Helwan housing and community upgrading project for low-income Egyptians : the lessons learned

An October 1988 audit showed that, after 10 years and an expenditure of $134 million, not a single low-income family was living in the new community and many promised improvements in other communities were years behind schedule. In response to an audit recommendation, this report documents the major lessons learned from the project. The project context is described, including issues related to Egypt's economy, the USAID/Egypt Mission, trends in international housing assistance, and the level of professional skills required for the project. Events leading to project authorization are traced, followed by an assessment of the project objectives, the status of the Helwan new community and the community upgrading program, project management and construction, and institutional development. The report concludes that, in spite of myriad problems, the project should not be viewed as a total failure. Since the 1988 audit, progress has been rapid, with some 7,200 plots fully serviced and most community facilities completed. Housing construction is well underway and initial sales have taken place. Ultimately, more than 20,000 new housing units will be available to moderate-income Egyptian households. Moreover, while the project did not follow its planned schedule, a decade is not an unusually long time in the developing world for implementing massive housing projects.