Financing Urban Sanitation in Africa

This report delves into the critical issue of urban sanitation in Africa, particularly focusing on the challenges faced in achieving universal access to adequate sanitation services and ending open defecation by 2030, as outlined in the Ngor Declaration on Sanitation and Hygiene. Despite aspirations for flush toilets and sewer access, many urban areas in Africa rely on on-site sanitation methods like latrines or lack access to adequate facilities altogether. Limited data availability complicates tracking sanitation progress, especially in rapidly urbanising regions. The paper explores various aspects of urban sanitation, including financing, service provision, and policy direction, highlighting the predominance of on-site technologies and the need for innovative financing mechanisms to support sustainable sanitation solutions.

It advocates for approaches like City-Wide Inclusive Sanitation, emphasising the importance of integrating informal practises and decentralised solutions into broader sanitation strategies.

The report also underscores the significance of the following: 

• building local political will,
• identifying co-benefits, and
• integrating sanitation into broader urban development Initiatives

This is to address the complex challenges facing urban sanitation in Africa effectively.

Abstract based directly on original source.