Frameworks for selecting appropriate rural sanitation technology options in low- and middle-income countries : a critical review

Abstract

Several rural technology options exist on the sanitation market with different characteristics, yet project failures in some developing countries were attributable to inappropriate technology choices. Frameworks that are used to select sanitation technology options (hard copy, computer programmes) were developed by researchers and project implementers. They vary in design and application as there is no standard format. This appears to create a gap between science and practice. Frameworks should have some key elements needed to select appropriate sanitation technologies. We evaluated 12 available frameworks (2000–2019) used to select sanitation technologies in rural communities of low- and middle-income countries against 22 assessment criteria derived from literature. Criteria that were not fully addressed by some of the reviewed frameworks (scores of 8–50%) included equity, sanitation demand, sanitation behaviour change, ongoing contact, replicability, framework limitations, personnel selection and flexibility. Addressing such limitations may assist in future framework development.