Wurie Mamadu Tamba Barrie, chief country coordinator, Network AID

In a nutshell, what do you do?

As Chief Country Coordinator, I provide strategic leadership, oversight, research, partnership, fundraising and support to country programmes. Network AID as an organisation has three programmatic areas: education and livelihoods, health and safety (which includes WASH), and governance and participation.

I was in high school when I first started working on human rights to sanitation and hygiene because our facilities were not accessible and messy.

What gets you out of bed every morning?

As a human rights, social inclusion and anti-corruption activist; my passion to contribute in making the world an inclusive, safe and healthy irrespective of status or educational background or condition be it physical or mental is what motivates me.

When you retire, what will you be most proud of in terms of your sanitation and hygiene work?

Placing people at the centre of my work, working collectively with passionate individuals, and influencing sanitation and hygiene stakeholders to take action.  

How has being a member of SuSanA discussion forum helped you?

We first heard of SuSanA through WSSCC when the Community of Practice merged with the discussion forum. We joined the discussion forum to continue expanding our knowledge and learning on WASH.

The discussion forum has provided additional knowledge for us. The sharing of toolkits, reports, organizing online events and frank discussions are most useful. These have helped me to better understand sanitation and hygiene issues from hardware to software and even the use of technologies.

What are the top three benefits of WSSCC membership?

In 2009, I was supported by WSSCC through IRC Wash to present a research paper in Ghana that culminated the formation of Water Sanitation and Hygiene Network – WASH-Net – in Sierra Leone.

Other benefits have included:

• Expanding our networks
• Providing a platform for learning and engaging
• Providing a space to attract and build Network AID’s capacity to better respond and contribute to sanitation and hygiene

Tell us a good example of the benefits of being a member of WSSCC.

Being part of WASHNet and collectively addressing issues of water, sanitation and hygiene from policy, legislation, community engagement and election campaign for prioritizing water and sanitation.

The Sanitation and Hygiene Fund has just been launched. In the next five years, what difference do you hope the fund will make in your country?

For Sierra Leone, last time I checked we won’t immediately benefit from the Sanitation and Hygiene Fund. But I am optimistic the fund will address major and critical issues on sanitation, water and hygiene that by extension has an impact on governance, inclusion and livelihood and health.