Mali - Economic & Environmental Rehabilitation of the Niger River

closed

The development Economic and Environmental Rehabilitation of the Niger River Project for Mali are to demonstrate the effectiveness of navigation and port service improvement measures, and demonstrate the feasibility of environmental restoration and livelihood improvement activities at targeted sites in the Niger Inner Delta (NID), and, in the event of an Eligible Crisis or Emergency, improve the Recipient’s capacity to respond promptly and effectively to such Eligible Crisis or Emergency. The project has four component. First component, strengthening the strategic management of the Niger river resources improving navigability and socioeconomic viability of activities in the Niger Inner Delta (NID) will depend not only on carrying out works to improve the physical conditions of the river but also the more efficient management of activities, resources, and stakeholders over time and effective monitoring of the ecological functioning of the river. This component will strengthen the monitoring of the ecological functions of the river, particularly in the biodiversity rich area of the NID, through the establishment of an observatory to monitor the ecological functions of the Niger River, as well as through a review of the institutional and regulatory framework for the strategic management and sustainability of the river. This components divided into two sub-component, (i) strengthening the environmental monitoring of the Niger river; (ii) supporting the strategic management of infrastructure, resources, and stakeholders in the NID; Second component, enhancing the viability of socioeconomic activities contributing to climate change resilience the Niger River is the lifeline of socioeconomic activity in the NID. Improving the socioeconomic conditions of the population living in the targeted communes and villages will include investments that are mutually reinforcing: improving navigability and thus the flow of goods and people and improving access to markets in a way that is environmentally sustainable and socially responsible. This component has two sub-component, (i) improving river transportation in the NID through targeted dredging and maintenance of navigation channels; (ii) enhancing the reliability of river transportation through construction/rehabilitation and maintenance of river docking piers infrastructure; (iii) improving socioeconomic opportunities and ecosystem functions of the NID; (iv) protection and rehabilitation of riverbanks and restoration of channels; Third component, project management component will support project planning, monitoring, and implementation. It will finance the operational costs related to the implementation of the project components, including third‐party monitoring and/or execution if required. The component costs also include the refinancing of the project preparation advance (PPA) and the costs associated with additional security provisions on site. The provisions for security arrangements involving third‐party monitoring and implementation, among others, significantly increased the overall costs for project management. This component has three sub-component, (i) operational costs of the ABFN; (ii) equipment and training (from the PPAs); and (iii) contingencies and security arrangements; Fourth component, contingent emergency response component (CERC), will be available should the need arise to redirect resources freed up by a future restructuring of the project or other World Bank projects in the Mali portfolio. Such resources would be made available to finance emergency response activities and to address crisis and emergency needs. An Immediate Response Mechanism Coordinating Agency and expenditure management procedures will be defined in an Immediate Response Mechanism Operational Manual (IRM/OM), to be prepared separately and approved by the World Bank, in line with guidance provided under the Investment Project Financing Policy and Directive.