Urban sanitation is crucial to creating a healthy and sustainable environment. Improving urban sanitation is a critical agenda to achieve sustainable and inclusive cities. However, in practice, sanitation-related issues are complex. Populous cities face notable challenges in managing domestic waste, providing safe and adequate sanitation access, and ensuring appropriate environmental cleanliness. These issues stem from insufficient sanitation infrastructure, low public awareness on the importance of clean and healthy sanitation, and problems in materializing a sustainable waste management.
SNV Indonesia, a renowned development partner from the Netherlands, has offered solutions through its collaboration with the Ministry of Home Affairs. Together, the two-parties have successfully supported Bandar Lampung City, Metro Lampung City, and Tasikmalaya City in achieving inclusive and sustainable urban sanitation through the WASH SDG program. Learnings from the five-year program (2018-2023) have been successfully adopted and adapted in other areas, as highlighted in the Learning Dissemination and Program Closure Workshop at Hotel Ambhara, Jakarta (3/20/24).
In efforts to achieve safe sanitation, SNV Indonesia implemented various programs in those three cities. Programs include advocacy for the drafting and issuance of regulations for urban domestic wastewater management, capacity building for institutions in the sanitation sector, assistance in preparing the planning document, the establishment of multi-stakeholder forums for behavior change campaigns, and improvement of sanitation facilities and infrastructure at the Community Health Centers (Puskesmas).
Rizki Pandu Permana, Country Director of SNV Indonesia, stated, “We also provide support to sanitation entrepreneurs and their workers to ensure the availability of safe and professional sanitation services. SNV also facilitates the improvement and rehabilitation of Fecal Sludge Treatment Plant (FSTP) infrastructure.”
The impact of the WASH SDG program on safe sanitation access in several Indonesian cities is significant. The initial survey in 2017 revealed that in Metro City, safe sanitation access was only 28%, Bandar Lampung City at 27.6%, and Tasikmalaya City at 2%. However, after the implementation of the WASH SDG program and the final survey in 2023, there was a remarkable increase, with Metro City reaching 39%, Bandar Lampung City reaching 37.8%, and Tasikmalaya City reaching 15%.
In response to these achievements, Ahmad Fajri, Acting Head of the Collaboration Facilitation Center, Ministry of Home Affairs, stated, “Collaboration with SNV has helped the national and local governments collaborate, especially in the WASH sector, to create prosperous and self-reliant communities.”
Meanwhile, Nitta Rosalin from the Directorate of SUPD II at the Ministry of Home Affairs commended these good practices. She hopes that the practices can be applied in other major cities. Nitta also hopes for the commitment of regional leaders to accelerate sanitation development, especially regarding planning, budgeting, and funding for water supply, sanitation, and housing.
ID COMM contributed to this program’s success. The Team played a pivotal role in supporting effective communications between SNV Indonesia, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and local governments. Through targeted communication strategies, ID COMM has strengthened stakeholder collaboration and coordination, ensured timely and accurate information dissemination, and built a strong understanding on the importance of inclusive and sustainable sanitation for urban communities.
Author: Agil Asmoaji
Editor: Yulia Maroe, Riska Fiati
