This UNICEF review is aimed as a timely contribution to overall knowledge on the provision of equitable and sustainable sanitation and hygiene for all – highlighting what has worked, and issues that still need attention, especially in the area of Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS).

Sustainable Development Goal 6 addresses the goal of universal access to safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene, with proposed targets (by 2030) to eliminate open defecation; achieve universal access to basic drinking water, sanitation and hygiene for households, schools and health facilities; to halve the proportion of the population without access at home to safely managed drinking water and sanitation services; and to progressively eliminate inequalities in access. UNICEF’s Strategic Plan (2014-2017), has also set out to significantly reduce open defecation and to improve overall WASH access in communities and schools, in support of children’s health and nutrition outcomes.

According to UNICEF’s State of the World’s Children (2012), nine countries in East Asia Pacific have more than 30% stunting prevalence rates; around 659 million people are without access to improved sanitation, and disparities in communities and schools are stark. Around 83 million people in the region still practice open defecation, with three countries (Indonesia – 51 million, China – 14 million and Cambodia – 7.4 million) being among the 12 in the world with the largest populations practicing open defecation. Similarly, maternal and child malnutrition rates remain high across parts of the region, with eight countries reporting stunting prevalence of above 30 per cent (Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste). An estimated 28 million children under five years old are stunted. This is especially troubling since a growing body of evidence establishes the linkages between sanitation and stunting, indicating that children in unhygienic environments will not reach their full growth potential even when food is sufficient.

Community Led-Total Sanitation is being implemented in more than 50 countries around the world, including 12 countries in this region. Recognizing the key role CLTS plays in overall efforts for improving sanitation and hygiene behaviour, this 2nd Regional Review of Community Led Total Sanitation provides insights on progress and highlights challenges and areas for attention in order to achieve results at scale.

Download UNICEF's Second Review of CLTS in the East Asia and Pacific Region