Capacity assessment, a key step in the process of improving the organizational performance of municipalities

The USAID-funded Municipal Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Project in West Africa MuniWASH) Activity is providing technical support to improve the governance and management of municipal water and sanitation services in 16 target municipalities in Benin and Côte d'Ivoire. To serve as a reference framework for the municipal capacity building program, the USAID MuniWASH project provides these target municipalities with a governance tool called the Institutional Strengthening Index (ISI).

This tool is deployed in a three-step process as follows:

1. The municipalities self-assess their performance in providing water and sanitation services to their constituents.
2. Based on the findings of these self-assessments, the municipalities develop strategic Institutional Strengthening Plans (ISPs) to fill the capacity gaps identified.
3. Finally, the municipalities implement the ISPs for improved service performance.

This case study is also available in French.