Sara Project Fact Sheet

TABLE OF CONTENT

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Information and Communication Technologies 1

Gender mainstreaming 3

A Study on the Effectiveness of SARA Strategies 5

A Study on the Effectiveness of Railway Concessions 7

A Study visit to The Association of American Railroads 9

Contact details 11

PROJECT FACT SHEET: TO COMPLETE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF REGIONAL ROLLING STOCK INFORMATION SYSTEM IN SADC RAILWAY ADMINISTRATIONS

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Project Title The Application of innovative Information and Communications Technologies to deliver a cost effective, regionally integrated seamless and predictable railway transport services in the SADC

2. Thematic / Functional Area Transport and Services

3. RISDP Intervention Area Provision of adequate, integrated and efficient transport infrastructure and services

4. Duration To be determined5. Planned Start Date To be determined6. Geographical Location/s SADC member states7. Potential Funding Agents To be determined8. Total Estimated Cost To be determined9. Existing Level of Funding None10.Additional Funding Required To be determined

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Objectives To complete the implementation of the Regional Rolling Stock Information System (RSIS) with the regional database housed at SARA and to evaluate sustainable innovative ICT technological solutions designed specifically to respond to already defined and future functions.

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Activities 1.To carry out a feasibility study of the two systems (Sprint & ACIS) and other related systems being used in the region and elsewhere and recommend a suitable system.

2.To purchase of the application system and the required computer hardware and software

3.To upgrade VSAT equipment

4.To design, develop and implement the regional rolling stock offline and online databases at SARA secretariat offices

5.To initial training of users, operators, maintenance officers of the system.

13.Key Outputs Feasibility study report Regional Rolling stock Information

System with an offline and online databases at SARA secretariat offices

Upgraded and functional VSAT

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equipment Trained personnel

14.Implementation Agents SARA and SADC Railway Administrations

15.Project Documentation Status Documentation of the first phase are with SARA and SADC.

16.Focal Point/Contact Institution Infrastructure and Services Directorate

17.

Observations The RSIS Project is an outcome of the SADC transport Efficiency Project undertaken under the auspices of the Southern Africa Transport and Communication Project (STEP), following its approval by the SADC Committee of Ministers. In March 1998, with funding from USAID SARA embarked on a phased project of developing and implementing Railway Rolling Stock information System (RSIS) in seven railways (Botswana Railways, Central East Africa Railway, Zambia Railways, National Railway of Zimbabwe, Swaziland Railways, Caminho de Ferros de Mozambique, and TAZARA. The RSIS was to comprise of two systems, the Sprint, which is an in-house developed system of Spoornet and the Advanced Cargo Information System (ACIS), developed for COMESA by UNCTAD. The RSIS was an online real-time interactive transportation information system and it included an offline function for management information system and accounting. Both the ACIS and Sprint were to be developed further to meet the above functions and an interface between the two systems were also to be developed by UNCTAD and Spoornet. The interface has not been successfully developed. The ICTs equipment such as the VSAT equipment and computer hardware and software which came with the project is now outdated. Due to USAID’s project policies and refocusing of support to socio-economic aspects the RSIS project was suspended in February 2001.

18.In NEPAD STAP?

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PROJECT FACT SHEET: TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT GENDER EQUITY AND MAINSTREAMING IN SOUTHERN AFRICAN RAILWAYS ASSOCIATION

19.

Project Title The Study and Implementation of gender equity and mainstreaming in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) railway administration under the auspices of Southern African Railways Association.

20.Thematic / Functional Area Transport and Services

21.RISDP Intervention Area Provision of adequate, integrated and efficient transport infrastructure and services

22.Duration To be determined23.Planned Start Date To be determined24.Geographical Location/s SADC member states25.Potential Funding Agents To be determined26.Total Estimated Cost To be determined27.Existing Level of Funding None28.Additional Funding Required To be determined

29.

Objectives The main objectives are- ‘To promote gender development at railway

administration level, and collectively at regional or SARA level’ in line with the SADC Gender guidelines

- Source funding for Gender projects.

Other Objectives are:

To groom and strengthen women in managerial and leadership positions to contribute to their organizational growth and make them role models at national regional and international arena.

30.Activities To assist in the development of women to take up managerial, technical as well as leadership positions within Railway Administrations (RAs) and the region through:-

- Identifying and developing policies that address barriers to women with competencies for advancement to leadership positions

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- Carrying out a Gender Audit in all Railway Administrations.

- Developing and implementing a Regional Gender Equity Policy that would address the following:

- Ensuring the establishment of a culture that encourages the empowerment and recognition of women in RAs and the region as a whole

- Identifying regional and RAs develop programme.

- Creating a regional broad networking forum where knowledge and business information is shared

- Ensuring that HIV/AIDs is addressed fairly

31.

Key Outputs Gender Audit report Advocacy and awareness programmes Capacity building of the SARA

Secretariat officers in the area of Gender Development and implementation of

Regional Gender Policy32.Implementation Agents SARA and SADC Railway Administrations33.Project Documentation Status Still at proposal stage.34.Focal Point/Contact Institution Infrastructure and Services Directorate35.Observations Following the interaction of the Southern

African Railways Association (SARA) with various regional stakeholders, one issue that has been consistently viewed as yet to be addressed by the railways in the SADC Region pertains to the abovementioned subject of the promotion of gender equality. The creation of the Gender Committee within the SARA structure shows the level of importance accorded to the issue. SADC also recognises and supports women’s participation in all economic activities. To date, a number of initiatives to address the gender participation gap have been undertaken at organisational, sector, national and regional levels.

The railways are the largest employers in almost all countries outside of the civil service. With the Association (SARA) having gone this far in championing the cause of the

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industry, it is perhaps time the above matter is addressed in full.

36.In NEPAD STAP?

PROJECT FACT SHEET: STUDY ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SARA STRATEGY AS MEASURED BY CHANGES IN RAIL MARKET SHARE SINCE THE FORMATION OF ASSOCIATION IN 1996

37.Project Title The study on the effectiveness of the

SARA strategy as measured by changes in rail market share since the formation of Association in 1996




47.

Objectives The study will broadly seek to establish whether positive changes have been recorded for regional railways market share. The study should also explain the changes giving real examples based on the individual member railway cases and recommend ways of improving rail market share and overall performance.

48.Activities

To carry out a study on the Effectiveness of the SARA Strategy

49.Key Outputs The Study report

50.Implementation Agents SARA and SADC Railway Administrations51.Project Documentation Status Still at proposal stage.52.Focal Point/Contact Institution Infrastructure and Services Directorate53.Observations/ When the Southern African Railways

Association (SARA) was formed in 1996, the main objective was to advocate for rail against road. At the time, railways only accounted for about 25% of freight market share whilst road accounted for huge chunk of the market share. Through the envisaged advocacy, there was expectation that

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Government would treat railways fairly in terms of investment especially in railway lines provision and maintenance where the playing field was uneven given that road had the road infrastructure provided for by the State. It was also expected that through levelling of the playing field railways would be able to compete and increase its market share. Over the years the SARA strategy has evolved leading to coverage of additional strategic issues affecting member railways beyond advocacy. In order to assess the effectives of strategies adopted and implemented so far, there is need for a study to be undertaken to track the changes in regional railways market share and the underlying causes for the changes. This will assist in developing strategies aimed at addressing the future.

54.In NEPAD STAP?

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PROJECT FACT SHEET: STUDY ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF RAILWAY CONCESSIONS IMPLEMENTED IN THE REGION TO DATE

55.Project Title Study on the effectiveness of Railway

Concessions implemented in the Region to date




65.

Objectives The study will broadly seek to establish whether improvements have been registered in the following areas among others and highlight areas of possible improvement:-

- Operational efficiency- Investment in infrastructure- Investment in equipment- Safety- Tariffs charged to customers/Cost of

railway transport- Market share- Work culture- Social services- Regional impact

66.Activities

To carry out a study on the Effectiveness of the SARA Strategy

67.Key Outputs The Study report68.Implementation Agents SARA and SADC Railway Administrations69.Project Documentation Status Still at proposal stage.70.Focal Point/Contact Institution Infrastructure and Services Directorate71.Observations The decline in regional railway performance

has been a cause for concern to all and Governments in particular have been more concerned since they have been historically the owners of these railway organisations.

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When railways were established, the aim was for them to support other sectors of the economy through offering an affordable and convenient mode of transport. Governments would in turn grant subsidies to the railways to keep them going. Over the years the cost of running these railways increased significantly such that most Governments ended up not affording to invest in both railway infrastructure and equipment resulting in huge backlogs in maintenance and absence of systematic replacement programmes. The railways themselves were not able to generate adequate profits to reinvest. This failure to generate profits has been attributed to a number of reasons that include the following; charging of non economic tariffs (usually controlled), social service obligations (passenger services), operation of uneconomic branch lines, poor business culture arising from monopoly status, poor management and inefficiency in some cases.

In order to address the poor performance and investment requirements calls were made to restructure the railways institutionally and structurally. The leading proponent of this new order was the World Bank. The objective of restructuring was to come up with a structure that clearly separates responsibilities between the State and railways themselves, promotes competition and private sector participation in terms of operations and equipment provision. The ultimate objective was to improve overall performance of the railways. One of the dimensions that the restructuring took was in the form of concessioning which entails ceding of infrastructure and equipment in some cases to a private operator who would operate over an agreed period. In other cases, the private sector would invest in infrastructure, operate and then transfer to government or its appointed agent after expiry of the agreed concession period. There however seems to be mixed feelings about the success of concessions that have been implemented to date. This resulted in calls for a study to establish the new position.

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Such calls were made at both the SADC Integrated Committee of Ministers held in Sandton, South Africa and at the Africa Rail Conference held in Midrand, South Africa in June 2006.

PROJECT FACT SHEET: STUDY VISIT TO THE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN RAILROADS BY SARA SECRETARIAT STAFF AND SOME BOARD MEMBER(S).

72.

Project Title Study visit to the Association of American Railroads (AAR) by Southern African Railways Association (SARA) Secretariat Officers and some Board Member(s).



75.Duration To be determined76.Planned Start Date To be determined77.Geographical Location/s United States of America78.Potential Funding Agents To be determined79.Total Estimated Cost To be determined80.Existing Level of Funding None81.Additional Funding Required To be determined

82.

Objectives The study visit is to enable SARA to re-engineer and benchmark itself against AAR’s best practices

83.

Activities The study visit will cover areas of policy formulation and implementation, information and communication technologies, technical standardization, operations and services, enforcement of policies and standards, membership management, advocacy approach, sphere of influence, legal powers, funding among others.

84.Key Outputs The Study report Capacity building SARA

85.Implementation Agents SARA and SADC Railway Administrations86.Project Documentation Status Still at proposal stage.87.Focal Point/Contact Institution Infrastructure and Services Directorate88.Observations The Southern African Railways Association

(SARA) is modelled along the lines of the Association of American Railroads (AAR) in terms of the role they play and how they play that role. AAR has over the years made great strides in establishing themselves as one of

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the leading railway associations in the world. In view of the need for SARA to be rejuvenated in line with its new strategy and thrust developed in 2004, there is need for benchmarking against best practices. It is SARA’s view and conviction that numerous benefits will be realised if some SARA Officers and Board member(s) could undertake a study tour to AAR in the United States of America this year as part of capacity building. Representation at both Secretariat and Board level will ensure that the concepts learnt from the visit are progressed at the highest level and congruency of vision among all members of the Association.

89.In NEPAD STAP?

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CONTACT DETAILS

For further information please contact the following:

1. Bernard Dzawanda67 Fife AvenueHarareZimbabweTel: +263-4-252342/736777Fax: +263-4-736813Mobile: +263-11884760E-mail: [email protected]

2. Joice Chidora67 Fife AvenueHarareZimbabweTel: +263-4-736777/8Fax: +263-4-736813Mobile: +263-11802067E-mail: [email protected]

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mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Sara Project Fact Sheet

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Transcript of Sara Project Fact Sheet