BRAC/Bangladesh – Innovation in sustainable sanitation | Source
Innovation Components
Innovative activities have been undertaken to develop a sustainable and scalable model of operation that delivers cost-effective sanitation services and technology. BRAC WASH is looking into new horizons and focusing on innovation and developing learning tools to further improve the effectiveness and efficiency of its activities. Thus, the programme has taken on several different projects in this regard. 
QIS
In order to focus on collecting hard evidence on the real impact that BRAC WASH has been having on the lives of millions of people, BRAC and IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre have jointly developed and applied the Qualitative Information System (QIS) to measure the progress achieved in terms of outcomes. QIS quantifies qualitative process indicators, such as participation and inclusiveness, and outcome indicators, such as behavioural change, with the help of progressive scales (‘ladders’). Each step on the ladder has a short description, called a mini-scenario, which describes the situation for a particular score. Further information on QIS is available here.
Sensemaker®
Sensemaker® is a software that allows an alternative approach to quantifying the qualitative. Stories are collected from the field regarding a specific topic, for example, members of the Village WASH Committee (VWC) are asked to relate stories about their experience working for the committee, and beneficiaries of the BRAC WASH programme are asked to share stories about changing behaviours resulting from the use of latrines. Once it is written, the story is analysed by the researcher and the subject together through a series of triads. The information is then entered into the software and analysed. Further information on Sensemaker® is available here.
Life Cycle Cost Approach
Life Cycle Cost Approach (LCCA) is a way for BRAC WASH to analyse expenditures, service delivery, and the outcomes achieved as a result. It allows for a financial sustainability check by providing a detailed overview of unit cost expenditures. LCCA helps to improve targeting of future investments by assessing past performance. Moreover, it is a way to monitor the services delivered over time, thus resulting in a better value for money.
Reuse of faecal waste as organic fertiliser
All over Bangladesh, wastes are being dumped unsystematically whenever the pit latrines are filling up. BRAC WASH has thus taken on this second generation challenge in order to avert a probable environmental issue resulting from it. A team from BRAC WASH has been exploring various ways to solve this matter. The most reasonable solution is the reuse of the pit content as organic fertiliser. The study has covered seven climatic zones of Bangladesh, and field trials have been conducted with vegetables and rice paddy to see if it is suitable for human consumption. Recent lab results show that the nutrient content of the organic fertiliser used to grow the crops are meeting the food safety requirements. Currently, the team is still working on meeting the WHO guidelines for the pathogenic content of the fertiliser.
The key objective of this project is to identify and develop micro-entrepreneurship skills for the marketing of organic fertiliser from human faecal waste as a business model. To develop the compost business model, the project conducted market analysis survey to develop the entrepreneurial skills of people in rural areas to sell compost to local farmers. This project aims to ensure proper waste management which leads to meet the Millennium Development Goal of environmental sustainability.
Action Research
To further contribute to innovation in the WASH sector, and the Bangladesh WASH sector in particular, the BRAC WASH programme is undertaking action research on long outstanding issues such as low-cost sanitation for areas with high water tables, water technologies for areas with saline intrusion, safe and final disposal of human waste, sanitation supply chain management, and male hygiene promotion. To further contribute to innovation in the WASH sector, and the Bangladesh WASH sector in particular, the BRAC WASH programme is undertaking action research on long outstanding issues such as low-cost sanitation for areas with high water tables, water technologies for areas with saline intrusion, safe and final disposal of human waste, sanitation supply chain management, and hygiene promotion for men.
