2010年-世界发展银行全球_Monitoring_Systems_for_Incentive_Programs___Learning_from_Large-scale_Rural_Sanitation____________initiatives_in_India_16页_1mb

Summary of Monitoring Systems for Incentive Programs: Learning from Large-scale Rural Sanitation Initiatives in India

Core Content

This document outlines the monitoring systems used in India's rural sanitation incentive programs, particularly focusing on the National Nirmal Gram Puraskar (NGP) and State-level sanitation award programs. It emphasizes the importance of transparent, objective, and multi-stakeholder verification processes in ensuring the effectiveness and credibility of these programs in achieving Open Defecation Free (ODF) status at the community level.

Main Points

• Sanitation as a Public Good: Sanitation outcomes must be achieved at the community level to ensure public health benefits, rather than focusing solely on individual household access.
• Incentive Programs: Incentives for local governments are effective in driving sustainable collective sanitation outcomes, especially when based on milestone achievements.
• Verification Systems: Transparent and objective monitoring is essential to maintain the integrity and prestige of incentive programs.

Key Incentive Programs

• NGP (National Nirmal Gram Puraskar): A one-time award given to Gram Panchayats (GPs) that achieve 100% ODF status and address environmental sanitation. The award includes a financial incentive ranging from Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 500,000 based on population size.
• State-level Sanitation Award Programs: These are annual competitions where GPs compete to be recognized as the 'best' in sanitation, with a focus on sustainability and improvement.

Verification Process

The verification process is multi-stage and multi-stakeholder, ensuring transparency and credibility. It includes:

Preverification

• GPs must declare themselves ODF and undergo a Gram Sabha resolution to ban open defecation.
• Applications are submitted to block-level authorities for preliminary review.
• A third-party agency is appointed to conduct verification, typically an NGO or research organization with at least three years of field experience.
• Verification is done in a different state to ensure impartiality.

During Verification

• A sample survey is conducted, with a minimum of 50 or 100 respondents based on population size, ensuring representation of both above and below poverty line families.
• Triangulation and supervision are used to ensure data quality.
• Structured observation, interviews, and focus group discussions are conducted with various community members.
• Photographic evidence is encouraged for verification.
• International agencies such as WSP and UNICEF monitor the process to ensure fairness and transparency.
• A report is submitted to the State Level Scrutiny Committee (SLSC) for review, and reverification is conducted if there is a 10% or more variation in results.

Post-verification

• Winners are recognized at public award ceremonies by high-level dignitaries.
• A second installment of the award is given after six months, contingent on sustaining ODF status.
• Sustainability is a key criterion for eligibility in subsequent competitions.

State-Level Programs

• State-level programs are annual competitions where GPs compete at different administrative levels (block, district, division, and state).
• Verification is conducted by peer review teams from different blocks/districts to avoid bias.
• The scoring system varies by state, but includes parameters such as:
  • Personal hygiene
  • School and Anganwadi sanitation
  • Quality of life
  • Solid and liquid waste management
  • Community participation and institutional arrangements

Results

• The NGP has seen an exponential increase in applicants over the years, with ~41% success rate.
• The success rate has improved over time, indicating the robustness of the verification system.
• State-level programs such as the Maharishi Valmiki Sampoorn Swachata Puraskar (MVSSP) in Himachal Pradesh have also seen significant growth in participation and success.

Lessons Learned

1. Planning for Scale: Programs must be planned for large-scale implementation from the start to ensure smooth operations and timely verification.
2. Orientation of Teams: Verification teams must be well-trained to ensure quality and objectivity in the process.
3. Decentralized Management: Decentralization is necessary to maintain quality as programs scale up.
4. Multi-tier Verification: A multi-level verification process with multi-stakeholder teams helps curb bias and ensures objectivity.
5. Peer Monitoring: Using previous winners for verification adds rigor and credibility.
6. Sustainability Focus: Post-award reverification and impact assessments are essential to ensure long-term sustainability of sanitation outcomes.

Conclusion

The NGP and state-level sanitation award programs demonstrate that effective monitoring systems are crucial for the success and sustainability of rural sanitation initiatives. These systems, based on community participation, objective criteria, and multi-stakeholder involvement, provide a model for other countries looking to scale up sanitation programs.