Scaling Up Latrine & Excreta Management in Rural Afghanistan: Study Findings

1. Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Afghanistan Conference on Sanitation 2016 Study on Scaling up Latrine and Excreta Management in Rural Communities of Afghanistan (DACAAR Project Areas) Author: Dr. Betman Bhandari, Dr. Shir Ahmad Safi & Engr. M. Azeem Barath Presented by: M. Azeem Barath,WET Centre Manager, DACAAR

2. Overview • Objectives of the study • Methodology • Current sanitation coverage in DACAAR project areas • Latrines scaling up trend in Afghanistan rural communities (DACAAR project areas) • Motivating factors for latrine construction • Usage of latrines • Excreta management • Lessons learned • Recommendations

3. Objectives • To identify the trends in scaling up of latrines in rural communities # of improved or newly constructed latrines and their types after project completion. • To identify the trends of excreta management in rural communities

4. Methodology and Study Area 418 households visited and interviewed and 30 FGDs were conducted in 15 Districts and 30 villages in the 5 mentioned province. • Kabul • Bagrami • Dehsabz • District 21 • Nangarhar • Behsood • Khewa • Kama • Takhar • Kalafkan • Taluqan • Bahark • Balkh • Dawlat Abad • Dehdady • Balkh • Faryab • KhwajaZabzposh • ShrinTagab • PashtoonKot

5. JMP 2015 – Sanitation Coverage in Rural Communities of Afghanistan

7. Findings - Motivating factors for latrine construction • 70% households built latrine for: - privacy, - obey Islam (cleanliness is a part of faith) - environmental cleanliness, - less flies and smell, - gain prestige from visitors - convenience • 20% households build latrines due to health reasons. • 10% of households build latrines due to demonstration effect.

8. Findings - Usage of latrines • 90% of all family members use latrine all the times • 10% of family members go for open defecation when working in field • 85% of the latrines were easily used by all members family • 15% of the surveyed latrines were not user friendly for elder people, children, sick people and pregnant women

9. Findings - Excreta management • 70% bury excreta for a while and then use it as fertilizer. • 25% with no agricultural land, mix the excreta with earth or ash and throw into an empty land far away from their households. 5% mentioned that other people collecting the excreta for their agriculture lands. Pit or VIP latrines were covered when they got full. Pour- flush latrines were emptied by vacuum trucks.

10. Lessons learned • Larine replication and scaling up is not only due to the effect of building demonstration latrines but also due to perceived needs and other motivating factors. • Latrine replication and scaling up has occurred more in IDPs and returnees settlements as returnees bringing their experiences mostly from neighbouring countries.

11. Lessons learned - continued 3. The replication of single vault latrine (a traditional type) was high but most of these latrines were not safe as human excreta flowed and leached to streets, had health risk in emptying and transport of untreated excreta and pollution of the ambient environment.

12. Recommendations • Do not promote construction of single vault demonstration latrines as such latrines are not hygienic and safe based on the study. • Promote construction of composting, dehydrating and other types of safe demonstration latrines in public places such as mosques and public gathering places (rather than in households) to be seen and used by people all the time.

13. Thank You for Your Attention ! Any Question?