PL-480 Title III evaluation : basic village services, Egypt

480 Title III Basic Village Service (BVS) project to strengthen the capacity of local Egyptian governments to support rural development. Special evaluation covers the period 3/79-2/80 and is based on document review, site visits, and discussions with project and participating bank officials. The project has progressed according to schedule (i.e., better than normal in projects of this type), although some objectives, particularly those regarding coordination among Egyptian agencies and popular participation in local projects, are so broadly defined that full achievement is not possible. Funds from sales of P.L. 480 grain have been distributed to governorates and villages in a timely manner. In 1/80 work began on 235 projects for 365 villages in 3 governorates. In Fayoum Governorate, canal lining is proceeding well and road improvement projects have begun. Water, sanitation, and biogas projects will start shortly in Fayoum, where all projects are expected to be completed on schedule. Sharkia and Sohag Governorates are limiting themselves to potable water and road projects. The local projects are oriented toward social development as opposed to increased production, but water, sanitation, and road projects will have indirect but positive effects upon human productivity. For traditional projects, design, financial management, construction, and audit services have been adequate; there may be special design problems with more technical projects, e.g., those involving irrigation control or erosion. The Organization for Reconstruction and Development of the Egyptian Village (ORDEV) has implemented the project satisfactorily, but reporting has been slow. Recommendations are to: (1) continue the project and expand activities to 8 more governorates as planned; (2) strengthen village and governorate-level implementation capabilities through an evaluation and training program; (3) require more rigorous analysis of projected benefits and distribution of benefits before approving local projects; (4) select a random subset of projects for intense cost-benefit analysis; (5) develop baseline data on the presence of potable water, roads, canal lining, etc.; (6) include more production-oriented projects; and (7) determine whether additional funds could be used next year, and if so, how.