Institutionalisation of Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) for Sanitation in Local Government Institutions of Bangladesh
Summary:
In terms of sanitation, Bangladesh is an example of rapid progress in South Asia. Open defecation has been reduced from 19% (in 2000) to less than 1% (in 2015). Despite this progress, safely managed sanitation is still a big challenge. A very high percentage of the faecal sludge from households ultimately ends up in the environment, drains and water ways. In 2014, the Government launched National Strategy for Water Supply and Sanitation and, in 2017, the Institutional Regulatory Framework for Faecal Sludge Management (FSM), which has given enough guidance and roles to Local Government Institutions (LGIs) to ensure safe sanitation and achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), especially SDG 6.2. SNV Netherlands Development Organisation supports LGIs on this endeavour through a comprehensive approach, Urban Sanitation and Hygiene for Health and Development (USHHD). It comprises development of BCC intervention and demand creation; support for safe and affordable services; technical advice for treatment, dispose and re-use technologies; capacity building to LGI for governance regulations and enforcement; and ensure smart finance and investment. This way Faecal Sludge Management (FSM) services are embedded within LGI, knowledge and capacity is developed and it ensures sustainability for long term. Strengthen capacities of LGIs and institutional embedding of effective BCC around urban sanitation and hygiene issues will contribute to ensure safe sanitation for all. This paper highlight the importance/processes to work through LGIs to institutionalise BCC to ensure safe sanitation, through some of the achievements by SNV in Bangladesh.
Background/Objectives:
Urban sanitation situation in Bangladesh is mainly (80%) based on pit latrines and septic tanks, which requires FSM services to empty the faecal sludge, transport to a disposal site, safely treat and re-use as fertilizer or energy. SNV launched the FSM project in 2014 in 3 cities in Southern Bangladesh, Khulna, Jhenaidah and Kushtia; and in 2018 extended to Jashore, Benapole and Gazipur. Key assets and facilities for appropriate emptying are in place, local capacities to run them are strengthened, and regulation and enforcement are established. However, without customized and institutionalised BCC, demand for FSM Services can't be increased.
Description of Intervention and/or Methods/Design:
Urban sanitation situation in Bangladesh is mainly (80%) based on pit latrines and septic tanks, which requires FSM services to empty the faecal sludge, transport to a disposal site, safely treat and re-use as fertilizer or energy. SNV launched the FSM project in 2014 in 3 cities in Southern Bangladesh, Khulna, Jhenaidah and Kushtia; and in 2018 extended to Jashore, Benapole and Gazipur. Key assets and facilities for appropriate emptying are in place, local capacities to run them are strengthened, and regulation and enforcement are established. However, without customized and institutionalised BCC, demand for FSM Services can't be increased.
Results/Lessons Learned:
Khulna's campaign was able to reach 300,000 city dwellers including schools, health institutes and slums and made them aware of safe and regular septic tank emptying. Immediately after the campaign, emptying demand suddenly raised. A post-campaign effectiveness study found that 80% of targeted people's knowledge was enhanced. Now, they are informed about safe and regular emptying services including the fees and mechanical service providers. Same study in Jhenaidah found that 37% people have more knowledge after the campaign, pretty much similar in Kushtia, where the mechanical services started some time later. People showed their willingness to opt for mechanical services but the uptake is slowly increasing. It was also found that not all the emptied sludge are coming to the treatment plant. LGIs needs to develop an enforcement strategy both for emptiers and premise level, and the BCC Strategy requires continue evolving to strengthen new behaviours.
Discussion/Implications for the Field:
SNV was providing technical support to develop capacity of individual, organizational and interinstitutional level, which is creating enabling environment for institutionalising BCC. Strategy development and implementation was led by LGIs, and relevant actors were deployed to coordinate and ensure quality of implementation, whereas the elected representatives also played proactive role at their area. With available resources and minimum technical support, city authorities are capable to design and implement BCC Strategy for safe sanitation. This capacity of city authorities will contribute significantly to ensure sustainable and safe sanitation service for all living in the city and achieving SDG 6.2 as well.
Abstract submitted by:
Md. Ariful Islam - SNV Netherlands
Marc Pérez Casas - SNV Netherlands
Sam Husain
In terms of sanitation, Bangladesh is an example of rapid progress in South Asia. Open defecation has been reduced from 19% (in 2000) to less than 1% (in 2015). Despite this progress, safely managed sanitation is still a big challenge. A very high percentage of the faecal sludge from households ultimately ends up in the environment, drains and water ways. In 2014, the Government launched National Strategy for Water Supply and Sanitation and, in 2017, the Institutional Regulatory Framework for Faecal Sludge Management (FSM), which has given enough guidance and roles to Local Government Institutions (LGIs) to ensure safe sanitation and achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), especially SDG 6.2. SNV Netherlands Development Organisation supports LGIs on this endeavour through a comprehensive approach, Urban Sanitation and Hygiene for Health and Development (USHHD). It comprises development of BCC intervention and demand creation; support for safe and affordable services; technical advice for treatment, dispose and re-use technologies; capacity building to LGI for governance regulations and enforcement; and ensure smart finance and investment. This way Faecal Sludge Management (FSM) services are embedded within LGI, knowledge and capacity is developed and it ensures sustainability for long term. Strengthen capacities of LGIs and institutional embedding of effective BCC around urban sanitation and hygiene issues will contribute to ensure safe sanitation for all. This paper highlight the importance/processes to work through LGIs to institutionalise BCC to ensure safe sanitation, through some of the achievements by SNV in Bangladesh.
Background/Objectives:
Urban sanitation situation in Bangladesh is mainly (80%) based on pit latrines and septic tanks, which requires FSM services to empty the faecal sludge, transport to a disposal site, safely treat and re-use as fertilizer or energy. SNV launched the FSM project in 2014 in 3 cities in Southern Bangladesh, Khulna, Jhenaidah and Kushtia; and in 2018 extended to Jashore, Benapole and Gazipur. Key assets and facilities for appropriate emptying are in place, local capacities to run them are strengthened, and regulation and enforcement are established. However, without customized and institutionalised BCC, demand for FSM Services can't be increased.
Description of Intervention and/or Methods/Design:
Urban sanitation situation in Bangladesh is mainly (80%) based on pit latrines and septic tanks, which requires FSM services to empty the faecal sludge, transport to a disposal site, safely treat and re-use as fertilizer or energy. SNV launched the FSM project in 2014 in 3 cities in Southern Bangladesh, Khulna, Jhenaidah and Kushtia; and in 2018 extended to Jashore, Benapole and Gazipur. Key assets and facilities for appropriate emptying are in place, local capacities to run them are strengthened, and regulation and enforcement are established. However, without customized and institutionalised BCC, demand for FSM Services can't be increased.
Results/Lessons Learned:
Khulna's campaign was able to reach 300,000 city dwellers including schools, health institutes and slums and made them aware of safe and regular septic tank emptying. Immediately after the campaign, emptying demand suddenly raised. A post-campaign effectiveness study found that 80% of targeted people's knowledge was enhanced. Now, they are informed about safe and regular emptying services including the fees and mechanical service providers. Same study in Jhenaidah found that 37% people have more knowledge after the campaign, pretty much similar in Kushtia, where the mechanical services started some time later. People showed their willingness to opt for mechanical services but the uptake is slowly increasing. It was also found that not all the emptied sludge are coming to the treatment plant. LGIs needs to develop an enforcement strategy both for emptiers and premise level, and the BCC Strategy requires continue evolving to strengthen new behaviours.
Discussion/Implications for the Field:
SNV was providing technical support to develop capacity of individual, organizational and interinstitutional level, which is creating enabling environment for institutionalising BCC. Strategy development and implementation was led by LGIs, and relevant actors were deployed to coordinate and ensure quality of implementation, whereas the elected representatives also played proactive role at their area. With available resources and minimum technical support, city authorities are capable to design and implement BCC Strategy for safe sanitation. This capacity of city authorities will contribute significantly to ensure sustainable and safe sanitation service for all living in the city and achieving SDG 6.2 as well.
Abstract submitted by:
Md. Ariful Islam - SNV Netherlands
Marc Pérez Casas - SNV Netherlands
Sam Husain
Source
Approved abstract for the postponed 2020 SBCC Summit in Marrakech, Morocco. Provided by the International Steering Committee for the Summit. Image credit: SNV Netherlands via YouTube