Benchmarking sanitation service delivery in metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies in Ghana

Benchmarking is a learning method used worldwide in businesses and governmental organizations to improve their performance. The essence of the method is the comparison of performance indicators with similar organizations and learning from the best. Thus, benchmarking leads to tailor made solutions that have proven to be effective in practice. The overall aim of the benchmark exercise in Ghana was to provide a platform for Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) participating in a capacity building programme funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs to assess their current performance in sanitation delivery and to improve upon their performance by comparing and exchanging lessons learnt. The benchmark activity facilitated a process of self-assessment, networking and knowledge exchange between politicians and local government officials of the participating Assemblies. By engaging in the exercise, the MMDAs were able to adapt knowledge and experiences to their own local context.