Romania: Black Sea Agricultural Pollution Control (World Bank)
Operational Program: 8 (International Waters)
GEF Secretariat Review: PDF B Approval
Financing (millions):
$0.30
Total (millions):
$0.30
1141
Summary
The key objective of this project is to address the main cause of transboundary pollution in the Danube River
and Black Sea by reducing the discharge of nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorous) through integrated land and
water management. The project would assist tha Government of Romania in its efforts to promote the adoption
of environmentally friendly agricultural practices and to restore part of the former floodplain areas along the
lower Danube, thus reducing discharge of nutrients and improve water quality in the Danube and Black Sea.
The project would be part of a larger regional effort, facilitated by the GEF, to restore aquatic ecosystem health
in the Black Sea Basin, which is threatened by excessive nutrient pollution. The project would demonstrate
effective inter-sectoral mechanisms for combining good agricultural practices and wetland rehabilitation to
reduce nutrient runoff to the Black Sea. It would assist the country to meet its obligations under the Bucharest
Convention, the Odessa Declaration, the Danube Convention and the EU Directives. The project area will cover
60,000 ha of agricultural land located in Southern Romania; it borders the Danube and includes the Sticleanu
Polder, a reclaimed floodplain area containing the Iezer Calarasi proposed nature reserve.
Expected Project Outputs:
The proposed activities will include: A - Changes in agricultural
practices: (i) support for farmers associations to promote crop rotation,
minimum tillage, integrated pest management, buffer strips and livestock
management; (ii) establishment of manure and refuse storege areas and
their field applications; (iii) otimum application of organic and inorganic
fertilizers. B - Integrated management of the Sticleanu Polder: (i)
ecological restoration of degraded lands; (ii) creation of buffer zones
around Izer Calarasi reserve; (iii) promotion of sustainable grazing and
afforestation. C - Strengthening of policy and regulatory capacity. D -
Public awareness.
Project Duration (months):
0
Date last Updated:
12/21/99 1:17:21 PM
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Basic Project Data
Project GEF ID:
Staff
Processing Status
Date
Program Manager
Merla
Processing Stage
Implementing Agency
World Bank
Concept Pipeline Discussion
10/21/99
Regional Coordinator
PDF A - Agency Approval
Executing Agency
National Government
PDF B - CEO Approval
12/21/99
Bilateral Project Review Meeting
Work Progrom Submission and Approv
CEO Endorsement
Agency Approval
Project Completion
Cost Summary
Cost Item
Years
Amount (USD'000)
Preparation
- PDF A
- PDF B
$0.30
- PDF C
Project Allocation
- Executing Agency Fees and Costs
$0.00
- Project Managment Costs
$0.00
- Other Incremental Costs
$0.00
Completeness of Documentation
Focal Point.....................
Budget............................
Logical Framework........
STAP Review.................
Increment Cost...............
Length............................
Disclosure of Administration Cost....................................
Complete Cover Sheet....
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1. Country Ownership
Country Eligibility
Under para. 9(b) of GEF Instrument.
Evidence of Country Ownership/Country-Drivenness
Key to ensure project success. To be demonstrated.
2. Program and Policy Conformity
Portfolio Balance
The project would be part of the GEF facilitated effort to reduce nutrient runoff in the Black Sea and Danube
(SAP implementation).
Program Conformity
The concept comforms with the objectives and criteria of OP8.
Replicability
The project is intended as a replicable demonstration of good practices for nutrient reduction. Replicability
mechanisms need to be included into project design.
Potential Global Environmental Benefits of Project
The project would contribute to the rehabilitation of the quality of the Danube and Black Sea transboundary
waters.
Sustainability
Sustainability will be a key element of future project design.
Baseline Course of Action
To be clearly identified (nationwide: parallel actions on project related policy/legal reforms, wastewater
treatment, etc., and relative to the specific intervention).
Alternative Action Supported by project
The project would represent a replicable demonstration of the cost-effectiveness of environemntally friendly
agricultural practices and of wetland restoration for nutrient reduction purposes.
Conformity with GEF Public Involvement Policy
To be demonstrated.
Private Sector Involvement
To be considered during project preparation.
3. Appropriateness of GEF Financing
Incremental Cost
To be addressed. The introduction of environmentally friendly agricultural practices, as well as the restoration
of floodplains, would yield both domestic and global benefits.
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Appropriateness of Financial Modality Proposed
Government co-financing and other donors support will have to be leveraged.
Financial Sustainability of the GEF-Funded Activity
Absorptive Capability
Cost Effectiveness
4. Coordination with Other Institutions
Collaboration
Complementarity with Ongoing Activities
The concept would complement ongoing actions (GEF/EU), and be part of the GEF Strategic Partnership for
the Black Sea Basin being prepared by the World Bank.
5. Responsiveness to Comments and Evaluations
Core Commitments
To be presented.
Linkages
Linkages exist with similar actions in Georgia (WB - full project) and Poland (WB - full project) and Bulgaria
(WB - concept).
Consultation and Coordination
Consistency w/previous upstream consultations, project preparation work, and processing conditions
Monitoring & evaluation: Minumum GEF Standards, ME plan, proposed indicators, lessons from PIRs and
Project Lessons Study
Indicators
To be developed in collaboration with GEF regional projects under preparation (Black Sea PDF-B,
UNDP/WB/UNEP).
Implementing Agencies' Comments
STAP Review
Council members' Comments
Technical Assurances
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Convention Secretariat
Other Technical Comments
Clarifications on actions foreseen to restore the Sticleanu floodplain are needed, and on the role of floodplains
in nutrient removal (as opposed to permanent wetlands).
Further Processing
The program manager would recommend the concept for pipeline entry. The concept is very preliminary and
preparation funds will be needed to address, amongst others, the issues raised in this review.
During the October 21st Bilateral Meeting, it was agreed that a PDF-B request would soon be presented that
would address all issues raised in this review.
On Dec. 15, 1999, a PDF-B proposal was received for CEO approval. The Program manager observes the
following:
The review of the project's concept, approved for entry in the GEF Pipeline in Oct.99, pointed out the need for
project preparation work in specific areas. The PDF-B proposal does not address any of these recommended
actions. They are therefore repeated below, as requirements by the time of Work Program inclusion.
(i) design of replicability mechanisms; the full project proposal should contain a specific activity/component
dedicated to enhance/ensure replicability;
(ii) sustainability; this will be considered an essential element of project design by the time of Work Program
inclusion;
(iii) Public involvement; the full project proposal will fully describe the design of this component;
(iv) private sector; no mention so far - to be addressed in full project proposal;
(v) incremental costs; during the analysis, it will be kept in mind that the proposed actions will yield substantial
domestic benefits (see e.g. Component1, bullets).
(vi) co-financing; a very limited Government input for the PDF-B work is noted; the full project will necessarily
involve a large share of co-financing to cover the expected relevant domestic benefits;
(vii) World Bank core commitments; to be clarified; links will be established/demonstrated with current Bank's
lending in the agricultural sector;
(viii) the concept's review recommended finally to clarify/quantify the role of flood-plains in nutrients removal
as opposed to permanent wetlands; this will be relevant for the IC analysis, since flood hazard control, the main
function of flood plains, will have to be considered as a domestic benefit.
The program manager recomends this proposal for CEO approval. By the time of Work Program inclusion, all
the issues raised in this review will be fully addressed.
A Bilateral Meeting was held on December 21st,1999. The World Bank fully agreed with the recommendations
and will address the issues by the time of Work Program inclusion.
Date last Updated:
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