Liberia’s first known Cost-Benefit Analysis report on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), specifically focusing on schools, health care facilities and communities, has been developed. The report aims to bridge significant gaps in evidence for national WASH advocacy, planning, and investment. It was developed by WaterAid, an international charity in WASH services and advocacy, and validated in Monrovia by sector experts from the Government of Liberia, the Development Corporation, UN, Civil Society and the Private Sector.
Amongst its findings, the report reveals a staggering annual cost of US$231 million due to poor WASH services in 2023, equivalent to 5.9% of Liberia’s GDP.
However, major barriers to progress include low political prioritization, insufficient funding, and entrenched social norms that perpetuate inadequate services. To overcome these challenges, the report recommends a multi-pronged, rights-based approach involving sustainable financing, awareness-raising, and targeted investments for WASH. It notes that there are highly favourable economic returns on investments and recurrent spending.
Led by Dr. Guy Hutton, a globally recognized economist and researcher, the year-long study involved national and international experts, including Dr. Isaac Podah, President of the Lofa University, and a WASH expert Eugene Caine from Liberia, technically supported by John Garrett, WaterAid Senior Policy Analyst in Development Finance based in the UK.
According to Hutton, the study was modelled along the lines of previous global cost-benefit analyses published by WHO in 2004/2008/2012, the World Bank and the Copenhagen Consensus Center in 2016.
WaterAid Liberia Country Director Chuchu Selma noted that this is a way the institution demonstrates commitment to supporting the sector with good evidence to guide policy decisions, attract sustainable investments, and prioritize WASH in Liberia’s current national and future development plans. “We are confident that this study will deepen understanding of the true costs—including capital, operating, and maintenance expenses—and the benefits of investing in WASH, translating them into social and economic returns,” said Selma.
Hon. George Yarngo, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National WASH Commission, highlighted the importance of reliable data in achieving national development goals. “Data, especially real-time data, is key to tracking progress and maximising the returns on our development investments. Let us rigorously validate this document, as it will guide our future WASH planning,” said Yarngo.
The validation session on May 6, 2025, brought together a diverse group of senior-level WASH technicians and policymakers, including representatives from the Ministries of Health, Finance and Development Planning, Education, and Public Works.
Also in attendance were officials from the Environmental Protection Agency, the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation, and the National Public Health Institution of Liberia.
International partners, development corporations like the WHO and the African Development Bank, and civil society representatives like United Youth, FERD, and Community Health Initiatives were present and made significant contributions.
Natty B. Davis, Chairman of the Liberia Chamber of Commerce, highlighted the country’s extremely low revenue base and pledged the private sector’s support to help address the issue. “Our economy is highly informal, leading to significant missed revenue opportunities. While the government aims to generate $1 billion, nearly 70% of the national budget is allocated to recurrent expenditures. Clearly, there is a need for improvement on the revenue side. But how do we identify opportunities for private sector involvement? We trust that this report will provide valuable insights, particularly in the context of WASH analysis,” Davis stated.
In further support of evidence generation for WASH advocacy and planning, WaterAid Liberia and WHO are currently supporting the Government of Liberia through the National WASH Commission to develop a WASH Account.
The essence of the WASH Account is to provide a comprehensive framework for tracking and analyzing financial flows within the WASH sector. It offers a clear picture of how funds are allocated and spent, promoting accountability among stakeholders.
