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Published on: 24/07/2013

Using the WASHCost life-cycle cost methodology as a starting point, IRC's Catarina Fonseca has been to Bangladesh to develop and test a service ladder, criteria and indicators for WASH in schools in the BRAC WASH Programme

Catarina testing questionnaires with BRAC team in Mymensing, North Bangladesh. Credit: Catarina Fonseca - See more at: http://washfunders.org/Blog/What-Is-Good-Enough-Defining-a-Basic-Service-Level-for-WASH-in-Schools#sthash.O5Dxt6Lx.dpuf

Together, with a BRAC team of 15 project and programme officers, over a period of three weeks in June 2013, Catarina conducted a survey in six primary and secondary schools (both government- and BRAC-supported). The team found that the toilet ratio in these schools was one toilet for anywhere from 71 to 150 students — all well above the national standard of 1 toilet for 50 children and therefore not considered "a basic level of service", but closer to "below-standard". However, all of the toilets were clean; some had excellent menstrual hygiene management facilities available, as well as washing basins, soap and safe drinking water.

Over the next six months BRAC will roll out the methodology in about 100 schools covering a diverse range of settings. The findings will be used to develop a final “service ladder” methodology that will become available early in 2014.

Read the full story on the WASH Funders blog.

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