Introduction

This is the official project start and launch of activities in the sanitation planning process. The purpose of this step is to bring together the key stakeholders to participatorily plan sanitation and reuse of plant nutrients. The initiator of the project (generally the local administration or municipality) will open a dialogue and encourage key stakeholders on the need to plan and take action to improve the sanitation and health situation. These key actors are the chiefs or heads of the community as well as sanitation and agricultural experts and other authorities. It is also important to involve end-users of both the sanitation system and fertilizer products. Such community involvement will facilitate the acceptance of the project and will ensure the success of the participatory planning approach.

This phase will define the general problem and formulate the overall goal of the sustainable sanitation project. It shall also define the project boundaries by identifying the affected stakeholder groups and clarifying the size and location of the project area.  A consensus regarding the project goals and boundary conditions should be reached through a series of discussions with key actors and drafted into official documents.