Scalability of Water and Sanitation Provision through Donor Intervention Schemes in Ikaram Millennium Village, Ondo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Scalability of donor-led programmes is critical to sustainability and achievement of the overall goal of donors’ intervention. This study therefore examined the extent of scalability of water and sanitation sector of the donor-driven Millennium Village Project (MVP) in Ikaram, Nigeria. The research reviewed the pre and post intervention state of water and sanitation situation in the beneficiary communities. It investigated the number of facilities provided during the intervention, community engagement in planning, training, monitoring and other issues that can influence scalability. In a bid to detect the extent of scalability in these communities, Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), Focal Group Discussions (FGDs) and multiple-choice questionnaires were deployed as research instruments. For the administration of the questionnaires, 5% of the total number of households in each community was selected as the sample size.Simple random sampling technique was employed in the administration of the questionnaire items. Data collected were analysed using SPSS and results presented by means of frequencies, percentages, and charts. The study revealed that community members at individual level have scaled up the project to a moderate extent (44.8%). However, at the community level, there was no significant evidence of scalability. In an attempt to determine critical factors responsible for scalability, two hypotheses were tested using spearman rank correlation. The result indicates that willingness of people to replicate has significant relationship with respect to scalability while the annual income does not. Based on the observed level of scalability in these communities, the study calls for consolidation of this modest achievement by government at all levels and the communities in a bid to translate the dream of the donors to reality. The study therefore advocates government supports through adequate funding and community penetrative public awareness campaign on the importance of replication of water and sanitation facilities at both household and community levels.

Key Words: Scalability, replication, Ikaram MVP, water, sanitation