SuSanA MENA Chapter First Thematic Discussion “Applications of Sanitation Systems and Technologies in MENA” has indicated 5 factors to implement effective and sustainable sanitation projects in the MENA region.
These factors are as following:
• Economically viable
• Socially acceptable
• Technically appropriate
• Institutionally appropriate
• Protect the environment and the natural resources.
Furthermore the importance of community engagement was highlighted.

SuSanA members are invited to join our new MENA group in facebook and continue the discussion there: www.facebook.com/groups/SuSanA.MENA/

[Posted by Aloka]

In response to Kareem's message of "Please mention a good example (with links) of a sanitation project or activity that you have been involved in or heard about in MENA." I wanted to highlight the SuSanA case studies of sustainable sanitation projects in the MENA region.

You find them by going to the SuSanA website, click on resources, then case studies, then filter for MENA reason. You get these 7 results (only 7 out of a total of nearly 100 SuSanA case studies):
www.susana.org/en/resources/case-studies?vbl_2%5B11%5D=11

They include (the links for each are provided if you click on the link in the line above):

Bracken, P. (2012)
Greywater treatment in an oasis town, Béni Abbès, Béchar, Algeria

Stuber, N., Riad, M., Husselmann, H., Fahrländer, F. (2011)
Community-managed wastewater treatment system in El-Moufty El-Kobra, Kafr El-Sheikh, Egypt

Wolf, H., Zoch, B. (2010)
Urine diversion dehydration toilets in rural schools, Yemen

Mohamed, A., Klingel, F., Bracken, P., Werner, C., von Münch, E., Ingle, R. (2009)
Effluent reuse from constructed wetland system Haran Al-Awamied, Syria

Vallentin, A., Schlick, J., Klingel, F., Bracken, P., Werner, C. (2009)
Use of treated wastewater in agriculture Jordan Valley, Jordan

Sievert, W., Schlick, J. (2009)
Three examples of wastewater reuse after reed bed treatment, Dubai, Industrial Zone

IPP Consult, GTZ (2008)
Humification of sewage sludge in El-Minia and Nawaq, Egypt (draft)

I was involved in editing and reviewing all of these during my time at GIZ. They would all be in need of updating now - it would be interesting to know how they go, 5 or even 9 years after the case study was writting up.

If anyone lives near any of the towns mentioned, how about going there and taking a look and then updating us about these projects?

Regards,
Elisabeth

Dear Christoph,

As you rightly said - starting at a higher level - the components you mentioned are true and must be adhered to. But, as is the case here in Pakistan, we are struggling with basic sanitation infrastructure, to move the sanitation on and on, let alone the components you have mentioned.

I attribute this to low priority at the government level, lack of public awareness, and poor technical know-how.

Regards,

F H Mughal

Thanks a lot Christoph for your valuable input. Yes I agree with you these criteria should be involved in any sanitation project to be sustainable.

I would also add the following points to these criteria:

1- For rural sanitation solutions, they should create job opportunities, and generate income. Through this, people could pay for O&M, and get attracted to this field. Sustainable systems should be the source of advantages, not a load of problems.

2- The sanitation project should involve the community, and engage them during the implementation and management. As the lack of public responsibility in the region wastes lots of resources, and leads to sanitation system's dysfunction.

3- In a region with the lack of many natural resources, we not only need to protect the environment, but also we want to charge it with beneficial resources. According Ecological Sanitation with resource recovery is obligatory in MENA.

I think a Sanitation project that involves all of these aspects would be of the best practices in the region.

Let's set a check list for an ideal project, and seek projects that are compatible with it.

Regards,
Kareem

Hi Kareem,

Let me start on a higher level.
Back in 2008 we stated that "In order to be sustainable a sanitation system has to be not only economically viable, socially acceptable, and technically and institutionally
appropriate, it should also protect the environment and the natural resources." (Susana Vision paper 2008).
This still holds true today and we still find it hard to implement sanitation solutions that adhere to these overriding goals.

Lets try to identify good practice in the MENA region that can achieve at least some of the above stated goals!

Christoph (Sandec).

Hello everyone

Many projects and solutions had been developed in the MENA region in the last decades, I would like to invite you to this discussion to talk about good examples of sanitation projects and local solutions, and share their added values and key outcomes.

Please mention a good example (with links) of a sanitation project or activity that you have been involved in or heard about in MENA.

Looking forward for your valuable inputs.

Regards,
Kareem