Argentina

The Unleashing Productive Innovation Project for Argentina will support the government's high level objective of sustaining growth by promoting export-diversification... Show More + and an increase in value added in production. The Ministry of Science Technology and Productive Innovation (MINCyT) has requested a change to component two of the project to cancel the US$10 million sub-component related to the development and operation of a venture capital fund. Market conditions and the uncertain atmosphere related to the global financial crisis combined with institutional constraints led to significant delays in the establishment of the fund and implementation of this sub-component, such that it can no longer be implemented as planned during the lifetime of this project. The US$10 million from the venture capital fund will be allocated to component four of the project for the upgrading of research infrastructure. The objective of this component is to enhance the capacity of research centers, technology centers and technology training institutes by providing adequate research infrastructure. The amendment will expand the scope of activities under this component to explicitly support public institutions responsible for policymaking and implementation in STI. This US$10 million would be specifically allocated to reimburse a portion of the expenses realized for the construction of the Polo Cientifico y Tecnologico, a knowledge center for the national development of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI). This technology center, which includes a building intended for the offices of the ministry of technology and productive innovation, a science and technology museum, and a technological scientific complex, will be used to promote international relations between Argentina and the world in research and development in science, technology and productive innovation. It will also house a number of research groups, such as the Max Planck Society. Show Less -

The development objective of the Basic Protection Project is to increase the effectiveness of Argentina's income transfer programs for the unemployed and families with... Show More + children and to create the preconditions for expansion of the safety net. The closing date for the original loan to finance Argentina project, will be extended from September 30, 2011 until June 30, 2013. The extension is necessary to complete all consultant services that are currently underway under component three. These consultant services are related to two of the objectives of the technical assistance component, which are: the design and implementation of a social protection survey; and improvements to the SCE (Seguro de Capacitacion y Empleo) program's monitoring system to incorporate new services and information flows. This is the project's first extension, and no further requests are expected. Show Less -

The objectives of the Renewable Energy in the Rural Market Project are to: a) provide the rural areas of the participating provinces with reliable electric supply in... Show More + a sustainable manner through the use of renewable energy; b) advance the reform of the borrower's energy sector in particular critical areas; c) support the borrower's strategy to expand the participation of the private sector in the provision of electricity in the rural areas of the participating provinces, as well as strengthen the capacity of participating provinces to regulate such participation; and d) support the creation of sustainable business operations for rural energy in Argentina. The extension will not affect the development objective, activities, indicators, or other aspects of the project. It is estimated that, with the extension, US$14 million of the US$50 million additional financing loan will not need to be cancelled because all of the contracts will be able to complete by the new closing date, and that approximately 6,000 households and 30,000 people (approximately 1/3 of the project target) will receive electricity services from the project. With this objective, the borrower has in place an action plan to complete the project within the extension date. Show Less -

The objective of the Second Phase of the Buenos Aires Infrastructure Sustainable Investment Development Project for Argentina is to improve the social and environmental... Show More + welfare of approximately five million people through an improved provision of transport, water supply and sanitation (WSS), and drainage services. The following changes have been made: (i) revising the scope of selected project activities to adapt them to the current financial situation; (ii) revising the outcome indicators to better account for the revised project scope and to facilitate monitoring of progress towards achieving the project development objectives; and (iii) extending the project's closing date by 18 months to August 15, 2013 to allow for the completion of all ongoing works. Show Less -

The objectives of the Essential Public Health Functions and Programs Project (FESP) for Argentina are to increase the coverage of ten prioritized Public Health Programs;... Show More + reduce population's exposure to principal risk factors associated with collective illness; and improve the stewardship role and appropriate regulatory environment of the Nation's public health system. The purposes of the restructuring are: (i) to modify three project development indicators, (ii) to reallocate loan proceeds; and (iii) to extend the project closing date by 12 months from December 31, 2011 to December 31, 2012. The Project FESP is financed by a US$220 million loan that was approved by the Board of Executive Directors of the World Bank on November 21, 2006 and has been effective since September 6, 2007. To date the Project has disbursed US$184.66 million, with a remaining undisbursed balance of US$35.21 million. The targets of three out of six Project Development Objective (PDO) indicators were fully achieved in 2010. These include the following: (i) measles eradication; (ii) congenital rubella eradication; and (iii) reduction of tobacco prevalence among the population of 18 to 64 years old. Progress with these indicators reflects the Borrower's intensive work on epidemiological surveillance of vaccines and tobacco control, both of which have been supported by the Project through a Public Health Activities (PHA) output based mechanism. The Project has made significant progress in Public Health Activities implementation. In 2010, implementation of PHAs increased by almost 100 percent as compared with the cumulative amount PHAs executed in the last three years of the Project. Progress made demonstrates that management by results is now accepted by the provinces as an effective instrument for the implementation of public policies. Show Less -

The development objective of the Third National Communication to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Project for Argentina is to strengthen the... Show More + information base and institutional capacity of the key organizations, members of the project steering committee, to integrate climate change priorities into development strategies and relevant sector programs of the Argentine Republic by providing financial and technical support to prepare its Third National Communication (TNC) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The restructuring includes changes to the project implementation arrangements as requested by the Argentine Republic (the Recipient) in terms of financial management (FM) and procurement responsibilities. The Climate Change Directorate (CCD) within Secretariat of Environment and Sustainable Development (SAyDS) is the focal point for the UN climate change convention, and it has the institutional mandate to prepare national communications. The CCD will lead the technical aspects of the project within the Project Implementation Unit (PIU), whereas the Unit of Programs and Projects with International Financing (AFOIC) will be in charge of overall project implementation. Institutional roles have been revised as part of this restructuring in order to reflect participation of the AFOIC the project was endorsed by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) on October 1, 2010 and approved by the World Bank Board on February 1, 2011. After approval, the Chief of the Cabinet of Ministers (JGM) informed the Bank that the project will be fully managed by the SAyDS, given that the SAyDS has recovered its fiduciary independence in accordance with the terms dated February 10, 2011. A Financial Management (FM) assessment of the arrangements as part of the restructuring for the approved project has been performed in accordance with and in line with Bank specific guidelines. The objective of this assessment was to determine whether the FM arrangements for the proposed operation are acceptable to the Bank. The entity's arrangements are considered acceptable if its budgeting, accounting, internal control, funds flow, financial reporting and auditing arrangements: (i) are capable of correctly and completely recording all transactions and balances relating to the project; (ii) facilitate the preparation of regular, timely and reliable financial statements; (iii) safeguard the project's assets; and (iv) are subject to auditing arrangements acceptable to the Bank. Show Less -

The development objective of the Rural Education Improvement (PROMER) Project is to support national Government policy to: improve the coverage, efficiency, and quality... Show More + of the Argentine education system, and to improve the governance of the Argentine education system through strengthening of the normative, planning, information, monitoring, and evaluation capacity at the national and provincial levels. The closing date has been extended from October 31, 2011 until December 31, 2013 to allow the government sufficient time to finalize all project activities. Proceeds have been reallocated largely because of the need to support carrying out student learning assessment on an enhanced sample of rural schools and the provision of feedback to the schools and operating costs, and the need to fund additional consultants supporting the provincial and national governments to implement the Project because it is being extended. Show Less -

The development objective of the Small Farmer Development Project is to: 1) increased productive and organizational capacity in participating poor, rural communities,... Show More + 2) greater emphasis on rural poverty issues in the sectoral agenda and improved coordination of rural development programs and policies, and 3) financial assistance provided to poor, rural producers in areas declared in flood emergency or disaster. The reallocation is necessary to: a) allocate funds that are currently unallocated; b) adjust expenditures categories to actual projected disbursements; and c) allow financing of technically approved subprojects ready for completion before the closing date. The reallocation does not imply any significant change in project objectives, results and activities. Show Less -

The overall purpose of the Province of Santa Fe Road Infrastructure Project for Argentina is to improve transport conditions along a strategic road corridor that links... Show More + the Province of Santa Fe with regional and international markets. The reallocation is necessary to be able to use the funds currently in the 'unallocated' category set forth in the loan agreement. This reallocation will not change the percentage of financing. The main component of this project, the upgrading of National Road 19, will receive the full amount of the unallocated funds. The construction works along National Road 19 are progressing according to the work plan set forth at the time of the bidding and no cost overruns have been observed. The total costs of the upgrading works will reach US$175 million and consequently the reallocation will allow to approximate the percentage of financing (the Province of Santa Fe will provide additional resources if necessary as counterpart funds). The upgraded Road 19, with the exception of 2km in the City of Santo Tome will be completed in June 2011, with the remaining works expected to be completed by February, 2012. Closing date of this Project is June 30, 2012. Show Less -

The objective of the Prevention and Management of Influenza Type Illness and Strengthening of Argentina's Epidemiological System Project is to strengthen the capacity... Show More + of Argentina's epidemiological health surveillance system: (a) to prevent, monitor and evaluate influenza activity, and (b) to control epidemic waves of A/H1N1 influenza. The purposes of the restructuring are to: (i) process a partial cancelation of US$88 million of the Loan amount, requested by the Argentine Government on December 21, 2010; and (ii) reallocate loan proceeds, requested by the Argentine Government on April 25, 2011. Show Less -