3 research outputs found
A less expensive toilet: the impact of targeted subsidies on latrine purchases in Cambodia
iDE’s sanitation marketing efforts in Cambodia have resulted in over 250,000 sales of improved pourflush
latrines. Despite the overall efficacy of this approach, iDE recognizes that market actors are not
necessarily incentivized to reach the poorest segments of the market. iDE and Causal Design utilized a
randomized controlled trial, in which poor households in treatment villages were offered partial
subsidies, financing and cash-only options, while control-village households were offered only financing
or cash-only purchase options, to test which financing mechanism leads to the greatest coverage change
among poor households, while having the least distortionary effect on the market. The study finds uptake
rates among poor households increased by 14-16 percent compared to the control group, while there was
no significant effect on non-poor households. This study provides compelling evidence for the impact, as
well as increased cost-effectiveness, of well-targeted subsidies on latrine uptake among lower-income
households in a market-based approach
An approach to measurement of the sustainability of sanitation marketing WASH programs
Since 2011, iDE’s sanitation marketing efforts in Cambodia have resulted in over 200,000 sales of improved pour-flush latrines in rural Cambodia through 329 businesses and 473 sales agents. iDE has tried to measure the sustainability of the businesses we engage. In doing so, we have tried to identify the business strategies and market factors driving or constraining profit and sales at scale. The team has also sought to answer whether or not the cost-effectiveness of iDE’s sanitation marketing programs is improving over time as we continually refine our approach and processes. In the first part of this paper, we analyze business data from the sanitation marketing program in Cambodia to identify business strategies that lead to sustainable sanitation businesses. In the second part, we present a model for understanding the cost effectiveness of iDE’s sanitation marketing programs, and identify some key takeaways for future financially sustainable WASH program implementation
Integrating WASH and nutrition in market-based interventions: principles and results from the field
This paper outlines principles for integrating market-based approaches for improving WASH and
nutrition. It draws on iDE’s experience implementing such programs, and specifically highlights
learnings from iDE Bangladesh’s program Profitable Opportunities for Food Security (PROOFS),
implemented in partnership with ICCO Cooperation, BoP Inc., and Edukans. PROOFS leverages market
forces to increase food security, nutrition, and water and sanitation for smallholder farmers and base-ofpyramid
consumers. The program recently concluded a pilot in which Nutrition Sales Agents added a set
of WASH products to their existing “basket” of nutrition-related goods. The paper highlights principles
for leveraging markets to achieve outcomes in WASH and nutrition. Specific insights involve aligning
sales cycles, managing different sales and distribution channels, and ensuring that product margins
provide profit opportunity for businesses and sales agents. These principles are underscored by
observations from the WASH-Nutrition pilot, the final results of which will be available for the WEDC
Conference