Citywide Inclusive Sanitation: Responsibility

For urban sanitation systems to function safely, at scale, over time, and inclusively, they must be organized to support three functions: responsibility, accountability, and resource planning and management. This short publication looks at the function of responsibility: the extent to which sanitation authorities are clearly mandated. Click for a longer version of this publication, which explains the responsibility function […]

What does ‘quality’ sanitation mean in low-income urban areas?

By Sam Drabble, Head of Evaluation, Research & Learning Broadly speaking, when we advocate for investment in sanitation, it is because we are trying to achieve two critically important aims: improve human health, and improve wellbeing or quality of life. But to what extent are sanitation interventions actually achieving these aims? In many cases, the […]

Quality Check: How can we ensure sanitation achieves health and quality of life outcomes in low-income areas?

This discussion paper explores how high-quality sanitation can be achieved in low-income urban areas in developing contexts. It is based on findings from four research projects conducted under, or in association with, WSUP’s Urban Sanitation Research Initiative 2016–2020 (USRI), funded by DFID. The four research projects considered here are: The Faecal Pathogen Flows study in […]

Illegal water connections Biafra, Nairobi

Citywide access to water and sanitation services in Kenya

Clean, piped water brings dignity to people, reduces living costs, frees up time – and crucially, given the situation right now, is a critical defence against infectious diseases. With the support of The Coca-Cola Foundation’s Replenish Africa Initiative (RAIN), Water & Sanitation for the Urban Poor (WSUP) has been working with Kenyan city authorities to […]

Dirty water_ John Laing

Stronger regulators crucial to improving sanitation services for the poorest, report finds

A new report published by Water & Sanitation for the Urban Poor (WSUP) and the Eastern and Southern Africa Water and Sanitation (ESAWAS) Regulators Association identifies how stronger regulators can play an important role in improving sanitation for under-served urban residents. The report, entitled Referee! Responsibilities, regulations and regulating for urban sanitation, has four key […]

Chamanculo sanitation block, Maputo

Does improved sanitation mean healthier kids?

The MapSan trial was a major 4-year research project which aimed to evaluate the health impacts of a shared sanitation intervention delivered by WSUP in the slums of Maputo. It’s the largest ever high-rigour study of the health impacts of urban sanitation. And now the long-awaited results are out. By Guy Norman, WSUP’s Director of […]

UNC Water and Health Conference: Where Science Meets Policy, 2019

Join us at the 2019 Water and Health Conference to discuss how to assess WaSH services citywide, what role shared sanitation could have in bringing safely managed sanitation to all, and our experience supporting the development of inclusive sanitation markets. Findings from several Urban Sanitation Research Initiative projects will also be presented by our research […]

Running Dry front cover

Running Dry: Tackling the myths about urban water and sanitation

WSUP has identified five myths which are stopping investors, agencies and policymakers from properly addressing the inadequate access to essential water and sanitation services in cities across Africa and South Asia.   Myth one: Struggling utilities are unable to serve the poorest The reality: Much-maligned, publicly owned utilities can deliver services for the poorest communities. […]

WSUP wins AMCOW AfricaSan award for our work in Mozambique

WSUP has won the Inclusion Award from AfricaSan in recognition of our work to improve shared sanitation services in Maputo, Mozambique. The AMCOW AfricaSan Awards aim to raise the profile of sanitation and hygiene in development agendas; promote excellence in leadership and innovation; and put the spotlight on bold initiatives and innovations that inspire action. […]