Evidence Action's Dispensers for Safe Water program

Abstract

What do they do? The Dispensers for Safe Water program (https://www.evidenceaction.org/dispensers/) provides chlorine dispensers for decontamination of drinking water to prevent diarrhea and associated deaths of young children. (More) Does it work? We believe that there is strong evidence that chlorination is biochemically effective at inactivating most diarrhea-causing microorganisms, but weaker evidence on the causal relationship between water chlorination programs and reductions in under-5 diarrhea and death. The program carries out surveys to gather data on the implementation and impact of the program, including whether dispensers are correctly installed, what the quality of the water is at baseline, and whether chlorine is present in water at the household level. We have not thoroughly evaluated Dispensers for Safe Water’s monitoring. (More) What do you get for your dollar? Our rough cost-effectiveness analysis of Dispensers for Safe Water suggests that the program is in a similar range of cost-effectiveness as unconditional cash transfer programs. (More) Is there room for more funding? We have not thoroughly evaluated Dispensers for Safe Water’s room for more funding. Evidence Action told us that it could use up to $4.7 million per year to maintain current operations and $7.2 million to expand the program in 2018-2020. (More)