Value for money analysis : experience and impact

This learning note documents the use of Value for Money (VFM) methodologies and tools in different UNICEF WASH Country programmes. It provides best practices, challenges and recommendations on the use of the VFM tool and other VFM metrics. The learning note is based on 23 interviews, including a sample of 13 country and regional offices.

The major findings include the following.

• VFM analysis is mostly used for reporting and monitoring unit costs. Countries directly involved in the construction of WASH infrastructure use their own VFM methodologies for making programmatic decisions
• The most used VFM metric is cost per direct beneficiary, which is used for reporting and substantiating more expensive investments such as climate resilient infrastructure or in remote areas
• The most commonly used tools for monitoring systems strengthening are the WASH Bottleneck Analysis Tool (WASH-BAT), the sustainability checks and the UN-Water Global Analysis and Assessment of Sanitation and Drinking-Water (GLAAS) report.