The development objective of the Xian Sustainable Urban Transport Project for China is to improve accessibility and mobility in Xian while protecting its cultural heritage and reducing the environmental impact of urban transport system, with a focus on the Ming walled city.
... See More + In line with the Bank's operation policy for involuntary resettlement OP 4.12 and taking into consideration the City of Xian local laws and regulations, resettlement codes of practice and policies of the People's Republic of China. This Resettlement Action Plan has the following principles and objectives : avoid and minimize involuntary resettlement and land acquisition associated with road upgrading construction; land acquisition or resettlement will be entirely voluntary and be limited to situation were Project Affected Peoples (PAPs) will be the beneficiaries of services and facilities offered by the project; ensure that relocation sites chosen cause minimal disturbance to the livelihood and living standards of PAPs; provide recovery or compensation for the loss of land, working place, cultural property, trees and infrastructure, etc.; keep in tough with PAPs during the removal period for timely settlement of potential problems (disputes); finally, conduct meetings with residents (farmers), business and enterprise owners to notify them on the progress of the removal process and compensation standards.
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The development objective of the Xian Sustainable Urban Transport Project for China is to improve accessibility and mobility in Xian while protecting its cultural heritage and reducing the environmental impact of urban transport system, with a focus on the Ming walled city.
... See More + In line with the Bank's operation policy for involuntary resettlement OP 4.12 and taking into consideration the City of Xian local laws and regulations, resettlement codes of practice and policies of the People's Republic of China. This Resettlement Action Plan has the following principles and objectives : avoid and minimize involuntary resettlement and land acquisition associated with road upgrading construction; land acquisition or resettlement will be entirely voluntary and be limited to situation were Project Affected Peoples (PAPs) will be the beneficiaries of services and facilities offered by the project; ensure that relocation sites chosen cause minimal disturbance to the livelihood and living standards of PAPs; provide recovery or compensation for the loss of land, working place, cultural property, trees and infrastructure, etc.; keep in tough with PAPs during the removal period for timely settlement of potential problems (disputes); finally, conduct meetings with residents (farmers), business and enterprise owners to notify them on the progress of the removal process and compensation standards.
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The objectives of Improving Disaster Risk Management Project for Mongolia are to identify and explain potential key environmental and social safeguards issues associated with the project and approaches to address the issues.
... See More + Some of the negative impacts and mitigation measures include: the project is a technical assistance and does not have direct impact on environmental or social safeguard issues. However, the UB city flood risk management plan, designed under sub-component A.1.3, may in future result into investments that have implications on the environment. Therefore, the Environmental Assessment Policy (OP4.01) and the Involuntary Resettlement Policy (OP 4.12) are triggered. The relevant environmental and social safeguards policies objectives and elements will be part of the planning process, terms of reference for the plan and the capacity building grant activities to the relevant line ministries and Ulaanbaatar city. This includes among others, aspects related to the identification and mitigation of potential environmental impacts and inclusion of the vulnerable and marginalized groups of people in project activities.
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By the end of 2013, China railway had built a network of about 10,000 route-km of high-speed railways (HSR). The network has been built rapidly and at a relatively low unit cost compared with similar projects in other countries.
... See More + This note takes a look at this expansion, its construction unit costs and some of its key cost components. It also outlines reasons that may explain the comparatively low cost of HSR construction in China.
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The development objectives of the Improving Disaster Risk Management Project for Mongolia are to improve the disaster preparedness of Ulaanbaatar (UB) and to reduce the impact of dzud on rural livelihoods.
... See More + Some of the negative impacts and mitigation measures include: (1) mapping flood risks by micro zone in order to determine the exact nature and level of risk in different parts of the city; (2) designing and developing database on hazards and vulnerabilities to enable UB to quantify the total risks it faces and subsequently preparing a cost-benefit analysis for prevention and mitigation of risks; (3) designing UB city flood risk management plan and capacity building to enable the city to respond effectively and reduce the loss of lives and assets; (4) reviewing the quality of the work carried out, such as the training and flood risk management plan developed under the project with a view of providing tangible recommendations for the city and project management unit to follow and improve project outcomes; (5) supporting institutionalization of the livestock early warning system (LEWS) within the national agency for meteorology, hydrology, and environmental monitoring (NAMHEM); and (6) designing and piloting a new feed and fodder supply system to allow vegetation to grow to full maturity and be harvested, packed, and stored for the winter, ensuring readily available emergency feed supply for the beneficiary herder households.
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The development objective of the Xian Sustainable Urban Transport Project for China is to improve accessibility and mobility in Xian while protecting its cultural heritage and reducing the environmental impact of urban transport system, with a focus on the Ming walled city.
... See More + In line with the Bank's operation policy for involuntary resettlement OP 4.12 and taking into consideration the City of Xian local laws and regulations, resettlement codes of practice and policies of the People's Republic of China. This Resettlement Action Plan has the following principles and objectives : avoid and minimize involuntary resettlement and land acquisition associated with road upgrading construction; land acquisition or resettlement will be entirely voluntary and be limited to situation were Project Affected Peoples (PAPs) will be the beneficiaries of services and facilities offered by the project; ensure that relocation sites chosen cause minimal disturbance to the livelihood and living standards of PAPs; provide recovery or compensation for the loss of land, working place, cultural property, trees and infrastructure, etc.; keep in tough with PAPs during the removal period for timely settlement of potential problems (disputes); finally, conduct meetings with residents (farmers), business and enterprise owners to notify them on the progress of the removal process and compensation standards.
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By the end of 2013, China railway had built a network of about 10,000 route-km of high-speed railways (HSR). The network has been built rapidly and at a relatively low unit cost compared with similar projects in other countries.
... See More + This note takes a look at this expansion, its construction unit costs and some of its key cost components. It also outlines reasons that may explain the comparatively low cost of HSR construction in China.
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Ratings for the Rio Grande do Sul Integrated Municipal Development Program Project for Brazil were as follows: outcomes were moderately satisfactory, risk to development outcome was significant, Bank performance was moderately satisfactory, and Borrower performance was moderately satisfactory.
... See More + Some lessons learned included: investment projects with small and medium-sized municipalities require sustained efforts to construct and enhance the institutional capacity of the Borrowers. The design of investment projects with subnational clients (especially those of small and medium scale) should take the Borrower's implementation capacity into account when introducing innovative and or multi-faceted approaches. The success of a project depends not only on the project management units (unidades de gestao do projeto) (UGP's) internal structure and capacity, but also on the level of coordination between the UGP and the Borrower's decision making structure and the commitment of policy makers. In the case of small to medium size municipalities, counterpart funding requirements should be carefully assessed at entry, considering the financial and fiscal situation of the particular Borrower. While grouped projects can present advantages in economies of scale, these gains must be balanced against the operational burden on the Bank to ensure a cost-efficient project. Horizontal adaptable programmatic loans (APLs) can be appropriate instruments for designing successful, relevant, and efficient multi-Borrower programs, provided some technical and institutional conditions are met.
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Implementation Completion and Results Report ICR2315 JUN 30, 2014
Ratings for the Post Tsunami Reconstruction Project for Tonga were as follows: outcomes were moderately satisfactory, the risk to development outcome was moderate, the Bank performance was moderately satisfactory, and the Borrower performance was also moderately satisfactory.
... See More + Some lessons learned included: project implementation periods should allow for possible delays. Even though land acquisition arrangements seemed relatively straightforward at appraisal, unforeseen local political issues that are common in a Pacific island context stalled implementation of physical investments. Adequate time should be allowed for land issues to be negotiated in an appropriate way. Transport impediments (particularly following a major natural disaster such as the 2009 Tsunami) can delay travel of project staff to beneficiary communities and can hold up implementation support missions. Capacity building activities under component three were only loosely linked to reconstruction and recovery activities under the other components and were implemented by a different ministry. Implementation delays resulted as (stretched) project management staff concentrated their time and efforts on facilitating physical investments that met urgent recovery needs.
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Implementation Completion and Results Report ICR3036 JUN 27, 2014
The objective of the Standardized Operations Risk-rating Tool (SORT) is to help the World Bank consistently assess and monitor risks across all operational instruments and country programs.
... See More + The risks considered are the risks to development results associated with the operation: both the risks to not achieving the intended (positive) results; and those causing unintended (negative) results. The SORT provides the information needed to help clients adequately manage and, where possible, mitigate operational risks within a broader risk management framework. It is intended to identify those risks on which the Bank needs to focus management attention and resources - within any given operation or at the level of the country, region, global practice or cross-cutting solution area. The SORT will: (i) systematically and consistently rate risks of operational and country engagements in all regions and across all operations; (ii) help focus management attention on high and substantial risk operations and on particular risks within operations during implementation; and (iii) provide a light but systematic and contestable way of identifying the appropriate level of corporate review process and any need for Board discussion. The SORT also applies to Country Partnership Frameworks (CPF), in order to focus management attention on high risk CPFs to better link risk management at the country program level with risk management at the operational level, and to establish risk management as an integral part of country engagement. The SORT is harmonized across instruments and regions. The SORT will be the primary source of information for the so-called "risk lists". Following the overview, this guidance note is organized as follows: section II describes the SORT and its components; section III provides an overview of the process of preparing and reviewing the SORT; and section IV provides guidance on how to rate risks in each category.
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On March 11, 2011, an earthquake of magnitude 9.0 occurred in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Japan's Tohoku region. The Great East Japan Earthquake was the first disaster ever recorded that included an earthquake, a tsunami, a nuclear power plant accident, a power supply failure, and a large-scale disruption of supply chains.
... See More + This report consolidates the set of 36 Knowledge Notes, research results of the joint study undertaken by the Government of Japan and the World Bank. It summarizes the lessons learned from the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami and provides guidance to other disaster-prone countries for mainstreaming disaster risk management in their development policies. It is clear that financial resources alone are not sufficient to deal with disasters and to spur development. Technical assistance and capacity building are equally important. In Japan's case, the project learned how communities can play a critical role in preparing for and coping with natural disasters. Communities can help prevent damage from spreading, maintain social order, and provide support to the vulnerable. Only through technical cooperation can such know-how be passed on to other countries and be adapted to their local circumstances. The chapters that make up the main body of this report are built around the disciplines employed in the traditional disaster risk management cycle. Grouped into seven thematic clusters that track that cycle, the chapters treat structural measures (part 1) and nonstructural measures (part 2) as preventive options. Also covered is the emergency responses put in place after March 11 (part 3) and described the planning behind the reconstruction process (part 4). The handling of risk assessment and communication before and after the disaster are the subject of part 5. Part 6 deals with risk financing, insurance, and fiscal and financial management; part 7 with the progress of recovery and relocation.
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The objective of the Floods Emergency Recovery Project for Bosnia and Herzegovina is to meet critical needs and restore functionality of infrastructure essential for public services and economic recovery in floods affected areas.
... See More + There are three components to the project, the first component being emergency disaster recovery goods. The recent floods have created significant strains on the supply chains for a variety of goods crucially needed to ensure the continuity of public services and economic opportunities. For example, some coal mines have been flooded, resulting in a restriction of supply to the main thermal power plants. The flooded areas traditionally have been oriented towards agriculture and agribusiness, which were severely affected by the floods, resulting in fodder and forage shortages and an urgent need for seeds and fertilizers for reseeding. The second component is the rehabilitation of key public infrastructure. Component two will support the rehabilitation of both local and regional public infrastructure on the basis of the Recovery Needs Assessment, or RNA. The impact of the floods was concentrated on around 60 municipalities in the central, northwest and northeast parts of the country; in many of these, public services delivery was severely impacted. This Component will therefore finance the rehabilitation or reconstruction of high priority, public service delivery infrastructure in the worst-affected areas. Finally, the third component is the project implementation support and capacity building. This component will finance the management of the Project and any support needed for the identification and implementation of sub-activities. The component will also provide technical assistance and capacity building to help ensure future improved disaster resilience.
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The development objectives of the Urban Development and Local Governance Program Project for Tunisia are to: (a) improve the municipal infrastructure and service delivery; (b) reduce inter-regional and intra-urban disparities in access to municipal services with a focus on lagging regions; and (c) develop municipal capacity.
... See More + Some of the negative impacts and mitigation measures include: (1) ensuring that no intervention is allowed that can significantly transform natural habitats or alter biodiversity areas and or potentially affect cultural resources; (2) affected people should be resettled amicably through fair compensation; and (3) expropriation shall only be used in exceptional cases and for relatively small areas and should be planned well in advance so as to not cause hardship to the owner, such as restrictions to access, loss of income, or unresolved social conflicts.
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The objective of the Second Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) Environmental Sanitation Project for Vietnam is to improve the environmental conditions in selected areas of HCMC.
... See More + Some of the negative impacts and mitigation measures include: compensation for the removal of graves and tombs will include the cost of excavation, relocation, reburial and other related costs which are necessary to satisfy customary requirements. Compensation in cash will be paid to each affected family or to the affected group as a whole as is determined through a process of consultation with the affected community; in the case of the affected households is equipped with telephone system, water meter, electric meter, cable TV, internet access (subscription), wells, these shall be compensated according to unit price of installing new units offer service in accordance with the service providers regulations ; in cases where community infrastructure such as schools, factories, water sources, roads, sewage systems are damaged and the community wishes to reuse them, the project will ensure that these are restored or repaired as the case may be, at no cost to the community; and cash compensation for land temporarily acquired in the form of rent which is at least equivalent to the net income that will have been derived from the affected property during the period of disruption.
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Ratings for the Local Authorities Development Program Project for Senegal were as follows: outcomes were satisfactory, risk to development outcome was moderate, Bank performance was moderately satisfactory, and Borrower performance was moderately satisfactory.
... See More + Some lessons learned included: the willingness of the Government of Senegal (GoS) to move forward with decentralization agenda, during and after the project, cannot occur without clear frameworks and a strong enabling environment. A clearer legal framework is needed to support the development of contract management agency (CMA) beyond public works executing agency (agence d'execution de travaux d'interet public pour l'emploi) (AGETIP) and evolution of the municipal development agency (agence de developpement municipal) (MDA) as an institution focused on financing service delivery in communes (on behalf of the government). The use of the municipal contract had proven to be relevant all through the project. Although the implementation tools (urban, financial, and organizational audits) had proven relevant since the urban development and decentralization program (UDDP), it is necessary to complement them with performance-oriented tools, such as scaled public expenditure and financial assessment (PEFA), performance-based municipal contracts, set up of minimal conditions for equipment maintenance, among others. Opportunities for diversified sources of funding should be explored, along with a rethinking of the exact role of the MDA.
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Implementation Completion and Results Report ICR2982 JUN 12, 2014