Interview

What pathway did you take into WASH and urban sanitation?

I began working in WASH in emergencies with NGOs. Seeing the needs in the WASH sector, I gradually switched focus to sanitation and hygiene, completing an MSc and Phd at WEDC in Loughborough, UK.

What can you say about your passion for working in WASH and urban sanitation?

I am attracted to the complexity of the urban sanitation sector where there are often so many diverse, yet interlinked issues which need to be considered when solving problems.

Describe the range of your WASH and urban sanitation experience.

My early experience was emergency response work and program management in post emergency settings. My focus now is on assessment, research and strategy development in urban sanitation and hygiene, working predominantly on market-based approaches and behaviour change.

Which clients have you worked for?

I generally work with a variety of different clients including NGOs such as Oxfam, municipalities, consulting firms and institutions such as the World Bank.

What are you currently working on?

I am currently supporting the strategy development for sanitation market landscaping and private sector involvement for the West African sub-region.

What is the best project you have worked on and why?

Market research on private sector drinking water vending and sanitation services delivery in metropolitan areas of Haïti. The research really gave me the opportunity to explore complex issues in a dynamic and changing environment, with people that you don’t normally talk to. Discovering and making this knowledge available, was very satisfying.

When not at work, what are you doing?

I spend my spare time looking after chickens and bees for egg and honey production as well as making home-made apple juice. I also have a growing collection of traditional sling shots which I add to on my travels!