This session, in line with the UN sanitation agenda, will showcase holistic experiences from the African and South Asian contexts, with the focus being on replication and scaling up. The session aims to discuss solutions based on research, practice, and practical experiences of sanitation workers and lay the foundations to progress towards their overall well-being. Further, the session brings together diverse partners working with sanitation workers in various capacities. This includes organisations working in South Asia, Africa, representatives of workers and sanitation businesses to share successes, lessons, and existing efforts. Drawing from these varied experiences, the session will explore means to improve the quality of life for sanitation workers. It will highlight interventions relating to technology adoption, strengthening linkages to welfare schemes, institutionalisation of health and workplace safety, and facilitating skill-building and livelihood opportunities.

Looking at this holistically will accelerate the uptake of initiatives at scale and set a pathway to progress towards dignified workplaces for sanitation workers. The convenors aim to seek voluntary commitments from the member states, various entities, organisations, and practitioners to unite for tangible actions and concerted efforts to promote a safe, healthy working environment for sanitation workers along with fair remuneration.