ODF Verification and Celebration

Process Options
Tools
Ideas
ODF Malawi Annual Review March 20-21, 2013
Ashley Meek, Engineers Without Borders Canada

Sanitation
Policy

ODF
Strategy

CLTS
Policy + Guidelines +
Targets

SLTS

Sanitation
Marketing

Activities + Interventions

Verification + Celebration

ODF 2015
Village or Area
(HC / GVH)

Traditional
Authority

Demystifying ODF Verification

Commonly Held Belief A
A village can only be verified ODF by the DCT or
a DCT representative
It is not feasible for the DCT or even a
representative of the DCT to verify every
household in every village.
Decentralized alternatives and sampling methods
must be explored in order to reach the 2015 ODF
Malawi target
**Need to have a strong communication pathway
from Verification Team to the DCT.

Demystifying ODF Verification

Commonly Held Belief B
A village must be triggered using CLTS
methodology in order to be verified and declared
ODF
If a village has reached ODF status they should be
recommended for verification whether or not they
have been triggered
HMIS data shows that in some villages there is
already 100% latrine coverage . However they have
not been declared ODF.

One district has reported 4.3% ODF

HMIS data for the same district shows that potentially
40% of the villages could be ODF (>95% latrine
coverage).

Estimated ODF Rates

100%
76%
53%
1%

5%

12%

21%

30%

67.0%
100.0%

36.0%
0.1%

1.0%

2.4%

2008 2009
2010

4.1%

2011

5.9%

Estimated ODF Coverage

Reported ODF Coverage

2012

Reported ODF Coverage

2013

2014

2015

Estimated ODF Coverage

ODF Definition
ODF: Every household uses a latrine with
privacy, there is no shit in the bush open
(sharing is acceptable)
ODF ++: Every household has and uses a latrine
with cover and hand washing facility; all primary
and secondary schools, CBCCs, religious
institutions, market centres and health centres
in the village have latrines with covers and hand
washing facilities

ODF Criteria for Verification

There is no sign of open defecation in the village
Each household has a latrine and is using it (sharing
is acceptable in special circumstances -tbd)
There are signs of faeces in the pit (determines use)
The latrine has the following elements
Allows for the safe disposal of faeces into a pit or other
receptacle (container)
Safe from collapse
Private
Not full
*At least 30 m from a water source

Other Factors to Consider During

Verification for improvement toward
ODF ++

Smooth, cleanable floor

Tight fitting lid on top of the hole
Hand washing station (with soap or ash)
Institutions in the community are ODF

Efforts are underway to improve sanitation

practices.

Step 1 Self Declaration

HSA determines with Natural Leaders and
others that a village has reached ODF status.
Every household has been checked for ODF
criteria.
Village self declares through the HSA to sHSA or
AEHO at the Health Centre.
If all villages in an area (HSA catchment
area, Health Centre or Group Village) are ODF
an AREA can be self - declared ODF.

Step 2 Verification Team Formation

Team should be assembled quickly after the
village or area self-declares (less than 1 month)
sHSA / AEHO assemble a verification team of
3-4 members.
The team should be composed of the Village HSA
and 1 Natural Leader, along with 1-2 independent
verifiers.

Independent verifiers could consist of:

Who: Example at the Village

District
(e.g. AEHO)

V
Other Catchment
Area
(e.g. HSA)

HC
HC
(sHSA)

Other HC
(e.g. HSA, sHSA)
HC

NGO
representative

Traditional
Leader

Step 3 - Verification
Verification can be done in 1 Village or in a
defined Area
Standard ODF verification criteria must be used
Tool provided

Should take place less than 1 month after the

village/area has self-declared.
NOTE: Village verification is not final there is
a need for reinforcing mechanisms to ensure
that status is maintained

Verification in 1 Village
10% of households in the village should be sampled

Verification in an Area (Catchment

Area / HC / GVH)
5% of households in the area should be sampled

Tool

Verification Process Flow

Verification
In 1 Village
Step 1:
Self
Identification
All households

Sample 10 % of
households in 1
village

Step 2:
Verification
Team
Formation

Verification
In An Area
Sample 5 % of
households in an
area

TA level verification
Once an entire TA has reached ODF status a TA level
verification should take place
The TA shall nominate their catchment area for verification.
The District Health Officer (DHO), the DCT, and an NGO
representative selected from the national level shall conduct
the verification.
These parties will conduct a random check of suspect
households in suspect villages and check possible OD sites
Standardized verification tool will be used for the process.

Celebration Principles
The following principles are proposed to help maintain the sustainability of
sanitation programming. i.e. can be maintained in all villages in Malawi that
reach this status

Village Celebration

Area or TA Celebration

There needs to be
recognition of ODF at the
village level
(certificate, visual
representation, publicity
etc.)
The recognition should
be of low monetary value
but of high significance

There needs to be a
celebration at the Area /
TA level that focuses on
publicity of the
achievement

Celebration Innovations
What has your District /NGO been doing to
celebrate ODF achievement that follows these
sustainability principles?

Verification Process
Step 1: Self Identification
ODF Village is identified
HSA notifies Health Centre (sHSA / AEHO)

Step 2: Verification Team Formation

sHSA / AEHO assembles a verification team of 3-4 members. A team could
consist of: HSA from neighbouring catchment area, HSA from another Health
Centre, sHSA, AEHO, NGO representative, and/or Traditional Leader
*Note: Team composition is not vital, however standard verification criteria must be met.

Verification In 1 Village
Sample 10 % of households in 1 village
Confirm ODF criteria is met for
sample households
Declare 1 village as ODF

Verification In An Area
Sample 5 % of households in an area
(HSA Catchment/ HC / GVH)
Confirm ODF criteria is met for
sample households
Declare all villages in defined area as
ODF