Morocco HG-001 : Ben M'Sik project : special evaluation

Special evaluation covers the period 9/79-1/83; no methodology is noted. Just when the project was beginning to make progress, MHAT's new Minister developed a plan (in 1/82) which called for relocating the entire Ben M'Sik population (some 80,000 persons) 3 km away at a cost three times greater than the original project budget. A.I.D. has informed MHAT that it cannot support the relocation approach, which it sees as a setback for the goal of achieving a more rational housing policy in Morocco, and has instructed project advisors to focus their efforts on the recently approved HG-002; in this, MHAT has concurred, assuring A.I.D. that it intends to focus on upgrading, except in the Greater Casablanca area. Prior to this, good progress had been made in responding to the 5/81 PES, which had noted that the first 1-2 years of the project had been a time of learning (most project staff were new university graduates), with few accomplishments. Two pedestrian overpasses were constructed and work was begun on plans to upgrade a pilot zone of 800-900 households. A site had been chosen for housing 300 families which would be displaced by infrastructure improvements and road, drainage, and sewer designs for the zone completed; 8 contracts were ready to be let. In addition, seminars had been held for 12 community development workers, a tour of an HG upgrading project in Tunis conducted, and monthly accounting and financial reporting systems developed. Overall, the project staff's capacity to design and implement shelter programs had substantially improved. Lessons learned are: inexperienced staff working on complex projects need a learning period; shelter projects in Morocco should be uncomplicated, with clear understanding among all parties of the roles and responsibilities of each; A.I.D. training for Moroccan housing officials - who are not yet committed to cost recovery, affordability, and reduced subsidies - is crucial; consideration should be given to fielding a resident advisor from the outset in future HG's; and A.I.D. and the World Bank should cooperate in efforts to rationalize housing policy in Morocco.