The Makete Approach: The Case of PIRTP and RAMPA in Malawi. By Alexander R Phiri

The Makete Approach: The Case of PIRTP and RAMPA in Malawi. By Alexander R Phiri

This Malawi based case study is part of a series of studies completed under an IFRTD initiated project 'The Makete Approach' to evaluate the impact of the pioneering Makete Integrated Rural Transport Project (MIRTP) on the policy and institutional landscape of todays transport sector. MIRTP was conducted by the ILO in the Makete District of Tanzania between 1986 and 1995. The project reflected a growing concern that 'roads were not enough' and aimed to reduce the transport burden of rural households by; improving footpaths, tracks and roads with labour based technologies, initiating appropriate non-transport solutions, and making bicycles and donkeys available to the community.

Malawi has implemented two pilot projects aimed at improving rural access and mobility. These are:

- The Pilot Integrated Rural Transport Project (PIRTP) which was conceived to plan and implement measures to improve mobility and accessibility of the rural people in order to facilitate rural development in three pilot areas of Neno in Mwanza, Lobi in Dedza and Embangweni in Mzimba district. The PIRTP was implemented between 1991 and 1997. The main focus in this study was Lobi in Dedza district. 

- The Malawi Rural Travel and Transport Programme (MRTTP) conceived the Rural Accessibility and Mobility Pilot Activity (RAMPA) as a means of developing sustainable and cost effective provision of rural travel and transport infrastructure and services. This activity was piloted in Ntchisi dsitrict between July 2004 and December 2005. 

The key assumption of this Malawi case study is that the PIRTP and RAMPA alongside the evolution of broader rural transport policy in Malawi have been largely influenced by the MIRTP project. The main goal of the Malawi case study was therefore to provide strategic lessons on how a pilot project with community level impact on poverty and empowerment can be designed to have wider impacts on policy and institutional practice at national, regional and international levels. 

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