JOINT EVALUATION OF THE MANAGUA URBAN RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT

This annual evaluation, which covers a period ending 6/78, was conducted by USAID and the Government of Nicaragua"s (GON) Vice Ministry of Urban Planning (VIMPU), and was based on GON records and interviews with GON personnel and project beneficiaries. After 1972, the GON developed an Immediate Action Reconstruction Plan (PRAI) to guide short-term reconstruction activities. In addition, the VIMPU is preparing a master plan for the city that will include approaches to land use patterns based on seismic conditions. Public services such as water, electricity, sewerage connections, communications, health facilities, government buildings, flood control channels, and roads, have all been restored to 1971 levels. Potable water sales have increased 5.3% since 1973, 4,560 households connections have been installed, and 60,000 household electrical services have been repaired. Various construction projects, such as the Provisional Civic Center, are underway, and the PRAI has highlighted the need for new public services. Since 1973, settlements have increased to 33.2% in the outlying city areas, thus attesting to the effectiveness of GON initiatives, e.g., through the issuance of building permits, to deconcentrate resettlement patterns. A water administrative center has been established in Aguadora. As of 10/77, 2,203 families had received potable water and 2,238 families had received sewage connections. Generally, the PRAI has benefitted the urban poor in areas of restoration of services, employment, and household water connections. Additional data and analysis are needed to determine the benefit to low-income families concerning specific project activities. Recommendations are given concerning priority areas for uncompleted projects; GON support for the Small Enterprise Program and initiation of land negotiations for the health center and road projects; and VIMPU evaluation of consultant studies on Managua"s metropolitan area and release of these studies to the public and private sectors.