Full chain sanitation services in small and medium towns

This learning note discusses the full chain services for faecal sludge and solid waste management as applied in the ONEWASH Plus programme in eight (8) towns in Ethiopia. This includes an innovative mix of sanitation and hygiene promotion activities; construction of facilities for solid and liquid waste treatment and disposal; construction of public and school toilets designed in observance of gender/disability/Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management (MHM) standards; integrated and participatory planning and action through WASH Task Forces; social accountability dialogues and  establishing and capacity building of small scale private sectors “public-private operators” for sanitation services.

The key learning points are:

Behaviour change is not sufficient in itself to improve health and livelihoods, nor is construction, improving accountability, training, capacity building or monitoring. A full suite of government-led activities and interventions are needed to support equitable universal access to sustainable sanitation services.

The minimum sanitation package applied under the ONEWASH Plus programme includes a full set of activities linking up relevant users, sectors, public and private partners, behaviour change methodologies, accountability relationships and services delivery. It is defined as "minimum" package based on the essential facilities and services that need to be further expanded by the municipality as towns develop in the coming years.