Did you know that every dollar invested in sanitation yields a return of five dollars? Sanitation is a good use of money, and essential for both social and economic development. Actually, toilets are one of the best investments a country can make.

We need to redefine what “shit” stands for – a source of economic gain. Sanitation, whether in the literal context of reusing human waste, or in a broader development context has a positive economic value. There is growing evidence showcasing socio-economic returns to households, businesses and the wider community, such as increased productivity through time gains and health benefits, increase of tourism revenues through clean environments, a strong reduction of health costs by avoiding treating sanitation related diseases such as diarrhoea, higher levels of education, and other benefits related to dignity and safety.

In addition, sanitation means business: a new latrine is just the beginning of an ongoing business opportunity. Sanitation and hygiene open up a viable market with high revenue potential for entrepreneurs, in particular for local and small scale business. Providing services and products creates jobs. Therefore, one should look at sanitation as a market driven activity: it is a business with customers, not beneficiaries.