Narrative Report for Quarterly Disbursement Package 1 October to 31 December 2010

Transcription

1 MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE ACCOUNT NAMIBIA Narrative Report for Quarterly Disbursement Package 1 October to 31 December 2010 Introduction This is the 4 th and final Disbursement Request for Fiscal Year Disbursements up to 10 September 2010 amount to USD18.8m and contracts to the value of USD 73.5m have been signed. A. Current Quarter Commitments & Expenditures Education There are on-going commitments under the following contracts: Consultant for the Final Design, Supervision, Environmental Impact Assessment and the Supervision for the 47 Schools Consultant for the Final Design, Supervision, Environmental Impact Assessment and the Supervision for the Regional Study and Resource Centres (RSRCs) Procurement, sorting and distribution of Textbooks (near complete) Namibia Training Fund (NTF) Advisor Works Contractor for Renovation, Upgrading and Expansion of 13 Schools in Oshana and Omusati Regions The first three activities listed above have previously been introduced in the Narrative Report. The NTF Advisor was mobilized in August 2010 and the team is working from the premises of the Namibia Training Authority. The first deliverable (Inception Report) was received, commented on and resubmitted by the Consultant with invoice in time for Fiscal Year The CEO of the NTA commenced her duties in Q4 and so senior management. Two Works Contracts were signed on 9 and 10 September 2010 for in total 3 lots for the 13 schools in the first package related to the 47 Schools Activity. Important to note is that nearly all textbooks (close to 700,000) have been distributed. The schools that ordered in time for inclusion in the November 2009 procurement were catered for 1 P a g e

2 first and remaining books schools had over-order hence the surplus have been and continue to be distributed to schools that ordered late. This process will be concluded shortly. Tourism There are on-going commitments under the following contracts: Environmental and Social Impact Assessment in support of the ENP Housing and Management Centres Infrastructure Road Maintenance and Game Capture Equipment (for MET) NTB Website development Change Management Advisor (MET) Wildlife Translocation Technician (MET) Marketing Coordinators (NTB) All these activities have previously been introduced in the Narrative Report. Important to note is that the Change Management Advisor (CMA) has supported the Ministry of Environment & Tourism to meet a sufficient number of CPs/performance targets by the end of this Fiscal Year for MCA-N to proceed with the procurement of the Consultant for the Final Design, Supervision, Environmental Impact Assessment and the Supervision for the ENP Housing & Management Infrastructure. The Wildlife Translocation Technician was instrumental in the translocation of 288 Black Faced Impala from Etosha National Park and 15 Rhino from the Palmwag Concession to conservancies in the North West. Some of the equipment for MET was delivered and handed over, however, with disbursements to follow for the caravans, game crates, diesel/water trailer, giraffe trailer, more road maintenance equipment and the retainer payments. And finally, the NTB Website Development is experiencing delays due to delays in the NTB funded MIS development, a separate project outside of MCA-N. The NTB Website in part draws on data produced by this NTB MIS. A contract amendment was effected for MMG, the website developer, to develop a listings database. Agriculture There are on-going commitments under the following contracts: CBRLM Facilitator long-term service contract CLS Facilitator long-term service contract 2 P a g e

3 INP PPO Facilitator long-term service contract MAWF and MLR Coordinators All these activities, other than the INP PPO Facilitator, have previously been introduced in the Narrative Report. The INP PPO Facilitator was mobilized in Q4 and the first deliverable (Inception Report) was submitted and accepted, with related payment. Monitoring & Evaluation While the Data Quality Review Consultant was already mobilized in Q3, the first disbursement under this contract is only due in Q5. Cross Sector Support A Consultant was hired in Q1 and continues to work with MCA-N. Under her professional guidance the MCA-N Gender Strategy was finalized and posted on the MCA-N website. Next Quarter Multi-Year Financial Plan & Work Plan The Work Plan has been revised and updated. There are some shifts in programmed activities as reflected in the projections in this Disbursement Request. B. Next Quarter Commitments & Expenditures The Disbursement Request sent to MCC for consideration forecasts the following: i. Commitments (from DFP - Commitments): USD 20.69m ii. Cash Requirements (from DFP - Cash): USD 10.29m The significant activities to be undertaken in the next quarter with the requested funds are as follows: Education The conceptualization for Continuous Professional Development (CPD) for teachers was not completed in Q4 as anticipated and will now only be mobilized in Q5 and so the 3 P a g e

4 Textbook Procurement Reform. A Grant Agreement and one or more new contracts will be introduced to accommodate these activities. Further delays in the high priority Vocational Tourism Training were experienced yet a Grant Agreement with the first Training Service Provider will be signed in Q5, with related disbursements. The contract with the Consultant for the Final Design, Supervision, Environmental Impact Assessment and the Supervision for the Community Skills Development Centres (COSDECs) will be signed in Q5 with related disbursements. The contract with the Consultant for Monitoring & Evaluation in MoE will be signed in Q5 with related disbursements. Tourism The contract with the Consultant for the Conservancy Development Support Services will be signed in Q5, with related disbursements. The contract with the Consultant for the North American Destination Marketing will be signed in Q5, with related disbursements. The contract with the Consultant bids for the GIS based Maintenance Database for Infrastructure and Equipment in ENP will be signed in Q5, with related disbursements. Agriculture The contracts with the Consultant for the Final Design, Supervision, Environmental Impact Assessment and the Supervision for the State Veterinary Offices (SVOs) may still be signed in Q4 or otherwise early in Q5, with related disbursements. The contract with the Consultant for the Quarantine Camps in the Caprivi Region will be signed early in Q5, with related disbursements. The first group of grants under the Livestock Marketing Efficiency Fund and the INP Innovation Fund may be signed towards the end of Q5, with related disbursements as from Q6. 4 P a g e

5 A pilot in support of the Livestock Traceability System in the Northern Communal Areas will start in November The contract for the ear tags for the animals will be signed still in Q4 or early in Q5, with related disbursements. Monitoring and Evaluation The Consultant for the INP/Conservancy and CBRLM Household Income and Expenditure Surveys has been mobilized in Q4, with related disbursements in Q5. Programme Management and Oversight The MCA-N Management Unit is fully operational. brought in-house seamlessly. The procurement function has been All Stakeholders Committees have been mobilized. Cabinet has approved a reconstitution of the MCA Namibia Board to improve the efficiency of the Board and the new Board will come into effect in Q5. The Board Sub-Committees meet when required. The activation of the Procurement and Finance Sub-Committee in particular is fast-tracking decision-making by the Board. The Implementing Partners are supportive of the MCA Namibia Compact implementation and participate in the various public outreach events. The various Government agencies are making a tremendous contribution in terms of staff commitment in terms of planning and execution. Good progress can be reported in the support of the Implementing Partners towards meeting the conditions precedent and the implementation of a good number of Compact activities. However, there are a number of challenges in managing these relationships and the MCA Namibia Board has been made aware of these. The recently appointed Chairperson of the MCA Namibia Board is working closely with the MCA Namibia management team to improve on the delivery by the Implementing Partners, especially relating to the validation of deliverables by contractors, joint planning and communication to beneficiaries. C. Indicator Tracking Table Notes For the current Disbursement Request, MCA-N has reported out against the indicators included in the March 2010 MCA-NB/MCC approved indicators using the MCC Indicator Tracking Table 5 P a g e

6 (ITT) format. Since MCA-N is still in the early stage of implementation most of the indicators have not come into play. The next iteration of the MCA-N Monitoring & Evaluation Plan will be initiated and finalized in Q5. 6 P a g e