Abstract
Poverty-centred allocation of funds for rural roads and their systematic prioritisation are important to enhance sustainability, provide equality of transport opportunities and mitigate poverty. The aim of this work was to investigate and develop new approaches with specific emphasis on sub-Saharan Africa, given that the existing decision systems do not appropriately consider social impacts and poverty. An understanding of rural road funds allocation and road scheme prioritisation to alleviate poverty is important as road transport is by far the most predominant form of transport in Africa. This study developed new allocation and prioritisation processes for rural roads based on expert opinion surveys and empirical evidence, which were then applied to analyse allocation and road scheme selection processes used in Uganda and Ghana. The study found that the multi-dimensional poverty index is the most highly prioritised factor in rural road scheme selection and, for regional rural road funds sharing, poverty is equally weighted with the rural accessibility index. A goal programming model, based on expert opinion weightings, is recommended for poverty alleviation.
Highlights
Road transport is by far the most predominant form of transport for both passengers and freight in rural sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and this situation is unlikely to change in the foreseeable future as alternative transport provisions are very limited
This study developed new allocation and prioritisation processes for rural roads based on expert opinion surveys and empirical evidence, which were applied to analyse allocation and road scheme selection processes used in Uganda and Ghana
Analysis of the road funds allocation formulae used in Uganda shows major weaknesses as regards social impacts, poverty and equity
Summary
Road transport is by far the most predominant form of transport for both passengers and freight in rural sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and this situation is unlikely to change in the foreseeable future as alternative transport provisions are very limited. According to Hine et al (1983), the improvement or reconstruction of a rural road has limited impact on agricultural prices but the improvement of a footpath to a road providing vehicular access has a beneficial effect that is of the order of a hundred times that of improving an existing rural road – this is measured in terms of adjustments in farm gate prices as farmers and traders shift from head-loading to motorised vehicles to buy and sell produce. The upgrading of footpaths and community access roads is likely to alleviate poverty, in rural remote areas in developing. Inappropriate rural transport is a major factor contributing to the poverty of the rural population in most developing countries (Hine, 2014). There is a need for new poverty-centred approaches
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