Photo courtesy of ©LIXIL/Njeri Gakuo
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Journal of Science Policy & Governance | Volume 16, Issue 02 | May 27, 2020
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Technology Assessment: The Role of the SaTo Pan Toilet Technologies in Advancing Progress in the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Sector
Jasmine Burton (1), James B. Tidwell (2), Jenala Chipungu (3), Robert Aunger (4)
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Keywords: WASH; WASH infrastructure; sanitation; toilets; toilet
Executive Summary: The United Nation’s (UN) 6th Sustainable Development Goal seeks to enable the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030 (UN Sustainable Development Goals Platform). Lusaka, Zambia has thirteen peri-urban areas (PUAs), all with poor sanitation conditions (WHO / UNICEF). The SaTo brand, created by the LIXIL Corporation, offers a suite of frontier sanitation technologies including various safe and affordable toilet products for use in lower-and middle-income countries (LMICs) in Africa and Asia. This study examines the potential market demand and environment for the SaTo Pan Sit and Squat toilets in the Bauleni PUA. In Lusaka, landlords (LLs) hold the decision-making power regarding household-based infrastructure; therefore, this study measures LL interest in the SaTo Pan Toilet technologies for the LL’s personal and familial use as well as for use by their tenants. 30 semi-structured interviews with conveniently sampled, adult LL residents of Bauleni were conducted to capture their demographic, sanitation, and toilet history status as well as their SaTo Pan product interaction. Quantitative data was analyzed in Stata; qualitative data was analyzed via thematic content analysis. Results indicate that there is an overarching positive preference toward the SaTo Pan Sit toilet compared to all other presented sanitation technology alternatives. Conducting a SaTo Pan Sit toilet user trial and social marketing campaign pilot could potentially aid in efforts to effectively and affordably decrease the incidence of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH)-related disease transmission in Zambia.
I. Introduction
4.5 billion people lack safely managed sanitation (WHO). In lower- and middle-income countries (LMICs), people often share dry pit latrines, or basic holes in the ground, that lead to health problems. Lacking improved water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure leads to the spread of WASH-related diseases that “remain among the major causes of death in children under five” (UN Sustainable Development Goals Platform 2019). In 2015, approximately “53% of the urban population in LMIC still [relied] on on-site, unimproved sanitation, such as unimproved pit latrine and open defecation” (Roma and Biran 2016). As a result of this, the World Bank reports that “poor sanitation results in a 1.3 per cent loss to Zambia’s national Gross Domestic Product annually” (“Water, Sanitation and Hygiene” 2020).
Therefore, safely managing fecal waste has become a multisector priority. However, the provision of safe and sustainable sanitation products and services in peri-urban areas (PUAs) has proven to be incredibly complex (Blackett and Hawkins 2016). This complexity is a result of a myriad of restrictions including hardware constraints (such as toilet technologies) and societal constraints (such as behavior change, private sector support, policy support, and legal enforcement). Numerous frontier sanitation technologies have since been developed to improve the user experience for both the latrine users and for latrine emptying service providers around the world. However, there are very few market-ready solutions that have been proven at scale (Roma and Biran 2016). There is a sense of global urgency around the scale-up and accessibility of frontier sanitation technologies.
Therefore, safely managing fecal waste has become a multisector priority. However, the provision of safe and sustainable sanitation products and services in peri-urban areas (PUAs) has proven to be incredibly complex (Blackett and Hawkins 2016). This complexity is a result of a myriad of restrictions including hardware constraints (such as toilet technologies) and societal constraints (such as behavior change, private sector support, policy support, and legal enforcement). Numerous frontier sanitation technologies have since been developed to improve the user experience for both the latrine users and for latrine emptying service providers around the world. However, there are very few market-ready solutions that have been proven at scale (Roma and Biran 2016). There is a sense of global urgency around the scale-up and accessibility of frontier sanitation technologies.
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References
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Jasmine Burton
Jasmine Burton graduated with Highest Honors from the Georgia Institute of Technology’s (GT) School of Design with a BSc in Industrial/Product Design. Prior to graduation, Burton founded Wish for WASH, LLC, a social impact startup intended to bring innovation to sanitation after her senior design team was the first all-female team to win the GT InVenture Prize Competition (the largest undergraduate invention competition in the USA) for their invention - the SafiChoo toilet. This work was catalyzed in response to the 2.3 billion people around the world today that lack safe and hygienic toilets, which is a statistic that disproportionately hinders the livelihood of women, girls and other marginalized groups. Jasmine has since led Wish for WASH in conducting iterative toilet innovation pilots and research in Kenya, Zambia, Uganda, Ethiopia and in an Atlanta-based resettled refugee community with a human-centered design and gender equity lens. She continued to pursue her passion for equitable and sustainable sanitation as a Rotary Global Grant Scholar and MSc in Public Health student at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. With 7+ years of diverse WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) experience in the research, communications, health and gender equity spaces within the public, private, and social enterprise sectors across 10 countries, Jasmine identifies as a social impact designer and storyteller who seeks to utilize design thinking and business acumen to accelerate universal access to improved sanitation for all because #everybodypoops.
Acknowledgements
Jasmine Burton received London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) technical support from the San-Dem project Research Assistant and LSHTM PHD Candidate, Dr. James B Tidwell, as well as from the TRANSFORM project Research Fellow, Dr. Katie Greenland. Dr Robert Aunger, Dr. Adam Biran, and Dr. Valerie Curtis supported in the developed of my MSc project proposal and protocol; Dr. Aunger became Jasmine’s direct project supervisor and aided in the refinement of my protocol, data collection tools, and written drafts. While in Lusaka, Jasmine was provided with an office space at CIDRZ Headquarters after meeting with and receiving support from the Zambian-facing LSHTM- CIDRZ TRANSFORM Principle Investigator (PI), Dr. Roma Chilengi. Jenala Chipungu and Joyce Chilekwa, both of whom were CIDRZ Research Fellows, acted as Jasmine’s main in-country points of contact for training, logistics, and technical support. Financial support for this fieldwork was obtained via the LSHTM Trust Fund, LSHTM MSc-based bursary, and Rotary International Global Grant scholarships. During Jasmine’s time in Zambia, Dr. James B Tidwell supported her with developing her sampling strategy within Bauleni. Jenala and Joyce aided in the selection of Jasmine’s two Zambian project research assistants, Herbert and Ester, whom provided her with real-time interview translations.
Disclaimer
SafiChoo is a modular toilet concept created by Wish for WASH, LLC which was founded by Jasmine Burton.
Jasmine Burton graduated with Highest Honors from the Georgia Institute of Technology’s (GT) School of Design with a BSc in Industrial/Product Design. Prior to graduation, Burton founded Wish for WASH, LLC, a social impact startup intended to bring innovation to sanitation after her senior design team was the first all-female team to win the GT InVenture Prize Competition (the largest undergraduate invention competition in the USA) for their invention - the SafiChoo toilet. This work was catalyzed in response to the 2.3 billion people around the world today that lack safe and hygienic toilets, which is a statistic that disproportionately hinders the livelihood of women, girls and other marginalized groups. Jasmine has since led Wish for WASH in conducting iterative toilet innovation pilots and research in Kenya, Zambia, Uganda, Ethiopia and in an Atlanta-based resettled refugee community with a human-centered design and gender equity lens. She continued to pursue her passion for equitable and sustainable sanitation as a Rotary Global Grant Scholar and MSc in Public Health student at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. With 7+ years of diverse WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) experience in the research, communications, health and gender equity spaces within the public, private, and social enterprise sectors across 10 countries, Jasmine identifies as a social impact designer and storyteller who seeks to utilize design thinking and business acumen to accelerate universal access to improved sanitation for all because #everybodypoops.
Acknowledgements
Jasmine Burton received London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) technical support from the San-Dem project Research Assistant and LSHTM PHD Candidate, Dr. James B Tidwell, as well as from the TRANSFORM project Research Fellow, Dr. Katie Greenland. Dr Robert Aunger, Dr. Adam Biran, and Dr. Valerie Curtis supported in the developed of my MSc project proposal and protocol; Dr. Aunger became Jasmine’s direct project supervisor and aided in the refinement of my protocol, data collection tools, and written drafts. While in Lusaka, Jasmine was provided with an office space at CIDRZ Headquarters after meeting with and receiving support from the Zambian-facing LSHTM- CIDRZ TRANSFORM Principle Investigator (PI), Dr. Roma Chilengi. Jenala Chipungu and Joyce Chilekwa, both of whom were CIDRZ Research Fellows, acted as Jasmine’s main in-country points of contact for training, logistics, and technical support. Financial support for this fieldwork was obtained via the LSHTM Trust Fund, LSHTM MSc-based bursary, and Rotary International Global Grant scholarships. During Jasmine’s time in Zambia, Dr. James B Tidwell supported her with developing her sampling strategy within Bauleni. Jenala and Joyce aided in the selection of Jasmine’s two Zambian project research assistants, Herbert and Ester, whom provided her with real-time interview translations.
Disclaimer
SafiChoo is a modular toilet concept created by Wish for WASH, LLC which was founded by Jasmine Burton.
DISCLAIMER: The findings and conclusions published herein are solely attributed to the author and not necessarily endorsed or adopted by the Journal of Science Policy and Governance. Articles are distributed in compliance with copyright and trademark agreements.
ISSN 2372-2193
ISSN 2372-2193