Strengthening demand, supply and enabling environment for sanitation in the Philippines

Two years after Super Typhoon Yolanda hit the Philippines, a semblance of normalcy is slowly returning to affected areas as victims build back stronger from the disaster. As part of the initial response, NGOs including Samaritan’s Purse (SP) supplied sanitation facilities for free but as conditions transitioned into recovery SP shifted to sanitation marketing strategies. Samaritan’s Purse created self-sustaining markets through demand creation of sanitation products and services, working to increase affordability and accessibility through the market channels, and supporting the private sector supply side of the sanitation chain in partnership with UNICEF, the Philippine Department of Education and other NGOs. This paper reflects the lessons learned from experiences with motivational factors involved in demand creation to purchase sanitation products, the engagement by the financial sector, and the growing activity of the local governing units in the program

Innovation and lessons learnt in design and pilot implementation of clay-bodied bio-sand filters in Niger

In 2015, only 58% of the rural population of Niger had access to a potable water supply and 11% had access to improved sanitation facilities (WHO/UNICEF, 2015). To reduce diarrhoea related diseases caused by use of contaminated water sources, Samaritan’s Purse (SP) embarked on household water treatment using Bio-sand filters (BSF). The installation of the BSF typically requires cement which is too expensive for the communities to buy. The purpose of this research was to explore how the BSF could be constructed using clay pots which will create livelihood programs, sustainability and transfer of knowledge using appropriate local technology. The clay-bodied BSFs were installed at a cost of less than $10 and had a tested flow rate of 0.42 l/min. The research concludes that clay-bodied BSF has potential to ensure improved sustainable water supply and income for potters