JICA and LIXIL Sign Partnership Agreement to Address Sanitation Challenges in Developing Countries—Towards Creating a 'Sanitation Economy'

On Monday, June 8, 2026, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and LIXIL Corporation signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on business partnership and cooperation to resolve water and sanitation challenges in developing countries. The signing was conducted between Akihiko Tanaka, President of JICA, and Kinya Seto, Director, Representative Executive Officer, President and CEO of LIXIL.

This partnership is designed to further develop initiatives in the water and sanitation sector by combining public cooperation with private sector business to promote sustainable sanitation services.

Globally, many regions still lack sufficient access to safe toilets and handwashing facilities. Improving sanitation is a crucial development issue involving health, education, nutrition, gender equality, peacebuilding, and humanitarian aid. Diarrheal diseases caused by unsanitary environments claim the lives of over 1,000 children every day worldwide, totaling approximately 440,000 lives annually.

Under this MOU, the partnership will combine JICA's cooperation in policy and institutional development and its relationships with countries with LIXIL's strengths in product development, market formation, and business expansion. Together, they will promote the formation of a 'Sanitation Economy' where sanitation services autonomously circulate locally. Specifically, they will begin by working in Kenya and Malawi, targeting schools, healthcare facilities, refugee and host communities, and households to promote safe toilets, handwashing facilities, and established hygiene habits.

Moving forward, both parties will expand the 'Sanitation Economy' model developed from their achievements in Kenya and Malawi to other regions, aiming to provide safe and hygienic toilets to 500,000 people across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.