When programs are implemented in a situation where maintenance is unlikely, the program should be designed to withstand low levels of maintenance. MCC provided training, a maintenance manual, and spare parts for the pipeline. However, the evaluation found that the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation (LWSC) still did not have the funding or staff to properly maintain the investment. An assessment of the institutional capacity and resources available to LWSC for maintenance could have helped MCC understand the situation. As a gravity-fed system, the pipeline was designed to need minimal maintenance, but even little maintenance needed is not being performed. In situations where maintenance is unlikely to occur, MCC should consider investing in programs with immediate returns and design projects to not require as much maintenance.
Lesson Learned