91083 v1 Document of The World Bank FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Report No: RESTRUCTURING PAPER ON A PROPOSED RESTRUCTURING OF AFGHANISTAN RECONSTRUCTION TRUST FUND GRANT AGREEMENT (RECURRENT AND CAPITAL EXPENDITURES) BETWEEN ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF AFGHANISTAN AND INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION (ACTING AS ADMINISTRATOR OF THE AFGHANISTAN RECONSTRUCTION TRUST FUND) MAY 13, 2002 TO THE GOVERNMENT OF ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF AFGHANISTAN JULY 31, 2014 Public Administration Sector Financial Management Unit South Asia Region This document has a restricted distribution and may be used by recipients only in the performance of their official duties. Its contents may not otherwise be disclosed without World Bank authorization. ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ARTF Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund GA Grant Agreement GoIRA Government of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Regional Vice President: Philippe H. Le Houerou Sector Director: Robert Saum Practice Manager: Fily Sissoko Task Team Leader: Paul Edwin Sisk 2 Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund Recurrent and Capital Expenditures TRUST FUND TF 50577 RESTRUCTING PAPER 1. This paper proposes restructuring of the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund Recurrent and Capital Expenditures (ARTF–RC), in response to the recent request by the Government of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GoIRA), dated July 12, 2014 to update various provisions of the grant agreement to align with the current standard provisions used on all trust fund agreements and with applicable current prior review thresholds. Specifically the GA should reflect references to the Anti-corruption Guidelines and the Standard Conditions for Grants and Credits, which are applied all the ARTF investment operations in Afghanistan. Additionally, the prior review provisions need to be brought into line with the region-wide thresholds for a project with moderate procurement risk. 2. The project is implemented by the Ministry of Finance (MoF). The Grant amount is US$ 3,173,321,009.24 and to date the project has disbursed US$ 3,072,521,009.24 leaving a Grant Account balance of US$ 100,800,000.00. 3. The project development objectives are to provide a coordinated financing mechanism so that the GoIRA can make predictable, timely, and accurate payments for approved recurrent costs related to: i) salaries and wages of civil servants and ii) government operating and maintenance expenditures, except security. 4. The overall implementation progress of the project has been Moderately Satisfactory. On the operational side, all the financial management and procurement related activities are progressing well. The project is in compliance with the audit covenants as there are no overdue audits or audit issues. 5. In light of the critical importance of the support to civilian recurrent costs, the satisfactory progress of the project and the expressions of donor interest in the operation, the Task Team recommends that this level 2 restructuring be accepted and the referenced amendments to the GA be approved. 6. The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development /International Development Association (collectively, the World Bank) is acting as administrator of Grant funds provided by multiple donors to the ARTF. The GoIRA is the Recipient of the Grant Funds and responsible for implementation of this project. 3