| The Nigeria Community Based Poverty Reduction Project became effective in September 2001. The beneficiary states are Abia, Ekiti, Cross River, Kebbi, Kogi, and Yobe state. Six other states have just joined the second phase of the project with AfDB supporting four of them. They are Delta, Ebonyi, Gombe, Kwara, Osun and Zamfara States. As of January 2005 over 800 communities in the first-phase states have successfully implemented and completed 1,017 sub-projects that include 348Â school projects; 350 water projects, 90 road projects, 90 health projects, 72 electricity projects and 67 other projects such as environmental protection, training centers and commercial markets. 
Average approximate construction costs of sub-projects break down as follows: US$17,000 for a water project (bore hole or surface well);Â US$29,000 for a school project (a six block classroom);Â US$28,000 for a health project (a community health center including a maternity ward);Â US$33,000 for a road project (rural access road or bridge repair); and US$32,000 for an electricity project (an extension or a transformer). Average Construction Costs by Sector
All states combine | US$’000 | School construction (six classroom block) | 28,119 | Water project (bore hole) | 16,983 | Health center (comprehensive) | 27,859 | Road (feeder road, cost per project) | 32,475 | Electricity (33 kV transformer) | 31,841 | Others (environmental, agro processing, market construction etc) | 60,423 |
Construction periods encompass 18 months for a health center; 15.5 months for a school project; 14 months for a water project; 12 months for an electricity project; and 11 months for a road project. A midterm review exercise conducted by the Nigeria Institute for Social and Economic Research (NISER) in 2004 and discussions with community members revealed the following improvements:   | The incidence of water borne disease has declined as a result of water projects—namely, borehole, hand dug wells. | | Distances children travel to schools and back were reduced after the project built school blocks in the communities. | | Travel to farms and availability of farm produce to markets improved because of improvements in some rural roads. | | Communities' access to health centers has also gotten better since the project built local health centers. | |  | Poverty levels have been perceived to have decreased in some households because of the construction of commercial markets where female heads of household are now managing businesses. |
       An impact evaluation study is planned for 2006 by the National Planning Commission. The success of the projects is largely based on community participation in project selection, design, implementation and monitoring. Effective and responsiveness by the project management unit at the state level is also a major contribution to the success. Project performances at the state level as of January 2005 are presented below: Abia State Project achievements Abia State has completed 90 sub-projects that include 42 electricity projects; 15 health projects; 10 school projects; 10 water projects; 10 roads projects; a training center; an agro processing project and a dormitory. 
Average approximate construction costs in Abia States are US$34,000 for a water project; US$36,000 for a school project; US$39,000 for a health center; US$39,000 for a road project; and US$37,000 for an electricity project. Photos of Completed Projects in Abia State 
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| Okpuala Umuawa Water Project in Abia State | | Abia State Nsukwe Ubakala Road Project | 
| |  | Abia State Commercial Market Project |  | Abia State Agro Processing project |
             Cross River State Project Achievements Cross River State has completed 82 sub-projects in over 15 local government areas. The number of completed sub-projects includes 36 school projects (6 classroom block with VIP); 15 water projects (borehole or surface well); 13 health centers; 12 road projects; 3 sanitation projects; 2 commercial markets and 1 water transportation project. 
Costs According to community members, costs would have been 70 percent higher if the communities were not involved in the implementation of the same micro projects. The average approximate costs are US$35,000 for a school project; US$17,000 for water project; US$41,000 for a health project; and US$41,000 for a road project. Photos of Completed Projects in Cross River 
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| Cross River Health Center | | Cross River Water Project | 
| |  | Cross River State Bridge Project in
Mbarakpa Akampa LGA | Â | Cross River Computer Center |
             Ekiti State Project Achievements Under the Community Based Poverty Reduction Project, Ekiti State has completed 174 sub-projects that include 53 water projects; 46 education projects; 26 road projects; 15 health projects; 5 electricity projects; and 29 other projects (environment/ecological protection, training center, youth development center and commercial markets). Over 10 local government areas are covered in about fifty communities. Water is the highest demand followed by schools and rural roads. 
Costs Average Approximate Construction Costs of Sub-projects | (US$’000) | Water project – bore hole |  8,000 | Education – 3 block classrooms |  24,000 | Health (construction of a comprehensive health center) |  26,000 | Road (feeder road, cost per project) |  28,000 | Electricity (ext. of 300 kv transformer) |  29,000 |
Photos of Completed Projects in Ekiti State 
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| Ekiti School | Â | Borehole in Ekiti State | 
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| Twin box bridge with culvert with 5km road at Aberunjo, a community in Ado-Ekiti | | Ekiti Health Center |
             Kebbi State Project Achievements Kebbi State has completed 272 sub-projects of which there are 145 education projects; 53 water projects, 22 health projects; 19 road and culverts projects; 13 electricity projects and 20 others including environmental projects, commercial markets and a training center. School blocks are in the highest demand among the communities, followed by health centers. 
Costs Average approximate construction costs in Kebbi state are US$16,000 for a school project; US$15,000 for a water project; US$27,000 for a health project; US$27,000 for a road and culverts project and US$26,000 for an electricity project. Kogi State Project Achievements Kogi State has built and completed a total of 86 projects in about 20 local government areas in over 50 communities. Of these, there are 47 newly constructed or rehabilitated school blocks, 14 rural feeder roads, 10 water projects, 8 health facilities, 6 electricity projects, and 1 commercial market development project. 
The highest demand in Kogi State is for schools, followed by roads and water projects. In addition, there are over 60 projects in the pipeline. Costs Sub-Projects | Average Approximate Cost US$’000 | School (3 block classroom) | 37,000 | Roads (per road project) | 39,000 | Water (bore hole) |  29,000 | Health (6 bed facility plus maternity ward) | 31,000 | Electricity (x kv line) | 38,000 |
Communities indicated that it is often 75% cheaper if they, rather than any other groups, are directly involved in the implementation of the micro projects. Photos of Completed Projects in Kogi 
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| Erosion control project in Kogi
| | Ofaina Water project in Kogi
(Click photo for enlarged copy.) | 
Kogi school project
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| Â | Â | Electrification project in Kogi |
               Yobe State Project Achievements Yobe State has completed 313 sub-projects that include 209 water projects, 64 education projects, 17 health projects, 9 road projects, 6 electricity projects, and 8 others, including agro processing, commercial markets, training centers, and desertification and flood control. 
Costs Average approximate construction costs of the completed projects are US$34,000 for an education project (six block classroom); US$34,000 for a electricity project; US$7,000 for a water project; and US$24,000 for a road project. Community members indicated that sub-projects construction costs would be over 60 percent higher if contractors had implemented the same sub-projects. Photos of Completed Yobe State Projects 
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|  Borehole water project - Yobe State |  | Yobe water project | 
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| One block of two classrooms in Yobe State | | Yobe School Block |
             Contacts for questions: RCubagee@worldbank.orgÂ
FOkunmadewa@worldbank.orgJelder@worldbank.org     |
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