Throughout 2025, the Government of Indonesia, World Health Organization (WHO) and partners have intensified action to strengthen national and local capacity to build climate-resilient sanitation systems that protect health and help communities adapt to a changing environment.
Poor sanitation remains a serious health and environmental risk across Indonesia, affecting millions of people. More than 30 million Indonesians still lack access to safely managed sanitation, and as of 2024, only 10.2% of households have toilets that separate human waste from people and the environment. Flooding, droughts and sea-level rise are placing additional pressure on existing sanitation systems and informal waste networks, compounding the health impacts of climate change.
To address these challenges, the Government of Indonesia and WHO are working together for Safe Sanitation Planning (SSP) in the country. The SSP approach looks at every step of the sanitation process, from toilets to treatment and the safe reuse or disposal of treated wastewater and sludge. The goal is to reduce health risks from disease and pollution, while also helping communities adapt to climate challenges.
SSP training participants visit a wastewater treatment plant to identify risks during the waste treatment process. (Credit: WHO/Indah Deviyanti)
At an SSP training in Yogyakarta in June 2025, participants identified several key risks based on real-world case studies from Bantul, Sleman and Surakarta. These included the dumping of untreated fecal sludge, sewage spilling out from blocked pipes and inadequate access to personal protective equipment for sanitary workers at treatment plants. Together, they proposed a series of targeted solutions, including building or improving septic tanks and drainage systems, establishing clear procedures for handling waste, educating communities about safe sanitation practices, and advanced planning for heavy rains and floods to avoid sewage spills.
“The training showed us how climate impacts make sanitation even more complex,” said Laisa Wahanudin, Sanitation Coordinator at the Ministry of National Development Planning (Bappenas). “But SSP gives us a clear, practical tool to act and consider when we carry out the planning and budgeting process at the national level.”
WHO facilitator Leonellha Dillon leads a group training session. (Credit: WHO/Indah Deviyanti)
Field visits to sludge and wastewater treatment plants helped participants apply risk-based thinking on site, observing how decisions can reduce exposure to untreated waste and build safer, climate-resilient systems.
“As climate risks grow, we are committed to advancing sanitation systems that protect public health and preserve our environment,” said Sukamto, Expert Staff to the Governor for Law, Government and Politics, DI Yogyakarta Province. “Sanitation isn’t just about toilets and pipes – it shows what we value and the future we want. Cleanliness is part of our culture and helps keep the environment healthy.”
With new national guidelines under development, SSP has become an integral part of Indonesia’s climate and health planning frameworks. Several ministries and districts have already committed to incorporating SSP into city and district sanitation strategies and local budgeting processes. WHO is supporting this next phase by helping develop climate-resilient SSP guidelines and establishing an online SSP learning hub to expand access to tools and training across sectors.
“The new SSP framework shows how climate action and sanitation safety go hand in hand,” said Dr Lubna Bhatti, Team Lead for Healthier Populations, WHO Indonesia. “By managing risks across the entire sanitation chain, Indonesia is protecting both people and the environment.”
With continued leadership from the Government of Indonesia and support from WHO and partners, SSP is now moving from training to the transformation stage, helping local governments turn sanitation services into a driver of health equity, resilience and climate action for decades to come.
This activity was supported financially by the Directorate General for International Cooperation, Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Written by Indah Deviyanti, National Professional Officer (Environmental Health and Climate Change), and Itsnaeni Abbas, Consultant (Environmental Health), WHO Indonesia