Systems Interventions for the Transition from Basic to Safely Managed Water and Sanitation Services

This report examines how countries can move beyond providing basic water and sanitation services towards safely managed services that protect public health. It identifies 13 transition pathways across rural, peri-urban and urban settings, showing how approaches need to adapt to different population densities, infrastructure and service delivery models. It explores the roles of households, service providers and governments in driving these transitions, alongside the institutional, financial, technical and regulatory changes needed to sustain progress.

It also  highlights practical interventions such as improving water quality monitoring, expanding household connections, making connection fees more affordable, strengthening sanitation waste management, and clarifying the responsibilities of service providers and public authorities. It also emphasizes the importance of using data to identify barriers to progress and tailoring interventions to local conditions, rather than applying a single approach everywhere. Its findings can help organizations working in WASH and health systems strengthen program design, coordinate with local authorities and service providers, and contribute to more reliable, inclusive and sustainable water and sanitation services