Development of Technical Standards for Climate-Resilient Safely Managed Sanitation (CRSMS)
A central pillar of the PCA is the development of a comprehensive Technical Standards Manual for Climate-Resilient Safely Managed Sanitation (CRSMS). This work addresses the absence of harmonised, enforceable standards across Ghana’s predominantly on-site sanitation systems.
The standards define minimum requirements across the sanitation service chain, with particular emphasis on containment systems. These include:
- Design and construction specifications for septic tanks, pit latrines, and other onsite systems
- Siting criteria, including safe separation distances from water sources, buildings, and property boundaries
- Structural integrity requirements to withstand flooding, groundwater ingress, and climate-induced stresses
- Provisions for access, inspection, desludging, and maintenance
- Environmental protection safeguards to prevent leakage, odour, and vector proliferation
The standards are being developed in close collaboration with sector institutions, including the Environmental Health and Sanitation Directorate, Public Utilities Regulatory Commission, and National Development Planning Commission, ensuring technical robustness and regulatory relevance.
Sanitation Technology Options and Decision-Support Guide
To complement the standards, the PCA includes the development of a Sanitation Options Guide, a practical decision-support tool designed to assist planners, engineers, and local authorities in selecting appropriate sanitation technologies under varying environmental, demographic, and economic conditions.
The guide integrates:
- Applicability matrices based on hydrogeological conditions, settlement density, and climate risk
- Technology performance profiles across the service chain
- Cost considerations, including capital and lifecycle costs
- Operational and maintenance requirements
- Climate resilience considerations and adaptation pathways
This tool is intended to support Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in making context-sensitive, evidence-informed decisions for sanitation planning and investment.
Sanitation Coverage Predictive Modelling and Target-Setting Tool
Recognising the need for forward-looking planning, the PCA is developing a Sanitation Coverage Predictive Model, also referred to as the Sanitation Target-Setting Tool.
This analytical platform enables:
- Projection of sanitation coverage trajectories under different policy and investment scenarios
- Assessment of the impact of infrastructure investments on service outcomes
- Integration of demographic growth, urbanisation trends, and climate risks into planning models
- Identification of optimal investment pathways to achieve SDG 6 targets
The model is being co-designed with stakeholders, including the National Development Planning Commission, to ensure alignment with national planning processes and policy frameworks.
Sanitation Learning and Innovation Academy (SANLIA)
To address persistent capacity gaps in the WASH sector, the PCA is establishing the Sanitation Learning and Innovation Academy (SANLIA)—a structured platform for professional development, knowledge exchange, and innovation.
SANLIA is designed to deliver:
- Short courses and certification programmes for sector professionals
- Modular training (including online and blended learning formats)
- Technical mentorship and fellowship programmes (including the proposed Ahotew Fellowship)
- Applied research and innovation incubation
The academy targets a broad range of stakeholders, including environmental health officers, engineers, planners, private sector service providers, and regulators, thereby strengthening institutional capacity across the sanitation service chain.