Training on Community-Led Total Sanitation(CLTS) Facilitation & ODF Community Transformation
Master CLTS facilitation skills to lead communities toward Open Defecation Free (ODF) status. Drive sanitation behavior change and transform hygiene practices sustainably
Next intake
20 Jul 2026 · Nakuru
Duration
5 days
Live instruction
Delivery
Physical + Virtual
Cohort based
Level
Intermediate
Working professionals
Certification
NITA reimbursable
For Kenyan cohorts
Language
English
All materials
About this programme
This intensive course equips WASH professionals, community mobilizers, and development practitioners with the tools and facilitation skills needed to implement Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) effectively. It focuses on participatory techniques that trigger collective community action towards achieving and sustaining Open Defecation Free (ODF) status. Participants will learn to guide communities through sanitation transformation while promoting hygiene behavior change using practical, inclusive, and culturally appropriate strategies.
Duration
5 Days
Who Should Attend
-
WASH Field Officers and Program Managers
-
Community Development Facilitators
-
Public Health Officers and Extension Workers
-
NGO and Government Sanitation Stakeholders
-
Community Leaders and Health Promoters
What you'll walk away with
By the end of this training, participants will be able to:
-
Understand the CLTS approach and its global implementation frameworks
-
Apply participatory facilitation skills to trigger and guide communities
-
Develop action plans to support ODF transformation
-
Monitor, evaluate, and verify community progress
-
Promote long-term hygiene behavior change and social accountability
What we cover, module by module
Module 1: Introduction to CLTS Principles and Practice
- Origins, philosophy, and core principles of Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS)
- Sanitation challenges in open defecation-free (ODF) target communities
- Understanding the CLTS process: pre-triggering, triggering, and post-triggering phases
- Role of facilitators in community mobilization and behavior change
- Case Study: CLTS-led sanitation transformation in rural communities
Module 2: Community Facilitation and Participatory Tools
- Principles of participatory rural appraisal (PRA) in sanitation programming
- Community mapping, transect walks, and sanitation profiling tools
- Triggering approaches: emotional drivers and collective behavior change techniques
- Managing resistance and ensuring inclusive participation (gender, age, vulnerability)
- Practical Exercise: Conducting a simulated CLTS triggering session
Module 3: Developing and Supporting Community ODF Action Plans
- Structuring community-led sanitation action plans
- Identifying natural leaders and community sanitation champions
- Linking hygiene promotion with sanitation behavior change
- Household-level commitments and collective monitoring mechanisms
- Activity: Designing a community ODF action plan for a target village
Module 4: Monitoring, Verification, and Sustainability of ODF Status
- Tracking progress toward ODF achievement
- Verification, certification, and post-ODF validation processes
- Tools for monitoring (community registers, mobile systems, dashboards)
- Sustaining behavior change beyond ODF declaration
- Case Study: Lessons from sustained ODF communities in Africa
Module 5: Scaling CLTS and Strengthening Institutional Support
- Strategies for scaling CLTS at district and national levels
- Integration with schools, health systems, and vulnerable populations
- Behavior change communication and reinforcement of social norms
- Strengthening local government and institutional frameworks for sustainability
- Final Project: Develop a CLTS implementation and scaling plan for a selected community or region
Where the change lands
Organizational Impact
-
Enhances sanitation program effectiveness and sustainability through a low-cost, community-driven approach.
-
Reduces reliance on subsidies and in-kind donations, improving resource allocation.
-
Strengthens reputation as a leader in sustainable, community-led development.
Personal Impact
-
Develops in-demand skills for careers in development and public health.
-
Supports advancement into senior program design, leadership, or advisory roles.
-
Equips participants to lead and champion community-focused sanitation initiatives.
Dates and locations
Upcoming intakes
Every intake is limited to a small cohort. Booking closes when a date fills or three weeks before the start, whichever comes first.
| City | Starts | Ends | Delivery | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
NakuruNext | 20 Jul 2026 | 24 Jul 2026 | In-Person | Book |
Kigali | 20 Jul 2026 | 24 Jul 2026 | In-Person | Book |
Accra | 20 Jul 2026 | 24 Jul 2026 | In-Person | Book |
Kisumu | 27 Jul 2026 | 31 Jul 2026 | In-Person | Book |
Johannesburg | 27 Jul 2026 | 31 Jul 2026 | In-Person | Book |
Dakar | 27 Jul 2026 | 31 Jul 2026 | In-Person | Book |
- NakuruNext
20 Jul → 24 Jul·In-Person
Book this intake - Kigali
20 Jul → 24 Jul·In-Person
Book this intake - Accra
20 Jul → 24 Jul·In-Person
Book this intake - Kisumu
27 Jul → 31 Jul·In-Person
Book this intake - Johannesburg
27 Jul → 31 Jul·In-Person
Book this intake - Dakar
27 Jul → 31 Jul·In-Person
Book this intake
Common questions.
Still not sure? Send us a note and a facilitator will get back to you within a business day.
You may also like.
Programmes in the same discipline that participants often pair with this course.
Hybrid5 daysLearn how AI, satellite imagery, and remote sensing technologies support drought monitoring and water scarcity forecasting.
Hybrid5 daysBuild expertise in AI-driven water resource planning to strengthen water security, resilience, and climate adaptation.
Hybrid5 daysLearn AI-powered groundwater and aquifer sustainability modeling using machine learning, GIS and geospatial analytics for water resource planning and management
Course finder
Find the right course for you
Prefer to talk it through? Send us an enquiry and a facilitator will scope a fit within a business day.
For corporate teams
Training 10+ professionals?
We deliver Training on Community-Led Total Sanitation(CLTS) Facilitation & ODF Community Transformation in-house at your offices, at a venue we arrange, or fully virtual. Customise the curriculum against your KPIs, and get a bespoke price for the cohort size you need.