Expérience Unicef /Aide et Action dans la promotion de l’hygiène et de l’assainissement en milieux communautaire et scolaire dans la région de Zinder au Niger

Faced with the problem of hygiene and sanitation in the region of Zinder, and to support the Government of Niger, UNICEF in partnership with the NGO Action Aid has designed the “Project for Promotion of Hygiene and Sanitation in the Communities and Schools environments (PHSCS).

It relies on a highly participatory approach (with the involvement of different local communities, local elected officials, especially the mayor and the technical partners of the decentralized services of the government) based on partnership, communication and advocacy for behaviour change, considering gender dimension, sustainability through experimentation with an effective social marketing in 45 villages of Yaour community (Department of Matamèye) and Dungass (Department of Magaria).

This project, in structuring its conceptual and operational approach combines communication for development in the areas of education, health, water, hygiene and sanitation. It goes beyond the traditional actions of building sanitation facilities focusing on: capacity building of stakeholders (participatory assessment of a reference on health and sanitation), training and equipping key actors of change and community structures), the establishment of a process of self construction of family latrines by households which tends to sanitation strategy led by the communities. The achievements have provided the commitment of communities to take charge of hygiene and sanitation, the gateway for increased enrolment and improved well-being.