Rich text
But the work kept hitting the same wall: no reliable cost data. Afou Bengaly, Riva Mali's Strategic Advisor Riva Africa Hub, and colleagues Mohamed Kané Riva Mal country coordinator, and Sanata Théra Expert Water and Sanitation Governance, Riva Mali mapped more than 70 cost lines behind a functioning water and sanitation system in a single clinic – from pipes and toilets to staff training and maintenance. They then worked out a national average and a minimum standard that any practitioner, government official or development partner could plan against.
However, the taskforce had a structural gap at its centre. The technical lead from the Ministry of Health was present and committed. But the Cabinet – the level with real authority over policy and investment – wasn't yet represented through the minister’s advisor on environmental and water issues.
Afou spotted a leverage point: the All Systems Go Africa Symposium in Ghana in 2022. She sent an official letter to the Ministry Cabinet, then called the minister advisor directly to invite him to the event. He took some time to consider and then accepted – and he was asked to take part in a panel about water and sanitation in healthcare facilities. This mean that, before the trip, Afou was able to brief him on Mali's situation- where the country stood against its global commitment and what was at stake. Once at the event, he met counterparts from Ministries of Health across Africa, all grappling with the same challenges. It was a lightbulb moment. He finally saw that water, sanitation and health are inextricably linked, strong WASH systems make strong health systems and vice-versa.
On his return from Ghana, the Minister Advisor moved the platform's meetings to the Cabinet on quarterly basis, chaired them himself, and initiated the formalisation process of the taskforce as a permanent institution, requesting that Riva, WaterAid and World Vision to develop the terms of reference. What had been an informal working group is now an enduring part of Mali's national health architecture.
The WASH Fit costing tool is now Mali's national standard – technically validated by the National Health Directorate, applicable to every government planner and international partner, all working from the same baseline.
In Nossombougou, the shift in how health and water are now planned together is already felt
Long text (do not use!)
But the work kept hitting the same wall: no reliable cost data. Afou Bengaly, Riva Mali's Strategic Advisor Riva Africa Hub, and colleagues Mohamed Kané Riva Mal country coordinator, and Sanata Théra Expert Water and Sanitation Governance, Riva Mali mapped more than 70 cost lines behind a functioning water and sanitation system in a single clinic – from pipes and toilets to staff training and maintenance. They then worked out a national average and a minimum standard that any practitioner, government official or development partner could plan against.
However, the taskforce had a structural gap at its centre. The technical lead from the Ministry of Health was present and committed. But the Cabinet – the level with real authority over policy and investment – wasn't yet represented through the minister’s advisor on environmental and water issues.Â
Afou spotted a leverage point: the All Systems Go Africa Symposium in Ghana in 2022. She sent an official letter to the Ministry Cabinet, then called the minister advisor directly to invite him to the event. He took some time to consider and then accepted – and he was asked to take part in a panel about water and sanitation in healthcare facilities. This mean that, before the trip, Afou was able to brief him on Mali's situation- where the country stood against its global commitment and what was at stake. Once at the event, he met counterparts from Ministries of Health across Africa, all grappling with the same challenges. It was a lightbulb moment. He finally saw that water, sanitation and health are inextricably linked, strong WASH systems make strong health systems and vice-versa.
On his return from Ghana, the Minister Advisor moved the platform's meetings to the Cabinet on quarterly basis, chaired them himself, and initiated the formalisation process of the taskforce as a permanent institution, requesting that Riva, WaterAid and World Vision to develop the terms of reference. What had been an informal working group is now an enduring part of Mali's national health architecture.
The WASH Fit costing tool is now Mali's national standard – technically validated by the National Health Directorate, applicable to every government planner and international partner, all working from the same baseline.
In Nossombougou, the shift in how health and water are now planned together is already felt