Only 37% of the population in sub-Saharan Africa had access to basic sanitation in 2004, according to the UN Monitoring System. The situation is expected to worsen, especially for the urban poor, since the process of urbanisation is moving at a rate that exceeds the ability of most governments to expand infrastructure and social benefits. It is widely understood that many Millennium Development Goals are not achievable without sustainable sanitation and hygiene education.

Convened by

• Kenyan Ministry of Water and Irrigation (MWI)
• Federal German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)

Organised by

• Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) GmbH
• KfW Entwicklungsbank (KfW)

This conference brought together policymakers and practitioners to focus on practical ways of accelerating access to sanitation in East Africa. Issues to be discussed included the political and institutional challenges that need to be overcome, perspectives for scaling up actions, and the enhancement of networking between key stakeholders at all levels.

About 190 participants, presenters, keynote speakers, etc. from 25 countries and from major sanitation institutions and development partner organisations that support sanitation attended the conference.

Conference outcome

• Accelerating Access to Sanitation - Conference Report
  25 p., GTZ, Eschborn 2008.
  en-sanitation-conference-report.pdf, 1,48 MB (English)