| Reporting Organization: | WaterAid Canada |
|---|---|
| Total Budget ($CAD): | $ 2,100,000 |
| Timeframe: | January 8, 2019 - December 31, 2025 |
| Status: | Completion |
| Contact Information: |
Nicole Dagher [email protected] |
| India - $ 2,100,000.00 (100.00%) | |
| Gender Equality (50 %) | |
| WASH (50 %) | |
The project aimed to improve the quality of life of marginalized communities in two districts, Gaya and Madhubani, in Bihar, India, through community and institution led sustainable and equitable access to WASH services. The two districts were chosen because they faced significant challenges in safe and sustainable access to WASH services, with Madhubani being flood prone with a high groundwater index and Gaya being drought prone with chemical contamination in its groundwater.
The project demonstrated community managed WASH services in the targeted districts, including piped water supply systems, water quality monitoring, Social Art for Behaviour Change, and measures to sustain services through the establishment of entrepreneurial models for service delivery and supplies. It supported district and state administrations to promote community managed models through training and capacity building. In addition, the project supported the government to assess and improve the functioning of water quality laboratories. The project also sought to influence critical WASH behaviours such as menstrual hygiene management, handwashing with soap, and safe waste management practices that contributed to poor health outcomes, particularly among children, adolescent girls, and women.
| Gender and age: | Adolescent females Adolescent males Adult men Adult women Children, boys Children, girls |
|---|---|
| Descriptors: | Rural |
| Total Direct Population: | 235,935 |
| Enhanced capacities of agents of change and local authorities in influencing the practice of key WASH behaviors in identified settings of target communities | |
| Psychosocial conditions for the practice of key WASH behaviour(s) in target groups of target communities improved | |
| 40 | GPs of Madhubani and Gaya villages with improved access to WASH infrastructure |
| 40 | GPs of Madhubani and Gaya with increased capacity of local government officials and frontline functionaries on sustainable WASH services and facilities |
Project Boond achieved substantial improvements in access to WASH services, behaviour change, institutional strengthening, and local economic resilience in Gaya and Madhubani districts of Bihar.
At the household level, access to basic water services reached near universal levels by endline, with 98.8 percent of households in Gaya and 100 percent in Madhubani reporting access. Sixty five percent of households reported safely managed water services. Access to handwashing facilities improved significantly, increasing from 37 percent at baseline to 80 percent at endline. These gains reflected both infrastructure investments and sustained engagement with communities.
Institutional improvements were also strong. One hundred percent of healthcare facilities and 97.9 percent of schools had access to basic water services at endline, while 65 percent of Anganwadi Centres reported similar access. Handwashing facilities were available in 78 percent of healthcare facilities, 88.3 percent of schools, and 75 percent of Anganwadi Centres. Schools reported separate toilets for boys and girls, and healthcare facilities included dedicated toilets for pregnant women and persons with disabilities, strengthening inclusion and dignity. The project exceeded several infrastructure targets. A total of 136 handpumps were retrofitted across both districts, surpassing the original target of 123 and ultimately benefiting 235,935 people, exceeding the planned reach of 215,500. The project also mobilized significant financial resources beyond its core budget, including community contributions and government leverage funds, strengthening ownership and sustainability.
Behaviour change outcomes were equally notable. Through the Social Art for Behaviour Change approach, the project reached over 40,000 boys, more than 40,000 girls, and over 44,000 mothers of children under five. By endline, 60 percent of respondents reported adherence to handwashing at all five critical times, a substantial improvement from baseline when handwashing was largely limited to post defecation and before meals. Mothers were found to play a particularly strong role as household influencers, actively reminding family members and monitoring hygiene practices. Community members widely appreciated the culturally relevant, locally delivered SABC interventions.
Under the economic empowerment component, 648 individuals were trained, including 133 mini store operators and 515 skilled workers such as masons and plumbers. These trainees reported an average monthly income of ₹8,401 from WASH related services after training, demonstrating the viability of WASH linked livelihoods. More than 80 percent of trained service providers reported that the training strengthened their confidence and ability to provide services. Female led mini stores showed strong intention to expand their businesses, reflecting both empowerment and market growth.
Institutional strengthening and governance outcomes were reinforced through multi stakeholder collaboration. The project aligned closely with the Jal Jeevan Mission and the state Annual Action Plan, ensuring coherence with government priorities. Capacity building for frontline workers, Panchayati Raj Institutions, school management committees, and WASH management committees strengthened operation and maintenance systems. Over 90 percent of trained stakeholders reported increased confidence in performing their roles.
Despite early implementation challenges due to COVID 19 related disruptions, the project achieved its targets within budget, requiring only a three month no cost extension. Strong monitoring systems, localized MIS tracking, and regular review meetings supported adaptive management and timely corrective action.
Overall, Project Boond delivered measurable improvements in water access, sanitation infrastructure, hygiene behaviours, local governance capacity, and WASH linked livelihoods. The project demonstrated that combining infrastructure investment, behaviour change through culturally grounded approaches, and market based strategies can generate sustainable and inclusive WASH outcomes in vulnerable contexts.
