Support Mechanisms to Strengthen Equality and Non-Discrimination (EQND) in Rural Sanitation (Part 2 of 2)

Frontiers of Sanitation 13
July 2019

Looking at 50 programmes that used support mechanisms, this rapid review emphasises the importance of monitoring, evaluating and knowledge-sharing processes in building an evidence base for facilitating equitable rural sanitation outcomes.

The benefits of conventional rural sanitation programming and service delivery are often not spread equally, and risk leaving disadvantaged groups behind. Greater attention needs to be paid to these groups to achieve adequate and equitable access to sanitation for all, and an end to open defecation.

This issue of Frontiers of CLTS (the second in a two-part series) examines support mechanisms designed to help disadvantaged groups access and use hygienic toilets as part of efforts to drive more equitable rural sanitation outcomes. It covers the latest thinking on the opportunities and challenges of support mechanisms, and explores what works remains to be done.

The issue uses a broad definition of ‘support’ for creating equitable outcomes. Although financial and physical subsidies often come to mind, a broader practical understanding of support needs to encompass both ‘hardware’ mechanisms and ‘software’ approaches, as well as various combinations of the two.

Part 1 of this issue (2017) shares and builds on the learning from the Global Sanitation Fund Equality and Non-Discrimination (EQND) study, which examined EQND in relation to sanitation programmes being implemented at scale. It looks at which groups should be considered potentially disadvantaged and how they can participate. It explores what the challenges may be if community-led total sanitation (CLTS) does not actively ensure that these groups are involved and considered at each step. It concludes with suggestions for good practice that would strengthen the processes to benefit all.

Additional details

PublisherInstitute of Development Studies
ThemesBehaviour change, Challenging contexts, Gender and equity, Leave no one behind, Monitoring, evaluation and learning, Slippage, Social marginalisation, Support mechanisms, Sustainability and safely managed sanitation
ApproachesCommunity-led approaches, Financing approaches, Learning approaches
Citation

Kohlitz, J.; Carrard, N. and Willetts, J. (2019) ‘Support Mechanisms to Strengthen Equality and Non-Discrimination (EQND) in Rural Sanitation (Part 2 of 2)’, Frontiers of CLTS: Innovations and Insights 13, Brighton: IDS

LanguageEnglish

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