The World Bank GIRLS EBOLA RECOVERY LIVELIHOOD SUPPORT (GERLS) PROJECT (P159493) REPORT NO.: RES29729 RESTRUCTURING PAPER ON A PROPOSED PROJECT RESTRUCTURING OF GIRLS EBOLA RECOVERY LIVELIHOOD SUPPORT (GERLS) PROJECT APPROVED ON OCTOBER 17, 2016 TO THE REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA SOCIAL PROTECTION & LABOR AFRICA Regional Vice President: Makhtar Diop Country Director: Henry G. R. Kerali Senior Global Practice Director: Michal J. Rutkowski Practice Manager/Manager: Jehan Arulpragasam Task Team Leader: Suleiman Namara The World Bank GIRLS EBOLA RECOVERY LIVELIHOOD SUPPORT (GERLS) PROJECT (P159493) BASIC DATA Product Information Project ID Financing Instrument P159493 Investment Project Financing Original EA Category Current EA Category Not Required (C) Not Required (C) Approval Date Current Closing Date 17-Oct-2016 30-Sep-2017 Organizations Borrower Responsible Agency Ministry Of Finance and Development Planning MGCSP Project Development Objective (PDO) Original PDO The Project Development Objective is to provide income generation support to Ebola-affected adolescent girls. OPS_TABLE_PDO_CURRENTPDO Summary Status of Financing Net TF Approval Signing Effectiveness Closing Commitment Disbursed Undisbursed TF-A3359 17-Oct-2016 04-Nov-2016 04-Nov-2016 30-Sep-2017 .53 .30 .23 Policy Waiver(s) Does this restructuring trigger the need for any policy waiver(s)? No The World Bank GIRLS EBOLA RECOVERY LIVELIHOOD SUPPORT (GERLS) PROJECT (P159493) I. PROJECT STATUS AND RATIONALE FOR RESTRUCTURING The Government of Liberia has received funding from the World Bank to implement a project through the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protect called “Girls Ebola Recovery Livelihood Support (GERLS) project. The project is aimed at providing income support to 2000 adolescent girls who have lost their livelihoods as a result of the EVD crisis in Liberia. In compliance with Component 1 of the project, 2048 adolescent girls were selected and enrolled in Montserrado, Grand Bassa, and Margibi using the project criteria between April and May, 2017. Subsequently, the Business and Life skills training of beneficiaries commenced June 27, 2017 and ended on July 11, 2017. The total number of beneficiaries selected for enrollment into the training was 2,048. Under Component 2 (Livelihood Recovery Support), 1,740 beneficiaries (450 business groups) met the criteria to be cleared to receive the first tranche payment of the grant. Clearance was based on beneficiaries meeting the attendance threshold set for training and submission of group business plan. The cash grants will be provided by September 29, 2017 in all three counties. Implementation is satisfactory and disbursement stands at 57 percent. The proposed change is to extend the project closing date from Extension of the closing date from September 30, 2017 to December 31, 2017. II. DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED CHANGES The Grant Agreement of US$530,000 in connection with the above-mentioned Project was signed by the World Bank and the Republic of Liberia (Recipient) on November 4, 2016. The Project is scheduled to close on September 30, 2017. The Project Development Objective is to provide income generation support to Ebola-affected adolescent girls. Project disbursement is at 57.05 percent. The Government of Liberia has requested in a memo dated September 6, 2017 (attached) an amendment of Article III Section 3.03 of the Grant Agreement to extend the closing date from September 30, 2017 to February 28, 2018. The extension will allow for completion of the following activities:  Provision of mentoring through business mentors; and  Distribution of the second tranche cash grants to beneficiaries who have received life skills and business skills training. While the client requested an extension through February 28, 2018, upon assessing the tasks remaining on the project and limited funding available, the Bank project task team requests that the project be extended through December 31, 2017. The World Bank GIRLS EBOLA RECOVERY LIVELIHOOD SUPPORT (GERLS) PROJECT (P159493) I. SUMMARY OF CHANGES Changed Not Changed Change in Loan Closing Date(s) ✔ Change in Implementing Agency ✔ Change in Project's Development Objectives ✔ Change in Results Framework ✔ Change in Components and Cost ✔ Cancellations Proposed ✔ Additional Financing Proposed ✔ Reallocation between Disbursement Categories ✔ Change in Disbursements Arrangements ✔ Change in Disbursement Estimates ✔ Change in Overall Risk Rating ✔ Change in Safeguard Policies Triggered ✔ Change of EA category ✔ Change in Legal Covenants ✔ Change in Institutional Arrangements ✔ Change in Financial Management ✔ Change in Procurement ✔ Change in Implementation Schedule ✔ Other Change(s) ✔ IV. DETAILED CHANGE(S) OPS_DETAILEDCHANGES_LOANCLOSING_TABLE The World Bank GIRLS EBOLA RECOVERY LIVELIHOOD SUPPORT (GERLS) PROJECT (P159493) LOAN CLOSING DATE(S) Original Revised Proposed Proposed Deadline TF Status Closing Closing(s) Closing for Withdrawal Applications TF-A3359 Effective 30-Sep-2017 31-Dec-2017 30-Apr-2018