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

1. WHO/UNICEFJoint Monitoring Programmefor Water Supply and Sanitation (JMP) Monitoring the MDG sanitation target Definitions, Indicators and their measurability Henk van Norden UNICEF – Regional Office for South Asia SACOSAN4 - 6 April 2011

2. MDG target and indicators MDG 7 Target 7C: • Halve, by 2015, the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation Indicator for sanitation: • Proportion of population using an improved sanitation facility

3. “Improved” means…. An improved sanitation facility: “ a facility that hygienically separates human waste from human contact”

4. JMP categories of improved/unimproved sanitation facilities • Improved type of sanitation facilities • *Flush/pour flush to: * Ventilated Improved Pit (VIP) latrine • piped sewer system * Pit latrine with slab • septic tank * Composting toilet • pit latrine Unimproved type of sanitation facilities * Flush/Pour flush to elsewhere * Hanging toilet/hanging latrine * Pit latrine without slab/open pit * No facilities, bush or field * bucket Unimproved * Public and shared sanitation facilities of both an improved and unimproved type

5. Criticism of current sanitation indicator • Disposal in pit or sewer is not always “hygienic” • May contaminate groundwater • Sewage often discharged to river or sea • Does not measure actual cleanliness of toilet • Improved-type public and shared sanitation facilities are not counted as ‘improved’ • Improved facilities may not be used by all household members at all times • Does not cover ‘total sanitation’

6. MDG Task Force definition of “basic sanitation” “The lowest-cost option for securing sustainable access to safe, hygienic and convenient facilities for excreta and sullage disposal that provide privacy and dignity while ensuring a clean and healthful living environment both at home and in the neighborhood of users”

7. MDG Task Force definition of “basic sanitation” 1 “The lowest-cost option for securing sustainable access to safe, hygienic and convenient facilities for excreta and sullage disposal that provide privacy and dignity while ensuring a clean and healthful living environment both at home and in the neighborhood of users” 3 2 4 5 9 6 7 8 11 10 12 13 15 14 16

8. Indicator matrix for MDG Task Force definition of “basic sanitation” Flush Toilet? The lowest-cost option for securing sustainable access to safe, hygienic and convenient facilities for excreta and sullage disposal that provide privacy and dignity while ensuring a clean and healthful living environment both at home and in the neighborhood of users”

9. Indicator matrix for MDG Task Force definition of “basic sanitation” VIP latrine? The lowest-cost option for securing sustainable access to safe, hygienic and convenient facilities for excreta and sullage disposal that provide privacy and dignity while ensuring a clean and healthful living environment both at home and in the neighborhood of users”

10. Concluding • An indicator is only good (useful) if • it comes with clearly defined categories • data can be collected in a cost-effective, practical manner • Comprehensive definitions often cannot be measured in a cost effective and practical way, across countries and over time • At global, regional and national levels, only very few indicators are needed to inform decision-makers (at the outcome level) • Programmes/projects get more information through surveys and rapid assessments (at the input and output levels)

11. Thank you!JMP web-site: www.wssinfo.org • JMP country files • Graphs on sanitation coverage trends • All household survey and census data • Regional and global coverage estimates • JMP policies and procedures document

13. Criteria for indicators • Purpose of having an indicator: • To collect information that has relevance to what is sought, when what is sought cannot be measured directly • A good indicatorcan be unambiguously measured to provide an approximation of reality • Some considerations for determining indicators: • Easily measurable • Robust data collection mechanism • Collected against a reasonable cost • Comprehensive yet concise • Policy relevant • Acceptable • Developed preferable with participation/consultation • Allow for comparability over time

14. Why is the MDG sanitation indicator a good global indicator? • Easily measurable through non-sanitation sector specific household surveys and censuses • Cost effective • Robust • Periodic • Approximation (…) for a hygienic toilet facility • Comparable over time and between countries • Comprehensive yet concise • Policy relevant at global/regional and national level

15. Indicator matrix for MDG Task Force definition of “basic sanitation” Composting toilet? The lowest-cost option for securing sustainable access to safe, hygienic and convenient facilities for excreta and sullage disposal that provide privacy and dignity while ensuring a clean and healthful living environment both at home and in the neighborhood of users”