...as they get new water facility
Relief for Donfah Residents
December 20, 2024

Donfah water facility
“My family loves our community, and this is the second piece of land we have given to the government for community development. We give it free,” says 73-year-old Hawa Brown, now the elder of the Brown family who has occupied the land in Donfah, Yellequelleh Administrative District, Bong County for over 100 years.
“Our community has been suffering; our children and women were walking long distances to fetch water. When this project came, I was not hesitant to give the land, because it is for the benefit of us all,” Hawa says adding that the first time the family gave away 1.5 hectares of land to the government to build a school.
Hawa is emotional as she lauds the government of Liberia and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), through the Accelerated Community Development Programme (ACDP) for erecting a water facility and four kiosks which are operated by women.
Excitement is written all over the faces of the community members during the commissioning of the water facility. John Small, another resident of Donfah speaks excitedly and says, “The commissioning of this water facility means everything to us as a community. We will no longer walk long distances to fetch water. Sometimes the men had to accompany the women, to protect them whenever they trek these distances to fetch water”.
Small added, “Now that we have a water facility closer to us, the men can focus on other things like going to the fields leaving our women home knowing they will be safe when fetching water from here,” pointing at the kiosk with a big smile.
During the handover ceremony, a representative of the Minister of State, Mr. Bill Massaquoi urged the community to maintain the facility well noting that it belongs to them, and it is their responsibility to manage it effectively.
The UNDP Deputy Resident Representative for Programme, Louis Kuukpen noted, “This facility is not just about water, but it is complemented by livelihood opportunities for women with business service windows at each kiosk, for small businesses”. He stressed further that security threats against women and girls will be prevented when water distribution points are within the community.
The Donfah water facility is the first of five ongoing construction of water infrastructure including the installation of kiosks at a cost of over eighty-three thousand United States Dollars ($83,711.82).
The solar-powered water facility provides access to potable water for over 2,000 residents in Donfah Community, addressing the issues of waterborne diseases and promoting a healthier and safer lifestyle among community residents.
The remaining four will be completed in early 2025 in Mardina, Totoquelleh and Bopolu communities in Gbarpolu County and in Yarkpah Town, Rivercess County. The combined cost of five water facilities is approximately three hundred thousand United States Dollars ($388,641.23).
These facilities are equipped with solar systems to provide clean energy services daily to keep the flow and distribution of water to the various water kiosks. They also have a chlorination unit to purify the water before it is distributed.
This facility has saved our women and children from the long walks. It has also reduced the potential risk of attacks our women and girls face at streams outside the town. Moreover, we will no longer worry about hand pumps frequently breaking down or drying out, especially during the dry season. This facility has relieved us from the stress of water scarcity during a time like this in the year. So, we say thank you to UNDP and the Government of Liberia” narrates the Chairperson of the Donfah Community in Bong County Esther Giddings.
Meanwhile, the ACDP has successfully facilitated elections for a five-member board of directors across 12 agricultural cooperatives, supported by the Cooperative Development Agency (CDA).
These trainings are in addition to previous exercises in the operation, maintenance and servicing of tractors provided to about 28 cooperative members - 14 males and 14 females by Cape Automotive Solutions, Inc., a local New Holland dealer. These participants were awarded certificates at the commissioning of the Donfah water facility in December.
The ACDP aims to help strengthen human capital and resilience to shocks and pandemics, as well as facilitate and contribute to the national development plan, the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID). By extension, it also contributes to efforts in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) by 2030.
In the past years, the ACDP, co-funded by the Government of Liberia and implemented by the UNDP has delivered some hardcore impactful results in the agriculture, WASH, and health sectors.
In the agriculture sector the programme has supported the transition of 12 farming communities and individuals from Farmers-Based Organizations (FBOs) into Agriculture Cooperatives; delivered 14 tractors and trailers and trained 28 operators of the tractors among others.