Project completion report [: new water and economic prosperity in the Red Sea Province]

Due to insufficient project funds and equipment and insufficient in-country drilling expertise, test drilling and pumping activities were not carried out. As a result, the findings of project simulations regarding water yields, water quality, and subsurface conditions could not be verified empirically, nor were accurate estimates of available groundwater possible. Since the Brooke Amendment prohibits further A.I.D. funding of the project, requests for test drilling support have been submitted to other donors. All other project activities were completed, including final reports on the socioeconomic and geophysical exploration studies; related business plans were also developed. The methodology used by the project for groundwater evaluation/location is promising for select geologic regions with scarce, segregated aquifers. Other lessons learned concern financial and management matters. (l) The use of a grant for this type of project was inappropriate, since private contractors should be under TA contracts in order to provide A.I.D. with greater financial control. (2) The Government of Sudan was not among the grant signatories, which led to difficulties in gaining government approval and assistance. (3) Half of the project budget was provided in local currency at the official rate, rather than the much higher free market rate. A 200% inflation rate further eroded purchasing power, causing severe budget shortfalls early in the project.