Uganda - Northern Reconstruction

 ICRR 10324 Report Number : ICRR10324 ICR Review Operations Evaluation Department 1. Project Data : OEDID : OEDID: C2362 Project ID : P002981 Project Name : Northern Reconstruction Country : Uganda Sector : Other Urban Development L/C Number : C2362 Partners involved : Gov of Netherlands, DANIDA Prepared by : Roy T. Gilbert, OEDST Reviewed by : Keith Pitman Group Manager : Gregory K. Ingram Date Posted : 06/30/1999 2. Project Objectives, Financing, Costs and Components : The Project was approved in May 1992 and completed in September 1998 on schedule. To support the recovery of a poor region of Uganda tormented by prolonged civil war and unrest, the Project's main objectives were: (i) to assist the Borrower's short and medium term efforts in the reconstruction of essential economic and social infrastructure in the Project area in the North of the country; and (ii) to lay the foundation for addressing longer-term economic and social development needs of the area . Project design covered a very wide range of components, including (with their share of final total costs ): (i) Agriculture (5.1%) inc. training, rural credit, civil works and equipment; (ii) Community Action Program (6.6%); (iii) Education and Training (19.4%) inc. primary school construction and teacher training; (iv) Feeder Roads (2.8%) inc. capacity building; (v) Highways (32.4%) repaving and resurfacing; (vi) Telecommunications (0.3%); (vii) Urban Development (13.6%) inc. street rehabilitation and maintenance of urban services; (viii) Water Supply and Sanitation (9.7%) inc. well boreholes in urban and rural areas; (ix) Project Administation and PPF for follow-on project (9.4%). Total costs at appraisal were estimated at US$ 98.2 million, rising to US$98.9 million at completion. An IDA Credit of US$71.7 million equivalent financed 75.3% of final total costs, The remainder was funded as follows : Government of Uganda - 16.0%; Government of the Netherlands - 6.6%; and DANIDA - 2.1%. 3. Achievement of Relevant Objectives : The project achieved its twin objectives . Through the provision of substantial quantities of infrastructure and facilities--including 1,962 primary classrooms, rehabilitation of 458 kilometers of highway, 34 kilometers of urban streets/drains rehabilitated--the project gave an important boost to government reconstruction efforts in the North region. The project also helped to lay the groundwork for the sustainable long -term economic and social recovery of the region through its support to local agriculture benefiting nearly 7,500 small farmers and enrolling an additional 147,000 children in school in an area known for its high rate of illiteracy . The incidence of poverty in the North was reduced from 71% to 65% during the implementation of the project, although the proportion of this fall directly due to the project itself cannot be determined . 4. Significant Achievements : The impact of investments in roads was substantial . Travel times between major cities more than halved and in some cases traffic volumes increased more than 400%. The water component has provided assured and safe supplies to over 101,000 people. These achievements were made notwithstanding a precarious security situation that cost the lives of two employees of a project contractor . Flexible relocation of project interventions --on account of security considerations--helped mitigate these risks. 5. Significant Shortcomings : None 6. Ratings : ICR OED Review Reason for Disagreement /Comments Outcome : Satisfactory Satisfactory  Institutional Dev .: Partial Modest Sustainability : Uncertain Uncertain Bank Performance : Satisfactory Satisfactory Borrower Perf .: Satisfactory Satisfactory Quality of ICR : Satisfactory 7. Lessons of Broad Applicability : 1. With strong government commitment and support by the Bank, even a complex project implemented in adverse circumstances of ongoing rebel activity and weak local governance in a project area can succeed . 2. Nevertheless, more effort has to be made to decentralize in such circumstances through a more proactive involvement of local government in the project area . 3. A strategic framework involving key stakeholders --irrespective of the security concerns of this particular case --is necessary for successful regional development . 4. Traditional conflict resolution measures --especially the return of family members to war disrupted families --should be factored into the design of post conflict reconstruction projects . 8. Audit Recommended? Yes No Why? To learn more about a project success in a CDF pilot country, especially the precise mechanisms of government commitment to a complex project implemented in very challenging circumstances . 9. Comments on Quality of ICR : Satisfactory overall, providing a broad and fair coverage of the project's many components and a thorough treatment of future operations.