The access to drinking water alone does not necessarily bring a better state of health. A hygienic water storage and use, drainage of water, a clean environment, waste disposal, hand washing, personal and food hygiene are just as important.

As a result, to PROTOS, sanitation and hygiene are indispensable components of each drinking water project. These are particularly difficult topics. Generally the population concerned does not grasp the link between polluted surroundings and diseases. Or they do not understand that hygiene requires a behaviour change of everyday habits. We look for and experiment with adapted methodologies in this field. Before starting a project, it is important to raise awareness of these problems.

Studies and reports

"Manuel de formation sur l'approche "Enfant Formateur" Rwanda 2006" (73 KB)

L'objectif de ce manuel est de donner aux formateurs des enseignants et des enfants des indications, étape par étape, leur permettant d'introduire le programme appelé "Enfant Formateur" dans leurs communautés.

“School Sanitation and Hygiene Education Strategy”. (250 KB)

This study of literature by PROTOS examines the methods, the required basic research, the planning, the options for technical interventions and social frameworks, and the actors concerning sanitation and hygienical proceedings in Ugandan schools.

“Hygiene and sanitation in Uganda” (1 MB)

This study describes the approach of partner-NGO JESE with regard to hygiene and sanitation.

“Zo klaar als pompwater” NGO-shadow report CSD12 Water and Sanitation, a publication by Vlaams Overleg Duurzame Ontwikkeling (VODO vzw), 31 p. (only available in Dutch)

As part of the follow-up process of the World Summit within the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) “water” is pushed forward as a theme of high priority for CSD 12 (2004) and CSD 13 (2005). It is explicitly the intention to look at the theme from different angles within a context of sustainable development. In this NGO-shadow report a clear vision on a sustainable approach to water is coupled with the discussion of some concrete examples. The introductory text and summarising recommendations were endorsed by the signing organisations. These also adhered to the main principles of the examples and thematic pieces, but the latter are the authors’ responsibility.