Dry Sanitation projects in Swaziland and Zambia : Final review of experiences from Msunduza, Kaloko and Madimba

Abstract

In 2000, global targets for Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were agreed by the members of the United Nations for a joint struggle against extreme poverty. Within the seventh time-bound target, the proportion of the population without sustainable access to safe water and basic sanitation was to be halved by 2015. While the target for accessibility to improved water resources has been reached five years before the deadline, the goal for sanitation is still lagging far behind and is bound to fail. Globally, approximately 2.5 billion people lack access to safe sanitation facilities. One of the regions struggling with this developmental challenge is the Sub-Saharan Africa. (United Nations 2013)

The cooperation between Turku University of Applied Sciences and the Global Dry Toilet Association of Finland for promotion of sanitation in Southern Africa has continued for seven years. In Swaziland and Zambia, the organizations are working for improved sanitation facilities and increased awareness on sanitation hygiene by building dry toilets and providing education together with the local partners. The projects are funded by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland.