Abstract
To better leverage opportunities arising out of sustainable and inclusive management of sanitation services there is a need for robust and comprehensive evidence of the wide-ranging benefits that sanitation can deliver. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a comprehensive framework for sustainable development broken down into 169 interconnected Targets which are articulated under 17 Goals. Based on a methodology developed at University College London (UCL), this study identifies linkages between sanitation and the 169 Targets corroborated by published evidence. We show that there are synergies between sanitation and all 17 Goals and 130 (77%) of the Targets, and trade-offs for 28 (17%) of the Targets. We identified 83 Targets (49%) that call for action in the sanitation sector. The results demonstrate the far-reaching benefits that can be unlocked from investment in sanitation, which extend beyond health and spread across sectors. The evidence base for the 17 Goals establishes links that can inform cross-sectoral action, collaborations and investment across governance levels for integrated sanitation solutions. The research provides different stakeholders with a framework that can be applied to context-specific cases and projects. We propose a range of recommendations to policy makers, practitioners and researchers who seek to take this study further to help achieve the SDGs.
Highlights
In September 2015, the United Nations (UN) adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
Our study identified linkages between sanitation and all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) highlighting that action on sanitation supports delivery of the 2030 Agenda
The higher number of synergies as compared to trade-offs highlights the wideranging benefits of sanitation that can further be explained through our working definition of sustainable and inclusive sanitation, which assumes dignity for all, safe management along the service chain and zero harm to the environment
Summary
In September 2015, the United Nations (UN) adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Comprising 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 Targets, the Agenda proposes a comprehensive global plan of action for ‘people, planet and prosperity’. SDG6 aims to ‘ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all’ by 2030 In 2017, 55% of the world’s population still lacked access to safely managed sanitation, including an estimated two billion who did not have basic access [2]. The severe implications of poor sanitation on morbidity rates, health care costs and productivity losses and inadequate sanitation is estimated to cost the global economy USD 260 billion per year [3]. Our research calls for particular attention to the sanitation dimension of SDG6 and demonstrates that major gains are possible for all goals if universal access to adequate and equitable sanitation is to be achieved
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