CLTS: Analysis

Water Aid, evaluated the CLTS programme in Nigeria and they concluded that it was more effective in communities where "it was used as the only approach to promoting hygiene and sanitation and was less effective in "the more urbanized communities due to the limited sense of community and partly due to the large number of tenant occupied houses" (Water aid, 2007: iv).

It is the feelings of 'shame' and 'disgust' that drive the community and this can often be diluted amongst households or communities of different culture, religion and dialect. Additionally, the local power vacuum may be manipulated as influential decision-makers of the communities may own the vendor-business in the town and "therefore obstruct the rehabilitation of the infrastructure" or more long term improvements such as the improvement in the water supply (Drangert et al., 2002: 362).

Nevertheless, I do feel that CLTS has made significant improvements in the first-response of sanitation problems and providing immediate training and relief. As Fox (2011) states, urbanization in Africa has often taken place without economic growth. (Fox, 2011: 21) Therefore, while people may have migrated they may not have entered into the more formal labour force and cultural traditions, community loyalty will still be an imperative factor.  "Especially in the informal areas, the slums and the peri-urban fringe, the modern city can often be described as a fusion between rural and urban environments" (Luthi et al., 2009: 50).

Community led action to stop open defecation and promote the use of latrines instead of subsidies, may be the primary legacy of CLTS, but I do feel that it is these visible results that will foster community spirit and lead to a lasting change in behaviour, as subsidies and the associated politics are hurdles for community self mobilisation (Luthi et al., 2009: 58). 

Esrey et al., (1991), having studied the effects of improved sanitation on six endemic diseases in Africa such as diarrhoea and trachoma, made the following recommendations for future research.

Recommendations and Issues for future research (Esrey at al., 1991: 617)

Reference List:

Drangert J., J. Okotto-Okotto, L.G.O. Okotto and O. Auko (2002) 'Going Small When the City Grows Big New Options for Water Supply and Sanitation in Rapidly Expanding Urban Areas', International Water Resources Association, Water International, 27, 3, 354-363

Esrey, S.A., J.B. Potash, L. Roberts and C. Shiff (1991) 'Effects of improved water supply and sanitation on ascariasis, diarrhoea, dracunculiasis, hookworm infection, schistosomiasis, and trachoma', Bulletin of the World Health Organisation, 69, 5, 609-621

Fox, S. (2011) 'Understanding the Origin's and pace of Africa's Urban Transition', Crisis States Working Papers, 2, 89, 1-28

Luthi, C., J. McConville and E. Kvarnstrom (2009) 'Community-based approaches for addressing the urban sanitation challenges', International Journal of Urban Sustainable Development, 1, 2, 49-63

Water Aid (2007) 'Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) An Evaluation of the WaterAid’s CLTS Programme in Nigeria’, Prepared for UNICEF and Department for International Development