The Employment Intensive Investment Programme has recently published the following documents in
English, French and
Spanish,
which can be downloaded in PDF format. For any questions, please contact the
Employment Intensive Investment Programme at (eiip@ilo.org).
Building Rural Roads
Bjorn Johannessen, International Labour Organization, 2008
Rural roads are the last link of the transport network, however, they often form the most important connection in terms of providing access for the rural population. The permanent or seasonal absence of road access is a constraining factor in terms of providing rural communities with essential services such as education, primary health care, water supply, local markets as well as economic opportunities. The availability of such services and opportunities are difficult to sustain without a good quality and well-maintained rural road network, which provides regular and efficient transport access throughout the year. Building good quality rural roads is a particular skill in itself, requiring proper planning, experienced supervision, good workmanship and the selection of the correct technology and work methods. Their design and construction need to cater for the common type of vehicle loads and allow access throughout the year and in all kinds of weather conditions. Due to the size and extensive distribution of rural roads, road agencies are under pressure to find low cost solutions that allow authorities to build and maintain an extensive network of roads. This manual attempts to present a set of technical solutions and works methods commonly applied in a number of countries where the use of local resources is given serious consideration when building rural roads. Its success, in terms of emphasising the use of locally available resources such as labour, tools and light equipment, combined with good workmanship and high quality standards, has given this technology its due recognition. Based on best practices from rural road-building programmes in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, it describes a set of work methods and procedures proven to be effective both in terms of cost and quality.
Start Your Waste Recycling Business - Training Package
International Labour Organisation, October 2007
The ILO has on demand now adapted training material originally developed for Zambia and Tanzania on waste management, to suit the Zimbabwean context, with a focus on waste recycling as a business idea for community based organisations. The adapted training package Start Your Waste Recycling Business comprises four key documents (i) Technical Handouts (pdf 2067 KB) (ii) Business Manual (pdf 422 KB) (iii) Business Plan (pdf 104 KB) and (iv) Trainers Guide (pdf 255 KB).
Rural Road Maintenance: Sustaining the Benefits of Improved Access - PDF 1,652 Kb
Chris Donnges, Geoff Edmonds, and Bjorn Johannessen, International Labour Organisation, 2007
The ASIST AP programme of the ILO has been involved with rural road maintenance as part of its overall programme of developing local capacity for sustainable provision of rural infrastructure. With the careful choice of implementation arrangements, including key issues such as choice of technology, decentralised management, involvement of the local construction industry, it is possible to establish efficient maintenance arrangements which can clearly demonstrate the effectiveness of allocating sufficient resources to the maintenance of rural roads. Investments in rural roads, including maintenance works, have significant potential for the use of local resources, and can thereby also support the local economy by creating increased employment opportunities and strengthening local commerce. Moreover, a constructed road merely creates access, maintenance sustains it.
Lao Houaphan Household survey - PDF 952 Kb
Chloe Pearse, International Labour Organisation, June 2006
This report describes the household transport and travel characteristics of five ethnic minority villages in southern Laos. Household level data was collected as part of an area-based development programme funded by UNDP and Norway with a community-based infrastructure development component. The survey and analysis followed procedures developed by ILO.
Integrated Rural Accessibility Planning at the Gram Panchayat Level, Orissa State, India - PDF 3,316 Kb
International Labour Organisation, 2006
This Guideline describes the different planning tools based on the Integrated Rural Accessibility Planning process for use at the Gram Panchayat level. A team of ILO and Orissa experts has developed and applied tools for local level infrastructure planning in the State of Orissa. The Guideline has been prepared for local level planners to inform them about the existence and relevance of the planning tools developed.
Situation Analysis of Rural Road Maintenance in Madhya Pradesh, Volume I: Strategy Elements and Options for Reforms - PDF 1,208 Kb
International Labour Organisation, 2005
This publication presents the findings and recommendations of a rural road maintenance study in India. ILO undertook the study upon request of the Ministry of Rural Development and in cooperation with the Madya Pradesh Rural Road Development Authority in two districts. Volume 1 of the study report covers strategy elements of rural road maintenance and volume 2 provides details on policy, institutional and financial aspects.
Situation Analysis of Rural Road Maintenance in Madhya Pradesh, Volume II: Policy, Institutional and Financial Aspects - PDF 658 Kb
International Labour Organisation, 2005
This publication presents the findings and recommendations of a rural road maintenance study in India. ILO undertook the study upon request of the Ministry of Rural Development and in cooperation with the Madya Pradesh Rural Road Development Authority in two districts. Volume 1 of the study report covers strategy elements of rural road maintenance and volume 2 provides details on policy, institutional and financial aspects.
Increased Application of Labour-Based Methods Through Appropriate Engineering Standards: Guideline for Quality Assurance Procedures and Specifications for Labour-Based Road Works - PDF 1,624 Kb
ILO, 2006. ISBN: 92-2-119098-6 and 978-92-2-119098-1
This Guideline provides information, guidance and instructions on quality
assurance procedures and specifications applicable for road works executed
using labour-based methods. The text covers aspects relating to the uniqueness
of labour-based technology including problems that make conventional approval
methods inappropriate. Simplification of what needs testing and methods for doing
so are important considerations. The Guideline is limited to the construction of roads
and related structures and is aimed at improving efficiency of the approval of labour-based
road works. The Guideline was produced with a view to promoting method
specification based quality assurance which, in turn, makes approval of works more
efficient and less complicated.
Use of method specifications for quality assurance is highly recommended but the
conditions under which it should be applied need to be well defined. The conditions
or parameters include materials specifications, construction methodology and available
compaction equipment on site. The labour-based method of construction involves the
use labour for the majority of activities and light compaction equipment. The method
specifications should take these aspects into account in order to ensure applicability.
Part A of the Guideline covers material specifications and Part B covers the method
specification based quality assurance that is commensurate with the materials
specifications and light equipment usually found on labour-based project sites. Part C
covers planning, design and life-cycle costing.
RATP No. 15: Integrated Rural Access Planning (IRAP) in Mongolia - PDF 1,762
Chloë Pearse , ILO, 2006
This publication describes the IRAP planning process and steps that have been developed and field tested in Mongolia in the course of 2005. The Guideline is the final output of the collaboration between ILO's ASIST AP Programme and the Informal Economy, Poverty and Employment Project (IE). As part of the IE project a need was identified to develop appropriate local level planning tools to help local governments identify small scale infrastructure development and improvement projects.
RATP No. 14: Philippines Infrastructure for Rural Productivity Enhancement - Tools for Identifying Rural Infrastructure Investment Priorities - PDF 4,745 Kb
Chris Donnges, Martha Españo, Nori Palarca, ILO, 2006. ISBN: 92-2-118606-7 & 978-92-2-118606-9
ILO has been involved in sustainable rural infrastructure development in the Philippines for many years. Recent cooperation with the Department of Agriculture on an ADB-funded rural infrastructure improvement project has resulted in a number of technical tools to plan for investments in the construction, rehabilitation and maintenance of rural infrastructure. This publication describes these tools.
RATP No. 13: Integrated Rural Accessibility Planning in Nepal - Guide - PDF 1,702 Kb
Chris Donnges, Jagannath Ojha, Chloë Pearse, ILO, 2005. ISBN: 92-2-117045-4
This document sets out the different steps of the Integrated Rural Accessibility Planning process as developed in Nepal. Various stakeholders were involved in the course of developing this publication. The Guideline uses examples of Rasuwa district and provides an objective basis for local development planning, needs-based project identification and prioritisation.
Contractor's Handbook for labour-based road works – PDF 1,855 Kb
Roads Training School, Roads Department, Ministry of Works and Supply, Republic of Zambia, 2004
This handbook is aimed primarily at small-scale contractors and covers all relevant and important aspects of labour-based road works
in Zambia. However, certain modules might also be useful for any contractor working in other fields of construction than roads.
The handbook provides practical tables, guidelines and recommendations in a concentrated format for use on site. It is written in
an easy understandable language so that it may be also useful to site supervisors. The handbook, however, is not a training manual and
has been prepared with the assumption that users have previously attended adequate training in road works.
Development of contractor registration scheme with a focus on small scale civil work contractors – PDF 555 Kb
Uriyo, A., J. Mwila and L. Jensen, National Council for Construction and ILO, September 2004
There is enormous potential in Zambia for job-creation and alleviation of poverty through employment of small contractors and
the application of Labour Based Technology. Despite this potential, the absence of a fair and transparent registration scheme has
been identified as one of the barriers that inhibits the effective participation and growth of contractors in the Zambian construction
industry.
In this respect, the National Council for Construction (NCC) of Zambia with assistance from the International Labour Organization
(ILO) embarked on redressing this situation and commissioned this study for Development of a Registration Scheme with a focus on Small
to Medium Scale Civil Works Contractors.
The study aims at assisting local small to medium-scale construction companies in the civil works sector to participate effectively
in the local construction industry through developing and seeking acceptance for a fair and transparent registration criteria, which if
in place would provide an opportunity for contractors to access jobs in a fair and transparent manner, facilitate growth, provide a
regulatory and development framework and enhance performance.
Cities at work – Employment promotion to fight urban poverty – PDF 932 Kb
ILO, 2004. ISBN 92-2-115632-X
Unprecedented urbanization in most developing countries is changing the face of poverty: increasingly, poverty is manifesting
itself in cities. Millions of jobseekers, men and women, are resorting to the urban informal economy, where they earn just enough to
survive, without any form of social security. Most cities cannot cope with this growth in population, basic infrastructure and services
are underdeveloped and/or in a bad state of maintenance and often do not reach the poorest neighbourhoods. The urban poor are thus
exposed to health hazards due to bad drainage, waste accumulation, lack of sanitary facilities and so on.
Yet, cities are also places of opportunity. Improvements in infrastructures, including shelter, and services can directly and
indirectly improve the lives of large numbers of people. But such improvements can hardly be sustainable if not supported by the
simultaneous promotion of decent employment opportunities. This publication argues that employment generation should be a top
priority for urban planners, managers and decision-makers, and that deliberate policies are necessary to promote employment for
the urban poor. It highlights the convergence between the Millennium Goal of poverty reduction, the ILO's Decent Work agenda, and
the objective of sustainable development recognized at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development. It is hoped that
"Cities at Work" will contribute to the appreciation of the central role of employment in urban poverty reduction, and strengthen
the capacities of national and local stakeholders to consistently build this into their policies and strategies.
Reducing the decent work deficit in the infrastructure and construction sectors - The experience and proposals of ILO's Employment Intensive Investment Programme - PDF 4,147 Kb
ILO, September 2004. ISBN 92-2-115456-4
The ILO has been advocating employment-intensive growth strategies, workers' rights, social protection and dialogue for several
decades, for reasons directly related to its historical mandate, in particular social justice and growth with equity.
The Report of the ILO Director-General to the International Labour Conference of 2001, entitled: "Reducing the Decent Work
Deficit - A global challenge" drew the attention to decent work deficits that continue to prevail. It highlighted the shortfalls
that exist with regard to policy and decision-making institutions and to the organisational and negotiating capacities of the public
and private stakeholders. The report called for comprehensive and better-integrated approaches to bring down these deficits and improve
the effectiveness of the governments, social partners, and the entire world of work in taking up these challenges.
The ILO's Employment-Intensive Investment Programme (EIIP) supports member States in their efforts to develop comprehensive
policies and operational approaches to link public investment policy, employment policy and decent work in the infrastructure
and construction sectors. This Working Paper attempts to show the relevance of these policies for employment generation and the
reduction of the decent work deficits in these sectors, as well as the policy linkages that can and should be taken up.
Small Scale Contracting - Strengthening Local Capacity for Sustainable Rural Infrastructure - PDF 4,193 Kb
Aniruth Thongchai, CTP 167. ILO ASIST Asia Pacific. May 2004. ISBN: 92-2-115705-9
A study was conducted by ASIST - Asia Pacific (AP) to assess the present situation in Thailand relating to small contracting
of infrastructure construction projects by local administrative bodies. The main objective of the study was to obtain information
for developing training strategies to improve capabilities of personnel of the local administrative bodies and small-scale construction
firms who are key players of the process. Information was collected by reviewing existing contract and construction supervision
documents and interviewing personnel of a number of Tambon Administrative Offices (TAO) and construction firms.
Ongoing construction sites were visited to observe actual construction practices and interview workers on site. Chiang Mai
Province in the Northern Region and Khon Kaen Province in the North-Eastern Region were selected as the study areas. Initial
findings were compiled and reported for further feedback and confirmation in a one-day workshop for TAO and contracting firm
personnel.
The study provides a good insight into the current challenges that local government institutions are now facing because of
the recent move to decentralize authority and responsibilities for planning and implementation of rural infrastructure works
from central agencies. Equally, it provides a good description of the work environment in which the local private construction
industry operates, when carrying out public works. Finally, the report outlines some interesting solutions to capacity building
at local level.
Planning and Implementing Local Infrastructure Works - Guidelines for Tambon Administrations - PDF 1,813 Kb
CTP 168. ILO ASIST Asia Pacific. 2004. ISBN: 92-2-115460-2
The Thai Government Policy of Decentralisation as defined under the Sub-district Council and Sub-district Administration Act of
1994 established the Tambon Administrative Organisation (TAO) in an effort to improve decentralized governance, and introduce
participatory planning and decision-making at local level. The TAOs are now tasked with the provision of public utilities such
as local roads, walkways, water transportation facilities, market places, recreation facilities, water supply, sanitation, storm
water drainage and other local infrastructure. Equally, the TAOs are expected to increase the capacity of the Tambons to generate
income by the creation of jobs and promotion of economic development. One of the strategies to achieve this goal is by promoting
the effective use of local resources and by creating opportunities for the local communities to participate in solving typical
local problems with initiatives taken by and for the people.
The TAOs are the smallest unit in local government in Thailand. There are approximately 7000 Tambons, covering on average of
1000 households. Financial and human resources are therefore limited. Although Tambons have various sources for revenue collection,
their annual income is limited. With the recent drive to transfer authority to this level of local government, there is obviously a
strong demand for strengthening the capacity of the TAOs to carry out their newly acquired responsibilities.
These guidelines have been prepared for the TAO engineers and technicians who are involved in the development and maintenance
of local public facilities. They attempt to provide TAO technical staff with an introduction to appropriate planning and works
implementation methods. The first section introduces the basic concept of integrated rural accessibility planning, a set of tools
that can be used by TAO officials to identify and prioritise interventions in a participatory manner. The second part of the
guidelines introduces the concept of labour-based works technology and explains how this technology can be effectively applied
to the type of works commonly carried out by the Tambon administrative organisations.
The guidelines are the result of a series of training courses carried out by the ILO for Tambon administrations in 2002.
These guidelines are also available in the Thai language.
Integrated Rural Accessibility Planning at the Gram Panchayat Level, India State of Orissa - PDF 1,337 Kb
Chris Donnges, PK Pattanaik, John van Rijn. RAPT 7. ILO ASIST Asia Pacific. 2004. ISBN: 92-2-115458-0
In India, Gram Panchayats (local governments) are responsible for identifying and prioritising development projects within
their areas of jurisdiction. Gram Panchayats identify beneficiaries of projects and decide on project locations. Some of the
projects identified are included in the Panchayat Raj "Shelf of Projects" (project action plan) and implemented with local
resources, while others are forwarded to higher level institutions with a request for funding. Development projects are in the
areas of education, health, water supply, transport, marketing and economic development.
Integrated Rural Accessibility Planning (IRAP) consists of a set of planning tools, which can help local government officials
in the identification of rural infrastructure projects and associated services. IRAP tools should be applied within the existing
local level planning process and augment regular planning activities. These tools assist local officials in identifying investment
priorities in the areas of education, health, water supply, transport and pro-poor economic development.
This Guideline describes different planning tools based on IRAP for use at Gram Panchayat level. ASIST - AP in collaboration
with a team of Orissa experts has applied the generic IRAP tools in a number of Panchayats and has modified the tools for use
within the Orissa context. The Guideline has been prepared for planners at all levels to inform them about the existence and
relevance of the planning tools developed. A how-to-do manual, in the local language Oriya, will accompany this Guideline. This
manual will consist of step-by-step instructions on how to apply the different tools at Gram Panchayat level.
Integrated Rural Accessibility Planning (IRAP) Modular Training Package - PDF 10,017 Kb
Serge Cartier van Dissel, ILO ASIST - Africa. 2004. ISBN 92-2-11-4323-6
IRAP is a planning tool for local level planning and prioritisation for rural investment. It is an easy-to-use cross-sectoral
planning tool, which seeks to optimise the use of local resources available. The modular training package is meant for use by
trainers carrying out training of local-level planners and other local government staff involved in rural investment planning
and implementation. Its modular format is designed to facilitate step-by-step training for each step of the IRAP tool. The package
should be used as a guide and built upon and adapted to suit the local circumstances.
Manual for Supervision of Labour-based Road Rehabilitation Works – PDF 5,896 Kb
Simon Tembo et Frans Blokhuis, ILO/ASIST. 2004.
This manual is based on experiences from the Feeder Road Programmes in Zambia and Tanzania and is specifically developed for
use in Zambia and Tanzania. Target groups, which this manual aims to reach, are road works supervisors employed by the District
Councils and road works supervisors employed by private contractors or consultants.
The purpose of the manual is to provide supervisors of labour-based road construction works with an easy step by step guide,
which at the end, will ensure that the road works are carried out to the specified standards, not only in respect of quality of
works, but also in respect of construction methodology used. The aim of this manual is NOT to provide another guide on labour-based
road construction techniques, but it aims at highlighting important aspects of Labour Based Technology, which should be remembered
by the technician or engineer, who is responsible for or engaged in the supervision of the construction of a road built by labour-based
technology.
The Manual is designed in a manner that makes it easy to use for training and as a reference book. It is comprehensively
illustrated with drawings and pictures to allow easy visualization with brief text to explain an activity.
Rapid Assessment of Poverty Impact Methodology – Field Test in Ethiopia
Kwaku Osei-Bonsu, OIT/BSR Addis-Abeba
As a way to address the concern for lack of a methodology for the assessment of poverty impact, ILO's Employment-Intensive
Investment Branch (EMPINVEST) carried out research to develop procedures and methods to provide information on the evolution
of the poverty situation on employment - intensive rural infrastructure development programmes/projects. The effort led to the
development of the Rapid Assessment of Poverty Impacts (RAPI) method. The ILO Area Office and SRO Addis Ababa field- tested the
RAPI methodology in Tigray, Ethiopia as part of the rural road project under the Emergency Recovery Programme. A report is available.
The economic value of incremental employment in the South African construction sector. A report commissioned by the International Labour Organisation for the support of the efficient application of labour-based methods in the construction sector – PDF 565 Kb
Barry Standish, SETP N°14. BIT/Programme HIMO. 2003. ISBN 92-2114837-8
The macro-economic case for using labour-based, as opposed to equipment-intensive technology in the infrastructure and
construction sectors, has been made in many developing countries on the grounds of lower unit costs, increased employment
generation, higher contribution to GDP, higher multiplier effects, higher levels of household income and consumption, reduced
foreign exchange requirements and hence, reduced import dependency. These conclusions apply to countries characterized by surplus
labour, low wages and a weak local industrial capacity to produce tools and equipment. The ILO commissioned a study to investigate
whether the macro-economic outcomes of labour-based versus equipment-based construction would still favour the labour-based option
in South Africa, where higher wages and an established domestic industry producing equipment create a different situation. The study
makes an important contribution to the debate on the macro-economic potential of labour-based investment technology not only in South
Africa, but also more generally in the context of global efforts to foster employment-intensive growth - where economically cost
effective and technically feasible - with a view to combatting poverty and reducing inequalities.
Improving access in rural areas – Guidelines for Integrated Rural Accessibility Planning – PDF 1,060 Kb
Chris Donnges, ILO, Bangkok. 2003. ISBN 92-2-113649-3
This A5-size book introduces the Integrated Rural Accessibility Planning (IRAP) approach.Everybody, man or woman, rich or poor,
urban or rural, farmer or trader, needs physical access to locations and facilities where they can avail themselves of the goods,
information, and services they require. Access is hereby defined as the ability (i.e. the relative level of difficulty) to reach
facilities and locations to use or obtain goods, information, or services. A lack of access limits the opportunity one has to
improve and sustain one's social and economic well-being. Improved access and poverty reduction are correlated; lack of access is
perceived as one of the main underlying factors of poverty, particularly in rural areas in developing countries.
This book details the different steps of the generic IRAP approach. IRAP simultaneously seeks to improve rural transport systems
and the distribution of and access to facilities and services in a cost-effective manner. The book introduces a set of generic IRAP
planning tools that are based on the access needs of rural people and seeks to maximize the use of local resources. Local planners
should, as part of their routine planning activities, make use of these tools when defining priorities for different sectors and
communities. The IRAP process enables the planner to quickly assess what should be done where and to identify rural infrastructure
priorities.
The book first provides a brief overview of the concept of accessibility and the general IRAP approach. It then provides
generic guidelines for developing an IRAP approach at local government level, based on extensive experience of IRAP application
in a number of Asian countries. It can be used to develop country-specific guidelines. The final chapter gives insights on
participatory rural access planning at village level.
Building local government capacity for rural infrastructure works – PDF 1,929 Kb
Geoff Edmonds et Bjørn Johannessen, ILO, Bangkok. 2003. ISBN: 92-2-113591-8
Decentralising responsibility for the provision and maintenance of infrastructure is a growing trend. Although the degree and
form of such initiatives vary, the rationale is usually to enhance local participation, enhance the sense of ownership, and
generally improve efficiency in planning and implementation. The provision of rural infrastructure often consists of a large
number of comparatively small investments over a geographically large area. Having the appropriate management tools and
sufficient resources puts local authorities in a good position to effectively plan and supervise rural infrastructure works.
The nature of these works offers significant potential for the use of local resources, including small- and medium-sized contractors,
builders, labour, and materials.
This publication discusses the sustainable provision of rural infrastructure in a decentralised government structure with the
involvement of the local private sector. Rather than describing the virtues of local governance, it outlines possible implementation
arrangements as regards the construction and maintenance of rural infrastructure programmes of scale in developing countries.
It covers all aspects of a development programme, from planning and identification, to works execution and maintenance. A general
description of capacity-building requirements and design of training programmes for this purpose is also included.
The paper is targeted at planners and senior management staff involved in design and implementation of rural infrastructure
works, including senior government staff, project task managers and donors. Case studies from three countries demonstrate the
viability of the systems recommended. The implementation strategies described follow the approaches applied by the ASIST - Asia
Pacific in its programme of providing technical and managerial advisory support to infrastructure works programmes in the region.
Jobs or machines: Comparative analysis of rural road work in Cambodia – PDF 1,258 Kb
ILO ASIST – Asia-Pacific, Bangkok. 2003. ISBN 92-2-113812-7
The use of labour-based works technology has formed a central part of the delivery mechanism for reinstating rural access in
Cambodia over the past decade. The use of labour-based work methods for constructing and maintaining rural roads has provided
effective solutions in terms of both costs, quality, and time, while at the same time increasing employment opportunities in the
rural areas.
For this choice of technology to be widely applied and mainstreamed in the construction sector, it is necessary to
demonstrate its outputs are competitive with those of conventional methods, which rely on the extensive use of heavy construction
equipment. This study compares the costs and potential benefits of various implementation arrangements and the choice of technology
for rural road rehabilitation and maintenance, as applied in various recent projects in Cambodia.
The study examines the results of a number of projects in which different implementation modalities were chosen, including force
account operations, the involvement of local contractors, the use of equipment, as well as the application of labour-based methods
supported with light construction equipment.
The appropriate technology brings with it additional benefits that relate to issues beyond the confines of the rural road sector.
Through a careful choice of technology, it is possible to increase employment and cash earnings among people living in rural areas.
Through appropriate contracting arrangements, the works can provide the local construction industry with increased market prospects.
This study looks at such potentials as a result of the decision to mainstream the use of labour-based work methods carried out by
local contractors for the provision of rural roads in Cambodia.
This study uses primary data to assess the cost effectiveness of labour-based equipment-supported methods of road construction.
It clearly shows that investing in labour-based methods is just as financially viable as investing in equipment. Given the additional
social and economic benefits associated with labour-based methods, this is a significant conclusion, especially in the context of
Cambodia. Of equal importance is the conclusion that the use of the private sector is more cost effective, regardless of the
technology used.
