What are the key challenges of Result-Based Monitoring in rural WASH program implementation and how can they be overcome?

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I will like us to look at Result-Based Monitoring and the challenges we encounter in WASH program implementation especially regarding the structures at the community and local government levels.

9 Answers

  1. Dear Safar, The strategy being adapted for Sanitation in Nigeria is the Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) Approach where disgust is the main tool for attitudinal change. Community Members are made to realize the many unhealthy habits they have been living with during the course of time and they themselves chose to change and develop an action plan in that respect that guides the change process. This method is basically used to end the open defecation practice in communities and is considered to be the second step on the sanitation ladder, the first being the cat method. Usually, when you are communicating with the rural or community people, you let them take the driver's position while you seat in the back seat. You only come during the introduction of a concept and when you notice that they are digressing. I am posting some literature on CLTS for your perusal. Check the documents.

  2. @charles, excellent to know about the new method you described. Thanks for your inputs. We will definitely implement the method in our project areas. Do you have any experience about how to change the thinking of community towards sanitation methods? What are your approaches while communicating with the rural people?

  3. Moving on to the specific challenges, I believe we should approach the implementation programmes keeping in mind the complete ecosystem of the community. It is very important that we monitor the programmes on a regular basis. Our work should not stop after building toilets. We also have to build efficient sewerage systems which are reliable, otherwise the communities in no time will switch back to their old ways. In the case of water - for example if we are building RO water systems, strict measures should be taken to tackle the reject water. More often than not, the reject water is thrown mindlessly on the ground. This will further pollute our groundwater by making it more saline. It is imperative that communities themselves are involved in monitoring and impact assessment.

  4. Hello all, this is a fantastic group with extremely relevant discussions. I believe awareness of the communities on the topics of water and sanitation are one of the most important things in the path towards approaching 100% water and sanitation coverage anywhere in the world. Most of the times communities are unaware about the problems linked to water, sanitation, hygiene, diseases and the like. In my experience in WASH in rural communities in India, I have noticed that clean and safe drinking water and toilets are considered a very 'urban' concept. Communities exhibit reluctance to adopting these concepts. Having said that, the people who exhibit reluctance are more often the elderly of the community. The youth are open and more aware of the concepts of water and communication due to obvious reasons of higher penetration of media (internet, TV etc.) and education.

  6. Dear Safar, Thanks for your interest in Result-Based Monitoring and Evaluation. Just like the M&E you have been practicing before, a result-based M&E is the same, what brings out the distinction lies in the emphasis the result-based M&E system places on results. Usually, the M&E framework starts with the inputs such as capacity, finance etc to activities detailing out what the inputs will be used for and then to the output which is the immediate result of the activities carried out, to the outcome which is defined as the short term result and lastly, the impact which is what every program/project sets out to achieve. So for a result-based M&E, the emphasis is on the outcome and impact unlike the traditional M&E that usually stopped at the output. If it is not very clear, I can explain further. Thanks.

  7. As a development worker, one of the biggest challenges I see is our own hesitation regarding involving the community as valued and active partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of programmes. Ensuring that people are given the chance to develop a sense of empowerment and ownership, goes a long way (IMHO) towards ensuring that rural WASH equipment and initiatives are supported locally, long after our funded programmes finish.

  8. Fantastic discussion Charles. I think the first challenge is to break the thinking barrier of the community. I worked in Nepal for some time in WASH sector and believe me they have many other problems so the sanitation is always neglected.