What basic needs does The Human Needs Project address?

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The Human Needs Project addresses the fundamental needs of water and sanitation in Kibera, Kenya.

The Human Needs Project (HNP) provides essential services such as clean drinking water, toilet facilities, showers, and laundry services to residents of Kibera, Nairobi's largest informal settlement. This initiative tackles the scarcity and high cost of these basic necessities by allowing individuals to exchange recyclable plastic waste for "green points," which are then redeemable for these vital services.
Access to Clean Water and Sanitation Facilities

HNP operates a borehole with a daily capacity of 500,000 litres, distributing water through 10 points across Kibera. This ensures a more consistent and affordable supply compared to informal vendors who often exploit shortages, charging exorbitant prices. The project has significantly contributed to water access, distributing over 50 million litres since 2015, with 11 million litres provided in 2024 alone.
Economic Empowerment Through Waste Exchange

The project incentivizes waste management by allowing residents, particularly women, to trade one kilogramme of recyclable plastic for 15 green points, equivalent to 15 shillings. This system offers a tangible benefit for collecting and delivering plastic, providing an alternative income stream that can be used to access essential services like toilets and showers, which previously consumed a significant portion of daily earnings for residents like 85-year-old Molly Aluoch.
Improved Health and Dignity for Residents

By providing access to clean water and modern sanitation facilities, HNP directly improves the health and daily living conditions within Kibera. The availability of safe toilets and bathrooms is crucial for maintaining hygiene and dignity, especially for women and girls during menstruation. The project has facilitated over one million uses of toilets and showers since its inception, with 124,000 such uses recorded in 2024, demonstrating a substantial impact on public health.
Tackling Waste Management Challenges

Beyond addressing immediate human needs, HNP integrates a strategy to combat Kibera's waste problem. The collection and exchange of recyclable plastics serve a dual purpose: providing residents with credits for services and diverting waste from the environment. In the first quarter of 2025, residents delivered two tonnes of recyclable plastic, with approximately 250 women actively participating in this collection and delivery process.

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What basic needs does The Human Needs Project address?

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