Between March 2012 and October 2013, Plan International carried out research on ODF sustainability in their programmes in Africa. This study, carried out on Plan’s behalf by FH Designs, was conducted in Ethiopia, Kenya, Sierra Leone and Uganda.

The study investigated results in CLTS programmes operated by Plan across the four countries. Data was collected in 4960 households in 116 villages where CLTS had been triggered and communities declared ODF two or more years before the study commenced. The study sought to answer three questions:
1.       What percentage of households had remained ODF?
2.       What were the primary causes of households reverting to open defecation (OD)?
3.       What motivated people to remain ODF?

Read a 2-page summary of the study

Download the complete ODF sustainability study report

A French version is available here/Une version française est disponible ici

A Portuguese version is available here/A versão em Português está disponível aqui

You can also join a discussion of the implications of the study here on the SuSanA Forum