The article discusses how financial and market-based solutions can help improve sanitation in informal settlements in East Africa. The researchers studied three cities and found that most residents lack proper sanitation facilities. They discovered that residents in Kampala and Kisumu are less likely to have improved sanitation compared to those in Kigali. The availability of sanitation services varies between the cities, with Rwanda having more pro-poor service delivery strategies in place. Overall, the state plays a crucial role in promoting better sanitation in these informal settlements.