Armenia : Seismic Safety Improvement Program – Additional Financing
Project Details
-
Project Officer
Nakamitsu, Kiyoshi
Sectors Group
Request for information -
Approval Date
29 September 2023 -
Country/Economy
Armenia -
Sector
- Education
| Project Name | Seismic Safety Improvement Program – Additional Financing | ||||
| Project Number | 49078-004 | ||||
| Country / Economy | Armenia |
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| Project Status | Approved | ||||
| Project Type / Modality of Assistance | Loan |
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| Source of Funding / Amount |
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| Operational Priorities | OP1: Addressing remaining poverty and reducing inequalities OP2: Accelerating progress in gender equality OP3: Tackling climate change, building climate and disaster resilience, and enhancing environmental sustainability OP4: Making cities more livable OP6: Strengthening governance and institutional capacity |
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| Sector / Subsector |
Education / Education sector development Water and other urban infrastructure and services / Other urban services - Urban policy, institutional and capacity development |
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| Gender | Effective gender mainstreaming | ||||
| Description | |||||
| Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy | In November 2021, the government requested that ADB process an additional financing loan for the SSIP, indicating that the planned SSIP targets could not be achieved because of cost overruns. The cost overruns are the result of exogenous factors and design requirements. Exogenous factors include (i) increases in the price of school construction; (ii) volatility in the value of the Armenian dram and its appreciation against the United States dollar; (iii) geo-political instability in 2020 and 2022; (iv) macroeconomic instability and accelerating inflation; and (v) government changes that delayed critical decision making and macroeconomic instability that led to significant budget cuts in 2017 and 2018, which affected initial implementation. Price increases in the construction sector have been steep and the average cost per SSIP seismic-resistant school has increased by about 50% (in local currency) since 2021. Design requirements include the high seismic standards that had to be applied to the extremely unsafe schools selected for SSIP by the government to protect children's lives all the selected schools (except one that was retrofitted) have required reconstruction. ADB has undertaken a due diligence assessment and confirmed that the loan meets the eligibility criteria for additional financing. The benefits of completing the ongoing program are assessed to outweigh the benefits offered by other options because of the ongoing government program and well-established implementation arrangements. | ||||
| Impact | Disaster-resilience of schools and individuals improved, and contribution to sustainable development enhanced |
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| Project Outcome | |
|---|---|
| Description of Outcome | Improved coverage of seismically safe school buildings |
| Progress Toward Outcome | In January the Capacity Building Consultant and the ARRM Environment and H&S Consultant conducted two half-day training for 12 work supervisors and 8 ATDF engineers. The objective of the training was to strengthen the technical capacities of the participants on ensuring proper execution of works in accordance with the design documents, drawings, and construction standards. Another workshop is scheduled for February 2022. |
| Implementation Progress | |
| Description of Project Outputs | Seismic resilience of school buildings increased Seismic disaster preparedness and response capacity strengthened Supportive policies and systems for seismic disaster risk management and reduction improved National capacity in executing and implementing the seismic safety investment program enhanced |
| Status of Implementation Progress (Outputs, Activities, and Issues) | |
| Geographical Location | Nation-wide, Yerevan |
| Safeguard Categories | |
|---|---|
| Environment | C |
| Involuntary Resettlement | C |
| Indigenous Peoples | C |
| Summary of Environmental and Social Aspects | |
|---|---|
| Environmental Aspects | |
| Involuntary Resettlement | |
| Indigenous Peoples | |
| Stakeholder Communication, Participation, and Consultation | |
| During Project Design | |
| During Project Implementation | |
| Responsible ADB Officer | Nakamitsu, Kiyoshi |
| Responsible ADB Department | Sectors Group |
| Responsible ADB Division | Human and Social Development Sector Office (SG-HSD) |
| Executing Agencies |
Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure |
| Timetable | |
|---|---|
| Concept Clearance | 01 Feb 2024 |
| Fact Finding | 20 Apr 2022 to 06 May 2022 |
| MRM | 29 Jun 2023 |
| Approval | 29 Sep 2023 |
| Last Review Mission | - |
| Last PDS Update | 29 Sep 2023 |
Project Data Sheets (PDS) contain summary information on the project or program. Because the PDS is a work in progress, some information may not be included in its initial version but will be added as it becomes available. Information about proposed projects is tentative and indicative.
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| Title | Document Type | Document Date |
|---|---|---|
| Loan Agreement (Ordinary Operations) for Loan 4351-ARM: Seismic Safety Improvement Program – Additional Financing | Loan Agreement (Ordinary Resources) | Nov 2023 |
| Seismic Safety Improvement Program - Additional Financing: Program Implementation Document | Project/Program Administration Manual | Sep 2023 |
| Seismic Safety Improvement Program - Additional Financing: Report and Recommendation of the President | Reports and Recommendations of the President | Sep 2023 |
Safeguard Documents See also: Safeguards
Safeguard documents provided at the time of project/facility approval may also be found in the list of linked documents provided with the Report and Recommendation of the President.
| Title | Document Type | Document Date |
|---|---|---|
| Seismic Safety Improvement Program - Additional Financing: Program Safeguard Systems Assessment | Program Safeguard Systems Assessments | Jun 2023 |
| Seismic Safety Improvement Program - Additional Financing: Program Safeguard Systems Assessment (Armenian) | Program Safeguard Systems Assessments | Jun 2023 |
| Seismic Safety Improvement Program - Additional Financing: Social Safeguards Due Diligence Report | Safeguards Due Diligence Reports | Sep 2022 |
| Seismic Safety Improvement Program - Additional Financing: Environmental Assessment and Review Framework | Environmental Assessment and Review Framework | May 2022 |
| Seismic Safety Improvement Program - Additional Financing: Environmental Assessment and Review Framework (Armenian) | Environmental Assessment and Review Framework | May 2022 |
Evaluation Documents See also: Independent Evaluation
None currently available.
Related Publications
None currently available.
The Access to Information Policy (AIP) establishes the disclosure requirements for documents and information ADB produces or requires to be produced in its operations to facilitate stakeholder participation in ADB's decision-making. For more information, refer to the Safeguard Policy Statement, Operations Manual F1, and Operations Manual L3.
Requests for information may also be directed to the InfoUnit.
ADB Approves Additional Financing to Strengthen Armenian Schools Against Earthquakes
ADB has approved a €66.1 (equivalent to $72.3 million) million loan as additional financing to support the Government of Armenia in building earthquake-resilient schools and strengthening its capacity for seismic disaster risk management.
Tenders
Contracts Awarded
Procurement Plan
None currently available.