Rural access roads project

Audit report covers the period 8/78-3/81 and is based on document review and interviews with USAID/P and GOP officials and with local beneficiaries. Good progress is being made. A total of 46 road segments totalling 310 km have been approved for construction in four provinces and 22 sections are complete. Regarding related road work, 17 of 23 fords and 15 of 35 bridges are complete. In terms of building the GOP"s institutional capacity, the Design and Evaluation Section of the Ministry of Public Works (MPW) has actively participated in road selection and a new MPW Community Action Section was created and has been instrumental in carrying out a food for work pilot project. Nonetheless, bridge construction is seriously behind schedule due to unforeseen technical difficulties and USAID/P"s near total reliance on the more empirical general road design concept rather than on a combination of this and the more precise, methodical, and inexpensive geometric design concept. Revegetation has been delayed -- none of 34 such activities are completed -- by technical advisors" failure to implement activities or train MPW personnel and due to delays in obtaining hand tools caused by suppliers" slowness in bidding. Although road maintenance is currently not in great need, signs of future problems were observed. In addition, not all project vehicles were being used for project purposes. USAID/P and the MPW have fulfilled their supervisory responsibilities but less effectively than expected. USAID/P quarterly reports do not accurately reflect the physical status of the project. It is recommended that USAID/P, in conjunction with the MPW as needed: (1) reexamine the exclusive use of the general road design concept; (2) accelerate revegetation activities, begin a training program, and address road maintenance problems; (3) complete purchase and distribution of hand tools; (4) ensure project vehicles are assigned to the proper personnel; (5) upgrade quarterly reports; (6) continue close supervision of the food for work construction program; and (7) establish procedures to ensure construction/implementation problems are tackled early on and that design specifications are met.