PLATEAU TOPS SURWASH BCC DESIGN
PLAMWASSA emerged with the impactful design from the BCC workshop
PLATEAU TOPS SURWASH BCC DESIGN
By Rotmwa Paulina Kassam
Plateau State has achieved a significant national milestone by clinching first place in the Behavioural Change Campaign Intervention Design for LGA-wide Sanitation Implementation under the Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation, and Hygiene (SURWASH) programme.
This emerged at the end of an intensive two-day technical workshop in Abuja, where the Plateau Municipal Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (PLAMWASSA) outperformed other participating implementing agencies among which were also the Plateau Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (PRUWASSA), and the Plateau Environmental Protection and Sanitation Agency (PEPSA).
The workshop aimed to assist implementing agencies in crafting effective, measurable, and tailored behavioural change campaigns. These campaigns are structured to promote safe sanitation management, drive sustainable community adoption, and accelerate progress toward critical SURWASH Disbursement-Linked Indicators (DLIs 5 and 6).
Director, Water Quality Control and Sanitation, from the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Mr. Habu Jamilu stressed that achieving nationwide sanitation coverage relies heavily on social transformation. He noted that providing physical infrastructure, such as toilets, must be accompanied by targeted interventions that address social norms, daily community habits, and service delivery systems.
Supporting this vision, Task Team Leader from the World Bank, Awa Diagne highlighted that lasting developmental progress depends on pairing robust infrastructure with positive social habits and local ownership. Behaviour Change Communication was emphasized as a central pillar for sustained progress in areas such as handwashing, safe sanitation practices, menstrual hygiene, and the elimination of open defecation.
Technical training sessions led by Sophie Ayling from World Bank guided delegates through hands-on exercises. Participants analyzed campaign pathways, conducted barrier and opportunity mapping, segmented target audiences, and developed structured work plans and budgets.
The event gathered diverse delegates from SURWASH implementing states, including Katsina, Plateau, Gombe, Bauchi, Ekiti, and Jigawa. In attendance were Heads of urban, small towns and rural water supply and sanitation agencies, and environmental protection agencies, sanitation directors, as well as sanitation, communication, social, monitoring and evaluation officers.
