- Groundwork
Towards dignity in sanitation work: a research agenda for testing behavioral and participatory prototypes in Sub-Saharan Africa
Acholia Pragya, Harrity Rowan, Kemunto Lewin, Kiarie Wanjiku, Kinyera Justin, Sharma Aanchal
- December 9, 2025
- 7:36 pm
SECTOR
PROJECT TYPE
Location
BEHAVIORAL THEME
OVERVIEW
Sanitation workers across Sub-Saharan Africa face stigma, unsafe working conditions, and low pay, despite being essential to public health. This participatory behavioral study in Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa identifies the social and psychological barriers affecting worker dignity, identity, and motivation, and generates 12 behavioral prototypes to address them. The research establishes a foundation for testing scalable interventions that humanize sanitation work and strengthen worker well-being.
Research Questions
- How can participatory behavioral research inform interventions that enhance dignity, identity, and motivation among sanitation workers in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- What behavioral barriers and enablers shape worker well-being?
- How can co-design methods generate actionable and context-specific prototypes for improving dignity and motivation?
Methods
The study used qualitative and participatory methods across urban sites in Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa. Data came from 210 participants including sanitation workers, managers, and consumers, using in-depth interviews, personas, journey mapping, and co-design workshops. Participants generated and refined behavioral prototypes using A-REACH criteria and iterative validation.
THEMATIC AREAS
Key Findings
- Public stigma and social exclusion erode dignity and reinforce internalized shame among sanitation workers.
- Low and inconsistent pay signals social undervaluation and undermines motivation.
- Unsafe, undignified working conditions and inadequate PPE expose workers to health and psychological risks.
- Workers show strong pride, resilience, and solidarity, with positive manager and consumer interactions acting as motivators.
- Twelve behavioral prototypes were co-designed, grouped into themes on recognition, well-being, professionalization, and community engagement.
Policy & Development Implications
- Integrate dignity, identity, and motivation into sanitation workforce strategies.
- Embed behavioral and participatory prototypes in municipal and private sanitation systems.
- Strengthen structures for recognition, safe working conditions, and fair compensation.
- Scale interventions through partnerships with governments, private operators, civil society, and research institutions.
- Use iterative testing and mixed-methods research to refine and institutionalize effective prototypes.