WASH in Cities

Amid the historical predominance of large-scale WASH infrastructure projects, the potential of “off-grid” sanitation solutions as a key component of robust sanitation economies has often been overlooked due to slower technological advancements and perceived investment challenges. However, this trajectory is gradually evolving, and the momentum towards scaling securely managed off-grid solutions is steadily growing, with organizations like the Sanitation and Hygiene Fund (SHF) playing a pivotal role in fostering this transition across low- and middle-income countries with an initial focus in Africa.In a recent dialogue with Dominic O'Neil, the Executive Director of SHF, the significance of this shifting landscape became apparent as well as the economic and investment opportunities intrinsic to the sanitation economy. Drawing lessons from the Indian sanitation economy and marketplace’s experience, our conversation illuminated the need for socio-political acceptance of off-grid solutions and emphasized the essential nature of country-led strategies in market-driven solutions, coupled with the imperative of avoiding unsustainable national debt levels. Dominic shed light on SHF's explorations into innovative financing avenues, ranging from municipal financing to bilateral grants, aimed at nurturing development without placing undue burdens on nations. Additionally, we underscored the paramount importance of incorporating inclusivity, climate responsiveness, and gender considerations to fully unlock the transformative impact potential of thriving sanitation economies. Visit https://dalberg.com/ to learn more about us and www.washincities.org to learn more about the podcast.

Water, sanitation, and waste management assets and services are critical to healthy cities. And yet, in many cases, the planning for WASH is not integrated into other urban planning functions leading to fragmented service delivery, suboptimal budgeting, poor monitoring of services, and adverse health and human outcomes for urban citizens.In this episode, we speak to Neelima Thota from Sah-Krta Foundation and Senior Advisor to several WASH funders and Srikanth Viswanathan from Janaaagraha Centre for Citizenship and Democracy who share their perspectives on the history of planning for urban WASH through the years, top-down and bottom-up approaches to project planning, role of different elements such as technology, citizen engagement, budgeting. They also discuss success stories in planning for WASH, approaches to WASH planning in large and small cities, emerging trends and climate change considerations in planning.Visit https://dalberg.com/ to learn more about us and www.washincities.org to learn more about the podcast.

The water and sanitation (WASH) sector employs tens of millions of people in the Global South. However, most of this is through the informal sector, suffers from severe forms of prejudice and discrimination, and leads to significant health risks, economic deprivation, and social stigma, especially for sanitation workers. The perceived “informality” of this space leads to a lack of formal attention, budget deficits, and safety considerations.In this episode, we talk to  Dr. Gayathri Vasudevan from LabourNet who highlights the problems with employment in WASH and allied sectors. We learn about solutions and approaches to increase employment, improve skilling, bridging the budget gap, creating appropriate labour contracting models, innovations in the sector, and the role of collaborative action.Visit https://dalberg.com/ to learn more about us and www.washincities.org to learn more about the podcast.

Over the last few years, the importance of treating human faecal sludge has become increasingly clear. Human faecal matter has high-levels of pathogens and can drive significantly adverse health externalities if not treated and rendered harmless. In many countries in the Global South, dedicated FSM business models and technologies have been developed to address this problem of faecal sludge management.In this episode we cover business models for FSM in Indian cities talking to Prof. Chary from ASCI, Sakshi Gudwani from BMGF and Manas Rath from Blue Water company . Listen in as we discuss emerging trends, lessons and solutions from their experiences. They discuss FSM as a separate waste stream, private sector business models in large and small cities, technology trends, policy and regulatory models to attract players and funding and more.Visit https://dalberg.com/ to learn more about us and www.washincities.org to learn more about the podcast.

Historically, water delivery in cities has been planned through large centralized piped networks that run for kilometres and typically take water from a water treatment plant into different parts of the city. However, increasingly, there is recognition that this centralized model is not ideal for many situations: smaller cities or even pockets within larger cities. Over the last decade, innovative decentralized models of supplying water have emerge including including safe water enterprises (SWE).In this episode of the WASH in Cities podcast, Prabhat Pani from Tata Trusts and S. P. Jain Institute, Valerie Mazon from Danone Communities, and Raveendra Bhat from Xylem Technologies discuss business models to increase access to safe and affordable drinking water across cities in Asia. Through their unique backgrounds and perspectives, we learn about decentralized water models, safe water enterprises, emerging trends in technology and innovation, the role of stakeholders in increasing access and solutions to scale up existing business solutions. Visit https://dalberg.com/ to learn more about us and www.washincities.org to learn more about the podcast.

The world is rapidly urbanizing with billions of people living in cities in the Global South. High quality water, sanitation, and waste management services are critical to ensure health, human dignity, and economic growth. And yet, this is a crucial challenge as a high proportion of these urban residents do not have access to clean drinking water, safe sanitation, and waste management services. Furthermore, climate change is exacerbating the delivery of WASH services in urban areas across the world. On this podcast, we speak to experts, innovators, funders who are tackling different aspects of WASH services in cities and go deep into topics of planning, financing, innovative business models, behaviour change, and measurement to improve WASH in Cities. Visit https://dalberg.com/ to learn more about us and www.washincities.org to learn more about the podcast.