Let’s start with a quick introduction – who are you, and what’s your connection to the sanitation sector?
Hi, I’m Andy Narracott. I live in Norwich in the UK and currently work remotely for UNICEF headquarters in New York, focusing entirely on sanitation. My journey started over 20 years ago after doing a master’s in community water supply and sanitation at Cranfield University. Since then, I’ve worked across the sector, from urban WASH programmes to container-based sanitation enterprises.
When did you first think: "I want to make a difference in sanitation"?
I grew up surrounded by toilets. Literally. My dad ran a luxury mobile toilet business. So as a teenager, I was helping set up trailers with wooden seats, golden taps, and carpeted floors for big events. People would talk about the toilets at the party. That, in a way, was my first experience breaking the sanitation taboo.
Another turning point came during a year working in slum improvement programmes in Bangalore, India. I saw incredible entrepreneurship. People making sweets, weaving textiles, running small businesses. But no one was tackling sanitation as a business. That didn’t make sense to me. So I teamed up with Unilever and explored the idea of mobile toilets in Ghana. That led to the creation of Clean Team, a container-based sanitation service that still operates today. It was my first real venture into applying business for social good in sanitation and I’ve been hooked ever since.
What keeps you passionate and motivated to work in this sector?
Honestly? It’s the intersection of innovation, justice, and impact. I still believe the private sector can play a powerful role in solving sanitation challenges, but I’ve also learned that business alone isn’t enough. Governments need to create the right enabling environments. Today, my work focuses on exactly that: helping governments catalyze vibrant sanitation markets through public-private collaboration. And I continue to be inspired by how much is still possible.
In your view, how can we break the taboo around toilets and sanitation – and why does that matter?
Silence is holding us back. Sanitation is still taboo in so many cultures. People don’t want to talk about it, see it, or show it. That invisibility leads to underfunding and neglect. One campaign I loved came from UNICEF Indonesia. They created a “toilet monster” character to raise awareness about unsafe septic tanks. It was fun, child-friendly, and memorable; it sparked real conversation on social media. We need more of that: creativity, storytelling, humor.
What’s one widespread myth or misconception about sanitation you’d love to change?
That access to a toilet means the problem is solved. It’s not. Toilets can still be unsafe, unhygienic, or non-functional. They might not separate waste properly. They may overflow or not be emptied. We’ve been working hard at UNICEF to shift the focus toward safely managed sanitation, and to get policymakers to understand what’s really behind those access numbers.
Read more about it on Andys blog on: Breaking the Myths: Common Misconceptions About Safely Managed Sanitation
What would it take to get more people – especially young professionals – excited about sanitation work?
I think one way is to frame sanitation as a space for breaking taboos. Young people are great at challenging outdated norms, taboos and thinking in new ways. Why not sanitation too?
Social media plays a huge role here. During COVID, we saw hygiene campaigns go viral through TikTok, handwashing dances and catchy challenges that actually worked. We need more of that energy in sanitation.
And networks like SuSanA could be powerful catalysts. Imagine every member sharing a creative action. A toilet selfie, a myth-busting post, a campaign hashtag. That kind of collective visibility can shift the conversation and inspire the next generation.
Looking ahead: What’s your hope for the sanitation sector in the next 10 years?
That we finally connect sanitation and climate and unlock the funding and urgency that comes with it. Improved sanitation infrastructure and maintenance practices can reduce methane and nitrous oxide emissions. The focus should be on both mitigation and adaptation tools, particularly given the increase in extreme weather. But to access climate finance, we need to start speaking the language of the climate sector. The Climate Resilient Sanitation Coalition, including UNICEF as a founding-member, recently helped to develop a Global Climate Fund (GCF) annex to guide sanitation proposals, and we’re working with countries to turn that into action. But we need to move fast. This is the calm before the storm.
Last, but not least: Can you describe your dream toilet or sanitation system?
I’ve thought about this a lot. Probably more than is normal! It’s a household toilet that looks totally standard, maybe a bit bulkier, but it’s vacuum-sealed and odorless. Once a week, when the red-light flashes, you take out a sealed canister and drop it into a hot composting unit in your backyard. That unit also handles kitchen waste and, within a few months, produces safe compost for your garden. No mess, no smell, fully circular.
