Sustainable Sanitation and Hygiene for All (SSH4A) in Bhutan

A Systems Change Case Study

SNV’s integrated rural sanitation and hygiene approach in Bhutan started as a pilot project. Following a decade of efforts, the contributions that SNV made are now embedded in the government’s own national sanitation and hygiene programme. Today, the government’s national programme is systematically changing how people think about sanitation and hygiene, and is making universal access to toilets a reality for the entire nation by the end of 2022.

That SSH4A begins with ‘Sustainable’ emphasises SNV’s focus to strengthen the capacities of governments and local stakeholders to plan, implement and monitor sanitation and hygiene interventions for long-term gains.

SNV projects directly benefit millions of people. At the same time, our projects also drive systems change – strengthening institutions and kickstarting markets to help many more people work their way out of poverty, well beyond the scope of projects. In this series, SNV documents and explores lessons on the way it achieves systems change, with special attention to four key parameters of success: 

• leveraging finance,
• kick-starting/shifting markets,
• adoption of improved approaches by government and others,
• shifting values, norms and mindsets.

Learn more about SNV's Water for Women project in Bhutan.

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