Of 29 ethiopia social accountability program (esap2) midterm review (mtr) final report

Findings: Human Development 
In addition to measuring changes in service quality, the study also measured basic human development 
indicators in treatment and control communities. Comparable studies have found that effective social 
accountability programming in health can improve both health service quality and community health 
outcomes.
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For example, Bjokrmann and Svensson (2009) reported a 33% reduction in under-5 mortality over one year, attributable to a 
program which implemented citizen report cards for primary health dispensaries. See: Bjorkmann, M. and J. Svensson, 2011. 
‘When is Community-Based Monitoring Effective? Evidence from a Randomized Experiment in Primary Health in Uganda’. 
Working Paper. 

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Community Health: The baseline survey found that 22.3% (n=4240) of households had a member 
who had suffered from malaria in the past month, and 16.9% (n=4240) had a member who had 
suffered from diarrhea in the past twelve months. The study also captured the incidence of 
maternal and infant deaths in households. Disease prevalence and infant and maternal deaths in 
study woredas are similar to national averages. Highly effective programming in ESAP 2 
woredas could improve these indicators over time, as health service quality improves and 
utilization increases. 
Next Steps 
The initial findings of this baseline data collection exercise must be complemented by data from a follow-
up panel survey of the same households in treatment and control communities at the end of the ESAP 2 
intervention. Measuring the difference on main indicators between baseline and follow-up for treatment 
and control communities will enable the study to measure the changes attributable to the ESAP 2 
intervention. Ideally, follow-up (endline) data collection should be conducted at the same time of year, in 
order to avoid any seasonal variations in response patterns. At the same time, data collection should not 
be delayed too far beyond the end date of the project.
Tentatively, endline data collection is anticipated for November – December 2015, assuming a project 
wrap-up date of September 2015. In the interim, a tracer study which would simply verify the location of 
surveyed households in early 2015 would help to reduce any attrition of sample households at endline.
In-depth qualitative research such as focus group studies and key informant interviews in study 
communities could potentially be conducted at the same time, in order to add depth and insight into key 
findings.