Sustainable sanitation provision in urban slums - The sanergy case study

Abstract

Sanergy, a Nairobi-based social enterprise, tackles the sanitation crisis in urban informal settlements in Africa. We take an innovative, systems-based approach that addresses the entire sanitation value chain. We build high-quality, low-cost sanitation units, known as Fresh Life Toilets, which we franchise to community members, who run them as businesses. We collect the waste on a regular basis, removing it from the community. We then convert the waste into valuable by-products, including organic fertilizer and insect-based animal feed, which we sell to regional farmers. Through this model, we are making it profitable - And thus sustainable - to provide hygienic sanitation in urban slums.