Creation of demand for sustainable sanitation

Sub step 1: Identification of the different drivers of sanitation at different levels of the society

Supply-driven projects are generally under-used, poorly maintained and financially unsustainable, as in most cases the needs and desires of the final end users are not taken into consideration. In order to create demand for sustainable sanitation within any locality or community, it is necessary to identify what the community members actually desire, as well as to identify what aspects of sustainable sanitation will be of most interest to them. Once these drivers of sanitation are identified, they will be used to convince the community to demand the adoption of sustainable sanitation. Usually, the most important amongst other factors are:

  • Convenience and comfort.
  • Privacy and safety.
  • Avoidance of sexual harassment and assault (in the case of women and girls).
  • Less embarrassment with visitors.
  • Dignity and social status.
  • Improved crop yields through increased soil fertility (in the case when the household produces some crop).

In agricultural areas, the potential for resource reuse as fertilizers can be used as a driver.

Methods for identifying sanitation drivers

For the identification of these sanitation drivers, the planning team in conjunction with the key stakeholders will have to organise consultations with selected members of the community, so as to know what they expect from the project.  This consultation could be in the form of:

  • Workshops: selected members of the community should be invited to workshops where they will be required to answer questions about what they want in sanitation.
  • School essays: school children could be told to write short essays about what they and their parents could benefit from proper sanitation as well as a clean environment.
  • House-to-House visits: paying visits to homes within the community could prove helpful as families could be asked about what they expect from sanitation.
  • Community meetings/durbars to discuss sanitation conditions, problems, solutions, etc.

Click here to download a tool for identification of drivers in English version or in French version

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