Improper donations investment forced donor change policy [Archives:2006/923/Business & Economy]
By: Nashwan M. Dammaj
Ibb correspondent
Loans granted to Yemen constitute a problem becoming more and more complicated over time. Although government authorities consider loans necessary for developing Yemen's infrastructure, opposition parties, Parliament and donor organizations believe such loans have not been invested properly, resulting in failure to achieve the goals for which the loans were made.
International donor and creditor organizations seem to have become frustrated with workability of development projects implemented by Yemen's government; therefore, they have decided to deal with this matter directly without depending on the government. They made the decision based on several experiences, especially regarding financing a project more than once, as happened during the Sana'a water drainage project.
Ibb is one governorate where such organizations have headed since beginning work in Yemen by implementing numerous financed projects, which aim to improve awareness and the living standard in countryside areas. Ibb was among the first governorates included in a strategy of those organizations in one of their funded projects, i.e., the RWSSP water and sewage project for countryside areas, funded 75 percent by the World Bank, 20 percent by Yemen's government and five percent by those benefiting from its services.
Abdulhakim Shamsan, executive director of the governorate's project, said, “Since 2001, the project has implemented 34 drinking water projects serving approximately 108,000 people.” Those projects were implemented according to the Demand Responsive Approach principle and a strategy to include public participation in planning and organization and have societies take responsibility for managing and operating any project to be built.
Saddam Ali Hussein, drinking water project director, under management of Al-Ridhaie Cooperative Society in Al-Udain district, mentioned that the project covers more than one area in Al-Ridhaie and is considered the most successful regarding cost, speed of accomplishment and quality. He clarified that the YR 33 million project was granted to residents December 2004 by the executive unit. Hussein said the project's only problem is that it has not completed coverage of remaining nearby areas and villages, despite water availability and residents' willingness to pay their five percent share.
Naqilin-Siyni Society head Ahmed Dammaj affirmed that the village project implemented by the executive unit enhanced public trust in the possibility of having service projects without delay, as usually happens with government projects. He said the project urges societies to demand other projects in the future. Although the executive unit affirmed that its projects are not for any particular side or political party, Bayt Shahra Society head Mohammed Khalid Shahra believes the five-month water and sewage project will be attributed to the General People's Congress.
Social researcher Saeed Al-Soufi, head of the executive unit's Social Mobilization teams, explained the many problems facing any project, saying difficulties take two forms, one of which occurs before societies even form. Some socially influential individuals try to control societies, while sometimes this happens after their establishment. The second type of difficulty is the product of low consciousness among society administrative bodies, which causes non-commitment in applying regulations. Al-Soufi indicated that the executive unit seeks to overcome such difficulties by creating ties with societies and holding training courses to improve societies' management and raise operation and maintenance levels.
Regarding the marginalized role of women and their participation in executive unit activities, Al-Soufi affirmed that one condition for project funding is women's participation, forming a third of society members. However, he said due to the difficulty of reality, the unit was forced to accept a symbolic representation of women, though it was not effective practically.
Despite being the 'green governorate,' as Ibb is described, its water problem seems to be complicated. Low resident awareness increases the problem. Nevertheless, a few successful steps will bridge trust with the population and their contribution to public projects.
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