Madagascar has one of the lowest rates of access to sanitation in the world: only 14 % of families have access to hygienic toilets, which are unaffordable and often of poor quality. In light of this, since 2010, GRET has been supporting the development of a network of franchised shops called Diotontolo (the Malagasy word for “healthy environment”), which provides low-cost improved toilets that meet populations’ expectations.
The project aims to promote sustainable access to sanitation for all through a Diotontolo network of franchised shops. These are managed by local entrepreneurs who ensure the production, sale and installation of hygienic toilets. These shops are part of a franchise that supports them with technical and management aspects, and ensures the project’s social objective is respected (respect of sale price, quality of installations, proposal of specific prices for disadvantaged households, etc.).
Initially, support from Fondation SUEZ and the GRET endowment fund enabled GRET to act as franchiser. Today, the NGO intends to delegate this role to an autonomous, sustainable Malagasy structure, Diotontolo. GRET defined this new entity’s mode of governance, its operational procedures and its sources of financing. It also created tools to manage and monitor sales, and drew up a business plan to ensure its financial viability.
Since the start of the project, more than 10,000 toilets were installed. These now make up 25 % of all new toilets identified by the Ministry of Water. Improvement of access to sanitation has a major impact on population health and on the environment.
GRET intends to continue supporting the local Diotontolo structure, which is now working directly alongside the shops manufacturing and selling toilets. Diotontolo is currently examining which legal structure it will adopt (association, social business or other status) in order to conduct activities to improve access to sanitation and make its franchiser role sustainable. Today, Diotontolo is still receiving support from GRET, but is on the right track to rapidly become an autonomous, sustainable structure.
The project phases:
MEDDEA I (2008-2012), MIASA (2012-2016), MEDDEA II (2013-2017), Creation of a social business to sell hygienic toilets in Madagascar: the “Diotontolo franchiser” (2016-2019), Sanitation Enterprise Project (2019-2021).
