MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE ACCOUNT NAMIBIA Narrative Report for Quarterly Disbursement Package 1 July to 30 September 2010 Introduction This is the fourth report being submitted by MCA-N since entry into force on 16 th September 2009. It covers the period 1 July 30 September 2010. Despite some technical glitches, the MCA-N Management Information System (MIS) has become an integrated tool to manage the multiple contracts issued by MCA-N, systematically interlinking the procurement and financial systems with programme implementation (and vice versa). Nine (9) months into implementation (MCA-N Compact entered into force on 16 September 2009) disbursements amount to USD12.18m have been made and contracts to the value of USD59.49m 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 The Final Report of the Textbook Baseline Study has been received and will inform the upcoming Textbook Procurement Reform sub-activity (see below). Tourism The Conservancy Needs Assessment (CNA) was finalized at the end of March 2010. The Change Management Advisor (CMA) continues to work closely with the Ministry of Environment & Tourism towards the multiple CPs/performance targets that need to be met before MCA-N can proceed with the construction of staff housing and management centres 1 P a g e
in/adjacent to the Park. There is good progress made on the various Performance Targets though MCA-N is closely monitoring the process. Mobilized in Q2, the NTB Website Development is in full swing with the launch of the new website expected by early 2011. The NTB funded MIS development, a separate project outside of MCA-N, is delayed and MCA-N together with NTB and MMG are looking at how best to mitigate this. The NTB Website in part draws on data produced by this NTB MIS. The Consultant for the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment for the infrastructure development in Etosha National Park was mobilized in Q3. The HIV/AIDS Workplace Programme for MET was finalized in Q3 and approved by MET. The relevant CP was met. Of interest is that MET decided to adopt the HIV/AIDS Workplace Programme that was initially targeting only ENP for all protected areas in Namibia. The Wildlife Translocation Technician started his assignment with the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, one of MCA-N s six Implementing Partners, in Q2. He is preparing the conservancies to receive the 15 Rhinos and 80 Black Faced Impalas which will be translocated in July 2010. MCA-N staff to support the NTB in the development and maintenance of marketing tools, including the new NTB website, were recruited and mobilized in Q3 with related disbursements. Game translocation and road maintenance equipment are being delivered, with related disbursements. Agriculture The MCA-N staff who are supporting the Implementing Partners for the Agriculture Project, namely the Ministries of Agriculture, Water & Forestry and Lands & Resettlement, continue their respective assignments. Long-term service contracts under management are: Community Based Rangeland and Livestock Management (CBRLM) Communal Land Support (CLS). The Consultant hired to assist with the development of the Devil s Claw Policy and to provide related training has finalized the Devil s Claw Policy and development of training materials. She has already conducted some of the training events. 2 P a g e
Monitoring & Evaluation The Data Quality Review Consultant was mobilized in Q3. 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 There are no proposed significant changes to the current approved Multi-Year Financial Plan or Work Plans. B. Next Quarter Commitments & Expenditures The Disbursement Request sent to MCC for consideration forecasts the following: i. Commitments (from DFP - Commitments): USD26.48m ii. Cash Requirements (from DFP - Cash): USD9.49m The significant activities to be undertaken in the next quarter with the requested funds are as follows: Education Approx. 570,000 of 700,000 textbooks ordered are being distributed, reaching some 950 schools up to mid July 2010. The remaining 130,000 textbooks (resulting from overordering by schools and subsequent rationalization of these orders by MCA-N) will be distributed over the next few months in partial fulfillment of the 2010 school orders that are currently coming in at MoE. The textbook reform process will inculcate the recommendations of the Textbook Baseline Study and will be kick-started during the planning upcoming July 2010 visit by Vincent Bontoux, a textbook procurement expert funded by MCC. The textbook management training will be the first activity under the Continuous Professional Development (CPD) for teachers initiative, carried by MoE, UNAM and NIED, which is likely to start in the next quarter. The first construction works contract under the 47 Schools Activity, covering schools in the Oshana and Omusati regions, will be signed in the upcoming quarter. The IfB closes 3 P a g e
at the end of Q3. The IfB for the second package, covering schools in the Ohangwena region, will be launched still in Q3 with contract signing expected in Q4. The first MCA-N funded high priority Vocational Tourism Training was planned for the current quarter (Q3) but this did not materialize due to delays in the finalization of the Grants Manual. This activity will now commence in Q4. The contract with the Namibia Training Fund (NTF) Advisor will still be signed in Q3 as anticipated but mobilization (and related spending) will only be in Q4. Due to further site issues, the procurement for the Consultant for the Final Design, Supervision, Environmental Impact Assessment and the Supervision for the Community Skills Development Centres (COSDECs) was put on hold. The RfP will most likely still be released in June 2010 (Q3) with subsequent contracting/mobilization in Q4. Instead of recruitment, MCA-N, MoE and MCC have agreed to procure a Consultant for Monitoring & Evaluation in MoE. The RfQ is expected to be launched still in June 2010 (Q3) with contracting/mobilization in Q4 or latest early Q5. MCC gave the go-ahead for the procurement of Equipment for the Colleges of Education (CoEs). Due to some technical issues the equipment is highly specialized the procurement was not launched early in Q3 but will be launched at the latest early in Q4, if not still in June 2010. Tourism Despite the timely completion of the CNA, the RfP for the Conservancy Development Support Services (CDSS) is still not launched due to late technical comments from MCC. To avoid further implementation delays, the CDSS needs to be mobilized in Q4. Planned for Q2, the official handover of the Game Translocation and Road Maintenance Equipment for the Etosha National Park to MET will now only take place in Q4. However, disbursements are being made already since Q3 with the equipment is coming in piecemeal. The bids for the North American Destination Marketing are under evaluation and the Consultant is expected to be mobilized in Q4, with related disbursements. The Grants Manager for the Conservancy Development Support Programme Grants Facility (CDSPGF) will only be recruited in Q4 (not Q3) but the first call for proposals is still expected to be made in Q4. 4 P a g e
The bids for the GIS based Maintenance Database for Infrastructure and Equipment in ENP all came in far above budget. MCA-N, MET and MCC are now consulting on a different approach, possibly involving technical support from US Forestry Service. Agriculture The two agriculture grants funds were launched in early June 2010, namely the: Livestock Marketing Efficiency Fund INP Innovation Fund The first Call for Concept Papers (followed by full Proposals) will still be made in Q3 as planned, with related financial commitments in Q4. The Consultant for Indigenous Natural Products Producer and Processor Organisations will only be mobilized at the end of Q3. The bid had come in far above budget and successful contract price negotiations were held. MCA-N Board approval came through in early June 2010. MCA-N has requested a further deferral for the CP for INP related to devil s claw. The Consultant for the Final Design, Supervision, Environmental Impact Assessment and the Supervision for the State Veterinary Offices (SVOs) and Quarantine Camps in the Caprivi region will be mobilized in Q4, with related disbursements. Monitoring and Evaluation Delays in the Technical Evaluation of the bids received for the INP/Conservancy and CBRLM Household Income and Expenditure Surveys and further delays in the approval process have pushed the signing of contracts and mobilization into Q4. This is of concern given the time sensitivity of these surveys. The procurement of the tracking survey on vocational training graduates was delayed and will only be launched in Q4 with possible disbursements still in Q4 but most likely only in Q5. A joint MCA-N, MAWF, CBRLM Facilitator, MCC, MCC-contracted Impact Evaluator mission will take place still in Q3 to find a way forward on the modus operandus of the impact evaluation for the CBRLM activity. This has no immediate impact on the Disbursement Request but is important for the implementation of the CBRLM activity in the Agriculture Project. Programme Management and Oversight With the recruitment of Ms. Kandi Shejavali as the Director: M&E all management level positions at MCA-N are now filled. 5 P a g e
MCA-N is taking over all procurement related functions as from 1 July 2010. The successful candidates for the positions of Procurement Manager and a Procurement Assistant Manager are awaiting no objection from MCC. All four MCA-N Board Sub-Committees have now been activated. The MCA-N Management Unit is fully operational with only minor administrative procurements outstanding. 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 (ITT) format. Since MCA-N is still in the early stage of implementation most of the indicators have not come into play. 6 P a g e