Self Help Africa (SHA) has convened key stakeholders in Kano State to develop strategies for strengthening food systems, improving agricultural value chains and creating sustainable employment through its agriculture and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programs.
The multi-stakeholder engagement, held on Thursday, brought together government officials, development partners, private-sector representatives, civil society organizations, and community leaders to review ongoing projects, assess implementation challenges, and identify practical measures to enhance food security and livelihoods across the state.
Speaking at the event, SHA Program Manager Hajara Mohammad said the organization is implementing several interventions to expand access to essential services, improve agricultural productivity, and equip young people with skills for gainful employment.
She listed the projects as including Optimizing the Benefits of Inline Chlorination in Nigeria (OPTIC), Dispenser for Sustainable Rural Water in Nigeria (DiSURWIN), Youth in Work (YiW), and WASH System for Health (WASH4Health).
According to her, the initiatives are designed to improve access to clean water and sanitation, strengthen food systems, enhance agricultural value chains and create sustainable economic opportunities for youths.
Mohammad reaffirmed SHA’s commitment to working closely with governments and development partners to deliver lasting impact in communities across Kano State.
Also speaking, the Kano State Program Coordinator of WASH4Health, Aminu Idris, said the engagement would strengthen efforts to expand access to safe drinking water and sanitation facilities across the state.
He noted that closer collaboration among stakeholders would improve coordination, accelerate implementation and ensure the success of the various interventions.
“The success of these interventions depends largely on the active participation and commitment of all stakeholders. Through stronger partnerships, we can improve public health, food security and economic opportunities for our people,” Idris said.
Participants reviewed the progress recorded under the various projects, highlighting key achievements, implementation challenges, mitigation strategies and sustainability plans.
The meeting also examined safeguarding policies, reporting mechanisms and measures to protect vulnerable groups during project implementation.
Earlier, the Desk Officer for WASH4Health at the Kano State Ministry of Water Resources, Mustapha Hassan, urged beneficiary communities and relevant institutions to take ownership of facilities provided under the projects.
He stressed that proper maintenance of water and sanitation infrastructure was essential to ensuring their long-term sustainability and uninterrupted service delivery.
At the end of the engagement, stakeholders pledged to support initiatives to strengthen food systems, enhance agricultural value chains, expand access to clean water and sanitation, and create sustainable employment opportunities across Kano State.
The meeting also featured documentary presentations showcasing the impact of the WASH and Youth in Work programs in beneficiary communities.
Participants called for stronger collaboration among government agencies, development partners, the private sector and local communities to deepen agricultural development, improve rural water and sanitation services, and expand job opportunities, particularly for women and young people.
SOURCE: NAN
