Accessing the bathroom to use the toilet or to wash our hands is something most of us do every day without a second thought. Sadly, 1.69 billion people around the world lack access to basic sanitation, while 494 million individuals practice open defecation regularly1 and 30% of the world’s population do not have access to handwashing facilities with soap and water at home.
Last year, GROHE ran its “Energy for Life” campaign across 13 countries in Europe including the UK, the Middle East and North Africa2, contributing 1€ for every eligible shower system and thermostat sold to support UNICEF and LIXIL’s “Make a Splash!” partnership. The total of 1.2 million euros collected was applied directly to partnership activities, supporting the underserved communities of Nigeria and Indonesia gain access to basic and safely managed sanitation and hygiene.
Supporting basic sanitation and hygiene efforts in Nigeria
UNICEF estimates that almost 77.8 million people in Nigeria either practice open defecation or use unregulated sanitation. Last year the “Make a Splash!” partnership, that was founded in 2018 between UNICEF and LIXIL to tackle to global hygiene and sanitation crisis, expanded its territory to Nigeria, where the Federal Government announced its plans to become open defecation free (ODF) by 2025. UNICEF will support these efforts by creating community and household demand for sanitation, improving sanitation for 1.5 million people. UNICEF will also collaborate with the government to strengthen systems optimising the role and reach that sanitation markets can have in providing consumer access to supplies and services. This will enable an additional 250,000 people to reach higher levels of sanitation services.
Developing solutions for safely managed sanitation services in Indonesia
In Indonesia, 80% of households have access to basic sanitation, yet less than one out of ten use safely managed sanitation services.3 To cater to the nation’s needs, the “Make a Splash!” partnership activities in Indonesia will serve as a catalyst, aiming to scale-up the use of safe services through the development of appropriate solutions, as well as greater private sector engagement. GROHE’s contribution will help the “Make a Splash!” partnership impact up to 250,000 people by providing support that will help them access safely managed sanitation. As this approach is tested, proven, and taken to scale, GROHE and UNICEF through the “Make a Splash!” partnership have the potential to accelerate access to safely managed sanitation services for many more Indonesians.
The “Make a Splash!” shared-value partnership between LIXIL and UNICEF launched in 2018.
Combining UNICEF’s sanitation behavior change and sanitation systems strengthening efforts with access to LIXIL’s readily available and affordable SATO brand of solutions, the partnership reached 2.9 million people and expanded its scope to a total of six countries in 2021. This includes three of the world’s most populated countries of Nigeria, Indonesia, and India.
“At LIXIL, we are proud of our global partnership with UNICEF and GROHE’s ‘Energy for Life’ campaign. It will support the immediate and long-lasting impact on the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in Nigeria and Indonesia, where issues like open defecation and unsafe sanitation are a bitter reality for the majority of the population. Water is at the core of our business, and as a global leader, we are aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goal 6. We are committed to share our expertise and drive change for the better – to make access to clean water and sanitation a reality for everyone, everywhere”, says Jonas Brennwald, Leader LIXIL EMENA.
“Improved sanitation and hygiene are important, especially for children in Nigeria, as this reduces the risk of childhood diseases that can impede their overall wellbeing, learning and growth. Here at UNICEF, we are grateful that the support from GROHE will not only help to scale access to safely managed sanitation to more children and households but will also help contribute to the achievement of an open defecation free Nigeria,’’ states Jane Bevan, Chief of WASH, UNICEF Nigeria.
“Making sanitation services more affordable and accessible can save children’s lives and improve their health, education and economic opportunities,” says Maniza Zaman, UNICEF Representative in Indonesia. “Our partnership with GROHE and LIXIL will bring together government partners, entrepreneurs, suppliers and financial institutions to help accelerate access to safely managed sanitation for millions of people, allowing many more children to live and thrive in a clean and healthy environment.
”
