2nd Annual SanTech Hackathon
Innovating in safely managed sanitation solutions for flood-prone & high-water table areas
You can download the full text pdfs of the contest call and application/supporting documents here.
The challenge
During rainy seasons, ground water tables rise. This may lead to flooding/waterlogging destructive to sanitation infrastructure. Sludge from pit latrines gets mixed with and contaminates ground and surface water (used for household consumption and agricultural activities) at great expense to public health. In addition, the following problems have been identified which make toilets expensive and unsustainable, especially for the rural poor:
- High cost of emptying, high fill-up rate due to infiltration of the ground water to the pit causing premature need for pit emptying.
- Substructure damage due to water level fluctuation.
- Frequent requirement for some retrofitting/maintenance after each flood.
- High need for toilets during flooding (when open defecation practice is not possible).
How to enter
Prepare your application with:
-
- The application form (Annex 1)
- Supporting materials including:
- 2 videos (landscape format) of: 60 seconds footage of your innovation in action and 60 seconds interview style explaining how the innovation works.
- 3 photos
- Submit your application and supporting materials (before 30 April) at this link.
- Let us know you completed the application! Follow FINISH Mondial on social media and tag us in a post with #FINISHMondial and why we need to come together to address the #floodprooftoilet.
After the deadline, the TWG selection panel will review submissions to select 8 finalists. A jury of international experts will then select the winners, to be announced in a live virtual event.
Who can enter
We welcome applications from a diverse range of candidates. You can apply as an individual or as part of the group (Research institution, academic institution, NGO, or entrepreneur). Participants with technical experience on toilet construction are encouraged to apply.
Judging
Panels will select finalists and winners based on:
- How novel is your idea? (20% of score)
- How does your idea address the challenge? Is your idea appropriate for the high ground water table and flood-prone areas? (40% of score)
- How technically feasible is your design, and how easy it would be to implement and scale? (20% of score)
- How cost-effective is your idea? (20% of score)
Prize
As winners you will win prize money and chance to implement your innovation on the field.
- First prize: €3,000 + implementation of your solution in one of the FINISH Mondial countries
- Second prize: €2,000
- Third prize: €1,000
- Audience favourite (live voting during virtual event): €1,000
About FINISH Mondial
Financial Inclusion Improves Sanitation & Health (FINISH) Mondial (FM) is an ambitious, 6-country programme aiming to substantially scale up the access and use of safe sanitation led by Dutch NGOs, WASTE, Amref Flying Doctors & Aqua for All, funded in part by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands (DGIS). FINISH started in India (2009) with the aim of building a local system to deliver sanitation services on a large scale. The programme ensures that people are aware of the need for a safe and durable toilet, people want to buy one, it is built and safely managed by local people and is affordable. FINISH Mondial is on track to construct 2 million improved sanitation systems, benefitting 10 million people and creating at least 16 million workdays in construction alone.
The Technical Working Group (TWG) is one of the main groups supporting FM, comprised of technical experts from all 6 FM countries and advisers who have extensive experience in implementation of sanitation projects. TWG is focused on technical innovations that will help to reduce costs and improve the quality of sanitation systems. Additionally, the TWG also works on specific designs of sanitation systems, training of artisans/masons and development of sanitation curricula. The TWG hosted the first FM technical sanitation contest in 2020 during which, 60 applications from 14 countries were received. FM is currently working on the 4 winning innovations. 2 of which are being implemented, 2 of which are still in the pilot stage.
