Three Star Approach for WASH in Schools In Afghanistan Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Afghanistan Conference on Sanitation 2016 Three Star Approach for WASH in Schools In Afghanistan Presenter: Dr.Jamal Naser Omar

Presentation Contents Overview: Goals- principles- Steps Demonstration of the Stars in 3 schools in Kabul Activates for demonstration of three star in schools in Kabul The three schools (in Kabul) meet standard Over all WASH in School Challenges in country SUGGESTION: for Ensuring Sustainability through MOE

Overview: Goals Improve the effectiveness of hygiene behavior change programme for children Ensure that schools meet essential criteria for ensuring a healthy environment The approach can be sustainably expanded countrywide at low cost

Overview: Principals The approach ensures that healthy habits are taught, practiced and integrated into daily school schedules A fundamental principle behind the approach is that expensive WASH infrastructure in schools is not necessary to meet health goals keep it simple, scalable and sustainable

Step One is the most important step Overview: Steps Committing to the concept and moving from a “no star school” to a One Star school 2. Progressing from one to two to three stars Step One is the most important step

Overview: Demonstration of the Stars in schools in Kabul Frequently handwashing, daily toilet cleaning, drinking water One star + HWWS after toilet use, improved toilets, MHM and safe drinking water Two star + school facilities and systems upgraded to meet national standards

Overview: activates for demonstration of three star in schools in Kabul UNICEF Afghanistan supported MOE to demonstrate the local version of the Three Star Approach in three girls schools (1)(Manochehri (2) Bibi Mehro, (3) Umul Banin girls’ schools) in Kabul in 2014 Before starting any intervention in the three schools, regular meetings on improved hygiene and sanitation with school staff and a group of students were conducted A committee selected and named (WASH in school Champions)

Continue The school staff and a group of girls were consulted during the implementation and implementation was strongly monitored Regular monitoring visits took place by MOE and UNICEF During the visits it was observed and about 20 students and schools staff were interviewed from each school in 2015 The team found that the 80% of the students/schools are involved in the maintenance and schools.

Continue: Although the team ( MOE –UNICEF) try to involve community, as community participation is crucial sustainability. Challenges in this particular project: Low community participation is a key challenge The process for demo of three star was very lengthy in MOE

The Schools (in Kabul) meeting standard Interventions Result School facilities upgraded to meet the national standard Social norms and good hygiene is established The school is able to offer full accessibility to WASH for all students including children with different abilities MOE agreed to eliminate the iniquities in schools by ensuring all schools in the country have same standard

Over all WASH in School Challenges in country The taboo around the topic of sanitation keep it up all over In Afghanistan the school toilet is often perceived as a dirty, smelly and an uncomfortable place A survey among students in Kabul -2010) shown that an alarming 75 % of the interviewed students avoid using their school sanitation facilities and even try to drink less in order to avoid going to the toilet. In many schools the facilities are not functioning properly, and there is often a lack of water and annul cleaning material, soap and dustbins.

Over all WASH in School Challenges in country The WASH in school is not priority for most of the communities. The situation in many schools unacceptable to the level, that there is no toilet for students and teachers to use. Psychical infresturacher may exist but not maintained well No management in place to keep the facilities clean every day

SUGGESTION: for Ensuring Sustainability through MOE Prioritization and investment plan needs to be develop and approve by MOE Official acceptance and formalization of the approach by MOE authorities, take the lead to conduct the benchmark country wide and plan for scaling up Establishment of Certification and monitoring system. Develop indicators to measure the progress on the indicators for each star.

Adoption and piloting of three star approach-2014 in Kabul

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