DHAKA is poised to host the Toilet Conference 2025 in February 25–26. This event promises to advance global discussions on sanitation, highlighting technologies, climate-resilient sanitation practice, gender and social equality, financing, private-sector engagement and critical policy frameworks aimed at addressing a pressing challenge. The conference, which brings together global leaders, researchers, practitioners and policymakers, will stress the need, timeliness, and transformative potential of a concerted approach to sanitation.

Sanitation is fundamental to human health, dignity and development. Yet, it remains one of the most neglected issues. More than 3.6 billion people lack access to safely managed sanitation services globally. In 2020, 44 per cent of the household wastewater generated globally was discharged without treatment. In 2022, 57 per cent of the world population, or 4.6 billion people, used a safely managed sanitation service and 33 per cent, or 2.7 billion people, used private sanitation facilities connected to sewers from which wastewater was treated.

Twenty-one per cent, or 1.7 billion people, used toilets or latrines where excreta were safely disposed of in situ and 88 per cent of the world population, 7.2 billion people, used at least a basic sanitation service. Inadequate sanitation contributes to a range of health issues, including diarrhoeal diseases, cholera and typhoid, which disproportionately affect children under five, causing about 297,000 deaths annually, as a 2011 WHO estimate says. Moreover, the economic impact of poor sanitation is staggering.

In Bangladesh, despite progress in reducing open defecation from 34 per cent in 1990 to less than 1 per cent by 2015, challenges persist. Forty-one per cent of Bangladesh’s population still do not have access to improved or at least basic sanitation.

The need for prioritising often quiescent discourses associated with ‘toilet’ is further underscored by its far-reaching impact on education, gender equality and overall human development. A 2019 UNICEF report says that the absence of proper sanitation facilities in schools leads to higher dropout rates among adolescent girls, particularly during menstruation. Addressing the issues is critical not only for improving health outcomes but also for achieving gender equality and empowering communities. Targeted interventions initiatives to provide gender-sensitive sanitation infrastructure and education have showed measurable impact on women’s health and dignity and have advanced their educational and economic opportunities. Yet, significant gaps remain. Policies must priorities inclusive design and ensure that sanitation systems should address the diverse needs of all individuals, including people with disabilities and marginalised communities.

The conference at hand comes at a critical juncture. As the world races to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, progress on Goal 6, which deals with clean water and sanitation for all, has been alarmingly slow. According to UN-Water’s Global Analysis and Assessment of Sanitation and Drinking-Water 2023 report, current rates of progress are insufficient to meet global targets. The climate crisis further exacerbates this challenge, with increased flooding, cyclones and rising sea levels disrupting sanitation systems, especially in low-lying and disaster-prone countries such as Bangladesh. A 2024 UNICEF report says that severe flooding in Bangladesh in 2024 affected more than 13 million people, leaving many without access to functioning sanitation facilities and increasing the risk of disease outbreaks.

Bangladesh’s vulnerability to climate change compounds the challenges. As a low-lying, densely populated country, it faces frequent flooding, rising sea levels and extreme weather events that disrupt sanitation infrastructure and intensify public health crisis. Floodwaters often contaminate water sources and overflow poorly constructed toilets, spreading pathogens and creating breeding grounds for disease outbreaks. The urgency of integrating climate-resilient solutions into sanitation systems cannot be ignored. Elevated latrines, flood-tolerant infrastructure, especially containment, and the use of durable materials have been piloted as experiments, but the innovations require scaling through supportive policies, increased investment and widespread public awareness.

By hosting the conference, Bangladesh has an opportunity to lead global discussions on integrating climate resilience into sanitation policies. The conference will provide a platform for stakeholders to explore innovative financing mechanisms, such as climate bonds and blended finance, to scale up investments in sustainable sanitation systems. Evidence from the 2020 Climate Policy Initiative highlights the effectiveness of such mechanisms in mobilising resources for climate-resilient infrastructure.

Sanitation financing is another critical challenge that demands attention. Current investments are insufficient to meet the growing demand for safely managed sanitation in urban and rural areas alike. Innovative financing mechanisms such as sanitation bonds and blended finance models offer promising ways to bridge the funding gap. In Bangladesh, microfinance institutions have successfully supported the construction of household toilets, enabling low-income families to invest in sanitation solutions. However, scaling the efforts requires a stronger partnership between government agencies, financial institutions and development partners.

The Toilet Conference aims to explore such models, providing stakeholders with actionable insights into how to mobilise resources effectively. The private sector also holds immense potential to drive this change. By leveraging entrepreneurial models and market-based approaches, businesses can play a pivotal role in manufacturing affordable sanitation products, developing innovative technologies and managing waste services. For instance, small and medium enterprises in Bangladesh have demonstrated success in providing low-cost sanitary latrines for rural households. Encouraging private-sector participation will require an enabling environment, characterised by supportive policies, capacity-building initiatives and incentives for innovation. The conference will offer a critical opportunity for dialogues between policymakers, investors and entrepreneurs, fostering a collaborative approach to sustainable sanitation.

The necessity of safely managed sanitation in Bangladesh cannot be overstated. While basic sanitation facilities reduce open defecation, they do not address the health risks associated with untreated human wastes. However, this transition has been hindered by rapid urbanisation and the proliferation of informal settlements, which often lack the resources and planning necessary for comprehensive sanitation systems. Cities such as Dhaka and Chattogram are growing at an unprecedented rate, with urban slums housing millions who depend on rudimentary latrines or shared facilities.

Innovative technology offers transformative potential for addressing the challenges. Decentralised wastewater treatment systems, biodigesters and smart toilets are among the solutions that can be adapted to local contexts. In Bangladesh, successful pilot projects have integrated faecal sludge management with resource recovery, converting waste into biogas and organic fertiliser. However, scaling such innovations requires addressing systemic barriers, including gaps in technical expertise, limited financing and a fragmented regulatory framework. The conference will provide an invaluable platform for exchanging knowledge, fostering collaborations and catalysing investments that can accelerate the adoption of these technologies.

Private enterprises and social innovators will also find this toilet conference invaluable for forging strategic partnerships and exploring funding opportunities. Organisations such as WaterAid, UNICEF, SNV, ITN-BUET, BRAC and Practical Action, which have spearheaded transformative WASH initiatives in Bangladesh, can share their experiences and collaborate with global actors to scale proven models. Furthermore, the private sector has a critical role to play in advancing market-based sanitation solutions. A 2019 study by the International Finance Corporation underscores the potential of small and medium enterprises to deliver affordable and sustainable sanitation products for under-served communities.

Policymakers will gain insights into effective sanitation frameworks and policies that can be adapted to the Bangladeshi context. For instance, lessons from Ethiopia’s National Hygiene and Sanitation Strategy, which emphasises community-led total sanitation, can inspire similar approaches in Bangladesh. Additionally, the integration of sanitation into national climate adaptation plans, as advocated by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, can strengthen resilience to climate impacts. The conference’s outcomes have the potential to influence both the national and global sanitation policies, such as integrating sanitation into climate adaptation strategies and addressing the needs of marginalised groups, including people with disabilities and indigenous communities.

The conference is not merely an international event but a global call to action. At the national level, the conference can catalyse progress in addressing Bangladesh’s sanitation challenges. By fostering partnership, mobilising resources and building capacity, it can pave the way for changes. For instance, adopting citywide inclusive sanitation approaches, which emphasise equitable and sustainable urban sanitation systems, can significantly improve services delivery in cities such as Dhaka, Chattogram and Khulna.

Hosting this event positions Bangladesh as a leader in the sanitation movement, showcasing its commitment to equity, innovation and sustainability. The insights and recommendations emerging from the conference will inform national and international policies, providing for a road map for changes. As the world converges in Dhaka, the conference will stand as a testament to the power of collective action and a call to academicians, practitioners, policymakers and sectoral actors to collaborate, innovate and lead the way towards a future where sanitation is not a privilege but a universal right. The stakes are high, but so is the potential for progress — a future where health, dignity and sustainability are realised for all.

Hasin Jahan is the country director, Md Tahmidul Islam is head of technical services, Plaban Gongopaddhay is communications coordinator and Kashfia Mahfuz is an associate communications officer of WaterAid Bangladesh.