… Holds Two-Day SURWASH Retreat
IN line with the World Bank and Federal Government’s Coordinating Unit (FPCU) programmes, the Delta State Government has organized a two-day retreat under the Nigeria Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (SURWASH) programme to strengthen the delivery of water, sanitation and hygiene services.
The retreat brought together key officials involved in the implementation of the SURWASH Programme in Delta State.
Themed “Work Plan Review and Peer Learning”, it followed a National SURWASH Retreat held earlier, where states were directed to review their plans, learn from one another and prepare better for the next stage of programme implementation.
Speaking at the opening of the retreat, Acting State Programme Coordinator, Engr. Clement Adiotomre said the meeting was to ensure that Delta State remains focused on achieving real and measurable improvements in water supply, sanitation and hygiene services. He stressed the need for proper planning, wise use of resources, team work among agencies and readiness for external assessments.
Activities on the first day focused on reviewing Delta State’s 2026 SURWASH work plan. Participants included officials from the State Programme Coordinating Unit, Delta State Urban Water Regulatory Commission, the three Implementing Agencies- Ministry of Water Resources Development and representatives of the Federal Programme Coordinating Unit.
Participants worked in groups on planned activities, identify gaps and ensure that each activity clearly supports improved services for communities. Support was provided by the Federal Programme Coordinating Unit, led by its Monitoring and Evaluation expert, Mr. Tony Agwuma.
On the second day, the retreat featured an interactive session with the Independent Verification Agents, who explained how progress under the programme is assessed. A representative of the World Bank, who spoke virtually, encouraged them to learn from past experiences, improve coordination and ensure that all required information is properly prepared and submitted on time.
The verification team explained that the process is meant to measure progress fairly across states and not to punish any one. Discussions highlighted the need for better coordination among teams, local governments and implementing agencies, as well as strong community involvement, especially in efforts to end open defecation.
The retreat ended with a peer learning session where Delta State reviewed the work plans of other states and also received feedback from peer states.
