| Author | Somphavanh Nakhavong |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.RD-06-07 |
| Subject(s) | Rural roads--Evaluation--Laos--Khammouan
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| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | This research was carried out to evaluate the social and economic benefits of labor-based rural road project in Lao PDR. It attempted to see the effects of rural road on people belonging to different income groups. The comparison of their situation was carried out to reveal the changes in their livelihood and condition between pre and post era of road construction project. The research also included the participation of the community in different stages of the project such as planning, construction and maintenance. This rural road construction project was granted by Lao-Swedish Road Sector Project (LSRSP) and applied labor-based road construction and maintenance technique. Thus, local people were the laborers who worked in the project to construct the road for themselves. The primary data and information collection was carried out in four villages namely, Ban Gnang yai, Ban Som, Ban Nakhom Thong and Ban Nakhom Kao in Xebangfai district, Khammouan province, which covered the underlined project. The secondary data and information were from local governments and line agencies. The analyses were carried out based on both quantitative and qualitative data and information. Rural roads have many positive impacts on socio-economic development and improve the living condition of people. However, only access to road cannot help people get out of poverty, but it creates opportunities for people to get rid of it. The economic status of people improved after the commencement of the road. Rural road had affected economic status of local people and variation is based on their economic background. Roads promote commercial activity in the area, local people can generate and earn more income after the road; they have more opportunity to reach the market and sell their agricultural products because of the availability of transport service and employment opportunity outside the village during the off-farm season. Women headed household can also improve their economic status compared to the past. Income disparity of local people had slowly reduced, though, it remains high. In terms of social aspects, road can open the new window to get access to social services such as school and health care service. Roads influence the movement of people; but it is likely that the outsiders have more opportunity for their movement than local people. Labor-based road construction and maintenance is appropriated for construction of rural road; it could involve rural community in the road project, build an ownership sense to local people. Knowledge and techniques on constructing road using local materials as labor-based work were transferred to local people and they could be used for road maintenance activities after the road being handed over to the community. Government policy makers should work hand in hand with the NGOs and donor agencies on road development, which could focus on maintaining and upgrading good road network particularly local network to ensure the accessibility to all areas in Lao PDR to integrate all villages into national economy. Rural roads should be all season roads, making them easier for access for other development projects into the community. Community should be allowed to involve in the planning and decision making process to prioritize the projects. They should be the beneficiary group who judge their own needs rather than follow what the authorities and donors want. This is to maximize the benefit of the community |
| Year | 2006 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Rural Development, Gender and Resources (RD) |
| Chairperson(s) | Ahmad, Mokbul Morshed |
| Examination Committee(s) | Routray, Jayant Kumar;Kusakabe, Kyoko |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Government of Sweden (Sida) |
| Degree | Thesis (M. Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2006 |