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Published on: 26/08/2014

Key sector players are realizing that they cannot work alone and need buy-in from the private sector to achieve progress. Until recently progress was measured by the number of toilets constructed. However, now there is more focus on a shift to behaviour change in combination with access to safe sanitation facilities. This entails a range of other actors that need to take up key roles in WASH. Communities and households are now taking more actions which are complemented by activities from the public and private service providers. More emphasis is currently being placed on market-based approaches and sanitation uptake and demand are stimulated by private entrepreneurs.

This Waterlines edition contains articles that explore the various ways in which sanitation authorities, regulators, entrepreneurs, implementers, and supporters can work together to provide sustainable sanitation services. There is a thematic overview from the 2014 conference Sanitation as a Business - Unclogging the blockages as well as other articles which were presented there.

One article reflects on how sanitation marketing or sanitation supply chain development-related concepts are increasingly introduced and successfully taken up by organizations in a number of countries. The second article recognizes that sanitation does require a multi-sector approach to leverage resources, platforms, expertise, and experiences. And the third article based on the conference reflects on the attractiveness of the latrine itself using various design levels to analyse what is considered beautiful and how to get a positive response from a potential consumer.

All papers emphasize that the sanitation products should be tailored to the needs of the users. Also they must be affordable, easily accessible and attractive. Other articles are looking into the institutional developments and the frequent problem of institutional inertia. Practical experiences have also been documented and shared in this issue.

The general conclusion is that there has been progress in getting a more effective balance between supply and demand for sanitation, as key stakeholders from the public and private sector are starting to work together. Inevitably, there is some way to go yet, but we are on the right path in achieving synchronization at obtaining sustainable sanitation for everyone forever.

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