The World Bank GABON COVID-19 Strategic Preparedness and Response Project (SPRP) (P173927) REPORT NO.: RES52382 RESTRUCTURING PAPER ON A PROPOSED PROJECT RESTRUCTURING OF GABON COVID-19 STRATEGIC PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE PROJECT (SPRP) APPROVED ON MAY 15, 2020 TO REPUBLIC OF GABON HEALTH, NUTRITION & POPULATION WESTERN AND CENTRAL AFRICA Regional Vice President: Ousmane Diagana Country Director: Elisabeth Huybens Regional Director: Trina S. Haque Practice Manager/Manager: Carolyn Shelton Task Team Leader: Andre L. Carletto The World Bank GABON COVID-19 Strategic Preparedness and Response Project (SPRP) (P173927) ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS The World Bank GABON COVID-19 Strategic Preparedness and Response Project (SPRP) (P173927) BASIC DATA Product Information Project ID Financing Instrument P173927 Investment Project Financing Environmental and Social Risk Classification (ESRC) Substantial Approval Date Current Closing Date 15-May-2020 30-Jun-2024 Organizations Borrower Responsible Agency Republic of Gabon Multiphase Programmatic Approach (MPA) Program Development Objective The Program Development Objective is to prevent, detect and respond to the threat posed by COVID-19 and strengthen national systems for public health preparedness Multiphase Programmatic Approach (MPA) Status (Public Disclosure) Status and Key Decisions (Public Disclosure) Sustained efforts continue to be made to advance the implementation of the 87 MPA operations. The past two months have seen good efforts to accelerate implementation reflected in the number of disbursement applications processed. However, as noted in the past months, the overall level of disbursements is being affected by three main reasons: (i) low disbursements in seven countries (Bangladesh, Kiribati, Nigeria, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Uganda, and Zambia); (ii) pausing of disbursements in two other countries – Afghanistan, and Myanmar; and (iii) processing of refunds to the project accounts at this late stage of project implementation. In addition, (i) a large refund from the UN to the project account of the Myanmar operation was processed in late March due to the inability to implement the project, and (ii) the amounts of Loans and Credits denominated in SDRs and Euros have been affected because of fluctuations between the SDRs and Euros against the US dollar. The World Bank GABON COVID-19 Strategic Preparedness and Response Project (SPRP) (P173927) As of January 15, 2024, 88 MPA-projects had been approved with a total commitment of US$4.26 billion. One operation (Guatemala) was cancelled in mid-September 2021, at the request of the Government. Total disbursements as of January 15, 2024, amount to US$3.99 billion or 94% of overall commitments. This amount does not include disbursements under MPA-V operations which are reported together with AF-V operations. Ten operations closed by the end of CY22 and nine operations closed on June 30, 2023. Sixteen operations had closing dates by the end of CY23. However, closing dates for nine operations were extended, leaving seven (7) operations with closing dates by December 31, 2023. As with the Mid Term Review (MTR) issued on March 25, 2023, no individual ICR will be required for COVID-19 MPA operations. Only one ICR will be prepared upon completion of the SPRP COVID-19 MPA Program, which closes on December 31, 2025. The Global ICR will be based on final ISRs packages prepared by country operations’ teams. A template for the final ISR was issued by OPCS on March 21, 2023. Several operations have/are preparing final ISR packages. The overall conclusion of the MPA MTR was that: (i) the COVID-19 MPA Program embodied a rapid, innovative approach to new lending for human health response; (ii) the COVID-19 MPA has been successful, notwithstanding considerable uncertainty and multiple constraints in the early stages of the pandemic; (iii) the Bank’s emergency response was remarkably swift in the most vulnerable countries facing human capital losses and development setbacks; and (iv) notwithstanding the challenges, the MPA is on track to achieve its PrDO, “prevent, detect and respond to the threat posed by COVID-19 and strengthen national systems for public health preparedness." Seventy-five (75) country projects or 86 percent of projects approved have reached 70-100+ percent disbursement (reasons for >100% disbursements relate to fluctuations between the Euro and the SDR against the US$). Out of the 75 operations, 66 operations or 87 percent have disbursed 90+ percent of commitments. Out of the 75 operations, 49 operations or 65 percent are fully disbursed and ten (10) operations have disbursed 95-99 percent of commitments. There are four operations with disbursements of 60 percent or less. Out of these four operations, one operation has disbursed 35 percent (AFW), two operations in EAP have disbursed 48-57 percent and one operation in SAR has disbursed 50 percent. The operation in AFW is in the process of being restructured to: (i) extend the closing date by four months, (ii) cancel a large amount under the parent project, (iii) reallocate funds under the various components and activities that will remain, and (iv) revise the Results Framework. The projects are benefitting about 3.7 billion people or 50% of the global population. When countries with AF-V operations are counted, the projects are benefitting about 4.1 billion of 51 percent of the global population. This is because some countries that do not have a parent project have AF-V operations. All projects approved are disbursing. Operations in ECA and MNA are fully disbursed. In other regions, disbursements have reached: (i) LAC 98 percent, (ii) SAR 95 percent, (iii) EAP 87 percent, (iv) AFW 85 percent, and (v) AFE 80 percent. Disbursements for EAP operations are being affected by low disbursements in three country projects that have disbursed between 48 and 57 percent. AFE lower disbursements compared to other regions are a result of low disbursements under two operations, which have disbursed 57-66 percent respectively. In the case of AFW low overall disbursements are a result of low disbursements under one operation (35 percent). Retroactive Financing (RF) continues to represent 20 percent of commitments. SAR has the highest percentage of RF at 37 percent, followed by ECA at 18 percent. Direct Payment (DP) disbursements represent 22 percent of commitments. EAP has the highest level of disbursements using DP – The World Bank GABON COVID-19 Strategic Preparedness and Response Project (SPRP) (P173927) 80 percent, followed by AFW at 38 percent. IDA continues to represent 40 percent while IBRD represents 60 percent of disbursements. Streamlined procedures, delegated approvals, coupled with flexible project design and intensified efforts by counterparts and Bank teams have contributed to the progress. Implementation is being guided by Bank teams working in parallel with other health related projects, including Additional Financing operations which have supported vaccine procurement and deployment efforts. OPS_TABLE_PDO_CURRENTPDO Project Development Objective (PDO) Original PDO The Project Development Objective (PDO) is to prevent, detect and respond to the threat posed by COVID-19 and strengthen national systems for public health preparedness in Gabon. OPS_TABLE_PDO_CURRENTPDO Summary Status of Financing (US$, Millions) Net Ln/Cr/Tf Approval Signing Effectiveness Closing Commitment Disbursed Undisbursed IBRD-93040 15-Oct-2021 23-Jun-2022 30-Jun-2024 12.00 0 12.00 IBRD-91240 15-May-2020 20-May-2020 27-May-2020 30-Jun-2024 9.00 9.34 .09 Policy Waiver(s) Does this restructuring trigger the need for any policy waiver(s)? No The World Bank GABON COVID-19 Strategic Preparedness and Response Project (SPRP) (P173927) I. PROJECT STATUS AND RATIONALE FOR RESTRUCTURING 1. The Project was approved by the World Bank's Board of Executive Directors on May 15, 2020, and was declared effective on May 27, 2020. The Project had a swift implementation reaching disbursement of 94.5 percent of funds by June 2021, nearly a year after effectiveness, due to signing of major procurement contracts to provide equipment and medical supplies to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. 2. The components of the project are the following: (i) Component 1: Emergency COVID-19 Response; (ii) Component 2: Supporting National and Sub-national, Prevention and Preparedness; and (iii) Component 3: Project Implementation and Monitoring. 3. The Project is financed by an IBRD loan of US$9 million equivalent. As of December 15, 2023, the Project had disbursed 99 percent of funds. The remaining funds shall be used to prepare the final completion report and cover expenses related to the final external audit. 4. Progress towards achievement of the Project Development Objective (PDO) is rated Satisfactory and the Overall Project Implementation is also rated Satisfactory. 5. Financial management performance is rated Satisfactory. Interim financial reports (IFR) have been submitted on time and found to be acceptable. 6. Procurement is rated Satisfactory. The World Bank team has diligently accompanied the client in monitoring completion of activities. 7. Environmental and social safeguards performance is Satisfactory, based on the following progress: i) two hazard studies and two notices of environmental and social impacts for the installation of four incinerators in four health structures, for which terms of reference had been vetted by the World Bank, were concluded; implementation of the subsequent activities will not be part of the Project.; (ii) the environmental specialist and the social specialist were hired; and (iii) all safeguards instruments, published at https://cntippee-gabon.org on July 7, 2021, continue to be publicly available to date. The World Bank GABON COVID-19 Strategic Preparedness and Response Project (SPRP) (P173927) 8. Additional financing (AF), in the amount of US$12 million equivalent, was approved on June 15, 2021. Delays related to the signing of the loan agreement, due to cabinet approval’s visa d’opportunité (granted in January 2022) and later by the suspension of disbursement due to arrears (lifted in March 2022) led to two extensions of the AF effectiveness deadline to March 21, 2023. The loan agreement for the AF ultimately lapsed as effectiveness conditions, namely ratification by Parliament, were never met. 9. With approval of the AF the Project closing date was extended to June 30, 2024, given that all activities under the parent project have been carried out, and because there will not be an AF, the borrower requested that the closing date of the Project be advanced to December 31, 2023. A mission was planned to be carried out in October 2023 to begin Project closing procedures, however the situation on the ground, including arrears, led to the World Bank initiating OP 7.30 with the Government of Gabon. In December 2023, the World Bank reengaged with the government to initiate Project closing. 10. During the health implementation support mission in December 2023, the World Bank and borrower discussed the process and timing of the borrower’s Project completion report, which was submitted on January 31, 2024. II. DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED CHANGES 11. The Project closing date will be advanced from June 30, 2024, to March 15, 2024, as per the request from the borrower dated June 26, 2023. The World Bank GABON COVID-19 Strategic Preparedness and Response Project (SPRP) (P173927) III. SUMMARY OF CHANGES Changed Not Changed Loan Closing Date(s) ✔ Implementation Schedule ✔ Implementing Agency ✔ DDO Status ✔ Project's Development Objectives ✔ MPA Program Development Objective ✔ MPA Expected Results and Indicators ✔ Results Framework ✔ Components and Cost ✔ Cancellations Proposed ✔ Reallocation between Disbursement Categories ✔ Disbursements Arrangements ✔ Disbursement Estimates ✔ Overall Risk Rating ✔ Legal Covenants ✔ Institutional Arrangements ✔ Financial Management ✔ Procurement ✔ Other Change(s) ✔ Economic and Financial Analysis ✔ Technical Analysis ✔ Social Analysis ✔ Environmental Analysis ✔ IV. DETAILED CHANGE(S) The World Bank GABON COVID-19 Strategic Preparedness and Response Project (SPRP) (P173927) MPA PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVE Current MPA Program Development Objective The Program Development Objective is to prevent, detect and respond to the threat posed by COVID-19 and strengthen national systems for public health preparedness EXPECTED MPA PROGRAM RESULTS Current Expected MPA Results and their Indicators for the MPA Program Progress towards the achievement of the PDO would be measured by outcome indicators. Individual country-specific projects (or phases) under the MPA Program will identify relevant indicators, including among others: • Country has activated their public health Emergency Operations Centre or a coordination mechanism for COVID-19; • Number of designated laboratories with COVID-19 diagnostic equipment, test kits, and reagents; • Number of acute healthcare facilities with isolation capacity; • Number of suspected cases of COVID-19 reported and investigated per approved protocol; • Number of diagnosed cases treated per approved protocol; • Personal and community non-pharmaceutical interventions adopted by the country (e.g., installation of handwashing facilities, provision of supplies and behavior change campaigns, continuity of water and sanitation service provision in public facilities and households, schools closures, telework and remote meetings, reduce/cancel mass gatherings); • Policies, regulations, guidelines, or other relevant government strategic documents incorporating a multi- sectoral health approach developed/or revised and adopted; • Multi-sectoral operational mechanism for coordinated response to outbreaks by human, animal and wildlife sectors in place; • Coordinated surveillance systems in place in the animal health and public health sectors for zoonotic diseases/pathogens identified as joint priorities; and • Mechanisms for responding to infectious and potential zoonotic diseases established and functional; and • Outbreak/pandemic emergency risk communication plan and activities developed and tested OPS_DETAILEDCHANGES_LOANCLOSING_TABLE The World Bank GABON COVID-19 Strategic Preparedness and Response Project (SPRP) (P173927) LOAN CLOSING DATE(S) Original Revised Proposed Proposed Deadline Ln/Cr/Tf Status Closing Closing(s) Closing for Withdrawal Applications IBRD-91240 Effective 30-Jun-2022 30-Jun-2024 15-Mar-2024 15-Jul-2024 IBRD-93040 Not Effective 30-Jun-2024 .