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Document of The World Bank Public Disclosure Authorized Report No: ICR00003870 IMPLEMENTATION COMPLETION AND RESULTS REPORT (TF-096152) ON A GRANT FROM THE GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT FACILITY Public Disclosure Authorized IN THE AMOUNT OF US$9.0 MILLION TO THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA FOR A DEVELOPMENT, EMPOWERMENT AND CONSERVATION IN THE iSIMANGALISO WETLAND PARK AND SURROUNDING REGION PROJECT Public Disclosure Authorized August 25, 2017 Environment and Natural Resources Global Practice Africa Region Public Disclosure Authorized CURRENCY EQUIVALENTS (Exchange Rate Effective August 23, 2017) Currency Unit = South African Rand (ZAR) US$l = ZAR l3 FISCAL YEAR January 1 – December 31 ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS CAPE Cape Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Development Project CEO Chief Executive Officer CITES Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora DMP Dune Management Plan EA Environmental Assessment EIA Environmental Impact Assessment EKZNW Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife EMI Environmental Management Inspector GEF Global Environmental Facility GEO Global Environmental Objective GIS Geographical Information System ICR Implementation Completion and Results Report IFR Interim Financial Report ISR Implementation Status and Results Report METT Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool M&E Monitoring and Evaluation MTR Midterm Review NGO Nongovernmental Organization NH Natural Habitats PAD Project Appraisal Document PCR Physical Cultural Resources PDO Project Development Objective PFDA Prawn Fisheries and Development Association PIM Project Implementation Manual PIU Project Implementation Unit PPG Project Preparation Grant REAP Rural Education Access Program SDG Sustainable Development Goal SDR Safeguards Diagnostic Review SEED Socio-Economic Environment Development SMME Small, Medium, and Microenterprises UCOSP Umfolozi Cooperative Sugar Producers UCS Use of Country Systems Vice President: Makhtar Diop Country Director: Paul Noumba Um Senior Global Practice Manager: Karin Kemper Practice Manager: Magda Lovei Task Team Leader: Claudia Sobrevila REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA Development. Empowerment and Conservation in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park and Surrounding Region Project TABLE OF CONTENTS A. Basic Information ........................................................................................................ i B. Key Dates .................................................................................................................... i C. Ratings Summary ........................................................................................................ i D. Sector and Theme Codes ........................................................................................... ii E. Bank Staff ................................................................................................................... ii F. Results Framework Analysis ..................................................................................... iii H. Restructuring ............................................................................................................ vii 1. Project Context, Global Environment Objectives and Design ................................... 1 2. Key Factors Affecting Implementation and Outcomes .............................................. 5 3. Assessment of Outcomes .......................................................................................... 12 4. Assessment of Risk to Development Outcome ......................................................... 20 5. Assessment of Bank and Borrower Performance ..................................................... 21 6. Lessons Learned ....................................................................................................... 23 7. Comments on Issues Raised by Borrower/Implementing Agencies/Partners .......... 24 Annex 1. Project Costs and Financing .......................................................................... 26 Annex 2. Outputs by Component ................................................................................. 27 Annex 3. Bank Lending and Implementation Support/Supervision Processes ............ 29 Annex 4: Summary of Borrower's ICR and/or Comments on Draft ICR ..................... 30 A. Basic Information Development. Empowerment and Conservation in the Country: Republic of South Africa Project Name: iSimangaliso Wetland Park and Surrounding Region Project Project ID: P086528 L/C/TF Number(s): TF-096152 ICR Date: 08/23/2017 ICR Type: Core ICR REPUBLIC OF SOUTH Lending Instrument: Specific Investment Loan Borrower: AFRICA Original Total US$9 million Disbursed Amount: US$9 million Commitment: Revised Amount: Environmental Category: B-partial assessment Global Focal Area: Biodiversity RESPONSIBLE AUTHORITY: iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority, KwaZulu-Natal Cofinanciers and Other External Partners: B. Key Dates Revised / Actual Process Date Process Original Date Date(s) Concept Review: 08/15/2005 Effectiveness: 03/01/2010 03/24/2010 Appraisal: 05/04/2009 Restructuring(s): 10/21/2013 10/21/2013 Approval: 12/03/2009 Mid-term Review: 05/10/2012 02/18/2013 Closing: 11/30/2014 02/28/2017 C. Ratings Summary C.1 Performance Rating by ICR Outcomes: Satisfactory Risk to Global Environment Outcome Substantial Bank Performance: Satisfactory Borrower Performance: Satisfactory C.2 Detailed Ratings of Bank and Borrower Performance Bank Ratings Borrower Ratings Quality at Entry: Moderately Satisfactory Government: Satisfactory Implementing Quality of Supervision: Satisfactory Satisfactory Agency/Agencies: Overall Bank Satisfactory Overall Borrower Satisfactory i Performance: Performance: C.3 Quality at Entry and Implementation Performance Indicators Implementation QAG Assessments (if Indicators Rating Performance any) Potential Problem Project at Quality at Entry No None any time (Yes/No): (QEA): Problem Project at any time Quality of Supervision No None (Yes/No): (QSA): GEO rating before Satisfactory Closing/Inactive status D. Sector and Theme Codes Original Actual Sector Code (as % of total Bank financing) General agriculture, fishing and forestry sector 100 100 Theme Code (as % of total Bank financing) Biodiversity 30 30 Forestry 30 30 Fresh water 40 40 E. Bank Staff Positions At ICR At Approval Vice President: Makhtar Diop Obiageli K. Ezekwesili Country Director: Paul Noumba Um Ruth Kagia Practice Manager: Magda Lovei Idah Pswarayi-Riddihough Project Team Leader: Claudia Sobrevila Paola Agostini ICR Team Leader: Claudia Sobrevila ICR Primary Author: Claudia Sobrevila ii F. Results Framework Analysis Project Environment Objectives (PDO) and Key Indicators (as approved) The Project Development Objective (PDO) is to improve access to information needed to select the best feasible option for maintaining the availability of fresh water of adequate quality to the Lake St. Lucia System, a wetland of global biodiversity importance, and to increase access among local communities to conservation-compatible economic opportunities. The project was financed by GEF and required, at that time, a Global Environment Objective (GEO). The GEO of the project is to protect the exceptional biodiversity of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park through conservation, sustainable resources use, rational land use planning, and local economic development. (a) PDO Indicator(s) (including GEO indicators) Original Target Actual Value Formally Values (from Achieved at Indicator Baseline Value Revised approval Completion or Target Values documents) Target Years Follow-up actions and investments contributing to the agreed hydrological solutions Indicator 1: have been implemented (yes/no) Value No Yes Yes Yes Date achieved 24-Mar-2010 24-Mar-2010 15-Jul-2015 07-Feb-2017 The project aimed to improve the environmental and ecological functioning of the St. This indicator Lucia Estuary. Various studies were carried to identify a long-term solution to the measures complex hydrological problems of the Lake St. Lucia System and indicated that the objective 1 of the preferred solution for improved ecological functioning was the re-linking of uMfolozi PDO. It was River with the Lake St. Lucia System. The actions included the removal of 624,212m3 verified through of dredge spoil obstructing the natural course of the uMfolozi River. In addition, the the reports, project enabled iSimangaliso to leverage further funding for the removal of the dredge photos and site spoil. By the end of July, five months after the project ended iSimangaliso had removed visits. a total of 1,384,413 m3 and was also implementing smaller measures, such as removal of levees blocking water flow and non-native trees in the mouth area. The iSimangaliso Wetland Park Management effectiveness, as measured by the GEF Indicator 2: Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool (METT) has improved from 71 to 80. Value 71 80 80 80 Date achieved 24-Mar-2010 24-Mar-2010 1-Apr-2014 07-Feb-2017 This indicator measures the single objective of the GEO. This Target met. The project supported training of park staff, studies and management was measured plans, infrastructure support for some visitor centers, removal of invasive species through final (Casuarina plants from dunes), reintroducing wildlife, and labeling indigenous trees. report, visit sites, These actions increased the management effectiveness of the park. photos and the tracking tool filled out Percentage of conservation-compatible small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) Indicator 3: supported under the target that achieves commercial viability
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