The World Bank Reintegration of Ex-combatants Project (P160272) REPORT NO.: RES50037 DOCUMENT OF THE WORLD BANK RESTRUCTURING PAPER ON A PROPOSED PROJECT RESTRUCTURING OF REINTEGRATION OF EX-COMBATANTS PROJECT APPROVED ON APRIL 13, 2017 TO MINISTÈRE DE L'ECONOMIE, DU PLAN ET DE LA COOPÉRATION SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY AND INCLUSION AFRICA WEST Regional Vice President: Ousmane Diagana Country Director: Abdoulaye Seck Regional Director: Simeon Kacou Ehui Practice Manager/Manager: Senait Nigiru Assefa Task Team Leader(s): Abderrahim Fraiji The World Bank Reintegration of Ex-combatants Project (P160272) I. BASIC DATA Product Information Project ID Financing Instrument P160272 Investment Project Financing Original EA Category Current EA Category Partial Assessment (B) Partial Assessment (B) Approval Date Current Closing Date 13-Apr-2017 30-Jun-2022 Organizations Borrower Responsible Agency Ministère de l'Economie, du Plan et de la Coopération DDRR Project Implementation Unit Project Development Objective (PDO) Original PDO The Project Development Objective (PDO) is to support the social and economic reintegration of demobilized ex- combatants and improve access to socio-economic infrastructure and economic opportunities for host communities. Summary Status of Financing (US$, Millions) Net Ln/Cr/Tf Approval Signing Effectiveness Closing Commitment Disbursed Undisbursed IDA-D1800 13-Apr-2017 22-Jun-2017 21-Dec-2017 30-Jun-2022 30.00 23.33 7.60 Policy Waiver(s) Does this restructuring trigger the need for any policy waiver(s)? No II. SUMMARY OF PROJECT STATUS AND PROPOSED CHANGES The World Bank Reintegration of Ex-combatants Project (P160272) The World Bank has been supporting the National DDRR Program in CAR since 2015. On December 21, 2017, the PREC project for the reintegration of ex-combatants became effective. It is implemented in substantial collaboration with the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission (MINUSCA), that is responsible for Disarmament and Demobilization. The PREC is an integral part of the CAR National Disarmament, Demobilization, Reintegration and Repatriation (DDRR) program. The overall performance of the project is satisfactory, and as of February 01, 2022, the overall disbursement level of the project is 75.40 %. There are no outstanding audit reports. The closing date of the project is June 30, 2022. The government has requested a no-cost extension for 12 months. This request brings the project beyond two years from the project’s original closing date. Supporting the reintegration of ex-combatants is crucial for the country’s fragile peace process. In September 2021 the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) held a summit in Luanda where a road map back to the 2019 peace agreement (APPR) was agreed upon. The Roadmap provides a framework to bring back the six armed groups that left the APPR in December 2020, which has thrown the country back into conflict. DDR is an important part of the Luanda road map. An extension should allow more time for the project to process additional ex-combatants who are willing to demobilize and reintegrate back into their communities. Closing the PREC project on June 30, 2022 would most likely have a negative impact on the ongoing peace process and the accompanying national dialogue. The DDR process has accelerated lately due to recent developments on the ground. The government, together with partners, have estimated that 4 205 more soldiers are likely to go through the DDRR process, which puts pressure on the government to provide socio-economic support to ex-combatants. A functional Reintegration process sends a positive signal to combatants that another life is possible. It is also an important measure to prevent disarmed and demobilized soldiers from returning to armed groups by offering them a way back to civilian life. Politically it would be difficult if armed groups do indeed demobilize in large numbers, and there is no funding for the reintegration process. The extension would also give more time to the government to find other international partners to support the DDR process. There is currently no other donor, apart from the World Bank, financing the Reintegration part of DDRR. The project has been restructured twice before. The first time was in November 2018, when given the political uncertainties on the outcomes of lengthy continuing negotiations with armed groups, the project went through a first restructuring process (level 2). The second restructuring was approved in October 2020, when the closing date was extended from December 31, 2020 until June 30, 2022. III. DETAILED CHANGES LOAN CLOSING DATE(S) Original Revised Proposed Proposed Deadline Ln/Cr/Tf Status Closing Closing(s) Closing for Withdrawal Applications IDA-D1800 Effective 31-Dec-2020 30-Jun-2022 30-Jun-2023 30-Oct-2023 The World Bank Reintegration of Ex-combatants Project (P160272)