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Lake Victoria, the world’s second-largest freshwater lake by surface area, is a vital resource for over 47 million people across five countries—Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda—that share its shores and watershed. This population is growing rapidly, and this growth is occurring amid the challenges of climate change.
However, the lake’s water quality and biodiversity are increasingly at risk due to pollution, primarily from inadequate sanitation, unsustainable land management, and industrial effluent. With over 100 urban areas within the lake basin—ranging from large cities to small towns—rapid urban expansion continues to place immense pressure on sanitation infrastructure and services. As a result, the quality of the lake’s water is deteriorating. This decline has devastating consequences for the livelihoods of local communities, including reduced fish stocks, diminished biodiversity, and worsening public health issues.
Improving the lake’s water quality requires a coordinated, regional approach, given the transboundary nature of pollution. While sanitation interventions are carried out at national and local levels, pollution originating in one country can negatively impact this shared resource.
The Lakewide Inclusive Sanitation (LWIS) approach offers a promising solution, with the potential to create positive outcomes in several key areas, including private sector involvement, job creation, climate change adaptation and mitigation, and the circular economy. This strategy brings together governments, communities, and private sector to implement effective sanitation solutions, while enhancing lake functions and strengthening the adaptive capacity of resource-dependent communities, especially vulnerable groups and women.