Evaluation of Danish development assistance to Bangladesh. Volume I. Main report

The objective of the evaluation is an assessment of the performance of the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Programme (RWSSP) and its contribution to the water and sanitation services delivery system in Bangladesh. The aim is to document experiences and lessons learned. The emphasis of the evaluation was on the last part of the programme period from 1989-97. The evaluation focussed on the qualitative impact of the project in relation to the development objectives of the programme. Three Impact Studies, applying qualitative methods, were undertaken (1) a Consumer/household Impact Study, (2) a Human Resources Impact Study, and (3) an Institutional Capacity Impact Study. The studies were undertaken in a participatory manner. The idea was to have the end-users assess the impact of the RWSSP. The self-assessments have been the point of departure of the assessments made by the Evaluation Team (ET). The main report contains 7 chapters. Chapter 1 is the introduction. Chapter 2 presents the setting of the project including the institutional framework and the planning framework within which the programme has been implemented. Chapter 3 provides an overview of the process of programme preparation in the various phases of the programme. Chapter 4 presents a summary of the findings of the extensive literature survey undertaken by the team with regard to programme implementation and programme performance as perceived in the many reviews, studies and evaluations undertaken of the programme in the last 10 years 1989-1997. Chapter 5 undertakes to assess the role and performance of UNICEF in the management of the programme. Lack of documentation and limitations in access to information has made this assessment a difficult task. Chapter 6 presents the findings of the studies undertaken by the Evaluation Team. The findings of the human resources impact study and the institutional development impact study are presented in chapter 6.1 and chapter 6.2, respectively. The consumer impact study findings are presented in chapter 6.3. This includes a discussion of the achievements regarding water, sanitation and personal hygiene and sanitary practices. Subsequently, programme impact are discussed in terms of benefits, affordability, cost-efficiency and cost-effectiveness, replicability and finally the sustainability of the benefits as well as the sustainability of the institutional impact of the programme. Chapter 7 concludes on lessons learned. Emphasis is given to lessons, which are considered of particular relevance for the planning, design and implementation of future interventions in the sector. Such interventions include for example the Government of Bangladesh National Programme, the future UNICEF programme in the RWSS sector, the Danish assisted Sector Programme Support, and finally the future SDC assistance. These interventions will all be implemented within the framework of the new National Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Policy.