Community-based approaches for addressing the urban sanitation challenges

Abstract

Urban sanitation presents one of the most significant service delivery challenges related to poverty alleviation and sustainable development in the developing world. The past decade has witnessed innovations in service delivery approaches for unserved rural and urban settlements with a clear policy shift to community-based approaches that attempt to overcome the supply-led, over-engineered sanitation solutions of the past decades. This article presents two examples of new developments: the urban-focussed household-centred environmental sanitation (HCES) and the rural-focussed community-led total sanitation (CLTS) approaches. The internationally renowned CLTS approach has achieved considerable success since its introduction, by harnessing community and small private sector capacity to solve sanitation problems locally. Experience with validation of the HCES approach in a variety of urban sites in Africa, Asia and Latin America is presented in the second part of the article highlighting some of the lessons learned. The article closes by arguing that a combination of HCES and CLTS, two field-tested methodologies, has the potential to improve the sustainability of sanitation service interventions.

Participation in sanitation planning in Burkina Faso: theory and practice

“…This highlights the fact that both are community-based approaches. A previous study of these two approaches suggests that a combination of them could result in an improved process (Lüthi et al, 2009). The results of this study support this argument, especially during Steps 2-3 where a combined approach might serve to smooth out dips in the participation curves (Figures 2 & 3).…”

“…The exception is CLTS which calls for community-led decision-making throughout the process. However, CLTS has been criticized within the sector for lacking technical guidance in designing systems and weak institutional strength in urban settings (Lüthi et al, 2009). Still, the rapid success and popularity of CLTS combined with the results from Nance & Ortolano indicate that it is worth looking closer at participation within the design and selection steps.…”

“…At this stage the facilitator helps the community to direct the motivation released during triggering into concrete action. CLTS stresses the importance of allowing the community to dictate its own solutions, yet it also recommends working with the proper authorities and encouraging institutional support for training and capacity development (Kar & Chambers, 2008;Lüthi et al, 2009). Therefore, the level of participation of all various actors in the last three planning steps is most representative of delegated power.…”

Transitioning to resilience and sustainability in urban communities

“…This may involve significant and meaningful participation by all stakeholders, as has been discussed in relation to diverse urban issues such as recreation (Huang, 2010), sanitation (Lüthi et al, 2009) and flooding (van de Meene et al, 2011), to name but a few.…”

Grey water characterisation and pollutant loads in an urban slum

“…The main challenges are related to the collection as well as treatment of excreta, solid waste and wastewater for the protection of human health and the environment (Lüthi et al 2009;Tilley et al 2010;Thye et al 2011;Katukiza et al 2012). Faecal sludge management has traditionally been considered the main issue concerning improvement of sanitary conditions in urban slums because excreta are the source of many pathogens.…”