Effectiveness of Large Scale Water and Sanitation Interventions: The One Million Initiative in Mozambique

Tinbergen Institute Discussion Paper 12-069/2

44 Pages Posted: 17 Jul 2012

See all articles by Chris Elbers

Chris Elbers

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, School of Business and Economics; Tinbergen Institute

Samuel Godfrey

United Nations - Mozambique Office

Jan Willem Gunning

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, School of Business and Economics; Tinbergen Institute; Tinbergen Institute

Matteus van der Velden

United Nations - Mozambique Office

Melinda Vigh

VU University Amsterdam

Date Written: July 17, 2012

Abstract

The One Million Initiative aims to give one million people in rural Mozambique access to clean drinking water and adequate sanitation by constructing new water points and providing sanitation training. We use panel survey data for 1600 households to analyze the health impact of the Initiative. The paper moves beyond a black box evaluation by analyzing the contribution of various channels through which the interventions affected health. To our knowledge this is the first rigorous evaluation of such a large scale program in the water and sanitation sector. We find that the water point intervention had a sizeable impact on the use of improved water sources and on the health of young children (up to 3 years), while the sanitation training had a strong impact on latrine ownership and on the health of both adults and older children.

Keywords: impact evaluation, water and sanitation programs, health impact

JEL Classification: I15, I18, I38

Suggested Citation

Elbers, Chris and Godfrey, Samuel and Gunning, Jan Willem and van der Velden, Matteus and Vigh, Melinda, Effectiveness of Large Scale Water and Sanitation Interventions: The One Million Initiative in Mozambique (July 17, 2012). Tinbergen Institute Discussion Paper 12-069/2, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2111138 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2111138

Chris Elbers (Contact Author)

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, School of Business and Economics ( email )

De Boelelaan 1105
Amsterdam, 1081HV
Netherlands

Tinbergen Institute ( email )

Gustav Mahlerplein 117
Amsterdam, 1082 MS
Netherlands

Samuel Godfrey

United Nations - Mozambique Office ( email )

Caixa Postal 4713
Ave do Zimbabwe, 1440
Maputo
Mozambique

Jan Willem Gunning

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, School of Business and Economics ( email )

De Boelelaan 1105
Amsterdam, 1081HV
Netherlands
+ 310 20 444 6141 (Phone)
+ 310 20 444 6004 (Fax)

Tinbergen Institute ( email )

Burg. Oudlaan 50
Rotterdam, 3062 PA
Netherlands

Tinbergen Institute ( email )

Burg. Oudlaan 50
Rotterdam, 3062 PA
Netherlands

Matteus Van der Velden

United Nations - Mozambique Office ( email )

Mozambique

Melinda Vigh

VU University Amsterdam ( email )

De Boelelaan 1105
Amsterdam, ND North Holland 1081 HV
Netherlands

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