A Systems Approach to ResilientCitywide Inclusive Sanitation BACKGROUND PAPER Leonie Hyde-Smith and Martin Gambrill A Product of The World Bank’sGlobal Department for Water About the Global Department for Water The World Bank Group’s Global Department for Water bringstogether financing, knowledge, and implementation in oneplatform. By combining the Bank’s global knowledge withcountry investments, this model generates more firepower fortransformational solutions to help countries grow sustainably. Visit us on the web atwww.worldbank.org/waterFollow us on X:@worldbankwater About GWSP This publication received the support of the Global WaterSecurity & Sanitation Partnership (GWSP).GWSP is amultidonor trust fund administered by the World Bank’sGlobal Department for Water andsupported by Australia’sDepartment of Foreign Affairs and Trade; Austria’s FederalMinistry of Finance;Denmark’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs; theNetherlands’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Gates Foundation;Spain’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Business; the SwedishInternational DevelopmentCooperation Agency, Switzerland’sState Secretariat for Economic Affairs; the Swiss Agency forDevelopment and Cooperation; and the United KingdomForeign, Commonwealth and DevelopmentOffice. Visit us on the web atwww.worldbank.org/gwspFollow us on X:@thegwsp. The GlobalSanitation CrisisA Systems Approach to Resilient Citywide Inclusive Sanitation BACKGROUND PAPER Leonie Hyde-Smith and Martin Gambrill A Product of The World Bank’sGlobal Department for Water © 2025 International Bank for Reconstruction and Development /The World Bank1818 H Street NWWashington, DC 20433Telephone: 202-473-1000Internet:www.worldbank.org This work is a product of the staff of The World Bank with externalcontributions. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressedin this work do not necessarily reflect the views of The World Bank, itsBoard of Executive Directors, or the governments they represent. The World Bank does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness,or currency of the data included in this work and does not assumeresponsibility for any errors, omissions, or discrepancies in theinformation, or liability with respect to the use of or failure to usethe information, methods, processes, or conclusions set forth.Theboundaries, colors, denominations, links/footnotes and otherinformation shown in this work do not imply any judgment on the partof The World Bank concerning the legal status of any territory or theendorsement or acceptance of such boundaries. The citation of worksauthored by others does not mean the World Bank endorses the viewsexpressed by those authors or the content of their works. Nothing herein shall constitute or be construed or considered tobe a limitation upon or waiver of the privileges and immunities ofTheWorld Bank, all of which are specifically reserved. Rights and PermissionsThe material in this work is subject to copyright. Because The World Bank encourages dissemination of its knowledge, this work may bereproduced, in whole or in part, for noncommercial purposes as long asfull attribution to this work is given. Any queries on rights and licenses, including subsidiary rights, shouldbe addressed to World Bank Publications, The World Bank Group,1818HStreet NW, Washington, DC 20433, USA; fax: 202-522-2625;e-mail:pubrights@worldbank.org. Cover photos:Iguaçu Wastewater Treatment Plant (top); biogasstorage from anaerobic domestic sewage treatment at Atuba SulWastewater Treatment Plant, Curitiba, Brazil (right); nature-basedsolution (constructed wetlands) for sewage sludge treatment at theSanta Helena Wastewater Treatment Plant, Santa Helena, Brazil (left).©Sanepar. Used with permission. Further permission required for reuse. Cover design:Kurt Niedermeier (www.kngraphicdesign.com). Contents Figures 1Different population groups to be considered for Climate Resilient Sanitation32Illustration of failure modes in SFD5 Table In accordance with World Bank (2025) we defineclimate resilient sanitation as follows: 1.Introduction The increasing impacts of climate change on urbanareas demand comprehensive citywide resiliencesolutions and a systems-level approach that takesinto account the interconnectivity of urban planning,services and infrastructure (Gongadze, 2023). Urbansanitation systems are interlinked with other criticalurban infrastructure and service systems, such aswater supply, transportation, energy, stormwaterand solid waste management. The vulnerability ofurban infrastructure and service systems to extremeweather events, exacerbated by climate change,creates complex interdependencies. Failure ofone system, or node within a system, can triggera cascade of adverse events which potentiallycompromise sanitation systems or other critical urbaninfrastructure or services. This interconnectednessmeans that sanitation system failures can impactnon-sanitation systems and, conversely, disruptionsin other urban systems can affect