PROJECT INFORMATION DOCUMENT (PID) APPRAISAL STAGE Report No.: PIDA1391 Public Disclosure Copy Project Name Enhancing the Climate Resilience of Coastal Resources and Communities (P126596) Region EAST ASIA AND PACIFIC Country Samoa Sector(s) General agriculture, fishing and forestry sector (100%) Theme(s) Climate change (100%) Lending Instrument Specific Investment Loan Project ID P126596 Borrower(s) Ministry of Finance Implementing Agency Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Environmental Category B-Partial Assessment Date PID Prepared/Updated 24-Sep-2013 Date PID Approved/Disclosed 25-Sep-2013 Estimated Date of Appraisal 04-Oct-2013 Completion Estimated Date of Board 13-Dec-2013 Approval Decision Public Disclosure Copy I. Project Context Country Context Samoa is a small somewhat remote island economy comprising four inhabited islands with a population of about 181,000 (2006 Census). It is one of the world's 48 Least Developed Countries (LDCs) with a GDP per capita of around US$2,700. As a small open economy, Samoa is highly vulnerable to global economic shocks. Seventy percent of Samoa#s population lives within 1 km of the coast and critical infrastructure (e. g. hospitals, schools, port facilities, power plants, airports, tourist infrastructure) is also located in this zone. Approximately 80 per cent of the 403 km coastline is sensitive or highly sensitive to erosion, flooding or landslip. Thus weather- and climate-related extreme events (e.g. tropical cyclones, storm surges, droughts) and natural disasters threaten Samoa#s development. Rapid economic and urban growth is predominantly in coastal areas thus further increasing the exposure of people and assets to climate-related hazards. Impacts of tropical cyclones are of on-going and immediate concern as they exacerbate coastal erosion, endanger life and well-being, and adversely impact upon infrastructure, agriculture, reefs, fishing and tourism. Sectoral and institutional Context Page 1 of 4 Samoa's Second National Communication to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change reports best estimates of long term, systematic changes in the future climate for Samoa. They indicate that by 2050 sea level is likely to have increased by 36 cm,rainfall by 1.2 Public Disclosure Copy percent, extreme wind gusts by 7 percent and maximum temperatures by 0.7 C. The observed long- term trend in relative sea level for Apia is 5.2 mm/yr. But maximum hourly sea level is increasing by approximately 8 mm/yr, a rate far in excess of the observed local and global trends in mean sea level. Sea-level rise will negatively and incrementally impact Samoa through events such as flooding, coastal erosion and damage to coastal infrastructure. Whilst the effects of sea-level rise are incremental over time, climate change projections also indicate an increase in the nature, spatial distribution, intensity and frequency of extreme events (e.g. tropical cyclones, storm surges, droughts, heavy rainfall events) increasing damage, and the costs and frequency of repairs. One of the key lessons from the Economics of Adaptation to Climate Change (EACC) Samoan country study is that extreme weather variability in the coastal zone will lead to large costs, whether they be in the form of hard coastal protection measures and continued road (and other infrastructure) replacement, or the costs associated with relocation. The study concluded that, in the longer term, relocation of certain assets, and whole villages in some cases, must be seen as the most sustainable longer-term option as it has the potential to pull economic activity, such as tourism, agriculture and other village-based enterprises away from the coast. The government's response to these risks and vulnerabilities was to embark on a program, which began in 1999 with support from the World Bank, to develop a strategy for participatory management of coastal infrastructure, integrating environmental and storm hazard considerations, priority investments in coastal protection, and the updating of information and maps. Through the Samoa Infrastructure Asset Management Project (SIAM) I and II, a Coastal Infrastructure Management (CIM) Strategy, a national level policy, was developed, and CIM Plans were prepared Public Disclosure Copy for each of the 41 districts (283 villages) in the country. To date, very few CIM Plans have been implemented, partly due to lack of finance and partly because of limited human capacity. One of the key recommendations of the EACC study was CIM plan implementation, including a review of the scope of CIM plans and prioritization of actions within them. This will be the focus of the proposed project. II. Proposed Development Objectives The project development objective is to support coastal communities to become more resilient to climate variability and change. III. Project Description Component Name Implementation of Priority Adaptation Measures to Manage Climate and Disaster-related Threats Comments (optional) This component will strengthen the adaptive capacity of communities, and increase the resilience of coastlines and near shore areas as well as coral reefs. Component Name Strengthened Climate Information Services Comments (optional) Page 2 of 4 This component will strengthen the provision of climate and other relevant data and information including activities to increase public awareness of and provide data on climate change. Public Disclosure Copy Component Name Institutional strengthening for climate and disaster resilience, project coordination and monitoring Comments (optional) This component will finance project management and technical support activities under components 1 and 2 and provide the Institutional Framework to address climate and disaster resilience. IV. Financing (in USD Million) Total Project Cost: 14.60 Total Bank Financing: 0.00 Financing Gap: 0.00 For Loans/Credits/Others Amount Borrower 0.00 Strategic Climate Fund Grant 14.60 Total 14.60 V. Implementation A Project Coordination Unit (PCU) will be established within the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE)-Planning and Urban Management Agency (PUMA). This unit will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the project. It is envisioned that over time, the PCU could be expanded to provide a common administration and operational platform through which all funding and support for climate and disaster resilience could be efficiently managed. The existing PPCR Steering Committee will be responsible for providing policy guidance and oversight of project implementation. Regular meetings will be held every six months or more often as needed. Implementation of specific activities will be undertaken by the relevant line ministries while Civil Public Disclosure Copy Society Organizations would assist communities with the design and implementation of small projects. VI. Safeguard Policies (including public consultation) Safeguard Policies Triggered by the Project Yes No Environmental Assessment OP/BP 4.01 ✖ Natural Habitats OP/BP 4.04 ✖ Forests OP/BP 4.36 ✖ Pest Management OP 4.09 ✖ Physical Cultural Resources OP/BP 4.11 ✖ Indigenous Peoples OP/BP 4.10 ✖ Involuntary Resettlement OP/BP 4.12 ✖ Safety of Dams OP/BP 4.37 ✖ Projects on International Waterways OP/BP 7.50 ✖ Projects in Disputed Areas OP/BP 7.60 ✖ Comments (optional) Page 3 of 4 VII. Contact point World Bank Contact: Samuel G. Wedderburn Public Disclosure Copy Title: Sr Natural Resources Mgmt. Spec. Tel: 473-0443 Email: swedderburn@worldbank.org Borrower/Client/Recipient Name: Ministry of Finance Contact: Litara Taulealo Title: Program Coordinator Tel: Email: litara.tauleaolo@mof.gov.ws Implementing Agencies Name: Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Contact: Taulealeausumai Laavasa Malua Title: CEO Tel: (685) 22-481 Email: taulealea.malua@mnre.gov.ws VIII. For more information contact: The InfoShop The World Bank 1818 H Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20433 Telephone: (202) 458-4500 Fax: (202) 522-1500 Web: http://www.worldbank.org/infoshop Public Disclosure Copy Page 4 of 4