Evidence brief: Business-as-usual and fantasy planning – an analysis of equity within climate adaptation planning for sanitation in Nairobi

Abstract

This paper explores the disconnect between policy rhetoric and implementation at the intersection of sanitation equity and climate change in Nairobi, Kenya. To examine the current sanitation adaptation trajectory, we reviewed Nairobi’s sanitation policies, planning, and investment frameworks, focusing on their integration with climate adaptation strategies and consideration of equity in terms of distribution, recognition and processes. We used a socio-technical regime framework to map the current sanitation service configurations in Nairobi and projected their future under different climate change scenarios. Our findings provide evidence for a disconnection between policy rhetoric and implementation, prioritising sewerage development at the expense of other sanitation regimes. Despite recognising equity issues in policy, substantive action towards equitable sanitation governance is lacking. This imbalance hinders the realisation of the constitutionally recognised right to adequate sanitation in the foreseeable future. The anticipated impact of climate change on Nairobi’s sanitation sector suggests an exacerbation of existing service inequalities. Our projection indicates that by 2030, a sizeable portion of Nairobi’s residents will experience poor sanitation services. Our study emphasizes the critical need for a fundamental paradigm shift. It calls for a robust and honest discussion on delivering high-quality, resilient sanitation services at scale including both sewer and non-sewered sanitation and necessitating substantial public investment and support for all systems. This reappraisal is imperative for ensuring equitable and sustainable sanitation solutions in the face of climate change.

Background

The 6th Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Assessment Report has highlighted that climate change amplifies inequalities and undermines sustainable development across regions [1, p.1174]. Climate change-driven hazards are poised to (adversely) affect urban sanitation systems across the globe [2], requiring adaptation efforts by governments, local authorities, service providers, and households.

Meanwhile, inequitable access to sanitation service provision is still prevalent globally [3–5] and gained heightened attention during the Covid-19 response [6–8]. However, sanitation investments and funding arrangements are biased towards subsidising capital investment and operational costs of centralised sewerage and treatment systems, which often primarily tend to more affluent parts of the population [9–12]. These systemic biases create what we describe as a business-as-usual approach, where the focus on traditional, centralised systems perpetuates inequalities and limits progress towards universal sanitation access.

There is growing recognition that climate-adaptive sanitation infrastructure is non-negotiable for avoiding the risk of reversing progress towards universal access to safe sanitation services [13,14] and thereby worsening inequalities. However, attention to adaptation needs within urban sanitation systems has been limited and primarily focused on technology solutions [15]. Sanitation adaptation is mainly happening in high-income countries, focusing on retrofitting and upgrading old infrastructure approaching the end of its design life [16,17].