Case Study

Development of Rural Sanitation Model and scaling-up strategy

Ghana has an abysmal sanitation situation with only 13% of the population having access to improved sanitation facilities. There was therefore a need to design a rural sanitation model which would ensure behavioural change in relation to open defecation and the adoption and use of improved latrines.

Aguaconsult has helped UNICEF to support the Government of Ghana to develop a cost-effective sanitation model based on the Community Led Total Sanitation Approach (CLTS) following successful pilots of CLTS within Ghana by different agencies. Issues about the supply side of sanitation services and adequate technical capacity for latrine construction in communities were also required, as well as ensuring sanitation options were available, well known, affordable and locally acceptable.

The Aguaconsult team began by reviewing the evaluation report of CLTS in Ghana and other relevant literature on CLTS. Following consultation with stakeholders they then designed the rural sanitation model which included: demand creation for sanitation and supply of services to meet the generated demand; strategies to ensure a systematic rise up the sanitation ladder and progress towards the MDG target on sanitation; the adoption of key hygiene practices such as handwashing with soap; strengthening facilitation through linking NGO and Government facilitation; integration of the Community Based Hygiene Volunteer system; and participation by children. Aguaconsult also worked with key stakeholders to produce an implementation and monitoring plan for the sanitation model including a scaling up strategy and carried out training with a core group in Ghana.

The final report is available here