Description

The objective of the Irrigation System Enhancement Project for Armenia is: (i) to reduce the amount of energy used and to improve the irrigation conveyance efficiency in targeted irrigation schemes; and (ii) to improve the availability and reliability of important sector data and information for decision-makers and other stakeholders. The Additional Financing (AF) will be used to support additional activities (of a ‰'last-mile variety) critical to ensuring positive impacts of the project on beneficiaries, as well as consolidate the achievements and enhance the results and outcomes achieved so far under the original project. Additional investments will include the construction of a tertiary system to supplement the planned Baghramyan-Norakert Gravity Scheme under component one. The original project provided financing only for the main and secondary canals. The restructuring will reflect the increased scope and extend the projects closing date. The AF also comprises (i) modification to the Results Framework (RF); and (ii) extension of the project closing date of the original project. No changes are envisioned in the PDO or overall implementation arrangements, except for the application of the Banks new Procurement Policy and Regulations. Activities to be funded by the AF support the PDO indicator related to improvement of conveyance efficiency in irrigation systems. Most importantly, the AF activities supplement a scheme that was already included in the Original Project (component one). The activities are not foreseen as having any new potential environmental or social impacts beyond what is described in the original project documents, and there are no changes in triggered safeguards policies.