ITT are providing Technical Assistance to the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MoPWT) with the aim of reforming Eswatini’s road sector. The project has 3 key objectives; i) Support the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MoPWT) to resuscitate the Roads Authority (RA) and 2008 Road Fund Bill and support the Bill’s passage through the legislative process; ii) Support formation of the Road Authority which involves articulation of the objectives of the Act in terms of the RA’s relationships with other organisations, as well as the operating rules, evaluation and planning procedures and monitoring and audit measures; and iii) Support the inaugural CEO with formation of the Authority.

The Inception and Preparation Phase of this project requires a review of the current revenue sources in Eswatini that can be used to fund the reform process and maintenance of the national road network itself. The Bill will then be reviewed and updated accordingly after a number of stakeholder engagement workshops, to ensure that it is suitable for purpose and can be debated and passed by Parliament. The Establishment Phase will involve completing the Preparation of Roads Contractors for the new road sector, creating a detailed organizational design and Human Resource Plan; defining financial procedures and valuation of assets; systems development; capitalisation and shareholding of RA; creation of a business plan, and roll out of the new road user charges.

ITT’s main responsibilities include review the previous draft roads reform legislation (including the existing revenue sources for roads maintenance), and adapting it so that it will pass through Parliament. This requires, for the proposed Roads Agency and Roads Fund, the development of management structures, staffing plan, budgets and financing requirements; the preparation of job descriptions; and drafting agreements governing the relationship between various entities making up the reformed roads sector. The Preparation and Implementation phases of this project also require capacity development training to the client, by conducting workshops to identify and propose new sources of revenue, gaining feedback and then agreeing on the methods and levels of road user charges that will effectively be able to cover the cost of reform and the maintenance of the national road network. The Establishment Phase will involve completing the Preparation of Roads Contractors for the new road sector, creating a detailed organizational design and Human Resource Plan; defining financial procedures and valuation of assets; systems development; capitalisation and shareholding of RA; creation of a business plan, and roll out of the new road user charges.

The project is currently ongoing until 2022.