Sanitation in South Asia: Progress and Challenges
Clarissa BrocklehurstChief of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, UNICEFSACOSAN April 2011
WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply and Sanitation (JMP)Water Supply and Sanitation (JMP)
• Mandated by the UN to monitor global progress towards the MDG water and sanitation target
• Use of national data sources:– National censuses– Household surveys (DHS, MICS, WHS,
LSMS, CWIQ etc.)
• Use of standard definitions and indicators to ensure data are comparable between countries and over time
MDG definitions - sanitationMDG definitions - sanitation
Improved sanitation
• Flush/pour flush to:
• piped sewer system
• septic tank
• pit latrine
• Ventilated improved pit (VIP) latrine
• Pit latrine with slab
• Composting toilet
Unimproved sanitation
• Pit latrine without slab/
open pit
• Bucket
• Hanging toilet/hanging latrine
• Flush/pour flush to elsewhere
• No facilities, bush or field (open defecation)
• Shared or public facilities
An improved sanitation facility “hygienically separates human waste from human contact”
0102030405060708090
100
1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010YearYear
Cove
rage
(%)
Cove
rage
(%)
Linear regression line
Improved
Public or shared
Unimproved
Open defecation
What do the data tell us about progress in sanitation in South Asia?
• Sanitation coverage in South Asia increased by 13 percentage points since 1990; from 22% to 35%
• open defecation rates decreased by a third; from 67% to 45%
Urban TotalRural
But stark differences remain between urban and rural figures
Improved
Public or shared
Unimproved
Open defecation
716 million people in South Asia practiced open defecation in 2008
(millions)
India 638 million
Comparison with other regions
1990 2008 1990 2008 1990 2008 1995 2008 2000 2008 1990 2008 1990 2000 1990 2008 1990 2008
India Nepal Pakistan Afghanistan Bhutan Bangladesh Maldives Sri Lanka SOUTH ASIA
37
98
36
2233
62
14
45
39
74
13
18
18
15
51
29
54
31
69
10
28
53
6591
70
18
25
35
47
16
27
29 26
23
11
314
11
80
52
22
45
5
67
10
35
6
10
Improved Public or shared Unimproved Open defecation
Significant variation across countries
Bad news
In 2008 there were more people without access to improved sanitation than in 1990
South Asia is not on track for the MDG sanitation target
40?
Required trend
Good news Open defecation rates have declined in all countries
EQUITY ANALYSIS
Equity – rural coverge still lags behind urban coverage
Poorest 2nd 3rd 4th Richest
Wealth Quintile Analysis: India
Poorest 2nd 3rd 4th Richest
Wealth Quintile Analysis: Nepal
Poorest 2nd 3rd 4th Richest
Wealth Quintile Analysis: Bangladesh
Overcoming obstacles: building demand for sanitation
• community-led models for building demand
• harnessing household investments
• changing social norms around open defecation
Overcoming obstacles: building political commitment for sanitation
• Xx South Asian countries are members of Sanitation and Water for All
• Engagement of Ministers of Finance
• Significant financial and institutional commitments have been made
Thank you
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