The World Bank Strengthening Hydro-Meteorological and Climate Services (P159217) REPORT NO.: RES51086 DOCUMENT OF THE WORLD BANK RESTRUCTURING PAPER ON A PROPOSED PROJECT RESTRUCTURING OF STRENGTHENING HYDRO-METEOROLOGICAL AND CLIMATE SERVICES APPROVED ON MARCH 8, 2017 TO DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO URBAN, RESILIENCE AND LAND EASTERN AND SOUTHERN AFRICA Regional Vice President: Hafez M. H. Ghanem Country Director: Jean-Christophe Carret Regional Director: Catherine Signe Tovey Practice Manager/Manager: Catalina Marulanda Task Team Leader(s): Christian Vang Eghoff The World Bank Strengthening Hydro-Meteorological and Climate Services (P159217) I. BASIC DATA Product Information Project ID Financing Instrument P159217 Investment Project Financing Original EA Category Current EA Category Partial Assessment (B) Partial Assessment (B) Approval Date Current Closing Date 08-Mar-2017 30-Jun-2022 Organizations Borrower Responsible Agency National Agency of Meteorology and Teledetection by Democratic Republic of Congo Satellite (Mettelsat) Project Development Objective (PDO) Original PDO The proposed Project Development Objective (PDO) is to improve the quality of the Government of the DRC’s targeted hydro-meteorological and climate services. Summary Status of Financing (US$, Millions) Net Ln/Cr/Tf Approval Signing Effectiveness Closing Commitment Disbursed Undisbursed TF-A4389 07-Feb-2017 19-Apr-2017 22-Feb-2018 31-Aug-2020 2.70 2.57 .13 TF-A4390 07-Feb-2017 19-Apr-2017 22-Feb-2018 30-Jun-2022 5.33 4.00 1.33 Policy Waiver(s) Does this restructuring trigger the need for any policy waiver(s)? No The World Bank Strengthening Hydro-Meteorological and Climate Services (P159217) II. SUMMARY OF PROJECT STATUS AND PROPOSED CHANGES 1. This Restructuring Paper seeks the Country Director’s approval to extend the closing date for the Strengthening Hydro-Meteorological and Climate Services Project (P159217) by 6.5 months until January 15, 2023. This is the first extension of the project’s closing date. 2. Background. The Project was approved by the Bank on March 8, 2017, and it has a closing date of June 30, 2022. The financing included a Global Environment Facility (GEF) Trust Fund (TF) of US$5.33 million and a Global Fund for Disaster Risk Reduction (GFDRR) TF of US$2.7 million. The Project Development Objective (PDO) is to improve the quality of the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s targeted hydro-meteorological and climate services. The project includes four components: (A) Institutional and regulatory strengthening, capacity building and implementation support; (B) Modernization of equipment, facilities and infrastructure for basic observation and forecasting; (C) Improvement of Hydromet information service delivery; and (D) Project Management. 3. Project Performance. Project implementation is progressing well, and the likelihood of achieving the PDO and Implementation Progress (IP) are rated ‘Moderately Satisfactory’. The PDO indicators are achieved or very likely to be achieved, with some additional time needed to consolidate results. The implementation of a Quality Management System (QMS) is 80 percent finalized. Mettelsat’s operational observation, forecast and modelling capacities have improved substantially due to installed hydromet equipment and daily hazard bulletins are prepared. This frequency will increase with the full operationalization of hydromet equipment being installed. The establishment of a National Framework for Climate Services is finalized but requires additional support to become operational. Procurement and Financial Management (FM) are currently rated as ‘Moderately Satisfactory’. All audit reports due have been submitted on time and there are no pending issues. Compliance with both social and environment safeguards is rated ‘Moderately unsatisfactory’ following the expiration of the contract of the project’s safeguards specialist in March 2022. His contract is being reactivated to assure proper support to project closing. 4. Status of Implementation. As of June 14, 2022, 78 percent of the GEF TF, and 96 percent of the GFDRR TF have disbursed, resulting in an overall disbursement of 84 percent. The GFDRR TF closed on August 31, 2020. Contracts are either completed or in their last stages of implementation. The status of implementation of the components is summarized below: • Component A: Certification of a QMS is underway and is expected to be finalized before June 30, 2022. The draft Meteorology Law is expected to be finalized before June 30, 2022. Collaboration agreements have been signed and Mettelsat is providing meteorological data to 12 other national agencies. • Component B: Three Mettelsat buildings have been fully rehabilitated. The installation of level meters in two rivers has been completed. The installation of hydromet equipment in 12 airports is in the final phases of implementation, having overcome delays related to internal governance issues in Mettelsat (discontent and strikes by staff, change of management) and logistical constraints related to COVID-19. Installation of equipment has been completed in nine (9) locations (Bukavu, Goma, Kisangani, Bunia, Isiro, Kalemie, Kindu, Beni, and Kinshasa) and works in the remaining three (3) locations are underway (Gemena, Mbandaka, and Lisala). All equipment is in place, civil works are underway, and it is expected that the installation of all equipment can be completed by the end of September 2022. Related training of personnel is underway but can only start fully after completion of equipment installation. An early warning system is to be operationalized based on the installed equipment. • Component C: A National Framework for Climate Services (NFCS) has been finalized and established by Decree on May 13, 2022. Hazard bulletins are being prepared and shared with user groups. The ongoing operationalization of an online platform will assure broad availability of hazard data. Bulletins for heat, wind and precipitation are currently The World Bank Strengthening Hydro-Meteorological and Climate Services (P159217) prepared on daily basis and shared with relevant institutions. Safeguarding of historic climate data is advancing, but not likely to be finalized before the current project closing date. 5. Rationale for extension. An extension of the closing date of the project to January 15, 2023 was requested by the Government by letter dated June 8, 2022. The proposed extension is required to: (a) mainstream the certified QMS into Mettelsat operations, which requires additional training of key personnel. The activity is expected to be completed by January 15, 2023; (b) carry out consultations to allow finalization of the Meteorology Law, expected to be submitted for approval by Parliament in December 2022; (c) complete installation, test and calibration of hydromet equipment, expected to be done by September 2022 and operationalizing a related Early Warning System, expected to be completed by January 15, 2023; (v) finalize online platform to make hazard bulletins available to a broader audience. 6. The finalization of remaining activities is expected to bring the disbursement of the GEF TF to 100 percent and meet 100 percent of the Project Development Objectives. The completion of the main contract to hydromet equipment and carry out related activities will bring disbursements past 90 percent. The CREWS TF linked to the project has been extended until June 30, 2023 and will continue to support project implementation. III. DETAILED CHANGES LOAN CLOSING DATE(S) Original Revised Proposed Proposed Deadline Ln/Cr/Tf Status Closing Closing(s) Closing for Withdrawal Applications 31-May-2020, 31- TF-A4389 Closed 31-Dec-2019 Aug-2020 TF-A4390 Effective 30-Jun-2022 15-Jan-2023 15-May-2023