Steps to improving SSHE outcomes

In this chapter we suggest actions and approaches designed to overcome some of the difficulties and challenges that have led to unsatisfactory results in some past SSHE projects. The outlined steps at the macro level and the suggestions for micro level actions in Table 14 are together aimed at achieving more successful SSHE outcomes in future.

1. Establish working group collaborative structures at the different levels (e.g. state, district) specifically on SSHE.
This requires that national level work on guidelines, policy and appropriate legislation, focuses on increasing inter-sectoral collaboration between the various stakeholders. This would apply also to research and development in SSHE in such areas as technical design and hygiene promotion techniques.

2. Review current situation at the most basic level in terms of practical as well as institutional issues.
Once a formed group has taken shape one of the first tasks is to review the current situation to decide priorities for action. This might involve holding meetings with schools, parents and other community members, meeting field staff and carrying out research and data-gathering.

For this reason there is a continual need to review the current situation in the specific area(s) under investigation in terms of the practical as well as more institutional issues regarding the overall SSHE situation.

3. Prepare and implement actions plans which can be developed at the district level.
The Plan of Action (PoA) defines the rationale for the programme, the overall strategy, main actors and the financial allocations. It is an important document, but it is not sufficient to guide implementation. A plan is needed that details exactly how the programme will be carried out and who is responsible at each point . Thus, the PoA needs to be transformed into an interdisciplinary district work plan, showing activities, responsibilities, inputs and dates.

The district work plans should be prepared with sufficient knowledge of the local context, the local institutions and status of the schools. It is also important to prepare the district (or block) plan in consultation with all the groups that will be responsible. This ensures action and ownership.

4. Monitor and evaluate the existing SSHE programmes in terms of what has gone well and less well.
Monitoring should be an on-going activity in school sanitation and hygiene programmes. Monitoring is far more than collecting information to "see how things are going". It is meant to improve programmes and activities over the short term. Monitoring involves checking, analysing and acting to improve a situation. The action should, of course, be taken at the lowest possible level, with cross checks to make sure that the situation has in fact improved.