View Copy of ICNSS 2026 Comprehensive Report Draft.docx flipbook.
2nd International Conference on Non-Sewered Sanitation Systems (ICNSS-2026) - Comprehensive Report The 2nd International Conference on Non-Sewered Sanitation Systems (ICNSS-2026) was held during 09–12 July 2026 in Palakkad, Kerala, India, organized by the Global Sanitation Center of Excellence (GSCOE), Indian Institute of Technology Palakkad (IIT Palakkad), in collaboration with the International Water Association (IWA). The conference was hosted as the second in a series after the first IWA specialist group on NSS Conference held in Johannesburg in 2023. The second edition of the IWA-NSS specialist group conference was aimed to bring together the leading innovators and practitioners to share global evidence and best practices in non-sewered and decentralized sanitation; explore emerging technologies and pathways for implementation; discuss policy frameworks, financing models, and governance mechanisms; highlight the linkages between sanitation, health, environment, and climate resilience; and foster international collaboration towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). ❖ Conference Website: https://nssconference2026.org/ 1 | Page
Executive Summary Access to safe, sustainable, and equitable sanitation remains one of the most critical global development challenges. Non-sewered sanitation systems are increasingly recognized as essential solutions for addressing sanitation needs in rapidly urbanizing regions, underserved communities, climate-vulnerable areas, and decentralized infrastructure contexts. Recognizing the need for interdisciplinary collaboration and knowledge exchange, the Global Sanitation Center of Excellence, IIT Palakkad organized the 2nd International Conference on Non-Sewered Sanitation Systems (ICNSS-2026) between 9-12 July 2026 The 2nd International Conference on Non-Sewered Sanitation Systems (ICNSS-2026), hosted by the Global Sanitation Center of Excellence (GSCOE) at the Indian Institute of Technology Palakkad, successfully brought together researchers, policymakers, practitioners, industry leaders, technology developers, funding agencies, and development partners from across the globe to collectively advance the discourse on sustainable sanitation systems. Held under the thematic tagline “Reimagining Sanitation Systems for an Inclusive and Sustainable Future,” ICNSS-2026 served as a premier international platform for sharing cutting-edge research, emerging technologies, policy perspectives, implementation experiences, and collaborative opportunities in the field of non-sewered sanitation systems. Over three days, participants engaged in keynote lectures, plenary sessions, technical presentations, workshops, immersion visits, technology exhibitions, and networking activities that collectively strengthened the global sanitation innovation ecosystem. ICNSS-2026 further reinforced the commitment of the Global Sanitation Center of Excellence (GSCOE) role in sanitation research and innovation while strengthening collaborations with the International Water Association (IWA), academic institutions, government agencies, industry stakeholders, and international development organizations. 2 | Page
Conference overview, background and objectives The Scientific themes and sub-themes of ICNSS-2026 were chosen to emphasize innovation, inclusivity, circular economy approaches, resource recovery, climate resilience, public health outcomes, and sustainable sanitation service delivery. Conference Tagline: Reimagining Sanitation Systems for Inclusive and Sustainable Future. The conference was designed with the following strategic objectives: ● Facilitate global exchange of scientific knowledge and technological innovations. ● Promote interdisciplinary collaboration across academia, industry, government, and development sectors. ● Showcase advancements in non-sewered sanitation technologies. ● Strengthen international partnerships and research networks. ● Support capacity building among early-career researchers and practitioners. ● Advance implementation pathways for sustainable sanitation solutions. ● Promote evidence-based policymaking and technology adoption. Scientific & Technical Committee of ICNSS-2026 ICNSS-2026 was organized through a comprehensive governance framework comprising multiple committees and working groups responsible for scientific programming, delegate engagement, logistics, communications, sponsorship, publications, and overall event operations. Central to this structure was the Scientific and Technical Committee, which served as the conference’s principal peer advisory body, ensuring the highest standards of scientific quality and technical excellence. The Committee comprised 34 distinguished experts, including 19 international and 15 national members representing academia, research institutions, industry, government agencies, and 3 | Page
development organizations. The diverse expertise and global representation of the committee ensured scientific rigour, international relevance, and balanced coverage across the conference’s thematic areas. The Committee provided strategic guidance on conference themes, technical content, paper review processes, workshop development, keynote speaker selection, and programme design. Through its oversight and expert inputs, the Committee played a pivotal role in shaping a technically robust, globally relevant, and impactful conference programme that reflected the latest advancements and emerging priorities in the non-sewered sanitation sector. Conference branding The branding and promotional strategy for ICNSS-2026 was carefully conceptualized to reflect the conference theme, “Reimagining Sanitation Systems for an Inclusive and Sustainable Future,” while projecting a professional and globally relevant identity. The visual elements, colour palette, graphics, signage, delegate materials, and digital communication assets were designed to embody the principles of sustainability, innovation, inclusivity, and scientific excellence. Special emphasis was placed on creating a consistent brand experience across all touchpoints—from conference announcements and social media campaigns to venue branding, delegate kits, wayfinding signage, and stage backdrops. 4 | Page
Technical Abstract Submission and Review Process Call for Abstracts The conference announcement and call for abstracts were released in multiple phases as per the IWA-prescribed timeline standards and procedures: ● First Call for Abstracts – September 2025 ● Second Call for Abstracts – October 2025 The call for technical abstracts has attracted strong enthusiasm and inquiries from researchers and practitioners worldwide. 5 | Page
Web analytics (https://nssconference2026.org/anltcs) Technical submission and review process and acceptance statistics A robust abstract submission and review system was adopted through the AbstractLogic platform. The two-stage peer-review system adopted for the conference ensured high scientific quality, thematic relevance, and international standards. The scientific review team comprised about 65 reviewers, of which 20 were ICNSS Scientific Committee members, and 45 members were invited and included as Scientific and Technical Sub-Committee members. The conference received 213 technical abstracts from 21 countries, demonstrating significant global interest and participation. Through a rigorous peer-review process involving 65 reviewers, high-quality technical contributions were selected for oral and poster presentations. 120 abstracts were shortlisted for oral presentations, 90 for poster presentations and 3 were rejected 6 | Page
Conference registration process and statistics To facilitate the conference registration process, an automated online registration platform was created to accommodate the delegate groups in: • 3 Timelines (Early-bird, Regular and Late registration) • 2 Country classifications (High Income & Low-income) • 4 Delegate categories (IWA member, Non-Member, YWP and Accompanying delegates) An end-to-end encrypted National and International Payment gateway was created on the conference website to accept the payments through Canara Bank's account supported by BillDesk. IWA membership verification was supported through the Connect Plus membership verification service Application Programming Interface supported by IWA headquarters 7 | Page
International Delegate Facilitation, Ministry Clearances & Travel Support: The Conference Secretariat provided comprehensive facilitation services for international delegates, coordinating ministry clearances, official communications, invitation documentation, and travel-related support to ensure smooth participation in ICNSS-2026. Dedicated assistance was extended throughout the pre-conference and travel process, including liaison with relevant institute departments and the international relations office by guiding visa and immigration requirements, and logistical coordination, thereby enabling a seamless and welcoming experience for delegates arriving from across the globe. 8 | Page
Sponsorship campaign and categories for ICNSS-2026 A comprehensive sponsorship campaign was developed and executed for ICNSS-2026, offering a range of tiered sponsorship categories—including Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze, Exhibition, and Affiliate and Add-on Supporting Partner levels—to accommodate diverse stakeholder interests and engagement capacities. The framework was designed to provide enhanced visibility, branding opportunities, networking platforms, and strategic engagement avenues for industry, academic, governmental, and development-sector partners, thereby strengthening collaborations and contributing significantly to the successful organization of the conference. Conference Kit and Delegate Giveaways A comprehensive conference kit was thoughtfully designed and distributed to all delegates, comprising essential conference materials, event information, branded stationery, and participant resources to facilitate a seamless conference experience. In addition, a range of customised and sustainably sourced delegate giveaways were curated to reflect the theme and identity of ICNSS-2026. These items not only enhanced participant engagement and comfort throughout the event but also served as meaningful keepsakes, reinforcing the conference brand and creating a lasting impression among delegates, speakers, sponsors, and partners. 9 | Page
Schedule of Technical sessions for ICNSS-2026 The conference featured 20 technical sessions, 10 workshops, keynote and 3 plenary sessions, Oral and poster presentation sessions, immersion visits and technology exhibition and networking activities. Keynote and Plenary Sessions ICNSS-2026 hosted internationally renowned experts, policymakers, researchers, and technology leaders as keynote and plenary speakers. The keynote and plenary programme served as a major attraction and knowledge-sharing platform as these sessions addressed focused brainstorming discussions on: ● Global sanitation challenges and emerging technology pathways ● Circular economy approaches for reuse and resource recovery ● Climate resilience and critical nuances of financing sanitation innovations ● Policy and governance frameworks and future directions for non-sewered sanitation systems The Inaugural and First Day Keynote and Plenary session was webcasted on YouTube for reaching out the wider audience and the important dignitaries who couldn’t attend the event in person. ❖ The YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVmhv03XD8Y&t=6673s 10 | Page
Oral and Poster Presentations The technical presentation tracks showcased cutting-edge research and implementation experiences from around the world. Oral Presentations A total of 81 oral presentations highlighted: Technology innovations, Resource recovery systems, Treatment technologies, Public health implications, Field implementation experiences and Policy and governance studies Poster Presentations A total of 70 posters provided opportunities for: Early-stage research dissemination, Student engagement, Collaborative discussions, Emerging technology showcases, The sessions promoted rich technical interactions and networking. 11 | Page
The technical programme of ICNSS-2026 was enriched by the active involvement of 20 distinguished Session Chairs drawn from academia, industry, research organizations, and the development sector. They played a critical role in moderating technical sessions, facilitating scholarly discussions, guiding question-and-answer interactions, and ensuring productive deliberations across diverse thematic areas. Their expertise and leadership contributed significantly to maintaining the scientific rigor of the conference, fostering meaningful knowledge exchange, and encouraging collaborative dialogue among researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and industry stakeholders. 12 | Page
Broadcast, Media publicity and Social Outreach A comprehensive broadcast, media publicity, and digital outreach strategy was meticulously planned and executed to maximize the visibility and impact of ICNSS-2026. The campaign leveraged online broadcast videos, print media reports, institutional communication channels, and social media platforms to disseminate conference updates, key announcements, and event highlights. Regular promotional activities, targeted stakeholder engagement, and real-time digital coverage significantly enhanced the conference’s national and international reach, strengthened participant engagement, and reinforced the conference's position as a leading global platform for advancing non-sewered sanitation systems and sustainable sanitation solutions. ❖ Links to broadcast videos and message snippets on the IIT Palakkad YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@IITPalakkad_Official/search?query=ICNSS 13 | Page
Immersion Visits to GSCOE labs and field-testing facilities and services Participants were provided opportunities to visit the laboratory and field-testing facilities of the Global Sanitation Center of Excellence at IIT Palakkad campuses. The visits received highly positive feedback and enhanced the practical dimension of the conference. The immersion visits enabled delegates to: Observe operational sanitation technologies, interact with researchers, understand testing and validation methodologies, explore real-world implementation pathways 14 | Page
The Technology Exhibition and Networking Zone The exhibition and networking zone served as a vibrant platform for fostering meaningful interactions among researchers, technology developers, entrepreneurs, industry representatives, policymakers, funding agencies, and investors. Showcasing a diverse range of innovative technologies, products, and implementation solutions in the sanitation sector, the exhibition facilitated knowledge exchange, technology demonstration, and stakeholder engagement. The dedicated networking environment encouraged strategic discussions, partnership building, and exploration of future opportunities for commercialization, research collaboration, technology transfer, and large-scale implementation initiatives, thereby enhancing the overall impact and outcomes of ICNSS-2026. Technical Workshops at ICNSS-2026 ICNSS-2026 featured 10 specialized technical workshops designed to complement the conference’s scientific programme through interactive learning, hands-on demonstrations, and expert-led knowledge sharing. Covering a broad spectrum of topics related to non-sewered sanitation systems, resource recovery, technology innovation, system design, monitoring and evaluation, policy frameworks, and implementation strategies, the workshops provided participants with valuable practical insights and technical skills. These sessions facilitated in-depth engagement between experts and delegates, encouraged knowledge exchange, and enabled participants to explore emerging technologies, research methodologies, operational best practices, and real-world applications relevant to advancing sustainable sanitation solutions. 15 | Page
Workshop – 1 Topic: Advancing Climate-Resilient Non- Sewered Water Efficient Sanitation Systems in informal and water-scarce environments in South Africa Organisation: WRC of South Africa Lead Convenors: Dr Valerie Naidoo/ Mr Phillip Majeke Workshop -2 Topic: Advancing India’s R&D Ecosystem for Water-Efficient Sanitation Solutions Organisation: Global Sanitation Center of Excellence (GSCOE) of IIT Palakkad Lead Convenor: Dr.M.Devasena Workshop -3 Topic: Product standards as enablers of scalability of safe and sustainable sanitation systems Organisation: TÜV SÜD, Singapore Lead Convenor: Ms. Yue Yang 16 | Page
Workshop -4 Topic: Failing Better, Building Smarter with Resource-Oriented Sanitation Organisation: IWA Specialist Group on Resource-Oriented Sanitation Lead Convenor: Ms. Devi Bühler Workshop -5 Topic: Climate–Sanitation nexus Organisation Organisation: Co-chair – IWA Specialist Group on Non-Sewered Sanitation Systems Lead Convenor: Ms. Mei Yee Chan Workshop -6 Topic: Strengthening non-sewered sanitation education: A curriculum dialogue Organisation: GSGS Regional Hub India, Faculty of Planning, CEPT University Lead Convenor: Dr. Siddh Doshi 17 | Page
Workshop -7 Topic: Improving Market Traction for Startups and MSMEs in WASH Organisation: WASH Institute, India Lead Convenor: Mr. Sasanka Velidandla Workshop -8 Topic: Advancing research for scaling up non-sewered sanitation Organisation: CDD India Lead Convenor: Ms. Rohini Pradeep Workshop -9 Topic: Bridging Validation and Scale: Regional Pathways for Deployable NSS Systems Organisation: GWSC, AIT, Thailand Lead Convenor: Mr. Hendra Gupta 18 | Page
Workshop -10 Topic: Mainstreaming CWIS in the region: Building knowledge, Capacity and Practice Organisation: National Institute of Urban Affairs, India Lead Convenor: Dr. Mahreen Matto Publications and Partnerships A publishing collaboration was made with IWA Publishing to facilitate the dissemination of high-quality conference outcomes, providing authors with an internationally recognized platform to showcase their research. This partnership enhanced the global visibility, accessibility, and impact of scientific contributions emerging from ICNSS-2026 while supporting broader knowledge exchange within the water, sanitation, and sustainability sectors. More details about the publication collaboration can be seen on the weblink: https://iwaponline.com/si/pages/pages/conference_collaborations 19 | Page
Outcomes and Impact The conference serves as a benchmark for future large-scale academic and technology-focused events hosted by the Institute and reflects the collective commitment of faculty, researchers, staff, students, partners, and stakeholders. The conference generated significant momentum for future research collaborations, technology partnerships, policy engagement, and capacity-building initiatives while substantially enhancing the national and international visibility of both IIT Palakkad and the Global Sanitation Center of Excellence (GSCOE). By bringing together leading experts, practitioners, policymakers, industry representatives, development organizations, and funding agencies from around the world, ICNSS-2026 fostered meaningful dialogue on emerging challenges and opportunities in the non-sewered sanitation sector. The event successfully strengthened international collaborations, promoted cutting-edge sanitation innovations, facilitated researcher–industry interactions, and showcased emerging technologies and implementation solutions. It attracted considerable attention and participation from academic institutions, government organizations, international agencies, industry stakeholders, development partners, and funding organizations, thereby creating a robust platform for sustained engagement and future partnerships. Importantly, ICNSS-2026 further strengthened the positioning of the Global Sanitation Center of Excellence (GSCOE) at IIT Palakkad within the global sustainability and sanitation ecosystem. The conference reinforced GSCOE’s role as a leading centre for applied sanitation research, technology validation and demonstration, knowledge dissemination, industry engagement, policy support, and international collaboration. The outcomes and networks established through the conference are expected to catalyse future innovations, strategic partnerships, and impactful interventions that contribute to advancing sustainable sanitation and achieving broader sustainable development goals at national and global scales. ❖ Appended below are the compiled event photos of the ICNSS-2026 20 | Page
21 | Page
22 | Page
23 | Page
24 | Page
25 | Page