Collaborative Action Towards Inclusive Sanitation

The NFSSM Alliance is dedicated to advancing inclusive and safe sanitation practices across India, by driving discourse, shaping policy, and supporting governments at all levels in enhancing human waste management. Formed in 2016, the Alliance initially worked towards driving national discourse on Faecal Sludge and Septage Management (FSSM). Today, the Alliance has become a key platform for collaboration, bringing together the expertise of over 35 diverse organisations, including NGOs, CSOs, academic institutions, and think tanks. Through this collective effort, the Alliance drives innovation in urban sanitation planning, infrastructure development, service delivery, and climate resilience, ensuring safe, inclusive, and equitable sanitation outcomes for all.

Why the Need for Inclusive Sanitation?

Improper sanitation disproportionately affects vulnerable communities including women, trans folx and other gender minorities, urban poor, historically secluded groups and persons with disabilities. About 23 million girls drop out of school every year in India due to improper sanitation management facilities in schools. The Alliance operates to ensure that inclusion and equity form the nexus of sanitation planning and execution at each level. This ensures that vulnerable communities are empowered to not only get access and benefit from safe sanitation, but also play central roles in the decision-making process and service delivery.

How the NFSSM Alliance Works Collaboratively?

The Alliance is a national working group focused on fostering collaborative action towards inclusive sanitation at the national, state, and city levels. We work with a network of partners in 14+ states to build consensus and encourage discourse on inclusive sanitation in India across priority areas.

Why the Need for Collaborative Action?

Innovative solutions achieved through collaborative actions catered to local contexts are crucial to address the precise needs of inclusive sanitation in India. Urban India’s topographical diversity and spatial challenges along with increased disaster risks due to climate change pose multifaceted difficulties. 

35

Members


14

States


75

Learning Instances

What is Our Goal?

Our Vision

An India where all 7900+ cities and towns safely manage their human waste with inclusion, equity and sustainability.

Our Mission

Collaboratively nurturing an enabling environment for safe, sustainable, climate resilient and inclusive sanitation through knowledge, partnerships and innovative solutions.

How the NFSSM Alliance works with members

The National Faecal Sludge and Septage Management Alliance is a national working group focused on fostering Collaborative Action towards safe and sustainable human waste management at the national, state, and city levels. We work with our network of partners in 19+ states to build consensus and encourage discourse on inclusive sanitation in India across four priority areas.

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Our Members

Members Speak

Being a part of the NFSSM Alliance, has also exposed me to different approaches and rich experiences that people have across a range of issues. It is vital to sustain whatever work has been done for FSSM and to scale it up and cull out the right learnings towards the goal of inclusive sanitation.

Depinder Kapur

Centre for Science and Environment (CSE)

Being surrounded by a community of experts, as part of the NFSSM Alliance, has played an instrumental role in helping CWAS scale efforts. Even though CWAS has strong relationships with the government, when 30+ organizations come together to approach the government, it has a much greater impact.

Aasim Mansuri

Centre for Water and Sanitation (CWAS)

The NFSSM Alliance is an enabling avenue for us to learn from each other and build synergies.

Aveek De

eGov Foundation

The NFSSM Alliance is one of the only collectives that is actively advocating for an inclusive lens in SBM, AMRUT. It is helping to demonstrate solutions and present evidence-based action to State and National Governments.

Meghna Malhotra

Urban Management Centre (UMC)

The NFSSM Alliance has played a pivotal role in bringing urban sanitation, its urgency and complexity, to the centerstage. The Alliance has also provided a space for organizations to share their strengths with each other. Cross learning between organizations has been at an all-time high.

Niladri Chokrabarti

Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS)

Recent Articles

Report

Learning Packet: An Exposure Visit to Odisha - Learning and Sharing on Inclusive Sanitation Best Practices

A learning packet to be used alongside exposure visits in Odisha, featuring CWIS best practices for inclusive and sustainable sanitation outcomes. Originally curated for an exposure visit with a cohort of government officials from hilly-states.

By: 23 Jun 2025

Report

Parvat Manthan Regional Conclave: Dialogue for Enhanced Service Delivery in Water, Used Water, and Waste Management for Hill Cities

Read on to learn how the insights from the Parvat Manthan Regional Conclave underscore the urgent need for integrated approaches to address the environmental and infrastructural challenges of the Himalayan region. With a focus on resilience, innovation, and community engagement, the conclave set a pathway towards sustainable development in mountain cities.

By: 28 Mar 2025

Report

Towards Climate-Resilient Sanitation Futures

Towards Climate-Resilient Sanitation Futures The sanitation sector faces increasing pressures from climate change. Growing evidence shows that extreme weather patterns and events (such as cyclones, floods, droughts, and heatwaves) threaten sanitation infrastructure and disproportionately affect vulnerable populations. Understanding the interlinkages between climate and sanitation is key to building effective adaptation and mitigation strategies. These climate risks disproportionately impact vulnerable communities, exacerbating pre-existing inequalities and limiting their ability to respond and recover. At the same time, fragile infrastructure and institutions collapse under extreme events, worsening these challenges. Strengthening both social and physical systems is essential for a just and resilient future. This document highlights these interlinkages and the urgency of building equitable climate-resilient sanitation systems.

By: 21 Feb 2025

Report

FSSM Models and Best Practices (Case Study Compilation)

FSSM Models and Best Practices (Case Study Compilation)

By: 14 Feb 2025

Report

Pulse Edition 11

Pulse Edition 11

By: 21 Jan 2025

Report

Learning Lab #1: Sanitation in a Changing Climate: Building Resilience and Sustainability in Service Delivery.

The inaugural session of our Learning Lab series, titled "Sanitation in a Changing Climate: Building Resilience and Sustainability in Service Delivery," successfully convened over 60 sanitation sector professionals. This event marked a significant step towards understanding the intersections of climate change and sanitation through a robust dialogue facilitated by our esteemed speakers from CWAS, CSE, and CDD. Their expert insights provided a foundation for integrating climate adaptation and mitigation into sanitation service delivery. Session Highlights: 1. Climate-Sanitation Linkage: Detailed explorations into enhancing climate resilience through innovative, sustainable technologies and community-focused adaptations, such as rainwater harvesting and solar-powered WASH infrastructure. 2. Water Security through Reuse: Strategic discussions on advancing treated water reuse, developing tailored reuse frameworks at the state level, and promoting decentralised wastewater treatment systems to mitigate regional disparities. 3. Application in Agriculture: A focus on leveraging treated wastewater and co-composted sludge to reduce the reliance on chemical fertilisers, improve agricultural yields, and support sustainable farming practices. To delve deeper into the discussions, the session's slides and video recording are available on the NFSSM YouTube channel. Engage with these materials to further our collective goal of developing resilient and sustainable sanitation systems in a changing climate.

By: 08 Jan 2025

Report

The Power of Collaborative Action | Journey of the NFSSM Alliance in India

This report chronicles the Journey of the NFSSM Alliance in India, made possible through the culmination and power of collaborative action towards inclusive sanitation. It charts the Alliance's history, priorities, ways of working, and offers an insight into the future of inclusive sanitation in the country, spotlighting how conscious efforts towards inclusive and accessible sanitation services and last mile delivery are crucial to driving change in the sector.

By: 10 Dec 2024

Report

NFSSM Alliance Odisha Chapter

Demonstrating the Power of Collaborative Action, this report chronicles the journey and impact of the NFSSM Alliance Odisha Chapter. The Chapter plays a crucial role in helping drive safe and inclusive sanitation in the state on the tenets of cooperation, knowledge sharing and leveraging org-wise strengths toward a unified vision.

By: 10 Dec 2024

Event

Upcoming: Building Climate-Resilient WASH Systems in India: Adapting to Climate Changes | 27th and 28th November 2024| Hybrid | Virtual and in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala

This two-day workshop aims to explore and integrate climate change adaptation strategies into WASH programs in India. The workshop will focus on assessing climate change impacts in WASH, identifying tools for climate change management, and developing actionable recommendations for inclusion in major national WASH programs like AMRUT 3.0 and SBM 3.0. Participants will collaborate to create policy suggestions and recommendations to inform government actions and investments in building resilient WASH systems. Expected Outcomes: 1. Comprehensive recommendations to enhance climate resilience in WASH investments under AMRUT and SBM 3.0. 2. A roadmap for integrating climate change adaptation tools and frameworks into national WASH policies. 3. Commitment from key stakeholders to advocate for climate-resilient infrastructure and financing.

By: 31 Oct 2024

Report

Jharkhand – Sanitation At a Glance

Jharkhand's journey in sanitation encapsulated in a nutshell shows the state's progress through the levers of policy, community and technical progress.

By: 29 Oct 2024