Catalysing scale through partnership.
In 2024, CBSA worked with David Schaub-Jones, Tipping Point, to review the state of the CBS sector and develop a guide to help sanitation authorities integrate container-based sanitation (CBS) into their service portfolios. The resource aims to inspire and empower authorities to embrace CBS as an inclusive, climate-smart, and scalable solution that supports their ambitions to leave no one behind in providing safe and dignified sanitation services.
Download How to mainstream container-based sanitation – leaving no one behind in urban sanitation in English (PDF 2.9Mb) or Spanish (PDF 3.1Mb)
See also: Executive summary – How to mainstream container-based sanitation (PDF 400Kb)
Untapped potential to address sanitation gaps
Urban sanitation challenges are immense, with over 700 million people living in cities and informal settlements lacking access to adequate sanitation services. CBS offers a unique opportunity to bridge this gap, particularly in areas where traditional infrastructure fails to reach. The World Bank’s 2019 evaluation underscored CBS as an essential tool in the urban sanitation toolkit, yet much of its potential remains untapped.
CBS is particularly suited to underserved communities, offering flexible, safe, and dignified sanitation options for vulnerable populations, including women, children, and people with disabilities. Its rapid deployment and adaptability to densely populated urban areas make it an effective solution where conventional sanitation options are neither feasible nor likely in the near term.
A building momentum for CBS adoption
Recent trends, including Citywide Inclusive Sanitation (CWIS) approaches, growing collaborations between CBS providers, governments, and utilities, and the increasing acceptance of public subsidies, are creating a more favorable landscape for CBS adoption. With lower costs and quicker deployment compared to traditional sewer systems, CBS presents an attractive alternative for resource-constrained areas, enhancing climate resilience and cost efficiency.
The financial case for CBS is also strong. Like all safely managed systems, CBS will often require subsidies, but it offers flexibility and cost-effectiveness that make it an ideal choice for underserved areas. By investing in CBS, decision-makers can strengthen the sanitation market, stimulate infrastructure demand, and secure long-term public health and environmental benefits.
From niche to norm – catalysing scale through partnership
To maximize CBS’s impact, it must shift from a niche innovation to a mainstream component of urban sanitation strategies. This transformation hinges on partnerships with utilities and municipalities. These institutions posses the mandate, infrastructure, and capacity to integrate CBS into existing systems. By enacting supportive policies, streamling regulatory processes, and facilitating access to public funding, authorities can enable CBS providers to scale their services, paving the way for more comprehensive and flexible urban sanitation solutions.
The new CBSA guide serves as a practical resource for sanitation authorities looking to get started with CBS. It covers the current state of the sector, highlights encouraging trends, showcases successful case studies, and offers practical tools and tactics for implementing CBS solutions.
Download How to mainstream container-based sanitation – leaving no one behind in urban sanitation in English (PDF 2.9Mb) or Spanish (PDF 3.1Mb)
See also: Executive summary – How to mainstream container-based sanitation (PDF 400Kb)
Further complementary resources are in the pipeline for next year, including a sector report, global standards and guidance for contracting in informal settlements, sign up to our newsletter to hear the latest
