For the final week of the discussion, week 3 with the topic The way forward…adaptation of the sanitation ladder to the post-2015 period , the focus was more strongly on applying a functional approach to the indicators and for practical implementation. The following topics have been approached:

1. Integrating functionality into proposed targets and indicators
- Applying the definitions of target elements to indicators
- Example of integrating functionality with the proposed targets and indicators
- What indicators could be used for pathogen reduction?
- Indicators which monitor multiple dimensions in one core indicator

2. How will a functionality approach affect the delivery of sanitation systems?
- Looking at the entire sanitation system as a whole
- Applying wider boundaries in areas with varying levels of sanitation service

3. Orienting the functional ladder to the needs of practitioners
- A continued call on adaptations of the functional ladder

4. Next Steps of the Discussion and Sanitation Ladder
- Clarifications and recommendations for the ladder
- Spanish Draft of the Sanitation Ladder
- Possible Preparation of a Recommendations Report

See attached for a detailed summary.

In addition, this week 3 discussion has raised a call for: adaptations of the functional ladder to be able to use it towards target 6.2 and 6.3.

Examples have been raised from Welthungerhilfe, Skat, and IRC's WASHCost project (see the Week 1 discussion ) and more examples would be helpful to move forward towards developing further steps towards implementation.

Week 2's theme of " The post-2015 agenda and emerging monitoring challenges in the sanitation sector " has brought interesting discussions on what is considered as safe/ adequate sanitation, how to integrate different aspects such as human rights and equity into targets and indicators, and how to include these aspects into a functional ladder.

Please see below for an outline of the topics which were addressed in the Week 2 theme. A detailed summary which expands on these topics is attached at the bottom of this post.

Topics Addressed in Week Two:

1. Formulation of indicators and targets Post-2015
- Roles of the Open Working Group and the JMP in the post-2015 process
- SDG negotiation status
- What is considered as safe/ adequate sanitation?
- Considerations in formulating indicators and targets
- Which dimensions (from other sectors as well) are covered in the post-2015 targets?

2. Integrating aspects into the sanitation targets and indicators
- Reflecting Human Rights in Sanitation Targets and Indicators and Ladder

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>Implications of declaring HRWS before defining safe sanitation
- Integrating Inequalities and Equity in the sanitation ladder
- Lifespan of different technologies
- Inclusion of the “enabling environment” in a monitoring and sanitation agenda
- How to include these dimensions in a functional framework?

3. Adequacy of Sanitation Ladder to Monitor Sanitation Access of Schools and Health Centres
- Is a separate sanitation ladder necessary for schools and health centres?


Did you want to comment on these discussions? Either join in the Week 3 discussion theme of " The way forward​​…adaptation of the sanitation ladder to the post-2015 period " or if it is specifically related to the theme in Week 2, feel free to continue to post in that thread.

Roslyn

See Detailed Summary attached:

Please see below for continued discussion on the Sanitation Ladder: Next Steps thematic discussion. So far in week 2, under the theme: The post-2015 agenda and emerging monitoring challenges in the sanitation sector the following topics MID-WEEK 2 have been approached:

1. Roles of the Open Working Group and the JMP in the post-2015 process
2. Considerations in formulating targets:
3. Systems-Wide approach to sanitation for developing appropriate monitoring indicators
4. Provision of Safe Water and Sanitation – and what is considered as safe?

An outline and detailed summary of Week 2 will be provided at the end of week 2. In the meantime, we encourage you to follow and contribute to the discussions!

Roslyn

Thank you all for the great discussion which we have had so far for the Week 1 theme of " Evolution and Further Development of the Sanitation Ladder ". Week 2's theme of " The post-2015 agenda and emerging monitoring challenges in the sanitation sector " is now in process and we welcome comments and continued discussions on both themes!

Please see below for an outline of the topics which were addressed in Week 1. A detailed summary which expands on these topics is attached at the bottom of this post.

Topics Addressed in Week One:

1. Introduction from Thematic Lead Patrick Bracken
- Rebooted Sanitation Ladder: A functional approach
- Examples of adopting and adapting the functional sanitation ladder

2. Functional Sanitation Ladder: Advantages and Criticisms
- Some reasons for using the ladder for the functional “reboot”:
- Disadvantages of the functions-based ladder (compared to the technology-based ladder)

3. Considerations for finalising functional ladder-based indicators?
- Sanitation Ladder: factors which were considered for the MDGs
- Functional Sanitation Ladder: Factors to be considered for developing JMP monitoring indicators
- Operationalization of a monitoring framework

4. General Criticisms of the Ladder Concept
- Reasons of using and advantages of the ladder concept
- Criticisms of the ladder concept
- Ladder mentality and perception from users and policy
- Can one sanitation ladder cope with sanitation challenges all over the world?
- Does the ladder meet the needs for its current use?

5. Alternative and Complementary Ideas for the Ladder Concept
- Index/ Service Level Approaches
----> "Score Card” system
----> Service levels
----> Sanitation Ladder adaptation in Moldova
----> Field Work: Shaping design according to service functions
- Complementary Adjoining Frameworks to the Sanitation Ladder
----> Good practice database and case studies
- Developing a framework for an alternative system

6. How do the proposed SDGs on sanitation fit into the sanitation ladder? Further discussed in week 2!
- SDG monitoring with the proposed Functional Sanitation Ladder
- Direction of SDG targets from different groups (Open Working Group/ JMP WASH Professionals)

7. Announcement of Upcoming Webinar

Looking forward to continued discussions!

Roslyn

See Detailed Summary attached:

This thread will contain the weekly summaries from the thematic discussion series to help make it easier to stay up to date with the thematic discussions! We will also post an outline of topics addressed mid-way through the week.

Please feel free to let me know if you have any comments on the summaries by posting here. It is of course the first thematic discussion, and we are open to feedback on how the summaries can be optimized!

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The first summary is for Week 1 will be posted on February 16th, and for the first half of the week, we will post a short outline of topics which were addressed so far in the Week One Theme of Evolution and Further Development of the Sanitation Ladder:

1. Introduction from Thematic Lead Patrick Bracken
2. Criticism of the Functional Sanitation Ladder
3. Criticism of Ladder Concept
4. Alternative Ideas to Ladder Concept
5. How do the proposed SDGs on sanitation fit into the sanitation ladder?


Stay tuned for the WEEK 1 SUMMARY which will be posted on February 16th.

Thank you to all who have contributed so far and made it already a very interesting and helpful discussion. We look forward to reading continued contributions!

-Roslyn