RURAL DEVELOPMENT PLANNING

The project will be implemented by the Ministry of National Planning (MNP) in northern Kordofan and Blue Nile provinces and by the Regional Ministry of Finance, Industry and Economic Planning (RMFIEP) in southern Bahr El Ghazal and Lakes provinces. A.I.D. will finance long- and short-term TA. To develop GOS planning, administrative, and project appraisal capacities, U.S. M.S. training will be extended to 8 high-level GOS officials (4 from each region) and 1-year diploma training at the University of Khartoum in regional/development planning will be provided to 20 GOS officials. Sudanese institutions will be contracted to conduct nonformal training in development planning and administration. In addition, 12 2-week workshops will be held for provincial or regional officers on topics drawn from project planning experiences, e.g., women and rural enterprise. Provincial planners also will receive on-the-job training in, e.g., resource surveys and project evaluation. To bolster capacities in project development/evaluation and development information, a list of development and applied research topics for each project province will be drawn; the list will focus on provincial economic objectives (most likely agricultural/rural development) and will be the basis of the provinces" development models. Sudanese institutions will be contracted to evaluate 42 ongoing development projects in the 4 project provinces and to collect field data to improve those projects. These data also will be used in designing 100 new village development and 50 new economic development projects. A modest amount of research will be conducted on projects in other provinces and on national/regional issues affecting provincial planning. Amendment (9/82) refocuses the project on the regional (Kordofan and Southern Regions), rather than the provincial level, expands and emphasizes budgeting assistance, and adds assistance in revenue and financial management systems. Project title is changed to Regional Finance and Planning. (PD-BAJ-234) Amendment (8/87) replaces 4/86 amendment unimplemented due to war, extends PACD to 8/90, and shifts emphasis to the local level. Local currency and TA will be channeled through 4-6 PVO"s to villagers in Kordofan and Darfur Provinces for self-help projects in water resources, agriculture, and forestry; the participation of private enterprises and women will be ensured. A permanent revolving loan account will be set up at the Agricultural Bank of Sudan to serve the villages and the private sector. (PD-BBH-769)