CFAR | Viega Foundation

CFAR: EMPOWERMENT THROUGH PARTICIPATION - SANITATION SOLUTIONS FOR MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES.

INDIA | STATUS: CURRENT

India faces major sanitation challenges, especially in small towns and urban slums where infrastructure is lacking and governance is weak. Despite national programs like Swachh Bharat Mission, many small cities still suffer from poor faecal sludge management, unsafe sanitation, and climate vulnerabilities. Informal settlements face limited access to safe facilities, creating health, social, and environmental risks.

CFAR – the Centre for Advocacy and research works to address these gaps by empowering marginalized communities, strengthening local governance, and promoting inclusive, climate-resilient sanitation solutions tailored to small-town realities.

Left: Members of a Community Management Committee discuss sanitation priorities in their ward in Chaksu, Rajasthan.

CFAR: EMPOWERMENT THROUGH PARTICIPATION - SANITATION SOLUTIONS FOR MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES.

The Centre for Advocacy and Research (CFAR) works to strengthen community participation in governance, with a focus on improving health, sanitation, and gender equity. Since 1998, CFAR has been developing participatory approaches that give marginalized groups a voice in shaping local services. Through its grassroots presence, CFAR ensures that vulnerable communities are not only heard but actively involved in creating sustainable urban development solutions. CFAR is a member of national sanitation platforms such as the NFSSM Alliance and has a track record of designing community-led governance models and scaling them across multiple states, in partnership with local bodies and state authorities.

Left: Members of a Community Management Committee discuss sanitation priorities in their ward in Chaksu, Rajasthan.

CFAR: EMPOWERMENT THROUGH PARTICIPATION - SANITATION SOLUTIONS FOR MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES.

Sanitation challenges in India’s smaller towns are severe. Most lack master plans, adequate infrastructure, and strong municipal systems. While national programs like Swachh Bharat Mission and AMRUT focus on larger cities, smaller municipalities remain underserved, with weak technical capacity and limited resources. As a result, informal settlements face unsafe sanitation, poor faecal sludge management, and growing vulnerabilities due to flooding, water scarcity, and climate change. Addressing these gaps is essential for sustainable and inclusive urban growth.

Left: Members of a Community Management Committee discuss sanitation priorities in their ward in Chaksu, Rajasthan.

CFAR: EMPOWERMENT THROUGH PARTICIPATION – SANITATION SOLUTIONS FOR MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES.

The project “Bridging the Urban Sanitation Gap in Four Small Towns” aims to build inclusive, climate-resilient sanitation systems in Khordha and Jatani (Odisha) and Dausa and Chaksu (Rajasthan). Over three years, it will strengthen local governments, improve sanitation access in 86 underserved settlements, and benefit 140,000 people.

Centered on community participation, it empowers marginalized groups to lead planning, monitoring, and decisions-making regarding sanitation solutions. This collaborative approach strengthens local governance, improves service delivery, and ensures sanitation systems are responsive to the unique needs of slum and underserved settlements, creating sustainable, scalable models aligned with national policies.

Left: Members of a Community Management Committee discuss sanitation priorities in their ward in Chaksu, Rajasthan.