CHALLENGE
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OUT-SMARTING THE LOCUST OR BIDDING AGAINST THE LOCUST Madagascar How does a government deal with a locus plague that threatens its country’s agriculture but the existing World Bank technical assistance agreement is not suitable for procuring the needed supplies and services to tackle the urgency and potential countrywide devastation?
The case story from Madagascar, New Contractual Framework with FAO for Locust Control Operation, addresses this challenge. It was submitted by Lova Ravaoarimino, Procurement Specialist, World Bank, on behalf of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Bank procurement team, comprising Joao Veiga Malta and Knut Leipold, Regional Procurement Management; Maria Vannari, OPCS and focal point for UN agreements; Alison Micheli, Legal Department; and Ivonna Kratynski, Comptroller.
SUM M A RY Declaring a national state of emergency to deal with a locus plague, the Government of Madagascar launched an appeal to the donor community for assistance. The World Bank responded favorably in approving the restructuring of the Emergency Infrastructure Preservation and Vulnerability Reduction Project to reallocate US$10 million for this activity. The Bank has also agreed that implementation of the locust control operation be outsourced to FAO on a sole source basis given its expertise and comparative advantage.
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