Public Disclosure Copy The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Abraham Path: Economic Development across Fragile Communities (P147235) Abraham Path: Economic Development across Fragile Communities (P147235) MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA | West Bank and Gaza | Trade & Competitiveness Global Practice | Recipient Executed Activities | Investment Project Financing | FY 2014 | Seq No: 5 | ARCHIVED on 30-Aug-2016 | ISR24929 | Implementing Agencies: Abraham Path Initiative (API) Key Dates Key Project Dates Bank Approval Date:22-Jan-2014 Effectiveness Date:23-Jan-2014 Original Closing Date:31-Mar-2016 Revised Closing Date:30-Jun-2017 Project Development Objectives Project Development Objective (from Project Appraisal Document) Contribute to job creation and income generation for marginalized rural communities along the Abraham Path in the West Bank, with aparticular focus on women and youth, and to capture lessons from piloting job creation through experiential tourism that could be applied in other FCS settings. Has the Project Development Objective been changed since Board Approval of the Project Objective? No PHRPDODEL Components Name Overall Ratings Name Previous Rating Current Rating Progress towards achievement of PDO  Satisfactory  Satisfactory Overall Implementation Progress (IP)  Satisfactory  Satisfactory Implementation Status and Key Decisions The technical supervision mission that took place from the 30th of May to the 3rd of June could verify that the project's implementation has continued to progress satisfactorily and that the project accomplished satisfactory achievements in less than two years of implementation, given that the execution of the grant concretely started only in August 2014 when key agreements with local partners were onboard. These results are supported by key project data and by the project indicators. In particular, the PDO indicators are well on track to meet their target values and the intermediate results indicators show a significant advancement considering that most of them have already surpassed their target values. These 8/30/2016 Page 1 of 11 Public Disclosure Copy Public Disclosure Copy The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Abraham Path: Economic Development across Fragile Communities (P147235) results are further confirmed by a households survey that was conducted as part of the project’s M&E, and which allowed to better estimate and update the project’s indicators. The technical mission and the implementing agency (API/MIAK) discussed the request for the additional financing, which the team plans to submit to SPF in August 2016. Based on the received confirmation of available funding at SPF, the project team will request an additional financing of US$1.8 million and will also request extending the project’s time frame until 2018. The mission and API/MIAK discussed areas for technical improvements in the extension phase of the project. API/MIAK considers the extension a valuable opportunity to transform Masar Ibrahim into a national trail and a backbone for community-based tourism in Palestine by: (i) Increasing the breadth and depth of project activities; (ii) Sharpening the project’s marketing approach to target potential segments of local and international travelers; and (iii) Building a sustainable model for future operation, led by MIAK. These could be achieved by developing MIAK’s institutional capacity, and forming more community partnerships with relevant stakeholders. The extension would also capture lessons learnt from operating in an FCS setting by implementing a full-fledged impact evaluation for the project. In particular, while the pilot phase has focused mostly on the ‘product creation’ (the creation of the Masar), the extension would focus on ensuring the sustainability of investments in the Masar’s soft infrastructure. In particular, the additional financing would provide the opportunity to invest in both project and product sustainability through: One of the key objectives of the mission was to design an impact evaluation methodology for the project. The World Bank team has received a small internal WB fund from FIAS trust fund to support the design of the project’s impact evaluation methodology, with additional focus on gender aspects of Abraham Path. The team developed four insights from the mission, which would have some implications on the design/ implementation of the project’s impact evaluation. First, given the short period of the project’s implementation, and its small scale, it is not possible yet to isolate any impact on employment and income in the areas that are on the path. Second, discussions with the tour operators made evident that it generally takes at least three years before a new route becomes economically viable (from the perspective of interviewed tour operators). Third, it seems that the activities associated with the path during the pilot phase have had a substantial effect primarily on the income of the guides, and on some of the homestay operators but not yet fully on (average) income and employment at the level of the villages along the path. Fourth, it does not appear that constructing a reliable estimate of the counterfactuals for employment and income seems feasible. However, it appears that an impact evaluation of the phase of the project to be financed by the additional financing is possible. There are a number of villages that are near the path but not on the path that can serve as a comparison group, when estimating the counterfactual outcomes of those areas that are on the path. In addition, the Palestinian Authority conducted a census in 2007 and another census is planned for 2017. This data would greatly aid any impact evaluation of the project. Procurement performance is rated satisfactory as well. A procurement review took place in April 2016 and found API performance satisfactory, the next step is to review a new procurement plan following SPF approval on the additional financing request. Financial Management performance is rated Satisfactory. The mission reviewed the project’s Financial Management (FM) arrangements undertaken by the Project Implementing Unit (PIU) and concluded that proper FM arrangements are in place to monitor project activities. Sound internal controls procedures are in place; automated accounting system with the capacity to account for all financial transactions, the flow of funds has been smooth with no major interruptions. The Interim Unaudited Interim Financial Reports (IFRs) were timely submitted. This supervision was done as a desk review as the FM function is located in Boston. Finally, in addition to visit project’s beneficiaries, the mission reviewed and discussed with API/MIAK the report on the households survey’ results prepared by Riyada. The mission acknowledges the good quality of the data presented, and the improved analysis compared to the one presented in the previous report. 8/30/2016 Page 2 of 11 Public Disclosure Copy Public Disclosure Copy The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Abraham Path: Economic Development across Fragile Communities (P147235) Risks Overall Risk Rating Risk Category Rating at Approval Previous Rating Current Rating Overall  Substantial  Substantial  Substantial Results Project Development Objective Indicators PHINDPDOTBL Annual direct and indirect income for involved communities along the Abraham Path (US$) (Amount(USD), Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 513902.00 467644.00 623857.00 750934.00 Date 01-Jan-2014 31-Dec-2015 31-Mar-2016 31-Mar-2016 Comments The project team has re-calculated the annual results of this indicator to start on April 1st and end on March 31st of every year. This way, annual figures will be better reflective to annual performance, given the start of date of data collection after April 2014. For this indicator, the actual performance over 2014, 2015, and 2016, were reported as follows: 2014: US$412,666.5 2015: US$691,330.5 2016: US$623,857.5 PHINDPDOTBL New jobs created in communities along the Abraham Path (Nr) (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 110.00 137.00 196.00 Date 01-Jan-2014 31-Dec-2015 31-Mar-2016 31-Mar-2016 8/30/2016 Page 3 of 11 Public Disclosure Copy Public Disclosure Copy The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Abraham Path: Economic Development across Fragile Communities (P147235) Comments All project performance figures were reviewed in March 2016, with the support of a professional survey and data analysis company. The correct number for female participation percentage in actual previous reporting in Dec 2015 is 85% (not 100%) PHINDPDOTBL of which female (%) (Percentage, Custom Supplement) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 100.00 57.00 70.00 PHINDPDOTBL of which youth (%) (Percentage, Custom Supplement) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 35.70 25.00 PHINDPDOTBL Direct project beneficiaries (Number, Core) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 810.00 392.00 660.00 Date 01-Jan-2014 31-Mar-2015 31-Mar-2016 31-Mar-2016 Comments All project performance figures were reviewed in March 2016, with the support of a professional survey and data analysis company. The correct number for direct project beneficiaries in actual previous reporting in March 2015 is 392 (not 810) PHINDPDOTBL Female beneficiaries (Percentage, Core Supplement) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target 8/30/2016 Page 4 of 11 Public Disclosure Copy Public Disclosure Copy The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Abraham Path: Economic Development across Fragile Communities (P147235) Value 0.00 53.00 53.00 45.00 PHINDPDOTBL Of which youth (%) (Percentage, Custom Supplement) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 -- 32.80 50.00 PHINDPDOTBL Research notes on job creation through experiential tourism in FCS. (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 8.00 8.00 10.00 Date 01-Jan-2014 31-Dec-2015 31-Mar-2016 31-Mar-2016 Overall Comments Intermediate Results Indicators PHINDIRITBL Nr. of communities’ inhabitants that are trained on the project (Number of people) (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 -- 509.00 200.00 Date 01-Apr-2014 -- 31-Mar-2016 31-Mar-2016 8/30/2016 Page 5 of 11 Public Disclosure Copy Public Disclosure Copy The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Abraham Path: Economic Development across Fragile Communities (P147235) PHINDIRITBL Nr. of local councils or associations that have signed partnership agreements with the Masar Ibrahim (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 -- 31.00 15.00 Date 01-Apr-2014 -- 31-Mar-2016 31-Mar-2016 PHINDIRITBL Participants in consultation activities during project implementation (number) (Number, Core) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 277.00 319.00 300.00 Date 01-Apr-2014 31-Dec-2015 31-Mar-2016 31-Mar-2016 PHINDIRITBL Participants in consultation activities during project implementation - female (Number, Core Breakdown) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 100.00 60.00 60.00 Date 01-Apr-2014 31-Dec-2014 31-Mar-2016 31-Mar-2016 PHINDIRITBL Total nr. of community members who participate in cross-community activities (Social Cohesion). (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 -- 4161.00 540.00 Date 01-Apr-2015 -- 31-Mar-2016 31-Mar-2016 8/30/2016 Page 6 of 11 Public Disclosure Copy Public Disclosure Copy The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Abraham Path: Economic Development across Fragile Communities (P147235) PHINDIRITBL The number of local youth groups that are actively engaged on the Abraham Path (no. of groups) (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 -- 42.00 12.00 Date 01-Apr-2014 -- 31-Mar-2016 31-Mar-2016 PHINDIRITBL The number of local women’s groups that are actively engaged on the Abraham Path (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 4.00 -- 28.00 15.00 Date 01-Apr-2014 -- 31-Mar-2016 31-Mar-2016 PHINDIRITBL Nr. of local wilderness guides that are trained (no. of guides) (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 -- 35.00 25.00 Date 01-Apr-2014 -- 31-Mar-2016 31-Mar-2016 PHINDIRITBL Nr. of local wilderness guides that are certified (no. of guides) (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 -- 15.00 15.00 Date 01-Apr-2014 -- 31-Mar-2016 31-Mar-2016 8/30/2016 Page 7 of 11 Public Disclosure Copy Public Disclosure Copy The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Abraham Path: Economic Development across Fragile Communities (P147235) PHINDIRITBL Nr. of tour operators that run tours on the Abraham Path (no. of operators) (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 3.00 -- 5.00 6.00 Date 01-Apr-2014 -- 31-Mar-2016 31-Mar-2016 PHINDIRITBL Nr. of media and local tour operators who participated in “Familiarization” trips (no. pf operators and journalists) (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 -- 62.00 48.00 Date 01-Apr-2014 -- 31-Mar-2016 31-Mar-2016 PHINDIRITBL Annual total nr. of walkers (types A and B, excl. C) (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 912.00 -- 816.00 1492.00 Date 01-Apr-2014 -- 31-Mar-2016 31-Mar-2016 PHINDIRITBL The nr. of Type A walkers (Number, Custom Breakdown) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 503.00 -- 53.00 709.00 Date 01-Apr-2014 -- 31-Mar-2016 31-Mar-2016 8/30/2016 Page 8 of 11 Public Disclosure Copy Public Disclosure Copy The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Abraham Path: Economic Development across Fragile Communities (P147235) PHINDIRITBL The nr. of Type B walkers (Number, Custom Breakdown) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 409.00 -- 763.00 783.00 Date 01-Apr-2014 -- 31-Mar-2016 31-Mar-2016 PHINDIRITBL The nr. of Type C walkers (Number, Custom Supplement) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 -- 50.00 1773.00 PHINDIRITBL The nr. of km of continuous Abraham Path trail (Km) (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 182.00 -- 327.00 260.00 Date 01-Apr-2014 -- 31-Mar-2016 31-Mar-2016 PHINDIRITBL The nr. of visits to the Abraham Path online guidebook (no. of mothly views) (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 3918.00 -- 8066.00 15000.00 Date 01-Apr-2014 -- 31-Mar-2016 31-Mar-2016 8/30/2016 Page 9 of 11 Public Disclosure Copy Public Disclosure Copy The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Abraham Path: Economic Development across Fragile Communities (P147235) PHINDIRITBL The nr. of partner NGO staff trained on income generation strategies, management systems, financial management and procurement (no. of staff) (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 -- 40.00 15.00 Date 01-Apr-2014 -- 31-Mar-2016 31-Mar-2016 Overall Comments Data on Financial Performance Disbursements (by loan) Project Loan/Credit/TF Status Currency Original Revised Cancelled Disbursed Undisbursed Disbursed P147235 TF-16302 Effective USD 2.32 2.32 0.00 2.15 0.17 93% Key Dates (by loan) Project Loan/Credit/TF Status Approval Date Signing Date Effectiveness Date Orig. Closing Date Rev. Closing Date P147235 TF-16302 Effective 23-Jan-2014 23-Jan-2014 23-Jan-2014 31-Mar-2016 30-Jun-2017 Cumulative Disbursements 8/30/2016 Page 10 of 11 Public Disclosure Copy Public Disclosure Copy The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Abraham Path: Economic Development across Fragile Communities (P147235) Restructuring History There has been no restructuring to date. Related Project(s) There are no related projects. 8/30/2016 Page 11 of 11 Public Disclosure Copy