The European Commission funded ACCESSanitation (Accelerated City-to-City Exchange on Sustainable Sanitation) project is a 3 year-project that started in November 2009, aiming to tackle inadequate sanitation in cities within three regions where the problem is at its most acute, namely South and Southeast Asia and Southern Africa. The focus of ACCESSanitation will be on making tangible improvements to sanitation services and facilities in the ten participating cities in India and the Philippines. This will be achieved through the development of local capacity to plan, design and implement sustainable sanitation systems and by launching campaigns to raise awareness on improved hygiene practices.

The project partners include the ICLEI European Secretariat as the project coordinator, the local ICLEI offices in India (ICLEI South Asia Secretariat), the Philippines (ICLEI Southeast Asia Secretariat) and Africa (ICLEI Africa Secretariat) as well as the Ecosan Services Foundation (ESF), the Sustainable Sanitation Center of Xavier University and Seecon International.
 
The 10 identified cities in India and the Philippines comprise of the following:

The project partners will support the participating 10 cities in carrying out an integrated and cyclical management process for sustainable sanitation. As a first step in this process, each of the local governments involved – together with a group of key stakeholders – will identify the main sanitation issues and priorities in their city. Based on a review of different options to achieve more sustainable sanitation, an action plan will be drafted and implemented following endorsement through the local council. National workshops, online exchanges and individual coaching for cities will help build the capacity of the actors involved.

The project is being overseen by an Advisory Board composed of selected experts from the Sustainable Sanitation Alliance (www.susana.org) and in particular from the working group on ‘Sustainable Sanitation in Cities’.

The SUSAN Center of Xavier University serves as the local partner in the Philippines, providing its expertise on sustainable sanitation related issues and the Center is co-organizing national training, coaching and knowledge exchange activities.