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Asivikelane service delivery impacts counter

Impacts counter_Water icon
Water
1403
Impacts counter_Sanitation
SANITATION
1885
Impacts counter_Refuse icon
SOLID WASTE
2236
Impacts counter_R&M icon
Infrastructure
240
Impacts counter_Systems icon
SYSTEMS IMPACTS
23
Impacts counter_Residents
RESIDENT IMPACTS
11739088

Since March 2020

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Briefs & Reports

Managing temporary sanitation in informal settlements: Lessons from Asivikelane

The delivery of permanent sanitation infrastructure struggles to keep pace with the rapid growth of informal settlements. Cities rely on short-term solutions while waiting for permanent infrastructure. But “temporary” toilets often last for years, with billions spent on solutions costing more than permanent infrastructure. Based on years of systematic evidence collection and community engagement, we’ve identified six practical recommendations that can transform how municipalities manage temporary sanitation.

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2025 Impacts report

Asivikelane aims to connect residents and government by building relationships. Our hubs bring together various groups – including reformers, donors, communities, private companies, and auditors – to tackle service delivery challenges in cities. We take a look at our impact over 2025 and showcase our contributions to improved access to safe drinking water, dignified sanitation, and regular refuse removal. 

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How to improve solid waste management in informal settlements

Asivikelane worked with informal settlement residents to create a framework to improve solid waste management. These practical building blocks can help municipalities and communities to work together to improve recycling, composting and waste minimisation.

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A quarter of residents still don’t have access to a municipal provided toilet

In March 2025, we asked 5,308 residents across 202 informal settlements in 8 municipalities what type of toilet they use. Only 10% of residents have flush toilets, the remainder use self-dug pit toilets, chemical toilets, Ventilated Improved Pit toilets, porta pottis or bucket toilets.

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Improving disaster preparedness = safer communities

In March 2025, we asked 5,308 residents across 202 informal settlements in 8 municipalities what types of disasters they experienced over the past year. Residents experienced floods and fires which leads to loss of homes and belongings as well as illness. Residents asked for early weather warnings, functional communication networks and taps with enough pressure for fires.

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Basic training and tools can fix minor faults

In March 2025, we asked 5,308 residents across 202 informal settlements in 8 municipalities about communal services. Even when faults with taps and toilets are reported promptly through official channels, residents struggle to get them fixed. 79% of residents said they would fix services themselves if given tools and basic training.

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Residents share solutions to improve waste services

In March 2025, we asked 5,308 residents across 202 informal settlements in 8 municipalities what interventions could improve solid waste management in their settlements. Residents asked for regular waste collection, provision of refuse bags and recycling support.

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Sustainable waste management strategy for informal settlements in the City of Tshwane

Asivikelane and partners co-created a strategy for the management of waste in informal settlements for the City of Tshwane. This groundbreaking strategy marks the first time communities were actively involved in its development and in proposing solutions. The strategy encompasses 220 informal settlements and empowers communities to actively participate in waste minimisation and recycling initiatives, fostering ownership and accountability. The solutions are replicable and can be adapted to other metros.

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Learning paper: Building Sustainable Infrastructure through Community-Driven Repairs and Maintenance Solutions in Informal Settlements

Asivikelane hosted a Sustainable Informal Settlement Infrastructure Summit, aimed at improving repairs and maintenance of water and sanitation infrastructure in informal settlements. The summit brought together a diverse range of stakeholders to foster partnerships and explore innovative solutions for dignified, sustainable access to essential basic services. We’ve documented these solutions in a multi-pronged strategy, demonstrating how to build sustainable infrastructure through community-driven solutions.

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A model of community-based repairs and maintenance of informal settlement water and sanitation infrastructure

Asivikelane’s community-based model for repairs and maintenance ensures that informal settlement residents are central to fixing communal infrastructure. The main idea is to train residents as plumbers so they can fix broken communal taps and toilets within their own communities. This paper outlines how this model can be replicated across municipalities.

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Contact us

IBPSA NPC
G02, Ground Floor, Park Building,
Black River Park South,
2 Fir Street, Observatory,
7925, Cape Town

+27 21 447 0019
info@asivikelane.org

Asivikelane is an initiative of International
Budget Partnership South Africa (IBPSA NPC).

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