The Sanitation and Hygiene Fund

What The Sanitation and Hygiene Fund does

The Sanitation and Hygiene Fund (SHF) is a United Nations fund housed within UNOPS and the only UN entity dedicated to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Target 6.2, covering sanitation, hygiene, and menstrual health. Launched in November 2020 and operational since July 2021, SHF develops national sanitation economies and menstrual health markets through catalytic financing, technical assistance, and capacity building, with active country engagements in Kenya, Uganda, and Nigeria and stated expansion plans into West Africa and South & Southeast Asia. Its core programmatic assets are the Next Generation Sanitation (NGS) framework, which bundles non-sewered, decentralized, climate-resilient sanitation approaches around six design principles, and Capital M, a 2024-launched global initiative to build investible menstrual health markets in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. Newer 2025 programs include SanUp (a catalytic pilot for sanitation enterprises in Kenya and Uganda) and M Ventures (a 10-month enterprise support program for menstrual health businesses in East Africa).

SHF does not generate commercial revenue; it operates as a donor-funded pooled fund anchored by the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Switzerland (which contributed a record CHF 16 million in March 2023), and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The 2020 launch sought US$2 billion over five years. Its go-to-market is enterprise relationship-driven and event-based, working bilaterally with national governments, development finance institutions (notably the Development Bank of Nigeria), and UN agencies, and in 2024 co-designed the UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund for Catalytic Finance in Sanitation, Hygiene and Wastewater with UNEP and UNCDF. Reported 2024 outcomes include 600,000+ people gaining access to safely managed sanitation and capacity-building or financing extended to nearly 70 private sector enterprises; SHF estimates sanitation markets in five African countries could generate nearly US$19 billion in economic gains by 2030 against a backdrop of 3.4 billion people globally lacking safely managed sanitation.

Name

The Sanitation and Hygiene Fund

Legal name

The Sanitation and Hygiene Fund

Website

https://shfund.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Sanitation and Hygiene Fund (SHF) is the only UN fund dedicated to SDG 6.2, providing catalytic financing and technical assistance to develop national sanitation economies and menstrual health markets in Kenya, Uganda, and Nigeria, serving governments, SMEs, and women and girls in LMICs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Development Finance Services

NAICS

Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles (525)

SIC

Federal & Federally-Sponsored Credit Agencies (6111), Miscellaneous Business Credit Institution (6159), International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

Development Finance, Guarantees & Blended Finance Programs (BPADABAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Private Sector & Blended Finance Arms (IFC-type) (BPADACAJ), Climate Finance Funds & Green Investment Facilities (BPADACAH), Sustainable Private Markets (Impact PE/VC, Private Credit, Infrastructure) (FSAAALAG)

Keywords

• Sanitation financing
• Menstrual health markets
• Catalytic development finance
• WASH development programs
• Next generation sanitation

Headquarters

HQ city

Le Grand-saconnex

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donor Funding: SHF is funded by the generous contributions of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Switzerland and the Gates Foundation. It is a part of UNOPS. As a UN fund, SHF does not generate commercial revenue but receives funding from donors to provide catalytic financing for sanitation and menstrual health programs.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SHF is the only UN fund dedicated to SDG Target 6.2, providing catalytic financing and tailored technical assistance to build national sanitation economies and menstrual health markets in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. It deploys blended finance, impact investing, microfinance, and capacity-building to support governments, private sector enterprises, and partners in scaling Next Generation Sanitation and menstrual health solutions.

Product overview

The Sanitation and Hygiene Fund (SHF) operates as a United Nations fund dedicated to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Target 6.2, focused on sanitation, hygiene, and menstrual health. Rather than a single unified product, SHF offers a portfolio of interconnected initiatives and programs: Next Generation Sanitation (NGS) serves as the core approach for expanding safely managed sanitation through innovative, climate-resilient technologies; Capital M is the flagship global initiative for building thriving menstrual health markets; SanUp provides catalytic financing support for sanitation enterprises; and M Ventures offers enterprise acceleration for menstrual health businesses. These are complemented by Catalytic Financing services and Evidence & Learning capabilities that support market development and knowledge sharing. The organization works with countries, public and private partners to develop national sanitation economies and menstrual health markets, with initial footprints in Kenya, Uganda, and Nigeria, scaling toward West Africa and Asia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Next Generation Sanitation (NGS): A fit-for-future approach to sanitation that places people, innovation, circularity, financial and environmental sustainability, and gender responsiveness at its core.
• Capital M

Products and services

• Next Generation Sanitation (NGS) A fit-for-future approach to sanitation encompassing non-sewered sanitation systems including decentralized, off-grid, and on-site technologies, built on six principles: innovative technologies, sustainable financing, climate and circular economy focus, sustainable operations and maintenance, gender responsive sanitation, and user preference.
• Capital M SHF's global market-led initiative designed to unlock thriving menstrual health markets and deliver lasting impact for millions of women and girls in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), working with governments, entrepreneurs, and funders to make the menstrual health market viable, investible, and sustainable.
• SanUp A catalytic pilot initiative designed to support high-potential sanitation enterprises in Kenya and Uganda, aiming to scale Next-Generation Sanitation enterprises for greater impact.
• M Ventures A 10-month enterprise support program under Capital M designed to support menstrual health enterprises in East Africa, helping build an inclusive menstrual health ecosystem.
• Catalytic Financing SHF's approach to providing financing that helps countries develop viable, scalable business and impact models in sanitation, identifying the right catalytic financing modalities including public-private partnerships, blended finance, impact investing, and microfinance.
• Evidence & Learning Research, analysis, and knowledge generation to support evidence-based approaches to sanitation, hygiene, and menstrual health, including publications, annual reports, and frameworks for assessing the sanitation economy.

Quantifiable outcome

• 600,000+ people gained access to safely managed sanitation in Kenya and Uganda in 2024
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• The Case for HerminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 April 2026Co-organized the session '35 Years of Periods: Systems Change and Evidence for Impact' at Women Deliver 2026 together with SHF's Capital M and the Gates Foundation.
• WaterAidminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 April 2026Facilitated the Architecture for Menstrual Health Indicators initiative (AiMHI) at Women Deliver 2026, working on menstrual health measurement and evidence frameworks.
• The University of QueenslandminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 April 2026Partner in the Architecture for Menstrual Health Indicators initiative (AiMHI) at Women Deliver 2026, contributing research expertise on menstrual health measurement.
• Columbia UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 April 2026Partner in the Architecture for Menstrual Health Indicators initiative (AiMHI) at Women Deliver 2026, contributing academic research capabilities.
• Women DeliverminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 30 April 2026SHF's Capital M organized sessions at Women Deliver 2026 conference in Melbourne to advance menstrual health equity discussions.
• Development Bank of NigeriacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024New partnership with the Development Bank of Nigeria highlighted in SHF's 2024 Annual Report as a promising avenue to catalyze much-needed investment in sanitation, hygiene, and menstrual health at the country level.
• UN Environment Programme (UNEP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Co-designed the UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund for Catalytic Finance in Sanitation, Hygiene and Wastewater with UNEP, representing a new partnership avenue to channel investment into the sector.
• UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Co-designed the UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund for Catalytic Finance in Sanitation, Hygiene and Wastewater with UNCDF to unlock financing for the sector.
• UNOPScoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSHF is a part of UNOPS, leveraging UNOPS's implementation capacity and operational infrastructure to deliver programs and manage resources effectively.
• UN-WatercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSHF engages with UN-Water which coordinates WASH-concerned UN agencies and works to strengthen Member States in their efforts to ensure sustainable water and sanitation for all.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• UNICEF WASH Programme: Also a UN entity focused on water, sanitation, and hygiene in LMICs, with similar programmatic country presence and donor-funded operating model. UNICEF is the largest UN actor in WASH and SHF's closest multilateral peer.
• Development Bank of Nigeria: Nigerian DFI providing catalytic financing for sanitation and menstrual health through the partnership highlighted in SHF's 2024 Annual Report. Functions as a country-level DFI peer that deploys blended finance for development outcomes.
• WaterAid: International NGO focused on water, sanitation and hygiene in LMICs with strong country-level presence in Africa and Asia. WaterAid is a listed SHF partner (Women Deliver 2026 facilitation) and shares the same end-user beneficiaries.
• WSUP (Water & Sanitation for the Urban Poor): Specialized WASH organization focused on urban sanitation in LMICs, working with utilities, municipalities, and private enterprises. Closely aligned with SHF's Next Generation Sanitation focus on non-sewered decentralized systems.
• SNV (Netherlands Development Organisation): Dutch development organization with deep WASH and sanitation economy expertise. As a peer organization funded by the same Dutch donor ecosystem as SHF, SNV shares both funding lineage and programmatic approach in developing sanitation economies.

Broad incumbents

• USAID Water and Sanitation Programs: US government agency implementing large-scale WASH and hygiene programs in Africa and Asia. Historically the largest bilateral WASH donor and a direct counterpart for SHF's country engagement strategy.
• GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit): German bilateral development agency implementing WASH and menstrual health programs globally with government and private sector partners. Operates a similar model of catalytic financing and technical assistance in LMICs.
• World Bank Water Global Practice: Massive multilateral lender with active WASH portfolio in LMICs. SHF explicitly partners with development banks like Development Bank of Nigeria, and the former World Bank VP sits on SHF's board, signaling a closely linked institutional relationship.
• IFC (International Finance Corporation): World Bank Group's private sector arm that mobilizes blended finance for development. SHF's catalytic financing and blended finance approach directly mirrors IFC's model in adjacent sectors and represents a potential institutional investor partner.
• FCDO (UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office): Major bilateral donor funding WASH, sanitation and gender equality programs globally. Functions as both a funder and implementer of catalytic financing in the same geographies as SHF.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-sanitation-and-hygiene-fund
• Xx.com/SHFund
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheSHFund

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Sanitation and Hygiene Fund