1. Introduction

The main question explored in this TOP is, how can human excreta disposal, management and re-use improve poor people’s livelihoods in urban and rural areas? Despite the importance of sanitation to health, poverty alleviation and environmental protection, it has a low profile compared to water supply. Sanitation is highly deficient in most poor regions of the world, and needs to be put on the agenda in a more challenging manner.

The target groups for this TOP are those working in water and sanitation and related sectors at policy and policy implementation levels, who are interested in the disposal, management and re-use of human excreta and who would like to identify possibilities for improving the well-being and environment of poor families. Understanding better the linkage between sanitation and livelihoods will give project implementers, organisations and policy-makers new ideas on how to use sanitation to help the poor improve their life conditions, and how improved life conditions impact on sanitation.

There is a virtuous circle between sanitation, health and livelihoods. By preventing human excreta from polluting the human environment, people enjoy better health and so have more time and energy for productive activities, while spending less on treating ill-health. As their livelihoods improve, they are likely to have the desire and commitment to improve their sanitation further.