Institutional capacity assessment in the lens of implementation research: Capacity of the local institutions in delivering WASH services at Cox’s Bazar district, Bangladesh

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0297000
• Publication Date: 2024-02-13T18:24:02Z
• Authors: Mahbubur Rahman; Mahbub-Ul Alam; Sharmin Khan Luies; Sharika Ferdous; Zahidul Mamun; Musarrat Jabeen R...; Debashish Biswas; Tazrina Ananya; Asadullah; Abul Kamal; Ritthick Chowdhury; Eheteshamul Russe...; Dara Johnston; Martin Worth; Umme Farwa Daisy; Tanvir Ahmed
• Keywords: Capacity Building; Thematic Analysis

Background The influx of Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals (FDMNs) has left the Southwest coastal district Cox’s Bazar with one greatest contemporary humanitarian crises, stressing existing water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) resources services. This study aimed to assess capacity local institutions involved in delivering WASH services identify relevant recommendations for intervention strategies. Methods We used a qualitative approach, including interviews assessment workshops engaged service delivery. conducted five key informant (KII) sub-district level officials Department Public Health Engineering (DPHE), Directorate General Services (DGHS), Primary Education (DPE) Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC) have general idea mechanisms. Seven were organized stakeholders from August 2019 September 2019. These followed three areas: i) knowledge policy, organizational strategy, guidelines, framework; ii) institutional arrangements delivery such as planning, implementation, coordination, monitoring, reporting; iii) availability management human, financial infrastructural resources. Data categorized using thematic content analysis. Results majority lacked awareness national policies. Furthermore, top-down planning approaches resulted activities that not context-specific, lack coordination between multiple compromised optimal at level. Shortage human sustainable services, inadequate supervision, evaluation also required further improvement, identified by stakeholders. Conclusion Research evidence suggests decision-makers, donors, development partners should consider learning implementers about their capacity, gaps, opportunities before any particular area.