Vanuatu : Cyclone Pam Road Reconstruction Project

Project Name

Cyclone Pam Road Reconstruction Project

Project Number

49319-001

Country / Economy

• Vanuatu

Project Status

Closed

Project Type / Modality of Assistance

• Grant
• Loan

Source of Funding / Amount

Grant 0459-VAN: Cyclone Pam Road Reconstruction Project

Source	Amount
Asian Development Fund	US$ 7.00 million

Grant 0460-VAN: Cyclone Pam Road Reconstruction (Disaster Response Facility)

Source	Amount
Asian Development Fund	US$ 2.81 million

Grant 0461-VAN: Cyclone Pam Road Reconstruction Project

Source	Amount
GEF-Least Developed Countries Fund	US$ 2.68 million

Loan 3331-VAN: Cyclone Pam Road Reconstruction Project

Source	Amount
Asian Development Fund	US$ 1.00 million

Loan 3332-VAN: Cyclone Pam Road Reconstruction (Disaster Response Facility)

Source	Amount
Asian Development Fund	US$ 2.81 million

Grant 0540-VAN: Cyclone Pam Road Reconstruction-Additional Financing

Source	Amount
Asian Development Fund	US$ 4.10 million

Loan 3552-VAN: Cyclone Pam Road Reconstruction-Additional Financing

Source	Amount
Concessional ordinary capital resources lending	US$ 4.10 million

Strategic Agendas

• Environmentally sustainable growth
• Inclusive economic growth
• Regional integration

Drivers of Change

• Gender Equity and Mainstreaming
• Governance and capacity development
• Knowledge solutions
• Partnerships
• Private sector development

Sector / Subsector

• Transport / Road transport (non-urban) - Transport policies and institutional development

Gender

Some gender elements

Description

The Cyclone Pam Road Reconstruction Project will support the efforts of the Government of the Republic of Vanuatu to reconstruct, and climate and disaster proof, the transport sector infrastructure on Efate ring road damaged by the Cyclone Pam floods and storm surges during 12-14 March 2015.

Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy

Between 12 and 14 March 2015 Tropical Cyclone Pam (TCP) struck Vanuatu as an extremely destructive Category 5 cyclone with wind speed estimated at 250km/hour and wind gusts peaking at 320km/hour. The center of the cyclone passed east of Efate Island which is the home of capital Port Vila and then continued southward passing just west of Erromango and Tanna Islands. Heavy rainfall and destructive high storm surges caused severe flooding and widespread damages particularly in Tafea and Shefa provinces. The other four provinces also experienced flooding and minor damages. Eleven fatalities were confirmed in Tafea and Shefa provinces. An estimated 65,000 people were displaced from their homes. Approximately 17,000 buildings were damaged or destroyed including houses, schools, clinics and other medical facilities. The tropical cyclone destroyed crops on a large scale and compromised the livelihoods of at least 80% of Vanuatu''s rural population.

The government requested for an emergency assistance loan and grant on 24 August 2015 to support the post-TCP recovery and reconstruction plan. ADB's different lending and grant assistance modalities were assessed to determine the most appropriate way to assist the government respond to post-TPC needs.

Impact

Accelerated economic and social recovery in Vanuatu's Cyclone Pam affected provinces.

Project Outcome

Description of Outcome

Socioeconomic activities restored to pre-cyclone levels

Progress Toward Outcome

The original loan was approved in November 2015. The design and supervision consultants (DSC) contract was awarded in June 2016 and the DSC were mobilized in July 2016.

ADB approved an additional financing of $8.4 million in August 2017 (including $1 million to compensate loses on SDR) to cover the cost and to scale up the original project to include additional damaged sites on the Efate ring road.

The civil works contracts under the original project and additional financing were awarded in August 2017 and December 2017, respectively.

The project overall cumulative progress is measured at about 97% completed as of end September 2019.

The project is severely delayed from its original schedule but substantially complete. However, some works due to design changes at the Klems Hill project site and works rejected by the Engineer, such as asphalt sealing, are yet to be completed. The Contractor has confirmed that all works will be completed by 15 November 2019. Loans and grants closing has been extended to 31 May 2020.

Implementation Progress

Description of Project Outputs

Transport infrastructure in damaged locations on Efate ring road reconstructed, and climate and disaster-proofed

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

Ongoing

Ongoing

Ongoing

Ongoing

Ongoing

Ongoing

Ongoing

Ongoing

Ongoing

Ongoing

Ongoing

Geographical Location

Nation-wide, Efate

Safeguard Categories

Environment

B

Involuntary Resettlement

B

Indigenous Peoples

C

Summary of Environmental and Social Aspects

Environmental Aspects

The Project is categorized B for environmental safeguards. The environmental impacts will be small-scale, site-specific and can be managed through implementation of the environmental management plan. An environmental assessment and review framework has been prepared to guide the process of environmental assessment during project implementation stage. Environmental safeguards monitoring is conducted timely, monitoring reports prepared and disclosed on the ADB web. Any issues during project implementation have been addressed timely and mitigation actions implemented.

Involuntary Resettlement

The project has been categorized C for involuntary resettlement and category C for indigenous peoples. However, due to unanticipated land acquisition in Epule the project will be recategorized as category B for involuntary resettlement. The project does not involve physical displacement or relocation of people since the project is confined to the existing ring road corridor but lands will be acquired for the Epule bridge. The IA and DSC were reminded to submit a Resettlement Plan documenting the land acquisition and all affected assets, following the approved Resettlement Framework. The IA and DSC have been reminded that any additional access to land will require obtaining negotiated settlement or land-use agreements following the approved resettlement framework. Due diligence for additional sites needs to follow the processes outlined in the resettlement framework and prepare the necessary safeguards document (either Resettlement Plan or Due Diligence Report), and required to be reviewed, cleared and publicly disclosed by both the EA/IA and ADB. The DSC and IA have carried out regular consultations with the affected communities. Social safeguards monitoring is conducted timely, monitoring reports prepared and disclosed on the ADB web. Any issues during project implementation have been addressed timely and mitigation actions implemented.

Indigenous Peoples

The project has been categorized category C for indigenous peoples. The project will confined to the existing ring road corridor and the beneficiaries are the Ni-Vanuatu people.

Stakeholder Communication, Participation, and Consultation

During Project Design

A communications and consultation plan (CCP) has been prepared during design phase for the project. The CCP is based on methods used in similar projects and follow custom and tradition for communication requirements. Consultations have been undertaken to share information about the project, receive information from communities and beneficiaries, and discuss potential impacts and mitigation measures. Disclosure of project documents including safeguards assessments and plans complies with ADB Public Communications Policy 2011 and relevant requirements of laws of Vanuatu (Environmental Protection and Conservation Act). The CPP also sets out the grievance redress mechanism that will be implemented to resolve any project-level complaint or issue. Consultations and communications will be recorded, reported and be subject of monitoring.

During Project Implementation

Stakeholder participation and consultation methodology from the design phase to implementation phase. The DSC and IA have carried out regular consultations with the affected communities.

Contact

Responsible ADB Officer

Fay, David R.

Responsible ADB Department

Pacific Department

Responsible ADB Division

Pacific Liaison and Coordination Office in Sydney, Australia (PLCO)

Executing Agencies

Ministry of Finance & Economic Management

Timetable

Concept Clearance

-

Fact Finding

22 Sep 2015 to 25 Sep 2015

MRM

12 Oct 2015

Approval

25 Nov 2015

Last Review Mission

-

Last PDS Update

21 Oct 2019

Funding

Grant 0459-VAN

Grant 0460-VAN

Grant 0461-VAN

Grant 0540-VAN

Loan 3331-VAN

Loan 3332-VAN

Loan 3552-VAN