CARE RURAL PENETRATION ROADS II

USAID PROVIDED A $3.99 MILLION OPG TO CARE TO ADMINISTER THE FEEDER ROAD PROGRAM. A 6-MONTHS DELAY IN SIGNING THE GRANT AGREEMENT (FROM 9/1/77 TO 3/27/78) GREATLY CONTRIBUTED TO SHORTFALLS IN PROJECT OUTPUTS. THE DELAY RESULTED FROM CONCERNS ABOUT JUSTIFICATIONS OF SHORT-SPUR ROADS OF 3 MILES OR LESS, GUARANTEES OF GOSL BUDGETARY SUPPORT, AND THE ROAD MAINTENANCE CAPABILITY OF THE MINISTRY OF WORKS. ONLY 63 MILES OF NEW ROADS HAVE BEEN CONSTRUCTED. ONLY 5 MILES OF MAJOR MAINTENANCE AND 80 MILES OF MINOR MAINTENANCE WERE COMPLETED. PROJECT CHANGES OVER THE YEAR HAVE INCLUDED CHANGES IN THE "MIX" OF EQUIPMENT, CHANGES TO THE APPROVED LIST OF ROADS TO BE CONSTRUCTED, AND ELIMINATION/REDUCTION OF CEMENT, FUEL, AND OIL PURCHASES FROM AID FUNDS. THE ORIGINAL PROJECT PURPOSE OF PROVIDING FARMERS WITH INCREASED ACCESS TO AGRICULTURAL INPUTS AND MARKET OUTPUTS IS BEING ACHIEVED TO A LIMITED DEGREE. A RECENT SURVEY SHOWED THAT THE USE OF FERTILIZER AND AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICES INCREASED IN AREAS WITH NEW ROADS. INCREASES IN THE MARKETING OF RICE, CASSAVA, AND BANANAS WERE ALSO SHOWN DESPITE THE INITIAL FUNDING DELAY, CARE EFFECTIVELY CARRIED OUT ITS RESPONSIBILITIES. EVALUATORS RECOMMEND THAT THE INCREMENTAL FUNDING FOR FY79 BE AUTHORIZED BY AID/W AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THE NEXT FUNDING INCREMENT SHOULD NOT BE MADE UNLESS THERE IS CLEAR IMPROVEMENT IN PERFORMANCE BY THE MINISTRY OF WORKS. FUTURE AUTHORIZATIONS SHOULD CONTAIN ANNUALLY REVISED IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULES, ALLOWING FOR SLIPPAGES BETWEEN TIME-FRAMES OUTLINED IN THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL AND THE DATA AT WHICH FUNDS ACTUALLY BECOME AVAILABLE. A TECHNICAL ANALYSIS AND A SOCIO-ECONOMIC STUDY OF THE PROJECT ARE ATTACHED TO THIS REPORT.