Publications

ASIST Bulletin no. 11, July 2000

Access and Rural Employment (ARE) component of ASISTl

By Fatemeh Ali-Nejadfard, ASIST, Harare

Introduction

The ARE component of ASIST's programme can only be appreciated through fully understanding the global socio-economic trend and related trends in Africa. It is within this framework that the achievements and the future role of this programme component can be fully recognised.

The world economy has gone through radical changes since the 1980s with the introduction of structural adjustment. This process has emphasised economic liberalisation, through deregulation of prices and foreign capital controls, decreasing state budget deficits through cuts in subsidies, devaluation of national currencies and privatisation of inefficient public enterprises. The primary aim of these polices and instruments has been to bring about improvements in the market for production and services by removing trade barriers and rigidities. However, many developing countries have been ill equipped to take part in and benefit from the increased international trade. The consequences have been reflected in an increase in unemployment, and a vicious cycle of poverty, social tension over scarce resources, and insecurity in many developing countries, including those in Africa.

In response to these global economic trends and changes, decentralisation policies (among other measures) in many African countries have been pursued and accelerated. This has led to an increased vested responsibility in the regional and local level institutions for economic development and employment creation, though not necessarily with the means to carry them out. Subsequently, the need for building local capacity for planning, implementation and monitoring is critical if decentralisation is to effectively enable a more rational allocation of scarce resources according to real priorities.

Relevant to serious problems of unemployment and poverty in Africa, the ARE component of the ASIST programme has maintained its focus on improving rural access to basic and socio-economic services and facilities as a means through which it can contribute to the reduction of poverty in rural areas. There is an inherent relationship between lack of access to socio-economic services / facilities and poverty. These services are often not accessible to rural populations, thereby depriving them of employment opportunities, education, health care, safe water, markets, etc. Unless a community has access to these facilities and services, it has little chance of getting itself out of poverty.

The 1998 Human Development Report of the UNDP and the World Development Report of the World Bank indicate that in Sub-Saharan Africa, with a population of 614 million and an average GNP per capita income of US$ 500, the overall access to health services is 56%, to safe water 45% and to sanitation only 37%. Poor access to basic services contributes to an infant mortality rate of 91 per 1000 live births and a life expectancy of 52.5 years in these countries. These access problems are even worse in rural areas of Africa where 90% of Africa's poor live. Only 49% of the rural population in Sub-Saharan Africa have access to health services, 35% to safe water and 29% to sanitation.

Access and Rural Employment component

In spite of the growing recognition of the scale of rural access and transport problems and of possible innovative ways of addressing them, rural access and rural transport remain peripheral to the policy making process and its budgetary allocations continue to be meagre. In recognition of this, a Rural Access and Employment component (formerly known as the Rural Travel and Transport, RTT component), was added to complement existing ASIST activities. It was argued that, while ASIST could raise the efficiency of road projects within the transport sector, the

effectiveness of roads depended on other factors, such as:

l proper planning to select which roads to improve

l the availability of appropriate means of transport, and the location and accessibility of essential social services.

The focus of ARE is therefore:

l to create awareness of rural transport and accessibility problems

l to influence national policies that address the transport needs of rural populations

l to introduce and promote rural accessibility planning and access interventions.

Achievements

The activities of the ARE component of ASIST have contributed to an increased awareness of serious problems of rural access among stakeholders and consequently, to the implementation of interventions that address difficulties of access in rural areas. These activities have taken place at the central, provincial and district levels in target countries and among various target groups.

In all the countries supported by ASIST, there is an increased awareness of key issues related to RTT, which is reflected in an increased interest by governments and the rise in their demand for ASIST services.

ASIST has substantially contributed to an increased local capacity for planning and implementation of RTT interventions. This has been evident in Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe in terms of acquired skills and knowledge by the local communities, and the experience gained by staff of local organisations involved in pilot projects.

In collaboration with RTT partners (the World Bank and International Forum for Rural Transport and Development, IFRTD), ASIST has contributed to the development of RTT policies in several countries. Zimbabwe has started the development of an RTT policy following the completion of a study on rural transport that was initiated by and carried out with technical support of ASIST. In Malawi the formulation of a policy on Rural Travel and Transport has reached its final stage and is ready for implementation. In Zambia the RTT policy is in its implementation phase.

ASIST's ARE component has contributed towards institutional capacity building, RTT research and studies and production of information and training materials. ASIST provides information services on rural accessibility planning and disseminates information material on this subject.

ASIST has provided inputs on ARE at regional and international conferences and seminars. Access issues and appropriate planning are being discussed more seriously at regional workshops, seminars and training courses, in which ASIST information services has played a valuable role.

The above mentioned activities have been implemented in and technical inputs provided to Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. In addition, initiatives have also been taken in Ethiopia, Uganda, Mozambique, Namibia and South Africa to address their expressed demand for specific rural travel and transport services.

In addition ASIST provides training services on rural accessibility planning, through collaboration with, and technical support to, universities and training institutions. ASIST introductory courses on rural accessibility have been integrated into regular courses and curricula of the University of Zimbabwe, the University of North in South Africa, the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, the University of Zambia in Lusaka, and of the Kisii Training Centre in Kenya. The course materials and information supplied by ASIST have raised awareness among students, civil engineers and planners on rural access problems and the need for appropriate planning tools.