Parallèlement à la conception de ce petit vidéo, nous avions aussi demandé à quelques personnes de donner des exemples de petits gestes qu’ils avaient l’habitude de faire ou qu’ils voulaient intégrer dans leur routine dans le futur pour soutenir davantage les femmes. Ces témoignages ont quant à eux été regroupés sous la forme d’un pamphlet à distribuer.

Voici le lien pour le visionner :

Finalement, nous avons invité une femme inspirante de Niamey à venir se présenter et à raconter publiquement son histoire de vie et la manière dont elle est véritablement devenue une femme leader dans son milieu. Il faut savoir que cette dame a initié la création d’un centre de santé qui prend en charge les femmes vivant avec la fistule obstétricale. Son parcours est rempli d’obstacles qu’elle a su affronter et surmonter avec toute la détermination qui la caractérise ! Son témoignage a non seulement su inspirer mais elle a réussi à en impressionner plus d’un! Les résultats de ce travail ont été regroupés et présentés par un animateur gagné à la cause du genre qui a su lier tous les points de ce grand casse-tête créatif ! Une belle expérience que tout le monde a appréciée et qui s’est clôturée par un repas collectif.

Education, peace, food and water: A mosaic of tales from Niger – Part 2

By Muyatwa Sitali, Coordinator Essential Services

Refugee Camp

After the prayers, we return to the refugee camp. I am still contemplating on the reality of life and wondering just when mankind will stop thinking of conflict as a solution to anything. My mind flies back 9 years ago when I spent 3 weeks in a refugee settlement for my University research in Zambia. I stayed in a small cabin which had neither a light nor a window. My bed was made of logs and did not have a mattress. Nights were horrifyingly long and I yearned for daybreak. On day break, I would be overwhelmed by fatigue and was always too tired to go through the activities of the day. Night fall was another nightmare as I dreaded the loneliness of my dark, cold cabin. This was a cabin made of mud blocks and now it was going to appear like paradise when compared with the sight of the refugee camp before me.  It was as though I had spent all my time whining and complaining that I have no shoes and now in front of me is someone without feet.

Tents are scattered in the sands under the blistering heat of the uncompromising sahel sun. They have gathered just enough dust to begin to lose their original colour but generally still looking good. Sticks of scarce wood try to hold each tent together but some are clearly giving up. On any good day, the temperature can range from 35 centigrades to 39 and this is set to hit mid 40s in the coming months.  The nights become the complete opposite as sands do not return the heat and the cold of the night is as blistery as the heat of the day. The dust is perpetual as the Sahel is generally prone to periodic sand storms. It is as though the purpose of the tent is nothing more than showing each inhabitant where home is. The tents are nowhere near sufficient to shelter them from the blistery and dusty days or provide cover from the chilly and dusty nights.

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Education, peace, food and water: A mosaic of tales from Niger – Part 1

By Muyatwa Sitali, Advocacy Coordinator Essential Services

As I prepare to leave Niger later today, I reflect on the 10 days I have spent in this country full of wonderful people. Images of what I have seen and experienced fly through my mind. When I try to put all together, a mosaic is formed that is not easy to define or classify in a dual sense of good or bad. Like everywhere, the picture is always mixed but some things remain profound.

Children in rural class

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MALI: Western Sahel in Kayes Region Refuses to Give Up on Fight Against Food Insecurity

By Charles Bambara, Regional Media and Communication Coordinator 

One of the most important districts in Malian Western Sahel is Koussané, some 50 km from the Mauritanian border with a very diverse population including Soninke, Marka, and Fulani people. The consequences of last year bad  rain season are starting to show out: Wells in the surrounding  Villages are almost empty, tension between farmers and herders is growing because of insufficient water, and the only remaining activity, growing vegetables in gardens, still a real hope locally for everyone is about to stop, because once again of insufficient water. Charles Bambara has visited different communities in Koussané region at the end of February, here is his witness account.

“I have already seen nearly one thousand residents in my city obliged to move away hoping to get jobs in Mauritania, Senegal or around the mining city of Sadiola not far away, because of the grim future due to food insecurity” said Mamadou Abou Diabira, village chief of Koussané, 85 years old. With the lean season fast approaching water level in wells are already very low, and this is the main concern in the region  which use to rely on remittances send from France, USA, by children living abroad. And” because of financial crisis in Europe, some immigrants are sending as low as 20 Euros  to their families back home, instead of hundreds of Euros like years before”, said Diakite Musa a money transfer  shop owner in Kayes. And he added ”Immigrants now living in other African countries like Gabon and Congo are sending more money to their families than the ones living in Europe”.  

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