The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Local connectivity emergency project (P157923) Local connectivity emergency project (P157923) AFRICA | Central African Republic | Transport Global Practice | Recipient Executed Activities | Investment Project Financing | FY 2016 | Seq No: 6 | ARCHIVED on 21-Oct-2019 | ISR37967 | Implementing Agencies: Government of Central African Republic, United Nations Office for Project Services, MINUSCA Key Dates Key Project Dates Bank Approval Date: 03-Apr-2016 Effectiveness Date: 15-Apr-2016 Original Closing Date: 30-Sep-2019 Revised Closing Date: 30-Sep-2019 pdoTable Project Development Objectives Project Development Objective (from Project Appraisal Document) The PDO is to reconnect the population of the Northeast CAR to urban centers and local markets by rehabilitating the Kaga-Bandoro – Mbrès – Bamingui – Ndélé road. The project will contribute to the State and peace building efforts by ensuring basic transport connectivity between poorly connected areas in districts situated in the lagging regions (North-East). This should contribute to: (a) revitalize local economy by providing temporary employment at local level; (b) facilitate the movement of goods and domestic trade; and (c) State redeployment for development through the Ministry of Equipment and Transport, Civil Aviation, and Integration (Ministère de l’Equipement et des Transport, de l’Aviation Civile et du Désenclavement – METACD) decentralized civil servants along the targeted road. Has the Project Development Objective been changed since Board Approval of the Project Objective? No Overall Ratings Name Previous Rating Current Rating Progress towards achievement of PDO Moderately Satisfactory Moderately Satisfactory Overall Implementation Progress (IP) Moderately Satisfactory Moderately Satisfactory Implementation Status and Key Decisions PDO achievement: The project has partially met the PDO. Implementation progress remained moderately satisfactory due to project delays. The project has completed the works related to bridges and culverts construction and HIMO despite delays mainly due to security reasons. Despite the difficult security conditions in the project area, the project team has managed with success the various companies involved in the implementation of the project mainly the construction of the Bamingui Bridge works which were completed on May 2019. The bridge was handed over to the Government and officially inaugurated by the head of state on July 24, 2019. The Rural Connectivity Project, which became effective on April 10, 2018 will consolidate the Kaga Bandoro-Ndele section of road rehabilitated under this project to ensure a practicability for all weather. Mechanized works: The mechanized works were carried out by MINUSCA and have consisted of light reprofiling and the treatment of critical points over 230 km, or 70% of the linear. A request was made to MINUSCA on the execution of mechanized works on the Kaga Bandoro-Mbres section, as initially envisaged under the MoU between the Government, MINUSCA and the WB dated August 4, 2016. The intervention was envisaged during the first quarter of 2018 but in light of the security situation, this has been challenging. UNOPS has launched a competitive bidding process to recruit a local contractor for the mechanized works, mainly for the critical points but, this call for tenders was unsuccessful due to the security situation in the area and reluctance of local companies to go in the project zone. A company was finally recruited after a second call for proposals and in security concerns the team finally succeeded to finish the works. Labor Intensive Public Works (LIPW): The HIMO works concerned the two axes Kaga Bandoro - Mbrès and Bamingui - Ndélé. The tasks performed involved clearing brush, manually opening ditches, curing channels, and dealing with certain critical points. As of the end of the project, 10/21/2019 Page 1 of 7 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Local connectivity emergency project (P157923) all THIMO works are completed as planned. The teams have actively worked on all road section (Kaga Bandoro-Mbres-Bamingui-Ndele) and despite the security situation in the project area which has contributed to slow down the activities, a total length of 333 km of roads (Kagabandoro- Mbres-Bamingui-Ndele) were completed through the LIPW. The operations were supervised by a UNOPS team composed of three engineers based in Kaga Bandoro and Ndélé. About 58,830 man-days have worked on the LIPW, and the project benefited 1,145 people (22% of whom were women) who were drawn from hundreds of volunteers in a transparent and public process. In addition to the cumulative linear rehabilitated (333 km), 32,000 ml of ditches were open. Due to the security situation in the project area, only the Kaga Bandoro - Mbrès and Bamingui - Ndélé sections were covered. The Mbrès-Bamingui section was supported by caning activities which are also carried out on the rest of the route with 14 trained team leaders each having 10 cantonners to supervise. Each team had a 25 km section of road to maintain. The duration of mobilization was penalized by the quality of MINUSCA's mechanized work (below the standards agreed with UNOPS) and the lack of intervention on the Mbrès- Bamingui section. After the return of more secured situation, the teams of the cantoners were mobilized on this section and completed works with the security support of MINUSCA. Analysis of each person's roles and results: (i) MINUSCA is expected to implement the mechanized work over 333 km following the parties' agreement, but this was not done in full, and the actions that had been done were not done according to the rules of the art. (ii) UNOPS was responsible for ensuring the practicability of the road by constructing the BAMINGUI Bridge, the two large slabs in Mbrès and the construction and rehabilitation of several other drainages and crossing structures and then ensure the maintenance of the road by the Labor Intensity Public Works (LIPW), as well as rain barriers. (iii) The complementarity between UNOPS and MINUSCA did not take place, and this led UNOPS to concentrate on the entire works. MINUSCA was unable to do its part because of the security situation that led it to focus on safety at the expense of the work despite the Memorandum of Understanding with the World Bank. In fact, MINUSCA, through its Military Battalion was able to work on 230 km with an inferior quality of work despite the memorandum between UNOPS and MINUSCA for mechanized work standards. Almost three months later, the rains destroyed the road. Besides, the tasks done through LIPW to improve the road did not bring the long-term result expected because of the inferior mechanized work. The small amount of the project, the significant cost of the bridge and the costs of the HIMO weighed on the scope of the work. Therefore, it is a success that the project has realized such important infrastructures with a so small amount money. The Kagabandoro road is practicale in dry season thanks to the construction of the Bamingui Bridge and the construction of the two large mbrès slabs. With the PCR, it is necessary to replace structures, bridges that have wooden decks (often torn by the population). To strengthen the Ministry's capacity, the Ndele and Kagabandoro public works offices and their equipment were built and equipped by a 5 KVA generator for each Ndele and KagaBandoro office. However, the offices have not been occupied for a year and the arms groups have reportedly taken control. Training was given to departmental officials on road maintenance,rain barmanagement. For the improvement of drainage, 330 km of runways, 12 rain barriers, 11 of which are in operation, were rehabilitated by HIMO. The non-functional one is occupied by armed groups. In conclusion, the objectives have been achieved in terms of physical achievement including Bamigui bridge and Dalot of Mbres which are fully completed. In view of the lack of financial resources, the project has limited itself to emergency interventions on the Ndélé-Birao section, which will be followed by a consolidation phase of the Kaga Bandoro section - Mbrès as part of the Rural Connectivity Project (P160500). Occupational Health and Safety (OHS): During the project implementation, there were no accidents reported. Many measures were taken before, during and after the works. The key ones are highlighted below: Before the work:  At construction company level: Introduction of a special clause on contracts with a focus on compliance with HSS; Team awareness raised on the use of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE); On-site daily control of Protection equipment delivery before work begins.  community level: awareness campaign in Sango (local language) on bridge construction and its implications. Additional explanation to the people who approach works site on the danger and the interdiction to enter the works station. During the work:  At construction company level: Systematic control over compliance with the port of PPE, continuous awareness of workers, progressive sanction on employees of the company who did not comply with the instructions. Regular check of signalization of deviations and works stations.  Community level: -Awareness on the scope of work outside the site. -securing the site with straw fence -Prohibition of entering the site's facilities without permission. A sentinel has been available for orientation in case of need to enter the site  Vehicles circulation: The old bridge served as a detour.  Workers: Every morning, after checking that every worker is wearing his PPE, an open discussion and Q&A in Sango (local language) for 5 or 10 minutes is organized to explain the day activity, how to behave and the risk of danger in the event where the safety rules are not respected and how to avoid such risks of accidents. After the work:  Community: Awareness in Sango (local language) about the formal ban on not stopping on the bridge or letting children play on the bridge. A security guard stayed near the bridge one month after it was opened to traffic to ensure that instructions are respected. Vehicles use of the bridge: Roads signs and speed limit signs were installed before and after the new bridge to ensure safety use of the bridge. Involuntary resettlement. Compensations have been paid to People Affected by the Project (PAP) in two phase. The first payment was done considering the dimension of 25 meters of the bridge and the second when the span of the bridge was increased from 25m to 45m, resulting in an increase in the number of PAPs. Also, in respect to the new dimension of the bridge, the original ESMP and RAP were updated to reflect and consider these new affected individuals. These PAPs have been compensated before the work continues on the new dimension. The total amount of its additional compensation amounts to XAF 9,866,850, equivalent to US$18,272, financed by MTPER through the road fund (FER). The previous payment was set at 3,250,000 FCFA for the PAP of the first 25 m of bridge. 10/21/2019 Page 2 of 7 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Local connectivity emergency project (P157923) Gender Based Violence (GBV). GBV aspects have been implemented through out the project implementation. The Bank team has shared with UNOPS (who is implementing the project), the strategy for responding to GBV risks in road projects financed by the Bank. The team has also discussed with the client and UNOPS, information on (i) GBV mitigation measures to be considered in the project; (ii) review of environmental and social safeguards instruments related to GBV risks; and (iii) mapping national and local institutions and specialized NGOs working on GBV aspects. The bank has organized on Thursday, October 11, 2018 at the World Bank office in Bangui a presentation of the projects and a discussion on the Bank's approach in preventing gender-based violence in specific project areas. UNOPS has attended the round table and has discussed their prevention measures and workplace strategies against GBV risks. Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM). A GRM has been established in relation with the execution of the Project. Complaints are collected by a community leader, and weekly and monthly evaluation are carried out by the UNOPS Project Team along with the Environmental and Social Department of the Ministry of Public Works and Road Maintenance (MTPER – Ministère des Travaux Publics et de l’Entretien Routier). Gender-based violence (GBV), Health and Safety are also parts of the evaluations carried out. The GRM also helped some Project Affected Persons (PAPs) to be compensated for the loss of some of their properties. This led to an update of the Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) to include the properties that had not been properly identified at the time compensation was defined. The MTPER has handled the case, and in-house experts have been commissioned for that purpose. At the date of the closing of the project, neither GBV incidents nor accidents on the site have been recorded. Institutional context for project implementation: The project was designed with a partnership between UNOPS and MINUSCA. In this partnership, MINUSCA was to rehabilitate the 330 km from Kaga Bandoro to Ndélé and UNOPS was to do the works and cantonnage . In practice, this has not worked well and MINUSCA had to focus on security activities instead of road works due to degradation of security situation in the area. As the complementarity between UNOPS and MINUSCA did not work, UNOPS had to change its mode of intervention to ensure a minimum of practicality of the road. Thus, UNOPS redeployed over the 330 km in addition to the construction of bridges and culverts it had to do. The small amount of the project and the significant cost of the HIMO's Bamingui bridge had weighed on the scope of the work, which was limited to the opening of the track. It is therefore a success to have been able to re-establish the traffic between Kaga Bandoro and Ndélé with so few resources. Unfortunately, the rains have damaged the road because as it did not have mechanized work before the intervention of the cantonage. Results achieved by the project: All objectives have been achieved in terms of physical achievement. Indeed, the project has led to the opening of 333 km of pistes, a 45 m bridge in Bamingui, a dalot in Mbrès. This infrastructure accounts for the bulk of the project's funding. To improve drainage, the project has rehabilitated the 330 km of runways by HIMO. Other projects achievements include: 12 rain barriers, 11 of which are in operation and 12 managers were recruited and trained in May 2018 by an expert from the project. A total of 3 women and 9 men were retained in this process. The payment of these rain barrier managers was ensured by the project during the rainy seasons for a salary at the daily rate of 2500 FCFA. The project has allowed the rehabilitation/reconstruction of 65 nozzles/dalots (out of 65) and 14 semi-permanent bridges (out of 14) are finalized. Security situation has negatively impacted the project. The project has been implemented under a security constraint, with the presence of a dozen armed group barriers on the Kaga Bandoro - Bamingui axis and the difficulties of MINUSCA in ensuring the security of the teams and logistics in the field. In conclusion: we can say that this is the first time since independence on CAR that the northern zone of the country has not been cut off from the rest of the country thanks to the construction of the 45 m metal bridge on the Bamingui and for one so small. Recommendation: We recommend that this Project/Experience be renewed in other landlocked areas of the Central African Republic to improve the population access to services (Education, Health, Markets and Connect people). Risks Overall Risk Rating Risk Category Rating at Approval Previous Rating Current Rating Overall -- High High 5. Results Project Development Objective Indicators 10/21/2019 Page 3 of 7 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Local connectivity emergency project (P157923) IN00726298 ►Direct project beneficiaries (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 37,000.00 37,000.00 37,000.00 Date 01-Mar-2016 12-Oct-2018 12-Oct-2018 30-Sep-2019 IN00726309 Female beneficiaries (Percentage, Custom Supplement) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 27.00 27.00 50.00 IN00726302 ►Average daily traffic (all types of vehicle included) (vehicle per day) (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 3.00 20.00 20.00 120.00 Date 01-Mar-2016 12-Oct-2018 12-Oct-2018 30-Sep-2019 IN00726299 ►Number of man-days created through the Labor Intensive Public Works activities (including share of man-days created for women) (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 100,830.00 100,830.00 75,000.00 Date 01-Mar-2016 12-Oct-2018 12-Oct-2018 30-Sep-2019 IN00726310 Share of man-days created for women (Percentage, Custom Supplement) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 27.00 27.00 33.00 Intermediate Results Indicators IN00726296 ►Number of bridges rehabilitated (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 12.00 12.00 13.00 Date 01-Mar-2016 12-Oct-2018 12-Oct-2018 30-Sep-2019 IN00726303 ►Number of bridges constructed (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target 10/21/2019 Page 4 of 7 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Local connectivity emergency project (P157923) Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.00 Date 01-Mar-2016 12-Oct-2018 12-Oct-2018 30-Sep-2019 IN00726297 ►Number of culverts rehabilitated (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 25.00 25.00 49.00 Date 01-Mar-2016 12-Oct-2018 12-Oct-2018 30-Sep-2019 IN00726300 ►Number of culverts constructed (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 57.00 57.00 57.00 Date 01-Mar-2016 12-Oct-2018 12-Oct-2018 30-Sep-2019 IN00726301 ►Number of ditches constructed (Meter(m), Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 63,000.00 63,000.00 200,000.00 Date 01-Mar-2016 12-Oct-2018 12-Oct-2018 30-Sep-2019 IN00726304 ►Number of rain barriers constructed (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 6.00 6.00 14.00 Date 01-Mar-2016 12-Oct-2018 12-Oct-2018 30-Sep-2019 IN00726307 ►Number of functioning rain barriers (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 12.00 12.00 14.00 Date 01-Mar-2016 12-Oct-2018 12-Oct-2018 30-Sep-2019 IN00726308 ►Number of kilometers of road maintained under the project (Kilometers, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 83.00 83.00 333.00 10/21/2019 Page 5 of 7 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Local connectivity emergency project (P157923) Date 01-Mar-2016 12-Oct-2018 12-Oct-2018 30-Sep-2019 IN00726305 ►Number of MINTP offices rehabilitated and re-equipped (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 Date 01-Mar-2016 12-Oct-2018 12-Oct-2018 30-Sep-2019 IN00726306 ►Number of technical assistance workshops delivered to MINTP (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 4.00 4.00 4.00 Date 01-Mar-2016 12-Oct-2018 12-Oct-2018 30-Sep-2019 Data on Financial Performance Disbursements (by loan) Project Loan/Credit/TF Status Currency Original Revised Cancelled Disbursed Undisbursed % Disbursed P157923 TF-A2340 Closed USD 4.90 4.90 0.00 4.90 0.00 100% Key Dates (by loan) Project Loan/Credit/TF Status Approval Date Signing Date Effectiveness Date Orig. Closing Date Rev. Closing Date P157923 TF-A2340 Closed 15-Apr-2016 15-Apr-2016 15-Apr-2016 30-Sep-2019 30-Sep-2019 Cumulative Disbursements 10/21/2019 Page 6 of 7 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Local connectivity emergency project (P157923) Restructuring History Level 2 Approved on 15-Jan-2018 Related Project(s) There are no related projects. 10/21/2019 Page 7 of 7