USAID/Ethiopia commissioned this study to evaluate an ongoing Millennium Water Alliance (MWA) program and to generate findings that could assist in developing monitoring and evaluation indicators for future use. As of 2008, MWA was implementing eight WASH projects in 28 districts, with stated goals of improving access to sustainable and adequate water, improving access to sanitation services, increasing community awareness, and promoting safe hygiene practices. The evaluation calls MWA's progress encouraging overall, but notes that the one to two year planning horizons used were not enough to cause internalized behavior change. Furthermore, the authors recommend investing more in research and development; adopting harmonized approaches and best practices as well as innovative methodologies; building capacity of district water, health, and education offices; and linking the MWA program with other government, USAID, WSP and UNICEF programs.
- Kind of study: document review, key informant interviews, focus groups, observation
- Sample size: 5 projects implemented by 4 partners in 3 regions
- Timing of Study: November-December, 2008
- The program provided safe water to 226,080 people by constructing and/or rehabilitating 411 water supply schemes between its start in 2004 and September 2008.
- Complementary sanitation and hygiene initiatives brought sanitation facilities to 75,000 people in households and 65,284 students in elementary schools.
- Community members perceived the most benefits for women--reducing time and effort spent collecting water and the burden of disease on children (especially diarrhea). The absence of baseline data makes it impossible to quantify these changes.
- In 80% of visited sites, local WASH committees had taken responsibility for management, operation and maintenance of facilities. All had introduced appropriate financing systems through monthly user fees or water sales.
- Community members shared capital costs, by providing free labor and locally available construction materials, but their participation in project planning was minimal.
- Meaningful hygiene behavior change would require a well articulated strategy of IEC/BCC (information, education, and communication / behavior change communication) based on context-specific assessments.
- Low capacity in district offices, including technical limits, poor recognition, frequent turn-over, and vacant posts, was a major obstacle that should have been addressed with capacity building efforts.
- Support to small private service providers deserves more attention. It is equally important that NGOs like MWA have clear exit strategies, leaving behind skilled human resources and institutional systems to sustainably manage WASH systems.
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- Copyright 2008 United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
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Geography
- Africa (Eastern) / Ethiopia / Amhara
- Africa (Eastern) / Ethiopia / Oromia
- Africa (Eastern) / Ethiopia (Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region)
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