Meetings-Global: Pan-African Meeting on Rural Sanitation

March 26-29, 2019, AAETI, Nimli

A Four - day Pan Africa meeting was organised at Anil Agarwal Environmental Training Institute, Nimli, Alwar, Rajasthan. The aim of the programme was to provide cross-country learning to understand the challenges and issues concerning rural sanitation in Africa and India and build a network for research, capacity building and sharing of best practices.  All the African countries are struggling due to faulty toilet technologies and handling of faecal sludge. There were representatives from seven countries in the meeting: Nigeria, Kenya, Swaziland, Uganda, Zambia, Botswana and Ethiopia. There were representations mainly from the government departments; however representatives of non-profits and educational institutes are also there. Experts were also from different parts of India to exchange the knowledge on rural sanitation in India and also the Swachh Bharat Mission. In total there were 17 participants from India and Africa. 

The meeting concluded that the faecal sludge management is the main concern of the African countries right now. There is a need for new policies and guidelines on faecal sludge management in the continent.