Integrated Rural Access Planning - Liberia (2008)

Narrrative: The objective was to develop a participatory planning approach, based on ‘Integrated Rural Access Planning’, involving communities and stakeholders in the establishment of a special planning base and location priorities for interventions  and selection of infrastructure sub-projects. In parallel the specialist trained a local NGO in the application and execution of the planning tool. This included formal training and field exercises.

The underlying principle is that a holistic approach to lifting rural access problems and involving all stakeholders in the process from identification through implementation yields the best results. This is looked at within the wider road corridor that serves as the principle access route. The road corridor development approach looks at all access needs of the communities in the area. This includes physical infrastructure , but certainly also access to services and economic and social opportunities. In many occasions (road) access improvements easy access problems, but sometime other solutions need be included to generate greatest effectiveness. Combining lifting pedestrian access to the road and interventions on the road itself, or improving services in combination with lifting physical bottleneck. The community access approach also involves community groups in the implementation and organisation of the sub-projects. This creates employment and reduces outflow of cash from the area.

Deliverables/Focal Points: Training materials, delivery and report;  the consultants developed and conducted a training programme of 1 week and provided guidance to the local NGO; strengthen the capacity of local organisations.