Rural Environmental Sanitation, Hygiene and HIV/AIDS in Kenya; “Best Practices”

The Community Project Cycle (CPC) is a national process for planning, funding, implementation and monitoring of water & sanitation investments that are implemented by rural communities. The CPC regulates the interaction and responsibilities between the funding agency Water Services Trust Fund (WSTF), the Water Services Boards (WSBs), Support Organisations (SOs), Quality Control Agents (QCAs) and Community Based Organisations (CBOs). The CPC promotes self-reliance and poverty alleviation not only through support to improved water service provision, but also through support to school sanitation, health and environmental hygiene improvement and the protection of water sources. The CPC has special mechanisms to safeguard the interests of women and marginalised groups. The assignment Rural Environmental Sanitation, Hygiene and HIV/AIDS in Kenya; “Best Practices” was implemented within the context of the Kenya Water and Sanitation Programme (KWSP).

The objectives of this assignment were to provide an understanding and develop a capacitating environment on hygiene and environmental sanitation with all the new institutions, the Quality Monitoring Adviser (QMAs) and the SOs, as well as develop procedures leading to improved hygiene behaviour and increased sanitation coverage at communities, institutions and public places. The sub-objectives were to ensure that the preparatory activities and documents for the CPC include environmental sanitation, hygiene education and primary health care; can be used in about 70 schemes in collaboration between the WSTF, WSBs, SOs and the communities; and address HIV/AIDS issues in all new institutions. This was carried out by understanding what sanitation-related activities were already planned/ undertaken, WSB ideas and capacities, and understanding present and prospective local level collaboration for sanitation activities (Ministry of Health, NGOs), and examples of Best Practices.