A Journey to Safe Sanitation in Niger’s Fragile Communities

My country, Niger faces significant challenges in sanitation, with one of the highest open defecation rates globally: 65% of the population practices open defecation, and this figure rises to 76% in rural areas (JMP, 2022). Waterborne diseases due to poor sanitation and hygiene are amongst the leading causes of child mortality under the age of five.

To tackle this crisis, the Government of Niger developed a National Roadmap to achieve open defecation-free (ODF) status by 2030. Supporting this effort, WaterAid has partnered with the government to improve sanitation in Maradi, one of the poorest regions in the country, through the seven-year Hamzari project, funded by USAID. I am the sanitation lead of the project.

How to ensure everyone has a safe and affordable toilet?

We cannot just build toilets for communities but we work with them to address underlying issues hindering access to sanitation. WaterAid rolls out behaviour change campaigns with communities while co-designing durable and affordable toilets with potential customers. So that people want to buy and use them.

At the same time, we collaborate with local private actors to ensure that the materials and products for such desirable toilets are available in local markets.

Let me introduce one of those sanitation champions, Ramatou Tsahirou, a mother of three from the village of Baramaka.

Ramatou’s Journey: From cosmetic product saler to sanitation business leader

Ramatou who has had a cosmetic small business, attended an innovation fair organized by the project, where she saw those sanitation products. Recognizing the significant needs for better sanitation in her village, she decided to become a toilet sales agent with support of a private service provider from a neighboring village. In her first week, she sold 10 latrines!

With her entrepreneurial skills, training and material support from our project, Ramatou launched her own sanitation business.

Her impact has been remarkable: 80% of households in her village now have a toilet. “I am proud of what I have done so far because I helped improve sanitation in my village,” Ramatou says. Selling an average of 80 latrines per month, she earns a monthly income of $650. Her achievements also highlight her belief that “women play a crucial role in advancing the sanitation sector.”

Tangible Results

The Hamzari, which means “move quickly and steadily toward the goal” in the Hausa, local language, has achieved remarkable results thanks to collective efforts of individuals like Ramatou, local government and community leaders. To date, the project has facilitated the sale of 7,000 sanitation products, providing over 13,450 people with access to improved sanitation.

The impact on public health is already noticeable. According to Dr. Moussa Abdoul Hamid Ousseini, the head of the Chadakori Health Center: “Before, there were 60 cases of diarrhoea per month at the health center. Today, with the initiative, we have less than 10 per month.”

While scaling up this market-based approach to other communities, we are developing a strategy with partners and government to roll out this approach nation-wide. This will accelerate the progress towards the national target.

Badamassi Tahirou Tidjani, Sanitation Lead at WaterAid Niger (center) attends a ceremony to celebrate the achievement of commune-wide “Open Defecation Free (ODF)” status.

Can Everyone Have Safe Sanitation by 2030?

Although the recent progress has been remarkable, securing finances for scale up and ensuring behaviour change and sustainable access to such products and services remain challenging.

This is not a unique issue in Niger. Globally 3.5 billion people still do not have access to safely managed sanitation services, which separate excreta from human contacts.

Sanitation is a human right but also a public good for wider benefits to communities. If you would like to learn more, please visit WaterAid’s website.

Let’s take action —quickly and steadily—toward a world where everyone has access to safe and sustainable sanitation.

Author: Badamassi Tahirou Tidjani, Sanitation Lead at WaterAid Niger

Photo Credits: WaterAid – Laouali Mahamane Allassane