Year of publication: 2009

Evans, B. … [et al.] (2009). Sustainability and equity aspects of total sanitation programmes : a study of recent WaterAid-supported programmes in three countries : global synthesis report. London, UK, WaterAid. 30 p. : 7 fig, 8 tab. 38 ref.

This report is a synthesis of three individual country studies on Community-led Total Sanitation (CLTS) activities in WaterAid programmes in Bangladesh, Nepal and Nigeria in 2008-2009. The studies examined whether CLTS had led to sustainable sanitation behaviour change.

In Bangladesh, where there is already a national CLTS programme, all of the 16,000 WaterAid project communities are reported to have achieved open defecation free (ODF) status. Sharing of latrines is surprisingly common but amongst households with their own latrines upgrading and rehabilitation are also prevalent. The interventions appear to have resulted in sustained behaviour changes and are highly cost effective. Progress in Bangladesh may be a product of both the CLTS interventions and earlier investments in the sanitation sector as a whole.

In both Nepal and Nigeria, the experience of CLTS is relatively newer. In Nepal, there was evidence of fairly widespread non-compliance in the form of now-hidden open defecation. In the more successful communities there was evidence of continued upgrading and an interest in investing over time to improve sanitation. Costs were higher than those seen in Bangladesh and there had been limited technical innovation.

In Nigeria, change has begun but there is limited evidence as yet that communities will sustain the change and progressively improve their sanitation status.

Although WaterAid did circulate a draft version earlier, the final global synthesis report and the 3 country reports are only due for publication by the end of July 2009. The link to the final versions of the reports will be provided when they become available.

Download here

Tags: africa, on-site sanitation, south asia