What do you think of when you think about improving water and sanitation? No doubt the first thing that springs to mind is a tap; probably followed close after by a toilet.
Our CEO Neil Jeffery, highlights that to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 6, we have to focus not just on taps and toilets but on systems change to ensure that clean water and sanitation reach the people who need it the most.
Could you run an urban sanitation business? Find out with our new simulation.
Learn more about sanitation businesses by watching our films on SWEEP in Bangladesh and Gasia Poa in Kenya.
Also:
Read our guide to strengthening the enabling environment for faecal sludge management
According to the Local Government (City Corporation) Act 2009, City Corporations (CCs) are responsible for sanitation in large cities – a key public service, because millions of urban Bangladeshis of all income levels rely on on-site sanitation like septic tanks. But are CCs able to deliver safe and affordable sanitation services such as faecal sludge […]
The establishment of a strong institutional framework for Kenya’s sanitation sector can help secure better urban sanitation outcomes by coordinating action, ensuring cooperation and generating commitment among the responsible organisations at all levels. Kenya’s institutional framework is currently in transition and the enactment of the Environmental and Sanitation Bill will provide the much-needed enabling environment […]
Water security has a critical role to play in preserving ecosystems, including those in urban areas. Through an in-depth case study of Lusaka, Zambia, this Topic Brief explores how public authorities and their partners can work together to identify and respond effectively to risk by developing systems that protect water resources and therefore better plan […]
Shared toilets are often dirty and poorly maintained: but for some slum-dwellers living in tiny dwellings, they’re the only option. So what are the requirements for high-quality shared sanitation? This Policy Brief outlines a 3-country research project starting in October 2018 under the Urban Sanitation Research Initiative, aiming to identify trackable criteria for high-quality shared […]
Climate change is already having a huge impact in many parts of the world. In countries where WSUP works, poor water availability poses serious risks to society, and as extreme weather events become increasingly frequent, this challenge is worsening. This paper highlights how WSUP works to support climate resilience.
Women and girls primarily bear the responsibility for household water supply and child care, and are the most affected by poor sanitation. The amount of time spent locating and collecting water represents a major barrier to economic gain and empowerment as it reduces time available for income generating activities and school attendance. This paper highlights […]
The Kenyan water and sewerage regulator, WASREB, has introduced a new Key Performance Indicator (KPI) mandating utilities to report their efforts to serve low-income areas. KPI 10 requires utilities to demonstrate their pro-poor strategies, mapping and engagement, now essential to placing highly in WASREB’s annual ranking. This Practice Note outlines the 7-year process – driven […]
Master Operators (MOs) are small-scale semi-autonomous water providers who serve low-income areas in Kisumu, overseen by Kisumu Water and Sewerage Company (KIWASCO) through a Delegated Management Model. MOs extend the supply network to many of the city’s poorer residents for a fair price and have helped to semi-regulate previously informal water services. However, they have […]
This Practice Note outlines the development of a toilet database to support sanitation business development and public health monitoring in Lusaka. Currently being tested in the peri-urban area (PUA) of Kanyama, the electronic database enables information on the ownership, location, quality and emptying history of local pit latrines and septic tanks to be stored in […]
Lead author: IMC Worldwide. The overall aim of the project is to respond to the Government of Ghana’s interest to establish a National Sanitation Authority (NSA) to prioritise sanitation service delivery and achieve Ghana’s commitment to SDG Goal 6. The Ministry of Sanitation & Water Resources (MSWR) has requested the Urban Sanitation Research Initiative in […]