Process evaluations that incorporate an ex-post inspection of the use and maintenance of infrastructure, can significantly enhance the usefulness of evaluations of infrastructure interventions. The in depth process evaluation conducted as part of interim and endline data collection informed the evaluation team’s understanding of why expected results did or did not show up in the household data. By visiting the water treatment plants, inspecting the infrastructure, and speaking with plant engineers about water treatment and supply practices, the evaluation team was able to provide a broader picture of the project’s results at the utility-level, where all the interventions had occurred. This allowed for more actionable evaluation findings, versus a scenario where the evaluation focused solely on household-level data. The inclusion of a water engineer on the evaluation team was necessary both to be able to conduct a credible process evaluation and inspection of the water treatment plants, and to develop a rapport with the utility staff that made them more receptive to the evaluation findings. The process evaluation was critical to understand the ability of the utility to maintain the works and to see what policies were affecting household water consumption. Learning from the Tanzania experience, MCC evaluations are taking a more detailed approach to process evaluations and have incorporated ex-post inspections of infrastructure investments in water and power evaluations.
Lesson Learned