WASH Cluster Technical Working Group Guidelines for Household Level Sanitation Updated October 2019

Context

The Government of Mozambique aim is to eliminate the practice of across the country by 2025 and universal access to basic sanitation by 2030. It has been done through the mass mobilization of communities on behavioral change messages, certifying open defecation free communities, and strengthening sanitation markets. Prior to the cyclones Kenneth and Idai, the rate of open defecation in the rural areas has been high across the affected provinces Sofala (67%), Manica (45%) and Zambezia (72%). This means that even households not directly impacted by the cyclone or floods, have a high probability of practicing open defecation.

The two cyclones that affected Mozambique, Idai and Kenneth, have had a profound impact on the population and the access to sanitation infrastructures. Two main affected groups can be recognized; the people resettled in new rural areas (“resettlement sites”), and the generally affected population by cyclonic winds and/or floods. The first group can be categorized as the most vulnerable, followed by the generally affected area that remained in their habitual place of residence.

Sanitation interventions for relocation centers and first phase emergency support in resettlement sites focused on the construction of temporary emergency communal . The guidelines for this sanitation support is included in the Mozambique WASH Cluster Emergency Sanitation Guidelines1. Their construction was often undertaken by humanitarian agencies, where materials, and sometimes labor, were fully subsidized. After the acute emergency needs for construction of latrines for communal latrines for 1:5 households the WASH Cluster will support the construction of household latrines in resettlement sites and affected communities using a dome slab modality to improve sanitation access and to encourage improved behaviors.

It is still important to remark that in both the acute emergency response phase and in the current stage there was -and there continues to be- a need to strengthen existing/new sanitation services, replacing or repairing those that ceased functioning, and develop additional, appropriate complementary WASH services to meet the emerging needs of those in the affected districts.

The Sanitation Guidelines for Emergency Household Level Sanitation is based on a principal framework that will clarify WASH sanitation household level priorities. This guidance was developed in consultation

1 The Mozambique WASH Cluster Emergency Sanitation Guidelines are available here

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with WASH Cluster partners through technical working group meetings and approved through cluster partner consultations. It is intended to help address the complexity of the transition between acute emergency and post emergency, improving mutual support across partners, and connecting and synchronizing actions across national institutions and key WASH actors. In addition, WASH cluster partners will aim toward eliminating the practice of open defecation and supporting the adoption of improved sanitation infrastructure. This strategy proposed is therefore aligned to the existing national policy and the rural sanitation strategy whereby the focus is on supporting communities with behavioral change and demand creation, while at the same time subsidizing the most vulnerable. This intervention should build onto the developing context of strengthening markets with contextualized sanitation products.

Strategic Objectives

 Extend support for the elimination of open defecation, and adopt improved sanitation aligned to existing national policies, to the affected population.

 Facilitate the construction/reconstruction of household latrines, while strengthening sanitation markets with locally produced and contextualized products

Strategic directions

 Full and partial subsidies for sanitation products targeting resettlements areas and entire host/affected communities.

 Increase the demand for sanitation products and social norms changes, using social mobilization techniques like Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) targeting resettlements areas and entire host/affected communities.

 Strengthened supply services through sanitation marketing with skills transfers on design and construction.

Priority intervention areas

Selection is based on previous, current and ongoing assessments performed by the government, WASH cluster and partners. The selection of other rural areas is influenced by challenges identified as consequence of severe floods and cyclonic winds.

Resettlement sites

Planning for the second phase household level support begins during the first phase of emergency interventions in resettlement sites. Once the emergency latrines are in place (one for every five households), the WASH Cluster partners will focus on household level latrines. For populations in resettlement areas, concrete slabs will be fully subsided. However, contributions in kind will be required by households for pit digging and construction of the superstructure. People in these areas are the most

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vulnerable, given the fact that they have not been able to have a gainful employment or activity that would enable them to pay for any type of sanitation infrastructure. It is therefore unlikely to believe the resettled families will be sufficiently self-reliant during the immediate phase to pay for their most basic needs, including sanitation.

Affected communities

For population in flood/wind affected areas and host communities, concrete slabs will be partially subsided. Households will have a limited financial contribution of approximately 15% of the cost of the slab. In-kind contributions for pit digging and superstructures will still be required by households.

Vulnerable populations

Households with one or more persons with disabilities or who meet the vulnerability criteria established by the government (see Annex A) will have their latrines fully subsidized by WASH Cluster partners. This includes the slab, the superstructure, and its construction.

Resettlement Affected/host Highly Vulnerable

Fully subsidized dome slabs Financial contribution for slabs Fully subsidized dome slabs

HH constructs pit HH constructs pit Partner constructs pit

HH constructs superstructure HH constructs superstructure Partner constructs superstructure

Implementation

It can be best treated under three different headings, an initial stage of mapping followed by execution.

a. Developing

Different resettlement sites and affected/host communities are already mapped and assessed; therefore, partners will conduct assessments intended for mapping the availability of local materials, soil conditions, water table, and ranking priorities for the most vulnerable population (see annex A). These criteria might be already available for all experiences acquired when installing temporary emergency sanitation infrastructure. Assessments will also include an analysis of the potential demand considering population densities, distances, and locations. Once the optimal technical solution is selected, social mobilization activities for the community-based sanitation delivery approach will take place in targeted communities to increase awareness regarding the contributions in kind that are required by households; while addressing the need in changing the social norms towards open defecation.

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Community based approaches, such as CLTS, have been elected by the government as the primary modality to meet objectives in sanitation programs, not only for service provision but also for poverty alleviation. Also, they highly promote the sense of sanitation ownership.

Local artisans are to be identified and assessed, followed by delivering capacity building activities to produce local slabs. In case there are no entrepreneurs already selling locally produced slabs, the local entrepreneurs are to be targeted. They can be introduced to slab producers for other locations, including technical trainings to the artisans. The long-term objective of training and development of local artisans, or other potential suppliers must be integral to the project to the extent that it does not initially compromise delivery and quality of work.

To ensure affordability, it is possible to establish a voucher-based system. Alternative models to vouchers can be explored, but do ensure that, as part of the transaction between entrepreneur and household, the household has a voice.

b. Execution

Social mobilization should achieve communities that are willing to achieve ODF status. WASH partners must ensure that detailed programmes for community participation and dedicated teams responsible for ensuring compliance are put in in place. Special efforts must be made to equally involve women, men, girls, and boys of different age, gender, and diversity; not only as potential committee members but as decision makers along the project cycle.

A successful implementation of this point in resettlements areas would be where 100% of household use the communal latrines and/or when all households start digging pits. For this reason, households will receive a voucher to receive hardware products for reduced or no fee.

In resettlement areas a 100% subsidy can be implemented for household latrines, while in the other areas a symbolic fee needs to be paid by the household. The suggested percentage is 15% of the slab cost. The dome slab cost will be different for every area of implementation due to the logistics to obtain supplies and availability of materials. Pricing should be set in consultation with the artisans and entrepreneurs and with consideration that communities in the vicinity of the programs can continue to purchase slabs after the humanitarian interventions end and subsidies are no longer in place.

Inform entrepreneurs about the location of resettlement areas and communities and the number of households eligible. Entrepreneurs will be supported to develop an outreach plan. In case required, a small loan can be made available for the entrepreneur. Households will need to ensure that pits have been dug, and if required the burning of bricks for pit lining. The slabs will be provided to the household that has completed the pit. In case required, the entrepreneur can also cement the bricks for the pit lining.

When the household is satisfied with the obtained services and hardware, the vouchers will be given to the entrepreneurs or artisans, complimented by the household cash contribution outside the resettlement area.

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Households are responsible to construct their own superstructure with local materials, unless this is not feasible as per assessment findings the NGO might be supporting this. Communities will construct their own latrines with the hardware provided. The entrepreneur or artisan can then receive payment for the vouchers received from the households from the WASH Cluster partner.

The entrepreneur submits their construction report with vouchers to the WASH Cluster partner. The WASH Cluster partner checks the completion rate and pays the entrepreneur or artisan for the services provided.

The resettlement/affected areas that achieve 100% sanitation coverage and without any open defecation can be nominated by the WASH partner to the district government for ODF certification. UNICEF will support the government to undertake the certification. The whole model needs to be reviewed in a participatory manner, including a way forward for the entrepreneurs to expand their business.

Responsibilities

Stakeholder Role

 Conduct assessments on the community level and sanitation markets WASH  Facilitate the model and ensure management and quality oversight Cluster  Ensure behavioral change messages to affected communities  Provide capacity support to the entrepreneurs and artisans, including quality assurance Partner  Facilitate an affordability component to households for the product being offered by the market with the use of vouchers

 Responsible for digging pits, contributing local materials and constructing the Household superstructure  Outside the resettlement areas a cash contribution required

Government  Monitoring of the works and ODF certification

Key elements

Different elements within the sanitation system must be considered when planning interventions. Usually, the focus remains on the provision of different sanitation technologies and on keeping latrines safe and clean. For that reason the Sanitation Technical Working Group agreed on the following key technical components that should be considered:

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For areas with a high water table, different options including raised latrines, CATS (as a last High water tables resort), Ecosan latrines, or other types of technologies that do need an underground pit could be considered.

 Depending on the circumstances, bricks may be required for the top 0.5 meter for a liner to support the slab. Depending on the soil type enforced pits may be required for the entire pit. pit lining  Sandbags can also replace the bricks in some areas depending on the soil type. The sand should be compacted.  Brush materials can be placed between the bags to prevent the slipping of the bags.  Agencies would provide the sandbags or bricks in the case for fully subsidized intervention, in the case are required.

 Households with members with disabilities or who meet the vulnerability criteria Vulnerable established by the government will have their latrines fully subsidized. It includes the slab, the superstructure, and its construction. population  It is recommended to use the existing government criteria for vulnerability, developed by The Ministry of Women and Social Protection (see Annex A)

 Artisans will be supported by agencies through technical training, basic financial literacy training, and ongoing quality monitoring of their work. Artisan support  Artisans can be supported in the development of products and skills  Artisans may be provided with startup materials for the production of the first set up slabs before they receive their first revenues from WASH partners.  Experienced entrepreneurs could be identified in the community to manage the artisans.

 Partners should conduct an assessment of the existing market and most feasible locations for artisans and entrepreneurs based on potential available demand Market development  Entrepreneurs offering sanitation products are to be mapped in the area. In case no entrepreneur offers sanitation products, entrepreneur offering concrete or building products can be encouraged to expand their offer with sanitation products.

 All households are expected to provide the superstructure materials, except for the Superstructure vulnerable populations. Some partners may provide transportation or tools for collecting the materials. materials  Partners should also provide the binding wires for households to construct their superstructures.

Incentive payments The standard rate for incentive payments is 250 MZN with lunch or 300 MZN without lunch for social mobilizers for stipend workers. It also includes community mobilizers and hygiene promoters.

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Partners can use voucher programs for the slabs, for the transport, and for materials for vulnerable households. Vouchers The voucher strengthens the voice of the consumer in the transaction with the service provider.

Considering kits already delivered, the suggested elements can be brooms, buckets, soap, Standardized and gloves. This is not standardized or required. cleaning kits  Promotion of sanitation messaging must be linked with hygiene messaging.  Observations at household level can be a key tool for hygiene messaging when doing door-to-door messaging for sanitation promotion. Hygiene messaging  CLTS messaging should include hygiene messaging tools.  The possibility to use a questionnaire tool for door-to-door hygiene promotion.  Partners can use The WASH Cluster folder with hygiene materials, available here

 In resettlement areas the ratio of promoters to beneficiaries is be 1:500. Standard rate for  Promoters in affected areas will depend on community sizes and distributions. Typically promoters one volunteer promoter per community is applicable.

Handwashing  Tippy tap facilities  Soap

Dos and don’ts:

 Do ensure that behavioral change messages and demand creation precede hardware support interventions.  Do use the concrete dome slab, or other locally produced slabs.  Do not use plastic slabs for household latrines, as they are produced outside the country, are not available in the local market and do not build onto local market production or supply chains. Promoting externally produced slabs, will undermine the local market development and thus will conflict with the “do no harm” principle.  Do implement a voucher or other mechanism that involves a voice of the consumer towards the producer.  Do not facilitate payment directly to the entrepreneur for the dome slabs without the involvement of the household, as this disempowers the ownership of the household.  Do ensure that there is a household contribution- the very minimum in kind- to ensure that there is a sense of ownership.  Do not provide slabs entirely for free, apart from relocation centers and first phase emergency infrastructure in resettlement sites (one latrine for every five households).  Do build local capacities to operating in the sanitation market as a business.  Do not hire artisans directly but rather include payments for quantities of slabs produced such as through the voucher system to avoid undermining market development.

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Annex A

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