The World Bank Adaptation Fund: Increasing Climate Resilience & Enhancing Sustainable Land Management in the Southwest of the Buenos Aires Province (P125804) REPORT NO.: RES33487 RESTRUCTURING PAPER ON A PROPOSED PROJECT RESTRUCTURING OF ADAPTATION FUND: INCREASING CLIMATE RESILIENCE & ENHANCING SUSTAINABLE LAND MANAGEMENT IN THE SOUTHWEST OF THE BUENOS AIRES PROVINCE APPROVED ON SEPTEMBER 20, 2013 TO THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES LATIN AMERICA AND CARIBBEAN Regional Vice President: Jorge Familiar Country Director: Jesko S. Hentschel Senior Global Practice Director: Karin Erika Kemper Practice Manager/Manager: Valerie Hickey Task Team Leader: Tuuli Johanna Bernardini The World Bank Adaptation Fund: Increasing Climate Resilience & Enhancing Sustainable Land Management in the Southwest of the Buenos Aires Province (P125804) ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS GoA Government of Argentina IP Implementation Progress MAyDS Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development PDO Project Development Objective OPDS Provincial Agency for Sustainable Development PT Project Team (prior Project Implementation Unit, PIU) SAyDS Secretariat of Environment and Sustainable Development SGAyDS Government Secretariat of Environment and Sustainable Development The World Bank Adaptation Fund: Increasing Climate Resilience & Enhancing Sustainable Land Management in the Southwest of the Buenos Aires Province (P125804) BASIC DATA Product Information Project ID Financing Instrument P125804 Investment Project Financing Original EA Category Current EA Category Partial Assessment (B) Partial Assessment (B) Approval Date Current Closing Date 20-Sep-2013 30-Dec-2018 Organizations Borrower Responsible Agency Government Secretariat of Environment and Sustainable The Argentine Republic, Ministry of Treasury Development Financing (in USD Million) FIN_SUMM_PUB_TBL SUMMARY Total Project Cost 3.96 Total Financing 0.00 Financing Gap 0.00 DETAILS -NewFin3 Project Development Objective (PDO) Original PDO The PDO is to contribute to reducing climate and man-made vulnerability of the agroecosystems in the Southwest of the Buenos Aires Province by increasing adaptive capacity of key local institutions and actors and piloting and disseminating climate resilient and sustainable land management practices. OPS_TABLE_PDO_CURRENTPDO The World Bank Adaptation Fund: Increasing Climate Resilience & Enhancing Sustainable Land Management in the Southwest of the Buenos Aires Province (P125804) Summary Status of Financing Net TF Approval Signing Effectiveness Closing Commitment Disbursed Undisbursed TF-15041 18-Mar-2014 18-Mar-2014 27-May-2014 30-Dec-2018 3.96 3.49 .47 Policy Waiver(s) Does this restructuring trigger the need for any policy waiver(s)? No I. PROJECT STATUS AND RATIONALE FOR RESTRUCTURING A. Project Status 1. The US$3.96 million Adaptation Fund grant was approved by the World Bank (Bank) in September 2013 and declared effective in May 2014. As of December 2018, disbursements account for 88 percent of the grant proceeds. The current closing date of the Project is December 30, 2018. 2. Project implementation suffered initially from significant delays as the first disbursement took place a year after effectiveness, and the Project Implementation Unit (PIU), current Project Team (PT) became legally operational only in July 2016, two years after effectiveness. These delays were due to slow bureaucratic processes coupled with issues related to the change of the responsible authorities within the then Secretariat of Environment and Sustainable Development (SAyDS) in December 2014. 3. After the slow start, the PT consolidated the Project performance until the mid-term review in April 2017 with committed contributions by personnel of the then Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MAyDS), when the rating of overall Implementation Progress was increased to Satisfactory. The Project Development Objective (PDO) rating was then increased to Satisfactory in May 2018 due to strong results on the ground, significant progress towards the achievement of the PDO indicators, and with pioneering inter-institutional collaboration that is expected to continue after the Project closure. Over the last few months, the PT has worked on the preparation of a 9-month extension of the closing date, defining a strategic planning for the remaining Project resources and implementation period, which will focus on systemizing and disseminating the experience piloted and the key lessons learnt. 4. The Project’s overall fiduciary risk is rated Moderate. The 2017 audit report by the Argentine Supreme Audit Institution (AGN) was outstanding for more than five months and belated the present restructuring. The Bank received the audit report on December 6, 2018 and it was deemed satisfactory. Implementation of safeguards has been rated Satisfactory throughout Project implementation. B. Rationale for Restructuring 5. The need for restructuring emerged during the mid-term review conducted in April 2017. In August 2017, the GoA sent a formal request for a restructuring of the Project that covered (i) simplification of the Project design by dropping two minor outputs that are not considered cost-effective at the current situation in the Project area, (ii) adjustments to the Results Framework; (iii) revision of the implementation arrangements regarding the degree of participation of the Provincial Agency for Sustainable The World Bank Adaptation Fund: Increasing Climate Resilience & Enhancing Sustainable Land Management in the Southwest of the Buenos Aires Province (P125804) Development (OPDS, for the Spanish acronym); and (iv) reallocation of grant proceeds among Disbursement Categories. As the related exchange with the Adaptation Fund (AF) got belated, the Bank and GoA agreed to proceed with a phased restructuring: (i) an urgent reallocation of funds and an accompanying update of the disbursement estimates was completed in January 2018, while (ii) the second and present restructuring on the other changes was postponed until agreement was reached with the AF. In late May 2018, the AF agreed with the proposed adjustments that it considered not to imply “material” changes to the Project design. The GoA complemented its earlier restructuring request with a Project closing date extension of 9 months in July. The Bank consulted with the AF that approved the extension, but the restructuring remained belated until December 2018 due to the delayed audit report. 6. Due to the proximity of the Project closing date, the present restructuring will materialize through two legal documents: (i) a Notice of Extension that becomes effective by the date of its signature by the Bank, and (ii) an Amendment Letter to the Grant Agreement that becomes effective upon the receipt by the Bank of a countersigned original of the Amendment Letter. II. DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED CHANGES 7. Results Framework: An overall, yet still a minor-scale revision of the Results Framework is proposed to: (i) strengthen the logical results chain from outputs to intermediate result and PDO indicators up to outcomes in terms of monitoring progress towards achieving the PDO; (ii) remove some indicators e.g. due to dropping of two outputs (1.1.3: Regional Consultative Observatory of Public Policies on Climate Change and Desertification and 1.2.2: Teacher training program for environmental education specifically designed for the zone). This decision was taken at the mid-term review to focus the execution efforts cost-efficiently across varied work fronts to achieve maximum outcomes of the PDO: The Observatory was dropped to allow the project to concentrate available human and other resources in further developing and strengthening the Information and Early-Warning System (IEWS). The teacher training program was dropped as introducing new curricular content within the public-school system requires completion of demanding administrative processes that take more time than the Project was able and willing to invest; and (iii) adjust some of the indicator write-ups and/or definitions/scope to improve their being SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound) as well as end targets. Annex 1 presents the proposed adjustments in detail, reflecting a mapping exercise to concretize on which expected PDO outcome(s) each PDO indicator contributes, and on which PDO indicator(s) each intermediate results indicator contributes. 8. Grant Closing Date: The proposed restructuring would extend the Project closing date by 9 months until September 30, 2019, expecting it would allow the GoA to further strengthen the results on the ground and disseminate key lessons learnt to consolidate long-term sustainability. The need for more time to be able to demonstrate solid proof of improved soil quality and rooting of sustainable land management practices at the necessary scale exceeds the proposed 9-month extension of the Project. However, the extension is expected to facilitate a major increase in the quality and actual impact of the Project results. The 9- month extension would allow the PT to further expand the dialogue on replication and scale-up options beyond the direct implementation area, in particularly through active coordination with the Secretary of Agro-Industry and Government Secretary of Environment and Sustainable Development (SGAyDS). 9. Disbursement Estimates: The revised Disbursement Estimates are presented in the following table by World Bank fiscal years. The proposed numbers reflect the materialized execution through FY17 and the current estimates of the forthcoming disbursements. The World Bank Adaptation Fund: Increasing Climate Resilience & Enhancing Sustainable Land Management in the Southwest of the Buenos Aires Province (P125804) Fiscal Year Current Proposed 2014 0.00 0.00 2015 500,000 0.00 2016 0.00 0.00 2017 884,436.00 0.00 2018 1,951,204.00 1,423,455.00 2019 624,560.00 1,152,309.00 10. Change in Overall Risk Rating: The Project's overall risk rating is increased from Moderate to Substantial due to the significant fiscal and administrative challenges the Project and its participating institutions face at all levels due to the prevailing fiscal crisis and constraints in Argentina. During 2018, the PT gave significant efforts to overcome these challenges in a satisfactory manner and is prepared to continue with similar efforts in 2019 until the extended closing date. Despite this satisfactory performance during 2018, Substantial overall risk is warranted as the fiscal crisis is expected to continue in 2019 and may impact the course and sustainability of the on-going project activities. 11. Change in Procurement: Per a regional Bank decision, the Project’s procurement needs to be changed as a part of a restructuring that requires amendment to the grant/loan agreement to replace the use of the Procurement and Consultant Guidelines (January 2011) by the Procurement Regulations for Investment Project Financing (IPF) Borrowers (July 2016, revised in August 2018). To this end, the PT has prepared a simplified Project Procurement Strategy for Development that results acceptable to the Bank. The document describes the approach for the planned minor activities for the procurement of goods and consultancy services, final procurement arrangements of which will be defined in the Procurement Plan as agreed upon with the Bank. 12. Implementation Schedule: The PT has defined a work program for the proposed 9-month extension until September 30, 2019 to consolidate its key results on the ground, strengthen the inter-institutional mechanisms, maximize the use of grant resources and ensure an optimal Project closure. 13. The PT will send to the Bank an updated Procurement Plan and an updated Operational Manual reflecting the changes that are taking place with the present restructuring. III. SUMMARY OF CHANGES Changed Not Changed Results Framework ✔ Loan Closing Date(s) ✔ Disbursement Estimates ✔ Change in Overall Risk Rating ✔ Procurement ✔ Implementation Schedule ✔ Implementing Agency ✔ Project's Development Objectives ✔ The World Bank Adaptation Fund: Increasing Climate Resilience & Enhancing Sustainable Land Management in the Southwest of the Buenos Aires Province (P125804) Components and Cost ✔ Cancellations Proposed ✔ Additional Financing Proposed ✔ Reallocation between Disbursement Categories ✔ Disbursements Arrangements ✔ Safeguard Policies Triggered ✔ EA category ✔ Legal Covenants ✔ Institutional Arrangements ✔ Financial Management ✔ Other Change(s) ✔ IV. DETAILED CHANGE(S) OPS_DETAILEDCHANGES_RESULTS_TABLE RESULTS FRAMEWORK Project Development Objective Indicators PDO_IND_TABLE Targeted institutions that the Project has prompted to attend adaptation needs in their structures, HR composition, work programs etc. to increase their capacity to address climate-related challenges Unit of Measure: Number Indicator Type: Custom Baseline Actual (Current) End Target Action Value 0.00 9.00 10.00 Revised Date 22-Jul-2013 04-Dec-2018 30-Sep-2019 Productive agroecosystems in the pilot sites maintained or improved to withstand conditions resulting from climate variability and change Unit of Measure: Number Indicator Type: Custom Baseline Actual (Current) End Target Action Value 0.00 13.00 10.00 No Change Date 22-Jul-2013 04-Dec-2018 30-Sep-2019 The World Bank Adaptation Fund: Increasing Climate Resilience & Enhancing Sustainable Land Management in the Southwest of the Buenos Aires Province (P125804) Relevant threat and hazard information generated and disseminated to farmers and other stakeholders on a timely basis Unit of Measure: Yes/No Indicator Type: Custom Baseline Actual (Current) End Target Action Value No Yes Yes Revised Date 22-Jul-2013 04-Dec-2018 30-Sep-2019 Farmers adopting improved agricultural technology Unit of Measure: Number Indicator Type: Corporate Baseline Actual (Current) End Target Action Value 0.00 410.00 408.00 New Date 22-Jul-2013 04-Dec-2018 30-Sep-2019 Farmers adopting improved agricultural technology - Female Unit of Measure: Number Indicator Type: Corporate Supplement Baseline Actual (Current) End Target Action Value 0.00 39.00 39.00 New Farmers adopting improved agricultural technology - male Unit of Measure: Number Indicator Type: Corporate Supplement Baseline Actual (Current) End Target Action Value 0.00 369.00 369.00 New Intermediate Indicators IO_IND_TABLE Share of beneficiaries satisfied with climate-related information and recommendations generated by the IEWS (disaggregated by gender) Unit of Measure: Percentage Indicator Type: Custom The World Bank Adaptation Fund: Increasing Climate Resilience & Enhancing Sustainable Land Management in the Southwest of the Buenos Aires Province (P125804) Baseline Actual (Current) End Target Action Value 0.00 0.00 75.00 Revised Date 22-Jul-2013 04-Dec-2018 30-Sep-2019 Targeted local public employees trained (disaggregated by gender) Unit of Measure: Percentage Indicator Type: Custom Baseline Actual (Current) End Target Action Value 0.00 83.00 60.00 No Change Date 22-Jul-2013 04-Dec-2018 30-Sep-2019 IEWS developed/operational through inter-institutional cooperation Unit of Measure: Yes/No Indicator Type: Custom Baseline Actual (Current) End Target Action Value No Yes Yes Marked for Deletion Date 22-Jul-2013 04-Dec-2018 30-Dec-2018 Active participation of at least the key institutions of the Observatory Unit of Measure: Yes/No Indicator Type: Custom Baseline Actual (Current) End Target Action Value No No Yes Marked for Deletion Date 22-Jul-2013 04-Dec-2018 30-Dec-2018 Consulted people who report on modification(s) in their Project-related practices (disaggregated by gender) Unit of Measure: Percentage Indicator Type: Custom Baseline Actual (Current) End Target Action Value 0.00 0.00 60.00 Marked for Deletion Date 22-Jul-2013 04-Dec-2018 30-Dec-2018 Client days of training provided (number) Unit of Measure: Number Indicator Type: Custom The World Bank Adaptation Fund: Increasing Climate Resilience & Enhancing Sustainable Land Management in the Southwest of the Buenos Aires Province (P125804) Baseline Actual (Current) End Target Action Value 0.00 103.00 64.00 No Change Date 22-Jul-2013 04-Dec-2018 30-Sep-2019 Teacher training institutes within SWBA that cooperate with the Project and offer related training Unit of Measure: Number Indicator Type: Custom Baseline Actual (Current) End Target Action Value 0.00 4.00 10.00 Marked for Deletion Date 22-Jul-2013 04-Dec-2018 30-Dec-2018 Cultural and socio-productive activities carried out in the Project zone jointly with the municipal governments (fairs, exhibitions, etc.) Unit of Measure: Number Indicator Type: Custom Baseline Actual (Current) End Target Action Value 0.00 13.00 28.00 No Change Date 22-Jul-2013 04-Dec-2018 30-Sep-2019 Farmers adopting improved agricultural technology Unit of Measure: Number Indicator Type: Corporate Baseline Actual (Current) End Target Action Value 0.00 410.00 1400.00 Marked for Deletion Date 22-Jul-2013 04-Dec-2018 30-Dec-2018 Clients who adopted an improved agr. technology promoted by project – female Unit of Measure: Number Indicator Type: Custom Breakdown Baseline Actual (Current) End Target Action Value 0.00 39.00 280.00 Marked for Deletion Date 22-Jul-2013 04-Dec-2018 30-Dec-2018 Adaptation/sustainable land management (SLM) technologies identified/verified through local participatory consultations under the Project framework that are demonstrated within the GIAs Unit of Measure: Number The World Bank Adaptation Fund: Increasing Climate Resilience & Enhancing Sustainable Land Management in the Southwest of the Buenos Aires Province (P125804) Indicator Type: Custom Baseline Actual (Current) End Target Action Value 0.00 13.00 12.00 No Change Date 22-Jul-2013 04-Dec-2018 30-Sep-2019 Number of related articles/programs in the local media Unit of Measure: Number Indicator Type: Custom Baseline Actual (Current) End Target Action Value 0.00 285.00 22.00 Revised Date 22-Jul-2013 04-Dec-2018 30-Sep-2019 Related articles/programs in the local media in the three municipal Councils of the directly targeted counties Unit of Measure: Number Indicator Type: Custom Breakdown Baseline Actual (Current) End Target Action Value 0.00 285.00 18.00 Marked for Deletion Date 22-Jul-2013 04-Dec-2018 30-Dec-2018 Related political initiatives in the three municipal Councils of the directly targeted counties Unit of Measure: Number Indicator Type: Custom Breakdown Baseline Actual (Current) End Target Action Value 0.00 9.00 4.00 Marked for Deletion Date 22-Jul-2013 04-Dec-2018 30-Dec-2018 KM events with broad stakeholder representation Unit of Measure: Number Indicator Type: Custom Baseline Actual (Current) End Target Action Value 0.00 3.00 8.00 Revised Date 22-Jul-2013 04-Dec-2018 30-Sep-2019 The World Bank Adaptation Fund: Increasing Climate Resilience & Enhancing Sustainable Land Management in the Southwest of the Buenos Aires Province (P125804) Institutions in charge of the Specific Intervention Sites that carry out the respective activities of monitoring and evaluation Unit of Measure: Percentage Indicator Type: Custom Baseline Actual (Current) End Target Action Value 0.00 0.00 70.00 Revised Date 22-Jul-2013 04-Dec-2018 30-Sep-2019 Assumed institutional commitments for the continuity and sustainability of the Project results per sector and activity Unit of Measure: Number Indicator Type: Custom Baseline Actual (Current) End Target Action Value 0.00 16.00 7.00 Revised Date 22-Jul-2013 04-Dec-2018 30-Sep-2019 Guiding material on possible policies to adapt to climate change produced and disseminated among decision makers Unit of Measure: Yes/No Indicator Type: Custom Baseline Actual (Current) End Target Action Value No Yes Yes Revised Date 22-Jul-2013 04-Dec-2018 30-Sep-2019 Selected biophysical, social or economic attributes in the pilot sites improved to withstand conditions resulting from climate variability (Index 0-22) Unit of Measure: Number Indicator Type: Custom Baseline Actual (Current) End Target Action Value 0.00 17.00 18.00 New Date 22-Jul-2013 04-Dec-2018 30-Sep-2019 New or adjusted policies approved to address climate change risks Unit of Measure: Number Indicator Type: Custom Baseline Actual (Current) End Target Action The World Bank Adaptation Fund: Increasing Climate Resilience & Enhancing Sustainable Land Management in the Southwest of the Buenos Aires Province (P125804) Value 0.00 9.00 4.00 New Date 22-Jul-2013 04-Dec-2018 30-Sep-2019 OPS_DETAILEDCHANGES_LOANCLOSING_TABLE LOAN CLOSING DATE(S) Original Revised Proposed Proposed Deadline TF Status Closing Closing(s) Closing for Withdrawal Applications TF-15041 Effective 30-Dec-2018 30-Sep-2019 30-Jan-2020 OPS_DETAILEDCHANGES_DISBURSEMENT_TABLE DISBURSEMENT ESTIMATES Change in Disbursement Estimates Yes Year Current Proposed 0000 0.00 0.00 2014 0.00 0.00 2015 500,000.00 0.00 2016 0.00 0.00 2017 884,436.00 0.00 2018 1,951,204.00 1,423,455.00 2019 624,560.00 1,152,309.00 2020 0.00 0.00 2021 0.00 0.00 OPS_DETAILEDCHANGES_SORT_TABLE OVERALL RISK RATING Risk Category Rating at Approval Current Rating Overall  Substantial The World Bank Adaptation Fund: Increasing Climate Resilience & Enhancing Sustainable Land Management in the Southwest of the Buenos Aires Province (P125804) Annex 1: Revised Results Framework Original PDO Changes Rationale To contribute to reducing Each indicator in the revised results The PDO remains relevant for national, provincial and climate and man-made framework is mapped against the local level actors. It consists of five outcomes against vulnerability of the outcomes embedded in the PDO, identified which indicators in the results framework are mapped agroecosystems in the in the next column, as well as against the (see further on the list of indicators): Southwest of the Buenos four PDO indicators: “PDO Ind. 1”, “PDO (i) contribution to reduction of climate and man- Aires Province by Ind. 2”, etc. made vulnerability of the agroecosystems in the increasing adaptive Southwest of the Buenos Aires Province; capacity of key local (ii) increased adaptive capacity of key local institutions and actors institutions; and piloting and (iii) increased adaptive capacity of key local actors; disseminating climate (iv) piloted climate resilient and sustainable land resilient and sustainable management practices; and land management (v) dissemination on climate resilient and sustainable practices. land management practices. Original PDO indicators1 Revisions Rationale and units of measure as the PAD PDO Ind. 1: Revised: The revised indicator aligns to the PDO outcome (ii) Number of the targeted ‘Targeted institutions that the Project has on increased adaptive capacity of key local institutions that reflect prompted to attend adaptation needs in institutions. institution-specific their structures, HR composition, work adaptation needs in their programs etc. to increase their capacity to The scope of the indicator/the data sources to budget allocations to address climate-related challenges measure progress is amplified from mere budget increase their capacity to (Number)’ documents, as specific budget allocations are not address climate-related always reflected in the necessary level of detail to challengesAF (Institution) allow their direct association to individual actions or programs. Rather, this type of information can be visualized in working documents or other formal institutional documentation, including organization charts, functional/operational structures such as HR and work programs. Consequently: 1) the data source/methodology in the results framework is broadened to include an amplified list of means of verification: budgetary documents, organizational charts, work programs, specific agreements, etc.; 2) under Additional Information about the indicator, the list of targeted institutions is modified to REMOVE the (i) National Observatory of Land Degradation and Desertification, (ii) Regional Council for development of the Southwest of the Buenos Aires Province (PDSO), (iii) School of Agronomy of the University of Buenos Aires (FAUBA), 1 WBindicates that the indicator is aligned with a World Bank core indicator at the time of Project preparation, and AF indicates the indicator is aligned with the Adaptation Fund Results Framework at the time of Project preparation. The World Bank Adaptation Fund: Increasing Climate Resilience & Enhancing Sustainable Land Management in the Southwest of the Buenos Aires Province (P125804) (iv) Provincial Public Administration Institute (IPAP), (v) National Public Administration Institute (INAP), (vi) Regional School of Bahia Blanca of the National Technological University (UNT), and (vii) Ministry of Provincial Education; and to INCLUDE the (i) Agrarian School Carlos Spegazzini, (ii) National Roads Agency (Vialidad), (iii) National Meteorological Service (SMN), and (iv) Development Corporation of the Colorado River in Bonaerense Valley (CORFO). Consequently, the revised list of the targeted key institutions includes: General Secretariat of Environment and Sustainable Development (GSAyDS), Provincial Agency for Sustainable Development (OPDS), National Institute for Agricultural Technology (INTA), particularly Ascasubi and Bordenave Experimental Agricultural Stations (EEA), national Secretariat of Agroindustry, provincial Ministry of Agrarian Affairs (MAA), Municipalities of Puan, Villarino and Patagones, National Southern University (UNS), Center of Renewable Natural Resources in the Semiarid Zone (CERZOS) of the National Council for Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET), Agrarian School Carlos Spegazzini, National Meteorological Service (SMN), Ministry of Social Development (MDS), National Roads Agency (Vialidad), Development Corporation of the Colorado River in Bonaerense Valley (CORFO), local NGOs, and Provincial Agricultural Services Program (PROSAP). In the PAD, “institution” is marked as the unit of measure of this indicator; the same is corrected to be “Number”. PDO Ind. 2: No change The indicator aligns to the PDO outcome (i) on Productive contribution to reduction of climate and man-made agroecosystems in the vulnerability of the agroecosystems in the Southwest pilot sites maintained or of the Buenos Aires Province. improved to withstand conditions resulting from The Project covers three Geographic Intervention climate variability and Areas (GIA): Semi-arid, Arid and Irrigation GIA, and 11 changeAF (Index) Specific Intervention Sites (SISs). The methodology to implement the index has been operationalized through a baseline study completed in August 2017 by The Nature Conservancy (TNC). The scoring of each SIS will be determined against its baseline and applying a monitoring system to determine the initial soil conservation status and the key variables to monitor the evolvement of soil quality in the three GIAs. The The World Bank Adaptation Fund: Increasing Climate Resilience & Enhancing Sustainable Land Management in the Southwest of the Buenos Aires Province (P125804) index is measured applying 4–6 variables that allow monitoring the most relevant biophysical aspects of the soil subject to Project activities, and each variable is weighted per its relevance to characterize the state of the types of agroecosystems under analysis (dry, semi-dry and irrigated). The variables are: vegetation coverage, apparent density, organic carbon content, removable phosphor, electric conductivity, and exchangeable sodium percentage. A control study on the baseline results of the selected variables in the three GIAs is being conducted at the end of 2018 by INTA. Until said results are available, reporting on the index value has based on visual observations. PDO Ind. 3: No change The indicator aligns to all the PDO outcomes except Relevant threat and of (iv) on piloted climate resilient and sustainable hazard information land management practices. generated and disseminated to farmers The focus of the indicator is on monitoring proper and other stakeholders functioning of the inter-institutional Information and on a timely basisAF Early Warning System (IEWS) on climate change and (Yes/No) desertification that has been developed jointly with local research and extension institutions and the National Meteorological Service (SMN) to generate and disseminate relevant project-related information on threats and hazards to farmers and other stakeholders through quarterly reports. Many other Project activities equally contribute to timely generation and dissemination of relevant threat and hazard information. PDO Ind. 4: New/revised: The indicator aligns to all the PDO outcomes at some Farmers adopting Upgraded from intermediate level to PDO level as farmers that adopt improved agricultural improved agricultural level and revised wording to that of the technology contribute to all of them. Directly, it technology (Number, World Bank corporate results indicators. aligns to the PDO outcomes (iii) on increased disaggregated by gender) adaptive capacity of key local actors and (iv) on WB AF (People, male and The original wording referred to piloted climate resilient and sustainable land female) “beneficiaries” and the final target was management practices. 1,400 people. At the mid-term review (MTR), the achieved result is 1,632 people: This indicator focuses on adoption of an improved 408 farmers participate in the agricultural technology; the result of which is typically implementation of the Specific a full process of information dissemination, awareness Intervention Sites and the municipal rising, training, piloting and consolidating of a new sustainable forage production and technology that, at the end, in case the process has reforestation plans, and each farmer been successful, leads to its adoption. Consequently, represents an average family of 4 persons. the following definition of the applicable process is The new indicator wording requires proposed to the indicator description to consolidate adjustment of the final target as it refers the indicator: directly to “farmers”; based on the original The World Bank Adaptation Fund: Increasing Climate Resilience & Enhancing Sustainable Land Management in the Southwest of the Buenos Aires Province (P125804) way of calculating the beneficiaries, the "Improved agricultural technology adoption" is respective target value (1,400/4) would be understood in terms of the "adoption" involving a 350. However, the revised target is set at process that comprises four stages: 408 to reflect the minimum end target of 1) Commitment: verified through the proposal letter maintaining the same number of of each SIS. participating farmers as at the MTR. 2) Implementation: verified in the field through physical investments and interventions associated with the Project activities. 3) Management and evaluation: verified through field visits and interviews with farmers. 4) Adoption: verified through field visits and interviews with farmers. Within the limited Project implementation period, the monitoring is feasible in terms of the two first stages of the process. The final Project evaluation will also cover the third stage. Said results will allow to see a trend toward full adoption of the promoted technologies after Project closure. In the PAD, “People, male and female” is marked as the unit of measure of this indicator; the same is corrected to be “Number”. Original intermediate results indicators Component 1: Reducing Institutional and Community-level Vulnerability (USD 1.027 M) Intermediate Outcome: Institutional and community level response and prevention capacities developed to reduce land degradation and desertification and local vulnerabilities of the agricultural sector to climate variability and change Intermediate outcome Revised: The indicator aligns to the PDO outcomes (ii) on indicator 1.1, Sub- ‘Share of beneficiaries satisfied with increased adaptive capacity of key local institutions, component 1.1, Creating climate-related information and (iii) on increased adaptive capacity of key local Institutional Tools for recommendations generated by the IEWS actors, and (v) on dissemination on climate resilient Climate Resilience (Percentage, disaggregated by gender)’ and sustainable land management practices, and the PDO Ind. 3 and 4. % of targeted The end target is revised from 50% to 75% beneficiaries satisfied of both male and female participants. The indicator is sharpened by concretizing “more with more climate climate resilient agricultural services” to the resilient agricultural information and recommendations produced by the services (disaggregated IEWS. The indicator will be measured every six months by gender)WB through a survey sent to the IEWS users. In the logic of (Percentage) the results chain, the indicator measures IEWS users’ satisfaction with the service; it contributes to assessing both the relevance and timeliness of the information disseminated through the IEWS. The World Bank Adaptation Fund: Increasing Climate Resilience & Enhancing Sustainable Land Management in the Southwest of the Buenos Aires Province (P125804) Output 1.1.1: Institutional capacity building program directed at local public officers Output indicator 1.1.1 No change The indicator aligns to the PDO outcomes (ii) on increased adaptive capacity of key local institutions % of targeted local public and (v) on dissemination on climate resilient and employees trained sustainable land management practices, and all the (Percentage) PDO Indicators. The % remains measured of the total of relevant public employees in Puan, Villarino and Patagones where the Project works directly. The indicator definition is concretized by noting that the “targeted local public employees” is understood as the members of the secretaries of production, economic development and environment. Further, “training” covers any training activity on Project-related topics facilitated by the Project. Even though specific gender objectives have not been defined for this indicator, participation is monitored by gender. Output 1.1.2: Information and Early-Warning System (IEWS) on Climate Change and Desertification developed and run through inter-institutional cooperation Output indicator 1.1.2 Dropped This indicator is removed as the IEWS is sufficiently covered by the PDO Ind. 3 and IRI 1. The result has IEWS developed/ been achieved since the end of 2016. operational through inter-institutional cooperationAF (Yes/No) Output 1.1.3: Regional Consultative Observatory of Public Policies on Climate Change and Desertification in operation Output indicator 1.1.3 Dropped together with the respective Within the Project framework, the consolidation of the output IEWS has been promoted through a multi-institutional Active participation of at agreement that includes many of the institutions that least the key institutions would have been the key institutions to form and of the ObservatoryAF operate the Observatory. The IEWS represents (Yes/No) institutional arrangements that allow provision of technically robust information for decision making to decrease vulnerability to climate variability and change and addresses causes of land degradation and desertification, based on scientifically solid data and analysis. A consultancy that analyzed the optimal operational set-up of both the IEWS and the Observatory concluded in late 2016 that the relevant local institutions do not present the necessary interest/commitment for the Project to engage in establishing the Observatory. Overall, the Project has many demanding work fronts; at the mid-term review it was considered necessary to focus the limited Project resources and efforts on consolidating the institutional arrangements of the IEWS to secure its sustainability, instead of expanding multi-institutional The World Bank Adaptation Fund: Increasing Climate Resilience & Enhancing Sustainable Land Management in the Southwest of the Buenos Aires Province (P125804) interaction and activities to another similar initiative with low demand by the key actors. Intermediate outcome Dropped The scope of the indicator was not realistic as it aimed indicator 1.2, Sub- to measure changes in practices of consulted people, component 1.2, taking as the applicable universe the approx. 80,000 Promoting Climate-smart habitants of Patagones, Puan and Villarino. Socio-cultural Consequently, a baseline was never established for Approaches to Land the indicator. Management % of consulted people who report on modification(s) in their Project-related practices (disaggregated by gender)AF (Percentage) Output 1.2.1: Training program for key local stakeholders, including specifically opinion leaders Output indicator 1.2.1 No change The indicator aligns to the PDO outcomes (ii) on increased adaptive capacity of key local Number of beneficiary institutions, (iii) on increased adaptive capacity of days of training key local actors, and (v) dissemination on climate providedWB (Training resilient and sustainable land management practices, days) and the PDO Ind. 1-4. This indicator measures the number of client days of Project-relevant training provided with Project support, i.e. the number of clients who completed training multiplied by the duration of training expressed in days. In the PAD, “Training days” is marked as the unit of measure of this indicator; the same is corrected to be “Number”. Output 1.2.2: Teacher training program for environmental education specifically designed for the zone Output indicator 1.2.2 Dropped together with the respective Both the output and indicator are too far-reaching and output little cost-efficient in terms of the process it takes to Number of teacher officially introduce new content in teacher training training institutes within programs developed by commissions coordinated by SWBA that cooperate the provincial Ministry of Education. Further, at the with the Project and offer mid-term review it was considered important to related training (Teacher consolidate Project efforts to a less number of training institution) activities for higher efficiency of the results and to focus on farmers as the primary target group. In every case, the Project continues to contribute to developing skills within the educative sphere as it works with agricultural trainers and future managers The World Bank Adaptation Fund: Increasing Climate Resilience & Enhancing Sustainable Land Management in the Southwest of the Buenos Aires Province (P125804) of agricultural establishments on the Specific Intervention Sites through agricultural schools, the Center of Renewable Natural Resources in the Semiarid Zone-National Center of Scientific and Technical Research (CERZOS-CONICET) and the National Southern University (UNS). Further, it continues with awareness raising activities with local schools. Output 1.2.3: Gender-sensitive program on appreciation of the local culture and products, the role of farmers and their family in society Output indicator 1.2.3 No change The indicator aligns to the PDO outcome (v) on dissemination on climate resilient and sustainable Number of cultural and land management practices and the PDO Ind. 4. socio-productive activities carried out in the Project Although the indicator itself does not require zone jointly with the modifications, the note on gender disaggregation for municipal governments this indicator, "although no specific gender objectives (fairs, exhibitions, etc.) were defined for this indicator, participation will be (Activity) monitored by gender" is removed from the column on “Additional Information on the Indicator": based on the experience gained until mid-term review in the Project participation in several fairs in Patagones, Villarino and Puan since 2016, it is not possible to monitor disaggregated participation by gender in open activities where people circulate freely. It is not viable to keep a gender record on people stepping in or passing by a tent or booth, and less to have supporting documentation to prove the registered result. In the PAD, “Activity” is marked as the unit of measure of this indicator; the same is proposed to be officially corrected to be “Number”. The World Bank Adaptation Fund: Increasing Climate Resilience & Enhancing Sustainable Land Management in the Southwest of the Buenos Aires Province (P125804) Component 2: Implementing Adaptation Measures in Productive Agroecosystems (USD 2.291 M) Intermediate Outcome: Concrete adaptation measures to improve climate resilience and sustainability of productive agroecosystems defined and selected based on participatory processes and piloted by local farmers in cooperation with partner organizations Component 2 Revised: Please see the comment on the PDO Ind. 4. Intermediate outcome Definition and target values and moved to indicator, Implementing PDO level. Adaptation Measures in Productive Agroecosystems Number of beneficiaries who have adopted an improved agricultural technology promoted by the Project (disaggregated by gender) WB AF (People, male and female) New: The indicator aligns to the PDO outcomes (i) on Selected biophysical, social or economic contribution to reduction of climate and man-made attributes in the pilot sites2 improved to vulnerability of the agroecosystems in the Southwest withstand conditions resulting from climate of the Buenos Aires Province, (ii) on increased variability (Index 0-22) adaptive capacity of key local institutions, (iii) on increased adaptive capacity of key local actors, and The end target value is 18. (iv) piloted climate resilient and sustainable land management practices, and the PDO Ind. 2 and 3. This new intermediate result indicator allows measuring of partial advances towards more climate resilient agroecosystems, including improvements in quality of productive resources like irrigation water and soil profile, increased productivity, and efficiency in the use of resources, among others. For each SIS, the index result can be 0, 1 or 2, where 0 corresponds when none of the two preselected attributes for the SIS are improved, 1 when one improves, and 2 when the two preselected attributes improve. 2 See the indicators of the 22 selected attributes at the end of the table. The World Bank Adaptation Fund: Increasing Climate Resilience & Enhancing Sustainable Land Management in the Southwest of the Buenos Aires Province (P125804) Output 2.1: Program of interventions in Geographical Intervention Areas (GIAs), predefined on a participatory basis according to biophysical, economic and social criteria, offering a menu of options related to the management of water resources, crops, cattle and grazing lands Output indicator 2.1.1 No change The indicator aligns to the PDO outcomes (i) on contribution to reduction of climate and man-made Number of vulnerability of the agroecosystems in the Southwest adaptation/sustainable of the Buenos Aires Province, (ii) on increased land management (SLM) adaptive capacity of key local institutions, (iii) on technologies increased adaptive capacity of key local actors, and identified/verified (iv) piloted climate resilient and sustainable land through local management practices, and the PDO Ind. 2 and 3. participatory consultations under the As in case of the new PDO Ind. 4, it is considered Project framework that relevant to measure the process leading to the are demonstrated within identification/verification of adaptation/SLM the GIAsWB AF technologies. Consequently, the following minimum of (Adaptation/SLM two instances is proposed to improve the indicator: technologies) 1) Technology identified/verified, and 2) Technology applied/implemented. A “verified” technology counts with a validation by the relevant institutions that participate in the Project. An “implemented” technology refers to those that have been applied in a Project SIS. In the PAD, “Adaptation/SLM technologies” is marked as the unit of measure of this indicator; the same is corrected to be “Number”. Component 3: Applying a Participatory Approach to Knowledge Management and Monitoring and Evaluation (USD 0.140 M) Intermediate Outcome: Enhanced local knowledge and capacity for adaptation and response, developed in a participatory manner Intermediate outcome Revised: The indicator aligns to the PDO outcome (v) on indicator, Component 3, ‘Number of related articles/programs in dissemination on climate resilient and sustainable Applying Participatory the local media’ land management practices, and the PDO Ind. 4. Approach to Knowledge Management and Local The second part of the indicator is proposed to be Capacity Development for eliminated (“…related…political initiatives in the three Adaptation to Climate municipal Councils of the directly targeted counties”) Change to make the indicator measurable; each indicator should measure only one thing. Number of related articles/programs in the On the other hand, the removed part is more local media and political pertinent to Component 4 than 3 and is thus to be initiatives in the three covered by a new indicator under Component 4, municipal Councils of the related with the sustainability of the Project results directly targeted and the corresponding policy framework. countiesAF (Media The World Bank Adaptation Fund: Increasing Climate Resilience & Enhancing Sustainable Land Management in the Southwest of the Buenos Aires Province (P125804) articles/programs and In the PAD, “Media articles/programs and political political initiatives) initiatives” is marked as the unit of measure of this indicator; the same is corrected to be “Number”. Output 3.1: Combined consultation, coordination, training, and knowledge sharing at the local level in the three counties of direct Project intervention to develop and validate intervention proposals and work plans Output indicator 3.1 Revised: The indicator aligns to the PDO outcomes (i) on ‘KM events with broad stakeholder contribution to reduction of climate and man-made Workshops and other KM representation (Number)’ vulnerability of the agroecosystems in the Southwest events meet their targets of the Buenos Aires Province, (ii) increased adaptive in terms of participation capacity of key local institutions, (iii) on increased of different stakeholder adaptive capacity of key local actors, and (v) on groups (Yes/No) dissemination on climate resilient and sustainable land management practices and the PDO Ind. 4. The revised indicator is simpler to measure. “Broad” stakeholder representation requires presence of representatives from a minimum of 3 different stakeholder groups. Output 3.2: Capacity building for indicator development and measurement plans, systems of continuous improvement, training for local application groups, and mutual knowledge sharing in terms of the proposed activities between and beyond the counties Output indicator 3.2 Revised: The indicator aligns to the PDO outcomes (ii) on ‘Institutions in charge of the Specific increased adaptive capacity of key local institutions % of targeted Intervention Sites that carry out the and (iii) on increased adaptive capacity of key local beneficiaries who have respective activities of monitoring and actors and the PDO Ind. 1-3. participated in related evaluation (percentage)’ training and carry out For improved appropriateness, the indicator refers to their own means of M&E the percentage of the local institutions that participate and continued in the Project; not farmers, taken the referred M&E improvement related to processes are more institutional than individual in the measures they have nature and associated with capacity building within adopted through the participating organizations rather than in terms of participation in the individual beneficiaries. Project (disaggregated by gender)AF (Percentage) Consequently, the original target percentages are maintained, but the disaggregation by gender is no longer valid when the indicator refers to institutions. Component 4: Developing a Sustainability Strategy (USD 0.195 M) Intermediate Outcome: Improved local, provincial and national level technical and institutional capacity to sustain, scale up and replicate the Project outcomes Intermediate outcome Revised: The indicator aligns to the PDO outcomes (i) on indicator 4.1, Developing ‘Assumed institutional commitments for contribution to reduction of climate and man-made a Sustainability Strategy the continuity and sustainability of the vulnerability of the agroecosystems in the Southwest Project results (Number)’ of the Buenos Aires Province, (ii) increased adaptive Number of assumed capacity of key local institutions, (iii) on increased institutional adaptive capacity of key local actors, and (iv) on The World Bank Adaptation Fund: Increasing Climate Resilience & Enhancing Sustainable Land Management in the Southwest of the Buenos Aires Province (P125804) commitments for the piloted climate resilient and sustainable land continuity and management practices, and the PDO Ind. 1. sustainability of the Project results per sector The indicator is revised slightly to remove unnecessary and activity complication by “per sector and activity”. New: The indicator aligns to the PDO outcomes (i) on ‘New or adjusted policies approved to contribution to reduction of climate and man-made address climate change risks (Number)’ vulnerability of the agroecosystems in the Southwest of the Buenos Aires Province, (ii) increased adaptive capacity of key local institutions, and (iii) on increased adaptive capacity of key local actors, and the PDO Ind. 1-3. This new indicator is proposed both for its overall relevance under Component 4 as to compensate the reduction in the scope of the intermediate outcome indicator of Component 3. Output 4.1: Creation of a policy framework taking into account regulatory requirements and resources needed to continue the Project’s main activities, and a commitment to disseminate the experiences and lessons learned Output indicator 4.1.1 Revised: The indicator aligns to the PDO outcomes (ii) on ‘Guiding material on possible policies to increased adaptive capacity of key local institutions Guidance material adapt to climate change produced and and (v) on dissemination on climate resilient and produced on critical disseminated among decision makers sustainable land management practices, and the PDO pieces of policy (Yes/No)’ Ind. 1. framework, piloted adaptation practices, and The original “Yes/No” indicator does not provide potential sources of useful means to measure advances as it addresses too financing to support many different aspects. The proposed revision focuses continued efforts to on measuring "production" and "dissemination" of the promote climate referred material. resiliency at different administrative levels and facilitate dissemination of Project results (Yes/No) The list of the two biophysical, social or economic attributes selected for measurement across the 11 Specific Intervention Sites (SISs) across the three Geographic Intervention Areas (GIAs) Semi-arid GIA 1) Naposta-UNS: students with skills developed for management of sustainable production (number of participants in the field courses who report having gained new knowledge for practical application in the matter) and producers that adopted diversification practices promoted by the Project (number); 2) Naposta-CERZOS-CONICET: diversity of natural pastures (number of natural pastures per batch) and aerial biomass (kg of dry The World Bank Adaptation Fund: Increasing Climate Resilience & Enhancing Sustainable Land Management in the Southwest of the Buenos Aires Province (P125804) matter/batch); 3) Agroecological Unit Bordenave-San German: diversity of legume species with attributes for production (number of species per ha/batch) and diversity of arthropods (number of species per ha/batch); 4) Bordenave-San German Dryland: soil fertility (mg, P and N in kg of soil) and producers with a VERIS study needed to adapt their management plans to specific environmental constraints (number); and 5) Levalle Dryland: quality of the forage dry matter (mg, P and N in kg of dry matter) and soil fertility (mg, P and N in kg of soil). Arid GIA 1) San Jose Dryland: forage productivity (kg/ha/year and roll/ha/year) and depth of the productive soil profile (depth measured by penetrometer); 2) Patagones Rangelands Monte Biome: Pasture surface under conservation and/or recovery (ha) and production of dry matter (kg/ha/year); 3) Apiarian Patagones: producers/students of the school with capacity developed to carry out plans of productive diversification (number of participants in the field courses who report being better equipped to apply the achieved knowledge in productive diversification) and local socio-productive structure strengthened with improved infrastructure (socio-productive agreement put into practice for the efficient use of the installed infrastructure); and 4) Agrarian School Carlos Spegazzini: producers/students of the school with capacity developed to carry out plans of productive diversification (number of participants in the field courses who report being better equipped to apply the achieved knowledge in productive diversification) and producers that adopted practices promoted by the Project (number). Irrigation GIA 1) Pradere Irrigation: efficiency of water management (liter of irrigation water/ha) and quality of irrigation water (saline concentration mg/l); and 2) Ascasubi Irrigation: efficiency of water management (liter of irrigation water/ha) and availability of irrigation water (days with water available for irrigation per week/year).