SNV speaks on sanitation futures

Antoinette Kome, SNV’s Global Sector Head for Water will open the conference with Jack Sim (Founder of World Toilet Organization), M Feroze Ahmed (Emeritus Professor, Stamford University Bangladesh), and Roshan Raj Shrestha (Deputy Director, Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene, Gates Foundation). Kome and her fellow keynote speakers will weigh in on the latest “advancements, sustainable solutions, and impactful strategies to address global challenges in sanitation and public health.”

Set to take place on 25 and 26 February, WaterAid, SNV, ITN BUET, and UNICEF Bangladesh have collaborated to convene this conference. Toilet Conference 2025 seeks to make a contribution towards strengthening partnerships, accelerating SDG 6.2 progress, and raising sanitation challenges and opportunities for the future, building on earlier work and lessons learnt.

Since 2014, SNV has supported the Government of Bangladesh's efforts to transform its urban sanitation and solid waste management systems.

As one of several Government of Bangladesh partners in realising citywide sanitation, SNV has progressively contributed to (i) introducing pro-poor market-based solutions for faecal sludge management, (ii) increased the valuation of the work of sanitation workers—also making occupational health and safety a prerequisite for their safe service delivery, (iii) constructed toilets and treatment plants, (iv) upgraded onsite sanitation facilities and increased access to desludging services, and (v) co-developed integrated and digital management systems for municipalities, to name a few.

Attending the conference? Catch SNV and partners in the following technical sessions.

• Tuesday 25 February (14:00-15:30 GMT+6): SNV will facilitate the session on sanitation data governance for the digital transformation of the sanitation value chain. This session will be co-organised with the Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE), A2i, and Global Water and Sanitation Center.

• Wednesday 26 February (14:00-15:30 GMT+6): Practical Action will co-facilitate the session on green financing for climate-resilient sanitation alongside SNV and the Institute for Sustainable Future of the University of Technology Sydney.

The conference is expected to foster a vibrant exchange of ideas and a collaborative approach, helping to drive meaningful impact in the sanitation sector.