Improving sanitation, promoting hygiene practices, and treating wastewater

Context

Safe sanitation is a human right and one of the Sustainable Development Goals. Nevertheless, some 3.6 billion people around the world do not have access to appropriate sanitary facilities. Approximately 540 million schoolgirls and schoolboys do not have any basic sanitation in their school and some 660 million people depend on healthcare facilities without any sanitation. This means not only a health risk for those affected, but also an impairment of their quality of life. A lack of access to safe sanitation and hygiene particularly affects disadvantaged and vulnerable groups such as women and girls. Menstruation is taboo or stigmatised in many places. Only two out of five schools worldwide offer information programmes on menstrual health.

Objective

2.7 million people have been given access to adequate, gender-sensitive sanitation and hygiene. Hygiene and menstrual health practices are integral in people's everyday lives. Sanitary facilities in public institutions meet minimum quality standards. Wastewater is properly treated and then reused or returned to the natural water cycle.

Approach

The project builds or refurbishes gender-appropriate and inclusive sanitation facilities in schools, healthcare facilities, and religious institutions, and trains specialists to operate and maintain them.

The project promotes hygiene practices through targeted campaigns and knowledge transfer, particularly in the area of menstrual hygiene.

Until June 2023, with funds from the Interamerican Development Bank (IDB), the project also contributed to creating a favourable political, financial, and technical framework for sustainable wastewater management.

Last update: December 2024