The World Bank Landscape Restoration and Resilience Project - Mali (P177041) Concept Environmental and Social Review Summary Concept Stage (ESRS Concept Stage) Public Disclosure Date Prepared/Updated: 11/23/2021 | Report No: ESRSC02441 Nov 23, 2021 Page 1 of 10 The World Bank Landscape Restoration and Resilience Project - Mali (P177041) BASIC INFORMATION A. Basic Project Data Country Region Project ID Parent Project ID (if any) Mali AFRICA WEST P177041 Project Name Landscape Restoration and Resilience Project - Mali Practice Area (Lead) Financing Instrument Estimated Appraisal Date Estimated Board Date Environment, Natural Investment Project 3/14/2022 6/23/2022 Resources & the Blue Financing Economy Borrower(s) Implementing Agency(ies) Republic of Mali Agence de l'Environnement et Developpement Durable (AEDD) Public Disclosure Proposed Development Objective To strengthen the integrated development of targeted landscapes in Mali Financing (in USD Million) Amount Total Project Cost 150.00 B. Is the project being prepared in a Situation of Urgent Need of Assistance or Capacity Constraints, as per Bank IPF Policy, para. 12? No C. Summary Description of Proposed Project [including overview of Country, Sectoral & Institutional Contexts and Relationship to CPF] The underlying assumption of the proposed Project is that traditional sectoral approaches to land management, rural development and food security are no longer sufficient to meet multi-faceted environmental, economic, social and climate change-related challenges. A Integrated territorial / landscape approach is therefore required to face these challenges and break the current deadlock. The integrated landscape approach is an innovative, inclusive and highly participatory strategy that can adapt and respond to local needs and contexts: it is a multifaceted and integrated strategy that aims to bring together multiple stakeholders from multiple different sectors to provide solutions at multiple scales. Nov 23, 2021 Page 2 of 10 The World Bank Landscape Restoration and Resilience Project - Mali (P177041) The theory of change of the proposed project puts the whole components of the selected landscapes at the same level of importance and then applies participatory and good environmental and economic governance to the identified problems to ensure sustainable and integrated landscapes management. The theory of change highlights the nexus existing between land degradation, loss of biodiversity, climate changes impacts and management of landscapes and vulnerable livelihoods. By improving the governance of landscapes, the project aims to create new dynamics through initiatives that enhance their ecosystem functions and services, while improving the income of the beneficiaries and fostering reconciliation, social cohesion, peace and stability in communities affected by conflicts. The Development Objective of the Project is to strengthen the integrated development of Malian landscapes in targeted communes in Mali. The PDO-Level Results Indicators are the following: • Land area under sustainable landscape management practices (25,000 hectares); • MSMEs with improved business development index (disaggregated by value chain) (250); • Target beneficiaries with rating “Satisfied” or above on project interventions (disaggregated by sex, age (15- 35) (65%). The project is structured around three interdependent components which contribute to achieve the project development objective. A fourth emergency response and contingency component is added to respond immediately to potential crisis following a human-made or natural disaster. Component 1 focuses on project coordination and strengthening capacities, planning, and knowledge. Component 2 focuses on promoting sustainable investment in landscapes, firstly to restore their physical and social functions including services and resilience capacity, secondly to increase their productivity by promoting climate smart agriculture, and thirdly to restore and promote their intangible Public Disclosure cultural capital and heritage. The third component aims to enhance access to economic opportunities and markets to improve livelihoods in rural areas and diversification of income for intended beneficiaries and vulnerable populations by co-financing investments in Productive Alliances (PAs) and Value Chain (VC) development. D. Environmental and Social Overview D.1. Detailed project location(s) and salient physical characteristics relevant to the E&S assessment [geographic, environmental, social] The project will cover most of the areas which have already been covered by the Natural Resources Management in a Changing Climate in Mali project (PGRNCC, P145799) and are currently covered by the Economic and Environmental Rehabilitation of Niger River Project ( PREEFN, P151909). These are communes in the Kayes, Koulikoro, Mopti and Segou areas. It will directly build on lessons learned from these projects, strengthen and scale-up these projects’ activities. The population of this area can be estimated at around 300,000 people. The landscape consists of cultivated fields of cereal crops encroaching on pastoral ranges, agro-pastoral zones and three forest stands. The area receives 200 to 600 mm of annual precipitation and consists of a semi-arid ecosystem comprising mainly grassy and shrub steppes with a density of less than 10m3 of wood per hectare. The Inner Niger River Delta (IND) and included lakes basin are characterized by an immense fertile alluvial plain with a low slope and formed by a large dendritic network of tributaries and shallow lakes. The IND designates the intermediate part of the River Niger where it is subdivided into many branches before resuming a normal course. Located between 4th and 6th degrees West and 13th and 16th degrees North, the IND is a vast area of spreading water from the Niger River and its main tributary the Bani, and is made up of a network of tributaries, outlets , lakes and floodplains. The population of IND is estimated at over one Nov 23, 2021 Page 3 of 10 The World Bank Landscape Restoration and Resilience Project - Mali (P177041) million people, living in an area of approximately 35,000 km2. oral and fishing potential of this vast floodplain. There is ethnic diversity in the IND where the ethnic-background link remains important. Historically, the Fulani are breeders; the Marka, Songhaï, Bambara, Rimaïbé, Dogon and Bella are farmers; and the Bozo and the Somono, fishermen. These three groups, farmers, fishermen and pastoralists, are the three main socio-professional groups that derive their livelihoods from the IND ecosystem. They use the same space but at different scales of space and time. Four main production systems are found in the project areas: (i) rainfed agriculture; (ii) agricultural system dominated by the production of rice; (iii) pastoral system with herds of cattle; and, (iv) the fishing system. These systems all have subsystems or variants which are generally characterized by low use of equipment and low use of inputs. The pattern of land use over time has been affected by high human population growth, climate change, and management infrastructure. D. 2. Borrower’s Institutional Capacity The Ministry of Environment, Sanitation and Sustainable Development (MEADD), through some of its departments and agencies (particularly AEDD, ABFN) have some experience of the operational procedures of the World Bank but not in the Environmental and Social Framework (ESF). MEADD has successfully executed several Bank projects mainly under old safeguards policies, such as PGRNCC (P145799) and PREFEEN (P151909). The Borrower’s institutional capacity to implement the project under the ESF is thus considered weak. The PMU, hosted by the MEADD, will focus on coordination, contract management, and results monitoring. It will be supported by Partner Institutions (PIs), which will be selected on a competitive basis, for the implementation of the various activities. During the preparation phase, assessment of the institutional arrangements will be carried out to assess any gaps (mainly in terms of capacity. Any capacity gaps or / strengthening measures, especially with regard to the implementation of the Environmental and Social Standards (ESSs), will be captured in an Institutional Capacity Strengthening Plan and Public Disclosure reflected in the Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP). II. SCREENING OF POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL (ES) RISKS AND IMPACTS A. Environmental and Social Risk Classification (ESRC) Substantial Environmental Risk Rating Substantial The project’s environmental risk is classified as Substantial, even if most of risks and negative impacts which are likely to be generated by project activities can be mitigated by easily identifiable measures. The project activities mainly under component 2, are expected to have positive impacts on environmental ecosystem. The three categories of subprojects (such as physical investments to restore degraded ecosystem, actions necessary to restore the productivity of those ecosystem, agro-silvo-pastoral and fishing practices, and actions necessary for the restoration and promotion of the intangible and historical capital of the targeted landscapes) are expected to positively benefit the environment and the communities. However, when badly managed, those activities could generated some negative impacts on fragile and vulnerable ecosystem as well on biodiversity (for example on tens of fish species and sub-species, migratory birds and resident waterbirds). The main environmental issues are will be related to: (i) impacts on water quality, and quantity and aquatic ecology; (ii) soil erosion by earthworks and runoff; (iii) health and safety of workers and communities ; vi) nuisances related to atmospheric and noise emissions; etc. Social Risk Rating Substantial The project’s social risk is rated Substantial, due to: (i) a sensitive social context, with insecurity and conflicts; (ii) impacts on economic activities and on land; (iii) challenges in risk mitigation and the management of Sexual Nov 23, 2021 Page 4 of 10 The World Bank Landscape Restoration and Resilience Project - Mali (P177041) Exploitation and Abuse/Sexual Harassment (SEA/SH); (iv) the high vulnerability of implementation zones and forced and child labor; (v) local community health and safety in fragile areas during civil works and the implementation of project activities; (v) the risk of effects on displaced and vulnerable people during project implementation in Kayes, Koulikoro, Ségou and Mopti and regions. During implementation, project related activities could negatively impact resources such as land, water, and cultural heritage and risk exacerbating conflicts and misunderstandings in a sensitive context. Specific adapted inclusive approach will be identified to allow effective participation of vulnerable groups, displaced people, particularly women and youth. B. Environment and Social Standards (ESSs) that Apply to the Activities Being Considered B.1. General Assessment ESS1 Assessment and Management of Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts Overview of the relevance of the Standard for the Project: The project will finance several ecosystem restoration activities by providing grants to groups and individuals to develop eligible micro projects. The activities to be implemented by project beneficiaries will include physical soil amendment works, soil fertility and microbiology, sustainable land and water management techniques (SLWM), rehabilitation of hydraulic infrastructure, use of renewable energy sources and carbon-free technologies, treatment and reuse of wastewater, restoration and rehabilitation works of the Niger River, etc. Despite a strong focus on environmental protection, these activities are also expected to have some environmental and social impacts, which will be site specific and small-scale and for which mitigation measures can be easily integrated. The environmental Public Disclosure risks and impacts will be related to occupational health and safety, pollution due to solid waste, dust and noise, etc. In addition most of the environmental impacts will come from construction waste generation and possible biodiversity impacts. Construction wastes are likely to include soil erosion, dust and other emissions (e.g. from vehicle traffic, land clearing activities, and materials stockpiles), etc. Impact on biodiversity cannot be excluded. Environmental and social risks are related to community health and safety (ESS4); worker safety (ESS2); management of biodiversity risks (ESS6), labor influx (ESS2), resettlement (ESS5), impact of SEA/SH (ESS1), as well as conflicts related to the selection and targeting of beneficiaries for productive alliances and value chains and possible misinformation regarding the project. In this regard, specific management and mitigation measures will be provided in the instruments that the Borrower will prepare; including the stakeholder engagement plan, and Labor Management Procedures. At this preparation phase, the details and locations of the ecosystem to be restored and the sub-projects to be financed under Subcomponent 2 are not be known . However, the Borrower will prepare an Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) to examine the potential risks and positive / negative impacts and present related principles, rules, guidelines, mitigations measures and procedures to address them. The ESMF will make use of the general and natural ressources management Environmental, Health, and Safety Guidelines (EHSGs) for the identified activities in relation to occupational and community health and safety. It will also include measures for addressing any potential SEA/H risks and security concerns. Finally, COVID-19 requirements will be defined and monitored to ensure workers and community safety. Areas where “Use of Borrower Framework” is being considered: NA Nov 23, 2021 Page 5 of 10 The World Bank Landscape Restoration and Resilience Project - Mali (P177041) ESS10 Stakeholder Engagement and Information Disclosure At this stage, key main institutional stakeholders involved in the projet are the following: National Directorate for Water Resources and Forests/DNEF, National Directorate for Sanitation and Pollution Control/DNACPN, Great Green Wall Agency/ANGMV the Niger River Basin Agency/ABFN), Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralization (MATD), (National Directorate for Territorial Governments/DGCT, National Agency for the Investment of Territorial Governments)/ANICT); the Ministry of Rural Development (National Directorate of Agriculture/DNA, National Directorate of Animal Productions and Industries/DNPIA, National Directorate of Fisheries/ DNP); the Ministry of Energy and Water (National Directorate of Hydraulics/DNH); the Ministry of Equipment and Transport (MALI-METEO) and the Ministry of Security and Civil Protection (MSPC), Directorate General of Civil Protection (DGPC) are involved in the project. The Borrower will prepare and disclose, and will accordingly implement, an inclusive Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) consistent with the requirements of ESS10 and proportional to the nature and scale of the project and associated risks and impacts. The SEP will include consideration of other interested parties (OIPs), various beneficiaries and directly impacted project affected persons (PAPs). The SEP will identify vulnerable groups, outline the characteristics and interests of identified stakeholder groups and timing and methods of engagement throughout the project lifecycle. The SEP, to be prepared by appraisal, will include a project level GBV-sensitive Grievance Mechanism (GM), that assures safe and confidential documentation, response and management of SEA/SH complaints and will include targeted and regular involvement of women and other groups at-risk in stakeholder engagement. Awareness raising activities on project-related risks of SEA/SH and mitigation strategies will be included in the SEP and will target communities and project workers. Public Disclosure B.2. Specific Risks and Impacts A brief description of the potential environmental and social risks and impacts relevant to the Project. ESS2 Labor and Working Conditions The project implementation unit (PIU) will include direct and contract workers. Following a careful assessment of the labor requirements and types of employees engaged in the project, the Borrower will prepare, by Board approval, labor management procedures (LMP) to address key issues, such as working conditions and the management of worker relationships, protecting the workforce, non-discrimination, minimum age of work, measures to prevent forced labor and child labor, occupational health and safety requirements, as well as relevant guidance for the employment of youth through the project's job placement activities. The LMP will include an effective labor specific workers’ grievance mechanism that is SEA/SH sensitive, based on national laws and regulations and the provisions of ESS2 and management of labor issues. Finally, the LMP will include a code of conduct to guide workers involved in project activities, and highlighting the prohibition of SEA/SH and sanctions in case of misconduct. ESS3 Resource Efficiency and Pollution Prevention and Management ESS3 is pertinent, because the project may generate air, water, and land pollution and consume finite resources that may threaten people, ecosystem services and the environment at the local level. Pollutants my be released to air, water and land due to routine, non-routine, and accidental circumstances. Ecosystem restauration activities and micro projects are not expected to generate significant environment and social impacts. Project activities will not include procurement or use of any agro-chemical product. However, minor air and water pollution could result from civil works. The cumulative impact will be identified as part of the screening process for the sub-projects and Nov 23, 2021 Page 6 of 10 The World Bank Landscape Restoration and Resilience Project - Mali (P177041) mitigation measures included in the ESMP. The ESMPs, to be prepared during project implementation, will include mitigation measures to minimize and manage those risks and impacts. ESS4 Community Health and Safety ESS4 is pertinent, because health and safety issues of communities are closely linked to typical risks/impacts of construction sites such as impacts from vehicle traffic, dust, noise, vibrations, hazardous material, potential labor influx and specific hazards including structural and site access issues. The ESMF will assess all these risks/impacts of the project on the health and safety of the affected communities (particularly their most vulnerable members) during the project life cycle and propose mitigation solutions. ESIAs/ESMPs will be prepared during project implementation. All COVID-19 requirements will be shared with contractors and monitored at local level to ensure workers and communities safety. The Borrower will avoid or minimize the potential for community exposure to hazardous materials and substances that may be released by project activities. The ESMF, to be prepared by the Borrower by appraisal, and other safeguard documents will describe GBV-related risks, and identify appropriate mitigation measures. Due to the presence of terrorists groups in some projects zones to be covered by the project and security volatility, a preliminary security assessment will be prepared during project preparation phase. A security management plan, will be prepared based on the outcome of the assessment, to define relevant measures to address the identified security risks, before starting of any work. ESS5 Land Acquisition, Restrictions on Land Use and Involuntary Resettlement Public Disclosure ESS5 is pertinent, because some activities may induce land acquisition, restrictions on land use and involuntary resettlement. In addition, temporary economic displacement (loss of land, assets, or access to assets and resources leading to loss of income sources or other means of livelihood) cannot be excluded during project implementation. However, feasible alternative project designs will be considered to avoid or minimize land acquisition or restrictions on land use, especially where this would result in physical or economic displacement, while balancing environmental, social, and financial costs and benefits, and paying particular attention to gender impacts and impacts on the poor and vulnerable. Quantity of land to be potentially affected, and likewise number of project affected persons (PAPs), cannot be estimated at this early stage in the project preparation process. . An RPF will be be prepared by the Borrower by appraisal and consulted upon in the areas covered by the project to establish the procedures for preparing subsequent site-specific resettlement action plans (RAPs). Potential losses of land and potential number of PAPs, will be further reviewed and estimated in the appraisal stage ESRS, based on any draft RAPs that might have been prepared. ESS6 Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Natural Resources ESS6 is pertinent. Landscape restoration activities promoted by the project should restore and return functionality to critical habitat, reintroduce extirpated species and increase genetic diversity. Integrated Landscape management and planning process will involve biodiversity considerations to ensure that positive links between a restored, healthy and biodiverse landscape and other sectors of interest (especially those relating to human development) are well articulated to assure decisionmakers of the positive social return on investment provided by restoring biodiversity as part of the overall landscape restoration process. Nov 23, 2021 Page 7 of 10 The World Bank Landscape Restoration and Resilience Project - Mali (P177041) The ESMF (to be prepared by appraisal), and ESIAs (to be prepared during implementation) will identify a number of adequate measures that will be applied to promote biodiversity and prevent, mitigate or eliminate potential risks before the start of the work. ESS7 Indigenous Peoples/Sub-Saharan African Historically Underserved Traditional Local Communities This ESS is currently not relevant in the project area. There are no known Indigenous Peoples in the project area. However, the project will particularly address the needs of the most economically marginalized and vulnerable segments of the population, who could potentially be affected by some activities. Appropriate measures will ensure that they receive equitable access to project benefits and that these benefits are devised or delivered in a form that is culturally appropriate. ESS8 Cultural Heritage ESS8 is pertinent. Through the environmental and social assessment, the potential risks and impacts of the proposed activities of the project on cultural heritage will be determined. If deemed appropriate, a Cultural Heritage Management Plan will be prepared to include mitigation measures such as: relocating or modifying the physical footprint of the project; conservation and rehabilitation in situ; relocation of cultural heritage; documentation; strengthening the capacity of national and subnational institutions responsible for managing cultural heritage affected by the project; establishment of a monitoring system to track the progress and efficacy of these activities; establishment of an implementation schedule and required budget for the identified mitigation measures; and Public Disclosure cataloguing of finds. The ESMF, to be prepared by appraisal, as already mentioned, will include chance finds procedures. ESS9 Financial Intermediaries This ESS is not expected to be relevant to this project. The project will not employ the services of financial intermediaries C. Legal Operational Policies that Apply OP 7.50 Projects on International Waterways TBD OP 7.60 Projects in Disputed Areas No III. WORLD BANK ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL DUE DILIGENCE A. Is a common approach being considered? No Financing Partners Nov 23, 2021 Page 8 of 10 The World Bank Landscape Restoration and Resilience Project - Mali (P177041) This operation will not use the Borrower’s Environmental and Social Framework but will comply with relevant national legal requirements. B. Proposed Measures, Actions and Timing (Borrower’s commitments) Actions to be completed prior to Bank Board Approval: By Appraisal: ESMF; SEP; LMP and RFP. Possible issues to be addressed in the Borrower Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP): The ESCP will address ESF requirement on staffing and development of instruments timely acceptable by World Bank. C. Timing Tentative target date for preparing the Appraisal Stage ESRS 31-Jan-2022 IV. CONTACT POINTS World Bank Contact: Taoufiq Bennouna Title: Senior Natural Resources Management Specialist Public Disclosure Telephone No: 5351+2239 / - -53512239 Email: tbennouna@worldbank.org Contact: Aurelie Marie Simone Monique Title: Environmental Specialist Rossignol Telephone No: 5361+3043 Email: arossignol@worldbank.org Borrower/Client/Recipient Borrower: Republic of Mali Implementing Agency(ies) Implementing Agency: Agence de l'Environnement et Developpement Durable (AEDD) V. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT Nov 23, 2021 Page 9 of 10 The World Bank Landscape Restoration and Resilience Project - Mali (P177041) The World Bank 1818 H Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20433 Telephone: (202) 473-1000 Web: http://www.worldbank.org/projects VI. APPROVAL Task Team Leader(s): Aurelie Marie Simone Monique Rossignol, Taoufiq Bennouna Practice Manager (ENR/Social) Maria Sarraf Recommended on 15-Nov-2021 at 08:02:28 GMT-05:00 Safeguards Advisor ESSA Nathalie S. Munzberg (SAESSA) Cleared on 23-Nov-2021 at 09:34:38 GMT-05:00 Public Disclosure Nov 23, 2021 Page 10 of 10