The World Bank Report No: ISR1707 Implementation Status & Results Gabon Public Disclosure Copy Gabon: Strengthening Capacity for Managing National Parks and Biodiversity (P070232) Operation Name: Gabon: Strengthening Capacity for Managing National Parks Project Stage: Implementation Seq.No: 9 Status: ARCHIVED Last Modified Date: 14-Jan-2011 and Biodiversity (P070232) Country: Gabon Approval FY: 2006 Product Line: Global Environment Project Region: AFRICA Lending Instrument: Specific Investment Loan Implementing Agency(ies): Ministry of Forest Key Dates Board Approval Date 29-Mar-2006 Original Closing Date 30-Jun-2012 Planned Mid Term Review Date 12-May-2010 Last Archived ISR Date 08-Apr-2010 Effectiveness Date 27-Dec-2007 Revised Closing Date 30-Jun-2012 Actual Mid Term Review Date Global Environmental Objectives Global Environmental Objective (from Project Appraisal Document) The Global Environmental Objective is: Biodiversity conservation in the Congo basin is enhanced. The Project Development Objective is : Biodiversity is protected and managed in a sustainable way and contributes to the diversification of the national economy, through strenghtened capacities of parks and wildlife authorities Has the Project Development Objective been changed since Board Approval of the Project? Yes No Component(s) Component Name Component Cost Institutional Strengthening of the National Parks Agency 1.80 Expanding Gabon's protected area coverage 1.20 Public Disclosure Copy Direct support to selected national parks 5.20 Wildlife management in production landscapes 1.80 Overall Ratings Previous Rating Current Rating Progress towards achievement of GEO Unsatisfactory Moderately Satisfactory Overall Implementation Progress (IP) Unsatisfactory Moderately Satisfactory Overall Risk Rating Implementation Status Overview The project has been effective since December 27, 2007; however its implementation has been delayed due to lack of continuity in staff in charge of this project, lack of knowledge Page 1 of 4 The World Bank Report No: ISR1707 of the WB procedures, complex institutional framework, as well as the national political situation (Presidential elections in 2009). During the Mid-term review mission (MTR) mission conducted last May 2010, it was acknowledged that this project was facing huge difficulties (rated Unsatisfactory over the past year before the MTR). A thorough restructuring Public Disclosure Copy process has been conducted over the past few months and the project activities have been adjusted at the technical level, to better reflect the current priorities in terms of Biodiversity conservation in Gabon as well as the new roles and mandates in this specific area. Meanwhile, the institutional arrangements of the project have been clarified (the Implementation Manual is under revision) and the disbursement rate has increased (it is now 35 percent in comparison to 22 percent during the MTR) and is likely to significantly increase during the 1st quarter of CY 2011 (cf. new contracts). The restructuring is a Level 1 as there is a need to adjust the PDO: it is indeed proposed to simplify and re-align the Project Development Objective with the one indicated in the Legal Agreement. As matter of fact, the PDO originally in the GEF PAD read as follows: "Biodiversity is protected and managed in a sustainable way and contributes to the diversification of the national economy, through strengthened capacities of parks and wildlife authorities". Since the contribution to "the diversification of the national economy" is difficult to measure during the life of the Project, the following language is proposed: "The Project Development Objective is to (i) enhance the conservation of biodiversity in selected National Parks and buffer zones and (ii) strengthen the management capacity of selected conservation- related entities in Gabon". The indicators will also be adjusted as there were considered overly ambitious and difficult to monitor. The new indicators will be reflected in the Next ISR as soon as the Restructuring process is completed. In the ISR, the team has reported on the previous indicators. Results Global Environmental Objective Indicators Indicator Baseline Current End Target Indicator Name Value Value Value 1 million hectares of areas suitable for biodiversity protection status 3000000.00 9500000.00 10000000.00 identified and proposed for formal gazettment by Year 5. Date Date Date 27-Dec-2007 20-Dec-2010 30-Jun-2012 Type Unit of Measure Comment Comment Comment Custom Indicator Hectare(Ha) Gabon has a target of 4 million ha All the (3) sites have been pre- The additional 1 million ha of of natural ecosystems under identified and biological protected areas is identified and protection. Three million ha of inventories, as well as socio- proposed for formal gazetment. national parks were created in economic surveys, have been 2002.The additional 1 million launched in towsites. hectare remains to be identified. Public Disclosure Copy Page 2 of 4 The World Bank Report No: ISR1707 Indicator Baseline Current End Target Public Disclosure Copy Indicator Name Value Value Value 1 million hectares of key nat. parks with 80% increase in magt effectiv. 55.00 80.00 score (as measured by the BMETT tracking tool) leading to biodiv Date Date Date conservation, employment, and ecotourism, by Yr 5. 23-May-2010 Type Unit of Measure Comment Comment Comment Custom Indicator Number Baseline was not measured. BMETT tool was used December 2009 and reported during the MTR: Loango (57), Mayumba (58) and Moukalaba Doudou (50) Indicator Baseline Current End Target Indicator Name Value Value Value 5 m. hectares of production landscapes in buffer zones with increased 5000000.00 wildlife management effectiveness, as measured by indicators of Date Date Date surveillance efforts and levels of wildlife off-take, by Year 5 22-Dec-2010 30-Jun-2012 Type Unit of Measure Comment Comment Comment Custom Indicator Hectare(Ha) Brigades mobiles established and The wildlife management approach equipped. Field activities launched is scaled up in the southern part of during the last quarter of 2010. the country: surveillance efforts increase and level of off-take decrease significantly in 5 m. ha. Intermediate Results Indicators Indicator Baseline Current End Target Indicator Name Value Value Value The National Park Agency is operational both at the HQ and National Public Disclosure Copy N Y Y Park level Date Date Date 27-Dec-2007 22-Dec-2010 30-Jun-2012 Type Unit of Measure Comment Comment Comment Custom Indicator Yes/No ANPN formally created. Staff newly ANPN is operational. Staff ANPN operational with appropriate appointed appointed, FM system in place and staff and systems (financial, HR, operational. M&E system to be M&E) developed. Data on Financial Performance (as of 30-Dec-2010) Financial Agreement(s) Key Dates Page 3 of 4 The World Bank Report No: ISR1707 Project Loan No. Status Approval Date Signing Date Effectiveness Date Closing Date P070232 TF-56592 Effective 14-Jun-2006 14-Jun-2006 27-Dec-2007 30-Jun-2012 Public Disclosure Copy Disbursements (in Millions) Project Loan No. Status Currency Original Revised Cancelled Disbursed Undisbursed % Disbursed P070232 TF-56592 Effective USD 10.00 10.00 0.00 3.55 6.45 35.00 Disbursement Graph Key Decisions Regarding Implementation The restructuring process launched during the mid-term review conducted on May 2010 has already significantly improve the performance of the project with the launching of Public Disclosure Copy activities on the ground and an increased rate of disbursement. The ANPN is now in charge of piloting the project, in close coordination with the Ministry of Forests. Partnerships with international NGOs (WWF and WCS) have been renewed while new partnerships with local NGOs, to promote local development projects and consultation around the National Parks have been forged. The FM and Procurement functions have largely improved. An 12month extension has been requested as part of the restructuring process, which sets the new closing date on June 30, 2013. Additionally there was a need to also adjust the Indicators (and specifically the KPI) to better reflect the new PDO and also because the original indicators were considered too ambitious and difficult to monitor. Restructuring History There has been no restructuring to date. Related Projects P070196-Gabon Natural Resources Management Development Policy Loan Page 4 of 4