A simplified monitoring and evaluation system, with direct reporting to the executing agency, would have led to better assessment of the project’s performance. The ability to evaluate project performance and benefits was seriously compromised when the collection of performance data was discontinued even though collection was required under the loan agreement. The PPMS for the project was complex and was maintained only for the duration of each loan’s implementation period. The decision by the government to pursue a national lease effectively interrupted the PPMS reporting cycle for the additional financing loan in 2016. Even though AWSC was effectively absorbed by the new operator, reporting could have been maintained with the executing agency. Although the interruption in reporting under the additional financing loan is understandable, no reason was given as to why performance data was not collected for towns and villages supported under the first loan through to 2015. A less onerous and more simplified PPMS focused on selected key indicators could have facilitated more continuous monitoring.
Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Project