The overall goal of the Hand Hygiene Behaviour Change Strategy 2016-2020 is to prevent and reduce the prevalence of diarrhoea and other diseases related to poor water, sanitation and hygiene, particularly in children under 5 years, through the promotion of safe hand hygiene practices as a key and proven intervention. The strategy aligns to government’s National Development Plan (NDP) goals of the reduction of Infant and Child Mortality, and to prevention of disease and promotion of health in the country. The strategy outlines approaches to hand hygiene promotion, its implementation framework and identifies with children and caregivers as the primary target audience. It focuses on increasing knowledge and perceived importance of sanitation and hygiene practices, with the long term objective to instill and sustain the habit of washing hands with soap amongst South Africans.