Overview
Abstract
This final performance evaluation of the MCC Cabo Verde Roads and Bridges Activity was designed to answer four Evaluation Areas (EAs) as follows:
1. Was the project implemented according to plan?
2. What is the economic return - calculated in terms of Vehicle Operating Cost (VOC) savings and travel time (TT) savings - of the road investment?
3. What are the relevant road authority's current maintenance practices and what is the likelihood that MCC's investment will remain adequately maintained for the life of the investment? In cases where MCC invested in improving maintenance practices or included a maintenance Conditions Precedent in the Compact, what were the effects of those efforts and why?
4. Who is traveling on the road, why, what they are transporting, what they are paying for transport, and how long does it take to move along key routes?
This performance evaluation used modelling (RED analysis), pre-post, and ex-post methodologies, supported by quantitative and qualitative data collection. Primary data collection included two rounds of manual traffic counts, an origin-destination survey, a public transportation user survey, a vehicle operating costs survey, and a road roughness study. Additionally, key informant interviews were conducted with road sector stakeholders.
The key findings include:
Condition of Road and Bridge investment: Several sections of cobblestone roads were upgraded to asphalt and remained in very good condition with little traffic-related distress. Bridge conditions were good, but drains and minor potholes need attention.
Economic analysis: The results of the RED analysis show an ERR for the roads investment of 10.50 percent; the ERR of the bridge investment is 20.48 percent.
Road maintenance: The institutional framework for the Road Agency (IE) and the Road Fund (FAMR) has significantly improved since the end of the Compact. However, during the course of the evaluation, in May 2019, the GOCV created ECV, which merged FAMR and IE. The effect of the merger on maintenance practices is not yet known, however, KIIs were optimistic that the new entity will further strengthen past practices.
Road usage patterns: Across all roads, Hiluxes or Pick-ups (over 50 %) are the most common type of vehicle seen across the three roads. Road users consist of drivers and public transportation (PT) users, with PT vehicles accounting for 33-44 % of the vehicles on MCC roads. Drivers are predominately middle-aged men who use the road for work-related trips. PT users are relatively younger and mostly women. The three roads are mainly used for work for both drivers and PT users, with almost 50 % of respondents traveling daily on the road
Evaluation Methodology
Independent Ex-Post ERR
Units of Analysis
Motorized and non-motorized vehicles on the MCC-funded roads and bridges; Other: road, trip
Geographic Coverage
MCC-funded roads in Santigo island, Cabo Verde
MCC-funded bridges in Santo Antão island, Cabo Verde
Version 1.0 (2018-07-13). This is the original version, approved by the MCC Evaluation Management Committee.
After a two-year consultation process, the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and the Government of Cabo Verde (GOCV) signed a five-year, $110 million Compact in July 2005. The Compact consisted of three different project areas - infrastructure, private sector development, and watershed/agriculture support. Under the Infrastructure Project, the Roads and Bridges Activity (RBA) aimed to achieve basic connectivity and improve mobility in two targeted island networks by reducing road network gaps and ensuring all-weather traffic access to markets and services. With an investment cost of $27.7 million, the RBA improved three roads (totaling approximately 39 km) on the island of Santiago and four bridges on the island of Santo Antão with 1.3 km of access road. This evaluation is an economic analysis and performance evaluation of the Roads and Bridges Activity.
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