Final evaluation of the Benin rural water supply and sanitation project

The evaluation covers the period 1978-6/91. Project initiation was delayed for years, with the actual duration of project activities being only about 3.5 years. In the end, the project achieved all of its quantitative targets, and surpassed expectations in several instances. Achievements were largely due to the quality and high level of commitment of all involved. The project created or reactivated over 500 socio-health committees in 312 villages; installed 309 handpumps; drilled 417 boreholes; and constructed 109 public and 261 family latrines. As a result of these efforts, the annual incidence rate of guinea worm infection dropped by over 30%. The handpump maintenance system, which relies on village funds, village watchmen, trained artisan repairmen, and spare parts supplied through private entrepreneurs, appears to be functioning well. Most project villages quickly collected the initial minimum funds required and established an account as a precondition to the drilling of a borehole and installation of a handpump. Health messages were clear and understood by villagers to the extent that they could repeat and explain them. Some were being put into practice. The eventual application of all these messages can be assessed only over a longer period of time. The project's openness to the integration of other approaches and activities, such as adult literacy, strengthened the community development component.