ROMANIA Reimbursable Advisory Services Agreement on Romania Territorial Impact Assessment RAS (P172820) Output 1c - Report with recommendations for proposals to revise the Danube Delta Strategy and Action Plan April 2022 Disclaimer This report is a product of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/the World Bank. The findings, interpretation, and conclusions expressed in this paper do not necessarily reflect the views of the Executive Directors of the World Bank or the governments they represent. The World Bank does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this work. This report does not necessarily represent the position of the European Union or of the Government of Romania. Copyright Statement The material in this publication is copyrighted. Copying and/or transmitting portions of this work without permission may be a violation of applicable laws. For permission to photocopy or reprint any part of this work, please send a request with the complete information to either: (i) Ministry of Development, Public Works and Administration (Str. Apolodor 17, Bucharest, Romania); or (ii) the World Bank Group Romania (Vasile Lascăr Street, No 31, Et 6, Sector 2, Bucharest, Romania). Acknowledgements This report is delivered in April 2022 under the Advisory Services Agreement on the Territorial Impact Assessment, signed between the Ministry of Development, Public Works and Administration and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development on December 9, 2019. The report has been developed under the guidance and supervision of Cristoph Pusch (Practice Manager, Social, Urban, Rural and Resilience, Europe and Central Asia) and of Anna Akhalkatsi (Country Manager, Romania and Hungary). The report has been prepared by a team coordinated by Ellen Hamilton (Lead Urban Specialist) and consisting of Carli Venter (Senior Urban Development Specialist), Corina Dovancescu (Urban Expert), Cristina Zamfir (Policy Expert), Bogdan Topan (Policy Expert) and Alexander Bojneagu (Development Expert). The team would like to express its gratitude for the cooperation, guidance and excellent opinions and suggestions received in a timely manner from the representatives of the Ministry of Development, Public Works and Administration, especially towards Minister Attila Cseke, General Director Alexandru Soare, Director Liviu Băileșteanu, head of office Radu Necșuliu and also to Daniel Vâlceanu, Amalia Virdol, Beniamin Stoica, Georgiana Toth, Emilia Milutinovici, Alina Huzui and Cătălina Păun. The team would also like to express its gratitude to the team of the Intercommunity Development Association Integrated Territorial Investments of the Danube Delta, especially Mr. Ilie Petre, President of ADI ITI Danube Delta and Mr. Mircea-Sorin Zaharcu, ITI Coordinator and the entire ADI ITI DD technical team. 2|Page Table of Contents Executive Summary................................................................................................................................. 3 1. Context of the Project...................................................................................................................... 6 1.1. Previous World Bank missions in the ITI Danube Delta territory ........................................... 6 1.2. Recalibration of the Strategy in the context of a new programming period.......................... 8 2. Rapid assessment and suggested methodological approach for the re-calibration of SIDDDD ..... 9 2.1. Rapid assessment of the current situation in the ITI DD region ............................................. 9 2.2. Suggested methodological approach for the recalibration of SIDD DD ............................... 10 3. Updated Logic of Intervention ....................................................................................................... 12 4. Coherence with EU and national priorities.................................................................................... 29 5. Action Plan ..................................................................................................................................... 32 6. Financial Implications .................................................................................................................... 33 7. Suggested list of indicators ............................................................................................................ 35 8. Governance and Institutional Arrangements ................................................................................ 43 8.1. Implementation .................................................................................................................... 43 8.2. Monitoring and evaluation ................................................................................................... 43 Annex 1. Updated socio-economic analysis..................................................................................... 46 Annex 2. Progress achieved during the period 2016-2020 .............................................................. 54 Annex 3. Links among SIDD DD strategic & sector specific objectives and EU policy & specific objectives ........................................................................................................................................... 69 Figures Figure 1: Contracted amounts, by Sectors (EU Funds + State Budget) (EUR) ......................................................... 9 Figure 2: Links among vision, strategic objectives, pillars and sectors ................................................................. 12 Tables Table 1. Updated Logic of Intervention (Level 2: Sectors, Specific Objectives and Interventions) ...................... 13 Table 2: Number of planned projects per strategic objectives, pillars and sectors ............................................. 32 Table 3: Financial implications for the second phase of implementation ............................................................ 33 Table 4. List of indicators suggested for the second phase of implementation ................................................... 35 Table 5: Expected results of monitoring and evaluation ...................................................................................... 44 Table 6: Suggested monitoring and evaluation activities and responsible institutions ....................................... 44 Table 7: Indicative list of evaluation themes and suggested timeline .................................................................. 45 Table 8: List of Indicators and Interim Progress ................................................................................................... 54 Executive Summary 3|Page Context of this Report In 2013, the World Bank (WB) received a request for technical assistance from the Ministry of Development, Public Works and Administration (MDPWA) of Romania to provide support in the preparation of the inputs towards a strategy for the Danube Delta and its surrounding regions for the period 2016-2030. The Strategy was subsequently approved through Government Decision no. 602/2016. To ensure the successful implementation of the Strategy for Integrated Sustainable Development in Danube Delta (SIDDDD), various instruments and institutions were also put into effect in parallel. Key among these were the Integrated Territorial Investments (ITI) mechanism and the Inter-Community Development Association for ITI Danube Delta (ADI ITI DD). Taken together, the Strategy, the ITI mechanism, and the ADI ITI in the Danube Delta region laid the foundation of an integrated regional development program – the first of its kind in Romania. In 2022, WB was requested to provide inputs for a re-calibrated strategy, taking into consideration: (i) the lessons learned stemming from previous WB missions, including an interim evaluation of the Strategy performed in 2020; (ii) the updated needs at the level of ITI DD region, as resulted from the socio-economic analysis and from the stakeholders consultations performed by ADI ITI DD; (iii) and also the new programs and financial sources for the new programming period. In the context of a new programming period at EU level, MDPWA was keen to assess the alignment of the Strategy with the commitments undertaken by the Romanian authorities for the upcoming years, expressed through national and regional Operational Programmes, as well as the relevance of the Strategy, seven years after its inception. The discussions revealed that the content of the strategy is still partly actual and needs to be tailored to the needs of the current socio-economic context. This conclusion was based on the current systemic issues at the level of the ADI ITI DD, as well as on the lessons learned from the previous programming period coupled with the implementation status of the aforementioned document. Methodological Approach The methodological approach was developed to respond to the very tight deadlines for the submission of a re-calibrated strategy; but also took into consideration the need of having a robust planning for the second phase of SIDDDD implementation. The WB mission started with a rapid assessment of the current situation, which revealed the following: (i) the general and sectorial specific objectives set by the SIDDDD are still relevant; however, the portfolio of projects should be further developed, in order to better reflect the ambitious objectives set by the Strategy; and (ii) based on discussions with SIDDDD stakeholders, the implementation of the Strategy will continue to rely to a large extent on the availability of EU Funds, through ITI mechanism; and therefore the eligibility of the planned interventions should be verified and agreed with the Managing Authorities of the Romanian Operational Programmes 2021-2027. Consequently, during the period January-March 2022, the WB team established weekly working meetings with MDPWA and ADI ITI DD for the following activities: • Assessing the relevancy and external coherence of the SIDDDD and suggesting possible adjustments to the logic of intervention; • Developing the Action Plan, including the portfolio of projects, for the second phase of implementation; 4|Page • Identifying the financial implications for the second phase of implementation, along with possible sources of funding; • Updating the list of indicators, using the RACER criteria (relevant to the objectives to be reached; accepted by stakeholders; credible and easy to interpret; easy to monitor at a low cost; and robust against manipulation); • Mapping the institutional arrangements for the second phase of implementation. Inputs for a re-calibrated Strategy The joint efforts of MDPWA, ADI ITI DD and WB teams led to the following results: 1. Updated socio-economic analysis. The updated socio-economic analysis revealed the need to continue the implementation of the Strategy in the ITI DD region based on a multi-sectorial approach. Completed measures and connected financial allocations during the period 2016 - 2021 were concentrated mainly towards transport infrastructure and rural development; while other sectorial challenges remained less obvious at that time, due either to the conditionalities in the Operational Programmes and National Programmes, to the late opening of dedicated calls, or to the long periods of contracting projects. 2. Updated logic of intervention. While the general and specific objectives set by the Strategy are considered relevant for the upcoming years, some changes were recommended at intervention level, in order to ensure a better link with the initiatives suggested by the local stakeholders and with the available funding programs. 3. Action plan for the period 2022-2030. The main deliverable produced under this exercise is the action plan, including an overview of completed, ongoing and planned projects, for the period 2016-2030, along with financial implications and possible sources of funding. It should be noted, however, that this deliverable is subject to further changes, based on the ongoing discussions with the local stakeholders and with the regional and national authorities managing the funding programs. 4. Updated system of indicators. The Strategy included a long list of output and result indicators. However, the previous WB mission revealed that they were not actively used for monitoring the implementation of the strategy; in some cases because required data could not be aggregated at territorial level. As such, for the second phase of implementation, the list was trimmed to those indicators compliant with RACER criteria, and in particular to the criterion “easy to monitor: data collection should be possible at a low cost”. The system of indicators should be relevant to monitor the progress towards the planned objectives; yet the required efforts should take into consideration the availability of resources – financial and human - for monitoring and evaluation activities. This report also includes an overview of the current institutional arrangements for the implementation of the strategy and re-iterates the recommendations provided during the previous WB missions for the operationalization of the monitoring and evaluation framework. A database with specific information at project level was also developed as part of this exercise, for an easier track of all project-related information. 5|Page 1. Context of the Project 1.1. Previous World Bank missions in the ITI Danube Delta territory P1. In 2013, the World Bank (WB) received a request for technical assistance from the Ministry of Development, Public Works and Administration (MDPWA) of Romania to provide support in the preparation of the inputs towards a strategy for the Danube Delta and its surrounding regions for the period 2016-2030. P2. The strategy was subsequently approved through Government Decision no 602/2016. To ensure the successful implementation of the Strategy for Integrated Sustainable Development in Danube Delta (SIDDDD), various instruments and institutions were also put into effect in parallel. Key among these were the Integrated Territorial Investments (ITI) mechanism and the Inter-Community Development Association for ITI Danube Delta (IDA ITI DD). Taken together, the strategy, the ITI, and the IDA ITI in the Danube Delta region laid the foundation of an integrated regional development program – the first of its kind in Romania. P3. In 2020, MDPWA was keen to understand the overall physical and financial progress of the implementation of the SIDDDD and opportunities for improvement in lead up towards the next programming period. P4. To this end World Bank performed an Interim Evaluation of the strategy, from which we can retrieve the following recommendations: Box 1: Recommendations retrieved from World Bank Report on the analysis of a local development strategy: Danube Delta Integrated Sustainable Development Strategy, issued in July 2020 P5. Recommendation 1 (External coherence) : Re-evaluate the external coherence with European Union, national and local strategies, at the beginning of the new programming period. This recommendation considers the fact that, for each programming period, new objectives are established at European Union level, which are then translated into the national and regional strategies. It is noted that it is unlikely that the overall SIDDDD will be updated (given cumbersome approval processes – previously 2 years), however various implementation support documents (i.e. action plan, financial plan, etc.) could be updated to ensure relevance. P6. Recommendation 2 (Relevance): Update the needs assessment, in the context of the future impact evaluation, in order to identify the needs that have already been addressed through the first set of contracted projects and the needs that remain during the second phase of implementation. Moreover, a quantification of remaining needs would better serve for the financial planning of the strategy and for setting the final targets. P7. Recommendation 3 (Relevance): Update the supporting implementation documents, in anticipation of a future impact assessment. The strategy should be a “living” document, highly responsive to the changing needs of the society. As noted in recommendation 1, while the regular update of the strategy document is not practical, supporting documents towards implementation could be regularly reviewed and updated to ensure relevance. P8. Recommendations 4 (Internal coherence): Provide a clearer representation of the logic of intervention, to be used by different stakeholders and beneficiaries, in implementation and monitoring. A reconstruction of the logical framework was already performed in the context of this project. However, updates may be necessary once the final list of indicators is approved. Moreover, for the future programming period, it is also recommended to further assess the links between objectives and selected projects. P9. Recommendation 5 (Efficiency): Strategic and implementation documents should include the entire budget of the Danube Delta Strategy for the period 2016-2030, needed and available, split by pillars, sectors and, where possible, by interventions. This would allow to assess the adequacy of available financial resources compared to the identified needs and planned interventions. 6|Page P10. Recommendation 6 (Efficiency): Implementation and monitoring documents should include the planning of the available budget by years, to allow the tracking of possible deviations and the necessity for corrective actions (including the risk of decommitment with regards to European Union Funds). P11. Recommendation 7 (Efficiency): Financial progress should be evaluated throughout implementation and, where needed, reallocations should be performed. Danube Delta Strategy has a long horizon and therefore budgetary adjustments may be needed, based on contextual changes (e.g. the ongoing Covid-19 crisis may generate a different prioritizations of investments), on the new needs that may arise, or additional financial resources identified throughout implementation. P12. Recommendation 8 (System of indicators): Set additional result indicators, to capture all sectorial specific objectives. Result indicators should reflect the overall progress of the strategy, not only the objectives with financial allocations. The system of indicators can rely both on quantitative result indicators (to be added and monitored by IDA ITI in Danube Delta), and qualitative result indicators (to be added and assessed by the external evaluation team, in the context of future progress and impact assessments). P13. Recommendation 9 (System of indicators): Set additional output indicators, as per need, to capture the majority of interventions. The current list of output indicators is set based on the ongoing or completed projects. Additional indicators may be required after the approval of the new financing lines, in order to capture most interventions (at least 75% of the total budget of the strategy). Although it is not recommended to have indicators in relation to each of the 136 interventions, a closer monitoring is required for interventions with high financial allocations. P14. Recommendation 10 (System of indicators): Finalize the system of indicators (far advanced during this evaluation process) with guidelines for data collection and monitoring. For all indicators, the following information should be provided: title of the indicator; measurement unit; baseline; intermediate and final targets; source of information; definition; computation methodologies; aggregation methodologies; responsible for data collection, aggregation and reporting; deadlines for data collection, aggregation and reporting. P15. Recommendation 11 (Effectiveness): Identify the root cause for the limited physical progress of the strategy and select appropriate remediation actions. Remediation actions at strategy level may include: advance planning of implementation mechanisms for the next programming period; technical assistance for beneficiaries, including capacity building projects; communication of funding opportunities by multiple means; increased number and capacity of human resources involved in implementing and monitoring the strategy; clear roles and procedures for monitoring the strategy. Remediation actions at project level may include closer evaluation and guidance for submitted projects and improved guidelines for beneficiaries. P16. Recommendation 12 (Effectiveness): Select the appropriate methods for improving the strategy’s spending level, while taking into consideration the challenges associated to each method. Methods at strategy level may include: overcommitment of strategy funds; additional and/ or targeted calls for project proposals; waiting (reserve) list of projects. Methods at the project level may include closer monitoring of projects’ spending and mid-term assessment of projects’ spending; decommitment of projects’ budgets with low spending level; additional allocations to already running projects. P17. Recommendation 13 (Institutional arrangements): Further improve the governance of Danube Delta Strategy and of the Integrated Territorial Investment mechanism in line with the results of the analysis conducted by the Ministry of European Funds. Further improvements may be envisaged with regards to procedural aspects (i.e. delegation of clear tasks and deadlines for partner institutions). P18. Recommendation 14 (Monitoring and evaluation function): Develop a monitoring and evaluation procedure, defining clear responsibilities for each institution involved in implementing Danube Delta Strategy. The strategy defines in general terms the responsibilities of each institution; however, a specific procedure for monitoring and evaluation would better guide the collection and aggregation of data at local level, as well as the planning and follow-up for the external evaluations. P19. Recommendation 15 (Monitoring and evaluation function): Grant access to relevant data to all institution in charge of monitoring and evaluation. Currently, the monitoring data related to implemented projects are collected by Managing Authorities (MA), in relation to each Operational Programme. In order to assess the 7|Page progress of the Danube Delta Strategy, these data should be aggregated at local level, by the strategy owners. For that purpose, the institution in charge with monitoring Danube Delta Strategy (i.e. MDPWA) should have access to financing contracts, financing requests, progress reports and any other monitoring data submitted by beneficiaries, including the progress of indicators. P20. Recommendation 16 (Monitoring and evaluation function): Develop and communicate the evaluation plan for Danube Delta Strategy. The evaluation plan should include the following elements: indicative list of evaluations to be undertaken, their subject and rationale; methods to be used for the individual evaluations and their data requirements; provisions that data required for certain evaluations will be available or will be collected; a timetable; a strategy to ensure use and communication of evaluations; human resources involved in monitoring and evaluation; the indicative budget for implementation of the evaluation plan; and possibly a training plan. 1.2. Recalibration of the Strategy in the context of a new programming period P21. In January 2021, the World Bank was engaged to provide further technical assistance to MDPWA, in view of the new programming period 2021-2027. P22. This mission is aimed at providing inputs for a re-calibrated strategy, taking into consideration: (1) the lessons learned stemming from previous World Bank missions; (2) the updated needs at the level of ITI DD region; and also (3) Romania’s commitments to contribute to the objectives set at EU level for the programming period 2021-2027. P23. In particular, the following activities were envisaged: • Performing a rapid assessment on the relevancy and external coherence of the SIDD DD and suggesting possible adjustments to the logic of intervention (see Chapter 2 and 3); • Providing support in defining the Action Plan, including the portfolio of projects, for the second phase of implementation (see Chapter 4); • Providing support in identifying the financial implications during the second phase of implementation (see Chapter 5); • Suggesting an updated list of indicators, using the RACER criteria (relevant to the objectives to be reached; accepted by stakeholders; credible and easy to interpret; easy to monitor at a low cost; and robust against manipulation) (see Chapter 6); • Mapping the institutional mechanism for the second phase of implementation (see Chapter 7). 8|Page 2. Rapid assessment and suggested methodological approach for the re-calibration of SIDDDD 2.1. Rapid assessment of the current situation in the ITI DD region P24. A rapid assessment of the current situation in the ITI DD region, performed in January 2021, revealed the following aspects: P25. Key Finding 1: The general and sectorial specific objectives set by the SIDD DD 2016-2030 are still relevant for the region. However, the action plan – and more specifically the portfolio of projects – should be updated, in order to better reflect the ambitious objectives, set by the strategy. P26. The programming document SIDD DD 2016-2030 identified the particularities of the targeted geographical area (linked to natural resource assets and socio-economic challenges) and was based on an extensive initial diagnosis. Proposed interventions covered all sectors1 driving the territorial development, while seeking a balance between protecting the unique natural and cultural values of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve and meeting the aspirations of the region's inhabitants to improve their living conditions and seek better economic opportunities. P27. On the other hand, as expressed in the Interim Evaluation conducted by the World Bank in 2020, the portfolio of projects for the period 2016 – 2020 covered only a very limited number of the planned interventions, most funds being directed towards transport infrastructure and rural development (conclusion linked to “effectiveness criterion”). In addition, the scope of the contracted projects seemed rather limited compared to the ambitious strategic objectives2 and did not reflect the commitment towards a more sustainable environment, expressed at EU, national and territorial level (conclusions linked to the “relevance criterion”). Figure 1: Contracted amounts, by Sectors (EU Funds + State Budget) (EUR) Source: Monitoring data provided by ADI ITI DD, March 2020 (retrieved from previous WB mission) 1 The sectors covered by the strategy are: (A) Biodiversity and Ecosystem Management, (B) Energy Efficiency, (C) Climate Change, (D) Disaster Risk Management, (E) Pollution Emergency, (F) Tourism, (G) Fishery and Aquaculture, (H) Agriculture and Rural Development, (I) Transport, (J) Information and Communication Technology, (K) Water Supply and Sewerage Systems and Integrated Water Management, (L) Solid Waste Management, (M) Healthcare, (N) Education, (O) Social Inclusion and Protection, (P) Administrative Capacity and Program Management. P1. 2The two strategic objectives of the SIDDDD are: (1) “Conserve the unique environmental assets through scientifically guided environmental management, and by empowering the local communities to be proactive guardians of this unique global heritage” and (2) “Develop a green and inclusive local economy, based on sustainable consumption and protection, resource efficient, capitalizing on the area's comparative advantages, supported by improved public services”. 9|Page P28. Based on the above, we can conclude that the action plan – including the portfolio of projects - should be updated in order to better evidence the concentration of efforts towards the pressing challenges identified by the strategy; with a focus on the objectives not yet tackled and / or objectives considered a priority based on the national and territorial commitments and consultations with local stakeholders and potential beneficiaries. P29. Key Finding 2: Based on discussions with SIDD DD stakeholders (MDPWA, MIPE and ADI ITI DD), during the second part of implementation, the strategy will continue to rely – to a large extent - on the availability of EU Funds, through ITI mechanism. As such, the eligibility of the planned interventions should be verified with the Managing Authorities of the Romanian Operational Programmes 2021-2027. P30. More precisely, proposed measures under the ITI mechanism should ensure compliance and eligibility with: (1) EU Regulation 2021/1060 of the European Parliament and of the Council, laying down common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund Plus, the Cohesion Fund, the Just Transition Fund and the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund; and in particular with (2) the Romanian Operational Programmes 2021-2027, expressing the objectives and interventions selected at national and territorial level. 2.2. Suggested methodological approach for the recalibration of SIDD DD P31. Taking into consideration the above, the following steps of actions were identified: No Action Scope 1 Updating the socio-economic analysis based on This analysis will be used to further inform the need for a indicators made available through the Territorial continuation of planned interventions in the ITI DD region. Observatory and indicators collected during previous M&E exercises. Note: Results are presented in Annex 1 (socio-economic analysis) and Annex 2 (progress achieved during the period 2016-2020) 2 Consultations with local stakeholders (ongoing Consultations will have multiple objectives: process, performed by ADI ITI DD) - validate that interventions proposed by the strategy are still considered relevant by the local stakeholders; - prioritize the most stringent interventions for the upcoming years; - develop a database with projects planned for the period 2022-2030. Note: Results are incorporated and presented in Chapter 3 (Updated logic of intervention) and Annex 4 (Action Plan for the second phase of implementation) 3 Updating the Action Plan, including the portfolio of The Action Plan will include: (1) the (updated) list of projects for the period 2022-2030 interventions; along with (2) projects contracted during the first phase of implementation (completed and ongoing); (3) projects planned for the second phase of implementation (as identified during consultations with local stakeholders performed by ADI ITI DD); and (4) (possible) sources of financing. Note: Results are presented in Annex 4 (Action Plan for the second phase of implementation) 10 | P a g e No Action Scope 4 Estimating financial implications for the period The financial implications of the strategy will be 2022-2030 and identifying possible sources of determined based on the project portfolio and on the funding overview of available EU national funds. Note: Financial implications for the period 2022-2030 are centralized in Chapter 5. Further details are included in Annex 4 (Action Plan for the second phase of implementation) 5 Updating the list of indicators The progress of the Strategy will be monitored based on a limited number of output and result indicators, taking into consideration the resources available for monitoring activities, but also the need to have a general overview on the status of implementation. Note: Suggested indicators are presented in Chapter 6. 6 Governance and institutional arrangements The governance and institutional arrangements established for the first phase of implementation are expected to be maintained also in the upcoming period. However, the inter-institutional mechanisms should be strengthened in order to allow for a better monitoring of the strategy. Note: An overview of the institutional arrangements for the second phase of implementation is included in Chapter 7. 11 | P a g e 3. Updated Logic of Intervention P32. As anticipated in the previous chapter, and further detailed in Annexes 1 and 2 of this Report, the updated socio-economic analysis reveals the need to continue the implementation of the Strategy in the ITI DD region based on a multi-sectorial approach. P33. The Strategy was drafted in the period 2013-2016, based on an extensive Diagnostic Report, which outlined opportunities and constraints for the study area. The next step was the Vision report, which captured a forward looking ideal of where the community wants to be and what the region has the potential to be. Based on these inputs, two strategic objectives were derived, with focus on maintaining the unique natural values through an adequate management involving local communities, on one hand, and developing local green inclusive economies based on sustainable and efficient use of resources, on the other hand. As presented in the Figure 2 below, the two strategic objectives are connected to five pillars and 16 Sectors. The two strategic objectives are further split into 52 sectorial specific objectives and 136 planned interventions. Figure 2: Links among vision, strategic objectives, pillars and sectors Source: Retrieved from World Bank Report on the analysis of a local development strategy: Danube Delta Integrated Sustainable Development Strategy, issued in July 2020 P34. However, for the second phase of implementation, some changes are suggested at the level of interventions, in order to better respond to the current needs expressed by the local stakeholders, as well as to ensure alignment with the available sources of funding at EU and national level (please refer to Table 1 below). 12 | P a g e Table 1. Updated Logic of Intervention (Level 2: Sectors, Specific Objectives and Interventions) Note: Changes at the level of interventions are marked with this color. Current title of Interventions Updated title of Interventions Priority3 Comments Sector A. Biodiversity and Ecosystem Management Specific Objective A.1 Developing of the planning and biodiversity and ecosystem management capacity (including monitoring) Specific Objective A.2 Preserving, protecting and capitalizing the natural heritage and combating/reducing the impact of the anthropic polluting activities Specific Objective A.3 Developing research, education and training in biodiversity and natural heritage protection fields Specific Objective A.4 Supporting eco-friendly Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) I.1 Development and implementation of measures to reduce I.1 Development and implementation of measures to reduce the High the amount of waste in natural areas amount of waste in natural areas I.2 Marking and signaling of strictly protected areas and buffer I.2 Marking and signaling of strictly protected areas and buffer High zones, sport fishing areas, canals and lakes, camping and zones, sport fishing areas, canals and lakes, camping and parking parking areas, etc. and the implementation of a monitoring areas, etc. and the implementation of a monitoring and and information system, including technology, such as motion- information system, including technology, such as motion- activated cameras, observation towers, etc. activated cameras, observation towers, etc. I.3 Improving evidence-based management by developing and I.3 Improving evidence-based management by developing and High implementing a modern / efficient monitoring system and a implementing a modern / efficient monitoring system and a predictive model for sediment dynamics in the Danube Delta predictive model for sediment dynamics in the Danube Delta I.4 A detailed institutional review (functioning review) of the I.4 A detailed institutional review (functioning review) of the High DDBRA and related administrative reforms, in order to improve DDBRA and related administrative reforms, in order to improve its managerial performance and the legislative framework its managerial performance and the legislative framework governing the management of the DDBRA area, to enable governing the management of the DDBRA area, to enable residents to become active participants in the protection and residents to become active participants in the protection and management of natural resources. Capacity building measures management of natural resources. Capacity building measures for communities and DDBRAs for communities and DDBRAs I.5 Works for the restoration and optimization of the I.5 Works for the restoration and optimization of the Medium hydrological regime in the Danube Delta, including equipment hydrological regime in the Danube Delta, including equipment and operational costs for physical interventions in order to and operational costs for physical interventions in order to 3 In line with prioritization approach suggested in the “ Action Plan for including priority projects to implement the strategy” issued by the World Bank in 2015 13 | P a g e Current title of Interventions Updated title of Interventions Priority3 Comments restore the natural circulation of water and areas with restore the natural circulation of water and areas with important habitats important habitats I.6 Restoration of ecological systems and natural habitat within I.6 Restoration of ecological systems and natural habitat within Medium the Natura 2000 network, including in lakes in natural lake the Natura 2000 network, including in lakes in natural lake complexes, affected by flooding processes caused by complexes, affected by flooding processes caused by anthropogenic interventions, through ecological clearing and anthropogenic interventions, through ecological clearing and reconstruction works, for species subject to conservation reconstruction works, for species subject to conservation concerns together with the development of an integrated concerns together with the development of an integrated monitoring system covering the entire DD area (including monitoring system covering the entire DD area (including cross- cross-border areas), supporting evidence-based decision- border areas), supporting evidence-based decision-making and making and community participation community participation I.7 Studies and Technical Assistance for the conservation of I.7 Studies and Technical Assistance for the conservation of Medium biodiversity and the restoration of ecosystems and natural biodiversity and the restoration of ecosystems and natural habitats within the Natura 2000 network affected by habitats within the Natura 2000 network affected by anthropogenic impacts anthropogenic impacts I.8 Identification of additional polders, eligible for ecological I.8 Identification of additional polders, eligible for ecological Medium restoration. These will include feasibility studies and technical restoration. These will include feasibility studies and technical projects for the restoration of natural habitats affected by non- projects for the restoration of natural habitats affected by non- ecological activities in agricultural, fishing and forestry polders ecological activities in agricultural, fishing and forestry polders - - full or partial ecological restoration works full or partial ecological restoration works I.9 Studies of capitalization of natural capital to establish the I.9 Studies of capitalization of natural capital to establish the Medium most valuable uses of land and natural resources for optimal most valuable uses of land and natural resources for optimal management management I.10 Reforestation of areas where natural forest vegetation has I.10 Reforestation of areas where natural forest vegetation has Low disappeared or degraded disappeared or degraded I.11 Investments in support of local action to reduce nitrate I.11 Investments in support of local action to reduce nitrate Low pollution of waterways, pollution from agricultural activities pollution of waterways, pollution from agricultural activities and and animal husbandry animal husbandry I.12 Establishment of the International Center for Advanced I.12 Establishment of the International Center for Advanced Low Studies for River Systems DANUBIUS-RI Studies for River Systems DANUBIUS-RI I.13 Integrated pest management development and I.13 Integrated pest management development and Low implementation of an integrated mosquito control strategy implementation of an integrated mosquito control strategy I.14 Integrated reed management strategy I.14 Integrated reed management strategy Low 14 | P a g e Current title of Interventions Updated title of Interventions Priority3 Comments Sector B. Energy Efficiency Specific Objective B.1 Increasing the energy efficiency of the study area in economic, residential and public buildings and public service provision fields Specific Objective B.2 Increasing the use of renewable energy sources within the study area Specific Objective B.3 Improving local expertise, information availability and energy efficiency awareness I.15 Promoting the use of renewable energy sources. I.15 Promoting the use of renewable energy sources. Medium Investments in pilot projects that promote the use of Investments in pilot projects that promote the use of renewable renewable energy sources (wind, solar energy, heat pumps, energy sources (wind, solar energy, heat pumps, biomass, biomass, micro-hydro, etc.) and clean technologies, including micro-hydro, etc.) and clean technologies, including the the development and implementation of green propulsion development and implementation of green propulsion systems systems in the Delta in the Delta I.16 Improving the energy efficiency of public buildings I.16 Improving the energy efficiency of public buildings (schools, Low C1: The title of intervention was (schools, hospitals, administrative buildings, etc.) hospitals, administrative buildings, etc.) through rehabilitation / modified in order to allow the modernization complemented by consolidation measures integrated retrofit of buildings4 (to be financed from the Regional Operational Programme and programmes funded from national budget). I.17 Extending and improving the energy efficiency of public I.17 Extending and improving the energy efficiency of public Low lighting lighting I.18 Supporting the improvement of energy efficiency of I.18 Supporting the improvement of energy efficiency of Low households households Sector C. Climate change Specific Objective C.1 Developing a climate friendly and resilient area by integrating climate change into local public policies and planning Specific Objective C.2 Promoting development of a low carbon economy through targeted adaptation measures and by reducing GHG emissions Specific Objective C.3 Developing partnerships and financing instruments in the field of climate change Specific Objective C.4 Raising the awareness of the population and businesses on climate change 4The integrated retrofit of buildings (seismic retrofit together with energy retrofit and water reduction measures) is a priority measure envisaged also by the National Urban Policy for 2020- 2035 (available at https://www.mdlpa.ro/uploads/articole/attachments/617a9b9ada2d1606090403.pdf). 15 | P a g e Current title of Interventions Updated title of Interventions Priority3 Comments I.19 Creation of a SC partnership platform, including a I.19 Creation of a SC partnership platform, including a Low community-driven climate adaptation fund dedicated to low- community-driven climate adaptation fund dedicated to low- income families, micro-grants or a loan mechanism to support income families, micro-grants or a loan mechanism to support SMEs and a partnership facility to promote public-private SMEs and a partnership facility to promote public-private partnerships for innovative measures on climate change partnerships for innovative measures on climate change I.20 Establish a unit with a clear mandate to address climate I.20 Establish a unit with a clear mandate to address climate Low change issues, with a small number of dedicated and change issues, with a small number of dedicated and knowledgeable employees and able to operate cross-sectors knowledgeable employees and able to operate cross-sectors I.21 Develop good practice guides with clear and easy local I.21 Develop good practice guides with clear and easy local Low guidance on implementing climate change policies guidance on implementing climate change policies Sector D. Disaster risk management Specific Objective D.1 Reducing the vulnerability to all risks, while improving the quality of emergency services, based on national and county risk assessment, and develop and maintain an adequate response capacity Specific Objective D.2 Assessing the main risks, elaborating risk maps for earthquakes and floods, and implementing projects to reduce these risks Specific Objective D.3 Elaborating a County Integrated Information System for the Management of Emergency Situations as part of the National Information System for Disaster Management I.22 Providing special machinery and equipment for ISU and I.22 Providing special machinery and equipment for ISU and High SMURD interventions in disaster situations SMURD interventions in disaster situations I.23 Flood protection works in fourteen cities / communes I.23 Flood protection works in the ITI DD region Medium C2: The intervention was extended to the entire ITI DD region. I.24 Modernization, rehabilitation and construction of I.24 Modernization, rehabilitation and construction of Low C3: The intervention was extended infrastructure elements of the Inspectorate for Emergency infrastructure elements of the Inspectorate for Emergency to the entire Tulcea County. Situations "Delta" of Tulcea County in Tulcea + Măcin + Crişan Situations "Delta" of Tulcea County + Babadag + Topolog I.25 Creating and maintaining an inter-institutional database I.25 Creating and maintaining an inter-institutional database Low with risk factors with risk factors Sector E. Pollution Emergency Specific Objective E.1 Developing an advanced information management system for hazardous wastes which may cause a pollution spill and represents a threat to the DD Specific Objective E.2 Reducing pollution risks and the response time by developing a prevention plan, providing adequate equipment and training of human resources I.26 Complete, coherent and comprehensive plans for the I.26 Complete, coherent and comprehensive plans for the Medium prevention and response to pollution emergencies, covering prevention and response to pollution emergencies, covering 16 | P a g e Current title of Interventions Updated title of Interventions Priority3 Comments both water and land, as well as mobile and fixed sources of both water and land, as well as mobile and fixed sources of pollution pollution I.27 Creating an inter-agency team to respond to pollution I.27 Creating an inter-agency team to respond to pollution Medium emergencies emergencies I.28 Purchase of equipment so that the first aid team has quick I.28 Purchase of equipment so that the first aid team has quick Low access to the localities in the center of the Delta where the access to the localities in the center of the Delta where the pollution incident takes place pollution incident takes place I.29 Creating and maintaining an inter-agency database with I.29 Creating and maintaining an inter-agency database with Low responsibility for the environment, for data exchange and responsibility for the environment, for data exchange and better better coordination between agencies coordination between agencies Sector F. Tourism Specific Objective F.1 Developing and promoting the Danube Delta as an integrated tourism destination with a rich portfolio of sustainable tourism products and services by capitalizing the natural and cultural heritage Specific Objective F.2 Establishing a local destination management mechanism based on the active participation and ownership of local stakeholders Specific Objective F.3 Encouraging local population to run small tourism businesses that meet quality and sustainability standards and that are economically viable I.30 Development and construction of the tourist infrastructure I.30 Development and construction of the tourist infrastructure High I.31 Institutionalization of a Danube Delta Management I.31 Institutionalization of a Danube Delta Management High Organization (OMD) related to the development of the Danube Organization (OMD) related to the development of the Danube Delta brand Delta brand I.32 Development and implementation of a multi-purpose I.32 Development and implementation of a multi-purpose High C4: The intervention was extended program for the development of products and attractions program for the development of products and attractions and to include measures for introduction in a circuit of areas with tourist potential “introduction in a circuit of areas with tourist potential”, in line with the project ideas received from potential beneficiaries, as well as with the eligible measures under the financing programs (Regional Operational Programme, Fisheries and Aquaculture Programme and National Strategic Programme). I.33 Implement a support mechanism for sustainable and I.33 Implement a support mechanism for sustainable and Medium C5: The intervention was extended innovative tourism, based on nature and culture, and for innovative development, based on nature and culture, and for to cover also industrial parks, business incubators and clusters, in 17 | P a g e Current title of Interventions Updated title of Interventions Priority3 Comments micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and tourism for a micro, small and medium-sized enterprises for a green local line with the project ideas received green local economy economy from potential beneficiaries, as well as with the eligible measures under the financing programs (Regional Operational Programme, Fisheries and Aquaculture Programme and National Strategic Programme). I.34 Implement an extensive program to beautify settlements I.34 Implement an extensive program to beautify settlements Medium and revitalize urban centers and revitalize urban centers I.35 Program to improve the quality of accommodation units I.35 Program to improve the quality of accommodation units Medium and services and services I.36 Interventions related to cultural heritage (rehabilitation, I.36 Interventions related to cultural heritage (rehabilitation, Medium conservation, etc.) conservation, etc.) I.37 Development of a program for interpreting (learning) I.37 Development of a program for interpreting (learning) Low destinations destinations I.38 Development and development of an emergency and first I.38 Development and development of an emergency and first Low aid program for tourism workers and service providers aid program for tourism workers and service providers I.39 Establishment of a research observatory specialized in I.39 Establishment of a research observatory specialized in Low tourism tourism Sector G. Fishery and aquaculture Specific Objective G.1 Correcting the ecological imbalance among predator and prey fish species and restoring environmental quality Specific Objective G.2 Increasing the economic value of fishing and aquaculture activities Specific Objective G.3 Increasing quality job opportunities in the fishing sector I.40 Sediment reduction in large lakes I.40 Sediment reduction in large lakes High I.41 Dredging large lakes to restore water depth I.41 Dredging large lakes to restore water depth High I.42 Diversify the activities of commercial fishermen by I.42 Diversify the activities of commercial fishermen by High developing complementary activities - improving eco-tourism developing complementary activities - improving eco-tourism sites, shelters to meet the needs of fishermen, building simple sites, shelters to meet the needs of fishermen, building simple landing facilities in areas with high density of fishermen. landing facilities in areas with high density of fishermen. Promoting and providing training services for fisheries and Promoting and providing training services for fisheries and sustainable recreational / sport fishing. sustainable recreational / sport fishing. 18 | P a g e Current title of Interventions Updated title of Interventions Priority3 Comments I.43 Supporting the artificial reproduction of valuable species, I.43 Supporting the artificial reproduction of valuable species, High such as pike, pikeperch and other declining species, and such as pike, pikeperch and other declining species, and building building / modernizing simple landing facilities in high-density / modernizing simple landing facilities in high-density fishermen's areas. fishermen's areas. I.44 Improving fish habitat I.44 Improving fish habitat Medium I.45 Regulation or elimination of camping for uncontrolled I.45 Regulation or elimination of camping for uncontrolled Medium fishing fishing I.46 Propose tax incentives, such as the abolition of the water I.46 Propose tax incentives, such as the abolition of the water Medium tax tax I.47 Improve the collection and analysis of fisheries data I.47 Improve the collection and analysis of fisheries data Medium I.48 Strengthening the analytical capacity of INCDD I.48 Strengthening the analytical capacity of INCDD Medium I.49 Improving fisheries-related research and development I.49 Improving fisheries-related research and development Medium activities in research institutes, public institutions and activities in research institutes, public institutions and fishermen's associations fishermen's associations I.50 Improving aquaculture including by supporting the I.50 Improving aquaculture including by supporting the business Low business environment environment I.51 Support for small-scale fish processing. Diversifying I.51 Support for small-scale fish processing. Diversifying Low household and village fish processing by introducing small- household and village fish processing by introducing small-scale scale canned packing units (for crucian and other cheap fish canned packing units (for crucian and other cheap fish species species such as slugs and bream) and improving smoking such as slugs and bream) and improving smoking systems (small systems (small electric smokers), mainly for the production of electric smokers), mainly for the production of delicacies for delicacies for visiting tourists visiting tourists Sector H. Agriculture and rural development Specific Objective H.1 Promoting the integration of agri-food producers (especially organic products) into the value-chain in order to help them benefit from the advantage of being close to external markets and from the tourism opportunities in the area Specific Objective H.2 Supporting diversification of agricultural and non-farm activities for job creation by encouraging active involvement of local communities Specific Objective H.3 Promoting young farmers' access to land to enable improved revenue flows to the local population Specific Objective H.4 Preserving, protecting, capitalizing and promoting the natural and movable and immovable cultural heritage in rural areas Specific Objective H.5 Improving the local population / farmers' access to information regarding the possibilities of tapping Common Agricultural Policy funds - create a special agriculture extension team for the Danube Delta 19 | P a g e Current title of Interventions Updated title of Interventions Priority3 Comments I.52 Establishment and modernization of facilities for the I.52 Establishment and modernization of facilities for the Medium C6: The title of intervention was production / collection / processing / marketing of agricultural production / collection / processing / marketing of agricultural modified in order to better express products products (vegetable and livestock) the types of eligible activities. I.53 Modernization of rural infrastructure (water, sanitation, I.53 Modernization of rural infrastructure (water, sanitation, Medium roads, schools, etc.) roads, schools, etc.) I.54 Initiating actions to protect, improve and promote natural I.54 Initiating actions to protect, improve and promote natural Medium and cultural resources and cultural resources I.55 Completion of land restitution and registration in the land I.55 Completion of land restitution and registration in the land Medium register for land / farm consolidation register for land / farm consolidation I.56 Support for organic farming in Natura 2000 areas I.56 Support for organic farming in Natura 2000 areas Medium I.57 Expanding access to vocational education for agriculture I.57 Expanding access to vocational education for agriculture Medium I.58 Modernization of quality control systems for agricultural I.58 Modernization of quality control systems for agricultural Medium products products I.59 Organizing information events on local and European I.59 Organizing information events on local and European Medium funding, including preparatory projects funding, including preparatory projects I.60 Providing advice and training for farmers / rural labor force I.60 Providing advice and training for farmers / rural labor force Medium I.61 Encouraging organic farming I.61 Encouraging organic farming Medium I.62 The practice of agricultural activities by the younger I.62 The practice of agricultural activities by the younger Medium generations generations I.63 Modernization / rehabilitation of irrigation infrastructure I.63 Modernization / rehabilitation of irrigation infrastructure Medium I.64 Consolidation and modernization of small farms I.64 Consolidation and modernization of small farms Medium I.65 Creating small non-agricultural businesses I.65 Creating small non-agricultural businesses Low I.66 Modernization of the technical endowments of the farms I.66 Modernization of the technical endowments of the farms Low I.67 Bottom-up local development initiatives I.67 Bottom-up local development initiatives, including CLLD Low C7: The title of the intervention has been amended to address the need for combined funding NSP - SDIOP, EEOP. I.68 Afforestation of agricultural and non-agricultural land in I.68 Afforestation of agricultural and non-agricultural land in the Low the Danube Delta region Danube Delta region 20 | P a g e Current title of Interventions Updated title of Interventions Priority3 Comments I.69 Preservation of local heritage and traditions (including I.69 Preservation of local heritage and traditions (including Low crafts) crafts) I.70 Land granting, including through concessions granted by I.70 Land granting, including through concessions granted by Low Tulcea County Council to local farmers to encourage Tulcea County Council to local farmers to encourage agricultural agricultural activities and increase income levels activities and increase income levels I.71 Encourage the establishment of producer groups / I.71 Encourage the establishment of producer groups / Low organizations organizations I.72 Stimulating the creation of short supply chains for the I.72 Stimulating the creation of short supply chains for the Low benefit of tourism activities benefit of tourism activities I.73 Supporting the branding / certification of agricultural I.73 Supporting the branding / certification of agricultural Low products and their marketing on international markets products and their marketing on international markets I.74 Providing incentives for maintaining agricultural activities I.74 Providing incentives for maintaining agricultural activities in Low in the center of the Delta the center of the Delta I.75 Supporting the rehabilitation of flood protection I.75 Supporting the rehabilitation of flood protection Low infrastructure infrastructure I.76 Access for farmers and processors to risk management I.76 Access for farmers and processors to risk management tools Low tools I.77 Modernization of the educational infrastructure (especially I.77 Modernization of the educational infrastructure (especially Low for primary and secondary education) for primary and secondary education) Sector I. Transport Specific Objective I.1 Increasing territorial connectivity to ensure access to the markets in Tulcea, the rest of Romanian and the EU; equal connectivity for enterprises, individuals, and goods in the DD territory, taking great care to protecting the existing environmental heritage Specific Objective I.2 Increasing accessibility in the Core DD area to support the development of tourism and fisheries, and the mobility for the residents of sparsely populated areas Specific Objective I.3 Improving health and protecting the environment by minimizing emissions and the consumption of resources (including energy) by the transport system I.78 Implementation of an extended program for the I.78 Implementation of an extended program for the Medium revitalization of the localities in the Delta Center by carrying revitalization of the localities in the Delta Center by carrying out out architectural rehabilitation projects and increasing the architectural rehabilitation projects and increasing the quality of quality of public spaces public spaces I.79 Modernization of the national road DN 22 Constanţa - I.79 Modernization of the national road DN 22 Constanţa - Medium Tulcea - Măcin - Brăila including construction of a bridge over Tulcea - Măcin - Brăila including construction of a bridge over the Danube in the Brăila-Măcin area the Danube in the Brăila-Măcin area 21 | P a g e Current title of Interventions Updated title of Interventions Priority3 Comments I.80 Sustainable public transport system, adapted to the I.80 Sustainable public transport system, adapted to the specifics of the Delta center specifics of the Delta center I.81 Modernization of the county road DJ229, sector I and II, I.81 Modernization of the county road DJ229, sector I and II, Medium Niculiţel - Zebil - Sarichioi Niculiţel - Zebil - Sarichioi I.82 Modernization of the county road DJ222N, Tulcea - I.82 Modernization of the county road DJ222N, Tulcea - Pardina Medium Pardina - Chilia Veche - Chilia Veche I.83 Modernization of the county road DJ226 Tronson DN22B - I.83 Modernization of the county road DJ226 Tronson DN22B - Medium Corbu - Săcele - Istria - Mihai Viteazu Corbu - Săcele - Istria - Mihai Viteazu I.84 Modernization and increase of the operational capacity of I.84 Modernization and increase of the operational capacity of Low the ports of Tulcea, Sulina, Măcin, Isaccea, Mahmudia and the ports of Tulcea, Sulina, Măcin, Isaccea, Mahmudia and Chilia Chilia I.85 Development and modernization of airport infrastructure I.85 Development and modernization of airport infrastructure Low I.86 Modernization of county roads (regional transport I.86 Modernization of county roads (regional transport Low C8: The intervention was extended infrastructure) infrastructure) in order to allow future • DJ222B Tronson Baia- Ceamurlia de Sus infrastructure projects deemed necessary in the ITI DD region. • DJ222 Tronson Visina- Ceamurlia de Sus • DJ 223A Tronson Enisala – Babadag – Slava Rusă • DJ 226A Tronson Cetatea Histria – DN22/Tariverde I.87 Rehabilitation and modernization of the Sulina Canal I.87 Rehabilitation and modernization of the Sulina Canal Low Sector J Information and communications technology Specific Objective J.1 Providing full access to broadband internet network Specific Objective J.2 Supporting widespread private, business and public use of ICT Specific Objective J.3 Ensuring synergies with other sectors to promote the transfer of knowledge, services and economic development I.88 High speed internet / internet for eco-tourism I.88 High speed internet / internet for eco-tourism High I.89 Improving e-government services and local public I.89 Improving e-government services and local public Medium monitoring systems monitoring systems I.90 Supporting ICT for business through e-portal and providing I.90 Supporting ICT for business through e-portal and providing Low C9: The title of intervention was facilities facilities, including through financial instruments modified in order to better express the opportunity of using financial instruments for ICT measures. 22 | P a g e Current title of Interventions Updated title of Interventions Priority3 Comments I.91 Development and implementation of open data policies I.91 Development and implementation of open data policies Low I.92 Increasing the vertical integration of ICT innovation I.92 Increasing the vertical integration of ICT innovation Low solutions in the local economy solutions in the local economy I.93 Increase private investment in RDI and encourage demand I.93 Increase private investment in RDI and encourage demand Low for RDI for RDI I.94 Increasing the transfer of knowledge, technology and staff I.94 Increasing the transfer of knowledge, technology and staff Low with RDI skills through partnerships between the private and with RDI skills through partnerships between the private and research environment research environment I.95 Increasing the excellence of the scientific base as a I.95 Increasing the excellence of the scientific base as a Low promoter of innovation through the development of R&D promoter of innovation through the development of R&D infrastructure infrastructure I.96 Increasing involvement in research at EU level by I.96 Increasing involvement in research at EU level by unlocking Low C10: The title of intervention was unlocking the potential for excellence in RDI, such as through the potential for excellence in RDI, such as through the Horizon updated with the current name of the Horizon 2020 framework program, and by attracting Europe framework program, and by attracting advanced talent the financing program advanced talent and skills into the national RDI system and skills into the national RDI system I.97 Development of ICT infrastructure and systems and digital I.97 Development of ICT infrastructure and systems and digital Low C11: The title of intervention was skills to support education, health, online culture and digital skills to support education, health, online culture and digital modified in order to better express inclusion inclusion, including projects implemented at national level, the intention of implementing also covering ITI DD territory national projects also covering the ITI DD territory. Sector K Water supply and sewerage systems and integrated water management Specific Objective K.1 Providing drinking water in order to meet the quality-of-life standards and the economic development objectives, subject to demand, financial feasibility, and operation and maintenance constraints Specific Objective K.2 Supporting the collection of wastewaters in a centralized manner (subject to demand, financial feasibility, and operation and maintenance constraints) and moving away from the current use of pit latrines which constitute a health hazard in prone to flood areas Specific Objective K.3 Adopting treatment methods of centrally collected wastewater either in a conventional or a more low-cost way I.98 Projects in areas with a population equivalent of more I.98 Projects in areas with a population equivalent of more than High than 2,000 2,000 I.99 Projects in areas with a population equivalent of less than I.99 Projects in areas with a population equivalent of less than Medium 2,000 2,000 Sector L Solid waste management 23 | P a g e Current title of Interventions Updated title of Interventions Priority3 Comments Specific Objective L.1 Improving the recycling rate to achieve the corresponding EU target of 50% to which Romania is committed Specific Objective L.2 Implementing of waste reduction, reuse and recycling in local communities, in order to assure efficient and sustainable management, resource saving, environmental protection and tourism destination development Specific Objective L.3 Management of floating waste material Specific Objective L.4 Increasing the capitalization degree of waste collected from households and businesses I.100 Collection of waste floating in river channels I.100 Collection of waste floating in river channels High I.101 Investments in waste management systems for separate I.101 Investments in waste management systems for separate Medium waste management (infrastructure for waste separation at waste management (infrastructure for waste separation at source, collection, sorting and transport) source, collection, sorting and transport) I.102 Public education and awareness program on waste I.102 Public education and awareness program on waste Medium management management I.103 Compost bins for rural households for biodegradable I.103 Compost bins for rural households for biodegradable Low waste processing waste processing I.104 Investments in units for the treatment and disposal of I.104 Investments in units for the treatment and disposal of Low construction and demolition waste construction and demolition waste I.105 Recovery of waste collected from the population and I.105 Recovery of waste collected from the population and Low economic agents economic agents Sector M Health Specific Objective M.1 Improving the access to primary health care (PHC) services based on prevention and early detection and treatment of chronic diseases Specific Objective M.2 Supporting the effective control of epidemics, early warning and coordinated response, and risk factors surveillance Specific Objective M.3 Improving health infrastructure for primary, secondary and tertiary health care, and the related service delivery system adjusted to modern technologies I.106 Strengthening the response capacity of the Public Health I.106 Strengthening the response capacity of the Public Health Medium Directorate (DSP) by developing and implementing an Directorate (DSP) by developing and implementing an environmental health surveillance system environmental health surveillance system I.107 Rehabilitation / modernization of IT facilities and I.107 Rehabilitation / modernization of IT facilities and Low C12: The intervention was equipment equipment, including for the development / use at national extended to include measures for level of integrated digital technologies / tools “development / use at national level of integrated digital technologies / tools”, in line with the project ideas received from potential beneficiaries, as well as with the eligible measures under 24 | P a g e Current title of Interventions Updated title of Interventions Priority3 Comments the financing programs (Health Operational Programme) I.108 Modernization, endowment and organization of a I.108 Modernization, endowment and organization of a Low functional circuit within the Tulcea Emergency Hospital functional circuit within the Tulcea Emergency Hospital (including for the integrated outpatient clinic) and for the (including for the integrated outpatient clinic) and for the Măcin Măcin Hospital Hospital I.109 Rehabilitation / transformation of the TB pavilion within I.109 Rehabilitation / transformation of the TB pavilion within Low the Tulcea Emergency Hospital into a social center (residential the Tulcea Emergency Hospital into a social center (residential care shelter) care shelter) I.110 Creation of public outpatient clinics by rehabilitating I.110 Creation of public outpatient clinics by rehabilitating Low closed hospital buildings in Babadag and Sulina closed hospital buildings in Babadag and Sulina I.111 Ensuring the interoperability of medical information I.111 Ensuring the interoperability of medical information Low systems at the level of healthcare (telemedicine and e-health) systems at the level of healthcare (telemedicine and e-health) I.112 Reforms to increase the profitability of the governance / I.112 Reforms to increase the profitability of the governance / Low management of the sector (financing mechanism in the management of the sector (financing mechanism in the hospital hospital for the stimulation of public outpatient systems, for the stimulation of public outpatient systems, family medicine family medicine and telemedicine) and telemedicine) I.113 Information, education and communication campaigns I.113 Information, education and communication campaigns on Low on the healthy and hygienic environment the healthy and hygienic environment I.114 Ambulances for emergency medical care and civil I.114 Ambulances for emergency medical care and civil Low rehabilitation work rehabilitation work I.115 Providing area-specific training for medical staff I.115 Providing area-specific training for medical staff Low I.116 Increasing the prevalence of health programs focused on I.116 Increasing the prevalence of health programs focused on Low prevention and screening prevention and screening Sector N Education Specific Objective N.1 Providing lifelong learning opportunities to create labor skills necessary for the 21st century economy Specific Objective N.2 Supporting secondary and vocational education that prepare students for the global knowledge economy and for the specificities of the local economy Specific Objective N.3 Increasing the quality of the primary education and early-education systems I.117 Ensuring relevant, accessible and stimulating lifelong I.117 Ensuring relevant, accessible and stimulating lifelong Medium learning programs in sustainable tourism, agriculture and learning programs in sustainable tourism, agriculture and fisheries in Community Lifelong Learning Centers fisheries in Community Lifelong Learning Centers 25 | P a g e Current title of Interventions Updated title of Interventions Priority3 Comments I.118 Creating a network of education and training for students I.118 Creating a network of education and training for students Low living in remote areas or in areas with less than 2000 living in remote areas or in areas with less than 2000 inhabitants, in order to provide access to quality primary and inhabitants, in order to provide access to quality primary and secondary education for all secondary education for all I.119 Providing support for the establishment of vocational I.119 Providing support for educational institutions (by building Low C13: The intervention was schools (by building / modernizing / expanding infrastructure) / consolidating / modernizing / expanding infrastructure) that extended to allow support to be that are relevant, attractive and comprehensive and that are relevant, attractive and comprehensive and that produce a provided to all educational produce a workforce with knowledge and skills at international workforce with knowledge and skills at international standards institutions, in line with their standards and relevant to the global requirements of nature- and relevant to the global requirements of nature-based relevancy, not only to vocational based tourism and the fishing market recreative tourism and the fishing market recreative schools but of all forms of compulsory education, in line with the ideas for projects received from potential beneficiaries, as well as with the measures eligible under the funding programmes (Regional Operational Programme). I.120 Strengthen the services provided by kindergartens and I.120 Strengthen the services provided by kindergartens and Low nurseries by developing, supporting, rehabilitating and nurseries by developing, supporting, rehabilitating and providing providing equipment to increase access to education and care equipment to increase access to education and care for for preschool children preschool children I.121 Bringing back-to-school students who drop out of school I.121 Bringing back-to-school students who drop out of school Low early through after-school and second-chance programs early through after-school and second-chance programs I.122 Creating partnerships between employers, education and I.122 Creating partnerships between employers, education and Low training providers and research bodies to better perform the training providers and research bodies to better perform the education system in addressing labor market needs education system in addressing labor market needs Sector O Social inclusion and protection Specific Objective O.1 Reducing labor related and human capital disparities among Roma people by providing improved integrated services in all dimensions and aspects of exclusion (education, health, housing, employment) Specific Objective O.2 Preserving the cultural heritage of ethnic minorities in the study area Specific Objective O.3 Improving social outcomes by making social protection programs more relevant and efficient in the Danube Delta area I.123 Development of institutional infrastructure for preschool I.123 Development of institutional infrastructure for preschool Low children (0-6 years) in communities with a high share of ethnic children (0-6 years) in communities with a high share of ethnic minorities and other vulnerable groups minorities and other vulnerable groups 26 | P a g e Current title of Interventions Updated title of Interventions Priority3 Comments I.124 Expanding the school mediator program in schools with a I.124 Expanding the program for mediators and specialists in Low C14: The intervention was high percentage of ethnic minorities and other vulnerable schools with a high percentage of ethnic minorities and other extended to also support groups vulnerable groups specialists in schools with vulnerable groups. I.125 Implementing community grants for education I.125 Implementing community grants for education Low intervention intervention I.126 Facilitating the regularization of the right to property I.126 Facilitating the regularization of the right to property Low I.127 Subsidies to SMEs for employment for NEETs in relevant I.127 Subsidies to SMEs for employment for NEETs in relevant Low areas areas I.128 Improving digital skills among ethnic minorities and other I.128 Improving digital skills among ethnic minorities and other Low vulnerable groups vulnerable groups I.129 Increasing access to and efficiency in the provision of I.129 Increasing access to and efficiency in the provision of social Low social services, including related infrastructure services, including related infrastructure Sector P Administrative capacity and program management Specific Objective P.1 Providing efficient and cost-effective public services Specific Objective P.2 Improving evidence-based strategic and budgetary planning across all levels of governance in the DD region in order to support environmental and economic objectives Specific Objective P.3 Increasing participatory decision-making in synergy with the environmental and economic objectives I.130 Strengthening local administrative capacity for strategic I.130 Strengthening local administrative capacity for strategic Medium and budgetary planning, decision-making, human resources and budgetary planning, decision-making, human resources management, monitoring and evaluation management, monitoring and evaluation I.131 Identify, develop and implement measures to increase I.131 Identify, develop and implement measures to increase Medium transparency, inclusion, ethics and integrity and to reduce transparency, inclusion, ethics and integrity and to reduce corruption within public authorities and institutions corruption within public authorities and institutions I.132 Technical Assistance (TA) for ITI program management I.132 Technical Assistance (TA) for ITI program management Medium I.133 Revision of regulations to improve the design of I.133 Revision of regulations to improve the design of household Low household subsidies, in order to improve the accessibility of subsidies, in order to improve the accessibility of services and services and better targeting and use of financial and natural better targeting and use of financial and natural resources resources I.134 Improving access to and quality of services provided by I.134 Improving access to and quality of services provided by the Low the judiciary judiciary 27 | P a g e Current title of Interventions Updated title of Interventions Priority3 Comments I.135 Actions aimed at ensuring coordination between public I.135 Actions aimed at ensuring coordination between public Low institutions with responsibilities in biodiversity conservation institutions with responsibilities in biodiversity conservation and and ecological reconstruction of the Danube Delta ecological reconstruction of the Danube Delta I.136 Development and implementation of online services I.136 Development and implementation of online services Low 28 | P a g e 4. Coherence with EU and national priorities P35. The Cohesion Policy for 2021-2027 sets a short menu of 5 policy objectives supporting sustainable growth in EU Member States (as illustrated in the below figure). The new policy reiterates the focus on strengthening the economic, social and territorial convergence, through sustainable competitiveness, research and innovation and digital transition, while setting more ambitious climate targets and empowering local development. Figure 3: EU Cohesion Policy – Priorities for 2021-2027 Source: Authors’ elaboration based on EU Regulations for the programming period 2021-2027 P36. Considering the multi-sectorial approach of the SIDDDD, a good coherence and contribution is expected in relation to all five priorities of the EU Cohesion Policy: • Contribution to PO 1 A more competitive and smarter Europe. SIDDDD aims at providing full access to broadband internet network, supporting widespread private, business and public use of ICT and ensuring synergies with other sectors to promote the transfer of knowledge, services and economic development, thus contributing to the economic transformation and regional ICT connectivity. • Contribution to PO 2 A greener low-carbon transitioning towards a net zero carbon economy. SIDDDD was developed to ensure a sustainable development of the region, while preserving, protecting and capitalizing the natural heritage. Sustainability is therefore a desideratum embedded in the planning and implementation process. In particular, planned interventions are aimed at enhancing the ecosystem management capacity, increasing energy efficiency, contributing to climate change mitigation, risk prevention and management (including pollution risks), supporting sustainable mobility and improving waste and water management. • Contribution to PO 3 A more connected Europe. SIDDDD aims at increasing territorial connectivity and mobility, to ensure equal connectivity for enterprises, individuals, and goods in the DD territory. Planned interventions are expected to increase accessibility in the Core DD area to support the development of tourism and fisheries, and the mobility for the residents of sparsely populated areas. • Contribution to PO 4 A more social and inclusive Europe. SIDDDD aims at improving the quality and access to education, health and social infrastructure and services, and exploiting 29 | P a g e the potential of culture and tourism, hardly hit by the recent crisis. Overall planned interventions are expected to lead to the development of the local economy, and therefore to an improved quality of life for local communities. • Contribution to PO 5 Europe closer to citizens: SIDDDD was designed to support the sustainable and integrated development of the DD territory. In particular, technical assistance and capacity building interventions are directed towards improving evidence-based strategic and budgetary planning across all levels of governance in the DD region, using a participatory decision-making in synergy with the environmental and economic objectives. P37. Direct links are observed between the SIDDDD objectives and the EU priorities (as further mapped in Annex 3 of this Report). The consistency of territorial development planning with EU priorities is crucial for achieving the ambitious targets for growth set for the current programming period. At the same time, it creates the prerequisites for accessing the EU Funds allocated for the delivery of EU Cohesion Policy. P38. The Romanian Operational Programmes 2021-2027 (currently in draft format) will support the implementation of the SIDDDD, with specific allocations through ITI mechanism. The funding programs were aligned to the interventions planned under the Romanian territorial strategies. Dedicated ITI calls are expected to be launched under a selection of Operational Programmes, using selection criteria specific for each territory. The detailed methodological approach for project selection and prioritization of SIDDDD projects is presented in the “Action Plan for including priority projects to implement the strategy”, issued by the World Bank in 2015, and includes five main criteria, as well as detailed sub-criteria and scoring recommendations. P39. The investments planned in the DD territory are also aligned and support the delivery of other EU policies and priority objectives. Most notably, the projects to be financed in the DD territory are expected to contribute to the two overarching objectives of the EU Territorial Agenda for 2030, respectively a “Green Europe” and a “Just Europe”. P40. Green Europe priorities underline the territorial dimension and spatial planning contributions to overarching policy priorities such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the Convention on Biological Diversity, the European Green Deal, the Paris Agreement, the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, the European Landscape Convention and the EU Forest Strategy. P41. In particular, the European Green Deal, adopted by the EU Member States in December 2019, set the blueprint for a transformational change that would lead to a climate neutral continent by 2050. The 2030 Climate Target Plan proposes to raise the EU's ambition on reducing greenhouse gas emissions to at least 55% below 1990 levels by 2030. Romania’s approach for ensuring a sustainable development, along with national targets, is expressed in National Strategy for Sustainable Development 2030, National Plan for Energy and Climate Change and Energy Strategy of Romania for 2019-2030. P42. In order to achieve these targets, decisions taken at national and territorial levels will be made with greater responsibility, to ensure that planned interventions and projects do not lock in emission levels inconsistent with the EU’s goal to be climate-neutral by 2050. These commitments were reflected also in the evaluation criteria for the prioritization of SIDDDD intervention (i.e. Criterion 1 “Anticipated environmental impact relative to Strategic Objective 1”). P43. Just Europe priorities underline the territorial dimension and spatial planning contributions to overarching policy priorities such as economic, social and territorial cohesion, European Pillar of 30 | P a g e Social Rights, a Europe closer to citizens, a more inclusive, sustainable and integrated development of places, Just Transition and territorial integration in Europe. P44. The SIDDD identified tourism, agriculture and fishery as potential drivers of economic development in the DD territory. Specific support is envisaged for SMEs, which are considered the backbone of the EU’s economy. At the same time, the strategy aims at improving the quality and access to public services – water supply and sewerage, waste management, healthcare, education and social services. These commitments are reflected also in the evaluation criteria for the prioritization of SIDDDD intervention (i.e. Criterion 2 “Anticipated impact on the economy and improved public services relative to Strategic Objective 2”). P45. The EU Common Agricultural Policy was also revised to better respond to the Green Europe priorities. Farmers have a double challenge – to produce food whilst simultaneously protecting nature and safeguarding biodiversity. To these end, the interventions planned for the Danube Delta territory aim at supporting both upstream and downstream operations, to ensure access to efficient, effective and sustainable farming methods. 31 | P a g e 5. Action Plan P46. The re-calibration of the Strategy was focused on the early identification and planning of a portfolio of projects that expresses the commitment at territorial level towards the two ambitious strategic objectives, while ensuring a good coverage of all the 16 sectors of the Strategy. P47. Based on intensive consultations with the key stakeholders of the Strategy, ADI ITI DD centralized 783 project ideas for the second phase of implementation, covering the most stringent needs at territorial level. The table below showcase the good coverage of all sectors of the Strategy, while the Action Plan annexed to this report presents in detail the portfolio of projects – completed, ongoing and planned – at the level of interventions. Table 2: Number of planned projects per strategic objectives, pillars and sectors Strategic Objectives and Sectors Number of projects O1. Conserve the unique environmental assets through scientifically guided environmental management, and by empowering the local communities to be 207 proactive guardians of this unique global heritage Pillar I. Protecting the environmental and natural resource assets 207 Sector A. Biodiversity and Ecosystem Management 59 Sector B. Energy Efficiency 127 Sector C. Climate change 7 Sector D. Disaster risk management 13 Sector E. Pollution Emergency 1 O2. Develop a green and inclusive local economy, based on sustainable consumption and protection, resource efficient, capitalizing on the area's comparative 579 advantages, supported by improved public services Pillar II. Improving the economy 361 Sector F. Tourism 118 Sector G. Fishery and aquaculture 29 Sector H. Agriculture and rural development 214 Pillar III. Improving connectivity 48 Sector I. Transport 22 Sector J Information and communications technology 26 Pillar IV. Providing public services 157 Sector K. Water supply and sewerage systems and integrated water management 6 Sector L. Solid waste management 30 Sector M. Health 29 Sector N. Education 24 Sector O. Social inclusion and protection 68 Pillar V. Promoting efficiency, affordability and sustainability 13 Sector P. Administrative capacity and program management 13 Grand Total 786 32 | P a g e 6. Financial Implications P48. Financial implications for the second phase of implementation, corresponding to EU financial programming period 2021-2027, were estimated in relation to the portfolio of projects centralized by ADI ITI DD, as of February 2022. P49. Potential sources of financing were identified based on the available draft versions of the Romanian Operational Programmes 2021-2027, which may be subject to further changes; other national and local programs are also considered. Table 3: Financial implications for the second phase of implementation Strategic Objectives and Value of planned Potential sources of financing5 Sectors projects EURO O1. Conserve the unique environmental assets through scientifically guided environmental management, and by empowering the local communities to be proactive guardians of this unique global heritage • PODD 2021-2027 • POCIDIF 2021-2027 Sector A. Biodiversity and • POR SE 2021-2027 231,850,000 Ecosystem Management • PAP 2021-2027 • PNS 2023-2027 • Other sources • PODD 2021-2027 • POCIDIF 2021-2027 • POR SE 2021-2027 Sector B. Energy Efficiency 251,969,262 • PNS 2023-2027 • PNRR • Other sources • PODD 2021-2027 Sector C. Climate change 12,950,000 • POCIDIF 2021-2027 • Other sources • PODD 2021-2027 Sector D. Disaster risk 38,407,766 • PAP 2021-2027 management • Other sources Sector E. Pollution Emergency 8,500,000 • POCIDIF 2021-2027 O2. Develop a green and inclusive local economy, based on sustainable consumption and protection, resource efficient, capitalizing on the area's comparative advantages, supported by improved public services • POCIDIF 2021-2027 • POR SE 2021-2027 • PAP 2021-2027 Sector F. Tourism 292,308,047 • PNS 2023-2027 • PNRR • Other sources • PODD 2021-2027 Sector G. Fishery and 109,350,000 • POCIDIF 2021-2027 aquaculture • PAP 2021-2027 5 Note: For further information on the values of projects and potential sources of financing, please consult Annex 4 – Action Plan. 33 | P a g e Strategic Objectives and Value of planned Potential sources of financing5 Sectors projects EURO • PODD 2021-2027 • POCIDIF 2021-2027 • POIDS 2021-2027 Sector H. Agriculture and rural • POR SE 2021-2027 391,880,000 development • PAP 2021-2027 • PNS 2023-2027 • PNRR • Other sources • POT 2021-2027 • POR SE 2021-2027 Sector I. Transport 1,255,727,000 • PODD 2021-2027 • Other sources • POCIDIF 2021-2027 • POR SE 2021-2027 Sector J Information and • PAP 2021-2027 113,165,899 communications technology • PNS 2023-2027 • PNRR • Other sources • PODD 2021-2027 Sector K. Water supply and • PNS 2023-2027 sewerage systems and 87,900,000 • PAP 2021-2027 integrated water management • Other sources • PODD 2021-2027 Sector L. Solid waste • POR SE 2021-2027 41,120,000 management • PAP 2021-2027 • Other sources • POS 2021-2027 Sector M. Health 50,594,000 • PNS 2023-2027 • Other sources • POEO 2021-2027 • POR SE 2021-2027 Sector N. Education 43,530,002 • PNS 2023-2027 • Other sources • POIDS 2021-2027 Sector O. Social inclusion and • POEO 2021-2027 145,600,000 protection • POR SE 2021-2027 • Other sources • POAT 2021-2027 Sector P. Administrative • POR SE 2021-2027 capacity and program 37,351,350 • POCIDIF 2021-2027 management • PNS 2023-2027 • Other sources Grand Total 3,112,203,326 34 | P a g e 7. Suggested list of indicators P50. For the second phase of implementation, two categories of indicators are considered: (1) SIDD DD Specific Output and Result Indicators, for which data could be retrieved and aggregated also during the first phase of implementation, and which are expected to provide an overall image on the progress achieved at the level of ITI DD region during the period 2016-2030; and (2) a selection of EU Common Output and Result Indicators, which are expected to offer a more detailed view on the achieved progress at the level of projects financed with EU Funds during the period 2022-2030. P51. The Strategy included a long list of Specific Output and Result Indicators. However, the previous WB mission revealed that they were not actively used for monitoring the implementation of the strategy, in some cases because required data could not be aggregated at territorial level. As such, for the second phase of implementation, the list was trimmed to those indicators compliant with RACER criteria, and in particular to the criterion “easy to monitor: data collection should be possible at a low cost”. The system of indicators should be relevant to monitor the progress towards the planned objectives; yet the required efforts should take into consideration the availability of resources – financial and human - for monitoring and evaluation activities. P52. Considering that EU Funds are an important source of financing, both for the first and second phase of implementation, a selection of EU Common Output and Result Indicators were / are to be aggregated at territorial level, in order to depict the physical progress and effects of the EU Funded projects. It should be noted that Beneficiaries are required to report to the Managing Authorities of the Romanian Operational Programmes on all indicators indicated in the programs guidelines; the selection represents only the most relevant indicators, for which a closer monitoring is expected also at territorial level. P53. The table below presents the updated list of indicators, suggested for the second phase of implementation. Adjustments may be necessary after the approval of the operational programmes and the final allocation of funds. Table 4. List of indicators suggested for the second phase of implementation Indicator Type of Indicator Source A. Biodiversity and Ecosystem Management A.1 DDRDB Management Plan implemented (Yes/No) SIDD DD Specific Output Danube Delta Biosphere Indicator Reserve Authority / ADI ITI DD A.2 Management Plans of other Natura 2000 sites in the SIDD DD Specific Output Beneficiaries / ADI ITI DD ITI territory (Number) Indicator A.3 Number of sets of measures and actions of the SIDD DD Specific Output Beneficiaries / ADI ITI DD Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve based on widely Indicator accepted monitoring data and state of the art hydrological, sedimentation and demographic models implemented A.4 The surface of the supported habitats in order to SIDD DD Specific Output Beneficiaries / ADI ITI DD obtain a better conservation stage (Ha) Indicator A.5 Number of flood protection infrastructure objectives SIDD DD Specific Output Beneficiaries / ADI ITI DD within the DDBR built / rehabilitated / upgraded Indicator A.6 Number of local and international institutions and SIDD DD Specific Output Beneficiaries / ADI ITI DD researchers involved in the internationally recognized Indicator 35 | P a g e Indicator Type of Indicator Source diversified research programme on the DD's natural and cultural systems and resources RCO 37 Surface of Natura 2000 sites covered by protection EU Common Output Indicator Beneficiaries / MIPE / ADI and restoration measures ITI DD RCO 38 Surface area of rehabilitated land supported EU Common Output Indicator Beneficiaries / MIPE / ADI ITI DD RCR 52 Rehabilitated land used for green areas, social EU Common Result Indicator Beneficiaries / MIPE / ADI housing, economic or other uses ITI DD B. Energy Efficiency B.1 Number of renovated public buildings SIDD DD Specific Output Beneficiaries / ADI ITI DD Indicator B.2 Number of renovated residential buildings SIDD DD Specific Output Beneficiaries / ADI ITI DD Indicator B.3 The length of the rehabilitated / extended thermal SIDD DD Specific Output Beneficiaries / ADI ITI DD network Indicator RCO 18 Dwellings with improved energy performance EU Common Output Indicator Beneficiaries / MIPE / ADI ITI DD RCO 19 Public buildings with improved energy EU Common Output Indicator Beneficiaries / MIPE / ADI performance ITI DD RCR 26 Annual primary energy consumption (of which: EU Common Result Indicator Beneficiaries / MIPE / ADI dwellings, public buildings, enterprises, other) ITI DD RCR 29 Estimated greenhouse gas emissions EU Common Result Indicator Beneficiaries / MIPE / ADI ITI DD RCO 22 Additional production capacity for renewable EU Common Output Indicator Beneficiaries / MIPE / ADI energy (of which: electricity, thermal) ITI DD RCR 31 Total renewable energy produced (of which: EU Common Result Indicator Beneficiaries / MIPE / ADI electricity, thermal) ITI DD C. Climate change C.1 Number of interventions and investments for climate SIDD DD Specific Output Beneficiaries / ADI ITI DD change adaptation measures Indicator RCO 26 Green infrastructure built or upgraded for EU Common Output Indicator Beneficiaries / MIPE / ADI adaptation to climate change ITI DD RCO 27 National and sub-national strategies addressing EU Common Output Indicator Beneficiaries / MIPE / ADI climate change adaptation ITI DD RCO 36 Green infrastructure supported for other EU Common Output Indicator Beneficiaries / MIPE / ADI purposes than adaptation to climate change ITI DD D. Disaster risk management and E. Pollution Emergency D.1 Number of inhabitants who benefit from flood SIDD DD Specific Result Lower Danube River protection measures as a result of making investments in Indicator Administration / ADI ITI infrastructure DD D.2 Number of disaster response drills (annual) SIDD DD Specific Output General of County Indicator Inspectorates for Emergency Situations / ADI ITI DD D.3 Hazardous waste inventory and existing information SIDD DD Specific Output Ministry of Environment, management system (yes or no) Indicator Water and Forests / National Agency for 36 | P a g e Indicator Type of Indicator Source Environmental Protection / ADI ITI DD D.4 Number of intervention plans available SIDD DD Specific Output General of County Indicator Inspectorates for Emergency Situations / ADI ITI DD E.1 Number of pollution incidents in the DD region SIDD DD Specific Result General of County (annually) Indicator Inspectorates for Emergency Situations / ADI ITI DD E.2 Number of emergency response drills (annually) SIDD DD Specific Output General of County Indicator Inspectorates for Emergency Situations / ADI ITI DD RCO 24 Investments in new or upgraded disaster EU Common Output Indicator Beneficiaries / MIPE / ADI monitoring, preparedness, warning and response systems ITI DD against natural disasters RCO 122 Investments in new or upgraded disaster EU Common Output Indicator Beneficiaries / MIPE / ADI monitoring, preparedness, warning and response systems ITI DD against non-climate related natural risks and risks related to human activities RCO 25 Coastal strip, riverbank and lakeshore flood EU Common Output Indicator Beneficiaries / MIPE / ADI protection newly built or consolidated ITI DD RCO 106 Landslide protection newly built or consolidated EU Common Output Indicator Beneficiaries / MIPE / ADI ITI DD RCO 121 Area covered by protection measures against EU Common Output Indicator Beneficiaries / MIPE / ADI climate related natural disasters (other than floods and ITI DD wildfire) RCR 35 Population benefiting from flood protection EU Common Result Indicator Beneficiaries / MIPE / ADI measures ITI DD RCR 37 Population benefiting from protection measures EU Common Result Indicator Beneficiaries / MIPE / ADI against climate related natural disasters (other than ITI DD floods or wildfire) RCR 95 The population that has access to new or improved EU Common Result Indicator Beneficiaries / MIPE / ADI green infrastructure ITI DD RCR 96 Population benefiting from protection measures EU Common Result Indicator Beneficiaries / MIPE / ADI against non-climate related natural risks and risks related ITI DD to human activities F. Tourism F.1 Tourist arrivals (annually) SIDD DD Specific Result National Institute of Indicator Statistics / ADI ITI DD F.2 Number of DDBR entry permits SIDD DD Specific Result Danube Delta Biosphere Indicator Reserve Authority / ADI ITI DD F.3 Number of boats available for tourists at the main exit SIDD DD Specific Result Tulcea Harbor Captaincy points and nodal points (monitored routes) Indicator / ADI ITI DD F.4 Occupancy rates for authorized / official SIDD DD Specific Result National Institute of accommodation Indicator Statistics / ADI ITI DD F.5 Average length of stay (nights) SIDD DD Specific Result National Institute of Indicator Statistics / ADI ITI DD 37 | P a g e Indicator Type of Indicator Source F.6 Number of traditional houses maintained / SIDD DD Specific Result Beneficiaries / ADI ITI DD rehabilitated included in the tourist circuit Indicator F.7 The ratio between nonresidents and residents owning SIDD DD Specific Result Territorial Administrative land in DD Indicator Units / ADI ITI DD RCO 77 Number of cultural and tourism sites supported EU Common Output Indicator Beneficiaries / MIPE / ADI ITI DD RCR 77 Visitors of cultural and tourism sites supported EU Common Result Indicator Beneficiaries / MIPE / ADI ITI DD G. Fishery and aquaculture G.1 Number of jobs in the fishing field by specific activities SIDD DD Specific Output Beneficiaries / ADI ITI DD Indicator G.2 Number of investments / projects in aquaculture / SIDD DD Specific Output Beneficiaries / ADI ITI DD processing / fisherman safety Indicator CR 01 New production capacity (tonnes/annum) EU Common Result Indicator Beneficiaries / MADR / ADI ITI DD CR 02 Aquaculture production maintained EU Common Result Indicator Beneficiaries / MADR / (tonnes/annum) ADI ITI DD H. Agriculture and rural development H.1 Share of irrigation infrastructure rehabilitated through SIDD DD Specific Output Beneficiaries / ADI ITI DD ITI projects out of total viable irrigation infrastructure Indicator H.2 The area of land granted to farmers out of publicly SIDD DD Specific Output Beneficiaries / ADI ITI DD available land (ha) Indicator H.3 Farmers who have started a nonagricultural activity SIDD DD Specific Output Beneficiaries / ADI ITI DD Indicator H.4 Initiatives / projects that capitalize on the cultural SIDD DD Specific Output Beneficiaries / ADI ITI DD heritage of the area Indicator R.37 Growth and jobs in rural areas: New jobs supported EU Common Result Indicator Beneficiaries / MADR / in CAP projects ADI ITI DD R.39 Developing the rural economy: Number of rural EU Common Result Indicator Beneficiaries / MADR / businesses, including bio-economy businesses, developed ADI ITI DD with CAP support I. Transport SIDD DD Specific Result www.distanța.ro / ADI ITI I.1 Travel time between Tulcea and Brăila (minutes) Indicator DD SIDD DD Specific Result www.distanța.ro / ADI ITI I.2 Travel time between Tulcea and Galați (minutes) Indicator DD I.3 Volume of goods transported by inland waterways SIDD DD Specific Result Căpitănia zonală Tulcea / (Tons / year) Indicator ADI ITI DD I.4 Number of interventions on improved access to key SIDD DD Specific Output Beneficiaries / ADI ITI DD services during the winter Indicator RCO 43 Length of new or upgraded roads - TEN-T EU Common Output Indicator Beneficiaries / MIPE / ADI ITI DD RCO 44 Length of new or upgraded roads - non-TEN-T EU Common Output Indicator Beneficiaries / MIPE / ADI ITI DD RCO 45 Length of roads reconstructed or modernized - EU Common Output Indicator Beneficiaries / MIPE / ADI TEN-T ITI DD 38 | P a g e Indicator Type of Indicator Source RCO 46 Length of roads reconstructed or modernized - EU Common Output Indicator Beneficiaries / MIPE / ADI non-TEN-T ITI DD RCO 51 Length of new, upgraded or modernized inland EU Common Output Indicator Beneficiaries / MIPE / ADI waterways - TEN-T ITI DD RCO 52 Length of new, upgraded or modernized inland EU Common Output Indicator Beneficiaries / MIPE / ADI waterways – non - TEN-T ITI DD RCR 60 Freight transport on inland waterways EU Common Result Indicator Beneficiaries / MIPE / ADI ITI DD 8S6 Number of passenger ships Funding programme Output Beneficiaries / MIPE / ADI Indicator ITI DD J. Information and communications technology J.1 The degree of regular use of the Internet (% out of SIDD DD Specific Result Digital Economy and total population) Indicator Society Index / ADI ITI DD J.2 Number of prehospital and hospital units using SIDD DD Specific Result Beneficiaries / ADI ITI DD telemedicine systems Indicator J.3 Number of schools using OER, WEB 2.0 in education SIDD DD Specific Result Beneficiaries / ADI ITI DD Indicator J.4 Number of inhabitants using e-government systems SIDD DD Specific Result Beneficiaries / ADI ITI DD Indicator J.5 NGA Broadband Coverage/Availability SIDD DD Specific Result Beneficiaries / ADI ITI DD Indicator RCR 11 Users of new and upgraded public digital EU Common Result Indicator Beneficiaries / MIPE / ADI services, products and processes ITI DD RCR 12 Users of new and upgraded digital services, EU Common Result Indicator Beneficiaries / MIPE / ADI products and processes developed by enterprises ITI DD RCR 13 Enterprises reaching high digital intensity EU Common Result Indicator Beneficiaries / MIPE / ADI ITI DD RCO 13 Value of digital services, products and EU Common Output Indicator Beneficiaries / MIPE / ADI processes developed for enterprises ITI DD RCO 14 Public institutions supported to develop digital EU Common Output Indicator Beneficiaries / MIPE / ADI services, products and processes ITI DD K. Water supply and sewerage systems and integrated water management K.1 Share of rural population connected to centralized SIDD DD Specific Result Beneficiaries / ADI ITI DD water supply networks through ITI funded projects (%) Indicator K.2 Share of population in cities connected to centralized SIDD DD Specific Result Beneficiaries / ADI ITI DD water supply networks through ITI funded projects (%) Indicator K.3 Share of rural population connected to centralized SIDD DD Specific Result Beneficiaries / ADI ITI DD sewerage networks through ITI funded projects (%) Indicator K.4 Share of population in cities connected to centralized SIDD DD Specific Result Beneficiaries / ADI ITI DD sewerage networks through ITI funded projects (%) Indicator K.5 Share of wastewater treated according to required SIDD DD Specific Result Beneficiaries / ADI ITI DD standards (%) in rural areas Indicator K.6 Share of wastewater treated according to required SIDD DD Specific Result Beneficiaries / ADI ITI DD standards (%) in cities Indicator K.7 Number of inhabitants connected to a centralized SIDD DD Specific Result Beneficiaries / ADI ITI DD drinking water system through ITI Indicator 39 | P a g e Indicator Type of Indicator Source K.8 Number of inhabitants connected to a centralized SIDD DD Specific Result Beneficiaries / ADI ITI DD sewerage system through ITI Indicator SIDD DD Specific Output Beneficiaries / ADI ITI DD K.9 Number of wastewater treatment plants Indicator RCO 30 Length of new or upgraded pipes for the EU Common Output Indicator Beneficiaries / MIPE / ADI distribution systems of public water supply ITI DD RCO 31 Length of new or upgraded pipes for the public EU Common Output Indicator Beneficiaries / MIPE / ADI network for collection of wastewater ITI DD RCO 32 New or upgraded capacity for wastewater EU Common Output Indicator Beneficiaries / MIPE / ADI treatment ITI DD RCR 41 Population connected to improved public water EU Common Result Indicator Beneficiaries / MIPE / ADI supply ITI DD RCR 42 Population connected to at least secondary public EU Common Result Indicator Beneficiaries / MIPE / ADI wastewater treatment ITI DD RCR 43 Water losses in distribution systems for public EU Common Result Indicator Beneficiaries / MIPE / ADI water supply ITI DD L. Solid waste management SIDD DD Specific Result National Agency for Indicator Environmental L.1 Total amount of household waste collected and Protection / County transported (tones / year) Agencies for Environmental Protection / ADI ITI DD SIDD DD Specific Result National Agency for Indicator Environmental L.2 Total amount of recyclable waste recovered from the Protection / County total quantity collected (%) Agencies for Environmental Protection / ADI ITI DD SIDD DD Specific Result National Agency for Indicator Environmental L.3 Total quantity deviated from storage out of the total Protection / County quantity collected (%) Agencies for Environmental Protection / ADI ITI DD SIDD DD Specific Result National Agency for Indicator Environmental L.4 Total quantity of household waste collected separately Protection / County (dry fraction) (tones / Agencies for Environmental Protection / ADI ITI DD SIDD DD Specific Result National Agency for Indicator Environmental L.5 Total quantity of household waste collected separately Protection / County (wet fraction) (tones / Agencies for Environmental Protection / ADI ITI DD SIDD DD Specific Result National Agency for Indicator Environmental L.6 Number of inhabitants and visitors participating in Protection / County educational activities related to waste management Agencies for (number of people) Environmental Protection / ADI ITI DD 40 | P a g e Indicator Type of Indicator Source RCO 34 Additional capacity for waste recycling EU Common Output Indicator Beneficiaries / MIPE / ADI ITI DD RCO 107 Investments in facilities for separate waste EU Common Output Indicator Beneficiaries / MIPE / ADI collection ITI DD RCO 119 Waste prepared for re-use EU Common Output Indicator Beneficiaries / MIPE / ADI ITI DD RCR 103 Waste collected separately EU Common Result Indicator Beneficiaries / MIPE / ADI ITI DD RCR 47 Waste recycled EU Common Result Indicator Beneficiaries / MIPE / ADI ITI DD RCR 48 Waste used as raw materials EU Common Result Indicator Beneficiaries / MIPE / ADI ITI DD M. Health SIDD DD Specific Output Beneficiaries / ADI ITI DD M.1 Number of emergency units Indicator SIDD DD Specific Result National Institute of M.2 Life expectancy at birth Indicator Public Health / ADI ITI DD RCO 69 Capacity of new or modernized health care EU Common Output Indicator Beneficiaries / MIPE / ADI facilities ITI DD RCR 73 Annual users of new or modernized health care EU Common Result Indicator Beneficiaries / MIPE / ADI facilities ITI DD N. Education N.1 Number of kindergartens and other educational SIDD DD Specific Output County School services for children under 6 in disadvantaged Indicator Inspectorate / communities Beneficiaries / ADI ITI DD SIDD DD Specific Result County School N.2 Inclusion rate in preschool / primary / secondary / Indicator Inspectorate / upper secondary education for Roma citizens Beneficiaries / ADI ITI DD N.3 Number of people who benefit from support projects SIDD DD Specific Output County School for training / exchange of good practices Indicator Inspectorate / Beneficiaries / ADI ITI DD N.4 Number of students at risk of dropping out of school SIDD DD Specific Result County School at the beginning and end of the school Indicator Inspectorate / Beneficiaries / ADI ITI DD N.5 Number of children involved in different types of SIDD DD Specific Output County School complementary educational measures (after school, Indicator Inspectorate / summer kindergartens, school tutoring, etc.) Beneficiaries / ADI ITI DD N.6 Number of centers that have implemented SIDD DD Specific Output County School complementary education measures in the ITI territory Indicator Inspectorate / Beneficiaries / ADI ITI DD N.7 Number of school mediators employed full time in the SIDD DD Specific Output County School school system year Indicator Inspectorate / Beneficiaries / ADI ITI DD RCO 67 Classroom capacity of new or modernized EU Common Output Indicator Beneficiaries / MIPE / ADI education facilities ITI DD RCR 71 Annual users of new or modernized education EU Common Result Indicator Beneficiaries / MIPE / ADI facilities ITI DD O. Social inclusion and protection 41 | P a g e Indicator Type of Indicator Source O.1 Number of persons who have benefited from regular SIDD DD Specific Output Beneficiaries / ADI ITI DD property rights in marginalized communities Indicator CR 03 Participants gaining a qualification upon leaving EU Common Result Indicator Beneficiaries / MIPE / ADI ITI DD CR 04 Participants in employment, including self- EU Common Result Indicator Beneficiaries / MIPE / ADI employment, upon leaving ITI DD RCO 65 - Capacity of new or modernized social housing EU Common Output Indicator Beneficiaries / MIPE / ADI ITI DD RCR 67 - Annual users of new or modernized social EU Common Result Indicator Beneficiaries / MIPE / ADI housing ITI DD RCO 113 Population covered by projects in the framework EU Common Output Indicator Beneficiaries / MIPE / ADI of integrated actions for socioeconomic inclusion of ITI DD marginalized communities, low-income households and disadvantaged groups P. Administrative capacity and program management P.1 Number of public authorities and institutions that SIDD DD Specific Output Beneficiaries / ADI ITI DD have implemented unitary measures to reduce Indicator administrative burdens, to implement quality and performance management systems P.2 Number of revised normative acts aimed at improving SIDD DD Specific Output Beneficiaries / ADI ITI DD the legal and institutional framework in the Danube Delta Indicator P.3 Number of projects implemented within the Danube SIDD DD Specific Output Beneficiaries / ADI ITI DD Delta ITI Indicator 42 | P a g e 8. Governance and Institutional Arrangements 8.1. Implementation P54. The implementation of the Strategy is managed at national level by the Ministry of Public Works, Development and Administration (MDPWA), based on an inter-institutional agreement with all the other ministries involved, including the Managing Authorities of the programmes supporting the ITI mechanism. P55. The Ministry of Investments and European Projects (MIPE) is the National Coordinator of the ITI mechanism in Romania; and also Managing Authority (MA) for some Romanian Operational Programmes; as well as coordinator of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) and the Operational Programme Just Transition (POTJ). P56. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MADR) is the National Authority responsible for coordinating the implementation of the Common Agricultural Policy and of the Common Fisheries Policy, as well as the Managing Authority for the National Strategic Plan (PNS) and for the Aquaculture and Fishery Programme (PAP). P57. The Regional Development Agency South-Est (ADR SE) is the Managing Authority for the Regional Operational Programme South-Est (POR SE). P58. At local level, the Inter-Community Development Agency for ITI Danube Delta (ADI ITI DD) is the coordinator of territorial interventions implemented in correlation with the provisions of the Strategy. P59. During the second phase of the Strategy implementation, ADI ITI DD will continue to perform tasks related to project planning and implementation: (i) prioritization and endorsement of the projects included in the portfolio; (ii) support to potential beneficiaries to prepare funding applications; (iii) support to beneficiaries to implement / manage the projects, through management consultancy related for example to the implementation of public procurement procedures; and (iv) monitoring and periodic reporting to the MDPWA on the implementation of projects. P60. Central and local public institutions, public and private beneficiaries and non-governmental organizations, as initiators of some projects that will be implemented in the ITI DD region, with impact on the progress towards the strategic and specific objectives of the Strategy, will be the main actors in completing the Strategy and related Action Plan. 8.2. Monitoring and evaluation P61. The monitoring and evaluation of the Strategy is ensured by MDPWA, with support from ADI ITI DD, in relation to the objectives and indicators included in the Strategy. The EU requirements for monitoring the interventions financed under ITI mechanism are fulfilled by the Managing Authorities of the Operational Programmes. Beneficiaries are submitting progress reports, including programme and project indicators, directly to the relevant Managing Authority; and data are being aggregated by programme and by priority axis, to allow assessment of the progress made towards the objectives of the programme and therefore towards EU Policy and Specific objectives. P62. During the previous WB mission, a set of recommendations were provided for further operationalizing the monitoring and evaluation framework of the strategy, which are reiterated in the paragraphs below. 43 | P a g e P63. Recommendation 1: Develop a monitoring and evaluation procedure, defining clear responsibilities for each institution involved in implementing Danube Delta Strategy. P64. The strategy defines in general terms the responsibilities of each institution involved in the implementation of the Danube Delta Strategy and of the ITI DD instrument. However, a specific procedure for monitoring and evaluation would better guide the collection and aggregation of data at local level, as well as the planning and follow-up for the external evaluations. P65. The procedure should define the expected results related to monitoring and evaluation functions: purpose of monitoring and evaluation activities, responsible institutions, and expected deliverables (see Table 5 below). Table 5: Expected results of monitoring and evaluation Monitoring Evaluation Purpose Determine whether strategy and projects are Determine the relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, progressing according to plan coherence, EU added value and impact of the strategy and projects Use of Take corrective actions to ensure that strategy Incorporate lessons learned in strategic planning findings and project objectives are met and decision-making process to improve future programmes Timing Continuous Selective (based on evaluation plan) Focus Outputs / activities, expected accomplishments Outcomes, impact Responsible MDPWA and IDA ITI DD, with the support of MDPWA and IDA ITI DD, with the support of Managing Authorities Managing Authorities and external evaluators Deliverables Quarterly and Annual Implementation Reports Evaluation Reports with findings, lessons learned and recommendations P66. The procedure should also define the concrete actions to be taken in order to achieve the expected results for the monitoring and evaluation function (see Table 6). Table 6: Suggested monitoring and evaluation activities and responsible institutions Actions Responsibilities Develop a monitoring and evaluation MDPWA: develop, update and approve procedure ADI ITI DD: endorse MAs: endorse Develop a system of indicators, along MDPWA: develop, update and approve with quantifiable targets ADI ITI DD: endorse MAs: endorse Collect and aggregate monitoring data ADI ITI DD: collect and aggregate MAs: transmit monitoring data to ADI ITI DD, every 3 months Monitor the progress of indicators, ADI ITI DD: monitor progress and suggest remediation actions based on aggregated data MDPWA: approve remediation actions and follow-up MAs: endorse remediation actions Develop an evaluation plan MDPWA: develop, update and approve ADI ITI DD: endorse 44 | P a g e Actions Responsibilities MAs: endorse Launch external evaluations, along with MDPWA: develop and approve documentation; launch and oversight corresponding documentation evaluations; approve final deliverables ADI ITI DD: endorse documentation; oversight evaluations; endorse final deliverables MAs: endorse documentation (i.e. terms of reference) Develop and monitor follow-up plans MDPWA: develop, update, approve and monitor ADI ITI DD: endorse, monitor MAs: endorse Communication of results for monitoring MDPWA: communication through different channels (e.g. internal and evaluation activities meetings, conferences, press releases) ADI ITI DD: communication through official website P67. Recommendation 2: Grant access to relevant data to all institution in charge of monitoring and evaluation. P68. Currently, the monitoring data related to ITI DD projects are collected by Managing Authorities, in relation to each Operational Programme. In order to assess the progress of the Danube Delta Strategy, these data should be aggregated also at the level of ITI DD area, by the strategy owners. For that purpose, the institution in charge with monitoring Danube Delta Strategy should have access to financing contracts, financing requests, progress reports and any other monitoring data submitted by Beneficiaries, including the progress of indicators. P69. Recommendation 3: Develop and communicate the evaluation plan for Danube Delta Strategy. P70. The evaluation plan should include the following elements: (1) indicative list of evaluations to be undertaken, their subject and rationale, (2) methods to be used for the individual evaluations and their data requirements, (3) provisions that data required for certain evaluations will be available or will be collected, (4) a timetable, (5) a strategy to ensure use and communication of evaluations, (6) human resources involved, (7) the indicative budget for implementation of the plan, and possibly (8) a training plan. Table 7: Indicative list of evaluation themes and suggested timeline Evaluation Theme Planning the Conducting the Disseminating Evaluation Evaluation Results Evaluation Theme 1: Impact evaluation of January 2023 February 2023 – September 2023 Danube Delta Strategy, for the first phase of August 2023 implementation 2016-2023 Evaluation Theme 2: Interim evaluation of January 2026 February 2026 – June 2026 Danube Delta Strategy, for the period 2022- May 2026 2025 Evaluation Theme 3: Interim evaluation of January 2028 February 2028 – June 2028 Danube Delta Strategy, for the period 2025- May 2028 2028 Evaluation Theme 4: Impact evaluation of January 2030 February 2030 – September 2023 Danube Delta Strategy, for the second phase of August 2030 implementation 2023-2030 45 | P a g e Annex 1. Updated socio-economic analysis A dual challenge for the sustainable development of the Danube Delta is the conservation of its ecological assets and improvement of the quality of life for its residents. The Delta hosts extraordinary biodiversity and provides important environmental services. It is the largest remaining natural delta in Europe and one of the largest in the world. It is also the only river delta that is entirely contained within a Biosphere Reserve. Established as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and a Ramsar site in 1990, the Danube Delta is one of the continent's most valuable habitats for specific delta wildlife and biodiversity. The most significant physical and ecological feature of the Delta (DDBR) is its vast expanse of wetlands, including freshwater marsh, lakes and ponds, streams and channels. Only 9% of the area is permanently above water. Life for the less than 10,000 residents of the core Delta is challenging and access to essential social and economic services is limited. Water transport is often the only option to reach and travel from destinations in the core Delta. The area also has lower access to basic services, such as piped water and sewerage, than the neighboring rural areas. Health and education services are also constrained by inaccessibility and decreasing population. Population density P71. According to the available data for Tulcea (Municipality), Babadag, Isaceea, Macin and Sulina regarding population density, it can be observed that all of the indexes are positive. The highest rise can be observed in Tulcea, the county residence municipality. The figures show that the county residence assumed the leading role in developing the area to attract people. From a built-up density of 4.335 capita/km2 in 2011, Tulcea reached 5.121 capita/km2 in 20186. Natural Growth Rate P72. The data collected between 2013 and 2018 indicates a negative NGR. While the birth rate is approximatively 6 ‰, the mortality rate is a staggering 15.5 ‰. The -9 ‰ statistics is concerning in the long run, but the causes are tied with the migration rate and the purchasing power of the inhabitants7. Solutions should be concentrated on offering better healthcare services, building maternity facilities, renovating schools, investing in local economy and bringing the touristic potential to fruition. Inhabitants dynamics P73. The dynamics regarding inhabitants show a drop in the number of population from 2002 to 2011, which was a trend due to the migration of the people from smaller cities to larger cities or abroad. The Danube Delta Region managed to retain most of the population over the course of 17 years and even increase in the number of people, such as in the case of Babadag. 6 Data retrieved from https://citadini.ro/baza-de-date-urbane/ 7 Data retrieved from https://citadini.ro/baza-de-date-urbane/ 46 | P a g e Migratory rate P74. In 2018, the rate of migration had a negative trend8. People are leaving their communities due to different factors, one of which is the lack of job opportunities. However, the migration rate was positive in Nufaru and Somova, towns 20 minutes away from the county residence Tulcea. This shows a trend of the people who concentrate on establishing themselves and their families within the same region, not wishing to migrate away from their birthplace. Also, the natural environment, mainly the lakes Somova and Casla, offer an advantage to investments in tourism. This point is connected with the previous one on inhabitants’ dynamics where it was argued that communities managed to retain an important number of citizens. Local Human Development Index P75. LHDI is a measuring tool applied in 2018 for all the Administrative Territorial Units which gives points according to the degree of development, human capital, material capital and healthcare. The situation for the two counties, Tulcea and Constanta, shows a contrast among communities living within this region9. There is a need of a more pronounced focus on investments, programs to fight poverty (especially in C.A. Rossetti, Crisan, Sfantu Gheorghe) and development programs that will offer better education and healthcare facilities for the citizens. Workforce in innovative industries P76. The data collected refers to the time frame between 2011 and 2018. The situation is critical for this sector in smaller cities from the Danube Delta Region. The workforce dropped from 2011 to 2018 in Babadag, Isaccea and Sulina to the advantage of Macin and Tulcea. Shrinking cities are suffering due to lack of a coherent strategy to encourage innovative enterprises. Smart City Policy P77. By 2020, the only ATU from the Danube Delta Region that managed to develop a smart city strategy was Tulcea. The region could benefit from this type of funding to additionally support different types of tourism, infrastructure projects, transport facilities both on water and land, agricultural initiatives and increase the life quality of the citizens. P78. Tulcea City already developed in 2018 a pilot project that monitored the traffic in order to reduce air and noise pollution while bettering the flow of cars. In 2020, public officials announced a project for digitalizing the parking system and the museum tours using virtual reality. Moreover, the schools will have solar panels, two new kindergartens will be built, smart public furniture is going to be installed in the Victoria Park, electric cars will have enough charging stations and the gas distribution system will have a smart city feature through which the distributers will automatically read the indexes. P79. Planning a smart city policy is the first step to access additional funding for projects that improve the lives of the citizens and attract investors. Investors could consider investing in IT through a public adoption of smart city policies and developing projects that show the cities’ commitment to attain the status of smart city. 8 Data retrieved from https://citadini.ro/baza-de-date-urbane/ 9 Data retrieved from https://citadini.ro/baza-de-date-urbane/ 47 | P a g e Entrepreneurial density and local business turnover P80. The data has been collected for 2018 and the calculation used was the number of businesses for every 1,000 inhabitants10. There is a strong discrepancy between the county residential city and the other cities from the ITI DD region. Connected to the previous point on smart cities, Tulcea was the only one that created and implemented projects in the area of smart technologies. The fact that it is a port city is another factor which explains the leading position, due to its openness in the tourism sector, reliable water transport and attractiveness for foreign international companies. P81. The figures regarding the total revenue at the level of ATU from 2016 to 2019 indicate constant revenues of Tulcea and Sacele, but a rise in the revenues of Babadag, Isaccea, Macin and Sulina. This is largely due to the investments in agriculture and transport infrastructure, such as the suspended bridge that will connect Braila to Tulcea11. The first part will connect Macin and Constanta (22 km) in 2022. Other examples are the project that seeks to improve the management of water distribution in Babadag, the public transport project and modernizing schools in Isaccea and restoring the historical lighthouse in Sulina. P82. The investments represent active steps of the public administrations to better the lives of the citizens that live in ITI DD region. However, as seen in the previous indicators, the efforts need further support to bring benefits to the people. The Government as well as European fundings should support the already existing initiatives and offer guidance for future projects which will rise the Local Human Development Index. Jobless Households P83. The indicator for people between 16-18 that do not follow any school programmes and are without job is very high in Babadag (21.35%) and Isaccea (15.85%). They are followed by Sulina (7.44%), Macin (6.50%) and Tulcea City (4.75%)12. P84. In the context of the local economy, these seem to indicate a cause for the poor development of businesses. Causes for not attending schools will be tackled in next subchapters. Regarding the jobless households and based on these results there can be interpreted that the people practise subsistence agriculture or work in undeclared labour jobs that do not require skilled workforce. P85. A set of recommendations can be forwarded based on these assumptions. The first is offering financial help for pupils who cannot afford to both attend school and sustain themselves. The second recommendation is promoting high school specializations that will teach a trade to those people and thus obtain the skilled workforce needed for developing businesses. The third is encouraging the sectors of the economy where the young people are working through incentives so businesses could hire them legally. Healthcare Services 10 Data retrieved from https://citadini.ro/baza-de-date-urbane/ 11 According to the World Bank (2020). Report on the analysis of a local development strategy: Danube Delta Integrated Sustainable Development Strategy, the works carried out for the main bridge have already led to an economic development of the area, beneficial both for inhabitants and for SMEs and micro-enterprises (report available at https://www.mdlpa.ro/uploads/articole/attachments/604f536cb66cc644308096.pdf). 12 Data retrieved from https://citadini.ro/baza-de-date-urbane/ 48 | P a g e P86. Tulcea is one of the counties with the fewest amount of hospital beds. In 2018, there were only 867 (15 in Isaccea, 65 in Macin, 787 in Tulcea City, none in Babadag and Sulina). Regarding life expectancy, Tulcea has the second lowest rate after the county Satu Mare (73.75 years), with an expectancy of 73.83 years13. P87. Modernization and rehabilitation of already existing hospital units should be a priority for the upcoming years. However, considering the life expectancy and the fact that rural areas have mostly elder residents, projects that seek to enlarge the access of the population should be encouraged in order to promote equity and ensure that everyone can benefit of basic healthcare services. Education Services P88. In 2019, the school dropout rate was 13.54% in the DD region. This figure was calculated based on the number of enrolled pupils at the start of the school year and the number of enrolled students at the end of the same school year. In the same year, the number of teachers, pupils are auxiliary personnel who benefited from good practice exchanges was 318. However, looking at the percentage of pupils who were successful at the baccalaureate exam in 2021, it is observed that Tulcea County had a rate of 71.1% of successful candidates, about 3% higher than the national average. P89. The educational opportunities in the DD region are diminished by the risk of poverty. The dropout rate is a sign that pupils are forced to undertake other activities rather than their studies in order to sustain themselves. This statement is backed by the rate of unemployed people aged between 16-18 who are neither legally working nor following their education. The rate of successful baccalaureate candidates, higher than the national average, indicates the perseverance of young people to lift themselves from poverty through education. P90. Rehabilitating and modernizing the school units is a method of promoting the educational services and increasing the quality of the education delivered within the ITI DD region. However, the issue of school dropout does not entirely depend on the material conditions of school, but rather on the material conditions of the families the pupils come from. For this reason, an integrated approach targeting the poverty generating factors should be the course of action for reducing the dropout rate and bettering the educational opportunities. Water management P91. The percentage of households connected to the water supply system are among the highest in the country. In 2019, Babadag had 92.15%, Isaccea 90.94%, Macin 98.20%, Sulina 99.70% and Tulcea 99.96%. The data available for Tulcea city show that the water is potable in 99.99%14. P92. There are 16 water tanks as the data collected in 2019 indicate with a capacity of 17.800 cbm. This means that small towns and villages where the water systems could not be built benefit of enough supplied water. P93. The data shows the potential in the agricultural sector. The water supply is enough and of high quality for people willing to practice agriculture. Also, the connections to the water system show an improvement in the quality of life of the citizens. 13 Data retrieved from https://citadini.ro/baza-de-date-urbane/ 14 Data retrieved from https://citadini.ro/baza-de-date-urbane/ 49 | P a g e Waste management P94. The rate of recycling grew from 4.06% in 2016 to 11.64% in 2019. The maximum capacity was increased to 39.745 tonnes/year in 2019, according to monitoring data provided by ADI ITI DD15. The figures show the ambitions and dedication to preserve the natural fauna and flora. It is common knowledge that waste is harmful and lethal for the animals residing in the area. The fact that the ATUs in the Danube Delta understood the seriousness pollution poses for the preservation of the local specific is a strong indicator that the policies regarding recycling and modernizing the waste management should be further continued. Pollution P95. Record of installations covered by the Industrial Emissions Directive, including units that are inventoried in the Register of Emitted and Transferred Pollutants (E-PRTR) showed that there were 16 major pollution sources in the ITI Danube Delta (three in Isaccea, two in Macin and 11 in Tulcea City). In 2018, the CO and SO2 concentrations were the highest in Macin (0.22%); and the PM10 concentration was the highest in Babadag (26.46%)16. P96. Tulcea County scored an average of 4.38 Green House Gases Emissions/capita in 2014. Households and public buildings generated most of the GHC. One of the causes for the high emissions is the construction materials used, which are not preserving heat and more resources are needed to obtain a satisfying degree of heating. Tulcea, Babadag and Isaccea have a target to reduce the CO2 emission by 20% in the timeframe between 2020-2040. P97. Solutions should concentrate on the energy efficiency of apartment buildings as well as public buildings. Through rehabilitation and modernization of the already existing constructions, the loss of heat and the costs on gas and electricity can be lowered. Moreover, solar panels and green electricity solutions can be a response for towns and rural areas that face scarcity in this domain. Housing P98. In a poll conducted in 2020 that asked the following question: "To what extent do you agree with the statement: ?"; in Isaccea and Sulina most of the people agreed the price is reasonable. In Isaccea, 22% totally agreed, 50% partially agreed, 26% partially disagreed and 2% totally disagreed. In Sulina, 27% totally agreed, 43% partially agreed and 30% partially disagreed17. P99. Considering the rate of development and the lack of investments in building houses/apartments, the range of available housing mostly refers to the buildings constructed before 1990. The materials used are not necessarily the worst, but they do little in energy efficiency. This data is for the cities with a population lower than 15.000 inhabitants. For Tulcea, the county residence, in 2017 the price per square meters expressed in Euros was 780. It was the 9th city in the top out of the 42 analyzed. This shows the preference of the people to migrate to larger cities, as the data on the migration rate already presented. 15 Data provided by ADI ITI DD during the previous WB mission, in April 2020 16 Data retrieved from https://citadini.ro/baza-de-date-urbane/ 17 Data retrieved from https://citadini.ro/baza-de-date-urbane/ 50 | P a g e Crisis management P100. The most common emergency situations in the ITI Danube Delta are floods and fires. There have been improvements regarding the management of those crisis, for example the average response time in crises dropped from 20 minutes in 2016 to 15.30 minutes in 2019. Also, the number of annual exercises for interventions increased from one in 2016 to four in 2019 and it is targeted to reach seven by 2023. The ITI Danube Delta also has two intervention plans. Through investment in infrastructure, the number of inhabitants who benefit of protection measures against floods increased from 5265 in 2016 to 11.758 in 201918. P101. The figures show that the institutions charged with protecting the lives of the citizens have developed their capacities to respond to the needs of the people. However, there is room for improvement. Considering that the Danube Delta is the home to an important number of protected species, it is imperative that the firefighters operate with the most efficient equipment in order to liquidate fires and stop floods from entering areas where the animals are taking refuge. For this to become a reality, funding should be directed according to the needs of the Inspectorate for Emergency Situations. Biodiversity and ecosystem management P102. The fauna and flora in the Danube Delta is highly diverse. There are 320 species of birds, an important number of common species of fish, rich floating flora and banks with willow trees that became home to the animals residing in the delta. The area of land used for conserving endangered species was 52 hectares in 2019, with an ambitious desire to enlarge it to 1363 hectares by 202319. P103. The question of conserving the environment while developing local communities should be a topic of interest. The influence of people in the ecosystem is already visible, with fewer fish due to poor fishing regulations and more waste such as plastic bottles being thrown in the water. If the preservation of the Delta is desired, then there should be stronger regulations for building permits dedicated to creating tourist facilities, controls for identifying and stopping illegal fishing activities, more incentives for recycling and assistance for NGOs who have as the main activity the conservation of the Danube Delta. Fishing and aquaculture P104. An important number of people practice fishing and aquaculture in the ITI Danube Delta. This occupation has been a traditional occupation tied with the history and the local specific. The question of whether fishing should maintain its status as one of the main occupations of the people is up to debate. Excessive fishing and the negative impact it has on the ecosystem of the Danube Delta should be taken into consideration. In order to make fishing and aquaculture profitable businesses, then opportunities for processing the fish should be made available. Agriculture and Rural Development P105. The agriculture remains one of the main sectors of the economy in ITI Danube Delta. Public administrations developed a series of initiatives aimed at encouraging and supporting those who practice agriculture. The percentage of the total irrigation system modernized and rehabilitated 18 Data provided by ADI ITI DD during the previous WB mission, in April 2020 19 Data provided by ADI ITI DD during the previous WB mission, in April 2020 51 | P a g e through ITI DD projects was 1.13% in 2019 and it is aimed to reach 7.93% by 2023. Furthermore, there were 44 projects in 2019 that benefited from help in order to modernize the irrigation system, with the target to reach 62 by 2023. The land directed to farmers from the public domain rose 4363 hectares in 2019. This was also the target set for 202320. P106. The percentage of farmers that opened a business in a non-agriculture related domain was 4.93% in 2019, which outlines the farmer’s openness towards diversifying the range of activities taking place in their communities. Regarding environmental initiatives, the land that was unproductive for agriculture transformed into forest rose from 1.52 hectares in 2016 to 64.15 hectares in 2019 and it is aimed to reach 120.88 hectares by 202321. P107. The developments already implemented in the ITI DD region show the interest of local communities to develop this sector of the economy. The farmers face the same challenges as in the rest of the rural areas, that of forming associations to be able to become relevant for the market. Furthermore, there is the issue of raising animals for consumption, which is a polluting activity due to the high resources of water required. The health of the soil is also a question to be taken into account, due to having to rotate crops and ensure fertility for future generations. However, the initiative to transfer the unproductive land for forest planting is a method of compensating for the already existing problems. Moreover, the farmers should consider their environmental impact and be assisted by know-how transfer to create strong and efficient associations. Transport P108. The transport in the ITI DD region can be done both by land and by water. This allows for a variety of approaches for businesses that wish to send or receive goods from one place to another. The distance between Tulcea City and Brăila City is 84 minutes, with an aim for 2023 to reduce it to 64 minutes due to investments in the bridge over the Danube. The same time drop will be applied for Tulcea City – Galați City, where the reduction will be from 85 minutes to 65 minutes by 202322. P109. The transport is the backbone of tourism and businesses. The sectors connected to transport can be further developed by investments in roads, bridges and ports. A higher degree of mobility is welcomed for the multilateral development of the communities in the Danube Delta. The water transport is well- below its potential. More investments in ships that would be used for cargo and tourism should be considered for optimizing the naval mobility. Being the cheapest form of transporting goods and thanks to the potential for developing international contracts with countries that have access to the Black Sea, investments in water transport can play a pivotal role in increasing the Local Development Index of the people from ITI DD region. Tourism P110. The rate of occupation of the authorized tourism facilities rose from 24.7% in 2016 to 32.50% in 2019 and from an average of 1.2 nights spent in these facilities in 2016 became 2.6 nights spent in 2019. Also, the number of boats available for tourists to travel through the area rose from 31 in 2016 to 57 in 2019.23 20 Data provided by ADI ITI DD during the previous WB mission, in April 2020 21 Data provided by ADI ITI DD during the previous WB mission, in April 2020 22 Data provided by ADI ITI DD during the previous WB mission, in April 2020 23 Data provided by ADI ITI DD during the previous WB mission, in April 2020 52 | P a g e P111. These developments in tourism show that more people are interested in discovering the natural attractions the Danube Delta has to offer. It is of great importance that the transport sector is well developed to accommodate the needs of the tourists; and public administrations should further support the rehabilitation of existing cultural and touristic infrastructure. P112. As a general conclusion, during the period 2016-2020, the situation improved in the ITI DD region due to the use of the European Funds and to the dedicated programs made possible by the European Commission, such as the ITI Mechanism, with the goal of channeling and integrating several financial sources in the benefit of the region, for reducing development gaps and for fostering sustainable development in the area. The absorption rate of the funds was low, mainly due to late contraction of projects and a lack of the beneficiaries of complying with the point-based system of the projects. Nevertheless, it is important to state that a significant part of the contracted projects was implemented, which equally represents a good indicator for the readability of the region in implementing projects and in increasing the current state of development of the area. P113. The ITI Mechanism represents a tangible solution for multi-scope investments at the level of the Danube Delta, currently facing a vast range of systemic issues. The unicity of this area, coupled with its great touristic potential, especially based on its unique flora and fauna environmental characteristics can provide a good basis for the development of an infrastructure capable of furtherly developing this area, not only for lucrative activities, but also for the development of the living conditions of the residents of the area. Hence, the issues presented in the socio-economic analysis provide a clear overview of the systemic issues which need to be addressed in order to provide the enhancing conditions for concomitantly developing and preserving the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve. 53 | P a g e Annex 2. Progress achieved during the period 2016-2020 The table below is retrieved from the Interim Evaluation Report24 developed under the previous World Bank mission; and presents the interim progress of the SIDD DD, based on the monitoring data provided by IDA ITI DD, as of May 2020. Table 8: List of Indicators and Interim Progress Code Indicators MU Source Baseline Interim Target Interim Value Progress (2016) (2023) (2020) (2020) Sector A Biodiversity and Ecosystem Management The surface of the supported habitats in order to obtain a better Beneficiaries CO23 Ha - 1,364 52 4% conservation stage / IDA ITI DD 2S36 Number of Natura 2000 sites with active preservation measures Number sites MMAP - 22.0 5.0 23% Beneficiaries 2S38 Approved sets of measures / management plans / action plans Number - 4 2 50% / IDA ITI DD Number of sites / areas / species / habitats (as appropriate) benefiting Beneficiaries 2S94 Number - 27 15 56% from approved management plans / action plans / IDA ITI DD Number of Natura 2000 sites with administrator / operational Beneficiaries 2S95 Number - 10 - 0% custodian 4.1A / IDA ITI DD Number of sites / areas / species / habitats (as appropriate) benefiting Beneficiaries 2S97 Number - 12 - 0% from active conservation measures implemented / IDA ITI DD Number of Natura 2000 sites with administrator / operational Beneficiaries 2S98 Number - 12 5 42% custodian 4.1B / IDA ITI DD Active measures implemented for species X (for action plans related to Beneficiaries 2S100 Number - 15 1 7% species whose area cannot be identified exhaustively) / IDA ITI DD 24 World Bank (2020). Report on the analysis of a local development strategy: Danube Delta Integrated Sustainable Development Strategy 2030 54 | P a g e Code Indicators MU Source Baseline Interim Target Interim Value Progress (2016) (2023) (2020) (2020) Private investment combined with public support for innovation or Beneficiaries CO27 EUR - 2,269,248 - 0% R&D projects / IDA ITI DD I.A.1 DDRDB Management Plan implemented Yes/No ARBDD - 1 - 0% Beneficiaries I.A.2 Management Plans of other Natura 2000 sites in the ITI territory Number - 3 - 0% / IDA ITI DD Number of sets of measures and actions of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve based on widely accepted monitoring data and Beneficiaries I.A.3 Number - 9 3 33% state of the art hydrological, sedimentation and demographic models / IDA ITI DD implemented The surface of the supported habitats in order to obtain a better Beneficiaries I.A.4 Ha - 1,363 52 4% conservation stage / IDA ITI DD Number of flood protection infrastructure objectives within the DDBR I.A.6 Number AFDJ GALATI 5.0 24.0 9.0 21% built / rehabilitated / upgraded Sector B Energy Efficiency I.B.1 Number of renovated public buildings Number IDA ITI DD 7.0 50.0 10.0 7% I.B.2 Number of renovated residential buildings Number IDA ITI - 20 11 55% Beneficiaries I.B.3 The length of the rehabilitated / extended thermal network Km - 13 - 0% / IDA ITI DD Beneficiaries 1S8 Decrease in annual primary energy consumption in public lighting KWh/an - 845 - 0% / IDA ITI DD Beneficiaries CO32 Decrease in annual primary energy consumption in public buildings KWh/year - 8,476,539.6 - 0% / IDA ITI DD Sector C Climate Change Equivalent Beneficiaries CO34 Estimated annual decrease in greenhouse gases - 1,105,740.1 - 0% tons CO2 / IDA ITI DD 55 | P a g e Code Indicators MU Source Baseline Interim Target Interim Value Progress (2016) (2023) (2020) (2020) Number of interventions and investments for climate change Beneficiaries I.C.1 Number - 10 2 20% adaptation measures / IDA ITI DD Number of households with a better classification of energy Beneficiaries I.C.2 consumption due to the implementation of energy efficiency Number - 1,116 462 41% / IDA ITI DD measures Sector D Disaster Risk Management Average response time to emergencies for firefighting and other 2S49a Minutes ISU Tulcea 20.0 15.3 15.3 100% situations 2S49b Average response time to emergencies for providing first aid Minutes ISU Tulcea 15.0 14.0 14.3 70% Beneficiaries 2S50 Units equipped for emergencies Number - 1 1 100% / IDA ITI DD Funding application submitted for analysis and approval to the Beneficiaries 2S81 Number - 2 1 50% European Commission / Independent Evaluation Body / IDA ITI DD Supporting documentation for the elaboration of the financing Beneficiaries 2S82 application (Feasibility Study, Institutional Analysis, Cost Benefit Number - 1 - 0% / IDA ITI DD Analysis, Environmental Impact Assessment, etc.) Number of inhabitants who benefit from flood protection measures as I.D.1 Number AFDJ Galați 5,265.0 11,758.0 11,758.0 100% a result of making investments in infrastructure I.D.2 Number of disaster response drills (annual) Number ISU Tulcea 1 7 4 50% Hazardous waste inventory and existing information management MMAP/ANP I.D.3 Yes/No - 1 - 0% system (yes or no) M I.D.4 Number of intervention plans available Number ISU Tulcea - 2 2 100% Sector E Pollution Emergency 50% I.E.1 Number of pollution incidents in the DD region (annually) Number/year ISU Tulcea - - - 100% I.E.2 Number of emergency response drills (annually) Number / year ISU Tulcea 1 3 2 50% 56 | P a g e Code Indicators MU Source Baseline Interim Target Interim Value Progress (2016) (2023) (2020) (2020) Sector F Tourism Increase of the expected number of visits to cultural and natural Number visits Beneficiaries CO9 - 25,865 3,959 15% heritage sites and supported attractions / year / IDA ITI DD Beneficiaries 1S23 Restored cultural heritage objectives Number - 8 1 13% / IDA ITI DD Beneficiaries 1S68 Public buildings built / modernized / extended Number - 4 - 0% / IDA ITI DD Beneficiaries CO38 Open spaces created or rehabilitated in urban areas Square meters - 21,022 - 0% / IDA ITI DD Public or commercial buildings constructed or renovated in urban Beneficiaries CO39 Square meters - 22,090 - 0% areas / IDA ITI DD People living in small and medium sized cities where local Beneficiaries 1S67 Number - 10,052 - 0% development strategies have been implemented / IDA ITI DD Beneficiaries P6B301 Number of modernized historical monuments Number - 1 - 0% / IDA ITI DD II.A.1 Tourist arrivals (annually) Number INS 73,114 202,374 119.752 36% II.A.2 Number of DDBR entry permits Number ARBDD 61,925.0 424,946.0 424,946.0 100% Number of boats available for tourists at the main exit points and Căpitănia II.A.3 Number 31 57 57 100% nodal points (monitored routes) zonală Tulcea II.A.4 Occupancy rates for authorized / official accommodation % INS 24.7 32.5 32.5 100% II.A.5 Average length of stay (nights) Number nights INS 1.2 2.6 2.6 100% Number of traditional houses maintained / rehabilitated included in Beneficiaries II.A.7 Number - 20 10 50% the tourist circuit / IDA ITI DD II.A.8 The ratio between nonresidents and residents owning land in DD % ATUs 7.2 6.0 6.9 22% 57 | P a g e Code Indicators MU Source Baseline Interim Target Interim Value Progress (2016) (2023) (2020) (2020) Sector G Fishery and Aquaculture EUR - Beneficiaries 1.1 Variation in production value - 4,341.0 906.0 21% thousands / IDA ITI DD Beneficiaries 1.2 Variation in production volume Tons - 1,746.4 499.0 29% / IDA ITI DD Beneficiaries 1.7 Jobs (ENI) created in the fisheries sector or complementary activities ENI - 89.0 12.0 13% / IDA ITI DD II.B.2 Size of predatory fish species populations Number INCDDD 26.0 31.0 31.0 100% II.B.3 Caras (Prussian carp) population dynamics Number INCDDD 47.0 49.0 48.0 50% Number of investments / projects in aquaculture / processing / Beneficiaries II.B.4 Number - 15 2 13% fisherman safety / IDA ITI DD Sector H Agriculture and Rural Development Share of irrigation infrastructure rehabilitated through ITI projects out Beneficiaries II.C.3 % - 7.9 1.1 14% of total viable irrigation infrastructure (%) / IDA ITI DD Beneficiaries II.C.6 The area of land granted to farmers out of publicly available land Ha - 4,364 4,364 100% / IDA ITI DD Beneficiaries II.C.8 % of farmers who have started a non agricultural activity % - 4.9 4.9 100% / IDA ITI DD % of initiatives / projects that capitalize on the cultural heritage of the Beneficiaries II.C.9 % - 0.02 0.02 100% area / IDA ITI DD % of modernized communal and village infrastructure, out of which after school, sports facilities, dispensary, agricultural road, forest road, modernized local roads, kindergartens, street lighting, modernized Beneficiaries II.C.10 % - 11.7 4.5 38% high schools and schools, parks and playgrounds, markets, bridges and / IDA ITI DD footbridges, water network, sewerage network, networks for population safety 58 | P a g e Code Indicators MU Source Baseline Interim Target Interim Value Progress (2016) (2023) (2020) (2020) Number of holdings receiving aid for investments in agricultural Beneficiaries P2A13 Number - 450 368 82% holdings / IDA ITI DD Public and private investments for food processing and marketing = Beneficiaries P3A12 Mil EUR - 18 4 25% total project value (mil euro) of total ITI agricultural investments / IDA ITI DD Number of farms receiving investment aid for food processing and Beneficiaries P3A13 Number - 6 1 17% marketing / IDA ITI DD Beneficiaries P5A13 Number of projects receiving investment aid for irrigation Number - 62 44 71% / IDA ITI DD Beneficiaries P5A14 Target area (ha) for irrigation through ITI projects Ha - 8,038 2,010 25% / IDA ITI DD Beneficiaries P5D11 Number of projects with investments in manure storage platforms Number - 9 4 44% / IDA ITI DD Number of holdings receiving start up aid / support for investments in Beneficiaries P6A11 Number - 7 6 86% nonagricultural activities / IDA ITI DD Beneficiaries P6B200 Number of projects benefiting from infrastructure investment aid Number - 53 19 36% / IDA ITI DD Beneficiaries P6B201 Length of agricultural roads (m) = agricultural road Meters - 18,528 1 0% / IDA ITI DD Beneficiaries P6B203 Water network length (m) Meters - 44,917 4 0% / IDA ITI DD Beneficiaries P6B204 Sewer network length (m) Meters - 87,952 4 0% / IDA ITI DD Beneficiaries P6B205 Length of modernized local roads (m) Meters - 161,831 11 0% / IDA ITI DD Beneficiaries P6B206 Number of modernized high schools and colleges Number - 1 1 100% / IDA ITI DD 59 | P a g e Code Indicators MU Source Baseline Interim Target Interim Value Progress (2016) (2023) (2020) (2020) Beneficiaries P6B207 Number of modernized kindergartens Number - 6 1 17% / IDA ITI DD Beneficiaries P6B208 Number of modernized after schools Number - 2 1 50% / IDA ITI DD Number of projects that benefit from aid for investments in the local Beneficiaries P6B300 Number - 13 5 38% cultural and natural heritage / IDA ITI DD Beneficiaries P6B301 Number of modernized historical monuments Number - 1 1 100% / IDA ITI DD Beneficiaries P6B302 Number of modernized cultural centers Number - 12 5 42% / IDA ITI DD Beneficiaries P6B41 Number of LAGs selected Number - 5 5 100% / IDA ITI DD Beneficiaries P6B42 Population targeted by the LAG Number - 130,000 130,000 100% / IDA ITI DD Beneficiaries II.C.1 Number of farmers / associations with access to promotion networks Number - 122 31 25% / IDA ITI DD Number of participants in education / training programs through Beneficiaries II.C.2 Number - 317 79 25% PNDR / IDA ITI DD The surface of unproductive forested land (through PNDR projects II.C.4 Ha APIA Tulcea 2 121 64 52% 2014 2020 in the ITI territory on M.8 APIA) Beneficiaries II.C.5 Number of flood protection interventions (through ITI projects) Number - 11 11 100% / IDA ITI DD Sector I Transport Beneficiaries CO13 Total length of newly built roads connected to TEN T Km - 23 2 9% / IDA ITI DD 60 | P a g e Code Indicators MU Source Baseline Interim Target Interim Value Progress (2016) (2023) (2020) (2020) Beneficiaries CO14 Length of reconstructed / modernized roads connected to TEN T Km - 133 2 2% / IDA ITI DD Beneficiaries 1S11 Implemented operations for public and non motorized transport Number - 1 - 0% / IDA ITI DD Beneficiaries 2S17 Length of reconstructed / modernized roads connected to TEN T Number - 2 - 0% / IDA ITI DD Beneficiaries 2S6 Ports located on modernized TEN T Number - 2 - 0% / IDA ITI DD Beneficiaries CO13a Total length of newly built TEN T roads Km - 23 - 0% / IDA ITI DD www.distanț III.A.2 Travel time between Tulcea and Brăila Minutes 81.0 64.0 84.0 -18% a.ro www.distanț III.A.3 Travel time between Tulcea and Galați Minutes 85.0 65.0 85.0 0% a.ro Căpitănia III.A.4 Volume of goods transported by inland waterways Tons/year 3,083,976.2 3,313,994.2 3,275,392.0 83% zonală Tulcea Number of interventions on improved access to key services during Beneficiaries III.A.5 Number - 11 11 100% the winter / IDA ITI Sector J Information and Communication Technology Beneficiaries CO10 New households with broadband access of at least 30 Mbps Number - 2,000 400 20% / IDA ITI DD Number of uncovered localities that will be covered by the project Beneficiaries 211B1 Number - 14 2 14% implementation / IDA ITI DD Beneficiaries 211B2 Number of broadband Internet access points Number - 4,339 234 5% / IDA ITI DD 61 | P a g e Code Indicators MU Source Baseline Interim Target Interim Value Progress (2016) (2023) (2020) (2020) Number of students in preuniversity education, active users on the Beneficiaries 233B1 national learning platform, in total number of students in pre Number - 20 - 0% / IDA ITI DD university education (%) Number of preuniversity teachers, active users on the national Beneficiaries 233B2 learning platform, out of the total number of pre university teachers Number - 15 - 0% / IDA ITI DD (%) Number of digitized cultural heritage elements, uploaded on the Beneficiaries 233C1 Number - 550,000 550,000 100% platform created by the project / IDA ITI DD Number of "Digitized Cultural Heritage Elements" and provided to Beneficiaries 233C2 Number - 200,000 200,000 100% europeana.eu / IDA ITI DD Number of rare documents already digitized, and number of rare Beneficiaries 233C3 Number - 1,795 1,795 100% documents digitized by the project, uploaded on Europeana.eu / IDA ITI DD Number of objects already digitized in library collections and number Beneficiaries 233C4 of objects in library collections digitized by the project uploaded to Number - 81,525 81,525 100% / IDA ITI DD Europeana.eu Number of objects already digitized, belonging to the national heritage, in museum collections and number of objects from the Beneficiaries 233C5 Number - 116,680 116,680 100% national heritage digitized by the project, which are uploaded on / IDA ITI DD Europeana.eu Number of high school students using the internet via wireless Beneficiaries 233W1 Number - 20 13 65% campus, out of the total number of high school students (%) / IDA ITI DD Number of teachers using the internet via wireless campus, out of the Beneficiaries 233W2 Number - 15 10 67% total number of teachers (%) / IDA ITI DD Number of gymnasium units that benefit from wireless equipment Beneficiaries 233W3 Number - 4,500 2,999 67% through the implementation of the project / IDA ITI DD 3S8 NGA broadband coverage / availability as a percentage of households % ANCOM 69.5 72.3 69.5 0% 62 | P a g e Code Indicators MU Source Baseline Interim Target Interim Value Progress (2016) (2023) (2020) (2020) Percentage of citizens who regularly use the Internet out of total 3S14 % DESI 56.0 80.0 72.0 67% population Beneficiaries 3S17 Schools using OER, WEB 2.0 in education (no of schools) Number - 18 18 100% / IDA ITI DD III.B.1 The degree of regular use of the Internet at national level % DESI 60.0 80.0 74.0 70% Beneficiaries III.B.3 Number of prehospital and hospital units using telemedicine systems Number - 1 - 0% / IDA ITI DD Sector K Water Supply and Sewerage Systems and Integrated Water Management Share of rural population connected to centralized water supply Beneficiaries IV.A.1 % - 23.6 5.9 25% networks through ITI funded projects (%) / IDA ITI DD Share of population in cities connected to centralized water supply Beneficiaries IV.A.2 % - 16.4 1.6 10% networks through ITI funded projects (%) / IDA ITI DD Share of rural population connected to centralized sewerage networks Beneficiaries IV.A.3 % - 8.7 0.9 10% through ITI funded projects (%) / IDA ITI DD Share of population in cities connected to centralized sewerage Beneficiaries IV.A.4 % - 46.3 - 0% networks through ITI funded projects (%) / IDA ITI DD Share of wastewater treated according to required standards (%) in Beneficiaries IV.A.5 % - 36.4 25.6 70% rural areas / IDA ITI DD Share of wastewater treated according to required standards (%) in Beneficiaries IV.A.6 % 100.0 100.0 100.0 100% cities / IDA ITI DD Number of inhabitants connected to a centralized drinking water Beneficiaries IV.A.7 % - 112,582 28,146 25% system through ITI funded projects / IDA ITI DD Number of inhabitants connected to a centralized sewerage system Beneficiaries IV.A.8 Number - 94,815 9,482 10% through ITI funded projects / IDA ITI DD Beneficiaries IV.A.9 Number of wastewater treatment plants Number - 8 1 10% / IDA ITI DD 63 | P a g e Code Indicators MU Source Baseline Interim Target Interim Value Progress (2016) (2023) (2020) (2020) Sector L Solid Waste Management Beneficiaries CO17 Additional waste recycling capacity Tons/year - 39,745 39,745 100% / IDA ITI DD MMAP/ANP 2S25 The amount of biodegradable waste stored Mil. tons/year - 2,336.1 - 0% M Beneficiaries 2S28 Closed / rehabilitated non compliant landfills Number - 2 - 0% / IDA ITI DD Total amount of household waste collected and transported (tones / ANPM/APM IV.B.1 Tons/year 57,039.0 58,403.0 58,039.0 73% year) Tulcea Total amount of recyclable waste recovered from the total quantity ANPM/APM IV.B.2 % 4.1 20.0 11.6 48% collected (%) Tulcea Total quantity deviated from storage out of the total quantity ANPM/APM IV.B.3 % - 22 - 0% collected (%) Tulcea Total quantity of household waste collected separately (dry fraction) ANPM/APM IV.B.4 Tons/year - 11,681 - 0% (tones / Tulcea Total quantity of household waste collected separately (wet fraction) ANPM/APM IV.B.5 Tons/year - 46,722 - 0% (tones / Tulcea Number of inhabitants and visitors participating in educational IDA IDM IV.B.6 Number - 40,000 - 0% activities related to waste management (number of people) Tulcea Sector M Healthcare 13% Beneficiaries of medical infrastructure built / rehabilitated / Beneficiaries 1S35 modernized / extended / equipped (for community and outpatient Number - 5,000 - 0% / IDA ITI DD medical services) Medical units built / rehabilitated / modernized / extended / equipped Beneficiaries 1S36 Number - 1 - 0% (for community and outpatient medical services / IDA ITI DD 64 | P a g e Code Indicators MU Source Baseline Interim Target Interim Value Progress (2016) (2023) (2020) (2020) Beneficiaries 1S37 Emergency reception units ( tertiary level) Number - 2 1 50% / IDA ITI DD Beneficiaries S77 Rehabilitated / modernized / extended / equipped County Hospital Number - 1 - 0% / IDA ITI DD Beneficiaries IV.C.2 Number of emergency units Number - 3.0 2.0 67% / IDA ITI DD IV.C.3 Life expectancy at birth Years INSP 73.5 75.5 74.0 25% Sector N Education 19% Beneficiaries 4S201 People who get a job, including those who are self employed Number - 90.0 9.0 10% / IDA ITI DD Beneficiaries 4S6 Persons who, upon termination of participation, acquire a qualification Number - 170.0 17.0 10% / IDA ITI DD Beneficiaries 4S36 Employees who benefit from training programs Number - 326 - 0% / IDA ITI DD Beneficiaries 4S17 Supported businesses Number - 36 - 0% / IDA ITI DD Beneficiaries 4S8 People receiving support Number - 490 66 13% / IDA ITI DD The capacity of childcare or education infrastructures to receive Beneficiaries CO35 Number - 175 - 0% support / IDA ITI DD The capacity of the education infrastructure that benefits from Beneficiaries 1S53 Number - 1,609 341 21% support vocational and technical education / IDA ITI DD The capacity of the education infrastructure that benefits from Beneficiaries 1S65 Number - 268 255 95% support preschool / IDA ITI DD The capacity of the education infrastructure that benefits from Beneficiaries 1S66 Number - 2,727 85 3% support school / IDA ITI DD 65 | P a g e Code Indicators MU Source Baseline Interim Target Interim Value Progress (2016) (2023) (2020) (2020) Inclusion rate in preschool / primary / secondary / upper secondary IV.D.2 % ISJ Tulcea 2.0 2.5 2.5 100% education for Roma citizens Number of people who benefit from support projects for training / ISJ Tulcea + IV.D.5 Number 45.0 400.0 318.0 77% exchange of good practices Constanța Sector O Social Inclusion and Protection 1% Persons at risk of poverty or social exclusion from marginalized Beneficiaries 4S155 communities who acquire a qualification upon participation, of which: Number - 12.0 - 0% / IDA ITI DD Roma Persons at risk of poverty or social exclusion in marginalized Beneficiaries 4S156 communities who Number - 166.0 - 0% / IDA ITI DD have a job, including those who are self-employed, upon completion Supported services at the level of marginalized communities at risk of Beneficiaries 4S161 Number - 18 - 0% poverty or social exclusion / IDA ITI DD People at risk of poverty and social exclusion from marginalized Beneficiaries 4S160 Number - 1,062 37 3% communities who benefit from integrated services, of which: Roma / IDA ITI DD Marginalized communities at risk of poverty or social exclusion (of Beneficiaries 4S162 which: in rural areas) receiving support, of which: those with a Roma Number - 4 - 0% / IDA ITI DD minority population Beneficiaries (adults with disabilities) of day center infrastructure for Beneficiaries 1S42 people with disabilities, rehabilitated / modernized / extended / Number - 130 - 0% / IDA ITI DD equipped Beneficiaries (adults with disabilities) of deinstitutionalization Beneficiaries 1S43 infrastructure built / rehabilitated / modernized / extended / Number - 53 - 0% / IDA ITI DD equipped Number of kindergartens and other educational services for children ISJ Tulcea + IV.E.1 Number 99.0 101.0 101.0 100% under 6 in disadvantaged communities Constanța 66 | P a g e Code Indicators MU Source Baseline Interim Target Interim Value Progress (2016) (2023) (2020) (2020) Number of students at risk of dropping out of school at the beginning ISJ Tulcea + IV.E.4 Number 251.0 251.0 271.0 0% and end of the school Constanța Number of children involved in different types of complementary ISJ Tulcea + IV.E.5 educational measures (after school, summer kindergartens, school Number 130.0 3,392.0 3,392.0 100% Constanța tutoring, etc.) Number of centers that have implemented complementary education ISJ Tulcea + IV.E.6 Number 5.0 36.0 36.0 100% measures in the ITI territory Constanța Number of school mediators employed full time in the school system ISJ Tulcea + IV.E.7 Number 5.0 5.0 5.0 0% year Constanța Beneficiaries IV.E.9 Number of persons who have benefited from regular property rights Number - 180 - 0% / IDA ITI DD Sector P Administrative Capacity and Program Management 65% Local authorities and public institutions that have implemented Beneficiaries 5S18 standard mechanisms and procedures for substantiating long term Number - 1.0 - 0% / IDA ITI DD strategic decisions and planning Local authorities and public institutions in which unitary quality and performance management systems developed through the program Beneficiaries 5S19 have been implemented Number - 1.0 1.0 100% / IDA ITI DD according to the Action Plan for prioritizing and staging the implementation of quality management Local authorities and public institutions in which measures to simplify procedures Beneficiaries 5S20 for citizens have been implemented in accordance with the Integrated Number - 1.0 - 0% / IDA ITI DD Plan for the simplification of procedures for citizens developed at national level Local public administration staff who have been certified at the end of Beneficiaries 5S23 Number - 80 80 100% their training / IDA ITI DD 67 | P a g e Code Indicators MU Source Baseline Interim Target Interim Value Progress (2016) (2023) (2020) (2020) Public authorities and institutions supported to develop operational Beneficiaries 5S25 procedures on anti-corruption preventive measures and related Number - 1 1 100% / IDA ITI DD indicators Staff from public authorities and institutions who have been certified Beneficiaries 5S26 to complete courses in the field of corruption prevention, Number - 150 150 100% / IDA ITI DD transparency, ethics and integrity Quarterly reports prepared by the ITI coordinating structure approved 6S22 Number IDA ITI DD - 39 16 41% by the Ministry of European Investments and Projects Personal number in the structure coordinating the ITI, whose salaries 6S9 Number IDA ITI DD - 126 76 61% are co-financed by the OPTA full time equivalent annually Number of public authorities and institutions that have implemented Beneficiaries V.A.1 unitary measures to reduce administrative burdens, to implement Number - 2 1 50% / IDA ITI DD quality and performance management systems Number of revised normative acts aimed at improving the legal and Beneficiaries V.A.2 Number - 1 - 0% institutional framework in the Danube Delta / IDA ITI DD Beneficiaries V.A.3 Number of projects implemented within the Danube Delta ITI Number - 1,027.0 164.0 16% / IDA ITI DD 68 | P a g e Annex 3. Links among SIDD DD strategic & sector specific objectives and EU policy & specific objectives SIDD DD Strategic Objectives SIDD DD Sector Specific Objectives EU Policy Objectives EU Specific Objectives Sector A. Biodiversity and Ecosystem Management Strategic Objective 1: Conserve the unique Specific Objective A.1: Developing of the Policy Objective 2: A greener, low-carbon Specific Objective (vii): Enhancing environmental assets through scientifically planning and biodiversity and ecosystem transitioning towards a net zero carbon protection and preservation of nature, guided environmental management, and by management capacity (including monitoring) economy and resilient Europe by promoting biodiversity and green infrastructure, empowering the local communities to be Specific Objective A.2: Preserving, protecting clean and fair energy transition, green and including in urban areas, and reducing all proactive guardians of this unique global and capitalizing the natural heritage and blue investment, the circular economy, forms of pollution heritage combating/reducing the impact of the climate change mitigation and adaptation, anthropic polluting activities risk prevention and management, and sustainable urban mobility Specific Objective A.3: Developing research, education and training in biodiversity and natural heritage protection fields Specific Objective A.4: Supporting eco- friendly Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Sector B. Energy Efficiency Strategic Objective 1: Conserve the unique Specific Objective B.1: Increasing the energy Policy Objective 2: A greener, low-carbon Specific Objective (i): Promoting energy environmental assets through scientifically efficiency of the study area in economic, transitioning towards a net zero carbon efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas guided environmental management, and by residential and public buildings and public economy and resilient Europe by promoting emissions empowering the local communities to be service provision fields clean and fair energy transition, green and Specific Objective (ii): Promoting proactive guardians of this unique global Specific Objective B.2: Increasing the use of blue investment, the circular economy, renewable energy in accordance with heritage renewable energy sources within the study climate change mitigation and adaptation, Directive (EU) 2018/2001, including the sus- area risk prevention and management, and tainability criteria set out therein sustainable urban mobility Specific Objective B.3: Improving local expertise, information availability and energy efficiency awareness Sector C. Climate change Strategic Objective 1: Conserve the unique Specific Objective C.1: Developing a climate Policy Objective 2: A greener, low-carbon Specific Objective (iv): Promoting climate environmental assets through scientifically friendly and resilient area by integrating transitioning towards a net zero carbon change adaptation and disaster risk guided environmental management, and by climate change into local public policies and economy and resilient Europe by promoting prevention, and resilience, taking into empowering the local communities to be planning clean and fair energy transition, green and account eco-system-based approaches blue investment, the circular economy, climate change mitigation and adaptation, 69 | P a g e SIDD DD Strategic Objectives SIDD DD Sector Specific Objectives EU Policy Objectives EU Specific Objectives proactive guardians of this unique global Specific Objective C.2: Promoting risk prevention and management, and Specific Objective (vii): Step up actions to heritage development of a low carbon economy sustainable urban mobility protect and conserve nature, biodiversity through targeted adaptation measures and and green infrastructure, including in urban by reducing GHG emissions areas, and reduce all forms of pollution. Specific Objective C.3: Developing partnerships and financing instruments in the field of climate change Specific Objective C.4: Raising the awareness of the population and businesses on climate change Sector D. Disaster risk management Strategic Objective 1: Conserve the unique Specific Objective D.1: Reducing the Policy Objective 2: A greener, low-carbon Specific Objective (iv): Promoting climate environmental assets through scientifically vulnerability to all risks, while improving the transitioning towards a net zero carbon change adaptation and disaster risk guided environmental management, and by quality of emergency services, based on economy and resilient Europe by promoting prevention, and resilience, taking into empowering the local communities to be national and county risk assessment, and clean and fair energy transition, green and account eco-system-based approaches proactive guardians of this unique global develop and maintain an adequate response blue investment, the circular economy, heritage capacity climate change mitigation and adaptation, Specific Objective D.2: Assessing the main risk prevention and management, and risks, elaborating risk maps for earthquakes sustainable urban mobility and floods, and implementing projects to reduce these risks Specific Objective D.3: Elaborating a County Integrated Information System for the Management of Emergency Situations as part of the National Information System for Disaster Management Sector E. Pollution Emergency Strategic Objective 1: Conserve the unique Specific Objective E.1: Developing an Policy Objective 2: A greener, low-carbon Specific Objective (iv): Promoting climate environmental assets through scientifically advanced information management system transitioning towards a net zero carbon change adaptation and disaster risk guided environmental management, and by for hazardous wastes which may cause a economy and resilient Europe by promoting prevention, and resilience, taking into empowering the local communities to be pollution spill and represents a threat to the clean and fair energy transition, green and account eco-system-based approaches proactive guardians of this unique global DD blue investment, the circular economy, heritage Specific Objective E.2: Reducing pollution climate change mitigation and adaptation, risks and the response time by developing a risk prevention and management, and sustainable urban mobility 70 | P a g e SIDD DD Strategic Objectives SIDD DD Sector Specific Objectives EU Policy Objectives EU Specific Objectives prevention plan, providing adequate equipment and training of human resources Sector F. Tourism Strategic Objective 2: Develop a green and Specific Objective F.1: Developing and Policy Objective 4: A more social and Specific Objective (vi): Enhancing the role inclusive local economy, based on promoting the Danube Delta as an integrated inclusive Europe implementing the of culture and sustainable tourism in sustainable consumption and protection, tourism destination with a rich portfolio of European Pillar of Social Rights economic development, social inclusion and resource efficient, capitalizing on the area's sustainable tourism products and services by social innovation comparative advantages, supported by capitalizing the natural and cultural heritage Specific Objective (vii): Step up actions to improved public services Specific Objective F.2: Establishing a local protect and conserve nature, biodiversity destination management mechanism based and green infrastructure, including in urban on the active participation and ownership of areas, and reduce all forms of pollution. local stakeholders Specific Objective F.3: Encouraging local population to run small tourism businesses that meet quality and sustainability standards and that are economically viable Sector G. Fishery and aquaculture Strategic Objective 2: Develop a green and Specific Objective G.1: Correcting the Policy Objective 2: A greener, low-carbon Specific Objective EMFAF 1: Strengthening inclusive local economy, based on ecological imbalance among predator and transitioning towards a net zero carbon economically, socially and environmentally sustainable consumption and protection, prey fish species and restoring economy and resilient Europe by promoting sustainable fishing activities resource efficient, capitalizing on the area's environmental quality clean and fair energy transition, green and Specific Objective EMFAF 2: Increasing comparative advantages, supported by Specific Objective G.2: Increasing the blue investment, the circular economy, energy efficiency and reducing CO2 improved public services economic value of fishing and aquaculture climate change mitigation and adaptation, emissions through the replacement or activities risk prevention and management, and modernization of engines of fishing vessels sustainable urban mobility Specific Objective G.3: Increasing quality job Specific Objective EMFAF 3: Promoting the opportunities in the fishing sector Policy Objective 4: A Europe closer to adjustment of fishing capacity to fishing citizens by fostering the sustainable and opportunities in cases of permanent integrated development of all types of cessation of fishing activities and territories and local initiatives contributing to a fair standard of living in cases of temporary cessation of fishing activities Specific Objective EMFAF 4: Fostering efficient fisheries control and enforcement, including fighting against IUU fishing, as 71 | P a g e SIDD DD Strategic Objectives SIDD DD Sector Specific Objectives EU Policy Objectives EU Specific Objectives well as reliable data for knowledge-based decision-making Specific Objective EMFAF 5: Promoting a level-playing field for fishery and aquaculture products from the outermost regions Specific Objective EMFAF 6: Contributing to the protection and restoration of aquatic biodiversity and ecosystems Specific Objective EMFAF 7: Promoting sustainable aquaculture activities, especially strengthening the competitiveness of aquaculture production, while ensuring that the activities are environmentally sustainable in the long term Specific Objective EMFAF 8: Promoting marketing, quality and added value of fishery and aquaculture products, as well as processing of those products Specific Objective EMFAF 9: Strengthening sustainable sea and ocean management through the promotion of marine knowledge, maritime surveillance or coast guard cooperation Specific Objective EMFAF 10: Enabling a sustainable blue economy in coastal, island and inland areas, and fostering the sustainable development of fishing and aquaculture communities Sector H. Agriculture and rural development Strategic Objective 2: Develop a green and Specific Objective H.1: Promoting the Policy Objective 2: A greener, low-carbon Specific Objective CAP 1: To support viable inclusive local economy, based on integration of agri-food producers (especially transitioning towards a net zero carbon farm income and resilience of the sustainable consumption and protection, organic products) into the value-chain in economy and resilient Europe by promoting agricultural sector across the Union in order resource efficient, capitalizing on the area's order to help them benefit from the clean and fair energy transition, green and to enhance long-term food security and advantage of being close to external markets blue investment, the circular economy, agricultural diversity as well as to ensure 72 | P a g e SIDD DD Strategic Objectives SIDD DD Sector Specific Objectives EU Policy Objectives EU Specific Objectives comparative advantages, supported by and from the tourism opportunities in the climate change mitigation and adaptation, the economic sustainability of agricultural improved public services area risk prevention and management, and production in the Union Specific Objective H.2: Supporting sustainable urban mobility Specific Objective CAP 2: To enhance diversification of agricultural and non-farm Policy Objective 4: A Europe closer to market orientation and increase farm activities for job creation by encouraging citizens by fostering the sustainable and competitiveness both in the short and long active involvement of local communities integrated development of all types of term, including greater focus on research, Specific Objective H.3: Promoting young territories and local initiatives technology and digitalization farmers' access to land to enable improved Specific Objective CAP 3: To improve the revenue flows to the local population farmers’ position in the value chain Specific Objective H.4: Preserving, Specific Objective CAP 4: To contribute to protecting, capitalizing and promoting the climate change mitigation and adaptation, natural and movable and immovable cultural including by reducing greenhouse gas heritage in rural areas emissions and enhancing carbon Specific Objective H.5: Improving the local sequestration, as well as to promote population / farmers' access to information sustainable energy regarding the possibilities of tapping Specific Objective CAP 5: To foster Common Agricultural Policy funds - create a sustainable development and efficient special agriculture extension team for the management of natural resources such as Danube Delta water, soil and air, including by reducing chemical dependency Specific Objective CAP 6: To contribute to halting and reversing biodiversity loss, enhance ecosystem services and preserve habitats and landscapes Specific Objective CAP 7: To attract and sustain young farmers and other new farmers and facilitate sustainable business development in rural areas Specific Objective CAP 8: To promote employment, growth, gender equality, including the participation of women in farming, social inclusion and local development in rural areas, including the circular bio-economy and sustainable forestry Specific Objective CAP 9: To improve the response of Union agriculture to societal 73 | P a g e SIDD DD Strategic Objectives SIDD DD Sector Specific Objectives EU Policy Objectives EU Specific Objectives demands on food and health, including high-quality, safe and nutritious food produced in a sustainable way, to reduce food waste, as well as to improve animal welfare and to combat antimicrobial resistances Sector I. Transport Strategic Objective 2: Develop a green and Specific Objective I.1: Increasing territorial Policy Objective 2: A greener, low-carbon Specific Objective (viii): Promoting inclusive local economy, based on connectivity to ensure access to the markets transitioning towards a net zero carbon sustainable multimodal urban mobility, as sustainable consumption and protection, in Tulcea, the rest of Romanian and the EU; economy and resilient Europe by promoting part of transition to a net zero carbon resource efficient, capitalizing on the area's equal connectivity for enterprises, clean and fair energy transition, green and economy comparative advantages, supported by individuals, and goods in the DD territory, blue investment, the circular economy, improved public services taking great care to protecting the existing climate change mitigation and adaptation, Specific Objective (i): Developing a climate environmental heritage risk prevention and management, and resilient, intelligent, secure, sustainable and Specific Objective I.2: Increasing accessibility sustainable urban mobility intermodal TEN-T in the Core DD area to support the Specific Objective (ii): Developing and development of tourism and fisheries, and Policy Objective 3: A more connected enhancing sustainable, climate resilient, the mobility for the residents of sparsely Europe by enhancing mobility intelligent and intermodal national, populated areas regional and local mobility, including Specific Objective I.3: Improving health and improved access to TEN-T and cross-border protecting the environment by minimizing mobility emissions and the consumption of resources (including energy) by the transport system Sector J Information and communications technology Strategic Objective 2: Develop a green and Specific Objective J.1: Providing full access to Policy Objective 1: A more competitive and Specific Objective (i): Developing and inclusive local economy, based on broadband internet network smarter Europe by promoting innovative enhancing research and innovation sustainable consumption and protection, Specific Objective J.2: Supporting and smart economic transformation and capacities and the uptake of advanced resource efficient, capitalizing on the area's widespread private, business and public use regional ICT connectivity technologies comparative advantages, supported by of ICT Specific Objective (ii): Reaping the benefits improved public services of digitization for citizens, companies, Specific Objective J.3: Ensuring synergies with other sectors to promote the transfer of research organizations and public knowledge, services and economic authorities development Specific Objective (iii): Enhancing sustainable growth and competitiveness of SMEs and job creation in SMEs, including by 74 | P a g e SIDD DD Strategic Objectives SIDD DD Sector Specific Objectives EU Policy Objectives EU Specific Objectives productive investments Specific Objective (iv): Developing skills for smart specialization, industrial transition and entrepreneurship Specific Objective (v): Enhancing digital connectivity Sector K Water supply and sewerage systems and integrated water management Strategic Objective 2: Develop a green and Specific Objective K.1: Providing drinking Policy Objective 2: A greener, low-carbon Specific Objective (v): Promoting access to inclusive local economy, based on water in order to meet the quality-of-life transitioning towards a net zero carbon water and sustainable water management sustainable consumption and protection, standards and the economic development economy and resilient Europe by promoting resource efficient, capitalizing on the area's objectives, subject to demand, financial clean and fair energy transition, green and comparative advantages, supported by feasibility, and operation and maintenance blue investment, the circular economy, improved public services constraints climate change mitigation and adaptation, Specific Objective K.2: Supporting the risk prevention and management, and collection of wastewaters in a centralized sustainable urban mobility manner (subject to demand, financial feasibility, and operation and maintenance constraints) and moving away from the current use of pit latrines which constitute a health hazard in prone to flood areas Specific Objective K.3: Adopting treatment methods of centrally collected wastewater either in a conventional or a more low-cost way Sector L Solid waste management Strategic Objective 2: Develop a green and Specific Objective L.1: Improving the Policy Objective 2: A greener, low-carbon Specific Objective (vi): Promoting the inclusive local economy, based on recycling rate to achieve the corresponding transitioning towards a net zero carbon transition to a circular and resource sustainable consumption and protection, EU target of 50% to which Romania is economy and resilient Europe by promoting efficient economy resource efficient, capitalizing on the area's committed clean and fair energy transition, green and comparative advantages, supported by Specific Objective L.2: Implementing of blue investment, the circular economy, improved public services waste reduction, reuse and recycling in local climate change mitigation and adaptation, communities, in order to assure efficient and risk prevention and management, and sustainable management, resource saving, sustainable urban mobility environmental protection and tourism destination development 75 | P a g e SIDD DD Strategic Objectives SIDD DD Sector Specific Objectives EU Policy Objectives EU Specific Objectives Specific Objective L.3: Management of floating waste material Specific Objective L.4: Increasing the capitalization degree of waste collected from households and businesses Sector M Health Strategic Objective 2: Develop a green and Specific Objective M.1: Improving the access Policy Objective 4: A more social and Specific Objective (v): Ensuring equal inclusive local economy, based on to primary health care (PHC) services based inclusive Europe implementing the access to health care and fostering sustainable consumption and protection, on prevention and early detection and European Pillar of Social Rights resilience of health systems, including resource efficient, capitalizing on the area's treatment of chronic diseases primary care, and promoting the transition comparative advantages, supported by Specific Objective M.2: Supporting the from institutional to family-based and improved public services effective control of epidemics, early warning community-based care and coordinated response, and risk factors Specific Objective (k): enhancing equal and surveillance timely access to quality, sustainable and Specific Objective M.3: Improving health affordable services, including services that infrastructure for primary, secondary and promote the access to housing and person- tertiary health care, and the related service centered care including healthcare; delivery system adjusted to modern modernizing social protection systems, technologies including promoting access to social protection, with a particular focus on children and disadvantaged groups; improving accessibility including for persons with disabilities, effectiveness and resilience of healthcare systems and long-term care services Sector N Education Strategic Objective 2: Develop a green and Specific Objective N.1: Providing lifelong Policy Objective 4: A more social and Specific Objective (ii): Improving equal inclusive local economy, based on learning opportunities to create labor skills inclusive Europe implementing the access to inclusive and quality services in sustainable consumption and protection, necessary for the 21st century economy European Pillar of Social Rights education, training and lifelong learning resource efficient, capitalizing on the area's Specific Objective N.2: Supporting secondary through developing accessible comparative advantages, supported by and vocational education that prepare infrastructure, including by fostering improved public services students for the global knowledge economy resilience for distance and on-line education and for the specificities of the local economy and training Specific Objective (f): promoting equal access to and completion of quality and inclusive education and training, in 76 | P a g e SIDD DD Strategic Objectives SIDD DD Sector Specific Objectives EU Policy Objectives EU Specific Objectives Specific Objective N.3: Increasing the quality particular for disadvantaged groups, from of the primary education and early-education early childhood education and care through systems general and vocational education and training, to tertiary level, as well as adult education and learning, including facilitating learning mobility for all and accessibility for persons with disabilities Sector O Social inclusion and protection Strategic Objective 2: Develop a green and Specific Objective O.1: Reducing labor Policy Objective 4: A more social and Specific Objective (i): Enhancing the inclusive local economy, based on related and human capital disparities among inclusive Europe implementing the effectiveness and inclusiveness of labor sustainable consumption and protection, Roma people by providing improved European Pillar of Social Rights markets and access to quality employment resource efficient, capitalizing on the area's integrated services in all dimensions and through developing social infrastructure comparative advantages, supported by aspects of exclusion (education, health, and promoting social improved public services housing, employment) economy Specific Objective O.2: Preserving the Specific Objective (iii): Promoting the cultural heritage of ethnic minorities in the socioeconomic inclusion of marginalized study area communities, low-income households and Specific Objective O.3: Improving social disadvantaged groups, including people outcomes by making social protection with special needs, through integrated programs more relevant and efficient in the actions, including housing and social Danube Delta area services Specific Objective (a): improving access to employment and activation measures for all jobseekers, in particular young people, especially through the implementation of the Youth Guarantee, for long-term unemployed and disadvantaged groups on the labour market, and for inactive people, as well as through the promotion of self- employment and the social economy Specific Objective (b): modernising labour market institutions and services to assess and anticipate skills needs and ensure timely and tailor- made assistance and support for labour market matching, transitions and mobility 77 | P a g e SIDD DD Strategic Objectives SIDD DD Sector Specific Objectives EU Policy Objectives EU Specific Objectives Specific Objective (c): promoting a gender- balanced labour market participation, equal working conditions, and a better work-life balance including through access to affordable childcare, and care for dependent persons Specific Objective (e): improving the quality, inclusiveness, effectiveness and labour market relevance of education and training systems including through validation of non-formal and informal learning, to support acquisition of key competences including entrepreneurial and digital skills, and by promoting the introduction of dual-training systems and apprenticeships Specific Objective (g): promoting lifelong learning, in particular flexible upskilling and reskilling opportunities for all taking into account entrepreneurial and digital skills, better anticipating change and new skills requirements based on labour market needs, facilitating career transitions and promoting professional mobility Sector P Administrative capacity and program management Strategic Objective 2: Develop a green and Specific Objective P.1: Providing efficient Policy Objective 5: A Europe closer to Specific Objective (i): Fostering the inclusive local economy, based on and cost-effective public services citizens by fostering the sustainable and integrated and inclusive social, economic sustainable consumption and protection, Specific Objective P.2: Improving evidence- integrated development of all types of and environmental development, culture, resource efficient, capitalizing on the area's based strategic and budgetary planning territories and local initiatives natural heritage, sustainable tourism, and comparative advantages, supported by across all levels of governance in the DD security in urban areas improved public services region in order to support environmental and Specific Objective (ii): Fostering the economic objectives integrated and inclusive social, economic Specific Objective P.3: Increasing and environmental local development, participatory decision-making in synergy with culture, natural heritage, sustainable the environmental and economic objectives tourism and security in areas other than urban areas 78 | 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