Report on a regular evaluation of Gaborone West housing and facilities project (633-HG-002)

Special evaluation covers the period 9/82-3/85; no methodology is given. Development of Gaborone West has been hindered by various - mostly institutional - factors. Construction of community facilities (schools, municipal offices, health and commercial facilities) is behind schedule, partly because of a water shortage which led to a temporary ban on water connections. Allocation of residential plots by the Gaborone Self-Help Housing Agency (SHHA) began in 4/84 after the ban was lifted; 80.5% of plots have been allocated to 1,398 beneficiaries, of whom 1,115 have received a land certificate. Verification of applicant eligibility has been virtually ignored by the SHHA, however. Also, only 33% of allottees have received TA in house design and construction and only 15% have received building material loans; regular inspection of homes under construction has been lacking, due partly to problems in establishing regular work hours for SHHA staff. The SHHA"s performance has deteriorated over the past few years due in large part to weak leadership and to confusion as to whether the SHHA is primarily a regulatory or a development agency. Staff morale is low. The advisor assigned to the SHHA has received little support from his superior as to personnel management and community development matters and as a result has focused on technical improvements. On the positive side, the advisor has been assigned a very capable counterpart and the Ministry of Local Government and Lands (MLGL) is aware of the SHHA"s problems and endeavoring to correct them. Two project advisors (along with a third from the World Bank) have been assigned to the MLGL"s Housing Section (established in 1983) where, despite difficulties generic to new undertakings, they are contributing to housing policy development and making progress in helping to define administrative procedures for the Section. Training has included attendance at a Zimbabwean workshop by 21 central and local government officials; inservice training by advisors have been minimal. Numerous recommendations - among them to provide additional training to the SHHA - are made.