Improving Safety for Women Through Latrine Lighting and Locking Prototypes in Nigeria’s IDP Camps

Project start date: 01/05/2024

Project end date: 31/07/2024

Situation

In camps for internally displaced people (IDPs) in Maiduguri, Nigeria, women faced heightened risks due to poor lighting and inadequate locking systems in communal latrines. These conditions exposed them to gender-based violence and unsanitary environments. In response, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) launched a crowdsourcing challenge to identify safety-enhancing solutions.

Assignment

The task focused on assessing lighting and locking systems for female users—adolescents, women, and older adults—within the camp. A participatory process was designed to uncover key cultural, safety, and contextual needs, ensuring that solutions would be both appropriate and sustainable for the local context.

Approach

Prototype testing was conducted with female clients, who engaged directly with the new systems. Feedback was gathered through observation, interviews, and co-creation activities. Insights informed refinements to installation methods and user experience.

Result

The process led to practical improvements: weatherproof materials for durability, simplified installation for scalability, and adaptable designs for varied contexts. Outcomes were shared through testimonials, story reports, and visual documentation, laying the groundwork for wider adoption.

This project was commissioned by Proportion Global for client, IRC and performed by Emmanuella, a member of the Proportion Global community. If you’ve enjoyed reading this case and want to dive deeper, we’d love to hear from you and we will connect you with relevant designers like the team, who worked on this project Contact Us