WASHCost project

The WASHCost Project (2008-2012) in which IRC and partners are involved, researches the life-cycle costs of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services in rural and peri-urban areas in four countries. The rationale is that WASH governance will improve at all levels, as decision makers and stakeholders analyse the costs of sustainable, equitable and efficient services and put their knowledge to use.

WASHCost research teams identify key components for service ‘ladders’

The WASHCost project is gearing up for a massive effort in 2010 to address key cost issues to improve service delivery on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). A meeting of the research teams from Burkina Faso, Ghana, India and Mozambique was held in Maputo, Mozambique, from 2-7 November 2009 together with the Netherlands team based in the Hague. The meeting set plans for collecting data in hundreds of communities and for embedding WASHCost in the planning and budgeting processes within countries and internationally.

WASHCost approach leaflet August 2009

The WASHCost programme is a global approach for sustained services including the poor and underserved, for investments that last and go beyond 2015.
Together, governmental agencies of Burkina Faso, Ghana, India and Mozambique, universities, private sector, research institutes and donors, are designing state of the art approach for cost effective planning of water and sanitation services.
Planning for basic clean water and appropriate sanitation requires detailed cost information, which is still poorly understood. The WASHCost approach reveals “hidden” or “forgotten” costs and enables better planning, collaboration between stakeholders and ultimately better decision making. The approach is flexible and can be applied under a wide variety of conditions.

200908 WASHCost folder.pdf (581 kB)

WASHCost project launches new website

Read all about the WASHCost project on its new website. The WASHCost project website aims to share good quality information on the project which is being implemented with local partners in Burkina Faso, Ghana, India and Mozambique. Twelve frequently asked questions on the new site will help you understand what the project is about. Stories from the different countries give insight into why this project is needed.

The project (2008-2012) is researching the life-cycle costs of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services in rural and peri-urban areas in the WASHCost countries. Its rationale is that WASH governance will improve at all levels, as decision makers and stakeholders analyse the costs of sustainable, equitable and efficient services and put their knowledge to use.

Go to the WASHCost website

The WASHCost action research project

The WASHCost action research project started on 1 February 2008 and will finish in 2012. It will collect and collate information relating to the real disaggregated costs in the life-cycle of water, sanitation and hygiene service delivery to poor people in rural and peri-urban areas.