Predictors of latrine subsidy uptake

Executive Summary 

Motivation

In rural Wolaita, Ethiopia, where only ~8% of households own improved latrines, understanding what drives household uptake of sanitation subsidies is critical for accelerating progress toward national sanitation goals. As part of a broader randomized controlled trial, IDinsight and iDE analyzed uptake among 685 households that were offered latrine subsidies in three woredas in Wolaita Zone, South Ethiopia Regional State. Households were eligible for either a standard subsidy, requiring a 23% to 41% contribution (cash and labor), or a full subsidy, which covered all latrine costs except for labor (the 20% household contribution).

Key Findings

• Overall uptake of subsidies was high (80%), but varied by subsidy type: 75% for standard subsidies and 93% for full subsidies. 
• In contrast, only 20% of ineligible households (who were offered latrine products at market price without any subsidy) purchased a latrine. Uptake was higher among ineligible households in the treatment group (30%) than in the control group (15%).
• Households where a female made the decision on whether to accept the subsidy were ~12 percentage points less likely to take up the standard subsidy, pointing to gender-related constraints in affordability, labor access, and/or financial autonomy.
• Larger households were more likely to accept subsidies, likely due to their greater sanitation needs, ability to pool resources, and availability of labor.
• Relatively poorer households were significantly less likely to take up the standard subsidy, confirming affordability as a major barrier.
• Among full subsidy households (ultra-poor), uptake was nearly universal, suggesting strong latent demand when the cost is fully addressed.

Recommendations

To reach Ethiopia’s sanitation goals, future efforts should consider more flexible support models, including:

• Expand support for the poorest households by offering full subsidies that include direct installation and cover labor requirements, such as pit digging, where affordability remains a significant barrier.
• To address gender-specific constraints on latrine uptake, provide targeted assistance to female-headed households, including labor support, as labor requirements may be especially prohibitive.
• Integrate pit-digging services into the subsidy package for ultra-poor or labor-constrained households to reduce labor and logistical barriers to uptake.
• Adapt implementation strategies by tailoring sales pitches based on household size and structure, and monitor uptake routinely – disaggregated by gender, poverty status, and household composition, to ensure programs remain responsive to the most vulnerable.