95236 June 9, 2010 Assisting the Government of Samoa to improve urban, rural and remote access to safe, efficient and reliable infrastructure services Approval Date: 19 June 2007 Closing Date: N/A Total Project Cost: US$12.72 million Donors: World Bank (International Development Association)—US$8.27 million Government of Samoa— US$4.45 million Implementing Agency: Ministry of Works, Transport and Infrastructure; Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment; Samoa Airport Authority  Enhance the economic, environmental and social sustainability of transport and coastal infrastructure.    Manage natural resources through partnerships with the local private sector.  Assist in funding improvements for Disaster Management and Land Registration Systems. BACKGROUND Samoa's population of 182,000 is concentrated on two main islands—Savai’i and Upolu—with 53 percent of people living in small, coastal villages. Their standard of living is relatively high and uniform, reflecting the Samoan commitment to community and social institutions. As a small island economy, Samoa's development is constrained by a very small internal market, distant external markets, a narrow production base, vulnerability to external economic shocks and natural disasters, and the high cost of infrastructure due to the scattered nature of the population. The infrastructure sector has been the core focus of the World Bank's support for Samoa, including urgent rehabilitation of structures and facilities which are vital to the continued growth of the country's economy—such as airports and roads. ABOUT THE PROJECT The project is a continuation of financing for the Infrastructure Management Project (Phase 2) which is due for completion in June 2010. The primary objectives of the Government's request to extend the project are to: Fund the remaining works identified under the original project i.e. gap-financing; Assist in funding institutional and technological improvements and needs for Disaster Management and Land Registration Systems; and Continue the reform of the Ministry of Works, Transport and Infrastructure to bring these changes into effect. The Infrastructure Management Project (Phase 2) was designed around five components. The Samoa Airport Authority will fund further development of the international and minor airports from their own resources, including an instrumented landing system. Improvements in roads and other infrastructure networks will focus on road capacity, safety, pedestrian facilities, access to remote villages, and resilience of infrastructure to natural hazards, through bridge replacement and rehabilitation. Technical and advisory assistance will support the development of sustainable management of natural resources and the environment to improve response to emergencies. Communities and organisations will also be empowered to reduce risks from natural disasters through environment, risk, and resources management, and risk adaptation measures. Strengthening of institutions through the delivery of services by the private sector will include the management and regulation of transport systems and assets, in addition to training assistance. Project management will provide support for the efficient administration of the project. The Infrastructure Management Project (Phase 2) was itself a continuation of the original Infrastructure Management Project which ran from 1999—2004. The aim here was to ensure transport and coastal infrastructure assets were sustainable and managed by an effective partnership of all stakeholders. The subsequent two projects have expanded on this foundation in order to enhance the outcome for Samoa’s infrastructure sector. LOCATION The project will assist with airport and road rehabilitation, bridge upgrades, and coastal protection across the islands of Savai’i and Upolu. RESOURCES  Project Details  Download Project Flier (545kb pdf) CONTACT World Bank Task Team Leader Demetrios Papathanasiou Senior Infrastructure Specialist dpapathanasiou@worldbank.org