Public Sector Employment Program

A SECONDARY INTENT OF THE PROJECT WILL BE TO ESTABLISH WITHIN THE MINISTRY OF PUBLIC WORKS, A SPECIAL RESOURCE OFFICE (SRO) TO IDENTIFY, PLAN, AND EXECUTE LABOR-INTENSIVE SUB-PROJECTS. THE BULK OF THE LOAN WILL BE USED TO CREATE AN EMERGENCY EMPLOYMENT FUND FROM WHICH MONEYS WILL BE DISBURSED TO FINANCE A VARIETY OF PUBLIC WORKS SUB-PROJECTS, INCLUDING WATER SUPPLY AND SEWERAGE, STREET IMPROVEMENTS, DRAINAGE STRUCTURES, RURAL ACCESS ROADS, FOOD STORAGE FACILITIES (FOR HEALTH POSTS/CLINICS), REFORESTATION, SOIL CONSERVATION, AND RURAL CATCHMENTS. THE GOES HAS DEVELOPED A LIST OF POTENTIAL SUB-PROJECTS FROM WHICH FINANCED WORKS WILL BE SELECTED ON THE BASIS OF (1)LOCAL LABOR CONTENT; (2)DEVELOPMENT PRIORITY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC BENEFITS; (3)ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS; (4)REVENUE-PRODUCING AND/OR MAINTENANCE-SAVING POTENTIAL; (5)READINESS FOR IMPLEMENTATION; AND (6)NON-DUPLICATION WITH OTHER DONOR OR AID PROJECTS. AT LEAST 80,000 PERSON MONTHS OF NEW EMPLOYMENT ARE ANTICIPATED TO BE GENERATED BY THE PROJECT. TO EXPEDITE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SRO, THE LOAN WILL FUND 5 PERSONAL SERVICE CONSULTANTS TO ASSIST SRO STAFF WITH THE REVIEW AND CERTIFICATION OF SUB-PROJECT PLANS, AUTHORIZATIONS AND COST ESTIMATES, ALL CONSTRUCTION WORK, AND PAYMENT VOUCHERS. THE REMAINDER OF THE LOAN WILL BE USED TO PROCURE ESSENTIAL EQUIPMENT, VEHICLE SPARE PARTS AND HAND TOOLS THAT WILL ENABLE THE MINISTRY OF PUBLIC WORKS TO PUT BACK INTO OPERATION VARIOUS TRUCKS AND UTILITY VEHICLES FOR THE TRANSPORTATION OF CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND WORKERS. THE GRANT WILL BE USED TO COVER SPECIFIC TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING FOR STAFF OF THE ABOVE MINISTRIES -- THIS TA AND TRAINING RELATED TO THE LONG-RUN ROLE OF LABOR-INTENSIVE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMS IN THE COUNTRY"S EMPLOYMENT STRATEGY, MANAGEMENT OF LABOR-INTENSIVE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMS, ALTERNATIVE TECHNOLOGY CHOICES, AND PROGRAM EVALUATION. Project amendment of 2/25/81 increases life of project funding to fund a second phase of the project in which SRO will implement 186 new public works subprojects that will create, over a three to four month period, a monthly average of some 14,725 new jobs.