In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, access to improved sanitation facilities remains limited, particularly in rural and peri-urban areas. As part of the Programme for Access to Water and Sanitation Services (PASEA), funded by the World Bank, the Congolese authorities wish to expand the range of sanitation products and services on offer in order to encourage households to adopt sustainable solutions.

This mission aimed to analyse the sanitation market in the provinces of Kwilu, Kasai, Kasai Central and Kasai Oriental, to identify barriers to the sector’s development and to propose solutions tailored to the needs of the local population. The objective was to organise supply chains, support local stakeholders and develop viable business models for the promotion and marketing of improved latrines.

Type of services provided

• Conducting an in-depth study of the sanitation market in the provinces targeted by the programme.

• Analysing the supply chain for sanitation-related materials, equipment and services.
• Assessing household demand, existing practices and the socio-economic factors influencing access to sanitation.
• Examination of fiscal mechanisms and opportunities for developing the sanitation market.
• Design of several latrine models suited to rural and peri-urban contexts, using a user-centred approach (Human-Centred Design).
• Assessment of the construction and maintenance costs of the various options proposed.
• Development and testing of business models for the construction and installation of latrines by local contractors.
• Formulation of operational recommendations to strengthen the commercialisation of sanitation products and services.
• Development of guides, training tools and support mechanisms for stakeholders in the sector.
• Design of multilingual communication and awareness-raising materials to promote improved sanitation practices to mark World Toilet Day.