Kanda, ArtwellNcube, Esper JacobethVoyi, Kuku2024-06-282024-06-282024Artwell Kanda, Esper Jacobeth Ncube & Kuku Voyi (2024) Selection of appropriate on-site household sanitation options for rural communities of Zimbabwe – case of Mbire district, Zimbabwe, International Journal of Environmental Health Research, 34:2, 732-744, DOI: 10.1080/09603123.2023.2166021.0960-3123 (print)1369-1619 (online)10.1080/09603123.2023.2166021http://hdl.handle.net/2263/96722DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT : All relevant data are included in the paper or its supplemental materialsSUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL 1. Initial list of decision criteria and criteria definition.SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL 2. Questionnaire for elicitation of criteria and performance scores.SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL 3. Verification of MCDA framework procedure. Good practice guidelines checklist for an MCDA framework (Marsh et al. 2016).SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL 4. Questionnaire for experts to validate the MCDA framework.SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL 5. Stakeholders involved in evaluation of criteria, and elicitation of scores and weights.SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL 6. Value tree.SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL 7. Summary characteristics of alternatives based on local application.SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL 8. Estimates of investment costs of alternatives (US$).SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL 9. An output of utility values and rank order from computations in Microsoft Excel spreadsheet.SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL 10. Summary of feedback of validation of the framework through expert opinion (n = 4; 57.1%).Selecting an appropriate sanitation option involves multiple stakeholders with often conflicting objectives. A multiple criteria decision analysis (MCDA) framework was developed to inform decision makers on selecting appropriate sanitation options for rural communities. Criteria established from literature were evaluated and weighted on-line by stakeholders. A performance matrix was developed by assigning weights to criteria and scoring alternatives. Selection of alternatives was based on a composite appropriateness index from a rank using the simple multi-attribute ranking technique. The framework was evaluated by verification, validation and sensitivity analysis. Five alternatives were evaluated on 14 decision criteria. The first preferred alternative was the urine diverting dry toilet (72.54) then the Blair ventilated improved pit latrine (67.10). The framework was commented as reasonable and robust. A simple and transparent MCDA framework was developed considering local conditions in a participatory manner to select appropriate alternatives for rural sanitation where a single option is encouraged.en© 2023 Taylor and Francis. This is an electronic version of an article published in International Journal of Environmental Health Research, vol. 34, no. 2, pp. 732-744, 2024. doi : 10.1080/09603123.2023.2166021. International Journal of Environmental Health Research is available online at : http://www.tandfonline.comloi/cije20.Alternative optionsAppropriate technologyRural communitiesSanitation planningZimbabweSDG-03: Good health and well-beingSDG-06: Clean water and sanitationSDG-11: Sustainable cities and communitiesPostprint Article