User based perceptions of on-plot sanitation systems in low income urban communities in Africa and Asia

Rates of population growth in developing country cities are straining the capacity of sanitation service providers. In spite of widespread sector recognition of the need to adopt low-cost, people centred approaches, 80 per cent of investments in the water and sanitation sector continue to be allocated to high cost technologies for urban elites. Household level, on-plot sanitation systems potentially offer a solution to the sanitary needs of the urban poor. Nevertheless, commonly held assumptions amongst sector professionals that lower cost, on-plot systems are inappropriate and unacceptable in urban communities impede-their wider application. There is little empirical evidence to justify this position. The scope of this work examines the technical appropriateness and user acceptability of on-plot sanitation options. The thesis contributes to an improved understanding of the context in which on-plot systems operate, what factors constrain their application, and what issues need consideration when deciding on sanitary options in low-income communities. The research adopted a mix of methodological techniques to improve the reliability and validity of findings, with both quantitative and qualitative methods applied during fieldwork. Findings from Ghana, Mozambique and India are included in the thesis in order to permit sampling of key latrine types used internationally. The thesis concludes that user based perceptions of the performance and acceptability of on-plot systems varies markedly to those of sector professionals, particularly in relation to plot size, satisfaction levels and reasons for absence of household latrine. Furthermore, user based criteria of performance are developed for consideration practitioners when narrowing decision making on sanitary options. The implications of the study highlight the need for integration of user concerns into strategic planning for sanitation, more effective stimulation and negotiation of demand for sanitation systems and challenges for agencies in adopting a user oriented approach. The recommendations from the thesis include practitioner focused policy changes that affect project planning and support systems for user education. Potential areas of further research interest include ranking user perceptions, an holistic understanding of excreta management processes and institutional constraints affecting user-service provider consultations

Sanitation for the urban poor

Sanitation for the urban poo

Networking in the WS&S sector

Networking in the WS&S secto

The capacity gap in the water and sanitation sector

In 2006, WHO estimated that 4.3 million additional health workers are needed worldwide - 1.5 million health workers for Africa alone - to alleviate the current human resource crisis. UNESCO (2008) estimates that 18 million new teachers are needed to meet the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of achieving universal primary education sub-Saharan Africa alone needs to increase the number of its teachers by 1.6 million or 68 per cent. It is also expected that adequate quantity and quality of service providers is one of the preconditions to making progress towards the MDG targets for safe water and basic sanitation. Yet the human resource gap in this sector is relatively unknown. This paper outlines a piece of research that is being conducted to provide reliable data on the extent of the capacity gap in the water and sanitation sector

Community initiatives in solid waste

Over recent decades one of the commonest characteristics in developing nations has been the disparity between rapid urban population growth and infrastructure provision. The product of this mismatch, described as ‘urbanisation without health’ 1 is the catalogue of overcrowding, growth in illegal settlements, uncollected household waste, and the absence of water, sanitation and other basic facilities which are typical of many urban centres in Africa, Asia and South America. As a result many millions of the urban poor live in neighbourhoods which are hazardous to health and well-being

Basic services in peri-urban areas

Provision of basic services for peri-urban areas creates various problems, and often receives less priority than similar work in rural or urban areas. This paper describes some of the characteristics of peri-urban environments and outlines some of the means available for provision of services. Various social, technical, institutional and economic problems that may be encountered when planning projects to provide basic services for peri-urban areas are then identified. Finally, some possible solutions are proposed for overcoming the various problems

On-plot sanitation in low-income urban communities: a review of the literature

More than three hundred documents were examined in this review and material relevant to on-plot urban sanitation has been summarized in sections dealing with technical, health and social, and management matters. Alternative technologies are critically reviewed, with special attention given to the relative advantages and disadvantages of each option

Sustainability criteria in sanitation planning

This article presents a list of sustainability criteria that might be of importance when assessing different sanitation solutions. The criteria presented are divided into the categories health, environment, economy, socio-culture, and technical function. We strongly recommend the use of sustainability criteria in any strategic sanitation planning and decision-making process whether on a macro or micro project level. Moreover, sanitation sustainability criteria can be used for follow-up and evaluation of sanitation systems. The list of criteria presented in this paper can be used to narrow down and focus discussions among decision-makers and also inspire to the development of context-specific sustainability criteria in the actual planning situation

Spreading the word

This paper is based on the interim findings from a Department for International Development (DFID) funded research project concerning the development of practical guidelines for research dissemination strategies. The purpose of Phase 1 of the research was to understand current thinking and approaches to dissemination of research as adopted by sector based agencies both in the UK and internationally. This facilitated an initial analysis of common dissemination strategies used, problems and constraints experienced, and factors that aided effective dissemination. This in turn is used to provide tentative guidance for research contractors and DFID alike for dissemination of projects. Phase 1 comprised a desk based study, which examined 32 documents in the literature review, presented four selected case studies highlighting both effective and less effective approaches to research dissemination, and draws on interviews with key research contractor staff involved in managing research projects for DFID and other donor agencies. The key findings from each of these activities are presented below

Share and share alike: a checklist for potential networkers

This paper is aimed at practioners, researchers, academics, any of us who are or are likely to become users and members of a network. Those of us in this position need to ask ourselves if we fully understand what networks are for, what they mean and where their value lies? In the rush to be part of the latest network, are we sure we know why we are joining and what the likely benefits will be for us? This paper examines what is meant by 'networking', describing some of the basic types of networks, reviews the critical steps involved in networking, and draws on lessons learned from co-ordinating networks to help potential networkers decide which networks to subscribe to. It draws pedominantly from WEDC's networking experience as network manager for the Global Applied Research Network (GARNET)