A new continent-wide initiative has been launched to improve how African governments manage sanitation services, with a strong focus on strengthening public data systems for non-sewered sanitation. Backed by the funding support of the Gates Foundation, the WSH Data Labs Initiative is designed to support governments in building inclusive data infrastructure that enhances planning, accountability, and investment in urban sanitation.
The move comes in response to a sobering reality: more than 780 million people across Africa still lack basic sanitation, and nearly 200 million continue to practice open defecation. In urban areas—particularly in informal settlements—sanitation services are stretched, and accurate, real-time data on coverage and quality is often missing.
According to experts, these gaps are not simply about infrastructure but are rooted in systemic weaknesses in public data management. Most local service authorities operate with outdated or fragmented systems, limiting their ability to monitor performance, allocate resources, or hold providers accountable. Without reliable data, national policy goals remain disconnected from realities on the ground.
The new initiative seeks to address this through two key strategies. First, it will provide direct technical support to national governments to institutionalize data systems that connect local-level information with national oversight and investment planning. These systems will prioritize disaggregated data from informal settlements and underserved areas, which are typically left out of sector statistics.
Second, the program will align with existing efforts by regional and international partners—including the Eastern and Southern Africa Water and Sanitation Regulators Association (ESAWAS), UNICEF, and WHO—to harmonize data tools and performance indicators. The aim is to avoid duplication and accelerate adoption of common standards for service benchmarking and investment targeting.
The Principal Investigator of the project, Ridwan Sorunke, explained: “This initiative is about reimagining how utilities and municipal authorities access and use sanitation data. When utilities and municipal authorities own their data, they can drive faster, more targeted, and more inclusive solutions.”
The initiative builds on lessons from countries such as Bangladesh, where a national Integrated Management Information System (IMIS) connects city-level sanitation data with national planning.
Similar tools are now being piloted in parts of Africa, including Zambia’s Digital Sanitation Atlas and Kenya’s MajiData platform. These systems integrate spatial, financial, and operational data to support transparent and evidence-based decision-making.
Crucially, the WSH Data Labs also emphasizes institutional learning. Through cross-sector workshops, country cohorts, and research partnerships, it will share lessons from public health, education, and infrastructure sectors—where governments have made significant strides in building durable data systems.
Beyond technology, the initiative places a strong emphasis on policy and financing. One goal is to help local governments and utilities understand what institutional arrangements and funding models are necessary to sustain public data systems over time. Workshops and training modules will support civil servants in integrating data tools into daily management routines.
The initiative represents a broader shift in how development efforts approach data: from donor-driven surveys to institutionalized systems embedded in public agencies. It also signals growing recognition that digital infrastructure—when locally owned and governed—can play a powerful role in transforming essential services. With Africa’s urban population projected to double by 2050, the need for responsive, data-informed sanitation planning is more urgent than ever. This initiative positions data as a critical piece of the solution—not just for tracking progress, but for driving it.
