This report covers the main findings of the impact evaluation conducted of a CLTS campaign implemented by the government of Mali (Direction Nationale de l’Assainissement) with the support of UNICEF. A cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted among 121 villages randomly selected from the district of Koulikoro in order to evaluate health and non-health program impacts. Baseline data was collected during April-June 2011, the CLTS intervention program was implemented between September-June 2012, and follow-up data was collected in April-June 2013. A total of 4532 households were enrolled at baseline and 4299 were visited at follow up; 89% of baseline households (N=4031) were successfully matched to a household at follow up. The primary outcomes presented in this report are reported for those households present at both baseline and follow up.

This study provides evidence that a pure behavioral intervention with no monetary subsidies substantially increased access to sanitation facilities in rural Mali. Latrines were also cleaner and better stocked with handwashing supplies in treatment villages, indicating improved hygiene behavior. The findings suggest CLTS improved child growth and reduced the prevalence of stunting among children. However, the program did not have a significant impact on self-reported diarrheal illness, thus the program may have impacted child growth and mortality through pathways other than preventing diarrhea, such as reducing the subclinical condition of environmental enteropathy via decreased exposure to environmental fecal contamination.

Download the study report or look at this poster summarising the study's key findings

French version coming soon. Version française à venir.