Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50When Kosmos made the difficult decision to exit Cameroon in 2013, we recognized the importance of keeping our promises to the communities near the on-shore drilling site and continued to fund a social investment project in collaboration with local and international partners. With funding from Kosmos, Plan International and its local partner, Reach Out, implemented a Potable Water and Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Education project in Bamusso Council from June 2014 to May 2015. The project sought to improve access to water at the Government High School (GHS) Mbongo and Mbongo Village, and to increase awareness and adoption of appropriate sanitation practices. While the project initially set out to serve 19 communities, it ended up reaching 26 communities. Kosmos actively monitored the project’s implementation and continues to take a keen interest in its sustainability and effectiveness. Kosmos commissioned a post- project evaluation from Plan International in December 2015 to assess the performance and outcomes of the project by examining WASH knowledge and practices, and health outcomes on beneficiaries. Specifically, the study investigated the conditions of water sources and the level of access to safe and dependable drinking water; the status, availability, and use of sanitation facilities; household hygiene conditions and practices; and the prevalence of waterborne diseases and diseases of fecal origin in the project communities. The table below highlights some of the key findings: The evaluation findings show that encouraging health and WASH outcomes were achieved in a relatively short implementation period. Indicators such as the practice of handwashing before preparing food and after using toilets showed marked increase from the baseline. The evaluation team also observed improved sanitation facilities and conditions within households. The water system constructed in Mbongo was well received by community members and local authorities. The system is reliably providing potable water to students and teachers at GHS Mbongo and other centers benefitting from the stand pipes installed. The WASH campaign in the project communities that involved WASH Ambassadors and chiefs, and the activities led by teachers and WASH clubs at the schools proved engaging and promising to further cement the educational messages and foster lasting impact. A community-based Water Management Committee has been trained to properly maintain and manage the facilities. As agreed at the beginning of the project, financial support to sustain the infrastructure and programming is being collected through mandatory fees paid by the parents of students enrolled at GHS Mbongo. Parents are contributing 500 Central African CFA Francs per year for each child, or less than $1 at current exchange rates. This project’s rigorous measurement and evaluation component and sustainability serves as a model for Kosmos’ future work across our geographical footprint. Indicator Baseline Value1 EndlineValue2 ACCESS TO DRINKABLE WATER Proportion of household members who report the distance to water source being 500 meters or less 31.5% 51.7% Proportion of household members who report water points are maintained 60.4% 67.3% Students and teachers’ access to functional water source at GHS Mbongo - 100% Students and teachers’ access to potable water at GHS Mbongo - 100% WASH KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE Percentage of household members who report always practicing handwashing with soap and water before preparing food 10% 66.2% Percentage of household members who report always practicing handwashing with soap and water after using toilet 8% 67.3% FACILITIES WITHIN HOUSEHOLDS AND COMMUNITIES Proportion of households with toilets or latrines 51.1% 75.2% Proportion of households that do not share toilets or latrines with other households 31.6% 44.1% 1. Sample size of 250 2. Sample size of 367 MEASURING SUCCESS IN CAMEROON 37 37