Project Lead(s): Joy Kiruki
Issue
With 2.6 billion people around the world not having access to proper toilet facilities, the lack of such facilities is a global public health and sanitation issue for low-income populations.
While this is the focus of global initiatives by governments, as well as public and private social organizations, the suggested solutions are rarely entrepreneurial and financially self-sustaining.
Solution
The project involved a pilot project to distribute prototype Banza Toilets to residents of Nairobi slum settlements, coupled with the waste management and collection services needed to demonstrate the economic feasibility of scaled-up distribution and operation.
The Banza Toilets were the design of Patrick Kiruki, an industrial designer from Kenya and the founder of Banza Ltd. These uniquely designed indoor toilets, coupled with waste collection services, directly address the sanitation needs of residents.
Outcome
The results of this project demonstrate that the project was able to design a low-cost, innovative product to meet the human waste needs of low-income families with privacy and dignity, and to demonstrate reliable and effective waste management that improves basic sanitation and health needs.
As of October 15, 2013, Banza Ltd. had produced 100 prototype Banza Toilets, of which 45 toilet units had been distributed to resident families of the Mathare slum neighborhoods of Nairobi.
This was combined with initiating the daily collection, cleaning and disposal of waste, in partnership with Community Cleaning Services, which has organized and manages a mobile cleaning and collection team.
Households receiving a toilet have an average of five residents, meaning over 225 residents have directly benefited as users of their Banza Toilets.
The third objective of testing and developing a self-supporting business model was inconclusive.
The project team has applied for scale-up funding from Grand Challenges Canada.
The aim would be to extend adoption throughout East Africa and beyond, to meet the needs of several hundred thousand residents within three years.