The recent partnership between Hungarian company Pureco and the Pan-African Association of Sanitation Actors (PASA) marks a significant step toward addressing Africa’s pressing sanitation challenges.
Formalised through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding at IFAT Munich 2026, the collaboration builds on earlier agreements and aims to strengthen wastewater management in unsewered settlements across the continent. At its core, the partnership focuses on developing faecal sludge treatment plants, enhancing professional training, and adapting Hungarian technologies such as Pureco’s Septopure® solution to local African conditions. Septopure®, already recognised by the United Nations, offers scalable solutions for wastewater treatment in communities lacking sewer infrastructure, making it particularly relevant for Africa’s urban and rural contexts.
PASA, established in 2019, unites sanitation organisations from 31 African countries with the mission of improving public health through sustainable sewage sludge management.
By combining PASA’s continental reach with Pureco’s technical expertise, the partnership seeks to create bankable projects that can attract international investment under frameworks like the Global Gateway.
While challenges such as financing and capacity building remain, the collaboration represents a promising model of knowledge transfer and technological adaptation.
Ultimately, this strengthened Hungarian-African partnership underscores the importance of global cooperation in tackling sanitation issues and advancing public health across Africa.
