00:25 You
00:28 you
00:37 Hmm,
00:39 interesting.
00:40 Let me call a meeting with Ayana,
00:42 my counterpart at the World Bank,
00:43 to discuss the implications of these reforms for our trust funds.
00:48 Madam President,
00:49 good morning,
00:49 it's great to see all of you.
00:51 I've asked for this meeting to discuss the World
00:53 Bank's Trust Fund reform and umbrella 2.0 programs.
00:56 I received an email from your World Bank colleague on these reforms,
00:59 which included a presentation.
01:00 I went through the presentation and it does provide a pretty clear overview,
01:04 but I wanted to clarify a few points.
01:06 In particular,
01:08 how will the reforms impact me in our BDA trust fund portfolio here in Atlantis?
01:13 Good morning,
01:14 Janice.
01:15 We are glad you've called this meeting to discuss the reforms.
01:18 I've invited Sunil to join us.
01:20 Sunil is the World Bank's Program Manager for the recently established
01:24 Global Climate Smart Agriculture Umbrella Program.
01:28 We are coordinating on the establishment of umbrella programs
01:31 with our management team and the bank's trust funds and partner relations team.
01:36 We look forward to your questions.
01:39 Thanks,
01:39 Aya and Sunil,
01:41 it's great to meet you,
01:41 Sunil.
01:42 I understand that through the reforms,
01:44 the World Bank's trust fund portfolio will be consolidated to fewer,
01:47 larger trust funds called
01:49 umbrellas.
01:50 Is this correct?
01:52 Also,
01:53 can you explain the rationale for this consolidation,
01:55 please?
01:57 Yes,
01:58 that's correct,
01:58 Janis.
01:59 The World Bank's portfolio currently consists of a large number of trust funds
02:04 that are fragmented
02:05 with many small customized trust funds.
02:08 With so many small trust funds,
02:10 approximately 70% of the trust funds account for
02:13 only 7% of the portfolio's total value.
02:16 Because
02:17 the portfolio is so fragmented,
02:19 there have been increasing transaction costs,
02:21 and it has added to the administrative burden for the bank and its partners
02:25 to manage trust funds.
02:27 The fragmentation can also lead to duplication of effort
02:31 and overlaps.
02:32 The trust fund reform
02:34 will address these issues.
02:36 Let's watch this short video,
02:38 which provides an overview of the reforms.
02:42 Under pillar 4,
02:44 the ongoing trust fund reforms
02:46 are aimed at improving the business model to
02:49 deliver better results for our clients and donors
02:52 by demonstrating development effectiveness
02:54 through an outcome-focused results approach,
02:57 by improving strategic alignment
03:00 and better integrating clients' needs
03:03 with the bank's planning
03:04 and budgeting processes.
03:07 By reducing fragmentation and promoting fewer and larger trust fund programs,
03:12 and lastly,
03:14 by improving efficiency and responsiveness
03:16 through simplifying,
03:18 standardizing our internal processes
03:20 while safeguarding trust fund resources.
03:25 Thanks,
03:25 Ayana.
03:26 Let me now make a short presentation on the Umbrella 2.0 programs,
03:31 which are a key aspect of the reforms.
03:33 Afterwards,
03:34 perhaps we can discuss our recommendations
03:36 for BDS's portfolio in Atlantis,
03:39 in light of these changes.
03:41 Sounds good,
03:42 Sunil.
03:43 Please go ahead.
03:45 As described in the email you received,
03:47 the goals of the reform are to
03:49 decrease fragmentation,
03:51 improve strategic alignment,
03:53 increase efficiency,
03:54 and enhance oversight of the trust fund portfolio.
03:58 Umbrella programs are one of the main ways these goals will be achieved.
04:02 Through establishing larger and fewer umbrella programs.
04:06 Umbrella 2.0 programs are being established based
04:09 on guiding principles to provide scale and efficiency
04:13 while balancing donor requirements.
04:16 Umbrellas include
04:17 a common governance that elevates the discussion with donors to focus on policy
04:23 design.
04:24 A common results framework
04:27 that is aligned with the World Bank business unit's priorities,
04:31 a common annual progress report
04:34 that is based on the agreed results framework.
04:38 Options for donors
04:40 who want their funding to support a subset of the umbrella's broad scope,
04:45 a strategic communications and visibility plan
04:49 to help donors demonstrate the impact of their investment.
04:52 Let me pause here to answer any questions.
04:55 Mr President,
04:56 this makes sense.
04:58 These changes will also help BDA have better oversight of
05:00 our entire trust fund portfolio with the World Bank.
05:12 Now that I have a better understanding of the rationale
05:14 for trust fund reform and principles of the umbrella programs,
05:17 where should I go to find out if any of the trust funds
05:19 that BDA contributes to in Atlantis will be impacted by these changes?
05:23 Let me pull up BDA's trust fund portfolio
05:26 in Atlantis from the Development Partners Center.
05:29 I'll do this on our video screen.
05:32 As you can see,
05:33 BDA is contributing to 3 active trust funds in Atlantis.
05:38 The Building Climate Resilience Trust Fund
05:41 will continue to remain a stand-alone trust fund.
05:44 This is because of its narrow focus on weather forecasting stations
05:48 and its unique partnership with the private sector.
05:51 The second one,
05:53 the Atlantis Water and Sanitation Trust Fund,
05:55 is fully dispersed and set to close in 6 months.
05:59 This trust fund will not be impacted,
06:02 and will close as expected.
06:04 From PDA's perspective,
06:06 there will be no changes to either of those two trust funds.
06:11 For the 3rd 1,
06:12 the Atlantis Agriculture Single Donor Trust Fund,
06:15 there is a recommended plan of action.
06:18 I'll let Sunil speak to that.
06:21 Thank you,
06:22 Ayana.
06:22 Climate-based agricultural challenges are widespread across the globe,
06:27 and we have significant demand from our
06:29 client countries to help address this issue.
06:32 As part of the response,
06:34 the Agriculture Global Practice has recently established a new umbrella program
06:39 called the Global Climate Smart Agriculture Umbrella.
06:44 The umbrella's objective is to transform and reorient
06:48 agricultural systems
06:49 to effectively support development and ensure food security
06:54 in a changing climate.
06:56 To minimize fragmentation in the trust fund portfolio,
07:00 this umbrella will incorporate into it
07:03 the work programs of several agriculture-related trust funds
07:07 whose objectives and work programs are aligned
07:10 with the development objectives of the umbrella program.
07:15 Given that the scope and objectives of
07:18 the Atlantis Agriculture Single Donor Trust Fund
07:21 are aligned
07:22 and contribute to the overall objectives
07:25 of the Global Climate Smart Agriculture Umbrella Program,
07:29 our recommendation is
07:30 to make
07:31 the Atlantis Trust Fund
07:33 a part of this umbrella program.
07:35 I am happy with our current arrangements and the impact we
07:37 have achieved through the Atlantis Agriculture Single donor Trust Fund.
07:41 In fact,
07:42 based on recent discussions with BDA headquarters,
07:44 we want to extend and provide additional financing for this trust fund.
07:48 As you know,
07:49 we are fully committed to supporting the government
07:51 of Atlantis's National Climate Smart Agricultural Programme.
07:55 What would be the advantages for us to make
07:57 this trust fund part of the broader umbrella program?
08:01 Thank you,
08:01 Janice.
08:02 That's a great question.
08:04 Transitioning to the Global Climate Smart Agriculture umbrella Program.
08:09 Would provide BDA an opportunity
08:11 to partner with the bank in a more strategic way.
08:15 As part of the umbrella program,
08:17 BDA will have the opportunity to
08:19 work with the bank
08:21 and other development partners at a global scale on climate smart agriculture.
08:26 Engage in policy and strategy dialogue
08:30 with World Bank senior management.
08:32 This will result in increased knowledge sharing and
08:35 pool resources to collectively tackle the world's agricultural challenges
08:40 and achieve meaningful results at scale.
08:44 That sounds good and valuable.
08:46 As I mentioned earlier,
08:47 BDA wants to extend this trust fund and expand the work program
08:50 beyond Atlantis so that other countries can also benefit from our experience.
08:56 Yes,
08:56 this is great to hear.
08:58 The umbrella program will certainly help us share our lessons with others
09:03 and expand the program.
09:04 At the same time,
09:06 Atlantis will also benefit from best practices across the globe,
09:10 in particular,
09:11 other countries with similar contexts.
09:13 Great,
09:14 thanks for your presentation.
09:16 I now have a much clearer understanding of the
09:18 impact of trust fund reform on BDA's portfolio in Atlantis
09:21 and what our next steps will be.
09:32 As we transition the Atlantis Agriculture Single donor Trust
09:35 Fund to the Global Climate Smart Agriculture umbrella Program,
09:39 there are a few operational questions I would like to ask.
09:42 First,
09:43 who determines the priority work areas for the umbrella?
09:46 And second,
09:47 what would be my involvement with the country level activities?
09:52 To determine the work program priorities,
09:54 the umbrella program has established a partnership council.
09:58 It provides strategic direction and allocation of funding envelopes
10:03 through work plans and budgets.
10:05 The council includes representatives from the bank
10:08 and a representative of each development partner
10:12 contributing to the umbrella program.
10:14 Since BDA contributes to the overall umbrella,
10:18 a representative from BDA headquarters
10:21 is part of the Global Climate Smart Agriculture Partnership Council.
10:26 It is important for me to mention
10:28 Ayana's role,
10:29 since she leads implementation of activities in Atlantis.
10:34 Ayana will ensure
10:36 local development partner representatives,
10:39 such as yourself,
10:40 who are financing country activities in Atlantis,
10:43 are properly informed on progress
10:46 and consulted when necessary.
10:49 This will include their participation in
10:52 Relevant trust funded activities
10:55 and or coordination efforts,
10:58 regular updates
10:59 on the activities,
11:01 and looking out for any issues
11:04 that may impede
11:05 implementation progress of country activities.
11:09 Ayana and her colleagues will be sure to keep you engaged
11:13 in activities at the county level and
11:15 continue to expand the agriculture work program
11:18 in Atlantis,
11:19 financed by the GCSA umbrella.
11:23 Mr President,
11:24 thanks for explaining this.
11:26 I have a question on reporting.
11:28 Will I continue to receive progress reports at the country level?
11:32 Yes,
11:33 every 12 months,
11:34 a consolidated annual report
11:36 that covers all activities
11:38 financed by the umbrella program will be shared with development partners.
11:43 There will be no country-specific reports,
11:45 however,
11:46 we will structure the annual report in consultation with the development partners
11:50 in a way that best meets the needs of the umbrella program.
11:53 This can include highlighting select thematic or geographic areas in the report.
11:58 Let me just add that my colleagues and I,
12:01 who will be leading implementation of country activities,
12:04 will continue to share activity level progress updates
12:07 with the local development partner representatives.
12:11 Wonderful.
12:12 And how about country level financial reports?
12:16 So on that,
12:17 as part of the annual progress report,
12:19 financial information at the umbrella program level
12:22 will be included.
12:23 We will discuss with donors,
12:25 including yourself,
12:26 how to break down this information by thematic or geographic area.
12:31 OK,
12:32 my last question is on visibility.
12:34 How will you ensure visibility for BDA for
12:37 supporting the agriculture work program in Atlantis?
12:40 That is a great question.
12:41 We will go ahead and share the communication and visibility plan
12:45 for the Global Climate Smart Agriculture umbrella.
12:48 In the plan,
12:49 we will provide explicit guidance to our teams
12:52 and implementing agencies
12:54 on how to represent the umbrella program.
12:57 And the bank
12:58 while allowing visibility for local participating partners.
13:03 These are all the questions I had.
13:05 Overall,
13:06 this seems like a good approach.
13:08 What are our next steps to join
13:09 the Global Climate Smart Agriculture umbrella program?
13:13 That is wonderful to hear.
13:16 As an immediate next step,
13:18 we will share with you additional information about the umbrella program,
13:22 including the results framework
13:24 and the communication and visibility plan.
13:27 In the meantime,
13:29 as we transition to the umbrella program,
13:31 Ayana will continue to manage
13:33 the Atlantis Agriculture Single Donor Trust Fund
13:36 and ensure that all the commitments are fulfilled,
13:39 and the trust fund is closed as per the closing date.
13:43 Any new funding for agriculture
13:45 should be channeled through the Global
13:46 Climate Smart Agriculture Umbrella Program.
13:49 That sounds good to me.
13:51 I look forward to receiving the materials.
13:53 I am really glad we had this meeting.
13:56 I have a better understanding of the rationale for the reform,
13:58 the implications for our work and the next steps.
14:02 I feel comfortable with the plan we've discussed and look forward to working
14:05 with you and Sunil in the coming months to establish the umbrella program.
14:08 Our pleasure,
14:09 Janice.
14:11 Great.
14:12 Look forward to working with you as well,
14:14 and if you have any questions,
14:15 please feel free to reach out to us.
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