PCWSSS project successfully completed: IED

Independent Evaluation Department (IED) of Asian Development Bank (ADB) has observed that the Punjab Community Water Supply and Sanitation Sector (PCWSSS) Project successfully completed with highly successful rated in the Project Completion Report (PCR).
While the output achieved was more than envisaged in the appraisal, a number of subprojects were approved just before project completion, but showing weak co-ordination with development partners in Pakistan. According to Validation Report, released by the IED, ADB, in October 2008, nearly 100 of the 778 subprojects had not been handed over to the communities.
While all subprojects were approved before project completion, these nearly 100 subprojects were either under testing operations, or communities were not prepared to take over the schemes for other reasons. The Project was "relevant", "highly effective", "efficient", and "likely sustainable" with adequate provision for supporting CBOs, Validation Report added. IED agrees with the four lessons stated in the PCR resulting from the Project's successful implementation.
These were (a) active involvement of beneficiaries in the project processes through social mobilisation; (b) training, awareness raising, and capacity building of beneficiaries in the ensuring sustainability of the subprojects (c) appointment of qualified staff and retaining them for the duration of the Project to avoid implementation delays and (d) active support of the provincial government and of senior Executing Agency management in project implementation.
Furthermore, continued capacity building support to the CBOs is required for the sustainability of community infrastructure. According to Validation Report, IED concurs with the recommendations made in the PCR. In addition, there is a need to undertake cost-effectiveness analysis of different types of water supply systems and requirement for continued support to CBOs responsible for O&M of the subprojects.
According to Validation Report, the Punjab Community Water Supply & Sanitation Sector Project design appropriately assessed problems associated with water supply in rural Punjab, identified opportunities, and incorporated lessons from the Punjab Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Project (PRWSSP), which was piloted in seven districts of Punjab.
The project was consistent with the government's strategy, as well as ADB's strategy and programme for Pakistan at the time of approval. The choice of modality and instrument was reasonably appropriate and has some degree of private sector participation. The project design adopted a modest solution to address the identified problem.
The Project, however, had limited co-ordination and/or complementarily with other development partners such as local non-government organisations, TMAs, and the United Nations Children's Fund operating in the water supply and sanitation (WSS) area. The upfront requirement of a 2 percent cash contribution and limitation of funds in poorer households led to a lower participation rate by these households in the Project.
IED appreciates the value associated with the SUPER and hygiene components to the Project. However, in the context of project coverage, added efforts would have helped to upscale activities associated with these activities in a more meaningful way.
While the Project developed several audio-visual materials for hygiene education promotion, another IED mission noted that these materials were largely not known to most of the community members, and none of the 115 subprojects could provide an example other than 25 booklets developed for a wall hanging library. Even the booklets were heavily text dominated, and of limited use for less educated members in the local communities.
The project completion report (PCR) does not state the reasons associated with a large difference in the number of gravity-based water supply systems stated in the report and recommendation of the President (RRP) and actual achievement. The pump-based water supply systems may have been technically appropriate, but their cost-effectiveness was not analysed.
Social mobilisation was achieved for establishing Community-based Organisations (CBOs), but the mechanism ensuring Community-based Organisations (CBOs)' stability and sustainability after project completion was weak. The report added the value of the SUPER and hygiene education program requires further assessment. The Project, at its design as well as at implementation, had weak co-ordination with development partners in Pakistan.
Validation Report revealed that the importance of water, particularly where there are no alternatives to project subprojects, is likely to bind people together and keep the water supply systems operational. However, IED is concerned about limited experience-reflected by the relatively weak maturity of CBOs responsible for the O&M, and inadequate capacity strengthening measures following completion of the Project.
Persistent high fuel prices and disruptions in power supply, in addition to the continued threat of transformer theft, are likely to weaken the sustainability of the subprojects.
Validation Report further revealed that the actual project cost exceeded the appraisal estimates by 9.5%, but this shortfall was covered by an increase in the Asian Development Bank (ADB) loan amount from $50.0 million to $56.1 million because of a change in the US dollar-SDR parity, of which $53.9 million was utilised by the government. The total project cost was $78.2 million, of which ADB financed 68.9%, the government 25% and local communities 6.1%. The PCR report revealed that the disbursement procedures were efficient and supported smooth project implementation.