COMMERCIAL PERFORMANCE SANITATION SERVICE PROVIDERS IN CÔTE D’IVOIRE  

Description

20230131_LN012-US-PrivateSanServiceProviderCcialPerfAnalysis-R01-CLEAN (002)

The West Africa Municipal Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (MuniWASH) Activity provides capacity building support to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the sanitation sector in Benin and Côte d’Ivoire. One primary focus area of USAID MuniWASH is to enhance financial sustainability and viability of businesses operating in the sector. As part of this assistance, USAID MuniWASH conducted an analysis of organizational and financial performance of MSMEs, leading to the development of Performance Improvement Plans (PIP) and the implementation of activities related to the PIPs. The USAID MuniWASH team also helped MSMEs develop and deploy a sales strategy for sanitation products to build a strong, self-sustaining sanitation market created by the private sector and regulated by local authorities.

A sanitation market survey conducted by USAID MuniWASH in 2021 among 2,277 households in its intervention municipalities provided insights into sanitation practices, consumer expectations, and market potential that a dynamic private sector could tap into. The survey estimated that at least 11,000 households in the target municipalities lack toilets and would like to have one. Additionally, around 25,000 households with pit latrines wish to expand their capacity, while approximately 80,000 households aim to improve their existing toilets with new user interfaces.

Sales data from 27 MSMEs collected between September 2021 and August 2022 show that 598 sanitation products were sold during that period, which is an average sale of approximately fifty products per month. Although this illustrates some sales activity, it falls short of the market potential, and approximately one third of the MSMEs still experience very low sales. USAID MuniWASH identified that the primary factors contributing to the poor sales performance in sanitation products include an absence of effective strategies and marketing efforts, limited number of sales agents, not prioritizing sanitation by MSMEs with diversified products and services, and households’ lack of prioritization of sanitation in some cases.

Addressing these challenges requires developing robust sales and marketing strategies, expanding the sales agent network, increasing the emphasis on sanitation activities among diverse activities of the MSMEs, and fostering a stronger culture of sanitation prioritization among households. By addressing these factors, the private sector can tap into the substantial market potential, resulting in improved commercial performance and greater access to sanitation services for households in Ivory Coast.