Report No. 1147b-IVC FILE COP Y Ivory Coast: A Basic Economic Report Annex 5: The Urban Sector February 1977 Western Africa Region FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Document of the World Bank This document has a restricted distribution and may be used by recipients only in the performance of their official duties. Its contents may not otherwise be disclosed without World Bank authorization. CURRENCY EQUIVALENTS Currency Unit: CFA Franc (CFAF) A fixed parity exists between the CFA franc and the French franc: FF I = CFAF 50 The CFA franc floats against the dollar. Between February 12, 1973 and the end of 1976, the rate has fluctuated as follows: US$1 = CFAF 205-255 Throughout this report the following rates have been used for the conversion of CFA francs into US dollars and vice versa: 1968 and earlier years: US$1 = CFAF 247 1969 US$1 = CFAF 256 1970 US$1 = CFAF 278 1971 US$1 = CFAF 278 1972 US$1 = CFAF 252 1973 US$1 = CFAF 223 1974 US$1 = CFAF 241 1975 US$1 = CFAF 214 1976 and beyond: US$1 = CFAF 230 WEIGHTS AND MEASURES 1 Metric Ton (t) = 2,205 lbs. 1 Kilogram (kg) = 2.2 lbs. 1 Kilometer (km) = 0.62 mile 1 Meter (m) = 3.28 feet FISCAL YEAR OF THE GOVERNMENT January 1 - December 31 This report comprises: a separate volume of Summary and Conclusions, a Main Report, and separate annexes on Agriculture, Industry, Tourism, Transportation, Urban Development and Education. FOR. OFFICIAL USE ONLY ANNEX 5: THE URBAN SECTOR TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ........... .............. iv CHAPTER 1: THE GROWTH OF THE URBAN SECTOR .. .................. 1 A. Introduction ...** **** * ****...... *.................... ....... ... I B. Historical Patterns of Growth ........................ 2 C. Past Patterns of Urban Investment .................... 3 D. Prolected Growth . ........... . .......... ..............*** * 5 CHAPTER 2: THE FRAM4EWORK OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT .... ............ 8 A. The Policy Framework . ............................... . 8 1. The Urban Sector within National Development Policy . ............................. . 8 2. The Content of Urban Policy ...................... 8 a. Standards and Income Levels ................... 9 b. Subsidies ... ..................... ............ 9 c. Location and Physical Planning ............... 10 d. Nationality of the Urban Population ........... 10 e. The Role of Secondary Urban Centers ...... ..... 11 B. The Institutional Framework .......................... 11 1. Central Institutions o............ . ** .......................... .o......1 2. Local Institutions ...... .. ........ ....... ........ 13 CHAPTER 3: THE PROVISION OF URBAN SERVICES, 1976-1985 ........ 15 A. Housing ....... *........ ....................................... 15 1. The Costs of Achieving Government Targets .0 .... . 15 2. The Construction Capacity of Housing Institutions 17 3. Reducing the Gap in Housing .... .................. 17 B. Other Urban Services .................................. 20 C. Redefining the Demand for Urban Services .............. 23 This document has a restricted distribution and may be used by recipients only in the performance of their official duties. Its contents may not otherwise be disclosed without World Bank authorization. TABLE OF CONTENTS (cont.) CHAPTER 4: THE NEED FOR POLICY CHANGE: RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE URBAN SECTOR .............................. 24 A. Principles for Urban Policy in the Ivory Coast ........ 24 1. Public versus Private Investment ..... ............. 24 2. Full-Cost Pricing . ............ . .. ................ . 25 3. Increasing the Financial Capacity of the Public Sector .................. .......... ..... 25 4. Reduction of Standards and Costs of Urban Services ............................................. 0 ....... .. 26 5. Property Ownership .... ..... . . . ..................... . 26 6. Densification in Land Use ........................ 26 B. Priorities for Public Urban Development ............ .... 26 LIST OF TABLES IN THE TEXT Table 1: Urban Share of the National Population 1 Table 2: Past Public Investment in Urban Development and Housing 3 Table, 3: Regionalization - Public Investment per Capita 4 Table 4: Ivory Coast Population Projections; 1975-90 6 Table 5: Adjusted BCEOM Housing Projections for Abidjan under Projection B Demographic Assumptions 16 Table 6: Projected Annual Housing.Construction Program 17 Table 7: Rental Effort by Income Level, Abidjan 1973 18 Table 8: Affordability of Housing Types, Abidjan 1973 19 Table 9: Density by Housing Type, Abidjan 1973 20 LIST OF APPENDICES APPENDIX I: ASSUMPTIONS FOR DEMOGRAPHIC PROJECTIONS A. Assumptions Underlying Projection A B. Assumptions Underlying Projection B APPENDIX II: THE INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK A. The Ministry of Construction and Town Planning B. The Ministry of Planning C. Societe de Gestion Financiere de 1'Habitat (SOGEFIHA) D. Office pour le Soutien de l'Habitat Economique (OSHE) LIST OF APPENDICES (cont.) E. Societe Ivoirienne de Construction et Gestion Immobiliere (SICOGI) F. Bureau Nationai des Etudes Techniques du Developpement (BNETD) G. Societe d'Equipment des Terrains Urbains (SETU) H. Local Jurisdictions STATISTICAL APPENDIX: Appendix Table 1: Past Demographic Growth, 1965-1973 Appendix Table 2: Estimated 1975 Population Appendix Table 3: Urban Infrastructure Indicators, Selected Ivory Coast Cities other than Abidjan, Late 1960's Appendix Table 4: Past Evolution and Projections of Abidjan Housing Stock Appendix Table 5: Costs of Abidjan Housing Investment Program Appendix Table 6: Developed Land Requirements and Costs NAPS Map 1: Regions, Departments and Population Map 2: Urbanization Progression (Abidjan) Map 3: Public Transport (Abidjan) -iv- LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS BCEOM Bureau Central d'Equ-ipement- d'Outre--er (consultants) BNEC Banque~ Nationale pour l'Epargne et le CredUit BNETD Bureau Natfional des Etuets Techniques de Developpement CCCE Caisse Centrale de' Coopreration Economique CIDRA Commission Interministerielle' pour le bdeveloppement de la Region d'Abidjan DATAR Direction de l'A&enagement du Territoire et dce l'Action Regionale DPP Direction des Programmes Pluriannuel DPW Direction of Public Works LEM Lotissement d'equipement minimum' MCU Ministere de la Congtruction et de l'Urbanisme OSHE Office pour le Soutien de l'Habitat Economique SAH Service Autonome de l'Hydraulique SEMA Societe d'Etudes Mathoematiques Appliquees SETU Societe d'Equipement des Terrains Urbains SICOGI Societe Ivoirienne de Construction et Gestion Immobiliere SODECI Societe de Distributiin d'Eau de la Cote d'Ivoire SOGEFIHA Societe de Gestion Financiere de l'Habitat SOTRA Societe des Transports Abidjanais CHAPTER 1: THE GROWTH OF THE URBAN SECTOR A. Introduction 1.01 One of the most visible aspects of the Ivory Coast's economic development has been the rapid growth of the modern capital city, Abidjan, and the slower but sustained rise of other towns. As can be seen from the next table, the rate of urbanization has recently accelerated in the Ivory Coast. Table 1: URBAN SHARE OF THE NATIONAL POPULATION Abidjan as Total Urban Percent Abidjan Percent of Year Population Population Urban Population Total Urban 1955 2,662,200 346,000 13.0 125,000 36.1 1965 4,302,500 946,000 21.8 340,000 35.9 1970 5,125,000 1,435,000 28.0 590,000 41.1 1973 5,879,500 1,830,500 31.1 811,000 44.3 1975 6,445,000 /a 2,200,000 34.1 1,000,000 45.4 /a The preliminary results of the 1975 population census show a total pop- ulation in mid-1975 of 6.7 million. Source: Ministry of Planning The public sector has played a major role in designing and financing major infrastructure to guide this growth and to create conditions attractive to private investment. However, given the rapid rate of growth of urban centers 1/ of all sizes the authorities have been faced with increasing demands for urban services and employment that will continue to grow in the next decade. 1.02 The need for policy change in the face of present *and future growth is a situation common to the urban sector in most countries. Most governments, regardless of political ideology or economic development strategy, have not been able to satisfy the demands for urban services and employment of its growing urban population. In the Ivory Coast, with an annual growth in real terms of 7-8 percent over the past 25 years, economic performance has been excellent. An urban sector has developed, characterized by high-standard public investment. While these investments have had immediate returns in terms of the growth of towns, especially 1/ This report defines "urban" as all settlements over 4,000 inhabitants, irn accordance with the present Government definition. - 2 - Abidjan, emphasis on high standards has not necessarily met the needs of all groups in the population, in particular those of low-income groups. The policy problem for the urban sector is to (i) develop realistic long-term objectives consistent with objectives for other sectors of the economy, in particular the rural sector, and within the likely availability of private and public resources, and (ii) formulate policies and programs for the achievement of those objectives. B. Historical Patterns of Growth 1.03 The history of the Ivory Coast in this century has been dominated by the simultaneous expansion of cash crop agriculture and the growth of urban centers, unlike other West African states where few urban centers or even large villages existed before 1900. The establishment of a terri- torial capital at Grand Bassam in 1893, its later transfer to Bingerville in 1900 and its subsequent change to Abidjan in 1934 were undertaken by French colonial authorities in order to create an administrative framework. The construction of a railroad, starting north from Abidjan in 1904, led to population concentrations which later became the towns of Agboville, Dimbokro, Bouake, Katiola and Ferkessedougou, establishing a north-south axis of urban centers. Others such as Daloa, Gagnoa, Korhogo and Man grew from their designation as headquarters for the administrative units into which the territory was divided. 1.04 The initial administrative character of Ivory Coast towns evolved with the growth of economic activities. After the opening of the Vridi Canal in 1950, permitting access to the deepwater port at Abidjan, the city became a major commercial center. Up-country towns became marketing depots and service centers. The economic role of Abidjan has expanded significantly since independence in 1960, partly related to the adoption by the Government of an import-substitution strategy. This strategy has encouraged the concen- tration of private investment and employment in Abidjan, which was the only urban center to offer a market, necessary basic infrastructure and economies of scale. It is especially the availability of jobs which has encouraged rapid rural-urban migration, particularly to Abidjan. The regional dis- tribution of population is shown on the map at the beginning of this Annex. 1.05 Post-independence urban growth is transforming the Ivory Coast from a purely agricultural into a more diversified economy. The spectacular development of Abidjan has been supported by both the productivity of the agricultural sector and by Government-encouraged foreign investment. But rapid urban growth in the Ivory Coast has not been without problems. The combined efforts of the public and private sectors have been unable to generate jobs, housing and other necessities as fast as the urban population has grown. This situation has focused renewed Government attention on the desirability and possibility of curbing the growth rate of Abidjan, and of diverting migration to other "poles of development", particularly to the new port town of San Pedro in the Southwest, through an adequate set of policies and incentives. - 3 - C. Past Patterns of Urban Investment 1.06 Urbanization in the Ivory Coast has been supported by large public investments. Table 2 shows the share of investment in urban development and housing out of total public investment, as reported in public investment programs (Loi-Programmes) since 1967. 1/ The increase in this share in seven years reflects the Government's intention to establish a modern in- frastructural base. Table 2: PAST PUBLIC INVESTMENT IN URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING 1967-1974 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 /a CFAF 2.1 3.1 2.3 5.7 7.3 7.4 8.9 13.6 (billions) Percentage of 8.2 9.4 6.8 11.9 13.1 11.2 12.2 14.2 Total Public Annual Investment /a Estimated Source: Loi-Programmes, 1967-74. Ministry of Planning. The importance of Abidjan in the public investment program is illustrated in Table 3, showing regional public investmentt per capita. 1/ "Urbanisme et Habitat" includes town planning, provision of serviced land for residential use, water supply and sewerage, and housing. -4- Table 3: REGIONALIZATION - PUBLIC INVESTMENT PER CAPITA Pop. /a Thousand CFAF 1973 Region 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975p 1976p 1977p 1971-77 '000 North 1.3 10.8 21.3 18.4 27.0 28.8 29.4 137.0 554.6 East 5.3 .4 .4 1.1 1.5 1.1. 1.5 11.3 266.5 South 6.5 7.7 6.3 8.2 12.3 13.2 13.6 67.9 1,193.6 West .3 3.4 2.3 3.7 4.6 2.8 3.1 20,2 701.9 Center West .3 .1 .1 .7 2.5 3.2 .6 7.6 712.0 Center 10.8 11.5 9.2 11.0 13.5 10.4 4.3 70.7 1,490.4 South West 49.4 17.9 13.5 33.3 60.3 75.0 102.6 351.9 156.0 Abidjan 11.7 14.5 23.0 31.1 41.4 33.0 22.4 177.0 840.0 Non-allocated 2.3 2.8 3.0 4.2 6.2 6.8 6.9 32.2 Total 9.6 11.0 12.4 16.1 22.9 22.1 19.8 113.8 5,910.0 p = projected /a This population figure was used for all years. Source: Loi Programmes; Ministry of Planning. 1.07 The focus on the capital city was also reflected in the 1971-75 Development Plan which allocated 68.7 percent of public investment in urban infrastructure to Abidjan. Analysis of past investment shows that: ti) the share of total investment in urban development has almost doubled in the past decade; (ii) Abidjan has received a large amount of total national investments over and above urban development and housing investments; (iii) Abidjan's per capita share was disproportionate to its share of the population; and (iv) the 1971-75 Development Plan allocated to Abidjan more than twice the urban public investment allocated to all other urban centers combined. 1.08 Investments in the urban sector are an integrated part of actions to realize national economic development objectives. For instance, adoption of an import substitution strategy in industrial policy during the 1960's appears to have reinforced the dominant role of Abidjan within the Ivory Coast's urban sector. The important economic advantages of the city - its port, modern communications and transport facilities, public utilities and pleasing living environment - have all encouraged rapid private investment, thereby reinforcing the pattern of growth. Government investment has been a major catalyst of this growth. This critical interaction between public and private investment has created a modern city within two decades. 1.09 Government policy is clearly aiming at reducing the rapid growth of Abidjan. Other growth poles are being established, and programs are being developed to improve the lot of the rural population, especially in areas which have received less attention (for instance the North). Also, it is now envisaged, as part of a re-orientation in industrial policy, to put greater emphasis on the local processing of local raw materials before export, which will tend to stimulate the growth of secondary urban centers as the raw materials are grown in the interior. This process is already under way in the -5- case of Agboville and Dimbokro, where recently textile mills were established, and Ferkessedougou where the country's first sugar refinery started production in 1975. This type of expansion has been anticipated for almost a decade and is also symbolized by large-scale investment in the new port town of San Pedro, which has grown in six years from a small fishing village to a town of almost 40,000 people. The conception of San Pedro within the larger develop- ment plan for the Southwest illustrates the role attributed to urban develop- ment within the national strategy. D. Projected Growth 1.10 The urgency of effective urban policy is best demonstrated by Government projections of future urban population growth. Appendix Table 1 shows the rates of population growth. 1/ The annual rate of urban population growth from 1965 through 1973 reached 8.6 percent, and in Abidjan it was 11.5 percent. A major share of this growth was attributed to rural-urban migration, which is significantly high in the Ivory Coast. Extrapolating from these fig- ures, yet still lacking census data and time series, the Ministry of Planning has worked out six alternative projections of national, rural and urban population growth to 1990. Table 4 represents the two extremes, reflecting different assumptions about (i) the rate of Non-Ivorian African migration to rural areas; (ii) the rate of rural out-migration of school graduates and leavers; (iii) Government policy towards Non-Ivorian African migration to Abidjan; and (iv) living conditions in Abidjan. Projection A reflects the extrapolation of past trends. Projection B takes into account more recent trends and possible effects of present or proposed policies and has been used by the Government in the preparation of the 1976-80 Plan. 1/ The first population census (April 1975) had taken place, but results were not available at the time of this analysis. - 6 - Table 4; IVORY COAST POPULATION PROJECTIONS, 1975-90 (in .thousands) ARG ARG ARG 1975 75/80 1980 .80/85 1985 85/90 1990 Total Rural 4,245 Projection A 1.85 4,660 1.50 5,020 1.35 5,365 Projection B 1.65 4,610 1.40 4,945 1.30 5,320 Total Urban 2,200 Projection A 8.55 3,315 7.35 4,725 6.40 6,475 Projection B 6.70 3,065 5.70 4,115 5.60 5,380 Abidjan 1,000 Projection A 10.45 1,650 8.40 2,455 6.85 3,370 Projection B 7.30 1,450 5.95 1,940 5.65 2,515 Other Urban 1,200 Projection A 6.85 1,665 6.30 2,270 5.95 3,105 Projection B 6.20 1,615 5.50 2,175 5.55 2,865 Total National 6,445 Projection A 4.35 7,975 4.10 9,745 3.90 11,840 Projection B 3.50 7,675 3.20 9,060 3.30 10,700 Percent Foreigners 33.3 Projection A 37.6 39.6 40.2 Projection B 35.2 35.4 34.9 Note ARG = Annual Rate of Growth Source: Ministry of Planning. The relatively small differences between the totals of these projections up to 1985 suggest that, regardless of changing labor conditions and government policy, there will be continued rapid growth of the urban sector and particu- larly of Abidjan for the next decade. -7- 1.11 Projections of the growth of Abidjan have proven to be particularly hazardous, as suggested by the previous history of underestimates. 1/ This annex will analyze the demand for urban investment according to Projection B. Although these estimates may be optimistically low, they strongly support the conclusion that even then there will be demands for urban investment in excess of what possibly could be financed by the public sector in the next decade. 1/ In the absence of national census data, demographic analysis of the Ivory Coast has always been based on refining previous estimates with new fragmentary data collected through sample surveys. The 1960 SETAP prediction that Abidjan would reach 400,000 by 1972 instead of the actual 1967 date was the first post-independence underestimate. Sub- sequent projections have never been reliably confirmed or refuted because no complete census was undertaken until April 1975. - 8 - CHAPTER 2: THE FRAMEWORK OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT A. The Policy Framework I/ 1. The Urban Sector within National Development Policy 2.01 The dominance of Abidjan as the national capital and motor for modern industrial development is a consequence of Government policy. Public investment in Abidjan has reflected the Ivory Coast's image of economic vitality and has played a role in attracting foreign labor and capital to stimulate further growth. The labor and capital required to create modern infrastructure and services have in turn attracted more labor and capital. Through this process, the growth of Abidjan has been rapid. 2.02 One cost of the Government's emphasis on Abidjan, however, has been the relative neglect of other centers such as Bouake, Dimbokro, Agboville, Daloa, Gagnoa, Man and Korhogo. While this situation has in part been alle- viated by the rotating independence celebrations, which bring almost CFAF I billion in public investment to the host town, the Government has not followed up on these efforts by encouraging local municipal development and industrial investment. The relatively slower growth rates of these secondary urban centers and their inability to hold rural-urban migrants for very long reflects popular awareness of the lower level of opportunities to be found in towns outside Abidjan. 2.03 In recent years, the Government has changed its approach as wit- nessed by the major infrastructure investments in the new port town of San Pedro 'and industrial development in Bouake, Agboville, Dimbokro and Ferkesse- dougou, which have created opportunities intended to diminish the attrac- tion of Abidjan for rural-urban migrants. Even with such decentralization, however, Abidjan will continue to require a substantial share of available resources. 2. The Content of Urban Policy 2.04 Official urban policy in the Ivory Coast since the 1960's has been characterized by high building standards and the heavy costs which have necessarily accompanied them. Such a policy is reflected in decisions regarding building codes, allocation of construction permits, standards for physical planning and urban services, and financial commitments to urban development. As high quality could not be provided everywhere for every- body, this has resulted in differences in living standards among the various quarters of Abidjan, as well as between Abidjan and other urban centers. Within this context, five major issues influence the Government's investment program: (i) standards and income levels, (ii) subsidies, (iii) location and 1/ See Ivory Coast: Special Report on Employment (3 vols.), IBRD, 1974, for a broader discussion of employment, income distribution, migra- tion and urban-rural development in the context of a long-range strategy for development. - 9 - physical planning, (iv) the nationality of the urban population, and (v) the role of secondary urban centers. a. Standards and Income Levels 2.05 The adoption of high standards of urban development without giving due consideration for the financial capacity of the majority of the urban population has implications for all aspects of urban development. High standards have not been applied consistently through a range of procedures and regulations governing most public and private uses of urban resources. A major consequence of this policy has been that a large part of the popula- tion has been both excluded from reasonable access to public services and constrained from undertaking private investments, for instance in housing. Government action against illegal private investment has resulted in: (i) demolition of some 20 percent of Abidjan's housing stock between 1969 and 1973, thus increasing the cost of urban residence for poorer groups; and (ii) continued poor living conditions for households which could afford better if restrictions were removed. The adoption bf high standards causes particular problems in view of the distribution of income and employment within the city. Median household income in 1973 in Abidjan was approxi- mately CFAF 36,770; it was about CFAF 32,000 for renters, who constituted about 76 percent of the population. 1/ As of March 1973, approximately 737,000 Africans lived in about 135,000 households, o,r 5,5 persons per house- hold. 2/ While rental effort (percent of household income going to rent) varies by income, it is estimated to vary from 18 to 25 percent. When these income levels are compared to the full cost of public housing units and public utility service charges, it is clear that the majority of the population cannot afford high standard urban services. This raises questions concerning the Government's objectives regarding provision of services and how these objectives relate to demand. Subsidies have been given to ensure that high standard services are provided, but such programs reach only a minority of the population. b. Subsidies 2.06 A logical consequence of the adoption of high-cost, high-standard service levels has been the need for public subsidies to reduce private costs. These subsidies have reached 30 percent for some forms of public housing. On the other hand, water supply and electricity have been provided on a self-financing basis in urban areas. A major consequence of subsidies in the urban sector has been the growth of demand for services of all kinds. By underpricing services through subsidies, the Government has generated 1/ BCEOM, Rapport Special No. 1, March 1, 1973. These figures account for inflation since 1963, the date of the SEMA budget survey, and annual increases in income and per capita consumption calculated by the Ministry of Planning. 2/ Excluding Africans living in housing of "standing". - 10 - demand from segments of the population which could only afford subsidized services but it has also subsidized services for groups which could have contributed more. The demand for low-cost public housing greatly swelled as the Ivorian modern labor force grew, especially in Abidjan. It quickly became politically impossible to stop such popular programs; indeed, sub- stantial dissatisfaction grew from the fact that the Government was unable to build more units faster. This has led to a surge of activity since 1969 and vast public housing programs for Abidjan. c. Location and Physical Planning 2.07 Urban physical planning is carried out at a high level of expertise, mostly by expatriate planners. The principles of physical planning in the Ivory Coast have remained remarkably consistent since the first plan for Abidjan was prepared in 1926. They have all: (i) emphasized residential, commercial and industrial segregation, thereby placing a heavy burden on the available transport system; (ii) prescribed rigid densities for neigh- borhoods, according to race under the colonial administration and later according to income; and (iii) included prestigeous projects. A consequence of such planning has been the increase of costs to individuals of access to jobs and services as the distances between work and residence increased. Distance from employment and services plays a major role in locational choices within the city. Abidjan, therefore, does not have one housing market, but rather many sub-markets which reflect different housing types and service and job accessibility costs. The Government has acknowledged the need to increase residential densities closer to the sites of employment in Abidjan. d. Nationality of the Urban Population 2.08 A fourth issue in urban policy is the high foreign proportion of the urban population. The 1955 census of Abidjan found that 38 percent of the population were foreigners. 1/ In 1964, a survey of ethnic concentra- tions within Abidjan concluded that only 25 percent of the population had been born in the city, another 25 percent had been born elsewhere in the Ivory Coast, and some 50 percent had come from foreign countries. 2/ By 1968, an anthropological study of ethnic adjustment in Abidjan found some 160 different ethnic groups in the city. 3/ In 1975, the Ministry of Planning suggested that 50 percent of the population of Abidjan were non-Ivorian Af- ricans, which still has to be confirmed by the 1975 census results. Official policy does not prohibit allocation of public housing to Non-Ivorian Africans, 1/ Recensement d'Abidlan: 1955. 2/ Etude Socio-Economigue de la Zone Urbaine d'Abidjan, Rapport No. 12 (Abidjan: SEMA, 1966). 3/ J.M. Gibbal, Citadins et Villageois dans la Ville africaine: l'exemple d'Abidlan (Paris, 1974). - 11 - although in practise most public housing is given to Ivorians. 1/ It is evident that the Government will have to come to grips with the politically sensitive questions of nationality and ownership and whether ethnic hetero- geneity or homogeneity should be pursued within African quarters. e. The Role of Secondary Urban Centers 2.09 A fifth issue in urban policy is the gap in existing services between Abidjan and smaller urban centers. Despite great differences in service availability and standards within the Abidjan area itself, these differences appear less striking than the gap between Abidjan and secondary cities (Appendix Table 3). This gap exists on several levels: (i) past investment; (ii) present service levels; (iii) available information; and (iv) public interest in the problem. Efforts to prepare physical develop- ment plans for these towns have not been followed up by detailed analyses of service needs, infrastructural investment, or costs. As part of its policy to improve conditions in rural areas and secondary centers, the 1976-80 Plan puts more emphasis in areas which so far have received less attention (see Table 2). It is now believed that secondary centers have to be equipped with an adequate level of services in order to play an effective role in slowing down migration to Abidjan. B. The Institutional Framework 1. Central Institutions 2.10 The formulation and implementation of urban policy in the Ivory Coast is undertaken by a variety of Government institutions. The Kinistry of Construction and Town Planning (Ministere de la Construction et de l'Urbanisme, MCU) is legally responsible for policy governing town planning and housing. In practice, this responsibility is shared among several min- istries, including the Ministries of the Interior, Pianning, Public Works and Transport, and Finance. Urban policy objectives and investment programs are defined in the Ministry of Planning, in consultation with the technical ministries, and translated into investment projects for inclusion in the three-year rolling public investment program (Loi-Programmes). Within the Ministry of Planning, responsibility for urban development is shared by the Direction de l'Amenagement du Territoire et de l'Action Regionale (DATAR), whose director acts as chairman of the Interministerial Commission for the Development of the Region of Abidjan (CIDRA), and the Direction des Programmes Pluriannuels (DPP), which estimates the costs of individual programs and 1/ This position is in part a response to the fact that many Abidjan land- lords and property owners are Non-Ivorian Africans, reflecting the unre- stricted policy of the colonial administration. A 1966 SEMA study found that 55 percent of Abidjan landlords had come to the city before 1952, in comparison to only 31 percent of the population and 29 percent of the tenants. Only 18 percent of the landlords had not been born in Abidjan. SEMA, La Politique de Logement, Vol.I (Abidjan: SEMA, 1966), p. 41. - 12 - projects. Financing for approved projects is agreed upon with the Ministry of Finance. The implementation of projects then becomes the responsibility of either the MCU or the Ministry of Public Works. 2.11 The coordination of urban investment and project implementation is legally under the jurisdiction of the MCU. Since 1968, the Government has encouraged a trend towards functional specialization whereby state-owned corporations under the supervision of the MCU and at least one other ministry are assigned responsibility for individual urban projects. In housing, this responsibility has been shared between the state-owned Societe de Gestion Financiere de l'Habitat (SOGEFIHA) and the semi-public Societe Ivoirienne pour la Construction et Gestion Immobiliere (SICOGI). In 1968, the Office pour le Soutien d'Habitat Economique (OSHE) was created to promote low-cost housing. In contrast to SOGEFIHA and SICOGI, which actually construct pub- lic housing, OSHE is a financial institution. Financial problems and juris- dictional problems vis-a-vis the housing corporations have led to efforts since 1974 to reform OSHE and housing finance. 2.12 A new stage of this reform process began in June 1975 with the creation of the Banque Nationale pour l'Epargne et le Credit (BNEC) on the model of a savings and loan association. The coordination of functions of the new banks and OSHE are now being worked out. A specialized agency for the prep- aration of land before construction, the Societe d'Equipement des Terrains Urbains (SETU), was also created in 1972, thereby reducing the multiple functions of the housing corporations which previously were responsible for preparing land for residential use. Another important semi-public corpora- tion active in urban development is the Bureau National des Etudes Techniques du Developpement (BNETD), which carries out technical studies for the MCU. Taken together, the above institutions represent an impressive quantity of urban expertise, technically capable of designing and implementing urban de- velopment projects. Although jurisdictional disputes and personality differ- ences have reduced the effectiveness of these institutions, these problems are minor in contrast to the financial dilemmas inherent in the official policies which the institutions must carry out. Following the demand of the Government, the housing corporations have mounted large programs. 2.13 SOGEFIHA was created in 1963. Having built some 17,600 uniits by. mid-1975, SOGEFIHA continues to manage some 14,900 units in Abidjan and almost 2,000 in the rest of the country; some 5,600 additional units were programmed for 1976. SOGEFIHA's financial position is unsound. On a capital base of slightly over CFAF 1.1 billion and grants and endowments of CFAF 5.1 billion, SOGEFIHA had total assets of CFAF 48.6 billion in September 1975; it had amassed a Government-guaranteed term debt which more than doubled between 1973 and 1975 to CFAF 36.8 billion. This position results primarily from generally financing its rental properties on suppliers' credits on 5-8 year terms and rarely financing on more than 12 year terms. It is unable to rent the units at rates sufficient to cover its debt service alone, without even considering operating costs. Moreover, poor control of construction costs (again partly a result of supplier financing and inherently more expensive - 13 - technology) as well as relatively poor rental collection performance has left SOGEFIHA with a large shortfall in its cash flow. Consequently, preliminary estimates indicate a shortfall of CFAF 3-4 billion (US$13-18 million) per year through 1981. New financial systems are being installed and personnel hired Who have identified the most immediate needs of the agency and solutions to be implemented. The main operational features of a rehabilitation plan drawn up by the Government are: (i) immediate increases in payments on Government installment purchase units and in rents on private rental units, with further increases in the future; (ii) billing of construction supervision costs to projects under construction and of maintenance costs to tenants; (iii) selling rather than renting existing and future commercial and higher-priced residen- tial properties. 2.14 SICOGI has existed as such since 1965, wlhent it was created from the merger of two earlier agencies. While the Government is the majority share- holder, the CCCE and other Ivorian and French institutions hold an aggregate 44 percent of the capital. At the end of 1974w SICOGI had built some 23,600 units, of which 18,000 were still under management, some 95 percent being rental units in Abidjan. As the conduit for CCCE money and the object of extensive technical assistance, SICOGI has been able to resist the pressures to which SOGEFIHA succumbed; consequently, SICOGI remains a sound institution, almost completely Ivorianized both in management and finance. With very concessional CCCE money (3-1/2 percent per annum, 20 years), SICOGI has been able to price its units so as to recover full cost and has maintained good controls over its operations. With the phasing-out of CCCE funds, SICOGI is seeking to diversify the income mix of its operations and to find new funding sources. It is increasingly emphasizing lease-purchase for high-income units while undertaking low-income rental projects. 2.15 The financial situation of OSHE is linked to the programs of SOGEFIHA, as some of OSHE resources meant to finance infrastructure have been used to roll over some of the short-term debt-servicing problems of SOGEFIHA. At the same time, OSHE support of infrastructure has led to overcommitment of available revenue, given the large scale of these programs. The lack of OSHE resources in the face of these demands led to the creation of a Working Commission on Low-Cost Housing which started to look into these problems in 1974 and has so far come up with a proposal to increase OSHE revenues. The 1975 increase to CFAF 5 billion should enhance OSHE's role in the sector. How these resources are used, however, will depend on ongoing discussions concerning the financial reorganization of the sector and the complementarity of OSHE and BNEC. 2.16 The present problems call for coordinated action by the Government. The short-term financial problems are most urgent. They are caused by poor financial management, but it has to be understood that the ambitious official public housing policy, for which the appropriate means were not available or at least were not made available, got the sector in trouble. 2. Local Institutions 2.17 The centralized nature of urban development institutions had as its corollary the weakness of local institutions. The system of "communes - 14 - de plein exercice et moyen exercice" created in 1956, based on the French municipal law of 1884, had been allowed to decline through the progressive centralization of financial and technical responsibilities. The municipal councils, which were legally charged with approving and supervising urban development projects within their jurisdiction, had become inactive. The increasing control by the Ministry of the Interior and, outside of Abidjan, by the prefectures whose headquarters are in major towns, had reduced the role of local institutions. While the Commune d'Abidjan had a larger role, it too had been stifled by the existence of national institutions within its jurisdiction. The creation of an inter-ministerial commission in 1966 and cabinet involvement in major decisions affecting the growth of the capital have taken truly important decisions away from the city administration. 2.18 In the face of growing problems at the local level, however, the status of local institutions changed in 1975, and it is now expected that up-country urban centers will be given the opportunity to raise revenue to finance local development. Within the Abidjan area, proposals for new in- stitutional arrangements have received presidential and ministerial support. It is likely, therefore, that the city of Abidjan's administration will be reorganized and expanded to respond to the needs of the growing population and peripheral neighborhoods not presently within municipal jurisdiction. This important change represents the recognition by the Government that both Abidjan and up-country towns have reached sizes requiring more effective institutional arrangements for the management of urban development. 2.19 The issue of municipal public finance is important in several re- spects. At the present time, collection of municipal revenue is too low to support local provision of urban services. Tax rates are high, but collec- tion of assessed property taxes is estimated to be only about 55 percent in Abidjan. An extensive pattern of property tax exemptions has reduced a substantial potential tax base. Lacking revenue, the municipality is not involved as a major partner in policy and program decisions affecting its jurisdiction and, given its financial weakness, is not capable of executing its legal responsibilities. For instance, a major reason why even in Abidjan only about half the population has reasonable access to piped water is the city's lack of funds to pay for public standpipe services. A reorganization of municipal finances is required to increase both the financial viability of the municipality and the quantity of service provided to urban residents. The change in status of local institutions discussed above may provide the framework for such reorganization. CHAPTER 3: THE PROVISION OF URBAN SERVICES, 1976-1985 3.01 This chapter juxtaposes the projections of future urban population growth with the policies and programs for the provision of urban services. As an example a review of Government objectives, public sector programs, and constraints to achieving official targets is presented for the housing sector, while policies for land development and health care are briefly reviewed as well. In general, Government insistence on high standards has limited the total quantity of services prbvided by the public sector and, in some cases, constrained the actions of individuals and firms within the private sector. The consequences of such public policy, if unchanged, would become increasingly serious as the population grows. 3.02 When evaluating the urban "service gap" 1/, one must take into account the following factors: (i) an overall resource constraint and the desirable allocation of available resources; (ii) the general problem of satisfying heavy demands for urban services; and (iii) the Government's increased emphasis on balanced growth between urban and rural areas. Giving more attention to secondary urban centers would imply a decline in the share of public sector resources allocated to Abidjan. It would necessitate a mobilization of resources from the private sector to keep up with the growing service needs of the Abidjan population. The adoption of realistic, long- term targets is a necessary first step toward reducing the gap. A. Housing 1. The Costs of Achieving Government Targets 3.03 Estimates of the demand for housing in Abidjan have been made regu- larly since 1966. Most of these estimates have followed the classification of housing types established by SEMA in 1966. However, the five categories used are becoming increasingly outdated as the variety of housing types grows. Nevertheless, following the practice of the Ministry of Planning, this system will be used in the following analysis. 2/ 1/ The difference between the amount of services required to meet projected urban population growth and the quantity and quality of services the Government can possibly provide within a given time period. 2/ SEMA Housing Classification System: High standard - Strata A - High-quality, modern apartment buildings and private dwellings Evolutive - Strata B - Modern apartment buildings and row houses constructed as part of public housing corpo- ration projects Collective - Strata C - Housing in courtyards or concessions, im- proved over time Traditional - Strata D - Housing on new lots legally marked by the Government Squatter - Strata E - Housing on either illegally occupied land or traditional villages. - 16 - 3.04 BCEOM analyzed the growth in the Abidjan hoQusing stock.from 1963 to 1973, showing that some 86,000 units or an average of 8,600 per year had been constructed during this period, of which approximately one-third had been financed by the public sector, while two-thirds had&been-.constructed and financed by:the private sector. Using these findings and 1974 demographic assumptions,'the report projected demand in Abidjan for.housing for different types to' 1980 and:, more tentatively, to 1985.. 1/. (See Appendix Tabl.e. 4). The analysis clearly demonstrated that; given projected increases in popula-. tion by income level during the period 197.6-80P, there would be a significant. increase of demand for.units subsidized.at present levels in Strata A through D, and, if that demand were sa-tisfied., the proportion of squatter housing. would diminish from 29.1 percent in 1973 to 10 percent in 1980.and 4.7 per- cent in 1985. This analysis assumed that households with increasing.incomes would demand and find housing in Strata A through D, thereby eliminating the need for Strata E. However, this analysis rests on continued subsidies in public housing, despite the fact :that the report later-.suggests.that rent for some units should be increased by almost 50 percent:in order,to recover a greater proportion of total costs. 3.05 Table 5 presents the BCEOM projected housing stock adjusted for demographic Projection B. 2/ Table 5: ADJUSTED BCEOM HOUSING PROJECTIONS FOR ABIDJAN UNDER PROJECTION B DEMOGRAPHIC ASSUMPTIONS 1980 1985 Strata Units Percent Population Percent Units Percent Population Percent A 29,000 11.6 109,245 7.5 43,856 13.3 164,900 8.5 B 91,350 36.5 576,805 39.9 131,288 39.8 828,430 42.7 C 34,044 13.6 248,465 17.1 56,619 17.1 413,320 21.3 D 93,520 37.3 507,940 35.0 98,222 29.8 533,350 27.5 E 2,590 1.0 7,595 .5 0 0 0 0 Total 250,504 100.0 1,450,050 100.0 329,985 100.0 1,940,000 100.0 1/ BCEOM assumed a population growth rate for Abidjan of 11.5 percent, * average monthly income of CFAF 50,000, rental effort of up to 25 percent of monthly income, an elasticity of .8 of rental effort with income at December 1973 prices. Rapport General, p. 85. 2/ In order to make the BCEOM housing projections consistent with:Demo- graphic Projection B, the differences between A and B in population growth attributable to migration'.and natural increase were subtracted from the BCEOM population totals. Strata C; D and E were reduced by 20, 40 and 40 percent respectively. - 17 - The annual average costs of building over 20,000 units per year for the 1976-80 period are presented in Appendix Table 5. They are roughly CFAF 97.4 billion in 1974 prices. These figures do not include replacement of the existing houses. 3.06 In addition to the above estimates for Abidjan, the Working Com- mission on Low-Cost Housing has also set an objective of 3,000 low-cost housing units per year to be constructed at a unit cost of CFAF 800,000 in towns outside Abidjan. The total amount for a five-year period would be CFAF 12 billion. 2. The Construction Capacity of Housing Institutions 3.07 The capacity of public institutions to construct housing in the next decade is given in Table 6 below. It shows the future programs of these institutions - essentially a continuation of past achievements which, however, have led to serious financial problems. Table 6: PROJECTED ANNUAL HOUSING CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM (in housing iunits) Annual Total SOGEFIHA SICOGI Total 1976-80 Urban housing 4,000 3,850 7,850 39,250 Abidjan 3,500 3,500 7,000 35,000 Other urban 500 350 850 4,250 of which Standing 1,000 - 1,000 2,000- 10,000- 1,500 2,500 12,500 Economic 2,500 - 2,850 5,350 - 26,750 - 3,000 5,850 29,250 Rural housing 1,200 1,200 /a 6,000 /a /a Plus self-help village housing programs. 3. Reducing the Gap in Housing 3.08 Comparison of the Government housing target, 20,315 units con- structed per year, with the optimistically projected programs of the housing institutions, 7,850 units per year, demonstrates the problems in assuming major public sector responsibility for housing in the next decade. These projected programs represent a continuation of present programs and will - 1:8 - require foreign financing. If each unit houses a family of 5.6 persons, the present Abidjan average, then these programs will meet the needs of some 40,000 persons, or 35 percent of the annual demand for shelter in Abidjan. Within the public sector progtam, hobwever, it should be hoted that the monthly charges for the unit's to be pt-ovided in 1976 with subsidized infta- structure ate too costly for 30 percent of the popuiation-, and units without subsidized infrastructure arie too co'stly for ab6u't 50 perbent 'of the popula;- tion. 3.09 Current housing policy and programs, even with large subsidies, would result in a large unsatisfied d'emand to be taken tare 'of by the private sector. The absolute deficit in projected housing stock is compounded by an inappropriate mix in the types of unitb provided. While BCEOM-/BNETD project a large increase in the potential demand for Strata B housing, this does not necessarily imply that such units will be provided at economic cost; If the present subsidy to SICOGI units - for some as high as 30 percent - is neces- sary to satisfy demand at that level, then it is 'clear that the mix of hous- ing being provided is mistakenly biased toward expensive units. It would be more reasonable to build LEMs, or "Lotissement evolutif" at less than half the cost. 3.10 The problem of standards is most striking w4heh housing costs are compared to income levels of the urban population. the following table represents an approximate distribution of household income for Abidjan and possible rental effort, based on a 'maximum of 25 percent of monthly incbme: Table 7: RENTAL EFFORT BY INCOME LEVEL, ABIDJAN i973 Maximum Rent Monthly Income (Based on 25% of Percentage of (CFAF) Income) the Population Cumulative Less than 10,000 Less than 2,500 5.1 5.1 10,001 - 15,000 2,500 3,750 7.9 13.0 15,001 - 20,000 3,750 - 5,000 6.0 21;0 20,001 - 25,000 5,000 - 6,250 14.0 35.0 25,001 - 30,000 6,2'50 - 7500 5.0 40.0 30,001 - 35,000 7,500 - 8,750 4.0 49.0 35,001 - 40,000 8,750 - 10,000 5.5 54.5 40,001 - 45,000 10,000 - 11,250 5.5 60.0 45,001 - 50,000 11,250 - 12,500 5.0 65.0 50,001 - 75,000 12,500 - 18,750 6.6 8i.0 75,001 - 100,000 18,750 - 25,000 4.5 89.5 More than 100,000 More than 25,000 10.5 100.0 - 19 - 3.11 The table below shows that public sector programs provide units in insufficient quantities at costs unaffordable by a substantial proportion of the population. Table 8: AFFORDABILITY OF HOUSING TYPES, ABIDJAN 1973 Average Monthly Unaffordable Strata Rent by (percent) Type (CFAF) A 33,000 90 High quality B 14,000 60 (SICOGI-SOGEFIHA) economic housing 7,000 40 Very economic housing C 7,900 45 Sites and Services - SETU 5,600 21 Sites and Services - private 4,200 13 LEM /a - Sites and Services D 5,000 21 Traditional housing E 5,300 25 Solid Construction 2,600 5 Shacks /a Does not include housing construction. 3.12 The absolute deficit in projected housing stock is compounded by an inappropriate mix in the types of units provided in public sector programs. Under present legislation, housing standards have been established which must be met if projects are to benefit from OSHE-subsidized infrastructure. These standards which apply to all aspects of construction have led to the establish- ment of a rigid cost structure for housing from CFAF 5 million for units in strata A to CFAF 400,000 for units in strata C - a twelve-fold difference. This has resulted in Government subsidies being provided for the construction of a single housing unit at CFAF 5 million when the same level of subsidy could have been directed to the construction of twelve units in strata C at CFAF 400,000. If the standards in strata C were lowered, then even more units could be built for the same cost. Inevitably, if cheaper units were built then the demand for housing could be satisfied more effectively. The basic problem of design standards and construction cost minima can be overcome by reducing such standards and encouraging self-help construction to provide housing units more in line with incomes in Abidjan. 3.13 All of the above suggests that "reducing the gap" between the demand and supply of housing in Abidjan and other towns involves a multiple solution depending on the income levels of various groups in the population. - 20 - A solution will have to include, in-addi:tion.to some subs-idization of the sector- depending on t-he Government''s priorities, (i) conventional., unsub- si'd-i'zed pub.lic hous.ing construction of appropri'ate standards; (iii) provision of unsub's-id-ized servic-ed lots,: i.e.,. sites and.; services';. (iii)' upgrading. neighborhoods: where household, inc'omes- are: too Iow- to. af.ford the other- alt6thafiv4s-, and- (iv). i'mprovement' of' incentives, for: the' private, sector- to talke on a~ bigger- share of.'the bur-d'en.. B.~ Other U.`rban: Services: 3.14 the mission has also- Ilookeddiinto' th'e cost of' prepari'ng urban I-and; for construction, development in the subsecto-r of water'supply,; sewerage,. drainage and energy (see Annex 5),7 health care and' city transport.. The main characteristics as derived for the housing sector apply to most of them: (i) a marked difference in service between Abidjan and the rest' of the country; (ii) larger differences in quality and' quantity of services among, population groups and quarters in Abidjan; and (iii) the-application of high standards wihich reduce the number of people who can-be reached with- a given amount of resources. 3.15 As far as land development is concerned, important consequences of the rapid population growth of Abidjan in the past decade have been both- the surface expansion and densification of resfdential neighborhoodss. As shown in Appendix Table 5, from 1963 to 1973 there was a shift in the rela- tive shares of the population- classified according to the five houslng strata, which represent different densities. The small percentage distribution shifts, however, obscure the population increases within individual strata. These increases vary from a doubling in Strata A to a tripling in Strata E, with quadrupling in Strata B and -D. In terms of density, this growth resulted in the following variations among strata in 1973: Table 9: DENSITY BY HOUSING TYPE, ABIDJAN 1973 Strata Quarter Density (persons/ha) A average 45 B average 330 C Adjame 600 Treichville 600 Koumassi 525 Abobo 250 D average 300 E Koumassi 1,000 Abobo 240 Banco 160 Source: BCEOM, Rapport Special No. 4. Abidjan has expanded into areas of lower density such as Abobo and Banco which, however, require higher infrastructure and transportation costs. - 21 - While the cost of land per square meter is lower in these areas, the total cost of providing services in peripheral areas increases substantially as distance increases. By 1973, some 21.3 percent of the Abidjan population, lived in either Abobo or the Banco. 3.16 SETU has managed to mount a sizeable land improvement program. While this program must respond to the demands of the housing institutions for whom it prepares land for residential use, SETU has nonetheless sought to experiment with alternative land use, such as the "lotissement d'equipe- ment minimum" (LEM). Appendix Table 6 shows the number of housing units to be built and the cost per unit and in total of the land to be developed to accommodate housing construction for 1976-80 and 1981-85. It is clear that a reorientation of the SETU program towards Strata D units would involve significant savings. Unit costs for Strata A residential villas are 30 times greater than Strata D "lotissement evolutif". Similarly, lotissement evolutif can be provided by private contractors at CFAF 60,000. Costs per hectare also vary from CFAF 11.6 million to 7.2 million from the SETU to private contractor work. If the SETU standards could be reduced further, many more housing units could be built on the same quantity of land at lower cost. This calculation becomes significant when considering the unsatisfied housing demand examined earlier. Given the projected population growth of Abidjan, land must be made available to a greater number of people faster than imple- mentation of the present SETU program permits. The alternative is the expan- sion of squatter housing on unserviced land, as in Abobo-Gare. 3.17 However, finding unused land within the Abidjan area is difficult. While the Banco offers tremendous opportunities for land development, cer- tainly in sufficient quantities to satisfy the total demand, its location requires major transport investment, i.e., expansion of the public bus fleet of SOTRA and the East-West Highway. Alternatives in Marcory and Treichville will require investment in drainage and land fill which will increase land development costs. Despite these problems, which must be worked out within a long-term land use investment program for Abidjan, it is nonetheless apparent that even with additional costs in either location, the total costs of land development could be reduced, while serving a greater number of people, if standards were lowered and the SETU program reoriented towards less expensive housing strata. 3.18 As far as health care is concerned, few governments have been able to implement policies which produce an effective distribution between preventive and curative service, between specialized medicine and public health measures, and between town and countryside. The Ivory Coast shares these problems, and, despite repeated efforts to reform its health care system towards the needs of the majority of the population, it continues to face problems in both urban and rural areas. While past health expendi- tures have been heavily biased towards the urban sector and particularly Abidjan, these resources have not been utilized in a manner permitting health improvement of the greatest number of urban residents. 3.19 Since independence, the Government has undertaken major iavest- ments in health care in both urban and rural areas. By 1973, health care - 22 - represented some 9 percent of the Government's recurrent budget, or roughly equivalent to the World Health OrganiEation's (WHO) recommended level of 9 p6rcent for developing countries. The health budget tripled during the first decade of independence. However, when measured in constant prices the increase was 65 percent, and, compared to population growth, the per capita growth of the budget was 28 percent. 1/ This increase, however, obscures the bias in the distribution of health resources towards Abidjan. In 1973, Abidjan's allocation of expenditures for drugs was roughly equal to the rest of the country put together. At the time of the prepatation of the 1971-75 Plan, Abidjan had 12 percent of the national population served by 50 percent of the doctors, 60 percent of the midwives, and 33 percent of the nurses. 2/ The urban bias in the system also resulted in some 81 percent of the Min- istry of Health budget for medicine and supplies being allocated to towns over 5,000 in 1973, although only 30 percent of the national population lived in these secondary centers. The largest towns, those over 25,000, received 63.4 percent of the total that year. 3/ 3.20 Efforts to remedy this bias during the 1971-75 Plan have been sub- stantial, as Abidjan's share of proposed expenditures for this period has been reduced from roughly half to 25.9 percent of the total. Major invest- ments were undertaken in the North, particularly after the field inspections of the Minister of Health in 1969-71 when major promises for improved service were made. Funds for implementation of the health plans, however, were not provided as intended, with the result that by 1974 only 35 percent of expenditures were actually made. Given the existence of substantial medical infrastructure already in place in Abidjan and the high percentage - a proposed 62.8 in 1974 - of the total health budget devoted to personnel, it is likely that Abidjan's share of the total actually allocated during this period was substantially higher than the intended 25.9 percent. 4/ 3.21 There is a strong bias towards curative rather than preventive medicine. From 1972 to 1974, preventive medicine received only 27 percent of the health budget, while some 68 percent was devoted to hospitals. 5/ While this is an improvement over the 1969 budget when only some 9 percent was devoted to preventive activities, the system is not geared to meeting the most common health needs of the urban and rural populations. According to the Ministry of Planning, in 1971 some 57.7 percent of all new cases 1/ Judy Lasker, Health Care and Society in the Ivory Coast: An Approach to the Study of National Health Systems, Ph.D. dissertation, Howard University, 1976. See also Appendix Table 25 for the increase in health facilities by region from 1952 to 1973. 2/ USAID, Ivory Coast: Health Sector Assessment, 1975. 3/ Lasker, op. cit., p. IV-18. 4/ USAID, op. cit., p. H-39. 5/ Lasker, op. cit., p. IV-50-51. - 23 - reported at medical facilities were due to diseases preventable by vaccines, education, environmental improvements and other forms of prevention. Eighty-nine percent of reported deaths resulted from these same diseases 1/. These figures suggest the need for new policy directions in the health sector, which should encompass: (i) continuing reallocation of expenditures toward urban centers outside of Abidjan; (ii) pursuing a better distribu- tion of resources in Abidjan, giving relatively more attention to the under- privileged; (iii) giving more attention to diseases which are relatively easy to cure; and (iv) giving more emphasis to preventive rather than to curative public services. C. Redefining the Demand for Urban Services 3.22 The most important assumption for a redefinition of the demand for services is that a greater variety of service standards, consistent with income levels, family size and location, should be provided jointly by the public and private sectors. Rather than assume that all households must live in one of several types of housing within each strata, policy should offer a wider range of opportunities for individual housing solutions. Attacking the service problems from this perspective could significantly reduce the overwitelming demand for services (i) which the public sector has taken on itself and, despite an impressive past performance, will not be able to sustain in the future; and (ii) which, as presently defined, re- stricts the number of legally and economically acceptable service packages that households can consume. The next step would be detailed market studies for each urban service and a precise determination of which service stan- dards could and should be provided by the public and private sectors. This analysis should be undertaken for all major urban centers and should suggest which service standards deserve public subsidies and which could be provided on a full-cost basis. As such, it would help to resolve the current policy dilemma of too-costly services which, while politically popular, are not feasible for the majority of urban residents. 1/ Ministry of Planning, "Conference de 1'UNICEF sur 1'Enfance et la Jeunesse", Abidjan, 1971. - 24 - CHAPTER 4: THE NEED FOR POLICY CHANGE: RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE URBAN SECTOR 4.01 This Annex has examined the demand for and supply of some urban services in the face of rapid urban population growth in the Ivory Coast. While the Ivory Coast has managed to mount an impressive program of urban development since independence in 1960, a sector-by-sector review of the demand for urban services suggests that current policies and programs will be unable to meet the needs for the next decade. This analysis is consistent with other studies of the urban sector in the Ivory Coast. 1/ There is a large, presently unsatisfied demand which will increase over time even based on optimistic demographic projections. When considered within the national investment program as reflected in the draft 1976-80 Plan and preliminary versions of the Loi-Programme for 1976-77-78, urban investment needs accord- ing to current policy assumptions would absorb a disproportionate share of public resources over the next five- and ten-year periods. Thus, for both sectoral and macro-economic reasons, a discussion of urban development objectives is an urgent priority. This concluding chapter does not explore all possible alternatives within the sectors examined in this annex; rather it suggests some general principles which might reorient present policy; it also identifies priority areas requiring immediate attention. A. Principles for Urban Policy in the Ivory Coast 1. Public versus Private Investment 4.02 The public sector will be unable to provide the capital neces- sary to meet the investment demands of the urban population for the periods 1976-80 and 1981-85. In order to satisfy a significant portion of the demand, it will be necessary to mobilize as much private capital as 'pos- sible, particularly in those sectors (i) in which it is not absolutely necessary for the public sector to intervene, and/or (ii) where the pri- vate sector may have a comparative advantage in providing a particular service. 4.03 The need to shift from public to private investment is most clear in the case of Abidjan. If, as suggested in the most recent Government documents, public investment distributed between Abidjan and smaller centers is to increase for the latter during the next decade, then increased private investment will be necessary to keep up with projected growth in Abidjan. A failure to further mobilize private investment in the capital would result in a drastic slowing down of physical development, particularly in housing. 4.04 Measures which would be conducive to increased privated investment in housing are: (1) the reduction in housing code requirements and standards, which would also encourage self-help construction; (2) the adoption of 1/ BCEOM Report and USAID, Shelter Sector Survey. - 25 - flexible building codes to permit a wider range of legal housing types; (3) an increased availability of credit and saving schemes for private housing construction; (4) land development policies and programs consistent with private housing construction; (5) promotion of a local building materials industry to assure an adequate supply for the construction likely to occur from 1976 to 1985; and (6) support for small enterprises within the con- struction industry. Such an approach would suggest a reorientation of housing objectives away from Strata A and B and towards C, D and E. 2. Full-Cost Pricing 4.05 In sectors such as land development, public utilities, health, education, and transport where the Government has a comparative advantage, it should be possible to reduce the financi4l and kdministrative burden on public institutions through full-cost pricitig of services, i.e., without subsidies to users. While this policy may not be applicable in full, as a direction it would represent a significant change in policy in some sub- sectors. The recent adoption of full-cost pricing by SETU in passing on land development charges to the housing corporations represents an initial step towards the recognition that some institutions cannot survive financially if they are not paid in full for services performed. The rehabilitation plan for SOGEFIHA has the same features. 4.06 Full-cost pricing could be applied to many aspects of the urban sector in the Ivory Coast. In addition to the explicit subsidies to specific services, the Government should also consider means to develop a differen- tiated pricing system which would take into account peak and off-peak user costs. This issue has been raised by BCEOM in its study on transport in Abidjan in terms of congestion costs. 4.07 Another major issue involving full-cost pricing is land costs. Past policies for urban land pricing have permitted land uses not always consistent with the economic value of the land. While it is recognized that substantial increases in taxes on property face difficult political obstacles, it is nonetheless clear that full-cost pricing of such an im- portant urban resource as land would improve the efficiency of resource allocation within the urban economy. Land use and density patterns should reflect true land values if cities and towns are to maximize the benefits and minimize the costs of further growth. 3. Increasing the Financial Capacity of the Public Sector 4.08 A crucial aspect of improving the provision of urban services and the availability of capital for urban investment is the ability of the public sector to generate sufficient revenue to achieve its objectives. At the present time, most public investment in urban development comes from either the national investment budget or foreign borrowing. Local communes barely generate enough revenue to meet recurrent expenditures and must rely - 26 - on national subsidies and transfers for capital expenditures. However, at present only 55 percent of property revenue is being collected. Financial reform of the urban sector, both at the local and national levels, is an essential step towards achievement of the Government's urban development goals. This will be particularly necessary in view of proposals to establish new municipal arrangements in Abidjan and in other centers. A better col- lection of property taxes is crucial to finance expansion of the Commune of Abidjan and the increase in services. 4. Reduction of Standards and Costs of Urban Services 4.09 A fourth essential direction for policy change is the adoption of reduced standards for public investment in the urban sector. The costs of high standard services have resulted not only in the lack of services for a significant portion of the urban population, but also in borrowing that has placed a heavy external debt burden on the economy. Less expensive approaches, whether in housing, serviced plots of land, water supply, or urban transport, could have permitted an adequate level of service for a larger group of urban population. The adoption of high standards has thus had important macro-and micro-economic consequences. 5. Property Ownership 4.10 While shifting housing construction to the private sector may encourage building of rental units by Abidjan's large foreign African population, it is nonetheless probable that a substantial amount of private investment in housing would be lost if foreigners were not permitted to own property in urban areas. A fuller integration of Non-Ivorian Africans into the economy would reduce remittances abroad and increase private investment in housing and other urban resources. 6. Densification in Land Use 4.11 Another principle which should be included in urban investment policy is a serious effort to densify existing urban areas. While the Abidjan area is perhaps peculiar in view of its topographic site, it is nonetheless true that the physical growth of the city towards Banco, Abobo, Port: Bouet, and the Riviera has increased infrastructure costs, particularly in trans- port. Wherever possible, existing quarters such as Treichville, Adjame, Koumassi, and Marcory should be densified in order to reduce the distance between residence and the many employment opportunities found in these neighborhoods. B. Priorities for Public Urban Investment 4.12 Within the context of policy redirection recommended above, a listing of priorities has been developed based on the following criteria: 1) Improving access for the greatest number of urban residents; 2) Costs of non-improvement; - 27 - 3) Effects on disposable income through access to employ- ment; 4) Present levels of public expenditure; 5) The comparative advantage of the private sector in providing the service. These criteria are not weighted or listed in any particular order, but, when taken together, suggest the following order of public investment priorities for Abidjan and smaller urban centers: Abid-an Smaller Urban Centers Water Supply 1 1 Sanitation and drainage 2 2 Transport - Rolling stock 3 9 Health 4 3 Land development 5 4 Transport - Road paving 6 6 Education 7 7 Housing 8 5 Electricity 9 8 4.13 This listing of priorities, derived from the above criteria, reflects two general characteristics of the Ivory Coast urban sector: (1) previous investment in Abidjan has neglected services which are urgently needed by the majority of residents, and (2) the relatively lower level of investment in the smaller urban centers has not permitted a substantial improvement in services. This approach suggests that water supply and sewerage are the first two priorities for both Abidjan and smaller urban centers. While bus transport is a serious need in Abidjan, the much smaller area of the other centers makes rolling stock less necessary in the imme- diate future. Health care is important in both Abidjan and upcountry towns; however, given past investments and present service levels in Abidjan, it appears that health care in the capital would involve primarily a realloca- tion of resources within the city. In contrast, the smaller urban centers have inadequate health services to meet the combined needs of their urban and rural hinterland populations. Attention to these basic needs appears as the highest priority item for investment. 4.14 The secondary category of investment, numbered 5 to 9, differs between Abidjan and the other centers as a function of past investments. The problem of housing in upcountry towns has not attracted much attention from the Government in the past. In these towns, it would be desirable to estab- lish a program of sites and services to permit the mobilization of under- utilized private savings. Centers such as Bouake, Agboville, and Dimbokro could certainly generate a demand for this type of program. - 28 - 4.15 The above recommendations of priority areas for public as distin- guished from private urban investment are not intended to suggest that all public housing construction in Abidjan be terminated or that road paving in the capital be postponed until the next five-year plan. Rather, the above list is intended to indicate a relative weighting that might be given to the present and future needs of the urban population on the basis of explicit criteria. Within each investment area, public policy should seek to identify groups within the population who have not benefitted from previous invest- ments and develop a range, of service standards consistent with income levels and preferences. 4.16 The above recommendations have beeti piesented after an examination of the projected ten-year investment needs of the urban sector. The analysis is not all-inclusive and does not presume to resolve all complicated economic, social, and political issues. Rather, it attem,pts to suggest directions for the Government in its development of a more viable, long-term approach to investment in the urban sector. In terms of both efficiency and equity, at more macro- and micro-economic levels, it is necessary to reorient urban policy towards more effective, financially viable strategies for the future. Past performance has been impressive. There is no reason to believe that future performance, on the basis of redirected policy and lowered standards, cannot be equally impressive, meeting the needs of a growing urban population. APPENDIX I Page 1 ASSUMPTIONS FOR DEMDGRAPHIC PROJECTIONS 1976 - 1990 1. All projections use identical annual rates of natural growth. 1976/80 1980/85 1985/90 Total rural 2.0 2.0 2.0 Total urban 3.9 4.1 4.2 Abidjan 3.9 4.1 4.2 Other urban 3.9 4.1 4.2 Total 2.5 2.75 3.0 2. Projections do not take into account probable changes in age distribution. 3. Projections assume the following percentage distribution of rural out-migration by destination and period: 1976/80 1980/85 1985/90 Abidjan 60.0 50.0 40.0 Other 40.0' 50.0 60.0 4. Percentage distribution by sex and age of rural out-migrant population: Males Females O - 14 years 7.5 7.5 15 - 59 years 45.0 40.0 60 + years -- /a -- /a Total 52.5 47.5 /a Negligible 5. The above distribution assumes some slowing down of rural out- migration by school graduates and leavers. APPENDIX I Page 2 -6.. .Prrojections .assume the -£6llowing --distributlon -of -'foreign in- migration b.y destination and ,perlod': l'19J7,6 /80 A1980t/85 ,985/90 Projection A: Ab-idjan 70.0 80.0 85.0 -Other urban 30.0 20.0 15.0 Projection B: Abidjan 60.0 314.0 '5.0O Other urban 40.0 66.0 50.0 7. Distribution by sex and age of foreign in-migtants. Rural Utbail Males Females Males lemal'es 0 - 14 years 3.5 3.5 14.5 1'4.5 15 - 59 years 64.5 28.5 4060 31.0 60 + years -- La --la --/a -La -b Total 68.0 32.0 54.5 45.5 /a Negligible A. Assumptions underlying Projection A 1. Adjustment of foreign migration according to demand for rural labor. 2. Increased rural out-umigration of school graduates and leavers as a result of increased education in rural areas. 3. No Government actions dussuading foreign migration to Abidjan. 4. No major deterioration of living conditions in Abidjan. B. Assumptions underlying Projection B 1. Foreign migration does not satisfy the demand for rurai labor. 2. Decline in rural out-migration of school graduates and leavers resulting from changing profile of school attendance after 1980. 3. Government actions disuading foreign migration to Abidjan. 4. Major deterioration of living conditidns in Abidjan after 1975. APPENDIX II Page 1 THE INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK A. The Ministry of Construction and Town Planning 1. Within the executive branch of the Government, the Ministry of Con- struction and Town Planning has legal responsibility for the formulation and implementation of urban policies, programs, and projects. This responsibility was initially defined in Decree 61-37 in January 1961 and was later revised by the decree of May 25, 1970, which reorganized the Ministry and specified its functions. The Ministry is presently divided into the following units: (1) Direction de l'Urbanisme et de l'Architecture (2) Direction des Services et Topographiques (3) Service Autonome du Domaine Urbain (4) Direction de la Construction (5) Direction des Logements Administratifs (6) Directions Regionales de la Construction et de l'Urbanisme (7) Service Autonome des Marches (8) Centre Technique de Formation Profesionnelle (9) Direction des Affaires Administratives et Financieres In 1973, these nine units comprised some 926 personnel. The Ministry repre- sents some 2.3 percent of all Government employees, with salaries totaling less than 2 percent of the public sector payroll. 2. The Ministry has four major functions under the most recent legislation: (a) Preparation and execution of town plans. (b) Preparation and execution of construction for social purposes. (c) Preparation of legislation and regulations governing town planning and housing. (d) Control of the construction industry. Performance of these functions involves formulation and implementation of urban policy, with particular emphasis on the physical planning aspects. The Ministry acts as the coordinating agency in receiving proposals for projects, requesting detailed studies from the Bureau National des Etudes Techniques du Developpement (BNETD), and eventually forwarding approved projects on to SETU, SOGEFIHA, SICOGI, and private institutions for implementation. In contrast to its role in the early 1960s, the Ministry has increasingly given over its technical repsonsibilities to the executing agencies, such as SETU or SOGEFIHA, over which it has some juridical control. The growing workload and the limited staff of the Ministry have resulted in a de facto decline in its importance within the urban sector. This decline, in conflict with legal APPENDIX II Page 2 statute, governmental decrees, and political authority, has necessarily resulted in tension between the Ministry and its collaborating institutions in the urban sector. Whether these tensions simply reflect personality differ- ences or are inherent in the relationships between institutions with over- lapping responsibilities will be resolved as new personalities occupy critical positions within the Ministry and other institutions. B. The Ministry of Planning 3. The Ministry of Planning is involved in the formulation and imple- mentation of policies and projects in the urban sector through the active participation of several of its units in the urban policy process. This involvement includes both urban-specific units within the Ministry and the more general process by which sectoral policies and projects are linked to the national development plan and the rolling investment program, the Loi Programme. While the Ministry often plays a minor role in actual policy- making in other sectors, its position is more important in urban development, given the large number of institutions operating in the sector and the lack of direction provided by the Ministry of Construction and Town Planning in this field. Three branches within the Ministry help to coordinate urban develop- ment in the Ivory Coast: the Direction de l'Amenagement du Territoire et de l'Action Regionale (DATAR), the Direction des Programmes Pluriannuels (DPP), and the Commission Interministerielle pour le Developpement de la Region d'Abidjan (CIDRA). 4. Within its general repsonsibility for "amenagement du territoire", DATAR has an urban development unit which is supposed to develop national urban development goals within the context of the national development plan. These goals were defined in a series of discussion notes during the preparation of the 1976-80 Plan. In addition to this somewhat general responsibility, DATAR represents the Ministry of Planning on all the "conseil d'administration" of the societes d'etat (state enterprises) operating in the urban field: SOGEFIHA, SETU, OSHE, BNETD, and others. This representation function gives the DATAR unit broad information on policies and projects and permits substan- tial involvement in discussions of decisions affecting urban development. As noted below, this is particuarly important in the case of CIDRA in which the director of DATAR acts as Chairman for the Minister of Planning. 5. A second unit within the Ministry of Planning involved in urban development is the DPP, which prepares the three-year investment program. The DPP reviews all proposals of the sectoral ministries and the societes d'etat and seeks to develop a realistic view of implementable projects within a given three-year horizon. In contrast to DATAR, the DPP has a more technical interest in urban project preparation, particularly on the financial side, and is involved in discussions with the Ministry of Finance concerning the sources of funding of individual projects. 6. The third urban-oriented organization located in the Ministry of Planning is CIDRA. Created in 1966 to coordinate the growth of Abidjan, CIDRA APPENDIX II Page 3 has become increasingly important as a forum for discussion among the numerous agencies working on the problems of the capital. In recent years CIDRA has met each month to discuss the annual programs of each of the agencies as well as to review proposals for major projects such as the east-west highway, the drainage and sewerage project, and the working documents of the Mission pour l'Amenagement de la Region d'Abidjan (MARA). While these sessions have often been controversial and have reflected divergent views, they have fostered increasing coordination among the agencies as compared to the 1960's when many projects were undertaken without adequate consultation among the various interested institutions. C. Societe de Gestion Financiere de l'Habitat (SOGEFIHA) 7. SOGEFIHA was created as a societe d'etat in 1963 and was given the following role: (a) management of resources in rural and urban housing, (b) recovery of capital used to create housing of various types, (c) service borrowing for housing construction, and (d) undertaking a range of financial operations needed to carry out the above. While under the tutelage of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, SOGEFIHA follows the directives of the Ministry of Construction and Town Planning in determining its operations and policies. In some 10 years of operation, SOGEFIHA has constructed more than 27,000 housing units of various types, as broken down below: Finished Under June 1974 Construction Total Rural housing 5,200 2,000 7,200 Abidjan 8,600 9,000 17,200 Other urban 1,800 1,300 3.000 Total 15,600 12,300 27,400 Source: SOGEFIHA: 10 Ans d'Activite; (Abidjan: SOGEFIHA, 1974) 8. This program is intended to continue, with approximate targets of 4,000 urban units constructed per year, with an additional 1,200 units in rural areas. SOGEFIHA management recognizes that its units are almost two times too expensive to satisfy the unsubsidized demand for low-cost housing; still, with financing costs substantial, as noted below, it is unlikely that rents and purchase prices will be substantially lowered without an overall reform of housing finance. APPENDIX II Page 4 D. Office pour le Soutien de l'Habitat Economigue (OSHE) 9. OSHE was create in September 1968 to provide financial support for low-cost housing in the Ivory Coast through subsidization of infrastructure. Place under the joint tutelage of the Ministry of Construction and Town Planning and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, OSHE is supposed to channel public revenue to projects meeting the standards established by the ministries governing publicly-financed low-cost housing projects. OSHE receives three forms of earmarked public revenue: 1 percent tax on all salaries, 1 percent tax on services, and CFAF 3 per liter of gasoline. This revenue increased from CFAF 1.3 billion in 1969 to some CFAF 2.1 billion in 1974. Despite its apparent potential for support of low-cost housing, however, OSHE has suffered from severe financial problems almost since its creation. These problems, outlined below, have led to repeated discussions of the need for OSHE reform, including a redefinition of its role within the housing sector. 10. The initial conception of OSHE as an institution to mobilize low- cost housing finance has always faced difficulties. While receiving some public revenue, OSHE was asked to finance infrastructure for a rapidly in- creasing public housing program which was to be subsidized at about 30 percent by the public budget. The financing of this subsidy was to come from OSHE revenue, yet this revenue was small compared to the massive foreign borrowing undertaken by SOGEFIHA. Both institutions faced large commitments without reliable sources of revenue to support them. OSHE fell behind in its agreed support of public costs for land preparation and basic infrastructure, and thereby created problems for other institutions such as SETU. This situation led to the establishment of a Commission de Travail sur l'Habitat Economique in 1974. 11. The April 1974 report of this Commission urged (i) that OSHE revenue be augmented substantially; (ii) that its function as mobilizing agent for housing finance be reinforced, excluding similar activities by other housing institutions; and (iii) that rules be established governing the methods of housing finance within the public sector. This reform of OSHE, however, has not occurred, despite much discussion. The recent creation of a new Banque National pour l'Epargne et le Credit is intended to take over some of these functions, yet the future role of OSHE is presently undefined. E. Societe Ivoirienne de Construction et Gestion Immobiliere (SICOGI) 12. SICOGI is a mixed societe which was created in 1965 to construct housing. The Government of the Ivory Coast holds a majority share in the company; other stockholders include the Caisse Centrale de Cooperation Eco- nomique and the Caisse de Depots et de Consignations. The corporation was established through the combination of two earlier housing corporations: SIHCI and SUCCI which had been supported by the French for construction of modern housing in the Ivory Coast. SICOGI has continued to perform this role, serving as the major vehicle for French capital and technical assistance in APPENDIX II Page 5 the housing sector. This experience has been successful; although dependent on French support, SICOGI has been almost entirely Ivorianized. In contrast to the financial and management difficulties of SOGEFIHA, SICOGI has effec- tively used the concessional funding from the CCCE to overcome many of the financial problems arising from the Government's housing policy. The ter- mination of this support at the end of 1975, however, places SICOGI in jeo- pardy of losing this position unless other sources of concessional financing are found. 13. SICOGI's operations have been almost entirely concentrated in Abidjan, with some 22,512 of a total 23,629 units having been constructed in the capital. The majority of the remaining units were built in Bouake and San Pedro. Most of these units are apartments and small row houses in large residential estates in the Abidjan area. In recent years SICOGI has experimented with various design standards and costs and has now developed at least four basic types with the following monthly rent levels: CFAF High-Standard 20,000 and up Medium-Standard 18,500 - 21,500 Low-Cost 8,500 - 11,150 Very Low-Cost 4,500 - 7,000 While these rents offer a wide range of rental opportunities by income, they are subsidized at an average of 30 percent through Government financing of in- frastructure and land preparation. The lowest-cost units have been constructed on an experimental basis and are some 20 percent cheaper than other low-cost units. 14. Despite its origins as a provider of middle-income housing, SICOGI has evolved considerably towards construction of cheaper units. This has largely been a result of the conditions and the availability of long-term financing from CCCE. Well-qualified personnel, totaling 576 by the end of 1973, have managed to shift operations towards a less wealthy clientele without significant losses in efficiency. The staff has been particularly successful in keeping rent delinquencies at a relatively low level and has found that delinquency rates are lower with the lower-income groups. 15. In contrast to many public housing corporations in developing countries, SICOGI has had a relatively successful experience, although it has operated under very favorable circumstances. Its present challenge is to develop new sources of long-term financing, while continuing its evolution toward providing for the housing needs of low-income households. F. Bureau National des Etudes Techniques du Developpement (BNETD) 16. BNETD was created in 1966 as a societe d'Etat and was given respons- ibility for conducting technical studies in all sectors. It has expanded APPENDIX II Page 6 rapidly, with decentralized branch offices being established in Bouake, San Pedro and other centers. Formally under the tutelage of the Ministry of Planning, its work is supervised by a conseil d administration representing the major technical ministries, including the Ministry of Finance In the urban field, BNETD s role has been particularly important through its pre- paration of most of the technical plans ror individual towns, neighborhoods, and housing projects. This work was undertaken by the Atelier de 1 Urbanisme pour la Region d'Abidjan (AURA), founded in 1968, which, until recently, had the greatest concentration of urban expertise in the country. The growth of AURA, both in terms of personnel and workload, led to a reorganization of urban work within BNETD in 1974-75, with the creation of the Direction d'Amenagement urbain (DAMUR) and sub-units within-it. These include the Mission pour l'Amenagement de la Region d'Abidjan (MARA) and the Mission de la Region de Bouake (MRB), both of which are now preparing new physical develop- ment plans for those centers. 17. The emergence of AURA within the urban development process is a major factor in explaining the high quality of urban public investments from 1968 to 1975. Originally responsible for (i) developing studies for urban plans and infrastructure, (ii) providing technical solutions to urban develop- ment issues, and (iii) understanding private contracts, AURA was given the most important contracts in the urban sector: the preparation of a new development plan for Abidjan in 1969 and plans for San Pedro Most of its staff focused on these tasks, a fact reflected in the generally high quality of the work. The development of SETU and the growing demands of SICOGI and SOGEFIHA for technical studies placed a much increased burden on AURA, leading to the need for expansion. The attraction of new opportunities in the urban field for former AURA staff also led to a significant turnover within the unit. At the present time, AURA responds to requests from the Ministry of Construction for technical studies for plans for upcountry towns, from SETU for studies of land to be developed, and from SOGEFIHA for architectural and. landscape studies. 18. A second group within DAMUR is the MARA which is supposed to prepare a physical development plan for Abidjan for 1985 and 2000. Building on previous work for the 1969 AURA Plan and the recent BCEOM studies, MARA is preparing a "Livre Blanc" outlining the major lines of development for the Abidjan region. The very existence of this group within,the Ivor;y Coast is noteworthy, because it is relatively protected within the BNETD structure and is able to raise fundamental questions about past assumptions concerning the desired growth of the capital. One of MARA's working documents 1/ was the subject of the June 1975 meeting of CIDRA, suggesting the high degree of coordination and discussion existing in the management of the urban, sector Included in its preparations of a physical development plan are estimates of social service needs and the costs of the proposed service levels. 1/ Mission pour l'Amenagement de la Region d Abidjan, Les Problems Urbains Poses par la Croissance d'Abidjan: Propositions pour de Nouvelles Orientations, May 1975. APPENDIX II Page 7 19. A third urban unit within DAMUR is the Mission pour la Region de Bouake which was established to prepare a physical development plan for the country's second largest city. The relatively slower growth of Bouake, in the absence of major new industrial investments, makes this task considerably different from analogous work in Abidjan or San Pedro. Nevertheless, the MRB, while limited in personnel, is approaching its task seriously. 20. Taken together, the three urban units within DAMUR represent an impressive quantity of urban expertise relative to other countries in the region. The BNETD prsonnel are strengthened further by technically-trained administrative personnel in the Ministry of Construction and Town Planning, SETU, and the Ministry of Planning. G. Societe d'Equipement des Terrains Urbains(SETU) 21. SETU was created in 1972 as a societe d'etat to prepare and execute all projects involving urban land in the Ivory Coast. Its establishment was largely a result of the fact that the housing corporations were incapable of both increasing their housing construction programs while at the same time managing the preparation of land and infrastructure for those projects. Since its first full year of operations in 1973, SETU has already demonstrated its ability to mount an impressive program under sound management. While the bulk of its operations was preparation of land for residential use, this work has been diversified to include industrial zones and, more recently, projects outside of Abidjan. The preparation of new physical plans for secondary urban centers by AURA, under contract to the Ministry of Construction and Town Planning, will lead to an upsurge of activity in these centers in the next few years. 22. SETU's most important characteristic within the network of urban institutions in the Ivory Coast is that it charges its clients, SICOGI, SOGEFIHA, and OSHE, the full cost of its operations.. Subsidies for land, preparatidn and infrastructure come through OSHE to the housing corporations, but SETU is supposed to be fully reimbursed for its costs. This represents an important change in land development policy in the country. 23. In addition to its pivotal role in urban development projects, SETU has also shown itself to be relatively dynamic within the overall urban sector. Its staff is teclnically qualified and well-respected by personnel in other agencies with which it works. These characteristics make it a desirable location for experiments, such as the LEMs, and large projects, such as the sewerage and drainage project financed by IBRD. However, the institution is not well established yet and the accumulation of two many functions too soon could lead to managerial and financial problems. 24. SETU's programs for 1975-78 are presented in Chapter 2 and are discussed in both Chapters 3 and 4 of this Annex. It should be emphasized that these programs, while more flexible than the "quitte ou double" policy APPENDIX II Page 8 pursued in the housing sector, are still characterized by high costs and high standards. The public development of the Deux Plateaux neighborhood in Abidjan is a good example of this approach. The financial implications of this type of operation may be felt in an eventual lack of demand for extremely large and costly residential sites. In this sense, SETU is affected by the general characteristics of Ivory Coast urban policy despite the fact that it has sought to place itself on a full-cost financing basis. H. Local Jurisdictions 25. Local government and administration in the Ivory Coast is derived from the French law of 1884 establishing a system of urban communes. The communes or municipalities are organized according to the size of the popula- tion within their jurisdiction. The Municipal Reform of 1956 created three communes "de plein exercice" in the Ivory Coast: Abidjan, Bouake, and Grand Bassam, and six communes "de moyen exercice": Abengourou, Agboville, Daloa, Dimbokro, Gagnoa, and Man. The communes had elected municipal councils, technical services, revenue-generating powers, and, for the communes de plein exercice, elected mayors. In the second category of communes the mayors were appointed by the Ministry of the Interior. 26. Local administration within the Ivory Coast has weakened since the' 1956 reform. No municipal elections have been held, although they are planned for the end of 1975 or early 1976. This has resulted in the atrophy of muni- cipal councils, many of which are barely able to hold a quorum, given the attrition of members elected 19 years ago. While the communes have technical responsibilities within the towns, these have increasingly been taken on by centrally-controlled institutions. Regulations governing most aspects of municipal affairs have placed decision-making power in the Ministry of the Interior in Abidjan. 27. This system of local government has been further weakened by the establishment of a much strengthened territorial structure of 24 prefectures and some 120 sous-prefectures. Appointed by the Ministry of the Interior, prefets and sous-prefets exercise wide-ranging authority in all towns not designated as communes and have taken over some communal responsibilities in the communes. As agents of the Central Government, they are placed in the ambiguous position of having to implement decisions made in Abidjan within jurisdictions with which they come to be identified. Some towns have bene- fitted from this system when their assigned prefet has had an independent political base and has been able to attract resources to his locality. The recent growth of Agboville is a good example of this type of urban development stemming from the energy of a local administrator. Most towns, however, are not so fortunate and remain dependent on Central Government decisions in the allocation of development resources. 28. The fundamental problem of local Jurisdictions in the Ivory Coast is lack of local ability to generate local revenue. If towns such as Korhogo, Odienne, Adzope, or Divo were able to tax property, commerce and other APPENDIX II Page 9 activities taxed in the communes, they might be able to generate more local development resources than is now the case. This is particularly important because these towns have grown rapidly in recent years and are likely to continue growing. The present financial situation of these towns precludes the effective provision of needed urban services. Appendix Table 1 PAST DEMOGRAPHIC GROWTH, 1965-1973 (in thousands) Total Population Rate of Growth Average Annual Inc.rease Natural NaturalxJ 1965 1973 Total Increase Migration Total Increase Migration Rural population 3,356.5 4,049 2.4 2.0 .4 86.5 73.4- 13.1 Urban population 946 1,830.5 8.6 3.7 4.9 110.6 47.7 62.9 Abidjan 340 811 11.5 3.7 7.8 58.9 19.,1 39.8 Other centers 606 1,019.5 6.7 3.7 3.0 51.7 28.6 23.1 Total 4,302.5 5,879.5 4.0 2.45 1.55 197.1 121.1 76 Source: Essai de bilan demographique pour la periode 1965-73. APPeifA,ix Tpble 2 ESTIMATED 1975 POPULATION Urban Population Rural Centers Centers Department Population Over 10,000 Under 10,000 Total Abengourou 129,500 27,500 10;000 167,000 Abidjan 325,000 1,107,500 23,000 1,455,500 Aboisso 102,500 18,500 12,200 133,200 Adzope 116,000 37,500 - 153,500 Agboville 105,000 38,000 - 143,000 Biankouma 58,000 - 4,8P0 62,800 Bondoukou 291,500 17,000 12,200 320,700 Bouafle 201,000 11,000 26,900 238,900 Bouake 554,000 211,000 22,100 787,100 Boundiali 99.500 - 19,200 118,700 Daloa 320,500 62,000 19,100 401,600 Danane 146,500 29,000 - 175,500 Dimbokro 303,000 90,000 17,200 410,200 Divo 204,000 37,000 14,100 255,600 Ferkessedougou 52,000 23,000 4,500 179,500 Gagnoa 162,503 51,500 - 214,000 Guiglo 106,000 - 24,700 130,700 Katiola 101,000 16,000 - 117,000 Korhogo 236,000 41',000 6,500 283,500 Man 206,000 57,000 - 263,000 Odienne 110,000. 13,500 - 123,500 Sassandra 117,000 63,500 13,200 193,700 Seguela 128,500 15,000 8,800 152,300 Touba 68,500 - 4,300 72,800 TOTAL 4,244,000 1,966,500 242,800 6,453,300 SOURCE: Ministry of Planning. Ap.endix Table 3 UF.BA1AN INIVUASTR UCTIRII, INDICATOR?S, SELRWrED 1OIRY CO01ST CTIS oTIrJM TIIAN A3IDJAN, LATE 1960's Inial N 7b olo rhoUiL ,A bpEs I , S 00INAIAT TAbou bir/l b@k°dir^¢; p * I _ f ui~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A~~~~ ~~~ I /AN Ab bo BQND SOUK ~~rond- Loho~~~ ~ ~ Bo~~$a,~ // U,tn Pon~don O,~ni~. ~ ~nf NAovCo, u,e V . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~~--wo B I I *00IIAIAT Pi~ftM&k.dr#fff - L-ET - I A--AIT I IBRD 12685 JANUARY 1977 KILO-ETERS e IVORY COAST MILES URBANIZATION PROGRESSION Urban areas in 1958. Population: 170,000 Addi,tionlareas urbanized by 1966 Pplton: 370,000 I p7 A dditio BP S*n al areas urban ized by 197 3 . Aijnmunicipal boundary --Purk or forest boundaries N a t E o n o if/%/ / RoS ,'4S,~~~~~~~~~b" IBRD 12686 JAISUAHY 1977 2 KILOMETERS IVORY COAST o 2 3 4 S MIIES j2,< j PUBLIC TRANSPORT PASSENGER TRAFFIC FLOW PER 24 HOURS 1974 -1980 Pa_ss\enger traffiC 1`lo w per 24 hours; 1980, Estimated En c - a 0 3 Screen lines ,____r____ Major roads Railwaiy … - - - Abidjan municipal boundary t B a n c o /t - ... . - - -Park or forest bounduries As _______| | Urbanized areI s, 1973 N: .a1 t i r n a I- p a rk it yF-W, Eoj n l ...... B jA I , r. TF GC