A Holistic Approach for the Road Sector in Sub-Saharan Africa

The road sector is increasingly neglected in development aid. This is particularly visible in Sub-Saharan Africa where road networks are deteriorating rapidly, especially in rural regions, whilst basic connectivity to all-weather roads still lags behind other parts of the world. Major concerns expressed by donors relate to persistent maintenance problem, the associated decline in the value of investments, and the carbon footprint of road projects. Using a case study in Liberia, this paper will recall the value of effective transport linkages for rural regions as a necessary condition for substantial poverty reduction, while also proposing alternative means to develop them through governance reform, an increased role for the private sector, as well as new technical solutions such as the use of low-cost polymer-based roads and low-cost motorbike paths. Taken together, these instruments will give the rural population better access to roads, thus to markets, health and education facilities, and at the same time keep the carbon footprint significantly lower than with conventional technologies.