Improving access to sanitation

In Indonesia’s small cities progress in sanitation is limited. The primary challenge is the behaviour change of individual households and the informal private sector to adopt good practices in sanitation, hygiene and wastewater management.

Turning challenges into opportunities

Improving urban sanitation in Indonesia requires a comprehensive integrated approach that can effectively address a diversity of issues including infrastructure, health, informal settlements, behaviour change, financial sustainability and governance.

The challenge (and opportunity) for Indonesia, therefore, lies in developing wastewater management business models that can generate jobs and income, improve services, ensure occupational health and safety, and facilitate the safe disposal and re-use of effluent.

The SNV solution

To help drive improvements in sanitation and hygiene SNV has established the Sustainable Sanitation and Hygiene for All Urban programme of which Indonesia is one of four pilot countries worldwide. The goal of the programme is improved health and quality of life of men and women through access to sustainable and environmentally safe sanitation and improved hygiene practices. It is anticipated that SNV will have a total outreach of some 200,000 people.