Evaluation : mid-term evaluation of the water resources integration development initiative (WARIDI), Tanzania

WARIDI ‘s goal is improved water resources management and service access across multiple sectors. Activities are implemented in selected districts of the Rufiji and Wami-Ruvu river basins in Tanzania. The evaluation team (ET) used a mixed methods approach, which included analyzing project documents and monitoring data, and gathering information through key informant interviews and focus group discussions with stakeholders involved in, or benefitting from, WARIDI’s interventions. Using multiple sources of data allowed the ET to triangulate information for cross-validation and gain better understanding of issues from different perspectives. The evaluation found that, in general, WARIDI is well regarded as contributing to improved sustainability in water resources management. However, due to an early underestimation of the complexity and time needed to establish and scale-up activities—especially regarding Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH)—many targets will not be met. The program has done an excellent job integrating women and youth into programming but suffers from a lack of resources for the critical component one—WASH services. Allocating much more funding to this component should be a priority. The Leading with Sanitation approach has been effective in alerting communities that they require latrines before receiving other project benefits. However, it is unlikely that the goal of 1,000 participants will be met by the end of the project.