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Globally, we are falling behind on meeting the Millennium Development Goal sanitation target, and thus the central objective of the International Year of Sanitation is to put the global community on track to achieve the sanitation MDG. Sanitation is the foundation of health, dignity, and development. Increased sanitation access especially for poor people, is fundamental for reaching all the Millennium Development Goals. The International Year of Sanitation is a critically timed and unique opportunity to remove the "sanitation stigma," and to advocate for the multiple benefits that flow from better hygiene, household sanitation arrangements and wastewater treatment. Sanitation is fundamentally about poverty reduction since world-wide the richest are four times more likely to use improved sanitation than the poorest.

1. Increase awareness and commitment from actors at all levels, both inside and outside the sector, on the importance of reaching the sanitation MDG, including health, gender equity, education, sustainable development, economic and environmental issues, via compelling and frank communication, robust monitoring data, and sound evidence.
   
2. Mobilize Governments (from national to local) existing alliances, financial institutions, sanitation and service providers, major groups, the private sector and UN Agencies via rapid collaborative agreements on how and who will undertake needed steps now.
   
3. Secure real commitments to review, develop and implement effective action to scale up sanitation programmes and strengthen sanitation policies via the assignment of clear responsibilities for getting this done at the national and international levels.
   
4. Encourage demand driven, sustainable & traditional solutions, and informed choices by recognizing the importance of working from the bottom up with practitioners and communities.
   
5. Secure increased financing to jump start and sustain progress via commitments from national budgets and development partner allocations.
   
6. Develop and strengthen institutional and human capacity via recognition at all levels that progress in sanitation toward the MDGs involves interlinked programmes in hygiene, household and school facilities (such as toilets and washing facilities), and the collection, treatment and safe reuse or disposal of wastewater and human excreta. Community mobilization, the recognition of women's key role and stake, along with an appropriate mix of "software" and "hardware" interventions are essential.
   
7. Enhance the sustainability and therefore the effectiveness of available sanitation solutions, to enhance health impacts, social and cultural acceptance, technological and institutional appropriateness, and the protection of the environment and natural resources.
   
8. Promote and capture learning to enhance the evidence base and knowledge on sanitation which will greatly contribute to the advocacy and increase investments in the sector.