Municipal Water, Sanitation and Hygiene 2 (MuniWASH 2)

The USAID MuniWASH 2 Activity is a proposed follow-on project to address water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) challenges in urban and peri-urban areas in Côte d'Ivoire and Benin, building on the successes of the initial MuniWASH program. Issued as a Request for Information (RFI), this document invites input from potential partners but is not a formal solicitation for proposals. USAID aims to enhance the financial and operational sustainability of WASH services, improve private sector engagement, expand access to safe drinking water and sanitation, and foster regional knowledge sharing in Côte d'Ivoire, Benin, and potentially Guinea and Togo. Responses to the RFI, due by August 30, 2024, will inform USAID’s approach to the final activity design. The MuniWASH 2 project will prioritize improving WASH sector governance, facilitating investment, and expanding access to sanitation services, particularly for low-income and underserved communities. USAID has identified key challenges, such as weak institutional frameworks, limited access to financing, fragmented supply chains, and inadequate local governance capacities. In both Côte d'Ivoire and Benin, a lack of infrastructure and high demand due to rapid urbanization and rural-urban migration have led to significant gaps in WASH services, particularly in northern regions where poverty rates are high and infrastructure is lacking. MuniWASH 2 will seek to address these challenges by strengthening municipal capacity, fostering public-private partnerships, and supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) involved in WASH service provision. The program has four main objectives. First, it will enhance sector coordination, policy development, and governance capacity, working with national and local authorities to establish frameworks that support private sector participation and regulatory oversight. Second, the activity aims to increase access to inclusive, climate-resilient drinking water and sanitation services by encouraging SMEs to innovate and offer cost-effective solutions. Third, MuniWASH 2 will promote financial sustainability by improving public and private investment in WASH services, encouraging financial accountability and establishing efficient billing systems to support service providers. Lastly, USAID plans to foster regional learning, creating platforms for stakeholders to share knowledge, document successes, and replicate successful approaches in other parts of West Africa. This initiative will build on several successful practices from MuniWASH 1, such as using the Institutional Strengthening Index (ISI) to assess and improve municipal WASH governance, supporting SMEs to expand WASH services, and mobilizing nearly $3 million in new funding for WASH initiatives. Additionally, the activity will emphasize policy support and capacity-building for private sector service providers, particularly in Benin, which is undergoing significant reforms to allow private companies to manage water and sanitation services. By engaging municipalities, national water utilities, and private enterprises, USAID aims to create a more resilient WASH sector with effective local governance and management systems. USAID’s RFI invites stakeholders to provide feedback on strategic areas, such as approaches for improving SME operations, enhancing customer demand for WASH services, increasing affordability of sanitation products, and ensuring successful private sector transitions in Benin. Respondents may also offer insights on supporting WASH provision in northern regions, where infrastructure deficits are most severe. Feedback will help refine USAID's approach, especially in establishing frameworks for sustainable investment, policy incentives, and mechanisms for accountability. Interested organizations are encouraged to submit concise responses that focus on the outlined objectives and questions within an eight-page limit. USAID stresses that promotional material, resumes, or unsolicited funding requests will not be considered. Responses should be sent to Viktoria Stott Hollosy and Ruby Tawonezvi by the specified deadline, and respondents will not receive individualized feedback following submission.