Empowering self-help sanitation of rural and peri-urban communities and schools in Africa

Programme partners: Plan Nederland + Plan WARO and RESA, IRC, IDS

Programme period: July 2009 – June 2014 (5 years)

The programme aims to expand Plan’s current CLTS activities within six African countries (Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Zambia and Malawi) and introduce it in two other countries (Ghana and Niger).  In addition to a focus on sanitation and hygiene practices in rural communities, the programme also looks at peri-urban communities and schools. Other public places (e.g. health posts, public toilets at markets) may also be included depending on the actual local situation.

The programme started with an inception phase of about 6 months, followed by 3.5 years of implementation and a final year to assure sustainability. It is important to note that since 6 of the 8 countries were already implementing CLTS before the programme started, there will be differences in pace and phasing between countries.

Programme country situational analyses and overview of progress:

Ethiopia

Ghana

Kenya

Malawi

Niger

Sierra Leone

Uganda

Zambia

Programme objectives and strategy:

• To empower communities to construct and maintain appropriate sanitation facilities and undertake proper hygiene practices through the three approaches of Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) School Led Total Sanitation (SLTS) and Urban Total Sanitation (UTS).
• To engage and assist local authorities in these processes in order to create sustainable results and reach scale.
• To engage the private sector where appropriate.
• To develop national and international networks for lobbying and advocacy for low cost sanitation, for exchange and coordination between organisations, and for action research on good practice.

Targets:

• 805 rural communities
• 36 peri-urban communities
• 742 schools (other public places to be determined)
• 2,568,000 persons reached for improved sanitation and hygiene practices
• 2,140,000 persons with new access to improved sanitation (MDG7, target 10, indicator 31)

Read more about the project and visit IRC’s project page