NATURAL RESOURCES DEVELOPMEENT PROJECT(P082375)TECHNICAL SUPERVISION MISSION

A joint Technical Supervision Mission of the world Bank and Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) was carried out from march 31-april4,2008, to assess the progress in the implementation of the albania Natural Resources Development Project(NRDP). The mission comprissed of Drita Dade(Task Team Leader,ECSSD), RobertKirmse(Senior Forest Specialist, ECSSD), Carrl-Federik Von Essen(Junnior Proffesional Officer, ECSSD), Elona Gjika(Finacial Specialist, ECSPS), Daniel Gerber (Operations Analyst, ECSSD), ANa Gjokutraj(communications Officer, ECCAL), Peter Troste(Councelor, Sida Tirana), And Lennart Ljungman(Forest specialist, Sida Consultant. More

The Main Objectives of the mission were:(i) to assess the progress made in the overall implementation of NRDP since the last supervission of the mission.(ii) to address technical issues in theformulation and implementation of the micro-catchment management plans and implementation of works; (iii) to review the goenment's proposal on the reallocation of funds among categories; (iv) to finalize planning for the midterm review; and (v) to review thye government's action plan to accelerate the transfer of forest and pastures to local governments units.

The mission visted four project sites and met with commune leaders and staff, and representatives of Forest and Pasture Users Assosiation(FPUA) in Shengjergji Commune, Zallbastar Commune, Lumas Commune, and Sinje Commune. The mission also met with the staf of the District Forest Services of Tirana and Berati districts.

Meetin of the physical targets for communal Forest and Pastures Management Plans(CFPMPs), Micro-Catchment Plans and implementation of these plans has substantially improved since the last supervision mission. None the less, the overall implementation of CFPMPs continues to be behind appraisal estimates. The quality of field works remains satisfactory. The mission was also pleased to find examples of local government units actively pursing addtional fundin and techniacal assistance from other donor agensies to finalize and expand the project activities.

The mission decided to uppgrade few of the performance ratings, but the individual project components will be rated after the Mid Term Review Mission(MTR) , based on implementation of the agreed action plan and the timely reports provided by the PMT. The agreed dates for MTR are set for June 9-25, 2008. The project Development Objectives(PDO) to establish or maintain sustanable community-based natural resoursce mangment in 218 communes may not be realistic under the current project implementation rates and may need revised by during MTR