Sarphati challenge seeks agile sanitation entrepreneurs

#Sanitation #SDG6

Aqua for All, World Waternet and Accenture launched the first Sarphati Sanitation Challenge inviting entrepreneurs to bring innovative, scalable sanitation solutions to the market.

The organisers particularly invite entrepreneurs with an agile approach to creating business models for improved sanitation with financial returns from savings on health care costs.

More entrepreneurs

The challenge replaces the Sarphati Sanitation Awards that have existed since 2013 to honour entrepreneurial contributions to the global sanitation challenge. The development from award to challenge felt necessary to allow more entrepreneurs to participate, also from outside the sanitation sector. A challenge also provides the opportunity to support the participating entrepreneurs through training and coaching, and eventual implementation of their new solutions.

In many places in the world pit latrines are a good alternative for sewage systems that are expensive and consume much water. (photo: Aqua for All)

Health and sanitation

The organisers are specially interested in creative solutions that close the gap between sanitation (SDG6) and health care (SDG3). This can be in the field of digitalisation, partnerships, safe disposals or solutions for health care facilities.

Improved sanitation is known to have a positive impact on health and, subsequently, saves on health care costs. So the organisers are also interested in entrepreneurial solutions that earn back investments in improved sanitation facilities by cashing on these health costs savings.

Participants can use this challenge to experiment and show their creativity to further develop such business cases.

This health-sanitation nexus is strongly linked to the namesake, as Dr. Sarphati was responsible for improving health outcomes through improved sanitation in Amsterdam in the nineteenth century.

Improved pit latrine with tap and soap for handwashing. (photo: Aqua for All)

What’s in it for participants?

Sarphati Sanitation Challenge participants will receive:

expert business training and tailor-made coaching from Accenture
platforms and access to the Amsterdam International Water Week and Stockholm World Water Week
a chance to win the grand prize of 100,000 euro for implementation of their solution, and additional support after the challenge by professional services company Accenture.

Deadline for applications is 5 June 2021.

Portret of doctor Samuel Sarphati who lived in Amsterdam in the 19th century and contributed to the improvement of public health

Doctor Samuel Sarphati lived in Amsterdam in the 19th century and radically improved public health in his city by collecting and transporting human waste out of the city. (photo: Wiki media)

About Sarphati Sanitation Challenge

The Sarphati Sanitation Challenge builds on the bi/annual awards that were initiated by Aqua for All and World Waternet in 2013 to honour contributions to the global sanitation & public health challenge through entrepreneurship.

In 2019, the last Sarphati Sanitation Award for Lifetime Achievement was honoured to Mr Jockin Arputham, the late founder of Slum Dwellers International. Mr Arputham sadly passed away in 2018, after decades of fighting for slum dwellers’ rights and for improving sanitation in slums around the world.

The challenge is held in honour of Dr. Samuel Sarphati, a 19th century doctor, city planner and chemist who radically improved public health in Amsterdam by collecting and transporting human waste out of the city and making a profit in the process.