In Nairobi alone there are more than 2 million residents in informal settlements. 69% of urban residents do not have access to improved sanitation. Conventional approaches have failed to solve the urban sanitation crisis due to high population densities, insufficient land, short life span of latrines, cost, financial viability and safety issues. Sanitation facilities are generally not open at night and require frequent manual desludging which commonly ends up in rivers and open drains, further exposing residents to public health risks. As a consequence, residents are often forced to resort to open defecation or use of potties, make shift containers and plastic bags in their home (particularly at night), which are subsequently emptied into open drains, rivers ortossed away (“flying toilets”). Women and children tend to spend a greater proportion of their time within settlements and consequently are disproportionately affected by this problem.

Sanergy has a rapidly expanding and popular commercial toilet network, with hygienic and affordable toilets placed in residential areas and in markets. The Fresh Life Toilet (FLT) network is used by local residents up to 33,000 times every day but research indicates that to maximise the penetration of hygienic sanitation into informal settlements, a variety of different sanitation options and delivery models are required.In the last 2 years Oxfam and Sanergy have been partners to scale up access to sanitation through expansion of FLTs into primary schools in low-income areas and since 2014 to design and test a desirable family-oriented urine diversion toilet. This proposal is the 3rd phase of a project started by Oxfam in 2010.

Slum dwellers constitute the majority, “bottom of the pyramid” consumer and their needs must be
addressed to tackle the sanitation crisis. Whilst a functional and aesthetic product – which this project will produce - is important, scalability will only be possible on the basis of a favourable environment, a robust business model and incentives to change, issues which this project also seeks to address. In addition to considering the operational costs and affordability of accessing toilets and an associated collection service, which Sanergy will lead, Oxfam will explore existing constraints (social, economic, legislative) that if unblocked could increase demand and result in accelerated action for a solution.

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Specific to one or several countriesToilets or urinals (user interface)Emptying and transport (non sewered)Container based systems (CBS)Other philantropist foundationPeri-urbanPrivate sector, including social enterprises

Related Countries

Kenya