Project News

The first Joint Coordinating Committee (JCC-1), chaired by Eng. Kayanda, DID in PMO-RALG, was convened on October 4, 2012. The RMSD Team presented the PO (Plan of Operation) and APO-2012/2013 (Annual Plan of Operation) among other agendas: PDM-2 (Project Design Matrix); establishment of the model districts; outline of the baseline survey; and the issues to be taken for capacity development.

One question raised from participants was performance indicators and goals in annual rural road maintenance plan in Chamwino and Iringa District. On the Operational Guidelines, the nationwide utilization level of 80%, by the Regional Secretariat engineers (RSEs) and district engineers was questioned. The RMSD Team expressed the project encourage capacity building of RSEs to facilitate dissemination mechanism initiated by RSEs.

Discussion and Agreements

• It was agreed to change the target percentage to 85% in both Iringa and Chamwino DCs so as to conform to the Performance Agreement between PMO-RALG and Road Fund Board. Further, it was agreed to make the sentences consistent with Performance Agreement.
• Considering the time period left until completion of the final version of the guidelines by April 2014, it would be reasonable to target the level utilization of the Guidelines at 80%.
• It was agreed to revise PDM1 to PDM2.
• Within the Project scope, the operational guidelines for rural road maintenance will be prepared and capacity of PMO-RALG will be raised for technical dissemination to regions and districts. Basically, dissemination to other regions is conducted by the Government of Tanzania, but through good collaborations with other developing partners that show interests in making interventions for rural roads, dissemination to other regions could be ensured. Furthermore, it was emphasized that RSEs are key personnel in this project for dissemination within the regions.

(Tatsumi Tokunaga/RMSD Project Team Leader, Yumiko Takeda/RMSD Project Coordinator)

Members of the JCC paying close attention to the presentation

JICA Expert, Mr Kamimura, giving a presentation on organizational capacity building.