1.3 Introduction to Citywide Inclusive Sanitation (CWIS)

Summary

The video discusses the complexity of global sanitation issues, highlighting the emergence of Citywide Inclusive Sanitation (CWIS) as a holistic solution. CWIS addresses the inadequacies of traditional, infrastructure-focused approaches by considering equity, environmental and public health, diverse technologies, comprehensive planning, monitoring, and mixed business models. CWIS emphasizes inclusive access to affordable and appropriate sanitation services for all, aiming to close gaps in urban sanitation systems. The approach has gained momentum since 2016, aligning with the SDGs and providing a unified vision for sustainable urban sanitation.

Takeaways

• 🌍 Sanitation is a complex global issue, with half of the world still lacking safely managed sanitation despite ongoing international efforts.
• 🚽 CWIS (City-Wide Inclusive Sanitation) is a holistic approach to address the diverse and complex challenges of urban sanitation, developed in response to the failure of traditional methods.
• 🏙️ Cities in the global south face common sanitation challenges like inadequate infrastructure, but the root causes are varied and include inequity, poor planning, and inappropriate technologies.
• 💡 The CWIS approach emphasizes equity, ensuring that all city residents, including vulnerable groups, have access to sanitation services that are affordable, accessible, and acceptable.
• 🌿 CWIS addresses the entire sanitation service chain—from toilets to containment, transport, treatment, and end use—without contaminating the environment.
• 🔧 A mix of technologies is key in CWIS, as sanitation solutions must be tailored to different areas based on factors like population density, water availability, and financial constraints.
• ♻️ The approach advocates for resource recovery and circularity in sanitation systems, creating additional revenue streams and reducing waste.
• 📊 CWIS prioritizes comprehensive planning and monitoring, with accountability mechanisms to ensure long-term sustainability and effective management of services.
• 💼 CWIS incorporates diverse business models, including public-private partnerships, to expand resources and innovations in the sanitation sector.
• 🔄 The CWIS framework builds on previous development agendas but provides a unified vision that addresses all key aspects of urban sanitation for sustainable, equitable outcomes.

Q & A

What is Citywide Inclusive Sanitation (CWIS)?

CWIS is an approach to urban sanitation where all members of a city have equitable access to improved sanitation services, both sewered and non-sewered, with no environmental contamination along the sanitation value chain. It emphasizes context-appropriate solutions and a service-based model rather than a traditional infrastructure-focused approach.

What are some of the key challenges in global sanitation mentioned in the script?

Key challenges in global sanitation include inequity, focus on toilets only, inappropriate technologies, inadequate planning, poor policies and regulations, and a lack of financial and human capacity. These issues are particularly prevalent in cities in the Global South.

How does CWIS differ from conventional sanitation approaches?

CWIS moves away from the conventional infrastructure-focused, sewers-only model to a more holistic, service-based approach. It recognizes the need for a mix of sanitation solutions (both sewered and non-sewered) based on local contexts, aiming for equitable, sustainable, and environmentally safe outcomes.

What role does equity play in the CWIS approach?

Equity is central to CWIS. It ensures that vulnerable communities—those marginalized by gender, geography, socioeconomic status, and other factors—are not left behind. It focuses on providing equal access to sanitation services in terms of availability, accessibility, affordability, and acceptability.

What are the Manila Principles in relation to CWIS?

The Manila Principles, launched in 2019, lay out the framework for CWIS. They focus on equitable sanitation services, environmental sustainability, a mix of technologies, comprehensive planning, monitoring and accountability, and diverse business models. These principles guide the implementation of CWIS projects worldwide.

Why is a 'mix of technologies' important in CWIS?

A mix of technologies is important because sanitation solutions need to be tailored to local contexts, such as population density, water availability, financial constraints, and sociocultural factors. Different areas in a city may require different sanitation systems, like centralized or decentralized models, to meet their specific needs.

How does CWIS incorporate environmental and public health concerns?

CWIS ensures that the entire sanitation service chain—from toilets to containment, transport, treatment, and end-use—is managed to prevent environmental contamination and protect public health. It addresses not only access to sanitation but also pollution management, linking to SDGs 6.2 and 6.3.

What are the benefits of integrating private sector involvement in CWIS?

Involving the private sector through models like public-private partnerships (PPPs) and build-operate-transfer (BOT) schemes brings in additional resources and innovation. This helps in delivering sanitation services in resource-constrained settings, fostering a sanitation economy and ensuring long-term sustainability.

Why is comprehensive planning essential in the CWIS approach?

Comprehensive planning is crucial in CWIS because urban sanitation is complex and requires addressing multiple interrelated aspects. It ensures long-term sustainability by involving both top-down technical planning and bottom-up community engagement, as well as integrating other services like water supply and solid waste management.

How does CWIS promote accountability and sustainability in sanitation services?

CWIS emphasizes monitoring and accountability by setting clear targets, tracking sanitation system performance, and ensuring proper operation and maintenance. It advocates for institutional frameworks with accountability mechanisms and dedicated funds to sustain long-term sanitation services.