Quarterly Performance Report #07: October–December 2014

The project is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and is being implemented by CDM Smith. Key accomplishments and results achieved during the period of October to December 2014 include the completion of spot improvements on the 55-km section from Ifakara to Mbingu, as well as the replacement of three bridges along the 95-km section from Ifakara to Mlimba. These improvements have reduced travel time from Ifakara to Mlimba from 10 to 3 hours and from Ifakara to Mbingu from 3 hours to less than 1 hour. In addition, 5 of the 10 roads funded under Fixed Amount Reimbursement Implementation Letters (FARILs) with each District were under construction, totaling 78.3 km. Three additional contracts for 76.8 km in Kiteto were signed and construction will begin in January 2015. Mvomero is finalizing two contracts for 24.6 km, and construction will also begin in January 2015. Field activities to support the irrigation feasibility studies (FS) and the associated Rufiji environmental flow assessment (EFA) continued. Key activities included the completion of socio-economic survey in December 2014, completion of semi-detailed soil survey throughout project areas in December 2014, and purchase of hydrology equipment. The project also made progress in institutional capacity building, with project road engineers working closely with counterpart District Engineers to assist in the rural road work. A detailed work plan was developed to begin a more robust training program in 2015, to provide more structured short-courses and external training opportunities to address identified gaps in skills. Activities planned for the next quarter include assisting TANROADS Morogoro with closeout activities for the spot improvements and bridge replacement contracts, particularly in relation to satisfying FARIL requirements. The project will also assist each District in overseeing construction activities on the "accelerated process" road upgrades under the FARILs. The project will continue to support the irrigation feasibility studies, including the EFA, with the FS social survey data to be analyzed in February 2015 and the soil survey data to be evaluated in February 2015 to determine land suitability for various crops. A Stakeholder Workshop will be hosted in Morogoro on 10 February 2015 to inform the wider community of the EFA process and solicit feedback from interested parties. The project will also develop a structured system to track and document the skills transfer that has been occurring already on the project, and which will be a key element of the capacity building program in both the irrigation and roads components. Additional opportunities for training outside of the project will be identified as well. Additional road engineers will also be recruited to be based in each District to assist the District Engineers and TANROADS more closely with the administration of the various construction contracts.