Mid-Term Review of SDC’s Aguasan Programmes in Central America

The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) is involved since more than 30 years in supporting the water and sanitation sector in Central America, concentrating in recent years on national “Aguasan” Programmes in Nicaragua and Honduras and on a “Regional Aguasan Programme” aimed at strengthening regional institutions, knowledge management and policy dialogue on sector issues of regional interest.

Skat was selected to conduct a mid-term review of the current phase 2008-2011 of all three Aguasan Programmes. Using an innovative methodology of “facilitated self-assessment”, Skat supported the project team in thoroughly analyzing key issues and formulating a set of recommendations that will guide the further development of the Programmes.

Some of the main themes addressed in this review were:

• Identifying reasons and solutions for some slow and inefficient management procedures
• Review of the institutional strenghthening components of the Programmes
• Review of the strategy for the selection of partners
• Transversal themes: gender equity, governance, disaster risk prevention
• Progress and challenges in the field of sanitation and hygiene promotion
• Relevance of regional inititiatives and activities
• Inclusion of the poorest and most vulnerable communities, gropups and individuals.