Papua New Guinea : Multitranche Financing Facility - Highlands Region Road Improvement Investment Program

Transport / Transport policies and institutional development

The Highlands region is a major contributor to the PNG economy through its agricultural and mineral exports. It is also home to 40% of the country's population, who rely almost exclusively on the road network for movement of people and goods. The road network is vulnerable because of the mountainous terrain, the fragile geological conditions, and the climate. The Government and its development partners have invested significantly in improving the road network, but a lack of regular maintenance has left the network in a poor condition. There is a need to (i) initiate a program of regular maintenance on all HCRN roads that are in good condition, and (ii) improve those HCRN roads that are in a poor condition and ensure that routine maintenance begins on these roads as soon as the improvement works are done.

The current NTDP provides a framework of policies and strategies for a sustainable road system in PNG. It has led to the establishment of the National Road Authority (NRA) with responsibility for maintaining the road network and a road fund financed through road user charges to finance road maintenance. The NRA and the road fund are managed by an independent board, with representatives from road users, the private sector, and the Government. There is a need to translate these initiatives into a workable system by (i) strengthening the NRA's capacity to plan and manage road maintenance works, (ii) seeking more financing for the road fund by rationalizing road user charges, and (iii) awarding long-term performance-based road maintenance contracts. With a functioning board and staff recruitment for the NRA underway, the Government is keen to support the MFF. It will help to enable implementation of the NTDP and to ensure a sustainable road system in the Highlands region. This initiative could serve as model for other regions of PNG.

The Investment Program focuses on the Highlands core road network (HCRN) of 2,500 km of major national and some provincial roads. The HCRN carries the bulk of the traffic in the region. The Investment Program will include (i) investment projects covering improvements to about 1,400 km of HCRN (Appendix 4) to be funded through four or more tranches; (ii) consulting services for (a) preparation of investment projects for ADB approval and design and supervision of civil works, and (b) preparation and administration of long-term road maintenance contracts for the entire 2,500 km of HCRN;

(iii) support for capacity development, resource mobilization for maintenance funds, and improving road transport services; and (iv) monitoring the socioeconomic benefits of improved and maintained roads in the Highlands region. In addition, technical assistance is provided to support the DOT to prepare a new National Transport Development Plan (NTDP) for 2011-2020.

Consulting services will be required for Investment Program implementation support and capacity development. Key tasks include (i) design of road improvement works; (ii) preparation of bid documents, procurement support, and supervision of road improvement and long-term maintenance contracts; (iii) Investment Program performance management; (iv) preparation of subsequent projects; (v) capacity development; and (vi) socio economic monitoring. The capacity development component will involve the strengthening of HRMG, establishment of PIU in NRA, financial/road maintenance contracting/road user charges for NRA, and road safety for NRSC.

Project 1 will require a total of 1,266 person-months (362 international and 904 national) of services from consulting firms. Additional consulting services, if necessary, will be procured under subsequent projects. The consulting services will be financed from the ADB loans. DOW will select and engage the consultants in accordance with ADB's Guidelines on the Use of Consultants (2007, as amended from time to time) using the quality- and cost-based selection method.