ES3R Monthly Report – May 2015

The project's objectives are aligned with the Feed the Future (FTF) initiative, which aims to address the root causes of global hunger by sustainably increasing agricultural productivity. The ES3R project will provide infrastructure investment in the rehabilitation of rural farm-to-market roads to support the FTF program's Food and Enterprise Development (FED) component. The ES3R project has three main objectives: Objective 1 is to provide construction oversight for the rehabilitation of 83.5 kilometers of farm-to-market roads in Bong, Lofa, and Nimba counties. Objective 2 involves producing engineering designs and construction documents for the rehabilitation of 450 kilometers of farm-to-market roads in Bong, Lofa, Nimba, and Grand Bassa counties. Objective 3 focuses on training and pre-qualifying five local architect-engineer firms capable of providing oversight for road rehabilitation activities. During the reporting period from May 1 to May 31, 2015, the ES3R team was engaged in field surveys, interventions, and geotechnical and hydrology data collection in preparation for road and culvert design. Construction oversight activities continued in the three counties, along with capacity building activities in the planning of on-the-job training for A&E engineers. The team also conducted meetings and site inspections, including a meeting with the MPW Deputy Minister Jackson Paye on project issues and a site inspection for substantial completion of three road links in Lofa County. The ES3R team received several communications from USAID during the reporting period, including instructions to suspend the field survey of the Konia-Zigida road link in Lofa County and to replace it with the Jamulor-Kenela-Korleh road link. The team was also requested to organize a site inspection due to an application from Westwood Corp. for substantial completion in Bong County. Additionally, USAID COR offered assistance to the construction contractors to ensure compliance with contractual obligations and best engineering practices. The ES3R project has made significant progress in achieving its objectives, including the completion of all A&E firm signing of MOUs for capacity building in field training and the submission of weekly project updates to USAID/Liberia. The team has also made progress in designing bridgeworks, revising the work plan, and developing performance management plans. However, challenges remain, including the need to mobilize capacity training for A&E firms' engineers and to ensure compliance with contractual obligations and best engineering practices.