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Abstract
According to the World Health Organization and United Nations Children Fund, 2 billion people live without access to safely managed drinking water services, 616 million utilize unimproved sanitation facilities, and 494 million practice open defecation (2021). Water and sanitation are inadequate in less developed nations like Zimbabwe, where 68% have improved sanitation, 29% drink from unimproved water sources, and national open defecation rates exceed 21% (ZIMSTAT & UNICEF, 2019). Consequently, between 2014 and 2017, CARE implemented a water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) program in Chivi District, Zimbabwe, leading to enhanced access to sanitation facilities and water service. However, WASH program impacts are often not sustained (Taylor, 2013). This evaluation aimed to assess Chivi WASH Project's (CWP) impact four years later, identify facilitators influencing sustainability, and provide recommendations for future programming and policy. Using a mixed-methods approach, 315 household surveys and 49 semi-structured stakeholder interviews were analyzed under these aims. Data were compared across baseline, endline, and ex-post to determine longitudinal changes in WASH outcomes. Multivariate logistic regression was used to discern factors associated with latrine use, access to improved drinking water, and handwashing. In 2021, latrine ownership remained high, with 92.7% basic latrine coverage in sampled communities. Some Sanitation Action Groups became inactive, no longer supporting post-trigging activities. Significant determinants of latrine use included head of household gender, access to an improved water source, privacy and safety perceptions. Knowledge of handwashing increased, yet only 34.6% of respondents reported handwashing practice. Access to an improved water source, knowledge, and latrine type were significant handwashing predictors. Despite a decline from 94.0% to 79.4%, access to improved drinking water sources remained high compared to other ex-post evaluations. Most households (81.9%) reported having a Water Point Committee (WPC) managing their water source, while 74.6% are satisfied with their water management. Length and scope of programing, household income source, and presence of a WPC were significant determinants of improved drinking water access. CWP’s impact is still significant to date; however, some factors are eroding WASH gains. Corrective action across community, government and NGO stakeholders can mitigate future WASH sustainability challenges using lessons learned from this evaluation.