NODE COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGY BRIEF

Executive Summary
The Network for Water and Sanitation (NETWAS) Uganda was identified and selected through a consultative process to host the Uganda Knowledge node.
Through the National Sanitation Working Group (NSWG), NETWAS will influence the agenda on enhancing attention on issues of sustainability in sanitation by prioritizing initiatives of the knowledge node. In addition, through the NSWG, NETWAS will contribute to the sector sanitation undertakings.
EcoSanRes2/Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with NETWAS Uganda to host this knowledge node on sustainability issues in sanitation in Uganda with the possibility of increasing outreach to other countries of East Africa. The expertise in SEI will support the knowledge node to clearly share and link with regional and international best practices.
It is hoped that a mechanism of for information sharing ,coaching and mentoring in state of the art skills through active participation of NETWAS in the monthly NSWG for a can contribute to the policy and strategies shared at that level.
Therefore this communication strategy will respond to the tasks that are in tandem with the overall mission to develop and promote pro-poor sustainable sanitation on the ground through capacity development and knowledge management.


Introduction
The Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) with support from SIDA is managing the Ecological Sanitation Research 2 (EcosanRes 2) programme in different regions of the world.
EcosanRes 2 or ESR 2, www.ecosanres.org is an international environment and development program on ecological sanitation.
EcosanRes 2’s overall mission is to develop and promote pro-poor sustainable sanitation on the ground through capacity development and knowledge management. One of the main methods identified for achieving this mission is for EcosanRes 2 to contribute to the development of networks of knowledge and expertise nodes in sustainable sanitation in several parts of the world. Eight such nodes have been set up and one of the nodes is the Uganda Knowledge node with a possibility of regional outreach down the line.
Background
There is overwhelming evidence that good sanitation has a great impact on poverty reduction through reducing faecal–oral disease transmission and therefore the overall disease burden. Hence investing in sanitation brings substantial economic returns, reduction of hunger through increased agricultural productivity and reduces costs in other sectors of which the most obvious one is the curative health sector.
Effective sanitation has the potential to become a catalyst for the larger process of development that will not just achieve MDG’s but the broader goal of equitable and sustainable development. The major cause of the undesirable sanitation situation in Uganda is the low prioritization of sanitation at all levels right from the household, local government and national levels. Comprehensive and accurate information on motivators, value added and barriers to improved sanitation at household levels is still missing. Poorer households place lower priorities on sanitation against food and other basic needs. Ignorance and lack of knowledge, negligence and negative attitudes have affected demand at that level. Cultural taboos on use of latrines on communities especially in the North eastern region create barriers for change.
From the supply side, lack of knowledge, skills and access to information on alternative latrine technology options to suit the different needs and conditions of communities, geographical conditions and economic capacity in the rural and urban settings affects improvements in access to sanitation.
The knowledge node will play a role in closing the knowledge gaps, influencing attitudes; researching and demonstrating sustainable sanitation promotion approaches and technology options including re-use of by products; improving access to information and knowledge and building the capacity to promote sustainable sanitation solutions in Uganda.




Project Objectives
To contribute to sustainable sanitation development facilitating and co-ordinating capacity development and knowledge management.
Specific Objectives
i. To generate knowledge and develop capacity among stakeholders to design and implement sustainable sanitation solutions
ii. To increase awareness on sustainability issues of sanitation amongst stake holders at the local, national and regional levels
iii. To strengthen communication and marketing of the sustainable sanitation knowledge node products and services in Uganda
The Communication Strategy (CS) is intended to create a more concrete approach towards the promotion of environmentally friendly and sustainable sanitation by facilitating the knowledge node achieve its communication needs. Therefore the communication strategy will be the enabler of the knowledge node sustainable sanitation vessel that plans to move round the entire country with possibility of expanding its tentacles to other East African territories.