Climate-proofing rural toilets

The country faces several climate-induced challenges, one of which is the limited access of individuals to their fundamental human rights to water and sanitation. Extreme weather events, for instance, significantly threaten sanitation facilities, undermining progress in this area and hindering advancements in human development, well-being, and self-sufficiency.

Climate change has increased the frequency and need for Abacar and Angélica to replace their toilet. On average, a toilet would only last them six months. Like many neighbours, their toilet was built from sticks, grass, and mud.

However, during the rainy season, her sense of belonging and pride often gave way to shame and embarrassment – significantly when their toilet fell apart. This forced Lidia to crawl to the bushes to relieve herself, which can be painful. Stones and insects often scraped her hands and knees along the way. Because she used one arm to steady herself, she struggled to clean up properly with water afterwards.

When asked why they had not built sturdier replacements for their facilities, community members often expressed, ‘We did not know that there were climate-resilient alternatives available.’

In many cases, women were disproportionately affected by climate-vulnerable facilities. The lack of knowledge – resulting from limited access to information – intensified their insecurity, lowered their confidence levels, and led to extreme risk-taking behaviours. For example, Angélica (Abacar’s partner) and Marta Gonçalves, a widow supporting a female-headed household of four, acknowledged that they would still venture into the woods despite the dangers of snake bites, animal attacks, or potential human threats.

All these changed once family members started engaging with local government officials and their development partners.

Lidia’s son-in-law was behind the construction of the family’s climate-proof toilet. Reflecting on what motivated him to do so, he explained he had the great fortune to be selected as among the demonstration houses of the Namiruku campaign. He added, ‘Through the campaign, I gained the skills to build a sturdy latrine. One year after construction, my latrine remains in good condition.’

The knowledge and skills to build sturdier toilets were imparted during the sanitation talks. Household toilet construction evolved into a shared responsibility, as demonstrated by the teamwork between the young couple Abacar and Angélica and Marta and her now deceased husband.

Marta, who misses her husband daily, poignantly ended our conversation by saying, ‘I feel that he has left us something valuable. It would be tough, as a widow, to keep rebuilding a grass latrine every year.’

It has been a year, and Marta's toilet continues to be fully functional. Marta’s household, as well as Lidia, Abacar, and Angélica’s, are among the 4,500 households in the Alto Molocué and Ile Districts now fitted with climate-proof toilet facilities.

* For more information, contact SNV's water sector team in Mozambique by email.