NAVIGATING CLEAN WATER CHALLENGES: ASSESSING STRATEGIES AND OUTCOMES IN BALI'S PAMSIMAS PROGRAM

Objective: This study investigates the impact of the Community-Based Drinking Water and Sanitation Provision Program (Pamsimas Program), implemented in Bali from 2017 to 2021, on improving access to clean drinking water and sanitation in rural communities.   Theoretical framework: It draws on the S-shape and Inverted L-shape curves to emphasize planned interventions and incentives, while the Theory of Change guides program evaluation by explaining how interventions lead to outcomes. Employing a five-stage results chain, the program focuses on inputs, activities, outputs, outcomes, and long-term impacts.   Method: Through a comprehensive analysis of the program's effectiveness, we employ a natural experiment approach using Propensity Score Matching (PSM) and Multinomial Ordered Logit/Probit regression. The study compares villages receiving Pamsimas interventions in 2019, 2020, and 2021 with non-intervention villages, employing data from the 2014, 2018, and 2021 Village Potential Census (Podes).   Results and conclusion: The findings reveal that Pamsimas significantly influences the choice of water sources and sanitation practices in beneficiary villages. The estimated marginal effects demonstrate a substantial improvement in water quality and sanitation in program-receiving villages compared to control villages. The paper concludes that the Pamsimas Program, by targeting easily achievable improvements, aligns with the pragmatic trend in development economics and provides valuable insights for future water and sanitation interventions.   Originality/value: The analysis, guided by the paradigm shift in development economics towards pragmatic and low-hanging fruit solutions, positions Pamsimas as an effective strategy despite not being as cost-effective as certain health programs.