Project planning and implementation at district level: a case study of selected projects on Morogoro rural district, for the period 1978-1983

The main objective in this study has been to study project planning and implementation at the district level in Tanzania over the period 197 - 83. The selected study area was Morogoro rural district. The emphasis has been on investigating the success of project implementation of selected projects in the sectors of education, health and works. In addition, bottlenecks hindering smooth project implementation have been identified. In this study both qualitative and descriptive statistical methods of analysis have been used. The qualitative methods of analysis involved both theoretical and empirical survey on the problems of project implementation.In the descriptive analysis statistical techniques have been employed. For the statistical exercise tabulated trends in absolute figures in the number of project units planned and executed with the amounts of funds used have been presented. The general physical implementation of the project units have not been satisfactory while the expenses incurred were very high. Setbacks which have been identified include: problem of price rises late procurement of project funds, shortage or unavailability of building materials, poor peasants' response to participating in the construction of projects on self-help basis and the problem of food shortage. Problem relating to monitoring, supervision, lack of transport facilities and poor roads have also been identified. Thus the need to improve:(i) transport infrastructure (ii)the production of key building materials to assure the approved projects supplies of the materials needed; (iii) monitoring supervision and evaluation; (iv) planning so that it is considered to be continuous; (v) the release of projects' funds in the right time when needed; (vi)peasants' participation in planning and implementation of projects. Taking into consideration the above findings, the main policy recommendations have been drawn. Materials balancing system of planning at national level is advocated: monitoring and supervision of project implementation should be strict; preparation of district plans ought to be continuous and projects should be associated with the inhabitants of villages in question. However, policies by themselves cannot be sufficient policy instrument. Other complementary steps will be necessary, for example giving villages legislative powers making by-laws which can help them in the running of day-to-day activities related to projects in the villages. Further, the self-help component should be regularly reviewed by district authorities so that changes in costs can be considered promptly and appropriately.