www.iteco.ch/Mobility/Project Selection/Roads Sector Support Programme - Tanzania/Rural access: kidatu – ifakara road - Tanzania

Rural access: Kidatu – Ifakara Road - Tanzania

SDC are supporting upgrading of Kidatu to Ifakara road to provide basic access to two remote districts and thus provide the rural poor with the opportunity to improve their livelihood. Earlier SDC support has worked with the area to improve local roads but without reliable and economical access to the national road network the agricultural potentials of each of the areas has been severely hampered. The present programme is also introducing new engineering approaches to provide ‘best-case’ access.

Representative Results

  • Development of low cost Otta seal bituminous pavement.
  • Maximum use of labour-based techniques, even on trunk roads.
  • Local contractors trained in low cost bituminous surfacing and soil stabilisation.
  • Improved access for a population of 450,000 people.
  • Consolidation of Swiss activities to improve road access in the area going back 15 years.
  • Lowering of future road maintenance costs.

Important Findings

  • SDC is able to introduce innovative low-cost solutions for road and bridge problems.
  • International TA is the only proven means to induce change to Tanzanian engineers brought up in conservative and non-innovative social and educational environment.
  • SDC support will assist creation of many secure jobs in the areas of sugar industry
  • Maintenance systems can also provide large numbers of sustainable new jobs along the road corridors.