The ROSA Project

What is ROSA and what are its tasks?

The ROSA project proposes resource-oriented sanitation concepts as a route to sustainable sanitation and to meet the UN MDGs. These concepts are applied in four pilot cities in East-Africa, namely Arbaminch (Ethiopia), Nakuru (Kenya), Arusha (Tanzania) and Kitgum (Uganda).

ROSA Arbaminch is working in the whole of Arbaminch town on solid waste, grey water, and yellow water reuse to improve sanitation of the town and increase agricultural productivity in Arbaminch area.

Objectives of ROSA

Promote resource-oriented sanitation concepts:

• Solid and wastewater is a resource and not waste
• Closing water, nutrient, material, energy cycles on a local scale
• Resource and reuse oriented
• Single technologies are not only means to an end

The ROSA project is very focused on applied research and includes:

• an implementation study of the updated WHO-guidelines for use of waste and excreta in agriculture and the integration of resource-oriented solutions in regulatory frameworks,
• the development of operation and management strategies for resource oriented sanitation system in the towns,
• the development of decentralized solutions for greywater treatment
• the integration of resource-oriented sanitation into local settlement structures, and
• the development of local structures for financing of sanitation.

What did ROSA Arbaminch do up to now?

Currently, ROSA Arbaminch has constructed and implemented in cooperation with the users: 5 crop trial sites, 10 arborloo toilets, 11 urine diverting dry toilets, 23 Fausa alterna, 5 composting sites and one biogas site. The main purpose of these projects is to make resource reuse experience develop and to introduce the type of technologies to the users. Besides the construction awareness, searching for finance, involvement of youth groups and agricultural practitioners are being done. All activities are in the areas of recycling of nutrients and of improving sanitation.

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