Road project appraisal in Tanzania: A review of the working figures

This paper examines the project appraisal methodology and working figures of road studies in Tanzania. The latter are geared at establishing some broad ‘standard’ guides in road project selection and evaluation. The commonly used appraisal tools such as rates of discount, the time horizon, the multipliers and shadow prices of foreign exchange and labour are examined, as well as the rationale of practitioner’s rules of thumb in this regard. Cost-benefit analysis could, it is argued, be supplemented by peoples’ participation and public accountability of road planners in setting road priorities. This could check parochialism in road provision and ensure the most ‘cost-effective’ road provision and use.