Department Sanitation, Water and Solid Waste for Development

Sanitation Policy Brief for pan-European Region

Sandec will provide consultancy service to World Health Organization (WHO) European Centre for Environment and Health to develop a sanitation policy brief for the pan-European region. Water, sanitation, and health are at the core of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and are essential to meet the goals. However, in the pan-European region, more than 31 million people still lack basic sanitation, and more than 16 million people lack access to improved drinking water. It is particularly, essential to address the challenges in sanitation sector now to avoid repeating the same issues that lead to the failure in meeting the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) target 7.C access to basic sanitation. Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target 6.2 has set out clear agenda for safely managed sanitation services and reducing the release of untreated wastewater in the environment. A policy brief for the pan-European region is intended to provide a clear pathway to understand the challenges requiring urgent attention and action in the region's sanitation sector. 

During six months for the consulting service, we will summarize the sanitation situation in the pan-European region, including countries in European Union (EU), Balkan countries, Ex-soviet countries, Turkey and Israel. In addition, we will also explore the current and emerging safe and sustainable sanitation services challenges in the region. Advocacy for sanitation services as a part of a circular economy involving recycling of water within the hydrologic cycle, energy from sludge, and water reuse will be presented in the policy brief. Current and emerging sanitation challenges and available data on those challenges will be used to advocate for higher investment for better sanitation. Policy recommendations can include specifics about broad availability of latest sanitation technologies, sustainable financing, embedding water, sanitation, hygiene as a part of national AMR actions plans, and so on. The policy recommendations will also outline potential climate change adaptation options for strengthening climate resilience of sanitation governance, policies, and systems and services. The team will conduct virtual consultations with WHO ECEH to discuss the recommendations.

Publication

Delivering safe sanitation for all. Areas for action to improve the situation in the pan-European region

Sanitation is a fundamental determinant of human health and well-being, and is essential for protecting the environment and enabling economic and social development. Ensuring universal, equitable and sustainable access to safe sanitation in all settings is a political priority in the pan-European region. This publication aims to support implementation of the provisions on sanitation under the Protocol on Water and Health, as well as national and international goals and targets on sanitation by providing an overview of the situation of sanitation and wastewater management in the region, describing current and emerging issues in ensuring access to safe and sustainable sanitation services, and proposing key action areas to strengthen sanitation governance. It is primarily targeted at national decision-makers and supports public health and environment authorities, surveillance agencies, sanitation service providers and other relevant stakeholder.
Uprety, S.; Schmoll, O.; Lüthi, C.; Marks, S.; Howard, G.; Nikiforova, N.; Paderi, V.; Schmiege, D.; Shinee, E. (2022) Delivering safe sanitation for all. Areas for action to improve the situation in the pan-European region, 46 p, Institutional Repository