Katerva Awards 2011 Winner

On 7 December, 2011, Sanergy was named the Katerva Grand Prize Winner. Sanergy, nominated in the Materials & Resources Category, aims to build and scale viable sanitation infrastructure in the slums of Nairobi, Kenya in order to address the disease and water pollution resulting from inadequate sanitation. To achieve its goal, Sanergy has developed a four-part model to improve the health and productivity of 8 million people living without proper sanitation in Kenyan slums: (i) building a network of low-cost sanitation centers in slums (ii) distributing them through franchising to local entrepreneurs (iii) collecting the waste produced (iv) processing it into electricity and fertilizer

In November 2012, Sanergy was honored as the Social Innovator of the Year by the Swedish Development Agency’s Innovations Against Poverty for its strong development impact and commercial viability. In October, Sanergy was recognized by the Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation as one of the new social enterprises with the greatest potential. This support will allow Sanergy to continue extending its reach and increasing its impact. Additionally, Sanergy was awarded two grants as part of the Gates Foundation’s “Reinvent the Toilet” mission. This funding will be used to pilot and field test waste processing technologies developed by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, the Hertz Foundation, and a consortium of American universities.

Sanergy has already developed its third generation model of the Fresh Life Toilet design, which requires less concrete in production, can be assembled quicker, and allows for easier removal of waste cartridges. Sanergy continues to work towards adapting the design to better meet the needs of children and the elderly.