Africa sanitation: Why sanitation is a good investment

Demand for sanitation products

Despite the above, it is now also evident that the ongoing push to improve living standards has paved the way for the creation of demand for sanitation products and services. 

The business case for sanitation in Africa is testified to by the thousands of entrepreneurs springing up to tackle problems of open defecation and process-related waste. SimGas, which turns sewage into energy and Sanergy, which runs a franchise system for toilets in the slums of Nairobi are just two examples of an emerging business case for sanitation in Africa.  

Business, government financing and international aid play an important role, but for the most part, the primary and most crucial investor in the African sanitation sector is the local household at the community level. 

The best way to drive markets is demand creation – and that’s the approach taken by a development drive referred to as community-led total sanitation or CLTS. By first bringing communities’ attention to shoddy sanitary practices, technicians then work with the communities and encourage them to buy the materials to build their own latrines.

When communities understand the relationship between the costs and causes of poor sanitation they are much more inclined to take action and financial responsibility. This is in stark contrast to the lack of community involvement when toilets are provided for free, or are subsidised by government, charities or donors. The lack of sensitisation in the subsidy approach leaves villagers ignorant and disempowered on health matters and weakens the market environment by creating unfair competition for local producers.

Every dollar invested in encouraging citizens to improve their sanitation is matched four-fold by the communities themselves as they build and pay for their own toilets. Demand for sanitation products and services triggered by community-led total sanitation can stimulate socially and economically sustainable sanitation solutions. The private sector stands to gain from latrine production and store holders attract customers by finding them an income-appropriate sanitation solution.