sanitation

Approximately one billion people worldwide lack access to proper sanitation. How does this impede development, and what investments are necessary to bridge this gap?

A community-led water, sanitation, and hygiene programme in the Democratic Republic of Congo improved access but was unable to protect child health. Evidence suggests that more investment in water quality may be necessary to reduce diarrheal diseases...

Why has water treatment been historically neglected by governments and donors given the significant short- and long-term benefits of clean water provision and use? How can we design interventions to ensure households have access to and use clean water?

To effectively improve sanitation in low-income areas, policy must address a number of key issues, including credit market failures, environmental externalities, social preferences and low public sector capacity

A household’s access to the urban sanitation network can have a significant impact on whether it pays its taxes

Sanitation investments in India led to large increases in water pollution, which offset the intended health benefits of increased latrine construction

Labeled microcredit loans increase the take-up of safe toilets, but take-up and conversion are influenced by intra-household gender differences in perceptions and bargaining power

Poverty, low social capital and low government administrative capacity hinder sanitation improvements, even when the health benefits are clear.

Where community interventions lead to behaviour change, continued interactions are needed to help people maintain healthy behaviours