RDA INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT

THIS PROJECT WILL FOCUS ON STRENGTHENING THE RDAP"S LAND PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT CAPABILITY, AND DEVELOPING, INSTALLING AND MAINTAINING LAND CONSERVATION WORKS. GRANT WILL FUND TECHNICAL CONSULTANTS TO WORK WITH TWO OFFICES OF THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (MOA), THE LAND USE PLANNING SECTION (LUPS)AND THE LAND DEVELOPMENT SECTION (LDS). LUPS PERSONNEL AND ADVISORS WILL PREPARE DETAILED LAND USE PLANS FOR ALL RDAP TARGET SITES AND WILL ALSO PREPARE A WORKS MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE FOR EACH SITE. ADVISORS WILL ASSIST THE LDS WITH ORGANIZATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A WORKSHOP TO TRAIN SWAZI"S IN THE MAINTENANCE AND SERVICING OF HEAVY EQUIPMENT EMPLOYED IN LDS CONSERVATION INFRASTRUCTURE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS. IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE PROJECTS WILL ALSO BE SUPPORTED BY GRANT. SUCH PROJECTS WILL INCLUDE THE INSTALLATION/CONSTRUCTION OF TERRACES, GRASS STRIPS, DAMS, IRRIGATION SYSTEMS, ACCESS ROADS, FENCING, AND OTHER APPROOPRIATE WORKS. EQUIPMENT NEEDED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF CONSERVATION WORKS WILL BE PROVIDED UNDER THE PROJECT LOAN. IN ORDER TO INCREASE THE PROFESSIONAL SKILLS OF SWAZI STAFF, GRANT WILL FUND LONG-TERM TRAINING IN THE US (AT THE BS LEVEL)FOR NINE SWAZI TECHNICIANS WHO WILL SPECIALIZE IN CIVIL ENGINEERING, RESOURCE ECONOMICS, RANGE ECOLOGY, HEAVY PLANT MECHANICS, AND SUPPLY MANAGEMENT. ANOTHER 158 HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATORS, 42 LIGHT VEHICLE OPERATORS, 8 SURVEYORS, AND 60 HEAVY EQUIPMENT MECHANICS WILL RECEIVE ON-THE-JOB TRAINING FROM CONTRACT ADVISORS. PROJECT AMENDMENT PAPERDATED 9/26/79 OBLIGATES ADDITIONAL LOAN FUNDS FOR ADDITIONAL CONSTRUCTION/MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT.