Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with reference to the report entitled Valuing Human Waste as an Energy Resource, published by United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health in 2015, what funding her Department has provided for the development of energy from human waste in developing countries.

DFID recognises the potential for use of human waste in energy generation. DFID is supporting a programme to pilot the use of faecal sludge and organic waste from homes, public toilets and factories in producing biogas energy, soil conditioner and animal feeds. The programme supports small and medium sized enterprises to develop new products. This programme is in partnership with companies such as Unilever, multi-laterals such as the Asian Development Bank and Non-Governmental Organisations such as WaterAid. It works in Kenya, South Africa, Ghana and India.