Contributing to the achievement of sustainable development goals: knowledge on water, sanitation and health risk in Cotonou and Lomé cities

Figures & data

Figure 1. Geographical location of the cities of Cotonou (a) and Lomé (b).

Figure 2. Toilets close to the wells in a) Cotonou (Ahouansori Towéta) and b) Lomé Béniglato (Photos: a) H.S. Totin Vodounon, January 2021; b) A. B. Eka, June 2020).

Table 1. SDGs and Performance by indicator in Benin and Togo

SDG	Performance
	Benin	Togo
SDG3 Good Health and Well-Being	61.7 (2018)	65.1 (2018)
SDG6 Clean Water and Sanitation	66.4 (2017)	65.1 (2017)
	16.5 (2017)	16.1 (2017)
	0.0 (2018)	0.0 (2018)
SDG11 Sustainable Cities and Communities	54.2 (2017)	44.7 (2017)

Adapted from Sustainable Development Goals Center for Africa and Sustainable Development Solutions Network (The Sustainable Development Goals Center for Africa and Sustainable Development Solutions Network 2020)

Table 2. Contribution to the achievement of SDGs in the cities of Cotonou and Lomé

Goals	Targets	Contribution
SDG 3 Good Health and well-being	3.3.	Improving sanitation and hygiene facilities Promotion of low cost wastewater treatment techniques Environmental education for behaviour change
	3.9.	Co-produced knowledge on current sanitation and hygiene system and related health risks Monitoring of groundwater bacteriological and physicochemical quality Promotion of socio-ecological sanitation and groundwater quality treatment Education-Information-Communication for social change on sanitation and hygiene Lead local efforts on waste valorisation by circular economy development
	3.d.	Control of sanitation and hygiene disposal Implementation of developed ecoheath model Control of drinking water quality Timely and appropriated information to city residents through virtual platforms
SDG 6 Clean Water & Sanitation	6.1.	Encouragement to improve groundwater quality or get water from the National network of safe water
	6.2.	Use of ecological disposal for waste and excreta management Promotion of hand-washing facilities
	6.3.	Implantation of the chlorinator (hypochlorite of calcium) for continuous destruction of microbial contaminants Use of Aquatabs water purification tablets Use of ecological disposal for waste and excreta management Promotion of circular economy
	6.4.	Co-produced knowledge on groundwater quality Advise on efficient use of groundwater and safe water from national network
	6.5.	Promotion of integrated sanitation and hygiene for groundwater security in the coastal cities Recycling and reuse of treated urban wastewater
	6.6.	Promotion of ecological sanitation practices for aquifer rehabilitation and protection
	6.a.	Synergy of actions between Cotonou, Lomé and other West African coastal cities Sharing of experience on WASH and public health and implementation of developed Ecohealth model
	6.b.	Using transdisciplinary research approach Training of specialists (on WASH and health) Active pedagogy (Strategy of doing things) Training of the local politico-administrative authorities
SDG 11 Sustainable cities & communities	11.5.	Promotion of adequate waste management systems to create agreeable living urban environment
	11.6.	Behaviour change Information, Education and Communication on WASH and public health Ecological waste management
	11.a	Creation of action synergy between local politico-administrative authorities in Cotonou and Lomé Co-design of inter-municipality management of waste Development of policy briefs on integrated sanitation and hygiene, applicable to the West African coastal cities
	11.b.	Co-produced knowledge on hydro-faecal risk and its management during floods Dissemination of research results in others coastal cities Implementation of the recommendations of policy briefs produced Sustainability of education on environment and integrated urban groundwater management

Figure 3. Septic tanks in plastic polyethylene at Ahouansori Towéta (a) ecological above-ground watertight pit latrine in swampy environment of Agla in Cotonou (b) and dry toilet in Lomé (c) (Photos: a,b) H.S. Totin Vodounon, August 2019; c) Koffi T., February 2021).

Figure 4. Chlorinator (hypochlorite of calcium) implanted in the experimental wells in Cotonou (Photos: a) H.S. Totin Vodounon, January 2020.

Figure 5. Ecohealth model for coastal cities in West Africa.

The Sustainable Development Goals Center for Africa and Sustainable Development Solutions Network. 2020. Africa SDG Index and Dashboards Report 2020. Kigali and New York: SDG Center for Africa and Sustainable Development Solutions Network.

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