A INFORMAL UPDATE PAPER ON THE STATUS OF COMMUNITY LED TOTAL SANITATION (CLTS) IN NEPAL By Chrissie Wellington, 2005 Introduction and background Safe drinking water and adequate sanitation are the basic right of every citizen and are vital for improving health and alleviating poverty. In adopting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) countries pledged to reduce by half the proportion of people without access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation by 2015. Although Nepal has shown some progress in improving access to drinking water, the country remains plagued by extremely low levels of sanitation. The population with adequate access to sanitation was only 27% in 2002 (WHO/UNICEF, 2004). Inadequate access to safe water combined with poor sanitation and personal hygiene practices have detrimentally impacted upon the health and quality of life of millions of Nepalis, especially the poorest and most vulnerable. In the Tenth Plan, His Majesty’s Government of Nepal (HMGN) declared its intention to provide sanitation facilities to 7.421 million people (5.613 million from rural and 1.808 million from urban areas) by 2007. It is recognised that the “[d]evelopment of this sector will…produce healthy manpower, additional income generation and less health expenditure on treatment of diseases” (National Planning Commission, 2002). Despite the best efforts of many agencies working in Nepal, new approaches to expanding sanitation provision are still needed if the government is to meet its targets and the needs of its people. Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) is an innovative approach that empowers local communities to stop open defecation and to build and use latrines without external hardware subsidies. Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) tools are used to help the community understand the poor sanitation situation and the associated impacts. Motivated by a sense of disgust and shame communities themselves commit to improving the situation by whatever means are available. The role of the NGO is to facilitate this process. The pioneer and leading advocate of CLTS is Dr Kamal Kar who initiated the first pilot of CLTS in 2000 in a small community in Bangladesh, while working as a participatory development consultant for WaterAid Bangladesh in collaboration with the Village Education Resource Centre (VERC). Kamal Kar has since facilitated the spread of CLTS to other areas of Bangladesh, India, Cambodia, Indonesia, China, Mongolia, Nepal and Uganda. The key principles, processes and experiences in Bangladesh were documented in the seminal IDS Working Paper by Dr Kar entitled ‘Subsidy or self-respect? Participatory total community sanitation in Bangladesh’ (Kar, 2003). Subsequent publications, including a draft update of Working Paper 184, are detailed in the reference list at the end of this paper. CLTS in Nepal In July 2004, following a visit to Nepal by Kamal Kar, a small number of INGOs/NGOs namely WaterAid Nepal, Plan Nepal and Nepal Water for Health (Newah)1 – took the Note that Newah are the local implementing partner for WaterAid’s projects, and two of those implemented by Plan Nepal. 1 lead in piloting the scheme in rural Nepal, with varying degrees of success. These organisations have also used a ‘non-CLTS approach’ in other villages (that is, still using targeted/graded subsidies). The full list of project sites is at Annex A. Nepal’s experience has shown the School Sanitation and Hygiene Education (SSHE) program to be a successful model in improving health and sanitation. Recognising this, HMGN’s Department of Water Supply and Sewerage (DWSS) in the Ministry of Physical Planning and Works, together with UNICEF, developed a proposal to link CLTS with SSHE - through a school-community partnership. They have named the integrated approach School Led Total Sanitation (SLTS). Consultation and discussion the draft proposal/SLTS guidelines took place in spring 2005, led by the DWSS National Sanitation Steering Committee. Comments were sought from other sector organisations before finalisation of the proposal/guidelines2. The decision was made to pilot the scheme in Chitwan. Two district level meetings were held and participating organisations agreed to implement the scheme in different VDCs in Chitwan. According to NEWAH, which is implementing SLTS in two VDCs, the initial survey and planning work is currently being undertaken with selected schools. The approach will be rolled out to other districts in 2006. A list of the proposed districts is at Annex B. The following stakeholders are involved in CLTS (and SLTS) in Nepal. A full list of key contacts, in Nepal and internationally, is attached at Annex C. Community: Government: local people/direct beneficiaries Central HMGN ministries; National Sanitation Steering Committee (NSSC). Local and district level government agencies including District Development Committees, District Health Office (DHO) and Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Office (DWSS) I/NGOs and NGOs: Plan Nepal, WaterAid, RRN and NEWAH - as well as other members of the Sanitation Alliance (outlined below) Multilateral agencies: UNICEF CLTS in other organisations NEWAH (and WaterAid) Newah has successfully completed three pilot projects in Karkidhanda in Dhading district, Dumre Ekta Chowk in Morang district and Bhorle in Gorhka district. These sites have now been declared open defecation free. Other projects have since been undertaken, as detailed in Annex A, and more are planned. Newah has also completed an internal documentation and research project into their experiences so far in implementing CLTS. Myself, Cecial Adhikari and Dr Neeraj Joshi met with NEWAH on 7 October to discuss their findings, and share experiences. A hard copy of the draft research report and copy of their presentation is available. Buoyed by the positive experiences of WaterAid Bangladesh, WaterAid Nepal have played a key role in driving forward the CLTS process here - although they do not implement CLTS projects directly. WaterAid staff completed an internal field trip to Bangladesh in spring 2005, where they had been able to compare the process and impacts of the Government’s non-CLTS approach with the CLTS pilots. WaterAid have also developed a monitoring toolkit. 2 Final version of the SLTS guidelines has been saved in the RRN common drive/ruth/CLTS Plan Nepal Plan attended the CLTS orientation session delivered by Kamal Kar in Kathmandu in July 2004. The participants of the workshop immediately carried out ignition PRA for CLTS in three villages - Nitanpur, Gamar Gawan and Naya Behara of Chhata Pipra VDC in Bara district. Since then Plan, together with Newah, have implemented CLTS in Dumre Ekta Chowk and Dumre Prakriti Chowk in Ulabari VDC, Morang district. Thus far, Plan has not conducted a formal piece of research and documentation of their experiences (although the two Morang sites were covered by Newah’s internal research project). Despite the initial success of CLTS in Dumre Ekta Chowk, Dumre Prakriti Chowk, and Gamar Gawan - which have been declared open defecation free – Plan staff have some reservations about the long term sustainability. A decrease has been noted in the community engagement with the CLTS process, and the enthusiasm of the user groups for continuous community level monitoring and evaluation has declined. Some of the less permanent structures have been damaged/destroyed by heavy rainfall, land erosion and wear and tear - and low income households do not have the financial resources to build new structures. This demonstrates the need for continuous follow up, long after the NGO has withdrawn – to ensure that the activities started under the project are continued. Plan are thinking about how they might promote the establishment of appropriate financial mechanisms, in order that the community themselves can mobilise funds for longer term operation and maintenance. At a my meeting with Nabin Pradhan on 13 September he also stated Plan’s desire for a researcher (external?) to undertake a 1-2 month price of research into Plan’s experiences with CLTS, to document the process of implementation and develop recommendations for ensuring long term sustainability – including possible financial mechanisms. Unfortunately Nabin Pradhan and Sudeep Gautam, who were leading on CLTS work for Plan Nepal, have now left the organisation. It is not yet clear how Plan Nepal will be taking the work forward. Sanitation Alliance In 2004, a loose alliance was formed of 8 organisations working on water and sanitation in Nepal, coordinated by Water Aid and Plan. A few meetings were held, however enthusiasm has since waned and they have not convened a meeting since 10 September 2004. Newah have expressed a desire for the alliance to be reactivated and RRN has expressed its wish to participate. The alliance currently comprises the following: WaterAid Nepal, Plan Nepal, Newah, LUMANTI, the Nepal Red Cross, Environment and Public Health Organisation (ENPHO), Helvatas and the Gorkha Welfare Scheme. DFID Nepal DFID Nepal supports the implementation of CLTS through their funding of WaterAid, and has visited one of Newah’s project sites. Kamal Kar Kamal Kar is a social and participatory development consultant based in Kolkata, India. Kamal Kar initiated the first pilot of CLTS in 2000 in a small community in Bangladesh, while working as a consultant for WaterAid Bangladesh in collaboration with the Village Education Resource Centre (VERC). Here, Kamal Kar worked closely with Timothy Clayton, who then worked for WaterAid Bangladesh, and is now Country Representative for Oxfam GB Nepal. Kamal Kar has since facilitated the spread of CLTS to other areas of Bangladesh, India, Cambodia, Indonesia, China, Mongolia, Nepal and Uganda. Kamal Kar gave a presentation on CLTS at the March 2005 DFID Asia Regional Advisors Retreat in Delhi. Institute of Development Studies (IDS) Sussex Kamal Kar has collaborated with members of the Participation Group, at the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) in Sussex and in April 2002 received funding from IDS to document his experiences with CLTS in Bangladesh. Kamal Kar presented his findings at an IDS seminar in May 2002, and subsequently produced the Working Paper 184 with input from the notable academic and expert on participatory development, Professor Robert Chambers, among others. Robert Chambers undertook a field visit to India and Bangladesh in January 2005 in order to undertake some informal research on the processes and impact of CLTS. A note of this visit is saved in the common drive. IDS is currently engaged in discussions with DFID in London regarding funding for further research on CLTS in South Asia, a proposal was submitted and they are awaiting a response. Lyla Mehta is leading on this proposal for IDS. RRN and CLTS Since joining RRN in September 2004, I have undertaken the following activities specifically related to CLTS: Presentation at RRN’s AGM in October 2004 (saved in common drive). Established and forged working relationships with staff at WaterAid, Plan Nepal and Newah, as well as maintaining email contact with Kamal Kar, Robert Chambers and Kath Pasteur (IDS Sussex) Organised and attended meetings with these organisations. A note of one of these meetings (9 June) is saved in the common drive. Drafted research proposal on ‘CLTS in Nepal’ (saved in common drive) Encouraged RRN to pilot CLTS in two sites covered by RRN’s CWASH project (see CWASH documentation for more information on the activities undertaken) Inputted comments (via WaterAid) on the draft SLTS proposal/guidelines (received no feedback and no further correspondence has taken place on this) Future research into CLTS in Nepal According to Dr Kamal Kar, follow-up research and documentation are an integral part of the approach. In his view, “[m]onitoring and continuing learning about the CLTS approach will help to ensure that scaling up and transfer to other countries and contexts has more likelihood of success. Participatory research should be encouraged in order to provide feedback to policy and practice”. He goes on to say that “[i]t is important to know more about where CLTS works best and where it is unlikely to work well. Lessons from different socio-cultural, physical and political contexts need to be explored, compared and documented” (Kar and Pasteur, 2004). Although follow-up assessments of CLTS projects have been undertaken in Bangladesh and India so far no comprehensive research has been conducted into the implementation process and outcomes of the CLTS projects in Nepal. WaterAid, Newah and Plan have all acknowledged the need for a detailed analysis into the implementation and effectiveness of the approach in order to inform the development of future project activities, and broader understanding of CLTS. In light of this, and my own personal interest in CLTS (coupled with the need to obtain a research visa), I developed a research proposal/concept note in April 2005. The goal of the proposed research was to assess and systematically document the implementation of CLTS in Nepal, as undertaken by WaterAid, Newah, Plan and RRN. The specific objectives, activities, budget and timeline are detailed in the concept note saved in the common drive. The concept note was finalised with the agreement of WaterAid, Newah and Plan Nepal in May/June 2005. The intention was to undertake this research between June and November 2005, however disappointingly the pressure of other work commitments at RRN meant that it could not be undertaken. In addition, NEWAH were also conducting their internal research into CLTS at that time and saw less value in a collaborative study until this had been completed. Despite the inability to complete the collaborative research as intended, WaterAid, Newah and Plan have expressed interest in this piece of research being conducted in future. Professor Robert Chambers and Kamal Kar have also expressed considerable enthusiasm for this research to be undertaken, and are keen to be kept involved if, and when, the research takes place. IDS could be approached as a possible funding source if necessary. Timothy Clayton, who now works as the Country Representative for Oxfam Nepal, but was engaged in CLTS with WaterAid Bangladesh, should also be contacted for his valuable insights and advice. Recommendations for future action by RRN 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Maintain frequent contact with the other organisations/people included in the contacts list, including by arranging meetings to keep updated and share experiences on CLTS implementation. If necessary, follow up my email to WaterAid of 10 November 2005 regarding the Sanitation Network, reiterate RRN’s desire to participate and request information about when it might reconvene. Actively participate in the Sanitation Network if this reconvenes in order to share learning on CLTS, but also other water and sanitation issues. Water and sanitation feature heavily in RRN’s projects across Nepal and this Network would provide a good opportunity to inform other organisations of our activities and share experiences. Find out more information about the implementation of SLTS, through DWSS/UNICEF, and explore the possibility of RRN’s involvement. [I emailed Namaste Lal Shrestha at UNICEF on 10 November, but have not yet received a response]. SLTS combines health, sanitation, education and community empowerment, all of which are key tents of RRN’s work. In addition we have an office in Chitwan which makes us well placed to undertake activities in this district. Ensure the continuous follow up of CLTS project work undertaken by RRN (initially that undertaken as part of the CWASH project), of both the project activities on the ground and also through systematic documentation of processes and impacts, including development of learning publications and articles as necessary. RRN’s new Monitoring and Evaluation Unit has a key role to play in this process. 6. Encourage the mainstreaming of CLTS in other RRN projects, based on learning from the CWASH project and the experiences of other I/NGOs. 7. Undertake exposure visits to the CLTS project sites of other organisations for sharing and learning and, if appropriate, invite beneficiaries, government officials, media and I/NGOs – and RRN staff - to visit RRN CLTS sites. 8. Share RRN’s findings and experiences of CLTS with other organisations, including donors 9. Engage media, such as newspaper and radio journalists, in order disseminate information about RRNs activities on CLTS 10. Collaborate with other agencies on the larger piece of research on ‘CLTS in Nepal’, as detailed above. If necessary RRN may need to initiate this piece of research. 11. Maintain email contact with Robert Chambers and Kamal Kar to find out more about CLTS in other countries and update them on activities in Nepal. List of key references on CLTS Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) [Nepal]. 2001b. Statistical year book of Nepal 2001. Kathmandu, Nepal: Central Bureau of Statistics. Kar, K (2004) ’Practical Guide to Triggering Community led Total Sanitation’. Draft. Institute of Development Studies, Sussex, unpublished Kar, K (2003) ‘Subsidy or Self Respect? Participatory Total Community Sanitation in Bangladesh’. IDS Working Paper 194, Institute of Development Studies, Sussex Kar, K and Pasteur, K (2004) ‘Subsidy or Self-Respect? Participatory Total Community Sanitation: An Update on Recent Developments’. Draft. Institute of Development Studies, Sussex, unpublished National Planning Commission (2002) ‘Tenth Plan’ His Majesty’s Government of Nepal. Noor, T. R. and Ashrafee, S. (2004) ‘An end to Open Defecation: Process, Cost, Motivation and Sustainability’. A paper presented at the 30th WEDC International Conference, Vientiane, Lao PDR, 2004 VERC (2004) ‘Process documentation of CLTS’. Final draft WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme on Water Supply and Sanitation (JMP) (2004) ‘Meeting the Drinking Water Target: a mid-term assessment of progress’. At http://www.unicef.org/wes/mdgreport/ World Sanitation Programme – South Asia (WSP-SA) (2001-2) ‘Igniting Change for 100% sanitation’. Jalvaani. Vol 4, No 3 (Nov 20012-Feb 2002) List of Acronyms CBS CIR CLTS HMGN INGO IDS NEWAH NGO MDG PRA VERC Central Bureau of Statistics Centre for International Relations Community Led Total Sanitation His Majesty’s Government of Nepal International Non Governmental Organisation Institute of Development Studies Nepal Water for Health (Nepalese NGO) Non Governmental Organisation Millennium Development Goal Participatory Rural Appraisal Village Education Resource Centre ANNEX A - LIST OF CLTS PROJECTS AND SUBSIDY PROVIDED PROJECTS CLTS approach Central Region: Name of village No. of households 65 38 63 120 133 65 District VDC Status Dhading Dhading Dhading Bara Dhading Dhading Bhumisthan Bhumisthan Bhumisthan Chhtapipra Devisthan Bhumisthan declared declared declared declared ongoing ongoing Implementing NGOs Wateraid/Newah Wateraid/Newah Wateraid/Newah Plan Nepal Wateraid/Newah Wateraid/Newah 51 140 127 Dhading Bara Bara Bhumisthan Chhtapipra Chhtapipra ongoing ongoing ongoing WaterAid/Newah Plan Plan No. of households 70 35 District VDC Status Morang Morang Urlabari -7 Urlabari –7 declared declared Implementing NGOs Plan/Newah Plan/Newah District VDC Status Borle No. of households 23 Dhuwakot Gorkha declared Implementing NGOs WaterAid/Newah Sim Kholi Gogan Kholi 39 62 Salyan Salyan Sejawaltakura Dangagaon ongoing ongoing RRN RRN Karkidanda Deurali Shulikhola Bahuntole Gamargawan village Devisthan Shulikhola Tamangtole Simle Naya Behara Nitanpur Eastern Region Name of village Dumre Ekta Chowk Dumre Prakriti Chowk Western Region Name of village Non- CLTS approach (subsidy) Central Region Name of projects Bhadaure Tamegahate Belbhanjayang No. of Households 215 (99 latrine) 57 (57 latrine) 85 (66 latrine) District VDC Status Dhading Dhading Dhading Bhadaure Tasarpu Gajuri complete complete complete No. of Households 219 108 District VDC Status Siraha Siraha Itaharwa Sisawani complete ongoing Implementing NGOs Newah Newah Newah Eastern Region Name of projects Itaharwa Beli Implementing NGOs Newah Newah ANNEX B: DISTRICTS IN WHICH SLTS WILL BE PILOTED IN 2006 Eastern Region 1. Panchthar 2. Udayapur 3. Sunsari 4. Saptari Central Region 1. Chitwan 2. Parsa 3. Kavre Western Region 1. Kaski 2. Tanahun 3. Nawalparasi 4. Kapilvastu Mid and Far Western Regions 1. Dang 2. Dadeldhura 3. Achham 4. Humla ANNEX C: LIST OF CONTACTS Organisation Name Email address NEWAH Consultant Laxmi Ratan Anamika Singh Dinesh Bajracharya Urmila Simkhada Barun Kanta Adhikari James Wicken Rabin Lal Shrestha (SLTS) Chandra Shrestha Nabin Pradhan Professor Robert Chambers Kath Pasteur Lyla Mehta Dr Kamal Kar UNICEF VERC Oxfam (Nepal) Namaste Lal Shrestha Yakub Hossain Timothy (Timo) Clayton laxmipaudyal@newah.org.np ratan@newah.org.np asingh@newah.org.np DineshBajracharya@wateraidnepal.org.np urmilasimkhada@wateraidnepal.org.np barunkantaadhikari@wateraidnepal.org.np jameswicken@wateraidnepal.org.np rabinlalshrestha@wateraidnepal.org.np c-shrestha@dfid.gov.uk nabin.pradhan@plan-international.org3 R.Chambers@ids.ac.uk K.Pasteur@ids.ac.uk L.Mehta@ids.ac.uk kamalkar@yahoo.com kamal.kar@vsnl.com nshrestha@unicef.org verc@bangla.net Timo@oxfam.org.uk WaterAid DFID Nepal Plan Nepal IDS Sussex 3 Note: Nabin has now left Plan Nepal, and his successor has not yet been appointed. Telephone number 4377107 4377108 552764 5552765 5535580 553-6075 552-7685