10 steps to ending open defecation by 2030

1. Make toilets a status symbol

We have to make toilets sexy so that people want to have them. When you say “toilet” people often think of dark, dirty and smelly places. Instead, we need them to think of toilets as rooms of happiness – clean, colourful and not smelly. Rational approaches have limited impact on behaviour change. Although they can serve as justification for choice, people primarily make decisions based on aspirations and justify their decisions rationally afterwards. Jack Sim, founder, 

2. Change the vocabulary

Let’s make the conversation more accessible by saying what we mean. Even among those working in the field, we constantly hide behind clean-sounding words like sanitation, latrine, Wash [water sanitation and hygiene], open defecation. These words don’t mean anything to the masses, so how can we drive action if we can’t even talk about what we are doing? Let’s replace words like sanitation and open defecation with toilets and shitting outside. Kanika Thakar, founder, 

3. Start with health

Disease transmission and other risks are associated with open defecation. People need to understand the worth of investing in toilets in terms of the health benefits. This is not feasible without supportive policies and a market environment, and cannot increase demand for sanitation alone. That requires a combination of factors. Kariuki Mugo, country programme manager,

Read More..