Sanitation

Improving faecal sludge management chains and on-site sanitation to better serve poor urban areas

In urban areas of low-income countries, improving sanitation faces big challenges in terms of technology, economics and partnerships. Given the complexity of managing excreta and waste water in densely populated neighbourhoods, where pit latrines remain the most widely used sanitation facility, innovation is required at each step of the chain faecal sludge management chain. Our work focusses on both hardware and social innovations to improve on-site sanitation.

We are committed to tackling the challenges related to on-site faecal sludge by working on three fronts:

Long-term programmes in Madagascar to develop and test innovative management models to improve the effectiveness and reach of sanitation services.
Development of technologies including desludging pumps, FSM tracking tools and faecal sludge treatment plants to ensure safe and affordable services.
Strategic advice  and technical assistance building on our practical experience. We work with city councils and the private sector to improve faecal sludge management in urban areas.

What we offer

We offer these services throughout our themes and we always work in collaboration with a local partner.

Research, consultancy & advice

PRACTICA provides technical support to partners looking to innovate and promote adapted water, irrigation and sanitation solutions. We conduct technical feasibility studies and work on applied research programs. We advise partners on the use and conditions of technologies and associated scaling and support mechanisms.

Sector development

We promote a supply chain approach, aimed at establishing strong local networks of producers, operators and supporting organisations. By providing tools and strengthening capacities at all levels, we enhance the local market for technologies, including the necessary maintenance and quality control systems.

Technical training

We transfer knowledge and strengthen the capacities of NGOs, governments and local enterprises through tailor-made trainings. We develop and conduct practical trainings with hands-on exercises, classroom sessions and serious games. We also offer complementary decision-support apps and e-learning materials.

Technical design & innovation

The design of new products and the adaptation of existing technologies to a specific local context are at the origin of Practica. We develop and test our innovations in the workshop and invest in sound feedback loops and continuous exchange with partners in the field.

Examples of projects

Technical Assistance

In Togo we are providing technical assistance, together with SEVES and ARWP to the municipality of Vo1 for the set up of a sustainable faecal sludge management chain. Our role is:

To support the definition and implementation of the global strategy and technical solutions.
To provide technical trainings to operators.
To support the set up of a treatment plant as well as the start of operations.
To follow up and control the construction work.

Project implementation

Since 2018, we have been working with the municipality of Fianarantsoa in Madagascar to implement a full FSM chain with a pro-poor focus thanks to funding from the Metropole Grand Lyon, SIAAP, AERMC and SAUR. We have worked on infrastructures, management and regulations together with the municipality and the private sector.

Our intervention continues until 2024 as we try to replicate successful infrastructures, further reinforce the capacities of the private operators managing the FSM services, and support the municipality in setting up the monitoring and evaluation processes.

Drone view of the FSM treatment plant in Fianarantsoa

Product development & Innovation

PuPu pump used in Madagascar to empty a pit latrine

We developed the PuPu pump as an alternative for unsafe manual emptying practices, and expensive vacuum trucks which cannot reach isolated areas with dense population.

The PuPu pump (which stands for Push and Pull) is a mobile pumping unit to empty pit latrines and discharge sludge safely for transport to the treatment plant. It can be operated and easily maintained by pit emptying businesses.

It is already used by various companies in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Read more about it here.