Download World Bank Document

6. Sustainability
6.1 Rationalefor sustainability rating:
FID is a strong institutionwhich has demonstratedits ability to managea growing program throughout
Madagascarwith competentstaff and efficient operating procedures. The requests by the Governmentfor
continuingphases of FID involvementare furtherevidence of the viabilityof FID. There has also been
considerableimprovementin the capacity of local contractorsand consultingfrms. However,these gains
are not likelyto be sustainablewithout continued externalfunding.
Maintenanceproblemswere noted duringthe SECALINEproject and during FID II. A 1998survey
indicatedthat maintenanceproblemswere particularlyevident in rural roads but much less evident in the
case of small irrigationprojects. FID and the Bank have carried out an increasingeffort to ensure the
properuse of new facilitiesandto improvecommunityinvolvementto enhanceprospects-formaintenance
and sustainability. At the mid-termreview of FID/SECALINEin 1996 a strategywas developedto make
beneficiariesmore responsiblefor infrastructure. Five percent up-front depositswere required from
communitiesto ensure long-termcommitment.NGOs and consultingfirmswere involvedto a much
greater extentto build awarenessabout maintenanceissues. Maintenancemanualswere requiredfor all
sub-projects. Local governments(communes), newlyelected under governmentdecentralizationpolicy,
were asked to make budgetprovisionsfor operation and maintenancein advanceof works. It was decided
that communitieswould not be eligiblefor furtherFID financing if maintenancewas not undertaken. The
need to focus on maintenancewas again stressedby supervisionmissions during 1998and at the Mid-term
reviewin October 1998. It was agreedthat communitiesprovidinga commitmentof more than 5% would
be given priorityfor new sub-projects,and tolls would be chargedfor rural roads. Community
commitmentwould be encouragedeven more stronglyby a proposedfuture operationwhich will enable
communitiesto undertakemany types of works directly.
After the mid-termreview, a large maintenancesupportprogram was launched in 1998 aimedto: (a)
inspectthe maintenanceof projectsfinished beforeDecember 1997;(b) improve the promotionof
maintenancewith beneficiariesthrough technicalassistance;and (c) elaborate an improvedmaintenance
strategy for FID projects. The survey indicatedthat 49% of sub-projectsstill under contractors'guaranties
were consideredpoorlymaintainedand another21% were only moderatelywell maintained. These figures
improvedto 35% poorly maintainedand 29% moderatelymaintainedafter consultantsvisited the sites
again. Sub-projectswhichhad been turned over to communitieswere better maintained(47% poorlyand
32% moderately before consultants'visits and 26% poorly and 28% moderatelyafter consultants'visits).
Despite improvementsafter FID efforts, the results indicatethe difficultyof the maintenanceissue.
Problems in the staffing of health centers and schoolsalso suggestsustainabilityproblems (see section6.2).
However,FID's consistenteffortsto face these problemsgives some optimism that better resultscan be
achieved in the future.
6.2 Transition arrangement to regular operations:
Agreementswere made with sector ministriesthat schoolsand health centerswill be properly staffedand
FID has entered into Protocoles d'accord with them. RegionalConsultativeCommittees(CCRs) which
have representationfrom sector ministriesand concemedNGOs have also approvedprojectsand made
staffing commitmentsbefore appraisal. However,there,havebeen consistentproblems in staffimghealth
centers by the Health Ministry. At the time of the mid-tenr reviewmany facilitieswere not properly
staffed. In the 1999beneficiariessurvey, insufficientpersonnelwas cited as a problem in 9 out of 10
health centers. This problem also existed for schools,but was less severe (6 of 16 schoolshad insufficient
-7-