The Recovery, Reconstruction and Resilience Trust Fund (SXM TF) was set up to respond to the devastation caused by Hurricane Irma in Sint Maarten on September 6, 2017. The trust fund is financed by the government of the Netherlands for up to 470 million euros (US$553.4 million) and managed by the World Bank. The Sint Maarten government implements the activities financed by the fund in partnership with the World Bank. The SXM TF provides support for the recovery and reconstruction of Sint Maarten and the strengthening of the country’s resilience to disasters, using the principles of building back better and sustainability.
An administration agreement between the Netherlands government and the World Bank established the SXM TF and its purpose.
Who We Are
The SXM TF is a tripartite partnership of the Sint Maarten and Netherlands governments and the World Bank. The partners have put agencies in charge of the efforts: the Sint Maarten National Recovery Program Bureau, the Netherlands Ministry of Interior and Kingdom Affairs, and the World Bank’s Caribbean Management Unit of the Latin America and the Caribbean Region.
The SXM TF collaborates on projects with local partners including the Sint Maarten Training Foundation (SMTF), the Sint Maarten Medical Center (SMMC), the Sint Maarten National Institute for Professional Advancement (NIPA), the NV GEBE water and power utility, the Sint Maarten Housing Development Foundation (SMHDF), and the Sint Maarten police and fire departments.
Trust Fund Financing
The SXM TF is financed by the government of the Netherlands for up to 470 million euros, and the funds are provided in tranches. Two tranches for a total of US$305.7M were received in April and November 2018.
The SXM TF is established for the benefit of the government and people of Sint Maarten. The fund is managed by the World Bank and the projects it finances are implemented by the Sint Maarten government in accordance with the World Bank’s Policies and Procedures. Support from the SXM TF is provided to the Sint Maarten government through grants.
Governance
The Trust Fund is governed by a steering committee composed of one representative from each of the three parties: the Sint Maarten and Netherlands governments, and the World Bank. The steering committee decides by consensus on the allocation of funds to short-, medium-, and long-term recovery projects, capacity building activities, and analytical work. The steering committee meets twice a year and on an ad-hoc basis to approve projects and monitor the progress of the activities financed by the fund.
The steering committee is supported in its work by a technical working group (TWG). The TWG prepares the biannual steering committee meetings and carries out the tasks the steering committee delegates it to meet the Trust Fund’s objectives.
| Steering committee members | |
|---|---|
 | Sint Maarten - The Honorable Marcel Gumbs, Former Prime Minister |
 | The Netherlands – Frans Weekers, Executive Director European Bank for Reconstruction and Development |
 | The World Bank - Ms. Tahseen Sayed, Country Director for the Caribbean |
| Technical Working Group Principals | |
|---|---|
 | Sint Maarten - Dr. Abel Knottnerus, Advisor to the Prime Minister |
 | The Netherlands - Saskia de Reuver, Sint Maarten Reconstruction Program Manager for the Dutch Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations |
 | The World Bank - Ms. Michelle Keane, Program Manager, Caribbean Country Management Unit |
Summary of Trust Fund activities as of October 8, 2019
SXM TF projects under implementation
A total of US$127.7 million has been approved and made available to the Sint Maarten government for the following projects:
1. Sint Maarten Emergency Recovery Project I: This supports the procurement of equipment for first responders, repairing shelters, housing, schools, and public buildings, improving the resilience of the energy and water supplies, strengthening the emergency response system, and capacity development of the National Recovery Program Bureau (NRPB).
2. Sint Maarten Emergency Income Support and Training Project: This provides income support to the underemployed and unemployed in the wake of Irma and certified training to help them return to work.
3. Sint Maarten Hospital Resiliency & Preparedness Project: This supports the recovery of the health sector, including repairs and upgrades to the existing hospital and the construction of a new, larger, and more disaster-resilient medical center.
4. Sint Maarten Emergency Debris Management Project aims to manage debris from the hurricane and reconstruction activities to facilitate recovery and reduce risks, including the extinguishing of fires at the disposal sites.
SXM TF projects approved by World Bank
1. Sint Maarten Enterprise Recovery Project: This aims to provide recovery support through financial instruments to the private sector, including eligible micro, small and medium enterprises, with the goal of reviving economic activities.
2. Sint Maarten Airport Reconstruction Project: This aims to help the reconstruction of the Princess Juliana International Airport.
SXM TF projects under preparation
1. Solid Waste Management and Environmental Improvement Project: This aims to improve long-term waste management and environmental protection and will be assisted by the findings of a forthcoming study on long-term solutions to waste.
2. First Public Finance Social Insurance and Resilience Development Policy Operation: the project will strengthen domestic resource mobilization and public financial management; improving the financial sustainability of the social insurance system; and boosting resilience to natural disasters.
3. Digital Governance: This project aims to improve the quality and efficiency of delivering public services to citizens and businesses through ICT. The project will focus on: (i) integrating public services around citizen and business needs, (ii) building common digital platforms within government, and (iii) creating an enabling environment for digital government.
4. Road Connectivity: The objective of the project is to improve connectivity in the project area between the western and eastern parts of the country and enhance resilience and safety in the road sector.
5. Education: The objective of the Project is to strengthen school safety and disaster risk resilience; improve the wellbeing of children in their learning and community environment; increase access to equitable opportunities for adolescents; and strengthen the child protection system.
SXM TF analytical work under preparation
1. Rapid Housing Sector Assessment
2. Airport Corporate Governance Assessment
3. Long-Term Waste Solutions
4. Country Environmental Analysis
5. Strategic Framework for SXM TF
6. Tourism Sector Recovery Strategy Support
7. Public Expenditure Review
8. National Risk Assessment – NRA (AML/CTF)
9. E-Government Strategy
Last Updated: Oct 8, 2019
Last Updated: Oct 09, 2019