Project Objectives
The objective of this Additional Financing is to help the conflict-affected communities and villages in the Northern Province by: (i) restoring their livelihood; (ii) enhancing agricultural production and income; and (iii) building their capacity for sustainable social and economic reintegration. No major changes in the design or implementation arrangements are proposed.
Project Description
Responding to GOSL's request for assistance in the rehabilitation, reconstruction and resettlement of the Northern Province, IDA has developed an emergency response package that consists of this proposed Additional Financing, a proposed Emergency Northern Recovery Operation (US$65 million) for infrastructure rehabilitation and reconstruction, and a special allocation of US$20 million within the proposed Credit of US$ 105 million for Provincial Roads Project to rehabilitate provincial roads in the North. This package is in addition to the financing already available for the North under on-going World Bank-supported Projects (amounting to US$69.5 million).
The Additional Financing will extend the Community Livelihoods in Conflict-Affected Areas Project activities into an additional 135 villages where IDPs will resettle, and also rehabilitate additional 8000 hectares of recently cleared/being cleared major irrigation lands benefitting another 9000 farmers.
Minor modifications to reflect post-conflict conditions: while no changes in the four components of the Original Project are envisaged, some minor modifications in delivery mechanisms will be introduced to reflect the new challenges deriving from the postconflict resettlement scenario and these will be reflected in the revised COM and PIP:
(1) Fast-tracking the village project cycle: The Pre-planning and Planning phases of the Village Project Cycle will be fast-tracked, given the high propensity of the recently resettled IDPs to mobilize to restore their sustainable livelihoods and formulate their own Village Development Plans. As the Emergency Operation will address most core infrastructure needs in the resettlement areas, the Village Development Plans will focus on ensuring access to credit, skills development, technical assistance, and seed capital especially for off-farm activities. They will also leave open the possibility for community groups to propose very small-scale local infrastructure investments that beneficiaries may define as priorities for them and that are linked to their livelihood activities. The formation of self-help groups and other community-based organizations should help to build mutual trust and confidence, contributing to a more stable and cohesive social fabric and an enabling environment for growth and for peace.
(2) Reintegration of Youth: This Additional Financing will enhance the project focus on youth by increasing their employability and effectively involving them into the reconstruction efforts. This will be achieved through counseling intended to support attitudinal changes; mainstreaming them by channeling their energy into project activities; providing special funds and programs to enhance skills and empower them economically and socially; and enhancing their access to job opportunities through partnerships with various employment growth sectors and sub-sectors such as construction, hospitality, FMCG, security, ICT, and health-care, and so on.
