Public Disclosure Copy The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Abraham Path: Economic Development across Fragile Communities (P147235) Abraham Path: Economic Development across Fragile Communities (P147235) MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA | West Bank and Gaza | Trade & Competitiveness Global Practice | Recipient Executed Activities | Investment Project Financing | FY 2014 | Seq No: 4 | ARCHIVED on 06-Feb-2016 | ISR22599 | Implementing Agencies: Key Dates Key Project Dates Bank Approval Date:22-Jan-2014 Effectiveness Date:23-Jan-2014 Original Closing Date:31-Mar-2016 Revised Closing Date:31-Mar-2016 Project Development Objectives Project Development Objective (from Project Appraisal Document) Contribute to job creation and income generation for marginalized rural communities along the Abraham Path in the West Bank, with aparticular focus on women and youth, and to capture lessons from piloting job creation through experiential tourism that could be applied in other FCS settings. Has the Project Development Objective been changed since Board Approval of the Project Objective? No PHRPDODEL Components Name Overall Ratings Name Previous Rating Current Rating Progress towards achievement of PDO  Satisfactory  Satisfactory Overall Implementation Progress (IP)  Satisfactory  Satisfactory Implementation Status and Key Decisions The technical supervision mission that took place from the 22nd to 25th of January verified that the project's implementation has continued to progress satisfactorily as shown by key project data and by the project indicators. The PDO indicators did not have substantially changed since the MTR mission in May 2015, with one indicator (PDO #3) that has already surpassed the target value, and two indicators (PDOs # 2 and 4) are well on track to meet their target values, while the intermediate results indicators show a significant advancement considering that most of them have already surpassed their target values. In addition to the indicators of the results framework, the mission realized that the project is achieving other 2/6/2016 Page 1 of 6 Public Disclosure Copy Public Disclosure Copy The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Abraham Path: Economic Development across Fragile Communities (P147235) relevant results as well. For example, it became evident that the Abraham Path project builds the social cohesion of the communities and reaches to their most vulnerable groups. To confirm this, the demand for the project's activities by the local market continued to grow and remained constant throughout the months independently of external circumstances. The World Bank team reviewed also the status of the M&E component and the work developed by Riyada, the Ramallah based firm hired to conduct a household survey and to support and to strengthen the M&E of API/MIAK. Riyada has already started some of the scope activities: (i) it presented two progress reports and some partial results of the household survey, and (ii) conducted workshops and training activities on the M&E for API and its local partners. The final report with data from the completed household survey is expected for the 15th of April 2016. Regarding the M&E component, the World Bank team continues to provide guidance to the implementation agency on how to improve the quality and the substance of the research notes that are part of the M&E as well. In particular, during the mission, the team and API/MIAK agreed that five research notes will be prioritized for the dissemination given the relevance of the themes that they focus on. The themes are: social cohesion, gender, youth, supply chain and the economic model that API utilizes to measure project's results. The mission and API/ MIAK also discussed the next steps for the extension of the project. Based on the confirmation of the SPF for additional financing of about US$1 million, starting from July 1st, 2016. The SPF secretariat and the project team agreed to process first an extension for the current project, and then process a request for additional financing of US$ 1 million. Procurement performance is rated satisfactory as well. Project commitments currently amounts to around US$ 2.06 million, equivalent to 89% of the grant amount. The mission reviewed the status of project procurement in comparison to the procurement plan updated in August 2015. Few procurement packages remain to be done and a couple of other ongoing contracts will need to be amended either to extend the contract duration to allow for the completion of the original scope of work, or for the incorporation of additional related services. Given the tentatively agreed, and soon to be processed, extension of the grant closing date, the mission requested that API submits, by mid- February 2016, for the Bank’s review and clearance, an updated procurement plan reflecting the necessary changes to ensure project completion by the new closing date, including any agreements discussed and agreed during the mission. The mission informed API that the Bank intends to carry out, during March 2016, an ex-post procurement review of contracts awarded under the project as of February 1, 2015. The mission reviewed the project’s Financial Management (FM) arrangements, undertaken by the Project Implementing Unit (PIU), and concluded that proper FM arrangements are in place to monitor project activities. Sound internal controls procedures are in place; automated accounting system with the capacity to account for all financial transactions, the flow of funds has been smooth with no major interruptions. The Interim Unaudited Financial Reports (IFRs) were submitted timely. This supervision was done as a desk review as the FM function is located in Boston. Abraham Path Initiative Project financial management performance rating is Satisfactory. Finally, in addition to visiting project’s beneficiaries, the mission met with the coordinator of the Trekking Guide Training from the Bethlehem University to discuss the training and its results. So far, the training has been successful. It is expected to have a completion rate of 75% with a total number of 18 graduates of which 2 are women. The training coordinator also provided suggestions for future trainings that can be incorporated in phase two of the project. Risks Overall Risk Rating Risk Category Rating at Approval Previous Rating Current Rating Overall  Substantial  --  Substantial Results Project Development Objective Indicators 2/6/2016 Page 2 of 6 Public Disclosure Copy Public Disclosure Copy The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Abraham Path: Economic Development across Fragile Communities (P147235) PHINDPDOTBL Annual direct and indirect income for involved communities along the Abraham Path (US$) (Amount(USD), Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 513902.00 221672.00 467644.00 750934.00 Date 01-Jan-2014 31-Mar-2015 31-Dec-2015 31-Mar-2016 Comments This indicator has been severely affected and decreased sharply as a direct consequence of the Gaza War in 2014. These detrimental effects on the project continued throughout 2015 due to lower rates of travels to the region. PHINDPDOTBL New jobs created in communities along the Abraham Path (Nr) (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 110.00 110.00 196.00 Date 01-Jan-2014 31-Mar-2015 31-Dec-2015 31-Mar-2016 Comments The hiring of the action research firm and the implementation of an ad hoc survey will facilitate the collection of this indicator, including the youth indicator. PHINDPDOTBL of which female (%) (Percentage, Custom Supplement) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 100.00 100.00 70.00 PHINDPDOTBL of which youth (%) (Percentage, Custom Supplement) 2/6/2016 Page 3 of 6 Public Disclosure Copy Public Disclosure Copy The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Abraham Path: Economic Development across Fragile Communities (P147235) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 25.00 PHINDPDOTBL Direct project beneficiaries (Number, Core) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 810.00 810.00 660.00 Date 01-Jan-2014 31-Mar-2015 31-Mar-2015 31-Mar-2016 PHINDPDOTBL Female beneficiaries (Percentage, Core Supplement) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 53.00 53.00 45.00 PHINDPDOTBL Research notes on job creation through experiential tourism in FCS. (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 3.00 8.00 10.00 Date 01-Jan-2014 31-Mar-2015 31-Dec-2015 31-Mar-2016 Overall Comments The hiring of the action research firm and the implementation of an ad hoc survey will facilitate the collection of the indicators above, including the youth indicator. Indicators above were not captured over the past 6 months. Intermediate Results Indicators 2/6/2016 Page 4 of 6 Public Disclosure Copy Public Disclosure Copy The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Abraham Path: Economic Development across Fragile Communities (P147235) PHINDIRITBL Participants in consultation activities during project implementation (number) (Number, Core) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 187.00 277.00 300.00 Date 01-Jan-2014 31-Mar-2015 31-Dec-2015 31-Mar-2016 PHINDIRITBL Participants in consultation activities during project implementation - female (Number, Core Breakdown) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 Date 01-Jan-2014 21-May-2014 31-Dec-2014 31-Mar-2016 Overall Comments Data on Financial Performance Disbursements (by loan) Project Loan/Credit/TF Status Currency Original Revised Cancelled Disbursed Undisbursed Disbursed P147235 TF-16302 Effective USD 2.32 2.32 0.00 1.89 0.43 81% Key Dates (by loan) Project Loan/Credit/TF Status Approval Date Signing Date Effectiveness Date Orig. Closing Date Rev. Closing Date P147235 TF-16302 Effective 23-Jan-2014 23-Jan-2014 23-Jan-2014 31-Mar-2016 31-Mar-2016 Cumulative Disbursements 2/6/2016 Page 5 of 6 Public Disclosure Copy Public Disclosure Copy The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Abraham Path: Economic Development across Fragile Communities (P147235) Restructuring History There has been no restructuring to date. Related Project(s) There are no related projects. 2/6/2016 Page 6 of 6 Public Disclosure Copy