The World Bank Jordan Integrated Social Services for Vulnerable Youth (P163241) REPORT NO.: RES56335 RESTRUCTURING PAPER ON A PROPOSED PROJECT RESTRUCTURING OF JORDAN INTEGRATED SOCIAL SERVICES FOR VULNERABLE YOUTH APPROVED ON JUNE 6, 2017 TO MINISTRY OF PLANNING AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY AND INCLUSION MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA Regional Vice President: Ferid Belhaj Country Director: Jean-Christophe Carret Global Director: Louise J. Cord Practice Manager/Manager: Senait Nigiru Assefa Task Team Leader(s): Djeina Issa Kalidi, Lina Abdallah Saeed Abdallah The World Bank Jordan Integrated Social Services for Vulnerable Youth (P163241) ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS CBO Community-Based Organization FM Financial Management GAC Grant Approval Committee GoJ Government of Jordan IP Implementation Progress ISR Implementation Status & Results Report JSDF Japanese Social Development Fund M&E Monitoring and Evaluation MoPIC Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation MoY Ministry of Youth NGO Non-Governmental Organization WB World Bank The World Bank Jordan Integrated Social Services for Vulnerable Youth (P163241) BASIC DATA Product Information Project ID Financing Instrument P163241 Investment Project Financing Original EA Category Current EA Category Approval Date Current Closing Date 06-Jun-2017 31-May-2023 Organizations Borrower Responsible Agency Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation Financing (in USD Million) FIN_SUMM_PUB_TBL SUMMARY Total Project Cost 0 Total Financing 0 Financing Gap 0 DETAILS -NewFin3 Project Development Objective (PDO) Original PDO The project development objective is to improve the quality of life of vulnerable youth by increasing the provision of services to young people, by increasing the participation of youth in decision-making related to these services, and by empowering local NGOs/service providers and communities. OPS_TABLE_PDO_CURRENTPDO The World Bank Jordan Integrated Social Services for Vulnerable Youth (P163241) Summary Status of Financing (US$, Millions) Net TF Approval Signing Effectiveness Closing Commitment Disbursed Undisbursed TF-A5100 23-Jun-2017 23-Jun-2017 23-Jun-2017 31-May-2023 2.80 1.89 .91 Policy Waiver(s) Does this restructuring trigger the need for any policy waiver(s)? No I. PROJECT STATUS AND RATIONALE FOR RESTRUCTURING A. Project Background 1. The proposed restructuring is to extend the Grant closing date of the Jordan Integrated Social Services for Vulnerable Youth Project by six months, from May 31, 2023, to November 30, 2023. This is the second extension of the grant closing date for a cumulative 24-month extension of the original grant closing date. 2. The US$2.80 Million JSDF Grant for the Jordan Integrated Social Services for Vulnerable Youth Project was approved on June 6, 2017 and became effective on June 23, 2017. The Project Development Objective (PDO) is to improve the quality of life of vulnerable youth by: (i) increasing the provision of services to young people; (ii) increasing the participation of youth in decision-making related to these services; and (iii) empowering local non-governmental organizations (NGOs)/ service providers, community-based organizations (CBOs) and communities. The Project consists of three components:  Component 1 supports capacity-building for civil society partners serving youth by enhancing the capacity of NGOs and CBOs to provide services to youth through workshops and other learning events and exchanges.  Component 2 supports youth empowerment by providing small grants of up to US$40,000 to Community Based Organizations (CBOs) and service providers to empower youth and to improve the lives of vulnerable young people through civic participation, youth development, positive behavioral-change activities, improved social services and support to employability.  Component 3 supports project management, monitoring and evaluation, and knowledge dissemination. 3. Previous Project Restructuring. In November 2021, the grant closing date was extended from November 30, 2021 to May 31, 2023 to enable the remaining activities to be completed, including the second cycle of sub-grants and a youth hospitality training, which had been lagging owing to: (i) COVID-19 related restrictions and impacts, which slowed implementation; (ii) limited PMU staff capacity for regular field supervision; and (iii) the time required to make changes to accountabilities and payment procedures, following the transfer of PMU functions from the Ministry of Youth (MoY) to the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation (MoPIC). A second restructuring was completed in February The World Bank Jordan Integrated Social Services for Vulnerable Youth (P163241) 2023 to reallocate funds within the existing Grant categories to cover shortages in funding contracts for goods and training. B. Project Status 4. Overall implementation progress (IP) and progress towards achievement of PDO are moderately satisfactory. The end targets of three of the four PDO indicators have been surpassed. The remaining PDO level indicator is related to the satisfaction with youth services, which will be measured after completion of the remaining activities. Four of the six intermediate results indicator targets have been surpassed. The two remaining indicators are related to the number of sub-grants disbursed for youth-focused services and provided to local CBOs and service providers for youth empowerment activities. 5. Fiduciary and Safeguards. There are no overdue audit reports and no unresolved audit observations. Procurement activities have been carried out in accordance with applicable World Bank procurement regulations. No safeguards policies were triggered for this project; however, the PMU pays attention to ensuring that (i) grievance mechanism procedures are followed and (ii) the code of conduct is disseminated, signed off and adhered to by PMU and contractor staff. 6. Key achievements. By the project mid-term in September 2021, the PMU was able to complete the 15 sub-grants in the first phase to reach 3,411 beneficiaries (of which 62 percent were females), thereby surpassing the end of project target of 3,000. Skills-building training was delivered to all the direct beneficiaries, of whom 60 youth were subsequently provided volunteer opportunities as “Team Leader”. In addition, 80 capacity building activities were organized in 11 governorates, benefiting over 200 staff from the youth centers attached to the MoY, as well as members of the participating CBOs who implement the community sub-projects. The capacity building activities included training on proposal ideation and writing, budgeting, team building and leadership skills. Furthermore, since October 2022, a vocational training activity in youth skilling that focused on tourism and hospitality was provided by a specialized training NGO – the Jordan Heritage – on life skills, communication skills, time management, English for hospitality, hospitality management, digital tourism, and Eco-tourism. The vocational training benefited 50 youth (34 of whom were females) from the governorates of Petra, Ajloun, Jarash, Aqaba, and Madaba. Goods and equipment deemed essential for delivering the hospitality training were delivered to the five participating Youth Hostels attached to the MoY. 7. Remaining project activities include the implementation of the second phase of 25 sub-grants, which is expected to be completed by November 2023. Significant progress has been made in advancing the implementation of these sub- grants, including the completion of capacity building activities for Youth Centers and CBOs, and the approval of these sub-grants by the Grants Approval Committee (GAC); 22 of these grants have already been signed. While the Government assurances provided and the proposed implementation plan were deemed realistic at the time the last restructuring was approved in February 2023, the Project faced challenges related to: (i) Procurement lead times for the supply of goods and equipment required for the implementation of sub-grants activities. (ii) Financial instructions and the internal auditing process followed by the GoJ to proceed with payments in accordance with the sub-grants agreements between the youth centers and CBOs. (iii) An overall slowdown of activities by CBOs and other stakeholders during the holy month of Ramadan from March 22 to late April 2023. The World Bank Jordan Integrated Social Services for Vulnerable Youth (P163241) Implementation of the sub-grants and the remaining activities rely on the supply of training materials and goods deemed essential for delivering the trainings and capacity-building activities. The PMU has submitted a detailed timeline and work plan in April 2023, which takes into account the payment processing and procurement lead times according to the GoJ procedures that are being observed by the PMU. C. Rationale for Restructuring 8. The proposed restructuring is based on an official written request from the GoJ to the World Bank dated May 10, 2023, to extend the closing date by six months until November 30, 2023. The proposed extension of the grant closing date by six months to November 30, 2023, will allow sufficient time to implement the 25 sub-grants under the second phase of sub-grants and to achieve the end targets of the remaining PDO indicators and intermediate results indicators. 9. MoY and MoPIC showed strong leadership to advance project activities since the previous restructuring. The proposed limited additional time of six months will enable the consolidation of these efforts to complete the remaining activities, as well as fulfill the expectations raised with the CBOs and at the community level. It will also provide the PMU the time required to complete the reporting requirements, including the drafting of the Borrower’s implementation completion report, while sustaining the productive partnership with relevant stakeholders and beneficiaries towards an adequate measurement and communications of project results. 10. As per requirements set forth in the November 2021 project restructuring, the GoJ has reaffirmed its commitment to: (i) maintain the core PMU functions during the extension period through the government budget (in the absence of available budget under the project to support consultancy costs); and (ii) extend the lump-sum contract of the Lead NGO, i.e., Generations for Peace, to support the implementation, capacity-building efforts, communications and reporting of the second phase of sub-grant activities at no cost until the proposed new closing date. II. DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED CHANGES 11. Extension of the Grant closing date. The current Grant closing date of May 31, 2023, will be extended until November 30, 2023. 12. Adjustment of disbursement estimates and implementation schedule. As a result of the change in the project implementation timeline and the proposed closing date extension, the disbursement estimates are proposed to be updated as shown in Section IV. The Bank considers the detailed timeline and work plan submitted by the PMU to be realistic. 13. Adjustment of the end target dates for the results indicators. The end target dates of the results indicators are proposed to be revised, where relevant, in line with the proposed new closing date. The World Bank Jordan Integrated Social Services for Vulnerable Youth (P163241) III. SUMMARY OF CHANGES Changed Not Changed Results Framework ✔ Loan Closing Date(s) ✔ Disbursement Estimates ✔ Implementation Schedule ✔ Implementing Agency ✔ Project's Development Objectives ✔ Components and Cost ✔ Cancellations Proposed ✔ Additional Financing Proposed ✔ Reallocation between Disbursement Categories ✔ Disbursements Arrangements ✔ Change in Overall Risk Rating ✔ Safeguard Policies Triggered ✔ EA category ✔ Legal Covenants ✔ Institutional Arrangements ✔ Financial Management ✔ Procurement ✔ Other Change(s) ✔ Economic and Financial Analysis ✔ Technical Analysis ✔ Social Analysis ✔ Environmental Analysis ✔ IV. DETAILED CHANGE(S) OPS_DETAILEDCHANGES_RESULTS_TABLE RESULTS FRAMEWORK Project Development Objective Indicators The World Bank Jordan Integrated Social Services for Vulnerable Youth (P163241) PDO_IND_TABLE Youth beneficiaries employed through community projects Unit of Measure: Number Indicator Type: Custom Baseline Actual (Current) End Target Action Value 0.00 0.00 3000.00 Revised Date 01-Jun-2017 30-Sep-2021 30-Nov-2023 Direct project beneficiaries Unit of Measure: Number Indicator Type: Custom Baseline Actual (Current) End Target Action Value 0.00 2763.00 3000.00 Revised Date 01-Jun-2017 30-Sep-2021 30-Nov-2023 Female beneficiaries Unit of Measure: Percentage Indicator Type: Custom Supplement Baseline Actual (Current) End Target Action Value 0.00 62.00 50.00 No Change Satisfaction with youth services Unit of Measure: Percentage Indicator Type: Custom Baseline Actual (Current) End Target Action Value 0.00 0.00 65.00 Revised Date 01-Jun-2017 30-Sep-2021 30-Nov-2023 Number of staff of local NGOs, CBOs, benefiting from capacity building Unit of Measure: Number Indicator Type: Custom Baseline Actual (Current) End Target Action Value 0.00 120.00 200.00 Revised Date 01-Jun-2017 30-Sep-2021 30-Nov-2023 The World Bank Jordan Integrated Social Services for Vulnerable Youth (P163241) Intermediate Indicators IO_IND_TABLE Number of capacity building workshops for institutions serving youth Unit of Measure: Number Indicator Type: Custom Baseline Actual (Current) End Target Action Value 0.00 40.00 80.00 Revised Date 01-Jun-2017 30-Sep-2021 30-Nov-2023 Number of staff of local NGOs, CBOs and service providers trained Unit of Measure: Number Indicator Type: Custom Baseline Actual (Current) End Target Action Value 0.00 120.00 200.00 Revised Date 01-Jun-2017 30-Sep-2021 30-Nov-2023 Number of sub-grants disbursed for Youth-focused services Unit of Measure: Number Indicator Type: Custom Baseline Actual (Current) End Target Action Value 0.00 15.00 20.00 Revised Date 01-Jun-2017 30-Sep-2021 30-Nov-2023 Number of youth directly benefitting from sub-grant service provision activities Unit of Measure: Number Indicator Type: Custom Baseline Actual (Current) End Target Action Value 0.00 1380.00 1500.00 Revised Date 01-Jun-2017 30-Sep-2021 30-Nov-2023 Number of sub-grants provided to local CBOs and service providers for youth empowerment activities Unit of Measure: Number Indicator Type: Custom Baseline Actual (Current) End Target Action Value 0.00 15.00 20.00 Revised The World Bank Jordan Integrated Social Services for Vulnerable Youth (P163241) Date 01-Jun-2017 30-Sep-2021 30-Nov-2023 Number of youth directly benefitting from sub-grant empowerment activities Unit of Measure: Number Indicator Type: Custom Baseline Actual (Current) End Target Action Value 0.00 1380.00 1500.00 Revised Date 01-Jun-2017 30-Sep-2021 30-Nov-2023 OPS_DETAILEDCHANGES_LOANCLOSING_TABLE LOAN CLOSING DATE(S) Original Revised Proposed Proposed Deadline TF Status Closing Closing(s) Closing for Withdrawal Applications 30-Nov-2021, 31- TF-A5100 Effective 31-May-2020 30-Nov-2023 30-Mar-2024 May-2023 OPS_DETAILEDCHANGES_DISBURSEMENT_TABLE DISBURSEMENT ESTIMATES Change in Disbursement Estimates Yes Expected Disbursements (In US$) Fiscal Year Annual Cumulative 2017 0.00 0.00 2018 0.00 0.00 2019 0.00 0.00 2020 0.00 0.00 2021 0.00 0.00 2022 0.00 0.00 2023 0.00 0.00 2024 0.00 0.00 The World Bank Jordan Integrated Social Services for Vulnerable Youth (P163241) Note to Task Teams: End of system generated content, document is editable from here.