Financial inclusion and safe sanitation in slum communities of Abuja, Nigeria

This paper is on the implementation experience of integrating Safe sanitation and hygiene into financial inclusion in slum communities of Abuja, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and Nigeria. Community needs assessment conducted in these slum communities revealed that majority of the beneficiaries of the Financial Inclusion and Empowerment (FINER) lack access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene at the inception of the programme. The project then introduced Non-Financial services such as safe sanitation, hygiene promotion and low- cost hand washing technology (Tippy Tap) to change behaviour for more than 500 women. Women small scale business shop owners and those involved in food business practicing safe sanitation and hygiene pays loan faster than others. 68% women changed their behaviour, incidence of diarrhoea reduced, improved lifestyles and growing social network acting as a vehicle for passing on behaviour change messages to friends and neighbours.