Sanitation, health, and hygiene in World Bank : rural water supply and sanitation projects

Every year, millions of the world's poorest people die from preventable diseases caused by inadequate water supply and excreta disposal, or sanitation, services. Women and children are the main victims. Thus, the goal of the study which is funded by the World Bank's Europe and Central Asia (ECA) regional studies program is to improve the design and implementation of World Bank rural water supply and sanitation (RWSS) projects in order to achieve greater health benefits. A survey of Bank staff interests in RWSS, conducted by the rural water supply thematic group in May 1997, identified a strong interest among a range of professionals working within the RWSS field (including those in the ECA region) to determine the best design, implementation, and monitoring procedures for hygiene, sanitation, and health components of RWSS projects. To meet the objectives of the study, the authors: (i) reviewed professional literature; (ii) reviewed documentation on 44 World Bank-financed RWSS projects covering two decades (1977-1997); (iii) interviewed Bank task managers and specialists outside the Bank; and (iv) facilitated a field assessment of a successful Bank-financed RWSS project in Ghana. The report is organized as follows: chapter one gives rationale, objectives, and methods. Chapter two presents the results of the authors' review of professional literature on the relationship between health and WSS activities. Chapter three discusses the strengths and weaknesses of World Bank RWSS projects-both standalone those with a RWSS component. Conclusions and recommendations are given in chapter four. The report concludes with lists of useful references and websites.