92219 2013 Volume 2 Results in the Latin America & Caribbean Region Results in the Latin America & Caribbean Region inside front cover PAGE 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 Foreword 44 Disaster Risk Management in Guatemala 2 Renewable Energy in Rural Argentina 48 Haiti Rebuilds its Schools 6 Flood Prevention in Buenos Aires 52 Haitian Girls Learn New Skills 10 Bolivian Municipality Improves Education 57 Haiti Improves Transparency and Accountability 14 Brazil Protects the Amazon 60 Reducing Vulnerabilities in Honduras 18 Sustainable Agricultural Practices in Rio de Janeiro 65 Jamaica Enhances Fiscal Sustainability 23 Ceará Boosts Growth 69 Mexico Strengthens its Financial Resilience 26 Colombia Strengthens Its Financial Sector Resilience 73 Saint Lucia Reduces Vulnerability 30 Improving Public Sector Accounting Practices in Colombia 77 Conserving Uruguay’s Natural Grasslands 34 Accessible and Quality Education for Young Children in 82 Biosafety in Action the Dominican Republic 38 Conditional Cash Transfers and Subsidies in the Dominican Republic PAGE 2 PAGE 3 FOREWORD Delivering on results is key to achieving our Latin America and Caribbean Strat- egy. This publication presents some of the recent results achieved by the World Bank Group, our clients, and our partners in the Latin America and Caribbean Re- gion. The stories reflect our effort to help clients solve their development challenges quickly and effectively by providing a suite of financing, advisory and convening services. This is a way to demonstrate results in increasing opportunities for all citizens in key development areas, share them with other countries facing similar challenges, and learn from them to innovate and improve further actions. Hasan A. Tuluy Vice President Latin America and Caribbean Region. World Bank PAGE 1 of the project design. The project delivery mecha- Argentina Around 2.5 million nism was amended so as to incorporate greater people lived in dispersed flexibility on private and public technological and institutional options. rural areas with no Renewable Energy in access to electricity. Rural Argentina Results The project focused on the rural poor and promoted renewable energy systems, the project’s Global Supporting Sustainable Business Operations for Electricity Supply Environment Facility (GEF) component helped the development of environmentally sustainable remove barriers (information, high initial costs and renewable energy. The project’s main achievement Argentina has delivered renewable energy services to more than 27,000 low institutional weaknesses) to the development of was the establishment of a national sustainable income households located in dispersed rural areas of fifteen provinces, while renewable energy and reduction of greenhouse gas and replicable delivery model for renewable emissions. The project facilitated the installation energy based on a strong partnership between the establishing a sustainable and flexible concessions delivery model. of: federal and provincial Governments. This model • Solar home systems in dispersed rural house- is helping to reduce poverty, improve the quality of Challenge capability and weak regulatory agencies. holds. life of thousands of rural households, and enhance By the late 1990s, Argentina had made important • Around 2.5 million people lived in dispersed • Small off-grid electricity generating units based education and other public services. Key project progress in developing a competitive electricity rural areas with no access to electricity. mostly on solar. outcomes were: market. The power sector had been unbundled • Small wind turbines and mini-hydro plants in • Installation of 21,000 solar home systems for and a well functioning regulatory system was villages. households in remote rural areas. Solution established together with a privatization process. • Renewable energy systems to provide electric- • Installation of 2,100 solar home systems for The Renewable Energy in the Rural Market Project These measures, however, were largely oriented to ity to provincial public institutions (schools, schools, medical centers and other public supported the provision of reliable electricity ser- benefit the urban population. There was much yet medical centers, etc.). buildings. vices in dispersed and poor areas using renewable to be done to address the needs of the poor rural energy technologies, establishing for such purpose population. The main challenges were: a nationwide delivery model of concessionaries During the first years of implementation, the Reduction of greenhouse project faced an unexpected severe economic • Providing electricity in dispersed areas implied and strengthening provincial regulatory agencies. emissions by 3,200 tons crisis, characterized by sustained fiscal austerity high investment costs. By replacing diesel electricity generation and the and reduced budgets. This challenge delayed the of CO2 equivalent. • Provincial Governments had limited financial use of candles, kerosene and gas cylinders with project’s implementation and called for a revision PAGE 2 PAGE 3 • Provision of mini-grids to 2,400 households. crisis of the early 2000s. The original project had sustainability of this effort relies on a strengthened • Installation of 410 solar thermal applications established a positive track record and there was regulatory framework that provides the right (mostly water heating) in schools. a high and growing demand for its rural access incentives through cost-based tariffs and subsidies • Installation of 3,600 kW in solar home systems outputs. and an effective operation and maintenance. These and 1,050 in wind home systems. challenges are being addressed based on the good • Reduction of greenhouse emissions by 3,200 Partners experience of those provinces that had earlier tons of CO2 equivalent. The Bank and the Global Environment Facility reached the operational stage. Given the positive • Fourteen operators (concessionaires), public (GEF) supported the Secretariat of Energy and its project outcomes and the increased demand for its and private, working under the project. coordinating unit in the design and implementation services, the Government is working on a follow-up of the project. A strong partnership was built during operation that will guarantee continuity and further World Bank Group Contribution implementation among the Bank, the Federal institutional strengthening. The project originally comprised a Bank loan for Government and Governments of fifteen provinces US$30 million plus a GEF grant (US$10 million that shared funding and implementation responsi- Beneficiaries equivalent, approved in March 1999) to cover bilities. The project provided reliable electricity to more investment costs and technical assistance. A second than 27,000 rural low-income households (around Bank loan for US$50 million was approved in 100,000 people in fifteen provinces) who did not Moving Forward 2008, once the country had recovered from the have access to any modern or efficient source of The project has succeeded in installing renewable energy systems for thousands of households. The energy. The project also delivered renewable energy services (water pumping, hot water) to about 3,000 public buildings, mostly schools. In doing The Government is so, provincial regulatory agencies and private and working on a follow-up public concessionaires have been strengthened. The project also provided global benefits through the operation that will reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, although on guarantee continuity a relatively limited scale. and further institutional strengthening. PAGE 4 PAGE 5 Solution Results Argentina The Urban Flood Prevention and Drainage Project The successful implementation of this integrated increased the city’s resilience to flooding through approach provides an example of a good practice an integrated approach combining structural and for other large infrastructure projects. Key results Flood Prevention in non-structural measures. The project financed the included: Buenos Aires construction of two critical drainage tunnels to improve the functioning of the Maldonado Basin • Construction of two drainage tunnels, 9.8km and 4.6 km in length and 6 meters inner diam- Protecting Critical Infrastructure with Flood Risk Management drainage system. eter, directly benefitting more than 300,000 people by reducing the intensity and frequency The quality of the Bank’s technical support, the of flooding in the Maldonado Basin. Buenos Aires has successfully carried out very complex public works unprecedent- appointment of an independent panel of experts, • Improvement of the drainage capacity of the ed in the country. This project consisted of two drainage tunnels, 9.8 kilometers and the contracting of a technical supervisor Maldonado Basin and reduction in material long and 4.6 kilometers long, and 6 meters inner diameter. The project is directly losses of inhabitants, compared to previous contributed greatly to the technical quality of benefitting over 300,000 people by reducing the intensity and frequency of flood- years and other basins. these complex works. The project provided the ing in the Maldonado Basin. The city Government is also equipped with a hydraulic • Development of a hydraulic plan to implement city Government with a toolkit of vulnerability and plan for an integrated approach to flood prevention. risk analysis mechanisms to enable the design of an integrated approach to flood prevention an integrated flood management program for the within the city, indirectly benefitting 1.5 million wider city. people. Challenge in the city, flood recurrence has historically been • Equipping the city Government with capacity Flooding is a regular occurrence in Buenos Aires, especially problematic in the area around the and tools for planning and identifying future reducing the quality of life, causing damage to former Maldonado Creek, which covers a central The project financed investments and non-structural interventions. property, and posing public health risks. Due to area of the city and is home to one third of the the construction of • Development of technical capacity to plan, the combined effects of modified precipitation city’s population. In 2004, the Maldonado basin two critical drainage design, and mathematically simulate the city’s patterns, hydrological consequences of urbaniza- overflowed almost annually, clogging the city’s tion, and the volume of solid waste in the streets, drainage system and causing flooding at significant tunnels to improve drainage system. the city’s drainage capacity has not kept up with its cost both to its inhabitants and to commuters. the functioning of the • A strongly engaged implementing agency in planning the operational phase of the works growth. The resulting costs are especially severe Maldonado Basin and identifying opportunities for replication in as Buenos Aires is a significant engine for growth drainage system. other basins. in the country. Among the several drainage basins PAGE 6 PAGE 7 Photo by: Gobierno de la Ciudad Autonoma de Buenos Aires Photo by: Gobierno de la Ciudad Autonoma de Buenos Aires World Bank Group Contribution Moving Forward funds. Buenos Aires is well-equipped to carry out testimonies from Buenos Aires inhabitants clearly The city of Buenos Aires contributed US$59 The Project significantly improved the city’s ability the operation and maintenance of the project’s indicate that while flooding was significant in other million, and the World Bank (IBRD) contributed to plan and implement investments of this scale completed investments. parts of the city, flooding in the project area was not US$130 million. and complexity, giving the Government the track significant and only found in some areas. record and vision to undertake the necessary Beneficiaries Partners resource mobilization for future works. Armed During the intense rainfall events in March, The Project Implementation Unit was the Unidad with the planning tools developed by the project’s November and December 2012 (of which the de Proyecto Especial para el Arroyo Maldonado non-structural investments, the Government has December 2012 rains were equivalent to a 50 to (UPEAM), housed within the Ministry of Urban developed investment plans for the remainder of 100-year event, with rainfall of 177mm in some Development in the City of Buenos Aires. the basins in the city and is actively looking for areas), repeated press coverage and eyewitness PAGE 8 PAGE 9 ress in expanding access to primary education and grants benefitting several schools within a building. BOLIVIA improving the rates of enrollment and completion. Results By March 2013, the project contributed the follow- Bolivian Municipality Improves Solution With Bank support, the Secondary Education ing results: Education Transformation Project used a multi-faceted approach. To increase access, the project financed • In 19 school buildings (four new, three reconstructed, and twelve existing), 15,840 Building Infrastructure and Improving Teaching and Management the construction and renovation of school buildings additional secondary school places were added. in areas with large percentages of out-of-school The new schools were fully functioning with youth and overcrowded classrooms. To improve teaching and administrative staff by project The municipality of La Paz, Bolivia, supported by the World Bank, increased access completion. retention in secondary schools, it financed an and improved retention in secondary education for over 10,000 students at risk • The project improved science and computer incentive program for students at risk of dropping of dropping out. The municipality constructed and renovated 240 classrooms labs, libraries, recreational areas, multipurpose out, providing teacher training and support to and improved the quality and relevance of primary and secondary education by students. To improve quality, the project renovated rooms, sanitary blocks, and administrative strengthening decentralized education management, supplying learning materials, classrooms, created labs and recreational areas, areas. and supporting teacher training and provided relevant learning materials. • The Center for High Educational Performance in San Antonio, fully equipped and staffed, In collaboration with universities, municipal is providing pedagogical support to around Challenge secondary, and night). In secondary education, departments, and the Municipal Training Center, Rising population pressures have resulted in quality was low and drop-out and repetition rates the project developed and implemented a post- The project improved increasing demands for secondary education across were high. graduate degree program in civic values for teach- science and computer Bolivia. In La Paz, the municipal Government faced ers. Participating teachers worked on classroom labs, libraries, a number of challenges. Net primary enrollment In 1994, amid significant education challenges, projects and school fairs to apply the training and had increased significantly during the previous Bolivia passed the Primary Education Reform Law deliver it innovatively. To strengthen decentralized recreational areas, decade, raising the demand for secondary educa- and Popular Participation Law. Both laws promoted education management, the project supported multipurpose rooms, tion. The results were overcrowding and an increase decentralization in the education system and placed the establishment of school management teams sanitary blocks, and in the student/teacher ratio. School buildings were responsibility for infrastructure and supplies with to identify school improvement priorities, which administrative areas. housing up to four schools (pre-primary, primary, the municipalities. By 2005, Bolivia had made prog- were financed through school improvement project PAGE 10 PAGE 11 11,000 teachers, community members, and In addition, the municipal education budget has and other municipal departments, to elaborate and tional Performance between 2009-2011: 7,871 students. increased over the last four years. Preventive main- teach the curriculum of the post-graduate degree. • Beneficiaries using the Center for High • Teacher training materials for the Incentive tenance of school buildings is now mainstreamed Educational Performance during 2012: 3,105, Program for At Risk Students were developed into the municipality’s regular work. The Center of these, 1,725 were teachers. Moving Forward and made available; 156 teachers were trained for High Educational Performance model was • Teachers and principals receiving the Civic The municipality is launching competitions and 10,131 students have already benefitted. replicated, with two additional centers in Cotahuma Values post-graduate diploma: 503. (“concursos”) under the “my school, my second The project also completed and deposited a and Periférica, financed by the municipality. • Teachers and principals trained under the Civic home” program, to reward schools that properly physical and digital archive for future use. Values Program by their peers: 1,564. maintain their infrastructure. The school manage- • The post-graduate degree program for civic • Students participating in the activities of the World Bank Group Contribution ment teams are being transformed into productive values has reached over 80,000 secondary Civic Values Program: 81,500. The project was financed by a Bank credit in groups that manage the goods acquired through students through activities. The program’s • Parents trained: 5,600. the amount of US$10 million which was fully the school improvement projects. The municipality materials are ready for future use. • School councils participating in the Civic disbursed. will continue to use the Civic Values Program • The strengthened decentralized management Values Program: 2,068. methodology to train primary teachers. Changes in capacity resulted in (i) 113 school management pedagogy, incorporated in schools and the civic- Partners teams, (ii) 92 school improvement projects, (iii) values content, are also integrated into ongoing The project, through the Directorate of Education, regulations for school maintenance roles and municipal programs (Operación Cole). collaborated with the Municipal Training Center responsibilities developed and used; provision to elaborate training materials for the Incentive of equipment and furniture for the Directorate of Education and training of staff to monitor, Program and to deliver the training. For the Civic Beneficiaries Values Program, the project collaborated with By March 2013: manage and evaluate project activities; and the Plurnational School of Public Administration • Students enrolled in seven new and recon- municipal information system strengthened. (Escuela de Gestión Pública Plurinacional), the structed schools: 6,311. Bolivian Salesian University (Universidad Salesi- • Secondary students benefiting from the incen- ana Boliviana), the San Pablo Bolivarian Catholic tive program: 10,131. 6,311 students enrolled University (Universidad Católica Bolivariana San • Teachers trained under the incentive program: Pablo), the Departmental and district offices, the in seven new and 156. United Nations Population Fund, the Women’s De- • Beneficiaries from 50 primary and secondary reconstructed schools. velopment Center, the Municipal Training Center schools visiting the Center for High Educa- PAGE 12 PAGE 13 Investments have traditionally supported extractive site managers, and a “protection plan” requirement BRAZIL and indigenous reserves, sustainable development to enhance enforcement and strengthen partner- projects, state and municipal development plans, ships with the environmental law agencies. and the development of ecological corridors. Brazil Protects the Amazon However, projects have paid little attention to strict ARPA was designed as a phased 10-year program. protection, which is the foundation for sustainable The first phase included specific milestones before reversing the rate of deforestation and increasing the size of protected areas development and ecological integrity. implementing the second phase. These milestones were (i) the creation of a minimum of 9 million hectares of new protected areas, (ii) consolidation With support from the World Bank’s Global Environment Facility (GEF), the Solution of 4 million hectares of strict protection areas, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the German Development Bank (KfW), Brazil The Amazon Regional Protected Areas (ARPA) and (iii) the establishment of an endowment is reversing the rate of deforestation and increasing the number of hectares in Program addresses deforestation by expanding fund, which is capitalized and meets performance protected areas in the Amazon basin, balancing conservation goals and the demand and consolidating areas under strict protection. benchmarks. for natural resources. After reaching a new low rate of deforestation of 11.7 percent, With origins in Brazil’s commitment to reduce the program is earning worldwide recognition. deforestation rates, ARPA is working to increase the total area under strict supervision to 10 percent Results of Brazil’s Amazon basin.This means adding By the implementation of the second phase, ARPA’s Challenge sheds, and overexploitation of wildlife and fisheries. around 25 million hectares to the 12 million already first two milestones were surpassed with the estab- Brazil’s Legal Amazon Region is the world’s largest The region’s vast size, a lack of managerial capacity under protection. The Government’s commitment lishment of 62 million hectares of new protected intact tropical rain forest. It encompasses around and resources, vested interests, and poverty have includes consolidating the management of existing areas. ARPA now covers nearly 70 million hectares 5 million square kilometers and contains carbon also slowed regional and national reform efforts. protected areas, increasing public awareness of of rainforest. A study by the U.S. National Academy stores estimated at around 120 billion tons. Despite environmental concerns, and creating a constitu- of Sciences credits ARPA with a 37 percent decrease the region’s significant influence on the global ency for strict protection through public consulta- in deforestation between 2004 and 2009. In June climate, it remains threatened by deforestation as- This means adding tions and training. 2012, the U.S. Treasury recognized ARPA at its sociated with increasing settlement and expanding around 25 million inaugural Development Impact Honors. agricultural, ranching, logging, and mining opera- hectares to the 12 ARPA’s approach includes a web-based system to tions. A history of poorly planned and managed million already under track management, procurement, and other finan- Public consultations with several communities economic development projects also contributed helped define policies for land occupation and protection. cial items, a “conjoined account” (conta vinculada) to the loss of tropical forest, degradation of water- facility to allow for the direct flow of resources to management. The communities are trained in PAGE 14 PAGE 15 agricultural and extractive techniques to ensure the Moving Forward preservation of natural resources and to prevent The second phase, implemented in early 2012 with and extinguish forest fires. Conservation parks a budget of US$85.5 million, seeks to (i) create an include conservation units with executive councils additional 13.5 million hectares of protected areas, made up of representatives from the Brazilian (ii) consolidate 32 million hectares of existing Government, civil society associations, and the local protected areas, and (iii) capitalize the endowment administration, among other stakeholders. fund with a 150 percent increase over current funds. ARPA’s success has also led to a new World Bank-GEF project in Brazil’s protected coastal areas World Bank Group Contribution and marine waters. ARPA will also share lessons For the first phase, the World Bank contributed learned with new stakeholders and the global US$30 million in grants from the Global Environ- conservation community. ment Facility (GEF). GEF funds supported the incremental costs of creating new protected areas and strengthening management infrastructure and Beneficiaries financial and cost recovery mechanisms. For the ARPA’s benefits are immediate and long-lasting, second phase, the GEF provided a grant of US$15.9 local and global. The protected areas represent an million. offset of emissions equivalent to 430 million tons of carbon. Indigenous communities are able to return to their way of life, preserving cultures that other- Partners wise would have been lost. Improvements in land In addition to the World Bank, the World Wildlife use and management allow small family farms and Fund (WWF) contributed US$16.5 million to the large scale agriculture to co-exist. Diverse service first phase and US$10 million to the second phase. providers as eco-tourism agencies and genetic The German Development Bank (KfW) contributed explorations will also benefit. Finally, with discover- US$14.4 million to the first phase and US$30 ies of new species, medicines, and the preservation million to the second phase. The Brazilian Govern- of threatened species, ARPA will benefit not only ment contributed US$18.1 million to the first phase the people of Brazil, but generations around the and US$30 million to the second phase. Additional globe. funds were provided by other local sources. PAGE 16 PAGE 17 investments in improved farming techniques; and project stressed the micro-catchment as the best BRAZIL research was needed to adapt and demonstrate unit for conservation planning and management, improved natural resource practices suitable to local participation, dissemination and replication, local farming conditions. and inter-institutional collaboration. Sustainable Agricultural Practices in Rio de Janeiro Solution The Rio de Janeiro Sustainable Integrated Eco- Results The project resulted in the following outcomes: Small Farms improve natural resources management system Management in Productive Landscapes of • By the end of 2011, 2,254 family farmers the North-Northwestern Fluminese (GEF) Project organized in 48 participatory micro-catchment promoted an integrated ecosystem management councils had invested in 2,728 subprojects, Drawing on financing from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and additional approach to help family farmers adopt sustainable representing the adoption of over 4,000 co-financing, beginning in 2006, Rio de Janeiro State has laid the organizational, land management practices, which would conserve separate conservation practices on 31,360 technical, and institutional foundation for the integrated and sustainable man- and protect fragile agro-ecosystems while demon- hectares of farmland. agement of natural resources by family farmers in environmentally vulnerable strating that improved land management could be • Of these farmers, 588 organized in 87 groups Atlantic Forest region. More than 2,000 organized family farmers adopted agro- economically and socially beneficial. Farmers living implemented small-scale agro-industrial ecologically sound practices on 32,000 hectares, and a Payment for Environmental within selected micro-watersheds were organized ventures producing environmentally-friendly Services (PES) mechanism was enacted by decree of the state Government. and participated in developing farm diagnostic goods and services. plans. They received financial incentives, training, • Women took on leadership responsibility for and technical assistance to adopt innovative 245 subprojects. Challenge affecting the region’s 30,000 family farms, as rural technical practices designed to conserve their • Farmer livelihoods improved: pasture rotation, By 2005, the main threats facing the 15,000 square poverty and out-migration increased. There was an agro-ecological assets, reduce land degradation, poultry and honey production investments kilometer north/northwestern Atlantic Forest re- urgent need to introduce sustainable land manage- and improve farm productivity. This experimental showed average rates of return from 26.2 gion of Rio de Janeiro State were deforestation and ment practices to reduce poverty and conserve approach demonstrated how the state’s existing soil erosion, caused by centuries of land conversion globally important biodiversity in the remaining rural development programs could be more agro- and poor agricultural practices. Between 1990 and Atlantic Forest areas. Convincing farmers to adopt ecologically friendly, better-organized, and sustain- Women took on 2000 Rio de Janeiro had the highest rate of defor- better practices was challenging: human and estation of all Brazilian states. Pasture degradation, institutional capacity was weak; communities were able at the farm, institutional, and policy levels. leadership responsibility soil loss, and decreasing water availability were poorly-organized and lacked the capital to finance Based on experiences and lessons from similar for 245 subprojects. Bank-supported projects in Southern Brazil, the PAGE 18 PAGE 19 World Bank Group Contribution Rio), the State Agricultural Research Enterprise Total project cost was US$15.08 million. The (PESAGRO) Other key agencies included the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) grant was State Environmental Management Foundation, US$6.75 million, and represented about 36 percent the Public Defender’s Office, and two prominent of total resources expended. This was less than the non-government organizations: SOS-Mata Atlantic expected 45 percent of the project intervention, and Conservation International-Brazil. The multi- mainly due to the larger than expected co-financing institutional framework of partnerships supporting contribution from the Federal Government through the project represented a difficult coordination its National Family Agriculture Program (PRO- challenge from which important lessons were NAF), and from many state and regional programs. learned for similar, future projects. Co-financing partnerships leveraged US$3.04 million in comple- The project’s co-investment strategy enabled mentary resources. state development institutions to reach the local level, overcoming time and distance challenges Moving Forward facing micro-catchment residents while fostering The new, scaled up Sustainable Rural Develop- Photo by: Ministério da Defesa , Brazil self-managed development. The contribution from ment Project utilizes the same institutional the state Government, NGOs and beneficiaries percent to 59 percent. The cost-effectiveness nicipalities benefitted 5,700 individuals. The arrangements, and community organization and was lower than anticipated. The project supported of environmental impacts was positive across a events stressed the importance of integrating investment targeting mechanisms, and geographi- the analytical foundation for a new Bank loan of range of investments. environmental, economic, and social concerns. cally overlaps much of the territory of the original US$39.5 million to the state for the Sustainable • Soil structural stability improved in 48 This was reflected in the many farmers who operation. Institutional capacity to collaborate Rural Development Project, approved by the Bank micro-catchments, from investments in subsequently made conservationist invest- technically and operationally in environmentally in 2009 and currently under implementation. pasture rotation, soil conservation equipment, ments at their own expense. vulnerable areas has continued to grow as a direct agro-forestry systems and riparian forest • A Payment for Environmental Services (PES) result of the new project but remains challenging. Partners Post-completion sustainability of the project is restoration. mechanism was enacted by State Decree, and The Bank’s primary partner was the Rio de being boosted by extensive, independent farmer • Carbon storage exceeded 19,000 tons by its operational, institutional, and financial Janeiro State Government through its Secretariat replication of project-promoted agro-ecological end-2011 as a result of 224 pasture rotation arrangements were defined. of Agriculture and Livestock, in close collaboration practices designed to conserve their green assets investments. with the State Rural Extension Agency (EMATER- and enhance productivity. Critical to project • Environmental education events in 24 mu- PAGE 20 PAGE 21 sustainability is the newly-created PES mechanism our lives have improved completely. We had no which is already paying farmers for environmental knowledge of all this but today we have various BRAZIL services in several State water catchment areas. crops, our own space to sell our products and we Important, unanticipated outcomes include the have already adopted different ways” State’s use of organizational and social elements Luciana Andrade, beneficiary of an agro-ecological Ceará Boosts Growth of the project’s approach in its “pacification units” cropping systems subproject (São José de Ubá). Ensuring better service while improving the government’s fiscal balance designed to restore social order and empowerment “The locality is cleaner and the trees are starting in areas re-taken from drug cartels; and, the State’s to spring up in surrounding areas. The benefit is creation of a new Fund for Socio-Environmental huge because this water supplies the entire farm.” The state Government of Ceará, located in Northeast Brazil, implemented a Best Practice to remunerate farmers who contribute Pollyana Almeida, beneficiary of the spring protec- program to (i) raise second grade literacy by more than 25 percentage points, to the conservation of regional environments. tion subproject in São José de Ubá. (ii) apply annual exams to all public school children at four grade levels, (iii) “For me, the result has been excellent. Work with install cost accounting systems in 15 hospitals, (iv) add more than 100,000 dedication produces more income. We succeeded Beneficiaries sewer and 250,000 urban water connections, and (v) extend broadband Internet in buying a freezer by combining the money we “We are preserving so we can see nature re- infrastructure to over 4 million citizens, all while improving the Government’s made from selling eggs.” appear. We intend to increase the spring and use fiscal balance. Elias Verdan, beneficiary of a rustic poultry pro- the water to also irrigate our fields. We also want duction sub-project, Santo Antônio de Pádua. to implement a riparian forest project to guaran- Challenge efficient hospital administration. tee conservation of the water.” Ceará’s state Government had achieved relatively • Improve early childhood literacy and the Evaldo Monzato, Italva high levels of service coverage in education, health, quality of secondary education to better equip “Protecting the spring is a dream being realized. “The locality is cleaner and water and sanitation. The Government sought school-leavers for the job market. The volume of water has increased and since last and the trees are to emphasize service quality improvements, • Increase the reliability and level of access to year I have no more problems with drought. This spring water we are protecting is supplying three starting to spring up in expand water and sanitation coverage, and clean water and sewage services. families and there is still enough for the cattle.” surrounding areas. The strengthen the business climate for investment and • Facilitate new business registration and innovation to improve economic growth rates. The provide broadband access to private citizens Joelcy Silva Alves, Cardoso Moreira. benefit is huge because Government’s objectives were to: and enterprises. “I learned how to diversify my production and this water supplies the • Reduce neo-natal and maternal mortality work in an ecologically correct way, and I can entire farm.” through improved family health care and more say it’s worth it... We have to thank the project, PAGE 22 PAGE 23 Results of the Bank’s loan portfolio in Brazil and in the Improve early childhood The project was designed to leverage existing region. In Ceará, discussions for another follow-up literacy and the quality Government programs, while heightening attention operation were already underway in 2012. The on public service delivery achievements. A small new Program-for-Results lending instrument is of secondary education share of the loan funded technical assistance expected to extend the results-based-management to better equip school- investments to meet selected targets. The project culture more widely within the state’s public sector leavers for the job helped to support a number of key outcomes: workforce, while tackling new performance areas market. • Second-grade literacy rates increased from 56 such as watershed management and solid waste percent in 2009 to 81.4 percent in 2011. management. • Cost accounting systems were installed in 15 Photo by: Mariana Ceratti Solution hospitals by 2011. Beneficiaries • Family Health Teams with a team quality from the state capital to an additional four The Ceará Inclusive Growth Project was the second The Regional Hospital of Iguatu provides a full evaluation rating rose from zero to over 75 million citizens between 2007 and 2011. in a loan sequence supporting institutional mod- range of services, including surgery and outpatient percent from 2008 to 2011. • The number of Government secretariats with ernization and social advances in the state. The care. A hospital administrator remarked that • Water to agriculture and industry invoiced public Annual Performance Reports increased project supported 10 existing Government invest- after the cost accounting system was put in place, for payment increased from 12.1 to 39 percent from zero in 2008 to 15 in 2011. ment programs necessary to achieve the desired the average hospitalization period for surgeries service improvements. Results-based management from 2007 to 2011. was reduced from 8.2 days in 2011 to 7.0 days the was the project’s cross-cutting lynchpin, with loan • Urban water connections shot from 51,000 in World Bank Group Contribution following year. The cost per patient was reduced disbursements tied to effective budget execution 2007 to 315,000 in 2011, while sewer con- The Bank provided a total of nearly US$237 million by roughly 20 percent. The hospital was able and to 14 predetermined annual performance nections increased from 22,000 to 139,000. to the state treasury to support identified Govern- to increase by nearly 20 percent the number of targets. The chief programs supported were in Assuming four persons per household, an ment investment programs that were responsible patients treated per year. education (early childhood literacy), health (quality estimated 1.1 million persons benefited from for those public sector achievements. Just over certification of family health teams and improve- the new water connections, and 468,000 US$3 million were disbursed for technical as- The state Government’s annual cost for data ments in hospital administration), water (new benefited from the new sewer connections. sistance. transmission fell from R$20 million in 2007 to water and sewage connections to households) and • New business registrations completed in less R$4 million per year with the state’s new broad- business registration (simplifying requirements for than 72 hours increased from 19 percent in Moving Forward band Internet infrastructure, and the speed is of new businesses). 2007 to 80 percent in 2011. Performance-based lending similar to the Ceará course much faster. • Broadband Internet infrastructure extended Inclusive Growth Project is an increasing share PAGE 24 PAGE 25 Solution Finally, to foster sound capital market develop- Colombia Confronted by the problems created by the crisis, ment, the program supported implementation the Colombian Government sought a loan from the of reforms that strengthened securities market World Bank to help buttress financial stability and architecture, infrastructure and operations, which Colombia Strengthens ITS continue developing capital markets. To strengthen resulted in market transparency and security. Financial Sector Resilience financial sector resilience, the operation supported measures to bolster credit institutions’ capital and Results Developing Capital Markets for Sustainable Growth and Poverty Alleviation liquidity buffers through the capitalization of part These reforms mitigated the impact of the global of the profits obtained in 2008 and the introduc- financial crisis and supported economic growth, tion of liquidity requirements. This fast-disbursing Policy actions supported by this operation contributed to mitigating the impact which benefited the entire Colombian population. loan also had the merit of assisting with a tight of the 2008 global financial crisis in Colombia. Banking sector capitalization and Improvements in several key outcome indicators fiscal situation in an environment that generated liquidity improved despite the global financial crisis, while vibrant economic reflect the progress achieved by the program: additional demands on the social safety net. • The banking system withstood the financial growth quickly resumed, averaging 5 percent in 2010-2011, following a modest turbulence with capital and liquidity ratios well growth deceleration in 2009. Strong economic growth also supported poverty The operation also supported increased powers above regulatory requirements. alleviation. Between 2006 and 2011, the population living below the domestic for the prompt intervention and resolution of • Under its new empowerment, the Superinten- poverty line declined by almost 8 percentage points. unauthorized financial intermediation activities in dence of Companies initiated 123 processes order to prevent the growth of such schemes and against unauthorized financial intermediaries Challenge late 2008 affected over 200,000 people and led to minimize investors’ losses. (2009-2011) involving claims of US$4.1 billion, The significant economic challenges created by the rioting and violent protests in 13 cities. deactivating a major social crisis. global financial crisis of 2008 were compounded by a number of unregulated investment instruments Although the authorities had been aware of the The collapse of one such • The standardized derivatives market was launched and is growing rapidly (176 percent (many of them pyramid schemes) offering returns existence of the schemes, they could not take pyramid in late 2008 increase in trading contracts in 2011), currently of up to 300 percent within six months. Thousands effective measures because it was difficult for them affected over 200,000 covering foreign currency, interest, and com- of Colombians had invested in these schemes. to prove that illegal collection of resources from the people and led to rioting modities products. Investors at the lower end of the income scale public had occurred. and violent protests in • Financial market resilience and capital market were particularly affected by losses from these 13 cities. development contributed to prompt economic investments. The collapse of one such pyramid in recovery (4 percent average during 2009-2011) PAGE 26 PAGE 27 and facilitated poverty reduction (population ous knowledge pieces, the Financial Sector Adjust- crisis preparedness, (ii) encouraging the regional component of the Bank’s financial sector activities living in poverty declined by almost 8 percent- ment Loan series, and the Business Productivity integration of capital markets, and (iii) improving in the forthcoming years. age points between 2006 and 2011). and Efficiency Development Policy Loan (DPL) disclosure of financial services fees, among others. also supported financial sector strengthening and Beneficiaries capital market development. The Bank continues to The Financial Sector Assessment Program took World Bank Group Contribution The Government and the general population provide support through knowledge services, such stock of achieved progress in financial sector The Bank’s policy dialogue on financial sector benefited from this project because the country as the 2012 Financial Sector Assessment Program. stability and development and created a program reform with the Colombian authorities—spanning is better able to avoid financial catastrophe and of reforms over the medium-term. Support for the several administrations—was instrumental for fraud. Partners implementation of such a program will be a key the successful design and implementation of this operation. The Colombia Finance and Private Sector The prompt action to mitigate and contain the Development loan was part of a broader partner- negative effects of the global financial crisis ship in development, which saw the approval of 20 consisted in a variety of countercyclical monetary loans totaling US$3.7 billion to Colombia under the and fiscal policy measures that relied also on 2008-2011 Country Partnership Strategy. Numer- increased funding from other multinationals, such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). There Under its new was particularly close coordination on financial empowerment, the issues between the Bank and the IMF, which at Superintendence of about the same time of this operation’s approval Companies initiated provided Colombia with a Flexible Credit Line under a contingent credit arrangement worth 123 processes against SDR3.97 billion. unauthorized financial intermediaries involving Moving Forward claims of US$4.1 billion, The Bank continues its engagement with financial deactivating a major sector issues through the delivery of targeted social crisis. technical assistance and knowledge services in (i) strengthening the framework for financial Photo by: Proexport Colombia PAGE 28 PAGE 29 Solution Colombia Thanks to reform efforts by the Colombian Govern- Colombia will use only ment, supported by the Bank, by the end of 2014, two accounting models: Colombia will use only two accounting models: one one for state-owned Improving Public Sector for state-owned enterprises and one for general enterprises and one for Accounting Practices in government entities. The Bank is assisting the Government through: general Government colombia • Expert reviews. entities. • Analysis of financial statements and various Enhancing Transparency in the Use of Public Funds documents prepared by Colombia’s National adoption of international accounting and report- General Accounting Office. ing standards. The larger goals were to foster • Advice on strategy and reform implementation transparency, efficiency, and accountability of Colombia is eliminating dual accounting models for state-owned enterprises and • Learning and training activities. state-owned enterprises (reducing transaction adopting international financial reporting standards. This will strengthen coordi- • A South-South exchange with the Ministry costs and improving delivery of social services) and nation and expand the accounting reform agenda. Through higher quality account- of Finance of Peru, which has successfully help the Government make better-informed public ing and financial reporting, it will provide more comprehensive and transparent undertaken an accounting reform process. expenditure and debt management decisions. information on the use of public funds. • Facilitating contacts with international Strengthened coordination with other Government standards-setting organizations. entities was consolidated. A more realistic reform Challenge under national accounting standards and then timetable was adopted in view of the complexities The activities supported under this knowledge involved in implementation. The main results of In Colombia, state-owned enterprises account convert them to International Financial Reporting service were planned in accordance with Colom- the Bank’s engagement are: for a significant portion of public sector spend- Standards or U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting bia’s priorities and project timetable. • Decision-makers will be better informed about ing. Since 2007, Colombia’s Public Accounting Principles, depending on the market where the Regime has been based on accrual accounting. In enterprise is listed. These multiple financial report- the use of public funds. addition, each state-owned enterprise reports to ing compliance requirements result in different Results • Public sector expenditure efficiency and an oversight entity that issues its own accounting sets of accounting books and additional resources. The immediate objective of the Bank’s knowledge institutional efficacy will be strengthened. requirements. Moreover, the largest state-owned services was to support the Government in its • More resources will be freed up by streamlin- enterprises, which receive financing from interna- effort to improve Government accounting fiscal ing accounting and reporting requirements. tional markets, prepare their financial statements and financial reporting systems through the PAGE 30 PAGE 31 World Bank Group Contribution and others fulfill their implementation roles Between 2011 and 2013, the Bank has provided effectively. US$146,000 for a wide range of knowledge and • Conduct an education and training campaign. convening services. These include: (i) advice on • Establish a robust quality assurance mecha- strategy and implementation issues, (ii) technical nism to ensure the quality of the financial reviews, (iii) training workshops on international reports and consolidated accounts once the new standards, (iv) a South-South exchange visit, accounting regime is adopted. and (v) facilitation of dialogue with international standards-setting organizations. Beneficiaries Beneficiaries include the state-owned enterprises Partners which will benefit from lower staff costs and clearer The National General Accounting Office (CGN) and accounting rules, and National General Accounting the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MHCP) are Office and Ministry of Economy and Finance collaborating with the Bank during implementation which will be better informed about the use of of the reform agenda. public funds. Ultimately, the Colombian people will benefit from improved services and more Moving Forward comprehensive and transparent information on the The Government has expressed interest in contin- use of public funds. ued Bank support for the rollout, dissemination, and implementation of the new public accounting “We have made important advances in public regime. In phase II of implementation, key tasks accounting reform in Colombia, benefitting from would include: collaboration with the World Bank financial • Establish monitoring indicators to measure management team. For us, it will be vital to rely progress on milestones to complete and issue on the Bank’s continued support in the next reform the new accounting regime. phases.” • Strengthen stakeholder coordination to ensure Dr. Pedro Luis Bohorquez, Accountant General that regulators, oversight agencies, the National General Accounting Office, line ministries, PAGE 32 PAGE 33 poorest population, among whom only 16 percent DOMINICAN REPUBLIC were enrolled in pre-primary education. The project contributed with the construction of 245 new pre-primary accessible and quality Solution The Bank supported the expansion of access to classrooms, adding education for young children in pre-primary education, helping to meeting the 17,700 places, in dominican republic Education Law’s mandate of universal enrollment for five-year-olds. It focused on poor children, who existing schools. Increasing the availability of quality educational services for young children had greater unmet needs of schooling. The project improved the quality of education services at the with 3,000 new pre-primary school places and pre-primary and primary levels. It became the 108 new teachers. Each model center included This project supported the Government’s efforts to increase access to quality early main channel for the implementation of the pre- an Educational Resource Center, equipped with childhood education, focusing on the poor, through construction and renovation of primary pedagogical model in the classrooms. This computers, reading books and audio-visual 654 classrooms. The project also defined and consolidated the national agenda for model changed teaching practices and rearranged material to support the implementation of the pre-primary education. It fostered the implementation of a pedagogical model for the schedule of activities and use of time. It also pedagogical model. pre-primary education through the establishment of regional model centers and by re-organized classroom spaces and the use of work • Construction of 245 new pre-primary training 4,289 teachers. and play. The project enriched teacher training by classrooms, adding 17,700 places, in existing supporting creative modalities through the estab- schools. lishment of pedagogical groups and regional model • Rehabilitation of 409 existing pre-primary Challenge sufficiently trained to change classroom practices. centers. It involved parents in children’s education classrooms (25,100 classroom spaces). The Dominican Republic had identified early and integrated new technology in pre-primary • Provision of 3,519 sets of educational materials childhood education as a strategy to reducing In 1997, the Government passed the General classrooms. for pre-primary level, acquisition of 625,276 poverty. However primary completion rate was Education Law, committing itself to universal workbooks for pre-primary and primary levels. only 80 percent. Lack of access to early childhood access to pre-primary education for five-year-olds • Provision of furniture for 2,340 pre-primary education was a contributing cause. In addition, and improving coverage for children under five. In Results and primary classrooms. the pedagogical model for pre-primary, approved 2002, 25 percent of young children did not have By August 2011, the project contributed the follow- • Creation of 224 technological corners in with the 1994 curriculum reform, was not con- access to one year of pre-primary educational ing results: pre-primary classrooms. sistently implemented and teachers had not been services. This situation was worse among the • Establishment of 17 regional model centers • Provision of training on the pedagogical model PAGE 34 PAGE 35 for teachers in all of the regional model centers • Establishment of inter-sector coordination Partners By August 2011, beneficiaries included: and pre-primary schools. 4,289 teachers to implement the integrated early childhood The project financed a grant program to stimulate trained at diploma level and 4,386 teachers development national strategy. non-government organizations, municipal Govern- • Additional spaces for students in regional trained on educational content to improve ments and private sector institutions to prepare model centers: 3,000. quality.Creation of 224 technological corners in innovative projects that improve the educational • Teachers hired in regional model centers: 108. World Bank Group Contribution pre-primary classrooms. quality and the health of pre-school aged children. • Students enjoying improved classrooms: The Dominican Republic Early Childhood Educa- • Creation of 1,155 pedagogical groups of 25,080. tion Project was financed by a Bank loan in the teachers in 18 regions, including teachers in • Teachers, advisors, and technical staff trained amount of US$42 million and a Government Moving Forward pre-primary, first, and second grade. at diploma level: 4,289. contribution of US$20 million. The Government is continuing efforts to expand • Creation of 2,216 parent committees in 57 • Children benefitting directly: 52,000. access to pre-primary education, financing class- percent of the country’s pre-schools. • Students enrolled in new classrooms: 17,700. room construction and information campaigns. It • Children benefitting indirectly:106,000. is continuing support for parent groups to improve • Principals, teachers, and technical staff trained the work with communities, schools, and families. on educational content to improve the quality The Ministry of Education has integrated the main of education: 4,386. training programs as part of its capacity-building • Teachers trained in the use of technology in strategy: pedagogical groups, accompaniment of education in pre-primary classrooms: 494. teachers in the classrooms, and life-long learning. • Parents trained in early childhood practices: The grants for educational innovation have been 80,000. incorporated into the Ministry of Education’s programs. The inter-sectoral coordination group has been institutionalized as a space for collabora- tion among institutions working on early childhood Students enrolled in new development. classrooms: 17,700. Beneficiaries A total of 60 projects were financed, benefitting 52,000 children directly and 106,000 indirectly. Photo by: Presidencia de la Republica Dominicana PAGE 36 PAGE 37 Solution November 2009 (the second and third DPLs of the DOMINICAN REPUBLIC The Public Finance and Social Sector Development PASS series were approved in November 2010 and Policy Loan (DPL) and the first of the series of November 2011). Performance and Accountability of Social Sectors Conditional Cash Transfers (PASS) DPLs, aligned with the Country Partnership These loans aimed to improve the quality and and Subsidies in the Dominican Strategy and the National Strategy for Develop- ment of the Dominican Republic, were signed in efficiency of public spending, and mitigate the impact of the ongoing global economic crisis on the Republic Improving Public Spending and Providing Social Protection for the Poor The World Bank supported reforms in the Dominican Republic to ensure fiscal sustainability and improve its flagship social protection program when the Do- minican economy was hit by the 2008-2009 global economic crisis. The number of beneficiaries from the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program increased more than three-fold between 2006 and 2012 and now reaches 650,000 families and 90 percent of the extreme poor (and 80 percent of the poor), and the number of ben- eficiaries in the subsidized health insurance program soared to reach more than 73 percent of the poor in 2012. Challenge a wider international crisis. But slower growth Following the domestic financial crisis of 2003, threatened fiscal sustainability as lower revenues which significantly exacerbated poverty, the squeezed priority sectors and limited the reduction Dominican Republic recovered to enjoy strong in poverty. economic growth which averaged 9.5 percent during 2005-2007. Unlike most economies, the country was able to avoid recession in 2009 amid PAGE 38 PAGE 39 Dominican Republic´s public finances. They sought result, Government transfers to the electricity sec- the panorama for social protection in the country. to fundamentally reshape the social protection Conditional cash tor rose to 1.3 percent of GDP in 2010, up from 1.1 In particular, the country has developed a national system to reach those most in need while making transfer program percent in 2009). Other measures to improve fiscal targeting system (SIUBEN) used by multiple pro- efficient use of scarce public resources. The focus sustainability have achieved progress, including grams to target the poor (including among others Solidaridad expanded was on promoting greater efficiency and impact of through tax administration measures that reduce the CCT program, the electricity and gas subsidy, public resources through better targeting, improved to cover 90 percent of evasion. and the subsidized health insurance regime). quality and better management. the extreme poor and 80 percent of the poor by Conditional cash transfer program Solidaridad In addition, the Administrator of Social Subsidies The policy measures adopted to achieve these end 2012, expanded to cover 90 percent of the extreme poor (ADESS) has centralized multiple transfer pro- objectives included rationalizing social protection and 80 percent of the poor by end 2012, providing grams – including the electricity and gas subsidy, programs, reforming the CCT program Solidaridad time of its dismantlement in 2010, the previous incentives for families to invest in the human the CCT, programs supporting the elderly, higher to promote greater investments in human capital, system provided free electricity to 450,000 house- capital of their children while protecting their education grants, etc. – using the Solidaridad debit improving targeting through the use of the Unified holds who lived in the targeted geographic areas consumption. In the health sector, the number of card, which increased the efficiency of payment Beneficiary System (SIUBEN) by programs for (but only 44 percent of these households were beneficiaries in the subsidized health insurance (significantly reducing costs) while limiting risks of the poor and through updating the database, estimated to be poor). regime increased sharply to cover 73 percent of the fraud, since transactions are electronically con- promoting investments in basic social services poor in 2012. trolled. These tools were critical investments for targeted to areas where gaps existed for the poor, The scheme was replaced by a targeted subsidy, an efficient and effective social protection system. and promoting reforms in the management of social using the national targeting system to identify Furthermore, in addition to the Bonoluz program Progress in results-informed budgeting in health expenditure through performance agreements, those eligible for support, reducing drastically described earlier, over 766,000 poor households and education are also important steps for greater increased transparency, and multiannual budget the cost of subsidies while protecting the poor. By receive targeted gas subsidies through the Bonogas efficiency. and investment planning. 2012, 536,000 poor households benefited from the program, to defray the increase in tariff and protect Bonoluz subsidy (which is equivalent to 100 kWh their welfare. Finally, significant investments in of electricity per month). basic health and education services in areas where The Bank provided Results In terms of improving fiscal sustainability, univer- the beneficiaries of the CCT program were lacking critical analytical and sal subsidies on gas and electricity were replaced More than halving the consumption ceiling for access have helped promote improved human advisory products to by targeted subsidies, and the Government raised subsidized electricity, the electricity tariff helped development outcomes. support this ambitious electricity tariffs and lowered the consumption reduce electricity losses, though higher oil prices program of reforms. and increased consumption offset these gains (as a In terms of systemic changes, efforts have changed ceiling below which electricity is subsidized. At the PAGE 40 PAGE 41 World Bank Group Contribution Partners SIUBEN in 2011/2012 to reflect changes in the under the conditional cash transfer program. The World Bank’s support combined a series of The Bank coordinated its response to the Govern- situation of families – allowing new poor families to instruments to improve the quality and efficiency ment’s request for support during the economic access programs while ensuring that families who According to Señora Trinidad, Bonoluz and of public spending, and mitigate the impact of the crisis with other donors, principally the Inter- improved their living conditions sufficiently to exit Bonogas are also highly relevant for her household ongoing global economic crisis on the Dominican American Development Bank and the International poverty leave social assistance programs – and to because they allow her to reach the end of the Republic´s public finances: the US$150 million Monetary Fund. By agreeing on areas of policy cover the entire national territory. month without suffering utility cuts. Public Finance and Social Sector Development reform, the Government was able to address some Policy Loan (DPL), signed in November 2009; the key institutional challenges and social demands The Government is also continuously improving three DPLs of the Performance and Accountability and at the same time provide fiscal stimulus while its CCT program to adapt to changing situations At the same time, of Social Sectors (PASS) DPL series prepared for a mobilizing US$1 billion in budget support in 2009 and maximize its impacts on human development she ensures that her total of US$370 million; an investment operation to to ride out the crisis. The Bank also coordinated outcomes and poverty. Efforts to continue promot- children attend school support the social protection sector and its institu- with various Government agencies, including the ing more efficient public expenditure management and receive preventive tionalization; and an adaptable program loan in the Ministry of the Economy, Ministry of Finance, are also continuously pursued. Finally, the Govern- health sector to promote critical reforms to increase Social Cabinet, Ministry of Education, Ministry ment has further reinforced its focus on improving health services the coverage and quality of care. of Health, as well as institutions in the electricity the quality of basic health and education services, regularly. sector. especially for the poor In addition to financial support, the Bank provided critical analytical and advisory products to support Beneficiaries Moving Forward this ambitious program of reforms. These include Altagracia Trinidad, a 37-year-old mother of two Since the closing of the Public Finance and Social services provided under the non-lending technical from Santo Domingo, works at home. Thanks to Sector DPL and the series of Performance and assistance (NLTA) on Improving the Quality of support from Solidaridad, Bonoluz and Bonogas, Accountability of Social Sectors DPLs, the Govern- Public Expenditure in the Dominican Republic, the living standards in her household have substantially ment has promoted various initiatives to improve Policy Notes on Growth and Equitable Develop- improved. She uses Solidaridad cash mainly to buy public sector management, fiscal sustainability and ment (2010), the Poverty Assessment (2006), and basic food products such as milk, sugar, beans, oil human development outcomes. Building on the others. and rice, which eases the financial pressure on her previous program of reforms, the Government is dedicated to further strengthen and institutionalize family. At the same time, she ensures that her chil- tools that are critical for additional efficiency dren attend school and receive preventive health gains. In particular, the Government updated the services regularly, which are her co-responsibilities PAGE 42 PAGE 43 Guatemala Disaster Risk Management in Guatemala The city of Zunil in the Quetzaltenango Department . Photo by: Yaprak Servi Providing Liquidity and Promoting Proactive Emergency Response edly diverted to disaster response activities and events. Unlike traditional instruments to finance the subsequent recovery process, without being disaster response and recovery, the CAT DDO The Guatemala Disaster Risk Management Development Policy Loan with a Ca- replenished later. This resulted in an even worse makes urgently needed resources available im- tastrophe Deferred Drawdown Option (CAT DDO) helped Guatemala—one of the situation for the underprivileged. mediately after a declaration of emergency. This most vulnerable countries in the world—to cope with the impacts of the eruption of innovative mechanism allowed the Government the Pacaya volcano and Tropical Storm Agatha in 2010. At the same time, it sup- Solution to access $85 million to respond to the impacts ported the Government in strengthening its institutional capacity for disaster risk To address this challenge, the Guatemalan of the nearly concurrent Pacaya volcano eruption assessment, reduction, monitoring and forecasting. Government took significant steps towards a more and Tropical Storm Agatha flooding, in May 2010. proactive approach to disaster risk management These events affected, directly and indirectly, more and comprehensive disaster risk reduction and than 910,000 people (3.9 percent of population) Challenge This high exposure to natural hazards has threat- financing strategies. These efforts culminated in and resulted in economic damages and losses of Guatemala has been severely affected by natural ened the sustainability of social programs. the adoption of the 2009-2011 National Program more than $1.6 billion (2.6 percent of GDP). In hazards including volcanic activity, hurricanes, and Funding resources for social programs were repeat- for Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (NPDPM). addition to the financial support, the Bank sus- landslides. The worst disaster was the 1976 earth- tained a policy dialogue on the aims of the NPDPM quake that killed over 23,000 people and resulted in economic damages estimated at 17.9 percent This high exposure The Guatemala Disaster Risk Management Devel- to improve risk identification and monitoring, of gross domestic product (GDP). Over the last to natural hazards opment Policy Loan with a Catastrophe Deferred strengthen institutional and planning capacity for disaster risk management, invest to reduce risk, decades, further events caused additional human has threatened the Drawdown Option (CAT DDO) was designed to support the implementation of Guatemala’s and develop risk finance strategies. and economic losses, such as Hurricane Mitch (4.7 sustainability of social national disaster risk management program and percent of GDP), the 2001 drought (0.1 percent), programs. provide liquidity in the event of adverse natural and Hurricane Stan (3.4 percent). PAGE 44 PAGE 45 Results new seismic standards and 73 school buildings throughout the duration of the DPL between 2010 in preparing and implementing a DRFI strategy The loan helped the Government cope with the were repaired and retrofitted to meet these and 2012. tailored to its specific needs and capabilities. impact of the catastrophic events and improve standards. SEGEPLAN is expected to cooperate on issues capacity to implement proactive disaster risk • Disaster risk information was mainstreamed related to incorporating and strengthening disaster Partners management strategies. With the combined efforts into planning instruments at the national and risk management into land use plans and develop- The CAT DDO was complemented by technical of other partners, it supported improvements in municipal levels. National agencies developed ment plans. It will also identify legal instruments to assistance, funded by the Global Facility for several areas: and enforced instruments to incorporate ensure the application of disaster risk management Disaster Reduction and Reduction (GFDRR), to • National capacity for risk monitoring and disaster risk analysis into public investment at the municipal level and promote construction support the Ministry of Education in developing a forecasting was improved. projects and development planning. Disaster codes and standards. Seismic Safety Index for vulnerability assessments • Existing hydro-meteorological and seismo- risk considerations are now incorporated in 96 of education centers. In addition, the Bank collabo- logical monitoring networks were upgraded percent of municipal development plans. In rated with the Central America Coordination Center Beneficiaries and expanded (increase of 57 percent). The addition, 12 municipalities developed land use for Natural Disaster Prevention (CEPREDENAC), The liquidity provided by the DPL with CAT DDO improved data gathering allows for more plans based on updated hazard maps. United Nations International Strategy for Disaster upon the declaration of emergency after the Pacaya accurate alerts and has been used to update • A risk assessment improved understanding Reduction (UN/ISDR), and the Inter-American volcano eruption and Tropical Storm Agatha in hazard maps. of the fiscal implications of adverse natural Development Bank (IDB) to support the CAPRA 2010 helped attend to the needs of more than • Structural vulnerability of public buildings events. At the national level, a preliminary initiative. The European Commission, USAID, the 910,000 citizens who had been adversely affected to earthquakes was assessed and reduced. Central America Probabilistic Risk Assessment Spanish Agency for International Development by the two events. In addition, the improvements Earthquake vulnerability assessments for 43 (CAPRA) initiative estimated maximum prob- Cooperation (AECID), and other international of institutional capacity for disaster risk assess- schools and 4 hospitals were completed using able losses due to hurricanes and earthquakes. organizations also supported the Government’s ment, reduction, monitoring and forecasting the Safety Index. The Government approved disaster risk management efforts. benefit the country as a whole. World Bank Group Contribution The DPL with CAT DDO was a single tranche opera- The improved data tion in the amount of $85 million, entirely financed Moving Forward gathering allows for by the World Bank. After the Government issued a Guatemala recently developed a comprehensive more accurate alerts national state of emergency following the Pacaya National Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction 2012-2017 and is positioned to start designing ex- and has been used to volcano eruption and Tropical Storm Agatha, ante Disaster Risk Finance and Insurance (DRFI) update hazard maps. it withdrew the entire loan amount. The Bank solutions. The Bank will support the Government provided policy advice and technical assistance PAGE 46 PAGE 47 offices and the provision of equipment to facilitate Haiti According to official its supervisory and regulatory role in the project. statistics, 964 schools Since the schools were built, Haiti has experienced were greatly damaged, Haiti Rebuilds its SChools affecting more than two Category 1 hurricanes and there was no seri- ous damage to the schools or emergency shelters Improving Safety and emergency preparedness in Schools 200,000 children. Despite some design flaws, in the long-term, the “building back better” approach is expected to The project built 11 primary schools that provide greater space per student and activities to improve the capacity and methods reduce the risks of damage to educational infra- safer construction standards. In addition, the Project helped initiate a National for safe school construction (building back better) structure. Action Program for Safer Schools (NAPSS) which aimed to improve safety for and to strengthen the institutional capacity of students and faculty through improved safety practices and building standards. the Ministry of Education to fulfill its supervisory World Bank Group Contribution and regulatory mandate. The project included The Bank contributed US$5 million in grant activities to mitigate the vulnerability of school funding for the project, of which US$3.8 million (75 Challenge destruction of infrastructure, schools and Govern- infrastructure through the development of the Na- percent) was spent on the construction of schools. Tropical Storm Fay and Hurricanes Gustav, Hanna ment buildings. According to official statistics, 964 tional Action Plan for Safer Schools, which would The remainder was spent mainly on the develop- and Ike (FGHI), which severely damaged major schools were greatly damaged, affecting more than improve preparedness for natural disasters in the ment of the NAPSS. public and social infrastructure and injured and 200,000 children. education sector. The project is expected to have a demonstration effect on the entire education sector killed hundreds of people, created an urgent need Since the schools to rebuild schools. The Inter-American Develop- in Haiti and, in particular, to influence practices ment Bank (IDB) conducted a Post-Disaster Needs Solution and approaches in the construction sector. were built, Haiti The Emergency School Reconstruction Project Assessment that estimated the total damage at (ESRP) was processed under emergency proce- has experienced two nearly US$30 million, with another US$70 million dures to help the Government of Haiti respond Results Category 1 hurricanes in identified needs for the education sector. quickly and effectively to damage caused to the The project built 11 schools and emergency shelters and there was no education sector infrastructure, and enhance within four of the schools. The School Engineering serious damage to the Intensifying the challenge was a devastating preparedness for future natural emergencies. It Department (DGS), a unit of the Ministry of Educa- schools or emergency earthquake on January 10, 2010 that left more than restored access to schooling through the recon- 200,000 people dead, in addition to widespread tion, benefited from training for 24 staff to become shelters. struction of damaged schools. It also included master trainers, as well as the rehabilitation of its PAGE 48 PAGE 49 Partners Beneficiaries The DGS oversaw site selection and the Fund for Around 3,300 students from 11 schools benefitted Economic and Social Assistance (FAES) supervised from the project activities. Through raised aware- the construction of the schools. There were no ness of school safety through consultations and external partners in the Project. workshops, and the NAPSS, teachers and students at the schools benefited from increased school Moving Forward safety. The shelters in the four rebuilt schools School construction is continuing with assistance also benefit the surrounding community. The new from other donors including the Inter-American schools replaced ones that were unusable. Development Bank. Support to the NAPSS process and other institutional strengthening is continuing under the Bank-funded Risk and Disaster Manage- ment Project. Other donors are also contributing to the NAPSS. For example, the Swiss Office of Around 3,300 students Development and Cooperation (DDC—Swiss Aid) from 11 schools is working with the Haitian Government on school benefitted from the designs that incorporate anti-seismic and anti- project activities. cyclonic safety features. School girl at Milome Brilliere Elementary in Port au Prince PAGE 50 PAGE 51 Seven sub-components form the design of the pilot: Haiti The young women 1. Community NGOs: The Community NGOs receive non-traditional located in five boroughs (quartiers) of Port-au- technical training for Haitian Girls Learn New Skills Prince identified the young women during the four-to-six months in project preparation phase and are charged with Empowering young women through non-traditional and soft-skills training their care during implementation. They also four training centers in administer most of the soft-skills modules of Port-au-Prince. The Haiti Adolescent Girls Initiative (AGI) works with vulnerable Haitian young the curriculum. women (17-21 years), who are largely under-represented in formal labor markets, 2. Soft-skills curriculum: Building on best prac- Feminine et aux Droits des Femmes- MCFDF to facilitate their school-to-work transition and improve their employment and tices worldwide, the Haiti AGI has developed a 3. Non-traditional technical training: The young earnings potential. The project is expected to reach some 1,000 adolescent girls (in high-quality soft-skill curriculum composed of women receive non-traditional technical two cohorts of 500 adolescent girls). The integrated design of the Haiti AGI places eight modules: (i) self-esteem, (ii) civic engage- training (mechanics, refrigeration, electricity, ment and leadership, (iii) reproductive health, construction, computer science, IT Essentials: the beneficiaries at the heart of a network including community non-governmental (iv) gender-based violence and its responses, PC Hardware and Software / Cisco academy, organizations (NGOs), training centers and employers. (v) preparing for the workplace and work hoteling) for four-to-six months in four training ethics, (vi) disaster preparedness, (vii) financial centers in Port-au-Prince. Challenge Solution literacy, and (viii) living with a disability. The choice of the training centers was based on The 2010 earthquake led to important changes The grant addressed several key challenges: The existing curriculum has proven to be consultation with employers, who confirmed in the notion of socio-economic vulnerability and • Empower vulnerable young women in a fragile ill-adapted to the Haitian context, being mere the quality and relevance of the training of- social norms regarding acceptable jobs for women. country. translations of curriculum developed for other fered, and the focus on employability. To make As a result of the high demand for qualified labor, • Build human capital through non-traditional countries, notably in Africa. Using a focus informed decisions based on their individual employers engaged in reconstruction identified technical skills to overcome low educational group, the pilot curriculum has been, therefore, capacities and previous academic backgrounds, young women as a potential and untapped attainment. adapted and illustrated for the Haitian context. the young women were presented with different resource. This situation represented an unprec- • Understand the barriers to youth employment. It is expected to serve as a basis for part of the training options and the corresponding career edented opportunity for the AGI pilot program • Improve the connection between labor supply technical training. As such, the curriculum will and employments opportunities. to support young women in their effort to gain a and demand, particularly in sectors of high be a specific output of the pilot provided to 4. Internship and employers: At the end of their strategic foothold in Haiti’s formal labor markets. growth potential. the Gender Ministry (Ministère à la Condition training, the young women will be offered PAGE 52 PAGE 53 internships to help them transition into labor survey are being finalized. tion: 1,480 young women surveyed. Analysis markets. Those internships will continue to 7. Monitoring and evaluation: Monitoring and from the collected data will be available soon. be secured in coming months by the training Evaluation (M&E) is composed of an online • Development of a strong working relationship centers, supported by the Bank team. The platform where information from training with the Gender Ministry (MCFDF). project will follow the placement of the young centers and community NGOs is centralized • Development of new partnerships with the women over the six months following their and validated by the M&E coordinator. As part Ministry of Education and Technical Training training and internship. of the activities, a monthly training session on (MEFP). 5. Stipend and cell phones: The Haiti AGI pro- capacity strengthening in M&E will be con- vides the beneficiaries with stipends to cover ducted with the NGOs and the training center World Bank Group Contribution the cost of transportation and other related partners. The Bank contributed US$1 million to this expenses. The stipends amount to about 2,000 pilot through the Gender Action Plan, the Bank’s HTG (about USD$50) per month and will be institutional initiative to promote gender equality munities and key lessons are being learned on Results paid using mobile money. via economic empowerment, and implementation how to promote female and youth integration To date, the Haiti AGI project has achieved the 6. Impact evaluation: In October 2012, through support. into labor markets. following outcomes: a public lottery and in presence of the selected • The design of the project and close partnership • Graduation of the first cohort of 489 young young women and the AGI field coordinator, with community NGOs will inform other Bank women took place on May 2, 2013 . Partners the community NGOs, conducted the random- projects with a jobs and skills component. • Development of a soft-skill curriculum for the The main counterparts were the Gender Ministry ized assignment of the young women to each • The pilot has also enabled the weaving of new project to serve as a basis for discussion on the (MCFDF) and the Ministry of Education and cohort. The preliminary results of the baseline dialogue and partnerships with Government role of those skills in technical training and the Technical Training (MEFP). The Nike Foundation promotion of female labor participation and provided an additional US$1 million matching ministries that could form the basis of a larger agency in Haiti. funding. engagement on technical training, which is a At the end of their • Close partnership with four local NGOs in four Government priority and a key component to training, the young ‘quartiers’ of Port-au-Prince; each organization boost innovation, competitiveness, and growth. Moving Forward women will be offered is in charge of between 200 and 350 young At the mid-point of the project, several key impacts internships to help them women. can already be identified: New funding will be necessary to seize upon transition into labor • Partnership with four training centers with • The beneficiaries of the AGI pilot have the identified opportunities (job platform, continuing strong labor market orientation and linkages the soft-skills dialogue, scaling-up the pilot outside markets. potential of becoming role models in their com- of Port-au-Prince). The team has applied to relevant • Baseline questionnaire for the impact evalua- PAGE 54 PAGE 55 Trust Funds and is engaged in early talks with several donors and foundations. The beneficiaries of Haiti the AGI pilot have the potential of becoming Haiti Improves Transparency and Beneficiaries Alongside medium-size enterprises or big role models in their companies such as Digicel, Apex, and Haiti Tec are microenterprises that have fewer than ten salaried communities and Accountability employees and are springing up all over Port-au- key lessons are being Prince. They are model enterprises that attract learned on how to FIRST Responders Tailor Accounting and Auditing Reforms young women who are supported by the AGI. promote female and youth integration into With World Bank support delivered through a technical assistance grant, Haiti has Jessica, who is being trained to install electrical labor markets. developed an accounting and auditing practices plan aligned with its economy, and refrigeration systems, now believes that she which when implemented will foster private sector growth and financial sector is capable of creating her own company. This stability. The Ministry of Finance is processing legislative and regulatory reforms, enthusiasm is shared by a group of young female including amendments to the accounting and auditing law. An updated chart of construction workers at Haiti Tec. “We are the accounts has also been drafted. future of Haiti”, they comment. Challenge significantly expanded. Although a member of the Haiti’s corporate sector accounting and auditing International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), practices require significant strengthening to improve the country’s investment climate and foster private sector development and governance. The legally mandated The statutory framework governing corporate National Accounting accounting and auditing is incomplete and loosely System is outdated and enforced. The legally mandated National Ac- counting System is outdated and seldom applied. seldom applied. The pool of trained local accountants needs to be PAGE 56 PAGE 57 the Institute of Licensed Professional Accountants ing profession, and greater investor confidence met beginning July 2013 to guide implementation in Haiti (OCPAH) does not comply with several A clear roadmap to in financial reporting. All of this is a necessary of the accounting and auditing reform roadmap (26 of IFAC’s Statements of Membership Obligations, strengthen Haiti’s foundation to enable foreign direct investment activities to be undertaken over five years at a cost including those regarding quality assurance, entry and to expand Haiti’s private sector, which is the of US$2.175 million). The Bank is financing follow- accounting and requirements, continuing professional educa- cornerstone for local employment and income in a on activities through an additional financing of an tion, and code of ethics. These weaknesses are accounting practices country still recovering from a decade of crisis and emergency project that became effective February exacerbated by a severe “brain drain,” a poor image was developed. natural disasters. 2013. This will include a training program to better in the business community, divisions within the acquaint private- and public-sector accountants profession, and a severe lack of resources. the need to measure any fiscal impact that the with IFRS. Haiti’s Central Bank has agreed to World Bank Group Contribution introduction of IFRS might have. partially fund the training initiative and to make The Bank provided US$245,000 for a wide range available its training facilities at no charge. Solution of advisory and design services from August The Strengthening Accounting and Audit Practices Results 2010 through October 2012, to improve internal Project begins to address the identified institu- Over the course of the project, a clear roadmap controls, identify and mitigate risks (information Beneficiaries tional and professional weaknesses. Given Haiti’s to strengthen Haiti’s accounting and accounting leaks, operational interruptions, unauthorized The primary beneficiaries are the financial poverty and limited institutional development, practices was developed and endorsed by OCPAH, access to systems, and inaccuracy of information), accounting and auditing institutions and their carefully calibrated innovations were required to the Ministry of Finance, and the Prime Minister’s establish a Risk Management Committee, design members, who will improve their performance and address capacity and absorptive constraints. First, Office; the chart of accounts was updated; and a new policies and guidelines, and develop a business reputations. As Joseph Paillant, former OCPAH it was necessary to design a gradual and multi-tier modern statutory and regulatory framework was contingency plan. president, noted, “Haitian professional accountants adoption of International Financial Reporting drafted, including amendments to the Tax Decree could be in great demand in the Caribbean if they Standards (IFRS) to cater to a business sector of 2005 and the Companies Law, to strengthen make the right choice today of reforming the Partners characterized by a few medium or large firms and transparency and timely reporting. organization of the profession and converging The World Bank partnered with the Institute of many small ones. A progressive simplification of toward international accounting standards to Licensed Professional Accountants in Haiti and the IFRS for small and medium-size enterprises had to The new legal framework enables OCPAH to produce reliable financial information.” Improved Ministry of Finance. be designed. Second, an innovative balance sheet associate with IFAC, the International Accounting accounting standards and performance will database will feed financial information into busi- Education Standards Board, and the Caribbean strengthen investor confidence, leading to greater ness statistics and a national accounts framework. Community, and it reduces barriers to entry of Moving Forward growth in Haiti’s private sector. Finally, close interaction with the tax administra- foreign accounting firms—measures that will foster A steering committee of representatives from the tion was critical in developing this initiative given higher accounting standards, a stronger account- Ministry of Finance, the Central Bank, and OCPAH PAGE 58 PAGE 59 Honduras Reducing Vulnerabilities in Honduras Improving fiscal management and strengthening violence prevention Drawing upon Bank funding, Honduras increased the number of large taxpayers filing electronically by 64 percent during 2012; deposited 100 percent of the contributions of the Teacher’s Community Education Program (PROHECO) with the Teacher’s Pension Institute (INPREMA); and also reduced the central Govern- ment’s wage bill to 9.7 percent of GDP (2012) from 11 percent (2010). Agency. The project was a regular budget support supported four areas: (i) improving tax administra- Challenge weak revenue administration, the expiration of tax operation, prepared to support key elements of the tion, (ii) reforming the pension systems to lessen A large share of public resources devoted to the measures adopted in 2010, and a Supreme Court Government’s Country Partnership Strategy. contingent fiscal vulnerabilities, (iii) reforming civil wage bill and the weaknesses in tax administra- ruling against changes to the income tax from 2011. service to achieve a fiscally sustainable wage bill, tion have been undermining Honduras’s growth In particular the project supported the violence and (iv) strengthening citizen security. The project potential. Achieving a fiscally sustainable wage Solution prevention strategy and inter-institutional coordi- supported progress towards the Country Partner- bill remains a crucial challenge for the public In this context, the First Programmatic Reduc- nation mechanism of the citizen security policy. ship Strategy objectives of expanding opportunities, administration. Increases in teachers’ salaries ing Vulnerabilities for Growth Development reducing vulnerabilities, and improving citizen together with the creation of new posts, pushed Policy Credit supported the reform effort towards security. The project’s key outcomes included the Results the wage bill from 9.3 percent of GDP in 2008 to enhancing fiscal sustainability and improving following: The project supported the Government’s efforts to 10.9 percent in 2009 and 10.7 percent in 2010—or tax administration through approving a registry • As of December 2012, 549 large taxpayers (88 strengthen fiscal management and the institutional about 75 percent of tax revenues. The decline in of large taxpayers and strengthening the large percent of total) were filing their declarations mechanisms and programs responsible for an inte- tax revenue reflected continuing tax exemptions, taxpayer unit within the Tax Administration electronically, with another 62 large taxpayers grated violence prevention strategy. The operation PAGE 60 PAGE 61 in the process of converting to electronic filing. Moving Forward Beneficiaries This represents a 64 percent increase from the As of end 2012, 100 The Government demonstrated interest in The project improved tax administration and baseline, surpassing the target of 10 percent percent of the Teacher’s continued financial and technical support from the compliance, and reduced the wage bill of the increase. Bank. In principle, the Bank will continue providing central Government through several measures, Community Education • As of end 2012, 100 percent of the Teacher’s assistance in the policy areas supported under the such as freezing public sector hiring, reducing Community Education Program (PROHECO) Program (PROHECO) First Programmatic DPC, although a second opera- the wages of high earners, permanently delinking pension contributions were flowing into the pension contributions tion was cancelled in response to fiscal slippages in teachers’ salary adjustments from the private Teacher’s Pension Institute (INPREMA). were flowing into the 2012 and a significant risk of further deteriorating sector minimum wage, and meeting demands for • The wage bill of the central Government Teacher’s Pension fiscal performance in 2013. While the first DPC new teachers. These actions have helped enhance declined to 9.7 percent of GDP in 2012, a fall Institute (INPREMA). helped address several long standing structural economic growth, benefiting the public sector and of 1.3 percentage points of GDP better than the issues related to the pension and public sector wage the entire Honduran population. 0.7 percent target. This achievement responded the Government’s agenda to consolidate fiscal bill, these reforms alone were not enough to ensure to the implementation of a Fiscal Emergency sustainability and macroeconomic stability. Addi- the macroeconomic framework remained adequate. Decree which froze public sector hiring and tionally, the Bank has been working on the security However, the Bank continued providing assistance reduced the wages of high earners. agenda in collaboration with the G-16 donor group, in the policy areas supported under the project including the European Union, United Nations through the Safer Municipalities Project, which World Bank Group Contribution Development Programme (UNDP), the Spanish addresses crime and violence issues in selected The single tranche loan of US$86 million was Cooperation Agency (AECID), USAID, the US State municipalities. disbursed upon loan effectiveness on December 15, Department, IDB, and the Canadian International 2011. Development Agency (CIDA). The UNDP has been advising the Ministry of Security on the national These actions have Partners citizen security policy and the Safer Municipalities helped enhance Project design was based on solid analytical work program, which defined a strategy at the local level. economic growth, conducted by the World Bank, the Inter-American Finally, the Bank also discussed with the European benefiting the public Development Bank (IDB) and the International Commission on opportunities for collaborative sector and the entire Monetary Fund (IMF). The project was prepared interventions on violence prevention. Honduran population. in close consultation with the IDB and IMF as part of a coordinated multilateral effort to support PAGE 62 PAGE 63 Jamaica Jamaica Enhances Fiscal Sustainability Improving public financial management and the tax system Jamaica reduced interest payments to 11 percent of GDP in fiscal year 2010–2011, down from 16 percent in the previous year. Drawing upon Bank and other multilat- eral funding, the country also reduced losses of public entities, generating savings of 2.3 percentage points. Additionally, the Government developed the Fiscal Responsibility Framework, restructured the Debt Management Unit, published a detailed Medium Term Debt Management Strategy; and incorporated separate tax collection units into the Tax Administration of Jamaica. Challenge Policy Loans supported the reform effort towards The large share of public resources devoted to enhancing fiscal and debt sustainability, increasing debt service and the wage bill has imposed severe the efficiency of public financial management and constraints on Jamaica’s growth. The public debt- budgeting processes, and improving the effective- to-GDP ratio averaged 135 percent of GDP in the ness and efficiency of the tax system. 2000s and bound 13 percent of GDP to debt servic- ing. In that period, wages and salaries comprised, Solution on average, 31 percent of total expenditures, or The Bank supported the Government’s efforts to 10 percent of GDP. In this context, the Program- enhance fiscal and debt sustainability, increase matic Debt and Fiscal Sustainability Development the efficiency of public financial management, and PAGE 64 PAGE 65 improve the efficiency of the tax system. The Debt plify tax payment processes, and increase tax • The Government implemented a methodology and Fiscal Sustainability Development Policy Loan compliance. for prioritizing capital investments, which was Tax collection increased series supported the Government’s reform program used in the six largest ministries during the 17 percent in the first in seven policy areas: fiscal year 2010-2011 budget process and has Results quarter of fiscal year • Fiscal Responsibility Framework. been applied to rank public investments in the • Debt Management. Both operations supported improvements in several fiscal year 2012-2013 budget process. 2012-2013 over the key indicators: • Rationalization of Public Bodies. • The Tax Administration Jamaica was created to same period in 2011- • Debt interest payments declined to 11 percent • Public Service Compensation and Incentives. of GDP in 2010-2011 better than the 14.5 reform tax administration. Measures were put 2012. • Fiscal Discipline and Strategic Allocation of in place to increase tax collections, such as a percent target, partly due to the 2010 Jamaica Resources. single payment system for all taxes. Tax collec- effectiveness. The programmatic structure of the Debt Exchange, which restructured most of the • Public Financial Management. tion increased 17 percent in the first quarter of Debt and Fiscal Sustainability DPLs provided domestic debt by increasing the tenor of the • Tax Efficiency and Administration. fiscal year 2012-2013 over the same period in Jamaica and the Bank the necessary flexibility in a debt and reducing debt servicing payments in 2011-2012. fairly uncertain environment. The Bank’s technical the near term. Key reforms included: • Perhaps the most important achievement was assistance supported institutional capacity building • The fiscal balance of public entities was -0.5 • Promoting fiscal and debt sustainability by the establishment of the Fiscal Responsibility and advancing public sector reform. percent of GDP in 2010-2011, better than the consolidating overall public sector balances, Framework, which provides quantitative targets target of -1.8 percent. Employment surveys rationalizing public bodies, and containing the for the debt-to-GDP ratio, the wage bill, and were completed for the entire public sector, Partners wage bill. the budget balance to be achieved by 2016. laying the groundwork for the restructuring The loans were part of a multilateral package of • Improving transparency and efficiency of Regulations governing the Fiscal Responsibility undertaken by the Public Sector Transforma- support from international financial institutions public financial management and budget Framework were put in place in April 2012. tion Unit. and donors, including the International Monetary processes by preparing timely financial state- • Budgets for fiscal years 2011-2012 and Fund (IMF), the Caribbean Development Bank ments, and further advances in auditing and World Bank Group Contribution 2012-2013 were supported by Medium-Term (CDB), the European Union (EU), and the Inter- operational capacity to improve the efficiency The Bank’s support consisted of two single tranche Debt Management Strategies, which included American Development Bank (IDB). The package of budget allocation. loans and technical assistance. The first single borrowing plans. was designed to provide market liquidity and • Reducing distortions and enhancing the tranche loan of US$200 million was approved on • A Central Treasury Management System was reduce risks to participants in the debt exchange, efficiency of the tax system by taking measures February 23, 2010. The second single tranche loan created to reduce waste by centralizing all while supporting the Government’s medium-term to broaden the tax base, reduce the number of US$100 million was approved on September Government payments via a single treasury reform program. There was a good level of donor of special tax regimes and exemptions, sim- 8, 2011. Both operations disbursed upon loan account. coordination. Fiscal and debt sustainability was PAGE 66 PAGE 67 given priority in all donors’ programs. On February 4, 2010, the IMF approved a 27-month Stand-By Perhaps the most MEXICO Arrangement in the amount of US$1.25 billion to important achievement manage short-term difficulties and support the was the establishment of longer-term reform agenda. While this program the Fiscal Responsibility Mexico Strengthens its went off track a year later, the Fund remained in close dialogue with the authorities and is currently Framework, which Financial Resilience working with them to put a new program in place. provides quantitative Growth during the Global Financial Downturn targets for the debt-to- Moving Forward GDP ratio, the wage bill, The World Bank delivered a comprehensive set of services that mitigated the During a Bank mission to Jamaica in August and the budget balance impact of the global financial crisis in Mexico. Measures to boost productivity, sup- 2012, the Government requested further technical to be achieved by 2016. port counter-cyclical policies and strengthen financial market resilience supported assistance. The proposed team to deliver technical the strong economic recovery in 2010-2011. Mortgage financing markets, severely assistance would include a resident advisor to work with the Expenditure Division in the Ministry of affected by the crisis, were stabilized, helping 40,000 low-income families to gain Finance on budget processing, a consultant to work access to housing finance during the crisis. with the Public Enterprise Division on post-privati- zation monitoring and other issues, and a specialist Challenge credit crunch. In addition, the bankruptcy of a who could work with the Ministry of Finance on Affected by the global financial downturn of 2008, large retailer, exposed to exotic exchange rate consolidating and taking forward various initiatives Mexico’s financial sector confronted worsening derivatives that bet on a continuous peso apprecia- on public sector reform. access to capital markets and distressed financial tion, froze the Mexican commercial paper market. intermediaries in the housing sector. Domestic In this context of increasing risk aversion, com- Beneficiaries demand experienced a severe decline in 2009, mercial banks curtailed credit growth. To support The operations benefited the Government and when the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) the housing and commercial paper markets and to the Jamaican people because they improved tax contracted by 6 percent. A severe contraction of play a countercyclical role, public guarantee credit administration and enhanced economic growth and external demand, particularly from the United schemes were enhanced and Mexican public banks competitiveness. States, and the effects of a severe flu outbreak expanded their balance sheets. added to the growing economic uncertainty and PAGE 68 PAGE 69 Solution Economist in response to the mortgage hous- ment’s financing cost, supporting their fiscal World Bank Group Contribution The World Bank worked with the Government of ing crisis. expansionary efforts to mitigate economic and In order to strengthen financial sector resilience Mexico to develop and implement a customized • Financial crisis simulation exercise. employment contraction. To illustrate, the ex- and support growth through countercyclical policies and innovative package of services to support • Evaluation of financial sector stability and tension of the temporary employment program and enhance productivity, the International Bank growth and increase the resilience of the Mexican development and formulation of medium-term increased the work-shifts of employees hired by for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) financial sector to external shocks. The services reform agenda for the sector (Financial Sector this program by 15 percent. provided US$2.5 billion through three lending responded to four strategic pillars with a short Assessment Program, FSAP). operations. In addition US$450,000 were mobi- and medium-term horizon: (i) strengthening the financial sector, (ii) improving crisis prepared- Convening services: ness, (iii) supporting the implementation of • Two Regional conferences on Development countercyclical policies to support growth, and (iv) Banks and Competitiveness. improving productivity of the Mexican economy to • Entrepreneurship Forum with CNN Expansion sustain economic growth. Between 2008 and 2011 on Innovation and Entrepreneurship. the specific engagement of the Bank included: Results Financial Services: The World Bank’s comprehensive engagement • Supporting low-income housing financing helped minimize the impact of the global financial through a restructuring of the balance sheet crisis in Mexico. Specific results include: of the Federal Mortgage Society (Sociedad • Contribution to the stabilization of the Hipotecaria Federal – SHF). mortgage financing markets in Mexico, helping • Customizing the financial conditions to man- 40,000 low-income families to gain access to age roll-over and foreign exchange risks. housing finance during the global financial • Improving crisis resilience and improved crisis. business environment through budget support • Measures to boost productivity, support lending. counter-cyclical policies and strengthen financial market resilience supported the strong Knowledge services: economic recovery in 2010-2011. • High level mission led by the Bank’s Chief • Access to IBRD funding reduced the Govern- PAGE 70 PAGE 71 lized from trust funds, largely from the Spanish Fund for Latin America the Caribbean (SFLAC), 40,000 low-income Saint Lucia to support advisory and convening services. IBRD families gain access to also funded several knowledge services through its housing finance during budgetary resources. the global financial Saint Lucia reduces Partners crisis vulnerability The Bank maintains close partnerships with Using Disaster Risk Management to prepare for adverse natural events infrastructure. In addition, Bank engagement in other donors and multilaterals, especially the Mexico focuses on addressing other key challenges Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) and the to sustain shared prosperity such as improving the The Second Disaster Management Project (DMP II) supported a long-term effort International Monetary Fund (IMF). For example, quality of education, assuring energy security, and by the Government of Saint Lucia to reduce the country’s vulnerability to disaster the 2011 Financial Sector Assessment Update, strengthening institutions. risks. As such, the project financed the following: civil works to reduce physical conducted jointly by the Bank and the IMF, formu- vulnerability and build infrastructure resilience to disaster risk; capacity building lates a series of recommendations to foster sound Beneficiaries activities to build disaster response capacity, including purchase of specialized financial sector development in Mexico. In addition The population of Mexico as a whole benefited from emergency equipment and investment in emergency infrastructure and training; US$450,000 were mobilized from trust funds, the financial and advisory support to the financial technical assistance and institutional strengthening of key ministries and agencies largely from the Spanish Fund for Latin America sector and to boosted economic growth for the dealing with disaster management. the Caribbean (SFLAC), to support advisory and country. In addition, 40,000 low-income families convening services. were able to access housing finance as a result of the project. Challenge Disasters caused by these weather-related hazards Moving Forward An important issue confronting Saint Lucia’s impose large costs on the country’s fragile economy The Bank will continue to support the Mexican development is the vulnerability of its population and exacerbate poverty levels. They have destroyed authorities in their efforts to improve competitive- and economy to adverse natural events. The island infrastructure and disrupted the provision of es- ness and productivity by enhancing the business is exposed to a number of natural hazards, such as sential services. They have also absorbed a growing environment, promoting competition, fostering heavy rainfall, tropical storms, hurricanes, winds share of the national budget to cover recovery and sound financial sector development, supporting and droughts. reconstruction efforts. Up until the late 1990s, the the Mexican innovation system and developing conventional approach to adverse natural events PAGE 72 PAGE 73 disaster risk reduction interventions. Following the The island is exposed multi-sectoral approach of ERDMP, clear benefits to a number of natural could be derived from improving the country’s disaster preparedness and response capacities hazards, such as heavy and its prevention-oriented physical investments, rainfall, tropical storms, institutional strengthening, and capacity building hurricanes, winds and activities. DMP II was also aligned with the Na- droughts. tional Hazard Mitigation Policy which was under preparation at the time of project appraisal in in Saint Lucia has been primarily response and 2003 and which highlighted the need to emphasize recovery post-disaster, with very limited focus on long-term disaster prevention measures that disaster preparedness, risk mitigation, or preven- would embrace all relevant economic and social tion. This reactive approach to disasters in Saint sectors (public and private) and facilitate the more Dennery Bay St. Lucia Photo by: Joe Wheeler Lucia was the result of weak institutional frame- effective use of scarce financial resources in a Tomas in 2010. They significantly increased improved enforcement of territorial planning work and lack of capacity in the area of disaster comprehensive approach to disaster management. the percentage of population with access to and building code regulations, flood risk risk management. improved infrastructure, from 30 percent in the assessments in Dennery and Soufriere, and Results pre-project phase to an estimated 80 percent by landslide risk assessments in seven communi- Solution Saint Lucia’s vulnerability to adverse natural events project completion. ties. Drought hazard maps informed land use Following the extensive damage caused by was successfully reduced, through the following • The completion of the central Emergency planning and physical development policies and Tropical Storm Debbi, in 1997 the first World Bank improvements: Operation Center, construction of 11 satellite decision-making. Emergency Recovery and Disaster Management • Infrastructure improvements against the warehouses, purchase of specialized emergency Project (ERDMP) financed primarily post-disaster impact of adverse natural events, including communication equipment, and the provision World Bank Group Contribution reconstruction and rehabilitation. It also financed the retrofitting of three health centers and four of technical assistance and training in areas of The total amount of the project funding, including some physical mitigation and prevention invest- schools, rehabilitation of two bridges, coastal disaster preparedness and response improved the additional financing, amounted to US$13 mil- ments and disaster response capacity building protection works, and small mitigation works in preparedness, and response capacity. lion, of which 29 percent was financed by an IBRD activities. Building on the lessons learned and various communities across the island. These • Strengthened capacities of various ministries loan; 53 percent financed by an IDA credit; and 18 successful achievements of ERDMP, DMP II was improvements proved to be effective, accord- and agencies dealing with disaster management percent financed by the Government of Saint Lucia. prepared as a follow on operation to scale up ing to an assessment taken after Hurricane through technical assistance and training, PAGE 74 PAGE 75 Moving Forward Dennery village, the seven communities (216 house- While progress has been made to reduce the holds) that benefitted from the slope stabilization URUGUAY country’s vulnerability to disasters, Saint Lucia will interventions, the 150 school children that attended continue to face challenges in understanding and the retrofitted school facilities, which also serve as managing natural hazards, particularly in view of emergency shelters to nearly 210 local inhabitants, Conserving Uruguay’s Natural a changing climatic environment. The Saint Lucia Hurricane Tomas Emergency Recovery Loan was and the 14 communities that benefited from the improved health facilities. Grasslands approved by the Board in March 2011, and took into Integrating On-farm Natural Resources Management for Conservation grazing account the achievements and lessons learned from In addition, more than 150 small local contractors the previous projects. Through its reconstruction were employed to carry out the small mitigation and rehabilitation activities of damaged and critical works, and hence benefitted directly from the In Uruguay, around 25 percent of the country’s vulnerable family farmers adopted public infrastructure, the project is working to project. economically and environmentally sustainable practices through the intervention ensure reduced vulnerability of existing infrastruc- of the Integrated Natural Resources and Biodiversity Management Project. These ture, in addition to providing continued technical interventions promoted practices that integrate soil, water, and biodiversity assistance to strengthen institutional disaster risk management. The project funded over 5,300 on-farm sub-projects and covered management capacity. 880,000 hectares throughout the country. Beneficiaries Broadly, the beneficiaries included the entire Challenge Agricultural production and the agro-industries population of Saint Lucia who benefited from Threatened by climate-related extreme events, are responsible for over 70 percent of Uruguay’s improvements to their local and national infra- Uruguay’s challenge is to increase agricultural total export earnings. The extensive beef produc- structure and an improved civil protection system output while also conserving the country’s vital tion sector uses 80 percent of the country’s land, that warns of imminent events and facilitates timely natural resources. Uruguay has sought to develop 70 percent of which is currently natural pasture. evacuation and secure protective sheltering. strategies and mechanisms to exploit fully its In addition, expanding irrigated agriculture natural resources in the pursuit of market op- accompanies reduced crop pressure on land and The primary beneficiaries of the project were the portunities presented by increasingly aware and livestock pressure on natural pastures. To promote specific communities where investments were demanding consumers. increased productivity on the same amount of executed, including the 5,000 inhabitants of available land, Uruguay will need to reduce soil PAGE 76 PAGE 77 erosion and degradation and utilize and manage complementary services, which included technical Results water and pasture resources sustainably. assistance to farmers, training to all segments of The project assisted thousands of families operat- More than 100 the rural population, and improved communication ing small and medium-size farms through the producer associations and dissemination. Technical services provided by implementation of 5,300 subprojects promoting Solution incorporated these private professionals in extension were upgraded natural resource management; 1,308 subprojects The Integrated Natural Resources and Biodiversity and more fully integrated with sound practices. promoting biodiversity conservation; 627 subproj- practices into their Management Project made a considerable The well-targeted combination of demonstrations ects applying an innovative approach for blending institutional areas and contribution to the improvement of natural resource management by supporting on-farm through on-farm investments and knowledge support to biodiversity-specific investments in agendas. management led to tangible behavioral changes livestock operations; and 47 subprojects promoting agro-environmental and climate-smart invest- within Uruguay’s livestock and agricultural produc- ecotourism initiatives. ments mainly in the beef and dairy subsectors the Convention on International Trade in Endan- ers. These changes included the mainstreaming of throughout the country. The investments promoted gered Species of Wild Fauna and Flore (CITES), biodiversity conservation in production systems, The project served as a catalyst for “biodiversity- technologies that reduce the vulnerability of and 51 defined as National Priorities. and in national agricultural institutions and awareness” building in the productive and public livestock producers to the country’s increasing organizations’ agendas, which allowed for the sectors, spurring important behavioral changes climatic variability (such as severe droughts). The Financial returns to project investments were creation of joint ventures for better rural practices. for mainstreaming biodiversity in production and project also supported a comprehensive set of measured as follows: management decisions. More than 100 producer • About US$33.5 million per year total incremen- associations incorporated these practices into their tal income for project beneficiaries in the dairy institutional areas and agendas. sector. • Over US$30 million avoided loss in livestock Other practices promoted regeneration and im- production due to summer droughts. proved management of natural pastures, enhanced • Significant environmental externalities for the soil quality, increased accessibility to water, reha- benefit of the Uruguayan productive landscape. bilitated native forests, protected riparian forests, and controlled invasive alien species. As a result of World Bank Group Contribution these interventions, the conservation of 243 native This was a blended project of the World Bank and species was supported, including 79 listed on the the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The success International Union for Conservation of Nature and of this project contributed to the preparation of the Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List, 18 identified by US$49 million follow-up operation, Sustainable PAGE 78 PAGE 79 Management of Natural Resources and Climate World Bank, the Inter-American Development Change Project, with an expanded scope and focus Bank (IDB), the Food and Agriculture Organization on climate-smart agriculture, complemented by a (FAO), the International Fund for Agriculture and US$6 million grant from the Adaptation Fund. Development (IFAD), and others—helped coordi- nate investments and analytical work. The Ministry Partners of Industry, Energy and Mining (MIEM), and the The project was instrumental in supporting the Ministry of Housing, Land Planning, and Environ- development of strong partnerships among key ment (MVOTMA) are working much more closely agricultural institutions in Uruguay, such as the on agro-environmental policies and programs. National Dairy Institute (INALE), the National Institute for Agricultural Research (INIA), the Moving Forward School of Agrarian Sciences of the National The US$49 million Bank follow-up operation has University (UDELAR), and more than 160 farmer provided continuity and expanded scope with a organizations. Periodic meetings led by the Ministry focus on climate-smart agriculture and farm-level of Livestock, Agriculture, and Fisheries (MGAP) adaptation to climate variability. In addition, a with the most active multilateral agencies—the study focused on climate-smart agricultural water management is currently in development. Beneficiaries “… and now we work as a group … suddenly you MGAP’s newly acquired experience and technology “The project helped many Uruguayan small have three cows, another has five and another Because of the will allow for scaled up initiatives, with continued producers. It provided opportunities to improve, has ten, and all together we have a shipment that effectiveness of the support from the Bank and others. motivate, and assist farmers like us to stay in allows a differential price.” matching grants the rural areas and improve our quality of life. Wilson Pereira, livestock producer from Salto. Because of the effectiveness of the matching grants On our farm, we witnessed improvements in program and approach, program and approach, 90 percent of on-farm pastures, ponds, irrigation, and fencing – which 90 percent of on-farm investments are still in operation four to five years we value very much – and of course, we managed investments are still in later. In addition, farmers are adopting many of the to improve production. “ operation four to five technologies and practices without supplementary Daniel Lalinde & family, livestock producers from years later. support from the Government. Maldonado. PAGE 80 PAGE 81 2008 “Agriculture for Development” states that Results regional “An important opportunity to contribute to the All participating entities in the four countries are pro-poor agricultural development agenda will using the biosafety risk assessment and manage- be missed if the potential risks and benefits of ment strategies and methodologies developed by Biosafety in Action transgenics cannot be objectively evaluated on the project (guidelines, studies, geo-spatial data- the basis of the best available scientific evidence bases, maps, etc.) for monitoring gene flow, impact A Regional Initiative in Latin America and the Caribbean and taking into account public risk perceptions” on non-target organisms, visualization through and that “countries and societies ultimately must geographic information system (GIS) tools and For as little as US$4 million dollars from a Global Environment Facility (GEF) assess the benefits and risks for themselves and understanding producer and consumer behavior grant, during a period of four years, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Peru worked make their own decisions.” through socio-economic analysis. The project has together to strengthen the technical and decision-making capacity for biosafety also contributed to strengthening the cooperation risk assessment and management. In the process, the demonstrated importance of In this regard, the Bank is committed to helping and collaboration on biosafety risk assessment working on biosafety increased awareness in the region. developing countries assess, explore, and safely use across institutions and participating countries. The biotechnology and other new technologies when inter-institutional and inter-country collaboration the appropriate regulatory frameworks are in place. was achieved at different levels: Challenge in compliance with international standards and Towards that end, the Bank has been supporting • Technical (technical staff received capacity Latin America has been adopting genetically modi- treaties, establishing biosafety capacity is complex, agricultural research capacity in some 30 projects building through participation in training fied organism (GMO) foods at a faster rate than not only due to the unique and difficult problems since 1995. This is the first multi-country biosafety events and exchange visits). any other region of the world. This rapid adoption facing diverse countries in addressing environmen- project that the Bank has implemented globally. • Policy – two regional level meetings of biosafety rate is the commercial outcome of the manifest tal risk, but also because of the range of technical decision-makers were held (in Costa Rica in delivery to the region’s agricultural economy of topics involved, encompassing biological, climatic, April, 2011 and in Colombia in June, 2012). benefits linked to the initial products of biotechnol- socio-economic, health, legal and political aspects. • Project team – mission rotation enabled cross- ogy. Concern is mounting, however, about the This is the first multi- exchange of knowledge and visits from all team accelerating adoption of GMOs in Latin America Solution country biosafety members to the other participating countries without sufficient and scientifically-sound biosafety The World Bank’s rural development strategy project that the Bank and their institutions. assessment, management, or decision-making highlights enhanced agricultural productivity and has implemented instruments. Although, the region is improving its capacity to implement biosafety regulations competitiveness as key pillars for rural poverty globally. Four regional working groups (by thematic area) alleviation. The World Development Report (WDR) were created, inter-institutional alliances were PAGE 82 PAGE 83 Partners Beneficiaries This GEF project was regionally coordinated by The primary target group under component 1 the borrower and the International Center for was comprised of the four National Coordinating Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), which is a member of Agencies and other participating entities—members the CGIAR Consortium based in Colombia. It was of the technical/scientific communities in the implemented through the National Coordinating participating countries. The primary target group Agencies: the Colombian Agricultural Research under component 2 of the project was “biosafety Corporation (CORPOICA), the University of competent authorities and practitioners”—Gov- Costa Rica (UCR), the Brazilian Agricultural ernment officials, technical entities advising Research Corporation (EMBRAPA) and La Molina Government policy, universities, non-government National Agricultural University (UNALM) in organizations, and producer groups. Given the Peru. All implementing bodies provided in-kind public nature of this project, the number of indirect contributions to the project. A network of biosafety beneficiaries can be significant, within and outside decision-makers was established through the of the geographic boundaries of the four participat- National Technical Commissions on Biosafety of ing countries. the countries in the region. established, a professional network on biosafety World Bank Group Contribution Moving Forward was established, and a Google Earth map located The project was implemented with a US$4 During the closing conference of the project, a the participants on the project website. During million stand-alone grant from the GEF. It was strong demand was expressed for a follow-on project implementation, 27 events were held with complemented and jointly implemented with the project at a larger regional scale, comprising the participation of biosafety authorities. More GEF -funded Multi-country Capacity-Building around 10 countries, including the four countries than 150 representatives of the countries’ authori- for Compliance with the Cartagena Protocol on that implemented the current project. CIAT has ties and 500 decision makers now have access to Biosafety Project (US$0.9 million), using the expressed its desire and willingness to pursue information for risk assessment. Each country same institutional set-up, to address the biosafety and coordinate this larger operation. They have has also developed a database of stakeholders and knowledge and capacity gap. approached the World Bank and GEF for further collaborators. information on a follow-on larger regional project. PAGE 84 PAGE 85 PAGE 86 Latin America and Caribbean Region The World Bank 1818 H Street, NW Washington, DC 20433, USA http://wbi.worldbank.org/sske/result-stories http://www.worldbank.org/results/ This book was produced by LCSDE October 2013