Nicaragua – Impact Evaluation of Component One of the Sustainability Project of the Rural Water and Sanitation Sector : Results 2015-2019

This document presents results of a randomized control trial on the effects of Component one of the Sustainability Project of the Rural Water and Sanitation Sector (PROSASR). The intervention’s main objective was to strengthen institutional and management capabilities of Water and Sanitation Municipality Units (UMAS) and Water and Sanitation Committees (CAPS). UMAS provide technical assistance to CAPS, the formal or informal institutions that manage, operate, maintain, and repair water distribution systems in the rural communities of Nicaragua. Concerning its main objective, the intervention succeeded: Impact evaluation results show that institutional and management capabilities of CAPS improved, in operation, financial stability, and support for water distribution systems. In addition to these effects, the intervention already shows positive effects on longer-term outcomes such as improvements in sanitation indicators and decreases in diarrhea. The intervention concluded in 2017-18 and end line measurement took place in 2019. Because measurement followed shortly after the intervention ended, all documented effects are intermediate. Benefits have yet to appear in terms of the longer-term goal of increasing access to safely managed water access. It is likely that not enough time passed to allow improvements in institutional and management capabilities to bring rural Nicaragua closer to this key objective. Updated data from the Rural Water and Sanitations Information System (SIASAR) in 2020, as well as a potential new data collection effort two years ahead, could help researchers to detect the longer-term impacts of the intervention.