This issue of Frontiers of CLTS explores the potential, and some of the recorded learning, on how CLTS, as a community-based, collaborative approach to sanitation behavioural change, can be applied successfully in contexts of fragility and displacement, leading to communities more convinced and prepared to maintain and develop safe sanitation practices.
Evidence review
CLTS in Post-Emergency and Fragile States Settings
Topics
Conflict
On 9 October 0216, a man builds a shack out of the debris of his home while children look through school notebooks they have salvaged in the neighbourhood of La Savane, a poor seaside area of Les Cayes, people sift through the ruins and salvage what they can after the passage of Hurricane Matthew.
Hurricane Matthew passed over Haiti on Tuesday October 4, 2016, with heavy rains and winds. While the capital Port au Prince was mostly spared from the full strength of the class 4 hurricane, the western area of Grand Anse, however was in the direct path. The cities of Les Cayes and Jeremie received the full force sustaining wind and water damage across wide areas. Coastal towns were severely damaged as were many homes in remote mountainous regions. International relief efforts are underway to provide food water and shelter to the people affected by the storm.
Les Cayes is one of the worst affected areas in Grand South with massive flooding in low-lying areas and damage to the townÕs hospital and other health centres. Families are struggling to find safe water and adequate latrines. As of 7 October 2016, up to 80 per cent of homes in the south of Haiti were reportedly damaged with nearly 16,000 people are staying in temporary shelters. As of 10 October 2016, more than 100,000 children are missing out on learning after their schools were either damaged or converted into shelters. A first truck with water-treatment tablets and water bladders arrived in Les Cayes on 6 October 2016 with six more water trucks arriving on 8 October into Les Cayes and Jeremie. In addition, a water bladder was made available for the hospital of Les Cayes and more water storage containers are on their way to the affected areas to be used in shelters housing displaced families. UNICEF had pre-positioned water treatment supplies before the hurricane hit.
Related content
Briefing
Recommendations: Rapid Synthesis of Social and Behavioural Science learnings on Ebola for the Bundibugyo Virus Outbreak (2026) Ituri, DRC
A rapid synthesis of lessons learned from prior Ebola social and behavioural science (SBS) research to highlight critical insights for locally adapted and contextually informed response efforts.
Multi-Hazard Research Network
2026
Briefing
Ituri Ebola Outbreak 2026 (DRC) – Summary overview of context
This note details relevant contextual factors in Ituri Province, DRC, to inform the response to the outbreak of Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus.
Multi-Hazard Research Network
2026
Briefing
Key considerations: the context of North Kivu province, DRC
This brief summarises key considerations about the context of North Kivu province in relation to the outbreak of Ebola in the DRC, August 2018.
SSHAP
2018
Report
A review of the social and behavioural science research landscape for mpox in African settings
This report maps and synthesises social and behavioural science studies on mpox in sub-Saharan Africa from 2017 until December 2025.
SSHAP
2026