An Impact Evaluation of Education, Health, and Water Supply Investments by the Bolivian Social Investment Fund

Abstract

This brief summarizes the results of a gender impact evaluation study, entitled An impact evaluation of education, health, and water supply investments by the Bolivian social investment fund, conducted between 1994 and 1998 in Bolivia. The study observed the impact of small-scale rural infrastructure projects in health, water, and education financed by the Bolivian social investment fund on project beneficiaries and control or comparison groups on a school level, health clinic level, student level, and individual level. The social fund improved the quality of school infrastructure; however it has little impact on education outcomes. The fund's interventions in health clinics raised utilization rates and were associated with reduction in under-five mortality. Prenatal checkups significantly reduced under-age five mortality. Funding for the study derived from the Impact Evaluation of Social Funds.