Investigating Community of Practice in Sumbawa and Manggarai to Support Environmental Sustainability Through CBTS Development Plan

Abstract Climate change, which causes droughts, landslides, floods, and crop failures in provinces such as Manggarai and Sumbawa, disrupts access to clean water and complicates achieving adequate sanitation, highlighting the need for better mitigation strategies. While provincial and district governments understand the global impacts of climate change, this understanding has not yet reached the village level. People feel the impacts but lack awareness of climate change issues or adaptation and mitigation policies. Therefore, it is crucial to develop effective and appropriate sanitation systems to respond to climate change in the Sumbawa and Manggarai areas. This research aims to assess community perceptions and responses to the availability of proper sanitation systems through the Community-Based Total Sanitation (CBTS) approach. The study employs a mixed-method approach, combining qualitative and quantitative methods, following the terms of reference (ToR) developed by Yayasan Plan International Indonesia (YPPI) and funded by Plan International for the final evaluation. Quantitative data are gathered from household surveys, while qualitative data are collected through in-depth interviews with key informants, focus group discussions, and related documents. By examining the domains of community response to CBTS: awareness & perception, and participation, the study revealed that after the project implementation, public awareness of CBTS increased significantly, with the achievement of 100% open defecation free, and improvements in handwashing habits (75%), stopping open defecation (58%), and food and drinking water safety (33%). However, awareness regarding solid (26%) and liquid (11%) waste management remains low and has decreased. Based on interviews with key informants, the community, including people with disabilities, actively participates in completing the CBTS Pillars, with over 70% having received information and 50% having participated. The tendency to avoid Open Defecation is a major driver of change, although financial constraints continue to hinder CBTS improvements.