By Lamin B. Darboe
The three-day validation of the National Water Policy (2026–2035) and the Water Resources Strategic Plan (2026–2030) concluded on Thursday, September 3, 2026, at Mosses Lodge in Soma, Lower River Region (LRR).
The validation was organised by the Department of Water Resources under the Ministry of Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters and brought together representatives from key government sectors.
The two strategic documents seek to ensure equitable access to sufficient, clean and safe water for domestic use while promoting the efficient, sustainable use and conservation of the country’s water resources through an Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) approach.
They also aim to reduce and prevent pollution and degradation of water resources, promote sustainable management of the natural environment, preserve ecosystems and strengthen the capacity of key institutions to manage water resources effectively.
Other priorities include implementing measures to reduce flood risks and supporting national efforts to respond to droughts, particularly in the face of growing climate-change impacts.
In her closing remarks, Deputy Permanent Secretary-Technical at the Ministry of Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters, Fanta BS Manneh, thanked participants for setting aside their regular duties to take part in the validation exercise.
Manneh said the level of participation demonstrated that stakeholders had placed the national interest first and were committed to developing policy documents that reflect the priorities of all government sectors.
She said the validation was also important in ensuring that institutions work in a coordinated and strategic direction during the implementation of the two documents.
“We want these strategic documents to be embedded in our policy documents. During the validation, we made recommendations and adjustments. We scrutinised the two documents completely. We want to see the consultant and the team go back to the drawing board to make sure whatever was finalised is reflected in the final documents,” Manneh said.
She thanked UNICEF for funding the validation exercise and expressed hope that the organisation would continue supporting the ministry and other key government institutions.
“Water is a cross-cutting issue,” she noted, underscoring the need for continued collaboration among stakeholders.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Director of Water Resources Foday Conteh described the two documents as comprehensive and high-quality strategic instruments.
Conteh said the documents capture the key issues surrounding water resources management and commended participants for their contributions throughout the validation process.
He said the recommendations and inputs provided during the exercise would help strengthen the documents and ensure they adequately address the country’s water-resource needs.
The validation exercise is expected to pave the way for the finalisation and subsequent implementation of the National Water Policy (2026–2035) and Water Resources Strategic Plan (2026–2030).
