The third coordination meeting of the activities of the WASH secretariat was held from December 12 to 14, 2016 in Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire) at the initiative of the USAID WA-WASH Office. This biannual meeting brought together organizations and bodies of the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene sector enjoying the financial support of USAID in West Africa. These include the African Water Association, the Population Service International, the National Office for Drinking Water and the National Office for Sanitation and Drainage. Through this secretariat, USAID WA WASH intends to be a focal point to facilitate communication, experience sharing and the efficient organization of WASH activities in the West African sub-region.

The speakers shared with the members of the coordination secretariat their various activities relating to improving the water quality, strengthening the capacity of water quality control laboratories and the auditors responsible for carrying out these control operations. This mission is carried out by the Programs Department of the African Water Association through the AfriCap program. The representative of the Regional Office of PSI presented the field of intervention of his organization in the West African countries. These activities mainly focus on providing sanitation services to underprivileged populations.

On the second day of the meeting, the discussions focused on Côte d’Ivoire, the host country of this meeting, in order to highlight and share the water and sanitation situation and the prospects for these two sectors. A presentation was made by the representatives of ONEP and ONAD. The results of a study carried out by an international consultant on the opportunities for public-private partnerships in Côte d'Ivoire and Benin, were presented during this coordination meeting. It should be noted that the next meeting of the secretariat will be held in mid-February 2017 in Accra, Ghana.