Sanitation Promotion
A collection of original articles, case studies, checklists, worksheets, and stimulating ideas aimed at raising the profile of sanitation and thus attracting the assistance and investments needed to make progress. Noting that tremendous efforts over the past two decades have had little impact on sanitary conditions for much of the world, the book calls for a revolution in the way the sanitation sector defines its objectives and conducts its work. With this goal in mind, the book serves as a rich resource of new ideas, solid lessons based on past experience, guidance on 'best practices' in meeting a range of difficult needs, and some innovative new tools for both promoting sanitation and introducing ecologically-friendly technologies. Although all areas of sanitation are considered, the major emphasis is on the management of human wastes.
The book contains 40 articles - most of which were written especially for this collection - presented in four chapters. The first introduces the magnitude of the challenge: human excreta is probably the world's number one pollutant; lack of sanitation is responsible for most of the diseases and deaths in developing countries; many conventional approaches are based on false assumptions that make failure inevitable. Past errors include a preoccupation with safe water supply and assumption that sanitation would follow, use of a restricted number of 'good' technologies, the focus of engineering education on sewerage systems, and a failure to understand that consumers are more interested in the prestige, convenience, comfort and privacy of sanitary facilities than in theories about germs and disease.
Against this background, articles in chapter two provide ideas on promotional techniques that can be used to gain political will and secure partnerships, whether at the government level or with nongovernmental organizations and the private sector. Noting that the future of sanitation rests more on the behaviour of politicians than of sanitary engineers, the chapter contains abundant practical advice on how to mobilize the media, engage the commitment of politicians, and take advantage of the self-interests of the private sector. Case studies from Uganda and India show how these guidelines and principles work in practice.
Chapter three, on programme design, addresses the need - in a sector marred by past failures and on the verge of stagnation - to produce good 'showcase' programmes and projects. With this need in mind, the chapter sets out a number of principles, derived from an analysis of good sanitation programmes, as statements of 'best practice' in this sector. These principles are illustrated through articles on gender, strategies for changing hygiene behaviour, participatory approaches, and the use of household financing. Principles and examples are then summarized in several checklists that can help field staff determine whether sanitation projects, including those designed for emergency situations, are in line with state-of-the-art 'best practices'.
The final chapter uses case studies to illustrate recent innovations that hold particular promise for the promotion of sanitation. These include a number of child-centred and participatory approaches as well as several new technologies. Pointing towards an exciting future, these technologies reflect an ecological approach to sanitation that aims to recycle nutrients and prevent water pollution and further water scarcity. All case studies also illustrate the importance of promoting sanitation through the use of participatory approaches that respect the consumer's wishes and conventional wisdom.
The book contains 40 articles - most of which were written especially for this collection - presented in four chapters. The first introduces the magnitude of the challenge: human excreta is probably the world's number one pollutant; lack of sanitation is responsible for most of the diseases and deaths in developing countries; many conventional approaches are based on false assumptions that make failure inevitable. Past errors include a preoccupation with safe water supply and assumption that sanitation would follow, use of a restricted number of 'good' technologies, the focus of engineering education on sewerage systems, and a failure to understand that consumers are more interested in the prestige, convenience, comfort and privacy of sanitary facilities than in theories about germs and disease.
Against this background, articles in chapter two provide ideas on promotional techniques that can be used to gain political will and secure partnerships, whether at the government level or with nongovernmental organizations and the private sector. Noting that the future of sanitation rests more on the behaviour of politicians than of sanitary engineers, the chapter contains abundant practical advice on how to mobilize the media, engage the commitment of politicians, and take advantage of the self-interests of the private sector. Case studies from Uganda and India show how these guidelines and principles work in practice.
Chapter three, on programme design, addresses the need - in a sector marred by past failures and on the verge of stagnation - to produce good 'showcase' programmes and projects. With this need in mind, the chapter sets out a number of principles, derived from an analysis of good sanitation programmes, as statements of 'best practice' in this sector. These principles are illustrated through articles on gender, strategies for changing hygiene behaviour, participatory approaches, and the use of household financing. Principles and examples are then summarized in several checklists that can help field staff determine whether sanitation projects, including those designed for emergency situations, are in line with state-of-the-art 'best practices'.
The final chapter uses case studies to illustrate recent innovations that hold particular promise for the promotion of sanitation. These include a number of child-centred and participatory approaches as well as several new technologies. Pointing towards an exciting future, these technologies reflect an ecological approach to sanitation that aims to recycle nutrients and prevent water pollution and further water scarcity. All case studies also illustrate the importance of promoting sanitation through the use of participatory approaches that respect the consumer's wishes and conventional wisdom.
- Authors / Editors:
- World Health Organization
- Price:
- CHF 40.00 / US $ 36.00
In developing countries: Sw.fr. 28.00 - Launch:
- 1998
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