DLI 5 aims to expand access to improved sanitation facilities by incentivizing the construction or rehabilitation of household sanitation infrastructure across urban areas, small towns, and rural communities. The indicator measures the number of households that receive improved sanitation facilities, ensuring that the Program directly contributes to public health, hygiene, and safety outcomes.
Improved sanitation facilities are those that hygienically separate excreta from human contact, in accordance with the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Program (JMP). Constructed facilities may be newly built or upgraded from an unimproved status to an improved level, while rehabilitated facilities are existing improved facilities that are upgraded to a higher service standard. Only facilities that comply with technical standards, service level requirements, and minimum operational conditions are eligible for recognition under this DLI.
To be eligible for verification, a household sanitation facility must meet the following criteria: it must employ a recommended technology such as a flush toilet connected to a piped sewer or septic system, a flush or pour-flush to a pit latrine, a dry pit latrine with slab, a ventilated improved pit (VIP) latrine, or a single/double vault composting toilet. The facility must hygienically separate excreta from human, pet, or pest contact, with an unbroken pan and sealed containment to prevent pathogen transmission. Containment structures must safely manage waste without leakage or overflow, and no faecal matter should be present in the open environment. The facility must have a secure superstructure for safe use, and a handwashing station nearby with soap or an alternative to support hygiene after use.
All sanitation infrastructure must adhere to quality assurance procedures, verified E&S screening mechanisms, and resilient design principles to ensure long-term functionality and safety. Resilient design ensures that sanitation facilities are robust to environmental risks such as flooding or ground movement and continue to operate safely over time.
Progress under DLI 5 is measured annually, with disbursements linked to verified achievements in household coverage and compliance with technical standards. Verification includes both a desk review of reports submitted by the SPIU and FPIU and physical inspections of a representative random sample of facilities. Sampling is stratified by urban, small-town, and rural areas, and for facilities with faecal sludge management components, sampling is further stratified by state. This verification ensures that households receive sanitation facilities that meet the Program’s standards for safety, hygiene, and operational functionality.
By emphasizing both infrastructure delivery and adherence to technical and hygiene standards, DLI 5 contributes to reducing open defecation, improving hand hygiene practices, and ensuring that sanitation interventions are sustainable, safe, and socially inclusive.