The Open Defecation Free (ODF) Malawi 2015 Strategy and National Hand Washing Campaign have been contributing to an increased focus on hand washing with soap (HWWS) in Malawi. Some studies estimate that washing hands with soap can reduce diarrhoeal disease rates by up to 50% and respiratory disease rates by up to 25%. Since Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) is the key intervention for sanitation and hygiene promotion in Malawi, it provides an excellent opportunity to facilitate hand washing behaviour change. However, up till now, the ‘triggering tools’ for achieving HWWS behaviour change from CLTS have not been well known by implementers in Malawi. The purpose of this document is to outline several practical tools which can be used as a part of CLTS in order to trigger realization among communities of the importance of hand washing with soap, as well as eliminating open defecation.

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