FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Report No: PPIAF000120 INTERNATIONAL BANK FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECT PAPER ON A PROPOSED ADDITIONAL GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF US$2,350,000 MILLION TO THE CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR AN ADDITIONAL FINANCING FOR THE CRITICAL ECOSYSTEM PARTNERSHIP FUND – CARIBBEAN HOTSPOT PROJECT {CD CLEARANCE DATE} Environment, Natural Resources & the Blue Economy Global Practice Latin America And Caribbean Region The World Bank Additional Financing: Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund – Caribbean Hotspot Project (P173464) This document has a restricted distribution and may be used by recipients only in the performance of their official duties. Its contents may not otherwise be disclosed without World Bank authorization. CURRENCY EQUIVALENTS (Exchange Rate Effective {Feb 28, 2025) Currency Unit = Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC$) EC$2.70 = US$1 US$ 1 = SDR 0.70 (TBC) FISCAL YEAR January 1 - December 31 Regional Vice President: Carlos Felipe Jaramillo Regional Director: Benoit Bosquet Country Director: Lilia Burunciuc Practice Manager: Cary Anne Cadman Task Team Leader: Natalia Magradze The World Bank Additional Financing: Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund – Caribbean Hotspot Project (P173464) ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS AF Additional Financing AM Accountability Mechanism CANARI Caribbean Natural Resources Institute CEPF Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund CI Conservation International CSO Civil Society Organizations DA Designated Account ESF Environmental and Social Framework ESMF Environmental and Social Management Framework FM Financial Management GRS Grievance Redress Service IHO Integrated Health Outreach INTEC Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo IPF Investment Project Financing ISR Implementation Status and Results Report KBA Key Biodiversity Area LMP Labor Management Procedures M&E Monitoring and Evaluation PDO Project Development Objective PF Process Framework POM Project Operations Manual RAC Regional Advisory Committee RF Results Framework RIT Regional Implementation Team SEP Stakeholder Engagement Plan STEP Systematic Tracking of Exchanges in Procurement The World Bank Additional Financing: Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund – Caribbean Hotspot Project (P173464) TABLE OF CONTENTS I. BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE FOR ADDITIONAL FINANCING ........................................................................... 1 II. DESCRIPTION OF ADDITIONAL FINANCING AND RESTRUCTURING ...................................................................... 3 III. KEY RISKS............................................................................................................................................................... 7 IV. APPRAISAL SUMMARY .......................................................................................................................................... 8 V. WORLD BANK GRIEVANCE REDRESS .................................................................................................................... 10 VI. PROPOSED CHANGES ........................................................................................................................................... 10 VII. DETAILED CHANGE(S) ........................................................................................................................................... 11 The World Bank Additional Financing: Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund – Caribbean Hotspot Project (P173464) @#&OPS~Doctype~OPS^dynamics@afaprbasicdata#doctemplate OPERATION INFORMATION BASIC DATA - MAIN Product Information - Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund – Caribbean Hotspot Project (P173464) Operation ID Product/Financing Instrument P173464 Investment Project Financing (IPF) Task Team Leaders Natalia Magradze Beneficiary Country/Countries Geographical Identifier Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, The, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent Latin America and Caribbean and the Grenadines Requesting Unit Responsible Unit SLCE1 (10548) SLCE1 (10548) Approval Date Closing Date 23-Jun-2021 31-Oct-2027 Practice Area (Lead) Approval Fiscal year Environment, Natural Resources & the Blue Economy 2021 Environmental and Social Risk Classification (ESRC) Substantial Is there collaboration between Bank and IFC? No Implementing Agency Conservation International Foundation IMPLEMENTATION MODALITIES – MAIN Situations of Urgent Need of Assistance or Capacity Constraints [ ] Fragile State(s) [ ] Fragile within a non-fragile Country [✓] Small State(s) [ ] Conflict i The World Bank Additional Financing: Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund – Caribbean Hotspot Project (P173464) [ ] Responding to Natural or Man-made Disaster Other Situations [ ] Financial Intermediaries (FI) [ ] Series of Projects (SOP) [ ] Performance-Based Conditions (PBCs) [ ] Contingent Emergency Response Component (CERC) [ ] Alternative Procurement Arrangements (APA) [ ] Hands-on Expanded Implementation Support (HEIS) @#&OPS~Doctype~OPS^dynamics@afaproperationstatus#doctemplate OPERATION STATUS Development Objective (DO) Development Objective (Approved as part of Approval package on 22-Jun-2021) The project development objective (PDO) is to improve the capacity of civil society organizations to reduce threats to globally important biodiversity in the Caribbean Islands Biodiversity Hotspot. Key Information from Last ISR Operation Ratings NAME IMPLEMENTATION LAST ISR RATINGS 22-Mar-2023 28-Sep-2023 28-Mar-2024 18-Oct-2024 01-May-2025 Progress towards ⚫ Satisfactory ⚫ Satisfactory ⚫ Satisfactory ⚫ Satisfactory ⚫ Satisfactory achievement of PDO Overall ⚫ Satisfactory ⚫ Satisfactory ⚫ Satisfactory ⚫ Satisfactory ⚫ Satisfactory Implementation Progress (IP) Overall Risk ⚫ Moderate ⚫ Moderate ⚫ Moderate ⚫ Moderate ⚫ Moderate Overall ESS ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ Satisfactory ⚫ Satisfactory Performance Financial ⚫ Satisfactory ⚫ Satisfactory ⚫ Moderately ⚫ Satisfactory ⚫ Satisfactory Management Satisfactory Project ⚫ Satisfactory ⚫ Satisfactory ⚫ Satisfactory ⚫ Satisfactory ⚫ Satisfactory Management Procurement ⚫ Satisfactory ⚫ Satisfactory ⚫ Satisfactory ⚫ Satisfactory ⚫ Satisfactory Monitoring and ⚫ Satisfactory ⚫ Satisfactory ⚫ Satisfactory ⚫ Satisfactory ⚫ Satisfactory Evaluation ii The World Bank Additional Financing: Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund – Caribbean Hotspot Project (P173464) Disbursement Summary (in USD million) Source of Funds Net Commitment Disbursed Undisbursed % Disbursed IBRD -- -- -- 0 IDA -- -- -- 0 Grants 13.90 8.25 5.65 59.35 @#&OPS~Doctype~OPS^dynamics@afaprprocessing#doctemplate BASIC DATA – ADDITIONAL FINANCING Additional Financing No. 2 Additional Financing Type [✓] Activities are being added to expand the scope of the operation, perhaps in geography or in outputs (Scale-up) The operation has incurred increased costs due to inflation, exchange rate changes, and factors that were not [ ] anticipated at appraisal (Cost-overrun) The operation has experienced shortfalls in co-financing, counterpart financing, or cost recovery that were [ ] anticipated at appraisal but did not materialize. (Financing gap) The design of the operation has changed, and the new designs cost more than the original ones (Change in Project [ ] Design) Expected Approval Date Review Type/Corporate Review Level 30-May-2025 Regular Decision Meeting (DM) Will consulting services be required? Is this an Urgent Need or Capacity Constraint request? No No Additional Beneficiary Country/Countries IMPLEMENTATION MODALITIES – ADDITIONAL FINANCING Situations of Urgent Need of Assistance or Capacity Constraints [ ] Fragile State(s) [ ] Fragile within a non-fragile Country [✓] Small State(s) [ ] Conflict iii The World Bank Additional Financing: Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund – Caribbean Hotspot Project (P173464) [ ] Responding to Natural or Man-made Disaster Other Situations [ ] Financial Intermediaries (FI) [ ] Series of Projects (SOP) [ ] Performance-Based Conditions (PBCs) [ ] Contingent Emergency Response Component (CERC) [ ] Alternative Procurement Arrangements (APA) [ ] Hands-on Expanded Implementation Support (HEIS) @#&OPS~Doctype~OPS^dynamics@afaprcostfinancing#doctemplate COSTS & FINANCING Summary (Total Financing in US$, Millions) Proposed Last Approved Additional Total Total Operation Cost 13.90 2.35 16.25 Total Financing 13.90 2.35 16.25 Of which IBRD/IDA 0.00 0.00 0.00 Financing Gap 0.00 0.00 Financing Details (in US$, Millions) Proposed Source Last Approved Additional Total Trust Funds 13.90 2.35 16.25 Critical Ecosystem 0.00 2.35 2.35 Partnership FundNEW Critical Ecosystem 13.90 0.00 13.90 Partnership Fund Total Financing 13.90 2.35 16.25 @#&OPS~Doctype~OPS^dynamics@afaprsort#doctemplate iv The World Bank Additional Financing: Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund – Caribbean Hotspot Project (P173464) SYSTEMATIC OPERATIONS RISK- RATING TOOL (SORT) Last Approved Rating Risk Category Proposed Rating (ISR Seq. 08) Package - 01 May 2025 Political and Governance ⚫ Moderate ⚫ Moderate Macroeconomic ⚫ Low ⚫ Low Sector Strategies and Policies ⚫ Moderate ⚫ Moderate Technical Design of Project or Program ⚫ Moderate ⚫ Moderate Institutional Capacity for ⚫ Moderate ⚫ Moderate Implementation and Sustainability Fiduciary ⚫ Moderate ⚫ Moderate Environment and Social ⚫ Substantial ⚫ Substantial Stakeholders ⚫ Moderate ⚫ Moderate Overall ⚫ Moderate ⚫ Moderate @#&OPS~Doctype~OPS^dynamics@afaprclimate#doctemplate Greenhouse Gas Emissions Accounting and Shadow Price of Carbon Gross Emissions Net Emissions (annual average, Net Emissions (economic lifetime, tCO2e) (economic lifetime, tCO2e/year) tCO2e) Has the operation applied the Shadow Price of Carbon in the Economic Analysis? Not Applicable Explanation for Not Applicable POLICY COMPLIANCE Does the operation depart from the CPF in content or in other significant respects? No Does the operation require any waivers from Bank policies? No @#&OPS~Doctype~OPS^dynamics@afaprteam#doctemplate TEAM Core Team Name Role Specialization ADM Responsible? v The World Bank Additional Financing: Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund – Caribbean Hotspot Project (P173464) Natalia Magradze Team Leader Yes Financial Management Saidu Dani Goje Yes Specialist Jocelyne Jabbour Procurement Specialist Yes Anita Nugu Procurement Specialist procurement No Aradhna Mathur Environmental Specialist Yes Chanelle La Verne Fingal Social Specialist Yes Felix Alberto Quintero Counsel No Vollmer Michelle Ionie Palmer Procurement Team STEP Focal Point No Gayatri Kanungo Window Manager Operational guidance No Lisa Lui Team Member Lawyer No Mohammad Nadeem Team Member Lawyer No Anthony Okwako Team Member Disbursement No Nadja Jasmin Astrid Team Member No Bleiber Jeannine Djaky Team Member No Caio Cesar De Araujo Team Member Operations No Barbosa vi The World Bank Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund – Caribbean Hotspot Project (P173464) I. BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE FOR ADDITIONAL FINANCING A. Introduction 1. This Project Paper seeks the approval of the World Bank’s Country Director for an additional IDA grant in the amount of US$2.35 million for the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund-Caribbean Hotspot Project (the Project, P173464). The Additional Financing (AF) will finance scale-up of key biodiversity areas (KBAs) in existing countries of implementation and an additional country, Dominica. The Project Paper also seeks approval for a Level 2 Restructuring of the Project to revise (i) endline targets of the results framework to reflect the enhanced ambition of the Project; (ii) component-wise allocations to reflect the AF; and (iii) propose revised disbursement estimates. B. Background For Official Use Only 2. The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) - Caribbean Hotspot Project is a Recipient Executed trust funded operation in the amount of US$13.9 million. The Project was approved on June 22, 2021, became effective on August 2, 2021, and is due to close on October 31, 2027. Its Project Development Objective (PDO) is to improve the capacity of civil society organizations to reduce threats to globally important biodiversity in the Caribbean Islands Biodiversity Hotspot. The project aims to build capacity of civil society organizations (CSOs), active in the Caribbean region, to implement biodiversity conservation actions at scale with administrative, financial and technical support. Grants and sub-grants are issued based on a call for proposals from CSOs working in 32 KBAs, covering seven Caribbean countries: Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Conservation International (CI) is responsible for project implementation and is supported by regional implementing teams comprising, Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI) and Institute Tecnologico de Santo Domingo (INTEC). 3. The Project has five components: a. Component 1: Increased Share of Land and Sea in and around Priority KBAs under Improved Management (US$8.8 million): It supports a grant mechanism for building capacity of CSOs to reduce biodiversity threats and improve networks, partnerships and collaboration for and management of 32 priority KBAs, covering a combined area of 1,171,033 hectares, in line with global benchmarks. b. Component 2: Increased Capacity of CSOs in Conservation (US$2.0 million): This component facilitates further strengthening of capacity of local, national and regional CSOs in conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity through targeted online and classroom-based trainings in proposal design, project cycle management, gender mainstreaming, and management of environmental and social risks; hands-on mentoring; and dedicated knowledge exchanges. c. Component 3: Increased Capacity of Regional Implementation Team (RIT) to provide Leadership and Coordination of CSO Conservation Actions (US$0.7 million): This component supports the RIT with enhanced capacity building measures to deliver on its role through the CEPF Secretariat. d. Component 4: Strengthened CSO Partnerships for Conservation (US$1.0 million): This component supports collaborative social accountability, facilitating partnerships of CSOs and other stakeholders (local and national governments, private landowners and local communities) in the design and implementation of conservation actions in and around priority KBAs. In Antigua and Barbuda, Dominican Republic, Jamaica Page 1 The World Bank Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund – Caribbean Hotspot Project (P173464) and Saint Lucia, this component is led by INTEC, with co-financing and oversight from the World Bank’s Global Partnership for Social Accountability. In The Bahamas, Haiti and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, this component is led by the RIT--CANARI. e. Component 5: Project Management, including Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) (US$1.4 million): This component covers all activities related to the administration and supervision of the Project, communication, procurement, financial management, as well as monitoring and reporting. C. Project Performance 4. The CEPF project, in its third year of implementation has issued small and large grants to CSOs in and around 25 KBAs located in all participating countries, except Haiti. As of December 2024, the Project has issued 43 grants valued at US$8.2 million, of which 19 are “large sub-grants� (>US$50,000) awarded directly by Conservation International (CI) and cumulating to US$5.1 million and 22 are “small sub-grants� (>US$50,000) awarded by For Official Use Only CANARI in its role as the RIT, cumulating to US$1.1 million. Two strategic grants are also awarded in their role as RIT to CANARI (US$1,500,000) and INTEC (US$500,000) for implementation of activities under Component 4. The 41 large and small sub-grants support 35 CSOs working in six countries: Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. While grants to CSOs in Haiti are paused due to the challenging security situation in the country, CEPF has prepared a re-engagement strategy for Haiti, which will be implemented in a more conducive environment. At present, Haitian CSOs are invited to attend virtual capacity-building activities. 5. Based on the findings of the last Implementation Status and Results Report (ISR) dated October 2024, progress towards achievement of the PDO, Implementation Progress, Component, Fiduciary, Project Management, M&E and Environmental and Social Safeguard compliances were all rated Satisfactory. As of January 31, 2025, the project has disbursed US$7.2 million (52 percent of the Grant). 6. All four PDO indicators are on track to full achievement by the project’s closing date. Specifically, 13 of 25 CSOs have increased capacity to reduce threats to biodiversity, consequent to over 16 training sessions provided; 22 large and small CSOs have increased their organizational capacity against an endline target of 25 CSOs; at least 15 CSOs have sufficient capacity to participate in conservation-related networks and are on track to fully achieving the endline target with submission of completed network capacity scorecards; threats to 17 KBAs are being addressed with monitoring tools completed for 12 KBAs and ongoing work for five others. Of the 10 Intermediate Results Indicators, one is fully achieved; five are partially achieved and four have demonstrated significant progress and are on track to be fully achieved. 7. Component progress is summarized below: a. Component 1: Increased Share of Land and Sea in and around Priority KBAs under Improved Management: To date, 41 sub-grants cumulating to US$6.2 million have been awarded under Component 1. These grants support a range of activities, including strengthening management and monitoring of protected areas, updating management plans for protected areas, enhancing biodiversity monitoring and research capacity, and implementing conservation action plans for threatened species in 25 KBAs across all participating countries, except Haiti. Notably, four of the sub-grants foster conservation and stakeholder collaboration across two or more countries. All grants integrate capacity building of local CSOs as a core objective and 75 percent of sub-grants are awarded to Caribbean-based organizations. Page 2 The World Bank Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund – Caribbean Hotspot Project (P173464) b. Component 2: Increased Capacity of CSOs in Conservation: The CEPF Secretariat and the RIT provided mentoring and hands-on support to strengthen the capacity of CSOs in conservation. Proposal development workshops were held in several countries, combining in-person guidance with online presentations. A small sub-grant was awarded to the Vermont Center for Ecostudies to improve technical capacities of regional CSO in use of Open Standards for Conservation. A mid-term assessment workshop was held in Dominican Republic from November 19-21, 2024, with the objective of fostering knowledge exchange and collaboration among CSOs across the Caribbean. Through training sessions, participatory discussions, and presentations, the event promoted best practices, enhanced technical skills, and strengthened regional partnerships to achieve shared biodiversity goals. c. Component 3: Increased Capacity of the Regional Implementation Team (RIT) to Provide Leadership and Coordination of CSO Conservation Actions: CANARI, in its role as the RIT, has continued to develop its capacity through targeted training programson priority issues of M&E, conservation storytelling, and Red List assessments. The CEPF Secretariat continues to provide training and mentoring support to the CANARI For Official Use Only in grants management, financial management, monitoring and database management. d. Component 4: Strengthened CSO Partnerships for Conservation: INTEC supported by Integrated Health Outreach (IHO) has implemented a program of capacity building in collaborative social accountability for CSOs in Antigua and Barbuda, Dominican Republic, and Saint Lucia. These include both Spanish and English language certificate courses in collaborative social accountability for over 100 participants; youth leadership programs in Dominican Republic, and afterschool programs in Antigua and Barbuda. This has resulted in the establishment of three new collaborative frameworks for social accountability with public- sector institutions in Dominican Republic. Through mentorship and technical assistance, they supported CSOs in developing collaborative social accountability frameworks in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and are in the process of deploying similar programs in The Bahamas. e. Component 5: Project Management, including Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E): This Project is being implemented in line with the Grant Agreement and Project Operations Manual (POM). 8. The Project has submitted acceptable audited financial statements. There are no overdue audit reports. D. Rationale for Additional Financing and Restructuring 9. The World Bank received approval from Japan’s Ministry of Finance to reinvest interest earned by the CEPF Trust Fund back into the Project, through an AF, with the objective of scaling-up the geographical scope to deliver additional impact. The Bank proposes to apply the interest accrued in the amount of US$2.35 million through an AF to expand the Projects footprint to an additional 11 KBAs, including in an additional country - Dominica. 10. The Project is being restructured to reflect the enhanced scope of project activities in 11 additional KBAs and Dominica with more ambitious targets for indicators in the Project’s results framework, revise the component allocations to reflect the AF; and update the disbursement projections accordingly. II. DESCRIPTION OF ADDITIONAL FINANCING AND RESTRUCTURING A. Revised Scope of Project Page 3 The World Bank Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund – Caribbean Hotspot Project (P173464) 11. With additional resources of US$2.35 million available, the Project proposes to scale-up its interventions in 11 additional KBAs, prioritized following the same criteria of selection for the original cohort of KBAs and taking into account lessons learned from the current implementation. These include: (i) biological importance in terms of vulnerability and irreplaceability; (ii) the presence of CSOs to access sub-grants; (iii) opportunities in countries with few or no CEPF sub-grants under the current investment phase; and (iv) production landscapes outside of protected areas. The proposed list of additional priority KBAs is presented in Table 1. The selection process for funds will continue to remain the same as for the parent project with grants being allocated on a competitive basis for a full cohort of KBAs. Table 1 - Proposed additional priority KBAs. Priority KBA Biological Presence of CSOs Country Area of production For Official Use Only importance landscape Graham's Harbour High Vulnerability / Bahamas National Trust; The Bahamas n/a National Park (BHS-13) High Irreplaceability San Salvador Living Jewels Morne Diablotin High Vulnerability / Munro; Dominica Hotel Dominica (new) Opportunities in National Park (DMA-1) Very High and Tourism Association; buffer zone Irreplaceability Anse Kouanari Tourism Association; Wild Dominique Monumento Natural Extreme Vulnerability At least 36 CSOs in the Dominican Opportunities in Las Caobas (DOM-6) / Very High area could apply Republic buffer zone Irreplaceability Reserva Biológica Extreme Vulnerability At least 36 CSOs in the Dominican Opportunities in Loma Charco Azul / High Irreplaceability area could apply Republic buffer zone (DOM-33) Parque Nacional Sierra Extreme Vulnerability At least 36 CSOs in the Dominican Opportunities in de Neyba (DOM-25) / High Irreplaceability area could apply Republic buffer zone Sierra Martín García Extreme Vulnerability At least 36 CSOs in the Dominican Opportunities in National Park (DOM- /Extreme area could apply Republic buffer zone 26) Irreplaceability Negril and Extreme Vulnerability Negril Area Environmental Jamaica 16,653 hectares (42 Surroundings (JAM-18) /High Irreplaceability Protection Trust percent of KBA) Iyanola and Grande High Vulnerability Farming and beekeeping Saint Lucia 4,536 hectares (88 Anse, Esperance and /High Irreplaceabilitygroups mobilised under percent of KBA) Fond D'ors (LCA-3) the GEF Iyanola project Colonaire Forest Extreme JEMS Environment Saint Vincent n/a Reserve (VCT-2) Vulnerability/Medium Management Services and the Irreplaceability Grenadines Dalaway (Buccament Extreme Vulnerability Buccament Bay Saint Vincent n/a Watershed) (VCF-4) / Medium Agricultural and Social and the Irreplaceability Development Grenadines Organization Page 4 The World Bank Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund – Caribbean Hotspot Project (P173464) Richmond Forest Extreme Vulnerability Richmond Vale Academy Saint Vincent n/a Reserve (VCT-8) / High Irreplaceability and the Grenadines B. Implementation Arrangements 12. The implementation arrangements for the project will not change. Conservation International will continue to be responsible for project implementation and will be supported by CANARI and INTEC in the role of Regional Implementation Teams. CEPF staff are employed by Conservation International but work exclusively on CEPF- related activities, supporting the implementation of project-specific goals and priorities. Grant making will follow the processes detailed in the POM for the project, with the grantees complying with the operational, fiduciary, E&S and reporting confirmed in the sub-grant agreements and reflected in the POM. The project will build upon the ongoing biodiversity conservation initiative aimed at enhancing the management of Dominica’s national parks. By capitalizing on established relationships and connections, it will maximize synergies, streamline efforts, and For Official Use Only ensure a more impactful and sustainable outcome. C. Disbursement Arrangements 13. There will be no change in the disbursement arrangements of the project. The disbursement methods are reimbursement, advance, direct payment, and special commitment as will be specified in the Disbursement and Financial Information Letter (DFIL) and in accordance with the World Bank Disbursement Guidelines for Investment Project Financing, dated February 1, 2017. The DFIL will also provide details of the required documentation and ceilings. Under this project, funds disbursed from the World Bank will be received by the Conservation International Foundation as the Implementing Agency in a segregated Designated Account (DA) in a financial institution acceptable to the Bank. The DA will be a segregated account solely used to finance eligible project expenditures. An initial advance will be disbursed based on a six-month forecast of eligible expenditures. For subsequent replenishment of funds into the DA, the World Bank will make these upon evidence of satisfactory utilization of the advance, based on Interim unaudited Financial Reports (IFRs) which should be submitted to the World Bank no later than 45 days after the end of each quarter. All documentation for the expenditures as reported for disbursements will be retained at the Implementing Agency and will be made available to the auditors for the annual audit and to the World Bank and its representatives if requested. The disbursement categories and allocation for the AF is provided in Table 2 below: Table 2: Disbursement Arrangement and Grant Allocation for Additional Financing Category Adjusted Amount (USD) Percentage of Expenditures to be Financed (inclusive of Taxes) (1) Goods, non-consulting services, and 1,568,000 100% consulting services, Training, Recipient Operating Costs, Non-Competitive Sub-grants and Large Sub-grants under Parts 1(i), 2.1(i), 3 and 5 of the Project to the Recipient Page 5 The World Bank Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund – Caribbean Hotspot Project (P173464) (2) Management Fees to the Recipient 66,000 100% (3) (a) Small Sub-grants under Parts 1(ii) and 378,000 100% 2.1(ii) of the Project to CANARI (b) Training, non-consulting services and 25,000 100% consulting services under Parts 2.2 and 4(i) of the Project to CANARI (c) Operating Costs under Parts 2.2 and 4(i) of 227,000 100% the Project to CANARI (4) (a) Training and consulting services under 16,000 100% For Official Use Only Part 4(ii) of the Project to INTEC (b) Operating Costs under Part 4(ii) of the 70,000 100 % Project to INTEC TOTAL AMOUNT 2,350,000 D. Restructuring 14. The project’s geographic scope is being expanded to include a new country: Dominica. 15. Component costs: The allocation of Project financing (original Grant and AF) to its components will be revised and is reflected in Table 3 below. Table 3 – Revised Component Costs Current Allocation Revised Allocation Component (in million US$) (in million US$) Component 1: Increased Share of Land and Sea in and around Priority 8.80 10.27 KBAs under Improved Management Component 2: Increased Capacity of CSOs in Conservation 2.00 2.33 Component 3: Increased Capacity of the Regional Implementation Team 0.70 0.82 (RIT) to provide Leadership and Coordination of CSO Conservation Actions Component 4: Strengthened CSO Partnerships for Conservation 1.00 1.17 Component 5: Project Management, including M&E 1.40 1.66 Total 13.9 16.25 16. Results Framework: With the proposed addition of 11 KBAs to the project scope, the targets of the following PDO and Intermediate Results Indicators are being increased to confirm the enhanced ambition of the Project. Page 6 The World Bank Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund – Caribbean Hotspot Project (P173464) Revised end targets for Indicators of the Results Framework Project Development Objective Indicators End Target Revised End Target Targeted civil society organizations with increased capacity to 25 28 reduce threats to biodiversity Targeted civil society organizations with increased organizational 25 35 capacity Civil society organizations with sufficient capacity to participate in 15 25 conservation-related networks For Official Use Only Priority KBAs with reduced threat(s) to biodiversity 20 24 Intermediate Result Indicators End Target Revised End Target Priority species conservation plans at the site level prepared 30 38 Civil society organizations receiving sub-grants from CEPF 50 55 Grantee biodiversity monitoring frameworks prepared 20 25 Civil society networks with improved collaboration and 10 12 coordination Knowledge products focusing on social accountability mechanisms 3 5 produced and disseminated Annex 1: Results Monitoring Framework provides further details. 17. Disbursement estimates: Disbursement estimates for the Project are being revised to reflect the addition of US$2.35 million AF to the Project financing envelope. Section IV of the datasheet provides further details. III. KEY RISKS 18. The overall risk rating of the project is Moderate. However, E&S risks are rated Substantial on account of potential economic impact on persons earning their livelihoods, mainly agriculture, in areas where restrictions for use will be implemented. The project could also have some negative impacts on vulnerable groups including, but not Page 7 The World Bank Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund – Caribbean Hotspot Project (P173464) limited to, households that depend on agriculture within the project area, women, children, LGBT, youth at risk and the Windward and Leeward Maroons in Jamaica. Sub-grantees may lack capacity to manage social risks, including grievance management and environmental and social reporting, leading to likely social exclusion and/or elite capture. These risks will be mitigated through the implementation of the E&S instruments developed and approved for the project (refer to para 24.) IV. APPRAISAL SUMMARY A. Economic and Financial Analysis 19. The Economic Analysis for the parent project available in its Project Appraisal Document (Report PAD3979) remains relevant and applicable to this AF. For Official Use Only B. Technical 20. The technical analysis of the parent project remains valid for the AF, since the selection criteria for the prioritized KBAs has not changed. The scale-up of the activities will be carried out within the project's current implementation timeframe. This will be achieved by utilizing the efficiencies gained from the project's extensive experience. The project has developed streamlined processes for grant making and has successfully deployed tested capacity- building interventions in the current Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs). These established processes and interventions will be leveraged to ensure a smooth and efficient scale-up of activities, allowing the project to expand its impact without extending the original timeline. C. Paris Alignment 21. The Additional Financing (AF) aligns with the Paris Agreement's goals on mitigation and adaptation, supporting participating countries' national climate strategies. These countries, part of the 2015 Paris Agreement, have submitted Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) focusing on ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA), biodiversity conservation, and nature-based solutions to address climate vulnerabilities like sea-level rise, extreme weather, and biodiversity loss. The AF will expand conservation efforts in 11 additional Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs), prioritizing globally irreplaceable biodiversity and threatened species. It aligns with National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) emphasizing ecosystem integrity and conservation for climate resilience, reinforcing civil society organizations (CSOs) in community-based adaptation and sustainability. The AF builds on findings from Country Climate and Development Reports (CCDRs) for the Dominican Republic, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, highlighting biodiversity conservation and climate-resilient natural resource management. 22. Mitigation Risks Assessment and Reduction: All biodiversity conservation and ecosystem restoration activities are aligned with the World Bank’s Paris Alignment criteria. The AF supports interventions in 11 KBAs across seven countries, enhancing carbon sequestration and emission reduction through forest and coastal ecosystem conservation. It promotes sustainable land-use practices, preventing deforestation and degradation, and supports low-carbon development with nature-based solutions. The AF focuses on 17 globally irreplaceable KBAs and 97% of globally threatened species Page 8 The World Bank Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund – Caribbean Hotspot Project (P173464) in eligible countries, ensuring maximum mitigation benefits. Site selection follows climate-informed criteria, targeting high conservation value areas while minimizing environmental impacts. No activities contribute to high- carbon pathways or emissions-intensive development. 23. Adaptation Risks Assessment and Reduction: The project addresses climate risks like rising temperatures, shifting precipitation patterns, and extreme weather events, particularly affecting land and sea management in KBAs and CSO partnerships for conservation. It integrates climate-informed site selection, EbA, and CSO capacity building, with measures like protecting and restoring ecosystems as natural buffers and ensuring conservation activities support climate adaptation. Resilient conservation planning, supported by the World Bank and regional partners, strengthens climate risk management. Additional safeguards include institutional capacity building, monitoring, and contingency planning. Climate risk For Official Use Only assessments and enhanced partnerships improve adaptation strategies, reducing climate vulnerability and enhancing long-term adaptation capacity. The AF ensures continued integration of climate risk management best practices. D. Financial Management (FM) 24. The FM Assessment of January 2025 confirm that the FM arrangements of the parent Project are sufficient and may continue to be used for the AF financed activities. There are no overdue audit reports, and the FM performance and the FM risk of the parent Project are satisfactory and moderate, respectively. The project has submitted all annual audited financial statements, which the World Bank reviewed and accepted. The audits followed Generally Accepted Accounting Standards in the U.S. and the International Standards on Auditing standards, with unmodified opinions and no internal control issues. Up to date interim unaudited financial reports (IFRS) have also been received and approved by the World Bank. E. Procurement 25. Procurement under the AF will be conducted in accordance with the Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers dated September 2023. The Project will continue to be subject to the Bank’s Anticorruption Guidelines, dated October 15, 2006 (revised in January 2011 and July 1, 2016). Procurement performance of the parent Project is rated Satisfactory as of the ISR of December 2024 and the PIU’s procurement capacity is assessed as adequate. The AF will continue using STEP to plan, record, and track all procurement transactions. F. Legal Operational Policies Triggered? Projects on International Waterways OP 7.50 No Projects in Disputed Areas OP 7.60 No G. Environmental & Social Page 9 The World Bank Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund – Caribbean Hotspot Project (P173464) 26. The Environmental and Social risk classification is Substantial. The environmental risk is Moderate. Activities proposed are related to conserving biodiversity and strengthening protection of identified priority conservation sites and thus not likely to have significant or irreversible environmental impacts. No major civil works are anticipated. The social risk is Substantial. The main social risk is related to the economic displacement of persons earning their livelihoods in areas where restrictions for use will be implemented. The project could also have some negative impacts on vulnerable groups including, but not limited to, households that depend on agriculture within the project area, women, children, LGBT, youth at risk and the Windward and Leeward Maroons in Jamaica. There is also some concern about the capacity of the sub-grantees to manage social risks in terms of development and implementation of environmental and social risk management, including grievance management and environmental and social reporting, exacerbation of existing patterns of social exclusion, participation, and elite capture. 27. The implementing agencies have the technical capacity to support the Project in the Caribbean region and the project has a Satisfactory E&S performance rating. Eight ESSs are found relevant to the proposed operations. For Official Use Only These are ESS1-ESS6, ESS8 and ESS10. An Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF), Labor Management Procedures (LMP), Process Framework (PF) and a Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) have been prepared by the client. The SEP was updated to include Dominica due to the AF. All instruments have been disclosed by the client and the Bank. The client disclosed the ESMF, LMP and SEP in October 2020 and the PF in September 2021. The updated SEP was disclosed on January 30, 2025 and is available at the following link: https://www.cepf.net/sites/default/files/stakeholder-engagement-plan-caribbean-islands-2025.pdf. The Environmental and Social Commitment Plan details the actions to be taken during implementation and their timeframe. V. WORLD BANK GRIEVANCE REDRESS 28. Grievance Redress: Communities and individuals who believe that they are adversely affected by a project supported by the World Bank may submit complaints to existing project-level grievance mechanisms or the Bank’s Grievance Redress Service (GRS). The GRS ensures that complaints received are promptly reviewed in order to address project-related concerns. Project affected communities and individuals may submit their complaint to the Bank’s independent Accountability Mechanism (AM). The AM houses the Inspection Panel, which determines whether harm occurred, or could occur, as a result of Bank non-compliance with its policies and procedures, and the Dispute Resolution Service, which provides communities and borrowers with the opportunity to address complaints through dispute resolution. Complaints may be submitted to the AM at any time after concerns have been brought directly to the attention of Bank Management and after Management has been given an opportunity to respond. For information on how to submit complaints to the Bank’s Grievance Redress Service, visit http://www.worldbank.org/GRS. For information on how to submit complaints to the Bank’s Accountability Mechanism, visit https://accountability.worldbank.org. One grievance was received so far, by the Regional Implementation Team, CANARI, about a delayed grant application, and it was duly processed and resolved. @#&OPS~Doctype~OPS^dynamics@afaprproposedchanges#doctemplate Summary changes VI. PROPOSED CHANGES Operation Information Proposed Changes Operation Information Proposed Changes Results Yes Loan Closing Date Extension No Page 10 The World Bank Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund – Caribbean Hotspot Project (P173464) Disbursements Estimates Yes Loan Cancellations No Components Yes Reallocations No Beneficiary Countries Yes Financial Management No Development Objective No Procurement No Summary Description No Institutional Arrangement No (Operation Abstract) Legal Operational Policies No Implementation Schedule No MFD/PCE No Legal Covenants No For Official Use Only Conditions No Implementation Modalities No Disbursements Arrangements No Additional Regional No Institutions Clients No @#&OPS~Doctype~OPS^dynamics@afaprdetailedchanges#doctemplate VII. DETAILED CHANGE(S) COMPONENTS Last Approved Proposed Component Name Cost (USD) Action Component Name Cost (USD) Component 1: Increased Component 1: Increased Share of Land and Sea in Share of Land and Sea in and and around Priority KBAs 8,800,000.00 No Change 10,270,000.00 around Priority KBAs under under Improved Improved Management Management Component 2: Increased Component 2: Increased Capacity of CSOs in 2,000,000.00 No Change Capacity of CSOs in 2,330,000.00 Conservation Conservation Component 3: Increased Component 3: Increased Capacity of the Regional Capacity of the Regional Implementation Team (RIT) Implementation Team (RIT) 700,000.00 No Change 820,000.00 to provide Leadership and to provide Leadership and Coordination of CSO Coordination of CSO Conservation Actions Conservation Actions Page 11 The World Bank Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund – Caribbean Hotspot Project (P173464) Component 4: Component 4: Strengthened Strengthened CSO 1,000,000.00 No Change CSO Partnerships for 1,170,000.00 Partnerships for Conservation Conservation Component 5: Project Component 5: Project Management, including 1,400,000.00 No Change 1,660,000.00 Management, including M&E M&E TOTAL 13,900,000.00 16,250,000.00 COSTS & FINANCING For Official Use Only Private Capital Facilitation Is this an MFD-Enabling Project (MFD-EP)? No Last approved as part of Additional Financing Data Sheet (Approval) on 27-May- 2025 Is this project Private Capital Enabling (PCE)? No Last approved as part of Additional Financing Data Sheet (Approval) on 27-May- 2025 DISBURSEMENTS Operation Dates & Projection Details Reasons to change the full Disbursement date and/or the projection Implementation Start Date Operation Closing Date 22-Jun-2021 31-Oct-2027 Projected Date for Full Disbursement 29-Oct-2027 Expected Disbursements (in US $) (Absolute) Original Estimation at Preparation Actual Year Revised Estimation (Approval Package – 22 Jun 2021) FY2021 0.00 0.00 0.00 FY2022 2,800,000.00 1,165,781.90 1,165,781.90 FY2023 2,800,000.00 2,113,511.57 2,113,511.57 FY2024 3,100,000.00 1,525,875.61 1,525,875.61 FY2025 2,600,000.00 3,712,223.09 3,444,761.13 Page 12 The World Bank Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund – Caribbean Hotspot Project (P173464) FY2026 1,900,000.00 3,580,000.00 0.00 FY2027 700,000.00 1,802,607.83 0.00 FY2028 0.00 0.00 0.00 ENVIRONMENTAL & SOCIAL Overview Operation Location Operation location and salient physical characteristics relevant to the ESS Assessment (geographic, environmental, social) (if known) The Project conver 43 KBAs in 8 countries. For Official Use Only Detailed operation location(s) and salient physical characteristics relevant to the ESS Assessment (geographic, environmental, social) The Additional Financing will add 11 more key biodiversity areas (KBAs) and Dominica to the existing 32 KBAs and 7 countries planned to be supported under the project. These countries are Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Haiti. Jamaica, Saint Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The Caribbean Islands Hotspot supports a wealth of biodiversity within its diverse ecosystems, with a high proportion of endemicity, making the region biologically unique. 62 percent of the Caribbean Islands Hotspot’s plant and animal species are found nowhere else in the world and due to the archipelagic nature of the hotspot, many of the endemic species are restricted to a single island. The Caribbean coastal zone contains many productive and biologically complex ecosystems, including beaches, coral reefs, seagrass beds, mangroves, coastal lagoons and mud bottom communities. The health of these ecosystems has declined over the years, due mainly to habitat conversion, overexploitation, and pollution. The hotspot’s biodiversity is at serious risk of species extinctions with amphibians and reptiles among the most threatened. It has about 992 globally threatened species, making the Caribbean one of the most severely threatened hotspots in the world. All threats are intensified by the effects of climate change and climate variability. To buffer the KBAs from threats, maintain ecological connectivity and facilitate gene flow essential to ensure that species populations retain long-term viability, complementary conservation actions in the surrounding landscapes will also be funded. During implementation, sub-projects will focus on reducing the threats on the globally threatened species by improving the management of the KBAs and the surrounding areas. Threats to the KBAs such as spread of invasive plants and animals, and unsustainable agriculture and forestry practices in the surrounding areas will be addressed, contributing to the protection and sustainable management of biodiversity. Preparation and implementation of conservation actions plans for priority Critically Endangered and Endangered species by the Project will also contribute to the conservation of species and ecosystems that are critical for the well-being of the people. To better protect such species from the effects of climate change, the project will also finance work to identify the impacts of climate change on these species through formulation of adaption measures and integrating them into site management plans. This AF will support replication and scaling-up of good practice models implemented under the existing project and first CEPF investment phase (between 2010 and 2016). Borrower’s Institutional Capacity The Project Implementation Unit (PIU) will continue to be the CEPF Secretariat established within Conservation Internation (CI), working in collaboration with the Regional Implementation Team (RIT) hosted at the Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI). The sub-grants are awarded by the CEPF Secretariat and the RIT, while the sub-grants are to be implemented by the CSOs identified during project implementation. The Project has a Satisfactory E&S performance rating. Both CI and CANARI have been implementing the E&S requirements and undertaking the due Page 13 The World Bank Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund – Caribbean Hotspot Project (P173464) deligence as agreed per the Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP). The implementing agencies (IAs) have the technical capacity to support the Project in the Caribbean region. As part of Project preparation and implementation, both the staff of the CEPF Secretariat and CANARI directly involved in the Project received E&S training including on the World Bank Environmental and Social Framework (ESF). The CSOs are provided trainings and hand-on-support on the E&S instruments to be developed by the IAs. The Project also partners with the World Bank’s Global Partnership for Social Accountability (GPSA) project through an experienced institution in the region - the Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC) to apply social accountability methodologies and tools to facilitate partnerships for conservation. The INTEC team has received training on the ESF and the E&S Performance of the GPSA project is also satisfactory. Assessment Environmental & Social Risk Classification For Official Use Only Environmental Risk Rating Social Risk Rating Moderate Substantial Original Environmental and Social Risk Rating (ESRC) Revised Environmental and Social Risk Rating (ESRC) Substantial Substantial Environmental & Social Standards E & S Standards Relevance ESS 1: Assessment and Management of Environmental and Social Risks and Relevant Impacts ESS 10: Stakeholder Engagement and Information Disclosure Relevant ESS 2: Labor and Working Conditions Relevant ESS 3: Resource Efficiency and Pollution Prevention and Management Relevant ESS 4: Community Health and Safety Relevant ESS 5: Land Acquisition, Restrictions on Land Use and Involuntary Resettlement Relevant ESS 6: Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Natural Relevant Resources ESS 7: Indigenous Peoples/Sub-Saharan African Historically Underserved Not Currently Relevant Traditional Local Communities ESS 8: Cultural Heritage Relevant ESS 9: Financial Intermediaries Not Currently Relevant Summary of Assessment of Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts The environmental and Social risk classification is Substantial. The environmental risk is Moderate. Activities proposed are related to conserving biodiversity and strengthening protection of identified priority conservation sites and thus not likely to have significant or irreversible environmental impacts. No major civil works are anticipated. Environmental impacts if any, are expected to be minor and reversible such as disturbance to wildlife during surveys Page 14 The World Bank Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund – Caribbean Hotspot Project (P173464) or data collection and harm to non-target species during eradication of invasive species. Agricultural activities may involve the use of pesticides. The social risk is Substantial. The main social risk is related to the economic displacement of persons earning their livelihoods in areas where restrictions for use will be implemented. The project could also have some negative impacts on vulnerable groups including, but not limited to, households that depend on agriculture within the project area, women, children, LGBT, youth at risk and the Windward and Leeward Maroons in Jamaica. There is also some concern about the capacity of the sub-grantees to manage social risks in terms of development and implementation of environmental and social risk management, environmental and social reporting, exacerbation of existing patterns of social exclusion, participation, and elite capture. The implementing agencies (IAs) have the technical capacity to support the Project in the Caribbean region and the project has a Satisfactory E&S performance rating. . Eight ESSs are found relevant to the proposed operations. These are ESS1-ESS6, ESS8 and ESS10. An Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF), Labor Management Procedures, Process Framework (PF), and a Stakeholder Engagement Plan have been prepared by the client. The SEP was updated to include Dominica due to the AF. All instruments have been disclosed by the client and the Bank. The client disclosed the ESMF, LMP and SEP on October 2020 and PF in September 2021. The updated SEP was disclosed on 29 January 2025 and is available For Official Use Only at the following link https://www.cepf.net/sites/default/files/stakeholder-engagement-plan-caribbean-islands- 2025.pdf The Environmental and Social Commitment Plan details the actions to be taken during implementation. Last Finalized Date Is a common approach being considered? 24-Mar-2025 No Page 15 The World Bank Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund – Caribbean Hotspot Project (P173464) RESULTS COUNTRY: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, The, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund – Caribbean Hotspot Project @#&OPS~Doctype~OPS^dynamics@afaprresultframework#doctemplate Project Development Objective(s) The project development objective (PDO) is to improve the capacity of civil society organizations to reduce threats to globally important biodiversity in the Caribbean Islands Biodiversity Hotspot. For Official Use Only PDO Indicators by PDO Outcomes Baseline Period 1 Period 2 Period 3 Period 4 Completion Period Targeted civil society organizations with increased capacity to reduce threats to biodiversity Revise Targeted civil society organizations with increased capacity to reduce threats to biodiversity (Number) May/2021 May/2022 May/2023 May/2024 May/2025 Oct/2027 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 10.00 28.00 Revise Targeted civil society organizations with increased organizational capacity (Number) May/2021 May/2022 May/2023 May/2024 May/2025 Oct/2027 0.00 0.00 0.00 5.00 15.00 35.00 Revise Civil society organizations with sufficient capacity to participate in conservation-related networks (Number) May/2021 May/2022 May/2023 May/2024 May/2025 Oct/2027 0.00 0.00 0.00 3.00 5.00 25.00 Revise Priority KBAs with reduced threat(s) to biodiversity (Number) May/2021 May/2022 May/2023 May/2024 May/2025 Oct/2027 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 10.00 24.00 Intermediate Results Indicators by Components Page 16 The World Bank Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund – Caribbean Hotspot Project (P173464) Baseline Period 1 Period 2 Period 3 Period 4 Completion Period Revised Component 1: Increased Share of Land and Sea in and around Priority KBAs under Improved Management Revise Priority species conservation plans at the site level prepared (Number) May/2021 May/2022 May/2023 May/2024 May/2025 Oct/2027 0.00 0.00 0.00 10.00 20.00 38.00 Revise Area of production landscape with strengthened management of biodiversity (Hectare(Ha)) May/2021 May/2022 May/2023 May/2024 May/2025 Oct/2027 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 20,000.00 40,000.00 Revise Funding mechanisms for conservation established by targeted civil society organizations (Number) May/2021 May/2022 May/2023 May/2024 May/2025 Oct/2027 For Official Use Only 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 2.00 Revise Civil society organizations receiving sub-grants from CEPF (Number) May/2021 May/2022 May/2023 May/2024 May/2025 Oct/2027 0.00 20.00 30.00 40.00 50.00 55.00 Revised Component 2: Increased Capacity of CSOs in Conservation Revise Grantee biodiversity monitoring frameworks prepared (Number) May/2021 May/2022 May/2023 May/2024 May/2025 Oct/2027 0.00 5.00 10.00 15.00 20.00 25.00 Revise Civil society networks with improved collaboration and coordination (Number) May/2021 May/2022 May/2023 May/2024 May/2025 Oct/2027 0.00 0.00 0.00 3.00 6.00 12.00 Revised Component 3: Increased Capacity of the Regional Implementation Team (RIT) to provide Leadership and Coordination of CSO Conservation Actions Revise RIT technical capacity modules completed (Number) May/2021 May/2022 May/2023 May/2024 May/2025 Oct/2027 0.00 3.00 6.00 9.00 12.00 15.00 Revised Component 4: Strengthened CSO Partnerships for Conservation Revise Civil society organizations trained in using social accountability mechanisms (Number) May/2021 May/2022 May/2023 May/2024 May/2025 Oct/2027 Page 17 The World Bank Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund – Caribbean Hotspot Project (P173464) 0.00 0.00 3.00 5.00 10.00 20.00 Revise Collaborative social accountability frameworks established (Number) May/2021 May/2022 May/2023 May/2024 May/2025 Oct/2027 0.00 0.00 2.00 4.00 8.00 10.00 Revise Knowledge products focusing on social accountability mechanisms produced and disseminated (Number) May/2021 May/2022 May/2023 May/2024 May/2025 Oct/2027 0.00 0.00 1.00 2.00 3.00 12.00 Rationale for Change More ambitious target given additional financing For Official Use Only Page 18 The World Bank Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund – Caribbean Hotspot Project(P173464) PROJECT PAPER Monitoring & Evaluation Plan: PDO Indicators by PDO Outcomes PDO Outcome Targeted civil society organizations with increased capacity to reduce threats to biodiversity Indicator Name Targeted civil society organizations with increased capacity to reduce threats to biodiversity (28) REVISED Description This indicator measures the number of civil society organizations that have increased capacity to address and reduce threats, and have demonstrated success in reducing a threat affecting biodiversity in the Caribbean. The main prioritized threats to the terrestrial biodiversity of the insular Caribbean, based on a review of the threats to the hotspot’s 992 globally threatened species on the IUCN Red List, are: over-exploitation of biological resources; habitat destruction and fragmentation due to agricultural/aquaculture, urban, tourism and industrial/commercial development; predation and competition by invasive alien (and other problematic) species; and, increasingly, climate change/severe weather events. Frequency Annual Data source Reports documenting the training events; training test results Direct observation Conservation plans Management prescriptions Methodology for Data Review of training reports and test results Collection Validation by the Regional Advisory Committee (RAC) of evidence documenting reduced threats to biodiversity Photo/video documentation Assessment of achievement of targets in conservation plans and management prescriptions Responsibility for Data CEPF Secretariat Collection RIT (CANARI) Indicator Name Targeted civil society organizations with increased organizational capacity (35) REVISED Description This indicator is measured by the Civil Society Tracking Tool (CSTT), which monitors change in a civil society organizations' capacity in terms of (i) human resources; (ii) financial resources; (iii) management systems; (iv) strategic planning; and (v) delivery. The tracking tool is designed to enable self-assessment by a small group of the organization's staff and/or board members, selected to represent the variation in roles and responsibilities that exists within the organization. The assessment may be facilitated by the RIT or other relevant party, who serve to ensure sufficient staff participate, and that the assessment is Page 19 The World Bank Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund – Caribbean Hotspot Project(P173464) PROJECT PAPER realistic and accurate. The CSTT is completed on an annual basis, including after the grantee has completed their project. Additionally, CEPF will conduct an overall assessment in year 5 of the project to document the fluctuations in scores over the full investment period. Frequency Annual Data source Civil Society Tracking Tool (CSTT) Methodology for Data Tracking tool completed annually by all sub-grantees throughout the project Collection Responsibility for Data CEPF Secretariat; RIT (CANARI) Collection Indicator Name Civil society organizations with sufficient capacity to participate in conservation-related networks (25) REVISED Description Networks can take many different shapes and forms, and vary depending on their purpose, membership, funding source, size, geographical focus, and the sectors that they represent. Networks are valued because they can: increase efficiency, by tapping into expertise more widely available than would be in a single organization; increase impact, by creating the links to leverage and connect existing assets and expertise; and utilize valuable capacities, by mobilizing diverse individuals and organizations. The following points must be considered in a civil society organization’s capacity to participate in a conservation-related network: General 1. Understanding of the different types of networks, and their advantages and challenges. 2. Understanding of how different networks operate, and varying roles and responsibilities that participants/members can have. 3. Understanding of key networks present in the Caribbean Islands, their purpose, and their achievements or lack thereof. 4. Understanding the key criteria that assure successful participation in a network. Specific (once a network is targeted for participation) 5. Does the CSO have a goal/mission, and is it relevant to the purpose of the network? Do the CSO and the network have a shared commitment to the network goal? 6. Does the CSO acknowledge the expertise and competence within the network, and in the work that the network accomplishes? 7. Does the CSO have links and connections that they can bring to the network, also known as a “proven capacity to influence�? 8. Is the CSO willing to collaborate, and confident enough to share their own work and expertise? Does the CSO have sufficient knowledge to contribute relevant to the work of the network? 9. Does the CSO have the ability to prioritize participation in the network, in terms of time and attention? 10. Does the CSO have the necessary resources (material and financial) to participate effectively in the network? Frequency Annual Data source Reports documenting training events Scorecard measuring change in capacity Methodology for Data Review of training reports Collection Review of scorecards Validation by the RAC of scorecard results Page 20 The World Bank Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund – Caribbean Hotspot Project(P173464) PROJECT PAPER Responsibility for Data CEPF Secretariat; Collection RIT (CANARI) Indicator Name Priority KBAs with reduced threat(s) to biodiversity (24) REVISED Description This indicator measures the number of sites with reduced threats, using BirdLife International’s site monitoring tool adapted to apply to all vertebrate groups and plants: http://datazone.birdlife.org/ userfiles/file/IBAs/Monitori ngPDFs/IBA_Monitoring_Fra mework.pdf Frequency Annual Data source IBA monitoring framework tool Methodology for Data Tracking tool completed annually for all targeted priority KBAs Collection Responsibility for Data CEPF Secretariat Collection RIT (CANARI) Page 21 The World Bank Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund – Caribbean Hotspot Project(P173464) PROJECT PAPER Monitoring & Evaluation Plan: Intermediate Results Indicators by Components Results Area Component 1: Increased Share of Land and Sea in and around Priority KBAs under Improved Management Indicator Name Priority species conservation plans at the site level prepared (38) REVISED Description This indicator measures the number of species conservation plans that are developed during the project. Species conservation plans will be developed following the Guidelines for Species Conservation Planning prepared by the IUCN Species Survival Commission’s Species Conservation Planning SubCommittee. Frequency Annual Data source Species conservation plans Methodology for Data Preparation of species conservation plans Collection Responsibility for Data Secretariat; RIT (CANARI) Collection Indicator Name Area of production landscape with strengthened management of biodiversity (40,000.00 Hectare(Ha)) Description This indicator will measures the number of hectares outside of KBAs, such as corridors and/or buffer zones, with strengthened management of biodiversity. A Production Landscape is defined as a site outside a protected area where commercial agriculture, forestry or natural product exploitation occurs. For example, shade-grown coffee and cacao farms can harbor significant biodiversity and would benefit from strengthened management of that biodiversity. For an area to be considered as having "strengthened management of biodiversity," it can benefit from a wide range of interventions such as best practices and guidelines implemented, incentive schemes introduced, sites/products certified, and sustainable harvesting regulations introduced. Frequency Annual Data source Sub-grantee reports Management plans/ guidelines Methodology for Data Sub-grantee reports and/or management plans, validated by direct observation, third party interviews, photo/ video Collection documentation, or other means of appropriate validation (should COVID-19 persist) Responsibility for Data Secretariat; RIT (CANARI) Collection Indicator Name Funding mechanisms for conservation established by targeted civil society organizations (2) Page 22 The World Bank Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund – Caribbean Hotspot Project(P173464) PROJECT PAPER Description Funding mechanisms include, but are not limited to, conservation trust funds, debt-for-nature swaps, payment for ecosystem service (PES) schemes, and other revenue, fee or tax schemes that generate long term funding for conservation. To be counted, a funding mechanism must be supported with relevant documentation describing (i) purpose; (ii) legal parameters; (iii) sources of funds; (iv) mechanics of funds disbursement; and (v) governance. Frequency Annual Data source Documents demonstrating legal establishment Methodology for Data Review of relevant documents Collection Responsibility for Data Secretariat; RIT (CANARI) Collection Indicator Name Civil society organizations receiving sub-grants from CEPF (55) REVISED Description This indicator measures the number of civil society organizations that receive sub-grants from CEPF under Components 1 and 2. These include organizations receiving subgrants from both the Secretariat, and from the RIT, which administer a small grants mechanism for sub-grants not exceeding $50,000. Results are disaggregated by type of organization, according to CEPF’s categories: Academic/ research institution; community group; cooperative; Individual; nongovernmental organization; parastatal; and private enterprise. Frequency Annual Data source CEPF project database Methodology for Data Extraction of sub-grant data from CEPF project database Collection Responsibility for Data Secretariat Collection Results Area Component 2: Increased Capacity of CSOs in Conservation Indicator Name Grantee biodiversity monitoring frameworks prepared (25) REVISED Description Each CSO working at one or more priority KBA will be assisted to develop its own biodiversity monitoring framework, with indicators related to the status of biodiversity, the severity of threats, and the effectiveness of conservation responses. To be counted, a biodiversity monitoring framework must (i) meet the minimum information requirements of the CEPF template; (ii) be developed with the participation of the site management authorities; and (iii) establish baselines for at least one indicator in each group. Frequency Annual Data source Grantee biodiversity monitoring frameworks Methodology for Data Review of biodiversity monitoring frameworks Page 23 The World Bank Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund – Caribbean Hotspot Project(P173464) PROJECT PAPER Collection Responsibility for Data Secretariat Collection RIT Indicator Name Civil society networks with improved collaboration and coordination (12) REVISED Description This indicator measures the number of networks with improved collaboration and coordination, using the Network Health Scorecard: (https://www.networkimpa ct.org/downloads/NH_Score card.pdf). Frequency Annual Data source Network Health Scorecard Methodology for Data Review of Network Health Scorecard, completed annually Collection Responsibility for Data Secretariat; RIT (CANARI) Collection Results Area Component 3: Increased Capacity of the Regional Implementation Team (RIT) to provide Leadership and Coordination of CSO Conservation Actions Indicator Name RIT technical capacity modules completed (15) Description At project start a capacity assessment is undertaken to identify capacity building needs related to implementation of the CEPF program. Due to the RIT already having high capacity, the capacity building assessment identified 15 topics that aim to expand the RIT’s knowledge and ability to function at a high level. Each topic will be assigned 1 point, with the total of all topics being 15. A scorecard is used to measure progress in achieving capacity building targets. The scorecard is completed on an annual basis. Frequency Annual Data source RIT-specific capacity assessment tool Methodology for Data Using a RIT capacity tool designed at project start, measure change in score on annual basis. Points are gained upon Collection completing 15 training topics, each valued at 1 point. Responsibility for Data Secretariat Collection Results Area Component 4: Strengthened CSO Partnerships for Conservation Indicator Name Civil society organizations trained in using social accountability mechanisms (20) Description This indicator measures the number of CSOs trained in using social accountability mechanisms. The mechanisms aim to: (1) to strengthen public sector institutions’ capacity to respond to issues, problems and solutions over which they have primary responsibility and accountability, and (2) to strengthen civil society's capacity for co-producing (taking part in) the execution of such solutions and increasing their civic oversight. Page 24 The World Bank Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund – Caribbean Hotspot Project(P173464) PROJECT PAPER Frequency Annual Data source RIT, INTEC and CEPF Secretariat reports documenting training events workshops; number of CSOs attending Methodology for Data Review of reports documenting training events Collection Responsibility for Data Secretariat; RIT (CANARI); INTEC Collection Indicator Name Collaborative social accountability frameworks established (10) Description This indicator measures the number of collaborative frameworks established during the project. These frameworks will define the terms of cooperation across stakeholders, including (i) information sharing, (ii) actions to be jointly addressed, and (iii) joint capacity-building and technical assistance activities that will enable such actions to be effectively executed. Frequency Annual Data source RIT, Secretariat and INTEC reports Methodology for Data Review of reports Collection Responsibility for Data Secretariat; RIT (CANARI); INTEC Collection Indicator Name Knowledge products focusing on social accountability mechanisms produced and disseminated (5) REVISED Description This indicator measures the number of knowledge products produced that pertain to use of social accountability methodologies generated under the project. Knowledge products should promote sustainability and replicability, and can vary in format, such as a manual, video, website, or webinar series. Frequency Annual Data source Knowledge products Methodology for Data Direct observation of knowledge products Collection Responsibility for Data Secretariat; RIT (CANARI); INTEC Collection Results Area Component 5: Project Management, including M&E Page 25 The World Bank Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund – Caribbean Hotspot Project(P173464) PROJECT PAPER Page 26