Quarterly Performance Report #11: January – March 2016

The project aims to improve agricultural productivity and expand markets and trade through the development of irrigation and rural roads infrastructure. Key accomplishments and results for the period January to March 2016 include the completion of 10 rural roads funded through the Accelerated Process, totaling 179.7 km. All Local Government Authority (LGA) Districts completed implementation of the FARIL milestones on February 28, 2016, and all branding and marking requirements have been met. Inspections were conducted from March 8 to March 18, 2016, and the inspection reports were forwarded to USAID. In the area of improved agricultural productivity, activities to complete the draft irrigation feasibility studies (FS) and the associated Rufiji environmental flow assessment (EFA) continued. The FS/EFA Symposium was held at the Nashera Hotel in Morogoro from February 11-12, 2016, where specialists presented results and provided insight into how the technical data gathered could be used for future studies. The feasibility studies for all three project areas and the EFA, including all technical annexes for all studies, were provided to attendees for review. The project will provide technical assistance to each District during the 6-month defects liability period for the road upgrades completed under the FARIL "accelerated process." Support will continue to be provided to each District during the consultant procurement process for the road upgrades under the "standard process" with funding from the Road Fund Board. Capacity building training will be provided to address rural road design and maintenance, as well as construction management, provided by outside vendors and project specialists. The EFA and Feasibility Studies reports will be finalized, incorporating all comments from USAID and those received during the FS/EFA Symposium, and provided to USAID. Capacity building will continue to include sessions tailored towards the Zonal Irrigation Office on lessons learned from the Feasibility Study, as well as formalized classroom trainings regarding construction management provided by outside vendors and project specialists. The project has identified the need to modify the task order to remove activities related to irrigation infrastructure development on Zanzibar, as USAID/Tanzania has decided to limit their involvement in this area. The project will provide technical assistance to each District during the 6-month defects liability period for the road upgrades completed under the FARIL "accelerated process." Support will continue to be provided to each District during the consultant procurement process for the road upgrades under the "standard process" with funding from the Road Fund Board. The project will also consider expanding activities along the Mikumi – Mlimba Road, such as additional design work, FARILs for more spot improvements, or pursuing construction funding with EU for the Mikumi – Ifakara section. The project will provide capacity building training to address rural road design and maintenance, as well as construction management, provided by outside vendors and project specialists. The project has made significant progress in implementing the rural roads component, with 10 roads completed and all branding and marking requirements met. The project has also made progress in the area of improved agricultural productivity, with the completion of the draft irrigation feasibility studies and the associated Rufiji environmental flow assessment. The project will continue to provide technical assistance to each District during the 6-month defects liability period for the road upgrades completed under the FARIL "accelerated process."