Strengthening demand, supply and enabling environment for sanitation in the Philippines

Two years after Super Typhoon Yolanda hit the Philippines, a semblance of normalcy is slowly returning to affected areas as victims build back stronger from the disaster. As part of the initial response, NGOs including Samaritan’s Purse (SP) supplied sanitation facilities for free but as conditions transitioned into recovery SP shifted to sanitation marketing strategies. Samaritan’s Purse created self-sustaining markets through demand creation of sanitation products and services, working to increase affordability and accessibility through the market channels, and supporting the private sector supply side of the sanitation chain in partnership with UNICEF, the Philippine Department of Education and other NGOs. This paper reflects the lessons learned from experiences with motivational factors involved in demand creation to purchase sanitation products, the engagement by the financial sector, and the growing activity of the local governing units in the program.