Let’s start with a quick introduction – who are you, and what’s your connection to the sanitation sector?

I’m Chaiwe, from Lusaka, Zambia, born and raised, and I’ve been working in the water and sanitation sector for about 14 years. I started out in rural areas, doing very hands-on work like drilling boreholes and building on-site sanitation facilities. It was grassroots, practical work, and it taught me a lot about the realities communities face.

Over time, I moved into advisory roles and got involved in areas like climate change, greenhouse gas assessments, and reuse innovations. But through it all, one theme kept coming back to me: localisation. We often talk about innovation and programming in sanitation, but not enough about making them truly community-driven, private-sector-led, or rooted in local context. That’s what led me to co-found Cadev. It’s a platform where I work with communities, institutions, and individuals to co-create solutions, make space for local voices in decision-making, and ensure innovation is grown from within. At heart, I’m always looking for the gaps in the sector and asking: how can we fill them together?

What originally brought you into this field? Was there a key moment or motivation?

I actually came into sanitation through my studies in environment and natural resource management; degree so broad it gave me a window into many ways we can protect and sustain our environment. My first real job after graduating was in the water and sanitation sector, and that’s when I realised something: while water and sanitation are often paired, sanitation itself was far more vulnerable and had so many gaps that needed attention.

Living in Kenya for a time deepened that realisation. The scale of urban growth there, especially in informal settlements like Kibera, made me think about the future of my own city, Lusaka. With our population growing, I could see how similar challenges might emerge if we didn’t act early. I was inspired by local innovators in Nairobi, like the team at Synergy, who were coming up with creative sanitation solutions, and I thought: this is the kind of work I want to do.

When I returned to Zambia, I joined GIZ and immersed myself fully in the sanitation space, from public service delivery to policy-level discussions. Over time, I noticed there were still conversations missing, especially around innovative reuse, technology, and knowledge management. That’s what ultimately pushed me towards creating a more localised approach, making sure these discussions and the solutions are shaped by the people who live with the challenges every day.

What keeps you passionate and motivated to work in this sector?

For me, the motivation comes from what I see and hear every time I step into a community. When you sit with people and listen, you realise how much the work is appreciated, and at the same time, how big the challenges really are. That combination is enough to keep me going.

Whether I’m walking through an informal settlement or speaking with institutions, I see the same thing: there’s a huge gap between the urgency of the sanitation crisis and the level of understanding or action being taken. And that gap exists not just at the grassroots, but also at the institutional, policy, and planning levels.

Sanitation is still treated as a subset of a bigger story, which is why funding and attention often fall short. That’s why I believe we need stronger, louder voices in this sector, more people speaking up, pushing it higher on the agenda, and making sure it gets the focus it deserves

What’s one widespread myth or misconception about sanitation you’d love to change?

I think one of the biggest misconceptions about sanitation is that it’s somehow “gross” or unpleasant by nature. In reality, the problem isn’t sanitation itself — it’s when it’s not handled properly. When fecal sludge management has gaps, that’s when we see cholera outbreaks, diarrhoeal disease, and unsafe conditions, especially in informal settlements.

If sanitation is managed safely, with the right systems, tools, and processes, it stops being risky and stops being something people shy away from. Instead, it becomes just a normal, essential part of daily life, something to embrace rather than fear.

For me, it’s all about shifting that mindset. Safe handling, safe disposal, safe reuse, once those are in place, sanitation isn’t a problem. It’s simply part of being human

What would it take to get more people – especially young professionals – excited about sanitation work?

I think the first step is for people, especially young professionals, to really see the sanitation sector. At first glance, it might not seem the most glamorous field. Let’s be honest: when you say “sanitation,” many imagine toilets and unpleasant tasks. But once you look past the challenge, you start to see the solutions, and that’s where the excitement comes in.

For me, what’s inspiring is imagining a future where communities have safe, well-managed sanitation systems, where waste is treated as a resource, not a burden. The reuse conversation is a big one for me: turning sludge into safe fertiliser, treating liquids into reusable water, and creating circular systems that benefit communities.

That’s the mindset I’d encourage young people to adopt, focus on the solutions, not just the problems. This is a field that needs visionaries, problem-solvers, and innovators. With today’s tools, from AI to new treatment technologies, we can tackle one of humanity’s oldest challenges in entirely new ways. And the truth is, if we don’t step in and create those solutions now, who will

Looking ahead: What’s your hope for the sanitation sector in the next 10 years?

If I had to sum it up in three words, it would be: interest, investment, and participation. Over the next 10 years, I want to see the sanitation sector valued more highly, with more people getting involved, more resources flowing into it, and more action on the ground.

I don’t want to see sanitation fade into the background, I want to see it embraced, talked about, and tackled head-on. My hope is that more people join in, bring their ideas, and become part of the solution.

Last, but not least: Can you describe your dream toilet or sanitation system?

I love that question, I’ve actually been thinking about it a lot lately. My dream toilet or sanitation system isn’t just about the technology, it’s about rethinking what we already have. Many of our old systems need to evolve, and that’s a conversation that’s really starting to happen, especially among social enterprises here in Africa. The public sector tends to focus on maintaining and servicing existing systems, but the private sector, especially social enterprises, is where a lot of the real innovation is happening.

For me, the dream is a co-created solution: a toilet or sanitation system designed with the people who will use it. Something that works well, feels right for them, and makes them proud to own it. From there, the whole service chain, whether it’s emptying, transporting, treating, or reusing waste, should be built around those needs.

It’s the same with reuse: we should be asking people what they want to do with their sludge. Do they want it turned into fertiliser? Treated water? Something else entirely? My ideal sanitation system is one where those questions are asked, local innovators are part of the design, and the final product is something that truly fits the community it serves.