Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) in Public Sector Schools Strategic Plan for Balochistan 2017 – 2022

The Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) in Public Sector Schools Strategic Plan for Balochistan 2017–2022 is a comprehensive, multi-year roadmap designed to address the critical gaps in WASH infrastructure, services, and behavior within government schools across the province. Developed in close consultation with the School Education Department (SED), Government of Balochistan, and supported by UNICEF, this plan is the first concrete step to honor national and international commitments, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4 and 6. It aims to transform every public school into a safe, healthy, and conducive learning environment for all children.

The plan was finalized following a consultative workshop in Quetta in October 2016 and was subsequently endorsed by all relevant stakeholders. The total estimated budget for its full implementation is approximately PKR 6.38 billion (approx. USD 60 million at 2016 exchange rates).

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Background & Rationale

The development of this strategic plan was initiated by UNICEF Pakistan in consultation with the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training (MoFEPT). The need was clear: at the time of the plan's formulation (mid-2010s), there was no national or provincial strategy or action plan to address the WASH in School (WinS) component. Despite the recognition that a clean, well-maintained learning environment is critical for delivering quality education, the situation on the ground was dire.

Key facts at the time (baseline 2015-16 data):

• Sanitation: In Balochistan, 79% of primary schools did not have toilet facilities. The situation was worse for boys (84% without toilets) than for girls (66% without toilets). At the middle school level, 49% of schools lacked toilets, and at the high school level, 31% did not have them.
• Drinking Water: Across all levels, 48% of primary schools, 45% of middle schools, and 28% of high schools lacked access to drinking water. Rural schools were particularly affected, with 47% of rural primary schools and 49% of rural middle schools without water facilities.
• Operational & Maintenance: Operations and Maintenance (O&M) was identified as the weakest link, with low priority given during planning, budgeting, and implementation, and a general lack of awareness and supervision.
• Hygiene & Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM): Specific data on hygiene facilities was not systematically collected. However, it was noted that Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) was a key area for secondary school girls and was identified as a major factor for increased dropout rates at the secondary level. MHM was not prioritized in teacher or student curricula nor in school WASH design.

The absence of WASH facilities directly contributed to illness (cholera, typhoid, dysentery), absenteeism, and dropout rates, particularly among adolescent girls.

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Strategic Framework: Goal, Objectives & Targets

The plan is anchored on the following hierarchy of goals and objectives.

Goal: Ensure that all public sector schools in Balochistan have access to safe, functioning, and sustainable WASH facilities and that students adopt healthy hygiene practices.

Strategic Objectives:

1. Policy & Planning: Develop and implement a clear WinS policy, planning guidelines, and standards for infrastructure and behavior change.
2. Awareness & Capacity Building: Create awareness and build the capacity of teachers, students, and School Management Committees (SMCs) on health, hygiene, and sanitation.
3. Infrastructure Development: Construct missing sanitation and water facilities in all schools, ensuring separate toilets for boys and girls and facilities for children with disabilities.
4. Operation & Maintenance (O&M): Establish a sustainable O&M mechanism for all WinS facilities, including budget allocation, supply chain, and technical support.
5. Behavior Change: Promote positive WASH behaviors (handwashing, safe water handling, and MHM) among school children and staff.
6. Monitoring & Evaluation: Integrate WinS indicators into the Balochistan Education Management Information System (BEMIS) for real-time tracking and accountability.

Targets (by 2022):

• 100% coverage of all public sector primary, middle, and high schools with functional latrines and safe drinking water.
• 100% of schools with handwashing stations and soap.
• All adolescent girls in secondary schools have access to MHM-friendly facilities and education.
• All schools with a functional O&M plan and budget.
• All teachers receive orientation/training on WinS behavior change.
• All schools integrate WinS into their School Improvement Plan (SIP).

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Strategic Pillars & Activities

The plan is operationalized through eight strategic pillars, each with a set of detailed activities and resource requirements.

1. Policy, Planning & Guidelines:

• Formulate a comprehensive WinS policy for Balochistan.
• Develop/revise WinS facility design standards (toilet-to-student ratio, water point ratio).
• Develop a clear inter-departmental coordination mechanism (Education, PHED, LG&RDD) from construction to O&M.

2. Awareness Raising & Capacity Building:

• Mass media campaigns on handwashing, safe drinking water, and MHM.
• Orientation workshops for all teachers on WinS behavior change.
• Formation of School WASH Clubs and integration of WASH into the school's annual calendar.
• Capacity building of SMCs and Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs).

3. Infrastructure Development (Sanitation, Water, & Hygiene):

• Sanitation: Construct/repair gender-specific and accessible latrines in all schools. For schools with non-existent infrastructure, prioritize new construction.
• Water: Provide safe drinking water through bore wells, hand pumps, or solar-powered water filtration plants, especially in water-scarce areas.
• Hygiene: Install handwashing stations (with soap) at strategic points (near latrines, in classrooms, near canteens). Provide MHM-friendly facilities (incinerators or disposal units, private space for changing).

4. Operation & Maintenance (O&M):

• Develop a standardized O&M protocol and checklist for each school.
• Allocate a dedicated budget line in the school's annual development plan for WASH O&M.
• Train a designated school staff member (e.g., a teacher or janitor) on O&M.
• Establish a supply chain for spare parts (taps, pipes, filters) at district level.

5. Behavior Change & Quality of WinS Behavior:

• Integrate WinS behavior indicators into student report cards and teacher evaluations.
• Organize school-wide competitions (cleanest class, best handwashing corner).
• Link WinS to the Child Friendly School (CFS) framework.

6. Cross-Cutting Issues:

• Disability: Ensure all WASH facilities are accessible for children with special needs (ramps, grab bars, low-height fixtures).
• Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM): Provide MHM education for both girls and boys, ensure availability of sanitary pads (through school health program or subsidy), and install incinerators/disposal units.
• Environmental Sustainability: Promote water conservation (rainwater harvesting), solar-powered water pumps, and eco-friendly sanitation solutions.

7. Resource Mobilization & Financial Planning:

• The total estimated cost: PKR 6.38 billion.
• Breakdown: Latrines (PKR 3.91 billion), Drinking Water (PKR 1.73 billion), Cross-Cutting Issues including MHM (PKR 700 million), with the remainder for capacity building, monitoring, and management.
• Funding sources: Provincial government (Education Department), federal grants, and development partners (UNICEF, World Bank, etc.).

8. Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E):

• Baseline, Mid-term, and Final evaluations to assess progress against targets.
• Quarterly progress reports from each district to the provincial PMU.
• Annual review workshops with all stakeholders.
• Integration of WinS indicators into the Balochistan Education Management Information System (BEMIS) for real-time tracking.

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Implementation Framework & Institutional Arrangements

The plan identifies the following key actors and their roles:

A Provincial WinS Steering Committee will be chaired by the Secretary of SED, with members from PHED, LG&RDD, P&D, and representatives from development partners. The committee will meet quarterly to review progress, approve mid-course corrections, and mobilize resources.

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Grievance Redressal Mechanism (GRM)

A dedicated WinS-specific GRM will be established at school, district, and provincial levels to receive and resolve complaints related to WASH infrastructure, services, and behavior. The mechanism will be accessible via:

• School-Level: Complaint box maintained by the head teacher, reviewed weekly by the SMC.
• District-Level: Toll-free hotline and email address managed by the DEO office.
• Provincial-Level: A dedicated WinS complaint cell within the PMU.

All complaints will be logged in a centralized database and resolved within a defined timeline (30 days for minor issues, 90 days for major infrastructure). The GRM will be publicized through school notice boards, parent meetings, and radio announcements.

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Budget & Financial Sustainability

The total estimated cost for the full implementation of the plan (2017–2022) is PKR 6.38 billion (approx. USD 60 million). The major cost components are:

• Construction of Latrines: PKR 3.91 billion (61% of total)
• Drinking Water Supply: PKR 1.73 billion (27% of total)
• Cross-Cutting Issues (MHM, Disability, etc.): PKR 700 million (11% of total)
• Other (Capacity Building, M&E, O&M): PKR 40 million (1% of total)

Financial Sustainability Measures:

1. Provincial Budget Allocation: SED will annually allocate a minimum of 2% of its total development budget to WinS O&M.
2. SMC Contribution: SMCs will be encouraged to contribute a small community fund (minimum PKR 5,000 per school per year) for minor repairs.
3. Public-Private Partnership: Engagement of private sector for water supply solutions (e.g., installation of water filtration plants with pay-per-use model for staff and community).
4. International Donor Support: Continued partnership with UNICEF, World Bank, and other donors for capital-intensive infrastructure (e.g., solar-powered water systems).

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Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) Framework

The M&E framework is built on three pillars:

• Process Monitoring: Monthly field visits by DEOs and quarterly supervision by PMU. Use of a standardized WinS checklist for each school.
• Output Monitoring: Quarterly reporting on number of latrines constructed, water points installed, and teachers trained. Data entered into BEMIS.
• Outcome Monitoring: Annual surveys (e.g., using the ASER methodology) to measure changes in handwashing behavior, school absenteeism due to water-related illness, and girls' attendance post-MHM interventions.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

• % of schools with functional gender-segregated latrines (target: 100% by 2022)
• % of schools with safe drinking water on premises (target: 100% by 2022)
• % of schools with handwashing stations and soap (target: 100% by 2022)
• % of teachers trained on WinS behavior change (target: 100% by 2022)
• Reduction in reported cases of diarrhea/typhoid among school children (baseline: 2017)
• Girls' attendance rate in secondary schools post-MHM interventions (baseline: 2017)

The plan includes a mid-term evaluation in 2020 and a final evaluation in 2022 to assess overall impact and inform future strategies.

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Current Status & Future Directions

As of 2026, the Balochistan WASH in Schools Strategic Plan (2017-2022) has been implemented with varying degrees of success. Significant progress has been made in certain areas:

• Infrastructure: By early 2020s, over 1,250 schools had been provided with WASH facilities through joint efforts of the government and UNICEF, focusing on girls' schools and remote areas.
• Financial Commitments: The provincial government allocated PKR 1 billion in 2018 specifically for water supply and washroom construction. More recently, in 2025, a further PKR 500 million was earmarked for clean drinking water, toilets, and handwash stations in schools.
• Newer Plans: The strategic plan has since been superseded by the Balochistan CR Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Sector Plan 2025-2035, launched in October 2025 with support from UNICEF and other partners, which aims to sustain and scale up these efforts while incorporating climate resilience and gender mainstreaming.

Despite these achievements, challenges remain, including the sheer scale of the infrastructure gap, water scarcity in many districts, and the need for stronger O&M mechanisms. However, the 2017-2022 plan successfully laid the foundation for a data-driven, coordinated, and behavior-focused approach that has become an essential model for subsequent WASH initiatives in the province.

Initiative Report / Document