Projet d'accessibilité et de résilience rurales en Haïti : Rapport sur l'achèvement de la mise en œuvre et les résultats

Official Use Only Report No: ICR00539 IMPLEMENTATION COMPLETION AND RESULTS REPORT IDA - D3230, IDA - D6690 and IDA - D9810 ON GRANTS IN THE AMOUNT OF SDR 9 7.4 MILLION (US$ 13 8 MILLION EQUIVALENT) TO THE REPUBLIC OF HAITI FOR THE HAITI RURAL ACCESSIBILITY & RESILIENCE PROJECT November 18 , 2025 Transport Global Practice Latin America And Caribbean Region Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized The World Bank Haiti Rural Accessibility & Resilience Project (P163490) ICR DOCUMENT Official Use Only CURRENCY EQUIVALENTS (Exchange Rate Effective { May 29, 2025 }) Currency Unit = Haitian Gourde HT G 130.74 = US$1 US$ 1 = SDR 0. 57813 FISCAL YEAR January 1 - December 31 Regional Vice President: Susana Leite Riberio Cordeiro Guerra Country Director: Lilia Burunciuc Regional Director: Maria Marcela Silva Practice Manager: Bianca Bianchi Alves Task Team Leader (s): Ibrahim Kabore, Fabian Hinojosa Couleau ICR Main Contributor: Ibrahim Kabore The World Bank Haiti Rural Accessibility & Resilience Project (P163490) ICR DOCUMENT Official Use Only ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS Acronym Definition AF Additional Financing AF 1 First Additional Financing AF2 Second Additional Financing AM Aide Memoire BCA Haiti Center and Artibonite Regional Development Project ( Boucle Cen tre - Artibonite ) CE C itizen engagement CERC Contingent Emergency Response Component CIAT - es Inter - Ministerial Committee for Territorial Development (Comité Interministériel d'Aménagement du Territoire) CPF Country Partnership Framework EIRR E conomic I nternal R ate of R eturn GBV G ender - B ased V iolence GDP Gross Domestic Product GoH Government of Haiti GRM Grievance Redress Mechanism IDA International Development Association IPF Investment Project Financing ISR Implementation Status and Results Report LIW L abor - I ntensive W ork M&E Monitoring and Evaluation MEF Ministry of Economy and Finance ( Ministère de l’Economie et des Finances ) MTPTC Ministry of Public Works, Transportation, and Communications ( Ministère des Travaux Publics, Transports et Communications ) NPV N et P resent V alue OP/BP O perational P olicy/ B ank P rocedure PDO Project Development Objective s PIU Project Implementation Unit PSDH Strategic Development Plan ( Plan Stratégique de Développement d'Haïti) RARP Rural Accessibility and Resilience Project RAI Rural Access Index RUTAP Resilient Urban Transport and Accessibility Project SDR Special Drawing Rights SME Small and Medium Enterprise ToC Theory of Change UCE Central Execution Unit ( Unité Central d’Exécution ) UTE Technical Execution Unit ( Unité Technique d’Exécution ) US D United States D ollar WB World Bank The World Bank Haiti Rural Accessibility & Resilience Project (P163490) ICR DOCUMENT Official Use Only TABLE OF CONTENTS DATA SHEET ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ................. i I. PROJECT CONTEXT AND DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES ................................ ................................ .................... 1 II. OUTCOME ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ................... 6 III. KEY FACTORS AFFECTED IMPLEMENTATION AND OUTCOME ................................ ................................ ... 10 IV. BANK PERFORMANCE , COMPLIANCE ISSUES, AND RISK TO DEVELOPMENT OUTCOME ............................ 11 V. LESSONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ................................ ................................ ................................ .......... 15 ANNEX 1. RESULTS FRAMEWORK AND KEY OUTPUTS ................................ ................................ ........................ 17 ANNEX 2. BANK LENDING AND IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT/SUPERVISION ................................ ....................... 33 ANNEX 3 . PROJECT COST BY COMPONENT ................................ ................................ ................................ ......... 36 ANNEX 4. EFFICIENCY ANALYSIS ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................ 37 ANNEX 5. BORROWER, CO - FINANCIER AND OTHER PARTNER/STAKEHOLDER COMMENTS ................................ . 39 ANNEX 6. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS (IF ANY) ................................ ................................ ................................ ... 39 The World Bank Haiti Rural Accessibility & Resilience Project (P163490) ICR DOCUMENT i Official Use Only DATA SHEET @#&OPS~Doctype~OPS^ dynamics @ icr basicdata #doctemplate BASIC DATA Product Information Operation ID Operation Name P163490 Haiti Rural Accessibility & Resilience Project Product Operation Short Name Investment Project Financing (IPF) HT Rural Accessibility & Resilience Operation Status Approval Fiscal Year Closed 2018 Original EA Category Partial Assessment (B) (Approval package - 31 May 2018) CLIENT S Borrower/Recipient Implementing Agency The Republic of Haiti Unite Centrale d' Execution of the Ministry of Public Works (UCE), Unite Technique d'Execution DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVE Original Development Objective (Approved as part of Approval Package on 31 - May - 2018 ) The original Project Development Objectives are as follows: (i) to increase all - weather road access in selected sub - regions; and (ii) to improve the resilience of selected segments of the road network. Current Development Objective (Approved as part of Additional Financing Package Seq No 1 on 17 - Mar - 2022 ) The Project Development Objectives are to: (i) increase all - weather road access in selected sub - regions; (ii) improve the resilience of selected segments of the road network; and (iii) to provide immediate and effective response to an eligible crisis or emergency. s s s s s s s s @#&OPS~Doctype~OPS^ dynamics @ icrfinancing #doctemplate The World Bank Haiti Rural Accessibility & Resilience Project (P163490) ICR DOCUMENT ii Official Use Only FINANCING Financing Source Original Amount (US$) Revised Amount (US$) Actual Disbursed (US$) World Bank Financing 138,000,000.00 130,594,989.63 130,593,636.44 IDA - D9810 30,000,000.00 29,469,208.23 28,549,221.96 IDA - D3230 75,000,000.00 69,472,190.87 69,941,792.47 IDA - D6690 33,000,000.00 31,653,590.53 32,102,622.01 Total 138,000,000.00 130,594,989.63 130,593,636.44 RESTRUCTURING AND/OR ADDITIONAL FINANCING Date(s) Type Amount Disbursed (US$M) Key Revisions 30 - May - 2025 Portal 131.12 • Results • Disbursement Estimates • Loan Cancellations • Reallocations @#&OPS~Doctype~OPS^ dynamics @ icr keydates #doctemplate KEY DATES Key Events Planned Date Actual Date Concept Review 21 - Jul - 2017 21 - Jul - 2017 Decision Review 26 - Mar - 2018 26 - Mar - 2018 Authorize Negotiations 09 - Apr - 2018 11 - Apr - 2018 Approval 31 - May - 2018 31 - May - 2018 Signing 06 - Jun - 2018 06 - Jun - 2018 Effectiveness 04 - Sep - 2018 04 - Sep - 2018 Additional Financing Sequence.02 Not Applicable 18 - Jun - 2020 Additional Financing Sequence.01 Not Applicable 17 - Mar - 2022 Restructuring Sequence.01 Not Applicable 30 - May - 2025 ICR Sequence.01 (Interim) -- 18 - Nov - 2025 Mid - Term Review No. 01 25 - Oct - 2021 22 - Nov - 2021 The World Bank Haiti Rural Accessibility & Resilience Project (P163490) ICR DOCUMENT iii Official Use Only Operation Closing/Cancellation 30 - May - 2025 Automatically populated from Loans System ICR/NCO 30 - Nov - 2025 -- @#&OPS~Doctype~OPS^ dynamics @ icr rat ing s #doctemplate RATINGS SUMMARY Outcome Bank Performance M&E Quality Highly Satisfactory Highly Satisfactory Substantial ISR RATINGS No. Date ISR Archived DO Rating IP Rating Actual Disbursements (US$M) 01 24 - Oct - 2018 Satisfactory Satisfactory 0.00 02 22 - Apr - 2019 Satisfactory Satisfactory 3.00 03 01 - Nov - 2019 Satisfactory Satisfactory 3.00 04 21 - May - 2020 Satisfactory Satisfactory 12.15 05 16 - Dec - 2020 Satisfactory Satisfactory 14.03 06 17 - Jun - 2021 Satisfactory Satisfactory 26.20 07 24 - Dec - 2021 Satisfactory Satisfactory 51.42 08 30 - Jun - 2022 Satisfactory Satisfactory 91.88 09 22 - Dec - 2022 Satisfactory Satisfactory 100.51 10 21 - Jun - 2023 Satisfactory Satisfactory 111.02 11 08 - Jan - 2024 Satisfactory Satisfactory 125.15 12 18 - Jul - 2024 Satisfactory Satisfactory 130.35 13 05 - Mar - 2025 Satisfactory Satisfactory 130.80 @#&OPS~Doctype~OPS^ dynamics @ icr sectortheme #doctemplate SECTORS AND THEMES Sectors The World Bank Haiti Rural Accessibility & Resilience Project (P163490) ICR DOCUMENT iv Official Use Only Major Sector Sector % Adaptation Co - benefits (%) Mitigation Co - benefits (%) FY17 - Transportation FY17 - Public Administration - Transportation 9 44 0 FY17 - Rural and Inter - Urban Roads 91 56 0 Themes Major Theme Theme (Level 2) Theme (Level 3) % FY17 - Environment and Natural Resource Management FY17 - Climate change FY17 - Adaptation 55 FY17 - Human Development and Gender FY17 - Gender 66 FY17 - Urban and Rural Development FY17 - Disaster Risk Management FY17 - Flood and Drought Risk Management 96 FY17 - Rural Development FY17 - Rural Infrastructure and service delivery 100 FY17 - Urban Development FY17 - Public Transport 9 The World Bank Haiti Rural Accessibility & Resilience Project (P163490) ICR DOCUMENT v ADM STAFF Role At Approval At ICR Practice Manager Shomik Raj Mehndiratta Bianca Bianchi Alves Regional Director Maria Marcela Silva Global Director Jose Luis Irigoyen Nicolas Peltier - Thiberge Practice Group Vice President Guangzhe Chen Country Director Anabela Abreu Lilia Burunciuc Regional Vice President Jorge Familiar Susana Leite Riberio Cordeiro Guerra ADM Responsible Team Leader Pierre Xavier Bonneau Ibrahim Kabore Co - Team Leader(s) Fabian Hinojosa Couleau ICR Main Contributor Ibrahim Kabore The World Bank Haiti Rural Accessibility & Resilience Project (P163490) ICR DOCUMENT Page 1 Official Use Only I. PROJECT CONTEXT AND DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES A. CONTEXT AT APPRAISAL Context 1. At appraisal, Haiti had the lowest income in the Western Hemisphere, marked by widespread poverty and inequality , but a sense of optimism after years of relative stability. I n 2016, Gross Domestic Product ( GDP) per capita stood at US$739.60, and Haiti ranked 163rd of 188 countries on the Human Development Index. Although extreme poverty declined from 31 percent to 24 percent between 2000 and 2012, inequality remained high. Most gains were concentrated in urb an areas, mainly Port - au - Prince, while the Gini coefficient reached 0.64 , the highest in the Latin America and the Caribbean region. It was also among the most hazard - prone countries globally, with 96 percent of Haiti's population living in areas identifie d as at hazard - prone, and with Haiti’s economy experienc ing frequent natural disasters that impacted economic growth . Despite these challenges, backed by the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti, the decade preceding appraisal saw three presidents elected and peaceful transfer of power between opposition parties , with the government outlining Haiti’s aspiration, in its 2013 Strategic Development Plan (PSDH), to become an emerging economy by 2030. 2. Regional connectivity, rural accessibility and climate resilient infrastructure were key priorities for Haiti ’s development vision and World Bank (WB) support . In 2015, only 39 percent of Haitians lived within 2 km of an all - weather road, with most rural roads in poor condition. The transport infrastructure was highly vulnerable to natural disasters and climate events, with limited coverage and poor maintena nce , especially in rural areas, that hindered access to agricultural markets , le a d ing to post - harvest losses of up to 30 percent . In 2016, Hurricane Matthew demonstrated again its vulnerability by destroying roads and bridges that isolated 1.2 million people from emergency aid. To address these issues, the Haitian government prioritized , under its PSDH , climate resilience — including all - weather roads — aiming to construct 4,000 km of roads by 2021 to improve intercity and rural connectivity. In support of these efforts, and aligned with both the World Bank’s (WB) Systematic Country Diagnostic (Report No. 97341) and the Haiti Country Partnership Framework (CPF, Report No. 98132) for FY2016 - 2019, the Rural Accessibility and Resilience Project was designed to assist the Government of Haiti (GoH) in enhancing rural connectivity, improving climate resilience, and strengthening institutional capacity for road infrastructure planning and maintenance. Theory of Change (Results Chain) 3. T he project ’s theory of change (TOC) is presented in Figure 1. Figure 1 : TOC at approval The World Bank Haiti Rural Accessibility & Resilience Project (P163490) ICR DOCUMENT Page 2 Official Use Only Project Development Objectives (PDO) 4. The original PDO , as stated in the Financial Agreement approved on June 6, 2018 is to: (a) increase all - weather road access in selected sub - regions; and (b) improve the resiliency of selected segments of the road network . 1 Key Expected Outcomes and Outcome Indicators 5. The two - part PDO was measured by two outcome indicators see Table 1. Table 1 . Outcome indicators at appraisal Outcome (PDO) Outcome indicator (PDO - level results indicator) (a) increase all - weather road access in selected sub - regions (i) Share of rural population in selected sub - regions with access within 2 km of an all - weather road (percentage) (b) improve the resiliency of selected segments of the road network (ii) Total population living in areas serviced by connecting roads upgraded to a climate resilient standard (number) 1 The PDO outlined in the Financing Agreement closely aligns with that presented in t he project Appraisal Document, which states: "T he project Development Objectives are to: (i) increase all - weather road access in selected sub - regions; and (ii) improve the resilience of selected segments of the road network.” The World Bank Haiti Rural Accessibility & Resilience Project (P163490) ICR DOCUMENT Page 3 Official Use Only Components 6. Component 1 : Enhancing Rural Connectivity (US$45.0 million , actual US$ 90 .0 million ) aimed to improve reliable, all - weather road access to essential services and markets for rural populations, with a focus on the South, South - East, and Nippes departments . The activities financed under this component included: (i) rehabilitation works of tertiary and rural road network (400 km), (ii) the building of small complementary facilities and structures, including lighting, bus stops, and other safety structures, in inhabited area s, near schools and around water kiosks and health centers, (iii) technical assistance, training, and developing technical guidelines for Haiti’s national all - weather rural road access program; (iv) the preparation and financing of local mobility plans; an d (v) coastal protection and slope stabilization. 7. Component 2 : Improving Resilience of Transport Connecting Infrastructure ( US$22.0 million , actual US$ 3 . 2 million ) aimed to strengthen the resilience of Haiti's primary and secondary road networks against climate change and extreme weather events. The focus was on protecting critical points to prevent disruptions in the movement of people and goods. Key activities included : (i) protection and rehabilitation of existing bridges situated on selected segments; ( ii ) reinforcement of coastal protection , hydraulic protection for bridges, and slope stabilization works; ( iii ) a vulnerability study of the national primary and secondary road network and the identification of critical points (which would be used to identify and prioritize works to be financed under the component) ; (iv) a National Bridge Management Program ; (v) a Roadmap to improve the resilience of the primary network by 2030 ; and (vi) a Planning and Bridge Assessment and Management System. 8. Component 3 : Promoting Sustainable Mobility Development (US$3.0 million , actual US$1.0 million ) aimed to strengthen the institutional capacity of the Ministry of Public Works, Transport and Communication ( MTPTC), through technical assistance, training, and the provision of goods. It was designed to enhance: (i) institutional sustainability, through continued assistance to MTPTC on resilient transport and road asset management ; and (ii) sustainable urban transport policies and management, through improved investment strategy and planning. 9. Component 4 : Contingent Emergency Response Component (US$1.0 million , actual US$ 30 . 3 million ) was included to provide immediate assistance during an eligible emergency due to the high risk of a catastrophic events in Haiti. T h is component was triggered after damage from the earthquake on August 14, 2021. 10. Component 5: Project Management (U S $4.0 million , actual US$ 6 .0 million ) to support the MTPTC and its Central Execution Unit (Unité Centrale d ’Execution – UCE) through the provision of goods, consultants’ services, t raining and o perating c osts. It finance d key project staff, operation costs, and equipment for t he project I mplementation U nit (PIU) , and provide d support for social and environmental safeguards, identification and mitigation of gender disparities, and citizens engagement (CE). B. SIGNIFICANT CHANGES DURING IMPLEMENTATION Revised PDOs and Outcome Targets 11. T he project ’s PDO w as revised in 2022 through a second Additional Financing ( AF2 ) to account for a CERC activation response . The new PDO was revised as follows : (a) increase all - weather road access in selected sub - regions ( unchanged ); (b) improve the resilience of selected segments of the road network ( unchanged ) ; and (c) provide an immediate and effective response to an eligible crisis or emergency (new) . Revised PDO Indicators 12. An additional PDO indicator was included to address the CERC activities related to earthquake response efforts : “ People with restored access to the road network (Number)” was introduced with a n end target of 407,000 people . Revised Components The World Bank Haiti Rural Accessibility & Resilience Project (P163490) ICR DOCUMENT Page 4 Official Use Only 13. Component 1 was modified to include subcomponent 1.3 through the first Additional Financing (AF1) in 2020. This subcomponent incorporated activities 2 from the Haiti Center and Artibonite Regional Development Project (BCA , P133352). This integration unified similar efforts under both projects to enhance resilience and access to all - weather roads, supporting portfolio consolidation in Haiti. The Results Framework ( RF ) was revised to reflect the new activities. 14. Component 4 was revised in the AF2 in 2022 to reflect the activities financed under the emergency response. Additionally, AF2 was used to replenish the financing for Components 1 and 2 (category 1) , through the Crisis Response Window, that had been reallocated to the CERC component to finance the emergency response. 15. Component 1 was modified through the third restructuring (AF3) in May 2025, by removing the following project activities : one market, one maintenance center, and two bridges ; cancelling its respective funds and revising relevant indicator s . 16. Table 2 summarizes actual estimated costs at appraisal and total expenditures related to each component. Table 2 : Project Components and cost at approval and at closing Component Estimated cost at appraisal (US$ M) AF1 (2020) AF2 (2022) 3rd Restructuring (Cancellation) Revised Estimated cost Actual disbursed at closing (US$ M) 3 1 45.0 30 0 0 75 90 2 22.0 0 0 0 22 3.2 3 3.0 1 0 - 2. 9 1.2 1 4 1.0 - 1 30 0 30 30 . 3 5 4.0 3 0 7 6 Total 75.0 33 30 2.9 135.2 1 30.6 Other Changes 17. The Additional Financings and Restructurings over the life of t he project include d: Table 3. Summary of Restructurings Changes Restructuring Date Approved Effective Grant Funding Revised Closing Date Main changes AF - 1 June 20, 2020 August 7, 2020 D669 - HT SDR 24.2 million ( US$33 million ) June 28, 2024 • Expand the scope: new Subcomponent 1.3 • Reallocation of funds • Extend closing date • Revise RF AF - 2 March 17, 2022 June 15, 2022 D981 - HT SDR 21.6 million (US$30 million) May 30, 2025 • Reallocation of funds • Extend closing date • Revise RF Restructuring (Level II) May 30, 2025 Cancel SDR 2.2 million (US$2.9 million) • Revise RF • Cancellation 2 These activities includes: (i) construction of four climate - resilient bridges, (ii) targeted improvements on key roads such as culvert installation, slope stabilization, and maintenance or repair of 80 km of roads, (iii) building a culvert on River Bretel le, (iv) construction or rehabilitation of two road maintenance centers, and (v) training for 200 community members in rural road maintenance, (vi) building or rehabilitating four local markets and the Saint - Michel regional market, (vii) developing climate - informed urban plans for Saint - Raphaël and Saint - Michel, and (viii) creating a regional development dashboard. 3 Component 1 reports a higher amount than component 2 due to a s hortcomings in Financial management reporting, see note in Annex 3. The World Bank Haiti Rural Accessibility & Resilience Project (P163490) ICR DOCUMENT Page 5 Official Use Only 18. Implementation arrangements. AF1 revised implementation arrangements to include the Unité Technique d’Exécution (UTE) of the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) as an implementing partner and the Executive Secretariat of the Inter - Ministerial Committee for Territorial Development (CIAT - es) as a technical partner . UCE - MTPTC continued to oversee overall coordination and original activities, while UTE - MEF continued its responsibility for: (i) constructing or rehabilitating four markets (Fonds Bruns, Domond, Nan Poste, and Saint - Raphaël); (ii) constructing the Saint - Michel regional market; (iii) developing climate - informed urban plans for Saint - Raphaël and Saint - Michel; and (iv) creating a dashboard tool to track development indicators and investments at the regional level . 19. Closing date extension . T he project closing date was extended twice, for a total duration of 23 months. AF1 provided a 12 - month extension, changing the deadline from June 30, 2023, to June 28, 2024. AF2 further extended the closing date by 11 months, resulting in a new final deadline of May 30, 2025. 20. Reallocation between categories. AF1 reallocated SDR 600,000 from Category 2, emergency expenditures, to Category 1 for the provision of technical assistance, and AF2 reallocated SDR 21, 6 00,000 million from Category 1 to Category 2 to finance earthquake response support. 21. Cancellation of funds. On May 20, 2025, the GoH requested cancellation of undisbursed grant balances totaling SDR 2,155,561.06 (US$2,934,184.07), which was processed in a third restructuring on May 28, 2025. This action cancelled funds from the three Grants (IDA - D323 - HT , IDA - D669 - HT , and IDA - D981 - HT ) and updated select RF indicators accordingly 22. Intermediate indicators . Through its restructurings, n ew intermediate outcome indicators were introduced, and some original indicators were revised to ensure a more accurate representation of project activities. AF1 introduced eight new indicators and changed the end targets for two indicators. AF2 introduced two new intermediate indicators. The third restructuring changed the end targets for three indicators. Further details are in Annex 1. Rationale for Changes and Their Implication on the Original Theory of Change 23. I n February 2020 , the project increased its scope by absorbing activities from the BCA project. As results of implementation constraints, the BCA project was restructured leading to a reduction in scope, with r emaining activities under implementation transferred to the Project prior to August 31, 2020 , BCA’s closing date . This transfer, rather than extending the BCA closing date , facilitated portfolio consolidation , and allowed additional time for completion of activities under t he project . Similarly, towards the end of t he project implementation period, in May 2025, t he execution of some planned works under Component 1 was unfeasible due to elevated security risks in the BCA area. These activities were transferred under AF3 to the Resilient Urban Transport and Accessibility Project (RUTAP, P177210) to ensure its completion. 24. On August 23, 2021, the government formally requested activation of the CERC to facilitate post - earthquake emergency response efforts, reallocating US$30 million to the CERC and expanding the project scope . T he August 14, 2021 , earthquake damaged over 850km of roads in three southern departments, isolating more than 450,000 people and causing up to US$160 million in transport sector losses . US$30 million was reallocated from Components 1 and 2 to the CERC for emergency response. The WB approved this activat ion on September 21, 2021, with the following objectives: (i) restore accessibility and rural connectivity through the repair and clearance of critical road segments; (ii) reestablish access to Grand’Anse via the construction of an emergency bridge in Jeremie; (iii) support building assessment activities led by the Technical Building Office (Bureau Technique du Bâtiment, BTB) of the MTPTC; and (iv) assist in the rehabilitation of essential infrastructure, including irrigation canals and water supply systems, in the affected regions. 25. All restructurings were aligned with the original TOC and the original outcomes. While the first two restructurings significantly increased the overall project scope, all activities and changes were in line with the original TOC. Aside from adding a new PDO indicator to better reflect the expanded scope, i ntermediate outcomes w ere revised to reflect The World Bank Haiti Rural Accessibility & Resilience Project (P163490) ICR DOCUMENT Page 6 Official Use Only the expanded scope of AF1, the inclusion of CERC activities in AF2, and the revisions in component 1 and partial fund cancellation under the third restructuring. II. OUTCOME A. RELEVANCE OF PDO Assessment of Relevance of PDOs and Rating 26. The relevance of the PDO is rated High . At approval t he project directly contributed to CPF FY16 - 19, in the achievement of its Pillars 1 “Inclusive Growth” by improving infrastructure in rural areas and its Pillar 3 “Resilience” by reducing Haiti’s vulnerability to natural disasters and climate shocks. Furthermore, t he project was aligned with the W B’s global priorities on c limate c hange and g ender , supporting targets under the WB Climate Action P lan 2016 - 2020 and the Gender Strategy 2016 – 2023 , which introduced targets of 28 percent climate - related financing and closing gender gaps as core development objectives . At closing, the PDO remain ed aligned with the WB’s CPF for Haiti FY25 - FY29 (Report No: 181213 - HT). Specifically, the project advance d the CPF’s pillar of “Building Resilience and Preserving Human Capital” by investing in climate - resilient rural infrastructure and improving road connectivity, which facilitates access to essential services such as health and education for vulnerable popul ations. The P roject also contribute d to the pillar of “Strengthening Economic Governance and Creating Job Opportunities” by enabling greater market access and supporting local employment through infrastructure works. Additionally , the project rein forced the CPF’s focus on “Institutional Strengthening” by enhancing the capacity of the MTPTC in disaster preparedness and infrastructure management . These targeted interventions collectively supported the Government’s Action Plan 2017 - 2020 to improve transport connectivity and its rural road network in Haiti’s most underserved regions. B. ACHIEVEMENT OF PDOs (EFFICACY) Assessment of Achievement of Each Objective/Outcome 27. To assess t he project ’s efficacy, the PDO outcomes indicators are summarized in Table 4: Table 4 . PDO outcomes i ndicators at Project Close versus End Targets PDO and Indicator name Baseline End Target Actual PDO (a): Increase all - weather road access in selected sub - regions “Share of rural population in selected sub - regions with access within 2 km of an all - weather road (percentage)” 36 55 63 PDO (b): Improve the resilience of selected segments of the road network “ Total population living in areas serviced by connecting roads upgraded to a climate resilient standard (number)” 0 700,000 902,267 PDO (c): Provide an immediate and effective response to an eligible crisis or emergency “People with restored access to the road network (Number)” 0 407,000 422,337 PDO (a): Increase all - weather road access in selected sub - regions . 28. Outcome Indicator: “Share of rural population in selected sub - regions with access within 2 km of an all - weather road (percentage)”, which had a target of 55 percent, was successfully achieved . Physical infrastructure investments were robust and exceeded planned outputs, directly supporting improved access. T he project rehabilitated 554 km of roads (115 percent of the target), including 499 km of rural roads (116 percent of the target), restoring access for over 900,000 people. These works were concentrated in the Grand Sud and Boucle Centre Artibonite regions, but also extended to departmental, secondary, and national networks. The interventions were strategically distributed, with nearly 80 percent of works on communal roads, ensuring that the benefits reached the most vulnerable and remote populations. Complementary facilities such as bus stops, lighting, and safety structures further enhanced the utility and safety of the improved road network. Th ese efforts led to substantial improvements in the Rural Acc essibility Index (RAI) , with 63 percent of rural population in selected sub - regions , now liv ing within 2 km of an all - weather road. The World Bank Haiti Rural Accessibility & Resilience Project (P163490) ICR DOCUMENT Page 7 Official Use Only 29. The interventions also enhanced access to essential services and markets, with over 720,000 people (target: 660,000) able to reach regional markets within 120 minutes and more than 326,000 women (target: 320,000) gaining timely access to health facilities. These results reflect t he project ’s gender - responsive design and its focus on linking rural populations to economic and social opportunities. Beneficiary surveys reinforce these findings: 97 percent of respondents highlighted the importance of the road ne twork for community mobility, 75 percent for commercial exchange, and 39 percent for access to basic services. T he project ’s adaptability, including additional financing and integration of activities from other regions, further expanded its impact and resilience, as evidenced by both quantitative results and positive beneficiary feedback documented by the client evaluation re ports. 30. The establishment of mobility plans and the updating of the National RAI for all departments provide a solid foundation for future investments and policy development, directly reinforcing the achievement of PDO (a). These mobility plans, developed through community consultation and integrating climate resilience and gender considerations, help identify and prioritize local needs for road access. Meanwhile, the updated RAI offers comprehensive, up - to - date data on rural connectivity across the country, enabli ng policymakers to target investments where they are most needed and to monitor progress effectively. Together, these tools ensure that future interventions are strategic, evidence - based, and sustainable, supporting ongoing improvements in all - weather road access in selected sub - regions. 31. Ac hievement of PDO (a) is rated High , with clear evidence of transformative impact on rural accessibility. The quantitative and qualitative results demonstrate that t he project not only met but exceeded its objectives for increasing all - weather road access in selected sub - regions. The improvements have led to greater social inclusion, economic opportunity, and resilience for Haiti’s rural communities. PDO (b): Improve the resilience of selected segments of the road network 32. Outcome Indicator: “ Total population living in areas serviced by connecting roads upgraded to a climate resilient standard (number)” , which had a target of 700,000 people , was successfully achieved. T he project substantially improved the resilience of selected segments of the road network by rehabilitating and upgrading critical road sections and bridges to climate - resilient standards, implementing robust drainage and erosion control measures, and developing a f unctional bridge management system within the MTPTC. Eight critical bridges and 124 critical points/segments were completed . These interventions have directly contributed to stabilizing key transport corridors, reducing interruptions in the movement of people and goods during extreme weather events, and making approximately 80 km of roads reliably passable year - round. Beneficiary surveys reinforce these achievements, with 82 percent of respondents reporting improved preparedness for natural disasters and 87 percent noting fewer access disruptions durin g the rainy season, underscoring the tangible impact of t he project on community resilience. These interventions ensured that over 900,000 people now benefit from modernized, resilient roads — far exceeding the original target — and that key crossing points remain passable during adverse weather and natural disasters. 33. Institutional strengthening was also a notable outcome , with the development and operationalization of a Bridge Management System within MTPTC . This system enhanced the government’s ability to monitor, maintain, and plan for resilient infrastructure, laying the groundwork for sustained improvements beyond t he project ’s lifespan. Additionally, several studies were completed including urban mobility and climate resilience in Port - au - Prince and Cap - Haitien that support institutional strengthening in urban transport and climate resilience management and planning. The tool s associated with those studies were not completed before the closing data and i ts development is transferred to RUTAP. Th is does not undermine the achievement of the institutional strengthening objectives. 34. Achievement of PDO (b) is rated High . The combination of robust infrastructure works, positive beneficiary feedback, and strengthened institutional capacity has significantly enhanced Haiti’s ability to withstand and recover from climate and disaster - related shocks. The World Bank Haiti Rural Accessibility & Resilience Project (P163490) ICR DOCUMENT Page 8 Official Use Only PDO (c): Provide an immediate and effective response to an eligible crisis or emergency 35. Outcome Indicator: “People with restored access to the road network (Number)”, which had a target of 407,000, was successfully achieved . T he project effectively achieved this objective by activating its CERC following the devastating 7.2 magnitude earthquake in Haiti in August 2021. This rapid response was enabled by reallocating US $30 million to CERC, which funded urgent interventions such as repairing and clearing critical road segments, constructing a temporary bridge in Jérémie to restore connectivity w ith Grand’Anse, supporting building assessments, and rehabilitating essential infrastructure like irrigation canals and water systems. T he project not only met but exceeded its targets, restoring road access for over 422,337 people, repairing eight critical bridges, and treating 90 critical points (target: 80). Beneficiary feedback confirmed that over 81 percent of respondents felt their communities were better prepared for future disasters, underscoring the effectiveness and impact of the emergency respons e measures. 36. Achievement of PDO (c) is rated High . Justification of Overall Efficacy Rating 37. The Overall Project's efficacy in achieving its PDOs is rated High . T he project fully achieved its objectives, and all three PDO targets were met or surpassed . C. EFFICIENCY Assessment of Efficiency and Rating 38. The efficiency of critical spot improvement, bridge repairs and other rural road improvements completed under t he project are H igh. T he project completed improvements in 550 km of rural roads, and 222 critical spots (that include among other box culverts , slope stabilization and embankments protection) and rehabilitation and improvement of 16 bridges with a total cost of US$110 million . The average per unit cost was US$159,000 per km of rural roads, US$78, 000 per critical spot and US$ 863,000 per bridge int ervened . The rehabilitation cost of rural roads is lower than the US$200,000 /km assumed at appraisal without accounting for the price increase and inflation since appraisal and below the average of actual costs (US$165,000/km) found under the BCA project closed in 2021. 39. While there was not an economic evaluation done at appraisal due to the framework approach designed, the economic analysis at closing demonstrates the positive economic return of project investment using baseline climate and climate change projections (Table 5) . The main Project benefits included are a reduction in climate impacts (fluvial, pluvial and coastal floods) on asset damage , lower road user costs through less travel disruption, decreasing the frequency of road crashes, and economic benefits of greenhouse gas reduction (Annex 4). Table 5 . Economic i ndicators at Project Close Historical climate Under climate change (SSP 5 - 85) NPV (in US$ million) 20.9 32.7 EIRR (in percent) 15.3 17.1 BCR 1.21 1.33 40. T he project experienced smooth implementation, achieving its outcomes in its timeframe. Despite all event s and external factors affecting the country , t he project was implemented at a steady pace with disbursement following the original and revised estimations with US$18 million on average annual disbursement and a peak of US$64 million disbursed in FY22. The PIU had no staff - turn over, there were no significant cost over - runs and procurement didn’t experience sign ificant delays that impacted project implement. The 23 - month extension was not a result of delay but to accommodate completion timeframes for new ac tivities added to its two additional financing. 41. Therefore, t he project ’s efficiency is rated as High, reflecting e ffective use of resources, strong achievement of objectives relative to costs and timeframe , and adaptive management in response to unforeseen challenges. The World Bank Haiti Rural Accessibility & Resilience Project (P163490) ICR DOCUMENT Page 9 Official Use Only D. JUSTIFICATION OF OVERALL OUTCOME RATING 42. The overall outcome rating for t he project is Highly Satisfactory , given t he project ’s substantial achievement of its objectives, including significant improvements in rural accessibility, daily mobility, and access to essential services . High beneficiary satisfaction and strong implementation performance further support this positive assessment. This rating is consistent with a High rating for Relevance of PDO, High rating for both Efficacy and Efficiency . Table 6 . Overall Outcome Rating Rating Dimension Rating Relevance of PDO High Overall efficacy Outcome ( a ) High Outcome ( b ) High Outcome ( c ) High Efficiency High Outcome rating Highly Satisfactory E. OTHER OUTCOMES AND IMPACTS (IF ANY) 43. Gender. T he project significantly improved gender outcomes by increasing women’s access to health services and economic opportunities . Pilot local mobility plans in three micro - regions incorporated women’s safety and mobility needs, identif ying specific interventions to enhance access to health services and reduce risks, including gender - based violence (GBV), which had previously constrained women’s mobility. Post - completion surveys of over 3,200 women showed that 88 percent reported better access to basic services, and 95 pe rcent felt safer during their trips. The project also promoted female participation in the transport sector, with 75 percent road maintenance trainees being women, far exceeding the target. Improved market access and infrastructure boosted economic prospects for traders, most of whom were women: 74 percent of survey respondents reported increased market revenues. 44. Road safety. T he project improved road safety across target regions. It achieved its goal of integrating road safety measures in to 100 percent of road designs under intervention. P ost - completion impact assessment s confirmed this success, with 85 percent of respondents confirming a reduction of road accidents on project roads. 45. Private sector strengthening. T he project fostered a more conducive e nvironment for private sector growth . It directly supported the agrobusiness sector by constructing modern market facilities and improving connection between key production areas and markets . Additionally, it provided specific training, skills development and direct economic opportunities for construction firms , small and medium enterprises (SMEs ), and local communities. 46. I nstitutional strengthening . I nstitutional capacity of Haiti’s MTPTC and UCE was significantly enhanced through targeted training and system upgrades . Achievements include d strengthene d project management, fiduciary systems, environmental and social safeguards , infrastructure management and disaster response. Activities included: training and licensing for MS Project and AutoCAD; RAI workshops; road maintenance support; and disaster assessment training for 390 engineers. While some systems , e.g., the climat e resilience roadmap and traffic monitoring tool s were not fully implemented , adaptive management and robust structures improved effectiveness and sustainability . 47. Poverty reduction and shared prosperity . T he project contributed meaningfully to poverty reduction and shared prosperity in rural Haiti by improving access, creating jobs and promoting inclusion . Economic opportunities grew through improved circulation of agricultural goods , better access to farmland, and upgraded local markets : 85 percent of surveyed respondents report ed better livelihoods. Labor - intensive roadwork generated 153,960 workdays for 10,264 rural residents, of which 1,096 were women. G ender - sen sitive design and robust community engagement led to high satisfaction and willingness to participate in future initiatives. Overall, key development barriers were addressed , improv ing living conditions for Haiti’s most vulnerable populations . The World Bank Haiti Rural Accessibility & Resilience Project (P163490) ICR DOCUMENT Page 10 Official Use Only III. KEY FACTORS AFFECTED IMPLEMENTATION AND OUTCOME A. KEY FACTORS DURING PREPARATION 48. Hurricane Matthew ’s devastating impact s w ere a key factor during Project preparation. The storm struck southwestern Haiti on October 4, 2016 , as the strongest hurricane to hit the country since 1964. It affected 1.1 million people, caused 674 fatalities, and inflicted damage equal to 32 percent of the GDP. Transport infrastructure was severely impacted, with critical bridges and roads destroyed, isolating 1.2 million people from emergency aid. These vulnerabilities shaped project design, prompting a resilie nce - focused approach, including data - driven climate vulnerability mapping for project selection, capacity building in resilience planning, and targeted spot improvements. 49. The project areas were selected in alignment to the government strategy to close rural access gaps and to foster synergies across the WB ’s portfolio. RAI was used as the main selection criteria and as core indicator for tracking progress and outcomes. T he first RAI national survey, financed by the BCA, gained institutional momentum , becoming the government’s tool for guiding infrastructure strategies. Coordination with other Bank - financed operations — such as the Improving Maternal and Child Health Project (P123706) , the Providing and Education of Quality in Haiti (P155191) and the Emergency Resilient Agriculture for Food Security Project (P177072) — maximized development impacts by improving access to services intervened by other projects in health, education and agriculture. 50. The CE strategy embedded in t he project design enabled sustained performance under highly challenging national circumstances . It included a range of measures to foster citizen involvement, including: (i) adopting a participatory methodology for investment development; (ii) engaging local university students and organizations in data collection and analysis; (iii) implementing a comprehensive CE plan that facilitated two - way communication and closed feedback loops — using geolocation technologies to gather ins ights on aspects public transport quality, road safety, and women's security; and (iv) establishing detailed grievance redress procedures, which clearly defined roles for government officials, instituting mechanisms for complainant feedback, and monitoring of grievance resolutions progress. B. KEY FACTORS DURING IMPLEMENTATION (a) Factors subject to control of government and/or implementing entities 51. Some f inancial management shortcomings affected timely reporting and internal controls. Moderate deficiencies in financial management, including delays in preparing and submitting operational budgets, interim financial reports, and audit documents, jeopardized t he project ’s ability to provide reliable information for management and monitoring. Issues such as outdated accounting records, lack of electronic backup systems, and insufficient inventory management highlighted the need for corrective actions to strengthen interna l controls. 52. Staff turnover at UTE and its main implementing partner led to delays in procuring some activities. The project faced minor and unresolved issues in launching procurement for the regional market, the maintenance center and two bridges due to shortcomings in the UTE and the United Nations Office for Project Services, its key implementing agencies. Under AF1, UTE became an implementing partner for additional activities in the Artibonite region, while UCE remained responsible for overall Project implementati on . UTE, housed within the ministry of finance, faced staff shortages and leadership turnover. Together with high security risk in the area , the commencement of the road maintenance center, regional market and two bridges and led to the third restructuring to cancel those activities. (b) Factors subject to World Bank control 53. Effective Supervision was e ssential for Project Success. The W B Task Team and the experienced UCE ensured smooth coordination, technical exchanges, and operational guidance. Their approach allowed fast issue identification and timely adaptation during crises , such as the 2021 earthquake , ensur ing efficient resource use and continuity , even amid Haiti’s instability. Regular field visits, prompt and candid reporting, and robust monitoring supported accurate The World Bank Haiti Rural Accessibility & Resilience Project (P163490) ICR DOCUMENT Page 11 Official Use Only progress tracking and smart decision - making. U nfinished activities were successfully shifted to other projects, safeguarding key results despite budget and security challenges. 54. Mobilization of t rust fund resources enabled effective supervision while advancing knowledge and innovation. During implementation, t he project secured five trust funds totaling US$1.7 million , which enabled effective oversight and advance critical areas such as disaster risk reduction planning for transport infrastructure, integration of nature - based solutions, analysis of barriers to women’s and girl’s access to education and health and delving into urban mobility and private sector invol vement in urban t ransport. (c) Factors outside the control of government and/or implementing entities 55. Political instability , COVID19, and rising gang violence disrupted implementation . T he assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021, widespread protests and unrest , and “Peyi Lòk” lockdowns halted economic activity and weakened institutions (Figure 2) . G ang violence and kidnappings, especially in the Centre and Artibonite Departments, made field operations hazardous and delayed P roject execution. Additionally, the COVID19 pandemic further challenged implementation during 2020. To overcome these challenges, t he project recruited local technical staff for on - site monitoring, restruc tured activities, and transferred unfinished works to other W B - financed projects. 56. Natural disasters compounded the difficulties, prompting emergency responses and project restructuring to address urgent needs. On August 14, 2