Water Vouchers Evaluation Report, Gaza 2013

A participatory assessment on disaster risk reduction (DRR) was undertaken in GAZA governorate in 2011, OXFAM being the lead agency within the WASH cluster emergency response and preparedness in this area. Three vulnerable neighbourhoods (AL MALALHA, AL MOGRAGHA and AL ZARGA), were identified and an integrated approach has been implemented in the past 2 years, including WASH, Advocacy, Psycho-social support and DRR components. Some months ago, OXFAM implemented an innovative approach to provide safe drinking water to vulnerable household in those 3 communities, by providing water vouchers, and working with the private sector. It is funded by ECHO and an internal evaluation was commissioned to highlight key best practices, assess Design (Relevance and Coverage), implementation (Effectiveness and Efficiency), impact oriented (Impact and Sustainability), and criteria related to this pioneering activity. The programme was paper cash-vouchers exchanged for safe drinking (chlorinated and desalinated) water from water vendors (truckers) and its objective was “Targeted men, women and children are less vulnerable to water and sanitation related illness”. OXFAM took a holistic approach and implemented the following activities: water tank distribution, awareness sessions on chlorination and safe water chain, water quality monitoring, distribution of water vouchers and reinforcing chlorination at the water vendors’ points. 696 household benefited of this successful program.