Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Volcanic Eruption Emergency Project

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The proposed Volcanic Eruption Emergency Project (VEEP) is part of the World Bank’s response to an emergency situation in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. This IPF will finance activities: (a) to support the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines with the immediate recovery needs; and (b) to manage resilient recovery and reconstruction, considering the compounded effects of the eruption, the COVID-19 and dengue outbreaks, and the upcoming hurricane season.Component 1. Early recovery income support program (ERISP). The objective of this component will be to provide temporary cash transfers as supplemental income to help smooth consumption and basic support services to selected poor and vulnerable displaced households affected by the eruption of the Soufriere Volcano. In addition, the component will support – on an as needed basis - the implementation of a Labor Intensive Temporary Employment (LITE) Program to provide income support and short-term employment due to the disaster risks associated with heavy rains mobilizing ashfall and volcanic debris during the coming rainy and hurricane seasons, while also supporting the longer-term resilient recovery of community infrastructure. The component will comprise two subcomponents: (a) Provision of cash transfers, support services, and – on an as needed basis - LITE, and (b) strengthening of institutional capacity to administer and monitor the ERISP. Component 2: Restoration and “Building Back Better” of critical services and strengthening of emergency preparedness and response capacity. During disasters, continued operation of critical public infrastructure is key to efficient response and recovery. This component will support the rapid restoration and Building Back Better of critical infrastructure damaged by the volcano eruption and subsequent debris flows and lahars, while also ensuring that investments incorporate transformative measures that increase climate resilience. This component will also focus on strengthening the Government’s EP&R capacity. Investments under this component will focus on three main areas: (a) support for reconstruction planning that incorporates climate change considerations, (b) investments in climate and disaster resilient reconstruction and rapid restoration of priority infrastructure, and (c) strengthening of EP&R systems and capacity.Component 3: Project Management. This component will support the administrative management of the Project by the Public Sector Investment Programme Management Unit (PSIPMU) and implementing partners, including (a) a project coordinator and specialists in financial management (FM), procurement, and monitoring and evaluation (M&E); (b) technical experts needed for Project preparation and implementation (including E&S specialists); (c) carrying out of the fiduciary aspects of the Project including audits; (d) the provision of training and workshops ; (e) the financing of the necessary goods, equipment, and operating costs; and (e) costs associated with convening and reporting to the Project Steering Committee (PSC).