Sanitation

Having access to a hygienic toilet in rural areas of TimorLeste can be challenging. Toilets often do not exist, or if they do, can be shared between many households. In April 2021, WaterAid monitoring data indicated that 40% of households in Manufahi and 26% of households in Liquica were practicing open defecation.

A ‘hygienic suco’ describes the next step in a community’s sanitation journey after achieving open defecation free, however this takes years of effort. WaterAid and municipal authorities therefore also initiated an interim stage named ALMO, or ‘clean hands area’, which requires the following goals to progress towards hygienic status in Manufahi and Liquica: all households in a suco maintain open defecation free status, have access to their own toilet, transition to a higher standard (improved) toilet, and have a handwashing facility with soap and water.

Through the DFAT funded Water for Women project, WaterAid has supported government to strengthen WASH strategic planning, and undertaken community-based activities in partnership with local suco council members to encourage uptake of sanitation and hygiene practices.

These activities are having remarkable results, pushing rates of open defecation down. By late 2022, WaterAid monitoring data indicated that rates of open defecation had dropped to 8% in Manufahi and only 1% in Liquica (see figure 1). Rates of household toilet ownership have also increased substantially, up to almost 96% in Liquica and 83% in

Baseline (2021) Endline (2022)

Figure 1: Percentage of households surveyed that practice open defecation in targeted administrative sucos in Manufahi and Liquica

“The situation has changed now that most of the households in the village have their own permanent toilets. Children are also using the toilets and flush with water compared to previously when they would defecate anywhere they could. … Since they have had their toilets, most of them are free from sickness.” - Baltazar Dos Reis, sub-village chief in Beremana suco in Manufahi

Manufahi.

As of March 2023, the TimorLeste government has declared 16 sucos out of 29 in Manufahi and 7 sucos (out of 23) in Liquica as having reached ALMO, or ‘clean hands area’ status. This is the culmination of WaterAid

Timor-Leste and its partners work with the community at the household level, and is making a real difference to the lives of people in local communities.