ETUDE SUR L’ASSAINISSEMENT PRODUCTIF /ECOSAN AU NIGER : Bilan et perspectives

This report evaluates the implementation and outcomes of Ecological Sanitation (EcoSan) and Productive Sanitation (AP) projects in Niger between 2002 and 2010. It assesses the technical, social, agronomical, and sanitary impacts of using hygienized human excreta as fertilizer to improve agricultural productivity and public health in rural communities.

• A total of 679 EcoSan latrines were recorded across 15 communes in Niger, implemented by various partners including EAA (EX-CREPA), UNICEF, and PPILDA.
• The use of 'Takin Ruwa' (hygienized urine) as fertilizer significantly increased crop yields, with improvements of approximately 46% for tomatoes, 45% for onions, and over 44% for millet in peasant practice.
• Blind tasting tests indicated that vegetables fertilized with Takin Ruwa were preferred over those fertilized with urea, with 100% of interviewees describing the Takin Ruwa tomatoes as having a 'sweet taste' compared to the 'sour taste' of urea-fertilized tomatoes.
• Social perception of human excreta shifted from total skepticism to total adhesion; 100% of surveyed households now have a positive view of using excreta as fertilizer, compared to 93% who had a negative perception before the projects.
• The projects improved local sanitation coverage, with some villages such as Saja Manja, Maifarou, and Dan Bidé reaching over 70% coverage in latrines.
• Following WHO guidelines, the storage of excreta is the primary sanitary barrier, capable of reducing pathogens by 99.9999% if usage and hygienization times are respected.
• Technical weaknesses were identified in the construction of latrines due to the low technical capacity of some trained masons, resulting in issues with excavation dimensions, concrete dosing, and the absence of bin holes.
• The use of Takin Ruwa is estimated to provide a cost saving of approximately 50% compared to the use of mineral fertilizers.
• The project faced challenges regarding the distance of technical expertise, with the EAA (EX-CREPA) located 450 km from Madaoua and 750 km from Aguié, causing delays in task execution and calendar harmonization.

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (2012). ETUDE SUR L’ASSAINISSEMENT PRODUCTIF /ECOSAN AU NIGER : Bilan et perspectives. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/TripleGreenNiger/SEI-TripleGreenNiger-RevueSurLAassainissementProductifAuNiger.pdf

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. ETUDE SUR L’ASSAINISSEMENT PRODUCTIF /ECOSAN AU NIGER : Bilan et perspectives. 2012. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/TripleGreenNiger/SEI-TripleGreenNiger-RevueSurLAassainissementProductifAuNiger.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=ETUDE SUR L’ASSAINISSEMENT PRODUCTIF /ECOSAN AU NIGER : Bilan et perspectives |date=April 2012 |url=https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/TripleGreenNiger/SEI-TripleGreenNiger-RevueSurLAassainissementProductifAuNiger.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stockholmenvironmentinstitute2012etude, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{ETUDE SUR L’ASSAINISSEMENT PRODUCTIF /ECOSAN AU NIGER : Bilan et perspectives}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2012}, month = apr, url = {https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/TripleGreenNiger/SEI-TripleGreenNiger-RevueSurLAassainissementProductifAuNiger.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }