Response Monitoring

Response Monitoring is a continuous process that tracks the delivery of a humanitarian sanitation intervention against its targets. It is used to systematically measure progress and to ensure the quality of sanitation services and their compliance with legislation and quality Standards along the Sanitation Service Chain. It aims to ensure that allocated funds are being used effectively, feedback is heard and acted upon and strengths, weaknesses and gaps are identified so that changes can be made as needed. Effective monitoring requires a monitoring plan and access to clear guidance on standards combined with the appropriate institutional, financial and human resources and infrastructural and access arrangements required to carry out monitoring activities. Monitoring is essential for all steps of the sanitation service chain. In practice, the monitoring of sanitation interventions is often combined with the monitoring of all other WASH activities.  

Key Actions

• Use existing national standards if available or internationally recognised standards (such as Sphere or the GWC Sanitation Quality Standards) to support the identification of key actions and indicatorsIndicatorsIndicators are the ‘signals’ that enable measurement of progress and objectives and therefore of change. and contribute to quality and accountabilityAccountabilityThe obligation to demonstrate that work has been conducted in compliance with agreed rules and standards. Sphere describes accountability as the process of using power responsibly, taking account of and being held accountable by different stakeholders and primarily those who are…
• Draw up a specific 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… plan at the beginning of the programme with a timeframe, budget and a clear indication of staffing and responsibilities. Adjust this plan according to the progress of the programme. Update the 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… plan as the programme evolves
• Focus on collecting data that is essential or useful to know, rather than nice to know. Plan according to the available resources for 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… and only collect data that will be analysed and used
• Define and follow a formal 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… plan
• Share the 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… data on latrineLatrineA sanitation facility used for urination and defecation including a 'user interface' and an 'onsite storage pit'. Often interchangeably referred to as toilet. access and usage with communities in order to agree on programme adaptations where possible
• Have SOPs in place for programme activities like desludgingDesludgingThe process of removing the accumulated sludge from a storage or treatment facility. so these activities can be monitored against the SOPs
• Use the information collected through the 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… system to improve the operational procedure and planning. For example, the frequency of 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,… extraction from a settling-thickening tank or a waste stabilisationStabilisationThe degradation of organic matter with the goal of reducing readily biodegradable compounds to lessen environmental impacts (e.g. oxygen depletion, nutrient leaching). pond can be adjusted based on the observed quantity of 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,… accumulated over time
• Adjust 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… parameters depending on the technologies used, the local effluentEffluentGeneral term for a liquid that leaves a technology, typically after blackwater or sludge has undergone solids separation or some other type of treatment. Effluent originates at either a collection and storage or a (semi-) centralised treatment technology. Depending on the type… discharge standards and the end-use objectives.
• Involve the communityCommunityA group of people sharing something in common. in the 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… process instead of treating them solely as the objects of 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…
• Share the 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… plan with different stakeholders, e.g. the communityCommunityA group of people sharing something in common., partners, donors and other organisations, in a format that is accessible and easy to understand so that it can be used for decision-making.
• Coordinate 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… requirements and plans with humanitarian WASH cluster/sector partners to allow joint activity reporting (see example FSTP 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… dashboard from WASH sector Cox's Bazar in the ’Key Resources and Tools’ below).

Relevance/Importance

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… the implementation of sanitation infrastructure and services and its continuous operation, maintenance and use is essential to ensure professional and safe sanitation service provision.  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… is important because it tracks progress and quality and checks whether the programme is being implemented according to plan and agreed standards.

Overview

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… aims to ensure that the sanitation programme is going according to plan, achieves its stated goal, meaningfully involves all the key stakeholders and acts on lessons learned throughout the process so that the programme remains relevant and of good quality.

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… should be planned and systematic; indicatorsIndicatorsIndicators are the ‘signals’ that enable measurement of progress and objectives and therefore of change. for 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… the objectives should be developed as early as possible in the programme based on national or, if not available or applicable, internationally agreed sanitation and 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,… Management (FSM) Standards. In an emergency, the 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… system needs to be simple, fast and flexible.

The parameters to be monitored and the suitable frequency of 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… depend on the programme activities and the phase of the emergency. Often, in the first months of a response, fewer (often quantitative) parameters are monitored at a higher frequency compared to later in the response, where more (often qualitative) parameters are monitored at a reduced frequency.

Different aspects of a sanitation programme need to be monitored: the processes (e.g. whether latrines and treatment plants are constructed with the active 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… of the communityCommunityA group of people sharing something in common., or whether there are changes in context), the activities and outputs (e.g. the number of latrines being built or sanitation workers that have been trained) and the outcomes (e.g. whether latrines are being used, whether pits and septicSepticDescribes the conditions under which putrefaction and anaerobic digestion take place. tanks are regularly desludged or whether 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 plants are properly operated in compliance with legislation and Quality Standards and corresponding laboratory tested performance indicatorsIndicatorsIndicators are the ‘signals’ that enable measurement of progress and objectives and therefore of change.).

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… is not a one-off activity, but a continuous process that compares progress with the project or programme design, tracks changes in the context and people’s needs and identifies appropriate corrections during the response to increase the programme’s effectiveness. 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… data should feed into the Evaluation.

The minimum 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… requirements and 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… methods used depend on the implemented sanitation systems and delivered services. 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… requires a dedicated budget as it is time-consuming and requires finances, trained staff and sometimes infrastructure (such as a laboratory).

A written 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… plan is essential and will assist operators in collecting and organising the data that is required and ensuring it is relevant and accurate. This plan needs to describe 1. Why the information is required; 2. What information will be obtained; 3. How and when the information or samples will be collected; and 4. Who will collect them.

In many emergency responses, sanitation activities are monitored simultaneously with all other WASH activities. Many operational WASH clusters use a 4W template to track Who is doing What, Where and When.

The different components of the sanitation service chainSanitation Service ChainA Sanitation Service Chain - sometimes also referred to as Sanitation Value Chain - is defined as the combination of technologies and services that in combination manage sanitation products from their point of generation to the point of reuse or disposal. The hardware part of… require different 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… methods:

Onsite User Interface/Collection and Storage

Typical parameters to be monitored include:

• # of shared latrines constructed as per agreed standards
• # of household latrines constructed as per agreed standards
• # of latrines decommissioned
• # of child-friendly latrines constructed as per agreed standards
• # of latrines maintained/cleaned
• # of latrines repaired
• % of people asked for input on the design and construction of facilities who feel that their input was taken into account
• % of people reporting being happy with the facilities they use

LatrineLatrineA sanitation facility used for urination and defecation including a 'user interface' and an 'onsite storage pit'. Often interchangeably referred to as toilet. access, quality, use and user satisfaction need to be monitored through a combination of household surveys, routine sanitary inspections and continuous user feedback mechanisms (such as Key Informant Interviews, Focus Group Discussions, Household Visits or Transect Walks). Example household questionnaires and guidance on sanitary inspections (JMP, Guidance for 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… Safely Managed On-Site SanitationOn-Site SanitationA sanitation system in which excreta and wastewater are collected and stored or treated on the plot where they are generated., SMOSS) can be found in the ‘Key Resources and Tools’ below.

The 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… data on latrineLatrineA sanitation facility used for urination and defecation including a 'user interface' and an 'onsite storage pit'. Often interchangeably referred to as toilet. access and user satisfaction should be shared with communities as part of regular user consultations in order to agree on programme adaptations where possible.

Desludging and Conveyance 

For desludgingDesludgingThe process of removing the accumulated sludge from a storage or treatment facility. and conveyance 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… it is essential to have Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in place to monitor against. For example, the use of personal protective equipmentPersonal Protective EquipmentProtective clothing including boots, masks, gloves, apron, etc. or other garments or equipment designed to protect the wearer's body from injury or infection from sanitation products. must be incorporated into the SOP and routine checks conducted to monitor the usage and other factors leading to safe working environments. Based on the specific programme, the following indicatorsIndicatorsIndicators are the ‘signals’ that enable measurement of progress and objectives and therefore of change. could be monitored:

• SOP for desludgingDesludgingThe process of removing the accumulated sludge from a storage or treatment facility. and transport
• # of latrines desludged
• m³ of 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,… transported
• # of users satisfied with services (user feedback mechanism)

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 (FTSP) Operations (Strande et al 2014)

The 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. of an FSTP involve a detailed understanding of the treatment processes and performance requirements. This understanding should be based on the theoretical information concerning the treatment mechanisms and the design of the technology as well as a 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… procedure that requires specific planning, infrastructure (e.g. laboratory), employees, and finance. The 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… programme should be structured to provide the operations employees with adequate information to continuously optimise the plant’s performance and to provide control over the effluentEffluentGeneral term for a liquid that leaves a technology, typically after blackwater or sludge has undergone solids separation or some other type of treatment. Effluent originates at either a collection and storage or a (semi-) centralised treatment technology. Depending on the type… quality. Plant performance, therefore, needs to be monitored over time.

The 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… plan of an FSTP may include a range of different methods such as:

• Visual or sensory inputs: including visual inspections of plant conditions, such as scumScumThe layer of solids formed by wastewater constituents that float to the surface of a tank or reactor (e.g. oil and grease). on a treatment lagoon, the colour of the 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,…, or odours emanating from a pump tank
• Analysis or measurement at source: this includes test strips or kits that can be utilised in the field for measuring pHpHThe measure of acidity or alkalinity of a substance. A pH value below 7 indicates that it is acidic, a pH value above 7 indicates that it is basic (alkaline)., dissolved oxygen, or temperature and
• Laboratory testing of samples (either onsite or offsite)

The parameters that are most often analysed include:

• Volume (m³) of 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,… treated
• Solid and suspended matter: these analyses assist in the evaluationEvaluationThe systematic and objective examination of a humanitarian intervention to determine the worth or significance of an activity, policy or programme and intended to draw lessons to improve policy and practice and enhance accountability. The key evaluation criteria are relevance,… of the settling and solid/liquid separation performances
• Moisture content of the end-products: this parameter provides an estimation of the drying performances
• Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Chemical Oxygen DemandChemical Oxygen DemandA measure of the amount of oxygen required for chemical oxidation of organic material in water by a strong chemical oxidant (expressed in mg/L). COD is always equal to or higher than BOD since it is the total oxygen required for complete oxidation. It is an indirect measure of… (COD) in the liquid fraction - an indirect measure of the amount of biodegradable organic material present in wastewaterWastewaterUsed water from any combination of domestic, industrial, commercial or agricultural activities, surface runoff/stormwater, and any sewer inflow/infiltration. or 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,…: the more the organic content, the more oxygen is required to degrade it with a direct impact on aquatic life;
• NutrientNutrientAny substance that is used for growth. Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) are the main nutrients contained in agricultural fertilisers. N and P are also primarily responsible for the eutrophication of water bodies. content (i.e. nitrogen and phosphorus): which influences the potential for resource recovery in agriculture, as well as the risk of eutrophicationEutrophicationThe enrichment of water, both fresh and saline, by nutrients (especially the compounds of nitrogen and phosphorus) that accelerate the growth of algae and higher forms of plant life and lead to the depletion of oxygen. of water bodies and
• PathogenPathogenAn organism or other agent that causes disease. content: this involves an evaluationEvaluationThe systematic and objective examination of a humanitarian intervention to determine the worth or significance of an activity, policy or programme and intended to draw lessons to improve policy and practice and enhance accountability. The key evaluation criteria are relevance,… of the presence and number of E. coli, faecal coliforms or helminths eggs which allows control of the risks related to waterborne diseases.

These 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… parameters can be adjusted depending on the technologies used, the local effluentEffluentGeneral term for a liquid that leaves a technology, typically after blackwater or sludge has undergone solids separation or some other type of treatment. Effluent originates at either a collection and storage or a (semi-) centralised treatment technology. Depending on the type… discharge standards and on the end-use objectives.

Laboratory 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… requires strict procedures and skilled employees as well as significant funds to operate and maintain the analytical equipment and infrastructure and to purchase the required consumables. A specific laboratory budget is therefore required. Some technologies involve more complex laboratory 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 an efficient process (e.g. compostingCompostingThe process by which biodegradable components are biologically decomposed by microorganisms (mainly bacteria and fungi) under controlled aerobic conditions., activated 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,…, limeLimeThe common name for calcium oxide (quicklime, CaO) or calcium hydroxide (slaked or hydrated lime, Ca(OH)2). It is a white, caustic and alkaline powder produced by heating limestone. Slaked lime is less caustic than quicklime and is widely used in water/wastewater treatment and… treatment), while others only require laboratory analyses to evaluate the treatment performances. Laboratories also require quality assurance and quality control (QA and QC) procedures. Although it is normally possible to send 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,… sample to a specialised laboratory for analysis, in a humanitarian setting there may not be an accessible and functioning laboratory nearby. In this case, you can consider deploying an FSTP field laboratory (see ’Key Resources and Tools’ below).