PROJECT COMPLETION REPORT - HURRICANE RURAL RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY II : RURAL SHELTER RECONSTRUCTION, AID LOAN NO. 522-W-028

THIS PROJECT COMPLETION REPORT DISCUSSES ONLY THE HOUSING CONSTRUCTION COMPONENT AND EVALUATES THE PROJECT FROM ITS INCEPTION THROUGH 9/30/77. IN THE ORIGINAL PROJECT DESIGN 2,400 LOW-COST HOUSING UNITS WERE TO BE CONSTRUCTED, AVERAGING $400 IN CONSUMER COSTS. A CAPACITY WITHIN THE NATIONAL HOUSING INSTITUTE WAS ALSO TO BE DEVELOPED TO COORDINATE AND EXECUTE RURUL SHELTER PROJECTS WITH PRIVATE VOLUNTARY ORGANIZATIONS (PVOS) EXPERIENCED IN LOW-COST RURAL HOUSING PROGRAMS. HOWEVER, INVA AND THE PVOS DISAGREED AT THE BEGINNING ABOUT ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROL PROCEDURES, SITE LOCATIONS, AND UNIT DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS. THE PVOS THEN DISASSOCIATED THEMSELVES FROM THE PROJECT, LEAVING INVA (EXPERIENCED ONLY IN LOW-COST URBAN HOUSING PROGRAMS) WITH TOTAL IMPLEMENTATION RESPONSIBILITY. ONCE CONSTRUCTION BEGAN, WORK STOPPAGES, WEAK ADMINISTRATION, AND A MAJOR FLOOD CONTINUED TO HINDER PROJECT PERFORMANCE. NEVERTHELESS, WITH ASSISTANCE FROM A HIGHLY QUALIFIED HOUSING ADVISOR, INVA PROCEEDED TO DESIGN AND CONSTRUCT 969 BASIC ONE-ROOM UNITS COSTING THE PURCHASER $50 HIGHER THAN ESTIMATED. TO COMPENSATE FOR THE LACK OF SKILLED LABOR, SHORT INTENSIVE COURSES ON TEACHING CONSTRUCTION METHODS WERE CONDUCTED FOR CONSTRUCTION CREW CHIEFS WHO THEN TRAINED VOLUNTEER LABORERS. THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AGREED TO CONSTRUCT LATRINES AND POTABLE WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS FOR ALL HOUSING SUBPROJECTS FINANCED UNDER THE LOAN. BECAUSE OF INSUFFICIENT FUNDS AND TRAINED PERSONNEL, CONSTRUCTION WAS DISCONTINUED; IT WAS RESUMED IN JUNE, 1977 WHEN FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED FROM AN AID NUTRITION LOAN. A MORTGAGE PAYMENT PLAN, ACCEPTABLE TO AID HAS BEEN DEVELOPED, WHERE PAYMENTS WILL ESTABLISH A REVOLVING LOW-COST HOUSING FUND FOR THE CONTINUATION OF RURAL HOUSING PROGRAMS. REPAYMENT UNDER THIS PLAN AND MOH INFRASTRUCTURE CONSTRUCTION WILL BE MONITORED BY USAID.