Resources / Long Term Sustainability of Improved Sanitation in Rural Sanitation

Summary

Bangladesh has many sanitation success stories to share. The experience could richly inform sanitation strategies in other countries, particularly those struggling to increase access to basic sanitation in rural areas.

To learn about the sustainability of rural sanitation in Bangladesh, the Water and Sanitation Program (WSP) in conjunction with the GoB and NGOs felt it was important to investigate several knowledge gaps:

1. the degree to which sanitation behaviors and facilities are being sustained in Union Parishads declared ODF at least four and a half years ago;
2. the level to which sanitation programming has been sustained in these Union Parishads, and to the degree possible,
   whether this programming is contributing to sustained behaviors;
3. if there are perceived benefits associated with maintaining ODF status and if these benefits are contributing to sustained latrine use;
4. the degree to which private sector sanitation service providers have been sustained, and whether household access to them contributes to sustained latrine use; and
5. identifying other factors that may work in favor of or against sustained sanitation behaviors and facilities.