Design and Construction

‘Design and Construction (D&C)’ is a key element of the programme/project cycle and is the means to translate project plan into the ground for achieving the objectives. Proper Needs assessment and analysis and strategic planning are key for proper D&C. For sanitation, it is crucial for protecting public health and preventing the spread of diseases. Conversely, inadequate ‘D&C’ often not only leads to a gap in service access but can also have unintended negative consequences.

Key Actions

Step 1: Design/develop sanitation solutions using a human-centred approach aligning with the needs and preferences of the affected population.

Step 2: Ensure timely D&C to address sanitation needs, especially in acute response phase of the emergency.

Step 3: Foster collaboration and community engagementCommunity EngagementConnects the community and other stakeholders so that people affected by crisis can participate and have more control over the response and its impact on them. throughout the D&C process ensuring that the project adheres to established standards and is responsive to the communityCommunityA group of people sharing something in common.'s need.

Step 4: Develop a comprehensive Operations and Maintenance (O&M)Operation and Maintenance PlanAn operation and maintenance plan (or O&M Plan) outlines the specific actions, activities, and processes required to run the sanitation service chain. plan from the outset by clearly defining the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders.

Step 5: Integrate long-term planning into D&C to create a resilient and sustainable sanitationSustainable SanitationSustainable sanitation aims to protect and promote human health by providing a clean environment and breaking the cycle of disease. In order to be sustainable a sanitation system has to be socially acceptable, technically and institutionally appropriate, economically viable… system.

Step 6: Identify critical parameters and activities and carry out proactive monitoringMonitoringMeasures progress and checks whether a programme or intervention is working according to plan. It is the planned, systematic and continuous checking of a sanitation intervention to ensure it is doing what was intended, that allocated funds are being used effectively, that… to ensure that the project is on track, adheres to timelines, and anticipating any logistical challenges.

Relevance/Importance

Adequate sanitation facilities are essential to maintain public health and prevent the spread of diseases, particularly in emergency settings where the risk of waterborne and sanitation-related diseases is heightened. Proper D&C of sanitation interventions, such as toilets, handwashing stations, and wastewaterWastewaterUsed water from any combination of domestic, industrial, commercial or agricultural activities, surface runoff/stormwater, and any sewer inflow/infiltration. management systems, ensure that people have access to hygienic facilities, reducing the risk of illness and promoting better overall health. Proper D&C is crucial for protecting public health, maintaining dignity, promoting well-being, safeguarding the environment, and establishing resilient systems that can support the affected population throughout the different phases of an emergency setting.

Overview

D&C in a project is carried out once a strategic plan has been developed, which involves multiple iterations, consultations and feedback loops. D&C is the channel for translating the project strategy into actual, on-the-ground sanitation intervention. Therefore, proper D&C is critical to achieving desired project outcomes.

1. People-Centred D&C: Considering the needs assessment and analysis and strategic planning, D&C should be based on the needs and acceptance of the target population and should tackle their problem/issues. This is the primary guiding principle. An excellent “engineering design” might not necessarily lead to optimal project outcomes. For example, a twin-pit design for sanitary toilets might not have the best treatment outcomes but would well serve needs of a small, isolated communityCommunityA group of people sharing something in common. without access to a regular supply of water. A flush-toilet might be a better engineering solution, but might have operations issues in the medium and long-term. The needs of the population must be the centre of the entire design process.
2.  Time for Implementation: In times of humanitarian crises timely response is key. Therefore D&C should allow for quick implementation and roll-out. Quality sanitation responses should be timely and efficient and be able reach most inaccessible and difficult places, too. For example, trenching/magic pits for blackwaterBlackwaterMixture of urine, faeces and flushwater along with anal cleansing water (if water is used for cleansing) and/or dry cleansing materials. Blackwater contains the pathogens, nutrients and organic matter of faeces and the nutrients of urine that are diluted in the flushwater. treatment might be a more suitable short-term solution for a refugee camp, as opposed to designing a complex sewerageSewerageThe physical sewer infrastructure (sometimes used interchangeably with sewage). treatment plant which might take months for setting up.
3. Consultative and Participatory D&C: Effective leadership and coordination support the sanitation response in difficult environments and help overcome poor-quality programming. It also ensures, that the responses to priority needs are appropriate and timely using the agreed standards to mitigate public and environmental health risks. CommunityCommunityA group of people sharing something in common. feedback and participationParticipationAims to empower people and involve them in decisions that affect their lives. Inclusive planning and participation are key ingredients to achieve sustainability in humanitarian interventions. They exceed consultation which involves seeking input from stakeholders. The different… is also important for effectiveness of the sanitation intervention. Fostering partnerships with local organisation, local authorities and communities is critical to project outcomes and can help quick access and adoption. It also allows for adherence to local regulations, laws etc. For example, while designing shared toilets in Kushtia, Bangladesh, the project didn’t consult and engage with relevant stakeholders and later the design was revised by local elected representatives to account for flood situations, which delayed the project interventions.
4. Operation and MaintenanceOperation and MaintenanceRoutine or periodic tasks required to keep a sanitation process or system functioning according to performance requirements and to prevent delays, repairs or downtime. (O&M) Plan: Developing a suitable O&M plan is critical to sustainable service delivery without which project outcomes might not be met and it should be considered during D&C. A well-defined O&M plan also clearly defines roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders – authorities, aid agencies, communityCommunityA group of people sharing something in common., private service providers etc. For example, while setting up a Faecal SludgeSludgeMixture of solids and liquids, containing mostly excreta and water, in combination with sand, grit, metals, trash and/or various chemical compounds. A distinction can be made between faecal sludge and wastewater sludge. Faecal sludge comes from on-site sanitation technologies,… Treatment Plant, there should be a O&M plan for who desludges the Faecal SludgeSludgeMixture of solids and liquids, containing mostly excreta and water, in combination with sand, grit, metals, trash and/or various chemical compounds. A distinction can be made between faecal sludge and wastewater sludge. Faecal sludge comes from on-site sanitation technologies,… (FS), when they desludge, where the FS would dumped, who monitors etc.
5. Long-term Planning and Building Sustainability: The D&C should incorporate long-term planning and should not be looked as a one-off intervention. Where any sanitation systemSanitation SystemA sanitation system is a context-specific set of technologies, which in combination manage sanitation products from the point of generation to the point of use or ultimate disposal along the five functional groups of the sanitation service chain. A viable system is one that is… is existing, it should be built into the existing system by evaluating existing infrastructure and complementing them. For example, in case of increasing population, the design of an intervention should allow for quick scaling-up, also the choice of material and technology is to be considered accordingly. If the sanitation systemSanitation SystemA sanitation system is a context-specific set of technologies, which in combination manage sanitation products from the point of generation to the point of use or ultimate disposal along the five functional groups of the sanitation service chain. A viable system is one that is… can be connected to existing treatment systems, it should be integrated.
6. Effective MonitoringMonitoringMeasures progress and checks whether a programme or intervention is working according to plan. It is the planned, systematic and continuous checking of a sanitation intervention to ensure it is doing what was intended, that allocated funds are being used effectively, that…: D&C should also feed in to developing a proper Implementation & Monitoring. Any critical activity and parameter than needs to be monitored should be clearly identified during the D&C. For example, if the project is constructing a treatment plant that required any equipment that needs to imported, it has to be clearly stated and adequate time has to be planned.