Project assistance completion report : southern road maintenance and rehabilitation project (650-0043)

The deteriorating security situation in southern Sudan severely affected project activities. In 12/86, the project scope of work was reduced to providing local and overseas training and maintaining Juba town roads, the Juba workshop and compound housing, and the project fleet. Major accomplishments included: rehabilitation of 150 km of Juba/Torit road; maintenance of 190 km of the Juba/Numili road and of 55 km of Juba town roads; provision of vehicles, loaders, bulldozers, graders, and generators; and training of technicians (mechanics, welders, operators, electricians) to perform maintenance and rehabilitation. Although the RBPC's capability to carry out maintenance and rehabilitation was improved, additional programs in this area are recommended. Major lessons learned were as follows. (1) Security conditions should be given proper consideration before starting a project. (2) Depending on security conditions, alternate work programs should be allowed. (3) Once procurement programs are started, they should be completed for the economic benefit of both the donor and the recipient country. (4) Local currency funds must be obligated and earmarked at least six months ahead of project execution. At the start of this project, monthly local currency releases hindered the work program severely.