Thank you all for completing the first survey and contributing your research ideas to help identify research priorities that will inform policies and programmes for sanitation workers. This research priority setting exercise is conducted under the  Initiative for Sanitation workers , a global advocacy partnership led by the International Labour Organization, the World Health Organization, the World Bank, SNV Netherlands Development Organization, and WaterAid. 

We received 79 distinct ideas from survey responses, focus group discussions during conferences (Sanitation Worker Forum and UNC-Water and Health) that were then regrouped into 55 major research priority areas.

Now we need you to help us complete the second survey that entails ranking the research ideas/areas based on the extent to which they are answerable or feasible, deliverable, effective, equitable and sustainable. Your input is critical to ensuring that the result of this exercise reflects a representative view of key stakeholders involved in sanitation work. 

We have pilot-tested the survey at the Sanitation Worker Forum. Re-worked, re-worded, and translated into French and Spanish based on suggestions from 20 Experts and conference attendees that participated in a group ranking exercise!

Link to the Ranking Survey

Hi Dave,
Thanks for posting about this survey. Who are the kind of people who should respond to it? Is it mainly academics? I had a look at the survey, and it is very detailed and a little bit complex.

I am copying below some content from the survey as this might encourage more people to participate (I hope):

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This survey aims to identify research priorities to inform policies and programmes for sanitation workers. This research priority setting exercise is conducted under the  Initiative for Sanitation workers , a global advocacy partnership led by the International Labour Organization, the World Health Organization, the World Bank, SNV Netherlands Development Organization, and WaterAid. This survey is one of two surveys. Each survey should take no longer than 15 minutes to complete. 
 
This first survey consists of open-ended questions asking you to provide general research areas on sanitation workers under research domains explained below. The second survey will ask you to score consolidated research ideas that were received in the first round. For tracking and monitoring purposes, we will ask your contact information. 
 
Your information will be kept confidential, and your privacy maintained throughout and after this process. You can choose to remain anonymous if preferred.  

In the next sections, you will be asked to provide research questions that you think are important. They are organized into four domains: 
1. Description – i.e., what do we need to know about the risks and challenges sanitation workers face?  
 2. Delivery (Effectiveness of interventions) – i.e., how well do current approaches meet the needs of sanitation workers?
 3. Development (Scalability, acceptability, affordability of interventions) – i.e. What do we need to find out to do more, better and faster to improve conditions for sanitation workers?
 4. Discovery (Innovation) – i.e. what new thing would be a game changer for sanitation workers? 
 
 Some examples of research gaps identified from a rapid literature review are included under each domain (*). You can use these examples to organize your responses or ideas. Please feel free to include as many research ideas you think are relevant and needed to improve the conditions of sanitation workers and work. 

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Research Domain 1: Description of the problem
 * Examples: Quantifying and profiling the workforce, measuring disease burden, assessing the effectiveness and efficacy of behavioral and technical interventions, understanding the root cause of marginalization, social, legal, and institutional challenges, and the gender aspect of sanitation work. 
 
What do we need to know about the risks and challenges sanitation workers face?


 Please write at least two research ideas or questions related to: 


- quantifying and profiling the global and/or national sanitation workforce.

Research Idea/Question 1
Research Idea/Question 2
Research Idea/Question 3

-measuring and reporting sanitation work-related accidents, diseases, and deaths and assessing conditions affecting workers health.

Research Idea/Question 1
Research Idea/Question 2
Research Idea/Question 3

- understanding and assessing the social and behavioral factors, affecting sanitation workers' physical and psychological health.

Research Idea/Question 1
Research Idea/Question 2
Research Idea/Question 3

- understanding and assessing the social and behavioral challenges affecting the economic livelihood, social & legal protection, and the marginalization of sanitation workers.

Research Idea/Question 1
Research Idea/Question 2
Research Idea/Question 3

-evaluating the efficacy, coverage, and effectiveness of behavioral or technical interventions to reduce the risks of sanitation work.

Research Idea/Question 1
Research Idea/Question 2
Research Idea/Question 3

Please describe other research ideas you may have that are related to describing the problems facing sanitation workers


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Research Domain 2: Delivery


*Examples: Understanding the implementation process of technological or behavioral interventions; policy analysis or systems research on policies/guidelines created to improve recognition of sanitation work/workers, improve legal and social protection, and improve partnerships among allies and stakeholders.


How well do current approaches meet the needs of sanitation workers?

 Please write at least two research ideas/questions focused on optimizing/improving sanitation workers' health status, livelihood, protection, and safety through:


- development of policies/guidelines or systems research.

Research Idea/Question 1
Research Idea/Question 2
Research Idea/Question 3

- improving legal & social protection and the professionalization of labor.

Research Idea/Question 1
Research Idea/Question 2
Research Idea/Question 3

- improving partnerships among stakeholders involved in sanitation service provision or regulation.

Research Idea/Question 1
Research Idea/Question 2
Research Idea/Question 3

Please describe other research ideas you may have that are related to delivering effective interventions to improve sanitation work

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Research Domain 3: Development
 *Example: Scaling up or improving how existing health, behavioral, safety, technological interventions or local/national/global policies are affordable, deliverable, acceptable, and sustainable to sanitation workers or providers.

What do we need to find out to do more, better and faster to improve conditions for workers?


 Please write at least two research ideas/questions related to:


- improving affordability and acceptability of existing health, safety, behavioral or technological interventions to sanitation workers/providers.

Research Idea/Question 1
Research Idea/Question 2
Research Idea/Question 3

- improving the delivery, translation and scale-up of existing health, safety, behavioral or technological interventions, or existing policies among sanitation workers.

Research Idea/Question 1
Research Idea/Question 2
Research Idea/Question 3

Please describe other research ideas you may have that are related to improving the acceptability, affordability and sustainability of existing interventions and policies

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Discovery * Research Domain 4: Discovery (Innovation)**Scaling up or improving how novel health, behavioral, safety, technological interventions or local/national/global policies are affordable, deliverable, acceptable, and sustainable to sanitation workers or providers. Please write at least two research ideas/questions that would lead to innovation through:


- new knowledge generation to develop practical, or scalable interventions, guidelines, and policies for sanitation workers.

Research Idea/Question 1
Research Idea/Question 2
Research Idea/Question 3

new knowledge that leads to developing sustainable interventions to improve sanitation workers' health, safety, and dignity.

Research Idea/Question 1
Research Idea/Question 2
Research Idea/Question 3

Please describe other research ideas you may have that are related to discovering new knowledge and innovations to improve sanitation work

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Regards,
Elisabeth

Sanitation workers provide essential services often at the cost of their health and dignity. Little research has been done, and there’s an urgent need for evidence for policy and programmes. Help WHO develop a published research agenda by participating in a survey (below, deadline 12 November) on research needs to transform sanitation workers’ lives and grow the workforce needed to achieve safely managed sanitation (SDG 6.2). 

Click here to participate in the survey: unc.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5sFjuwuwqPzkGQC