Co-creation of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene in Local Communities with NGOs during the COVID-19 Pandemic: From Hunter-gatherers to Urban Dwellers in Cameroon

Abstract

To date, tremendous efforts have been made by governments and organizations to fulfill United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6 which aims to provide access to clean water and sanitation for all by 2030. However, in many parts of the world, people still struggle to equitably and adequately access safely managed water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, leading to adverse health and livelihood impacts. The challenges of poor WASH are most prevalent among indigenous societies and in peri-urban and urban slums of low- and middle-income countries; and they have been exacerbated by the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. In this regard, this special issue deliberates over community-based activities and interventions conducted by local Non-Governmental Organizations in Cameroon which target local communities that are often unreachable, invisible, unquantified and ostracized. We particularly highlight inter-sectoral collaborations between these organizations and international scholars, taking into account specific local contexts with an aim to empower local communities by (1) raising awareness of the importance of good hygiene attitudes and practices (handwashing) in the fight against COVID-19 through sensitization campaigns, (2) co-creating values from sanitation (tree planting in old toilets), and (3) ensuring that indigenous people have a voice while providing them with the necessary support to live a dignified life. The papers also aim to provide key information for government, local and international organizations, and researchers that work to support vulnerable populations in Cameroon and other Sub-Saharan African countries experiencing similar problems related to WASH access and services, the COVID-19 pandemic, and identity.