LIXIL’s SATO brand and UNICEF expand partnership to deliver affordable sanitation and hygiene solutions to 560,000 people in Kenya
LIXIL, maker of pioneering water and housing products, and UNICEF, the world’s leading children’s organisation, have expanded the ‘Make a Splash!’ partnership in Kenya with a goal of reaching 560,000 additional people with innovative sanitation and hygiene services. LIXIL’s SATO brand – provider of affordable toilets and handwashing products – will spearhead efforts to reach more children and families by improving access to safe, affordable, and sustainable toilets and handwashing solutions in homes and schools.
This expansion builds on the success of the partnership’s first three years, which resulted in improved sanitation and hygiene for 2.9 million people across Kenya, Ethiopia, and Tanzania. In its fourth year of ‘Make a Splash!’ the scope has now been expanded to cover additional areas and communities across the three countries, while also bringing the partnership to Nigeria, India, and Indonesia. By the end of 2023, the partners aim to impact an additional 5.8 million people with improved access to sanitation across the six programme countries.
“Access to a clean and safe environment is every child’s right. Safe WASH facilities and good hygiene practices not only enable children to survive and thrive, but also give them a healthier start in life,” Mahboob Ahmed Bajwa, Chief of WASH at UNICEF Kenya, said. “The “Make A Splash!’ partnership has made a real impact on people’s lives and environment in Kenya by providing over 300,000 people with access to safe sanitation facilities. Moreover, UNICEF, in partnership with LIXIL, has enhanced the school sanitation facilities in 129 schools, providing a good learning environment for children.”
In Kenya, UNICEF estimates that one in three people have access to basic sanitation, a situation that is worse in rural areas and in informal settlements in urban areas. After focusing on Kitui and Siaya counties in its first phase of the partnership, and witnessing many successfully gain access to basic sanitation, the partnership will now aim to reach new populations in its second phase, developing sustainable and aspirational sanitation solutions for new consumer segments. While activities under this second phase are in their early stages, nearly 12,000 SATO toilets have already been installed across four Kenyan counties, and a bill to establish a network of 2,100 community health volunteers to promote improved sanitation in Kitui County awaits the Governor’s signature.
Samuel Langat, SATO’s Africa Leader, said, “Through this partnership, we will focus on improving the quality of life for 560,000 people in Kenya and another 3.3 million Africans across Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Tanzania. Thanks to the partnership, we can deliver better sanitation and hygiene products based on users’ needs and preferences and can jointly leverage financing for local suppliers and consumers while supporting policies and regulations to accelerate change.”
SATO’s Africa Partnerships Leader, Fredrick Nyambare, said, “Partnership activities focus on market-driven programs and advocacy efforts to draw attention to opportunities for existing and potential sanitation entrepreneurs including pit emptiers and masons.” He added, “We will be initiating pilot programmes and trainings to build strong supply chains and distribution networks that enable local entrepreneurs to sell, install, and service SATO products. We welcome manufacturers, distributors, retailers, masons, and entrepreneurs who seek to grow their businesses by expanding their product lines to explore opportunities to partner with us so we can deliver safe sanitation for all.”
