One pager on local solutions that address the issue of collapsing latrines and offer sustainable super and sub-structures for latrines by Mary Namwebe (Plan Uganda), Chingati Banda (Plan Malawi) and Seth Asomaning (Plan Ghana).
Presentation on processes, tools and innovative ideas for ODF verification and celebration given by Ashley Meek, Engineers Without Borders Canada at the ODF Malawi Annual Review meeting (20-21 March 2013).
Eliminating open defecation is increasingly seen as a key health outcome, with links to reduced stunting, improved educational and positive health outcomes for children. In Sub Saharan Africa, over 35 countries are implementing some form of CLTS, ranging from TATS in Tanzania to CLTSH in Ethiopia. Since the introduction of CLTS in 2005 in the region, rapid scale-up has been achieved with suggested numbers of ODF communities in the range of 30,000 affecting over 15 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa.
From the 9th to the 12th April 2013, IRC hosted a symposium on Monitoring Sustainable WASH Service Delivery in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. More than 400 participants from international institutions and NGOs (46%) and from (African) governments (25%), as well as a smaller presence of multilateral agencies, academics and consultants, attended the event. The aim of the symposium was to
CLTS was introduced in Western Equatoria State state in October 2011 through a training facilitated by Plan International and sponsored by UNICEF. A number of organizations send representatives to participate in the training. In October 2012 fourteen villages underwent Open Defecation Free (ODF) verification. These are villages that had been facilitated by one of UNICEF’s partners, Intersos. 10 of the villages had claimed to have attained ODF status and this provided a rationale for conducting the verification.
CLTS continued to gain momentum when the second Open Defecation Free celebration was held in the Republic of South Sudan in Kasia village in Yambio county on 27th November 2012. The colourful event brought together 4 villages which had been declared ODF in October this year.
There was pomp and dance on 1st November 2012, when Adiem village held the first ever Open Defecation Free (ODF) celebration in South Sudan. The occasion was well attended by the local community, the ACTED staff, and the State government officials led by the Minister for Health Hon. Dr. Ang’ui Mayuot.
Report on progress with CLTS in the North Bank Region of The Gambia, with details of ODF celebrations and the latest numbers.
CLTS in Malawi has traditionally been implemented through local Health Centre extension agents and supported by resourcing provided by donor partners. With the goal of a 100% Open Defecation Free Malawi by 2015 and the current percentage of ODF villages verified at 4.3%, there is immediate need for more efficient delivery of CLTS. The inability to monitor and verify progress towards ODF presents a critical barrier that jeopardizes the attainability of ODF targets.
Summary report from the ODF Malawi annual review (March 2013), with updated statistics, and reflections on challenges, sharing of innovations and solutions, as well as useful guidance and resources for CLTS in Malawi.
