Abstract
The goal of this project was to promote sustainable livelihoods and contribute to the socio-economic development of disadvantaged rural populations through the provision of improved road access. The purpose was to reduce the life-time costs of unpaved rural roads by promoting appropriate engineering standards, planning tools and works procedures for labour-based construction and maintenance. The factors influencing deterioration of unpaved roads and their effect on the overall performance of the roads have been determined in this project. This report synthesises the findings from the three project countries (Ghana, Uganda and Zimbabwe) and provides guidelines for countries with similar terrain, climate and materials. The report has been produced to give a regional perspective to the findings for application by a wider spectrum of practitioners in different countries.