The mid-term review mission for the Resilient Tourism and Blue Economy Development Project took place from March 4 to 13, featuring technical visits and meetings on the islands of Santiago, Sal, São Vicente, and Santo Antão.
Coordinated with the World Bank team, the mission aimed to support national authorities in assessing the project’s current status, identifying challenges, and discussing next steps to strengthen its implementation and expected results.
During the week-long mission, the team conducted visits to infrastructure and projects in the areas of tourism and the blue economy, allowing for an on-site assessment of the progress of interventions and implementation conditions. The agenda also included meetings with ministries and sectoral entities, including the Ministry of the Sea, the Ministry of Infrastructure, Spatial Planning, and Housing, the Ministry of Culture and Creative Industries, as well as their respective supervisory agencies, to analyze challenges and identify opportunities for improvement.
Among the technical visits conducted, the monitoring of projects underway on the island of Sal stands out, specifically the Espargos-Santa Maria Road Rehabilitation Project and the Santa Maria Pier Project, as well as investment sites on the islands of São Vicente, Santo Antão, and Santiago.Issues related to safeguards, procurement, and project monitoring were also discussed.
As part of the mission, a technical debrief was held with the Special Projects Management Unit (UGPE) and key government partners, during which the project’s implementation status, the approved work plan, and possible mid-term restructuring scenarios were reviewed.