The International Labour Organization bold moves towards reconnecting communities through road network

TARURA, public organ entrusted with rural road networks mandate, launched a community—led initiative dubbed the Community-Based Routine Maintenance (CBRM) aimed at halting rural roads woes.

Rural road networks play a critical role in the socio-economic development of rural areas, serving as vital links for access to markets, healthcare, education, and other essential services. However, the sustainability of these roads is often compromised by poor maintenance practices and limited government resources.

The CBRM is the component of the country’s flagship Roads to Inclusion and Socio-economic Opportunities (RISE) programme. 

Themed: “Connecting Communities: The Role of Routine Roads Maintenance in Unlocking Access to Social Services and Decent Employment Potentials” offers strategic move to galvanize support from policymakers, development partners, and other stakeholders to promote long-term sustainability in rural road infrastructure through community involvement.

Speaking at the event, the ILO Director for East Africa was excited to partake in the endeavour sharing congratulatory remarks to the Government of Tanzania under TARURA on the move. With regards to such an initiative, the ILO has been technical assistance to TARURA in planning, implementation and monitoring of routine maintenance using Community-Based Routine Maintenance (CBRM) model as part of the component of the Roads to Inclusion and Socioeconomic Opportunities (RISE) Project.

© ILO

Ms Caroline stated: “The specific objective of the initiative is to ensure sustainable participation, involvement and engagement of community groups (women, youth and people with disability) and others in a state of vulnerability, in routine maintenance of rural roads using a Community-Based Routine Maintenance model.”

She said that the technical assistance is based in the terms of development of technical manuals and guidelines, development of training materials, capacity development in routine maintenance and procurements, support formation community groups, support registration, contracts management, support implementation of viable economic and livelihoods activities, supporting scaling up of the CBRM approach in other regions, supporting sustainability of the model including integrating it in tertials and higher learning institutions.

“I wish to express my appreciation to the Government of Tanzania for the support to the ILO in order to fulfil its mandate,” she revealed and added: 

“The ILO is committed to continue working with the government of Tanzania under the leadership of President, H.E Mama Samia Suluhu Hassan in accelerating decent work for all through quality jobs and improved access to social protection and livelihoods resulted by quality delivery of services by improved enterprises.”

ILO has also been supporting Tanzania to enhance infrastructure delivery and employment-intensive programmes to promote jobs creation through strengthening capacities through trainings, development and adoption of relevant technical tools, demonstrations, pilot-testing different approaches and technologies for infrastructure development, contractors and enterprises development programmes, contract management and quality assurance skills and tools.

For his part, Minister of State, Prime Minister’s Office (Labour, Youth, Employment and Persons with Disability), Ridhiwani Kikwete who was the Chief Guest, stated that works, and transportation sectors are some of the most important sectors that stimulates the economic development of many countries in the world, and therefore, more investment is needed in these sectors in order to foster sustainable economic development of our country.

© ILO

He revealed: “The President of the Republic of Tanzania Her Excellency Samia Suluhu Hassan has increased budget for infrastructure development since she become into power. For example, by 2024, TARURA’s annual budget was significantly raised to TZS 850 billion from TZS 275 billion allowing for extensive road construction and maintenance projects.”

Minister Kikwete elaborated further that both national transport and construction policies revolve around lifting ownership and capacities of locals by shattering financial, institutional and technical glass ceilings.

“These sectors haven’t fully exploited community engagement and harness the employment opportunities and livelihoods ventures,” Minister noted, however, he couldn’t hesitate to laud TARURA for integrating communities for the sustainability of our roads.

He also appreciated the ILO’s efforts in strengthening the capacity of TARURA and other institutions of similar mandates. The ILO has been working very closely with the government of Tanzania through the different government Ministries, Agencies and Departments to enhance the delivery of quality infrastructure including Technical Assistance in the areas of capacity building in planning, implementation, monitoring and coordination in infrastructure development.

The Chief Guest hinted that the ministry is committed to continue promoting and supporting projects like these that aims at promoting employment especially to rural community and hence enhancement the livelihoods of the surrounding communities. 

© ILO

“It is with no doubt that; the CBRM component will be beneficial to all beneficiaries who will be engaged,” he concluded.