The sanitation ladder is a useful tool that is being used to monitor progress towards the sanitation target of the MDGs. This tool could be even more useful if it can be refined to be based on the functions of sanitation systems rather than on a hierarchy of predefined sanitation technologies. This paper presents a seven-rung function-based sanitation ladder where the functions can be broadly divided into health functions and environmental functions. The proposed ladder is intended as an inspiration for nations, and the JMP, to move towards a function-based rather than technology-based monitoring of sanitation progress. A functional approach to monitoring of e.g. the sanitation target of the MDGs would require some major shifts in the monitoring methods used but it is argued that such an approach would: (i) actually monitor the public good, which is desired from a sanitation system; (ii) stimulate donors, governments and municipalities to think beyond the provision of certain sanitation technologies; (iii) allow for local solutions to the sanitation problem to be developed; and (iv) spur innovation within the sector.
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Research Article|
March 01 2011
The sanitation ladder – a need for a revamp?
E. Kvarnström;
1Stockholm Environment Institute, Kräftriket 2B, SE-10691 Stockholm, Sweden
E-mail: elisabeth.kvarnstrom@sei.se
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J. McConville;
J. McConville
2Stockholm Environment Institute, Kräftriket 2B, SE-10691 Stockholm, Sweden
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P. Bracken;
P. Bracken
3AHT GROUP AG, Huyssenallee 66-68, Essen, Germany
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M. Johansson;
M. Johansson
4Ecoloop AB, Mosebacke Torg 4, 116 46 Stockholm, Sweden
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M. Fogde
M. Fogde
2Stockholm Environment Institute, Kräftriket 2B, SE-10691 Stockholm, Sweden
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Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development (2011) 1 (1): 3–12.
Article history
Received:
September 15 2010
Accepted:
November 26 2010
Citation
E. Kvarnström, J. McConville, P. Bracken, M. Johansson, M. Fogde; The sanitation ladder – a need for a revamp?. Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development 1 March 2011; 1 (1): 3–12. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/washdev.2011.014
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