An assessment of past RWSS services in Lao PDR

In 2002, a nationally-led assessment of past installed Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (RWSS) services was carried out to look into the use and sustainability aspects of interventions in 38 villages of 8 provinces in Lao PDR. The study used the Methodology for Participatory Assessments (MPA) for facilitating communities to identify strengths and weaknesses of their water supply and sanitation services. Access to improved RWSS services does not necessarily mean that the systems will be effectively used. The findings from the assessment revealed many important issues. Only about 60 percent of studied villages judged factors of sustainability of their improved water supply services as moderate to high. The study showed that more than 3 out of every 10 households do not take full advantage of the improved water supply and sanitation services. Leaning from this study is being integrated into on-going and future implementation of RWSS projects in Lao PDR.