The World Bank Report No: ISR14076 Implementation Status & Results Yemen, Republic of RY-IDF Capacity Building on Legal Aspects of WTO Accession (TF094514) (P115192) Public Disclosure Copy Operation Name: RY-IDF Capacity Building on Legal Aspects of WTO Project Stage: Implementation Seq.No: 4 Status: ARCHIVED Archive Date: 26-Mar-2014 Accession (TF094514) (P115192) Country: Yemen, Republic of Approval FY: 2009 Product Line: Institutional Development Fund Region: MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA Lending Instrument: Implementing Agency(ies): Ministry of Legal Affairs Key Dates Board Approval Date 09-Apr-2009 Original Closing Date 06-Apr-2013 Planned Mid Term Review Date Last Archived ISR Date 15-Apr-2013 Effectiveness Date 23-Jun-2010 Revised Closing Date 31-Mar-2014 Actual Mid Term Review Date Project Development Objectives Project Development Objective (from IDF Proposal) The objective of the Project is to strengthen Yemen's capacity to address the legal aspects of accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). This will be achieved through enhancing the institutional capacity of Yemen's Ministry of Legal Affairs (MLA) to effectively provide the legal services needed for pre- and post-WTO accession including: (i) undertaking the necessary revisions to Yemen's legislation and legal framework for accession to the WTO; and (ii) negotiating international trade treaties; and (iii) addressing legal issues arising from Yemen's WTO commitments post-accession, such as international trade disputes. Has the Project Development Objective been changed since Board Approval of the Project? Yes No Component(s) Component Name Component Cost Technical and Capacity Building 302370.00 Improving Institutional Capacity of MLA 115380.00 Grant Audit 9900.00 Public Disclosure Copy Overall Ratings Previous Rating Current Rating Progress towards achievement of PDO Satisfactory Satisfactory Overall Implementation Progress (IP) Satisfactory Satisfactory Overall Risk Rating Moderate Moderate Implementation Status Overview The objective of the Project is to strengthen Yemen’s capacity to address the legal aspects of accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) by enhancing the institutional capacity of Yemen’s Ministry of Legal Affairs (MLA) to effectively provide the legal services needed for pre-and post-WTO accession. The Financing Agreement was signed on April Page 1 of 4 The World Bank Report No: ISR14076 6, 2010 and declared effective on June 23, 2010. The project had three year duration and had started well. However, after some initial start-up activities, a political turmoil started in the country in January 2011, as a consequence of which, the entire government work had to suffer and the Bank had to suspend disbursements under the Yemen portfolio, with effect from July 28, 2011. The suspensions were lifted on January 20, 2012; however, interruptions caused by the events following the 2011 revolution have had a negative impact on project implementation. The closing date of the project was April 6, 2013 and the Government of Yemen had requested an extension to the Closing Date until March 31, 2014. Public Disclosure Copy Considering the project’s work had suffered for more than a year and Bank’s disbursements were suspended for more than 7 crucial months, the Bank had agreed with the government request and granted an extension in the closing date by one year, until March 31, 2014, to recover the lost time and to complete the planned activities. The Project has been able to establish a comprehensive database and legal reference center for all laws and legislations in the Republic of Yemen. A properly equipped translation unit has also been been established in the Ministry of Legal Affairs (MoLA). A website of the MoLA for enhancing public access and creating legal awareness on WTO accession has been launched. Exposure visits to two countries for learning on legal aspects of meeting conditions of accession to WTO has been conducted and the personnel capacity of the Ministry of Legal Affairs has been improved. WTO Ministers adopted Yemen’s WTO terms and conditions of entry at the 9th Ministerial Conference in Bali, Indonesia on 3-6 December 2013. Yemen has time until 2 June 2014 to ratify the deal and would become a full-fledged WTO member 30 days after it notifies the acceptance of its Protocol of Accession to the WTO Director-General. Against the project cost of USD 427,650, an amount of USD 362,821(85 % of the project cost) has been disbursed and the rest is committed. Locations No Location data has been entered Results Indicators Indicator Name Core Unit of Measure Baseline Current End Target Increased capacity to provide legal services to Text Value Number of lawyers (2) Number of lawyers (22) government agencies on WTO-related issues. qualified to provide legal qualified to provide legal services to government on services to government WTO-related issues. agencies on WTO-related issues Date 02-Mar-2009 07-Feb-2013 06-Apr-2013 Comments Specific training to MoLA Lawyers is planned and will Public Disclosure Copy be initiated only after the accession of Yemen into WTO Increased consistency of legislation and legal Text Value Number of laws (9 out of 43) Number of laws (30 out of 43 framework with WTO legal requirements. requiring draft amendments to - or 60% of laws identified in meet WTO legal the Legal Reform Action Plan) requirements. requiring draft amendments to meet WTO legal requirements, for which Page 2 of 4 The World Bank Report No: ISR14076 amendments are completed or an Action Pla Date 02-Mar-2009 07-Feb-2013 06-Apr-2013 Public Disclosure Copy Comments Increased institutional capacity to provide Text Value No (zero) translators with Three (3) translators with translation and legal information. skills in legal translation. skills in legal translation. Date 02-Mar-2009 07-Feb-2013 06-Apr-2013 Comments Data on Financial Performance (as of 12-Aug-2013) Financial Agreement(s) Key Dates Project Ln/Cr/Tf Status Approval Date Signing Date Effectiveness Date Original Closing Date Revised Closing Date P115192 TF-94514 Effective 25-Feb-2010 06-Apr-2010 23-Jun-2010 06-Apr-2013 31-Mar-2014 Disbursements Project Ln/Cr/Tf Status Currency Original Revised Cancelled Disbursed Undisbursed % Disbursed P115192 TF-94514 Effective USD 0.43 0.43 0.00 0.36 0.06 85.00 Disbursement Graph Public Disclosure Copy Key Decisions Regarding Implementation Page 3 of 4 The World Bank Report No: ISR14076 The Bank has received request from the Government of Yemen to provide an extension of the closing date for this Grant by one year, i.e., from March 31, 2014 to March 31, 2015, along with an additional financing of $326,000. You may recall that this is the second extension under consideration and we had earlier extended it from April 6, 2013 to March 31, 2014. Public Disclosure Copy The reason for the required extension is that WTO Ministers adopted Yemen’s WTO terms and conditions of entry at the 9th Ministerial Conference in Bali, Indonesia on 3-6 December 2013. Yemen has time until 2 June 2014 to ratify the deal and would become a full-fledged WTO member 30 days after it notifies the acceptance of its Protocol of Accession to the WTO Director-General. Yemen could not become member of WTO during its project life time and just likely to become towards the end of this project. The project now needs to intensify support to the Ministry of Legal Affairs and the Ministry of Industry and Trade in reviewing the protocol of accession and implementing that protocol in the post- accession phase. While the activities proposed under the additional financing with an extended project time are justified, the Bank cannot grant extension of closing date as the Project has run its course of three years implementation plus a one year extension previously granted in exceptional circumstances. This is the maximum granted under (Board Approved) IDF policy. Accordingly the Project team was requested to step up implementation and bring this grant to closure within the date set for 31 March 2014. The Project will have the normal 4 month grace period in which to pay for goods and services delivered before 31 March 2014. Restructuring History There has been no restructuring to date. Related Projects There are no related projects. Public Disclosure Copy Page 4 of 4