104188 Belize: Municipal Development P-roject (pt1l928) Climate Resilient Infrastructure Project (P127338) Implementation Support Mission - September 28 to October I, 2015 Aide Memoire I. Introduction I. A World Bank team. comprised of Diana Rllbiano argas (TfL anti Disaster Risk Management Specialist and Frederico Ferreira Pedroso (ITL and Disaster Risk Management Specialist), visited Belize from September 2r 10 October 2"" 2015 to conduct supervisory activities for the Municipal Development Project (MOP and the Climate Resilient In:frestruGture Project (CRJP). Keren Charles (Disaster Risk Management Specialist-Consultant) provided support from W tungton. DC. z. The objectives of the miss'on were as foUows: a. To review projects implementatioo with tile MDP's Proiect Implementation Unit (Pill • the CRIP's Project Management Unit (PMU). the Ministry of Works and Transport (Mown, and the Ministry ofNaturaJ Resources and Agriculture (MNRA); b. T participate and support the Pro MU teams in the CPPR aetivities; and c. To discuss the national spatial data infrastructure (NSDI) initiative with the MNRA. 3. The mission team held discuss! with Mr. Errol Gentle (CEO. Mown, Mr. Lennox Bradley (Chief Engineer, MOwn. Mr. frvi.ng Thimbriel (Sr. Executive Engineer. MoWT). Mr. Crispin Jeffries (Chief Transport Officer, MoWT). Mr. Paul lowers (Director of Policy Coordination & Planning Unit, M1 RA. Ms. Gina Young (Deputy Lands Commissioner MNRA). Mr. Alex Anderson (Public Relations fficer. MNRA) Mr. WIlliam Lamb lr. (Ex~ Di:recror, Social InVC3tment Fund. SIP). Mr. Ernest Raymond (Projeot Coordinator-MDP. SlF). Dr. Wendel Parham (Project Coordinator-CIUP, SIF), Ms. Nellie Trench (Fin8Jl(le Coordinator, SIF) and the Staff of the project implementation units (pUJ/PMU). The mission went to the towns ofBenque Viejo and an IgnaeiolSama Elena to visit completed and ongoing works under the MOP. The mission e.xp.rcsses appreciation for the kind support extended to the Bank team uring the mission (a detailed list f persons met is provided in Annex 3 . 4. This aide-memoire summariz.es the findings, recommendations and agreements reached during the mission and it is ubject to confirmation by World Bank management. The ai memoire will be publicly disclosed once finalized. Municipal Development Project (MDP) n. Implementation Status Overview S. Since the last I1pervision mission in June 20 15, the Project has continued to make progre . in its implementation. The sub-projects of the Phase II Street and Drainage works have been evaluated and awarded for six of the seven municipalities. The bid documents for the Dangriga Street and Dra.inag_e works has been finalized and the invitation for bids (IFB) has been issued. AJI of the technical assistance (T A) activities _ have been completed and the mission re-iterated the need t ensure th sustainability of the activities after Project camp etlan. As of Septembe-r 30, 201 ,the Project has disbursed about USS 10.932 million, equivalent to approximatel 72.87% f the loan amount. The total am ant disbursed and commitmd is USS 14.092 million. which i about 93.95% of the total I an. 6. The site vi its and discussions held pointed out the need to further invest in developing practices that nsure sustainability of both soft and hard components of the Project. For instance, more capacity i required around budgeting resources for mainteo8llCeof streets and parks as well as for the continuation f the revenue enhancement process at the municipal !eVe! to allow funds to be available for maintenance and development projects, among others. 7. It was also highlighted that the continuous support from the Central Government to maintain the sustainability f ouecomes achie'lled through MDP in t.ennll 0 local capacity at Town anO City Councils T &C ) was important. Finally, the cballenges associated with commlll1ity participation in fue election of complementary infrastructure investment from different International Financing Instituttorul (IFrs) was discussed. 8. Projed Diglll ts. During the sit visits carried out as part oftbc CPPR mission. the team identified some challenges faced by the Project, related to the integration. of read investment projects from d.iffeoretrt fFls aad the need to Improve dle safety of open drains being built to avoid aecidems, In this contexJt. the WB Team proposed that SlF work along witti T&CCs in order to identify aite hazards and PI' pose solutions. The Team acknowledged that the physical implementat.i II of possible solutions would not be abJ.e to be addressed under MDP due to financing limitations. but both S.IF and T Aces should rm alternative ways to tackle such hazard issues. Please refer to Anne.x I fu a speeitic Aaion Plan fur the MOP. Climate Resilient IufrastruetOJ"e Project (CRIP) III. Implementation Status Overview 9. The Climate Resilient In:fras1lUctureProject became effe:Ctive on April 29th, 2Oi5. As of September 30th. 201-, the Project had disbursed approximately USS 933,420, equivalent to 2.95% of the loan amount. The mtal amount disbursed and committed is US$ 804,141, wbieh is 2.68% of the total loan. 10. While procurement Limitations were once more highlighted by SJF, it was agreed that the Procurement Team. based in Washington. D.C.. would provide consistent support to the PMU in order t expedite the necessary processes. The WB Team met with the MNRA in order to define a clear course of action for the Land Use Planning and the NSOT TeclmicaI As istance. Please refer to Annex 2 fur a specific Acti n Plan. It. Project Highligbts. The challenges associated with teehnical complexities and implementation (procurement and CODtrtruction) requires close coordination and commitment. &om the Line Ministries o that the strategic nature of the project is preserved. During the CPPR., the CEO from Ministry f Finance and Economic Development (MoFED highlighted tile importance of the National Climate Resiiiem In estment Plan CRIP to continue to guide investment decisions in Belize, Hence, there is a need to integrate investment proj~ being developed t the Phillip Goldson Highway by different IFIs in order to avoid resource allocation inefficiencies and gaps in engineering designs. Closing Statements 12. The WB Team expresses its satisfaction with the implementation of both MDP and CRIP. It also· acknowledges the cballenges to position CRIP in a sustainable implementati.on path; hence, the offer to work closely with the P'MU in procurement and gencra.l management needs. 13. FinaUy, the team would like to draw the attention of the MoFED to a proposed supervision mission during the week of December 7, 2015 in which th~ team will also take the opportunity to host a fmal event to wrap up the activities related to the TF "Hazard and Risk Assessment Framework for B lize: Prioritization of an Investment Plan (TFOl2S84)". (n that regard, the WB Team requests support from the MoFED to mobilia the audieru:c as well as to ensure the commitment from MNRA given the possibility for it to benefit from the lessons learned that can contribute to the development of the Land Use and NSDf TAs under CRIP. YYOOMHyd.~_ CEO Task: Team Leader (CRIP) Ministry of Finance and World Bank Economic Development nnel: 1: MDP ActiOu Piau RetnaDl Due Date Activities Works Finalize Dangriga Phase n treel and October 201 Drainage Works Bid Evaluation and Contract Award PlU October 2015 3 Works! Hazards PIU/C uncils Mid November 2015 Reme4"e8 and 4 Reporting PI End Octo er 20 I 5 Annex 2: CR(P Action Plan Relevant Rerom Due Dllt-e ActivitjM Works October 9,.2 2 Works PMUlMoWT October 0, 20 I 5 3 TA and trIining PM It WT October 9,2015 4 TA PMUlMoWT TBD' 5 T PM IMNRA October 16, 2015 6 October 23.2015 1 TA PMUlMNRA 15 Man _t 8 T U alec! Land Use ToR for PM MNRA October 9. 15 lAs discu sed (WB/SIFICRlPlMoW ,the MoWT is to submit a TOR for TA to assess the needs of the RMU in the MoWT which will inform the Trai ing and Equipment Plan for the RMU, The draft TOR is [0 be submitted by t ber 3 . 2015 Annex 3: List of People Met Belize Sodal IDvestmeut Fund William Lamb Jr. Executive Direeter Ernest Ravmond MDP Proiect Coordinator Wendel Parham tRIP Prolect Coo.rdinator NoHie Trench Finance Coordinator Christine Lopez-King Senior Accounts Officer Evan Dakers MOP Social Officer JONe Espelo Jr. CRIP Enaineer Therese Arzu MDP Administrative Assistant Savita Bums CRIP Administrative Assistant Ministry of Works and Transnort Errol Gentle Chief Executive Officer Lennox Bradley Chief Enl!ineer lrvina Thimbriel Senior Executive Enzineer Crispin Jeffries ChiefTransoort Officer Ministrv of Narural Resources and A2ricuttuTe Paul Flowers Director of Policv Coordination and Planni ng Unit Gina Young Deoutv Lands Commissioner Alex Anderson Public Relations Officer Town Councils Heraldo Rancharan Mayor. Benoue Vido Earl TraDD Mayor, San hmaciolSanta Elena