Burkina Faso and Ghana to cooperate on developing research methodology

Burkina Faso and Ghana, neighbouring countries in the WASHCost project have pledged to work more closely together on developing methodologies to tease out some of the vital research issues they are investigating. This could include exchanging notes on research methodology and some joint reports on water and sanitation challenges. But the countries have agreed that they work in different governance and societal settings and should not try to copy each other too closely.

WASHCost teams from both countries discussed their methods, findings and plans during a joint meeting Harmonisation of research methodology from 13-15 February 2010 at the CREPA headquarters in Ouagadougou.

This year the Ghana team will research the water and sanitation practices and costs of about 50,000 people while Burkina Faso will do the same for about 40,000 people in villages, small towns and peri-urban areas in their country. Teams are spending several days in communities watching who takes water from communal taps and pumps and carrying out detailed household surveys. Both country teams are working on ways to embed data collection into permanent institutions in the countries so that their work will live on long after the project has ended.

Sanitation and hygiene is proving a challenge for the collection of data. Coverage levels are between 10-15% and there is little data available beyond construction costs. Case studies may be undertaken to tease out the costs, while Burkina Faso is talking to academic institutions about incorporating some research on water and sanitation into postgraduate theses.

The full report is also available on this website.