Over 2008/09, WaterAid completed a multi-country research study exploring sustainability and equity aspects of community led sanitation initiatives (Community led total sanitation, CLTS) in Bangladesh, Nepal and Nigeria.

The purpose of the study was to contribute to the global understanding of community-wide open defecation-free approaches, with a focus on the extent to which these approaches result in sustained and equitable improvements in sanitation behaviour. The study tested the hypothesis that:

“Achieving Open Defecation Free (ODF) Status is a necessary but not sufficient condition for the entire community to use and maintain hygienic latrines in the long-term.”

Read the Global Synthesis Report

Read the Country Synthesis Reports

• Bangladesh

• Nepal

• Nigeria