The purpose of these guidelines is to give technical managers of excreta disposal programmes practical assistance in planning and implementing programmes. The guidelines focus on technical solutions for excreta disposal and must be read in conjunction with Oxfam Public Health Promotion Guidelines as no sanitation programme will succeed unless it is initiated and supported throughout by a community mobilisation/public health awareness campaign. The construction programme and the community mobilisation/public health promotion programme should be seen and planned as one programme. The guidelines are also to make people aware of what relevant kits have been developed by Oxfam's Public Health Engineering Team and how they can be used for a fast and effective response.