WASH in Schools: Liberia's first step to recovery from Ebola

Schools are gradually reopening in Liberia after having been closed for six months in an attempt to curb the spread of Ebola. However, the dire lack of clean water and sanitation (WASH) in educational facilities is a major concern for Liberia's government. At the request of President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, a 'WASH in Schools' meeting was organized in Brussels alongside the High Level Conference on Ebola on 3 March 2015, hosted by the European Union. In the run-up to this event, research was conducted to assess the current status of WASH in schools in Liberia, the rationale for prioritizing investments in WASH in schools and the type and quantity of services and funding required to accelerate progress towards 100 percent WASH coverage in Liberian schools. This report provides detailed evidence and data on the current needs for services and investment. It is intended to strengthen the case for donors to prioritize investment in WASH in schools when considering the range of options to support Ebola-affected countries to get back on the road to sustainable development