Armenia : Seismic Safety Improvement Program

Sovereign Project | 49078-001

The program will support the implementation of the National Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction during 2015-2026 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.

Flickr photos from the 49078-001: Seismic Safety Improvement Program in Armenia album.

Project Details

  • Project Officer
    Mousaelyan, Gohar Rouben
    Sectors Group
    Request for information
  • Country/Economy
    Armenia
  • Sector
    • Water and other urban infrastructure and services
Project Name Seismic Safety Improvement Program
Project Number 49078-001
Country / Economy Armenia
Project Status Active
Project Type / Modality of Assistance Loan
Technical Assistance
Source of Funding / Amount
Loan 3284-ARM: Seismic Safety Improvement Program
Asian Development Fund US$ 88.50 million
TA 8958-ARM: Seismic Safety Improvement Program
Technical Assistance Special Fund US$ 800,000.00
Strategic Agendas Environmentally sustainable growth
Inclusive economic growth
Drivers of Change Gender Equity and Mainstreaming
Governance and capacity development
Knowledge solutions
Partnerships
Private sector development
Sector / Subsector

Education / Education sector development

Water and other urban infrastructure and services / Other urban services - Urban policy, institutional and capacity development

Gender Effective gender mainstreaming
Description The program will support the implementation of the National Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction during 2015-2026 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.
Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy

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 and 2019-2023. 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 Nepa'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.

Impact

To establish a resilient country, increase the safety of individuals and the society, and contribute to the sustainable development of the country

Project Outcome
Description of Outcome

Improved coverage of seismically safe school buildings

Progress Toward Outcome

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.

Implementation Progress
Description of Project Outputs

2. Seismic disaster preparedness and response capacity strengthened.

3. Supportive policies and systems for seismic disaster risk management and reduction improved.

1. Seismic resilience of school buildings increased.

4. Capacity in executing and implementing the seismic safety investment program enhanced.

Status of Implementation Progress (Outputs, Activities, and Issues)

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.

Geographical Location Nation-wide
Safeguard Categories
Environment B
Involuntary Resettlement C
Indigenous Peoples C
Summary of Environmental and Social Aspects
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 ADBs Safeguard Policy Statement (2009), as Armenia is fairly homogeneous in ethnic composition.
Stakeholder Communication, Participation, and Consultation
During Project Design

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.
Business Opportunities
Consulting Services

An approved capacity development TA for Seismic Safety Improvement Program (SSIP) supported implementation of the SSIP, the first results based lending program in Armenia. This was implemented from May 2016 to September 2019. TA costed $1 million equivalent, of which $800,000 was financed on a grant basis by ADB's TASF-V. The TA supported 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.

On 16 November 2018 ADB approved a new grant-funded $500,000 TA for the Support and Validation of SSIP results. The TA aims to ensure i) continued support to the design delivery, construction quality and building norms update to be carried out by a Capacity Building Consultant, and ii) validation of SSIP DLIs to be carried out by a Validation Consultant. The Capacity Building Consultant's and the Validation Consultant's contracts were signed in August and May 2019, respectively

Responsible ADB Officer Mousaelyan, Gohar Rouben
Responsible ADB Department Sectors Group
Responsible ADB Division Human and Social Development Sector Office (SG-HSD)
Executing Agencies
Ministry of Territorial Administration and Development
Timetable
Concept Clearance 10 Mar 2015
Fact Finding 15 Jun 2015 to 30 Jun 2015
MRM 24 Jul 2015
Approval 22 Sep 2015
Last Review Mission -
Last PDS Update 14 Sep 2018

Loan 3284-ARM

Milestones
Approval Signing Date Effectivity Date Closing
Original Revised Actual
22 Sep 2015 19 Oct 2015 22 Dec 2015 31 May 2021 31 May 2026 -
Financing Plan Loan Utilization
Total (Amount in US$ million) Date ADB Others Net Percentage
Project Cost 107.00 Cumulative Contract Awards
ADB 88.50 22 Jan 2024 75.46 0.00 88%
Counterpart 18.50 Cumulative Disbursements
Cofinancing 0.00 22 Jan 2024 73.66 0.00 85%
Status of Covenants
Category Sector Safeguards Social Financial Economic Others
Rating - Satisfactory - Satisfactory - Satisfactory

TA 8958-ARM

Milestones
Approval Signing Date Effectivity Date Closing
Original Revised Actual
22 Sep 2015 21 Oct 2015 21 Oct 2015 31 Oct 2017 30 Sep 2019 17 Dec 2019
Financing Plan/TA Utilization Cumulative Disbursements
ADB Cofinancing Counterpart Total Date Amount
Gov Beneficiaries Project Sponsor Others
800,000.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 800,000.00 22 Jan 2024 791,939.74
Status of Covenants
Category Sector Safeguards Social Financial Economic Others
Rating - Satisfactory - Satisfactory - Satisfactory

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.

The Access to Information Policy (AIP) recognizes that transparency and accountability are essential to development effectiveness. It establishes the disclosure requirements for documents and information ADB produces or requires to be produced.

The Accountability Mechanism provides a forum where people adversely affected by ADB-assisted projects can voice and seek solutions to their problems and report alleged noncompliance of ADB's operational policies and procedures.

In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any designation of, or reference to, a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the Asian Development Bank does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area.

Title Document Type Document Date
School Seismic Safety Improvement Program: Initial Poverty and Social Analysis Initial Poverty and Social Analysis Mar 2015
Seismic Safety Improvement Program: Report and Recommendation of the President Reports and Recommendations of the President Aug 2015
Loan Agreement (Special Operations) for Loan 3284-ARM: Seismic Safety Improvement Program - Results-Based Lending Loan Agreement (Special Operations) Oct 2015
Amendment to Loan Agreement (Special Operations) for Loan 3284-ARM: Seismic Safety Improvement Program - Results-Based Lending Loan Agreement (Special Operations) Jan 2017
Seismic Safety Improvement Program: Audited Project Financial Statements (22 December 2015-31 December 2016) Audited Project Financial Statements May 2017
Amendment to the Loan Agreement (Special Operations) for Loan 3284-ARM: Seismic Safety Improvement Program - Results-Based Lending Loan Agreement (Special Operations) Jun 2018
Seismic Safety Improvement Program: Audited Project Financial Statements (January -December 2017) Audited Project Financial Statements Jun 2018
Seismic Safety Improvement Program: Audited Project Financial Statements (January-December 2018) Audited Project Financial Statements Jun 2019
Seismic Safety Improvement Program: Audited Project Financial Statements (January-December 2019) Audited Project Financial Statements Nov 2020
Seismic Safety Improvement Program: Audited Project Financial Statements (January-December 2020) Audited Project Financial Statements Jun 2021
Amendments to the Loan Agreement (Special Operations) for Loan 3284-ARM: Seismic Safety Improvement Program Loan Agreement (Special Operations) Apr 2022
Seismic Safety Improvement Program: Audited Project Financial Statements (January-December 2021) Audited Project Financial Statements Jun 2022
Seismic Safety Improvement Program: Audited Project Financial Statements (January-December 2022) Audited Project Financial Statements Jun 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.


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.

Tenders

Tender Title Type Status Posting Date Deadline
3284-ARM: Seismic Safety Improvement Program [A-17EN / A-20EN] Invitation for Bids Closed

Contracts Awarded

Contract Title Approval Number Contract Date Contractor | Address Executing Agency Total Contract Amount (US$) Contract Amount Financed by ADB (US$)
Capacity Development Technical Assistance 8958 13 May 2016 IRD Engineering S.R.L. (Italy) | Via Michele Mercati, 51 Rome 00197 Italy Email [email protected] Ministry of Territorial Admin & Emergency Situations 773,250.00

Procurement Plan

None currently available.