The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Cambodia Sustainable Landscape and Ecotourism Project (P165344) Cambodia Sustainable Landscape and Ecotourism Project (P165344) EAST ASIA AND PACIFIC | Cambodia | Environment, Natural Resources & the Blue Economy Global Practice | IBRD/IDA | Investment Project Financing | FY 2019 | Seq No: 11 | ARCHIVED on 15-Jul-2024 | ISR60098 | Implementing Agencies: Kingdom of Cambodia, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Rural Development Key Dates Key Project Dates Bank Approval Date: 30-May-2019 Effectiveness Date: 17-Oct-2019 Planned Mid Term Review Date: 24-Mar-2023 Actual Mid-Term Review Date: 13-Mar-2023 Original Closing Date: 31-Dec-2025 Revised Closing Date: 31-Dec-2025 pdoTable Project Development Objectives Project Development Objective (from Project Appraisal Document) The Project Development Objective is to improve protected areas management, and to promote ecotourism opportunities and non-timber forest product value chains in the Cardamom Mountains-Tonle Sap landscape. Has the Project Development Objective been changed since Board Approval of the Project Objective? No Components Table Name Component 1: Strengthen Capacity for Protected Areas (PAs) Landscape Planning and Management:(Cost $9.68 M) Component 2. Strengthen Opportunities for Ecotourism and Non-Timber Forest Product (NTFP) Value Chains:(Cost $18.09 M) Component 3. Improve Access and Connectivity:(Cost $23.86 M) Component 4. Project Management, Coordination, Monitoring and Evaluation:(Cost $5.95 M) Component 5:Contingent Emergency Response Overall Ratings Name Previous Rating Current Rating Progress towards achievement of PDO Moderately Unsatisfactory Moderately Unsatisfactory Overall Implementation Progress (IP) Moderately Unsatisfactory Moderately Unsatisfactory Overall Risk Rating Substantial Substantial Implementation Status and Key Decisions The Government submitted a request for project restructuring by letter of April 26, 2024. The request is under consideration and a response will be provided to the Government in due course. 7/15/2024 Page 1 of 8 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Cambodia Sustainable Landscape and Ecotourism Project (P165344) Risks Systematic Operations Risk-rating Tool Risk Category Rating at Approval Previous Rating Current Rating Political and Governance Moderate Substantial Substantial Macroeconomic Moderate Moderate Moderate Sector Strategies and Policies Moderate Moderate Moderate Technical Design of Project or Program Substantial Moderate Moderate Institutional Capacity for Implementation and Substantial Substantial Substantial Sustainability Fiduciary Substantial Substantial Substantial Environment and Social Substantial Substantial Substantial Stakeholders Moderate Moderate Moderate Other -- Moderate Moderate Overall Substantial Substantial Substantial Results PDO Indicators by Objectives / Outcomes To improve management of selected protected areas IN01407324 ►Protected areas under improved management (Hectare(Ha), Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 1,402,438.00 1,402,438.00 2,064,431.00 Date 30-May-2019 18-Dec-2023 11-Jun-2024 31-Dec-2025 Work is ongoing to zone-protected areas. The area counted as having improved management will be based on increases in the Management Effectiveness Training Tool (METT) scores for the corresponding PAs based on the baseline METT score. The baseline METT survey has been finalized, but the summary report and final scores are slightly delayed and are expected in the next months. Initial findings show that the score for effective management of all Protected Areas is ranging from 38% to 65% (average: 53%). Comments: On this basis, the MoE sets the baseline of the METT score at 53%, and suggests for a PA to be considered under improved management, it must score at least 60% AND an increase by at least 10% from its individual baseline at the end of the project. This methodology has been developed under guidance of a World Bank consultant. The team is preparing for the mid-term METT report, and additional guidance by the World Bank consultant to the M&E team has been provided. To promote ecotourism opportunities 7/15/2024 Page 2 of 8 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Cambodia Sustainable Landscape and Ecotourism Project (P165344) IN01407371 ►Visitors in selected community-based ecotourism sites (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 128,000.00 219,500.00 219,500.00 219,500.00 Date 30-May-2019 18-Dec-2023 11-Jun-2024 31-Dec-2025 The indicator has already exceeded end-year target. According to MoE Authorities, during the pandemic, the domestic tourism industry began to take off as Cambodians who could not travel overseas sought to explore their own country in greater depth. This saw a boom in ecotourism activities all over the country, Comments: including trekking, cycling and other adventurous activities. The current value is not a direct measurement but is considered a conservative estimate and is entered to show that the target has been met. To promote non-timber forest product value chains IN01407325 ►Community groups with an increase of one or more on index of natural resources value addition (Percentage, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 50.00 Date 30-May-2019 18-Dec-2023 11-Jun-2024 31-Dec-2025 The index of natural resources value addition has been developed by the Project’s M&E firm and data was collected during the baseline survey. Given the early stages of activities, no results can be reported yet. During Q1 FY23, the project team continued to focus its effort on the discussion and consultation with the 10 target CPAs to develop community mini-project proposals to implement selected. Thus far, five community mini-project proposals including one blue mussel aquaculture, two cardamom seedling productions and cultivations, and two pig-raising projects were developed and approved. The Environmental Safeguards Screening (ESS) report for the blue mussel project was completed and endorsed, while the ESS reports for the cardamom and pig-raising projects are currently being reviewed by the Bank’s Regional Safeguards Team. Comments: During a field mission by the PIU to Phnom Toab Cheang, Anlong Svay and Chambal CPAs in September 2022, the team confirmed that three bamboo groups were formed, and the group’s rules and regulations were developed in consultations with members of the groups. In addition, business ideas for the bamboo value chain were also discussed and agreed upon by the bamboo groups and Community Protected Area (CPA) management committee. The bamboo activities will be implemented in partnership with a private company that will coordinate and manage the processing process and facilities and bamboo with the three target CPAs. The project is currently working with CPAs to develop community business plans, sustainable harvesting, and planting plans as well as identify and support appropriate harvesting equipment. To improve protected areas management, and to promote ecotourism opportunities and non-timber forest IN01407372 ►Proportion of beneficiaries of BDS that are women (Percentage, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 32.00 32.00 50.00 Date 30-May-2019 18-Dec-2023 11-Jun-2024 31-Dec-2025 A training need assessment (TNAs) to define and design training needs to promote and strengthen Comments: women entrepreneurs in business development services (BDS) was conducted in six community-based 7/15/2024 Page 3 of 8 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Cambodia Sustainable Landscape and Ecotourism Project (P165344) ecotourism (CBET) target sites. Based on the TNAs results, BDS training materials/modules and training plans were also developed including 1). Personal and business goal setting, 2). Business financial management and 3). Leadership and human resource management. 10 BDS training events were conducted (against a target of 50) to local CBETs (323 total participants). In these training events, 32% of participants were women. IN01407373 ►Targeted community members satisfied with benefits of the project (Percentage, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 98.00 98.00 75.00 Date 30-May-2019 18-Dec-2023 11-Jun-2024 31-Dec-2025 A satisfaction survey was conducted in September 2022; the next survey is planned for September 2023. The results of the September 2022 survey found that 51 interviewees (57% of participants) were aware of the project while the remaining 43% were not aware of the project because activities had not yet started in Comments: their communities. Of the participants that were aware of the project 98% indicated that they were “satisfied”, which exceeds the target of 75% for this indicator. Intermediate Results Indicators by Components 1. Strengthen Capacity for Protected Area Landscape Planning and Management IN01407374 ►1.1 Cloud-based geospatial platform for integrating data and information for PAs planning and enforcement operational (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 2.00 2.00 5.00 Date 30-May-2019 18-Dec-2023 11-Jun-2024 31-Dec-2025 Satisfactory progress has been made on Information System and Decision Support (ISDS) activities: (i) under the information system part of ISDS, a user-friendly digital database management system - the Cambodia Environmental Management Information System (CEMIS) - has been developed to allow long- term archiving and sharing of data and information across all stakeholders; (ii) a new IT and Network infrastructure with modern equipment and facilities have been developed to host the CEMIS system and offer high-quality services to the stakeholders; and (iii) a new geospatial model using free and open- Comments: source software for zoning of PA (core zone, conservation zone, sustainable use zone and community use zone) has been developed and tested. The model is currently under further review by the Department of Geographic Information Services (DGIS) of MoE to be recognized as one of the national zonation models. All these will contribute to the overall planning, management, and monitoring of PAs in Cambodia in a transparent manner. IN01407377 ►1.2 Protected Areas enforcement strategy operational (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 1.00 1.00 5.00 Date 30-May-2019 18-Dec-2023 11-Jun-2024 31-Dec-2025 7/15/2024 Page 4 of 8 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Cambodia Sustainable Landscape and Ecotourism Project (P165344) With technical support from Conservation International, the detailed draft proposal for a framework to complete the Law Enforcement Strategy and Action Plan (PALES) was developed for stakeholders consultation and finalization. The current value of 1 represents the first of 5 steps toward having an operational strategy: 0 – No action Comments: 1 – Strategy and toolkit drafted 2 – Stakeholders consulted on the strategy and toolkit 3 – Strategy and toolkit finalized 4 – Strategy is officially adopted by MoE with Prakas 5 – Stakeholders trained on strategy, toolkit and related equipment for spatial forest monitoring. IN01407379 ►1.3 Share of targeted communities using innovative technologies in PAs monitoring (Percentage, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 75.00 Date 30-May-2019 18-Dec-2023 11-Jun-2024 31-Dec-2025 A SMART Working Group (SMART-WG) consisting of members from the Department of Inspection and Law Enforcement, Ministry of Environment (DILE/MoE), relevant CSLEP Project Advisers and NGOs/IOs to oversee the development, implementation, and reporting progress of SMART operations in protected areas was established and endorsed by the MoE in August 2022. Logistical arrangement for SMART Comments: Training of Trainers and subnational role-out of the trainings to rangers is being prepared for endorsement by the PIU. The Training of Trainers training is expected to be organized early 2023 in close coordination and technical support from Conservation International. IN01407381 ►1.4 Protected Areas management plans adopted (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 3.00 3.00 8.00 Date 30-May-2019 18-Dec-2023 11-Jun-2024 31-Dec-2025 The management plans for Tatai, Phnom Aural Wildlife Sanctuary and Phnom Samkos Wildlife Sanctuary Comments: have been finalized and were endorsed by the Minister of Environment. IN01407382 ►1.5. Share of targeted CPAs with at least one woman in the CPA management committee (Percentage, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 16.00 95.00 95.00 50.00 Date 30-May-2019 18-Dec-2023 11-Jun-2024 31-Dec-2025 Comments: Of the 25 CPAs targeted to date, 24 have established a PA management structure. The 24 CPA management structures established through the CPA development process indicate that a total of 59 out of the 232 committee members (25%) are women. Only one CPA has no female members. Mostly, women serve as accountants of the committee, but there are also two out of the 24 CPAs where the chief of the committee is female. Given these numbers, the target under this indicator has been reached: Of the current 24 CPA management committees supported by the project, 95% have female members. However, their positions within the committee don't allow for much room to contribute to decision-making. Thus the Gender and Citizen Engagement team of MoE is working with the women on leadership skills, public speaking skills, etc., to improve their decision-making power, and is raising awareness amongst communities and committees. 7/15/2024 Page 5 of 8 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Cambodia Sustainable Landscape and Ecotourism Project (P165344) The mentioned above, the project is tracking additional information on the role of women in the committees. 2. Strengthen Opportunities for Ecotourism and NTFP Value Chains IN01407375 ►2.1 Potential tourist sites in selected PAs with infrastructure operational (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 30.00 Date 30-May-2019 18-Dec-2023 11-Jun-2024 31-Dec-2025 The Destination Vision and Investment Plan (DVIP) has been finalized. Priority investments that have Comments: emerged include ecotourism trail lines, of which 1 trail line in Kulen National Park is under construction. IN01407378 ►2.2 New tourism enterprises with sufficient capacity (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 10.00 Date 30-May-2019 18-Dec-2023 11-Jun-2024 31-Dec-2025 The Project has not established new tourism enterprises in the area yet. Comments: IN01407380 ►2.3 NTFP value chains improved with new infrastructure, technology, and market access (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 6.00 Date 30-May-2019 18-Dec-2023 11-Jun-2024 31-Dec-2025 Husbandry of Kulen pigs and Bamboo production and commercialization are being piloted, and four other NTFPs (e.g., green mussels, cardamom, wildlife-friendly organic rice, and sea crabs) are under feasibility Comments: study for which results may not be available in time to develop the value chains during the project life span 3. Improve Access and Connectivity IN01407376 ►3.1 Average travel time to potential tourism sites in selected PAs (Hours, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 6.00 6.00 6.00 2.00 Date 30-May-2019 18-Dec-2023 11-Jun-2024 31-Dec-2025 Feasibility studies for road rehabilitation have been completed, and recruitment of the construction firm should be completed by August 2023, and works would commence in September 2023. The MTR Comments: reconfirmed that 254.63 km of roads were identified for rehabilitation in six provinces. However, given the available budget allocated to the component and in line with tourism potential, only 150 km will be 7/15/2024 Page 6 of 8 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Cambodia Sustainable Landscape and Ecotourism Project (P165344) rehabilitated by the current project closing date (December 31, 2025). This indicator can be measured when the road construction is completed by project closure. Performance-Based Conditions Data on Financial Performance Disbursements (by loan) Project Loan/Credit/TF Status Currency Original Revised Cancelled Disbursed Undisbursed % Disbursed P165344 IDA-64330 Effective USD 50.66 50.66 0.00 13.45 35.00 28% P172351 TF-B2422 Effective USD 4.42 4.42 0.00 1.14 3.28 26% Key Dates (by loan) Project Loan/Credit/TF Status Approval Date Signing Date Effectiveness Date Orig. Closing Date Rev. Closing Date P165344 IDA-64330 Effective 30-May-2019 16-Aug-2019 17-Oct-2019 31-Dec-2025 31-Dec-2025 P172351 TF-B2422 Effective 06-May-2020 21-Jul-2020 21-Jul-2020 31-Dec-2025 31-Dec-2025 Cumulative Disbursements 7/15/2024 Page 7 of 8 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Cambodia Sustainable Landscape and Ecotourism Project (P165344) Restructuring History There has been no restructuring to date. Related Project(s) P172351-AF Cambodia Sustainable Landscape and Ecotourism Project 7/15/2024 Page 8 of 8