Evaluating Water Quality Assurance Funds In Ghana: Baseline Assessment

This evaluation consists of a randomized stepped-wedge trial, which allows for rigorous impact measurements alongside a gradual intervention rollout. The evaluation involves 28 water systems in rural Ghana —21 that were randomly assigned to one of three groups successively entering the Assurance Fund program at six-month intervals; and seven that were non-randomly assigned to the first group. At baseline, we measured the same indicators that will be measured subsequently over the course of the stepped-wedge trial: Chlorine residual and E. coli in piped water (the primary outcome indicators for the trial); Water treatment practices; Water quality knowledge of water system operators and local government officials; Consumer awareness of and perceptions of water safety; and Consumer willingness-to-pay for increased water treatment and testing.