Since 2006, the Sanitation Learning Hub (previously known as the CLTS Knowledge Hub) has been supporting learning within the sanitation and hygiene sector.

Visit the Sanitation Learning Hub website

With funding from Sida, the focus of the Hub’s work from 2019 – 2023 is to support and strengthen the sector to tackle the complex challenges it faces in delivering Global Goal 6.2 – ‘By 2030, achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations.’

The rate of change and the complexity of the challenges the sector faces in reaching Goal 6.2 are considerable and increasing. There is a clear need for a flexible range of approaches, along with the ability to assess what approach (or combination of approaches) is suitable in diverse contexts. This means rapidly identifying what works and what does not, filling gaps in knowledge, acknowledging failures and finding answers that provide practical ideas for policy and practice. The thrust of the Hub’s work over the next four years will be to trial, test and promote timely, relevant and actionable learning approaches.

The Hub will also be playing an important role in tackling essential emerging questions and issues within the sector such as:

• How to achieve safely managed sanitation for all
• The complex and different challenges of urban, peri-urban and rural settings
• How to ‘Leave No One Behind’ in programming
• The value of gender transformative approaches
• How to strengthen supply chains in order to climb the sanitation ladder
• Better understanding of the links between sanitation, hygiene and other endemic issues such as undernutrition
• The need to prioritise hygiene practices, especially handwashing
• How to tackle ‘slippage’ back to open defecation.

The team continue to create much needed spaces in the sector that are designed to facilitate the honest reflection and co-generation of learning and innovation for stronger policy and practice.

Key activities of the new programme include:

• Co-convening workshops for reflecting, sharing and learning
• Innovating ‘Rapid Action Learning’ (RAL) participatory approaches and methodologies, capturing field-level realities and voices from the ground
• Co-producing action-orientated research, publications and tools
• Providing timely digital communications via the website, newsletter and social media.