Northern Region Small Towns (NORST)

Results achieved as of the end of the project (March 2017) include: (1) water supply construction is completed in 20 small towns serving a population of 160 774 people which exceeded the project target by 29%. (2) Community-Led Total Sanitation (an innovative approach to mobilizing communities to eliminate open defecation) was initiated in 20 small towns; two sanitation markets were completed and 124 latrine artisans were trained resulting in 2 390 household latrines being constructed. This represents a 13.4% increase in sanitation coverage in the project area; (3) 50 institutional latrine blocks were completed achieving the project target. The project increased the percentage of the population using basic household and institutional sanitation latrines from 12% (at the beginning of the project) to 47%; and (4) the “Healthy Play” program was completed in 19 towns and has contributed to approximately 53 125 school children currently demonstrating effective hand washing behavior which exceeded the goal of 50 000. These results have contributed to greater effectiveness in the delivery of water and sanitation services by districts and government agencies and to increased use of sustainable water and sanitation services by people living in small towns in Northern Ghana.