FSMA’s Post

FSMA Spotlights Webinar! Date : 4/7/24 Time: 11:00AM CEST Register here: https://lnkd.in/dSDHHRFR Webinar Description: The potential value of the sanitation economy in low- and middle-income countries is very considerable, but business opportunities are currently limited. In order to promote investment opportunities and engage investors, an understanding is needed of the investment readiness of sanitation from the perspective of both public funders and private financiers. The SANEMAT attempts to answer key questions these investors might have to make their investment decisions, and identify aspects of the enabling environment that need to be strengthened in order to attract more investment. A maturity score for the sanitation economy can also be generated for a range of 'pillars' and summated into an index. The tool is based on a range of indicators - some of which have data regularly collected and reported, and others which need interviews with key informants or additional studies. A first proposal for the SANEMAT has recently been circulated to a range of partners to collect feedback until mid-July, before the tool is prepared for pilot testing. This webinar forms part of the process for informing partners and receiving feedback. Speakers: Guy Hutton- Independent Consultant Guy Hutton is a development economist with a PhD in economics from London University. He currently works as an independent consultant, based in the United Kingdom. In 2023, he set up a consulting company “Innate Values Ltd” (www.innatevalues.com) Dominic O' Neill, SHF Executive Director Mr. Dominic O’Neill joined UNOPS in September 2020 to lead with the setup of the new Sanitation and Hygiene Fund (SHF). The SHF was launched by DSG Amina Mohammed in November 2020 and the SHF became operational in July 2021.

"On behalf of all the sanitation actors of the continent, we would like to thank you for your commitment to the sanitation sector, which is so much needed. FSMA played a key role in the birth of the Pan-African Association of Sanitation Actors (PASA)." President of PASA, Ibra Sow, noted that, "The FSM5 conference in Cape Town was a turning point in the life of our organisation, with the setting up of the first PASA office." We're pleased to know there are significant players still out there who have taken so much from FSMA and our events and are carrying the work forward. #AfricaSanitation #sanitation #SDG6

FSMA has significantly impacted the sector through the FSM Conferences. These conferences provided a platform for FSM service providers, workers, and stakeholders to build supportive networks and share knowledge and resources. In 2021, FSMA originally planned to hold FSM6 in Jakarta, Indonesia. However, due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, we moved it to be held virtually. We partnered with the Indonesian government and ensured the content was accessible to different time zones and languages. FSM6 had 585 remote attendees from 61 countries – 80% of them were from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We hosted 55 sessions – both pre-recorded and live. #FSM #Conference #Indonesia

FSMA built a series of technical webinars🎥 – our Spotlight series - to keep the WASH sector updated with the most recent news in sanitation. The 19+ webinars covered the latest tools, best practices, research, and general updates on the sector, with topics as diverse as financing for sanitation technologies, climate-smart sanitation, pit-emptying technologies, and empowering youth. We have created dozens of Spotlights to cover updates and information about projects in different countries dealing with FSM, including Nepal, Vietnam, South Africa, Indonesia, Uganda, and Burkina Faso. Check it out: https://zurl.co/WnEZ #Webinars #WASH #Spotlight

In honoring how our combined efforts under the FSMA have led to incredible change and brought about huge shifts in the water and sanitation sectors, Margaret Maina, previous AfWASA representative and Kenyan sanitation sector leader remembered, "FSMA has helped support integrating sanitation into the water conversation in Africa, framing faecal sludge as a resource and advocating for valuing waste as an important and renewable product. From there and very symbollically, AfWA eventually renamed itself to AfWASA, bringing sanitation into its core efforts. The private and public sectors are now aware that sanitation is a source of wealth and money for the sector to harness." #AfricaSanitation #SDG6 #WASH

In 2019, FSMA co-convened FSM5 with AfricaSan 5 in Cape Town. We hosted 1,307 participants from all over the world. Our hosting of FSM5 helped facilitate 2 key systems-changing activities for Africa. This included: 💧 The launch of the Pan-African Association of Sanitation Actors (PASA) network to help build a coalition of sanitation workers on the continent 💧 AMCOW revisited the Ngor Declaration - which included commitments from different ministries to achieve universal access to adequate and sustainable sanitation and hygiene services and eliminate open defecation by 2030 – to create concrete next steps to achieve these goals African Ministers' Council on Water (AMCOW) @Association Panafricaine des Acteurs de l'Assainissement #FSM #Conference #SouthAfrica

As we navigate the transition ahead, we aim to be as intentional as possible about passing off the work we've done together and our combined legacy in alignment with the values we've always tried to put forward. Our commitment to localizing this work and our resources remains steadfast as we work to center and uplift local stakeholders to lead the way in sanitation advocacy. Why? We believe in the power of locally-led solutions and recognize the importance of empowering those closest to the issues . Stay tuned for updates on the local organizations that will be the stewards of the resources and toolkits we've created together under the FSMA umbrella. #SanitationAdvocacy #ShiftThePower #Sustainability

"FSMA changed the sanitation story in Africa. Now, we have a different mindset...that hachanged how our utilities work." -Margaret Maina, previous AfWASA representative and Kenyan sanitation sector leader credited the FSM5 conference in South Africa as a turning point for Kenya. Margaret noted, that at the time, Kenya 'only saw sanitation as wastewater' but after this event and learning more about faecal sludge management, it spurred the first sanitation conference in Kenya as well as a national septage association. African Water and Sanitation Association _ Association Africaine de l'Eau et de l'Assainissement #AfricaSanitation #sanitation #FSM

None of FSMA's impact would have been possible without our invaluable partners and members. Your unwavering support has been the cornerstone of our joint success. Thank you for championing the critical importance of faecal sludge management in achieving safe sanitation for all. As our journey draws to a close, we're confident that our partners will continue the noble pursuit of ensuring universal access to safe sanitation. Your dedication, expertise, and commitment to change inspire us all. https://zurl.co/bXJt #sanitation #FSM #SDG6