Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine local perceptions of sustainability in the context of sanitation interventions in Burkina Faso and Mali, West Africa. Through a series of interviews with local actors criteria for sustainable sanitation were defined in the local context. These local criteria were compared with criteria found in international literature and planning practices used in two sanitation projects. The results from the interviews emphasize criteria related to behaviour change processes, while criteria in literature are either oriented toward technical assessments or project guidelines. The case studies show an attempt to merge academic and pragmatic perspectives by addressing both the technical requirements and processes of social change. As we seek to improve results within the sector it is important to start reflecting on what criteria and sustainability definitions are used in specific approaches.
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Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank all the participants in the interview study for their time and insights, as well as the staff at CREPA headquarters for logistical support and hospitality. Financial support for Ms. McConville was provided by the US National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program.
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McConville, J., Kain, JH., Kvarnström, E. (2010). Perceptions of Local Sustainability in Planning Sanitation Projects in West Africa. In: van Vliet, B., Spaargaren, G., Oosterveer, P. (eds) Social Perspectives on the Sanitation Challenge. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-3721-3_7
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