Southern African Railways Association (SARA) - Papers and Publications. http://www.sararail.org/

1. TABLE OF CONTENT
Page
Information and Communication Technologies 1
Gender mainstreaming 3
A Study on the Effectiveness of SARA Strategies 5
A Study on the Effectiveness of Railway Concessions 7
A Study visit to The Association of American Railroads 9
Contact details 11

2. 2
PROJECT FACT SHEET: TO COMPLETE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
REGIONAL ROLLING STOCK INFORMATION SYSTEM IN SADC
RAILWAY ADMINISTRATIONS
Project Title The Application of innovative Information
and Communications Technologies to
1
deliver a cost effective, regionally
.
integrated seamless and predictable
railway transport services in the SADC
2 Thematic / Functional Area Transport and Services
.
3 RISDP Intervention Area Provision of adequate, integrated and
. efficient transport infrastructure and services
4 Duration To be determined
.
5 Planned Start Date To be determined
.
6 Geographical Location/s SADC member states
.
7 Potential Funding Agents To be determined
.
8 Total Estimated Cost To be determined
.
9 Existing Level of Funding None
.
1 Additional Funding Required To be determined
0
.
Objectives To complete the implementation of the
Regional Rolling Stock Information System
1 (RSIS) with the regional database housed at
1 SARA and to evaluate sustainable innovative
. ICT technological solutions designed
specifically to respond to already defined and
future functions.
1 Activities
1.To carry out a feasibility study of the two
2
systems (Sprint & ACIS) and other related
.
systems being used in the region and
elsewhere and recommend a suitable
system.
2.To purchase of the application system and
the required computer hardware and
software
3.To upgrade VSAT equipment
4.To design, develop and implement the
regional rolling stock offline and online
databases at SARA secretariat offices

3. 3
5.To initial training of users, operators,
maintenance officers of the system.
Key Outputs • Feasibility study report
• Regional Rolling stock Information
1 System with an offline and online
3 databases at SARA secretariat offices
. • Upgraded and functional VSAT
equipment
• Trained personnel
1 Implementation Agents SARA and SADC Railway Administrations
4
.
1 Project Documentation Status Documentation of the first phase are with
5 SARA and SADC.
.
1 Focal Point/Contact Institution Infrastructure and Services Directorate
6
.
1 Observations The RSIS Project is an outcome of the SADC
7 transport Efficiency Project undertaken under
. the auspices of the Southern Africa Transport
and Communication Project (STEP),
following its approval by the SADC
Committee of Ministers. In March 1998, with
funding from USAID SARA embarked on a
phased project of developing and
implementing Railway Rolling Stock
information System (RSIS) in seven railways
(Botswana Railways, Central East Africa
Railway, Zambia Railways, National Railway
of Zimbabwe, Swaziland Railways, Caminho
de Ferros de Mozambique, and TAZARA.
The RSIS was to comprise of two systems,
the Sprint, which is an in-house developed
system of Spoornet and the Advanced Cargo
Information System (ACIS), developed for
COMESA by UNCTAD. The RSIS was an
online real-time interactive transportation
information system and it included an offline
function for management information system
and accounting.
Both the ACIS and Sprint were to be
developed further to meet the above
functions and an interface between the two
systems were also to be developed by
UNCTAD and Spoornet. The interface has
not been successfully developed. The ICTs
equipment such as the VSAT equipment and

4. 4
computer hardware and software which
came with the project is now outdated. Due
to USAID’s project policies and refocusing of
support to socio-economic aspects the RSIS
project was suspended in February 2001.
1 In NEPAD STAP?
8
.
PROJECT FACT SHEET: TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT GENDER
EQUITY AND MAINSTREAMING IN SOUTHERN AFRICAN RAILWAYS
ASSOCIATION
Project Title The Study and Implementation of gender
equity and mainstreaming in the Southern
1
African Development Community (SADC)
9
railway administration under the auspices
.
of Southern African Railways Association.
2 Thematic / Functional Area Transport and Services
0
.
2 RISDP Intervention Area Provision of adequate, integrated and
1 efficient transport infrastructure and services
.
2 Duration To be determined
2
.
2 Planned Start Date To be determined
3
.
2 Geographical Location/s SADC member states
4
.
2 Potential Funding Agents To be determined
5
.
2 Total Estimated Cost To be determined
6
.

5. 5
2 Existing Level of Funding None
7
.
2 Additional Funding Required To be determined
8
.
Objectives The main objectives are
- ‘To promote gender development at railway
administration level, and collectively at
regional or SARA level’ in line with the
SADC Gender guidelines
- Source funding for Gender projects.
2
Other Objectives are:
9
.
To groom and strengthen women in
managerial and leadership positions to
contribute to their organizational growth and
make them role models at national regional
and international arena.
Activities To assist in the development of women to
take up managerial, technical as well as
leadership positions within Railway
Administrations (RAs) and the region
through:-
- Identifying and developing policies that
address barriers to women with
competencies for advancement to
leadership positions
- Carrying out a Gender Audit in all Railway
Administrations.
3
- Developing and implementing a Regional
0
Gender Equity Policy that would address
.
the following:
- Ensuring the establishment of a culture that
encourages the empowerment and
recognition of women in RAs and the region
as a whole
- Identifying regional and RAs develop
programme.
- Creating a regional broad networking forum
where knowledge and business information
is shared
- Ensuring that HIV/AIDs is addressed fairly
3 Key Outputs • Gender Audit report
1 • Advocacy and awareness programmes

6. 6
• Capacity building of the SARA
Secretariat officers in the area of Gender
• Development and implementation of
Regional Gender Policy
3 Implementation Agents SARA and SADC Railway Administrations
2
.
3 Project Documentation Status Still at proposal stage.
3
.
3 Focal Point/Contact Institution Infrastructure and Services Directorate
4
.
Observations Following the interaction of the Southern
African Railways Association (SARA) with
various regional stakeholders, one issue that
has been consistently viewed as yet to be
addressed by the railways in the SADC
Region pertains to the abovementioned
subject of the promotion of gender equality.
The creation of the Gender Committee within
the SARA structure shows the level of
importance accorded to the issue. SADC
3 also recognises and supports women’s
5 participation in all economic activities. To
. date, a number of initiatives to address the
gender participation gap have been
undertaken at organisational, sector, national
and regional levels.
The railways are the largest employers in
almost all countries outside of the civil
service. With the Association (SARA) having
gone this far in championing the cause of the
industry, it is perhaps time the above matter
is addressed in full.
3 In NEPAD STAP?
6
.
PROJECT FACT SHEET: STUDY ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE
SARA STRATEGY AS MEASURED BY CHANGES IN RAIL MARKET
SHARE SINCE THE FORMATION OF ASSOCIATION IN 1996
Project Title The study on the effectiveness of the
3
SARA strategy as measured by changes
7
in rail market share since the formation of
.
Association in 1996

7. 7
3 Thematic / Functional Area Transport and Services
8
.
3 RISDP Intervention Area Provision of adequate, integrated and
9 efficient transport infrastructure and services
.
4 Duration To be determined
0
.
4 Planned Start Date To be determined
1
.
4 Geographical Location/s SADC member states
2
.
4 Potential Funding Agents To be determined
3
.
4 Total Estimated Cost To be determined
4
.
4 Existing Level of Funding None
5
.
4 Additional Funding Required To be determined
6
.
Objectives The study will broadly seek to establish
whether positive changes have been
recorded for regional railways market share.
The study should also explain the changes
4
giving real examples based on the individual
7
member railway cases and recommend ways
.
of improving rail market share and overall
performance.
4 Activities To carry out a study on the Effectiveness of
8 the SARA Strategy
.
4 Key Outputs • The Study report
9 •
.
5 Implementation Agents SARA and SADC Railway Administrations
0
.
5 Project Documentation Status Still at proposal stage.
1
.

8. 8
5 Focal Point/Contact Institution Infrastructure and Services Directorate
2
.
Observations/ When the Southern African Railways
Association (SARA) was formed in 1996, the
main objective was to advocate for rail
against road. At the time, railways only
accounted for about 25% of freight market
share whilst road accounted for huge chunk
of the market share. Through the envisaged
advocacy, there was expectation that
Government would treat railways fairly in
terms of investment especially in railway
lines provision and maintenance where the
playing field was uneven given that road had
5 the road infrastructure provided for by the
3 State. It was also expected that through
. levelling of the playing field railways would be
able to compete and increase its market
share. Over the years the SARA strategy has
evolved leading to coverage of additional
strategic issues affecting member railways
beyond advocacy. In order to assess the
effectives of strategies adopted and
implemented so far, there is need for a study
to be undertaken to track the changes in
regional railways market share and the
underlying causes for the changes. This will
assist in developing strategies aimed at
addressing the future.
5 In NEPAD STAP?
4
.

9. 9
PROJECT FACT SHEET: STUDY ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF
RAILWAY CONCESSIONS IMPLEMENTED IN THE REGION TO DATE
5 Project Title Study on the effectiveness of Railway
5 Concessions implemented in the Region
. to date
5 Thematic / Functional Area Transport and Services
6
.
5 RISDP Intervention Area Provision of adequate, integrated and
7 efficient transport infrastructure and services
.
5 Duration To be determined
8
.
5 Planned Start Date To be determined
9
.
6 Geographical Location/s SADC member states
0
.
6 Potential Funding Agents To be determined
1
.
6 Total Estimated Cost To be determined
2
.
6 Existing Level of Funding None
3
.
6 Additional Funding Required To be determined

10. 10
Objectives The study will broadly seek to establish
whether improvements have been registered
in the following areas among others and
highlight areas of possible improvement:-
- Operational efficiency
6 - Investment in infrastructure
5 - Investment in equipment
. - Safety
- Tariffs charged to customers/Cost of
railway transport
- Market share
- Work culture
- Social services
- Regional impact
6 Activities To carry out a study on the Effectiveness of
6 the SARA Strategy
.
6 Key Outputs • The Study report
7
.
6 Implementation Agents SARA and SADC Railway Administrations
8
.
6 Project Documentation Status Still at proposal stage.
9
.
7 Focal Point/Contact Institution Infrastructure and Services Directorate
0
.
7 Observations The decline in regional railway performance
1 has been a cause for concern to all and
. Governments in particular have been more
concerned since they have been historically
the owners of these railway organisations.
When railways were established, the aim
was for them to support other sectors of the
economy through offering an affordable and
convenient mode of transport. Governments
would in turn grant subsidies to the railways
to keep them going. Over the years the cost
of running these railways increased
significantly such that most Governments
ended up not affording to invest in both
railway infrastructure and equipment
resulting in huge backlogs in maintenance
and absence of systematic replacement
programmes. The railways themselves were
not able to generate adequate profits to

11. 11
reinvest. This failure to generate profits has
been attributed to a number of reasons that
include the following; charging of non
economic tariffs (usually controlled), social
service obligations (passenger services),
operation of uneconomic branch lines, poor
business culture arising from monopoly
status, poor management and inefficiency in
some cases.
In order to address the poor performance
and investment requirements calls were
made to restructure the railways
institutionally and structurally. The leading
proponent of this new order was the World
Bank. The objective of restructuring was to
come up with a structure that clearly
separates responsibilities between the State
and railways themselves, promotes
competition and private sector participation in
terms of operations and equipment provision.
The ultimate objective was to improve overall
performance of the railways. One of the
dimensions that the restructuring took was in
the form of concessioning which entails
ceding of infrastructure and equipment in
some cases to a private operator who would
operate over an agreed period. In other
cases, the private sector would invest in
infrastructure, operate and then transfer to
government or its appointed agent after
expiry of the agreed concession period.
There however seems to be mixed feelings
about the success of concessions that have
been implemented to date. This resulted in
calls for a study to establish the new position.
Such calls were made at both the SADC
Integrated Committee of Ministers held in
Sandton, South Africa and at the Africa Rail
Conference held in Midrand, South Africa in
June 2006.
PROJECT FACT SHEET: STUDY VISIT TO THE ASSOCIATION OF
AMERICAN RAILROADS BY SARA SECRETARIAT STAFF AND SOME
BOARD MEMBER(S).
7 Project Title Study visit to the Association of American
2 Railroads (AAR) by Southern African
. Railways Association (SARA) Secretariat

12. 12
Officers and some Board Member(s).
7 Thematic / Functional Area Transport and Services
3
.
7 RISDP Intervention Area Provision of adequate, integrated and
4 efficient transport infrastructure and services
.
7 Duration To be determined
5
.
7 Planned Start Date To be determined
6
.
7 Geographical Location/s United States of America
7
.
7 Potential Funding Agents To be determined
8
.
7 Total Estimated Cost To be determined
9
.
8 Existing Level of Funding None
0
.
8 Additional Funding Required To be determined
1
.
Objectives The study visit is to enable SARA to re-
8
engineer and benchmark itself against AAR’s
2
best practices
.
Activities The study visit will cover areas of policy
formulation and implementation, information
and communication technologies, technical
8
standardization, operations and services,
3
enforcement of policies and standards,
.
membership management, advocacy
approach, sphere of influence, legal powers,
funding among others.
8 Key Outputs • The Study report
4 • Capacity building SARA
.
8 Implementation Agents SARA and SADC Railway Administrations
5
.
8 Project Documentation Status Still at proposal stage.
6

13. 13
8 Focal Point/Contact Institution Infrastructure and Services Directorate
7
.
Observations The Southern African Railways Association
(SARA) is modelled along the lines of the
Association of American Railroads (AAR) in
terms of the role they play and how they play
that role. AAR has over the years made great
strides in establishing themselves as one of
the leading railway associations in the world.
In view of the need for SARA to be
rejuvenated in line with its new strategy and
thrust developed in 2004, there is need for
8 benchmarking against best practices. It is
8 SARA’s view and conviction that numerous
. benefits will be realised if some SARA
Officers and Board member(s) could
undertake a study tour to AAR in the United
States of America this year as part of
capacity building. Representation at both
Secretariat and Board level will ensure that
the concepts learnt from the visit are
progressed at the highest level and
congruency of vision among all members of
the Association.
8 In NEPAD STAP?
9
.

14. 14
CONTACT DETAILS
For further information please contact the following:
1. Bernard Dzawanda
67 Fife Avenue
Harare
Zimbabwe
Tel: +263-4-252342/736777
Fax: +263-4-736813
Mobile: +263-11884760
E-mail: bdzawanda@sararail.org
2. Joice Chidora
67 Fife Avenue
Harare
Zimbabwe
Tel: +263-4-736777/8
Fax: +263-4-736813
Mobile: +263-11802067
E-mail: jchidora@sararail.org