Business Model

The business model of Sanitation Solutions comprises the development and promotion of innovative business opportunities in rural sanitation in developing countries. The potential for this approach is seen in the awareness that there is a huge demand for improved sanitation in these areas and in our conviction that for every community, a well-adapted sanitation system can be designed by combining suitable and ready available technologies and management strategies. Despite efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and significant advances in sustainable sanitation technologies, the major reason why the demand for improved sanitation has not been satisfied lies in insufficiencies in two areas:

 -    the integration of local communities in developing regions and
 -    an understanding of the long-term economic feasibility of sanitation systems

The development of sanitation solutions is envisaged as a modular decision tree that enables interested entrepreneurs to evaluate potentials, risks and conflicts in advance to any investment. The development process is to be supported by community-based education programs that address issues of health, and sanitation and agriculture.

Sanitation Solutions (Ghana) will cover its operational costs through external funding and service fees charged to the communities and/or entrepreneurs that have implemented jointly developed sanitation systems. Depending on system designs, examples where communities can profit include: reduced soil nutrient depletion, a reduction in reliance on imported fertilisers, production of biogas and levying sanitation fees. Further, the creation of safe sinks for otherwise dangerous wastes will improve public health. These improvements will then have the potential to acquire support from the public health sector.

To manage health risks associated with the use of humane waste, our pilot will apply a multi-barrier approach. These most significant of these are:
  • Containment (vs. open defecation),
  • Treatment Composting compliant with WHO requirements,
  • Crop Selection (excluding vegetables and fruit growing close to the ground and eaten raw),
  • Timed Processes to avoid field application shortly before harvest and food preparation and
  • Education, e.g. teaching the importance of washing hands and vegetables before food preparation.

For further information see also:

1.  http://www.sswm.info/content/health-risk-management

2.  Temperature and deactivation of microbial faecal indicators during small scale co-composting of faecal matter:
      Germer, J., Boh, M.Y., Schoeffler, M., Amoah, P., 2010. Waste Management 30, 185–191
      http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0956053X09003845