World Vision Ghana set to play crucial role in 2026 MOLE conference

World Vision Ghana (WVG) has confirmed its participation in the 2026 edition of the Mole Conference, Ghana's premier multi-stakeholder platform for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), which is set to focus on "Accelerating Climate-Resilient WASH Service Delivery for Last-Mile Communities: Options, Strategies and Actions."

World Vision Ghana's participation is seen as pivotal given its deep footprint and ambitious new roadmap in the sector, which was launched in November 2025 and tagged “2026-2030 WASH Business Plan and Universal WASH Service Coverage,” which is dubbed “Mapping the Blue Thread.”

The World Vision Ghana, as part of its programmed activities to showcase during the MoleXXXVII conference at Aqua Safari Hotel at Big Ada in the Greater Accra Region, would project "Mapping the Blue Thread."

Mr Yaw Attah Arhin, World Vision Ghana’s WASH Innovations and Partnership Specialist, told the Media Coalition Against Open Defecation (M-CODe) in an interview and explained that the “Mapping the Blue Thread" aims to reach an additional 743,000 children and their families with sustainable WASH services.

He explained that the plan targets 23 districts spread across 11 regions, including Upper West, Upper East, Savannah, Northern, Ahafo, Oti, Eastern, Ashanti, Central, Volta, and Western North.

Mr Attah Arhin explained that WVG would engage strategic partners on the sidelines of the Mole Conference on the strategy focus of the “Mapping the Blue Thread," which includes expanding and maintaining reliable water supply infrastructure in underserved areas, leveraging innovations like solar-powered mechanized water systems.

He said the project also focuses on promoting sanitation and hygiene behaviour change, building local capacity to manage and sustain WASH facilities, fostering community ownership, and strengthening accountability and inclusion in WASH programming.

“The goal is to ensure at least 90 percent of people in each target district have access to clean and reliable WASH services, in line with SDG 6 and World Vision's global pledge to reach 50 million people,” Mr Attah Arhin explained.

He said WVG is already piloting innovations that speak directly to the 2026 Mole theme, including a revolving financing mechanism known as the "Drinking Water Sustainability Fund" to support repairs and expansion of water systems and signing MoUs with districts like Bawku West, Builsa South, Garu, and Tempane for joint planning and enforcement of sanitation bylaws.

At Mole 36, World Vision Ghana sponsored the Media Coalition Against Open Defecation (M-CODe), demonstrating its commitment to sector learning and advocacy.

As Ghana's WASH sector grapples with reduced donor funding and increasing climate stress, the 2026 Mole Conference is expected to be a defining platform—and World Vision Ghana's commitment and universal coverage drive will place last-mile communities at the center of the national dialogue on climate-resilient service delivery.

The Mole conference is intended to create a common space where policymakers, practitioners, researchers, and civil society gather to give accounts of the state of the WASH sector, promote accountability, and forge sustainable solutions ahead of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals deadline.

Organized annually since 1989 by the Coalition of NGOs in Water and Sanitation (CONIWAS), the Mole Conference has evolved from a modest NGO dialogue into Ghana's leading WASH policy and learning platform.

Last year's Mole 36 edition was held under the theme "Advancing Innovation, Partnerships, and Evidence for a Harmonized and Regulated WASH Sector" and highlighted that rapid urbanization, climate impacts, and infrastructure gaps remain pressing challenges.

The 2026 theme directly responds to Ghana's most urgent WASH challenge: ensuring that communities most vulnerable to droughts, floods, and shifting rainfall patterns are not left behind.

The discussions are expected to center on decentralized financing, solar-powered water systems, community-led management, and aligning WASH investments with Ghana's National Adaptation Plans and Nationally Determined Contributions.

The conference will be critical as Ghana approaches the SDG 6 deadline, with about 90 percent of the population having access to basic water but only 32 percent having access to basic sanitation.

Meanwhile, through strategic empowerment of World Vision Ghana, the Media Coalition against Open Defecation (M-CODe) would offer comprehensive media coverage for the upcoming MOLEXXXVII Conference.

M-CODe National Convenor, Mr Francis Ameyibor explained that it will leverage traditional and social media platforms to project issues and outcomes during the deliberations and set out modalities to follow the conclusions and recommendations.

In a related development, Dr. Beata Awinpoka Akanyani, Chairperson of the Ghana Coalition of Non-Governmental Organizations in Water and Sanitation (CONIWAS), the organizers of MOLEXXXVII, stated that preparations have progressed significantly, indicating a promising outcome for the conference.

She said CONIWAS has opened the registration process for all participants, including CONIWAS members, national and international NGOs, private and strategic CONIWAS partners, and international participants.

Dr. Awinpoka Akanyani said that as part of the events, there would be exhibitions and side events to enable participating institutions and NGOs to engage the public and other participants in their activities.

The CONIWAS Chairperson told the M-CODe that this year’s conference will serve as a crucial milestone in the country’s journey towards achieving SDG6, which focuses on ensuring universal access to safe water and sanitation and promoting water efficiency and sustainability.

The 2026 MOLE Conference will bring together stakeholders from government, civil society, academia, the media, and the private sector to share knowledge, experiences, and best practices for implementing SDG6 in Ghana.