EVALUATION OF CARE FEEDER ROAD PROJECT - SIERRA LEONE

PROJECT PURPOSE WAS TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO MARKETS AND AGRICULTURAL INPUTS FOR THE RURAL POPULATION. EVALUATION CONCLUDES THAT USE OF A PVO, CARE, TO BUILD LOW COST, LOW TRAFFIC VOLUME, LOW DESIGN STANDARD ROADS IN RURAL AREAS HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL, AND THAT SUPPORT SHOULD BE CONTINUED AND EXPANDED IN A SECOND OPERATIONAL PROGRAM GRANT. OVER 200 MILES OF RURAL ROADS WERE CONSTRUCTED OR REHABILITATED. THESE ROADS WERE BUILD TO STANDARDS WHICH WITH PROPER MAINTENANCE, WOULD ALLOW YEAR-ROUND USE BY TRUCKS AND VANS. AN ONSITE INSPECTION AT THE END OF THE RAINY SEASON REVEALED LIGHT OR NO OVERALL DAMAGE, LEADING TO THE CONCLUSION THAT OVERALL DESIGN WAS ADEQUATE. CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES USED A MAXIMUM OF AVAILABLE MECHANIZED ROAD-BUILDING EQUIPMENT. EXPERIENCE DURING THE COURSE OF THE PROJECT, PARTICULARLY WITH REGARD TO VOLUNTARY LABOR, REINFORCED THE NECESSITY OF USING MECHANIZED EQUIPMENT. MOST OF THE EQUIPMENT USED ON THE PROJEC, HOWEVER, WAS FROM 6-15 YEARS OLD. ALTHOUGH THE EQUIPMENT WAS USABLE, AVERAGE DOWN-TIME WAS APPROXIMATELY 45%. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT AS MUCH NEW EQUIPMENT BE USED ON THE SECOND OPG AS POSSIBLE, AND OLDER EQUIPMENT BE RETIRED IF IT CONTINUES TO BE UNRELIABLE, EVEN IF IT IS NECESSARY TO DISCONTINUE ONE WORKING FRONT. COST PER MILE WAS COMPUTED TO BE $12.3 THOUSAND OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENDITURES (EXCLUDING EQUIPMENT PURCHASED). LOW PROJECT COSTS ARE ATTRIBUTED TO EFFORTS OF EDUCATED, HIGHLY MOTIVATED, MINIMALLY PAID PEACE CORPS AN VSO WORKERS, COMPETENT AND DEDICATED ADMINISTRATION BY CARE, WELL-PAID SIERRA LEONIAN PROFESSIONALS AND SKILLED LABOR, AND DONATED UNSKILLED LABOR. IT IS NOTED THAT THE OPERATION COULD BE DUPLICATED SUCCESSFULLY IN OTHER AFRICAN COUNTRIES IF THE SAME CONDITIONS THAT EXIST IN SIERRA LEONE COULD BE MET. LABOR INTENSIVE PRODUCTION USED IN THE FAR EAST FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF RAILROADS, DIKES AND SO FORTH IS NOT FEASIBLE IN MOST PARTS OF AFRICA, BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF HEAVILY POPULATED RURAL CENTERS AND THE UNWILLINGNESS OF THE AFRICANS TO SUBMIT TO SUCH REGIMENTATION.