Abstract
{ "background": "Process-control systems are critical for infrastructure efficiency and safety, yet their adoption in resource-constrained settings is often hindered by a lack of robust, context-specific data on their economic viability. Evidence from sub-Saharan Africa on the cost-effectiveness of such engineering interventions remains particularly scarce.", "purpose and objectives": "This policy analysis aims to provide a methodological evaluation of process-control systems via a randomised field trial, establishing a framework for determining their cost-effectiveness in a low-resource context. The primary objective was to quantify the incremental cost per unit of efficiency gain.", "methodology": "A randomised controlled trial was conducted, assigning manufacturing and water treatment facilities to either an intervention group (installation of new process-control systems) or a control group (existing practices). Cost data and engineering performance metrics were collected over an operational period. Cost-effectiveness was evaluated using a generalised linear model: $\\log(\\text{Efficiency}{it}) = \\beta0 + \\beta1 \\text{Treatment}{i} + \\beta2 \\text{Cost}{it} + \\epsilon_{it}$, with inference based on cluster-robust standard errors.", "findings": "The intervention group showed a mean efficiency improvement of 18.7% (95% CI: 14.2, 23.1) relative to controls. However, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was highly variable, with the model indicating that a 10% reduction in system cost would increase the probability of being cost-effective by 32 percentage points, holding performance constant.", "conclusion": "While process-control systems can deliver significant engineering performance gains, their cost-effectiveness is not assured and is highly sensitive to initial capital expenditure. Policy mandates for adoption without targeted subsidies may lead to inefficient resource allocation.", "recommendations": "Policy should prioritise phased implementation supported by targeted capital subsidies for proven systems. National engineering standards should incorporate cost-effectiveness diagnostics based on localised operational data. Further trials should investigate lifecycle costing.", "key words": "cost-effectiveness analysis