Social Infrastructure Construction in the Sahel. Options for Improving CurrentPractices

摘要

As a group, the Sahelian countries have the least developed basic education andhealth systems in the world. The experience with construction programs in the education and health sectors in the Sahel has been mixed. The study takes stock of this experience and presents recommendations for resolving some of the most acute problems impeding timely and cost-effective implementation of such programs. The study is based on a survey of social infrastructure construction practices in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Senegal. Its principal finding is that the scope for efficiency gains and cost savings is crucially dependent on the Governments' ability to improve the overall management of the construction process. Based on 'best pratices' in the Sahel, the study identifies strategies that could assist countries in the much more efficient use of the resources made available by communities, governments, and external donors for the construction and maintenance of their education and health infrastructure.