Environmental Sanitation Policy & the MDGs

The National Environmental Sanitation Policy (NESP) The main objective was to develop and maintain a clean, safe and pleasant physical environment in all human settlements, to promote the social, economic and physical well-being of all sections of the population

Main areas covered in the Policy The policy provides guidelines for Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies in the implementation, provision and maintenance of environmental sanitation services and facilities The broad spectrum of environmental sanitation includes solid and liquid waste, industrial and hazardous waste, stormwater drainage, environmental and hygiene education, vectors of disease, and disposal of the dead It also defines the roles of related institutions and organizations. Technical aspects, cost recovery and the legal framework are also addressed in the policy.

Main Targets Creating awareness through establishment and observation of a National Environmental Sanitation Day. Managing all of the solid waste generated 90% of the population having access to in-house approved sanitation facilities, and the remaining 10% using hygienic public sanitation facilities Safe and sound disposal of solid waste in well-managed landfills Liquid waste being totally treated and disposed in appropriate treatment plants

Phasing out of pan latrines by 2010 Active sanitary inspections of premises and vector control programmes Strict enforcement of regulations and standards 80% of environmental sanitation services being delivered by the private sector

MEASURES PUT IN PLACE TO IMPLEMENT ESP Assigning responsibilities and roles: Establishing an institutional framework with clearly defined roles and linkages to support implementation of the policy Establishing technical capacity within the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD) to orient and support the District assemblies in the provision of environmental sanitation services. Developing skilled professional and sub-professional manpower for the sector Legislation: Modernize, strengthen and enforce environmental sanitation legislation.

MEASURES PUT IN PLACE TO IMPLEMENT ESP Develop capacity in the Assemblies to manage environmental sanitation Strengthen community’s role in environmental sanitation. Increase private sector participation in environmental sanitation service deliver and, wherever possible, recover costs directly from service beneficiaries. Develop clean and appropriate technical systems and promote research into technologies.

SWOT ANALYSIS OF THE POLICY STRENGTHS There is now an Environmental Sanitation Sub-Sector as part of the national development programme. The policy caters for both urban and rural areas and covers the broad definition of environmental sanitation and encompasses all aspects of wastes management, drainage, cleansing of public places, pest and vector control, food hygiene etc. The policy defines the scope of environmental sanitation, institutional responsibility, legal framework as well as elements such as cost recovery and technical aspects. The roles and responsibilities of the District Assemblies and the various stakeholders in planning and delivery of sanitation services within the Local Government System are clearly and unambiguously defined in legal provisions and in the policy. Generally the issue of sanitation has been recognized and the issue has a high level of political support.

SWOT ANALYSIS OF THE POLICY (Cont’d) WEAKNESSES Not much is said about sanitation in schools, thus development in this area could be stifled. Although women are more directly involved in the problem of water and sanitation availability, the policy does not specify the roles of men and women, leaving the women and children burdened with the consequences. There is poor coordination between stakeholder institutions involved in sanitation, especially between the MLGRD and CWSA, which is one of the major role players. The policy does very little towards increasing funding, even though it is highly supported by the government, and has not adequately tackled the question of financial sustainability. The policy does not specify how to achieve the human resource development (a sufficient number of suitably qualified sanitary engineers and specially trained staff) for the provision of adequate sanitation which it emphasizes. Management of sanitation information was not part of the policy.

SWOT ANALYSIS OF THE POLICY (Cont’d) OPPORTUNITIES The mentioning of sanitation in the National Poverty Reduction Strategy as a key area is important as it could pave the way for increased resource allocation. The sector may be portrayed as an attractive option for investors. The sector may come out with a strategy or institution delegated to monitor or store information on sanitation.

SWOT ANALYSIS OF THE POLICY (Cont’d) THREATS A gap exists between the MLGRD and the CWSA. There is lack of human resources and resource allocation. There also exists corruption and bribery in legislation. The financial responsibility for the provision of household excreta disposal facility lies on the individual households. The low level of funding influences the effectiveness and ability of sector MDAs to live up to the tremendous challenge of the agreed goals. Applied research in the area of technical options has been very low.

SWOT OF ESP IN RELATION TO MDGs Goal 1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger. Target 1: Halve the proportion of those in extreme poverty between 1990 and 2015. Indicator: Proportion below national basic needs, poverty line. Target 2: Halve the proportion of people who suffer from hunger by 2015. Indicator: Prevalence of underweight children (children under 5) Increasing access to safe water and improvements in environmental health ensures healthy people who are able to secure improved livelihoods and break the cycle of poverty and ill-health. Poverty can also be eradicated through improved access to quality education particularly at the primary level.

Target 3: Achieve universal access to primary education by 2015. Goal 2. Achieve universal primary education. Target 3: Achieve universal access to primary education by 2015. Indicator: Gross primary enrolment ratio. Attendance and participation in school will be increased when diarrhea and other diseases are minimized or eradicated. School sanitation must however be addressed to encourage girls’ participation.

Goal 3. Promote gender equality and empower women. Target 4: Eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education by 2005. Indicator: Ratio of females to males in primary, junior and senior secondary schools. Target 5: Achieve equal access for boys and girls to senior secondary by the year 2005. Indicator: Ratio of females to males in senior secondary schools. As part of their empowerment, women in the secondary and tertiary institutions should be encouraged to study water and sanitation related courses to equip them to assume strategic positions and contribute directly to decision-making on water and sanitation issues. Effective interventions in environmental health risks would improve women’s lives and through increased participation. Also, improved access to safe water and sanitation will enable women to put more of their time to financially productive use, leading to poverty reduction.

Target 6: Reduce under-five mortality by two-thirds by 2015. Goal 4. Reduce child mortality. Target 6: Reduce under-five mortality by two-thirds by 2015. Indicator: Under-five mortality rate. The number of children under five who die as a result of unsafe water, unsanitary and unhygienic conditions would be significantly reduced if proper environmental health practices are implemented by the government and adhered to in the provision of child health and nutrition.

Goal 5. Improve maternal health. Target 7: Reduce maternal mortality ratio by three-quarters by 2015. Indicator: Maternal mortality per 100,000. This again borders on availability and adequacy of proper sanitation conditions and potable water. Improved access to water and sustained sanitation facilities will reduce the incidence of maternal illness, and will in turn lead to improved livelihood and childhood care.

Goal 6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases. Target 8: Halt and reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS by 2015. Target 9: Halt and reverse the incidence of Malaria. Environmental health measures should be put in place to prevent health treatments. The collection and disposal of waste water to prevent breeding of mosquitoes should be implemented. Prevention of illnesses would be cost-effective compared to fighting them.

Goal 7. Ensure environmental sustainability. Target 10: Integrate the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programmes and reverse loss of environmental resources by 2015. Indicator: Proportion of land area covered by forest. Target 11: Halve, by 2015, the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water. Indicator: Proportion of population with sustainable access to an improved water source.

Goal 7. Ensure environmental sustainability. Measures to educate the public on the need to preserve natural resources would lead to reduced destruction of forests through bush fires. Also, implementing litigation against illegal timber contractors would preserve natural forest resources. Environmental health improvements and measures should be implemented and a sustainable means of generating income for ensuring sanitation and adequate water supply should be put in place. Adequate water supply promotes improved sanitation which in turn reduces or prevents pollution of water resources.

Indicator: Debt service as a percentage of exports. Goal 8. Develop global partnerships for development. Target 15: Deal comprehensively with Least Developed Countries (LDC) debt and make debt sustainable in the long term. Indicator: Debt service as a percentage of exports. Funding of sanitation projects and transfer of technology can come about by forming development partnerships.

RECOMMENDATIONS Sanitation policies should be reflected into laws to ensure compliance. There is the need to update enforcement procedures of sanitation bye-laws and review institutional arrangements. Sanitation should be seen as a developmental problem linked with poverty reduction and be given a high priority. Sanitation strategies should also be gender sensitive and promote hygiene and sanitation improvements. Strengthening the institutional capacity of the Policy Division of the MLGRD to play the lead role in the implementation of the Environmental Sanitation Policy.

There is “political will towards promulgation of policies” BUT, there is a “perception that there is a lack of implementation support”. There is a need for increased implementation support, political advocacy for implementation by key organizations such as NESPoCC There is a need to improve capacity at all levels including the MLGRDE and MMDAs in environmental sanitation. Applied research in area of technical options should be promoted in the training of professionals. There is the need to strengthen partnership and coordination between the many institutions involved in promotion and development of sanitation.