about safi sana

The Safi Sana Foundation works to develop scalable, local business models to produce and market renewable energy and organic fertilizer, while providing quality sanitation and clean water services to communities in (sub)tropical areas.

growing problems

waste pollution: in densely populated slums, solid and liquid waste are a huge problem. A lack of proper sewage systems and irregular waste dislodging has dramatic effects on human health, the local environment and the community.

nutrient depletion: there is a growing scarcity of nutrients (phosphor) in combination with a growing demand for higher food production. This has lead to a depletion in soil fertility and unstable price increases in chemical fertilizers, putting extra pressure on local farmers.

energy scarcity: fossil fuel use has intensified, while excess pressure on biomass resources is leading to scarcity and environmental degradation. These traditional energy sources are thus susceptible to volatile prices and availability.

climate change: is having a profound impact on the base of the pyramid population in less developed countries. The poor are being adversely affected with few resources available to mitigate the risks and adapt to climate change.

the safi sana way

In the context of local demand, entrepreneurial skills and capacity, Safi Sana aims to bring together the separate goals of:

• Sanitation and waste management: quality sanitation and improved waste management in (peri) urban areas, with a resulting high impact on health and better living conditions.
• Water: provision of clean drinking water, with the aims of improving health and increasing local supply.
• Education: hygiene and sanitation education to improve health.
• Business: contributing to new business activity and employment.
• Fertilizer: providing an affordable and sustainable alternative to chemical fertilisers.
• Biogas: providing a clean, profitable, local alternative energy source.

our philosophy

At an umbrella level, Safi Sana works with national and local government, NGOs and the private sector. We believe that this ‘tripartite’ philosophy draws together a market-driven attitude, government support and social and sustainable values. At the local level our goal is to provide the necessary managerial experience, marketing support and sales advice to enable local entrepreneurs to operate and own a service block. By means of using a franchise concept and working with existing NGOs and community organisations on the ground, we hope that each service block can be run locally, providing a quality, hygienic and financially viable service to those who need it.

waste as a business

Safi Sana has two goals.

Firstly, to provide access to high standard sanitation and water services for people living in slums. Secondly, to collect and process the sanitary waste flows with other organic waste into viable end-products for the local market. We do this by creating two complimentary business models:

1. the provision of public toilets using a pay-as-you-’go’ franchise-based formula and;

2. monetization of the by-products through value-added processing and marketing.

Using this ecological sanitation (“ecosan”) concept, we help convert environmental and social problems derived from poor sanitation into financial value in the form of energy and organic fertiliser, local employment, knowledge transfer and health improvement.