Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia National Disaster Risk Management Commission (MOF) Draft Preliminary Rapid Social Assessment Report FOR Response–Recovery–Resilience for Conflict-Affected Communities in Ethiopia (P177233) January 2021 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 1 Table of Contents Acronyms/Abbreviations ............................................................................................................................. 4 1. Introduction .............................................................................................................................................. 6 1.1. Background ...................................................................................................................................... 6 1.2. Objective of the Rapid Social Assessment...................................................................................... 7 1.3. Methodology ................................................................................................................................... 7 2. Key Preliminary Rapid Social Assessment Findings ................................................................................. 8 2.1. Socioeconomic Characteristics and Context of Population under the Project Implementation Regions ..................................................................................................................................................... 8 2.1.1. Oromia Region .......................................................................................................................... 9 2.1.2. Amhara Region ....................................................................................................................... 10 2.1.3. Somali Region ......................................................................................................................... 11 2.1.4. Tigray Region .......................................................................................................................... 11 2.2. Key Social Issues ............................................................................................................................ 12 2.2.1. The conflicts in Ethiopia, their causes and effects and national and international efforts on conflict resolution .............................................................................................................................. 12 2.2.2. Conflicts between different Parties ....................................................................................... 13 2.2.4. Livelihood Activities................................................................................................................ 14 2.2.5. Gender and GBV ..................................................................................................................... 15 2.2.6. Vulnerable or Disadvantaged Groups .................................................................................... 17 2.2.7. Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM)................................................................................... 18 2.3. Potential Social Risks and Impacts and their Mitigation Measures ............................................ 20 2.3.1. Potential Positive Social Impacts ........................................................................................... 20 2.3.2. Adverse Social Impacts or Risks ............................................................................................. 21 2.3.2.1. Implementation of the Project in the Conflict Impact Areas and IDPs hosting regions.. 21 2.3.2.2. Social exclusion of the most Vulnerable and Underserved Groups form benefit packages 21 2.3.2.3. Land Acquisition................................................................................................................. 21 2.3.2.4. High mobility of displaced people to better service providing areas .............................. 22 2.3.2.5. GBV/SEA/SH Related Risks ................................................................................................ 22 2.3.2.6. Labor force exposure to health and safety ....................................................................... 22 2.3.2.7. Weak capacity of project coordination unit at various levels including social safeguards 23 2 2.3.3. Mitigation Measures .............................................................................................................. 23 3. Project Description ........................................................................................................................... 25 3.1. Project Development Objective ............................................................................................. 25 3.2. Components of the Project .................................................................................................... 25 4. Review of National Policies and Legal Frameworks .............................................................................. 32 2.1 The Constitution ............................................................................................................................... 32 2.2 Proclamations, Policies, Regulations, Strategies and Guidelines ................................................... 33 2.3 National and Sectoral roadmaps and Plans..................................................................................... 36 5. World Bank’s Policies, ESF Standards on Social Impacts and Strategy for Fragility, Conflict, and Violence (FCV) ............................................................................................................................................ 36 5.1. Applicable World Bank’s Policies, ESF Standards on Social Impacts ........................................... 36 5.2. World Bank Group Strategy for Fragility, Conflict, and Violence (FCV) 2020-2025 .................... 39 5.3. OP 2.30: Development Cooperation and Conflict ......................................................................... 40 5.4. OP 8.00: Rapid Response to Crises and Emergencies .................................................................... 40 6. Institutional and Implementation Arrangements.................................................................................. 41 7. Stakeholders Consultation and Engagement ......................................................................................... 42 8. Potential Social Risks/Impacts and Recommended Mitigation Measures, Responsible Body and Budget......................................................................................................................................................... 42 Reference .................................................................................................................................................... 51 3 Acronyms/Abbreviations 3R-4-CACE Response-Recovery-Resielience for Conflict Affected Communities in Ethiopia CDD Community Driven Development CERC Contingency Emergency Response Component CSA Central Statistical Agency DHS Demographic and Health Survey DRDIP Development Response to Displacement Impact Project DRS Developing Regional States E&S Environment and Social EHRC Ethiopian Human Rights Commission ESF Environmental and Social Framework ESMF Environmental and Social Management Framework ESS Environmental and Social Standards FCV Fragility, Conflict, and Violence FDRE Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia FM Financial Management GBV Gender Based Violence GDP Gross Domestic Product GEQIP-E AF General Education for Quality Improvement for Equity Additional Financing GoE Government of Ethiopia GRM Grievance Redress Mechanism IDPs Internally Displaced Peoples IOM International Organization for Migration IPPs Indigenous Peoples Plans LMP Labor Management Procedures MHPSS Mental Health Psychosocial Support MOA Ministry of Agriculture MOF Ministry of Finance MOH Ministry of Health 4 MOH Ministry of Health MOJ Ministry of Justice MOP Ministry of Peace MOUDI Ministry of Urban Development and Infrastructure MOWSA Ministry of Women and Social Affairs MOF National Disaster Risk Management Commision OSCs One Stop Centers PCU Project Coordination Unit PDO Project Development Objective PEP Post Exposure Prophylaxis PIU Project Implementation Unit POM Project´s Operations Manual SA Social Assessment SDG Sustainable Development Goal SEA Sexual Exploitation and Abuse SEA/H Sexual Exploitation and Abuse/ Harassment SEP Stakeholder Engagement Plan SH Sexual Harassment SOPs Standard Operating Procedures STIs Sexually Transmitted Infections UN United Nations WASH Water Supply, Sanitation, and Hygiene WBG World Bank Group 5 1. Introduction 1.1. Background The current wave of conflict in Ethiopia has been driven by a complex web of drivers and grievances, including political rivalries, contestation over localized resources, perceptions of regional and historical inequalities – both in development and political representation. These have been exacerbated by unfulfilled employment expectations among youth, shrinking availability of land for the younger generation, and the impacts of climate change. Some of these conflicts have long histories (for instance, between different ethnic groups over control of local resources such as water or pasture) and have re- emerged during the recent political transition. Political competition and rivalry between elites have intensified over this period – locally, and at the national level. Newer conflicts, such as around the expansion of Addis Ababa or around some large-scale investment projects (which led to land-alienation) have been overlaid onto these conflicts. These tensions have manifested across both rural and urban areas but have largely been organized along ethnic lines. Ethiopia is also affected by geopolitical tensions across the broader Horn of Africa, and which affect the political and governance situation in border regions in some states (notably Somali, but also Gambella, and to a lesser extent Amhara). The development objective of the project will be to support response, recovery, and resilience of conflict- affected communities. The project will be implemented over a five-year period (2022-2026) and financed by a US$150 million IDA Credit and a US$150 million IDA Grant. The project will be implemented in conflict impact areas and IDP hosting regions, which are volatile and highly prone to instability and conflict situation. Conflict has led to large-scale internal displacement. According to the International Organization of Migration (IOM) (2021), there were 4.17 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Ethiopia, one of largest populations of IDPs in the world. The vast majority (84%) have been displaced by conflict, while 11% have been displaced by drought and flash floods. The remaining were displaced by a combination of social tensions, landslides, swampy lands, volcanic activities, and development projects. Nearly half of all IDPs have been displaced in and from Tigray, primarily due to the conflict in the region. Nearly, 90% of all IDPs in Ethiopia are located in four regional states: Tigray (2.04 million IDPs, 48.82 percent), Somali (834,723 IDPs, 20.01 percent), Oromia (497,267 IDPs, 11.92 percent), and Amhara (354,014 IDPs, 8.49 percent). Livelihoods have been significantly impacted for both IDPs and hosts in areas of settlement/resettlement. IDPs who remain displaced or have been resettled, have either struggled to eke out livelihoods from farming or agro-pastoralism, but this has placed increased pressure on land affecting hosts and IDPs alive. In some urban and peri-urban areas, livelihood support programs were implemented by local authorities (including granting them access to land, credit and facilitation of local employment (especially for youth)) or by humanitarian/development organizations, but with limited effect. Public infrastructure has been destroyed or degraded – either due to the direct effects of conflict, or from having been used for humanitarian purposes and to house IDPs. In areas affected by conflict, essential economic infrastructure including farmer training centers, coffee pulping plants, livestock breeding centers, agriculture nurseries and model farmers display centers have been destroyed, as have health posts, health centers, and school buildings. Further, the impacts of conflict and displacement have been deeply gendered, and conflict has been characterized by marked increases in sexual and gender-based violence (GBV). The Government of Ethiopia (GoE) requested Bank support for the implementation of the Integrated Development, Recovery and Resilience Strategy to manage the IDPs crisis, including actions to build capacity for crisis preparedness and response and longer-term recovery from fragility and conflict. In light of the above, GoE is planning to implement the proposed Response Recovery-Resilience for Conflict Affected Communities in Ethiopia (3R4CACE) Project currently under preparation. The National Disaster 6 Risk Management Commission (MOF) will coordinate the Project and Ministry of Finance (MoF) will sign the financial agreement on behalf the government of Ethiopia. The Rapid Social Assessment is conducted with the primary objective of identifying the potential key social risks and impacts of the proposed project to inform the design of the project and to propose mitigation measures to address those risks and ensure the project is accessible to all, including vulnerable groups. 1.2. Objective of the Rapid Social Assessment The objective of the assignment is to produce preliminary rapid Social Assessment and then prepare a comprehensive Social Assessment report assessing the potential risks and impacts of the proposed interventions in Ethiopia on the vulnerable and disadvantaged groups in the participating regions of Ethiopia. The focus will be on identifying the key stakeholder groups in the project area, including their socio-economic characteristics, assessing the potential social risks and impacts of the project on vulnerable and disadvantaged groups; determining how relationships between stakeholder groups will affect or be affected by the project; and identifying expected social development outcomes and actions proposed to achieve those outcomes. The rapid preliminary social assessment report will inform the design of the project and discuss implications for project preparation and implementation. The preliminary assessment specifically indicates the social exclusion factors, project risks on the vulnerable and underserved groups component by component, possible GBV risks, referral system, availability of GBV services, accessibility to vulnerable groups, and mitigation measures, Grievance redress mechanisms (focusing on accessibility to vulnerable groups and accessibility), among others. After the project appraisal, comprehensive and standard Social Assessment report describing the social and economic characteristics of the possible project affected persons/population and their opinions, perceptions and conclusions on the project will be produced. Moreover, practical recommendations for dealing with the challenges and risks identified, including a communications and consultation strategy that can serve to address the risks and manage expectations and dissent, if any will be provided. 1.3. Methodology The social assessment is undertaken in two stages. The first stage of the assessment is a Rapid Preliminary Assessment, which builds on existing available data and analysis relevant to the project by identifying stakeholders and key social risks and undertaking a gap analysis of where additional data or consultations will be required. The rapid assessment is informed by studies already carried out in in IDP areas including Social Assessments conducted for World Bank financed projects such as DRDIP, GEQIP-E AF for refugee education integration and existing study reports that have been prepared in the participating regions. The assignment also involves the assessment of relevant policy/legal frameworks and recent institutional changes that may have occurred. Although information may be added during the comprehensive social assessment, at this stage, review of some significant demographic changes, external political or economic environment is also included. It also includes a review of available sources of information to describe the sociocultural, institutional, historical and political context of the country with respect to 3R-4-CACE project target regions of the country. In addition, review of the project background documents, the full extent of the proposed project, its general location, size, schedule and planned sequence of activities, resources available, expected implementation arrangements and life span is conducted. The World Bank Standards ESF-ESS1 Assessment and Management of Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts, ESS5 Land 7 Acquisition, Restrictions on Land Use and Involuntary Resettlement; and ESS10 Stakeholder Engagement and Information Disclosure that are applicable to the project are also reviewed. The second stage of the social assessment will require a comprehensive assessment to address social concerns and issues which calls for a participatory process in which stakeholders, including vulnerable groups can express their views and opinions. Based on the rapid preliminary assessment, the comprehensive social assessment will embark on field visit to collect data and conduct in-depth consultation process with the identified vulnerable and underserved groups specific to the project. During the fieldwork, additional information focusing on potential project risks and impacts on underserved and vulnerable groups will be assessed. Moreover, the consultant will identify the key vulnerable and underserved groups in IDP areas and determine their relationships with the community member, how the project will affect them or be affected by the project; assess their interest and needs and identify expected social development outcomes and actions proposed to achieve those outcomes. Social development outcomes are the socially relevant results the project is expected to achieve, such as poverty reduction, equity and inclusion, strengthening of social capital and peaceful coexistence, and promotion of accountable and transparent governance, as well as the mitigation of adverse impacts arising out of the project. For the comprehensive social assessment, a data collection tool will be developed for informed consultation to identify the potential vulnerable groups and disadvantaged areas in the participating regions and to conduct focus group discussions. The targeted groups for data collection and focus group discussions will be based on guidance to be provided by the World Bank’s Social Development Team. The main issues that will be addressed include social inclusion, the needs of the community and vulnerable groups, need for better service, customary or cultural, social institutions/organizations that might have implication to the project, unique cultural characteristics, livelihood, GBV, land, participation, grievance redress and benefit sharing plans. 2. Key Preliminary Rapid Social Assessment Findings 2.1. Socioeconomic Characteristics and Context of Population under the Project Implementation Regions Ethiopia is a country where many nation, nationalities and people are living with diverse geographies, languages, and cultures. The country has ten regional states with two city administrations. The Response– Recovery–Resilience for Conflict affected communities Project will be implemented nationwide though based on feasibility and limited financing, Amhara, Oromia, Somali, and Tigray regions will likely be prioritized for the first round. A clear description of these regions including the locations, livelihood activities, ethnic and religious compositions of the community will be conducted during the comprehensive social assessment. These helps to recognize the beneficiary profile, which are quite diverse comprising a number of sub-groups identifiable on the basis of their differential endowment, gender, ethnicity, different economic groups and other regional features. It is also imperative to give special attention to the poor and socially vulnerable groups during the design and development of mitigation measures for the social risks and challenges that may be encountered during the implementation of the project. The social assessment requires consideration of ESS1, ESS2, ESS4, ESS5, ESS7 and ESS10 of the WB ESF as the project target mainly the IDPs and host communities. The IDPs are among the vulnerable and underserved groups as well as some of 3R4CACE Project target areas of Ethiopia, which are considered as underserved and vulnerable groups. Although conflicts have occurred in Ethiopia for various reasons including competition over scarce resources such as pasture, rangeland and water. However, recently, 8 conflicts have erupted and/or are ongoing in various regions of the country such as Somali, Oromia, Benishangul Gumuz, and in the past year the war outbreak in Tigray region in November 2020. The latter has now escalated into the neighboring Amhara and Afar regions fueling a devastating crisis including death, displacement, food insecurity, and GBV, to mention a few. A myriad of causes drive conflicts and grievances such as political rivalries, contestation over localized resources, perceptions of regional and historical inequalities. Unemployment and landlessness of the youth further exacerbate the situation. Regarding IDPs in Ethiopia, as noted above, IOM data shows that there were 4.17 million as of 24 September 2021. The vast majority that accounts 84 percent have been displaced by conflict. Nearly 90 percent of all IDPs in Ethiopia are located in four regional states: Tigray (2.04 million IDPs), Somali (834,723 IDPs), Oromia (497, 267 IDPs), and Amhara (354,014 IDPs). The IOM data does not cover IDPs who are not located in identifiable IDP settlements and some parts of Ethiopia that were not fully accessible for data collection. In addition, due to the unending war in Amhara and Afar regions, the number of IDPs are increasing with alarming crisis. According to OCHA (2021) in the press release of the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths, it is indicated that conflict, large-scale displacement, drought, flooding, disease outbreaks and desert locust infestations continue to drive humanitarian needs across Ethiopia. Some 20 million people are targeted for humanitarian assistance, including 7 million who are directly affected by the conflict in northern Ethiopia. The socioeconomic characteristics of the four prioritized regions that will be involved in the implementation of the Response–Recovery–Resilience for Conflict affected communities Project is discussed briefly in the following sections. 2.1.1. Oromia Region The regional state of Oromia is the largest region in Ethiopia, with a total land area of about 353,000 km2. It borders on all regions of the country except Tigray. To the east, it borders on the Somali region; to the north, it borders on the Amhara region, the Afar region and the Benishangul-Gumuz region; to the west, it borders with South Sudan, the Gambella region and Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region. According to the national population projection data from 2014-2017, the region has an estimated population of 32, 815,995 (CSA 2013). Non-Oromo ethnic groups (Amhara, Hadiya, Sidama, etc.) accounted for 12 per cent of the population in the region. Forty-eight percent of the region’s population follows Islam, followed by 30 percent Orthodox Christians, 18 percent Protestants, 3 percent traditional believers, 0.5 percent Catholics, and others constitute one percent. Oromia Regional State's economy is dependent on agriculture, which contributes about 66 percent of regional GDP and provides more than 89 percent of the regional population with an opportunity for jobs. Mixed agriculture dominates the region's livelihood. The region accounts for 51.2 percent of crop production, 45.1 per cent of temporary crop area and 44 per cent of Ethiopia's total livestock population. Coffee, wheat, barley, teff, sorghum and oil seeds are the main crops grown in the area. Coffee is the main cash crop in the region. Administratively, the Region is divided into 18 administrative zones, 304 woredas (out of which 39 are towns and 265 rural woredas). In the region, many IDPs are found in various parts, of which a number of them were displaced from Somali region caused by the conflicts claiming land ownership and rights that led to their displacement. Similarly, IOM (2021) indicated that in April and later in June 2018, conflict broke out between Gedeo and Guji Oromo ethnic groups in West Guji which was aggravated by competition for land and resources and 9 displaced 748,499 IDPs by August 2018. Simultaneously, a localized conflict in Benishangul Gumuz region and the East and West Wellega zones of Oromia region displaced an estimated 191,995 IDPs. In addition, according to Ethiopia Humanitarian Situation Report No. 6, July 2021, in Horo Guduru Wollega Zone, the security situation is volatile due to expanding unidentified armed group operations and ethnic-based attacks, which have resulted in numerous civilian deaths and population displacements. Displacements are also ongoing in Kelem Wollega and East Wollega zones. IDPs are experiencing severe psychological distress escaping the violence, and increased risk of gender-based violence (GBV) in IDP sites has been reported. Overall, there are 592,992 IDPs in the region, primarily due to conflict, as well as to drought and flooding. 2.1.2. Amhara Region The Amhara National Regional State is located between 90 N and 130 45' North latitude and 360 to 40030' East longitude. It is bounded by Tigray region in the north, Oromia in the south, Benishangul Gumuz in the west and Afar region in the east. The Regional State is divided into ten Zonal administrations. According to the 2007 census, 82.5% of the population of the Amhara Region was Ethiopian Orthodox; 17.2% were Muslim, and 0.2%, were Protestants. The ethnic groups found in the region are the Amhara, Agaw, Oromo, Qemant, Argobba and Tigre. According to CSA (2007), the region has a population of 17.2 million, 88 percent living in rural areas. As per the population estimates of the CSA, in July 2016 the Region’s total population was estimated to be 20,769,985, which constituted 10,401,995 males and 10,367,990 females. In the same estimation, the rural population was estimated to be 83.2% whereas the urban population constituted 16.8%. The region covers a total area of around 154,000 km2. The plot size averages 0.3 ha/household. There are 105 woredas including three Special Woredas. The main crops grown in the Amhara region are cereals, pulses, and oilseeds. Crops include Teff, barley, wheat, maize, sorghum, and millet. The pulses include horse beans, field peas, beans, haricot, chickpeas and lentils. The region also possesses extensive livestock resources. Most parts of the region is on a plateau of highlands and characterized by rugged mountains, hills, valleys and gorges. As a result, the area has varied landscapes consisting of steep fault escarpments and adjacent lowland plains in the east, nearly flat plateaus and mountains in the middle, and landforms eroded in the north. Most of the western part is a flat plain that stretches to the lowlands of Sudan. The region’s high population growth rate has brought extreme land scarcity and increasing depletion of natural resources. In the region, the largest number of IDPs are found not only due to the continuing war in the northern parts of the country but also due to the conflicts in other parts of the country that affects the ethnic Amhara mainly from Western parts of Oromia and Benishangul Gumuz regions. This worsens the situations of the IDPs in the region. According to Ethiopia Humanitarian Situation Report No. 6, July 2021, in Amhara region, more than 1.37 million IDPs are living across the region in host communities and IDP sites. Of these, over 674,000 are new IDPs because of the expansion of the Tigray crisis. Despite the large number of IDPs, there has been limited humanitarian operations in the region. Furthermore, the regional 2021 ‘belg’ assessment estimates over 80 percent productivity loss, resulting in 623,920 people in need of relief assistance as of July 2021. Food security may further deteriorate due to the desert locust invasion, inflation of food costs, failure of the belg production, ongoing conflict, and active displacement due to the Tigray crisis. It is expected that the caseload of malnutrition will continue to rise in the coming months. 10 2.1.3. Somali Region Somali Regional State is the second largest region in Ethiopia next to Oromia region, covering 350,000 km2, situated in the southeastern part of the country. It is situated between latitude 4° and 11' N, and longitude 40° and 48' E. The area is arid, and mostly hot (18-45oC), largely plain with its altitude ranging from 400-1600 meters above sea level. The average annual precipitation ranges from 150mm-650 mm and has bimodal precipitation. The area has perennial rivers such as Wabi Shebelle, Genale, Dawa and Weyib, and seasonal rivers such as Erer, Daketa and Fafen. Therefore, the area has irrigated and rain-fed potential for localized farming. However, the key constraints are low rainfall, high temperature, lack of infrastructure. The creation of irrigated farming in fertile areas of the above river basins and the exploitation of perennial springs, seasonal floods and rainwater harvesting elsewhere in the region for the production of irrigated crops and pastures maybe taken into consideration. The use of drought-resistant crop varieties in the rain-fed areas along with soil and water conservation techniques will increase farm production. Somali region has a population of 5.3 million with average household size of 6.6 according to CSA projection (CSA 2013). The zone consists of 11 zonal administration, 93 districts, 6 city administrations and 1,224 Kebeles. The people rely primarily on pastoralism. In the region, livestock is both considered a social reputation and a means of accumulating wealth. Therefore, the area has a livestock population of 30,536,000 million animals, including cattle (24%), goats (36.5%), horse (32.2%), camel (7.2%) and (1%) equine (CSA, 2014). The region has 17 rural livelihood zones, generally classified as pastoral, agro-pastoral, riverine, and sedentary farming. Livestock is the main livelihood pillar in the Somali region that supports around 86 per cent of the population. It provides home-consuming milk and meat, and live animals for sale. The conflict with Oromia and Afar regions place many people internally displaced due to various reason including ethnic and border conflicts as well as in search of rangeland and water. According to Ethiopia Humanitarian Situation Report No. 6, July 2021, in Somali region, drought is anticipated to affect large areas of the southern part of the region including Dolo, Korahay, Shabelle, Liban and Afdher zones, impacting an estimated 2.4 million people including 300,000 children living within these areas. Besides, on 24 July 2021, conflict was reported in the border areas between Afar and Somali Regions mainly Gerba-Isse town, which had a devastating impact on children and women; the number of casualties still remains unknown. Preliminary information has shown that approximately 1,500 households were displaced with confirmed figures pending. 2.1.4. Tigray Region Tigray region shares borders with Eritrea in the north, Afar and Amhara in the east, and in the South, and Sudan in the west. The region has a total area of 53,000 km2 consisting of 6 administrative zones and 35 woredas. CSA population census of 2007 indicated that there are 4.3 million people in the region. The average regional landholdings are estimated to be 0.5ha/household. In the Western lowlands, the kind of food crops produced are characterized by sorghum, maize, teff, barley, and wheat. Despite lower soil fertility and rainfall, yields are usually lower than in the middle highlands. Tigray is home to a variety of special, original grain species in Ethiopia, especially various wheat and barley varieties adapted for shorter or longer rainy seasons. For a year, the region has been involved in escalating hostilities with the Federal Government of Ethiopia and the neighboring regions of Amhara and Afar. This has had disastrous impacts on the people and lead to displacements of millions including deaths, destruction of resources, GBV and left many of the people 11 foods insecure. According to UNHCR (2021) the Tigray conflict affects the overall security and the access situation remains complex and fluid, hindering effective delivery of humanitarian assistance to the most affected populations in Central, Southern Eastern, Eastern, North-Western and Southern Zones and left some 2.1 million internally displaced people in Tigray region. Several contextual risk factors and issues could be mentioned in undermining the social cohesion and affect project implementation in the region. As reported publicly by various media and publications, in the region, some of the contextual risk factors include the ethnic and religious tensions such as ethnic- based killings; sexual violence; forced displacement; the prevention of access to health care, food, and water, destruction of Christian and Muslim cultural heritage sites. Different actors such as the national military, as well as the Eritrean military, militias from Ethiopia’s Amhara region, and other militia groups, have been reportedly involved. 2.2. Key Social Issues 2.2.1. The conflicts in Ethiopia, their causes and effects and national and international efforts on conflict resolution In Ethiopia, various sources outlined several drivers of conflict and fragility at the local and national level, which are closely interlinked. At national level, conflict drivers include the period of political instability, re-organization of political system, conflict/tension between former members of the EPRDF, power sharing and contestation among political parties and elites, old and new, Spill-over impacts of regional fragility, Intra-elite contestation, natural disasters, youth unemployment, economic shocks and Horn of Africa Political, Economic, and Social Dynamism (Somalia, Eritrea, South Sudan, etc.). In addition, there are local level drivers of conflicts that include conflicts between ethnic groups in cities, regional states, religious groups, armed groups, political factions, business rivalries as well as youth unemployment and lack of access to agricultural land, to mention a few. Regional drivers of fragility due to climate crises in neighboring countries can spill over into Ethiopia, primarily in the form of displacement. Thus, the conflicts either national or local have different implications for WB projects as it affects the geographically dispersed projects and other service delivery projects, which utilize government systems. Regarding conflicts related to IDPs, most studies shows that hosting areas of IDPs due to conflict are often characterized by dearth of social and economic service giving infrastructures. The situation is exacerbated by the presence of displaced communities that are affected by conflict effecting to the various social, economic and environmental conditions of the host communities. This can be worsened when it creates burden on existing social amenities/infrastructures. There is also market price inflation or rise after the coming of the displaced people. The host community continues to be willing to absorb and support IDPs but their capacity to do so is strained by the repeated and protracted nature of urban displacement and lack of space and resources. This may create tense relationship and escalate the conflict between the host communities and the IDPs. In previous social assessments like assessment for DRDIP, show the existence of some forms of conflict between and within members’ refugees and host community. However, conflicts are not as such serious. The conflicts did not claim people’s life. The major causes of conflict between the two parties are theft of host communities’ crops and small ruminants by the refugees and restriction of access to resources such as farmlands, forest and forest products, etc. It is also due to straying of refugee animals into host 12 communities’ crops and irrigation land; competition over resources such as firewood, grass, and grazing land; the damage refugees’ cause to environment; and the like. The local committees that have been set up everywhere composed of the host community members, refugees’ conflict handling committee members as well as Kebele and woreda administrators, have resolve the conflicts. Nevertheless, this project will be implemented with particular focus of the internally displaced people and the host communities. 2.2.2. Conflicts between different Parties In the project implementation regions as stated earlier, the people regard their social diversity relations in several forms. They organized into different social groupings based on various forms of ethnic identities as clearly described in the socioeconomic and context of the population in the project implementation areas. Within the same ethnic group, there are clan and sub-clan divisions mainly in the pastoral and agro- pastoral communities of Somali and parts of Oromia regions. Various languages spoken in Ethiopia, which is based on locality, also characterize social diversity and cohesion. It is also important to mention the need to consider the interaction of diverse groups within various contexts of social and power relationships. The relationships created through social and power perspective in turn would bring access, capabilities and opportunities. Ensuring social cohesion is not easy, as IDPs often lack political participation and understanding of the locality of the host communities. At the local or regional level, an influx of additional people for an extended period can strain local services, reducing authorities’ capacity to respond to the needs of the local population, including the most vulnerable people among them. IDPs can pose significant challenges and burdens on host communities and local authorities. The arrival of large numbers of IDPs can be seen as a demographic shock and exacerbate pre-existing problems. Hesitation among the host community to accept IDPs is an issue, and it requires political action on the part of local authorities to fight prejudice, prevent violence, promote intercultural understanding and ensure social cohesion. Protecting the rights of the IDPs is not an end in itself. It is fundamental for ensuring integration and social cohesion and, consequently, the well-being of communities. 2.2.3. Conflict Resolution Mechanisms and the role of Customary Institutions Previously undertaken Social Assessments by WB financed projects highlighted important customary institutions in all societies that are involved in dispute resolution and/or providing support for the vulnerable. These are particularly strong in pastoralist societies and religious institutions provide charity. In the social assessments, there is discussion of different types of customary institutions and the positive role they play in conflict resolution. Some of the support from customary institutions involve gifts or loans/credit of food (grain or among pastoralist groups milk), livestock (usually lactating cows, oxen to plough with, lactating camels or donkeys for transport), or cash at times of hardship, (famine, loss of livestock, death of oxen) for weddings or funerals. The support may be provided to clan members, kin, family, children, friends, or to poor people, widows and orphans, with traditional fostering called guddi facha in Oromo society. Some forms of support may be expected or mandatory with sanctions for not providing it, and others may be voluntary at the discretion of individuals. There are also common forms of labor sharing, often during planting, weeding or harvesting (debo, jige, wofera - SLMP-SA, LFSDP-SA) and sometimes for house building, that are either recriprocal, usually between two individuals or households, or festive, in exchange for food and drink, often called by wealthier households. Some of these are forms of religiously prescribed charity, as in the case of Zakat or 13 Fidri gifts at the end of Ramadan in Islam, or gifts during Saints days in the Orthodox Christian tradition. Some local institutions have specific purpose, notably credit and saving (eqqub), pooling resources in turn (women’s butter or spinning groups), or for burial (iddir/kire/sera), which may also play a role of support for the vulnerable. Many of the customary institutions are led by of clan leaders and/or elders and are involved primarily in customary justice with different names and rules in different cultures (AGP-SA, DRDIP-SA, WaSH-SA). There are also customary institutions involved in natural resource management of land, particularly in pastoralist areas for pasture land, water for irrigation, water wells (notably in Borana), forest land, etc (SLMP-SA). Some of these institutions are said to have been weakened in part due to more “frequent natural hazards that deplete the social and physical assets of the community� (PCDP-SA). The relationship of customary institutions with government structures is complex with elements of competition and cooperation, especially with the recent expansion of government institutions to lower levels below the Kebele, notably the development teams (SLMP-SA). Customary leaders and institutions notably clan structures were found to play an important role in ‘targeting�. However, from the project’s point of view, this was seen as resulting in the inclusion of people who were not eligible and others who deserved to be included were not, with women often faring badly. (PSNP4-SA). Moreover, among the pastoralist groups a strong sharing ethnic often means that aid and PSNP transfers are widely shared. From a project point of view this is seen as ‘diluting’ the benefits when ‘beneficiaries share their kinsmen who are not included in the program and hence for whom the resources were not intended� thereby endangering effectiveness (PSNP4-SA). This raises the question of how customary institutions that have the support of the communities can best work with formal institutions in improving the effectiveness of social support and social protection, and how they can be reformed to take account of women’s and children’s rights. Besides, in different parts of the country, there are various forms of traditional conflict resolution mechanisms. These includes, for examples, in Oromia, Jarsuma (conciliation of elderly) which is under the bigger umbrella of the Gada system, in Somali, ‘odiyash deganka’ (resolution by clan leaders) and in Amhara and Tigray, it is called Shemgilna (resolution by elderly people). Thus, during the project implementation, it is vital to use such customary institutions and traditional conflict resolution mechanism in addition to the formal and project related GRM. 2.2.4. Livelihood Activities The main livelihood activities of communities in the study areas depend on agriculture and livestock rearing. Livestock production is the principal means of livelihood for the Somali and pastoral and agro pastoral parts of Oromia regional state. This is to mean that there is a practice of traditional and extensive livestock rearing system (cattle, camels, goats and sheep). The agro-pastoralists also make their livelihood out of mixed agriculture, mainly those households residing along the permanent rivers. However, there have been vulnerabilities due to recurrent drought, chronic water shortages, conflicts, market shocks (livestock and cereals price fluctuations), animal and human diseases. The livestock herd size per household is reducing radically because of shortage of pasture. Massive livestock death and reduced animal fertility rates have also become common trends in the Project implementing areas. According to 14 Addis Standard report on October 6, 2021, in one of the Oromia regional state, Borena zone, due to drought, 7,540 cattle were died, and some 13,641 cattle are moving around with the assistance of humans because the drought has weakened them. There are different forms of pastoral livelihoods that were addressed by previous social assessments of World Bank such as LLRP, PSNP and PCDP. Accordingly, they are listed as follows: Livestock-based livelihoods are households that rely on rearing camels, cattle, sheep and goats. The survival, quantity and condition of these livestock determine a household’s wealth and ability to continue their traditional livelihood patterns. Mobility and the ability to access natural resources such as pasture and water, are fundamental to the continuation of this livelihood and often called as ‘pure’ pastoralists. Agro-pastoral livelihoods combine extensive livestock rearing and rain-fed cereal production (typically sorghum, wheat, and barley) for household consumption. The area under agricultural cultivation is mainly restricted by the availability of labour within the household. Mobility remains important for these households. Sedentary farmers practice mixed farming, cultivating food crops (sorghum, wheat or other cereals) along with modest flocks of sheep and goats. Wealth is determined by land holdings and oxen ownership. Ex-pastoralists are households who have lost their livestock and now depend largely on the ‘sale’ of family labour. Ex-pastoralists are settled on the periphery of major urban centers and in internally displaced person camps. The majority remain on the margins performing low-skilled labor-intensive activities value activities such as casual labour and the collection and sale of bush products. The above-mentioned pastoral livelihoods and farming livelihood communities of Ethiopia can be affected by the ongoing conflicts and war in the various parts of the country. Thus, this project should take into account the crisis related to the conflict and require providing support for highly vulnerable groups or communities in the country in relations to the effects of the outbreak of the war or conflicts. The various support mechanisms of the project are stated in the components and will be further treated under the social development plan. 2.2.5. Gender and GBV Gender Gender inequality has been common in all parts of Ethiopia. The Human Development Index (HDI) of Ethiopia is 0.485 – it is 0.442 for females (up from 0.247 in 2000) and 0.527 for males (up from 0.331 in 2000). Ethiopia ranks 125 out of 189 countries on the Gender Inequality Index (GII) with a GII value of 0.517 (with a maximum of 1 denoting complete inequality). This is mainly observed in accessing productive resources and basic services. However, initiatives are implemented that enhance the participation and benefits of women in various development projects. It is also imperative to highlight societal and gender relations in many communities of the country that women in male headed and female-headed households have been the most vulnerable groups, particularly in the war affected areas and communities. They become vulnerable because of lack of education, gender bias, tradition and culture, and their reproductive and productive roles. The status of Ethiopian women can be seen in terms of societal attitudes towards women; their socio-economic status; their educational status; women’s awareness of their rights; their productive and reproductive roles. In addition, based on the Rapid GBV risk assessment in Ethiopia, (World Bank, 2021), due to current situation of unrest and conflict, increased displacement people have expanded the vulnerability of women and girls to GBV and at the same time access to basic services such as health and protection reduced. Furthermore, women faced multiple challenges as they left their residences such as shortage of food, health problem, mental health 15 disturbance (fear, anxiety, depression, inability to sleep and inability to take care of themselves) and others. According to various sources, it is imperative to understand the special concerns of displaced women and the need for a gender approach to assistance and protection strategies. This is because displacement tends to alter the family and household structure and change gender roles forcing women to assume additional burdens while exposing them to additional risks. Lack of appropriate skills and difficulties in developing new coping mechanisms are among the problems displaced women must face. However, women play a central role in developing coping mechanisms and in reducing the vulnerabilities faced by families and communities. It is vital to consider displaced and host communities’ women to play a key role in the design and implementation of the various activities that can help alleviate their livelihoods providing them job opportunity or seed money to open small businesses, provide health and psychosocial services as well as capacity building trainings skills, to mention a few. Participation in community activities and local organizations show that there are no gender differences. Both men and women are involved in community meetings and in local organizations. Men often participate in both activities more than women, however, difference is insignificant. In the project area, there may be dominance of male over female in making decisions on key issues though these days various projects require the participation of all sections of the community. Concerning IDPs and affected populations, they have a right to participate actively in decisions that affect them. Moreover, their participation is essential to ensure that interventions for their benefit effectively address their needs, and protect the rights of all segments of the population affected. In this regard, a central component of effective participatory assessments is the holding of separate, structured discussions with women, girls, men, boys of diverse ages and backgrounds focusing on their specific protection risks, understanding their capacities and ensuring each group a voice in setting priorities and proposing solutions. Often women, children, minority groups, older persons, persons with disabilities and indigenous people have less social, economic and political power, and are less represented in formal leadership structures. Consequently, they are often overlooked in assessment and planning processes and this can inhibit their access to and control over resources on equal terms with others. Participatory assessments that solicit their views may help to prevent this, and ensure that their specific protection gaps are addressed. RPLRP SA indicates that project operational manual states that progress of implementation of sub projects must be made known to everyone and can be done through monthly regular community learning meetings, whereby at least 80% of the community members and at least 50% women members have participated. In order to ensure the participation of women in the project management of the community, more than 30% of the committee members need to be women. The project implementation manual has clearly identified the number, role and responsibilities of women in the committees, and this can be taken as a good lesson during the implementation of this project. GBV Some of the different forms of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) that are prevalent in Ethiopia include, among others, intimate partner violence (physical, emotional and sexual), domestic violence, female genital mutilation/cutting, sexual assault, rape, marriage by abduction, and child marriage. These forms of GBV mainly encounter girls and women, which is rooted in unequal power dynamics between women and men, which hinder women’s and girls’ development, health, livelihood, and physical and mental well- being. 16 Study show that a number of key focus areas with direct implications for GBV prevention and response efforts in Ethiopia and the government has made great strides with supportive policies and tools to address gender inequality and prevent GBV and harmful norms. These include establishing a Women and Youth Affairs Directorate within the Federal Ministry of Health; assigning gender experts at regional, zonal, and woreda offices; and increasing the capacity of the Ministry of Women and Children to prevent and respond to GBV. These efforts have resulted in declines in early and forced marriage and increases in school enrollment. In addition, One-stop centers are localized in and administered by hospitals (health sector). These centers are equipped with staff from multi-sectors-health workers (various professional disciplines), police, prosecutors, counselors, and social workers working in team - in line with the SOP for effective coordinated response centering the survivor of GBV/SV. The model of health service delivery for survivors of GBV/SV varies at different setting and the centers deal with various types of GBV/SV but mostly focus on sexual violence. The centers at Kara Mara Hospital in Somali Regional State, for example, commonly deals with complication arising from FGM. The collaboration with other sectors is through referring the survivor for the needful in the Woreda and Regional hospitals. In this regard, healthcare workers are aware of gaps in service delivery for GBV survivors and want additional resources, training, and guidance to deliver quality care to GBV survivors. While basic services exist, resource constraints, knowledge gaps among clients and healthcare workers, and weak multi-sectoral referral links create disjointed and incomplete pathways of care for GBV survivors. Moreover, the sociocultural norms that foster stigma for survivors and normalize violence within partnerships inhibit women’s, men’s, boys’, and girls’ access to comprehensive GBV care and treatment. In addition, according to the EDHS 2016, only few (2%-3%) seek assistance from health and lawyers and 8% report to police and rest seek assistance from families, friends/neighbors. These reflect that there is fear, stigma associated with, or dissatisfaction of service or being unaware of the availability of services. There is much to do in this regard in making health facilities friendly for GBV. Coupled with the above gaps, internal conflicts, disease outbreaks, food scarcity and migrations are few features that attributed to the drastic increase of internally displaced people, returnees and refugees in the last two years. These situations have increased the risk of GBV and the resilience of the health system to respond effectively is challenged. 2.2.6. Vulnerable or Disadvantaged Groups According to various sources, different categories of groups are considered vulnerable or disadvantage in the project implementation regions. These include women, children, minority groups, and older persons, persons with disabilities and underserved people and region (Somali). These segments of the population have less social, economic and political power and are less represented in formal leadership structures. Internally displaced people are also parts of these segments of the population, mainly young IDPs, especially girls, often experience particular pressure and difficulties as they can be subject to discrimination along the lines of gender and suffer from gender-based violence. More attention must be paid also to the elderly, who are often traumatized by the loss of their home and community identity. There are a number of potential key drivers of vulnerability that include but not limited to: lack of or limited access to political power and representation (marginalization, exclusion), lack of or limited social capital including social networks and connections, lack of access to basic services, regional and historical inequalities, power sharing and contestation among political parties and elites as well as lack of social cohesion. 17 Various measures were undertaken to improve the livelihoods of vulnerable and underserved groups by the government and projects (DRDIP, PCNP, LLRP and CALM). In most cases, the interventions identify and assess the situation of these groups. Following that targeted support such as direct transfer, employment and income generation schemes were implemented in collaboration with development partners. Internally displaced people and other affected populations have a right to participate actively in decisions that affect them. This is due to the fact their interest, benefit may be overlooked, and they may not be treated accordingly. If they are part of the decisions, the IDPs have a chance to reflect their concerns and interests regarding the project identification, planning and implementation in a way that suits them. Moreover, they may be disproportionately be impacted or further disadvantaged by the project as compared with any other groups due to their vulnerable status, and usually require special arrangement to ensure their equal representation in the consultation and decision-making process associated with the project. Additionally, their participation is essential to ensure that interventions for their benefit effectively address their needs and protect the rights of all segments of the population affected. It is also important to carry out discussions in a separate and structured manner with women, girls, men and boys of diverse ages as well as backgrounds focusing on their specific protection risks, understanding their capacities and ensuring each group a voice in setting priorities and proposing solutions. It is also imperative to consider participatory assessments with hosting communities. Their views are important to understand whether protection risks are specific to IDPs, or equally affect the whole community. Their views are also key to gauge their capacity to support IDPs, and how this capacity can be strengthened, which will substantially influence the type of response to provide. There are different ways in which these consultations can take place including interviews, focus group discussions and joint meetings with members of the hosting community and IDPs. The choice will depend on the context, in particular on security concerns. Generally, local authorities need to play a key role in facilitating and promoting equal access to and protection of IDPs. The issues discussed above with regards to vulnerable and disadvantaged groups with particular focuses on IDPs are in line with the ESS 7 World Bank requirements that consider historically underserved traditional local communities in the project. This is due to the fact Somali and parts of pastoralists (and Semi-pastoralists) in Oromia regions are addressed in the context of ESS7. Coupled with vulnerability and being disadvantaged groups, displacement due to war will have disproportionate impacts on their overall living conditions. This relates to the food insecurity and loss of livelihood disproportionately impact vulnerable group of the community. Though the exact number is unknown, the vulnerable group in the project areas include women, women headed household, elders, children, unemployed youths, and disabled people significantly and disproportionately affected by the impact of the war. This section will be strengthen and updated based on the data that will be collected during the comprehensive SA. 2.2.7. Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) The Ethiopian Institute of Ombudsman has established GRM structures in the country and accordingly all regional governments have established their respective GRM structures down to woreda level with focal points located in the kebeles. At kebele level, GRM committee members are drawn from kebele administration, teachers, development agents, health extension workers, and the community. At woreda level, it is composed of representatives from the local administration, education, health, women and child affairs, and the community. The reporting structure starts from the woreda by the assigned GRM officers reporting to the woreda administrator, who in turn submits regular consolidated reports to the GRM office at the regional level. The head of the regional GRM office is accountable to the regional presidents and 18 provides regionally consolidated reports to the Ethiopian Institute of Ombudsman. Despite the previously mentioned achievements of the government, the following gaps were identified about GRM:  Lack of clear procedures for addressing complaints in the regional GRMs,  Lack of uniformity (in terms of content, regulations, structures and process) among regional level GRM  Lack of procedures and technicalities that affect effective, efficient, and informative record keeping, that could be a leverage for improvement of service delivery  Lack of interconnectedness with other GRM institutions and department within government structures, and with the Ethiopian Institution of the Ombudsman. A grievance redress mechanism is established to resolve concerns effectively and timely. This mechanism is notified for the affected people before the implementation of the project and thus grievances will be actively managed and tracked to ensure that appropriate resolutions and actions are taken. The grievance procedure does not replace existing legal processes. Based on consensus, the procedures will seek to resolve issues quickly to expedite actions without resorting to expensive and time-consuming legal actions. If the grievance procedure fails to provide a result, complainants can still seek legal redress. As reports of various previous assessments of the Bank financed projects indicated the effectiveness of existing Bank supported project GRMs in the Regions. With regard to grievances related to GBV, Bank supported projects have recognized and referred cases to respective service providers based on a survivor-centered approach (that is always based on the demands of survivors and ensuring confidentiality). Such grievances were handled according to standard GRM procedures with the support of Woreda Women and Children Affairs Office or female GBV focal points that were selected and trained to provide basic referrals. Moreover, grievance redress mechanisms for GBV/SH cases handled through survivor’s centered approach as per the guidance of WB GBV good practice note. The Response-Recovery-Resilience Project does not have GRM structure as it is on preparation. The comprehensive SA will assess the exiting GRM structure in the IDP and host areas and might adopt if applicable or suggest establishing a new project specific GRM. In order to enable GRM to be more effective in the Project and address issues related to the implementation of the project, more awareness about possible conflicts and grievances that could come because of the implementation of the program should be explored and included in the GRM plans. Some of the possible causes of conflicts between the IDPs and hosts might emanate from, for example, in Adama town it has broken out on religious lines between resettled IDPs and hosts, which centered around inadequate compensation for land acquired to resettle IDPs and on building sites of worship (mosques and churches) (IOM, 2021). As existing thoughts show due to various kinds of conflicts, although traditional forms of conflict- resolution mechanisms have been pivotal in the management of conflicts or social tensions, since recent times, it has failed or severely undermined. In addition, social relationships between groups has broken down and IDPs limit their interactions with people in host communities in order to minimize feelings of distress. Furthermore, impacts on informal livelihoods can affect the relationships between IDPs and hosts. In this regard, some studies such as Yigzaw, et al (2019) described that IDPs are over-burden existing community services, resources, job or economic livelihood opportunities. In addition, tension arises between the IDPs and host communities, making effective local integration difficult and thereby leads to price inflation; the 19 cost of living in the host communities increases, mainly cost of food, shelter, healthcare and education facilities. During the comprehensive social assessment, detail consultations will be conducted to capture the causes of conflicts between the IDPs and hosts as well as assess existing GRM and the best structure that suit with the project. Based on the assessment, project related GRM should provide project-affected parties with accessible and inclusive means to raise issues and grievances in accordance with ESS10, of the ESF as well as all E&S instruments, and in a manner acceptable to the Bank. The 3R-4-CACE project grievance resolution process will involve the following main steps:  Receipt of grievances: anyone from the affected communities or believing they are affected by the Project can submit a grievance (written, verbal, text message, telephone, etc. as appropriate for the complainant).  Registering the complaint: the focal person who received the complaint will use the GRM logbook for registering.  Referral and examination of complaints: a GRM Committee shall be established at each project implementation site/ Kebele (comprising of members from representatives of implementing agencies, PAPs, elders, a representative from Woreda Women and Children Affairs office, etc.) who will examine the complaint, resolve, or refer to the appropriate body.  Notifying the complainant: the decision/solution/action by the grievance committee shall be communicated to the complainant as per the stipulated timeline for feedback.  Closing the complaint: where the complainant or complaint that is not related to the project or any of its components, or a Complaint that accepts the decision/solution of the complaint being heard by the judiciary will be closed following acknowledgment signed by complainant. The complaints recorded, resolved and referred will be reported quarterly with the environmental and social implementation performance report to the World Bank and other relevant stakeholders. 2.3. Potential Social Risks and Impacts and their Mitigation Measures In this section, discussions are made on the positive and negative social impacts/risks likely to occur because of the project. In respect of the negative social impacts or risks, related issues are identified and correspondingly mitigation measures are proposed. 2.3.1. Potential Positive Social Impacts The project has various positive contributions for the IDPs and the hosting communities and areas in terms of response, recovery and resilience. One of the positive impacts of the project is the provision of basic services and economic opportunities for conflict-affected communities, including rapid response services to prepare communities’ transition from recipients of humanitarian support to sustainable development focusing on community-based services on health, education, and WASH. The project will help the household level as recovery solutions including support for skills and resources to re-establish livelihoods. It also strengthen institutions for reseilence, mainly the local civil workforce by enhancing their capacities through different means comprising of appropriate trainings. Secondly, expanding and strengthening GBV service delivery and prevention programming in conflict- affected communities. The project will expand access to and capacity for delivery of essential, quality GBV services with emphasis on case management, medical care and psychosocial support. In particular, the project will focus on i) improving multi-sectoral response through existing One-Stop Centers (OSCs) 20 established in urban centers and ii) expanding and strengthening community-based service delivery through specialized partners and piloting of mobile services. 2.3.2. Adverse Social Impacts or Risks The adverse social risks/impacts related to Response–Recovery–Resilience for Conflict affected communities are summarized as follows and mitigation measures are proposed for each in the social development plan as per components of the project. 2.3.2.1. Implementation of the Project in the Conflict Impact Areas and IDPs hosting regions Project implementation risks in conflict affected areas and IDP hosting regions, which are volatile and highly prone to instability and conflict situation. As a result, there will be security risks for mobile teams or staff deployed to provide services for the conflict affected communities while moving from area to area. In addition, there might be possibility of tensions or conflicts between the IDPs and the host communities that bring risks during the implementation of the project. Coupled with the insufficient capacity of the government, it may affect the implementation. 2.3.2.2. Social exclusion of the most Vulnerable and Underserved Groups form benefit packages There is a potential risk of social exclusion of the most vulnerable and underserved groups from sharing the benefit packages of the project particularly related to recovery packages such as transition skill trainings, seed grants, etc. as well as GBV and MHPSS referral services like mobile community-based services on health, education, and WASH. The elite capture and/or different interest groups including traditional authority structures in influencing community’s prioritization and manipulation of support provided as well as lack of transparency during selection of the beneficiaries for the financial and technical assistance may worsen the situation. In addition, there might be weak consultation and participation of the beneficiaries of the conflict affected communities including the IDPs and host communities. This could lead to lack of considering appropriate needs, priorities and skills as per the local context. Thus, skill trainings that misses the local context and exclusion of vulnerable groups from the skill trainings as well as from the provision of cash grants/seed funds to kick start sustainable livelihoods models may be risks during the implementation of the project. There might also be a disagreement or conflicts on the size or amount of the cash grants even on the criteria of vulnerabilities. 2.3.2.3. Land Acquisition There is a potential risk of land acquisition, as the project will involve financing of reconstruction activities in the exiting damaged facilities or construction of new facilities in new settlement areas. This may be exacerbated when the affected people are not adequately and timely compensated for the acquired land as well as when they have not received replacement land or not been appropriately treated and consulted to restore their livelihoods. In the situation of the IDPs, there might be case of social risks linked to land and property disputes. Land ownership is often a source of conflict in this setting because during displacement they may lose their land use right certificate and lose of properties due to the conflict. Due to the IDP camps, there might be restrictions to road access and taking over of other communal lands used for various activities and even basic infrastructures. In times compensation required, there may be disagreement on the amount of compensation and delay in compensation payments, which result in delay of project completion. 21 2.3.2.4. High mobility of displaced people to better service providing areas Within the same project target locality, there may be a high mobility of displaced people to kebeles or woredas providing better services of the project benefit packages. The displaced people want to get whatever services and benefit is available as they are highly vulnerable groups of society and are in difficult condition to meet their basic needs. The majority lack a sustainable source of livelihood, income sources, and want to maximize their life saving opportunities moving to project locations where they believe that good benefits will be available. 2.3.2.5. GBV/SEA/SH Related Risks Regarding GBV, according to the DHS (2016) data, a significant percentage of GBV (particularly between husband and wife) was recorded in the three regions (Tigray 33%, Amhara 35%, Oromia 38% and Somali 9%) where the assessment was carried out. Given this understanding, during this project/sub-project implementation, the necessary precaution regarding GBV/SEA/SH should be taken into account though the project has a component that help expand and strengthen GBV related activities. However, there might be potential GBV/SEA/SH risks that occur due to project staff activities including rehabilitation or construction workers, and labor influx for construction activities. There were cases where the IDPs have encountered GBV/SEA/SH during the war or conflicts and this may continue in the campsite. This can be associated with risks of SEA/SH and other forms of GBV extending from project activities, including key infrastructure elements as well as the receipt of cash by women and other vulnerable groups and sexual exploitation and abuse risks such as sexual favors. Moreover, the fluid humanitarian/emergency context could bring potential limitations in ability to supervise the full range of the project. In terms of implementing GBV prevention and response, at national levels, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between different sectors (police, legal, etc.) involved in GBV prevention and response including sexual harassment. As part of this effort, a number of One-Stop Center Service (OSCS) to GBV survivors were established across all regions. The multi-sectoral OSCS government partners include health service providers, Women and Children Affairs, Police and legal service providers. However, it is necessary to strengthen the activities of OSCS including updating of gender action plan and make sure it has a protocol on how to carry out referrals of GBV to response services. This is because there are capacity gaps of the implementing bodies including those working in safeguards. There may be gaps of grievances redress mechanism related to GBV to respective service providers based on the demands of survivors and without forgetting confidentiality and lack of knowledge and skill to provide basic referrals. Moreover, there are gaps related to service delivery for GBV survivors. These include lack of enough resources, training, and guidance to deliver quality care to GBV survivors as well as knowledge gaps among clients and healthcare workers, and weak multi-sectoral referral links create disjointed and incomplete pathways of care for GBV survivors. Moreover, the sociocultural norms that foster stigma for survivors and normalize violence within partnerships inhibit women’s, men’s, boys’, and girls’ access to comprehensive GBV care and treatment. This coupled with dissatisfaction of service or being unaware of the availability of services. Thus, it is imperative to pave ways in making health facilities friendly for GBV by ensuring confidentiality or service provision. 2.3.2.6. Labor force exposure to health and safety Occupational health and workplace rights concerned with the safety, health, and welfare of people at workplace. The project will engage in basic service providing infrastructures of existing or on new settlements. During this, there might be lack of following the occupational health and safety procedures. As a result, the labor force may be exposed to health and safety risks while participating in the construction of damaged facilities and on new settlement areas. In addition, there are potential small- scale environment, health and safety risks that may result from mobile clinics, Water Supply, Sanitation, 22 and Hygiene facilities for the displaced people and reconstruction or construction of public facilities. Moreover, Environment and Health Safety risks are related to potential falls, injuries and illnesses due to renovation/construction of public facilities. COVID-19-related restrictions could constrain travel of implementation partners, which also affects the carrying out of the required consultations with stakeholders and communities. 2.3.2.7. Weak capacity of project coordination unit at various levels including social safeguards Weak capacity of the project coordination unit at various levels in particular the management of the required Environmental and Social Risk Management (ESRM) and the coordination of project implementers in general. In addition, there are weak linkages and coordination among institutions, sectors, programs and projects at all levels. The capacity gaps of the project implementers are coupled with limited experience in implementing the World Bank supported projects, including lack of experience in environmental and social risk management with ESF requirements for example, MoWSA is a new institution, while MOF has limited experience from only recent engagement with the Bank. This may affect the management of potential environmental and social risks. Further, those implementing institutions do not have well-experienced Social development specialists that deal with the social risk of the project. 2.3.3. Mitigation Measures The mitigation measures and recommendations to address the adverse social impacts or risks listed above are discussed as follows directly associated with the corresponding number that the risks identified in the aforementioned section. 1. It is imperative to conduct preemptive security risk assessment, and, on this base, it needs to prepare security risk management plan later on and build capacity to reduce the effects of conflicts. This could be done by strengthening the useful experiences in resolving the recently observed conflicts through blending the formal and informal institutions in collaboration with the host communities and the government operating at different levels. This includes awareness creation and consultation with the IDPs and host communities to help them aware of the sources of conflicts and provide full support during the project implementation. The project needs to include checklists of conflict sensitivity assessment in the ESMF, consider sensitivity of local conflict dynamics, and implement in a way to avoid escalating local tensions as the works cover IDPs and hosting communities. The project should consider the livelihoods and political vulnerability of project implementation areas and create communication messages in accordance with the local context. The MOF, the PCU should alert the Bank any incidents related to security, conflict and potential sensitivities towards conflict in the project areas. 2. Inclusion of most vulnerable and underserved groups in the benefit packages of the project particularly related to recovery packages such as transition skill trainings, seed grants, etc. Moreover, GBV and MHPSS referral services like mobile community-based services on health, education, and WASH should be availed. Community consultations should include targeted consultations with key community representatives, for instance, elders and traditional leaders to receive feedback to adapt the actions to local needs, with special attention to vulnerable and disadvantaged groups including culturally appropriate communication means. Grievance redress mechanisms should also be effective for affected communities. Therefore, as per the requirements of ESS 1, ESS 5, ESS7 and ESS10, culturally appropriate community engagement mechanisms are included in the draft SEP to ensure meaningful engagement on Response–Recovery–Resilience for Conflict affected communities of the project. In addition, while the subproject screening, the issue of underserved including vulnerable 23 groups taken into consideration. In addition, the subproject-screening checklist will be annexed in the ESMF. 3. It requires preparing RF for land acquisition related issues. The Project Implementing Agencies in collaboration with institutions responsible for land acquisition (woreda and city level land administration offices) should properly conduct consultations in a timely and meaningful manner with PAPs before commencement of subprojects activities. In addition, the consultation meeting minutes should be properly documented. It also needs to avoid activities, which involve large scale and significant displacement. In cases where the project involves in activities that require land acquisition, the new Proclamation No.1161/2019 and the regulation No. 472/2020 can be utilized to minimize and reduce the complaints and other negative impacts or risks related to land. Moreover, with regard to resettlement, the Resettlement Plan should be prepared before taking the required land in compliance with Project Resettlement Framework. Besides, there is a need to properly utilize compensation and livelihood restoration procedures for persons impacted by the land acquisition. 4. The entire project hosting areas government bodies specifically at woredas and kebeles should properly and equitably provide services of the project benefit packages. Consultation with the displaced people at different stages is very important to understand and take measure for the difficult condition to meet their basic needs. The PCU should set a controlling mechanism through its monitoring as well as a reporting system. 5. Addressing gender dimensions of the operation including gender-based violence (GBV): The Project level GBV (SEA/SH) Risk Assessment should be conducted as part of comprehensive final social assessment. Based on the finding, GBV Action Plan will be prepared, which will be implemented and defined the potential project GBV issues thus during implementation, measures should be taken in accordance with the project GBV action plan. The project implementing teams will regularly access and manage the risks of SEA/SH and other forms of GBV extending from project activities, including key infrastructure elements as well as the receipt of cash by women and other vulnerable groups and sexual exploitation and abuse risks such as sexual favors. The PCU will engage a GBV specialist dedicated to support oversight and management of these risks. Monitoring of the management of GBV risks will be an integral part of the project activities. The project will also ensure regular consultation and engagement with women and women’s groups throughout the project to ensure equitable inclusion in project activities and to monitor potential risks that may emerge over the life of the project. Further, the PCU should be working to avail the delegated GBV and SEA/SH, grievance resolved mechanisms. Also, A Code of Conduct on SEA/SH for all workers (including project staff and construction workers) is expected to be in place. 6. Considering labor aspects including worker safety and provide training and inductions for contractors. The project will prepare a Labor Management Procedures (LMP) in line with in ESS2 requirement and needs to be properly defined and implemented during the implementation of the project workers in accordance with the procedures prioer to implementation of activities involving construction. In all activities of the project including construction, the necessary protective equipment will be provided to all staffs. Besides, the PCU and contractors should adopt and implement the occupational, health, and safety measures, which will be specified in the ESMF. 7. The capacity gaps can be mitigated through the establishment of an E&S management system and the PCU and hiring E&S specialist including the provision of various trainings that can cover an array of topics that include technical themes, project management together with ESRM (in accordance with WB ESF), monitoring and evaluation for implementer at different levels including the woreda and kebele level. Capacity building training for all relevant stakeholders such as MoWSA, MoF, and MOF 24 at federal, regional as well as for Project workers on occupational health and safety should also be given. This is because MOF and MoWSA have relatively limited experience in management of environmental and social risks in the World Bank financed projects with ESF requirements. Hiring or assigning social specialists at federal PCU and regional PIU levels to manage the various social issues that may happen during the implementation of Response–Recovery–Resilience for Conflict affected communities. This is due to the fact the project components have several activities including basic services and economic opportunities, GBV service delivery and prevention program. Thus, to screen, evaluate, monitor, supervise and overall manage the adverse social impacts and risks, hiring or assigning social experts at federal and project implementation regions is recommended. 3. Project Description A multi-sectoral and local-solution-driven approach is essential for a development intervention on conflict given the complexity of the conflict system and the consequent pervasive impacts onto individuals, households, and communities. Taking over from the more immediate, humanitarian relief, working on sustainable solutions for communities having been impacted by conflicts requires the right balance of support to achieve immediate, medium-term and long-term outputs, in other words response, recovery, and resilience-focused activities. Equally, Gender-Based Violence (GBV) prevention programs require a sustained investment over a long period to achieve impacts in terms of reduction in GBV incidence. Social norms and values that may condone GBV change slowly. The project will, therefore, contribute to the longer term goal of reducing GBV prevalence by focusing on the following set of intermediate level outcomes. The geographic focus of the project will be country-wide. However, based on feasibility and limited financing, Amhara, Oromia, Somali, and Tigray regions will be prioritized. These regions host the largest number of IDP and are affected by a variety of displacement and conflict types. Targeting within regions will be based a set of criteria outlined in the Project Operations Manual, including needs, contextual feasibility, and community readiness. The project will be implemented during a five-year period (2022-2026) and financed by a US$150 million IDA Credit and a US$150 million IDA Grant. Financed activities will be grouped into three components, focusing on improvement of sustainable access to basic services and climate-resilient community infrastructure (Component 1), strengthening multi-sectoral response services for survivors of GBV (Component 2), and adaptive project management (Component 3). In addition, the project includes a zero-dollar Contingency Emergency Response Component (CERC, Component 4). 3.1. Project Development Objective The project development objective (PDO) is to improve access to: (i) basic services and climate-resilient community infrastructure, and (ii) multi-sectoral response services for GBV survivors; in targeted conflict- affected communities in Ethiopia. 3.2. Components of the Project Component 1: Improving Sustainable Access to Basic Services and Climate-resilient Community Infrastructure (Cost: US$200.0 million) Component 1 will focus on improving sustainable access for communities affected by the conflicts in the country to basic services and, indirectly, livelihood opportunities. This will include rapid response services to address the needs of conflict-affected communities in the immediate terms (i.e., 12-18 months, taking 25 into considerations that a volatile situation on the ground may require flexibility based on high-frequency monitoring) and to lay foundations for more sustainable support with a focus on health, education, WASH, and other services as needed and feasible. These activities will be bundled under sub-component 1.1. Sub- component 1.2 will finance recovery activities, starting with participatory planning and consultations and consequent community-focused and community-driven climate-resilient investments for recovery and adaptation of community services. Sub-component 1.3 will focus on strengthening the capacity of federal and local government and non-government institutions to engage in prevention and respond to conflict disasters, thereby strengthening communities’ and households’ resilience. Sub-component 1.1: Community-based Health, Education, and WASH Rapid Response Services (Cost: US$38.0 million) Sub-component 1.1 will finance consulting services, non-consulting services, goods, training and workshops, and operating costs. The project will address some of the targeted communities’ current needs, drawing on available and/or rapid needs assessments. This rapid response is, on the one hand, necessary to address urgent needs of communities, and, on the other hand, it allows the commencement of consultations and planning processes for sustainable solutions, thereby showing the necessary material commitment of the GoE to addressing IDP and host community needs. The project will not duplicate ongoing humanitarian interventions, which are focused on provision of subsistence cash, food, or non- food household items. Rather, support will focus on delivery of mobile services, which take into consideration the potential mobility of target populations and do not preclude or influence IDPs’ decision to integrate or relocate at a later stage. As the situation is fluid, additional response support may be provided as needed during the course of the project. Based on the model of mobile clinics, speed schools, and the existence of IDP self-help organizations, this sub-component will finance mobile interventions, for example, in health, education, and WASH in conflict- affected communities to address their respective needs. Where government structures are sufficiently strong (including in terms of meeting procurement requirements), the project may finance large vehicles, equipment, other goods for provision of services, and the deployment costs of staff. It is expected, however, that in most cases the government would outsource large parts of the delivery of respective mobile services to external actors. The mobile teams will provide services, such as medical assessment and distribution of drugs, building on learning of similar health interventions conducted in Tigray. The FPCU staff will also lead the establishment of requirements and standards for such mobile interventions and teams, provide guidance to the respective local stakeholders on meeting these standards, and facilitate procurement activities, including of third parties as relevant. Sub-component 1.2: Community-based Recovery Activities (Cost: US$150.0 million) Sub-component 1.2 will finance works, consulting services, non-consulting services, goods, training and workshops, sub-grants, and operating costs. Community Planning. The starting point will be the GoE’s ongoing subregional impact assessments, which will be complemented by project-financed localized data collection exercises on affected communities and households, conflict impacts on household assets, available response services for communities and households, and gender-specific issues, involving host communities and displaced people alike, to kept updated later. The project will also finance an integrated local conflict-mapping to understand potential tensions among different socioeconomic groups, ensuring that these groups are integrated into the respective planning processes and that any development plans and activities are, at a minimum, not aggravating existing tensions. The assessments will also take into consideration challenges and opportunities for cross-Woreda cooperation and will be conducted through consultations with local 26 stakeholders and community households, including displaced households and host communities. Following the technical assessment process, the Project will facilitate the establishment of Neighborhood Relations Committees which will ensure representation of different socioeconomic groups, including host communities and IDPs, different ethnic groups as present in the community, youth and elderly, and women. These NRCs will facilitate consultations on community-driven interventions and liaise with local government entities. The consultations, facilitated by the NRC, will then directly inform the preparation of community recovery plans, finalized by the NRC and endorsed by the community, having a community- level scope1 and are expected to include investments prioritized as well as support for training, sensitization, and other activities to support sustainable solutions for return, relocation, and local integration scenarios. The plans will then be provided to the Woreda Appraisal Committee which will review alignment with the formal and wider development plans of the local government and approve and endorse the recovery plans. In case of disputes, the grievance mechanism will seek solutions or escalate to regional and federal level as necessary. Consequently, the Woreda will initiate the necessary procurement and implementation steps, while communities via the Neighborhood Relations Committees and eventual subcommittees will provide oversight to the implementation process. Learning from the experience of national and international community-driven development (CDD) interventions2, ‘Neighborhood Relations Committees’ composed of representatives of IDPs and host communities will be at the center of consultations. The Committees will be established where they do not exist or strengthened where they exist by financing goods, training, and incentives for members; with support provided by the Mobile Teams as well as the local government Basic Services and CIimate-resilient Community Infrastructure Investments. The project will finance the reconstruction of existing community facilities or the construction of new facilities identified in the endorsed community plans (according to the allocated financial envelope). The project will prioritize the re-establishment of basic Kebele infrastructure, such as education and health facilities, and WASH infrastructure. Community employment in such works will be discussed with the local communities to create indirect livelihood opportunites. Cluster activities (for example, small-scale rural roads or WASH infrastructure linking Kebeles across Woreda-lines) may receive special financial consideration, to be outlined in the POM. The investments, as well as the consultations that precede them, will be funded through earmarked grants Interventions will improve access to basic services (health, education, WASH) that support communities’ capacity to cope with shocks and stresses in the present and build resilience and adapt to the impacts of increasingly frequent and severe climate-related hazards and shifting climate conditions over longer timescales. Construction and reconstruction of community facilities will also integrate climate resilience considerations where possible in the facilities’ design, materials, and location. There will also be emphasis on the use of low carbon fuels and vehicles for mobile services; use of energy and resource efficiency measures, including solar panels, rainwater harvesting, less energy-intensive wastewater management technologies, efficient use of wastewater, etc. Additionally, the provision of potable water will both support the adaptive capacity of communities and a reduction in emissions generated from current water treatment options, such as boiling. 1 Communities are normally defined as the population of a Kebele, the smallest government unit in Ethiopia, augmented by IDPs settled in a noted Kebele, unless special circumstances, defined in the POM, require otherwise. 2 Such as those funded by the Development Response to Displacement Impacts Project (DRDIP, P152822). 27 Communities may also prioritize non-infrastucture activities supporting communities and households such as business management training and coaching for the development of livelihoods. External support may be provided by the Mobile Teams in this regard. The Woreda Council will establish the portion of the Woreda-allocated envelope to be used for non-infrastructure activites. Table 1 lists examples of eligible community investments. Sub-component 1.3: Strengthening Institutions for Resilience (Cost: US$12.0 million) Sub-component 1.3 will finance consulting services, non-consulting services, goods, training and workshops, and operating costs. The sub-component will be implemented at the federal level by MOF and finance capacity strengthening activities (institutional assessments and technical assistance) for relevant Federal Government entities and local institutions within the targeted Woredas, to ensure that these institutions can respond to, and engage in respective prevention activities. This includes capacity for rapid emergency deployment of response services under sub-component 1.1, and strengthening the dialogue between different social groups identified by the local conflict assessments to strengthen social inclusion within communities. Conflict resolution trainings and other aspects of conflict management at the local level could be part of noted systems strengthening. At the federal level, institutional assessment and technical assistance activities can be financed. At the Woreda level, capacity enhancement activities will focus on existing local civil servant workforce whose capacity for engaging with communities will be enhanced, and whose standard working procedures and systems for citizen engagement (on the prevention side) and deployment of rapid resources (on the response side) will be strengthened. At the Kebele level, interventions will focus on strengthening formal and informal community structures. Integration of project-related community structures with more formal processes may be supported via consultancies that recommend policy reforms and training of formal government structures to engage with local and national stakeholders. Component 2: Improving Access to GBV Response Services (Cost: US$50.0 million) This component will finance the strengthening of short and medium-term GBV response services for survivors of conflict-related GBV within targeted Woredas (sub-component 2.1); the piloting of innovative GBV prevention programming, both as a mechanism to address underlying norms and dynamics that contribute to violence, and to address factors that prevent GBV survivors from seeking care (sub- component 2.2); and strengthening of institutional capacity for coordination, policymaking, and delivery of quality, confidential, and survivor-centered care across the country (sub-component 2.3). The component will be implemented by MoWSA through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with MOF that will specify MoWSA’s specific roles and responsibilities and the resources that will be channeled accordingly. MoWSA will implement the component in coordination with relevant government actors with mandate for GBV prevention and response, notably MoH and the Attorney General, and in partnership with non-governmental partners that specialize in GBV prevention and service delivery. This approach acknowledges current capacity constraints in providing quality services at the community level, as well as the lack of required equipment and the ongoing instability in some of the targeted areas. Sub-component 2.1: Expanding and Strengthening GBV Service Delivery in Conflict-affected Communities (Cost: US$36.0 million) Sub-component 2.1 will finance works, consulting services, non-consulting services, goods, training and workshops, and operating costs. The sub-component will finance activities that expand access of targeted conflict-affected communities to GBV response services and enhance the capacities of the service providers to provide these services effectively. In particular, the sub-component will focus on improving the quality and functioning of integrated response services through existing and new OSCs and expanding and strengthening response and referral mechanisms through specialized partners and health facilities 28 within communities. Coordination and leadership of GBV-related activities will be led by MoWSA, in coordination with other relevant ministries, including MoH and the Attorney General and in partnership with Regional Bureaus of Health and Women and Social Affairs. Activities under this component will require additional technical support from specialized external agencies to improve the capacity of existing service providers (for example, delivery of training and capacity building needs of providers in OSCs and health centers), to enable rapid delivery of services at the community level, and to develop and deliver GBV prevention interventions. Initially, the project will finance a mapping exercise of existing referral services and providers within the targeted Woredas, their capacities and need for training, and an assessment of the quality of care they provide. This information will inform the need for service strengthening and capacity building activities and, more broadly, enable improved coordination across stakeholders. The mapping exercise will also examine tested GBV prevention activities in Ethiopia and the region to identify evidence-based approaches that can be replicated or expanded in targeted communities under sub-component 2.3.3 Strengthen multi-sectoral service delivery through OSCs. The sub-component will strengthen and support the delivery of integrated, multi-sectoral services to GBV survivors through established OSCs in conflict- affected areas within the regions targeted by the project. The project will finance the rehabilitation of existing OSC facilities as needed and training of OSCs’ health and social work personnel to perform core services, including case management support, medical care, and psychosocial care. It will also explore the provision of training to police and judicial support staff as critical services that are co-located in the OSCs. The project will also finance the procurement of essential medical supplies and other materials for the OSCs, including emergency medications, such as Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP), emergency contraception and treatment for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), and dignity kits for survivors, as well as vehicles that can facilitate the transportation needs of survivors and medical personnel. The option to build and establish new OSCs will be explored if comprehensive services are unavailable in areas targeted by the project. The potential establishment of the OSCs will be directed by considerations related to security, feasibility, community demand for services, and in consultation with relevant Regional Bureaus, including Bureaus of Health and of Women and Social Affairs. Strengthen community-level response and referral mechanisms for GBV survivors. The sub-component will also address gaps in service provision and access of GBV survivors to quality response services within their communities. To ensure availability and provision of care for survivors in the immediate term, the project will finance contracts with specialized implementing partners for the delivery of essential services and to train key personnel, including community-based actors, frontline providers, and personnel in core services, emergency response, and referral support for GBV survivors. The project will further support the piloting of mobile GBV services in target Woredas were access to OSCs is not available, either through existing mechanisms, such as training and deployment of existing community-level Health and Nutrition teams established by MoH, or through establishment of dedicated GBV mobile teams comprising doctors, nurses, and case management staff service providers with specialized expertise on identification and treatment of GBV survivors. 3 For example, the SASA! approach, a community-centered prevention intervention developed by Raising Voices in Uganda, and the International Rescue Committee’s Economic and Social Empowerment Model (EA$E), which incorporates gender transformative dialogue groups into Village Savings and Loan programming targeting women, have both been integrated into Bank-supported operations, including the DRC GBV Prevention and Response Project (P166763). 29 The project will help to institutionalize integrated GBV case management at different front-line service points in targeted health facilities (for example, health centers and health posts) to ensure that sufficient number and adequately trained staff are available to manage GBV cases in rural and more remote locations and that they have the needed equipment and supplies to do so. To have more uniform and high-quality skills of service providers, the project will support the development, and pilot the roll out of standardized training resources for medical care and case management support staff, while exploring the feasibility for standardized training resources for other critical services, including MHPSS, medico-legal response--including forensic evidence collection—police, and judicial support. To improve the quality of front-line services, the project will review the need for medical equipment and essential commodities at health facilities for effective management of GBV cases. As needed, the project may finance small-scale rehabilitation/refurbishment of health facilities, including painting, small internal repairs, and provision of screens, partitions, and lockable cupboards, to create adequate conditions for consultations and counselling. The project will not expand existing health facilities. The project may also support the establishment of Women and Girl Friendly Spaces (WGFS, also known as Girl Clubs) to enable multi-layered access to key support activities, including case management, counseling, and other social activities. These spaces could also be used to facilitate peer discussions on topics such as nutrition, livelihood development, as well as teenage pregnancy, child marriage and other harmful practices, to be led by trained female mentors. Women and girls could further access additional services such as age-appropriate nutrition and training on life skills and livelihood opportunities in these spaces. Sub-component 2.2: GBV Prevention and Behavior Change (Cost: US$10.0 million) Sub-component 2.2 will finance consulting services, non-consulting services, goods, training and workshops, and operating costs. It will be implemented by MoWSA in partnership with add. To address the underlying causes of GBV and to tackle the social norms and values that may condone GBV, the project will invest in awareness raising and behavior change activities at individual, household, and community levels in targeted Woredas. There is a growing body of evidence of the effectiveness of gender transformative social norms interventions to prevent GBV, with emerging evidence suggesting that carefully designed, community and values-based economic strengthening and social norms interventions can have a positive effect on GBV-supportive beliefs and behaviors. GBV prevention interventions also have demonstrated impact on improving help-seeking behaviors of GBV survivors and enabling more supportive community response. Activities under this sub-component will therefore include the piloting of evidence-based prevention interventions that may include gender transformative dialogue groups and/or couples-based trainings, activism training, community awareness raising and mobilization, and behavior change communications campaigns to increase people’s awareness of risks and impacts of GBV and of available GBV support services. The design and implementation of these interventions will be led by MoWSA, with design and implementation support of external partner organizations with demonstrated institutional capacity in delivering GBV prevention programming at the community level. Sub-component 2.3: Support to Coordination, Policy Development, and Research for GBV Prevention and Response (Cost: US$4.0 million) Sub-component 2.3 will finance consulting services, non-consulting services, training and workshops, and operating costs. It will be implemented by MoWSA in partnership with add. The sub-component will aim to strengthen government capacity for coordination and policy development for GBV prevention and 30 response by strengthening the capacity of coordination mechanisms for GBV programming at federal level across relevant ministries, including the National Coordinating Body on a Coordinated and Comprehensive Prevention and Response to Violence against Women and Children, and on Child Justice, and at the regional level - relevant regional bureaus with a mandate for GBV prevention and response. The project will also finance the review and strengthening of the policy and legal framework for addressing GBV, which may include the finalization and dissemination of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for OSCs currently under development, a National Strategy for GBV Response, and other policy priorities identified by government partners. This sub-Component will also finance technical assistance action aiming to strengthen the GoE’s capacity to conduct targeted analyses that inform GBV prevention and response programming as needed. The interventions under Component 2 are expected to contribute to strengthened capacity of GBV survivors to cope with future shocks and stresses, including those related to conflict and to the impacts of climate variability and change. By targeting prevention and behavior change, this component also aims to reduce the risk that drivers of vulnerability related to the conflict-climate nexus result in affected community members experiencing GBV. Component 3: Adaptive Project Management (Cost: US$50.0 million)4 Component 3 will be implemented by MOF. It will finance the incremental costs of the various project management aspects and support a learning sub-component that will help to improve the effectiveness of project-financed activities and help with adapting them to changing settings. Sub-component 3.1: Project Management (Cost: US$45.0 million) Sub-component 3.1 will finance consulting services, non-consulting services, goods, training and workshops, and operating costs. The sub-component will finance the incremental costs of project oversight, coordination, and management, including the costs of the steering committees at the different levels, the FPCU in MOF, a Federal Project Implementation Unit (FPIU) in MoWSA, respective regional and Woreda coordination units, the FPCU’s Mobile Support Teams, and other project implementaiton structures. Covered costs would include those related to operating costs of the different units, the hiring of consultants, office space and equipment, transportation, and Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) costs; financial audit costs; third-party environmental and social (E&S) monitoring costs; and the operation of a project grievance redress mechanism (GRM). The costs of facilitation firms and service providers will be financed by the respective components. Sub-component 3.2: Learning and Adaptive Programming (Cost: US$5.0 million) Sub-component 3.2 will finance consulting services and operating costs. Due to the specific and highly complex contexts within which conflict and displacement take place in Ethiopia, an adaptive approach will be used to continuously refine implementation processes. The project wil, therefore, finance the contracting of an operations-focused consulting firm to provide quality control and learning services to the project. This will include analyses of the effectivenes of activities under components 1 and 2 and improvement recommendations, and continued evaluation of the project’s targeting mechanisms. 4As the project will be managed in FCV conditions, typically requiring larger resource allocation for project management than typical World Bank-financed projects. 31 The World Bank will further cooperate with development partners to identify potential independent monitoring arrangements as agreed with the GoE. Component 4: Contingency Emergency Response Component (Cost: US$0.0) This component will allow, on an as-needed basis, a reallocation or replenishment of the project resources to Woreda- and region-level implementing agencies to address elements of an emergency response. The outline, the predefined framework of activities, and associated triggers that would redirect resources to support emergency efforts will be incorporated into the POM. A CERC manual will be formally adopted by the GoE and incorporated as an Annex to the POM that will guide any CERC activities in the event of an emergency. 4. Review of National Policies and Legal Frameworks 2.1 The Constitution The Ethiopian Constitution recognizes the presence of different socio-cultural groups and their rights to socioeconomic equity and justice. Even though the provisions of the articles are not directly related to the Internally Displaced People due to conflicts occurring in the country, various provisions regarding the general causes of displacement are stated in the following articles of the constitution. In the following table, review is also made on the rights of the people whenever they can be affected by projects. Article Description of the Issues raised under the article 39 Ethiopian Constitution recognizes the rights of groups identified as “Nations, Nationalities and Peoples�. They are defined as “a group of people who have or share a large measure of common culture or similar customs, mutual intelligibility of language, belief in a common or related identity, a common psychological make-up, and who inhabit an identifiable, predominantly contiguous territory.� This represents some 75 out of the 80 groups who are members of the House of Federation, which is the second chamber of the Ethiopian legislature. The Constitution recognizes the rights of these Nations, Nationalities and Peoples to self- determination, including the right to secession; speak, write and develop their own languages; express, develop and promote their cultures; preserve their history; and, self-government, which includes the right to establish institutions of government in the territory that they inhabit and equitable representation in state and Federal governments. 40 The Constitution states that the Government has the right to expropriate private property for public use subject to payment in advance of compensation commensurate to the value of the property. The Constitution lays down the basis for the property to be compensated in case of expropriation because of State programs or projects in both rural and urban areas. Persons who have lost their land because of acquisition of such land for the purpose of public projects are entitled to be compensated to a similar land and the related costs arising from relocation; assets such as buildings, crops or fruit trees that are part of the land etc. 41 Article 41 of the Constitution (Economic, Social and Cultural Rights) states that every Ethiopian has the right to access publicly funded social services. Sub Article 5 of the same article stipulates, the state, within available means, should allocate resource to provide rehabilitation and assistance to physically and mentally disabled, the aged and to children who are left without parents or guardians. It also protects the rights of ethnic groups within Ethiopia in terms of their use of mother tongue, and the protection of culture and identity, and equal representation in regional states and the federal government. Moreover, provision is made for the conditions of equal opportunities and full participation of people with disabilities. 32 42 The article stipulates that ‘workers have the right to a healthy and safe work environment’, obliging an employer (be it government or private) to take all necessary measures to ensure that workplace is safe, healthy and free of any danger to the wellbeing of workers. 43 The article provides a foundation for the recognition and protection of woman’s rights and guarantee equal right with men and stipulates providing special attention to women to remedy the historical legacy of inequality and discrimination Ethiopian women endured. Women have the right to full consultation, the formulation of national development policies, the designing and execution of projects particularly those affecting the interests of women. Women’s right to acquire, administer, control, use and transfer property; and rights to equality in employment, promotion, pay and transfer of pension entitlemtns are clearly stated. 44 Regarding displacement of the public due to development projects, “All persons who have been displaced or whose livelihoods have been adversely affected as a result of state programs have the right to commensurate monetary or alternative means of compensation, including relocation with adequate state assistance�. 89 Article 89 (2) of the Constitution stipulates: ‘The Government has the obligation to ensure that all Ethiopians get equal opportunity to improve their economic situations and to promote equitable distribution of wealth among them’. Article 89(3) states that Government shall take measures to avert any natural and man-made disasters, and, in the event of disasters, to provide timely assistance to the victims. Article 89 (4) in particular states: ‘Nations, Nationalities and Peoples least advantaged in economic and social development shall receive special assistance’. 2.2 Proclamations, Policies, Regulations, Strategies and Guidelines i. Expropriation of Land for Public Purposes, Payments of Compensation and Resettlement of Displaced People Proclamation No. 1161/2019 FDRE House of People’s Representatives has recently rectified Proclamation No.1161/2019 that deals with “Expropriation of Land for Public Purposes, Payments of Compensation and Resettlement of Displaced People�, and replaced the previously active legislation on the matter, i.e., Expropriation of Land and Compensation Proclamation No. 455/2005. The new Proclamation gives priority rights to develop Land for the Landholders when the capacity of the Landholders to develop the land as per the approved land use plan; urban structural plan; or development master plan is presented. It states, “Landholders whose holdings are within the area prescribed to be redeveloped shall have priority rights to develop their lands according to the plan either individually or in a group� (Article 7, sub-article 1-2). Generally, the new Land expropriation, compensation payment and resettlement Proclamation, compared with the Proclamation No. 455/2005, has improved a number of issues related to compensation and resettlement, among others, the major improvements are: Number of years for permanent loss of farmland has increased from ten (10) years into fifteen (15) years; The number of consecutive years of productivity of crops and price considered for compensation estimate is reduced from five (5) to three (3) years of which the best productivity and price of the three (3) years is to be considered; Time limit for the landholder to whom compensation is not paid after estimation, can use the land for former purpose is added in the new proclamation (Article 3, sub-article a, b and C); Number of days of notice for illegal holders is set to be thirty (30) days (Article 8); Displaced People shall be compensated for the breakup of their social ties and moral damage they suffer as a result of the expropriation (Article 4e); and 33 Provision on resettlement packages that enable displaced people to sustainably resettle (Article 16, sub-article 2). ii. Regulation No. 472/2020 on Expropriation and Valuation and Compensation and Resettlement The FDRE Council of Ministers Regulation No. 472/2020 on Expropriation and Valuation and Compensation and Resettlement was issued. The regulation provides the basis for compensation of affected properties. It also assists the displaced or affected persons to restore their livelihood. iii. Proclamation No. 1097/2018 on Gender Based Violence In relation to Gender Based Violence, Proclamation No. 1097/2018, article 28 (f & g), bestow powers and duties to the Ministry of Women, Children and Youth to: “design strategies to effectively prevent and take measures against gender-based violence against women; implement same in collaboration with relevant organs; facilitate the setting up centers for provision of holistic health, psychological, legal and rehabilitation services for women who were victims of violence; and follow up the implementation of same.� vi. The National Policy on Ethiopian Women (1993) It underlines the need to establish equitable and gender sensitive public policies that empower woman, especially in education and property rights, and engaging them in decision making. Improving healthy working conditions, ensuring access to basic services, protecting woman from harmful traditional practices are among the emphasized key issues. vii. Regulations to support underserved and Vulnerable groups A range of policies, action plans and strategies aimed at protecting and promoting the wellbeing, life chances and education opportunities of disadvantaged groups and developing regions are in place. Owing to their limited access to socioeconomic development and underserved status over the decades, the Ethiopian government has designated four of the country’s regions, namely: Afar, Somali, Benishangul- Gumuz, and Gambella as Developing Regional States (DRS). There are a number of overarching laws and additional implementation strategies/guidelines adopted by the government to protect vulnerable groups including women, children and people with disabilities, and ensure their rights to quality, access and equity of educational opportunities. Provisions requiring parents and guardians to protect the health, education and social development of children, and respect the legal age of 18 for the marriage as a safeguard against early marriage (Family Code 2000). Useful proclamations, regulations and plans of actions were formulated to protect people with disability and the elderly. Among others, the most relevant ones include: (i) National Plan of Action of Persons with Disabilities (2012-2021); (ii) Proclamation No. 568/2008, Rights to Employment for Persons with Disabilities; (iii) Building Proclamation, No. 624/2009 and Regulation 243/2011. viii. The National Social Protection Policy of Ethiopia Ethiopia has formulated a National Social Protection policy in 2012 with a general objective to create an enabling environment in which citizens (including special need and other vulnerable segments) have equitable access to all social protection services that will enhance their growth, development. Ethiopia’s social protection policy is a central public policy component for addressing poverty, vulnerability and inequality. 34 The Policy has designed instruments to reach long and short term objectives including conditional and unconditional social transfer, expansion of public works; providing technical support and financial services; mandatory social insurance and community based health insurance; establishment of social work system, services for PWDs, the elderly and mobility constrained persons; enhancing abuse and exploitation prevention communication, provide protective legal and policy environment, support for survivors of abuse and exploitation and drop in centers and hot lines. The Social Protection Policy of Ethiopia has identified four key focus areas: i) social safety nets; ii) livelihood and employment schemes; iii) social insurance and iv) addressing inequalities of access to basic services. Further, the policy commits the Government to move beyond the partial, and fragmented, provision of social protection to establish a social protection system. In addition, related to the project, the 2009 African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa (the ‘Kampala Convention’) which the GoE signed and ratified in Feb-Mar 2020, the Durable Solutions Initiative, as well as the National Policy and Strategy on Disaster Risk Management (NDRM Policy). ix. Gender mainstreaming strategy and guideline (2010) It stresses the consideration of gender issues in policies, programs and projects implemented by government and development parteners. This is to ensure that the out comes of development are shared equally between men and women. In addition, it gives right for both men and women to enjoy equal opportunities, status and recognition. The ratification of the Family Law and amendements made to the criminal code significantly help to fight abuses committted against women and children. Proclamation No, 377/2003 gives special attention to woman and young workers. The proclamation provides protection for women in general and pregenant women in particular from hard work and long hours. The law clearly states that women should not be discriminated against as regards to employment and payment on the basis of their sex. x. Action on Health response to Gender Based Violence/Sexual Violence (2020/21-2025/26) Women, Child, Youth Directorate of the Federal Ministry of Health prepared a document on Action on Health response to Gender Based Violence/Sexual Violence (2020/21-2025/26). The strategic plan aims to:  Identify key strategic priorities of the health response to GBV/SV for investment in the next five years at all levels of health structure  Strengthen the health system in the response to GBV/SV to contribute to the goal of the health sector and to the relevant SDGs targets  Setting the landscape for effective efforts for financial resource mobilization by costing the strategic plan for efficient use of resources.  Stage the monitoring & evaluation of performances for evidence to base decision. The strategic focus areas included in the document promote a supportive environment for survivors of GBV/SV at community level, creating an equitable health system in the health response to GBV/SV survivors, and strengthening multi-sector collaborations and partnership. 35 xi. Durable Solutions Initiative for Ethiopia This national-level Durable Solutions Initiative was launched in December 2019. It is a joint endeavor between the Government of Ethiopia, the UN, international and national NGOs and donors and is meant to provide a platform for bringing together relevant actors and to “guide the work of all partners on durable solutions� in Ethiopia. The Initiative specifies that it “is based on and reflects relevant governmental plans and strategies as well as international standards including the UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement and the IASC Framework on Durable Solutions for IDPs�. There is also the Somali Region Durable Solutions Strategy, which is a regional policy produced by the government of Ethiopia’s Somali Region providing the model and impetus for the development of the national-level Durable Solutions Initiative. 2.3 National and Sectoral roadmaps and Plans i. Ten-Years Development Plan Population and Human Resource Development: In the areas of population and human resource development, the Ten- Years Development Plan aims to develop an all-rounded human resource capacity. It intends to achieve this through the provision of equitable access to health and education services as well as ensuring quality and relevance, which will form the primary area of focus for the coming ten years. Social Justice, Social Security and Public Services: In the areas of Social Justice and Social Security, the ten years plan focuses on empowering various sections of the society to enable them benefit from economic development and get their fair share from the development endeavors. This is planned to be attained through skills development, capacity building and equitable participation. The plan specifically pay attention to inclusiveness and developing the overall capacity of women, children, the youth, the elderly, the handicapped and all vulnerable citizens and facilitate their all-rounded participation in the country’s economic, social, and cultural affairs. The plan also looked at the areas of the justice and public services. The focus is to ensure access to justice and good governance, providing impartial and effective legal services, enforcing the rule of law, protecting and respecting the constitution, and enforcing the criminal law. Gender: The Ten-Year Development Plan vision and goals are largely interlinked with the 17 goals and the associated 169 targets that are identified in the SDG 2030. Of the 17 goals, goal number 5, which states the Ten-Year Development Plan, adopts achieving gender equality and empowerment for all women and girls. 5. World Bank’s Policies, ESF Standards on Social Impacts and Strategy for Fragility, Conflict, and Violence (FCV) 5.1. Applicable World Bank’s Policies, ESF Standards on Social Impacts The preparation of the Social Assessment (SA) of the Response–Recovery–Resilience for Conflict affected communities in Ethiopia is in line with the World Bank Environmental and Social Frameworks (ESF), which comprises of 10 Standards. Except ESS9, all Environmental and Social Standards (ESS) are applicable. However, ESS1, ESS2, ESS4, ESS5, ESS7 and ESS10 are relevant for the Social assessment. The information below highlights the relevance of these standards for the project and that a detailed review and comparison of ESS1 and ESS4 with national legislation can be found in the ESMF, of ESS5 and national 36 legislation in the RPF, of ESS7 and national legislation in IPPF and of ESS10 and national legislation in the SEP. ESS1: Assessment and Management of Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts ESS 1 requires Borrower to undertake Assessment and Management of Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts. The standards are designed to help governments to manage the risks and impacts that will prevail during the implementation of Response–Recovery–Resilience for conflict affected communities project, and to improve environmental and social performance, consistent with good international practice and national and international obligations. The ESF places the emphasis of environmental and social risk management on achieving better development outcomes. It allows for adaptive management of project risks and impacts, which utilizes feedback from project monitoring to change project design and/or environmental and social risk management as necessary throughout implementation. The risks and impacts identification process should use accepted social development methods to identify disadvantaged or vulnerable individuals or groups within the project-affected parties. Borrowers should also ensure information regarding current potential internal displacement share with the Bank, given that internal displacement may affect the types and effectiveness of risks and mitigation measures the Bank and Borrower identify. The Guidance Note specifies socioeconomic studies that are conducted by the Borrower may be used to:  Understand the characteristics and dynamics of the project area;  Establish the conditions of the people that will be affected by the project;  Identify events, including potential for conflict that could affect the adequate implementation of the project; and Identify opportunities for enhancing project development benefits. ESS 2: Labor and Working Conditions ESS2 recognizes the importance of employment creation and income generation in the pursuit of poverty reduction and inclusive economic growth. The objectives of ESS2 are: To promote safety and health at work, promote the fair treatment, nondiscrimination and equal opportunity of project workers, protect project workers, including vulnerable workers such as women, persons with disabilities, children (of working age, in accordance with this ESS) and migrant workers, contracted workers, community workers and primary supply workers, as appropriate, prevent the use of all forms of forced labor and child labor, support the principles of freedom of association and collective bargaining of project workers in a manner consistent with national law and provide project workers with accessible means to raise workplace concerns. ESS 4: Community Health and Safety ESS4 is relevant to the proposed project, as the subproject activities may involve community health and safety risks. Health and safety risks are anticipated from mobile clinics; water supply, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities for the displaced people (sub-component 1.2); and reconstruction or construction of public facilities (sub-component 1.4). Construction or rehabilitation of public facilities could also cause noise, vibration, fugitive dust waste, soil and water pollution that will have impact on surrounding communities. Civil works to rebuild or rehabilitate public may generate traffic and road safety hazards associated with road obstructions, diversions or closures to give room to works with concomitant 37 increased traffic volume on public roads and risks of accidents. This will be exacerbated by the increased flow of trucks to provide humanitarian assistance to IDPs. ESS 5: Land Acquisition, Restrictions on Land Use and Involuntary Resettlement ESS 5 (which applies to Borrowers) the ESF provision on project-induced displacement does not apply to “management of refugees from, or persons internally displaced by, natural disasters, conflict, crime or violence.�). This is because, having been displaced by “natural disasters, conflict, crime or violence�, their displacement was not caused by a project which may require compensation and resettlement planning in accordance with Bank policy. However, if IDPs are already established in an area and a Bank-financed project induces them to move, they would be entitled just like any other group of project-affected persons to compensation in accordance with ESS 5. ESS7: Indigenous Peoples/Sub-Saharan African Historically Underserved Traditional Local Communities (IP/SSAHUTLC) The Guidance Note for Borrowers (2018), the ESF under ESS7 Paragraph 8 states that the term “Indigenous Peoples/Sub-Saharan African Historically Underserved Traditional Local Communities� (or as they may be referred to in the national context using an alternative terminology) is used in a generic sense to refer exclusively to a distinct social and cultural group possessing the following characteristics in varying degrees: (a) Self-identification as members of a distinct indigenous social and cultural group and recognition of this identity by others; (b) Collective attachment6 to geographically distinct habitats, ancestral territories, or areas of seasonal use or occupation, as well as to the natural resources in these areas; (c) Customary cultural, economic, social, or political institutions that are distinct or separate from those of the mainstream society or culture; and (d) A distinct language or dialect, often different from the official language or languages of the country or region in which they reside. Paragraph 9 of the Guidance Note of the ESF, ESS7 applies to communities or groups of Indigenous Peoples/Sub-Saharan African Historically Underserved Traditional Local Communities who, during the lifetime of members of the community or group, have lost collective attachment to distinct habitats or ancestral territories in the project area because of forced severance, conflict, government resettlement programs, dispossession of their land, natural disasters, or incorporation of such territories into an urban area. This standard also applies to forest dwellers, hunter-gatherers, pastoralists, or other nomadic groups subject to satisfaction of the criteria in paragraph 8. However, the loss of collective attachment to a geographically distinct area because of forced severance and conflict does not imply loss as status under ESS7. In Ethiopia, Indigenous Peoples is referred as Underserved and Vulnerable Groups. Accordingly, Somalia and pastoralist and semi pastoralist of Oromia (like Borana) will meet ESS7 i.e., categorized as Underserved and Vulnerable Groups. Social Development Plan (SDP) is the operational equivalent of the World Bank ESS7 - Indigenous Peoples Plan. The SDP for the 3R4CAE is prepared based on the preliminary rapid social assessment, which will be strengthened by in-depth consultation with affected underserved and vulnerable groups to seek their support for the project. The SDP sets out the measures to ensure that: (a) underserved and vulnerable groups affected by the project receive culturally appropriate social and economic benefits, and (b) any potential adverse effects are avoided, minimized, mitigated, and/or compensated. For those communities’ categorized as underserved and vulnerable groups, it is important 38 to conduct meaningful, timely, and appropriate consultations and needs to be conducted throughout project implementation with IDPs and host communities to help them share benefits of the project. IDP- host community integration is a key aspect of the project and can be covered in the comprehensive final social assessment and all other project site-specific risk assessments considering the underserved peoples and vulnerable groups in the project area. ESS 10: Stakeholder Engagement and Information Disclosure According to the ESS 10 Guidance Note, Paragraph 5, “stakeholders� are defined as “individuals or groups who (a) Are affected or likely to be affected by the project (project-affected parties); and (b) May have an interest in the project (other interested parties).� The term “other interested parties� refers to individuals, groups, or organizations with an interest in the project, which may be because of the project location, its characteristics, its impacts, or matters related to public interest. Thus, IDPs are definitely direct stakeholders in the project. The Guidance Note lays out the process of identifying stakeholders and emphasizes “paying special attention to identifying disadvantaged or vulnerable groups�, which plays in favor of treating IDPs as “stakeholders� given their particular vulnerability and disadvantageous position because of their displacement. The “other interested parties� designation may be particularly relevant; the Guidance Note states that other interested parties are identified by listing relevant interest groups, and considering historical issues, social relations, relationships between local communities and the project implementer, and any other relevant factors related to the sector and location that help anticipate local and external responses to the project. It is also imperative that ESS 10 requires the establishment of a Grievance Mechanism only for project-affected parties. The stakeholder engagement processes that are to occur throughout the project life cycle and could help mitigate risks related to IDPs throughout the project cycle. This includes ongoing consultations and provision of timely, relevant understandable and accessible information. It is also worth noting that IDPs who arrive later in the project cycle may still be treated as stakeholders. 5.2. World Bank Group Strategy for Fragility, Conflict, and Violence (FCV) 2020-2025 The Response–Recovery–Resilience for Conflict affected communities in Ethiopia project is also aligned with the World Bank Group Strategy for Fragility, Conflict, and Violence (FCV) 2020-2025. The objective is to support countries to address the drivers and impacts of FCV and strengthening their resilience, especially for the most vulnerable and marginalized populations. The project supports two of the Strategy’s four pillars: Pillar 2: Remaining Engaged during Conflicts and Crisis Situations by building protecting essential institutions and services in areas with high prevalence of IDPs and delivering critical services to IDPs and recipient communities. Pillar 4: states about mitigating the spillovers of FCV by addressing key issues related to internal displacement, mainly through:  Expanding and strengthening GBV service delivery in conflict affected communities,  Investing on targeted capacity building of the health sector,  Providing transition skills (trainings and coaching, seed grants, establishment of links to other development projects, provision of transitional services) to displaced people who have lost their assets and livelihood opportunities, and 39  Setting up or reconstruction of public facilities. Moreover, the 19th replenishment of IDA (IDA19) scales up resources to countries affected by FCV, including through an FCV Envelope that offers a structure of incentives and accountabilities for countries to reduce FCV risks. The project also reflects the IDA19 Special Themes:  Conflict and Fragility: by providing the GoE with financing and knowledge needed to enhance the resilience of institutions, services, and economies to displacement,  Gender: by addressing GBV toward IDPs and recipient communities, and  Jobs and Economic Transformation: by enhancing the availability of more and better jobs for, and financial inclusion of IDPs and recipient communities. 5.3. OP 2.30: Development Cooperation and Conflict OP 2.30 guides the work of the Bank in countries, which are either experiencing, transitioning from, or vulnerable to conflict. It does not impose any obligations specific to internal displacement, but sets out principles, which governs the Bank’s activities: these include not directly engaging in peacekeeping or peace-making, non-interference in domestic affairs, and not providing humanitarian relief (OP 2.30 (3)). In case conflict breaks out in a country where the Bank has an active lending portfolio, the OP 2.30 states that the Bank may review the effectiveness of its risk management, macro-economic analysis, supervision, and monitoring and evaluation in relation to its portfolio. If required, the Bank may also undertake conflict analyses of Bank-supported operations in the country, considering particularly the likelihood that they will be able to achieve their development objectives. 5.4. OP 8.00: Rapid Response to Crises and Emergencies The characterization of IDPs as “vulnerable groups� is more explicitly considered in OP 8.00– Rapid Response to Crises and Emergencies. This Policy authorizes the Bank to provide rapid response in support of inter alia “establishing and/or preserving human, institutional, and/or social capital, including economic reintegration of vulnerable groups� which “may include, for example, refugees, ex-combatants, and internally displaced people� (Para. 4(d) and footnote 3). In such situations, the Bank’s assistance “may consist of immediate support in assessing the emergency’s impact and developing a recovery strategy or the restructuring of existing, or provision of new, Investment Project Financing� (Para 2). This means that restructuring of projects may be possible in the event of an influx of IDPs to a project area if the member government requests urgent assistance. Emergency operations may take a variety of forms (see Para. 5); however, they “ should not include conditions other than those directly related to the emergency recovery activities and, if appropriate, to preparedness and mitigation� (Para. 6). IPFs in areas subject to significant displacement may consider including a project specific CERC (contingent emergency response component) as a project component to address eligible crises or emergencies (“an event that has caused, or is likely to imminently cause, a major adverse economic and/or social impact associated with natural or man-made crises or disasters� as defined in OP 8.00, see above). Although it can initially be allocated zero funds, this component can be used to support the member’s response to internal displacement upon request without the need for immediate restructuring of the IPF. This could help offset risks to the project resulting from potential internal displacement by providing support for 40 immediate rehabilitation and reconstruction needs (see Bank Guidance: Contingent Emergency Response Components (CERC), para. 3). The CERC Guidance Note specifies that key considerations in determining whether to establish a CERC include: a) How susceptible the country is to crises or emergencies, such that having one or more projects with CERCs in the portfolio contributes to a robust and meaningful rapid response capacity and overall DRM strategy; b) The extent to which the project lends itself to including a CERC, in that a reallocation of funds in an emergency would not cause serious disruption (considering, for instance, disbursement profile, type of project, etc.); c) Prioritizing the inclusion of CERCs in projects that support sectors that maybe more susceptible to prevalent disasters in a country; d) Prioritizing the inclusion of CERCs in projects that address emergency preparedness and response or are implemented by agencies that are frequently called upon to handle key aspects of emergency response. (Para. 6) This tool may only be useful in areas where significant displacement is anticipated. The criteria for CERC activation include: a) a declaration of a state of emergency (or equivalent) by the competent national or subnational authority in accordance with the Borrower’s emergency response laws and regulations; or b) for Borrowers that do not have a legislative or enabling framework for declarations of a crisis/emergency, alternative declarations … [by] a designated authority of the Borrower … [or] by a third party [;] … [and] [c] submission of a request to the Bank for support for an eligible emergency through the CERC[;] and [d] the preparation by the Borrower of an acceptable Emergency Action Plan for the use of CERC funds, and the Bank’s approval of such [Plan]. (Para. 11) 6. Institutional and Implementation Arrangements Due to the multi-sectoral nature of the project, the coordinating Implementing Agency of the project is the MOF, which will host a Project Coordination Unit (PCU) led by a Project Coordinator, and will be comprised of technical support personnel, and monitoring, FM, procurement, and environmental and social (E&S) risk management specialists. The PCU will be responsible for overall project coordination, conducting project-wide monitoring, evaluation, and reporting, preparing overall annual work plans and budgets, conducting large-scale procurement, and managing learning, communication, and grievance redress activities under Component 4. The PCU will also be responsible for citizen engagement aspects, ensuring compliance with and monitoring implementation of environment and social related risks and impacts, and making sure that due attention is given to gender aspects as per Project design. Respective technical project teams will be set up in the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs (MOWSA) and MOF. The technical leadership on questions of conflict and displacement will be aligned to the structure of the Government’s national dialogue approach which is currently been developed. The respective Woreda will be responsible to coordinate local investments in communities with services provided by the respective sector bureaus. For community-based planning and small-scale infrastructure development, a classical CDD approach will be used drawing on established models, with neighborhood 41 relations committees playing a key role in the implementation of noted subprojects, while also enabling an institutional exchange between different social groups (elderly/youth, women/men, IDP/host communities, etc.). A multi-sectoral Steering Committee chaired by MOF and composed of focal points from the MoF, MOWSA, Federal Attorney General, Ministry of Health (MoH), Ministry of Justice (MOJ), Ministry of Urban Development and Infrastructure (MoUDI), Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), and the regional states included in the projects will provide project oversight and guidance. They approve annual work plan and budgets as well as ensure inter-ministerial decision-making and resolution of issues. The Steering Committee will meet on a quarterly basis and receive Secretariat services from the PCU. The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) or another domestic or international independent agency may provide independent project monitoring services, focusing on compliance with national and international standards in the project’s development interventions. Above all, ensuring consent and ownership by local communities is essential, a topic that governments are often challenged by. This should not be confused by the general progress monitoring, which will be facilitated and reported on by the PIU. Financing for such independent monitoring will be sought independently from the project funds, either via bilateral co-financing or via multi-donor-trust-funds. Among the key agencies, MoF has intensive experience on the implementation of World Bank financed projects. However, MoWSA is a new institution, while MOF has limited experience from only recent engagement with the Bank (on a CERC and a DRM project preparation). As such, there is limited experience in implementing Bank supported projects to manage potential environmental and social risks. 7. Stakeholders Consultation and Engagement Stakeholder consultation is an integral part of the social assessment (SA) and provides inputs for the preparation of Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) and the Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP). The draft SEP was prepared. The key stakeholders among others include MOF, MOH, MOWSA, MOF, Federal Attorney General, Ministry of Justice (MOJ), Ministry of Urban Development and Infrastructure (MoUDI), Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), and the regional states included in the projects will provide project oversight and guidance. The IDPs and the host communities and committee are also the stakeholders who will take part in the implementation of the project. The overall objective of consultations is to document the concerns, views or opinions of the stakeholders with specific reference to the project planned interventions. These will be captured during the final preparation of the Comprehensive Social Assessment. The consultation meetings for the comprehensive social assessment will be organized basically for two important purposes, i.e., (1) to share project objectives and proposed project interventions with the identified stakeholder groups and (2) to consult with the stakeholders and document their concern, with particular reference to social and environmental impacts of the proposed project interventions, mainly related to the IDPs. 8. Potential Social Risks/Impacts and Recommended Mitigation Measures, Responsible Body and Budget As stated in the table below, the social development plan will make certain that the Project and its implementing agencies at various levels will respect and meet ESS 1, ESS2, ESS4, ESS5, ESS7, and ESS10 of the World Bank ESF requirements and ensure that people should benefit from Response–Recovery– Resilience for Conflict-affected Communities project in Ethiopia in a sustainable manner. The plan could be restructured after comprehensive social assessment and during the implementation and further 42 consultations will be undertaken for the vulnerable and underserved groups to ensure their full participation. The matrix in the following table summarizes potential social risks/impacts, along with their mitigation measures, responsible bodies and budget of the project. 43 Components Potential Social Mitigation Measures Responsible Budget Risks/Impacts Body ‘000’ Basic services and - security risks for mobile - It is imperative to develop preemptive conflict MOF, PCU with Core economic teams or staff deployed to preparedness plan and build capacity to reduce the respective activity of opportunities for provide services as the effects of conflicts. This could be done by regional and componen conflict-affected project is implemented in strengthening the useful experiences in resolving woreda level t1 communities conflict areas the recently observed conflicts through blending implementers the formal and informal institutions such as Denb, Jarsumma (elderly), Shimiglena (elderly) in collaboration with the host communities and the government operating at different levels. This include awareness creation and consultation with the IDPs and host communities to help them aware of the sources of conflicts and provide full support during the project implementation. - The project needs to include checklists of conflict sensitivity assessment in the ESMF and also consider sensitivity of local conflict dynamics and implement in a way to avoid escalating local tensions as the works cover IDP and hosting communities. - The project should consider the livelihoods and political vulnerability of project implementation areas and create communication messages in accordance with the local context. - The MOF and the PCU should alert the World Bank any incidents related to security, conflict and potential sensitivities towards conflict in the project areas. 44 Risk of social exclusion of - Inclusion of most vulnerable and underserved MOF, PCU Core the most vulnerable and groups in the benefit packages of the project MOWSA, and activity of underserved groups from particularly related to recovery packages such as respective componen sharing the benefit transition skill trainings, seed grants, etc. regional and t1 packages of the project Moreover, GBV and MHPSS referral services like woreda levels In weak consultation and mobile community-based services on health, responsible participation of the education, and WASH should be availed. bodies vulnerable groups and the - Community consultations should include targeted conflict affected consultations with key community communities including the representatives, for instance, elders and IDPs and host traditional leaders to receive feedback to adapt the communities. actions to local needs, with special attention to vulnerable and disadvantaged groups including culturally appropriate communication means. - Grievance redress mechanisms should be effective for affected communities as per the plan. Therefore, as per the requirements of ESS1, ESS 5 and ESS 10, culturally appropriate community engagement mechanisms should be included in the SEP to ensure meaningful engagement on Response–Recovery–Resilience for Conflict affected communities of the project. - Affirmative action should be given for vulnerable people and disadvantages groups of the IDPs and the hosts. - It is also imperative to set criteria for vulnerabilities on the size or amount of the cash grants so that the room of conflicts could be avoided in addition to the meaningful consultation and participation of the group. - Consider the issues of underserved and vulnerable groups during the subproject screening. 45 - Lack of occupational health - The PCU and contractors should adopt and MOF, PCU and Core and safety of the labor implement the occupational, health, and safety MOWSA in activity of force exposure to health measures, which will be specified in the ESMF monitoring of componen and safety risks while including provision of training and inductions for its t1 participating in the contractors’ workers. implementatio construction of damaged n and the facilities and on new - The project will prepare Labor Management regional and settlement areas. Procedures (LMP) and needs to be properly woreda defined and implemented during the counterparts implementation of the project workers in accordance with the procedures. - In all activities of the project including construction, the necessary protective equipment will be provided to all staffs. Potential risk of land MOF, PCU and Core - The Project Implementing Agencies in acquisition relevant activity of collaboration with institutions responsible for land institutions componen acquisition should properly conduct consultations related to Land t2 in a timely and meaningful manner with PAPs acquisition during sub project screening/ before commencement of subprojects activities. - The consultation meeting minutes should be properly documented. - In cases where the project involves in activities that require land acquisition, the new proclamation (1161/2019) and the regulation (472/2020) can be utilized to minimize and reduce the complaints and other negative impacts or risks related to land. - Resettlement Plan should be prepared before taking the required land in line with Project Resettlement Framework. - There is also a need to properly utilize compensation and livelihood restoration 46 procedures for persons impacted by the land acquisition. - Within the same project - The entire project hosting areas government MOF, PCU Core target locality, there may be bodies specifically at woredas and kebeles should mainly woreda activity of a high mobility of displaced properly and equitably provide services of the and kebele componen people to kebeles or project benefit packages. level t2 woredas providing better - Consultation as per the SEP with the displaced implementing services of the project people at different stages is very important to entities benefit packages. understand and take measure for the difficult condition to meet their basic needs. - The PCU should set a controlling mechanism through its monitoring as well as a reporting system Elite capture and/or - There should be controlling mechanism of the MOF, PCU All activity different interest groups elite capture by allowing the intended particularly at of including traditional beneficiaries to play, an active role in the the lower componen authority structures in management of the projects and the very levels where ts influencing community’s design of participatory development is the project is prioritization and supposed to limit the influence of the elite. implemented. manipulation of support - Beneficiaries should be realistically selected in provided as well as lack of consultation with representatives of the transparency during community from the IDPs and the hosts. selection of the beneficiaries - Create awareness among traditional authority structures and undertake information campaign to ensure the purpose and principles of the project are understood, including targeting procedures and design targeting structures with careful consideration to the balance between formal and informal traditional authority structures and inclusive project target - Transparent reporting on project activities 47 Strengthening of - GBV/SEA/SH risks due to - Addressing gender dimensions of the operation MOF, PCU, Core GBV Service project staff activities, including gender-based violence (GBV). MOH, Attorney activity of Delivery and rehabilitation or General and componen Prevention construction workers, and - The project will conduct GBV risk assessment MOWSA and t2 Programming labor influx for construction and develop Action Plan which will be their regional activities mostly associated implemented and defined the potential project and woreda with the cash transfer GBV issues thus during implementation, counterparts activities. measures should be taken in accordance with the project GBV action plan. The project implementing teams will regularly access and manage the risks of SEA/H and other forms of GBV extending from project activities, including key infrastructure elements as well as the receipt of cash by women and other vulnerable groups and sexual exploitation and abuse risks such as sexual favors. - The PCU will engage a GBV specialist dedicated to support oversight and management of these risks. - Monitoring of the management of GBV risks will be an integral part of the project activities. - The project will also ensure regular consultation and engagement with women and women’s groups throughout the project to ensure equitable inclusion in project activities and to monitor potential risks that may emerge over the life of the project. - Avail the delegated GBV and SEA/SH, grievance resolved mechanisms. 48 - In place Code of Conduct on SEA/SH for all workers (including project staff and construction workers) Lack of project grievance A rapid information dissemination - redress mechanism to campaign should be designed and support the systematic disseminated to fit the local context and uptake, processing and requirements, including through local radio resolution of project related in appropriate languages and public place complaints and grievances. like Woreda administration office/camp. Specifically, for GBV/SEA/H - Communities should be sensitized on the activities. existing GRM system - All community engagements, including consultations, should be conducted to minimize the risk of GBV/SEA/SH. - Provide capacity development training for established GRCs on the receiving and resolving grievances - The established GRM for the project should be implemented in a proper way. Learning and Lack of capacity in managing - The trainings can cover an array of topics that MOF, PCU and Core Project project at different levels include technical themes, project management, regional and activity of Management particularly at woreda and monitoring and evaluation for implementer at woreda componen kebele levels and there is different levels including the woreda and kebele counterparts t3 problem of timely allowing level. implementing budget and implementing entities the activities. Weak safeguards capacity - Hire or assign ERSM expert at national PCU and MOF, PCU and Core regional project coordination office. And assign regional and activity of ESRM focal person at woreda level woreda 49 - Providing the capacity development training on counterparts componen the WB ESF standards and national implementing t3 Environmental and social risk management entities policy’s as well as regulations Weak linkages and - Create linkages among institutions, sectors MOF, PCU and Core coordination among (Project implementing agencies and oversight regional and activity of institutions, sectors, bodies), programs, and projects at all levels woreda componen programs and projects at all through MoU. counterparts t3 levels. implementing entities 50 Reference Central Statistical Authority. 2007. Summary and Statistical Report of the 2007 Population and Housing Census Results. Addis Ababa: Central Statistical Authority. 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