Using the Technology Applicability Framework (TAF) tool for Urine Dry Diverting Toilet (UDDT); technology evaluation and recommendations for sustainability in Burkina Faso

The Technology Applicability Framework (TAF) is a participatory evaluation tool developed by the WASHTech project that identifies blockages likely to impact on the overall sustainability, scalability and performance of a specific WASH technology. The TAF examines specific technologies through the lens of stakeholders' interpretation of technology performance and its potential for scaling up, based on six sustainability dimensions, and 18 stakeholder-specific indicators. Perspectives of users/ buyers; producers/ providers; and regulators/ investors and facilitators are used for the analysis. The TAF was used to assess the Urine Dry Diverting Toilet (UDDT) in Burkina Faso at Poa, in the province of Boulkiemdé. Research and fieldwork were conducted with support from the communes in charge of planning and monitoring sanitation actions; decentralised governmental institutions in charge of overseeing sanitation in rural areas (DRAH); communities using the UDDT; and the NGO in charge of promoting the use of the UDDT in the area. A data validation workshop was organised, convening diverse informants, and other relevant actors working in the WASH sector. Results showed that the UDDT is a successful technology, is politically sustained, and validated official documents' reference to UDDT as a recommended technology. Findings also revealed that the UDDT is socially accepted, widely available, and may facilitate safe use. Despite these positive outcomes, unfortunately UDDT is not viewed as a profitable technology by private operators because of its high cost. In terms of financing, the research found that a UDDT can only be constructed with the help of subsidies; communities do not have the means to pay for the technology. The results also showed that it is relevant that the research shall continue to explore the sanitary risks at parasitological level and the management of water from anal cleansing. Overall, in order for the UDDT to scale up as an effective technology, findings point out for the need to put in place financing mechanisms that increase subsidies and reduce user fees. In Burkina Faso, all sanitation technologies are subsidized by the government, projects or NGOs. The fundamental question then is: is the subsidising of WASH technologies the best approach for technology introduction in the case of Burkina Faso? The TAF tool can be a tool for helping the government in improving or changing the approaches for technology introduction.rural areas (DRAH); communities using the UDDT; and the NGO in charge of promoting the use of the UDDT in the area. A data validation workshop was organised, convening diverse informants, and other relevant actors working in the WASH sector. Results showed that the UDDT is a successful technology, is politically sustained, and validated official documents' reference to UDDT as a recommended technology. Findings also revealed that the UDDT is socially accepted, widely available, and may facilitate safe use. Despite these positive outcomes, unfortunately UDDT is not viewed as a profitable technology by private operators because of its high cost. In terms of financing, the research found that a UDDT can only be constructed with the help of subsidies; communities do not have the means to pay for the technology. The results also showed that it is relevant that the research shall continue to explore the sanitary risks at parasitological level and the management of water from anal cleansing. Overall, in order for the UDDT to scale up as an effective technology, findings point out for the need to put in place financing mechanisms that increase subsidies and reduce user fees. In Burkina Faso, all sanitation technologies are subsidized by the government, projects or NGOs. The fundamental question then is: is the subsidising of WASH technologies the best approach for technology introduction in the case of Burkina Faso? The TAF tool can be a tool for helping the government in improving or changing the approaches for technology introduction.