Assignment Name: Final Evaluation of Sustainable Solutions to Solid Waste Management (SWM) Project in Cox’s Bazar District

Country: Bangladesh

Client Name: United National Development Program (UNDP)

The “Sustainable Solutions to Solid Waste Management (SWM) Project in Cox’s Bazar District” was implemented by UNDP with funding from the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA). The project aimed to address the growing challenges in solid waste management (SWM) in Cox’s Bazar, particularly due to the influx of Rohingya refugees and the increasing waste generation in both refugee camps and host communities. The project, which started in 2018, focused on establishing basic SWM services to enhance waste collection, improve sanitation, promote hygiene, and mitigate environmental and health risks associated with waste mismanagement.

The project primarily targeted Teknaf and Ukhia Upazilas in Cox’s Bazar District, areas severely affected by the waste management crisis. Before the intervention, these areas were generating an estimated 10,000 tons of waste per month without a functional waste management system. The project aimed to change how waste was perceived and managed in these areas, targeting the protection of women and children, disease prevention, and promotion of hygiene. It sought to improve the overall environment, reduce public health risks, and introduce the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) approach to solid waste management. Through the establishment of waste collection points, sanitary landfills, cleaning campaigns, and community engagement activities, the project created a more sustainable waste management system.

The final evaluation was commissioned to assess the progress of the SWM project to date, the performance and achievements of the project, and the validity of its overall approach and quality; and provide recommendations for adjustment and lessons learned that would inform the development of the next phase. The evaluation also placed particular emphasis to evaluate the extent to which the project had contributed to balancing gender, protecting the environment, and strengthening governance.

The specific objectives of the evaluation included:

• To assess the extent to which SWM Project has contributed to addressing the needs and problems identified during the project design.
• To measure the extent to which the project interventions have contributed to achieving the outcomes of the project.
• To assess challenges and opportunities (including external factors/ environment/ COVID-19 pandemic) that have facilitated and/or hampered progress in achieving the intended outcome of the project.
• To assess the effectiveness and efficiency of the project in influencing and contributing solid waste management system and how would this be sustained beyond the end of this project.
• To assess the extent to which gender and environmental approaches of the project have made changes for the intended beneficiaries and area of intervention.
• To identify causes of success and/or failure, extract lessons learned, and recommendations for the way forward.

DM WATCH team was tasked with conducting the final evaluation of the SWM Project in Cox’s Bazar. The following services were provided:

Planning and Consultation:

• Collaborated closely with UNDP, Practical Action Bangladesh (PAB), BRAC, and local government representatives to finalize the evaluation framework and scope of the study.
• Conducted initial consultations with stakeholders to understand the goals, achievements, and challenges of the project.

Data Collection and Fieldwork:

• Developed data collection tools including structured surveys, focus group discussion (FGD) guides, and key informant interview (KII) templates.
• Conducted 384 household surveys across 5 Unions and Teknaf Municipality, as well as 134 shop owner surveys, gathering data on waste disposal practices, waste segregation, and community knowledge on SWM.
• Facilitated 10 FGDs and 15 KIIs with stakeholders, including local authorities, WATSAN committees, NGOs, and project staff to gain qualitative insights on project implementation, community engagement, and behavioral changes.
• Conducted 10 In-Depth Interviews (IDIs) with SWM operators and scrap dealer, 3 case stories with project beneficiaries, and 7 meticulous physical observations of solid waste facilities at Ukhiya and Teknaf.
• Observed the implementation of waste management services, including the sanitary landfill operations and the waste collection points.

Data Management and Analysis:

• Collected and processed quantitative data using digital tools (e.g., KoboToolbox) for accurate tracking and analysis.
• Analyzed survey data to assess project effectiveness in improving waste management systems, hygiene practices, and environmental health.
• Employed thematic analysis for qualitative data from FGDs and KIIs, identifying key success factors, challenges, and community perceptions on waste management.

Assessment of Project Outcomes:

• Assessed the success of the project’s two outcomes:
• Developing Waste Management Systems: Evaluated the establishment of waste collection points, sanitary landfills, and the implementation of cleaning campaigns in Teknaf and Ukhia.
• Changing Behaviors and Attitudes: Measured the effectiveness of community engagement activities, including training on waste segregation, recycling initiatives, and public awareness campaigns.
• Evaluated the impact on public health, including disease reduction and improved sanitation conditions resulting from the project.

Reporting and Recommendations:

• Prepared a final evaluation report with detailed findings on the effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability of the project’s interventions.
• Provided actionable recommendations for the scalability and sustainability of the SWM interventions in Cox’s Bazar, including capacity building for local authorities, enhanced community participation, and private sector engagement in waste management.
• Highlighted the gender mainstreaming efforts, assessing the project’s impact on women’s participation and empowerment in SWM activities.

Dissemination and Stakeholder Engagement:

• Organized a stakeholder workshop in Cox’s Bazar to present the evaluation findings to UNDP, BRAC, PAB, local government officials, and other key stakeholders.
• Shared the final evaluation report along with factsheets, presentation slides, and recommendations to facilitate the continuation and expansion of the SWM model in other regions.

The final evaluation contributed valuable insights into the project’s successes, challenges, and long-term sustainability, guiding future waste management initiatives in Bangladesh and providing evidence-based recommendations for future interventions in refugee and host communities.