Program-for-Results (PforR) of rural water supply and sanitation in the Red River Delta, Vietnam : a process evaluation

The Vietnam Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) estimates that around 75 percent of the rural population of Vietnam has access to improved water, however access to ‘clean’ water, defined by national potable water quality standards, is estimated to be only 35 percent. Water quality in Vietnam is compromised by pesticide and fertilizer pollution as well as fecal contamination, especially where shallow groundwater is used. There is also a significant risk of contamination with iron and arsenic in deeper groundwater sources in the two major river deltas, the Mekong and Red River. Access to hygienic and properly maintained sanitation is estimated to be 51 percent in rural areas. Many of those that remain unserved lack the financial resources to afford hygienic latrines. Over the past decade access to improved household sanitation has been accelerated through lending for domestic sanitation through the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies (VBSP). The PforR focuses on (i) expanding water supply services; (ii) expanding household and institutional sanitation; and (iii) strengthening institutions, including improved planning, monitoring and evaluation. Each of these is tied to a Disbursement Linked Indicator (DLI).