Using Data-Driven Management to Improve Water Service Provider Performance
Summary — This learning note from the USAID Water and Sanitation Project in Haiti discusses the implementation of a data-driven management approach to improve the performance of urban and rural water service providers. It defines the key elements of the data-driven model, discusses its application in Haiti, and shares insights to help others apply a similar approach.
Key Findings
- Data-driven management can reverse the decline in water service quality.
- Mobile-enabled software has democratized data analytics for water utilities.
- Strengthening people and processes is crucial for adopting a data-driven approach.
- Aligning staff incentives around data collection improves data system sustainability.
- Local data expertise is essential for long-term success.
Full Description
The USAID Water and Sanitation Project in Haiti, a five-year initiative (2017-2022), aimed to enhance urban water and sanitation services. The project collaborated with Haiti's National Water and Sanitation Authority (DINEPA), its regional offices (OREPAs), and local water utilities (CTEs) to improve the performance of water service providers through a data-driven management approach. Initially targeting 5 utilities, DINEPA expanded the approach to all 27 urban water utilities in Haiti by the project's end. This learning note defines the data-driven model's key elements, its application in Haiti, and shares insights for others considering a similar approach, emphasizing the importance of people, processes, and technology.