On May 10, 2023, the Mayor of Bohicon officially launched an important initiative to promote transparency and fairness in water, hygiene, and sanitation (WASH) services. Supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through its Municipal Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (MuniWASH) project, this evaluation aims to improve the quality of WASH services in the commune of Bohicon. Working in collaboration with the Cadre de Concertation des Acteurs Non Etatiques des Secteurs de L'eau et de L'assainissement (CANEA) - a group of non-state actors in the water and sanitation sectors this initiative seeks to enhance accountability and ensure better service delivery for the community.

The launch event emphasized the critical role of stakeholders, including local civil society organizations (CSOs), water and sanitation service providers, and technical directors from the municipal administration, in promoting accountability and transparency. The event introduced the concept of citizen evaluation and social audit, highlighting the need to evaluate performance, increase transparency in resource management, and hold providers responsible for the quality of their services.

To facilitate the process, the MuniWASH project and the municipality have established a dedicated three-person study team consisting of individuals from CSOs and the municipal administration. This team will conduct a comprehensive assessment of the WASH sector in the commune, engage relevant actors, and facilitate the evaluation and audit. The social audit initiative has fostered open and transparent discussions among participants eager to contribute their perspectives.

Mayor Rufino d'Almeida expressed his strong commitment to the initiative, stating, "The municipal council and myself welcome the analysis of CSOs regarding water and sanitation services in our commune."

Representing civil society, Michel KLOTOE from the Cellule de Participation Citoyenne expressed gratitude for USAID’s support, stating, "We thank USAID for its support to this initiative, which I am convinced will improve the quality of water, sanitation, and hygiene services in the commune of Bohicon."Rachel ARAYE, representing CANEA, commended the Mayor's commitment and the presence of high-level officials from the municipal administration, highlighting  their interest in the social audit activity of WASH services.

MuniWASH aims to strengthen collaboration between municipal authorities and CSOs to assess and improve water and sanitation services. By employing citizen evaluations and social audits, the project aims to ensure fair, transparent, and responsive service provision, with a particular focus on vulnerable and underserved populations. Moving forward, the evaluation and social audit process will involve meetings with service providers, citizen evaluations that engage the community, physical audits of infrastructure, and direct interactions between service beneficiaries and providers.

With the support of civil society organizations, social audits of WASH services can be powerful tools for empowering communities to assess the performance of local governments and promote transparency in the management of public resources. These collaborative techniques enable the evaluation of specific aspects of service provision, ultimately driving positive change in the water, hygiene, and sanitation sector.

About MuniWASH

MuniWASH works with municipal governments, national agencies, water and sanitation service providers and civil society organizations to improve and expand water and sanitation services in West Africa. The project focuses on four service areas: financial sustainability and investment, operational reliability, governance and municipal management, and learning and knowledge sharing. In Benin, MuniWASH is implemented in eight municipalities: Abomey-Calavi, Ouidah, Allada, Cotonou, Avrankou, Bohicon, Aplahoué and So-Ava. The MuniWASH Activity is implemented by Tetra Tech in Benin and Côte d'Ivoire in collaboration with its learning partner, the African Water and Sanitation Association (AfWASA).

Initial target countries: Côte d'Ivoire and Benin.

Contacts: Jules, Hountondji, Contracting Office Representative, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Safaa Fakorede, Chief of Party, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Keywords: USAID, MuniWASH, Social Audit, Water, Hygiene, Sanitation, Bohicon, Benin

Author: Marcel ADJAMAIDOTOME

Copyright: USAID MuniWASH, May 2023.

Note: This news article is a summary of the launch event for the citizen evaluation and social audit of WASH services in Bohicon. It highlights the objectives, stakeholders involved, and the significance of this initiative in promoting transparency and equity in service delivery.