The World Bank Report No: ISR9967 Implementation Status & Results Afghanistan National Solidarity Program III (P117103) Public Disclosure Copy Operation Name: National Solidarity Program III (P117103) Project Stage: Implementation Seq.No: 6 Status: ARCHIVED Archive Date: 29-Apr-2013 Country: Afghanistan Approval FY: 2010 Product Line: IBRD/IDA Region: SOUTH ASIA Lending Instrument: Specific Investment Loan Implementing Agency(ies): Key Dates Board Approval Date 29-Jun-2010 Original Closing Date 30-Sep-2015 Planned Mid Term Review Date 30-Sep-2012 Last Archived ISR Date 18-Oct-2012 Effectiveness Date 06-Oct-2010 Revised Closing Date 30-Sep-2015 Actual Mid Term Review Date 16-Jun-2013 Project Development Objectives Project Development Objective (from Project Appraisal Document) To build, strengthen, and maintain Community Development Councils (CDCs) as effective institutions for local governance and social-economic development. Has the Project Development Objective been changed since Board Approval of the Project? Yes No Component(s) Component Name Component Cost Capacity Building of CDCs 291.00 Community Grants for Economic and Social Development 1093.00 Project Implementation Support 122.00 Overall Ratings Previous Rating Current Rating Moderately Satisfactory Satisfactory Public Disclosure Copy Progress towards achievement of PDO Overall Implementation Progress (IP) Moderately Satisfactory Satisfactory Overall Risk Rating Substantial Implementation Status Overview This Implementation Status Report (ISR) is based on the findings of the last Implementation Support Mission (ISM) for the Third National Solidarity Project (NSP III), which took place from January 6 - 20, 2013. Overall, the project implementation has remarkably improved, since the last ISM of July 2012. The project fully recovered the lost implementation momentum observed during the last ISM, mainly due to the deliberate efforts of the management to implement the agreed action plan; the arrival of a new Financial Management Agent (FMA) to handle project finances; and a close follow up by the Bank team. MRRD/NSP has done a commendable job of contracting Facilitating Partners (FPs). As of January 11, 2013, a total of 33 FP contracts for 10,004 new roll out and 35 FP contracts for Page 1 of 9 The World Bank Report No: ISR9967 11,556 repeater block grant communities under NSP III, valued at US$113.9 million and US$131.3 million respectively, had been signed. This brought the total value of existing FP contracts under NSP III to US$245.2 million. In addition, there were 17 FP contracts for 5,583 roll out communities and a few for 577 repeater block grant communities that were signed in February 2013. This brought the total number of new roll out to 15,587 communities and that for repeater block grants to 12,133 communities. Therefore, the overall NSP III target of reaching 27,720 communities under NSP III has been achieved. MRRD/NSP focus is now shifting towards supporting CDCs to implement their sub-projects and providing Public Disclosure Copy the much needed block grants. The total coverage of NSP since its inception in 2003 has now reached 38,300 first block grants communities and 12,133 repeater block grants communities. The remaining 2,400 new roll out communities cannot be covered under NSP III, since they are located in high or extremely insecure areas. The project also continued with the mobilization and capacity building in 10,222 new roll out and 4,371 repeater block grants communities. As of January 11, 2013, about 14,502 new CDCs had been elected/re-elected; 13,779 Community Development Plans (CDPs) prepared; approximately 22,304 sub-projects approved; and 20,910 sub-projects financed. This brought the cumulative number of communities mobilized by NSP since its inception to 34,724; sub-projects financed to 68,112; communities that have received the first block grant to 32,671 (approximately 80 percent) out of the estimated 40,700 communities estimated to exist in Afghanistan. The cumulative committed block grants amounted to US$1,187 million. Out of this, NSP had disbursed about US$1,120 million, of which US$774 million had been spent. Progress has also been made in addressing transition and sustainability issues facing the program. MRRD/NSP management has actively participated in consultations with the Bank’s consultants on the transition and sustainability studies. These are critical for the future design of NSP, particularly with regards to its management structure, rural infrastructure delivery system, local community institutions, and size of grants. In January 2013, the Bank received MRRD/NSP comments on draft reports for the transition of CDCs into interim Village Councils (VCs), and the operations and maintenance (O&M) implications of NSP funded rural infrastructure. A stakeholders’ workshop was held on March 19, 2013 to discuss the reports with a wider audience. A draft Policy Paper and Regulations on local governance (district and village levels) has been prepared in collaboration with Agriculture and Rural Development cluster and the Independent Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG) for the Cabinet consideration. In view of the above impressive achievements, and the fact that most of the actions agreed during the last ISM have been satisfactorily implemented, the overall project implementation and progress towards achieving the project development objective (PDO) ratings have been upgraded from Moderately Satisfactory to full Satisfactory. The Bank would like to see that this implementation momentum is sustained to the end of project. Locations No Location data has been entered Results Project Development Objective Indicators Indicator Name Core Unit of Measure Baseline Current End Target Minimum of 70% sampled communities Text Value 22,513 CDCs elected. 95% 70% recognize CDCs as the legitimate institution Public Disclosure Copy Date 30-Sep-2011 11-Jan-2013 and respresentative of communities Comments Actual value achieved on According to the M&E completion of NSPII sampled community report, about 95% of the CDCs recognized their CDCs as the representative in decision makingand development of their communities Page 2 of 9 The World Bank Report No: ISR9967 Minimum of 60% of CDCs perform their Text Value 0 67% 60% functional mandates in the areas of community Date 10-Jun-2010 11-Jan-2013 development and coordination, project Comments To be determined using the According to the quarterly implementation and conflict resolution Public Disclosure Copy CDC sustainability study and post implementation post implementation monitoring (PIM) report, about monitoring 69% (267 out of 387 sampled ) CDCs performed their functional mandates, such as conducting CDC meeting, sharing of information, linkages, successful completion of sub- projects, conflictresolution and so forth Minimum 70% of sampled women Text Value Of the existing 17,400 CDCs, 77% 70% representatives in the CDCs participate in approx. 34,800 subprojects decision-making related to community have been completed. development activities For new CDCs the baseline is 0. Date 10-Jun-2010 11-Jan-2013 Comments To be measured using According to the quarterly sampled CDCs during post post implementation implementation monitoring monitoring (PIM) report, about 77% of female CDCs participated in decision makings related to community development activities (mainly identification of their priority problems/needs as well as selection of sub projects) Minimum of 70% of sampled communities have Text Value Of the existing 17,400 CDCs, 76% improved access to services. approx.34,800 subprojects Public Disclosure Copy have been completed. For new CDCs the baseline is 0. Date 10-Jun-2010 11-Jan-2013 Comments To be measured using According to the quarterly sampled CDCs during post post implementation implementation monitoring monitoring (PIM) report, about 76% of the communities have access to services, such as Page 3 of 9 The World Bank Report No: ISR9967 irrigation, power, transport and water supply sectors At least 50% of total beneficiaries are female Text Value 19 million from NSP I & II 47% 25 Million (2003-2010) Public Disclosure Copy Date 10-Jun-2010 11-Jan-2013 Comments According to the quarterly post implementation monitoring (PIM) report, about 47% of NSP total beneficiaries are female in both newroll-out (NR) and repeater block grants (RBG) communities Intermediate Results Indicators Indicator Name Core Unit of Measure Baseline Current End Target Minimum of 80% of CDCs have new elections Text Value 22,513 CDCs elected through 97% 80% for leadership through democratice election democrative processes and secret ballot at the appropriate time. Date 30-Sep-2011 11-Jan-2013 Comments Actual value achieved on According to the quarterly IM completion of NSPII report, in 97% of mobilized communities, the CDCs elections were conducted according to NSP mandated procedures 90% of CDCs have been trained on core and Text Value Under NSP I&II, 22,000 CDCs 74% 90% second phase training topics were trained in core topics. For new and 2nd phase training the baseline is 0 Date 10-Jun-2010 11-Jan-2013 Comments According to the quarterly IM Public Disclosure Copy report, about 74% of elected CDCs trained as per NSP Operations Manual and training packages by FPs Minimum of 30% of sampled CDCs attempt to Text Value No information reported on 48% with government 30% form linkages with government and non- this baseline indicator yet. agencies and 76% with government actors. international NGOs Date 11-Jan-2013 Page 4 of 9 The World Bank Report No: ISR9967 Comments 500 randomly selected CDCs According to the quarterly formed the baseline PIM report, about 48% of CDCs formed linkages with government authorities and Public Disclosure Copy 76% of CDCs formed linkages with I/NGOs and other development actors 35% of CDC members nationally are women Text Value 38% under NSP I and II 38% Date 10-Jun-2010 01-Feb-2012 Comments According to the quarterly implementation monitoring (IM) report, about 38% of CDC members are female in both NSP III NR and RBG communities Minimum of 60% of eligible CDCs have Text Value 0 71% 60% Community Participatory Monitoring teams Date 10-Jun-2010 11-Jan-2013 functioning Comments To be monitored quarterly by According to the quarterly M&E teams community participatory monitoring (CPM) report, out of total 7,464 CPM teams established, 71% (5,277) of them are functioning and monitor their sub projects Min. of 80% of new CDCs complete their CDPs Text Value 0 97% 80% according to NSP principles and operational Date 11-Jan-2013 guidelines. Comments According to the MIS, about 97% of CDCs completed their CDPs according to NSP principles At least one subproject completed by 80% of Text Value 0 51% 80% Public Disclosure Copy new CDCs. Date 10-Jun-2010 11-Jan-2013 Comments According to the MIS, out of financed sub-projects in new established CDCs (10,103), 51% of these CDCs successfully completed at least one sub-project Page 5 of 9 The World Bank Report No: ISR9967 Min. of 70% of sampled infrastructure Text Value 0 79% 70% subprojects in new communities are functional Date 11-Jan-2013 and used by communities one year after Comments According to the quarterly completion Public Disclosure Copy PIM, about 79% of the sampled infrastructure sub-projects are functional and are used by communities Of the eligible CDCs, min. of 70% of CDPs Text Value 22,456 CDPs developed 86% 70% revised and completed Date 30-Sep-2011 11-Jan-2013 Comments Actual value achieved on According to the MIS, about completion of NSPII 86% of CDCs revised and completed their CDPs according to NSP operation guidelines At least one subproject completed by 70% of Text Value 0 0% 70% eligible CDCs with repeater block grant Date 10-Jun-2010 11-Jan-2013 Comments According to the MIS, out of 4,043 sub-projects financed under RBG, no CDC had completed at least one sub- project Min. of 75% of sampled infrastructure Text Value For NSP I & II 85% of 0% 75% subprojects with repeater BG are functional sampled sub-projects were and used by communities one year after functional and used. completion Date 10-Jun-2010 11-Jan-2013 Comments According to the MIS, out of 4,043 sub-projects financed under RBG, no CDC had completed, functional and used by coomunities Min. of 70% of sampeld CDCs conduct social Text Value Social audit meetings were N/A 70% Public Disclosure Copy audit meetings added as an enhanced feature of NSP III, therefore baseline value is 0 Date 10-Jun-2010 11-Jan-2013 Comments This indicator will be updated when the new monitoring forms are launched 70% of sampled communities satisfied with FP Text Value 0 95% 70% performance Date 10-Jun-2010 11-Jan-2013 Page 6 of 9 The World Bank Report No: ISR9967 Comments According to the quarterly IM, The impact evaluation report, about 95% of CDCs were Implementation Monitoring satisfied with the performance and Post Imp. Monitoring of the FPs at their reports will establish Public Disclosure Copy communities satisfaction with FP performance. 80% of complaints processed by NSP using Text Value System was not developed at N/A 80% agreed service standards time of baseline data collection Date 11-Jan-2013 Comments The Grievance Handling Mechanism has been established and a number of complaints have been received from communities and are being addressed. A report will be made available to the Bank at MTR One annual NSP progress report produced Text Value No annual reports 0% 1 Date 10-Jun-2010 11-Jan-2013 Comments So far, no annual report has been produced, but the quarterly reports are produced regularly 90% of FP invoices paid in accordance with Text Value 75% 60% 90% contractual timetable Date 10-Jun-2010 11-Jan-2013 Comments There are still significant delays in paying FPs, particularly from bilateral funds Public Disclosure Copy Data on Financial Performance (as of 10-Apr-2013) Financial Agreement(s) Key Dates Project Ln/Cr/Tf Status Approval Date Signing Date Effectiveness Date Original Closing Date Revised Closing Date P117103 IDA-H6030 Effective 29-Jun-2010 10-Aug-2010 06-Oct-2010 30-Sep-2015 30-Sep-2015 P117103 TF-98459 Effective 24-Jan-2011 24-Jan-2011 24-Jan-2011 30-Sep-2015 30-Sep-2015 Disbursements (in Millions) Project Ln/Cr/Tf Status Currency Original Revised Cancelled Disbursed Undisbursed % Disbursed Page 7 of 9 The World Bank Report No: ISR9967 P117103 IDA-H6030 Effective USD 40.00 40.00 0.00 40.33 1.63 101.00 P117103 TF-98459 Effective USD 250.00 750.00 0.00 428.42 321.58 57.00 Public Disclosure Copy Disbursement Graph Key Decisions Regarding Implementation To maintain the satisfactory project implementation performance, MRRD/NSP management need pay attention to the following most critical agreed actions: (i) Collaborating with the Bank team to oversee the preparation and ensure wider consultations on the four transition and sustainability studies (O&M of sub-projects, transition of CDCs into VCs, linkages of VCs to sub-national governance, and institutional options study) of NSP beyond the 2014, which are critical inputs to the MTR for NSP III, so that they are completed by May 31, 2013; (ii) Carrying out a stocktaking exercise to document lessons-learned from the implementation of the Cluster CDCs pilot by April 30, 2013 to inform the MTR; and completing the impact evaluation of Cluster CDCs by the JSDF closing date of December 30, 2013; Public Disclosure Copy (iii) Developing and translating the CDCs training modules for the community empowerment (rural appraisal/assessment and community development planning skills/techniques), conflict transformation, project design and management, and linkages to other development and governance actors by October 31, 2013; (iv) Ensuring that NSP increasingly use the services of the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (WATSAN) program for water supply and sanitation sub-projects; and the National Rural Access Project (NRAP) for NSP rural road/transport construction projects; (v) Hiring a firm to carry out Human Resources (HR) audit to physically verify NSP staff and their duty stations; and review the HR systems and processes by December 20, 2013; (vi) Ensuring that all land transfers to CDCs either through outright purchase or donation are properly documented at the village level and/or registered at district level; and (vii) Re-advertising the two Gender Officer positions, which were recently filled with newly recruited staff, who do not possess qualifications and experience needed for the job. Restructuring History There has been no restructuring to date. Page 8 of 9 The World Bank Report No: ISR9967 Related Projects There are no related projects. Public Disclosure Copy Public Disclosure Copy Page 9 of 9