WHAT HUMANITARIAN NEED IS BEING ADDRESSED?

In Niger, Internally Displaced People (IDP) communities in the regions of Maradi and Tahoua face a challenge – less than half of the population there has access to safe drinking water. Adding to the concern, the prevalence of global acute malnutrition has reached alarming levels.

In Somalia, conflict and multiple disasters, including climatic shocks, have worsened the humanitarian situation. These shocks heightened the WASH humanitarian crisis, with households forced to abandon their homes and fields. An estimated 6.4 million people lack sufficient access to water. Many are increasingly using untreated water from unprotected shallow wells and dwindling rivers, increasing public health-associated risks.

It is estimated that 50% of malnutrition is linked to diarrhoea or recurrent intestinal infections due to poor WASH conditions. 

WHAT IS THE INNOVATIVE SOLUTION BEING ADOPTED AND HOW WILL IT IMPROVE EXISTING HUMANITARIAN PRACTICE?

Faircap has designed a small, robust, easy-to-use, high-flow water purification device that can be screwed on or adapted to existing water containers such as drums, buckets, or tanks of water.

With a membrane having a pore size of either 0.1μm or 0.01μm, the Faircap family filter can eliminate turbidity, bacteria, protozoa, cysts, and even viruses causing gastrointestinal diseases without the use of chemicals or external energy. The kit is designed to be light enough for easy transportation to affected areas and for local installation.

Standard chlorination products require waiting time before consuming the water, and the level of contamination affects the required dosage.

WHAT ARE THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES OF THIS PROJECT? 

The Family Faircap filter could present a more efficient water treatment approach, eliminating the need for prior knowledge or ongoing user effort.

The project aims to gather and analyse data on product effectiveness, user acceptability, usability and quality, as well as cost-effectiveness.

Should it prove a viable substitute for chlorination products, Action Against Hunger UK will actively advocate for its implementation in Niger and Somalia.