Rural Sanitation and Hygiene Market Development in Northern Ghana

The project aims to reduce the burden of sanitation-related diseases and improve public health and maternal newborn and child health (MNCH) for 300 000 people living in the Upper East Northern and Upper West Regions of Ghana. The project seeks to improve the availability and sustained use of affordable and improved latrines by introducing supply chain innovations in the sanitation and hygiene market. It works in open defecation free communities across 36 districts and uses a solid marketing approach that focuses on the downstream health and MNCH benefits of sanitation. This project aims to decrease the incidence of water sanitation and hygiene-related diseases that impact health for women girls men and boys in peri-urban rural and last mile communities. Project activities include: (1) designing tailor-made and sustainable sanitation solutions and sound sanitation business models; (2) producing and selling over 60 000 improved latrines to rural Ghanaians; (3) developing and delivering outreach and awareness activities to promote improved health through safe sanitation and hygiene practices; (4) providing technical resources and skills training to 150 new and existing sanitation entrepreneurs (small businesses) and government officials in delivering market-based sanitation services; and (5) developing financial mechanisms to facilitate the acquisition of improved latrines for families.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) increased and equal adoption of improved sanitation and hygiene practices amongst women girls men and boys in peri-urban rural and last mile communities in northern Ghana; and (2) more equitable economic opportunities and benefits for women and men in the sanitation value chain.