WASHINGTON, DC, March 18 2015—The
World Bank Board of Executive Directors today approved an International
Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) loan in the amount of
US$ 40 million to Georgia for the Secondary Road Asset Management
Project (SRAMP).
The
project development objectives are aimed at improving road users'
access to social services and markets through better roads supported by
the project and enhancing road asset management for the secondary roads
network in Georgia.
This
project will directly support the implementation of the Road
Department's Five-Year Program through improving its programming and
planning processes and mainstreaming efficient contracting approaches to
eliminate the existing backlog and ensure adequate maintenance of the
secondary road network of 970 kilometers.
The
project is in line with the strategic directions of the current
2014-2017 Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) with Georgia. The CPS
identifies two strategic pillars: (i) strengthening public service
delivery to promote inclusive growth; and (ii) enabling private sector
led job creation through improved competitiveness....
This
project will contribute to the first pillar by enhancing the capacity
of the Roads Department in roads asset management and maintenance. By
improving roads infrastructure, connectivity between regions, and access
to socio-economic centers, it will contribute to the second pillar of
improved competitiveness and support the generation of substantial
short-term employment while laying down the basis for increased
permanent job creation and income growth.
"Road
investments in Georgia have also been shown to have positive economy
wide impacts. The Project will help people travel faster, more
efficient, and safer. It will also address vulnerability by improving
access for the poor to markets, services, and job opportunities,” said
Mercy Tembon, World Bank Regional Director for the South Caucasus.
In
addition, this project is supporting the Government's objective to
tackle weather-related impacts, as identified in the Intended Nationally
Determined Contributions submitted in December 2015 to the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), by improving
country's preparedness and adaptive capacity through the implementation
of climate resilient measures along identified project road sections
that reduce vulnerability of highly exposed communities.
"The
primary project beneficiaries will include people and communities
living along the project roads. The project area covers four regions –
Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Racha-Lechkhumi, Shida Kartli and Guria, where people
are expected to benefit from improved conditions of the project roads,
reduced travel time and vehicle operating costs, and better road
safety," said Natalya Stankevich, World Bank Transport Specialist and
Task Team leader for the Project. "The project is also expected to offer
more long-term direct employment opportunities in low-skilled routine
maintenance activities in Guria region and short-term opportunities in
rehabilitation activities in the other three regions.”
In
addition, the project aims at making roads climate resilient in the
mountainous Racha, so that people do not lose access to social and
economic activities. This practice will be expanded by the Roads
Department and applied to the rest of the road network in future.
The
secondary group of the project beneficiaries will include the Roads
Department and the local construction industry. Through technical
assistance, Roads Department will further enhance its capacity in
secondary road assets planning, budgeting, execution and monitoring. The
project is expected to further boost the capacity of the local
construction industry to manage and implement of contracts with an
increased range of risks transferred to the private sector and getting
prepared for longer-term public-private partnerships. Communities in
these regions will also benefit from more reliable access to
socio-economic centers which will offer better employment.