Portal to Portaloo

2.5 billion people do not have access to a toilet; instead they have no choice but to practice open defecation, having a potentially detrimental effect on their health. The chapter asks whether microfinance and IT can play a role in tackling the problem. Drawing on the experience of Grameen Telephone it is argued that this is analogous with attempts to promote the purchase of toilets, in particular the technological leap where expensive infrastructure is bypassed. Drawing on three case studies we show that such a process is underway and while there are a limited number of microfinance institutions (MFIs) engaged in this market it is insufficient to address the myriad of both organizational and cultural problems. However, the use of a prospective web portal may help create the environment for a viable market to emerge.