DLI 6 aims to incentivize program states to support communities in attaining and maintaining community-wide sanitation status, known as Open Defecation Free Plus (ODF+). This DLI emphasizes collective, community-level sanitation outcomes and complements household- and institution-focused DLIs by promoting sustained behavioral change, improved hygiene practices, and shared responsibility for sanitation services.
A community achieving ODF+ status is defined as one in which:
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At least 25% of households use an improved sanitation facility in Year 1, with a 5% annual increase in the share of households using improved facilities each subsequent Program year, up to 50% by Year 6;
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Households without improved sanitation use either unimproved facilities or shared sanitation facilities;
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No households practice open defecation; and
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Shared sanitation facilities, used by two or more households, are improved and properly maintained.
Communities that have already attained ODF+ status under the Program or at the start of the Program are eligible for incentives if they maintain this status. Maintenance is verified one year after initial certification, and approximately 10% of ODF+ communities are randomly selected for verification annually.
For consistency in reporting and verification across states, a community is defined as approximately 500 households. Minimum conditions for verification include certification by the State Task Group on Sanitation (STGS) using the 2017 revised ODF protocol, absence of open defecation, proper management of shared sanitation facilities, and adherence to the annual incremental targets for improved sanitation coverage.
Progress under DLI 6 is measured annually, with disbursements made in proportion to verified achievements. Verification is conducted by an Independent Verification Agent (IVA), who reviews reports submitted by the SPIU and FPIU, and conducts physical inspections of all communities reported as ODF+. For each selected community, a random sample of households is inspected to ensure compliance with ODF+ criteria, including use of improved sanitation facilities, maintenance of shared facilities, and presence of handwashing stations.
By incentivizing community-wide sanitation outcomes, DLI 6 strengthens local engagement, promotes collective accountability, and ensures that sanitation gains are sustainable, inclusive, and scalable. This DLI not only improves public health and hygiene but also fosters social cohesion and behavioral change, which are critical to maintaining progress in the WASH sector over the long term.