Tanzania Digest’s Post

Water, sanitation, and hygiene play a huge role in our daily lives. Over the past few months, I was tasked with researching the institutional capacity and performance of donor-funded water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) projects in Kibera informal settlement, Kenya. While focusing primarily on Kibera, one of Africa's largest informal settlements, I also considered similar settlements in neighboring countries such as Burundi. This led me to an interesting research study by Myriam Sidibe. Sidibe's work sheds light on a staggering reality: nearly a third of the global population, totaling 2 billion people, lacks access to basic sanitation facilities. Among them, 673 million individuals resort to open defecation, while hundreds of millions rely on shared facilities, making sanitation maintenance a significant challenge. During the day, 620 million children lack access to a proper toilet in their school. Rural areas lack the scale to justify a proper septic system, and urban schools cannot keep up with the demand. The toilets may exist, but due to inadequate cleaning and maintenance, they often do not function properly. Poor sanitation causes 280,000 deaths annually and leads to enormous economic losses, estimated at $200 billion annually, from stunted cognitive development in children as well as direct healthcare costs. Open defecation is particularly dangerous. Women seek privacy in fields at night, where they are most vulnerable. Sidibe mentioned that many girls miss school during menstruation due to the lack of private toilets for self-care. A comprehensive solution, through conventional means, is still a long way off. To achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, we would need to triple the current rate of investment by donors, governments, and multilateral organizations, totaling $1 trillion, said Sidibe. Cultural norms, finance, behavior change, and institutional capacity are major factors contributing to the failures of most WASH projects. Your participation in this research study is necessary in informing future efforts to improve water, sanitation, and hygiene services not only in Kibera but also in similar contexts. Please consider filling out the survey or sharing your insights in the comments section below. https://lnkd.in/dZ5SFmep

During the week, my article titled "The Challenges and Opportunities for Water and Sanitation in Nigerian Rural Communities" was accepted and published by the Green Habitat Initiative (GHI) (kindly find the link in the comment section). This publication highlights a critical human rights issue as recognized by the United Nations, that affects millions of Nigerians—access to clean water and adequate sanitation. Rural communities in Nigeria are grappling with severe water and sanitation challenges, resulting in a staggering rise in waterborne diseases. According to the World Health Organization, Nigeria’s outbreaks have mostly fluctuated between 1% and about 4% which is more than the World Health Organization benchmark case fatality rate of less than 1% with rural areas disproportionately affected due to inadequate sanitation facilities and unsafe drinking water sources. UNICEF reports that 3 out of 4 people lack safely managed drinking water, 3 out of 4 people lack safely managed sanitation, and 7 out of 10 lack basic hygiene services. Despite these alarming statistics, there is a significant opportunity for collaboration between government bodies and impact investors to address this urgent issue. By leveraging public-private partnerships (PPPs), innovative financing models, and technological innovations, stakeholders can work together to improve water supply systems and sanitation facilities in rural areas. Such collaborations not only focus on infrastructure development but also emphasize the fundamental human right to clean water and sanitation.

The state of WASH in Lagos We have very strong reasons for worry about the limited access to safely managed water supply services in Nigeria, particularly in urban Lagos, which is densely populated and has already stressed water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities. Now, let's see why the worry about public health in terms of WASH. While findings from the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene National Outlook Routine Mapping (WASHNORM) 2021 showed that 16 out of 28 state urban water utilities were fully functional, including Lagos state, the picture of the itinerant water vendor shows that there are gaps in the water distribution channel in urban Lagos. These itinerant water vendors are found almost everywhere in Lagos including Obalende, Yaba, Surulere, Ebute Meta, FESTAC Town, Ketu, Ijesha, Aguda, Ejigbo, and many more. Going by the explanation of the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), that sort of water distribution system exposes water to contamination making it unsafe. But the people need water for daily activities and this system seems to have been adopted to meet the immediate needs while a greater danger of health risk exposure resulting from using unsafe water is pushed aside first. So, as many as 70,000 under-five children die in Nigeria annually as a result of unsafe drinking water, poor sanitation and hygiene practices. The National Action Plan for Revitalization of the WASH sector and the SDG targets 6.1 and 6.2 is a good effort, but the present realities show that we are already in a race against time if Nigeria aims to achieve the SDG 6 goal.

Practical Action and Practical Action in Bangladesh has been taking part this week in the The Water Institute At UNC Water and Health Conference in the USA. The conference attracts a wide range of researchers and practitioners from around the world to review the evidence, interrogate the science and improve approaches to expanding WASH access and services. Today I participated in a panel discussion on ‘Cracking the code: Bridging Sanitation Gaps in Informal Urban Settlements’, hosted by Water & Sanitation for the Urban Poor (WSUP), SNV and the Indian Institute for Human Settlements. The panel was moderated by Dr Tanvir Ahmed of ITN-BUET, who asked us to consider policy and regulatory gaps, how to engage the key actors, and which types of systems and technologies will help to bridge the gap. I highlighted the importance of starting from what is already happening, and in particular from the contribution of informal sanitation workers. Often the service they offer is preferred by households because of its responsiveness, ability to reach all parts of a community, and affordability. As we professionalise their work, ensuring safety and dignity and the safe treatment of faecal sludge, we need to ensure the aspects of the service valued by customers remain. All the speakers noted that solutions may be complex and context specific, requiring a number of actions taken together. There will be no one-size-fits-all. We may need a combination of technical solutions, together with a supportive enabling environment. We ended on a positive note. The case studies from WSUP, SNV and IIHS all highlighted what can be achieved to transform and professionalise services both for pit emptying and management of public and community toilets.        

Before 2022, only 10 per cent of households in Ona-Ara LGA had access to toilets, and many practiced open defecation. However, through the successful implementation of Community-led Total Sanitation (CLTS) in the six political wards, the number of households with toilets increased from 10,422 to 32,658.

🚽🌍 The Countdown to World Toilet Day continues! D-14 days This week’s focus: Sanitation finance. Universal access to safely managed sanitation needs a strong enabling environment with financial mechanisms. Sanitation is a public good, but the private sector also plays a crucial role, offering financing and innovation opportunities. A well-regulated sector can boost business and innovation. Furthermore, affordable financing for households and reducing sanitation costs are essential, as households already invest significantly in the sanitation chain. Hear directly from financial experts as they discuss the current challenges and the ways forward to finance sanitation. Share your thoughts in the comments below. Together, we can make a difference. Speakers: Marina Takane, WHO; Oliver Jones, UNICEF; and Dany Dourng, Ministry of Public Works, Cambodia Summit Organizers: WHO; UNICEF; WaterAid (Global) https://lnkd.in/d5Zj3nn9 #WorldToiletDay #SafelyManagedSanitation #GlobalSanitationSummit #SDG6

Prioritizing Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) for a Healthier Kenya. As public health professionals, we know that access to clean water, proper sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) is the cornerstone of community health. In Kenya, the importance of WASH cannot be overstated—it’s not just about preventing diseases; it’s about ensuring every Kenyan has the opportunity to thrive. Access to Clean Water: Clean water is a basic human right. Yet, many communities in Kenya still struggle to access safe drinking water. By investing in infrastructure and education, we can change this narrative and reduce waterborne diseases. Proper Sanitation: Proper sanitation facilities are essential for maintaining health and dignity. We need to continue advocating for and implementing solutions that ensure every household has access to clean and safe sanitation facilities. Hygiene Practices: Handwashing with soap is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Encouraging and educating our communities on good hygiene practices is key to safeguarding public health. Let’s continue working together—government, NGOs, private sector, and communities—to ensure that every Kenyan has access to clean water, safe sanitation, and good hygiene. The health of our nation depends on it. #WASH #PublicHealth #Kenya #SDGs #CleanWater #Sanitation #Hygiene #HealthForAll #CommunityHealth

ESAWAS regulators association in collaboration with UNICEF launched the Citywide Inclusive Sanitation (CWIS) Regulatory Journeys in six countries which serves as a valuable resource for policymakers, regulators, service providers, service authorities and their development partners involved in urban sanitation to catalyse further progress in CWIS regulatory frameworks by providing actionable insights, outlining pathways for implementation, fostering regional collaboration, and encouraging the adoption of good practices that can lead to the realization of inclusive, safe and sustainable urban sanitation. The report examines the country specific sanitation regulatory journeys of Rwanda, Zambia, Uganda Tanzania, Kenya, and Burundi, aiming to illustrate the pathways through which urban sanitation has been transformed over the years. The report aligns with the newly developed World Health Organization Roadmap for advancing sanitation regulation   Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/d2Akcv_V

Open Defecation: 48m Nigerians Lack Access to Toilets, Says UNICEF UNICEF’s Chief of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) in Nigeria, Dr. Jane Bevan, has disclosed that approximately 48 million Nigerians lack access to toilet and sanitation facilities, stressing the urgency for the government, agencies and private sector to commit to ending open defecation and improving sanitation standards across the country. https://lnkd.in/dF5_c7Pz

Are you curious to learn more about the WASH Atlas that USAID recently launched? Do you want to know more about the methodology, or if you could actually use it to target your WASH programming to the areas of greatest need? Check out the new blog on how to use the WASH atlas for insights into water and sanitation access: https://lnkd.in/eW-i-jnU