Page 1 INTEGRATED SAFEGUARDS DATA SHEET CONCEPT STAGE Report No.: AC3924 Date ISDS Prepared/Updated: 10/30/2008 I. BASIC INFORMATION A. Basic Project Data Country: Rwanda Project ID: P112712 Project Name: Rwanda Demobilization and Reintegration Program, Stage III Task Team Leader: Marcelo Jorge Fabre Estimated Appraisal Date: January 20, 2009 Estimated Board Date: March 31, 2009 Managing Unit: AFTCS Lending Instrument: Specific Investment Loan Sector: Other social services (100%) Theme: Conflict prevention and post-conflict reconstruction (P) IBRD Amount (US$m.): 0.00 IDA Amount (US$m.): 8.00 GEF Amount (US$m.): 0.00 PCF Amount (US$m.): 0.00 Other financing amounts by source: BORROWER/RECIPIENT 2.00 Free-standing Single Purpose Trust Fund 8.50 10.50 B. Project Objectives [from section 2 of PCN] The objective of the Rwanda Demobilization and Reintegration Project (RDRP) is to enhance the capacity of the Government of Rwanda to demobilize regular and irregular combatants and ease their transition to civilian life through the provision of reinsertion and reintegration support; and support those ex-combatants from previous phases who remain vulnerable. Specifically, the RDRP will: • Establish the capacity to repatriate and demobilize up to a maximum of 5,500 members of armed groups (including approximately 500 children) operating outside of Rwanda and particularly those in the Eastern DRC; • Establish the capacity to demobilize up to a maximum of 4,000 personnel from the Rwanda Defense Forces once the threat of AGs is reduced, allowing for the reduction of defense sector expenses; • Allow for the provision of reinsertion and socio-economic reintegration support for all demobilized ex-AG members, newly demobilized RDF and 500 phase-II beneficiaries, complemented by Vulnerability Support Window grants (VSW), for vulnerable ex-combatants; Page 2 • Facilitate the progressive mainstreaming of RDRP activities to local authorities and relevant institutions, in order to build sustainable support mechanisms for activities initiated under the program, and integrate ex-combatants into wider development services; and • Support up to a maximum of approximately 10,000 dependants of repatriated AG members. C. Project Description [from section 3 of PCN] There are an estimated 8,000 Rwandan combatants who fled the country following the 1994 genocide and who continue to operate militarily in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). There are also several thousand combatants in other countries, primarily in the Republic of Congo, but also in Zambia, Malawi, Central African Republic and South Africa. The Government of Rwanda and the international community in general see these armed groups (AGs) as a continued threat to peace, stability and prosperity both in Rwanda and the wider Great Lakes Region. Regional governments and the international community have taken a number of steps to try and help address this threat, particularly for AGs in the Eastern DRC. A series of efforts by national, regional and international actors are underway to support the pacification of the Great Lakes Region, notably, the Nairobi Joint Communiqué, the Kivu Peace Conference, and UN Security Council Resolution 1804 of March 13, 2008. UN Resolution 1804 specifically calls upon the main AG force, the Forces dëmocratiques pour la libération du Rwanda (FDLR), to disarm andrepatriate, or face sanctions. The Government of Rwanda (GoR), in turn, has been facilitating peaceful disarmament and repatriation of Rwandan armed groups outside of Rwanda through a systematic process of demobilization, reinsertion and reintegration (DRR). The second stage of a national DRR process that is supported by IDA and the international community (through a multi-donor trust fund for the greater Great Lakes region) will end in December 2008, with the closing of the Emergency Demobilization and Reintegration Project (P075129). It is this context that the GoR has proposed to undertake a third stage DRR program in hopes of facilitating the demilitarization and reintegration of the majority of FDLR members, further reductions to the size of the national army (the RDF), and to address the needs of the outstanding case-load of phase II combatants who were demobilized or who remain particularly vulnerable. Specifically, GoR anticipates that up to 5,500 AG members and 4,000 members of RDF will be demobilized and assisted to reintegrate into civilian life over the next three years. The outcome of these efforts is expected to be an improved security situation in Rwanda. The project would support the following types of activities: • sensitization of specific combatants groups and communities in general regarding the process and rationale for program; • demobilization and possible repatriation of AGs on foreign soil, and demobilization of the RDF; • support for the short-term reinsertion of all combatants (through provision of basic needs kits, recognition of service allowances) and AG dependents (through a resettlement kit); Page 3 • general support for economic reintegration through micro-project and vulnerability support window grants, and for social reintegration through the provision of psycho-social counseling, HIV/AIDS awareness training, and community sensitization; • specially targeted social and economic support for children and severely disabled ex- combatants, and • program management and administration. D. Project location (if known) As the resettlement of former AGs and the RDF is unrestricted, the RDRP will be implemented throughout Rwanda. Two demobilization centers in Mutobo and Muhazi will operate as under the second phase of the RDRP. However, as both of these facilities exist, there are no expected safeguard issues. Reintegration support grants are provided to ex-combatants on an individual basis for the purposes of demand-driven micro-projects in or near their homes and communities. As the ex-combatants supported under the program are both widely dispersed and a very small portion of the overall population, no cumulative environmental impact is expected. While many micro-projects financed under the second phase addressed training and capacity building for individuals or micro-enterprises, some support was also used to set up income-generating activities that might suggest mitigation measures. As such, it is expected that an Environmental and Social Management Framework document will be prepared to screen and identify appropriate mitigation measures. Preliminary review suggests specific attention should be paid to activities that might increase soil erosion and negative impacts of possible fuel wood use. In the event that land acquisition is required for some reintegration support, a specific annex to the ESMF will be prepared that treats specific Resettlement Policy Framework issues. The RPF would be disclosed separately from the ESMF. E. Borrower’s Institutional Capacity for Safeguard Policies [from PCN] To date, all screening of micro-projects under the RDRP II (P075129) is carried out by the Rwanda Demobilization and Reintegration Commission (RDRC) provincial and district officers. A 2007 review of the application of safeguard procedures approved by the Bank for the project found that screening of micro-projects for potential environmental and social impacts is being carried out as per the procedures outlined in the Program Implementation Manual. It was also confirmed through discussions with RDRC national, provincial and district staff that the micro- project activities undertaken by ex-combatants were small in nature and were not expected to have any significant impacts. The consultant further found that the numbers of ex-combatants (estimated to be between 0.5 and 1 percent of the total adult population) and the types of activities being supported by the program are minor in relation to the large number of citizens engaged in similar pursuits (farming, fishing, small enterprise, etc.) in each district. As such, the consultant concluded that there is no likelihood that this dispersed and low number of micro- projects, even if there were impacts, would have any cumulative effects. F. Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialists Mr Martin Fodor (AFTEN) Ms Mary C.K. Bitekerezo (AFTCS) Page 4 II. SAFEGUARD POLICIES THAT MIGHT APPLY Safeguard Policies Triggered Yes No TBD Environmental Assessment (OP/BP 4.01) X As with the past phase, the third phase EDRP is expected be classified as environmental category B. It includes reintegration activities that primarily take the form of micro-projects that promote income generation. While many of these micro-projects will have no environmental or social impacts, some agriculture, animal husbandry, brick-making and other similar activities are also financed. These are on a very small scale (micro-project grants are worth approximately $225) and widely dispersed and so would have marginal environmental impact and no cumulative effect. Nonetheless, an appropriate screening devise and relevant mitigation measures are considered appropriate and will be updated (the current project uses such a screening devise) through the preparation of an ESMF. The project will not be supporting any major physical works, however, some land acquisition may be required for some forms of reintegration support and therefore may trigger OP/BP 4.12. Nonetheless, the task team believes that such instances could be addressed through a combined ESMF document given the demand-driven nature and small size of such activities. Natural Habitats (OP/BP 4.04) X Forests (OP/BP 4.36) X Pest Management (OP 4.09) X Physical Cultural Resources (OP/BP 4.11) X Indigenous Peoples (OP/BP 4.10) X Involuntary Resettlement (OP/BP 4.12) X There may be some land acquisition required under the project that would trigger 4.12. Therefore, the EA that will result in an ESMF will specifically look at the issue and if necessary, prepare a RPF as an annex to the ESMF that would be disclosed separately Safety of Dams (OP/BP 4.37) X Projects on International Waterways (OP/BP 7.50) X Projects in Disputed Areas (OP/BP 7.60) X Environmental Category: B - Partial Assessment III. SAFEGUARD PREPARATION PLAN A. Target date for the Quality Enhancement Review (QER), at which time the PAD-stage ISDS would be prepared: 11/12/2008 B. For simple projects that will not require a QER, the target date for preparing the PAD-stage ISDS: N/A C. Time frame for launching and completing the safeguard-related studies that may be needed. The specific studies and their timing 1 should be specified in the PAD-stage ISDS. 1 Reminder: The Bank's Disclosure Policy requires that safeguard-related documents be disclosed before appraisal (i) at the InfoShop and (ii) in-country, at publicly accessible locations and in a form and language that are accessible to potentially affected persons. Page 5 • An environmental assessment will be carried out by December 2008, and the ESMF and RPF (if required) would be disclosed prior to appraisal. • The sector accepts transfer of safeguard responsibilities for this project. IV. APPROVALS Signed and submitted by: Task Team Leader: Mr Marcelo Jorge Fabre 10/30/2008 Approved by: Regional Safeguards Coordinator: Mr Warren Waters 10/30/2008 Comments: Sector Manager: Mr Ian Bannon 10/30/2008 Comments: