Findings                                                                                           Good
                                                                                                         InfobriefPractice


            Africa Region Number 97       ·                         ·   Feb 2004
  Findings Infobriefs reports on Good Practice in ongoing operational, economic and sector work carried out by the World
Bank and its member governments in the Africa Region. It is published monthly by the Knowledge and Learning Center
on behalf of the Region. The views expressed in Findings are those of the author/s and should not be attributed to the
World Bank Group.

http://www.worldbank.org/afr/findings


Eritrea: Road Sector Engineering

      The project, an IDA credit of US$ 6.3 million, begun in 1997 and completed in mid-2002, responded to the
   key findings of the IDA Participatory Rural Assessment study undertaken in 1994, which identified
   isolation and lack of road links as substantial constraints to poverty alleviation. It comprised the following
   components: (i) Infrastructure strengthening studies: (a) a feasibility and environmental impact assess-
   ment to determine appropriate design and construction standards of the existing Keren-Barentu-
   Tessenei road and upgrading of the Barentu-Mendefera road track; to be followed by detailed engineering
   designs for the agreed civil works; and (b) a national bridge condition and structural strength survey to
   develop a prioritized program of bridge works to remedy damage and deterioration. (ii) Institutional
   strengthening: (a) technical assistance and training for personnel of the Road Transport Construction
   Department (RTCD) in procurement and contract administration organization, systems, and procedures;
   (b) hands-on training to upgrade mechanics skills, including the procurement of spare parts and
   equipment repairs and training programs; (c) training of trainers; and (d) construction of a small training
   facility and workshop within the RTCD compound, including basic workshop equipment and training aids.


Impact on the ground
· Training was provided to RTCD staff in contract administration, financial analysis, monitoring and evalua-
  tion, stores management, and accounting systems. The outcome was the preparation of a contracts
  administration and procedures manual and establishing contract monitoring procedures. The manual and
  procedures are being used in the preparation of bidding documents for road construction and maintenance
  works and for the hiring of consultants.
· Financial management has improved, and a computer-based accounting system is now in use at the RTCD.
· Bridge inventory/visual conditions surveys and strength testing have been completed, with 165 bridges
  surveyed and a pair/reconstruction program prepared.
· An organizational structure was established for the Ministry of Public Works­Infrastructure Department
  (MOPW­ID), including definitions of functional responsibility, staffing, and a staff training program. The
  project resulted in building capacity and setting up the framework for the Ministry to extend the outcome of
  the project's vision into its future comprehensive strategy for the sector.




   The "Good Practice Infobrief" series is edited by P.C. Mohan, mail stop J-8-811, Knowledge and Learning Center, World Bank, 1818 H Street
   NW, Washington D.C., 20433. Tel. (202) 473-4114; e-mail: pmohan@worldbank.org

· Training was provided in mechanical, electrical and equipment operation to workshop mechanics and
  electricians, equipment operators, university students, and trainers. Major rehabilitation of 34 pieces of
  equipment was done. Of significance is the fact that rehabilitation continued and even gained momentum in-
  house after the departure of the TA consultants. The University of Asmara is working closely with the MoPW-
  ID to integrate the training program with students' practical training requirements.
· A training facility was constructed, and almost 90 mechanical and 50 electrical classroom sessions were
  organized by the 3 trainers trained under the project. A total of 7 university engineering students and 51
  workshop mechanics have been trained in electrical, mechanical, and equipment operation. This training
  center is recognized as an important part of the overall vocational training program of the education sector.



Lessons learned
· Flexibility is required in project design when operating in an uncertain environment. The scope of mechanical
  repair of the equipment had to be considerably altered during implementation to full rehabilitation in view of
  the findings based on detailed inspection of the equipment.
· Building local capacity through extended support of technical specialists is critical to sustain the reform
  program.
· When fundamentally new management systems are being introduced, it is useful to build in a long-term
  service contract as part of the original contract design.
· Policy reforms and capacity building interventions should be accompanied by investment operations to ensure
  continued leverage in the long-term implementation of the reform agenda.



  This Infobrief has been sourced from Implementation Completion Report no. 25236. For more information, please
contactJohnRiverson:Jriverson@worldbank.org




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