Sanitation in South Asia: Progress and Challenges

Clarissa BrocklehurstChief of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, UNICEFSACOSAN April 2011

WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply and Sanitation (JMP)Water Supply and Sanitation (JMP)

• Mandated by the UN to monitor global progress towards the MDG water and sanitation target

• Use of national data sources:– National censuses– Household surveys (DHS, MICS, WHS,

LSMS, CWIQ etc.)

• Use of standard definitions and indicators to ensure data are comparable between countries and over time

MDG definitions - sanitationMDG definitions - sanitation

Improved sanitation

• Flush/pour flush to:

• piped sewer system

• septic tank

• pit latrine

• Ventilated improved pit (VIP) latrine

• Pit latrine with slab

• Composting toilet

Unimproved sanitation

• Pit latrine without slab/

open pit

• Bucket

• Hanging toilet/hanging latrine

• Flush/pour flush to elsewhere

• No facilities, bush or field (open defecation)

• Shared or public facilities

An improved sanitation facility “hygienically separates human waste from human contact”

0102030405060708090

100

1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010YearYear

Cove

rage

(%)

Cove

rage

(%)

Linear regression line

Improved

Public or shared

Unimproved

Open defecation

What do the data tell us about progress in sanitation in South Asia?

• Sanitation coverage in South Asia increased by 13 percentage points since 1990; from 22% to 35%

• open defecation rates decreased by a third; from 67% to 45%

Urban TotalRural

But stark differences remain between urban and rural figures

Improved

Public or shared

Unimproved

Open defecation

716 million people in South Asia practiced open defecation in 2008

(millions)

India 638 million

Comparison with other regions

1990 2008 1990 2008 1990 2008 1995 2008 2000 2008 1990 2008 1990 2000 1990 2008 1990 2008

India Nepal Pakistan Afghanistan Bhutan Bangladesh Maldives Sri Lanka SOUTH ASIA

37

98

36

2233

62

14

45

39

74

13

18

18

15

51

29

54

31

69

10

28

53

6591

70

18

25

35

47

16

27

29 26

23

11

314

11

80

52

22

45

5

67

10

35

6

10

Improved Public or shared Unimproved Open defecation

Significant variation across countries

Bad news

In 2008 there were more people without access to improved sanitation than in 1990

South Asia is not on track for the MDG sanitation target

40?

Required trend

Good news Open defecation rates have declined in all countries

EQUITY ANALYSIS

Equity – rural coverge still lags behind urban coverage

Poorest 2nd 3rd 4th Richest

Wealth Quintile Analysis: India

Poorest 2nd 3rd 4th Richest

Wealth Quintile Analysis: Nepal

Poorest 2nd 3rd 4th Richest

Wealth Quintile Analysis: Bangladesh

Overcoming obstacles: building demand for sanitation

• community-led models for building demand

• harnessing household investments

• changing social norms around open defecation

Overcoming obstacles: building political commitment for sanitation

• Xx South Asian countries are members of Sanitation and Water for All

• Engagement of Ministers of Finance

• Significant financial and institutional commitments have been made

Thank you