Faecal Sludge Management Alliance

Over the last 5 ½ years, FSMA worked to drive transformative change in sanitation to shape urban resilience. This was primarily through developing our bi-annual FSM conference series and building a network of FSM professionals and champions across the globe.  

The sector has changed since we opened our doors, and so has the funding landscape. The COVID-19 pandemic brought about changing funding priorities from organisations sitting in high-income countries to organisations working on the ground in low- and middle-income countries. Funding that focuses more on direct investments to regional grantees will better support local FSM networks and sanitation service providers.

Additionally, the WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) sector learned that FSM didn’t address all the problems to ensure universal access to sanitation, and efforts are needed to support the last mile - regardless of the sanitation systems used. While FSM still needs a platform for discussion, a new, more inclusive path to safely managed sanitation for all is opening up, one that incorporates all technologies and advocates for the professionalisation and dignity of sanitation workers of all kinds. 

FSMA’s objective has always been to champion truly inclusive sanitation. When we started, faecal sludge management - both the technology and its professionals - didn’t have a voice in the sanitation conversation. Our goal was to raise the profile of FSM and marginalised sanitation workers to achieve safely managed sanitation for all. FSMA is giving way to a future where the sanitation sector is inherently inclusive, and donors prioritise support for locally-based sanitation networks, providers, and professionals.