Announcement of IDA Lends Ten Million Dollars for Feeder Roads Project in Niger on March 22, 1979

~ FOR IMMEDIATE·. , ;. SE •World Bank 1818 H Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20433, U.S.A.• Telephone: (202) 477-1234 IDA NEWS RELEASE NO. 79/51 March 22, 1979 IDA LENDS $10 MILLION FOR FEEDER ROADS PROJECT IN NIGER The International Development Association (IDA), the soft-loan affiliate of the World Bank, has approved a $10 million credit for a feeder roads project in Niger. The $13 million project represents the government's first major effort in providing for feeder road needs and integrating their plan- ning, construction, improvement, and maintenance into the overall trans- port strategy of the country. Some 1,000 kilometers of feeder roads will be improved under the project. These roads will serve farmers in Dosso, Tahoua, Maradi, and Zinder provinces. • The project includes the prov1s1on nf highway construction equip- ment and spare parts; labor, materials, and supplies for the improvement program; and expert services to assist in establishing a Feeder Road Technical Section in the Directorate of Public Works and in providing training of highway personnel. The IDA credit to Ni~er is for 50 years, including 10 years of grace. It carries no interest but bears a service charge of 3/4 of 1% per annum to cover administrative costs. NOTE: Money figures are expressed in U.S. dollar equivalents • • FORM NO. 112.1 (5-76) T ECHN I CAL D A T A PROJECT: COUNTRY: TOTAL COST: Feeder Roads Republic of Niger $13 mi 11 ion • IDA FINANCING: $10 million, standard IDA terms OTHER FINANCING: Government of Niger IMPLEMENTING ORGANIZATION: Ministry of Planning Niamey, Niger TELEX: 5230 MINIPLAN, Niamey PROJECT DESCRIPTION: It will finance: (a) highway construction equipment and spare parts; (b) labor, materials, and supplies for the improvement program; (c) expert services to assist in establishing a Feeder Road Technical Section (FRTS) in the Directorate of Public Works, in implementing and monitoring the above program, and in training technicians, • mechanics, equipment operators, and training officers; and (d) construction of offices for the newly created Feeder Road Technical Section. PROCUREMENT: Use of small local contractors is envisaged for the building of structures such as fords, small bridges, culverts,and offices for the FRTS. Equipment, vehicles, materials, and supplies amountfng to about $6.4 million (excluding contingencies and net of taxes) will be procured on the basis of international competitive bidding in accordance with Bank guidelines. Contracts for equipment, materials, vehicles, and supplies costing under $60,000 may be awarded on the basis of local competitive bidding following local procedures which are acceptable to IDA; the aggregate amount of such pur- chases shall not, without the approval of IDA, exceed $400,000. Contracts for building small structures and transport of materials totaling about $300,000 will ~lso follow local competitive bidding procedures. CONSULTANTS: Technical assistance of about 210 man-months comprising 150 man-months to establish a feeder road unit, 40 man- months of training specialists for civil and mechanical works, and 20 man-months of services of an economist/cost accountant, will be provided. ECONOMIC RATE OF RETURN: ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: 21% 1983 - 0 - •