Sanitation in Africa: Why Reliable Sluice Gates and Penstocks Matter Most Where They're Needed Least
The sanitation gap in Africa is still enormous Sanitation in Africa remains one of the continent's most pressing infrastructure challenges. In Nigeria, national WASH survey data shows that only around 46% of the population has access to basic sanitation services, and tens of millions still practice open defecation, a gap that widens sharply in rural areas, where households face far greater disadvantages than in cities. Across sub-Saharan Africa, water and sanitation consistently rank among the top concerns citizens want their governments to address, often just behind unemployment and the economy. Kenya, Ghana and South Africa show meaningfully better coverage than many of their neighbors, but rapid urban growth, aging treatment infrastructure and underinvestment still leave large populations exposed to waterborne disease and unreliable service. Behind every one of these statistics is a treatment plant, a pumping station or a drainage system that either has, or is missing the r...