IRC has produced a video that highlights the progress made so far in the implementation of Tenkodogo's WASH strategic plan, with support from the LDSC Foundation.

Drinking water, hygiene and sanitation services are equally important. The Tenkodogo municipal authorities decided to develop a Water, Hygiene and Sanitation Master Plan to make drinking water, toilets and good hygiene practices available to all the inhabitants of the district. Even before the plan was finalised, IRC and the Latter-day Saints Charities (LDSC) Foundation decided to support the commune in relieving the urgent needs of the population in this area.

This has led to several extraordinary results. In urban areas, 580 families now have drinking water in their homes through a private ONEA connection. In rural areas, a feasibility study was carried out in 10 villages to upgrade the current hand pumps, which are unable to meet their water needs, to more solid and efficient installations that can serve 2,614 people as soon as they are completed. Through the "Clean Hands, Good Health" campaign, 7,684 pupils now regularly wash their hands with soap and water and are protected from diseases related to dirty hands. Local radio stations were also used to reach as many people as possible. Local authorities and staff were trained to increase their ownership of the process.

As images are a very effective way to show the evidence, a 6-minute video was produced to show the progress. The film shows the main changes observed with lively testimonies from beneficiaries and authorities. Fatimata Oubda describes her satisfaction and relief at being able to get clean water from a tap at home. The chore of fetching water is now a distant memory and she also has more time to take care of her family. Prosper Zombra, principal of Gogare A school in Tenkodogo and Florentine Kouti, teacher at Tenkodogo Centre A school proudly describe the remarkable changes in their students' hand hygiene behaviour. Hamadou Dicko, Secretary General of Tenkodogo, mentioned the good collaboration with all the actors, which has been a considerable asset for obtaining results.

The efforts are considerable and already constitute a success, but there is still a long way to go. 420 vulnerable households are still not connected to the private ONEA network in the urban area, 22614 inhabitants of surrounding villages urgently need drinking water and 168 schools with 29594 pupils are still to be reached in terms of hand hygiene awareness.

The populations' dearest wish is that the actions be extended to all levels for an effective scaling up. According to Albert Koumsongo, Regional Director of Water and Sanitation for the Centre East, this programme must be extended to all the communes of Burkina Faso to boost the access rate.

IRC a produit un film de capitalisation qui souligne les progrès réalisés jusqu'à présent dans la mise en œuvre anticipée du plan stratégique WASH de Tenkodogo, avec le soutien de la fondation LDSC

Les services d’eau potable, d’hygiène et d’assainissement sont aussi primordiaux l’un que l’autre.  Les autorités communales de Tenkodogo avaient décidé d’élaborer un plan stratégique Eau – Hygiène et Assainissement afin de mettre l’eau potable, les toilettes et les bonnes pratiques d’hygiène à la disposition de tous les habitants de la commune. Avant même la finalisation de ce plan, IRC et la fondation Latter-day Saints Charities (LDSC) ont décidé d’appuyer la commune à soulager les besoins urgents des populations en la matière. Cela a permis d’engranger plusieurs résultats extraordinaires. En milieu urbain, 580 familles ont maintenant l’eau potable sur place à leur domicile à travers un branchement privé ONEA. Quant au milieu rural, une étude de faisabilité a été réalisée dans 10 villages pour la mise à niveau des pompes manuelles actuelles incapables de répondre à leurs besoins en eau en des installations plus solides et plus efficaces pouvant desservir 22614 personnes dès leur réalisation. 

A travers la campagne « Mains propres, bonne santé », 7684 élèves se lavent désormais régulièrement les mains à l’eau et au savon et sont protégés contre les maladies liées aux mains sales. Les radios locales ont également été utilisées pour étendre la campagne à l’échelle de toute la population et toucher le plus de personnes que possibles. Les autorités et le personnel communal ont été formés pour leur meilleure appropriation du processus. 

L’image étant un moyen très efficace pour montrer les évidences, un film de 6 minutes a été produit pour rendre plus visible les progrès réalisés sur le terrain. Le film montre les principaux changements observés avec des témoignages vivants des bénéficiaires et des autorités. Fatimata Oubda nous décrit sa satisfaction et son soulagement de pouvoir obtenir de l'eau potable à partir d'un robinet chez elle à la maison. La corvée d’eau est désormais un lointain souvenir et elle dispose également de plus de temps pour s’occuper de sa famille.

Prosper Zombra, directeur de l'école Gogare A à Tenkodogo et Florentine Kouti, enseignante à l’école Tenkodogo centre A décrivent fièrement les changements remarquables dans le comportement de leurs élèves en matière d'hygiène des mains. Le secrétaire général de la mairie de Tenkodogo, Hamadou Dicko a rappelé la bonne collaboration avec l’ensemble des acteurs, qui a été un atout considérable pour l'obtention de résultats. 

Les efforts sont considérables et constituent déjà une réussite, mais il y a encore du chemin à parcourir.  420 ménages vulnérables ne sont toujours pas raccordés au réseau privé ONEA dans la zone urbaine, 22614 habitants des villages rattachés ont urgemment d’eau potable et 168 écoles avec 29594 élèves restent à atteindre en matière de sensibilisation à l'hygiène des mains.

Le vœu le plus cher des populations, est que les actions soient étendues à tous les niveaux pour un passage à l’échelle efficace. Selon le directeur régional de l’eau et assainissement du Centre Est, Albert Koumsongo, ce programme doit être étendu à l’ensemble des communes du Burkina Faso pour booster le taux d’accès.

The Federal Ministry of Health in Ethiopia has drawn up a sanitation subsidy protocol to address the sanitation needs of the poorest segment of the population.

By Ekram Redwan, Director of Hygiene and Environmental Health, Ministry of Health

The Federal Ministry of Health (MoH) is committed to improving the sanitation, hygiene, and environmental health conditions of its citizens. In the second health sector transformation plan, the MoH has planned to increase the proportion of households with access to basic sanitation services from 20% (2019) to 60% (2025) through an effective and sustainable market-based system for hygiene, sanitation, and environmental health facilities and services. The ultimate goal is universal coverage by 2030 in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To accomplish these goals, the Ministry and development partners are working to expand sanitation marketing centres to districts to ensure access to improved sanitation products.

The National multi stakeholder platform participants with the state minister of the MoH Dr. Dereje Duguma, after the launching of the sanitation subsidy protocol, photo by Tsegaye Yeshiwas

Parallel to increasing access, the Ministry explored different financing options to ensure services for all segments of the population. The initiation of a subsidy scheme to address the sanitation needs of the poorest segment of the population is one of the proposed financing options. Accordingly, the Ministry has prepared a subsidy protocol to guide the design and implementation of a smart and targeted sanitation subsidy.

In Ethiopia inequalities in sanitation and hygiene coverage exist based on, among other factors, geography and socioeconomic status. The subsidy protocol is designed to be smart and targeted. It is smart so that it does not distort or hamper market-based sanitation or Community-Led Total Sanitation and Hygiene approaches. In addition, it is targeted to address the most vulnerable population groups who are not able to construct improved sanitation facilities on their own due to their extreme poverty and/or impending environmental factors. 

The subsidy is intended to target households that are not able to afford sanitation products through other means, and the identification of households is planned to be made in line with existing poverty alleviation programmes. The latrine improvements/construction will be delivered by the private sector; therefore, the programme will focus on areas with a well-established supply chain to support existing businesses and reduce costs. Additionally, areas where it is difficult and costly to construct a latrine and areas with internally displaced communities and refugees will be targeted. 

Implementers are required to comply with the five guiding principles outlined in the sanitation subsidy protocol:

1. subsidies must be well-targeted,
2. subsidies should only target latrine sub-structures,
3. subsidies should only cover a proportion of the overall cost,
4. subsidies should be prioritised in places with a well-established supply chain,
5. these guiding principles apply to all stakeholders.

All stakeholders are encouraged to start piloting the sanitation protocol and share their learning with the MoH and the broader WASH community to further refine and strengthen of the sanitation subsidy protocol.

The National sanitation subsidy protocol can be accessed via Resources below.

About Transform WASH

USAID Transform WASH aims to improve water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) outcomes in Ethiopia by increasing market access to and sustained use of a broader spectrum of affordable WASH products and services, with a substantial focus on sanitation.

Transform WASH achieves this by transforming the market for low-cost quality WASH products and services: stimulating demand at the community level, strengthening supply chains, and improving the enabling environment for a vibrant private market.

USAID Transform WASH is a USAID-funded activity implemented by PSI in collaboration with SNV, Plan International, and IRC WASH. The consortium is working closely with government agencies, including the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Electricity, the One WASH National Program, and regional and sub-regional governments.

A protocol prepared to enable Ethiopia to achieve its goal of attaining Sustainable Development Goal 6.2 - universal access to basic sanitation services by 2030 and Health Sector Transformation Plan II goals by 2025

Charge (e) de programme Gouvernance AEPHA au Mali - Chef de mission du projet renforcement des capacités en gouvernance communale des services sociaux de base

IRC (Centre International de Reference pour l’Eau et l’Assainissement) est une organisation internationale non gouvernementale à but non lucratif, qui travaille en collaboration avec les gouvernements, les ONG, ou des personnes partout dans le monde afin de trouver des solutions à long terme à la crise mondiale des services d'approvisionnement en eau, d'assainissement et d'hygiène.

IRC opère à l'échelle internationale avec des bureaux à La Haye, au Ghana, au Burkina Faso, en Éthiopie, en Ouganda et au Mali avec des programmes en Inde, Honduras, Rwanda et au Niger.

Nous recherchons actuellement des candidats expérimentés pour le poste de :

Charge (e) de programme Gouvernance AEPHA au Mali - Chef de mission du projet renforcement des capacités en gouvernance communale des services sociaux de base

Rattaché à la Directrice Pays d’IRC au Mali, le (la) Chargé (e) de programme Gouvernance AEPHA (approvisionnement en eau potable, hygiène et assainissement) mettra en œuvre des projets et programmes au Mali. Il (elle) sera responsable de la planification, la gestion, la mise en œuvre, la coordination et l’établissement de rapports sur l’exécution des projets à sa charge.

Entre autres tâches spécifiques, il (elle) veillera à une exécution opportune et effective des projets existants, à organiser et à participer à des ateliers de formation, à assurer la liaison avec les donateurs, le gouvernement, les partenaires et les consultants, à faire/diriger la recherche thématique, à préparer et éditer des rapports et à apporter son assistance dans la préparation des plans de projet.

Principales responsabilités et attributions

La mise en œuvre et la coordination de l’exécution des programmes et projets :

• L’élaboration, le développement et l’exécution de plans stratégiques ;
• Le développement et l’exécution de plans de travail du programme annuel ;
• L’assistance des partenaires dans le développement et la mise en œuvre de stratégies de plaidoyer et de campagnes nationales/régionales ;
• L’organisation et la facilitation d’ateliers de renforcement des capacités avec les partenaires ;
• La supervision du travail des Assistants de programme et des Consultants ;
• Assurer la coordination et la gestion administrative et financière de la mise en œuvre du projet renforcement des capacités de trois communes en gestion des services sociaux de base (AEPHA, santé et éducation) ;
• Assurer la représentation d’IRC dans les instances de concertations et de dialogues dans les communes et régions concernées au Mali ;
• La rédaction et l’édition des rapports des projets ;
• La rédaction de rapport pour le(s) donateur(s) pour les gouvernements.

Maintenir un contact régulier avec les autres membres du personnel du programme, les donateurs, les partenaires et les consultants du programme et du projet.

Aider à la mobilisation de fonds et au Développement du Programme Pays :

• Contribuer à la formulation de proposition, à l’élaboration de documents de conception, de calendriers et plans de travail ;
• Assister aux rencontres avec les parties prenantes (financement et mise en œuvre) pour discuter et développer des interventions conjointes ;
• Assister aux rencontres de collecte de fonds et de négociation ;
• Aider dans l’identification de nouvelles opportunités de financement et de partenariat.

Contribution au Programme global de travail d’IRC, notamment par :

• Le traitement des requêtes et la fourniture d’informations sur le Programme ;
• La participation et l’assistance aux réunions et autres activités du Programme ;
• L’élaboration et la conservation des dossiers et des systèmes d’information du Programme ;
• L’appui à l’élaboration des accords de partenariat avec les partenaires stratégiques ainsi qu’avec les partenaires de mise en œuvre.

Exigences du poste

Expérience :

• Minimum 5 ans d’expériences dans l’exécution de tâches similaires à celles décrites en lien avec la thématique Gouvernance communale de l’AEPHA au sein d’organisations professionnelles à l’échelle nationale ou sous régionale.
• Une expérience en Afrique francophone serait un atout
• Minimum 5 ans d’expériences en gestion de programme/projet
• Expérience en élaboration de plan stratégique communal AEPHA
• Expérience en assistance technique des communes et des structures étatiques
• Expérience de travail au sein d’une équipe pluridisciplinaire et de collaboration avec des experts de différentes spécialités et origines

Formation académique

Au moins BAC+4 en sciences sociales, sciences de l’eau et de l’assainissement, développement rural, ou toutes spécialisations universitaires équivalentes en lien avec le développement rural ou la gestion des services d’eau potable et d’assainissement.

Compétences et qualités personnelles

Le ou la titulaire du poste doit avoir la maturité personnelle et une expérience professionnelle suffisante pour assumer les responsabilités liées au poste.

Les principales qualités requises sont :

• Excellente maîtrise de la thématique Gouvernance communale d’AEPHA avec des expériences solides et pertinentes
• Autorité et aptitude à diriger des experts pluridisciplinaires géographiquement isolés
• Méticulosité et excellente aptitude à organiser ses tâches et respecter les délais
• Excellente maîtrise de l'informatique, notamment les applications Word & Excel et diverses applications et interfaces de messagerie électronique
• Excellentes capacités rédactionnelles en français
• Grande éloquence orale en Français
• Capacité à lire l’anglais et connaissances de base pour le parler et l’écrire
• Excellentes aptitudes pour les relations interpersonnelles et la communication
• Capacité à exécuter sous pression un volume important de tâches de façon autonome et efficace avec peu d'encadrement
• Disposition à apprendre et s'améliorer
• Rigueur et quête constante d’excellence et des résultats de qualité
• Habileté à analyser les situations critiques et proposer les actions correctives
• Aptitude à travailler en équipe et à respecter les contributions des autres membres de l'organisation
• Excellentes qualités de négociation
• Aptitude et disponibilité à voyager occasionnellement dans le cadre du travail
• Engagement crédible envers les valeurs de l’entreprise : professionnalisme, intégrité et créativité.

Synthèse des compétences clés requises :

• Sens de l’innovation
• Sens de l’initiative
• Challenge
• Capacité de prise de décision
• Cohésion d’équipe
• Capacité de supervision
• Capacité de communication et d’influence
• Réseautage
• Capacité à résister au stress
• Capacité d’anticipation
• Flexibilité
• Résilience
• Fidélité
• Ethique

Ce qu’IRC attend du ou (de la) titulaire :

Tâches : D'une manière professionnelle et diligente, effectuer le travail spécifié dans cette description de l’emploi et les tâches spécifiques comme convenu dans le contrat annuel de performance et revu périodiquement avec le responsable hiérarchique.

Équipe : Travailler au sein de l'équipe pour atteindre les objectifs de l’entreprise ; Communiquer régulièrement avec les principaux collègues grâce à des échanges réguliers, par courriel, téléphone, Skype ou des systèmes de communication virtuels similaires, et des réunions en personne.

Individuel : Adhérer à nos principes et valeurs ; Maintenir et développer votre propre efficacité, y compris prendre la responsabilité de votre santé ; votre bien-être général et investir dans votre propre développement professionnel en ce qui concerne notre vision et notre mission ; Soyez prêt à vous adapter à l'environnement changeant que nous, en tant qu'entreprise de développement ; Porter à notre attention les problèmes qui pourraient affecter notre capacité à atteindre nos objectifs, y compris vos besoins d’appui dans votre propre rôle.

Ce que le ou la titulaire peut attendre d’IRC :

• Un salaire et des avantages sociaux équitables, compétitifs, abordables et conformes au statut d'entreprise sociale d’IRC
• Des ressources raisonnables pour faire votre travail (bureau, équipement, budget, etc.), dans le respect de nos contraintes
• Une bonne initiation, un soutien continu et des évaluations régulières par votre supérieur hiérarchique (y compris les ressources financières et le temps pour votre propre développement professionnel)
• Collaboration et travail d'équipe de vos collègues dans une ambiance conviviale et professionnelle

Conditions du poste

Intitulé du poste : Charge (e) de programme Gouvernance AEPHA au Mali
Contrat : CDD de droit Malien 1 an renouvelable selon performances - Emploi à plein temps
Localisation : Bamako – Mali, avec des fréquents déplacements dans les régions de Koutiala, Sikasso, Mopti et Koulikoro
Prise de service : 01 Aout 2022
Supérieur hiérarchique : Directrice Pays d'IRC au Mali
Salaire : Selon la grille IRC
Autres avantages : Dotation communication, Assurance maladie SANLAM & (AMO), Formation et coaching pour le développement professionnel, etc.

Candidature :

Les candidats intéressés par cette offre peuvent soumettre leur dossier de candidature composé d’un CV minimum 2 pages et maximum 5 pages et d’une lettre de motivation à l’adresse mail recruitmentmali@ircwash.org  avec comme objet de l’e-mail « Candidature au poste Charge (e) de programme Gouvernance AEPHA au Mali » au plus tard le 22 Juillet 2022 à 17h00.

La lettre de motivation et le CV peuvent être rédigés en Anglais ou en Français. La lettre est essentielle pour la candidature - sans la lettre de motivation, le CV sera rejeté.

Les dossiers reçus dans les délais prescrits feront l’objet d’un accusé de réception. Il ne sera donné suite qu’aux candidatures pour lesquelles IRC aurait trouvé un intérêt. Les entretiens avec les candidats seront programmés dans la semaine du 25 Juillet. Vous trouverez de plus amples informations sur notre organisation à l'adresse www.ircwash.org.

Each town sanitation plan is a strategic and integrated documentation of sanitation interventions and services tailored to Kasenda, Mugusu, Kijura and Kiko Town Councils

Kabarole District has set its vision on achieving 100% coverage of water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services for all by 2030. This vision is outlined in the Kabarole District WASH master plan 2018-2030, which describes elements that need to be addressed and prescribes the strategies on how to address the gaps in WASH services in line with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. IRC has collaborated with Kabarole District Local Government as a core district partner since 2006, and supported efforts to research, develop and publish a district WASH master plan for Kabarole District. IRC in its programming continues to facilitate implementation of the WASH master plan, with Kabarole district in the lead.

IRC supported the development of integrated and sustainable Town Sanitation Plans for four town councils in Kabarole namely, Kasenda, Mugusu, Kijura and Kiko Town Councils.

These plans providing a strategic framework to deliver and improve sanitation in the selected towns through short-, medium-, and long-term goals. Town Sanitation Plans aim at coordinating and integrating various sanitation-related measures at the town council level including physical planning, sanitation marketing, Behaviour Change Communication (BCC), local private sector involvement, law enforcement, and full stakeholder participation, among others.

Each town sanitation plan is a strategic and integrated documentation of sanitation interventions and services in the town councils. This is not a conventional technical sanitation master plan focusing on engineering and financial aspects, rather it sets out the strategies, objectives, targets, operational actions, and resources needed to achieve the vision and objectives for improvements along the sanitation value chain in the town councils.

The planning process and the results are derived from consultation with local stakeholders; capturing realities and proposing solutions that are locally generated by the stakeholders and not technocrats outside the town council.  The target groups are technical and non-technical stakeholders (residents, Community Based Organisations and funding agencies based in Kijura or the region, Non-Governmental Organisations, National Water and Sewerage Corporation, Kabarole District Local Government and Town Council) who have an interest in improving sanitation at the local level.

The actions and interventions presented in the plan are focused on improving sanitation in households, public schools, public places (e.g., markets, bus/taxi stops), and healthcare facilities. In addition, the plan proposes interventions to improve the collection and treatment of faecal sludge in the town. The planning horizon is set until the year 2040.

The plans also outline estimates on the required investments to be made either by the Town Council, Kabarole District Local Government (KDLG), and/or donor agencies for improvements along the sanitation value chain.       

The development of the Town Sanitation Plans (TSPs) was facilitated by IRC Uganda with funding from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation for Kijuura and Mugusu Town Councils, and the Waterloo Foundation for Kasenda and Kiko Town Councils.

A costed strategic approach towards achieving improved sanitation services for households and institutions and the entire service chain.

Ensuring proper handling of human waste both within the households and institutions.

Achieving universal access to sustainable sanitation for a clean, healthy and productive urban environment by 2040 through active participation of all stakeholders.

Achieving a healthy tourism town with universal access to sustainable sanitation and an improved community livelihood for all by 2040 through engaging all stakeholders.

New free online course on Market-Based Sanitation.

A new online course on the basics of market-based sanitation brings together the latest thinking from around the world on enabling the private sector to contribute to improved and safely managed sanitation services. It has been developed by IRC, with the support of USAID Transform WASH, in collaboration with PSI and Water For People. The course aims to equip users with insights and tools on the role of market-based sanitation in creating the strong systems needed for universal and lasting sanitation services.

The scale of investment required to deliver sanitation goods and services to those who lack access is beyond the capacity of public finance alone. As Monte Achenbach, one of the course contributors and PSI’s chief of party for Transform WASH, said, ‘Imagine that a government needs to provide sanitation services to each household? That cannot be achieved by government action on their own. It is beyond the means of any government. This means there is a clear role for households to invest in improved sanitation services and for the private sector to produce and sell an array of products to meet their needs.’

Changing mindsets

Approaching sanitation as a market requires a shift in mind set, especially in governments and development partners. They often see businesses as input suppliers and contractors. In a market-based sanitation approach, businesses can engage in demand creation, manufacturing of goods and services (such as slab manufacturing, installation of toilets), and promotion and sales of goods and services (such as retailers and sales agents) to accelerate access to basic (improved) sanitation services.

Another shift in mindset that is needed is viewing households as consumers, moving away from the traditional view of households as beneficiaries, which too often resulted in offering them products that failed to meet their demand, aspirations or needs.

Market-based sanitation focuses on households as active customers of products and services. It takes a user-centred and business supplier approach to developing and producing sanitation products and services that people want and can afford and that businesses can deliver and sell profitably. The goal of building sanitation markets is to achieve ever-expanding, self-sustaining household demand for, and access to, new products and services.

Sanitation as a service

The other shift in thinking required is to see sanitation as a service that is much more than a toilet. To ensure sustainable access to safe sanitation, this concept of a service comprises much more than a physical structure. The sanitation service chain consists of six connected functions: capturing, containing, emptying, transporting, treating, and safely disposing or reusing human waste (i.e., faeces and urine, possibly including black water and grey water, see figure below).

Access to sanitation requires products and services at both the household and the community level. The private sector is an essential part of the solution and can provide products and services for the entire sanitation service chain.

Part of a holistic approach

Market-based sanitation is an essential part of a holistic approach towards reaching safely managed sanitation services (i.e., Sustainable Development Goal 6). Specifically, it's about moving up the sanitation service ladder from a limited to a basic service and, ultimately, to safely managed services for all. It is linked to other approaches for reaching SDG 6, as well (see image below):

Market-based sanitation (MBS) is an umbrella term and includes approaches such as ‘sanitation market shaping,’ ‘sanitation as a business,’, and ‘sanitation marketing’ (or ‘SanMark’). While individual understanding and definitions may vary, the MBS approach focuses generally on improving private sector capacity to supply sanitation products and services and increasing customer demand through commercial marketing techniques. It includes a comprehensive approach toward the WASH system to create a thriving sanitation market in a country.

Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) is a communication strategy that encourages individuals and communities to adopt new behaviours. It is a strategy that triggers people and their communities to adopt healthy, beneficial, and positive behavioural practices.

Community-led total sanitation (CLTS) or community-led total sanitation and hygiene (CLTS-H) is a rural-focused behaviour change approach for ending open defecation through community participation. In simplified terms, CLTS-H (or similar community approaches to total sanitation) focus on getting people to stop defecating in the open and to start using a self-constructed (often unimproved) pit latrine.

Microfinance is the provision of small (aka “micro”) loans to low-income individuals or businesses with minimal collateral requirements.

Subsidies can be powerful and progressive tools for increasing water and sanitation access when they are designed in specific measurable achievable and realistic, timely and targeted ways and implemented effectively. This is part of session 7.

Public investments by governments (from taxes or transfers) in sanitation services will always be needed. No country in the world has realised safely managed water and sanitation services for all without public investments.

Together, this mix of approaches, with a wider strengthening of the WASH system on factors such as finance, demand, community by-law, can realise safely managed sanitation services for all.

Image: The JMP sanitation service ladder with approaches to move from open defecation towards safely managed sanitation services (i.e., SDG 6). Adapted from Trémolet, S. (2012). Sanitation markets: Using economics to improve the delivery of services along the sanitation value chain.

Market-based sanitation: the basics

The free 12-hour online course provides insights and tools for the private sector to contribute to improved and safely managed sanitation services (i.e., realising Sustainable Development Goal 6) by 2030. To reach SDG 6, the private sector is essential in providing products and services that people need and want.

By the end of the course, users will have a good understanding of the role of market-based sanitation as part of strong WASH systems needed to realise universal and sustainable sanitation services. Users will know:

• What market-based sanitation entails
• Different approaches to applying market-based sanitation
• Market-based sanitation as an essential part of stronger WASH systems

The course is available on the WASH Systems Academy as a self-paced and self-guided course. It can also be used in combination with webinars, group work, on the job support or part of a 3-day workshop.

The online course ‘Market-Based Sanitation: The Basics’ is available for free on the WASH Systems Academy.

About Transform WASH

USAID Transform WASH aims to improve water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) outcomes in Ethiopia by increasing market access to and sustained use of a broader spectrum of affordable WASH products and services, with a substantial focus on sanitation.

Transform WASH achieves this by transforming the market for low-cost quality WASH products and services: stimulating demand at the community level, strengthening supply chains, and improving the enabling environment for a vibrant private market.

USAID Transform WASH is a USAID-funded activity implemented by PSI in collaboration with SNV, Plan International, and IRC WASH. The consortium is working closely with government agencies, including the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Electricity, the One WASH National Program, and regional and sub-regional governments.

IRC is all about partnership for impact and 2021 saw us create exciting new partnerships and consolidate existing ones.

Destination 2030: a vision of local, national and global impact and scale

2021 was the final year of our medium-term strategic plan (2017-21), and we ended it on an upbeat note when, in August, we cemented our Alliance with Water For People and launched our visionary Destination 2030 Strategy. The vision is clear: the passionate pursuit of sustainable water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services for all. Working together to drive exponential progress in the delivery of WASH, and guided by our shared Destination 2030 Strategy, we will serve 20 million, reach 200 million and change the system. By 2030 we will have radically increased our impact while tripling the annual investment in water and sanitation systems.

Leveraging partnerships and building new relationships in our partner districts

Destination 2030 is all about a shared commitment to scale, impact and change, with the delivery of services to everyone in our partner districts at its heart. Four years after launching the first district 'master plan' (in Asutifi North, Ghana, in March 2018) we continue to see the results that come from empowered local leadership and collective action around a shared vision of access for all. That original master plan has now been joined by 18 others, of which six were finalised, validated and approved by district leadership in 2021.

In Niger, our two partner districts are the only ones – out of 266 communes – to have master plans. Regular service level monitoring means that these district governments are also the only ones to base their decisions on accurate knowledge of WASH service levels in local health centres and schools. In Ghana, the work of implementing the master plan in Asutifi North district has led to the creation of the National Development Planning Commission's WASH Toolkit for the sector. And some districts, like Asutifi North, are on track to reach their entire population with safe water services by 2030. Other areas, like Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, are faced with continuous security challenges, and partners in these areas need to find new ways of working. In 2021, IRC and its partners started using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to pinpoint the location of vulnerable populations and identify ways to reach them.

The move towards more professionally managed rural water supplies continues. 2021 was also the year where we showed how important it is to deepen our relationships with utilities, in rural as well as urban areas. Professionally managed water services can contribute to overcoming common challenges related to rural water service provision, including low management capacity and performance of service providers, in order to ensure sustainable basic, and where possible, safely managed water services.

For example, in Uganda we formed a tri-partite partnership with the National Water and Sewerage Corporation and Kabarole District Local Government to extend a piped water system network to ensure 100% sustainable access to the 12,800 people living in Kabende sub-county. We also worked on influencing Burkina Faso's national utility, ONEA, to increase its focus on reaching people in small towns. This will include services for 10,000 people.

Other partnerships

Our new Partnership for WASH Systems in Africa with UNICEF and Water For People is strengthening national WASH systems in 19 countries in Africa. We do this by improving sector capacities, and knowledge management, advocating for systems change at national and regional levels and providing technical assistance in WASH systems strengthening to UNICEF country offices. An important part of this has been updating UNICEF's systems and finance courses on the Agora training platform together with our WASH Systems Academy.

This year, our WASH Systems Academy had 1,066 participants with 1,404 enrolments and 483 certificates. In Ethiopia we used the online WASH Systems Academy, together with in-person workshops, to tailor the course to the local context.

Public Development Banks are central to improving the financing of the water and sanitation sector, and it is only when the sector is strong that we can achieve SDG 6, the Paris Agreement objectives and enhance biodiversity protection. Building on studies conducted as part of our consultancy work, the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) launched a Water Finance Coalition of Public Development Banks. IRC acts as the Secretariat of the coalition.

We also contributed to other partnerships, networks and global platforms including Agenda for Change, Millennium Water Alliance, Netherlands Water Partnership NGO Platform, Rural Water Supply Network, Sanitation and Water for All (SWA), UN Water and Water Integrity Network. This included supporting the leadership of Agenda for Change to change its governance to one that puts country collaborations at the centre.

Challenges and what's next

As in every year, we faced challenges. Covid-19 tested our ability to work through sporadic lockdowns, while political conflict in many of our focus countries tested the resolve of our teams and the incremental improvement that lies at the heart of our systems strengthening approach.

The world is not on track to deliver its 2030 goals for safe and sustainable drinking water and sanitation services to everyone. Efforts are confronted by a lack of high-level political vision and leadership in many countries. There are too few Swachh Bharats or Jal Jeevans, and too many countries and actors that still see providing a shared handpump or pit latrine as appropriate goals. They are not! Scaling the successes we've seen in our partner districts, especially the expansion of professionally and safely managed services, requires clear and strong political commitment not just to systems strengthening – but to profound systems change.

Triggering and supporting this change is at the heart of Destination 2030. It is also the reason for our continued support to key partnerships like Agenda for Change and Sanitation and Water for All. In order to widen and reinforce the network of likeminded partners committed to this change, we will host signature events in 2022 and 2023: All Systems Go Africa in Ghana in October 2022, and All Systems Connect in the Netherlands in May 2023. We hope you'll join us.

Read our Annual Report 2021, our Monitoring Report 2021 and our 2021 Financial Report for more highlights and details of our work.

How do you go from open defecation and unsafe sanitation to reliable and sustainable services?

Making sure that even the simplest services are maintained depends on the ongoing collaboration of a complex network of individuals and organisations. It's about strengthening the systems (i.e., the actors and factors) needed to deliver sanitation services.

Market-Based Sanitation (MBS) interventions are a promising approach to addressing (a part) of the global sanitation challenge sustainably and at scale. It is particularly suitable in settings in which households use traditional unimproved pit latrines but do not yet have access to affordable products and services to build an improved sanitation facility.

In this course, Market-Based Sanitation refers to strengthening the private sector in delivering products and services for the construction of improved onsite sanitation facilities, and to increase the willingness of end users to invest in the construction, upgrade, and/or maintenance of a toilet.

The course brings together the latest thinking from around the world and has been developed by IRC, with the support of USAID Transform WASH, in collaboration with PSI and Water For People. It will equip you with insights and tools on the role of Market-Based Sanitation in creating the strong systems needed for universal and lasting sanitation services. The course is available as:

• A free 12-hour online course on the WASH Systems Academy, ‘Market-Based Sanitation: The basics’ that is self-guided and self-paced.
• On demand the online course can be customised and combined with structured online support, with webinars and group work or as part of a blended approach in a face-to-face training workshop. 

Course objectives

By the end of the training, you will have a good understanding of the role of Market-Based Sanitation as part of strong water and sanitation systems needed to realise universal and sustainable sanitation services. You will know:

• What Market-Based Sanitation entails
• Different approaches to applying Market-Based Sanitation
• Market-Based Sanitation as an essential part of stronger WASH systems

The WASH Systems Academy

The WASH Systems Academy is collaborative online platform developed to assist water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) sector professionals with the knowledge and tools to strengthen WASH systems. It now has over 3000 users from 110 countries. It is available on www.washsystemsacademy.org

About Transform WASH

USAID Transform WASH aims to improve water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) outcomes in Ethiopia by increasing market access to and sustained use of a broader spectrum of affordable WASH products and services, with a substantial focus on sanitation.

Transform WASH achieves this by transforming the market for low-cost quality WASH products and services: stimulating demand at the community level, strengthening supply chains, and improving the enabling environment for a vibrant private market.

USAID Transform WASH is a USAID-funded activity implemented by PSI in collaboration with SNV, Plan International, and IRC WASH. The consortium is working closely with government agencies, including the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Electricity, the One WASH National Program, and regional and sub-regional governments

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New online course on market-based sanitation tested in blended learning session in Ethiopia.

USAID Transform WASH has consistently worked to improve capacity for market-based sanitation in Ethiopia. As part of these efforts, a new online course was developed to introduce virtual learners to the topic. As part of testing the course, from the 10th to the 12th of May 2022, a blended training -- mixing online and in person learning -- was organised in Bishoftu, Ethiopia. The training was joined by 22 people from national and regional government offices (e.g., health and job creation), national training institutes (technical and vocational training centers and the Ethiopian Water Technology Institute), microfinance institutions (savings and credit associations and banks), and development partners.

Participants individually took the 12-hour online course, ‘’Market-Based Sanitation: The Basics,’’ then participated in face-to-face presentations by experts on key content of the online course followed by group discussions. 

Getting to grips with sanitation as a business and learning online

Participants had a very mixed background and level of experience with market-based sanitation. Most had never previously followed an online course. Some struggled on the first day with setting up an account on the online platform to access the course. They needed the support of the facilitators to get started and gain confidence in using the online platform during the first two days.

Participants expressed satisfaction with the mix of in-person support and online coursework. After completing each session, facilitators provided summary presentations, and participants actively joined in discussions. They discussed the implementation of market-based sanitation on the ground and shared best practices from different parts of the country.

After three days of blended training, 20 of the 22 participants completed the online course and earned their certificates. They found the self-study through the online course motivating because it enabled them to visualize their progress. It spurred them on to engage actively with the materials.

Reactions from participants

Participants liked the online content on market-based sanitation, especially experiences from around the globe presented in short texts, videos, and animations. The course provides additional resources as tools and manuals mixed with exercises and reflection in online forum discussions. The presentations by experts brought in more examples from the Ethiopian context, to which they could relate, and helped resolve issues. The lively group discussions allowed for further sharing of experiences with market-based sanitation.

‘The training developed my confidence. When I passed the tests online and earned the certificate, I felt so proud. I will now continue with other courses on the platform.’ Shitahun Yirsaw, Amhara Cooperative Agency

Participants also felt that using a blended learning approach made it easier to cascade and replicate the training at regional and district levels with their partners. Inviting other colleagues to follow the free online course will make it easier to pass on knowledge than by simply using a training manual.

‘The course taught me that sanitation is an untapped business opportunity for the jobless youths.’ - Dibaba Hordofa, Oromia job creation agency

‘Some of the challenges that I heard from small and micro-enterprises that benefited from the loan we provided for slab manufacturing are like enterprises in other countries, I understood from the course. This gives us confidence in providing loans even if there are problems’ – Bati Woldao, the Sinke bank.

About the course Market-based Sanitation: The Basics

This new 12-hour online course brings together the latest thinking from around the world on enabling the private sector to offer more products and services for improved and safely managed household sanitation. It has been developed by IRC, with the support of USAID Transform WASH, in collaboration with PSI and Water For People. The course aims to equip users with insights and tools on the role of market-based sanitation in creating the strong systems needed for universal and lasting sanitation services. 

By the end of the course, users will have a good understanding of the role of market-based sanitation as a key component of strong WASH systems, which are needed to realise universal, sustainable sanitation services. Users will know:

• What market-based sanitation entails
• Different approaches to applying market-based sanitation
• Market-based sanitation as an essential part of stronger WASH systems

The online course is available for free on the WASH Systems Academy and is a self-paced and self-guided course. It can also be used in combination with webinars, group work, on the job support, or part of a 3-day workshop.

The online course ‘Market-Based Sanitation: The Basics’ is available for free on the WASH Systems Academy.

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About Transform WASH

USAID Transform WASH aims to improve water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) outcomes in Ethiopia by increasing market access to and sustained use of a broader spectrum of affordable WASH products and services, with a substantial focus on sanitation.

Transform WASH achieves this by transforming the market for low-cost quality WASH products and services: stimulating demand at the community level, strengthening supply chains, and improving the enabling environment for a vibrant private market.

USAID Transform WASH is a USAID-funded activity implemented by PSI in collaboration with SNV, Plan International, and IRC WASH. The consortium is working closely with government agencies, including the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Electricity, the One WASH National Program, and regional and sub-regional governments.

WASH organisations successfully lobby to include more questions about WASH in the 2022 National Population and Housing Census.

Photo caption: Fieldworker inspects village latrine in Mujaffarabad, Chittagong, Bangladesh. Credit: IRC

Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) is conducting the Bangladesh National Population and Housing Census 2022. The data collection of the census will be done from 15-21 June, 2022. The last population and housing census was carried out in 2011. The census is usually conducted every 10 years. The present one was planned to be held in 2021 but delayed due to COVID-19. This is the first time the national population and housing census of Bangladesh is going to be conducted digitally.

WASH organisations collectively lobbied for BBS to put more focus on WASH issues in the census. Following the recommendations of WASH organisations, BBS has increased the number of WASH related questions in the households questionnaire of the census.

The household questionnaire in its present form has 14 questions. Four of them are related to WASH services. They are:

• 8. What is the main source of drinking water in the household?
• 9a.What type of toilet is being used by the household?
• 9b. Is it for the household only or shared?
• 9c. What type of handwashing facility is there in the household?

The questionnaire of the 2011 census had only 2 questions on WASH services. They were questions 8 and question 9a. The questions about shared latrines and handwashing facilities are new additions to this year's census.

Moreover, this is the first time BBS officially requested all the WASH organisations and CSOs to help with WASH related information in their respective areas during the data collection of the census. BBS made the request on 1 June 2022 in a letter (in Bengali) addressed to WaterAid, which acts as a representative of WASH organisations and networks in Bangladesh.

Looking back at the Conrad N. Hilton funded small grants for civil society organisations (CSOs) in Ghana.

In 2021, IRC Ghana in collaboration with the Asutifi North District Assembly/partners with the support of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation instituted the Asutifi North Ahonedie Mpuntuo (ANAM) Small Grant Opportunity for CSOs in Asutifi North District.

This in order to get local civil society involved in the WASH master plan of the district as the role of CSOs is essential in improving WASH service delivery and sustaining water resources. The Small Grant Opportunity, therefore, aimed to support selected organisations with resources to develop advocacy initiatives in the following areas:

• Sustaining behaviour change in hand hygiene beyond COVID-19
• Improving access to WASH services for vulnerable and excluded populations including people with disabilities
• Reduce inequalities in allocation of resources for WASH services
• Improved Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services and sustainable Water Resources Management (WRM)
• Improving gender equity and social inclusion in WASH.

The activities and achievements of the five winners are listed in the closure report (see resources below) as well as recommendations from CSOs to benefit more from grant opportunities like these in the future.

This report on the Small Grant Opportunity for CSOs in Asutifi North District in 2021. describes the process, the winners, their achievements and recommendations for similar future grants.

The strategy document indicates the best ways to mobilise additional finance from the community, government, and partner NGOs.

Soumettez votre candidature avant le 5 juin et saisissez cette opportunité de bénéficier d'une formation et d'un coaching intensifs pour votre entreprise WASH au Mali.

Le projet Dji Ni Sanya est un programme d’accélération visant à renforcer une dizaine de Petites et Moyennes Entreprises (PMEs) du secteur Eau et Assainissement au Mali. Ce programme, découlant d’un partenariat entre Impact Hub Bamako, Crosswise Works, IRC et financé par Aqua for All, se déroulera jusqu'en mars 2023 et offrira une formation et un coaching intensifs à quatre niveaux: 

• Compétences Entrepreneuriales
• Compétences Techniques
• Accès Au Marché Et Réseau
• Gestion Financière Et Opérationnelle

 Les critères de sélection

Votre entreprise a :

• Au moins 2 ans ou plus d’existence ;
• Un chiffre d’affaires minimum de 6 000 000 CFA par an ;
• Entre 5 et 50 employés ;
• Été officiellement enregistrée et est active dans le secteur WASH au Mali.

Tous les candidats doivent être en mesure de prendre part à des sessions de formation et de coaching d’août 2022 à février 2023. L’emploi de temps est estimé à une demi-journée par semaine en moyenne.

Le programme d’accélération vise à renforcer votre entreprise à un niveau ou vous seriez prêts d’accueillir vous-mêmes des investissements. Dji Ni Sanya appuiera les entrepreneurs à établir des plans d’affaires pour leur croissance à la manière professionnelle et mettra les meilleures entreprises en contact avec les investisseurs dans son réseau, à la fin du programme. Vous seriez prêts de vous présenter auprès d’eux !

Une attention particulière est également accordée à l’impact environnemental, au genre et aux conditions d’emploi. Les entrepreneurs seront évalués sur leur potentiel de croissance de leur entreprise.

Les candidatures sont ouvertes jusqu’au dimanche 04 Juin 2022 à minuit GMT. Tous les candidats seront évalués sur la base de leurs réponses dans ce formulaire de candidature, après quoi les entreprises présélectionnées seront contactées pour une interview physique. Le programme démarrera en août 2022 et se poursuivra jusqu’en mars 2023. L’offre de coaching, de soutien financier et d’évaluation sera basée sur les besoins d’apprentissage que vous aurez identifiés.

Les entreprises sélectionnées devront payer des frais de participation de 100.000 CFA par entreprise.

Le programme Dji Ni Sanya est censé faire croître les PME WASH au Mali. Le Fonds mènera à un plan d’investissement concret fondé sur les besoins de financement des entreprises. Chaque entreprise peut accéder à 2 à 5 millions de CFA (+/- 3.000 € / 8.000 €). Le Fonds peut toutefois également être utilisé en partie pour financer une assistance technique supplémentaire qui est définie comme des besoins dans le programme avec les participants soit individuellement ou collectivement, par exemple des activités de formation supplémentaires.

N’attendez plus ! Allez sur le site de https://www.djinisanya.ml/ et postuler pour avoir la chance d’être parmi les 10 PMEs choisies !

NB : Vous pouvez aussi postuler en remplissant la fiche de candidature manuellement disponible au niveau d’Impact Hub et de ses partenaires de diffusion.