

@mastersthesis {7033,
	title = {Socioeconomic impact of a rural water supply programme in the {UpperEastRegion} of {Ghana}},
	year = {1994},
	note = {NN95147},
	school = {University of Alberta (Canada)},
	type = {phdPh.{D}.},
	address = {Ann Arbor},
	abstract = {Water is vital in an economy, not only in the urban-industrial countries, but also in rural areas through its more widespread use in productive activities, and its potential to improving living conditions. This recognition has led to substantial investments in rural water supply and sanitation projects in the developing world over the past years. Accompanying this, is the increased evaluation of such projects by developing countries, as well as by donors of foreign aid. However, most evaluations have concentrated on health impacts and the reliance on project staff for information on programmes{\textquoteright} impacts. The literature has failed to focus on rural people{\textquoteright}s knowledge, awareness, their practices related to the environment and impacts of issues related to programme objectives. Previous studies have also ignored the views of decision makers (government officials): their awareness, involvement and impacts of the programme on the beneficiaries. Based on the views of both programme beneficiaries and decision makers, this dissertation assessed the socio-economic impacts of a rural water supply programme in the Upper East Region of Ghana, in an effort to contribute to the methods of impact evaluations. Using this approach, seven main findings about the impacts of the rural water supply programme have been identified and explained in this dissertation. First, the programme has made a marginal impact on waste disposal practices of the beneficiaries. Second, the programme beneficiaries have limited knowledge on the transmission mechanisms of water-borne and water-washed diseases. Third, women have not effectively utilized excess waste water in productive economic activities to supplement their incomes. Fourth, the programme has resulted in improved social standing of women in the rural communities. There have been changes in attitude on the part of men towards women. Fifth, the rural people have problems paying the annual water tariff. Sixth, Community Water Organizers were more efficient than their Water User Committee counterparts in the performance of their duties. Seventh, the Radio Learning Group was the most effective medium in delivering health and hygiene education messages. Although this study did not add to the development of theory in impact evaluations, it did make a significant contribution to evaluation research. It did show the need to broaden the research methods and an exploration into what programme beneficiaries experience, and ways to reconcile with views of local and regional level decision makers, in order to strengthen the ties of impact studies with the human-environment research tradition in geography.},
	keywords = {0366:Geography, Geography, Rural development, Social sciences},
	url = {http://search.proquest.com/docview/275878766?accountid=14270},
	author = {Akuoko-Asibey, Augustine}
}
