New York, NY, May 13, 2025 — The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has announced the winners of its latest Wazoku crowdsourcing challenge to improve safety for women and girls in refugee and internal displacement camp latrines using phosphorescent lighting.

The “Application of Phosphorescence Technology for Toilet Lighting in Refugee Camps” challenge asked solvers to create prototypes of phosphorescent or equivalent lighting that could be used to illuminate toilets at night without electricity – making them safer for women and girls who face heightened risk of violence in poorly-lit facilities. Eight different prototypes were then tested for ease of use and effectiveness by the IRC team over the course of 4 months.

The winning solutions, which were selected from among 35 submissions originating from 12 different countries, are:

As humanitarian needs grow and resources shrink, these three solutions combine innovation with the essential cost efficiency needed to implement on a large scale, with each prototype costing less than $5 per latrine. The simple, sustainable designs of the winning projects make them usable even in the most difficult conditions.

This challenge builds on the IRC’s 2023 Wazoku challenge, “Safe and Desirable Female Toilets in Refugee Camps,” which first identified phosphorescent materials as a potential solution to the lack of light and proper safety measures in refugee camp toilets. The ability of phosphorescent lighting to self-charge is revolutionary for use in refugee camps that are often under-resourced with limited access to technology.

Now that the challenge is complete, winning ideas will be piloted in one of the IRC’s programs around the world. Beyond latrines, this novel lighting method has the potential for expanded use in housing, outdoor pathways, and medical facilities across emergency settings. The IRC is committed to driving this work forward, ensuring that these groundbreaking solutions lead to lasting improvements in the safety and well-being of displaced women and girls around the world.

Simon Hill, CEO of Wazoku, said: “It’s great to see that the Wazoku Crowd has put innovative prototypes in the hands of the IRC, and been rewarded for their efforts. We’ll follow developments closely as Airbel and other IRC teams develop and polish these potentially transformational solutions.”

Bansaga Saga, IRC Technical Advisor for West Africa, said: “The innovative low-cost phosphorescent lighting solutions that emerge from this challenge not only illuminate latrines, but also highlight the potential that groundbreaking innovations can have in addressing the urgent protection needs of women and girls in crisis situations. We look forward to testing these innovations with our clients in refugee and IDP camps.”

To learn more about the IRC’s crowdsourcing program, visit: https://www.wazokucrowd.com/showcases/international-rescue-committee/

Pictures of the Three Winning Prototypes

Winning solutions immediately after sunset. From left to right: Honeycomb, Phluo, Night Skylight (220mm), Night Skylight (135mm)

Prototypes charging in the daylight. From left to right: Honeycomb, Phluo, Night Skylight (220mm), Night Skylight (135mm)