National monitoring systems

In this WASH Talk episode Andy Narracott asks Mr Benedict Kubabom and Mr Abdul Hafiz Koroma about national WASH service monitoring for improved WASH services and attainment of the SDGs. They discuss the importance of monitoring in tracking development projects, ensuring services are being provided and continuously improved. Proper processes need to be established for routine monitoring. For instance, in Liberia, subnational monitoring is still a challenge because of unpredictable funding and capacity to carry out quality monitoring.

Also, the two speakers reflect on the requirements for a well-functioning national and subnational monitoring system. It is crucial that data is accessible to a broad range of stakeholders who can benefit from using it. District water officers need different information to perform their role than federal government staff for allocating budgets. 

One of the main challenges around national monitoring is realising the essential financing systems to support these processes. That is why it is so important to share the stories that the data is telling us to create demand for the data and make sure that its importance is appreciated through adequate funding.