The 22nd AfWASA Conference, held from February 16th to 20th, 2025, at the Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala, Uganda, brought together water and sanitation professionals, policymakers, and innovators under the theme: “Water and Sanitation for All: A Secure Future for Africa.”
The conference served as a pivotal platform for discussions on scaling access to water and sanitation, integrating climate resilience, and leveraging innovative financing mechanisms to drive sustainable solutions across Africa.
FINISH Mondial at AfWASA 2025
FINISH Mondial was well represented by teams from Kenya and Uganda, engaging in high-level discussions, showcasing our sanitation toilet models and knowledge-sharing sessions. Our showcase participation was anchored within the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) booth, alongside like-minded partners championing climate-resilient sanitation solutions, including Fresh Life , Arumloo , AB.AOC and Bio Sistema
Through this collaboration, FINISH Mondial had the opportunity to showcase its impact, exchange insights, and explore strategic partnerships that align with our mission of driving market-based sanitation and financial inclusion.
Key Highlights: Thought Leadership & Knowledge Sharing
Scaling Sanitation through Artisan Training
In a highly attended session, Steve Birungi (FINISH Mondial Uganda) delivered an insightful presentation on: “Attaining Sanitation at Scale through the Training Curriculum for Sanitation Artisans under the FINISH Mondial Programme in Uganda.”
The discussion focused on capacity-building for artisans, the role of vocational training in sanitation service delivery, and how skilled artisans drive local ownership of sanitation solutions. Participants engaged in deep discussions on implementation challenges, policy gaps, and best practices that could be scaled across different countries.
The Climate-Sanitation Nexus
Pamela Bundi (FINISH Mondial Kenya) contributed to a dynamic panel discussion titled: “The Climate-Sanitation Nexus: Climate-Resilient Innovative Sanitation Technologies and Policies Mitigating GHG Emissions.”
She highlighted critical challenges in defining climate-resilient sanitation technologies, including high development costs, limited financing, and the misconception that sanitation is not an income-generating sector. Proposed solutions included upskilling artisans to implement new sanitation technologies, strengthening multi-stakeholder collaboration to drive policy and financing support and creating an enabling environment for climate-smart sanitation initiatives.
The session sparked engaging discussions on financing mechanisms, policy gaps, and the role of private sector engagement in accelerating the adoption of climate-smart sanitation solutions. Key takeaways included the importance of creating synergies between sanitation, agriculture, energy, and forestry to maximize impact. Additionally, there was a strong emphasis on improving the quality of waste treatment processes and integrating waste valorization strategies to enhance sustainability and resource recovery.
Key Outcomes & Alignments with FINISH Mondial’s Work
The conference underscored several priority areas that align with FINISH Mondial’s approach to sustainable sanitation:
▪Accelerating sanitation access and coverage through innovative financing, appropriate technology adoption, and strategic partnerships.
▪Strengthening sanitation information management to support planning, resource mobilization, and accountability in sanitation service delivery.
▪Scaling fecal sludge treatment facilities, acknowledging the growing non-sewage sanitation segment across Africa.
These outcomes reinforce the need for continued investment, collaboration, and innovative models to drive sanitation transformation.
Looking Ahead to AfWASA 2026
The 23rd AfWASA Congress is set for February 2026 in Yaoundé, Cameroon, where sector players will assess progress, refine strategies, and push forward on the goal of universal access to safe water and sanitation.
As FINISH Mondial, we remain committed to scaling market-based sanitation solutions, driving climate resilience, and expanding financial inclusion to achieve lasting impact