Midterm evaluation of the USAID/CARE community water systems development project in the Republic of Haiti

Mid-term evaluation covers the period 7/84-2/87 and is based on document review, site visits, and interviews with participating officials and beneficiaries. After a period of lengthy delays and slow implementation, project management and construction are generally proceeding well. CARE has requested an 18-month extension so that it can complete 39 of the 40 targeted systems (at no additional cost); however, even if the extension is approved, it is likely that only 29 systems can be completed. The original target of 40 systems in a 4-year period was far too optimistic. Engineering design, construction quality, and logistics have for the most part been satisfactory. Drainage is also generally good, but watershed protection needs to be addressed. Community participation (i.e., donations of labor) is also going reasonably well, especially where the local water user committees (Comites d'Approvisionnement en Eau Potable - CAEP's) are well-motivated and have high levels of cooperation with project promoters; provision of Food for Work incentive rations has been less successful in mobilizing community labor contributions. Training of CAEP members and local plumbers appears sound, and more is planned. Cost recovery plans and operations and maintenance (O&M) plans appear appropriate, but have not been sufficiently tested under operating conditions. O&M will be dependent on revenues from household connections, which have not yet been installed. To maximize the project's production rate and number of beneficiaries, CARE should prioritize future sites, and to increase cost-effectiveness, it should consider clustering sites and expanding existing systems and should emphasize springs over drilling. Before construction begins, a contract should be made detailing how much community volunteer labor will be required, how it is to be organized, and how reimbursed; the FFW ration should be specified and care should be taken to see that these rations are not late, short, or spoiled. Other recommendations are, inter alia, to: (1) conduct studies of O&M costs, beneficiaries' willingness to pay, and the benefits of improved water systems; (2) develop a cheaper latrine model and expand the pilot latrine program (currently targeted at 6 sites and 1,800 latrines) to all sites where water systems are built; (3) reassess the suitability and effectiveness of water use/sanitation education; (4) ensure the timely collection and analysis of water quality samples, before the systems are placed into operation and thereafter.