FROM: STANDARD DIGITAL

The fifth edition of AfricaSan Conference that brought together ministers responsible for sanitation and water, key agencies and sector specialists working in sanitation and water across Africa, ended last week in Cape Town, South Africa, with a bleak reminder that access to sanitation and open defaecation is still on the rise.

Held under the theme: Transforming Sanitation in Africa, Accelerating progress towards the Ngor Commitments to achieve the SDGs, the event took stock on the need to build momentum to address the ongoing epidemic of lack of access to safe water and sanitation and large-scale open defecation within the continent.

Most countries are not on track with regard to achieving Ngor Commitments which obligate African governments to work towards achieving universal access to sustainable sanitation, hygiene services and to eliminate open defecation by 2030.

The conference heard that there is need for financing at multiple levels starting from the household to the service provider as well as across the value chain. Robust funding mechanisms need to be made available, including those from local financiers.

The event also looked at the progress made in generating political momentum for sanitation and hygiene to showcase best practices and support in solving challenges facing the water and sanitation sector. At the end of the five-day conference, it was clear there is a sanitation revolution taking place globally and Africa is a big driver of this movement.

At the same time, AfricaSan5 was timely to help the continent fast-track on her commitments based on locally sourced solutions to sustain and accelerate progress towards achieving SDG 6—clean water and sanitation for all by 2030.