The Asian Development Bank is working with Armenia to build earthquake-resilient schools and improve the country's ability to respond to natural disasters. The project is improving and strengthening at least 46 schools, and is supporting the development of disaster preparedness plans and earthquake awareness campaigns.
Description The program will support the implementation of the National Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction during 2015- 2020 by (i) improving school seismic safety to reduce casualties and damage in schools during earthquakes, and (ii) enabling better use of school buildings as shelters for the general public and as focal points for emergency response after earthquakes. The program reflects the key focus areas advocated by the National Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction, and is in line with the four priorities identified in the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, 2015- 2030.
The program will support the implementation of the National Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction by (i) improving school seismic safety to reduce casualties and damage in schools during earthquakes, and (ii) enabling better use of school buildings as shelters for the general public and as focal points for emergency response after earthquakes. The program reflects the key focus areas advocated by the National Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction and is in line with the four priorities in the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, 2015-2030: (i) understanding disaster risk; (ii) strengthening disaster risk governance to manage disaster risk; (iii) investing in disaster risk reduction for resilience; and (iv) enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response, and rebuilding better in recovery, rehabilitation, and reconstruction.
The program supports equitable and sustainable urban development under the results framework of ADB's country partnership strategy for Armenia, 2014-2018. It is aligned with the Urban Operational Plan, 2012-2020 in terms of planning and investing in infrastructure and services for sustainable urban systems and promoting an improved environment and resilience. The program is aligned with ADB's Operational Plan for Integrated Disaster Risk Management, 2014-2020 and Education by 2020: A Sector Operations Plan. ADB has significant experience in disaster recovery including supporting recovery from major earthquakes in the People's Republic of China, India, Pakistan, and the Philippines, and improving school seismic safety in Bhutan and Nepal. ADB also has gained considerable experience in Armenia since the country became an ADB member in 2005.
Results-based lending (RBL) is a suitable modality for the program because (i) the government has formulated the School Strengthening and Renovation Program in which the RBL program can be anchored; (ii) the government has gained and demonstrated reasonable capacity through implementing investments in school seismic strengthening and renovation using its own systems and through implementing projects funded by development partners; (iii) using the government's systems will provide incentives for the government to further improve its systems and enhance its already strong ownership; (iv) it will provide a platform for the government to effectively coordinate the support of various donors, fostering development coordination and harmonization for maximum development impact; and (v) the modality enables ADB to disburse for results related not only to seismic strengthening of schools but also the quality of construction, institutional strengthening, and capacity development.
The program's design has incorporated the lessons learned from earlier operations in seismic disaster recovery and risk management, including 10 lessons summarized by ADB's Independent Evaluation Department in response to Nepal's earthquake. In addition, lessons learned from implementing RBL in other programs have also been incorporated in the program's design, including the need to have a small number of disbursement-linked indicators (DLIs), a strong focal unit dedicated to RBL implementation, actions to strengthen government systems, and a disbursement protocol that is not overly complicated or ambitious.
As of 30 June 2018, the Program reached 49% of the lapsed time, 11.52% physical progress, and 8.32% financial progress. Civil works contracts for 7 schools have been signed and construction is ongoing on 6 schools. Design has started for 5 schools of the second batch.
Third batch of schools is not yet approved. In light of the delays the loan completion has been extended until November 2023.
All 11 additional staff were recruited in end 2016.
The Program M&E was in place in end 2016.
ATDF operations manual was updated and adopted in end 2016.
The 30 program staff will receive training by October 2018.
As of 30 June 2018 eight communities received awareness on seismic risk disaster.
As of 30 June 2018 about 50 engineers received training on seismically safe construction.
Financing strategy for seismic safety improvement and management of public infrastructure is not yet due.
Guidelines in line with international best practices for school seismic strengthening and retrofitting is completed. The guidelines was developed with the World Bank support.
School strengthening and Renovation Program was approved in 2015 and was updated in January 2017.
Building code update is in progress and scheduled for completion in May 2019.
National seismic hazard probabilistic map is completed with the support of the World Bank.
Environmental Aspects The program will trigger an environmental assessment to mitigate moderate adverse environmental impacts which are typical for reconstruction and rehabilitation of small to medium-sized buildings. The following gaps are identified between the national environmental system and the principles under ADB's Safeguard Policy Statement (2009): (i) no environmental assessment is required by the national legislation for school buildings of less than 1,500 square meters, (ii) inadequate enforcement of environmental assessment and management for buildings larger than 1,500 square meters, and (iii) no environmental assessment review framework with grievance redress mechanism. The actions and measures to address these gaps have been included in the PAP and results framework, including strengthening the ATDF to implement environmental safeguard actions in line with ADB's Safeguard Policy Statement principles for environment category B projects. A screening checklist has been developed to ensure that any program activities which may fall under ADB category A for environment or involve any involuntary resettlement as defined in ADB's Safeguard Policy Statement are excluded.
Involuntary Resettlement No involuntary resettlement impact is envisaged under the program, as strengthening or reconstruction of school buildings will be at existing locations.
Indigenous Peoples The program is not expected to affect any indigenous peoples defined as such in ADB's Safeguard Policy Statement (2009), as Armenia is fairly homogeneous in ethnic composition.
The program safeguard systems assessment was conducted in consultation with stakeholders and disclosed on ADB website on 14 July 2015.
Public consultations for beneficiary communities are conducted continuously to present the schools design details and to receive feedback on the draft design.
During Project Implementation Consultation are and will be conducted as needed.
Consulting Services An approved capacity development TA for Seismic Safety Improvement Program (SSIP) will support implementation of the SSIP, the first results based lending program in Armenia. This will be implemented from May 2016 to October 2018. TA is estimated to cost $1 million equivalent, of which $800,000 will be financed on a grant basis by ADB's TASF-V. The TA supports the following: (i) improving the supportive policies and systems for seismic risk management reduction; (ii) strengthening the country's seismic disaster preparedness and response capacity; and (iii) enhancing the capacity in executing and implementing the investment program for seismic safety management and SSIP. Amendment to the TA contract was made to include seismic validation of design and construction of school buildings.
ADB is extending assistance of $89.3 million to help Armenia build earthquake-resilient schools and scale up its capacity for responding to natural disasters in one of the most seismically active regions in the world.