At the 37th WEDC conference Dr. Tyhra Kumasi from IRC Ghana presented a framework for water service monitoring. This is based on work as part of the IRC-led Triple-S project.

1. Monitoring water
services in Ghana:
the why, the what, the
how and the cost
Tyhra Carolyn Kumasi, Marieke Adank,
Nicolas Dickinson, Esinu Abbey,
Tom Laari Chimbar, Benjamin Dawura
Agbemor & Jeremiah Atengdem
WEDC Conference 2014
Supporting water sanitation
and hygiene services for life

2. Why monitor water services?
Difficulty with
regular updating of
data and its related
cost implications and
economic challenges
No agreed methodology or
framework for service
monitoring-the
indicators/benchmarks-
What are we monitoring
and how?
Monitoring focused
on coverage but not
monitoring services
and the conditions
for ensuring
sustainability
Effective monitoring of water services
leads to improved planning and
resource allocation for water service
delivery

3. Monitoring what?
Functionality: Not just counting systems, but also
considering whether they are functioning or not
However:
− Does not show level of service
− Only focused on output, not underlying factors

4. Monitoring what? Service level
Service level indicators
Quantity 20 litres per capita per day
Quality Meets all Ghana Standards Authority standards
Coverage
Max 150 people per hand dug well / 300 people per
borehole
Distance Max distance to water point 500 metres
Reliability
The facility is providing water for at least 95% of the
year
Service Levels for handpumps
III Handpump provides water services meeting the minimum
standard on all service level indicators
II Handpump provides water services failing to meet the
minimum standard on one or more service level indicators
I Handpump is not functioning

5. Monitoring what? Looking beyond pumps
and pipes: Service provider and authority
indicators
Need to also monitor
Water service providers: day-to-day management of a water
service
Service authority functions: including planning, coordination,
oversight, monitoring, technical support to community-based
water service providers
Indicators:
Composite indicators, scored from 0 (worst) to 100 (best), with
a benchmark with the minimum acceptable score

6. Monitoring what? Service provider and authority
indicators
Service provider indicators
Service authority
indicators
Management and
governance:
 Presence and
composition of a
Water and
Sanitation
Management
Team (WSMT)
 Record keeping
and accountability
 Non-interference
in the composition
of the WSMT
Operations:
 Spare parts
supply and
technical
services
 Maintenance
 Water quality
testing
 Presence of a
District Works Dept
 District Water and
Sanitation Plan
 Budget allocation
and utilization
 Facility mgt plans
and by-laws
 NGO coordination
 Monitoring support
to service providers
 Data transfer from
district to regional
level
Financial
Management:
 Revenue &
expenditure
balance
 Financial
mgt
 Tariff setting

7. How?
• Collaborative process of indicator development, based
on national norms, standards and guidelines
• Data collection using mobile phone technology (Akvo-
FLOW)
• Piloting in three districts (2012-2014)
• Replication in 16 districts (2013)
• Scaling up in 133 districts (ongoing)

8. Cost of monitoring
Initial set up cost
and the cost of
the mobile
phones
Recurrent cost of
service monitoring
covering
Round 1 Round 2
725
4,507
1,427
1,666
8,324
414
3,542
881 1,083
5,918
10,000
8,000
6,000
4,000
2,000
0
Cost f data monitoring in 2012 us$
Cost component

9. Some lessons learnt
• The implementation of the framework might not be feasible
taking into consideration the extensive set of indicators.
o more resources to undertake on a more frequently basis.
o Limited, scarce financial resources
• It is recommended districts should have two set of
monitoring indicators; the lighter and heavier version for
quarterly and annual data collection respectively.
• Self reporting using SMS functionality tracking could provide
a cheaper means of having monthly data on the status of
facilities.
• Depending on the use of the monitoring data districts can
sample for an overview of the facilities and performance of
service providers and authority.

10. Thank you all