The preparation of site and services projects : a discussion paper

. .UIRR-73o3 INTRNATIONAL BANK FCR RECONSTRUCTION AND DEDELOPMT DEVEQPHENT ECONOMICS IEPARITfl1Bi| URBAN AND RcIONAL ECONOMICS DIVISION URBAN AND RE1IONAL REPORT NO. 73-3 "THE PREPARATION OF SITE AND SERVICES PROJECTS: A DISCUSSION PAPER" M:CHAL I.. COHEN March 1973 These materials axe for internal use only and are circulated to stimulate discussion and critical comment. Views are those of the author and should not be int-rpreted as reflecting the. views of the World Bank References in publications to Reports should be cleared with the author to protect the tentative character of these papers.  Michael A. Cohen March 5, 1973 THE PREPARATION OF SITE AND SERVICES PROJECTS: A DISCUSSION PAPER This paper briefly presents the major issues which have been raised during the identification, preparation, appraisal, and super- vision of the Senegal site and services project and subsequent discus- sions about the monitoring of site and services projects. The decision to monitor these projecte reflects agreement at many levels within the Bank that the site and services concept requires continuing refinement and improvemeat if it is to be a generalizable method of urban development. The many economic and sociological unknowns in such projects emphasize the need for-large quantities of information concerning various aspects of project development. The purpose of this paper is to suggest subject areas and specific questions which are relevant to the preparation of these projects so that staff members participating in the Bank's site and services program can raise these issues at appropriate times - the project cycle. The paper is necessarily brief, but its length dees not imply that individual issues could not be discussed in detail for many pages. As we have more experience with site and services projects, the questions wiil change, thereby requiring further discussions within the Bank about their answers. The paper is divided into the following sections: A. The context of Site and Services Projects: Intercornectedness in Urban Development. B. The abjectives of Site and Serzices Projects. C. Tradeoffs and Inconsistencies in Project Preparation. D. Preconditions of Site and Services Projects. E. Selected Analytic and Logistical Problems. F. Site and Services Projects and National Policy Change.  2- A. THE CONTEXT OF SITE MND SERVIES PROJECTS: INTERCONNCTEDNESS URBAN DWEILOPMENT The most significant characteristics of urban development are the complex inter-relationships which exist between various urban activities ald resources. Efforts to improve land use, housing, employment, transportation, finance, or social services involve important conse- quences for other "sectors" within urban areas. The efficiency and success of individual projects is closely lirked to these othet activi- ties. This fact of urban life suggests that urban projects should be developed as "packages" of recommended policy changes and resource allocations. To operate otherwise may further support the frequently- heard assertion that urtan development in LDC's is a Ibottom-1ess pit." The need for a coordinated, broad approach to urban development is further emphasized by the fact that most governments in LDG s have failed to meet the demands of urban growth with well-consider