Soumitra Mandal’s Post

Honored to speak on the “Catalysing Climate Action through Public-Private Sanitation Partnerships” panel at the 9th ISC-FICCI Sanitation Awards & Conclave, especially as the India Sanitation Coalition marks its 10th year. Based on Sattva’s experience of working with 500+ companies, my core message was simple: It's time to reposition sanitation from philanthropy to a core climate strategy. For too long, corporate engagement has been measured by outputs like "toilets built." We must evolve from compliance-driven CSR to climate-responsive ESG. This means integrating WASH into ESG roadmaps and reporting on critical outcomes such as: 🔹 Methane capture & emissions reduction 🔹 Desludging coverage & water security 🔹 Worker safety & community dignity To power this transition, we need a smarter financial ecosystem: 1️⃣ R&D and Innovation: Investments in R&D and innovations to build cost-effective solutions. This is also the space where CSR funds can help significantly. 2️⃣ Patient Capital: Systems change is a marathon, not a sprint. Long-term, committed capital is essential for building sustainable solutions. 3️⃣ Working Capital: Many sanitation enterprises operate on razor-thin margins. Access to working capital is a lifeline for their survival and growth. 4️⃣ Innovative Finance: We must move beyond grants to explore blended finance, outcome-based financing, and sustainability-linked loans. 5️⃣ Technical Assistance: Capital alone isn't enough. Mentorship and capacity building are crucial for enterprises navigating this complex sector. I believe Business, ESG, and CSR goals are three vertices of a triangle. When they speak to each other, we create agile and powerful solutions. The companies that lead this integration won't just close India's sanitation gap—they will build the functional, low-carbon, and equitable systems of the future. #Sanitation #ClimateAction #ESG #WASH #SustainableFinance #CircularEconomy #CSR #IndiaSanitationConclave #FICCI #ImpactInvesting Sattva Consulting ISC-India Sanitation Coalition #cimatewash