Safer Toilets Improve Health, Create New Entrepreneurial Opportunities in Tajikistan

The project, led by IntraHealth International, aims to improve health and nutrition in Tajikistan, particularly among women and children in the Khatlon oblast. The initiative integrates high-quality maternal, newborn, and child health care at the family, community, clinical, and national levels, with a focus on nutrition, sanitation, and hygiene. In southern Tajikistan, only 7% of households have access to improved sanitation facilities, posing risks to public health and water supplies. To address this issue, Feed the Future is training locals to build safer toilets. The project provides metallic molds to produce concrete rings, molds for the bottoms and lids of toilets, technical methods, and sketches for a sanitary business. Trainees, such as 19-year-old Usmonali Gafurov, learn the basics of construction and are equipped with the necessary skills to start a family business. Usmonali's family business has become a thriving enterprise, improving health and hygiene in his community. He has built and installed 22 safe toilets for his neighbors and has become a famous mason in his village. The project has also provided Usmonali with informational brochures on safe toilets and instructions on sanitation and hygiene, which he uses to advise his customers on proper toilet construction and hygiene practices. The project has trained 18 masons and entrepreneurs in 12 districts of southern Tajikistan, encouraging people to switch from traditional toilets to safe ones. Project specialists visit trainees regularly, providing advice and support. The initiative has not only improved sanitation and hygiene but has also created new entrepreneurial opportunities for locals. Usmonali's business has increased his household income, allowing him to finance his studies at the Technical University of Tajikistan. The project's impact extends beyond individual entrepreneurs, as it has also created jobs for friends and relatives. Usmonali's business has received a high volume of orders, and he is seeking help to meet the demand. The project's success demonstrates the potential for safer toilets to improve health and create economic opportunities in Tajikistan.