The lessons from the Yacupaj pilot project, summarized below, provide a sound basis for national policy development.
Poor beneficiaries are willing to select and pay for water and sanitation services.
The Yacupaj project demonstrated that even the poorest communities are willing to make a substantial contribution to investment costs. Communities do not always choose the cheapest option, nor do they necessarily select water and sanitation together. However, it is difficult to convince project staff and the government that poor communities can select and pay for desired service levels. This must be overcome through upfront staff training. Project staff must fully adhere to the concept that a project must be demand driven.