Briefing on the project and findings of OPR June 9, 2003 Environmental Sanitation, Hygiene and Water Supply in Rural Areas

Project framework PURPOSE: to improve standards of hygiene practices, particularly for the poor on a sustainable basis Communications Safe choicesStrengthening Information WatSan Facilities Institutions GOAL: to reduce mortality, morbidity and malnutrition due to diarrhea and other poor sanitation related diseases, especially among poor women and children

Output 1 Primary stakeholders have knowledge and means to make informed choices regarding their preferred hygiene practices and WatSan facilities Strategy Mix of mass media and participatory interpersonal communications to inform and support choices of individuals (including children & adolescents through schools, influential people, poor people)

Output 2 Safe excreta disposal and safe water supply options available for primary stakeholders Strategy Sanitary engineering and safe water engineering solutions based on sound principals of: Hydrogeology and geochemistry, Pollution control and mitigation, User preferences, and User affordability (taking into consideration capital and recurrent costs) Ensure schools have access to safe WES facilities

Output 3 Supportive institutional framework functioning Strategy n Establish supportive institutional framework which functions using good management practice n National policy and legislation based on current good practice and adhered to by the project n Good governance by all project partners n Focus on primary schools as key community resources for change & initiate process in secondary schools

7 Plainland districts 1. Madaripur 2. Jamalpur 3. Chuadanga 4. Gaibandha 5. Serajganj 6. Rangpur 7. Bramhanbaria 3 CHT districts 1. Bandarban 2. Rangamati 3. Khagrachori Districts covered by the Project

n Social Mobilisation for awareness building - Community planning - Social mobilisation campaign - Hygiene education - Sanitation n Chittagong Hill Tracts n School Sanitation and Hygiene Education n Safe Water Supply n Institutional Capacity Building Components of the Project

Major activities of the project n To recruit facilitating agencies to develop training materials and facilitate trainings n To recruit field agencies to guide and facilitate community planning process and promote hygiene and sanitation at community level. n To establish watsan committees to ensure that the project is implemented based on community demands and facilitate implementation. n To establish social development division in DPHE to strengthen social mobilisation component.

Major activities of the project n Conduct SOCMOB-AB campaign through mass media and inter-personal communication n Community planning through 8 steps approach to develop community map and community action plan. n Community applications for water points n Implementation based on community demands and choice of technology n Training of change agents to facilitate the process and create awareness

Major activities of the project n Promotion of sanitation and hygiene through primary schools (community interaction, student brigades) n Working with para-workers in CHT n Monitoring the project through external monitors

Major studies n Baseline survey - ongoing n Hygiene perception study - ongoing n Worm reinfestation in school children - to be started. n Social acceptability of latrine options - to be started. n Impact study of SocMob-AB campaign n External review of training and SOCMOB- AB materials for gender, poverty and participatory content.

Major Studies…. n Study of non-functional water points - to be started. n Safe water chain study n Formative evaluation of school sanitation and hygiene and evaluation of technical designs n Review capacity of LGIs at district, upazila and union levels.

Major achievements... n Field agencies and facilitating agencies are in place and trained. n Monitoring agency is recruited and trained. n SOCMOB-AB campaign has been conducted to raise community awareness on hygiene, sanitation and water supply. n Community planning has been completed in all 3,186 wards and communities are making application for water supply. n Sanitation and hygiene is part of community action plan.

Major achievements... n Watsan committees have been formed in all 10 districts at district, upazila and union levels. n Watsan committees have been oriented in the project and trained in the planning. n Union watsan committees are approving the community action plans and applications. n Community mapping provides baseline information of community situations and also the wealth ranking provides the accessibility of poor families for water and sanitation.

Major achievements... n New water points have been installed based on approved community applications, which ensures that poor families are being benefitted. n Women volunteers can focus on sanitation and hygiene promotion based on community map. n Facilitating agencies have developed series of training manuals for change agents. n Monitoring agency has conducted 2 rounds of monitoring at field level.