Office of lhe Director of the Regional Integration Africa. Middle East and North Africa Region Washington D.C., January 21, 2025 H.E. Alousseni Sanou Minister of Economy and Finance Ministere de l'Economie et des Finances P.O. Box 234 Hamdallaye ACI 2000 Bamako Republic of Mali Re: Advance Agreement for the Preparation of the Proposed Sub-Saharan Africa Women's Empowerment and Demographic Dividend Plus Project (SWEDD+) Preparation Advance No. V5340-00I Excellency: In response to the request for financial assistance made on behalf of the Republic of Mali ("Recipient''), I am pleased to inform you that the International Development Association ("Bank") proposes to extend to the Recipient an advance out of the Bank's Project Preparation Facility in an amount not to exceed one million nine hundred ninety- six thousand three hundred and two Dollars ($1,996,302) ("Advance") on the terms and conditions set forth or referred to in this letter agreement ("Agreement"), which includes the attached Annex, to assist in financing the activities described in the Annex ("Activities"). The objectives of the Activities are to: (a) facilitate the preparation of a proposed project designed to increase girls' and women's empowerment in targeted areas; and (b) improve regional knowledge generation and sharing, as well as regional capacity and coordination ("Project), for the carrying out of which the Recipient has requested the Bank's financial assistance. The Recipient represents, by confirming its agreement below, that: (a) it understands that the provision of the Advance does not constitute or imply any commitment on the part of IBRD or IDA to assist in financing the Project; and (b) it is authorized to enter into this Agreement and to carry out the Activities, repay the Advance and perfonn its other obligations under this Agreement, all in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. Please confirm the Recipient's agreement to the foregoing by having an authorized official of the Recipient sign and date this Agreement, and returning one duly Q;I} WORLD BANK GROUP executed copy to the Banlc. Upon receipt by the Bank of a countersigned copy, this Agreement shall become effective as of the date of the countersignature; provided, however, that the offer of this Agreement shall be deemed withdrawn if the Bank has not received this countersigned copy within 90 days after the date of signature of this Agreement by the Banlc, unless the Bank has established a later date for such purpose. Very truly yours, INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION By Marina Wes Acting Director for Regional Integration Africa, Middle East and North Africa AGREED: REPUBLIC OF MALI By ~ · Authorized Representative Name ~ 5 AJJLtltA. --~ Title ~_kJ'~_j-~~~ Date 25 FEV 2025 Enclosures: (I) "Standard Conditions for Advances Made by the Bank under its Project Preparation Facility", dated August I, 2022; and (2) Disbursement and Financial Information Letter for the Advance of the same date as this Agreement, together with "Disbursement Guidelines for Investment Project Financing", dated February 2017. .J. PPA No. VS340-001 ANNEX Article I Standard Conditions; Definitions I.OJ. Standard Conditions. The Standard Conditions (as defined in Section 1.02 below) constitute an integral part of this Agreement. 1.02. Definitions. Unless the context requires otherwise, the capitalized terms used in this Agreement have the meanings ascribed to them in the Standard Conditions or in this Section. (a) "Anti-Corruption Guidelines" means, for purposes of paragraph I l of the Appendix. to the Standard Conditions, the "Guidelines on Preventing and Combatmg Fraud and Corruption in Projects Financed by IBRD Loans and IDA Credits and Grants", dated October 15, 2006, and revised in January 2011, and as of July I, 2016. (b) "Category" means a category set forth in the table in Section 3.01 ofthis Agreement. (c) "Environmental and Social Commitment Plan" or "ESCP" means the environmental and social commitment plan for the Project, dated December l 6, 2024, as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with the provisions thereof, which sets out the material measures and actions that the Recipient shall carry out or cause to be earned out to address the potential environmental and social risks and impacts of the Project, including the timeframes of the actions and measures, institutional, staffing, training, monitoring and reporting arrangements, and any environmental and social instruments to be prepared thereunder. (d) "Environmental and Social Standards" or "ESSs" means, collectively: (i) "Environmental and Social Standard I: Assessment and Management of Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts"; (ii) "Environmental and Social Standard 2: Labor and Working Conditions"; (iii) "Environmental and Social Standard 3: Resource Efficiency and Pollution Prevention and Management"; (iv) "Environmental and Social Standard 4: Community Health and Safety"; (v) "Environmental and Social Standard 5: Land Acquisition, Restrictions on Land Use and Involuntary Resettlement"; (vi) "Environmental and Social Standard 6: Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Natural Resources"; (vii) "Environmental and Social Standard 7: Indigenous Peoples/Sub-Saharan African Historically Underserved Traditional Local Communities"; (viii) "Environmental and Social Standard 8: Cultural Heritage"; (ix) "Environmental and Social Standard 9: Financial Intermediaries"; (x) "Environmental and Social Standard lO: Stakeholder Engagement and Information Disclosure"; effective on October 1, 2018, as published by the Bank. (e) "Implementation Unit" means the implementation unit for the Project referred to in Section 2.03 of this Agreement. (f) "Operating Costs" means the reasonable incremental expenses incurred by the Recipient on accpunt of the implementation of the Activities, management and monitoring, including on account of operation and maintenance of offices, vehicles and office equipment, office supplies, water and electricity utilities charges, telephone charges, bank charges, travel and supervision costs, per diem, and salaries of contractual staff, but excluding the salaries and indemnities of officials and public servants of the Member Country's civil service. (g) "Procurement Regulations" means, for purposes of paragraph 50 of the Appendix to the Standard Conditions, the "World Bank Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers", dated September 2023. (h) "Selected Community Health Centers" means community health centers that benefited from support from the Sahel Women Empowerment and Demographic Dividend Regional Project (Credit Number 6661-ML and Grant Number O6400-ML) for the delivery of health services. (i) "Standard Conditions" means the "Standard Conditions for Advances Made by the Bank under its Project Preparation Facility", dated August I, 2022. U) "Training" means the costs incurred for purposes of training under the Project, including through seminars, workshops, knowledge sharing activities and study tours, and covers the following costs associated with such activity: travel and subsistence costs for training participants, costs associated with securing the services of trainers, rental of training facilities, preparation and reproduction of training materials, and other costs directly related to training preparation and implementation. Article II Execution of the Activities 2.01. Description ofthe Activities. The Activities for which the Advance is provided consist of the following parts: (a) Providing technical assistance and carrying out Training including workshops for the preparation of, inter a/ia: (i) the Project paper; (ii) the Environmental and Social Standards instruments including the grievance redress mechanisms; (iii) the gender documents; (iv) the procurement plan; and (v) the operations manual. (b) Providing technical assistance for the preparation of studies including, inter alia: (i) feasibility of introducing innovative activities to promote economic inclusion for Project beneficiaries; and (ii) scoping review of health and education intetventions. (c) Recruiting key staff for the Implementation Unit, including a Project Coordinator, to assist with Project preparation. (d) Ensuring the functioning of the Implementation Unit, including the acquisition of goods. (e) Financing the operating costs of Selected Community Health Centers to prepare the activities to be carried out under component 2 of the SWEDD+ project. 2.02. Execution of the Activities Generally. The Recipient declares its commitment to the objectives of the Activities. To this end, the Recipient shall carry out the Activities in accordance with the provisions of: (a) Article II of the Standard Conditions; (b) this Article II; and (c) the Anti- Corruption Guidelines. 2.03. Institutional and Other Arrangements. (a) Without limitation upon Section 2.02 above, for purposes of carrying out the Activities, the Recipient shall maintain, throughout the Refinancing Date, the Implementation Unit established under the Sahel Women Empowerment and Demographic Dividend Regional Project (Credit Number 6661-ML and Grant Number D6400- ML), with key staff in adequate numbers and with qualifications, experience, and functions satisfactory to the Bank, to be responsible for the day-to-day implementation of the Activities, including procurement and financial management. (b) The Recipient shall, no later than sixty (60) after the Effective Date, recruit or appoint an environmental and social specialist with terms of reference, qualifications and experience acceptable to the Bank and said position shall be thereafter maintained throughout the implementation of the Activities. 2.04. Environmental and Social Standards. (a) The Recipient shall ensure that the Activities are carried out in accordance with the Environmental and Social Standards, in a manner acceptable to the Bank. (b) Without limitation upon paragraph {a) above, the Recipient shall ensure that the Activities are implemented in accordance with the Environmental and Social Commitment Plan ("ESCP"), in a manner acceptable to the Bank. To this end, the Recipient shall ensure that: (i) the measures and actions specified in the ESCP are implemented with due diligence and efficiency, as provided in the ESCP; (ii) sufficient funds are available to cover the costs of implementing the ESCP; (iii) policies and procedures are maintained, and qualified and experienced staff in adequate numbers are retained to implement the ESCP, as provided in the .cSCP; and (iv) the ESCP, or any provision thereof, is not amended, repealed, suspended or waived, except as the Bank shall otherwise agree in writing, as specified in the ESCP, and ensure that the revised ESCP is disclosed promptly thereafter. (c) In case of any inconsistencies between the ESCP and the provisions of this Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement shall prevail. (d) The Recipient shall ensure that: (i) all measures necessary are taken to collect, compile, and furnish to the Bank through regular reports, with the frequency specified in the ESCP, and promptly in a separate report or reports, if so requested by the Bank, infonnation on the status of compliance with the ESCP and the environmental and social instruments referred to therein, all such reports in form and substance acceptable to the Bank, setting out, inter alia: (A) the status of implementation of the ESCP; (B) conditions, if any, which interfere or threaten to interfere with the implementation of the \ -6· ESCP; and (C) corrective and preventive measures taken or required to be taken to address such conditions; and (ii) the Bank is promptly notified of any incident or accident related to or having an impact on the Activities which has, or is likely to have, a significant adverse effect on the environment, the affected communities, the public or workers, in accordance with the ESCP, the environmental and social instruments referenced therein and the Environmental and Social Standards. (e) The Recipient shall establish, publicize, maintain and operate an accessible grievance mechanism, to receive and facilitate resolution of concerns and grievances of Activities- affected people, and take all measures necessary and appropriate to resolve, or facilitate the resolution of, such concerns and grievances, in a manner acceptable to the Bank. 2.05. Monitoring, Reporting and Evaluation of the Activities. The Recipient shall ensure that each Activity Report is furnished to the Bank not later than one month after each calendar semester, covering the calendar semester. Article Ill Withdrawal of the Advance 3.01. Eligible Expenditures. The Recipient may withdraw the proceeds of the Advance in accordance with the provisions of: (a) Article III of the Standard Conditions; and (b) this Sect10n, to finance Eligible Expenditures as set forth in the following table. The table specifies each category of Eligible Expenditures that may be financed out of the proceeds of the Advance ("Category"), the amount of the Advance allocated to each Category, and the percentage of expenditures to be financed for Eligible Expenditures in each Category: Category Amount of the Advance Percentage of I Allocated Expenditures to be (expressed in Dollars) Financed (inclusive of Taxes) Goods, non-consulting 1,996,302 100% services, consulting 1 services, Training, and Operating Costs TOT AL AMOUNT 1,996,302 - - 3.02. Withdrawal Conditions. Notwithstanding the prov1s1ons of Section 3.01 of this Agreement, no withdrawal shall be made for payments made prior to the date of countersignature of this Agreement by the Recipient. 3.03. Refinancing Date. The Refinancing Date is August 31, 2025. 7 Article IV Terms of the Advance 4.01. Service Charge. The Recipient shall pay a service charge on the Withdrawn Advance Balance at the rate of three-fourths of one percent (3/4 of l %) per annum. The service charge shall accrue from the respective dates on which amounts of the Advance are withdrawn and shall be paid in arrears in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.02 of this Agreement. Service charges shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. 4.02. Repayment. The Withdrawn Advance Balance shall be repaid by the Recipient to the Bank (together with any service charges accrued thereon) in accordance with the provisions of Article IV of the Standard Conditions and the following provisions: (a) Refinancing under the Refinancing Agreement: If, on or before the Refinancing Date, a Refinancing Agreement has been executed by all of its parties, then the full amount of the Withdrawn Advance Balance shall be repaid to the Bank (together with any service charges accrued on the Advance to the date of repayment) as soon as the Refinancing Agreement becomes effective, by means of a withdrawal by the Bank of an amount of the Refinancing Proceeds equivalent to the Withdrawn Advance Balance plus such service charges, in accordance with the provisions of the Refinancing Agreement. (b) Repayment in the absence of a Refinancing Agreement. If, on or before the Refinancing Date, no Refinancing Agreement has been executed by all of its parties, or if, by such date, it has been so executed but terminates without becoming effective, then: (i) if the amount of the Withdrawn Advance Balance does not exceed $50,000, it shall be repaid by the Recipient to the Bank (together wuh service charges accrued on the Withdrawn Advance Balance to the date of repayment) on such date as the Bank shall specify in a notice to the Recipient, which shall in no event be earlier than 60 days following the date of dispatch of such notice; and (ii) if the amount of the Withdrawn Advance Balance_exceeds $50,000, it (together with service charges accrued on the Withdrawn Advance Balance to the Notice Date) (the "Aggregate Balance") shall be paid by the Recipient to the Bank in ten approximately equal semiannual installments, in the amounts and on the dates ("Payment Dates") which the Bank shall specify in a notice to the Recipient. In no event shall the first Payment Date be set earlier than 60 days following the date ("Notice Date") of dispatch of such notice. The Recipient shall pay a service charge on the Aggregate Balance at the rate of three-fourths of one percent (3/4 of 1%) per annum, payable in arrears on each Payment Date. The service charge shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. Article V Recipient•s Representative; Addresses 5.01. Recipient's Representative. The Recipient's Representative referred to in Section 9.02 of the Standard Conditions is its minister responsible for finance. 5.02. Recipient's Address. For purposes of Section 9.01 of the Standard Conditions: (a) the Recipient's Address is: Ministry of Economy and Finance P.O. Box 234 Hamdallaye ACI 2000 Bamako Republic of Mali (b) the Recipient's Electronic Address is: Facsimile: Email: ( +223) 20 22 19 14 dgdpmali@yahoo.fr 5.03. Bank's Address. For purposes of Section 9.01 of the Standard Conditions: (a) the Bank's Address is: International Development Association 1818 H Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20433 United States of America; and (b) the Bank's Electronic Address is: Telex: Facsimile: 248423 (MCI) or 1-202-477-6391 64145 (MCI)