Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of USAID/Nigeria’s Livelihood Project – WASH and Nutrition Component (IR3)

The 5-year Feed the Future (FtF), Nigeria Livelihoods Project (2013–2018), implemented by Catholic Relief Service, supported impoverished households in Nigeria to boost their agriculture production and incomes, and improve nutrition. The project involved four main components of cross-sectoral community-based interventions. This cost-effective analysis (CEA) focuses on the WASH and nutrition component, designed to promote optimal nutrition, provide water and sanitation access, and improve hygiene practices through interventions in WASH and nutrition areas. 

This analysis demonstrates that there is a substantial financial and economic case for investing in integrated interventions in improved WASH services as well as promoting child health and nutrition through exclusive breastfeeding for infants under six months. The expected incremental health benefits far outweigh the incremental costs of investing in these interventions. The impact of the livelihood project in improving the WASH infrastructure and livelihoods in the target states in undoubtedly huge as demonstrated by the CEA. Despite this progress, the challenge of inadequate WASH infrastructure persists in these states, especially the availability of clean water, and sanitation and hygiene facilities.

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Press release: Livelihoods Initiative Boosts Quality of Life for 52,000 Nigerians