Infrastructure development for upgrading rural settlements and improving rural living standards

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is t o examine how some countries in the Africa Region have tried to upgrade the quality of their rural areas (settlements) with basic infrastructure developments and thereby improving the conditions (quality) and standards of living of their people. It is not possible to discuss all the relevant basic infrastructures coherently and consistently in one short paper. This paper therefore concentrates on some aspects of rural roads development as the first in the series. In this, the approaches and experiences of a few countries, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Tanzania and Kenya - are outlined and lessons drawn from the experiences. It is envisaged t h a t these series would stimulate discussions and promote useful exchanges of experiences on how to batter improve the quality of living in the rural sector.