In Bangladesh, the government supports public water and sanitation services. However, achieving sustainable faecal sludge management is complex and requires private enterprises to collaborate closely with the government.
Recognising the significance of involving private enterprises, ITN-BUET, in collaboration with SNV Netherlands Development Organization, Bangladesh FSM Network, and CWIS FSM Support Cell, DPHE organised a three-day training on FSM Business and Marketing in Jashore on 4-6 May 2024. The event brought together 16 participants from 9 cities for an engaging and informative experience.
Mr. Mokhlesur Rahman, Mayor of Chapainawabganj municipality, and Mr. Haider Ghani Khan, Mayor of Jashore municipality, attended the opening session of the training as distinguished guests. Both mayors expressed their commitment to integrating FSM into their municipal operations.
Mr. Kamrul Hasan, Director of Consiglieri Private Limited and the lead resource person for the training, covered FSM business, including areas such as market research, business plan development, service delivery, financial management, and service marketing through a blend of classroom learning and group activities. Mr. Sirajus Salekin from Practical Action conducted a session on accessing finance for sanitation, while Ms. Rafin from SNV provided an overview of the Integrated Municipal Information System (IMIS). Ms. Keka Adhikari, Capacity Building and Training Advisor at SNV, along with Mr. Subrata Paul, Training Specialist at ITN-BUET, facilitated various group activities and shared their experiences throughout the sessions, enriching the learning experience for the participants.
At the end of the training, participants shared their thoughts. Ms. Asma, a representative of sanitation cooperatives from Practical Action, mentioned, “This training has introduced me to several new aspects of FSM business.” Mr. Anowar Hossen, Manager of Churash Fultala Kallan Songstha, expressed, “The training has equipped me with diverse and thorough insights into FSM marketing and business strategies, which I believe will greatly contribute to the growth and success of my business.”
Ms. Yemi Patricia Solorzano Leiva, Project Manager at SNV Netherlands Development Organization, Mr. Alauddin Ahmed, Project Manager of ITN-BUET, and Mr. Zahid Parvez, Executive Engineer of DPHE in Jashore, were present at the closing ceremony of the three-day training.
Mr. Alauddin Ahmed provided assurance, stating, “ITN-BUET will collaborate with Bangladesh FSM Network to establish a platform where all private operators can come together, form associations, and expand their business networks to promote sustainable FSM practices in Bangladesh.”
The collaborative efforts demonstrated in this training initiative emphasised a drive to improve faecal sludge management practices through FSM Business Model, marking a significant advancement towards achieving sustainable sanitation in Bangladesh. ITN-BUET, along with sector partners, plans to organize similar training sessions for other cities in the future.
