The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund – Caribbean Hotspot Project (P173464) Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund – Caribbean Hotspot Project (P173464) LATIN AMERICA AND CARIBBEAN | Caribbean | Environment, Natural Resources & the Blue Economy Global Practice | Recipient Executed Activities | Investment Project Financing | FY 2021 | Seq No: 1 | ARCHIVED on 29-Sep-2021 | ISR48322 | Implementing Agencies: Conservation International Foundation, Conservation International Foundation Key Dates Key Project Dates Bank Approval Date: 22-Jun-2021 Effectiveness Date: 02-Aug-2021 Planned Mid Term Review Date: -- Actual Mid-Term Review Date: Original Closing Date: 31-Oct-2027 Revised Closing Date: 31-Oct-2027 pdoTable Project Development Objectives Project Development Objective (from Project Appraisal Document) The project development objective (PDO) is to improve the capacity of civil society organizations to reduce threats to globally important biodiversity in the Caribbean Islands Biodiversity Hotspot. Has the Project Development Objective been changed since Board Approval of the Project Objective? No Components Table Name Component 1: Increased Share of Land and Sea in and around Priority KBAs under Improved Management:(Cost $8.80 M) Component 2: Increased Capacity of CSOs in Conservation:(Cost $2.00 M) Component 3: Increased Capacity of the Regional Implementation Team (RIT) to provide Leadership and Coordination of CSO Conservation Actions:(Cost $0.70 M) Component 4: Strengthened CSO Partnerships for Conservation:(Cost $1.00 M) Component 5: Project Management, including M&E:(Cost $1.40 M) Overall Ratings Name Previous Rating Current Rating Progress towards achievement of PDO -- Satisfactory Overall Implementation Progress (IP) -- Satisfactory Overall Risk Rating -- Moderate Implementation Status and Key Decisions The project has been approved on June 22. The Grant Agreement between Conservation International (CI) and the World Bank was signed on July 1, 2021. CI held a project kick-off meeting on July 14 with the PIU - the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) Secretariat. During the meeting the following issues related to project implementation were discussed: financial management and procurement policies; environmental and social commitments; the annual workplan and budget; and roles and responsibilities. The Project Operational Manual (POM) was finalized and approved in July, 2021 as well meeting one of the effectiveness conditions for the grant. The project became effective on August 2, 2021. 9/29/2021 Page 1 of 8 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund – Caribbean Hotspot Project (P173464) Since then, CI has signed a grant agreement on August 16, 2021 with the Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI) which acts as the RIT. RIT has been focusing on the following activities: recruitment of staff; development of Terms of Reference for the Regional Advisory Committee (RAC); development of a participation and communication strategy; preparation of a small grant agreement template; and establishment of a schedule for calls for letters of inquiry (LOIs) during FY22. On September 15, 2021, CI has also signed a grant agreement with the Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC) to implement the collaborative social accountability component of the project. INTEC is currently undertaking a stakeholder mapping exercise for the Dominican Republic, and Antigua and Barbuda. Risks Systematic Operations Risk-rating Tool Risk Category Rating at Approval Previous Rating Current Rating Political and Governance Moderate -- Moderate Macroeconomic Low -- Low Sector Strategies and Policies Moderate -- Moderate Technical Design of Project or Program Moderate -- Moderate Institutional Capacity for Implementation and Moderate -- Moderate Sustainability Fiduciary Moderate -- Moderate Environment and Social Substantial -- Substantial Stakeholders Moderate -- Moderate Other Low -- Low Overall Moderate -- Moderate Results PDO Indicators by Objectives / Outcomes Targeted civil society organizations with increased capacity to reduce threats to biodiversity IN01041349 ►Targeted civil society organizations with increased capacity to reduce threats to biodiversity (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 -- 0.00 25.00 Date 28-May-2021 -- 17-Sep-2021 29-May-2026 This indicator measures the number of civil society organizations that have increased capacity to address and reduce threats, and have demonstrated success in reducing a threat affecting biodiversity in the Comments: Caribbean. The main prioritized threats to the terrestrial biodiversity of the insular Caribbean, based on a review of the threats to the hotspot’s 992 globally threatened species on the IUCN Red List, are: over- 9/29/2021 Page 2 of 8 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund – Caribbean Hotspot Project (P173464) exploitation of biological resources; habitat destruction and fragmentation due to agricultural/aquaculture, urban, tourism and industrial/commercial development; predation and competition by invasive alien (and other problematic) species; and, increasingly, climate change/severe weather events. Civil society organizations will receive training to ensure that they understand which interventions are most appropriate for selected threats, how to implement the interventions, and how to monitor and evaluate their efforts to reduce a threat. Training events will be documented by reports summarizing training topics and proficiency in the knowledge gained (via tests conducted at conclusion of the training). Success will be measured by the application of the skills that the civil society organizations have gained. Interventions may be documented by conservation plans, management prescriptions and photos/videos by the RIT and CEPF Secretariat, and submitted to the RAC for their review and validation. Due to the expertise of its members, the RAC is an appropriate body to perform the function of validating the information documenting a reduction in threat. Validation could include a site visit, if appropriate. The main threats to the terrestrial biodiversity in the hotspot are over-exploitation of biological resources (e.g. hunting, egg harvesting); habitat destruction and fragmentation due to agricultural, urban, tourism and industrial/commercial development; predation and competition by invasive alien species; and climate change and related severe weather events. The project will seek to work with local stakeholders to build capacity to address these threats. Examples of such activities may include (i) capacity development and alternative livelihood projects for endangered species protection to prevent illegal egg harvesting and wildlife trade; (ii) supporting agroforestry and sustainable livelihoods projects for local communities in areas where agricultural encroachment threatens to important habitat; (iii) establishing and strengthening of locally lead programs to monitor, control, and eradicate invasive alien species; and (iv) establishment and support for forest fire prevention and response capacity in high risk areas. IN01041350 ►Targeted civil society organizations with increased organizational capacity (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 -- 0.00 25.00 Date 28-May-2021 -- 17-Sep-2021 29-May-2026 This indicator is measured by the Civil Society Tracking Tool (CSTT), which monitors change in a civil society organizations' capacity in terms of (i) human resources; (ii) financial resources; (iii) management systems; (iv) strategic planning; and (v) delivery. The tracking tool is designed to enable self-assessment by a small group of the organization's staff and/or board members, selected to represent the variation in roles and responsibilities that exists within the organization. The assessment may be facilitated by the RIT or other relevant party, who serve to ensure sufficient staff participate, and that the assessment is realistic Comments: and accurate. The CSTT will be completed on an annual basis, including after the grantee has completed their project. Additionally, CEPF will conduct an overall assessment in year 5 of the project to document the fluctuations in scores over the full investment period. CEPF will count the number of organizations that have increased their score from baseline to final by at least five points. Five points is a reasonable increase given that while scores are expected to increase due to CEPF capacity building efforts, maintenance of the increased score can be affected negatively by external factors, in particular after the sub-grantee project comes to close. IN01041361 ►Civil society organizations with sufficient capacity to participate in conservation-related networks (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 -- 0.00 15.00 Date 28-May-2021 -- 17-Sep-2021 29-May-2026 Comments: Networks can take many different shapes and forms, and vary depending on their purpose, membership, funding source, size, geographical focus, and the sectors that they represent. Networks are valued because they can: increase efficiency, by tapping into expertise more widely available than would be in a single organization; increase impact, by creating the links to leverage and connect existing assets and expertise; and utilize valuable capacities, by mobilizing diverse individuals and organizations. The ability to participate in and contribute to a network in a meaningful way is not as simple as joining the network and getting to work. Members must meet sufficient and appropriate criteria, both of which will differ depending on the network. CEPF anticipates that in the Caribbean Islands, civil society organizations will seek to join relevant conservation-related networks, with the aim of increasing their conservation impact 9/29/2021 Page 3 of 8 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund – Caribbean Hotspot Project (P173464) as related to conservation of species or sites, or by promoting appropriate policy and practice to further conservation goals. These civil society organizations will need to have sufficient capacity to participate in the network they have selected to participate in, and CEPF will need to able to measure their progress in attaining this capacity. The following points must be considered in a civil society organization’s capacity to participate in a conservation-related network: General 1. Understanding of the different types of networks, and their advantages and challenges. 2. Understanding of how different networks operate, and varying roles and responsibilities that participants/members can have. 3. Understanding of key networks present in the Caribbean Islands, their purpose, and their achievements or lack there-of. 4. Understanding the key criteria that assure successful participation in a network. Specific (once a network is targeted for participation) 5. Does the CSO have a goal/mission, and is it relevant to the purpose of the network? Do the CSO and the network have a shared commitment to the network goal? 6. Does the CSO acknowledge the expertise and competence within the network, and in the work that the network accomplishes? 7. Does the CSO have links and connections that they can bring to the network, also known as a “proven capacity to influence”? 8. Is the CSO willing to collaborate, and confident enough to share their own work and expertise? Does the CSO have sufficient knowledge to contribute relevant to the work of the network? 9. Does the CSO have the ability to prioritize participation in the network, in terms of time and attention? 10. Does the CSO have the necessary resources (material and financial) to participate effectively in the network? Candidate civil society organizations will receive targeted trainings to address the general and the specific aspects of participation in a network. A two-part scorecard will be used to measure progress in completing training modules, and in completing customized training sessions addressing the specific aspects of participating in targeted networks. Part 1 will address general aspects of networks. Part 2 will be specific to an individual organization. Training sessions will be delivered by the Secretariat, RIT or third party as appropriate. RAC review of scorecard results on a periodic basis will allow for validation of scorecard results. IN01041362 ►Priority KBAs with reduced threat(s) to biodiversity (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 -- 0.00 20.00 Date 28-May-2021 -- 17-Sep-2021 29-May-2026 This indicator measures the number of sites with reduced threats, using BirdLife International’s site monitoring tool adapted to apply to all vertebrate groups and plants: Comments: http://datazone.birdlife.org/userfiles/file/IBAs/MonitoringPDFs/IBA_Monitoring_Framework.pdf This tool allows for assessment of threats, compilation of data on targeted species, collection of information on institutions or other entities associated with the site and activities undertaken at the KBA. Intermediate Results Indicators by Components Component 1: Increased Share of Land and Sea in and around Priority KBAs under Improved Management IN01041363 ►Priority species conservation plans at the site level prepared (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 -- 0.00 30.00 Date 28-May-2021 -- 17-Sep-2021 29-May-2026 This indicator measures the number of species conservation plans that are developed during the project. Species conservation plans will be developed following the Guidelines for Species Conservation Planning Comments: prepared by the IUCN Species Survival Commission’s Species Conservation Planning Sub-Committee. The guidelines can be found at the following link: https://www.iucn.org/content/guidelines-species- conservation-planning-version-10. IN01041367 9/29/2021 Page 4 of 8 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund – Caribbean Hotspot Project (P173464) ►Area of production landscape with strengthened management of biodiversity (Hectare(Ha), Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 -- 0.00 40,000.00 Date 28-May-2021 -- 17-Sep-2021 29-May-2026 This indicator will measures the number of hectares outside of KBAs, such as corridors and/or buffer zones, with strengthened management of biodiversity. A Production Landscape is defined as a site outside a protected area where commercial agriculture, forestry or natural product exploitation occurs. For example, shade-grown coffee and cacao farms can harbor significant biodiversity and would benefit from Comments: strengthened management of that biodiversity. For an area to be considered as having "strengthened management of biodiversity," it can benefit from a wide range of interventions such as best practices and guidelines implemented, incentive schemes introduced, sites/products certified, and sustainable harvesting regulations introduced. IN01041370 ►Funding mechanisms for conservation established by targeted civil society organizations (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 -- 0.00 2.00 Date 28-May-2021 -- 17-Sep-2021 29-May-2026 Funding mechanisms include, but are not limited to, conservation trust funds, debt-for-nature swaps, payment for ecosystem service (PES) schemes, and other revenue, fee or tax schemes that generate Comments: long-term funding for conservation. To be counted, a funding mechanism must be supported with relevant documentation describing (i) purpose; (ii) legal parameters; (iii) sources of funds; (iv) mechanics of funds disbursement; and (v) governance. IN01041372 ►Civil society organizations receiving sub-grants from CEPF (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 -- 0.00 50.00 Date 28-May-2021 -- 17-Sep-2021 29-May-2026 This indicator measures the number of civil society organizations that will receive sub-grants from CEPF under Components 1 and 2. These will include organizations receiving sub-grants from both the Secretariat, and from the RIT, which will administer a small grants mechanism for sub-grants not exceeding $50,000. Results will be disaggregated by type of organization, according to CEPF’s Comments: categories: Academic/ research institution; community group; cooperative; Individual; non-governmental organization; parastatal; and private enterprise. As civil society organizations may receive more than one sub-grant from CEPF, the number of organizations is smaller than the number of sub-grants awarded. A target of 60 organizations is set, based on number of civil society organizations present in eligible countries, and the potential for organizations to work in the 32 eligible sites. Component 2: Increased Capacity of CSOs in Conservation IN01041364 ►Grantee biodiversity monitoring frameworks prepared (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 -- 0.00 20.00 Date 28-May-2021 -- 17-Sep-2021 29-May-2026 9/29/2021 Page 5 of 8 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund – Caribbean Hotspot Project (P173464) Each CSO working at one or more priority KBA will be assisted to develop its own biodiversity monitoring framework, with indicators related to the status of biodiversity, the severity of threats, and the Comments: effectiveness of conservation responses. To be counted, a biodiversity monitoring framework must (i) meet the minimum information requirements of the CEPF template; (ii) be developed with the participation of the site management authorities; and (iii) establish baselines for at least one indicator in each group. IN01041368 ►Civil society networks with improved collaboration and coordination (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 -- 0.00 10.00 Date 28-May-2021 -- 17-Sep-2021 29-May-2026 This indicator measures the number of networks with improved collaboration and coordination, using the Network Health Scorecard: (https://www.networkimpact.org/downloads/NH_Scorecard.pdf). The scorecard assesses four characteristics of networks: purpose, performance, operations and capacity. A baseline scorecard will be collected, and thereafter the scorecard will be completed on an annual basis, including after the grantee has finished their project. The scorecard contains 22 statements, each of which has a numeric rating ranging from 1 to 5, with five being the most positive response. For example, for the statement “Decision making processes encourage members to contribute and collaborate”, a network Comments: might be rated with a 1, indicating that that members are not encouraged to contribute and collaborate. A score of 5 would indicate that members are definitely encouraged to contribute and collaborate. The worst possible score is 22 (a rating of 1 for all 22 statements) and the best possible score is 110 (a rating of 5 for all 22 statements). To be counted, a network must achieve a score of at least 66, and an increase in score of at least 22 points. Therefore, all networks with a baseline of less than 66 must achieve that score. If the baseline is higher than 44, then the network must increase by 22 above that score. Networks with a baseline above 66 must also increase their score by at least 22 points. Component 3: Increased Capacity of Regional Implementation Team (RIT) in Leadership and Coordination IN01041365 ►RIT technical capacity modules completed (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 -- 0.00 15.00 Date 28-May-2021 -- 17-Sep-2021 29-May-2026 At project start a capacity assessment will be undertaken to identify capacity building needs related to implementation of the CEPF program. Due to the RIT already having high capacity, the capacity building assessment will identify 15 topics that will expand the RIT’s knowledge and ability to function at a high Comments: level. Each topic will be assigned 1 point, with the total of all topics being 15. A scorecard will be used to measure progress in achieving capacity building targets. The scorecard will be completed on an annual basis. The indicator will measure increase in score from the baseline (0) established in the first year of the project. Component 4: Strengthened CSO Partnerships for Conservation IN01041366 ►Civil society organizations trained in using social accountability mechanisms (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 -- 0.00 20.00 Date 28-May-2021 -- 17-Sep-2021 29-May-2026 9/29/2021 Page 6 of 8 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund – Caribbean Hotspot Project (P173464) This indicator measures the number of CSOs trained in using social accountability mechanisms. The mechanisms aim to: (1) to strengthen public sector institutions’ capacity to respond to issues, problems Comments: and solutions over which they have primary responsibility and accountability, and (2) to strengthen civil society's capacity for co-producing (taking part in) the execution of such solutions and increasing their civic oversight. IN01041369 ►Collaborative social accountability frameworks established (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 -- 0.00 10.00 Date 28-May-2021 -- 17-Sep-2021 30-Jan-2026 This indicator measures the number of collaborative frameworks established during the project. These frameworks will define the terms of cooperation across stakeholders, including (i) information sharing, (ii) Comments: actions to be jointly addressed, and (iii) joint capacity-building and technical assistance activities that will enable such actions to be effectively executed. IN01041371 ►Knowledge products focusing on social accountability mechanisms produced and disseminated (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 -- 0.00 3.00 Date 28-May-2021 -- 17-Sep-2021 29-May-2026 This indicator measures the number of knowledge products produced that pertain to use of social accountability methodologies generated under the project. Knowledge products should promote Comments: sustainability and replicability, and can vary in format, such as a manual, video, website, or webinar series. Overall Comments IR The project became effective in August 2021 and it is its initial stages of implementation, therefore, no results have been observed yet. Performance-Based Conditions Data on Financial Performance Disbursements (by loan) Project Loan/Credit/TF Status Currency Original Revised Cancelled Disbursed Undisbursed % Disbursed P173464 TF-B5467 Effective USD 13.90 13.90 0.00 0.00 13.90 0%% Key Dates (by loan) Project Loan/Credit/TF Status Approval Date Signing Date Effectiveness Date Orig. Closing Date Rev. Closing Date P173464 TF-B5467 Effective 22-Jun-2021 01-Jul-2021 02-Aug-2021 31-Oct-2027 31-Oct-2027 9/29/2021 Page 7 of 8 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund – Caribbean Hotspot Project (P173464) Cumulative Disbursements PBC Disbursement Achievement Disbursed amount in Disbursement % PBC ID PBC Type Description Coc PBC Amount Status Coc for PBC Restructuring History There has been no restructuring to date. Related Project(s) There are no related projects. 9/29/2021 Page 8 of 8