Community-Based Sanitation

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Official statistics suggest that about 2.6 billion people do not have access to “improved” sanitation. 75% of these people live in Asia, 18% live in Africa and 5% live in Latin America and the Caribbean. The Community-Based Sanitation framework, or CBS, is tailored to improve sanitation conditions in densely populated urban areas. Project implementations depend on the active cooperation of communities, governments, NGOs, and the private sector. Implementation of proven technical options is synthesized with capacity building measures and technical expertise to render CBS an attractive option in areas where neither individual on-site nor centralized sewerage systems can fulfill the need of stakeholders for basic sanitation.

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CBS projects take a holistic approach. Instead of simply providing sanitation "hardware", CBS projects aim to improve hygiene behaviour and sanitation infrastructure in a more integrated and sustainable manner. CBS projects generally focus on poor and densely populated areas and closely reflect preferences of target communities.

Lack of basic sanitation threatens livelihoods and national economies

Increased urbanisation and industrialization has reduced the quality of livelihoods significantly for millions of people who live in low-income settlements within cities. Lack of basic sanitation infrastructure endangers public health and natural resources, coming with both human and financial costs.

Recently published data suggests that improved sanitation reduces diarrhoea morbidity by 32% on average. A report by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) estimates the economic losses through inadequate sanitation and sewage treatment for Indonesia alone to be $4.7 Billion per year. Therefore, in addition to improving livelihoods and the environment, expanded provision of sanitation facilities has the potential to substantially benefit national economies

New infrastructure development projects usually provide sanitation services to up to 60-70% of the urban population, focusing on those residing in strategic residential areas. In contrast, CBS schemes aim to improve health and environment of communities in densely-populated low-income areas, usually located in inner-city areas or at the fringe of industrialized zones.

The CBS approach fills the significant “gap” between inappropriate on-site sanitation (e.g. absorption pits) and the shortcomings of expensive conventional centralized sewerage collection and treatment systems.

With a CBS scheme, communities find their own informed demand, are given education about the connection between sanitation, hygiene and diseases and are encouraged to organize the operation and maintenance of sanitation infrastructure.

CBS projects are highly demand responsive and rely on active participation as well as contributions from target communities and municipalities. Specific mechanisms have been developed for planning and budgeting in order to make CBS compatible with administrative requirements of governments. According to requirements and abilities, a sanitation solution is planned, designed and constructed for and together with the community.