Rural access roads and bridges

The evaluation covered the period FY83-10/90. The MOW"s rural road organization is well established but needs to be centralized and improved in order to perform effectively. So far, the organization has had mixed results. On the positive side, the mobile road rehabilitation units are performing satisfactorily despite resource limitations and equipment diversions. MOW personnel, especially the engineers and shopworkers, are in general experienced and skilled, and adverse environmental impacts of the project appear to have been negligible. There have been numerous problems, however. The six road maintenance units have not performed satisfactorily. Work has been limited to localized repairs with no scheduled program and MOW financing for the component has fallen short by 38%. A simple maintenance management system is in place, but is not being utilized in the planning, monitoring, or budgeting processes. In other areas, TA performance has been weak; training has been marginal and inappropriate to the MOW"s needs; and the bridges component is in arrears, with only 12 of 54 crossings completed. Three major lessons were learned. (1) The MOW should reduce its physical plant as more work is passed on to the private sector. A physical plant in excess of required capacity invites abuse and is a waste of resources. (2) Weak institutional capability within the MOW or other agencies leads to poor management and political interference. (3) Full government budgetary support is a requirement for successful building and maintenance of rural infrastructure.