Ethiopia SOCODEP CE - main report - IFAD

allowances for veterinary assistance in the project area. The supply of drugs was expected to operate
on a revolving fund basis with the regional veterinarian advising on drugs to be purchased. At
appraisal, it was proposed that the funds allocated for this purpose would be held by SRAB with the
National Bank of Ethiopia. The sale and purchase of drugs was to be performed through the Zonal and
Woreda veterinary clinics. All drugs were to be sold to stockowners on a cash basis with a 25 per cent
mark-up. Funds collected from the sales were expected to be reconverted into foreign currency and
deposited in the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) account and used for future drug purchase.
52. Achievements. The operational modalities for the revolving fund were put in place in 1999.
The Regional BOARD received 6 vehicles and motorcycles to support the WIGA livestock fattening
activities and the administration of the fund. At Zonal and Woreda levels 140 veterinarians and
assistant veterinarians, and 300 veterinary technicians received training on the operation of the
revolving fund. Appropriate receipt and ordering forms for drugs were designed, printed and
distributed at field level. After drug purchase and distribution, follow up field visits were conducted to
check the sales and reporting system. According to the veterinary reports 313,140 animals have been
treated for trypanosomiasis; more than 20,000 animals were treated for various infectious diseases;
450,000 sheep and goats have been treated for internal parasites; about 500,000 animals have been
treated for external parasites; and more than 10,000 animals have been treated for other diseases. 26
53. Disbursement. A total of EB 10.7m (US$1.89m) was budgeted for the component. Actual
utilization was only EB 2.1m (19 per cent of allocated fund).
Rural Roads Construction
54. Rural roads construction. A total of 6 roads were constructed through SOCODEP, to a higher
standard than originally assumed (RR 50 rather than RR 30), and at a consequently much higher unit
cost. This meant that the Appraisal targets had to be revised downwards at MTR. However, despite the
relatively small amount of construction and its scattered nature, the quality of at least the four roads
traveled in this evaluation is good 27 , and the impact on those now able to use them 28 is significant.
Furthermore, the equipment provided to the Roads Authority has allowed it to continue construction
elsewhere, and this is expected to continue for some time to come.
55. A total of 122km of rural road construction was carried out. Table 5 shows the achievements of
this component. Unit costs varied widely, from approximately EB 36,000 (US$4,200) to EB 170,000
(US$20,000) per km.
56. Overall, the roads component, like many of the other components described so far, resulted in
useful achievements, but which fell far short of those anticipated at Appraisal. The main reason for
this was the raising of the design standards and hence unit costs of the roads constructed. Furthermore,
while it is acknowledged that SOCODEP had little influence on roads policy, a greater effort should
have been made in pursuing a labour-based maintenance strategy which would have been more
appropriate for the benefiting communities.
26 SOCODEP, undated, Veterinary Component Project Activity report.
27 As good, that is, as other non-SOCODEP roads travelled. However, gullying and erosion problems are
evident, and maintenance is needed.
28 Mostly on foot.
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