Participatory monitoring of sanitiation: Wotawati hamlet, Indonesia

As part of the 50th edition of PLA notes, the authors contribute a detailed case study of the process and outcomes of a participatory monitoring of community sanitation in Wotawati hamlet in Indonesia. The case study describes how the community, helped initially by the NGO PLAN International, were able to realise one of their own Millennium Development Goals. The community was able to improve basic sanitation as well as achieving almost 100% latrine coverage and use. The main conclusions are that although subsidies went to individual households, the program was successfully managed by the community; a combination of peer support and peer pressure and a perception of many benefits were strong motivating factors; villagers chose appropriate technology (dry latrines) based on informed choices that contradicts the pour-flush toilets often proposed by outsiders; participatory methods of local welfare have also helped create more transparent allocation and accountability within the village; and finally that due to successful gender and peer-based pressures and support networks, the program continued when the subsidies ended. Overall, the article looks at how the villagers benefited from both the outcomes (improved levels of sanitation) as well as the process of achieving their goals.