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The first retreat of CLTS Foundation will be held at Hotel Raj Hans, Surajkund on 19th February, 2015. The journey that began in the year 2000, of institutionalising the Community-led Total Sanitation (CLTS) approach, has culminated into the formation of CLTS Foundation. Over the last 15 years, CLTS has spread to more than 60 countries globally and forms part of the government’s national sanitation strategy in at least 25 countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. At least 40 million people are estimated to be living in Open Defecation Free (ODF) environments across the developing world by adopting the CLTS approach.

The CLTS methodology is evolving and gaining strength with each passing year. CLTS Foundation has been actively engaged as an institutional actor in providing direct process support, capacity building and policy advice to several countries globally.  The Foundation is also actively exploring new research areas for thematic integration with CLTS such as livelihoods, nutrition, child development etc., as well as program development in the areas of technology, monitoring and evaluation, with our partner organisations.

The renewed vigour with which the sanitation agenda is being pursued in India is evident in the resolve displayed by the national leadership and in the new guidelines for the Swachh Bharat Mission. In this context, the Foundation sees a possibility of making a significant contribution in the national effort by actualizing the potential of CLTS. Till 2012, the Foundation had limited its activity in India to an annual workshop to enhance understanding of the CLTS approach and its potential. Now with the flexibility offered by the new guidelines, the Foundation sees a much greater role in directly working on the ground to assist States in fashioning and implementing CLTS based sanitation strategies. To take forward this mission and chart out its future course of action, the Foundation decided to hold this retreat.

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On this occasion CLTS Foundation will hold its Inner Circle meeting and organize a lunch conversation on ‘The sanitation challenge in India and the way forward’ on 19th February at  Hotel Rajhans in Surajkund, Faridabad. Both these events will be attended by senior government officials, policy experts, international development practitioners, academicians and researchers.