Financial Inclusion Improves Sanitation & Health (FINISH) Mondial Kenya is launching a new partnership with UNICEF, with the objective of accelerating market-based sanitation in Siaya, Kitui and Migori Counties in Kenya.  

The market–based approach will help improve health outcomes by enabling affordable access to basic and improved sanitation services. The partnership will engage the private sector and other partners in offering innovative financing facilities and training for upcoming entrepreneurs and provide support for vulnerable households to access the products and services. 

Figure 1: Project target counties (Kitui, Siaya and Migori)

Sanitation for Universal Health Coverage

UNICEF is assisting Kenya to accelerate the elimination of open defecation (OD) and facilitate access to basic sanitation in communities and schools. This project is named “Sanitation for Universal Health Coverage (UHC)” and funded by the Government of Japan.

Under this framework, FINISH Mondial Kenya and UNICEF will collaborate to facilitate a market-based approach to improve access to water, sanitation and hygiene for communities for enhanced resilience against COVID-19. 

Commitment to sanitation 

FINISH Mondial Kenya and UNICEF have for a long time emphasized the need for sustainable sanitation initiatives to ensure continuity, promote scale-up and enhance resilience against shocks such as the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Despite the challenging economic environment brought about by the pandemic, FINISH Mondial Kenya has continued to create local markets for sanitation products and services that promote sanitation for all and create lasting health benefits in communities. Additionally, FINISH Mondial Kenya is strengthening the sanitation economy at the local level by undertaking innovative projects that safely recycle nutrients and carbon in human waste.  

Figure 2: Safely managed sanitation facility in Kenya. Source: FINISH Mondial

Accelerating the pace of universal sanitation coverage 

With support from UNICEF and LIXIL, a Japanese sanitation product manufacturer, FINISH Mondial Kenya is targeting more than 500,000 people to benefit from basic sanitation services. A further 40,000 people are expected to acquire improved sanitation products through sanitation marketing campaigns and accessing innovative financing options. Emphasis will be placed on supporting vulnerable households.  

200 youth entrepreneurs will be engaged and taken through a process of capacity building to start and run their own sustainable small-scale sanitation businesses. In their business models, the entrepreneurs will leverage improved WASH services and products, as the first line of defence against COVID-19 and other preventable diseases. 

Figure 3: Precious, 9, washes her hands at a UNICEF-provided handwashing station in Kenya. Source: UNICEF Kenya/2020/Nyaberi