Community participation in rural transport: contribution and participation issues in Vietnam

This study assesses the kind and range of contributions for rural transport development paid by local people and their impact on local livelihoods. The role of local participation in rural transport development is examined. Recommendations are also made on how to improve participation of local people and how to increase local employment opportunities in rural transport development.

The findings include:

• people are not in principle unwilling to contribute to rural transport development, but are hindered by limited financial capacities
• people do however contribute either with voluntary or forced labour, some cash and materials
• the contribution made by the province varies, depending on the financial status of the commune
• households that are financially constrained halt local initiatives for rural transport development because all beneficiaries need to contribute to the process. Consequently, the poor people are forced to take high interest loans to contribute to the project. Otherwise, commune authorities will refuse certain essential services
• some households have lost land, trees, houses to the project without compensation. Combined with other problems such as illness these people are made more vulnerable. The study calls for proper strategies to help these (poor) households
• during the project participation stage, the participation of local people is limited to being told to clear the road site or donate their land. Local people are seen as participants by their work as paid labourers. Being the prime beneficiaries of the road, the local people would like to participate in the design and supervision stages. Making use of supervisors from the community would require funds for training and a small salary
• district authorities respect local people’s needs but are critical about their capacity to be involved in the supervision
• local people participate more actively in the rehabilitation of 2-wheel village roads. Women and poor people however have a lower voice in meetings due to their assumed lack of knowledge about technical issues
• to address maintenance problems of drivable roads and the lack of rural employment opportunities, the study suggests the establishment of a road maintenance fund
• cost-sharing arrangements between private road association and a road fund will have to be formalised in a written agreement between the parties
• technical and financial oversight is also needed to ensure the proper use of funds.