This report presents results of the Mid-Term Review (MTR) conducted for the ongoing (2018-2022) Women Led Output-based Aid (WOBA) Cambodia project, funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) through the Water for Women Fund. The project is being implemented in the rural areas of nine provinces, which have different geographical and socio-economic conditions. These provinces are Prey Veng, Kampot, Kracheh, Pursat, Battambang, Kampong Cham, Kampong Speu, Kampong Chhnang, and Tboung Khmum. The project aims to bring equitable water and sanitation services and hygiene practices to marginalised households in nine rural provinces of Cambodia, and to improve women’s empowerment in the WASH sector.
The project was implemented using a partnership structure that follows the vertical government structure (national-subnational-village), private sector sanitation suppliers and the Cambodian Water Supply Association (CWA) to administer an OBA subsidy scheme. WOBA aimed to build capacity of women to lead WASH mobilisation through partnership with the Committees for Women and Children at the district and commune levels, and through female village chiefs and volunteers
The MTR, conducted during the period of March-July 2021, evaluates the program’s progress towards its planned outcomes and support learning by exploring the effectiveness of the strategies and activities implemented from June 2018 to June 2021. It explores some initial indications of impacts and sustainability.
Specifically, the purpose of the evaluation is to:
1. Assess whether the project has successfully achieved its stated objectives and outcomes that meet the needs of targeted communities and in line with government national plans;
2. Assess the influence of program design, including the WOBA modality and verification process, on this achievement;
3. Identify challenges, compile lesson learnt and provide recommendations for actions to ensure that the project is on track to achieve results by its completion
This final report presents the consolidated findings of the desk review and the fieldwork conducted using focus groups with partners, interviews with the CCWC members, and households in three provinces (Prey Veng, Kratie and Pursat). Suggested recommendations for the remaining 18 months of the project are also included in the report to ensure the expected outcomes could be achieved by completion date. These recommendations should be considered by Thrive/EMW, the Fund and DFAT in designing future inventions in rural Cambodia.
