How can NGOs support local government institutions to sustain sanitation? Case studies from Bangladesh

Bangladesh has seen remarkable progress in sanitation coverage in recent decades. This paper looks at the sustainability of sanitation services at the grassroots level and how local government institutions have been involved or influenced to be active in addressing sanitation needs. Two Union Parishads in Bangladesh are taken as case studies to examine how NGOs have engaged with local government, what has been most effective for contributing to sustainability from local government and community perspectives and the available evidence for sustainability. Results show that local government institutions can generate sustained change with support from community-led approaches. The most effective elements of NGO support include activating a system of committees, generating a community-led social movement and the provision of information. The evidence for sustainability is promising, including continued use of hygienic sanitation facilities, increases in local government budget allocations for WASH and demand for improved services.