The case study of ECOSAN in Ethiopia, started 1996

A group of activists and academicians from different disciplines in Sweden, Ethiopia and Kenya founded the NGO called Society for Urban Development in East Africa (SUDEA). Through this organisation the first concept for Economical, Ecological Sanitation (ECOSAN) was spelled out. Ethiopia was the first country chosen to do a pilot project of ECOSAN in 1996, with an integrated approach of all biodegradable substances from the household including human excreta. The system was designed and spelled out to recycle all biodegradable substances from the household including human excreta in a safe and clean manner. The main objective of the ECOSAN project was to show the do-ability of using specifically human excreta as fertilizer and producing food, fodder, flower and/or forest (4F). Through the introduction of urban agriculture or home gardening, the project initiators learnt how to empower women with natural resource management from the household. This has shown to be a very good income generating method for poor peri-urban households. As any integrated approach, awareness creation and monitoring with respect have been crucial. [authors abstract]

This three-day workshop aims to identify proven good practices in the sanitation and hygiene sector, as well as drawing lessons from failures to enter into the policy dialogue. It focuses on urban sanitation with an emphasis on learning and innovation in the sector. It was organised by : UNICEF, GTZ, WSSCC, WaterAid and IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre, and hosted by the Rwandan Ministry of Health.