WASH Bottleneck Analysis Tool (WASH BAT)
Year of publication:
2011
WASH BAT has been designed as a sector tool for use by governments and development partners for WASH sector strengthening. It enables a systematic identification of factors (or “bottlenecks”) that prevent achievement of sustainable service delivery within national or subnational WASH targets and helps stakeholders to define activities aimed at removing the root causes of these bottlenecks.
Detailed description of Tool
WASH BAT is a sector diagnostic/analysis and monitoring tool developed conceived by UNICEF and developed by Community Systems Foundation in 2011. It is available in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese.
The overall aim of the Bottleneck Analysis Tool is to elevate the efficiency of WASH sector resources to achieve more sustainable and equitable outcomes. This is achieved through facilitating dialogues between sector financiers and by offering practical proposals to remove barriers and increase sector development.
The tool has been designed to cater to different types of user. The principal users of the tool are expected to be line ministries responsible for water, sanitation and hygiene. The application of the tool is expected to be a collaborative effort involving various sector stakeholders and external partners. In a step-by-step approach, the tool assists a user to:
- Assess the key enabling factors to be developed for the WASH sector;
- Identify bottlenecks that restrict sector progress;
- Propose (sequenced) activities for the removal of bottlenecks;
- Estimate resource requirements and costs of bottleneck removal;
- Propose priorities for utilization of additional funds;
- and Link bottleneck removal to sector and broader development objectives.
The user will do this through the following sections:
- Scope of Analysis
- Participant List
- Building Blocks
- Awards, Bottlenecks and Causes
- Activity for Bottleneck Removal
- Costing Intervention
- Fund Allocation
- Responsibility
- Reports
Reviews
It can be customized according to needs and provides a report
Your organization
UNICEF - United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund
Version of tool used
2
Objectives of tool use
To identify present bottlenecks in the WASH sector of Bangladesh
Why did your organization choose this tool over others?
As recommended by UNICEF
In which country or countries did your organization use the tool?
Bangladesh
Timeframe required to use the tool
2018
Did your organization have previous experience using the tool?
Yes
If you answered yes to the question above, number of times previously used
3
Strengths of the tool, based on your experience
It can be customized according to needs and it provides a report
Weaknesses of the tool, based on your experience
(1) It can plan only for 5 years (2) Numeric amounts: can enter only 10 digits, which is not enough for making the national budget. (3) While the costing intervention came, it does not follow the building blocks sequence. (4) Auto-generated report accommodated too much information - which should be reorganized and made as short as possible. (5) While working, auto save took a long time for saving.
This tool is very easy, friendly and useful for the organization
Your organization
UNICEF - United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund
Version of tool used
2
Objectives of tool use
Review the WASH sector bottlenecks and remedial plan by following some steps
Why did your organization choose this tool over others?
This tool is very easy, friendly and useful for the organization
In which country or countries did your organization use the tool?
Bangladesh
Timeframe required to use the tool
2-3 days
Did your organization have previous experience using the tool?
No
Strengths of the tool, based on your experience
This tools provides a participatory notion, scope of decision making, and auto-generated report.
Weaknesses of the tool, based on your experience
This is an online tool, so everything should be auto-generated according to the data entry. But there is a limitation of sorting of high priority activities, which must be done by hand, separately adding into the report.
Systematic way to jointly review, identify challenges, prioritise solutions multi-sectorally and in relation to the various sub-sectors.
Your organization
UNICEF - United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund
Version of tool used
2
Objectives of tool use
Short term and long term action plan for 8 divisions (states) and the country. (Short term plan to review the remaining years of the WASH sector development plan - 2019-2020; long term plan to review the country's 8th 5-year plan in relation to WASH)
Why did your organization choose this tool over others?
Systematic way to jointly review, identify challenges, prioritise solutions multi-sectorally and in relation to the various sub-sectors.
In which country or countries did your organization use the tool?
Bangladesh
Timeframe required to use the tool
June to November, 2018
Did your organization have previous experience using the tool?
Yes
If you answered yes to the question above, number of times previously used
Once - previous version in Nigeria - brief and not so detailed experience.
Strengths of the tool, based on your experience
(1) It allows the systematic assessment of sub-themes, which is very useful for planning by other sectors. For example the health section and WASH section have used the findings of the WASHBAT to inform a national WinHCF for Bangladesh. (2) It allows thorough discussion between technocrats and policy makers and sector stakeholders at national and sub-national levels. (3) It allows systematic identification of challenges, solutions and priority solutions in relation to the enabling environment as well as service delivery.
Weaknesses of the tool, based on your experience
The online tool does not allow the generation of two time periods for short and long term planning; it needs a very strong internet connection; it's not flexible enough for different currencies.
Any additional information or comments on your organization use of the tool?
It was useful for the WinHCF national strategy development & shared with WHO to inform the development of the TrackFin and GLAAS 2018 for Bangladesh.
Very systematic approach that allows to focus conversations and prioritize correctly
Your organization
UNICEF - United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund
Version of tool used
2
Objectives of tool use
The WASH BAT was used as a key input for the review and update of the ONEWASH National Programme (OWNP) in Ethiopia.
Why did your organization choose this tool over others?
Because we believed that it was the most appropriate tool for the purpose of systematically analyzing the Enabling Environment in the WASH sector.
In which country or countries did your organization use the tool?
Ethiopia
Timeframe required to use the tool
3 day workshop (excluding preparations and reporting)
Did your organization have previous experience using the tool?
No
If you answered yes to the question above, number of times previously used
It had never been used in Ethiopia, but (of course) had been used before by UNICEF
Strengths of the tool, based on your experience
Very systematic approach that allows to focus conversations and prioritize correctly.
Weaknesses of the tool, based on your experience
The on-line tool is good to keep some track record and to facilitate access to the tools, but for the workshop I strongly recommend to do it off-line. It helps people to focus on the discussion and not the tool.
Any additional information or comments on your organization use of the tool?
We had great facilitation from SIWI colleagues and UNICEF HQ. For future workshops I recommend countries to allocate sufficient resources (in country or from abroad) to facilitate the discussions (at least 1 facilitator per table/group).
Complimentarity with other tools and WASH sector Enabling Environment (EE) framework
Your organization
UNICEF - United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund
Version of tool used
2
Objectives of tool use
Analysis of WASH building blocks to identify bottlenecks and actions for removal
Why did your organization choose this tool over others?
We found WASH BAT very complimentary to Enabling Environment framework in WASH sector and well organized to be used in Joint Sector Reviews, along with other tools like GLAAS, JMP, SDG-6 costing tool
In which country or countries did your organization use the tool?
Pakistan
Timeframe required to use the tool
2017-18
Did your organization have previous experience using the tool?
Yes
If you answered yes to the question above, number of times previously used
3
Strengths of the tool, based on your experience
1. Systematic facilitation of stakeholders group in identifying bottlenecks and solutions in WASH sector 2. Complimentarity with other tools and WASH sector EE framework 3. Agreed tool of WASH sector and not of one organization 4. Fits in well with sector-wide annual activities e.g. JSRs 5. Versatility: covers urban-rural, water-sanitation and allows users to include customized queries 6. Provides an action plan as an output and doesn't leave the user with analysis only
Weaknesses of the tool, based on your experience
A limitation is that you can not use the tool interactively during facilitation of discussion among the stakeholders unless it is a very small group up to 4 participants.
Any additional information or comments on your organization use of the tool?
Pakistan innovated by using WASH BAT with other WASH sector tools in an institutionalized manner, in sub-national Joint Sector Reviews. See https://washenablingenvironment.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/pakistan_wash_strategic_review_eesr.pdf
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Implementation reports
Madagascar WASH Sector Service Provision: Bottleneck Assessment
Short description:
The analysis of WASH Sector Service Provision in Madagascar using the WASH BAT tool provided a sound and comprehensive understanding of the problems facing the WASH sector in Madagascar. It has rooted this understanding in the political, technical and financial reality of the country, it can be seen that the recommendations that emerged from the process therefore can have real value in providing – in combination – a way forward for the WASH sector.
Countries:
Madagascar
Reference:
2014
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