NGOs can be effective partners in project implementation to increase awareness, prepare communities to take advantage of new infrastructure and serve as a bridge between households and utilities. All of the infrastructure grant facility projects were required to conduct IEC campaigns on topics related to explaining the infrastructure works to households in the project’s catchment area, encouraging more households to connect to the piped water network, and addressing gender and social inclusion objectives. The interim evaluation found that the most effective approach seemed to be partnering with an NGO, whereas the contractor that attempted to just have in- house staff lead IEC activities fell far short of expectations in terms of community engagement and enabling disadvantaged households to benefit from the infrastructure. For the subsidized household connections through the FAS, NGOs were contracted to implement the project in local communities and to conduct IECs sessions on topics including, but not limited to, creating demand for household water connections and/or sanitation, reading and paying utility bills, conserving and handling water at home, and using and maintaining toilets. The NGOs’ significant knowledge of and ability to bond with the communities in which they worked contributed to IEC that effectively engaged poor households to connect to the network and increased their WASH knowledge, and to the willingness of households, local government officials and technicians to donate labor and materials to extend the reach of the FAS. The interim evaluation found that “based on stakeholder reports, the work the local NGOs accomplished in Cabo Verde was one of the most resounding successes of the project.” NGO’s with experience working in project communities should be integrated into project implementation, particularly when high levels of community engagement is essential to achieving expected outputs and outcomes.
Lesson Learned