LIXIL-UNICEF Partnership Improves Sanitation and Hygiene for 12.7 Million People

• Partners will extend the collaboration for three years, seeking to further strengthen sanitation markets in Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria and Tanzania.
• Five-year partnership report outlines key lessons in enabling sanitation and hygiene across the six countries

TOKYO/GENEVA – LIXIL and UNICEF announced today the extension of their partnership until 2027, with the aim of expanding and intensifying efforts in six countries to reach more communities with safe, clean toilets and hygiene solutions.

Over the past five years, the collaboration has resulted in a significant increase in the availability and affordability of safe sanitation in Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, and Tanzania, with 12.7 million people gaining access to basic sanitation¹ and hygiene.

“A lack of access to safe sanitation and hygiene has a devastating effect on children and their families around the world. Every day, 1,000 children under the age of five die from diseases linked to unsafe water, sanitation, and hygiene. Thanks to our partnership with LIXIL, many communities are not only more aware of the benefits of improved sanitation², they are also more likely to be able to invest in improved toilets and sanitation services. 

“Now, we must scale up our efforts to help reach the 3.5 billion people in the world who still do not have access to safely managed sanitation³. Providing access to proper sanitation facilities not only ensures health and wellbeing, but also grants people the opportunity to live with dignity,” said UNICEF Director of Private Fundraising and Partnerships Carla Haddad Mardini.

Most sanitation improvements in lower-income countries are the result of people using their own money to buy a toilet of their choice from a supplier. However, poorer communities face barriers to making such investments, including a lack of affordable products, an absence of skilled labourers to install toilets, and family cash flow constraints. The partnership between UNICEF and LIXIL has tackled these barriers through a variety of activities in each of the supported countries. These include supporting government health workers to advise communities on safe sanitation practices, training masons to install toilets, facilitating microfinance loans, and increasing the supply of affordable hygiene and sanitation products, including through SATO, LIXIL’s social business.

More details on the partnership’s achievements are presented in the recently published 2018-2023 partnership report. Among other results, it shows how a market-based approach has catalysed investment from the public and private sector to communities, including US$2.2 million in government investment in sanitation and hygiene improvements, and nearly US$4.9 million in loans from banks and microfinance institutions.

“Our partnership with UNICEF is a cornerstone of LIXIL’s commitment to improving global health through innovative sanitary and hygiene solutions," said Jin Montesano, Chair of LIXIL’s Impact Strategy Committee. "By renewing the partnership, we reaffirm our dedication to creating market-based strategies that provide safe and accessible sanitation and hygiene where they are needed most.”

###

Notes to editors
Between 2022 and 2023, results from each country supported by the partnership include:

Ethiopia

• 836,100 people gained access to sanitation through SATO and other products (472,680 through a new subsidy and 363,420 through market-based sanitation).
• Nine national and local government policy instruments were supported by UNICEF.
• Six financing mechanisms or products were made available to consumers through this partnership.

India

• 1,570,948 people gained access to at least basic sanitation³ indirectly through strategic interventions with Bihar and Odisha governments, including 1,291,662 who gained access to safely managed sanitation.
• 1,429,590 people gained access to basic hand hygiene.
• 12 state government policy instruments were supported by UNICEF.
• US$2,940,000 was lent to 118,153 customers through microloans.
• US$816,460 funding was provided by state governments for capacity building and incentives for local groups.

Indonesia

• 442,876 people gained access to at least basic sanitation at both households and in public places, including 318,950 who gained access to safely managed sanitation.
• 11 national and local government policy instruments were supported by UNICEF.
• 12 consumer-driven sanitation and hygiene products were made accessible by this partnership.
• Six financing mechanisms or products were made accessible by this partnership, 321 users were able to access them, and a total of US$10,000 was disbursed.
• Seven data and information systems were strengthened.

Kenya

• 534,719 people gained access to at least basic sanitation in seven counties through this partnership, including 461,986 who gained access to safely managed sanitation.
• 207,682 or more people gained access to basic hand hygiene.
• Eight national and local government policy instruments were supported by UNICEF.
• At least 9,500 schoolchildren in 56 schools in six counties have access to safe toilets in a learning environment provided by The School Toilet Enhancement Program.
• US$919,141 national or local government budget was allocated to sanitation and hygiene improvement actions, with support from this partnership.
• Seven financing mechanisms or products were made accessible by this partnership, granting access to 4,287 people, and a total of US$307,215 in loans were disbursed.

Nigeria

• 617,821 people gained access to at least basic sanitation, including 381,513 who gained access to safely managed sanitation.
• 462,475 people gained access to basic hand hygiene.
• Two national and local government policy instruments were supported by UNICEF.
• US$85,310 national or local government budget was allocated to sanitation and hygiene improvement actions, with support from this partnership.
• Five financing mechanisms or products were made accessible by this partnership, 12,989 users were able to access them, and a total of US$945,769 in loans were disbursed.

Tanzania

• 1,935,508 people gained access to at least basic sanitation through this partnership, including 343,355 who gained access to safely managed sanitation.
• 1,636,682 people gained access to basic hand hygiene.
• One national and local government policy instrument was supported by UNICEF.
• US$340,590 national or local government budget was allocated to sanitation and hygiene improvement actions, with support from this partnership.
• Two financing mechanisms or products were made accessible by this partnership, 212 users were able to access them, and a total of US$4,906 in loans were facilitated.

###

1 Basic sanitation is the use of improved facilities which are not shared with other households and where excreta are not safely managed. If the excreta from improved sanitation facilities are not safely managed, then people using those facilities are classed as having a basic sanitation service.
2 Improved sanitation facilities are those designed to hygienically separate excreta from human contact, and include: flush/pour flush toilets connected to piped sewer systems, septic tanks or pit latrines; pit latrines with slabs (including ventilated pit latrines), and composting toilets.
3 Safely managed sanitations are use of improved facilities that are not shared with other households and where excreta are safely disposed of in situ or removed and treated offsite.
(Reference: https://washdata.org/monitoring/sanitation)
※This press release is issued jointly by UNICEF and LIXIL.

About UNICEF
UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone.
For more information about UNICEF and its work for children, visit: unicef.org 
UNICEF does not endorse any company, brand, product, or service.