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Local government

Jigawa State Embarks on Climate-Resilient Toilets Initiative with UNICEF

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The Jigawa State government, in collaboration with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), has commenced a three-day training program for selected Toilet Business Owners from across the 27 local government areas of the state. The program aims to guide participants on the objectives of the project, which includes promoting personal and environmental hygiene throughout the state. The state government, through the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), will collaborate with communities to identify vulnerable households and provide financial support to construct climate-resilient toilets. The initiative, dubbed the 'Sanitation Vulture' program, will first be implemented in two pilot local government areas before being scaled up to the remaining areas.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Jigawa State government, in collaboration with UNICEF, is supporting rural communities in adopting climate-resilient toilets to maintain the state's open defecation-free status.
  • The training program aims to guide participants on the project's objectives and promote personal and environmental hygiene throughout the state.
  • The 'Sanitation Vulture' initiative will provide financial support to vulnerable households to construct climate-resilient toilets in their homes.
  • The project will initially be implemented in two pilot local government areas before being scaled up to the remaining 25 areas by 2026.
  • Over 600 communities in the two pilot local government areas are targeted for the campaign and intervention.
  • The initiative aims to provide a model for other community members, particularly in rural areas, to adopt new techniques for toilet construction.
  • The program will help sustain the progress Jigawa State has made as the first open defecation-free state in the country.
  • Engr Abdulkadir Sidi, Managing Director of RUWASSA, stated that the intervention will bridge the gap created by occasional toilet collapses due to flooding, forcing some vulnerable people to resort to open defecation.
  • Engr Sidi also emphasized the importance of community engagement and interventions in sustaining progress made in achieving the state's open defecation-free status.
  • Mr. Ata Samuel, State WASH Facilitator for UNICEF, highlighted the significance of community engagement and interventions in sustaining the progress made by Jigawa State in becoming the first open defecation-free state in the country.

Statistics:

  • The training program is being implemented across 27 local government areas in Jigawa State.
  • The 'Sanitation Vulture' initiative will target over 600 communities in the two pilot local government areas.
  • The program aims to be implemented in all 25 remaining local government areas by 2026.
  • Jigawa State is the first open defecation-free state in the country.

Sources:

  • The Jigawa State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA)
  • The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
  • The Jigawa State government

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