(Un)used and (un)usable? The role of indicators in local decision-making. A Brazilian case study

Data and indicators represent a fundamental tool for knowledge-based policies. They are usually produced by agencies operating at the national or supra national level. However, water and sanitation policies are implemented at the local level. Our article addresses the question of data and indicator usability at the municipal level, while investigating water supply and sanitation services. Firstly, we selected a sample of municipalities in the Rio de Janeiro Metropolitan Area and classified them according to a set of national indicators. Then, we interviewed the person responsible for water and sanitation policies in each municipality. By triangulating qualitative and quantitative data, we found gaps between the indicators produced by national information systems and the data required and employed by local decision-makers. Discussing these results in relation to the literature, we identified gaps and bridges, which could serve as key elements for a governance design baseline with the power to guide future local decision-making processes.