TRANSPORT

SOCIO-ECONOMIC BENEFITS
Formula for Sustainability
It is common experience amongst donors operating in
the transport sector in developing countries – and more
particularly in the road sector – that sustainability in the
form of adequate routine and periodic maintenance is
often difficult to achieve; even though this represents “bad
economics”, through the risk of rapid loss of the original
investment.
Vehicle bridge: Las Cruces – San Fernando
new or rehabilitated schools, and easier access to secondary
schools outside the community.
Institutional Change: Capacity and Maintenance
At community level, the evaluation found that the
training and community involvement associated with
the programme increased local capacity, not only for the
technical aspects of construction and maintenance but
also with respect to organisation and interaction between
the municipalities and other actors. Interestingly, the
quantitative analysis revealed a significantly higher inflow
of other development projects to PAST communities. The
evaluation concludes that the combination of improved
access for NGOs and other development actors, coupled
with the increased capability of the communities, has
helped bring about this change.
At municipal level, the evaluation found that PAST
support in providing training and equipment for technical
officers, social promoters, administrators and planners has
been comprehensive and effective. This contributed to a
continued dialogue with the project committees and has
resulted in generally satisfactory levels of maintenance.
The experience of PAST in Nicaragua has shown that it is
possible to address this challenge. According to the findings
of the evaluation, the key factors in this respect are the longterm
involvement and organisation of the communities
and local governments concerned, coupled with capacity
building and the demonstration of appropriate technical
solutions. Short and long term planning, as well as raising
awareness and resultant pressure from the populations
who stand to lose out on benefits if the original investments
are not maintained, were also highlighted as important. In
this context, the experience of developing, implementing
and maintaining PAST projects has both created capacity
and deepened the relationship between communities and
municipal governments; to the extent that officials are
now more engaged in dialogue with communities, and
communities are more articulate regarding their needs
and responsibilities. This facilitates the task of both parties
in fulfilling maintenance responsibilities - thus enhancing
sustainability and the probability that the stream of positive
benefits identified by the evaluation will continue in the
longer term.
The full “Impact Evaluation of Danida Support to Rural Transport
Infrastructure in Nicaragua”, including more information on methods
and results, can be downloaded from www.evaluation.dk.
Many Birds with One Stone:
Enhancing Social Protection
through Rural Roads
Development
Asfaw Kidanu
Chief Technical Advisor, Kenya Roads Project,
International Labour Organization
Meeting of Road Committee on the Los Canales –
La Manzana Road
It has long been established that investment on
infrastructure development can stimulate growth by
injecting much needed cash into the local economy
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| IRF BULLETIN SPECIAL EDITION: RURAL TRANSPORT, VOLUME-2