The International Water Association (IWA) is delighted to announce the winners of the inaugural Inclusive Urban Sanitation Champions programme, revealed in Kigali during the closing ceremony of the Water and Development Congress & Exhibition on 14 December 2023.

This prestigious initiative aims to recognise excellence, leadership, and innovation in the sanitation sector. It responds to the need for encouraging and recognising contributions of sector players towards achieving SDG 6.2 in low- and middle-income countries. In particular, the sanitation champions serve to highlight the significance of inclusive, sustainable sanitation practices that go beyond traditional infrastructure development and recognise those who focus on inclusion, service delivery, and diverse technology solutions.

The first edition of the Inclusive Urban Sanitation Champions received an overwhelming response, with a total of 106 submissions from 21 countries. An esteemed 13-member expert jury meticulously evaluated the submissions, recognising the outstanding efforts and initiatives that contribute to the advancement of sustainable and inclusive sanitation practices.

The programme features seven distinct categories, each spotlighting excellence and innovation in urban sanitation service provision. The selected IWA Inclusive Urban Sanitation Champions for 2023 are:

1. IUS Champion for Service Delivery:
   1. Containment Systems: Fresh Life, Kenya
   2. Emptying and Transport Systems: Kampala Capital City Authority, Uganda
   3. Treatment Systems: Abdullah Al-Muyeed, Bangladesh
   4. Disposal and Reuse: Sinnar Municipal Council, Maharashtra, India
2. IUS Champion for Communication: Tamil Nadu Urban Sanitation Support Programme, India
3. IUS Champion for Youth Engagement: Global Sanitation Graduate School
4. IUS Champion for Policy and Regulation: Lusaka Water Supply and Sanitation Company, Zambia

Announcing the winners in Kigali, Roshan Shrestha, Deputy Director of Water, Sanitation, & Hygiene at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, congratulated the winners and commended all nominees for their dedication to transforming the sanitation landscape.

For more information about our work on sanitation, please visit the Inclusive Urban Sanitation Initiative.