Sanitation First

What Sanitation First does

Sanitation First India, registered as a Section 8 non-profit under the legal name "Wherever the Need India Services" and operating as the sister organisation of The Cycle UK (formerly Sanitation First UK), delivers integrated Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) programmes to vulnerable communities in India. Founded in 2007 by Dr S Paramasivan following post-tsunami relief work in 2005, the organisation is headquartered in Chennai with programme offices in Kamuthi and operational reach across 8 states and 2 Union Territories, serving 600,000+ beneficiaries. Its core portfolio combines eco-sanitation (ecosan) urine-diverting dry toilets and container-based sanitation that convert human waste into agricultural inputs, decentralised wastewater treatment (DEWAT) systems producing 99.99% pathogen-free reusable water, terracotta water filters for schools and anganwadis, and regenerative agriculture research using ecosan compost, urine, and biochar produced from invasive Prosopis Juliflora. Supporting programmes include the award-winning Happy Periods menstrual health curriculum, reusable antimicrobial pads, soap banks in 1,507 anganwadis, SMART++ Anganwadis, hand wash units, school toilet blocks per WHO/UNICEF ratios, and birthing centres in primary health centres.

The business model is donation- and grant-driven rather than commercial. Revenue is generated from individual donations via a Razorpay-powered online portal offering unit-priced giving options (15L/200L/500L safe drinking water, soap bank kits, hand wash units, reusable antimicrobial pad packs), CSR funding from corporate partners (TATA, Marico, Hansgrohe, Manali Petrochemicals, Aptus Value Housing Finance, EY, AM Foundation, EA Foundation, Australian Aid, Green Star, Chennai Willington), government technical assistance contracts via Jal Jeevan Mission/UNOPS, and institutional donor support. Distribution is through direct field operations and partnerships with district administrations (Tiruvallur, Virudhunagar, Ramanathapuram), state government departments (ICDS, TWAD Board), municipal bodies (Tambaram Municipality, Greater Chennai City Police), and academic partners (TNAU, Annamalai University). Marketing is primarily awareness-driven through content, social media, annual reports, and commemorative events (World Water Day, Menstrual Hygiene Day, World Toilet Day).

The organisation is staffed by 11-50 personnel including a leadership team drawn from CARE, Save the Children UK, UNICEF, USAID, British Council, and M S Swaminathan Research Foundation, and is governed by a Board of Directors. Sanitation First India does not have disclosed financial statements, funding rounds, or revenue figures, and operates as a mission-driven non-profit rather than a commercial enterprise.

Name

Sanitation First

Legal name

Wherever the Need India Services

Website

https://sanitationfirstindia.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sanitation First India is a Chennai-based Section 8 non-profit delivering integrated water, sanitation, hygiene, and gender-focused programmes to vulnerable communities across 8 Indian states and 2 Union Territories, using ecosan toilets, decentralised wastewater treatment, and regenerative agriculture to serve 600,000+ beneficiaries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Services

NAICS

Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Sewage Treatment Facilities (221320), Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (22131)

SIC

Sanitary Services (4950), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900), Water Supply (4941)

akta.pro primary industry

Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) (BPAGABAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) Solutions (BPAGALAI), WASH & Public Health (Water, Sanitation, Hygiene) (BPADAIAG), WASH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene) Organizations (HLAJAKAI)

Keywords

• Community WASH programmes
• Rural sanitation services
• Menstrual health education
• Sustainable toilet infrastructure
• Hygiene training services

Headquarters

HQ city

Chennai

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: Sanitation First India operates as a non-profit organisation, generating revenue through donations from individuals, corporations, and institutional donors. The donation page offers specific giving options for water access, menstrual education and pads, soap bank kits, hand wash units, and safe drinking water for schools and anganwadis.
2. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Funding: The organisation receives CSR funding from companies including TATA, Marico, Hansgrohe, Manali Petrochemicals, Aptus Value Housing Finance, and others who support WASH infrastructure projects.
3. Project-Based Donations: Donors can contribute to specific projects including general donations, menstrual education with reusable pads, soap bank starter kits, hand wash units for anganwadis and schools, and safe drinking water supplies in fixed volumes (15, 200, 500 litres).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Sanitation First India designs, builds, and operates sustainable water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure and programmes for vulnerable rural, urban slum, school, anganwadi, and government health-centre communities across India. Its core deliverables include ecosan and container-based toilets, DEWAT wastewater treatment systems, terracotta water filters, soap banks, school toilet blocks, hand wash units, menstrual health training (Happy Periods curriculum), reusable pads, birthing centres, and water body restoration projects, funded through individual donations, corporate CSR, and government grants.

Product overview

Sanitation First India operates as a WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) non-profit organization offering an integrated portfolio of sanitation and hygiene solutions. The core products include Ecosan Toilets (urine diverting dry eco-san toilets) and Container-Based Toilets that convert human waste into agricultural inputs with minimal water usage. Supporting infrastructure includes DEWAT Systems for decentralized wastewater treatment, Terrafil Water Filters for safe drinking water in schools, and School Toilet Blocks following WHO/UNICEF ratios. The women's empowerment portfolio features the Happy Periods Curriculum (award-winning menstrual health training), Reusable Antimicrobial Pads (Safepads), and Birthing Centres in PHCs for maternal health. Community programs include Soap Bank initiatives, Hand Wash Units, SMART++ Anganwadis, and Water Body Restoration projects. The organization also conducts Regenerative Agriculture Research using ecosan compost and biochar. Together, these products and programs address the intersection of Water, Women, and World (environmental sustainability), serving vulnerable communities across eight Indian states and two Union Territories.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ecosan Toilets

Quantifiable outcome

• 600,000+ beneficiaries across 8 states and 2 Union Territories
• +10 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Cycle UK (formerly Sanitation First UK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Cycle UK is the parent organisation of Sanitation First India. Sanitation First India, registered as Wherever the Need India Services, operates as the sister organisation under a license agreement with Sanitation First UK (now The Cycle). The Cycle UK celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2023.
• UNOPS (United Nations Office for Project Services)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSanitation First has partnered with UNOPS as part of the Indo-Denmark Green Strategic Partnership to provide capacity building, management and support to the Jal Jeevan Mission Project of the Government of India in Virudhunagar and Ramanathapuram districts of Tamil Nadu.
• TNAU (Tamil Nadu Agricultural University)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSanitation First is carrying out a research study in the use of ecosan compost, urine, and biochar in regenerative agriculture in partnership with TNAU.
• District Administration of TiruvallurcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSanitation First has partnered with the District Administration of Tiruvallur to create SMART++ Anganwadis with safe and comfortable WASH facilities, smart televisions, CCTV surveillance, play area, and kitchen garden.
• Government of India - Jal Jeevan MissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical assistance to Jal Jeevan Mission, Government of India, providing capacity building and support in aspirational districts of Tamil Nadu under Indo-Denmark Green Strategic Partnership.
• South Chennai Member of Parliament Dr Thamizhachi ThangapandianminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWTNIS collaborated with Dr Thamizhachi Thangapandian to commemorate Menstrual Hygiene Day with female police personnel of GCCP (Greater Chennai City Police), providing menstrual health training and sustainable hygiene kits.
• TWAD Board (Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTWAD Board, headed by Mission Director JJM, is a key government partner for Jal Jeevan Mission implementation. Sanitation First provides technical support including the Visual Guide for TWAD Board Field Test Kit.
• Tamil Nadu State Government - ICDS DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICDS (Integrated Child Development Services) of Tamil Nadu works with Sanitation First on anganwadi WASH improvements and received Community Social Responsibility Awards from ICDS Tiruvallur.
• Thiruvallur District AdministrationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThiruvallur District Administration partners with Sanitation First for Green Champion Awards, SMART++ Anganwadis, and school WASH projects.
• Virudhunagar District AdministrationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVirudhunagar District Administration partners with Sanitation First for soap bank creation in 1,507 anganwadis, school WASH projects, and community hygiene programmes.
• Ramanathapuram District AdministrationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRamanathapuram District Administration partners with Sanitation First for Jal Jeevan Mission technical assistance and WASH infrastructure projects.
• Nellai Neervalam (Tamil Nadu Water Supply)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNellai Neervalam is a government water supply organisation listed as a partner supporting Sanitation First's water initiatives.
• Nashamukti BharatminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNashamukti Bharat is listed as a partner organisation working with Sanitation First on sanitation and hygiene solutions.
• Thooimai India (DWC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThooimai India is listed as a partner organisation collaborating with Sanitation First.
• Annamalai UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnamalai University is listed as an academic partner of Sanitation First India.
• Greater Chennai City Police (GCCP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGCCP partnered with Sanitation First for Menstrual Hygiene Day commemorations with female police personnel, including Happy Periods training and hygiene kit distribution.
• MCLDminorOthersSanitation First India is listed as a member of MCLD organisation.
• South Asian Sanitation and Labour Network (SASLN)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSASLN partnered with Sanitation First for National Science Day 2024 event 'Peek into Science From the Margins: The Lens of Sanitation Workers' in New Delhi.
• Partners in Change, Praxis Institute for Participatory Practices, Superheroes Against SuperbugsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organisations that co-hosted the National Science Day 2024 event with Sanitation First on sanitation worker perspectives.
• Ripples (Menstrual Bracelet Initiative)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRipples provides menstrual bracelets distributed by Sanitation First during Menstrual Hygiene Day celebrations as part of the Happy Periods programme.
• Tiruvallur Children Chamber of Commerce (CFAR)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCFAR is listed as a partner organisation of Sanitation First India for community engagement initiatives.
• Tamil Nadu Urban Sanitation Support Programme (TNUSSP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTNUSSP is listed as a partner organisation supporting urban sanitation initiatives with Sanitation First.
• Association for the Deaf - Women's WingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSanitation First rolled out Happy Periods training to more than 200 women from the Women's Wing Section of the Association for the Deaf on International Women's Day 2024.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Habitat for Humanity India: Habitat for Humanity India is a large international NGO addressing housing and basic services for low-income communities in India. It is comparable as a similarly structured non-profit working with government and CSR partners on community infrastructure for vulnerable populations, including sanitation components.
• WaterAid (UK/Global): WaterAid is a global federation focused exclusively on WASH access in 22 countries. It is comparable as the broader incumbent international NGO that WaterAid India sits within, operating similar thematic programmes and donor funder pools as Sanitation First.
• World Vision India: World Vision India is a large INGO implementing WASH, child health and education programmes in Indian states. It is comparable as a similarly structured non-profit with multi-state operations, government engagement, and donor-funded programmes serving vulnerable communities.
• The Cycle UK: The Cycle UK (formerly Sanitation First UK) is the parent organization of Sanitation First India. It is comparable as the broader international WASH and gender-equity non-profit operating globally with sister-organization structures analogous to Sanitation First's Indian entity.
• UNICEF India: UNICEF India delivers large-scale WASH, child health, and adolescent programmes across Indian states in partnership with government. It is comparable as a broader incumbent working with Jal Jeevan Mission and state administrations on WASH and menstrual health outcomes, though operating at significantly greater scale.

Direct peers

• WASH Institute: WASH Institute is a New Delhi-based non-profit providing training, capacity building and field implementation in water, sanitation and hygiene across India. It is directly comparable to Sanitation First due to overlapping WASH service offerings and government engagement in aspirational districts.
• Sulabh International: Sulabh International is one of India's largest sanitation-focused NGOs, operating community toilet complexes and building/maintaining low-cost toilets. It is directly comparable to Sanitation First for its focus on sanitation infrastructure for vulnerable communities in India.
• Gramalaya: Gramalaya is an Indian NGO based in Tamil Nadu that works on sanitation, hygiene, menstrual health and water programmes across rural communities. It is directly comparable to Sanitation First as a region-overlapping WASH non-profit with similar community-led programme design.
• WaterAid India: WaterAid India is a leading international NGO focused on WASH access across rural and urban India. It is directly comparable to Sanitation First as a non-profit delivering clean water, sanitation, and hygiene programmes to vulnerable communities, including menstrual health components and government partnerships.

Emerging players

• ShelterBox: ShelterBox provides emergency shelter and WASH support following disasters and humanitarian crises. It is comparable to Sanitation First's tsunami-origin WASH work and humanitarian relief roots, though its primary focus is on shelter rather than long-term sanitation infrastructure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/sanitationfirstindia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sanfirst

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Sanitation First