SaniTalk café session–2: Highlights safety and dignity for sanitation workers

The second session of Sani Talk Café, held on 12 August 2025, brought together over 70 participants from government agencies, municipalities, NGOs, academia, private sector operators, and international development partners, including Practical Action Bangladesh, BASA Foundation, ITN-BUET, DPHE, UNICEF Bangladesh, and SNV.

Themed “Ensuring Safety, Security, and Dignified Lives for Sanitation Workers”, the virtual dialogue was moderated by Shahidul Islam, Sector Leader, Water (SNV Bangladesh) and featured insightful presentations from Tahmid Hossain, Manager – Urban Resilience (Practical Action Bangladesh) and Prince Dey Rony, Central WASH Coordinator (BASA Foundation). The Speakers showcased a range of initiatives aimed at improving working conditions and livelihoods for sanitation workers – such as online safety training platforms, insurance schemes, fair wage agreements, cooperatives, and women-led waste management enterprises.

An interactive Q&A further explored strategies for formalizing worker cooperatives, expanding insurance coverage, and developing a national sanitation worker database.

The discussion reaffirmed Sani Talk Café’s growing role as a collaborative platform for sharing knowledge, fostering innovation, and driving collective action towards safe, inclusive, and equitable sanitation services in line with Citywide Inclusive Sanitation (CWIS) goals.

Find the recordings and resources available on SaniRepo.(link)