The World Bank COMMUNITY RESILIENCE TO CLIMATE AND DISASTER RISK IN SOLOMON ISLANDS PROJECT () REPORT NO.: RES39214 DOCUMENT OF THE WORLD BANK RESTRUCTURING PAPER ON A PROPOSED PROJECT RESTRUCTURING OF COMMUNITY RESILIENCE TO CLIMATE AND DISASTER RISK IN SOLOMON ISLANDS PROJECT APPROVED ON MARCH 6, 2014 TO SOLOMON ISLANDS URBAN, RESILIENCE AND LAND EAST ASIA AND PACIFIC Regional Vice President: Victoria Kwakwa Country Director: Michel Kerf Regional Director: Benoit Bosquet Practice Manager/Manager: Abhas Kumar Jha Task Team Leader(s): Tevi Maltali Obed The World Bank COMMUNITY RESILIENCE TO CLIMATE AND DISASTER RISK IN SOLOMON ISLANDS PROJECT () I. BASIC DATA Product Information Project ID Financing Instrument Investment Project Financing Original EA Category Current EA Category Partial Assessment (B) Partial Assessment (B) Approval Date Current Closing Date 06-Mar-2014 28-Nov-2019 Organizations Borrower Responsible Agency Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Solomon Islands Management and Meteorology Project Development Objective (PDO) Original PDO To increase the resilience of selected rural communities to the impacts of natural hazards and climate change. Summary Status of Financing Net Ln/Cr/Tf Approval Signing Effectiveness Closing Commitment Disbursed Undisbursed TF-16425 01-Apr-2014 01-Apr-2014 01-Apr-2014 30-Oct-2018 1.80 1.80 0 TF-16614 01-Apr-2014 01-Apr-2014 01-Apr-2014 28-Nov-2019 7.30 6.91 .39 Policy Waiver(s) Does this restructuring trigger the need for any policy waiver(s)? No I. SUMMARY OF PROJECT STATUS AND PROPOSED CHANGES The World Bank COMMUNITY RESILIENCE TO CLIMATE AND DISASTER RISK IN SOLOMON ISLANDS PROJECT () The Overall Implementation Progress: As of October 2019, almost all activities are completed except for 13 community-led and 1 provincial-led subprojects under Component C. The delays are due to long periods of bad weather causing a landslide in one community and damaging a centre funded by the project and disruption to transportation of bulk materials to remote subproject sites. All procurement activities are complete. Disbursement stands at 96%. There have been three previous project restructures: 1. to extend the closing date of the GFDRR TF016425 from December 31, 2016 to October 30, 2018; 2. to (i) amend the results framework; (ii) change the name and update the description of Component A; and (iii) change the procurement procedures and arrangements of community-led investment projects under Component C.2; and 3. to extend the closing date for the LDCF TF016614 by 6 months from May 31, 2019 to November 28, 2019. Component Progress and Current Status Component A—Integration of Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction in Government Policies and Operations. All activities under Component A are complete. Below are the major completed activities. Framework for Resilient Development in the Solomon Islands. The new National Disaster Management (NDM) Plan 2018 was approved by Cabinet in February 2018 following recommendation by the National Disaster Council (NDC). The Plan separates the functions for disaster management (preparedness, response and recovery) from those for resilience to climate and disaster risks and proposes a Framework for Resilient Development (similar to that at the regional level) with its own Sub-committee. This would be parallel to but separate from the NDC. The NDM Plan 2018 sets explicit structures for coordination and for functions at the sector and Provincial level and establishes relationships with the regional and global support clusters. The National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) has established new and explicit processes for the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC), the assessment of disaster impacts, the roles of the Provinces and Provincial Disaster Officers and procedures for Evacuation Center management. The NDMO has been implementing the Plan, developing procedures and completing the roll-out to the Provinces. The NDMO has been restructured to support the implementation of the Plan and give effect to the new Plan. It gives confidence to NDMO in its role to lead and coordinate disaster response which is in stark contrast to the N-DRM Plan 2010 which lacked clear implementation processes. National Institutional Framework for Integration of Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). A Position Paper for the preparation of the “Framework for Resilient Development for Solomon Islands – Final Draft” was completed in May 2018. It sets out the issues and proposes options for discussion by the NDC Sub-Committee. A proposal for external support to facilitate the Sub-Committee discussions is being considered by MECDM. The Ministry of Development Planning and Aid Coordination (MDPAC) is preparing new planning legislation and is keen to establish links with the Framework for Resilient Development. This will strengthen the links to the development processes. Other activities include completion of a Practitioner’s Guide for the mainstreaming/instreaming to help identify risk resilience issues within Ministry plans and activities, starting with those of Ministry of Health and Medical Services. This also supports the Climate Change Division and National Disaster Management Office in MECDM and their roles to promote climate and disaster risk and resilience and manage the implementation of the Framework for Resilient Development initiated by CRISP. Component B—Strengthening of Climate and Disaster Risk Information and Early Warning Systems. The World Bank COMMUNITY RESILIENCE TO CLIMATE AND DISASTER RISK IN SOLOMON ISLANDS PROJECT () Activities under Component B have been completed. Achievements include the establishment of the Multi-hazard Early Warning Monitoring system (MHEWS) and completion of 7 stations as well as the strengthening of the National Risk Information Platform. The strengthened National Risk Information Platform/database is now accessible to other sectoral agencies. The MHEWS system is in operation and is officially registered and connected to the global Federal Seismic Digital Network for monitoring of cyclones, earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis and any illegal nuclear testing that may take place within Solomon Islands ocean areas. Component C—Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction Investments. A total of 70 subprojects (65 community-led and 5 Provincial-led) are being implemented in five Provinces (Guadalcanal, Temotu, Malaita, Central and Renbel). Of the 70 sub-projects, 56 sub projects were completed (52 community-led and 4 provincial-led) and 13 are in late stages of completion. Some completed subprojects require corrective works and/or operation and maintenance training for the communities and staff of the Provincial governments. The implementation delays for the few remaining subprojects is largely due to bad weather between November 2018 and October 2019. Most of the remote communities are highly vulnerable to flooding, rough seas and cyclones so the core logistical needs like shipment of materials, travelling of staff to communities has been severely impacted by the continuous bad weather and the cancellations of shipping transportation to the remote vulnerable islands and Provinces. Component D—Project Management. The project rating remains rated as Moderately Satisfactory. The PMU continues to operate with the capacity required to complete all remaining activities and has oversight from the Project Steering Committee. Rationale for Restructuring This project restructuring is in response to the request received from Government of Solomon Islands, dated November 04, 2019 (received by the World Bank on November 07, 2019) to extend the project closing date by a period of 6 months from November 28, 2019 to May 28, 2020 to allow sufficient time to properly complete the few remaining subprojects under Component C (which have been delayed due to bad weather and transportation issues) and ensure that operation and maintenance arrangements are firmly in place for the community-led subprojects completed in September-October 2019. The delays in two provinces (Guadalcanal and Malaita) are due to bad weather and disruption to shipping and flights resulting in goods and the PMU engineer not being able to reach some community-and provincial- led subproject sites to help complete the required work and maintenance training. In the Central Province unusually heavy rains for days resulted in a landslide which damaged a nearly completed community centre which now needs some repairs. A ship carrying bulk material to communities in Temotu Province broke down and caused delays by two months. The 2018 audit has been received and accepted by the Bank. The project budget has been updated and shows sufficient funds to cover the cost of the extension. The PMU performance remains Moderately Satisfactory and an action plan has been agreed with the PMU for the extension period including close monitoring of the budget and monthly submission of Withdrawal Applications. II. DETAILED CHANGES LOAN CLOSING DATE(S) The World Bank COMMUNITY RESILIENCE TO CLIMATE AND DISASTER RISK IN SOLOMON ISLANDS PROJECT () Original Revised Proposed Proposed Deadline Ln/Cr/Tf Status Closing Closing(s) Closing for Withdrawal Applications 30-Oct-2018, 29-Apr- TF-16425 Closed 31-Dec-2016 2019 TF-16614 Effective 31-May-2019 28-Nov-2019 28-May-2020 28-Sep-2020