Learning brief 1: Outcome achievements in the WASH Results Programme: data and insights

This brief presents comparable data from the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Results Programme across 11 countries

From:
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Published
13 October 2020
Document Type:
Lessons Learned
Theme:
Water and Sanitation
Authors:
E-Pact

Abstract

The WASH Results Programme aimed to support poor people in 11 countries to access improved water and sanitation, and to practice improved hygiene. The WASH Results Programme’s innovative focus on payment for outcomes prompted close monitoring of outcome achievements. The resulting data provides useful insights for the WASH sector on continued access to sanitation and sustained hygiene behaviour.

This learning brief presents comparable data on the WASH Results Programme outcome achievements across 11 countries (Bangladesh Pakistan Ghana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Nepal, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia) and explores what the sector can learn from them.

Key insights

  • In the majority of country programmes, high levels of improved sanitation (above 70%) were maintained one to two years after implementation, including in fragile contexts; near-universal coverage was maintained in Ethiopia and Nepal.

  • Hygiene outcomes achievements were higher than anticipated by programme stakeholders. Knowledge about critical times of handwashing remained high (above 80%) one to two years after the implementation phase on average, while handwashing facilities were present in 50% of households on average, with average levels of continued presence of soap above 30%.

  • A low baseline is not necessarily a barrier to achieving and maintaining high levels of access to improved sanitation, and it is possible to achieve near-universal access to improved sanitation in a short time frame.

  • High variability in outcome achievements between different country programmes highlight that despite impressive results overall, a significant number of people – the last mile – are still without access to improved sanitation.

  • Context is the key factor in determining what outcomes achievements are possible. Understanding the extent to which contextual factors enable or limit high achievement will help the WASH sector set more informed targets for future programming.

Learning Briefs series

This is one in a short series of learning briefs exploring the WASH Results Programme’s achievements in delivering sustainable WASH outcomes and lessons about programme design. The full series is:

  1. Outcome achievements in the WASH Results Programme: data and insights

  2. Setting and monitoring outcome targets in WASH programmes

  3. Reaching the vulnerable and those in fragile contexts with WASH services

  4. Experiences in WASH systems strengthening

Citation

E-Pact (2020) Outcome achievements in the WASH Results Programme: data and insights Learning brief #1

Learning brief #1: Outcome achievements in the WASH Results Programme: data and insights

Updates to this page

Published 13 October 2020
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