Ecuador Guayas: Resilient Rural Roads

active

Prospective

The Project, requested by the Provincial Decentralized Autonomous Government of Guayas (PoG), aims to improve resilient, sustainable and safe road connectivity in rural areas of PoG and, in case of an Eligible Crisis or emergency, respond promptly and effectively to it.The PoG has prioritized road interventions based on the following criteria: (i) works to ensure connectivity between population centers, such as districts and parishes, prioritizing the areas most affected by flooding due to the effects of climate change; (ii) works with a large number of direct and indirect beneficiaries, especially those that promote the socioeconomic productive and tourist sectors of the communities to be benefited; (iii) works located on provincial boundaries that have not received attention to their needs on the last decade.The Project will comprise three components.Component 1 "Rural Road Construction and Rehabilitation (US$ 93.5 million)" includes rehabilitation of rural road; and reconstruction and construction of bridges in rural areas, aiming to enhance connectivity within the province. By strengthening infrastructure, the initiative aims to create a more resilient transportation network capable of withstanding environmental challenges. This Component is composed of 15 interventions, fully defined and agreed between the Borrower and the Bank during Project preparation. These intervention are detailed within the PAD and include seven roads (about 89.75 km) and eight bridges. All interventions will incorporate aspects of road safety audits recommendations, climate resilience, gender, and inclusion.Component 2 "Project Management and Capacity Building (US$ 6.5 million)" includes capacity building activities focused on supporting the PoG on managing the operation and increasing capacity for sustainable transport infrastructure management. Also, it includes cross-cutting subcomponents that will leverage the impacts of Component 1 by proactively engaging communities in Project design, monitoring and implementing approaches that will ensure social inclusion and protection, while contributing to increase participation and decision making, especially for women. These activities will embed the planning, design, construction, maintenance and social and environmental management of the rural state road network.Component 3 "Contingency Emergency Response (US$ 0 million)" is included under the Project in accordance with OP/BP 10.00, paragraphs 12 and 13, for situations of urgent need of assistance, as a Project specific CERC. Rural transport infrastructure is particularly vulnerable to climate disasters, including the CERC under the Project will allow for rapid reallocation of Project funds in the event of a natural disaster/ crisis during the Project's lifespan. Eligible emergency needs and the conditions to trigger this component will be specified in the CERC operations manual. This component will have no funding allocation initially and will draw resources from the unallocated expenditure category in the case of activation.

World Bank Group

Project

Road, Hotel, Commercial, Government