Identification of the potential opportunities, barriers, and threats within the sector in taking up sanitation as a business: rural sanitation in Nkhata Bay District (Malawi)

Rochelle Holm; Elijah Wanda; Victor Kasulo; Simeon Gwayi

doi:10.3362/1756-3488.2014.026

Identification of the potential opportunities, barriers, and threats within the sector in taking up sanitation as a business: rural sanitation in Nkhata Bay District (Malawi)

Rochelle Holm | Elijah Wanda | Victor Kasulo | Simeon Gwayi

Private sector participation in sanitation marketing provides a great opportunity to improve rural sanitation access. Although a number of opportunities for private sector participation within the sanitation sector exist, there are numerous barriers and threats to taking up sanitation as a business. This Note from the Field identifies these opportunities, barriers, and threats in Nkhata Bay District, a rural area of Malawi. These insights emerge from a wider research project entitled ‘Private sector participation in the delivery of sanitation and hygiene services’. This note provides background information on the research project on private sector participation and the project location. It goes on to describe the data collection process and present two examples of business activities in the district sanitation sector, before listing the opportunities, barriers, and threats identified and the recommendations that emerge from them.

Malawi Government (2005) National Water Policy, Lilongwe, Malawi: Ministry of Irrigation and Water Development.

Malawi Government (2008) National Sanitation Policy, Lilongwe, Malawi: Ministry of Irrigation and Water Development.

Malawi Government (2009) Nkhata Bay District Assembly Socio-Economic Profile (2010–2012), Malawi: Nkhata Bay District Assembly.