As we conclude FSMA’s journey, we reflect with deep gratitude and pride on our progress together. Our mission to tackle the global challenge of faecal sludge management (FSM) was ambitious. However, through collaboration, innovation, and relentless effort, we have brought FSM from the margins of sanitation discourse into the spotlight, making a tangible impact on the sector and communities worldwide.

When we began, FSM was an overlooked topic. Today, its importance is globally recognized as a cornerstone of public health, environmental sustainability, and economic development, particularly in urbanizing areas. We played a key role in making FSM a critical part of the global WASH agenda while simultaneously advocating for the dignity and professionalization of sanitation workers.

As we wind down, we also address the shifting priorities in global development, particularly the growing focus on climate resilience. Sanitation is an integral part of the climate change story, and our work has underscored this intersection. As climate-related challenges impact sanitation systems worldwide, future efforts in sanitation must continue to integrate climate resilience as a core objective as it faces environmental shifts.

At the same time, we’ve learned that systems thinking—while essential—remains complex and challenging to implement in the WASH sector. Future leaders and practitioners must push back against overly narrow, donor-driven metrics and advocate for more holistic, flexible approaches to sanitation that focus on long-term systemic change. 

We sincerely thank our team and members for their dedication over the years. Your commitment has been the driving force behind FSMA’s success. We trust that the spirit of collaboration, innovation, and resilience defined by FSMA will live on, inspiring further progress toward a world where sanitation is dignified, inclusive, and climate-resilient.

Though FSMA is closing, we leave behind a strong foundation. FSM is now part of the broader sanitation conversation, and the initiatives we’ve pioneered—from international conferences to the FSM Toolbox—will continue supporting and inspiring practitioners. The momentum we’ve created must not be lost. We urge governments, private sector partners, and international organizations to carry forward the work we started, adapting it to meet the challenges of climate change, urbanization, and inclusivity.