Water supply and sanitation programmes Shinyanga Region, Tanzania 1990-2006

In Shinyanga, Tanzania, the evidence from a Dutch impact evaluation shows that a large majority of wells from the 1900-2006 periods are operational and that they result in better health and in time savings for women and girls. Time saved by girls contributes to school attendance. It deserves the attention that it is now receiving across Tanzania. Most rural Tanzanians are poor, and the poor have been the major beneficiaries of rural water supply and sanitation programmes. In some but certainly not all cases, the very poorest may be excluded from use of improved water facilities; continued vigilance is needed on this point. These are the two main lessons from the first in a series of impact evaluations of Netherlands-supported water supply and sanitation programmes. The Policy and Operations Evaluation Department (Dutch abbreviation: IOB) initiated this evaluation covering the period from 1990 to 2006.

Experience has shown that community ownership and responsibility are vital ingredients of success. Experience has also shown that the availability of capable support to facilitate the process towards the firm establishment of the approach is crucial. Partly as a result of efforts in Shinyanga, Tanzania now has a workable approach and system, appropriately linked to reformed local government structures. It should persevere with them, not leaving out any of the steps and recognising that it will take many further years of strong commitment and expanded resourcing to meet the national targets for the sector.