Targeted Support for Sustainable ODF Communities in Lao PDR

Lao PDR has made significant progress in improving sanitation, yet open defecation remains a challenge in remote rural communities. To support the Government's goal of eliminating open defecation, SNV, with support from UNICEF and the Government of Australia, implemented the Towards Sustainable Open-Defecation Free (ODF) Communities project across 154 villages in Savannakhet Province. The project combined demand creation, targeted support, and market-based approaches to strengthen sanitation service delivery and achieve lasting ODF outcomes. Results included 142 communities attaining verified ODF status, 1,881 new household toilets, and targeted assistance for vulnerable households. Key lessons highlight that material subsidies alone are insufficient without behaviour change, follow-up, and market development. Aligning interventions with seasonal livelihoods, strengthening local sanitation markets, and positioning government as an enabler of demand creation and service delivery were critical to success. The brief offers practical recommendations for policymakers and development practitioners seeking sustainable, scalable approaches to rural sanitation and long-term ODF achievement.

Implemented by SNV with support from UNICEF and the Government of Australia, in partnership with the Provincial Health Department, Nam Saat, and District Health Offices in Savannakhet, Lao PDR.