WHO/UNICEFWHO/UNICEFJoint Monitoring ProgrammeJoint Monitoring Programme

for Water Supply and Sanitation (JMP)for Water Supply and Sanitation (JMP)

Monitoring the MDG sanitation targetMonitoring the MDG sanitation target

Definitions, Indicators and their Definitions, Indicators and their measurabilitymeasurabilityHenk van NordenHenk van Norden

UNICEF – Regional Office for South AsiaUNICEF – Regional Office for South Asia

SACOSAN4 - 6 April 2011SACOSAN4 - 6 April 2011

MDG target and indicatorsMDG target and indicators

MDG 7 Target 7C:MDG 7 Target 7C: Halve, by 2015, the proportion of people Halve, by 2015, the proportion of people

without sustainable without sustainable access to access to safe drinking safe drinking water and basic sanitationwater and basic sanitation

Indicator for sanitation:Indicator for sanitation: Proportion of population Proportion of population usingusing an improved an improved

sanitation facilitysanitation facility

““Improved” means….Improved” means….

An An improved sanitation facilityimproved sanitation facility::“ “ a facility that hygienically separates a facility that hygienically separates

human waste from human contact”human waste from human contact”

JMP categories of improved/unimproved sanitation facilities Improved type of sanitation facilitiesImproved 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 Unimproved type of sanitation facilities facilities * Flush/Pour flush to elsewhere * Hanging toilet/hanging latrine

* Pit latrine without slab/open pit * No facilities, bush or field

* bucket UnimprovedUnimproved* Public and shared sanitation facilities of both an improved and

unimproved type

Criticism of current sanitation indicator Criticism of current sanitation indicator

- Disposal in pit or sewer is not always “Disposal in pit or sewer is not always “hygienichygienic””- May contaminate groundwaterMay contaminate groundwater- Sewage often discharged to river or seaSewage often discharged to river or sea

- Does not measure actual cleanliness of toiletDoes not measure actual cleanliness of toilet- Improved-type public and shared sanitation facilities Improved-type public and shared sanitation facilities

are not counted as ‘improved’are not counted as ‘improved’- Improved facilities may not be used by all household Improved facilities may not be used by all household

members at all timesmembers at all times- Does not cover ‘total sanitation’Does not cover ‘total sanitation’

MDG Task Force definition of MDG Task Force definition of “basic sanitation”“basic sanitation”

““The lowest-cost option for securing The lowest-cost option for securing

sustainable access to safe, hygienic and sustainable access to safe, hygienic and

convenient facilities for excreta and sullage convenient facilities for excreta and sullage

disposal that provide privacy and dignity disposal that provide privacy and dignity

while ensuring a clean and healthful living while ensuring a clean and healthful living

environment both at home and in the environment both at home and in the

neighborhood of users”neighborhood of users”

MDG Task Force definition of MDG Task Force definition of “basic sanitation”“basic sanitation”

““The lowest-cost option for securing The lowest-cost option for securing

sustainable access to safe, hygienic and sustainable access to safe, hygienic and

convenient facilities for excreta and sullage convenient facilities for excreta and sullage

disposal that provide privacy and dignity disposal that provide privacy and dignity

while ensuring a clean and healthful living while ensuring a clean and healthful living

environment both at home and in the environment both at home and in the

neighborhood of users”neighborhood of users”

1

2 3 54

98

1110

15

1312

16

6 7

14

safe hygienic convenient dignity privacy clean healthful Lowest cost option √ √ √ √ √ √ √ Sustainable access √ √ √ √ √ √ √ Excreta √ √ √ √ √ √ √ Sullage disposal √ √ √ √ √ √ √ Home √ √ √ √ √ √ √ Neighborhood √ √ √ √ √ √ √

Indicator matrix for MDG Task Force definition of “basic sanitation”

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

Flush Toilet?

safe hygienic convenient dignity privacy clean healthful Lowest cost option √ √ √ √ √ √ √ Sustainable access √ √ √ √ √ √ √ Excreta √ √ √ √ √ √ √ Sullage disposal √ √ √ √ √ √ √ Home √ √ √ √ √ √ √ Neighborhood √ √ √ √ √ √ √

Indicator matrix for MDG Task Force definition of “basic sanitation”

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

VIP latrine?

Concluding Concluding

- An indicator is only good (useful) if An indicator is only good (useful) if - it comes with clearly defined categoriesit comes with clearly defined categories- data can be collected in a cost-effective, practical mannerdata can be collected in a cost-effective, practical manner

- Comprehensive definitions often cannot be measured in Comprehensive definitions often cannot be measured in a cost effective and practical way, across countries and a cost effective and practical way, across countries and over timeover time

- At global, regional and national levels, only very few At global, regional and national levels, only very few indicators are needed to inform decision-makers (at the indicators are needed to inform decision-makers (at the outcome level)outcome level)

- Programmes/projects get more information through Programmes/projects get more information through surveys and rapid assessments (at the input and output surveys and rapid assessments (at the input and output levels)levels)

Thank you!Thank you!

JMP web-site: www.wssinfo.orgJMP web-site: www.wssinfo.org JMP country filesJMP country files

Graphs on sanitation coverage trendsGraphs on sanitation coverage trends All household survey and census dataAll household survey and census data

Regional and global coverage estimatesRegional and global coverage estimates JMP policies and procedures documentJMP policies and procedures document

Criteria for indicatorsCriteria for indicators

Purpose of having an indicator:Purpose of having an indicator: To collect information that has relevance to what is sought, when To collect information that has relevance to what is sought, when

what is sought cannot be measured directlywhat is sought cannot be measured directly

A good indicatorA good indicator can be unambiguously measured to provide an can be unambiguously measured to provide an approximation of reality approximation of reality

Some considerations for determining indicators:Some considerations for determining indicators: Easily measurable Easily measurable

• Robust data collection mechanismRobust data collection mechanism• Collected against a reasonable costCollected against a reasonable cost

Comprehensive yet conciseComprehensive yet concise Policy relevantPolicy relevant AcceptableAcceptable Developed preferable with participation/consultationDeveloped preferable with participation/consultation Allow for comparability over timeAllow for comparability over time

Why is the MDG sanitation indicator Why is the MDG sanitation indicator a good global indicator?a good global indicator?

- Easily measurable through non-sanitation sector Easily measurable through non-sanitation sector specific household surveys and censusesspecific household surveys and censuses

- Cost effectiveCost effective- RobustRobust- PeriodicPeriodic

- Approximation (…) for a hygienic toilet facilityApproximation (…) for a hygienic toilet facility- Comparable over time and between countriesComparable over time and between countries- Comprehensive yet conciseComprehensive yet concise- Policy relevant at global/regional and national levelPolicy relevant at global/regional and national level

safe hygienic convenient dignity privacy clean healthful Lowest cost option √ √ √ √ √ √ √ Sustainable access √ √ √ √ √ √ √ Excreta √ √ √ √ √ √ √ Sullage disposal √ √ √ √ √ √ √ Home √ √ √ √ √ √ √ Neighborhood √ √ √ √ √ √ √

Indicator matrix for MDG Task Force definition of “basic sanitation”

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

Composting toilet?