Access to improved sanitation is still a major challenge in the 21 countries of the Eastern and Southern Africa Region (ESAR): nearly a quarter of the population practices open defecation and 40% use unimproved latrines. The challenge is twofold: changing behaviors towards adopting improved sanitation practices, and providing a supply chain of services and materials for building latrines for the rural population.

This technical brief is based on the main findings of a report commissioned by UNICEF entitled “Regional Supply Chains for Sanitation in Eastern and Southern Africa”. The objectives of this study were:

• To provide an in-depth review of sanitation commodity/raw material pricing across the Region.
• To review availability of sanitation products/materials from a regional perspective.
• To review opportunities and barriers to intercountry trade in the Region.
• To review access to appropriate services and products from a rural user’s perspective.

Download the WASH Technical Brief

This note is part of UNICEF’s Sanitation and Hygiene Learning Series which is being developed in collaboration with UNICEF Country Offices. Other notes will be released as they are ready in the coming months.  Upcoming topics include: Small towns sanitation approaches, Mobile to web monitoring of large-scale CLTS, Microplanning, Application of Social Norms and Experiences with Sanitation Marketing.