The waste management challenges in Kornaka that Mr. Alassan Tsahirou, Mayor of Kornaka is aiming to solve.
Influence the right people, magical things can happen
Published on: 01/01/2024
Walk through the municipality of Kornaka, Niger, and you’ll see open dumpsites where children play, often barefoot, and women dispose of their family’s dirty water. They’re not just an eyesore. They’re dangerous. Infectious diseases like Malaria spread from the sites to contaminate homes and drinking water sources: people get ill and die.
Mr. Alassan Tsahirou, Kornaka’s committed and dedicated mayor knows just how important it is to manage and treat waste properly. Yet district mayors like him have many responsibilities. So there’s always a risk that sanitation simply isn’t seen as a priority. One of the important jobs we do is to find different ways to change their hearts and minds about water, sanitation and hygiene. As one of my colleagues in Ghana said recently, “If we influence the right people, magical things can happen”.
We invited Mr Tsahirou to All systems go, a big event we held in Accra, Ghana – and it was a turning point for him and for the community. They’re now on track to have strong, safe and lasting waste services – with more systems and services strengthening to come. We were sharing examples of how people’s lives were transformed by strengthening all parts of the system* that delivers the water, sanitation and hygiene services we rely on.
He took part in inspiring talks and workshops and met with other government leaders, influential thinkers and experts, community representatives and entrepreneurs. He also visited a site for the collection, management and treatment of household waste.
This was a turning point. From that moment on, he was determined to initiate change in his commune – beginning by transforming the sewage system. Now, this may not seem very inspiring! But Mr Tsahirou knew this could be life-changing for his community.
Mr Tsahirou had to find money from his own budget, and talk with many partners to persuade them to find funds to help him. We helped, bringing together some of those partners and providing technical and financial support – but it was the mayor’s drive and passion that made all the difference. He secured the money he needed to kick start the project, which he named The Kornaka Tsabta ('clean') project.
But the story doesn’t end there. Once the facility is set up, there are rainwater drainage channels to build, public toilet facilities (‘latrines’) to create or improve, and long-term plan to strengthen all parts of the system to keep the community clean and safe – and to provide jobs.
“Since the All Systems Go Africa symposium, I have set my commune on the path of strengthening the mechanisms that guarantee the delivery of better water, hygiene and sanitation services to all the villages and tribes in the commune.” Mr. Alassan Tsahirou, Mayor of Kornaka, Niger.
It’s so exciting for all of us at IRC Niger to see what can be achieved following a spark of inspiration. As one of my colleagues in Ghana said recently, “If we influence the right people, magical things can happen” .
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Since the All Systems Go Africa symposium, I have set my commune on the path of strengthening the mechanisms that guarantee the delivery of better water, hygiene and sanitation services to all the villages and tribes in the commune
Mr. Alassan Tsahirou, Mayor of Kornaka, Niger
