Rural sanitation and hygiene promotion in Nigeria

Where We Work

Two States Benue and Cross River states

Six Local Government Areas Agatu, Gwer East, Logo LGAs (Benue State) Abi, Bekwarra, Obanliku LGAs (Cross River State)

Six Scale-Up Local Government Areas Ado, Gboko, Gwer West LGAs (Benue State) Akamkpa, Ogoja, Obudu LGAs (Cross River State) The ‘Rural Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion in Nigeria’ (RUSHPIN) is an initiative of Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Water Resources and the United Nation’s Global Sanitation Fund (GSF), the sanitation and hygiene funding body of the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC). RUSHPIN is a ground-breaking 7-year, $5 million, programme that is transforming the health of over 1,200 communities in Cross River and Benue States across six LGAs: Agatu, Gwer East, and Logo in Benue State and Abi, Bekwara, and Obanliku in Cross River State. uses an approach called “Community-led Total Sanitation” which empowers entire communities to collectively change their sanitation and hygiene behaviour, ensuring that every community member uses a toilet and practices good hygiene.

Programme Goal 1. Achieve increased improved sanitation coverage and hygiene behaviour, empowering local communities to improve their sanitation and hygiene practices; 2. Strengthen political commitment at all three tiers of government to improve allocation of appropriate resources for sanitation and hygiene;

Specific Objectives i. Achieve full sanitation coverage in all targeted areas; ii. Hygiene awareness + changed and sustained hygiene behaviour at household level; iii. Increased institutional capacity + deepened understanding of sanitation and hygiene implementers and agencies responsible for sustaining results) iv. Targeted advocacy activities aiming at i) increasing human and financial resources for sanitation and ii) demonstrating results to trigger replication throughout the country; v. Learning and sharing of best practices, successful approaches

Programme Results as at December 2017 5 Year Target

Cumulative Total (to date)

Cumulative Total (% of 5 Year Target)

1.1 People live in ODF environments

1,200,000

834,848

70%

1.2 People with handwashing facilities

1,200,000

814,212

68%

1.3 People with improved toilets

1,080,000

379,763

35%

2.1 People living in GSF targeted areas reached

1,200,000

924,099

77%

2.2 People reached by hygiene messages

1,200,000

666,381

56%

2.3 Communities (villages) triggered

2,410

2,321

96%

2.4 Communities (villages) declared ODF

2,410

1,996

83%

Indicator

First Open Defecation Free LGA in Nigeria Obanliku LGA in Cross River State emerged in December 2016 as the first of Nigeria’s 774 LGAs to become Open Defecation Free (ODF). With a population of over 120 thousand people living in ODF environment, families and households now enjoy the benefits of improved sanitation.

Programme implementation began in Obanliku in 2013 , with United Purpose facilitating LGA WASH Unit, CSOs and the CRS-RUWATSSA to engage communities, nurture the emergence of Natural Leaders and CLTS champions.

This process was validated by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources through the National Task Group on Sanitation (NTGS).