FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY INTERNATIONAL BANK FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECT PAPER ON A PROPOSED ADDITIONAL FINANCING GRANT

Transcription

1 Public Disclosure Authorized Document of The World Bank FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Report No: Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized INTERNATIONAL BANK FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECT PAPER ON A PROPOSED ADDITIONAL FINANCING GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF US$2 MILLION TO THE LEBANESE REPUBLIC FOR A NATIONAL VOLUNTEER SERVICE PROGRAM PROJECT December 29, 2016 Public Disclosure Authorized Social Protection & Labor MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA 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.

2 CURRENCY EQUIVALENTS (Exchange Rate Effective {November 30, 2016}) Currency Unit = LBP 1509 LBP = US$1 FISCAL YEAR January 1 December 31 ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS AF CPF EA GRS LCRP MENA MOSA NGO NVSP PDO PIU POM RVP SGP SPF UNHCR UNICEF USD Additional Financing Country Partnership Framework Environmental Assessment Grievance Redress Service Lebanon Crisis Response Program Middle East and North Africa Ministry of Social Affairs Non-governmental Organization National Volunteer Service Project Project Development Objective Project Implementation Unit Project Operations Manual Regional Vice President Small Grants Program State and Peace Building Fund United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees United Nations Children s Fund United States Dollar Vice President: Country Director: Global Practice Senior Director: Global Practice Director: Practice Manager: Task Team Leader: Hafez Ghanem Ferid Belhaj Michal Rutkowski Steen Jorgensen Hana Brixi Rene Leon Solano -2-

3 LEBANON NATIONAL VOLUNTEER SERVICE PROGRAM CONTENTS Project Paper Data Sheet 4 Project Paper I. Introduction 8 II. Background and Rationale for Additional Financing 9 III. Summary of Proposed Changes 16 IV. Appraisal Summary 20 V. World Bank Grievance Redress 22 Annexes Annex 1: Map of the Most Vulnerable Cadastral Zones 23 Annex 2: Revised Results Framework and Monitoring Indicators 24 Annex 3: Fiduciary Arrangements 33-3-

4 PHApp AuthTbl. ADDITIONAL FINANCING DATA SHEET Lebanon Additional Financing for National Volunteer Service Program ( P ) MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA Social Protection and Labor Global Practice Basic Information Parent Parent Project ID: P Original EA Category: C - Not Required Current Closing Date: Project ID: 31-Dec-2016 Basic Information Additional Financing (AF) P Additional Financing Type (from AUS): Regional Vice President: Hafez M. H. Ghanem Proposed EA Category: C Country Director: Senior Global Practice Director Global Practice Director: Practice Manager/Manager: Team Leader(s): Approval Authority Regional Vice-President (RVP) Please explain Ferid Belhaj Michal Rutkowski Steen Jorgensen Expected Effectiveness Date: Expected Closing Date: Scale Up, Level-1 Restructuring 30-Dec Dec-2018 Hana Polackova Brixi Report No: Rene Leon Solano Approval Authority The original project was approved by the RVP. In addition, the restructuring that is being sought is for a small Recipient Executed Trust Fund grant and, therefore, the approval authority remains with the RVP. Borrower Organization Name Contact Title Telephone Ministry of Finance Alain Bifani Director General alainb@finance.gov.l b Project Financing Data - Parent (National Volunteer Service Program - P126734) (in USD Million) Key Dates -4-

5 Project Ln/Cr/TF Status P TF Effectiv e Approval Date Signing Date Effectiveness Date Original Closing Date Revised Closing Date 15-Feb Nov Feb Dec Dec-2018 Disbursements Project Ln/Cr/TF Status Currency Original Revised Cancelled Disburse d P TF Effectiv e Undisbu rsed USD % Disburse d Project Financing Data - Additional Financing National Volunteer Service Program (P126734)(in USD Million) [ ] Loan [X] Grant [ ] IDA Grant [ ] Credit [ ] Guarantee [ ] Other Total Project Cost: 2.00 Total Bank Financing: 2.00 Financing Gap: 0.00 Financing Source Additional Financing (AF) Amount Borrower 0.00 State and Peace Building Fund 2.00 Total 2.00 Policy Waivers Does the project depart from the CAS in content or in other significant respects? Explanation No Does the project require any policy waiver(s)? Explanation No Bank Staff Team Composition Name Role Title Specialization Unit Rene Leon Solano Lina Fares Team Leader (ADM Responsible) Procurement Specialist Senior Social Protection Specialist Senior Procurement Specialist GSP05 GGO05-5-

6 Rock Jabbour Financial Management Specialist Financial Management Analyst GGO23 Haneen Sayed Program Leader Program Leader MNC02 Aakanksha Pande Team Member Senior Health Economist GHN05 Mazhar Farid Team Member Legal Analyst LEGAM Mei Wang Counsel Senior Counsel LEGAM Jumana Jamal Subhi Alaref Team Member Research Analyst GSP05 Adriel Arenas Team Member Temporary GSP05 Mirvat Haddad Team Member Program Assistant MNC02 Extended Team Name Title Location Locations Country First Administrative Division Lebanon Mont-Liban Mohafazat Mont- Liban Lebanon Beyrouth Beyrouth X Lebanon Liban-Nord Mohafazat Liban- Nord Lebanon Liban-Sud Mohafazat Liban- Sud Lebanon Beqaa Mohafazat Beqaa X Lebanon Nabatiye Mohafazat Nabatiye X Lebanon Aakkar Mohafazat Aakkar X Lebanon Baalbek-Hermel Mohafazat Baalbek- Hermel Location Planned Actual s X X X X Institutional Data Parent ( National Volunteer Service Program - P ) Practice Area (Lead) Social Protection & Labor Cross Cutting Topics -6-

7 [ ] Climate Change [ X ] Fragile, Conflict & Violence [ x ] Gender [ ] Jobs [ ] Public Private Partnership Sectors / Climate Change Sector (Maximum 5 and total % must equal 100) Major Sector Sector % Adaptation Co-benefits % Health and other social services Other social services 100 Mitigation Cobenefits % Total 100 Themes Theme (Maximum 5 and total % must equal 100) Major theme Theme % Social protection and risk management 100 Total 100 Additional Financing for National Volunteer Service Program ( P126734) Practice Area (Lead) Social Protection & Labor Contributing Practice Areas Cross Cutting Topics [ ] Climate Change [ X ] Fragile, Conflict & Violence [ x ] Gender [ ] Jobs [ ] Public Private Partnership Sectors / Climate Change Sector (Maximum 5 and total % must equal 100) Major Sector Sector % Adaptation Co-benefits % Mitigation Cobenefits % -7-

8 Health and other social services Other social services 100 Total 100 I certify that there is no Adaptation and Mitigation Climate Change Co-benefits information applicable to this project. Themes Theme (Maximum 5 and total % must equal 100) Major theme Theme % Social protection and risk management 100 Total 100 Consultants (Will be disclosed in the Monthly Operational Summary) Consultants Required? Consulting services to be determined I. Introduction 1. This Project Paper seeks the approval of the Regional Vice-President (RVP) of an additional financing (AF) grant in an amount of US$2 million as well as a restructuring to the Lebanon National Volunteer Service Program (P126734). The proposed AF would be provided from the State and Peace-Building Fund (SPF). 2. The Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA) requested the World Bank to scale-up the successful National Volunteer Service Program (NVSP). The scale-up, which will leverage the robust operational and institutional mechanisms established at MoSA for the implementation of NVSP, will seek to address: (i) the unmet social service delivery needs in some of the most vulnerable Lebanese communities hosting Syrian refugees, as well as; (ii) the fragile intercommunal relations and social tensions between Lebanese citizens and Syrian refugees living in the selected host communities. 3. Specifically, the proposed AF will be used to enable the Government of Lebanon (GoL) to complement its work and that of other donors in those communities that have the highest numbers of Syrian refugees and of poorest Lebanese households, by providing Lebanese youth aged 15 to 24: (i) volunteering opportunities; and (ii) soft skills training as well as psychosocial awareness and community-building activities. Through the scale-up, Syrian refugee youth in the targeted communities will now be able to participate in the project activities. The scale-up is envisaged to contribute to improved social stability and service delivery. 4. The proposed restructuring of the project is being sought to: (i) revise the Project Development Objective (PDO) to reflect changes in the scope of project activities; (ii) revise the -8-

9 Results Framework (RF) to be in line with the modified PDO; and (iii) extend the parent project s closing date by 24 months (from December 31, 2016 to December 31, 2018) to fully implement the project activities and to align it with the closing date of the proposed AF. 5. The current PDO of the NVSP is to increase youth civic engagement which in the medium term will contribute to improved social cohesion across communities and regions by: (i) expanding youth volunteerism and particularly in communities other than the communities from which the volunteers come; and (ii) improving the employability of youth through enhanced (soft) skills. The proposed revised PDO will be to improve social stability and service delivery in the most vulnerable Lebanese communities hosting Syrian refugees through youth volunteering, soft skills development, and psychosocial awareness activities. 6. The revised PDO does not include improving the employability of youth in the project development objective. However, the civic engagement and soft skills training activities, -- critical components of the proposed new phase of NVSP are expected to increase youth employability. II. Background and Rationale for Additional Financing in the Amount of US$2.0 million A. BACKGROUND 7. The on-going crisis in Syria has taken a toll on millions of lives, with an estimated 11 million Syrians having fled their homes since the outbreak of the civil war in March According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), 4.8 million Syrians fled to neighboring countries, and 6.6 million became internally displaced within Syria. Meanwhile, about one million Syrians have requested asylum in Europe (UNCHR, 2016). In Lebanon alone, the number of registered Syrian refugees has reached 1,033,513 as of June The large influx of Syrian refugees in Lebanon has worsened poverty levels among the Lebanese population. Poverty in Lebanon is significant and regional disparities in living conditions are acute. The most recent Household Budget Survey (HBS ) shows that poverty in Lebanon is 27 percent (pre-syrian crisis). This means that about one million people in Lebanon have levels of consumption below the annual poverty line set at 4,729 thousand LBP per capita per year (or $3,150). Significant regional differences exist. Poverty is the lowest in Beirut (16 percent), followed by Mount Lebanon (22 percent) and Nabatieh (25 percent). The poorest regions are North Lebanon (36 percent) and Bekaa (38 percent). The Syrian conflict is estimated to have increased poverty among the Lebanese population by an additional 170,000 people in 2014, with the existing poor pushed deeper into poverty. 9. Syrian refugees in Lebanon also face significant poverty challenges, and while spread throughout the country, are primarily concentrated in certain geographic areas. Based on the UNHCR poverty line of PPP US$5.25 per capita per day, 64 percent of refugees in Lebanon are considered poor (World Bank, 2016). There are currently around 1,623 cadastral zones in the country, 1 which have been assigned a vulnerability-ranking index by the Government of Lebanon 1 Cadastral zones are below the level of districts/cazas. They are not administrative divisions, and are used solely by humanitarian practitioners in Lebanon. -9-

10 (GoL) and the United Nations Children s Fund (UNICEF) 2. The majority of Syrian refugees live in communities located within 251 cadastral zones, which are considered the most vulnerable. These 251 most vulnerable cadastral zones are home to 67 percent of deprived Lebanese and 87 percent of Syrian refugees. They are concentrated primarily in the North and the Beeka regions (particularly in the Bekaa, Tripoli, and Akkar areas), but can also be found across all Governorates in Lebanon (Annex 1). 10. Host communities across Lebanon, but in particular those located in the most vulnerable 251 cadastral zones, are struggling to meet basic needs, and face rising and deteriorating intracommunal social tensions. A 2014 community-level vulnerability assessment 3 of the 251 most vulnerable cadastral zones shows that Lebanese citizens and Syrian refugees reported difficulties in accessing shelter, water, education and health services. Syrian refugees reported difficulties to access food and shelter, while host communities identified access to electricity supply and drinking water as key challenges. In addition, the assessment revealed that lack of employment opportunities is a key concern for both groups. Recent assessments have also found that Lebanese households in these cadastral zones are facing higher expenditures, as the cost of goods and services are rising, particularly food items. Economic hardship has accentuated the already fragile inter-communal relations and social tensions in host communities, as Lebanese citizens attribute the decline in their own living standards to presence of Syrian refugees. 11. With support from the international community, the GoL is trying to address the many challenges afflicting the most vulnerable Lebanese citizens and Syrian refugees. Indeed, the GoL, led by the MoSA, launched the Lebanon Crisis Response Plan (LCRP), which identifies priority areas and needs as well as coordinates the delivery of humanitarian and stabilization programs among all partners. The LCRP seeks to deliver humanitarian assistance and protection for the most vulnerable Lebanese citizens and Syrian refugees, strengthen the capacity of national and local service delivery systems, and reinforce Lebanon s economic, social, and institutional stability. Moreover, under the National Plan to Safeguard Children and Women in Lebanon, MoSA and UNICEF are working together to strengthen the capacity of 57 Social Development Centers (SDCs), which are mostly located within the 251 most vulnerable cadastral zones, in order to enable them to deliver sufficient and effective services to refugees and host communities. 4 As part of this capacity-building support, frontline workers, service providers, and community members at these 57 SDCs are trained on the provision of family support services, psychosocial support, identification, referral and treatment for survivors of violence, hygiene promotion, as well as primary health services. 12. The international donor community as well as international and national NGOs are actively involved in the delivery of humanitarian and development interventions, which span: basic assistance, child protection, information management, education, energy, water, food security, health, social stability, sexual and gender-based violence, shelter, and livelihood support. However, the scale as well as the high variability of needs across geographic areas pose a continued 2 The ranking at the cadastral level takes into account two factors: the number of Lebanese living on less than US$4 a day, and the geographic distribution of registered Syrian refugees by cadastre. 3 The assessment was published in 2014 by the REACH initiative, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), and UNICEF. 4 There currently exists a community-based network of 222 SDCs affiliated with MoSA that are mandated as the primary point in the provision of social development services, and in building resilience within communities. -10-

11 challenge in addressing the gaps in essential service delivery needs and in alleviating social tensions and incidents of violence within these communities. B. HIGHER LEVEL OBJECTIVES TO WHICH THE PROJECT CONTRIBUTES 13. In such a fragile and conflict-prone environment, the new Lebanon Country Partnership Framework - CPF (FY17-FY22), seeks to mitigate the immediate and potentially long-lasting impact of the Syria crisis on Lebanon, while strengthening state institutions, addressing existing vulnerabilities, and bolstering efforts on longer term development challenges. 14. Accordingly, the proposed AF i aligned with the CPF insofar as it seeks to meet the most immediate needs of Lebanese citizens and Syrian refugees living in the most vulnerable host communities, as well build the capacity of the GoL and other relevant actors to meet short and medium term development goals. While addressing an immediate and urgent crisis, the AF also contributes to the strategic objectives of the World Bank Group of ending extreme poverty and promoting shared prosperity, particularly through targeting the most vulnerable host communities in Lebanon. 15. The AF is also consistent with the overarching objective of the WBG s Regional Strategy for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), which aims at contributing to promoting peace and stability in the region through economic and social inclusion. Specifically, and given its goal and target population, the AF is aligned to the Strategy s renewing the social contract and resilience to refugee s shocks pillars. C. RATIONALE FOR ADDITIONAL FINANCING 16. NVSP, which addresses one of the most important challenges afflicting Lebanon and the Middle East and North Africa Region (MENA), (the economic and social inclusion of youth), is showing concrete results on the ground. The original Grant, in the amount of US$2 million, was approved by the Peace-Building Fund Secretariat on February 15, 2011, and became effective on February 7, Project implementation has been underway for almost three years, with a total disbursed amount of US$1.66 million (83 percent disbursed). To date, around 6,500 Lebanese youth aged and close to 150 NGOs, universities, schools and municipalities have been directly involved in the project s activities. This includes more than 3,300 youth who have participated in the implementation of 51 volunteering projects throughout Lebanon. In addition, and thanks largely to a US$320,000 Technical Assistance Program ( Lebanon Youth - National Volunteer Service Program Strengthening and Sustainability ), the NVSP has developed important public goods, which includes: (i) an online portal that enables interested youth to apply for volunteering opportunities posted by eligible NGOs, universities, schools, municipalities and the private sector, thereby effectively serving as a matching platform; and (ii) a 20-hour soft-skills training curriculum that was developed specifically for Lebanon, and which is available for both in-class training and online training through the online portal. 17. Given NVSP s concrete results to-date, and its proven success in mobilizing youth from communities other than their own to volunteer for improved social service delivery and social cohesion, as well as in working in partnership with a wide range of partners, MoSA requested the -11-

12 World Bank to provide additional financing to scale-up NVSP in Lebanese communities hosting Syrian refugees. MoSA is interested in mainstreaming volunteerism across all sectors of the LCRP. 18. The on-going conflict in Syria has shifted the refugee situation from initial emergency to protracted conflict. Despite the coordinated multi-sectoral response by many partners and donors on the ground, the high variability of needs, compounded with existing structural problems prevalent in service delivery as well as limited resources, remain a continued challenge in addressing the gaps in essential service delivery. Volunteerism presents a real opportunity to alleviate some of the increasing and unmet needs facing both the Syrian refugees and their Lebanese host communities. The proposed AF will enable NGOs operating in selected host communities to mobilize volunteers and implement service delivery projects in key priority areas and sectors. 19. The Syrian refugee crisis has also had significant social consequences, as it has led to increasingly fragile inter-communal relations and social tensions between Lebanese and Syrian refugees living in host communities. Volunteering is seen as a promising pathway to the social integration of youth, by enabling them to interact with and work together for a common cause, to develop their soft skills, and to expand their overall social networks. The proposed AF will enable Lebanese youth to volunteer for improved social service delivery in targeted host communities, thereby contributing to mitigate some of the social consequences of the Syrian refugee crisis. 20. The prevalent challenges and violence that have been brought about by the Syrian conflict have had extensive effects on the mental health and psychosocial wellbeing of Syrian refugees. The traumatic experiences related to the conflict are worsened by the everyday struggles of being displaced, which include: destitution, lack of resources and services to meet basic needs, dangers of violence and abuse, discrimination and being ostracized 5. The proposed AF will promote awareness among participating youth of the mental health and psychosocial wellbeing challenges afflicting Syrian refugees, and will provide opportunities for interaction between participating youth and Lebanese citizens and Syrian refugees living in the targeted host communities through psychosocial and community building activities. This will contribute to further easing some of the social tensions in the targeted host communities, and will therefore contribute to the social stabilization of host communities. 21. The provision of civic engagement opportunities as well as life skills and psychosocial training have been identified by refugee youth themselves as critical for their positive development. A recent UNHCR study that surveyed over 1,300 refugee youth aged 15 to 24 from 34 different nationalities identified the ten main challenges preventing their overall social and economic inclusion in society. These included: lack of empowerment and engagement opportunities, poor access to youth-sensitive healthcare, including psychosocial support, and limited skills building opportunities. The proposed AF will address these challenges. 6 D. ACTIVITIES TO BE FINANCED THROUGH THE PROPOSED ADDITIONAL FINANCING 22. NVSP has three main components: (i) institution building and capacity development for volunteer civic engagement; (ii) Small Grants Program (SGP) for NGOs, universities and schools 5 Hassan et al, UNHCR, September We Believe in Youth. Global Refugee Youth Consultations. -12-

13 as well as weekend volunteering programs and summer camps for expanding volunteer opportunities and building employability skills; and (iii) Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) of civic engagement. While most of the activities included under each of the three components will continue to be financed through the AF, the name of the three components will be slightly revised to reflect minor adjustments to the project s design. 23. The proposed new project components are as follows: (i) capacity development, communications and outreach; (ii) youth volunteering for social stability and service delivery; (iii) M&E and program management. 24. Component 1: Capacity development, communications and outreach (US$300,000). This component will finance the development of marketing materials (flyers, brochures, banners, posters, etc.) to be used through various means of communication (social media, TV, radio, newspapers, SMS outreach, , etc.) as well as in national volunteering events to be financed under this component. These communication and outreach activities will seek to promote overall awareness on the importance of volunteerism as well as on NVSP activities and results among key project stakeholders. The component will also finance minor adjustments and overall maintenance to the NVSP online portal In partnership with selected specialized agencies and in collaboration with MoSA, this component will also finance the design and delivery of capacity building activities for participating NGOs and youth volunteers as well as staff from NGOs and municipalities. Representatives from eligible NGOs under the Small Grants Program SGP (see Component 2.2) will undergo training on proposal design and management specifically for NVSP, which will include inter alia support for: (i) identifying the proposed target host community and its social service needs, in close coordination with SDCs and using the UNHCR database that includes both data on the most vulnerable host communities as well as ongoing/planned related interventions by partners in the social stability and service delivery sectors; (ii) developing project proposals, with realistic and measurable objectives, activities, budget and implementation plan; and (iii) planning the delivery of the required soft skills training and the psychosocial awareness and community building activities for participating youth volunteers (see paragraph 24). Beyond capacity building, this training will ensure that all proposals that are submitted for NVSP funding are relevant for the targeted host community, and will indirectly promote coordination between the proposed projects and other relevant Government and donor activities at the local level. 26. Leveraging the 20-hour soft skills training curriculum that was developed specifically for NVSP, this component will also finance the delivery of a Training of Trainers (ToT) on soft skills for the representatives from those NGOs whose proposals are selected for funding under the SGP. 8 The ToT will enable the trained NGO staff to subsequently deliver the soft skills training to participating youth volunteers. The soft skills training that will be offered to those youth who 7 The NVSP has developed an online portal that inter alia enables relevant project stakeholders municipalities, schools, universities, NGOs and private sector companies - to post volunteering opportunities and eligible youth to apply for them, thus effectively serving as a matching platform. 8 NVSP has created a soft-skills training curriculum tailored specifically for Lebanon, which is available in the online portal and enables all interested youth to improve their conflict-management, life and career planning, business, and entrepreneurship skills. The NVSP team will be in charge of providing the introductory 1h soft skills training for all participating youth under the volunteering weekend activities. -13-

14 participate in the weekend activities under component 2 will be provided directly by MoSA staff, who have already participated in a soft skills ToT. In addition, and building on the soft-skills training to be delivered through NVSP as well as on MoSA ongoing related efforts (see paragraph 11), this component will finance the design and delivery of psychosocial awareness and community building training activities, which will be sensitive to the specific mental health issues afflicting female members of the targeted host communities. MoSA staff, representatives from the NGOs and municipalities whose projects are selected for funding under Component 2, as well as all participating youth volunteers will be trained on basic psychosocial principles to increase their awareness of psychosocial issues affecting Lebanese and Syrian refugees living in the targeted host community. 9 The training will be critical in the implementation of volunteering projects, to ensure proper interaction among all project participants. In addition, this component will finance the design and delivery of psychosocial and community-building activities, to further promote communication, understanding and respect and thus minimize conflict and overall social tension among members of the targeted host community (see Component 2). 27. Component 2: Youth volunteering for social stability and service delivery (US$1.2 million). This component seeks to provide volunteering opportunities to Lebanese youth aged 15 to 24, in order to address both the unmet social service delivery needs as well as the social tensions in communities hosting Syrian refugees. This component will finance the delivery of 60 volunteering projects in the 251 most vulnerable cadastral zones. The participating youth will benefit from soft skills and psychosocial awareness training, as well as from daily meals and transportation to/from the project sites. They will receive a certificate of participation from MoSA and any other relevant project partner. The participation of female youth will be highly encouraged through the projects selection criteria. Syrian refugee youth in the targeted communities will be able to participate in the project activities. NGOs and municipalities will be in charge of implementing the volunteering projects financed under this component. The component has the following two sub-components: 28. Sub-component 2.1: Volunteering weekend activities. This sub-component will finance 30 volunteering weekend activities to be implemented primarily during the first year of the AF, in order to have a demonstration effect and lay the ground for the implementation of the small grants (see Sub-component 2.2 below). NGOs and municipalities interested in participating in the volunteering weekend activities will be able to submit their project proposals to MoSA on an ongoing basis. The SDC at the target host community will have to endorse the proposed weekend activity, to ensure its relevance as well as overall coordination at the local level. Each volunteering weekend activity will have a maximum budget of US$10,000, and will benefit a minimum of 20 youth volunteers. Volunteering weekend activities will provide participating youth at least 8 hours of volunteering, as well as a 2 hour introduction to soft skills and psychosocial awareness (see Component 1). 29. Sub-component 2.2: Small Grants Program (SGP). NGOs interested in participating in the SGP will be required to first respond to an Expression of Interest (EoI), following which selection will be based on pre-identified eligibility criteria, to undergo the capacity building training on proposal design and management (see Component 1). Eligible NGOs will then be able 9 The training will focus on the main mental health and psychosocial concepts and frameworks, mental health and psychosocial consequences of displacement and conflict, psychosocial support and dialogue and mainstreaming mental health and psychosocial support within volunteer services -14-

15 to submit their project proposals following a Call for Proposals (CfP) issued by MoSA. 10 This subcomponent will finance 30 small grants, with an average duration of 2 months. Each small grant will have a maximum budget of US$30,000, and will benefit a minimum of 40 youth volunteers. Small grants will provide participating youth volunteers at least 40 hours of volunteering, as well 24 hours of soft skills and psychosocial awareness training (see Component 1). In addition, and in order to complement their volunteering experience, youth volunteers will participate in psychosocial and community-building activities, which is hoped to further contribute to improve intra-communal relations and social tension. 30. Component 3: M&E and program management (US$500,000). In order to monitor progress and evaluate the results achieved under the proposed AF, the AF will benefit from the existing project results-based M&E system. In particular: (i) all members of the NVSP team have been trained and are familiar with results-based management and M&E concepts, tools, and practices; (ii) a results-based M&E plan was produced and is being implemented by the team; (iii) a rigorous impact evaluation was designed and is currently being conducted to assess whether volunteerism and soft skills training have an impact on youth employability and social cohesion; and (iv) a process evaluation, focusing on the relevance, efficiency, and effectiveness the NVSP processes and procedures. While the impact and process evaluations have yet to be completed, data from the baseline survey of the impact evaluation as well as early results from the process evaluations influenced AF design changes, including: (i) increased focus on capacity development, communications and outreach; (ii) adjustments to contractual arrangements between MoSA and selected NGOs; and (iii) increased focus on monitoring of project activities. It is expected that the results of both impact and process evaluations will support MoSA to further fine tune some of these design features of the project. 31. This component seeks to finance the management, monitoring, and evaluation of the activities to be implemented under the AF. In particular, this component will support: (i) data collection - from participating youth, municipalities and NGOs - analysis, and reporting; (ii) drafting of the final impact evaluation report 11 ; (iii) design and implementation of a program evaluation by an external evaluator; and (iv) staff /consultants time for program management, monitoring, and evaluation activities. Annex 2 includes the revised project RF. 32. A Project Operations Manual (POM) will be prepared and will include detailed information about the processes and procedures related to the implementation of the proposed activities. 10 Projects that could be financed under the AF include: distribution of meals, clothes, and blankets; organization of educational, cultural and recreational activities; cleaning and minor repairs of education and health centers; caring for the elderly, etc. 11 NVSP impact evaluation report will be produced in January-March The report will focus on the effects of program participation on employability/soft skills and social cohesion values among those youth who participated in volunteering projects implemented in 2015 under the first CfP of the SGP. The final impact evaluation report will include the results of program participation on employability/soft skills and social cohesion values among those youth who participated in volunteering projects implemented in 2016 under the second CfP of the SGP. NVSP impact evaluation report(s) will be produced by the NVSP/WBG team in collaboration with impact evaluation expert(s) as needed. -15-

16 E. IMPLEMENTATION ARRANGEMENTS 33. The parent project has established effective and efficient operational procedures with satisfactory management, and this arrangement will be maintained for the AF. Program implementation will therefore, remain the responsibility of the NVSP Project Implementation Unit (PIU) at MoSA, with strong collaboration with the MoSA Volunteering Administrative Committee. 34. No changes in financial management or procurement arrangements are envisaged for the AF and will follow those of the parent project. III. Summary of Proposed Changes The AF of US$2 million to the National Volunteer Service Program (NVSP) is being sought as a scale-up to address: (i) the unmet social service delivery needs in some of the most vulnerable Lebanese communities hosting Syrian refugees, as well as (ii) the fragile inter-communal relations and social tensions between Lebanese citizens and Syrian refugees living in the selected host communities. In light of the AF, a Level-1 restructuring is also being sought to introduce the following changes to the parent project: (i) Revise the Project Development Objective (PDO) to reflect changes in the scope of project activities; (ii) Revise the project s RF, including key indicators, to be in line with the modified PDO; (iii) Extend the project s closing date from December 31, 2016 to December 31, 2018; The proposed changes will require an amendment of the Grant Agreement. Change in Implementing Agency Yes [ ] No [ X ] Change in Project's Development Objectives Yes [ X ] No [ ] Change in Results Framework Yes [ X ] No [ ] Change in Safeguard Policies Triggered Yes [ ] No [ X ] Change of EA category Yes [ ] No [ X ] Other Changes to Safeguards Yes [ ] No [ X ] Change in Legal Covenants Yes [ ] No [ X ] Change in Loan Closing Date(s) Yes [ X ] No [ ] Cancellations Proposed Yes [ ] No [ X ] Change in Disbursement Arrangements Yes [ ] No [ X ] Reallocation between Disbursement Categories Yes [ ] No [ X ] Change in Disbursement Estimates Yes [ X ] No [ ] -16-

17 Change to Components and Cost Yes [ X ] No [ ] Change in Institutional Arrangements Yes [ ] No [ X ] Change in Financial Management Yes [ ] No [ X ] Change in Procurement Yes [ ] No [ X ] Change in Implementation Schedule Yes [ X ] No [ ] Other Change(s) Yes [ ] No [ X ] Project s Development Objectives Original PDO Development Objective/Results PHHHDO The original PDO is to increase youth civic engagement to contribute to improved social cohesion across communities and regions by: (i) expanding youth volunteerism, particularly in communities other than the communities from which the volunteers come; and (ii) improving the employability of youth through enhanced skills. Change in Project's Development Objectives Explanation: PHHCPDO The proposed change in the PDO reflects the addition of a new a set of new activities that address the needs of participating youth as well as the targeted host communities. In addition, the new PDO aims to improve social stability (as opposed to social cohesion), so that the project is better aligned with the definition and strategic objectives of the LCRP The original project envisaged to improve the employability (both in terms of skills and insertion) of participating youth (Lebanese aged 15-24) through: (i) civic engagement, and (ii) soft skills training. In terms of outcomes, to-date, 1,265 youth have benefited both from 80 hours of volunteering as well as from 20 hours of soft-skills training through the completion of 22 projects financed under the first call for proposals (CfP) of the Small Grants Program (SGP). An additional 835 youth are expected to benefit from volunteering and soft skills training through the completion of 13 projects that were financed under the second CfP, and which are expected to be completed by mid-late December There is an ongoing impact evaluation to assess whether civic engagement coupled with soft skills training does indeed lead to improve employability. The results of the impact evaluation will be available in March/April In addition, a process evaluation, which is also ongoing and whose results will be available during the first quarter of 2017, will help to identify some of the project s implementation bottlenecks and lessons learned, including those related to the delivery of volunteering opportunities and soft skills training. The revised PDO does not include improving the employability of youth as a project objective, despite the fact that both civic engagement and soft skills training, both of which are thought to increase youth employability, are critical components of the proposed new phase of NVSP. Proposed New PDO - Additional Financing (AF) -17-

18 The proposed new PDO is to improve social stability and service delivery in the most vulnerable Lebanese communities hosting Syrian refugees through youth volunteering, soft skills development, and psychosocial awareness activities. Change in Results Framework PHHCRF The RF has been revised to be consistent with the revised PDO and the addition of new activities. Moreover, the revised RF incorporates up-to-date project monitoring data available in the setting of revised baseline values and new target values. Please refer to Annex 2 for all the changes of indicators and their baseline and target values. Risk PHHHRISKS Risk Category Rating (H, S, M, L) 1. Political and Governance H 2. Macroeconomic S 3. Sector Strategies and Policies S 4. Technical Design of Project or Program M 5. Institutional Capacity for Implementation and Sustainability M 6. Fiduciary M 7. Environment and Social L 8. Stakeholders M 9. Other OVERALL Finance Loan Closing Date - Additional Financing ( Additional Financing for National Volunteer Service Program P126734) Source of Funds State and Peace Building Fund Proposed Additional Financing Loan Closing Date 31-Dec-2018 Loan Closing Date(s) - Parent (National Volunteer Service Program- P126734) Explanation: M PHHCLCD It is proposed that the closing date of the parent project is extended for a period of 24 months (from December 31, 2016 to December 31, 2018). The extension is sought to fully implement all of the project activities and to align it with the closing date of the proposed AF. The project has no overdue audits. The first audit and management letter due June 30, 2015, covering the period from effectiveness (February 7, 2013) until December 31, 2014, were received on time and were found acceptable. The second audit and management letter due June 30, 2015, covering the period from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015, were also received on time and -18-

19 found acceptable. The third audit, covering the period from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016, is expected to be submitted by April Ln/Cr/TF Status Original Closing Date Current Closing Date Proposed Closing Date TF Effective 31-Mar Dec Dec-2018 Previous Closing Date(s) Change in Disbursement Estimates Explanation: (including all sources of Financing)PHHCDE The project s disbursement estimates are being revised to take into account the additional financing amount as well as the additional 24 months of project implementation. Expected Disbursements (in USD Million)(including all Sources of Financing) Fiscal Year Annual 2177,030 1,067, , Cumulative 2177,030 3,244,530 4,000, Allocations Initial and Additional Financing (National Volunteer Service Program - P126734) Source of Fund SPF SPF Currenc y USD USD Category of Expenditure Goods, works, consultants services, training, and operating costs for capacity development, communications and outreach, weekend activities, M&E, as well as program management Goods, works, consultants services and training for SGP of the Project Allocation Proposed Disbursement %(Type Total) Proposed % % USD Total: % Change to Components and Cost PHHCCC Explanation: Components -19-

20 While most of the activities included under each of the original three components will continue to be financed through the AF, the name of the three components will be slightly revised to reflect minor adjustments to the project s design and implementation arrangements. In addition, and given the changes in the scope of project activities, the cost per project component will also be adjusted. Current Component Name Institution building and capacity development for volunteer civic engagement Small Grants Program for NGOs, universities and schools as well as weekend volunteering programs and summer camps for expanding volunteer opportunities and building employability skills M&E of civic engagement Proposed Component Name Capacity development, communications and outreach Youth volunteering for social stability and service delivery M&E and program management Current Cost (US$M) Proposed Cost (US$M) Action Revised Revised Revised Total: Other Change(s) Implementing Agency Name Type Action Ministry of Social Affairs Implementing Agency No Change Change in Implementation Schedule Explanation: Given the proposed extension of project closing date to allow for the additional activities to be financed under the AF to be completed, the implementation schedule will be adjusted accordingly. IV. Economic and Financial Analysis Explanation: Appraisal Summary PHHASEFA -20-

21 Volunteerism can provide youth the opportunity to participate in an unpaid work experience, thus increasing their chances of employment. In addition, training in soft skills has been proven to increase youth s employability in the short and medium term. Finally, the proposed AF has a strong component on capacity building of all project stakeholder, which will contribute to the sustainability of the project activities. Technical Analysis Explanation: PHHASTA The design of all the activities to be financed under the AF are based on: (i) lessons learned from the implementation of the NVSP; and (ii) international good practices, especially those related to the soft skills and psychosocial awareness training. The AF implementation will be carried out by expert specialized agencies in partnership with relevant World Bank teams, thus ensuring that the AF activities and outputs are of high quality. Social Analysis Explanation: PHHASSA Countries with large percentages of youth who have limited opportunities for participation in society are likely to face significant social tensions. It is the result of young people becoming frustrated at their inability to positively affect their own lives or that of their communities. Volunteerism is part of the solution, as it can bring youth together around shared goals, thus building more cohesive societies through the development of more meaningful citizenship. In particular, the proposed AF will enable Lebanese youth to interact with Syrian refugees, which coupled with improved service delivery, will contribute to mitigate the rising intra-communal tensions that are afflicting the most vulnerable communities. Environmental Analysis Explanation: The AF is a category C project and, as such, it is not expected to trigger the Bank s environmental safeguards. Risk Explanation: PHHASRisk The risks associated with the AF include but are not limited to: (i) unstable political economy; (ii) conflict and fragility; (iii) challenging coordination among project stakeholders; and (iv) weak capacity of implementing agencies. However, the parent project has been able to affectively address these risks by: (i) being flexible in terms of targeting of project sites and implementation arrangements; (ii) carrying out capacity building activities for all key stakeholders; and (iii) having the Ministry of Social Affairs involved at all stages, thus building ownership/commitment. -21-

22 V. WORLD BANK GRIEVANCE REDRESS Communities and individuals who believe that they are adversely affected by a World Bank (WB) supported project may submit complaints to existing project-level grievance redress mechanisms or the WB 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 WB s independent Inspection Panel which determines whether harm occurred, or could occur, as a result of WB non-compliance with its policies and procedures. Complaints may be submitted at any time after concerns have been brought directly to the World Bank's attention, and Bank Management has been given an opportunity to respond. For information on how to submit complaints to the World Bank s corporate Grievance Redress Service (GRS), please visit For information on how to submit complaints to the World Bank Inspection Panel, please visit

23 ANNEX 1: MAP OF THE MOST VULNERABLE CADASTRAL ZONES IN LEBANON -23-

24 Project Name: Team Leader: Product Line: National Volunteer Service Program (P126734) Rene Antonio Leon Solano Recipient Executed Activities ANNEX 2: RESULTS FRAMEWORK Requesting Unit: Responsible Unit: GSP05 GSP05 Country: Lebanon Approval FY: 2012 Region:. MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA Project Development Objectives Lending Instrument: Project Stage: Created by: Modified by: Specific Investment Loan Restructuring Status: DRAFT Original Project Development Objective: To increase youth civic engagement which in the medium term will contribute to improved social cohesion across communities and regions by: (i) expanding youth volunteerism and particularly in communities other than the communities from which the volunteers come; and (ii) improving the employability of youth through enhanced (soft) skills. Proposed New PDO - Additional Financing (AF): To improve social stability and service delivery in the most vulnerable Lebanese communities hosting Syrian refugees through youth volunteering, soft skills development, and psychosocial awareness activities. Results Core sector indicators are considered: Yes Results reporting level: -24-

25 . Project Development Objective Indicators Status Indicator Name Core Add New proposed indicator Revised Proposed change in target value Revised Proposed change in target value Number of Lebanese municipalities where social stability has been strengthened through youth volunteering projects/activities Number of volunteering projects under SGP Number of youth involved with volunteering projects of NGOs, universities, and schools. Unit of Measure Baseline Actual (Current) Number Value Date No projects targeting social stability End Target 15-Nov Dec-2018 Number Value Date No projects funded by MOSA to NGOs directly targeting the involvement of volunteers No more than 2 projects in one municipality 15-Nov Dec-2018 Number Value 0 1,265 3,600 Date No youth involved with volunteering projects funded by MOSA of NGOs, Original target was 33 projects. 13 projects are underway and will be completed, for a total of 35 projects, by current project closing date (December 31, 2016). 15-Nov Dec-2018 Original target was 1,650 projects. 835 volunteers are expected to benefit from the 13 projects -25-

26 universities, and schools that are underway, for a total of 2,100 by current project closing date (December 31, 2016). No change Revised Proposed change in target value Increased employability/soft skills of volunteers participating in the program Number of volunteers involved in volunteering activities financed by the project (Youth Summer Camps and Weekend Activities) Percentage Value Date - 15-Nov Dec Value refers to baseline data collected in December No difference observed in leadership/tea mwork and communicati on skills. Number Value 0 1,249 2,749 Date No summer camps are planned for % increase from baseline value one year after their volunteering experience 15-Nov Dec-2018 Original target was 1,650 youth volunteers by current project closing date (December 31, 2016). -26-