In the face of shrinking aid budgets, rising climate vulnerabilities, and persistent development financing gaps, one issue remains underappreciated: How we fund sanitation — specifically products, services, and infrastructure such as toilets, collection, transport, and treatment of waste — and in what currency.
In low- and middle-income countries, millions still lack access to safe sanitation and waste management systems, with dire consequences for public and environmental health, education, gender equality, and economic productivity.
Traditional large-scale sanitation infrastructure, such as sewer networks and centralized treatment plants, often bypass the hardest-to-reach communities. Nonsewered sanitation, i.e., systems that do not rely on pipes to transport waste such as pit latrines or container-based toilets, remains one of the most overlooked and underfinanced development opportunities. Projects such as these offer jobs and markets for toilet construction, maintenance, waste collection, treatment, and reuse.
About the authors
Cecilia Akintomide
Cecilia Akintomide is a distinguished leader in development finance, corporate governance, and strategy, currently serving as chairperson of the United Nations’ Sanitation and Hygiene Fund. With extensive experience across global organizations, she sits on the boards of prominent companies in finance, engineering, and innovation, and has held senior roles at the African Development Bank and Ecobank Transnational. A passionate advocate for women’s economic empowerment and sustainable development in Africa, Cecilia has been recognized with prestigious honors, including Nigeria's national award of Officer of the Order of the Niger, or OON.
Tony Okpanachi
Tony Okpanachi, Ph.D., managing director/CEO of Development Bank of Nigeria Plc, boasts over 30 years in banking. Formerly deputy managing director of Ecobank Nigeria and a regional managing director across East Africa, his diverse expertise spans treasury, corporate finance, and retail. Holding a doctorate in development economics and an MBA, he's a fellow of CIB and CIS, and a highly accomplished, strategic financial leader.
