The current worldwide problems in urban sanitation call for transdisciplinary, multisectoral, and multi-solution approaches to achieve inclusive and sustainable urban sanitation. Challenges arise when different stakeholders hold varying interpretations of “inclusion” and “sustainability” within sanitation frameworks such as Citywide Inclusive Sanitation (CWIS).
To establish a baseline, this study examined current perceptions on inclusion and sustainability among sanitation stakeholders in cities from five countries representing low- and middle-income countries (Malawi, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, South Africa, and Mexico) in the Global South. The study was conducted in collaboration with partners from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; University of Northern British Columbia, Canada; Gwanda State University, Zimbabwe; Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, Tanzania; Utrecht University, Netherlands; Parakata R.S.R., Mexico; and University of Strathclyde, United Kingdom.
In Malawi, the study was conducted in Blantyre city and ran from October 2019 to February 2021.
Study Findings
October 2019 – February 2021A total of 97 urban sanitation professionals from various sectors were interviewed in six Global South cities using a standardized tool. The analysis focused on themes related to inclusion and sustainability. Terms like “everyone” lacked clarity, but stakeholders identified disabled people, women, children, and the poor as key beneficiary groups. More specific policies could enhance visibility for these groups in sanitation services. The study referenced the three pillars of sustainability in the CWIS framework—environmental, social, and economic—highlighting that different stakeholders prioritise different pillars based on their goals. Encouraging cross-sector collaboration can lead to a more balanced approach, with organisations championing each sustainability pillar. The findings can promote discussions on effective multi-stakeholder engagement for inclusive and sustainable sanitation services.
Publication
Luwe K, Sindall RC, Garcia-Becerra FY, Chinyama A, Lohiya H, Hope C, Paczkowski F, Komakech HC, Morse T. Perceptions of Inclusivity and Sustainability in Urban Sanitation in Global South Cities. Environmental Health Insights. 2022 Nov 29;16:11786302221139964. doi: 10.1177/11786302221139964 . PMID: 36466037; PMCID: PMC9716583.
Funding
The project received funding from the Royal Academy of Engineering as part of the UK Government’s Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF).
