Assessment of time performance in water sector development programme (Phase I) in Tanzania: a case study of Rural Water Supply Projects.

This study aimed at assessing reasons for poor time performance in rural water supply projects in WSDP I due to delays during projects implementation. Research objectives were to: ascertain the extent of delay; establish the reasons for the delays and their impacts; and propose strategies to improve project time performance. Analysis of sampled archival data of 193 rural project contracts from 50 District Water Engineers (DWEs) at LGAs established that the average delay was about 101%. This was considered significant and of concern. Thereafter, an opinion survey from 85 respondents out of 200 across the key stakeholder groups was used to gather information on the causes of delay, effects and strategies for improvement. Relative Importance Index (RII) was used to prioritize reasons for delays. The study concluded that the most significant factors that contributed to the delays of rural water supply projects were inadequate project planning and involvement of stakeholders, inexperienced technical personnel for all actors of WSDP I, inadequate project and contract management skills and design of rural water supply projects. In general, low level of capacity in terms of human resources, organizational, financial and management capability were established to be a common cause of delays. The study recommended that comprehensive planning be adopted at the early stage of projects through effective stakeholder’s involvement; strengthen the implementing agencies with adequately qualified technical personnel coupled with continuous capacity building; ensuring selection of right and competent service providers; and avail adequate funds for project implementation and monitoring and evaluation of projects.