MAD CHALLENGE

WHY THIS MATTERS

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THE NUMBERS. 

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THE NEED. 

GLOBALLY: There is a staggering 61% funding gap between the funds needed to achieve SDG 6 (Clean Water & Sanitation) and the funds allocated. With 103 countries unlikely to meet the Agenda 2030 implementation target, it is clear that the social, environmental and economic model for sustainably scaling sanitation is broken.

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A MAD SITE IN UGANDA: 230 households in Bwaise, Kampala, source their water from natural springwells that are contaminated with fecal matter. This is mainly caused by the unplanned nature and unregulated construction of latrines and floods that overwhelm the safe drainage channels and wash waste from poorly constructed latrines into the water sources, continuously exposing the households to health threats.

Beyond health and sanitation issues, poverty levels continue to be high. According to a recent SSPP study, 48% of households depend on an income of approximately 1.7 USD a day, with only 6.3 percent of respondents reporting earning 281 USD a month. This project aims to address both of these issues by modeling a community-owned sustainable, and entrepreneurial approach to sanitation and waste. 

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MAD AMBITION

WHAT WE ENVISION

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A SYSTEMIC SHIFT.

Incremental innovation won't solve exponential challenges. We need to leave behind legacy systems, in order to create new abundant ones that go far beyond the ability to sustain.

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Our MAD ambition is to unlock the intrinsic value of the 3.8 trillion litres of Toilet Resources (human waste) created each year (500 L p.p./a x 7.6 billion global population 2017). Through working with with a diverse constellation of sanitation actors across Uganda and Sweden we are developing a next generation ecosystem that aims to address this challenge through a community led pilot that: 

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1. Tests waterless container toilet units that do not penetrate the ground and thus reduces risk of water source contamination.

2. Develop a community-owned and led circular sanitation value chain that transforms human waste into agricultural products such as fertilizer and briquettes, generating economic growth for the communities through entrepreneurship initiatives.

3. Explores innovative economic and finance models such as sewage epidemiology services (e.g. to detect early outbreaks of corona virus and other diseases), sanitation impact bonds, micro-finance and carbon offset credits as additional revenue streams.

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Fundamentally, by integrating these technologies into a circular economic model, we enable people (producers of this resource) to literally be paid-to-poop! Thus turning the currently dysfunctional sanitation model on its head - transforming the “money pit” into a revenue source.

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CALL FOR COLLABORATORS!​

Join this next step

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A THRIVING ECOSYSTEM. 

Being MAD, we are convinced that a systemic shift requires disruptive innovation catalyzed by a thriving ecosystem of diverse and groundbreaking actors. Players that collectively ensures the development of cutting edge technology, abundant business models, next generation infrastructure, enabling policies and not the least: a shift in human behavior, culture and norms. In short, a holistic approach to sanitation that aims to address the social, environmental and economic components of the sanitation ecosystem - aligning sector experts under the ambitious  Paid-to-Poop concept.  

 

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OBJECTIVE. 

We are looking to solve the equation of delivering economic value at a community level, data insights at a municipal level and health innovations on a global scale - through realizing the dormant value in human waste. Opening up a market where each and everyone of us are potential producers. 

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TIMELINE & SCOPE. 

An 18-month project that puts the MAD Ambition to the test in Swedish Summer Houses, as well as in Bwaise District Uganda, between May 2021 - November 2022. We will be working with a selection of the households that local partners have developed trusted relationships with. Community members will be invited to participate in the co-creation, development and testing of the sustainable sanitation model we will simulate during the 18-month project period. For further details on Methodology and desired Outcomes see here - Delve deeper!

 

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JOIN US! 

Join us, as we start testing sustainable sanitation models that are as relevant for rural Ugandan villages as Swedish summer houses. In turning Vision to Reality, we are looking for collaborators with expertise and interest in: Research, impact analysis, service design, development economics, systems thinking, innovative finance, pathogen treatment, WASH innovation and product commercialisation.

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>> If you have a piece to add to this puzzle (that we may or may not have addressed above) - Drop us a line! 

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4,5billion

People lack safely-managed sanitation

844million

People lack access to clean drinking water

+ 1.7billion   

Children contract diarrhea diseases every year, the second leading cause of death of children globally. The disease is preventable  with safe water and sanitation.