The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Belarus Emergency COVID-19 Response Project (P173828) Belarus Emergency COVID-19 Response Project (P173828) EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIA | Belarus | Health, Nutrition & Population Global Practice | IBRD/IDA | Investment Project Financing | FY 2020 | Seq No: 5 | ARCHIVED on 13-Oct-2023 | ISR57844 | Implementing Agencies: Ministry of Health of Belarus, Republic of Belarus Key Dates Key Project Dates Bank Approval Date: 21-May-2020 Effectiveness Date: 05-Aug-2020 Planned Mid Term Review Date: -- Actual Mid-Term Review Date: 20-Oct-2021 Original Closing Date: 30-Jun-2022 Revised Closing Date: 31-Dec-2022 pdoTable Project Development Objectives Project Development Objective (from Project Appraisal Document) To prevent, detect and respond to the threat posed by COVID-19 and strengthen national systems for public health preparedness in Belarus. Has the Project Development Objective been changed since Board Approval of the Project Objective? No Components Table Name Emergency COVID-19 Measures and Rapid Emergency Response:(Cost $99400000.00 M) Project Implementation and Monitoring:(Cost $600000.00 M) Overall Ratings Name Previous Rating Current Rating Progress towards achievement of PDO Moderately Satisfactory Moderately Satisfactory Overall Implementation Progress (IP) Moderately Satisfactory Moderately Satisfactory Overall Risk Rating High High Implementation Status and Key Decisions On March 19, 2022, the World Bank suspended its country work program in Belarus. In light with the deteriorating operational environment resulting from the cumulative impact of the restrictions and sanctions, the Bank determined that an extraordinary situation had occurred that made it improbable that the Belarus Emergency COVID-19 Response Project could be carried out in accordance with the obligations contained in the Loan Agreement. The Bank provided a transition period starting on March 19, 2022, with a duration of 30 days to enable completion or temporary conservation of the works, supply of goods, and provision of services, and of 60 days to make payments to the contractors for contracts signed prior to the suspension. The only exception relates to the advances provided to UN agencies in accordance with contracts financed under this Project. Prior to suspension a significant amount of medical equipment was supplied under the project. This includes 28 units of computer tomography, 200,064 medical test kits for ELISA diagnostics, 220,000 medical test kits for Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) diagnostics, 90,000 express medical test kits, 950,000 disposable protective suits, 30 mobile X-ray units, 650,000 respirators, 750 high-tech intensive care beds, 1,030 oxygen concentrators, 65 defibrillators, 10,000,000 medical gloves, and other equipment. As a result, 225 intensive care units have been fully equipped and are functional in managing severe cases of COVID-19 and can be utilized to target any possible future outbreaks. The project has also supported 10/13/2023 Page 1 of 6 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Belarus Emergency COVID-19 Response Project (P173828) information and communication activities to curb the COVID-19 pandemic and raise awareness/knowledge among the general population about the risk and potential impact of the pandemic. MPA Program Development Objective MPA PDO Table The Program Development Objective is to prevent, detect and respond to the threat posed by COVID-19 and strengthen national systems for public health preparedness MPA Table Multiphase Programmatic Approach (MPA) Status MPA Table Body Sustained efforts continue to be made to advance the implementation of the 87 MPA operations. A great deal of activity (restructurings and disbursements) was registered at the end of FY23. Several operations were restructured just before or on June 30, 2023. The restructurings reflected: (i) extension of closing dates, (ii) partial cancellation of funds, (iii) reallocations of funds among components, and (iv) expansion/scale down of activities within components. As of August 15, 2023, 88 MPA-projects had been approved with a total commitment of US$4.3 billion. One operation (Guatemala) was cancelled in mid-September 2021, at the request of the Government. Total disbursements as of August 15, 2023, amount to US$3.94 billion or 92% of overall commitments. This amount does not include disbursements under MPA-V operations which are reported together with AF-V operations. A large refund from the UN to the project account of the Myanmar operation was processed in late March due to the inability to implement the project. This transaction affected total disbursements. Also, (i) Loans and Credits denominated in SDRs and Euros are being affected because of fluctuations between the SDRs and Euros against the US dollar, and (ii) at this late stage of project implementation, several operations are processing refunds to the project accounts, which have an impact on total disbursements. Ten operations closed by the end of CY22 and nine operations closed on June 30, 2023. While there are seventeen (17) operations with closing dates by the end of CY23, there are plans for several projects to process extensions so this number will change. As with the Mid Term Review (MTR) issued on March 25, 2023, no individual COVID-19 MPA operation will need an ICR. Instead, one ICR will be prepared after the closing date of the SPRP COVID-19 MPA Program, which closes on December 31, 2025. The Global ICR will be based on final ISRs packages prepared by country operations’ teams. A template for the final ISR was issued by OPCS on March 25, 2023. Several operations have/are preparing final ISR packages. The overall conclusion of the MTR was that the COVID-19 MPA Program embodied a rapid, innovative approach to new lending for human health response. Further, the MTR concluded that the COVID-19 MPA has been successful, notwithstanding considerable uncertainty and multiple constraints in the early stages of the pandemic. The Bank’s emergency response was remarkably swift in the most vulnerable countries facing human capital losses and development setbacks. The MTR also concluded that notwithstanding the challenges, the MPA is on track to achieve its PrDO, “prevent, detect and respond to the threat posed by COVID-19 and strengthen national systems for public health preparedness.“ Seventy two (72) country projects or 84 percent of projects approved have reached 70-100+ percent disbursement (reasons for >100% disbursements relate to fluctuations between the Euro and the SDR against the US$). Out of the 72 operations, 62 operations or 86 percent have disbursed 90+ percent of commitments. Out of the 72 operations, 41 operations or 57 percent are fully disbursed and sixteen (16) operations have disbursed 95-99 percent of commitments. There are four operations with disbursements of 50 percent or less. Out of these four operations, one operation has disbursed 30 percent (AFW), two operations in EAP have disbursed 44-48 percent and one operation in AFE has disbursed 50 percent. The projects are benefitting around 3.7 billion people or 50% of the global population. When countries with AF-V operations are counted, the projects are benefitting 4.1 billion of 51 percent of the global population. This is because some countries that do not have a parent project have AF-V operations. All projects approved are disbursing. ECA has the highest percentage of disbursements at 100 percent, followed by MNA with 99 percent, SAR with 94 percent, LAC with 93 percent, EAP with 86 percent, AFW with 84 percent and AFE with 78 10/13/2023 Page 2 of 6 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Belarus Emergency COVID-19 Response Project (P173828) percent. Disbursements for EAP operations are being affected by low disbursements in four countries. AFE lower disbursements compared to other regions are a result of low disbursements under two operations. In the case of AFW low overall disbursements are a result of low disbursements under one operation. Retroactive Financing (RF) continues to represent 20 percent of commitments. SAR has the highest percentage of RF at 37 percent, followed by ECA at 18 percent. IDA continues to represent 40 percent and IBRD 60 percent of disbursements. Streamlined procedures, delegated approvals, coupled with flexible project design and intensified efforts across the Bank have contributed to the progress. Implementation is being guided by Bank teams working in parallel with other health related projects, including Additional Financing operations supporting vaccine procurement and deployment efforts. Risks Systematic Operations Risk-rating Tool Risk Category Rating at Approval Previous Rating Current Rating Political and Governance Substantial High High Macroeconomic Moderate High High Sector Strategies and Policies Moderate Substantial Substantial Technical Design of Project or Program Substantial Substantial Substantial Institutional Capacity for Implementation and Substantial High High Sustainability Fiduciary High High High Environment and Social Substantial Substantial Substantial Stakeholders Substantial Substantial Substantial Other -- -- -- Overall Substantial High High Results PDO Indicators by Objectives / Outcomes (i) Number of fully equipped and functional ICUs to manage severe cases of COVID-19 IN01341767 ►Number of fully equipped and functional ICUs to manage severe cases of COVID-19. (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 225.00 225.00 230.00 Date 26-Mar-2020 20-Dec-2022 20-Dec-2022 31-Dec-2022 The latest information after June 2022 is not available. Comments: 10/13/2023 Page 3 of 6 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Belarus Emergency COVID-19 Response Project (P173828) Number of people tested for coronovirus identification IN01341768 ►Number of people tested for coronovirus identification (Number (Thousand), Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 296.00 13,220.00 13,220.00 600.00 Date 13-May-2020 20-Dec-2022 20-Dec-2022 31-Dec-2022 Exceeded. 13,220,483 tests for coronavirus have been performed. Although the indicator states the number of people, the information was available on the number of tests Comments: only. Taking into account the number of tests performed, it is evident the number of people tested for coronavirus exceeded the end target. Intermediate Results Indicators by Components Emergency COVID-19 Response IN01341770 ►Number of training in infection, prevention and control (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 72.00 72.00 70.00 Date 26-Mar-2020 20-Dec-2022 20-Dec-2022 31-Dec-2022 Achieved. Cumulative number of trainings conducted for health personnel in relation to the COVID-19 Comments: response IN01341791 ►Number of designated laboratories with staff trained to conduct COVID-19 diagnostics (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 64.00 64.00 4.00 Date 26-Mar-2020 20-Dec-2022 20-Dec-2022 31-Dec-2022 Exceeded. The original end target was set in April 2020 when there was limited information about the virus and seasonal waves. Due to the spread of the virus, a wide network of laboratories with trained Comments: personnel was deployed. IN01341792 ►Number of public health messages developed and disseminated through media (internet, newspapers, TV, radio) public educational and health facilities (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 69.00 69.00 100.00 Date 26-Mar-2020 20-Dec-2022 20-Dec-2022 31-Dec-2022 Comments: Communication activities financed with the project funds have been suspended since March 19, 2022. 10/13/2023 Page 4 of 6 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Belarus Emergency COVID-19 Response Project (P173828) Since effectiveness, 69 messages on public health issues have been distributed in the mass media, state educational establishments, and health institutions. The order of counting the messages has been clarified. It was agreed that a public health message is a complex product (not just a separate article or a post in social media etc), a special information prepared within the framework of the project, aimed at one or more target groups, transmitted through various communication channels, as well as through the use of various communication tools. IN01341793 ►Number of designated laboratories with COVID-19 diagnostic equipment, test kits, and reagents (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 4.00 20.00 20.00 17.00 Date 26-Mar-2020 20-Dec-2022 20-Dec-2022 31-Dec-2022 Exceeded. Within the framework of the Project 20 laboratories have been equipped. At the moment a total of 50 state laboratories and 6 private laboratories operate in the country with equipment, test systems and Comments: reagents. IN01341794 ►Hotlines for public feedback are (a) designed and staffed; (b) launched and advertised; and (c) providing a two way channel of citizen feedback and government action. (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 200.00 200.00 6.00 Date 29-Mar-2021 20-Dec-2022 20-Dec-2022 31-Dec-2022 Exceeded. The hotline format has proven to be very effective for providing two-way communication on the Comments: topic of COVID, so the number of hotlines has been increased to more than 200 across the country. Project Implementation and Monitoring IN01341769 ►Activities completed per annual agreed workplan (Yes/No, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value No No No Yes Date 26-Mar-2020 20-Dec-2022 20-Dec-2022 31-Dec-2022 Not all of the activities from the action plan were completed. Comments: Performance-Based Conditions Data on Financial Performance Disbursements (by loan) Project Loan/Credit/TF Status Currency Original Revised Cancelled Disbursed Undisbursed % Disbursed 10/13/2023 Page 5 of 6 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Belarus Emergency COVID-19 Response Project (P173828) P173828 IBRD-91170 Closed USD 98.50 83.33 15.17 89.86 0.07 100% Key Dates (by loan) Project Loan/Credit/TF Status Approval Date Signing Date Effectiveness Date Orig. Closing Date Rev. Closing Date P173828 IBRD-91170 Closed 21-May-2020 01-Jun-2020 05-Aug-2020 30-Jun-2022 31-Dec-2022 Cumulative Disbursements Restructuring History Level 2 Approved on 02-Feb-2022 Related Project(s) There are no related projects. 10/13/2023 Page 6 of 6