Rural access roads I

Final PES covers the period 9/76-10/80 and is based on document review, site visits, and discussions with farmers, agricultural extension agents, and road construction personnel. Project ojectives were not achieved. Due to the Government of Bolivia"s (GOB) failure to provide necessary inputs, the project was terminated in 11/80. Of 1,200 km of road to be constructed or upgraded, only 63 km were completed; work on an additional 410 km was 72% complete. Only 1 of 4 planned experimental roads was completed. As a result of the construction shortfalls, none of the 200 planned road maintenance committees were formed. In regard to personnel training, 4 of 11 targeted mechanics and 43 of 120 planned equipment operators were trained. A number of factors contributed to the project"s failure. Extensive delays were encountered in selecting appropriate construction equipment in the cumbersome process followed in issuing invitations for bids on equipment and spare parts, selecting qualified bidders, and clearing commodities through GOB customs. Because of Bolivia"s poor economic situation, the GOB was able to make only 54% of its planned financial contribution. The project design overestimated the amount of voluntary construction labor available and the GOB did not provide the personnel to mobilize a voluntary labor force. The GOB also did not provide the personnel to gather the agricultural and economic data needed to approve and schedule subprojects and did not provide public services essential to agricultural development in areas where roads were completed. Progress was also slowed by a shortage of cement, difficulties in producing concrete pipes, and water-damaged explosives. Nonetheless, the project seems to have had some favorable impact on agricultural production in areas where roads were completed. The project taught the need to carefully evaluate assumptions based on experimental data and to provide for a greater degree of Mission control over the implementation of multidisciplinary projects.