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The challenge of servicing on-site sanitation in dense urban areas: Experiences from a pilot project in Dhaka
01.04.2008
The Millennium Development Goals advocate the need for increased coverage of improved sanitation, but they omit to recognize the importance of latrine maintenance to uphold sanitary conditions. This paper describes a pilot initiative in Bangladesh to improve the traditional method of manual desludging of leach pits and septic tanks. Dushtha Shasthya Kendra (DSK), an NGO based in Dhaka, operates a motorized desludging system to remove the waste from on-site sanitation. Although DSK has found there to be a considerable demand for this service from households, institutions and commercial properties, it is only recently that income covers operational and maintenance costs. However, this is not sufficient to repay capital investments, which limits the capacity of DSK to scale up the operation or other NGOs to replicate the service in other areas. In addition, the problem of sludge disposal has only been partially solved, which highlights the need to develop a citywide strategy for faecal sludge management incorporating transfer stations and off-site treatment. -
Sanitation Challenge for Ghana (SC4Gh): motivating local authorities through innovation prizes to achieve SDG6
01.07.2021
As part of the UK Government-funded Ideas to Impact programme, the Sanitation Challenge for Ghana (SC4Gh) ran from 2015 to 2019 aiming to incentivize local authorities in Ghana to prioritize resources to improve municipal sanitation services towards the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6. The paper reviews the overall results of the SC4Gh and discusses selected results for the Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) involved. The most notable outcome was that MMDAs involved were able to make significant improvements across the sanitation value chain with limited technical support and no upfront external donor funding. Another important outcome was the empowering aspect of the prize process which enabled MMDAs to innovate their plans based upon their own ideas to improve sanitation services. The prize process was an unprecedented opportunity for MMDAs throughout the country to participate in an international programme, resulting in encouraging results particularly from smaller, less well-resourced MMDAs in remote parts of Ghana who secured prizes in both stages of the Challenge. -
Assessing health risks associated with municipal sanitation systems in Maputo, Mozambique
01.10.2016
The aim of this study was to pilot a practical methodology to assess the condition of sanitation infrastructure and faecal sludge management (FSM) services in order to understand the relative magnitude of the associated environmental health risks. This risk assessment tool was developed as part of the Participatory Rapid Sanitation System Risk Assessment (PRSSRA) methodology which uses local stakeholder knowledge to assess the risks in sanitation chains in order to prioritize interventions to reduce these risks. The tool described in this paper focuses on municipal level sanitary infrastructure which complements the community level risk assessment. The study’s methodology determines the extent of sewerage infrastructure and FSM services, what condition these systems are in, and how they are managed. Through a system of scoring according to criteria that are attributed to health risks, it identifies key weaknesses in the system and critical points where health risks are concentrated. The approach is then used to prioritize the need for interventions and make recommendations for improvement. The paper compares the methodology being piloted against two other approaches that have been developed to assess faecal contamination in low-income settings: SaniPath and Shit Flow Diagram (SFD). This study discusses the merit of using this methodology as a stand-alone tool and including it into SaniPath and SFD in its current or a modified form. -
Assessing demand for faecal sludge management (FSM) services in Freetown
01.10.2016
‘Achieving sustained environmental health improvements in Freetown through faecal sludge management enterprises’ was a partnership project between Freetown City Council (FCC), International Water Association (IWA), and GOAL. This project aimed to improve faecal sludge management (FSM) through public – private partnerships and improved financial flows to ensure viability of businesses. A market assessment was conducted in Freetown which considered demand and supply for FSM services. This paper discusses findings from the household survey which was a key component of the market assessment. While the households felt that they were getting value for money for existing services, they were not satisfied with existing services and hence were willing to pay higher prices for improved services. This highlights the importance of quality service provision in relation to revenue generation. Improved pit emptying services was noted to be of high priority to households. In order to improve pit emptying services the FSM strategy proposed intermediate transfer stations and formation of a Sanitation Unit and Contact Centre within FCC. -
Reviews and resources
01.10.2012
Water Quality Management: Present Situations, Challenges and Future Perspectives, edited by Asit Biswas, Cecilia Tortajada and Rafael Izquierdo reviewed by ILAN ADLERUnder Wraps: A History of Menstrual Hygiene Technology, by Sharra L. Vostral reviewed by SUE CAVILL -
Reviews and Resources
01.04.2009
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Reviews and Resources
01.10.2008
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Designing stakeholder consultations for institutional change: a case study from Ghana’s sanitation sector
01.10.2019
This article evaluates the stakeholder consultation process that was undertaken to support decision-making for the new sanitation authority to be established in Ghana. This initiative of creating a specialized authority – currently referred to as the National Sanitation Authority (NSA) – emerges from the need to restructure the sector in Ghana, like in many other countries worldwide. From the learning of this study we seek to inform research and practice around the design of stakeholder consultation methods in institutional restructuration contexts. The consultation process gathered views on different aspects of the NSA, including its functions, the administrative level(s) at which it should operate, and its financing. A stakeholder analysis, a series of workshops, and key informant interviews were conducted. A tool was developed to track representativeness of participants involved in the process. Principles of stakeholder engagement developed by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development informed the methodology. This consultation process highlighted the challenges of undertaking sector restructuration where responsibilities are shared between many entities, and with varying levels of interest in the planned reforms. Divergent opinions emerged on the proposed functions of the NSA, some of which represent direct conflicts of interest: for example, setting regulations, developing infrastructure, and financing. Key lessons from the consultation include the need for efficiency when targeting informants through rapid identification of key stakeholders. However, this must be balanced with inclusivity and representativeness, which require continuous tracking of who participates, paired with flexibility to maximize potential for reaching consensus that enables the strengthening of the sanitation sector. -
Linking strategy and practice in urban sanitation provision
01.07.2000
There is a large gap between sanitation strategies at the policy level and actions that are practicable by those working at the municipal level. Policies should respond to and support local initiatives and sanitation plans should always be based upon a sound understanding of existing conditions.