Community members collaborate on a sanitation project, symbolizing collective action and sustainable development.

Ending Open Defecation: How Community-Based Sanitation Programs Are Changing Lives

Mira Elwood in Health & Wellness November 2025 • 3 min read.

"Discover how a simple, community-driven approach is revolutionizing sanitation in developing countries, offering a sustainable path to better health and dignity."

Globally, billions lack access to basic sanitation, leading to serious health risks and environmental concerns. Traditional approaches to solving this issue often involve providing infrastructure or financial incentives for toilet construction. However, a recent study focuses on a different tack: community-based programs designed to foster behavioral changes and promote sanitation from the ground up.

Published in January 2018, the research examines a community-led total sanitation (CLTS) program in rural Mali. Researchers investigated whether collective action and information could effectively encourage villagers to construct and consistently use latrines. The results offer a compelling case for the effectiveness of this approach, showing significant improvements in sanitation practices and community well-being.

This article delves into the details of the Malian experiment, exploring how community involvement and a shift in social norms can drive meaningful and lasting change in sanitation behaviors. By understanding the nuances of this approach, we can gain valuable insights into promoting healthier communities and achieving global sanitation goals.

The Power of Community: How CLTS Works

Community members collaborate on a sanitation project, symbolizing collective action and sustainable development.

The CLTS approach is about igniting a community’s desire for change. Rather than simply providing toilets, CLTS facilitates a process where communities recognize the risks of open defecation and collectively seek solutions. The program in Mali, implemented with support from UNICEF, involved three key stages:

Triggering: This initial phase involves community gatherings designed to spark awareness and concern about sanitation issues. Facilitators guide discussions, often using visual aids to demonstrate how fecal contamination spreads, aiming to evoke strong emotional responses and a desire for change.

Commitment: Participants create detailed timelines for constructing latrines or repairing existing ones.
Follow-up: Local sanitation champions and CLTS staff conduct regular visits to monitor progress and provide support.
Certification: Villages that successfully eliminate open defecation are awarded OD-free status, attracting media coverage and community celebration.

This approach emphasizes community ownership and utilizes local resources to build affordable latrines, making sanitation accessible to all villagers.

A Sustainable Solution for a Healthier Future

The CLTS model offers a promising path forward for improving sanitation and public health. By empowering communities to take ownership of their sanitation challenges, these programs foster sustainable behavioral changes and create healthier environments. This approach could be a key strategy in achieving global sanitation goals and building a more equitable future for all.

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Everything You Need To Know

What is Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS), and how does it differ from traditional sanitation approaches?

Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) is a community-driven approach that focuses on igniting a community's desire for change concerning sanitation practices. Unlike traditional methods that primarily offer infrastructure or financial incentives, CLTS facilitates community recognition of the risks associated with open defecation. It aims to promote collective action and local solutions. This process involves triggering awareness, fostering commitment to build latrines, conducting follow-up to monitor progress, and certifying OD-free villages.

How does the 'triggering' phase of CLTS work, and why is it so crucial for success?

The 'triggering' phase is the initial stage of CLTS, designed to spark awareness and concern about sanitation issues within the community. Facilitators lead community gatherings, employing visual aids to illustrate how fecal contamination spreads. The goal is to evoke strong emotional responses and a collective desire for change, which is crucial. By creating a visceral understanding of the problem and its impact on health, the triggering phase sets the foundation for the subsequent commitment and follow-up stages, ultimately driving lasting behavioral changes.

What were the key stages involved in the CLTS program implemented in rural Mali, and what role did each play?

The CLTS program in rural Mali, supported by UNICEF, involved three key stages: Triggering, Commitment, and Follow-up. The Triggering phase aimed to raise awareness. The Commitment phase involved participants creating timelines to construct or repair latrines. The Follow-up phase, conducted by local sanitation champions and CLTS staff, monitored progress and provided support. These stages, culminating in certification as OD-free, emphasize community ownership and foster sustainable changes in sanitation behaviors.

How does CLTS contribute to building a sustainable solution for improving sanitation and public health?

CLTS offers a promising path toward sustainable sanitation by empowering communities to take ownership of their sanitation challenges. By facilitating a shift in social norms and utilizing local resources, CLTS programs foster lasting behavioral changes. This approach promotes the construction of affordable latrines, making sanitation accessible to all villagers, and creates healthier environments. The community-driven nature ensures that sanitation practices are maintained long after the initial intervention, contributing to a more equitable and healthier future.

What are the long-term implications of achieving OD-free status in a village, and how does it impact the community?

Achieving OD-free status through CLTS has significant long-term implications. It signals the successful elimination of open defecation, leading to improvements in community well-being and public health. This status attracts media coverage and community celebration, fostering a sense of pride and collective achievement. More importantly, it leads to sustained improvements in sanitation practices and creates healthier environments. It reduces the risk of diseases associated with poor sanitation, improving the overall quality of life for all villagers and contributing to a more equitable and healthier future.