• The public sector in each country takes the lead, with technical assistance and support from outside agencies.*
• Political commitment is required.
• PPPHW programs are national in scale.
• Public-private partnerships are only a means to an end.
• The focus is on building and integrating existing water and sanitation, infrastructure, and school programs.
• The focus is on measuring the impact of large-scale handwashing programs.
• Partnerships are inclusive.

*A range of institutional arrangements is possible.

Transparency and equality among partners

• All research results and knowledge generated by this initiative are placed in the public domain in a timely manner by putting it on the program website and disseminating it through other means.
• All research results and knowledge arising from this initiative are accessible to soap manufacturers.

Involvement of local soap firms

• The focus is on washing hands at critical junctures using whatever soap people prefer.
• All local soap manufacturers are welcome to participate in the program.
• The consultative process has included the small-scale sector at every stage since the outset in January 2001.
• The shift in consumption patterns with an overall increase in the market for soaps produced by private manufacturers will have no detrimental impact on the small-scale sector.