Self Help Africa (SHA) has convened its bi-annual stakeholders’ engagement meeting in Kano to strengthen food systems, expand agricultural value chains and promote sustainable employment through integrated agriculture and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) interventions.
The meeting held on Wednesday at Tahir Guest Palace, brought together officials of the Kano State Government, development partners, private sector actors, community leaders and civil society organisations to review progress on ongoing projects, assess challenges and agree on strategies for improving food security and livelihoods across the state.
Speaking at the event, the Head of Office, Self Help Africa Kano, Hajara Mohammad, presented updates on major interventions being implemented in the state, including the Optimizing the Benefits of Inline Chlorination in Nigeria (OPTIC) project, the Dispenser for Sustainable Rural Water in Nigeria (DiSURWIN) project, the Youth in Work (YiW) initiative and the WASH Systems for Health (WS4H) programme.
Mohammad said the projects are designed to improve access to safe drinking water and sanitation, strengthen agricultural productivity, enhance food systems and equip young people with skills and opportunities for sustainable employment. She explained that Self Help Africa operates programmes in livelihoods, WASH, gender and other development sectors to address the diverse needs of communities.
She added that although the organisation receives support from different development partners and donors, Self Help Africa remains one institution with a shared vision and coordinated approach.
According to her, the organisation wants all stakeholders to understand that, despite implementing different projects, it works as one united team with a common goal.
Also speaking, the Kano State Programme Coordinator of WS4H, Aminu Musa Idris, said the engagement would improve collaboration among stakeholders and enhance access to quality potable water and sanitation services across the state. According to him, stronger partnerships would accelerate the achievement of the programme’s objectives.
“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,” he said.
Participants reviewed the implementation of the various projects, highlighting achievements, implementation challenges, mitigation measures and sustainability plans.
They stressed the need for closer collaboration among government institutions, development agencies, the private sector and local communities to strengthen agricultural value chains, improve rural water supply and sanitation, and create more employment opportunities, particularly for women and youths.
The engagement also featured documentary presentations showcasing the impact of the WASH and Youth in Work programmes, while participants took part in interactive question-and-answer sessions focusing on safeguarding policies, reporting mechanisms and the protection of vulnerable groups during project implementation.
In his remarks, the Desk Officer of the WS4H Programme at the Kano State Ministry of Water Resources and Deputy Director, Mustapha Hussaini Hassan, urged benefiting communities and relevant institutions to take ownership of the projects and properly maintain the facilities provided to ensure their long-term sustainability.
Stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to supporting initiatives that strengthen food systems, improve water and sanitation services, expand agricultural value chains and create sustainable employment opportunities across Kano State.