This manual is one of the outputs of the NETSSAF Coordination Action – a project funded by the European Commission, as part of its Sixth Framework Programme (FP6). The general purpose of this venture is to lay out the framework conditions for future large- scale implementation of cost-effective sustainable sanitation systems in sub-Saharan Africa. As part of this overarching objective, the aim of this manual is to provide a step-wise guidance on how to plan and implement such systems in cities (peri-urban settlements) and rural areas of West Africa, based on a framework composed of 7 steps.