THE WORLD BANK - ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) Republic of Tajikistan Ministry of Agriculture Strengthening Resilience of the Agriculture Sector in Tajikistan – P175952 Draft ENVIRONMENTAL and SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) April 23, 2021 1|Page THE WORLD BANK - ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN 1. The Republic of Tajikistan (the Recipient) is planning to implement Project Strengthening Resilience of the Agriculture Sector in Tajikistan (the Project) through the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) with the involvement of the Ministry of Finance, and supported by the Project Implementation Unit to be established under the MOA (MOA PIU). The International Development Association (the Association) has agreed to provide financing for the Project. 2. The Recipient will implement material measures and actions so that the Project is implemented in accordance with the Environmental and Social Standards (ESSs). This Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP) sets out material measures and actions, any specific documents or plans, as well as the timing for each of these. 3. The Recipient will also comply with the provisions of any other Environment and Social documents required under the ESF and referred to in this ESCP, such as Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF); site specific Environmental and Social Impact Assessments/Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESIA/ESMP); Labor Management Procedures (LMP); Pest Management Plans (PMP); Resettlement Policy Framework (RPF); Resettlement Action Plans (RAP); and Stakeholder Engagement Plans (SEP), and the timelines specified in those Environment and Social documents. 4. The Recipient is responsible for compliance with all requirements of the ESCP even when implementation of specific measures and actions is conducted by the MOA and MOA PIU. 5. Implementation of the material measures and actions set out in this ESCP will be monitored and reported to the Association by the Recipient as required by the ESCP and the conditions of the legal agreement, and the Association will monitor and assess progress and completion of the material measures and actions throughout implementation of the Project. 6. As agreed by the Association and the Recipient, his ESCP may be revised from time to time during Project implementation, to reflect adaptive management of Project changes and unforeseen circumstances or in response to assessment of Project performance conducted under the ESCP itself. In such circumstances, Recipient will agree to the changes with the Association and will update the ESCP to reflect such changes. Agreement on changes to the ESCP will be documented through the exchange of letters signed between the Association and the Recipient. The Recipient will promptly disclose the updated ESCP. 7. Where Project changes, unforeseen circumstances, or Project performance result in changes to the risks and impacts during Project implementation, the Recipient shall provide additional funds, if needed, to implement actions and measures to address such environmental and social risks and impacts that might include pest management, environmental health and safety, biodiversity, labor, land use and tenure, and community engagement. 2|Page THE WORLD BANK - ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP): VERSION 2.0 – July 2019 MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBILE ENTITY/AUTHORITY MONITORING AND REPORTING A REGULAR REPORTING Quarterly throughout project implementation MOA PIU Prepare and submit to the Association regular monitoring reports on the period starting from the effective date. environmental, social, health and safety (ESHS) performance of the Project, including but not limited to the implementation of the ESCP, status of preparation and implementation of Environment and Social documents required under the ESCP, stakeholder engagement activities, functioning of the grievance mechanism(s). B INCIDENTS AND ACCIDENTS Promptly after taking notice of the incident or MOA PIU Promptly notify the Association of any incident or accident related to the accident, but no later than two calendar days Project which has, or is likely to have, a significant adverse effect on the from learning of its occurrence. Follow-on environment, the affected communities, the public or workers. Provide reporting will be provided within a timeframe sufficient detail regarding the incident or accident, indicating immediate acceptable to the Association. measures taken or that are planned to be taken to address it, and any information provided by any contractor and supervising entity, as appropriate. Subsequently, as per the Association’s request, prepare a report on the incident or accident and propose any measures to prevent its recurrence. C CONTRACTOR REPORTING Monthly throughout project implementation Contractors via MOA PIU Prepare and submit to the Association monthly monitoring reports on the period starting from the start of specific environmental, social, health and safety (ESHS) performance of specific contracts. works contracts, including but not limited to the implementation of the ESIA/ESMP and IPMP, stakeholder engagement activities, functioning of the grievance mechanism(s). ESS 1: ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL RISKS AND IMPACTS 1.1 ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE Full time Environmental and Social Staff onboard MOA The MOA has established and will maintain the PIU with qualified staff and prior to Project Effectiveness. resources to support management of Environment and Social risks and the delivery of actions agreed in this ESCP. The PIU will include Environmental Organizational Structure acceptable to the and Social Specialists on staff and will contract consultants, as necessary, Association maintained throughout Project for support in specific areas that may include, but is not limited to, pest Implementation. management, biodiversity, and stakeholder engagement. 3|Page THE WORLD BANK - ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP): VERSION 2.0 – July 2019 MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBILE ENTITY/AUTHORITY 1.2 ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK (ESMF) An ESMF, acceptable to the Association, has MOA PIU The ESMF outlines the guiding principles of environmental screening, been prepared, consulted on, and disclosed by assessment, review, management, and monitoring procedures for all the Recipient and the Association. The ESMF will envisaged activities. The ESMF also includes a PMP for the project as well be updated from time to time, when necessary, as a check-list for determining if and when site-specific ESIA/ESMP might in agreement with the Association. When be required for proposed activities. updated, the revised ESMF, will be consulted on, and re-disclosed. The ESMF will be implemented throughout the life of the Project. 1.2.1 SOCIAL INCLUSION PLAN (SIP) A SIP acceptable to the Association will be MOA PIU Prepare a plan, as a part of the POM, outlining guiding principles and finalized, consulted on, and disclosed prior to approach as well as methodology to ensure that poor and disadvantaged Project Effectiveness sections, especially women, are included in the Project activities. 1.2.2 MANAGEMENT TOOLS AND INSTRUMENTS The site specific ESIA/ESMP for activities judged MOA PIU All proposed project activities will be screened in accordance with the to be of substantial environmental or social risk ESMF prepared for the Project. When required, ESIA/ESMP will be drafted, will be reviewed by the Bank prior to issuing adopted, and implemented in accordance with the ESMF and in a manner bidding documents for those activities, acceptable to the Association. otherwise, they will be reviewed by the Bank during regular implementation support missions. 1.3 MANAGEMENT OF CONTRACTORS Prior to issuing of any Bidding Documents. MOA PIU Incorporate the relevant aspects of the ESCP, including the relevant Environment and Social documents and/or plans, and the Labor Management Procedures, into the ESHS specifications of the procurement documents with any contractors for specific Project activities. Thereafter ensure that the contractors comply with the ESHS specifications of their respective contracts. 4|Page THE WORLD BANK - ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP): VERSION 2.0 – July 2019 MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBILE ENTITY/AUTHORITY ESS 2: LABOR AND WORKING CONDITIONS 2.1 LABOR MANAGEMENT PROCEDURES (LMP) An LMP, acceptable to the Association, has been MOA PIU An LMP has been prepared for the Project that includes, implementing prepared, consulted on, and disclosed by the adequate occupational health and safety measures (including emergency Recipient and the Association. preparedness and response measures), setting out grievance arrangements for Project workers, ensuring that the grievance The LMP will be implemented throughout the mechanism (GM) is equipped or adapted to address SEA/SH allegations, life of the Project. and incorporating labor requirements, standard Codes of Conduct to prevent Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Sexual Harassment (SEA/SH) into the ESHS specifications of the procurement documents and contracts with contractors and supervising firms. 2.2 CHILD LABOR MONITORING (CLM) A CLM, acceptable to the Association, will be MOA PIU Draft an approach and methodology, as a part of the POM, to monitor prepared, consulted on, and disclosed prior to child labor deployment in the project’s agricultural spheres. Project Effectiveness. 2.3 GRIEVANCE MECHANISM FOR PROJECT WORKERS The GM for Project Workers will be established MOA PIU Establish, maintain, and operate a GM for Project workers, as described in within 30 days of Project Effectiveness and the LMP and consistent with ESS2. implemented throughout the life of the Project. ESS 3: RESOURCE EFFICIENCY AND POLLUTION PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT 3.1 PEST MANAGEMENT An ESMF including required Pest Management MOA PIU The ESMF contains a detailed chapter on pest management including an sections, acceptable to the Association, has been assessment of current pest management practice in Tajikistan; prepared, consulted on, and disclosed by the recommended actions by the project to help address short-comings (if Recipient and the Association. any) identified in that assessment; lists of pesticides banned by national law or prohibited by the ESF and ESSs; and a Pest Management Plans The ESMF will be implemented throughout the (PMP) for the project. life of the Project. 3.2 ORGANIC WASTE MANAGEMENT An ESMF including procedures on organic waste MOA PIU The ESMF contains detailed procedures for managing organic waste management acceptable to the Association, has related to agricultural production, transport, and storage. been prepared, consulted on, and disclosed by the Recipient and the Association. The ESMF will be implemented throughout the life of the Project. 5|Page THE WORLD BANK - ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP): VERSION 2.0 – July 2019 ESS 4: COMMUNITY HEALTH AND SAFETY 4.1 COMMUNITY HEALTH AND SAFETY An ESMF including required community health MOA PIU The ESMF includes measures and actions to assess and manage specific and safety provisions, acceptable to the risks and impacts to the community arising from Project activities Association, has been prepared, consulted on, including COVID-19 risks and precautions; traffic management and safety; and disclosed by the Recipient and the pollution and waste management; pest management; and the prevention Association. of and response to sexual exploitation and abuse, and sexual harassment. The ESMF will be implemented throughout the life of the Project. ESS 5: LAND ACQUISITION, RESTRICTIONS ON LAND USE AND INVOLUNTARY RESETTLEMENT 5.1 RESETTLEMENT POLICY FRAMEWORK (RPF) An RPF, acceptable to the Association, has been MOA PIU An RPF has been prepared for the project that clarifies how land use will prepared, consulted on, and disclosed by the be managed during Project implementation and the criteria for preparing Recipient and the Association. site specific RAPs. The RPF will be implemented throughout the life of the Project. 5.2 RESETTLEMENT PLANS A RAP will be prepared and implemented prior MOA PIU The Project will Prepare, adopt, and implement RAPs in accordance with to commencing any Project activities requiring a ESS 5 and consistent with the requirements of RPF that has been prepared RAP throughout the life of the Project. for the Project, and thereafter adopt and implement the respective RAPs before carrying out the any associated activities requiring an RAP in a manner acceptable to the Association. ESS 6: BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF LIVING NATURAL RESOURCES 6.1 BIODIVERSITY RISKS AND IMPACTS An ESMF including ESS 6 requirements, MOA PIU Using the screening form in the ESMF, conduct a preliminary screening acceptable to the Association, has been and assess each of proposed activity/subproject for financing in terms of prepared, consulted on, and disclosed by the its risks and impacts on biodiversity and living natural resources. Ensure Recipient and the Association. all activities/subprojects with significant impacts are excluded from the project financing. The ESMF will be implemented throughout the life of the Project ESS 7: INDIGENOUS PEOPLES/SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAN HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED TRADITIONAL LOCAL COMMUNITIES ESS 7 is not relevant to the Project. ESS 8: CULTURAL HERITAGE ESS 8 is not relevant to the Project; however, the ESMF will contain “chance find procedures” to be applied to Project activi ties. 6|Page THE WORLD BANK - ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP): VERSION 2.0 – July 2019 ESS 9: FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES ESS 9 is not relevant to the Project. ESS 10: STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT AND INFORMATION DISCLOSURE 10.1 STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT PLAN (SEP) PREPARATION AND The SEP will be implemented throughout MOA PIU IMPLEMENTATION the preparation and life of the Project. An SEP acceptable to the Association, has been prepared for the Project. The SEP will be Implemented, consistent with ESS10 and in a manner acceptable to the Association. The SEP will also be updated, as necessary during project implementation. 10.2 PROJECT GRIEVANCE MECHANISM (GM) The Project GM will be implemented MOA PIU Prepare, adopt, maintain, and operate a Project GM, as described in the throughout the life of the Project. SEP. CAPACITY SUPPORT (TRAINING) CS1 MOA PIU and contractors will receive training on relevant Throughout the life of the Project. MOA PIU environmental and social issues including, but not limited to: • The implementation of the ESF; • The ESMF prepared for the project; • Pest management issues and best practices; • Relevant occupational health and safety, issues including COVID-19 precautions; and • Social Inclusion Plan, SEP and GM implementation • Labor Management Procedures, including child labor monitoring • Prevention of and response to sexual exploitation and abuse, and sexual harassment. 7|Page