CARE/Bolivia water supply and small scale irrigation program : a final evaluation of the USAID financed project

Final external evaluation is based on visits to 16 affected communities and interviews with involved personnel and with beneficiaries. The project was launched primarily as an attempt to provide water to communities, and only secondarily as a long-term health intervention. Although CARE will not meet the project target for irrigation systems, and has not constructed any sanitary systems, it has been very successful in implementing potable water systems. All told, CARE has undertaken 109 water projects (vs. a targeted 80) and 17 irrigation systems (vs. 30). Work has been completed in 84% of the communities and should be 100% finished by the end of 11/85. CARE's construction progress is particularly remarkable given the lack of full counterpart support and the economic crisis in Bolivia. Still, a high price has been paid for pushing the resources of CARE and its counterpart, the Departmental Development Corporations, to complete the projects on time. Consistent and significant problems were identified in the areas of: project conception (coverage and level of service); design and construction; training (including health and community management); and operations and maintenance practices. These problems diminish the potential benefits to the communities and affect the medium to long-term survival of the water systems. Highest priority should be given to correcting and rehabilitating deficiencies in systems constructed under the project. (Author abstract, modified)