Community-driven development decision tools for rural - IFAD

Implementing subprojectsIf CBOs play a role in implementing their subprojects, there is a greater likelihood that theproject will build sustainable CBOs capable of operating on their own when the projectassistance comes to an end. There is also a greater chance that the project will influence themultiplier effect of the public investment on the community-level economy. A project with alarge CDD content envisages the participation of CBOs in all phases of implementation, not onlyin the planning phase. Conceptually, this was the difference between CDD and the demanddrivenprojects of the mid-1990s. What does this mean in terms of operational arrangements?Table 3 summarizes the evolution of CBOs’ participation in the post-planning phases ofcommunity subproject implementation. In all cases, the CBOs are expected to assume fullresponsibility for the operations and maintenance of the facilities constructed with public fundsand their MCs are trained to do that. In the demand-driven projects of the 1990s, the CBOs werenot expected to become involved in the investment phase; that was done for them by a technicalservice provider. In a project with moderate CDD content, the MC of the CIG that providedsponsorship and cofinancing in the design stage and supervision of contractors and suppliersgenerally participates. All the other tasks (e.g. tendering, selecting suppliers, contracting, clearingcontractors’ bills for payment) are performed by the technical service provider. Payments are theexclusive responsibility of the project PCU.Box 32Projects in the domain of the district and ofthe communities• Water supply: Networks of piped watersupplies belong to the district because theyserve many communities; open and tubewells are community-level projects becausethey serve only one community.• Irrigation infrastructure: Medium-sizeinfrastructure belongs to the district; microand very small schemes serving one or veryfew neighbouring villages belong to thecommunity level.• Roads: Secondary roads that link severalvillages to a trunk road or town are districtprojects; village access tracks arecommunity-level projects.• Health: Health centres are district projects;dispensaries are community affairs.• Education: Primary schools are in thedomain of the district; functional literacy andnumeracy are community-level activities.Box 33Options to check consistency ofcommunity-level projects with DMPs• The VDCs submitted a project proposal tothe district administration, requestingclearance within a short period of time (i.e.generally four weeks). In the absence of anegative reply supported by convincingarguments within the time frame, the VDCproject was automatically cleared and thefunding agent could proceed with makingavailable the required resources toimplement the project. (World Bank BorguDevelopment Project in Benin)• A CSO appointed to manage finance forcommunity projects prepared 3 yearindicative investment plans. The districtadministration could object to the indicativeplan when it was discussed with the centralgovernment unit responsible for funding thecommunity level. Funds were released tothe CSO if its annual indicative investmentplan was consistent with the 3-year plan.District administrations were informed of theannual plan and could intervene, if theydesired, either in the framework of theirparticipation in the CSO or through thetechnical services they offered to the CSOto implement the microprojects. (IFAD PLPRproject in Cape Verde)• The CSOs entrusted with development atthe community level were involved with theformulation and approval of the DMP. (IFADPDDO in Mauritania)68