This webinar, held on September 17, 2025, moderated by the Global Water Operators’ Partnership Alliance (GWOPA), highlighted one of the most pressing global challenges of our time: access to safe water and sanitation. The scale of the problem is staggering: 2.2 billion people still lack access to clean, contamination-free water, and 3.5 billion people are without sanitation systems that protect them from disease. This reality not only undermines a basic human right but also erodes dignity, health, and resilience. Poorly maintained toilets, costly and inefficient water supply, and climate-related pressures add further strain, particularly in rapidly urbanizing African cities.
Against this backdrop, the webinar brought together local initiatives to showcase innovative approaches from cities such as Kumasi (Ghana) and Kigali (Rwanda). These 2021 Global Mayors Challenge winners’ cases illustrate how local governments are finding innovative and practical solutions to deliver water and sanitation services, strengthen resilience, and accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The video recording of the event is available on our YouTube channel – in English, Spanish and French.
Download the guidelines about Kumasi here.
Download the guidelines about Kigali here.
Access to the data visualization about Kumasi here.
Case study: Kumasi, Ghana
The problem
In Moshie Zongo, a densely populated neighborhood in Kumasi with over 22,000 inhabitants, access to sanitation is severely limited. Eighty-three percent of residents do not have private household toilets, relying instead on poorly maintained public toilets. For women and girls, this situation is particularly unsafe, especially at night, and open defecation has become a widespread norm.
The solution
The city introduced an innovative financial scheme through a revolving fund, providing residents with interest-free loans to build biodigester household toilets. At the same time, Kumasi trained unemployed youth in the construction of these facilities, creating jobs while tackling sanitation challenges. Each household receives a tailored design and financial proposal, with repayment scheduled over 12 months, ensuring the fund remains sustainable for future beneficiaries.
The results
- 307 toilet cubicles installed, providing safe sanitation to 4,451 people.
- 42% increase in access to improved sanitation in the community.
- 144 landlords subscribed to the program, with 80–90% repayment rates ensuring sustainability.
- 105 artisans employed and 50 youth trained, generating local jobs.
- 100% repayment achieved in some segments, demonstrating the financial viability of the model.
Case study: Kigali, Rwanda
The problem
Kigali’s rapidly urbanizing neighborhoods face insufficient waste infrastructure and inconsistent access to affordable water. Less than half of waste collection fees were being recovered due to households’ inability to pay, leading to collection delays, overflows, and severe health risks. At the same time, relocation to improved housing increased water demand, exposing gaps in municipal supply and raising bills for low-income households.
You can access the guidelines to know more about the Kigali experience here.
The solution
The city launched a dual initiative combining:
- Rainwater harvesting systems. Each site was equipped with an underground reservoir and elevated tank, providing households with free water for flushing and cleaning, reducing reliance on costly municipal water.
- Smart solid waste management. Sensor-enabled waste collection stations with segregated bins were installed (3 in Mpazi, 4 in Busanza), feeding data directly to the city monitoring platform for timely collection.
The results
- 322 households, with a total of 1,610 residents, received rainwater harvesting systems, securing 3 m³ of free water per month.
- 75% increase in household water availability.
- >40% reduction in water utility costs.
- 1,354 households, with a total of 6,770 residents, benefited from improved waste management services.
- Achieved 90% waste segregation rate.
- Cleaner neighborhoods, reduced rodents and odors, improved household hygiene.
- Additional benefits:
- Creation of jobs for 30 workers per week, including local women.
- Initiation of community-led composting facilities.
- Reduced pressure on municipal utilities, making the model scalable to other housing projects.
Lessons learned
Several common lessons emerge from these experiences:
- Local leadership is essential: municipalities play a crucial role in fostering innovation and delivering public services to their communities.
- Partnerships matter: engaging private operators, community organizations, and development partners enhances sustainability and scale.
- Affordability and inclusivity: solutions must prioritize access for vulnerable groups, ensuring that cost does not become a barrier.
- Climate resilience must be mainstreamed: infrastructure investments need to anticipate floods, droughts, and other climate risks that are increasingly shaping urban realities.
- Data and monitoring: evidence-based planning enables cities to track progress, adjust interventions, and make the case for further investment.
Conclusion
The webinar made clear that while global statistics on water and sanitation remain alarming, local action is driving hope and progress. Cities like Kumasi and Kigali show that with the right mix of leadership, partnerships, and context-sensitive solutions, it is possible to expand access, improve resilience, and move closer to universal water and sanitation.
For other cities, the key takeaway is that practical, locally driven initiatives, combined with creativity, long-term planning, and inclusive governance, can transform basic services and improve lives.