PATH Safe Water Project’s Monitoring and Evaluation Framework: Testing market-based solutions in four countries

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Abstract

PATH’s Safe Water Project (SWP) is working to identify ways to stimulate a robust and sustainable commercial market for household water treatment and safe storage (HWTS) products for low- and middle-income consumers. Correct, consistent, and sustained use of these products can prevent diarrheal and other waterborne diseases.

From 2008 to 2011 the SWP led a series of pilot projects in Africa and Asia that made low-cost HWTS products available through commercial marketing and distribution channels (see Table 1). PATH partnered with local commercial organizations, including manufacturers and micro-finance institutions (MFIs), to find ways to overcome distribution and cost barriers that make it difficult for HWTS manufacturers to penetrate middle- and low-income markets. The pilots tested various approaches to:

  • Improve distribution and marketing, including door-to-door sales by mobile sales agents
  • Make HWTS products more affordable, for example, by offering consumer credit and discount coupons.