The World Bank Report No: ISR9409 Implementation Status & Results Romania Social Assistance System Modernization Project (P121673) Public Disclosure Copy Operation Name: Social Assistance System Modernization Project (P121673) Project Stage: Implementation Seq.No: 5 Status: ARCHIVED Archive Date: 08-Sep-2013 Country: Romania Approval FY: 2011 Product Line: IBRD/IDA Region: EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIA Lending Instrument: Specific Investment Loan Implementing Agency(ies): Key Dates Board Approval Date 26-May-2011 Original Closing Date 30-Sep-2014 Planned Mid Term Review Date 27-Sep-2013 Last Archived ISR Date 09-Jan-2013 Effectiveness Date 30-Apr-2012 Revised Closing Date 31-Aug-2016 Actual Mid Term Review Date Project Development Objectives Project Development Objective (from Project Appraisal Document) Improve the overall performance of Romania's social assistance system by strengthening performance management, improving equity, improving administrative efficiency and reducing error and fraud. Has the Project Development Objective been changed since Board Approval of the Project? Yes No Component(s) Component Name Component Cost Strengthened Performance Management (DLIs 1-3) 108.00 Improved Equity (DLIs 4-7) 144.00 Improved Administrative Efficiency (DLIs 8-12) 180.00 Reduced Error and Fraud (DLIs 13-20) 288.00 Overall Ratings Public Disclosure Copy Previous Rating Current Rating Progress towards achievement of PDO Moderately Satisfactory Satisfactory Overall Implementation Progress (IP) Moderately Satisfactory Satisfactory Overall Risk Rating High Implementation Status Overview The project was restructured in June 2013. The restructuring accomplished two things: i) It combined two Disbursement Linked Indicators (former DLIs 18 and 20) into one and re-worded the DLI as follows: “NASB to undertake data matching, covering a period of at least 3 months, between SAFIR records relating to CRB, GMI, FA and SCA programs and relevant identity and income information derived from databases managed by National Page 1 of 6 The World Bank Report No: ISR9409 Public Pension House, National Employment Agency, ANAF and the Civil Registry, and lists of detected irregularities per program are sent to Social Inspection for verification and proposing remedial actions�. This change reflects the fact that the counterparts had found a more direct method of achieving the goals of the original DLIs in circumstances not anticipated during preparation of the project; ii) it extended the project by 23 months, to reflect the revised timetable for introduction of the Minimum Social Insertion Program. Public Disclosure Copy Evidence of achievement of new DLI 18 (combining former DLIs 18 and 20) was presented to the World Bank in June 2013, verified by the World Bank, and the associated amount of E50m was disbursed on 27 June 2013. A total of 7 (of 19) DLIs and E200m (of $710m) have now been disbursed. A further five DLIs may be ready for disbursement by the end of June 2014. Locations No Location data has been entered Results Project Development Objective Indicators Indicator Name Core Unit of Measure Baseline Current End Target A performance management M&E system is Text Value M&E system is used primarily TORs to track administrative Performance Management operating within expectations as a tool to manage payments and client costs developed. M&E system in place and for only a sub-set of social operating within expectations assistance programs. Date 20-Jul-2010 21-Jul-2013 31-Aug-2016 Comments There is a systematic procedure to support Text Value Available management M&E system is being used to management decisions using the M&E system information tools are not used support management for monitoring or measuring decisions performance Date 20-Jul-2010 17-Dec-2012 31-Aug-2016 Comments Increased share of social assistance funds Percentage Value 37.70 35.70 45.00 going to the poorest quintile Public Disclosure Copy Date 20-Jul-2009 31-Dec-2011 30-Sep-2014 Comments No new information. HBS will DLI 7 track this. Administrative costs and client participation Text Value Reduction by 15% costs for means-tested programs are reduced Date 31-Aug-2016 by 15% from baseline value Comments The Citizen Scorecard will Baseline private costs per DLI 12 establish the baseline. beneficiary per month of 15.5 RON, based on Citizen Scorecard Report. TORs for regular monitoring developed. Page 2 of 6 The World Bank Report No: ISR9409 Programs for Low-Income Households, Text Value Social Inspection focuses on Thematic inspections now Thematic inspections carried disability benefits and family policy have compliance with social being carried out regularly for out regularly for each of the strengthened information systems services; 2 social assistance the main risk-prone social main risk-prone social inspections (GMI and social assistance programs assistance programs Public Disclosure Copy aid) in 2008 Date 31-Aug-2016 Comments Oversight and control procedures in place Text Value Social Inspections focus on Social Inspectorate capacity Sanctions policy framework, compliance with service significantly increased (as investigative powers and standards; 2 social assistance recognized in recent audit), referrals system for the Social inspections (GMI and social but their sanctions and Inspection in place, risk- aid) in 2008; no risk-based investigative powers have not based investigation used by investigation, data matching, yet been increased. Social Inspection data quality audits or sanctions policy. Date 31-Aug-2016 Comments Direct project beneficiaries Number Value 9323.00 9323.00 9323.00 Date 31-Aug-2013 Comments See PAD Table 3, estimate of Given high coverage in There is no target: the project individuals served under Romania, including from does not seek to change the Eligible Expenditure Programs upper-middle income families, number of beneficiaries. some reduction is good. Female beneficiaries Percentage Value 4661.00 4661.00 4661.00 Sub Type Supplemental Intermediate Results Indicators Indicator Name Core Unit of Measure Baseline Current End Target Percentage of the new applications for Percentage Value 0.00 0.00 90.00 Public Disclosure Copy programs for low-income households and Date 31-Aug-2013 family policy programs in the preceding two Comments The one-application and one- DLI 11. months comply with one-application and one- point of service operational guidel point of service is not yet in place Percentage of the family allowance Percentage Value 0.00 90.00 90.00 beneficiaries are paid, through NASB, for two Date 31-Aug-2013 consecutive months according to harmonized Comments DLI 4. means-testing procedures and lower eligibility threshold Page 3 of 6 The World Bank Report No: ISR9409 Percentage of beneficiaries of the new Percentage Value 0.00 0.00 90.00 consolidated program for low-income Date 31-Aug-2013 households are paid through NASB for two Comments The new consolidated DLI 6. consecutive months Public Disclosure Copy program is not yet in place At least 90% of GMI beneficiaries are paid Percentage Value 0.00 90.00 90.00 through NASB for two consecutive months Date 31-Aug-2013 Comments DLI 15. A central registry with a national database of Text Value Disability benefits information Disability benefits information A central registry with a disabled persons is in place is scattered across different is scattered across different national database of disabled management information management information persons is in place systems systems Date 31-Aug-2013 Comments Central registry is under DLI 16. development with TA from SIP A management information systems focused Number Value 0.00 4.00 3.00 on performance management is operating Date 31-Aug-2013 (number of reports) Comments monthly monitoring reports of Three monthly performance four programs for low-income management reports for households are being programs for low-income produced. households are produced by NASB and used at the managementlevel in the MoLFSP and NASB Percentage of Child Raising Benefits Percentage Value 0.00 90.00 90.00 beneficiaries entering the program since Date 31-Aug-2013 January 1st 2011 are paid, trough NASB, for Comments Achieved, but the DLI5. two consecutive months, using a lower replacement income of 75% replacement income was raised back to 85% at the end of 2012. Public Disclosure Copy Enacted harmonized means testing procedures Text Value The identification of the needy The identification of the needy Enacted harmonized means for the GMI, family allowance, and heating is inconsistent across is inconsistent across testing procedures for the benefits are disseminated programs for low-income programs for low-income GMI, family allowance, and households program households program heating benefits are disseminated Date 31-Aug-2013 Comments Partial progress: Harmonized DLI 8. means-testing in place for two out of three means-tested programs Page 4 of 6 The World Bank Report No: ISR9409 Percentage of individuals certified for disability Percentage Value 0.00 0.00 90.00 benefits according to new harmonized disability Date 31-Aug-2013 system are paid through NASB andmedical Comments New harmonized disability DLIs 9 and 10. assessment criteria are disseminated Public Disclosure Copy system not yet in place Strengthened mechanisms to detect error and Text Value Data matching to detect error Data matching to detect error NASB to undertake data fraud, through data matching and data quality and fraud is not performed and fraud is being performed. matching, covering at least a analysis are in place Bulk data matching performed period of 3 months, between for all four programs (CRB, SAFIR records relating to GMI, FA, SCA) and CRB, GMI, FA and SCA irregularities reported to programs, and relevant Social Inspection identity and income information derived from databases managed by National Public Pension House, National Employment Agency, ANAF and Registrul National de Evidenta a Populatiei, and lists of detected irregularities per program are sent to Social Inspection for verification and proposing remedial actions (output). Date 31-Jul-2013 Comments DLI 18. Data on Financial Performance (as of 28-Jun-2013) Financial Agreement(s) Key Dates Project Ln/Cr/Tf Status Approval Date Signing Date Effectiveness Date Original Closing Date Revised Closing Date P121673 IBRD-80560 Effective 26-May-2011 08-Jul-2011 30-Apr-2012 30-Sep-2014 31-Aug-2016 Public Disclosure Copy Disbursements (in Millions) Project Ln/Cr/Tf Status Currency Original Revised Cancelled Disbursed Undisbursed % Disbursed P121673 IBRD-80560 Effective USD 710.40 710.40 0.00 253.82 426.24 36.00 Disbursement Graph Page 5 of 6 The World Bank Report No: ISR9409 Public Disclosure Copy Key Decisions Regarding Implementation The Borrower should accelerate efforts to meet the next three DLIs before December 2013 and a further two DLIs before June 2014. Restructuring History CD Decision on 17-Jun-2013 Related Projects There are no related projects. Public Disclosure Copy Page 6 of 6