GOVERNMENT OF SIERRA LEONE Ministry of Energy ENHANCING SIERRA LEONE ENERGY ACCESS (P171059) Environmental and Social Management Framework November 2020 Table of Contents ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ...................................................................................................... VI EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................ IX SECTION ONE ................................................................................................................................................. 14 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................ 14 1.1 BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................................... 14 1.2 SECTORAL CONTEXT ......................................................................................................................... 16 1.2.1 Energy Policy Objectives .............................................................................................................. 17 1.2.2 Evolution of the energy sector in Sierra Leone ............................................................................. 17 1.2.3 Sierra Leone’s Medium-Term National Development Plan 2019-2023 ....................................... 18 1.3 ENHANCING SIERRA LEONE ENERGY ACCESS (PROJECT DESCRIPTION)ESLEA ............................ 19 1.3.1 Component 1: Electrification of Towns and Communities through Grid Extension ................... 20 1.3.2 Component 2: Electrification through Mini-Grid and Standalone Solar Systems (IDA and PHRD) 20 1.3.3 Component 3: Human Capital Development and Project Implementation Support .................... 22 1.4 OBJECTIVES AND RATIONALE FOR THE ESMF ................................................................................. 24 1.4.1 The objectives of the ESMF ........................................................................................................... 25 1.4.2 The Rationale for the ESMF ......................................................................................................... 25 SECTION TWO................................................................................................................................................. 27 POLICY, LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK ..................................................................... 27 2.0 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................. 27 2.1 NATIONAL POLICIES AND REGULATIONS ........................................................................................ 27 2.1.1 The Forestry Act, 1988 ................................................................................................................. 27 2.1.2 The Forestry Regulations, 1989 .................................................................................................... 28 2.1.3 The National Forestry Policy, 2010 .............................................................................................. 29 2.1.4 Wildlife Conservation Amendment Act, 1990 ............................................................................. 29 2.1.5 The National Environment Policy, 1994 ...................................................................................... 30 2.1.6 The Sierra Leone Environment Protection Act, 2008/2010 ......................................................... 30 2.1.7 National Electricity Act of 2011 ................................................................................................... 33 2.1.8 The Sierra Leone Electricity and Water Regulatory Act 2011 ..................................................... 34 2.1.9 The Factories Act, 1974 ................................................................................................................ 34 2.1.10 The Local Government Act, 2004 ............................................................................................ 35 2.1.11 Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Act, 2012 ................................................................ 35 2.1.12 The National Lands Policy, Sierra Leone, 2015 ....................................................................... 36 2.1.13 The Sierra Leone Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission (SLEWRC) Act, 2011 ....... 36 2.2 INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL INSTRUMENTS/OBLIGATIONS FOR SIERRA LEONE.................. 37 2.2.1 The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) ........................................ 37 2.2.2 World Bank (WB) Guidelines: Environmental, Health, and Safety Guidelines, General EHS Guidelines, 2007 ......................................................................................................................................... 38 2.2.3 World Bank Environmental, Health, And Safety Guidelines for Electric Power Transmission and Distribution ................................................................................................................................................ 38 2.2.4 World Bank Environmental and Social Standards (ESSs) ........................................................... 39 i 2.2.5 Comparison of Sierra Leonean Regulations and World Bank’s ESS 2 ......................................... 45 2.3 INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK ........................................................................................................... 50 2.3.1 The Ministry of Energy (MoE)..................................................................................................... 50 2.3.2 The Ministry of the Environment................................................................................................. 50 2.3.3 Electricity Generation and Transmission Company (EGTC) ...................................................... 51 2.3.4 The Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA) ....................................................... 51 2.3.5 The Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission ..................................................................... 51 2.3.6 Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Authority .................................................................... 52 2.3.7 Environment Protection Agency - Sierra Leone (EPA-SL) .......................................................... 52 2.3.8 The Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA) .................................................................................. 52 SECTION THREE ............................................................................................................................................. 53 BASELINE CONDITIONS ............................................................................................................................. 53 3.1 PROJECT BIOPHYSICAL SETTING ....................................................................................................... 53 3.1.1 Description of the project area ...................................................................................................... 53 3.1.2 Climate.......................................................................................................................................... 61 3.1.3 Land Cover Classification in the Project Area .............................................................................. 62 3.1.4 Physiography ................................................................................................................................ 64 3.1.5 Hydrography................................................................................................................................. 64 3.1.6 Soil Characteristics ....................................................................................................................... 65 3.1.7 Protected and Sensitive Areas ...................................................................................................... 65 3.1.8 Flora and Fauna ............................................................................................................................ 66 3.3 SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS ................................................................................................................. 67 3.3.1 Population Characteristics ............................................................................................................ 67 3.3.2 Livelihood and Economy ............................................................................................................... 67 3.3.3 Education and Literacy ................................................................................................................. 69 3.3.4 Health - Infectious diseases ........................................................................................................... 70 3.3.5 Land Ownership Structure ........................................................................................................... 71 3.3.6 The Current Status of Battery and Solar Panel Collection, Transport, Storage and Disposal in Sierra Leone ................................................................................................................................................ 72 SECTION FOUR ............................................................................................................................................... 73 POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACTS ................................................................ 73 4.0 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................. 73 4.1 POSITIVE IMPACTS ..................................................................................................................................... 73 4.1.1 Carbon Emissions Reduction ............................................................................................................. 74 4.1.2 Reduced Indoor Pollution .................................................................................................................. 74 4.1.3 Reduction in negative pressure on women and girls ......................................................................... 74 4.1.4 Improved Security .............................................................................................................................. 74 4.1.5 Improved Delivery of Social Services in Health and Education......................................................... 75 4.1.6 Employment Generation .................................................................................................................... 75 4.1.7. Improved Livelihoods ........................................................................................................................ 76 4.1.8 Incentives for Small-Scale Enterprises ............................................................................................... 76 4.2 POTENTIAL NEGATIVE IMPACTS ............................................................................................................... 76 4.2.1. Loss of Vegetation ............................................................................................................................. 76 4.2.2 Loss of Habitats .................................................................................................................................. 77 4.2.3 Soil Contamination and Erosion ........................................................................................................ 77 ii 4.2.4 Water Contamination ........................................................................................................................ 77 4.2.5 Solid Waste ........................................................................................................................................ 78 4.2.6 Concerns Related to the Management of Hazardous Materials ......................................................... 78 4.2.7 Air Quality ........................................................................................................................................ 79 4.2.8 Noise and Vibration ........................................................................................................................... 79 4.2.9 Concerns related to Electric and Magnetic Fields ........................................................................ 79 4.2.10 Concerns related to Terrestrial Habitat Alteration .................................................................. 80 4.2.11 Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) .......................................................................................... 80 4.2.12 Community Health and Safety ........................................................................................................ 81 4.2.13 Aesthetics ................................................................................................................................. 81 4.2.14 Impact on Cultural/Archaeological Resources ................................................................................. 82 4.2.15 Pressure on Local Resources ............................................................................................................ 82 4.2.16 Loss of Land, Assets and Livelihood ................................................................................................. 82 4.2.17 Concerns related to the Influx of Population ................................................................................... 82 SECTION FIVE ................................................................................................................................................. 84 PROPOSED IMPACT MITIGATION MEASURES................................................................................... 84 5.0 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................. 84 5.1 IMPACT MITIGATION MEASURES .............................................................................................................. 84 5.1.1 Loss of Vegetation ......................................................................................................................... 84 5.1.2 Loss of Habitats............................................................................................................................. 85 5.1.3 Soil Contamination and Erosion .................................................................................................. 85 5.1.4 Water Contamination ................................................................................................................... 86 5.1.5 Solid Waste ................................................................................................................................... 86 5.1.6 Concerns Related to the Management of Hazardous Materials ................................................... 86 5.1.7 Air Quality ................................................................................................................................... 88 5.1.8 Noise and Vibration ...................................................................................................................... 89 5.1.9 Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) ....................................................................................... 89 5.1.10 Community Health and Safety ................................................................................................ 90 5.1.11 Aesthetics ................................................................................................................................. 90 5.1.12 Impact on Cultural/Archaeological Resources ......................................................................... 91 5.1.13 Pressure on Local Resources ................................................................................................... 91 5.1.14 Loss of Land, Assets and Livelihood......................................................................................... 91 5.1.15 Concerns related to the Influx of Population ........................................................................... 93 5.1.16 Tree Cutting during Maintenance Activities .......................................................................... 96 5.1.17 Concerns related to Electric and Magnetic Fields ................................................................... 96 5.1.18 Increased Hazardous Wastes ................................................................................................... 97 5.1.19 Vandalism of Infrastructure ..................................................................................................... 97 5.1.20 Forest Fires............................................................................................................................... 98 5.1.21 Risk of Avian and Bat Collisions and Electrocution ................................................................ 98 SECTION SIX .................................................................................................................................................. 100 IMPLEMENTATION AND MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK ............................................................. 100 6.0 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................... 100 6.1 SAFEGUARDS MANAGEMENT APPROACH AND PROCESS.............................................................. 100 6.1.1 Screening Process, Impact and Risk Approach ........................................................................... 100 6.1.2 Environmental and Social Screening in this Framework ........................................................... 101 iii 6.1.3 Application of the Screening Processes ....................................................................................... 102 6.1.4 Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Process .............................................................. 103 6.2 INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS ................................................................................................... 105 6.3 CHANCE FIND PROCEDURES .......................................................................................................... 107 6.4 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, CONSULTATION STRATEGY AND PARTICIPATION FRAMEWORK ..... 108 6.4.1 Community Engagement Strategy .................................................................................................. 108 6.4.2 Consultation Strategy and Participation Framework ...................................................................... 108 6.4.3 Stakeholder Engagement during Preparation of Resettlement Framework ................................ 110 6.5 ASSESSMENT OF BORROWER CAPACITY TO IMPLEMENT SAFEGUARDS ......................................... 111 6.6 MONITORING AND REPORTING ...................................................................................................... 115 6.6.1 Internal Monitoring and Reporting ................................................................................................. 116 6.6.2 External Monitoring and Reporting ................................................................................................ 117 6.7 GRIEVANCE REDRESS MECHANISM (GRM) ................................................................................... 118 6.7.1 Rationale for GRM ..................................................................................................................... 118 6.7.2 Potential Sources of Grievance ................................................................................................... 119 6.7.3 GRM Institutional Framework................................................................................................... 119 6.7.4 Guidelines and Tools for Reporting and Processing Grievances ................................................ 121 SECTION SEVEN ........................................................................................................................................... 124 COST AND IMPLEMENTATION BUDGET ............................................................................................ 124 7.0 ESMF IMPLEMENTATION BUDGET ......................................................................................................... 124 REFERENCES .................................................................................................................................................. 126 ANNEXES ........................................................................................................................................................ 128 ANNEX I: TOR FOR ENVIRONMENTAL INSTRUMENTS .................................................................................. 128 ANNEX II: INITIAL ASSESSMENT / SCREENING FORM ................................................................................... 141 ANNEX III: INDICATIVE OUTLINE OF ESMP .................................................................................................. 147 ANNEX IV: INDICATIVE OUTLINE OF ESIA ................................................................................................... 150 ANNEX V: SAMPLE GRIEVANCE REPORT FORM............................................................................................ 152 ANNEX VI: SPECIFIC GUIDELINES ON LITHIUM SOLAR BATTERY STORAGE TRANSPORTATION AND DISPOSAL (SLEWRC MINI-GRID REGULATIONS, 2018)............................................................................................... 154 ANNEX VII: LABOUR MANAGEMENT PLAN.................................................................................................. 157 ANNEX VIII: STAKEHOLDERS CONSULTATION ............................................................................................. 163 ANNEX IX: WATER STANDARD SL 2014 ....................................................................................................... 178 List of figures Figure 1: Map of Sierra Leone showing Districts .......................................................................... 14 Figure 2: Existing, ongoing construction, and planned transmission lines for various energy distribution networks considered in the ESLEA ........................................................................... 23 Figure 3: Map of Sierra Leone showing Project Districts ............................................................. 53 Figure 4: Map of Western Area Rural District showing the Sections ......................................... 54 Figure 5: Map of Koinadugu District showing the Chiefdoms ................................................... 55 Figure 6: Map of Bombali District showing the Chiefdoms......................................................... 56 iv Figure 7: Map of Tonkolili District showing the Chiefdoms ....................................................... 57 Figure 8: Map of Pujehun District showing the Chiefdoms......................................................... 58 Figure 9: Map of Moyamba District showing the Chiefdoms ..................................................... 59 Figure 10: Map of Kono District showing the Chiefdoms............................................................ 60 Figure 11: Map of Kailahun District showing the Chiefdoms ..................................................... 61 Figure 12: Land Cover Types in the Project Area .......................................................................... 63 Figure 13: Major Rivers of Sierra Leone .......................................................................................... 65 Figure 14: Protected and Sensitive Areas of Sierra Leone ............................................................ 66 Figure 15: GRM Flow Chart............................................................................................................ 121 List of Tables Table 1. Percent of energy use by district in Sierra Leone............................................................ 16 Table 2: Project Description Summary ............................................................................................ 22 Table 3: Summary of World Bank ESS Concerning the ESLEA Project .................................... 40 Table 4: Comparison of the Laws of Sierra Leone and World Bank ESS 2 concerning Labour and Working Conditions .................................................................................................................. 45 Table 5: Mean Monthly Rainfall ....................................................................................................... 62 Table 6: 2015 Population distribution per District in the study area .......................................... 67 Table 7: Income Source by Regions ................................................................................................. 69 Table 8: Expenditure on food and non-food items per regions ................................................... 69 Table 9: Percentage District of Attainment of formal Education and Literacy rate in the Project Districts ................................................................................................................................................ 70 Table 10: Consultation Framework ............................................................................................... 109 Table 11: ESMF Monitoring Indicators and Responsibilities ..................................................... 117 Table 12: Provisional ESA Implementation Budget .................................................................... 124 v Acronyms and Abbreviations AIDS Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome CARL Centre for Accountability and Rule of Law CBD (United Nations) Convention of Biological Diversity CCA Chromated Copper Arsenate CdTe Cadmium telluride CGG Campaign for Good Governance Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna CITES and Flora CLSG Cote D’Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea CSOs Civil Society Organizations DFID Department for International Development EAP Energy Access Project EDSA Electricity Distribution and Supply Agency EGTC Electricity Generation and Transmission Company EHS Environment Health and Safety EIA Environmental Impact Assessment EMF Electro-Magnetic Field EPA Environmental Protection Agency EPA-SL Environment Protection Agency - SL EPC Engineering, Procurement and Construction EPU Energy Planning Unit ESF Environmental and Social Framework ESIA Environmental and Social Impact Assessment ESLEA Enhancing Sierra Leone Energy Access ESMF Environmental and Social Management Framework ESMP Environmental and Social Management Plans ESMU Environmental and Social Management Unit ESS Environmental and Social Safeguards ESURP Energy Sector Utility Reform Project GBV Gender-Based Violence GIIP Good International Industry Practice GIS Geographic Information Systems GoSL Government of Sierra Leone GPC General Projects Coordinator GPS Global Positioning System GRNP Gola Rain-Forest National Park GWP Global Warming Potential HCB Hexachlorobenzen vi HFO Heavy Fuel Oil HFO Heavy Fuel Oil HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus IAEA International Atomic Energy Agency IDA International Development Association IDA International Development Association ILO International Labour Organization KV Kilo Volts L&FS Life and Fire Safety LMP Labour Management Plan MEA Multilateral Environmental Conventions MGCA Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs MLHCP Ministry of Lands, Housing and Country Planning MLSS Ministry of Labour and Social security MoE Ministry of Energy MoENV Ministry of Environment MTNDP Medium-Term National Development Plan MW Megawatt NaCEF National Commission for Environment and Forestry NaCOVER C National COVID-19 Emergency Response Centre NEP National Environmental Policy NPA National Power Authority NSRPA Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Authority NWRMA National Water Resources Management Agency O&M Operation and Maintenance OGS Off Grid Solar OHS Occupational Health and Safety PCB Polychlorinated Biphenyl PCBs Polychlorinated Biphensylsis PCP Pentachlorophenol PHRD Japan Policy and Human Development PIT Project Implementation Team PIU Project Implementation Unit PM Particulate Matter POPs Persistent Organic Pollutants PPE Personal Protective Equipment PV Photovoltaic RAMSAR Convention on Wetland of Significant Importance RAP Resettlement Action Plan vii RF Resettlement Framework ROW Right – of – Way SCADA Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System SEA Sexual Exploitation and Abuse SF6 Sulfur Hexafluoride SH Sexual Harassment SLEWRC The Sierra Leone Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission SLRA Sierra Leone Roads Authority SOPs Standard Handling Procedures STI Sexually Transmitted Infections ToR Terms of Reference UNCBD Convention on Biological Diversity UNCCD Convention on Desertification UNFCCC United Nations Framework for Convention on Climate Change UNOPS United Nations Office for Project Services USTDA United States Trade and Development Agency WAPP West African Power Pole WB World Bank WHO World Health Organisation WWF World Wildlife Fund viii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Introduction Sierra Leone ranks among countries that have the most erratic and lowest supply of electricity to their population. Its main power source, the Bumbuna hydroelectric power plant, has a 161- kV radial single circuit transmission line, which has a capacity of 70 MW. The plant supplies electricity to major cities and towns in the northwest including Bumbuna, Makeni, Lunsar, and Freetown. Electricity supply efficiency in urban Freetown, which has 17,200 customers (90% of all customers), is about 16%. Only five other district capitals receive intermittent electricity supply from a combination of small diesel units and mini-hydropower plants. As few as 2.5% of the rural population receives electricity supply even though rural areas account for 57.95% of Sierra Leone’s population (World Bank, 2020). Poor access to electricity has been a major impediment to long-term economic growth in Sierra Leone. Unfortunately, no country can grow and develop without an adequate supply of electricity. Therefore, the Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL) and development partners have made it a priority to invest in universal access to electricity in the nation. Existing projects that are geared towards the achievement of this goal include: 6MW at Newton, Bumbuna Phase II, United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), Solar off-grid project, UNOPS (Rural Renewable Energy Project), ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) off-grid Solar Project, Cote D’Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea interconnection (CLSG), and USD 78 million loan from the Indian Exim Bank for the construction of transmission lines and substations from Bumbuna to Freetown. In the pursuit to achieving these and future efforts, the Ministry of Energy (MoE) has developed a National Energy Policy (NEP) to increase energy access and generation capacity. Currently, the two primary sources of public electricity supply in Sierra Leone are hydroelectric power and fossil fuel combustion. The Bumbuna and Dodo hydroelectric projects are the two main hydropower sources in the nation. In addition to these sources, EDSA also uses thermal plants to supply electricity to major cities and some small towns in the country. The rest of Sierra Leoneans source their electricity privately, with dry cells being the main energy source, and used primarily for lighting. Electricity is more prevalent in urban areas (49.3%) than in rural areas (0.9%); following the same logic, battery power is more frequently used in rural areas (89.0%) than in urban (42.4%). Other sources of lighting are also more popular in rural areas. Solar panels, for example, are used by 8.2% of households in rural areas compared to 3.9% in urban areas. The percentage of households using EDSA-energy increased from 13.5% in 2011 to 19.5% in 2018. In 2011, 52.3% of households were using battery power, and this increased to 71.1% in 2018. These trends indicate the increase in demand for electricity over time. An increasing number of rural communities are adopting the use of assets that require an energy source whilst urban communities are increasing the number of electrical appliances per capita. ix Enhancing Sierra Leone Energy Access (ESLEA) ESLEA was developed to support GoSL’s electrification goals as stipulated in the MTNDP (2019-2023). The goal is to increase the country’s electricity access from about 15% to 30%, including the electrification of all district headquarters towns by 2023. The proposed project directly supports three key energy sector objectives of the Government outlined in the MTNDP: i. electrification of all district headquarters which is a key element of the country’s electrification strategy; ii. the increase of rural electrification through engagement and involvement of key stakeholders including the private sector; and iii. improvement of the financial performance of the sector for sustainable development. The project is structured into five main components as follows: i. Electrification of Towns and Communities through Grid Extension ii. Electrification through Mini-Grid and Standalone Solar Systems (IDA and PHRD) iii. Human Capital Development and Project Implementation Support Purpose of the Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) The purpose of the ESMF is to achieve three main objectives: (i) to determine and provide a comprehensive list of potential adverse impacts that the ESLEA may cause on the environment and people’s welfare; (ii) recommend specific mitigation measures or alternatives to each impact; and (iii) build an environmental and social management framework which sets limits for further characterisation and/or action during project implementation. The boundary conditions follow Sierra Leonean and international best practice standards to assess potential impacts which the project may have on the environment and neighbouring communities and other stakeholders. Where potential risks or impacts are identified, early warning signs are developed to minimize the likelihood of exceeding those boundary conditions. Therefore, the early warning systems set guidelines that ensure uninterrupted implementation of the ESLEA activities, at least those associated with adverse environmental and social impacts. Rationale for the ESMF The World Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) requires the Bank and Borrowers to better manage environmental and social risks of projects and to improve development outcomes. ESLEA is therefore subject to the World Bank ESF requirement. 8 of the 10 Environmental and Social Standards (ESSs) apply to the project. Policy, Legal and Institutional Framework The policy, legal and institutional frameworks governing development projects usually provide guidelines with a view of ensuring, among others, protection of the environment, livelihoods, wellbeing of workers and residents, and sustainable development. The policy and legal provisions are found in various national policies and legal documents. International policies on environmental management include the World Bank guidelines on environmental health and safety and the World Bank Environmental and Social Standards (ESSs), which form x part of the World Bank’s 2016 Environmental and Social Framework (ESF). These form important guidelines for the ESLEA. The ESMF reviewed the policy, legal, and institutional framework that may affect the ESLEA. These are discussed in section 2 and they include: • The Forestry Act, 1988 • The National Forestry Policy, 2010 • Wildlife Conservation Amendment Act, 1990 • The National Environment Policy, 1994. • National Electricity Act of 2011 • The Sierra Leone Electricity and Water Regulatory Act 2011 • The Factories Act, 1974 • The Local Government Act, 2004 • Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Act, 2012 • The National Lands Policy, Sierra Leone, 2015 Institutional Framework For the ESLEA ESMF, the institutional framework includes the Ministry of Energy (MoE), the Ministry of the Environment (MoENV), Electricity Generation and Transmission Company (EGTC), the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA), the Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission, Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Authority, Environment Protection Agency - Sierra Leone (EPA-SL), the Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA) Baseline Conditions The ESLEA will be undertaken in 8 district headquarters towns from the 4 administrative regions in the country. According to the Sierra Leone Integrated Household Survey in 2018, 3 main sources of non-natural lighting in households were EDSA (19.5 %), batteries (71.1 %), and solar panels (6.6%). The report shows that there is no EDSA lighting in Kailahun, Pujehun and Koinadugu Districts. Land use and land cover in the Project Area The project districts are among the least developed in the country. Most of the land has not been developed; land cover types are predominantly farmland, forests, grassland, and a few towns and villages remotely interspersed between. The primary land-use practices in these regions are agriculture, mining, and commerce. It is not surprising that the GoSL has prioritised these regions for improvement in electricity supply. The land cover types of each district are discussed in section 3 Population Characteristics The 2015 Population and Housing Census (PHC) estimated the Sierra Leone population at 7,092,113. This comprises a household population of 7,076,119 and an institutional population of 15,994. The country’s population has been on the increase since 1963. It increased from 2,180,355 in 1963 to 2,735,159 in 1974 and 3,515,812 in 1985. From 2004 to 2015, the population has increased from 4,976,871 to 7,092,113. The average annual growth rate between 2004 and 2015 is 3.2% compared to 1.8% from 1985 to 2004 and 2.3% from 1974 to 1985. The relatively low growth from 1985 to 2004 (1.8%) could be attributed to the 11-year civil war. The country’s population is young and growing rapidly - 45.8% of the population is under the age of 15 xi while 74.8% below the age of 35. Populations in the study area are predominantly rural and have not enjoyed an uninterrupted electricity supply over the years. This is one key factor that ranks them among the poorest in the country. Livelihood and Economy According to the Sierra Leone Integrated Household Survey (SLIHS), poverty remains high in the country with the official poverty rate at 56.8% in 2018. The overall poverty rate was deduced from an extreme poverty rate of 12.9% and a food poverty rate of 54.5%. The poverty rate is especially high in rural areas (73.9%) compared to urban areas (34.8%). Pujehun has the highest poverty rates in the project area. Livelihood activities in the project Districts have a mix of similarities and differences. Almost every rural area in Sierra Leone has bits and pieces of livelihood activities characteristic of the others. However, each community is uniquely gravitating towards one or few as the signature livelihood activity for that region. Education and Literacy The 2015 National Population Census reveals that 50% of the national population 15 years and above had never gone to school. According to the 2018 SLIHS data on education, 61.3% have attended formal schools while the remaining 38.7% have never attended schools. These statistics comprise 52.1% Males and 47.9% Females who have attended formal schools and those who have never attended schools are 40.6% Males and 59.4% Females. Health - Infectious diseases Infectious diseases are a major impediment to socio-economic development in Sierra Leone. Due to poor sanitation and lack of adherence to basic public health practices, cholera, dysentery and other diarrhoeal diseases are common especially in the rainy season. When it rains, surface runoff transports open defecation into drinking water sources or contaminate crops. Because the country lacks state of the art treatment processing of foods, direct consumption exposes citizens to these preventable diseases. In addition to diarrhoeal diseases, typhoid fever and malaria are the leading killer diseases in the country, especially in rural areas. Environmental and Social Impacts A key objective of this work is to provide an inventory and analysis of the potential environmental and social impacts of the ESLEA in the project area. Potential impacts are extrapolated from changes that may occur before and after project inception. The ESLEA is anticipated to bring significant positive changes to the populations in the project districts. However, this ESMF is focused primarily on the negative impacts that the project may cause on the environment and affected communities. The expected environmental and social impacts of the project are the usual ones with the contraction of distribution lines, like vegetation clearance, noise, dust, waste disposal, ashtetics, soil and water contamination, EMF, loss of habitat, etc. Mitigation measures have been proposed for these impacts. xii Stakeholder Consultation Process Extensive consultations were carried out in the project districts to explain the project and solicit feedback from stakeholder’s major highlights of the consultation process includes: • Stakeholders advised that the project should involve affected communities in the planning stage. • Recommended that land acquisition and proper negotiations and compensation should be carried out. He further noted that several projects have failed to honour this aspect thus leading to dispute with the local people. • They suggested that the land tenure system in the provinces should be paid keen attention to in such a project which might need to acquire land from people. • They suggested that the council should be actively involved during the implementation phase of the project they noted that the council has the technical capacity with staff to conduct effective monitoring. • Stakeholders advised that women be involved in decision and employment and warned against child labour, sexual abuse, and child marriage. • Stakeholders appealed for the cost of electricity for the proposed project to be made affordable. • Stakeholders expressed concerns over the high tariff of electricity which they say is a constrain they face. Therefore, appealed that the ESLEA project upon completion should make the tariff cheaper and affordable for them. ESMF implementation and Monitoring The Project Implementation Unit (PIU) at EDSA will implement and monitor this document. The MoE will play a general oversight role in project management. PIU will present status updates to MoE. xiii SECTION ONE INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background Sierra Leone (Error! Reference source not found.), a small West African country with a land area of about 72,000 sq. km (28,000 sq. mi), has four main physical regions; the Freetown Peninsula, the coastal plains, the interior lowlands, and the interior plateau. These create a landscape that drains 9 major river basins into the Atlantic Ocean in the west of the nation (Mansaray, Aamodt, & Koroma, 2019). The Freetown Peninsula is south of Freetown with hills and mountains ranging from 200 to 1000 m (656 to 3281 ft.) above the coast. The coastal plains stretch from the west to the southwest and are characterized by mangrove swamps and beautiful beaches along the shoreline of the Atlantic Ocean. The Interior Lowlands are mostly swamps making up about half of the country. The Interior Plateau region has elevations as high as 3000 m (9843 ft.) above sea level with a tropical rain forest in the northeast (Mansaray et al., 2019). Sierra Leone is bordered by Guinea in the northeast and northwest, and Liberia in the southeast. Figure 1: Map of Sierra Leone showing Districts The population of Sierra Leone is estimated to be 7.124 million in 2020 with 96 males to every 100 females. This population is projected to increase by 157,786 in 2021. In 2019, the number 14 of births exceeded the number of deaths by 159,175. The nation has a population density of 100.4 people per km2 (259.9 people per m2) (CountryMeters, 2020). The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Sierra Leone improved from a 3.5% increase in 2018 to an estimated 5.8% in 2019. This progress was driven by profit from extractive minerals, agriculture and public services in the first half of 2019. Average inflation was 16.9% in 2018 and an estimated 15.6% in 2019. The overall fiscal deficit is estimated to have improved to 3.5% of GDP in 2019 from 5.8% of GDP in 2018 (African Development Bank Group, 2020). Despite these improvements in the nation’s GDP, Sierra Leone ranks among countries that have the most erratic and lowest supply of electricity to their populations. Its main power source, the Bumbuna hydroelectric power plant, has a 161-kV radial single circuit transmission line, which has a capacity of 70 MW. The plant supplies electricity to major cities and towns in the northwest including Bumbuna, Makeni, Lunsar, Waterloo, and Freetown. Electricity supply efficiency in urban Freetown, which has 17,200 customers (90% of all customers), is about 16%. Only five other district capitals receive intermittent electricity supply from a combination of small diesel units and mini-hydropower plants. As little as 2.5% of the population in rural areas receives electricity supply even though rural areas account for 57.95% of Sierra Leone’s population (World Bank, 2020). Poor access to electricity has been a major impediment to long-term economic growth in Sierra Leone. Unfortunately, no country can grow and develop without an adequate supply of electricity. Therefore, the Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL) and development partners have made it a priority to invest in universal access to electricity in the nation. The Government’s medium-term national development goals (2019-2023) include: • increasing electricity generation, transmission, and distribution; • improving the policy and regulatory environment of the energy sector; • restoring electricity supply to all district headquarters towns and cities; • increasing investments in low-cost renewable energy (solar, hydro, wind, and biomass) production and distribution; • improving governance at all levels of the sector which includes the Ministry of Energy, the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA), the Electricity Generation and Transmission Company (EGTC), and the Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC) to develop responsible leadership and institutional culture; • ensuring the expansion of the transmission grid nationwide by increasing the annual regular kilometric coverage; • ensuring rural electrification is carried out through engagement and involvement of key stakeholders, including the private sector; • providing tax incentives as part of a wider commitment to the off-grid sector in the Finance Act, which includes provisions for a duty waiver and Government Sales Tax (GST) extension; and • undertaking Multi-Tier Framework surveys to provide data on energy consumption (including mini-grids). Existing projects that are geared towards the achievement of these goals include: 15 • a 6MW plant being constructed at Newton, and • the Bumbuna Phase II project, • United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) – solar off-grid project, • United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) for Rural Renewable Energy Project, • ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) – Solar off- grid project, • Cote D’Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea (CLSG) interconnection project, and • Indian Exim Bank - the construction of transmission lines and substations from Bumbuna to Freetown. In the pursuit of achieving these and future goals, the Ministry of Energy (MoE) has developed a National Energy Policy (NEP) to increase energy access and generation capacity. The Enhancing Sierra Leone Energy Access project when operational, shall support government sector strategy and builds on the International Development Association’s (IDA’s) sustained engagement in the country’s energy sector. This project aims to increase electricity access and improve the financial performance of the power sector. It is anticipated that the proposed activities, when completed will enhance the capacity of a power distribution pool that will tap electrical energy from CLSG thereby improving EDSA’s technical and commercial performance nationally and regionally. 1.2 Sectoral Context Currently, the two primary sources of public electricity supply in Sierra Leone are hydroelectric power and fossil fuel combustion. The Bumbuna and Dodo hydroelectric projects are the two main hydropower sources in the nation. Bumbuna supplies Freetown, Makeni, Bumbuna town, and Lunsar while Dodo supplies Kenema and Bo. In addition to these sources, EDSA uses thermal plants to supply Freetown, Makeni (Bombali District), Bo, Kenema, and, on a small scale, to a few other cities. The rest of Sierra Leoneans source their electricity privately, with dry cells being the main energy source and used primarily for lighting. Table 1 shows the percentage of energy supplied by EDSA and other (mainly battery) sources by district in Sierra Leone. Table 1. Percent of energy use by district in Sierra Leone District Main Source of Fuel for Lighting EDSA (%) Other sources (battery) Western Area Urban 81.8 13.2 Western Area Rural 24.9 66 Port Loko 11.6 83.6 Kambia 0 81.9 Bombali 25.6 70.7 Tonkolili 1.7 92.7 Koinadugu 0 87.4 Karene 0 96.3 Falaba 0 90.4 Moyamba 0.1 92.4 16 Bonthe 2.7 94.1 Pujehun 0 83.5 Bo 17.5 71.6 Kenema 15 69.1 Kailahun 0 77.9 Kono 7.8 87.7 At the national level, the three main sources of non-natural lighting in households are EDSA (19.5%), batteries (71.1%) and solar power (6.6%). Electricity is more prevalent in urban areas (49.3%) than in rural (0.9%); following the same pattern, battery is more frequently used in rural areas (89.0%) than in urban (42.4%). Other sources of lighting are also more popular in rural areas. Solar panel, for example, is used by 8.2% of households in rural areas compared to 3.9% in urban areas. The percentage of households receiving electricity from EDSA increased from 13.5% in 2011 to 19.5% in 2018. In 2011, 52.3% of households were using battery power, but this increased to 71.1% in 2018. These trends indicate the increase in demand for electricity over time. An increasing number of rural communities are adopting the use of assets that require an energy source while urban communities are increasing the number of electrical appliances per capita. Regionally, the western region has the highest users of electricity (66.9%). This is largely due to electric energy access in the region. The northwest has the lowest access and, hence, the lowest percentage of energy users. The percent of users is also low (less than 10%) in the eastern, northern and southern regions. Battery usage is the primary source of electricity in most rural areas in these regions. The ESLEA is targeting major communities in these regions with the goal of incremental coverage in all the regions. 1.2.1 Energy Policy Objectives 1. The Sierra Leone National Energy Policy 2009 The National Energy Efficiency Policy 2016 has the following objectives: a) ensuring careful exploration and prudent exploitation of the country’s non-renewable energy resources; b) enhancing energy security and self-reliance; c) reducing the cost of production of energy-dependent goods and services; d) reducing the adverse impacts of energy utilization on the environment 1.2.2 Evolution of the energy sector in Sierra Leone Under the National Electricity Act of 2011, then the National Power Authority (NPA) was decommissioned and divided into two entities, EDSA, and EGTC. EDSA assumed the new function of the Single Buyer to procure power from EGTC, Car Power Ship, and other Independent Power Producers (IPP). In the future, EGTC will potentially source power from the West African Power Pool (WAPP). To regulate the supply of electricity, in pursuit of ensuring high-quality electricity distribution to citizens in Sierra Leone, the Government developed the Sierra Leone Electricity and Water 17 Regulatory Act of 2011. The Act authorized the establishment of an Energy Regulatory Commission to regulate the energy and water sector. The commission has the power to regulate the activities of the energy industry under its Act and the Energy Laws and without limitation to the generality of its mandate, the commission shall carry out the following functions: a) issue and (as the case may be) renew, amend, suspend, revoke and cancel license; b) monitor compliance with the terms of licences c) provide guidelines on rates chargeable for the provision of electricity services d) protect the interest of consumers and providers of electricity e) monitor standards of performance for the provision of electricity f) initiate and conduct investigations into the quality of services given to consumers g) promote fair competition among public utilities h) conduct studies relating to the economy and efficiency of public utilities i) make the valuation of the property of public utilities as it considers necessary for the commission j) collect and compile data on public utilities as it considers necessary for the performance of its function k) advise any person or authority in respect of any public utility l) maintain a register of public utilities and m) carry out such other activities conducive to the attainment of the objective of the commission stated in subsection (1) The Ministry of Energy (MoE) provides leadership in formulating and implementing the policies, projects and programmes mentioned above. The MoE provides oversight functions for all sector agencies including EGTC, EDSA, EWRC and Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Authority (NSRPA). 1.2.3 Sierra Leone’s Medium-Term National Development Plan 2019-2023 Sierra Leone’s Medium-Term National Development Plan (MTNDP) is a strategy that succeeded the Agenda for Prosperity (AfP). The AfP was developed in 2013 and implemented from 2013 to 2018. The MTNDP is planned to run from 2019 to 2023; it is grounded on renewed optimism as the country’s democracy matures and as public participation in the development processes increases. This plan represents the first five years of a 20-year long-term national commitment to a vision for a middle-income country. The goal is to have an appropriate governance framework that would be based on inclusivity, unity, and the rule of law. Under the MTNDP, Sierra Leone will have a diversified economy that is resilient, offering jobs to all, and taking account of the special needs of women, children, and vulnerable groups. The MTNDP seeks to build a united, peaceful, progressive, dynamic, confident, enterprising, and happy nation. Citizens will have access to jobs, food, education, health services, equal justice and equal opportunity. In the Energy chapter of the MTNDP, the following are the key targets by 2023: • restore electricity in all district headquarters and cities; 18 • increase in electricity generation from 25% to 60%; • increase installed electric capacity from the current 100 megawatts to 350 megawatts; • enhance a 65% contribution to energy generation from renewable sources (e.g. solar, hydro, wind); • connect 20 villages and eight towns in each district to the national grid or off-grid standalone schemes 1.3 Enhancing Sierra Leone Energy Access (Project Description) ESLEA This project was developed to support GoSL’s electrification goals as stipulated in the MTNDP (2019-2023). The goal is to increase the country’s electricity access from about 15% to 30%, including the electrification of all district headquarters towns by 2023. The proposed project directly supports three key energy sector objectives of the Government outlined in the MTNDP: iv. electrification of all district headquarters which is a key element of the country’s electrification strategy; v. the increase of rural electrification through engagement and involvement of key stakeholders including the private sector; and vi. improvement of the financial performance of the sector for sustainable development. The project is consistent with the World Bank Group COVID-19 Crisis Approach Paper and it addresses the deficit of the key infrastructure facilities which is one of the most critical elements for promoting sustainable growth and job creation in post-COVID-19 recovery. The project directly contributes to Pillar 3: Ensuring Sustainable Business Growth and Job Creation and Pillar 4: Strengthening Policies, Institutions and Investments for Rebuilding Better. ESLEA directly supports private participation in the operation and expansion of isolated grids and supply of standalone PV systems for industrial, commercial, and residential consumers. The proposed project also contributes to the International Development Association (IDA)’s commitment to addressing climate change through substituting high emission liquid fuel electricity and through promoting solar PV projects, contributing to IDA19’s target to support the development of 10 GW renewable energy generation. The project is structured around 3 main components: I. provision of grid electricity services in 7 district headquarter towns and surrounding communities through distribution network expansion and/or connection with the CLSG line; II. provision of solar electricity in 1 district headquarter town and surrounding communities, and several large communities, which are not expected to be connected to the main grid shortly, and provision of electricity to health facilities and schools through standalone PV systems with possible extension to mini-grids in selected areas; III. technical assistance for human capital development and project implementation support. 19 1.3.1 Component 1: Electrification of Towns and Communities through Grid Extension This component provides grid electricity services to 7 major towns and surrounding communities by capitalizing on the transmission lines under construction and the availability of electricity through the imports over the CLSG interconnection. The component includes: a. 3 segments of connection lines from 225 kV CLSG transmission line network to distribution networks in 3 towns, which include: i. single circuit 33 kV distribution line of about 35 km, including a 15 MVA 33/11 kV transformer, connecting the distribution network in Kabala with the 225/33 kV Fadugu substation of the CLSG line; ii. a single circuit 66 kV sub-transmission line of about 100 km, including a 66/33/11 kV transformer of 20 MVA, connecting the distribution network in Kailahun with the 225/66 kV Kenema substation of the CLSG line; and iii. a shield wire of about 25 km connecting the distribution network in Pujehun with the shield wire along the CLSG line to supply the communities and villages along the CLSG corridor; b. the expansion of the distribution networks in Waterloo, Makeni, Magburaka and Koidu including several adjacent communities to provide electricity to new customers. The project activities in each town include: (i) 11 kV distribution lines and distribution transformers; (ii) low voltage distribution lines; (iii) service lines and connections to households, commercial, industrial users and public institution like schools and health clinics; and (iv) meters; and c. the provision of consulting services to assist EDSA for site supervision and construction management of the distribution network extensions and the connecting lines. The distribution network expansion in Waterloo and surrounding areas is the largest project activity of the project and accounts for about one-third of the total project cost. The site survey and design of the activity have been completed under the ongoing ESURP, the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) is already prepared and disclosed. 1.3.2 Component 2: Electrification through Mini-Grid and Standalone Solar Systems (IDA and PHRD) Due to the very low access rate in the country, the Government will focus on electrification of major towns and communities close to the transmission lines in the short to medium term through grid extension. A large portion of small towns and rural communities of the country are not likely to be connected to the main grid for at least ten years. This provides a huge market for off-grid solutions. The mini-grid option provides a cost-effective solution for small towns, large communities and settlements. The stand-alone PV system provides a very flexible and cost-effective solution for many homes, schools, clinics and productive businesses. There are private sector players which are very interested in and active in the areas of homes and productive businesses. The component will directly support the provision of 20 solar electricity to health facilities and schools as electricity provision for these public institutions would need to be done through public funding. The component includes three subcomponents, all meant to deliver solar energy, and will be co-financed by IDA and Japan Policy and Human Development (PHRD) grant: Subcomponent 2(a) - Installation of PV mini-grids with battery storage capacity (IDA): This subcomponent includes the construction of a solar PV plant with battery storage capacity in the town of Moyamba and the construction of solar PV based mini-grids in several large communities. Based on population size and industrial/commercial profiles in Moyamba, a detailed technical and financial analysis was carried out to determine the sizes of the solar PV capacity and battery storage capacity. It is tentatively considered that a solar PV system with a capacity of 600 kW plus 1800 kWh of battery storage will be implemented initially. These numbers and the precise siting of the PV plant and storage facilities will be determined based on a more detailed site survey and design. It is expected that the siting of the PV system and battery storage will not require house demolishing and land acquisition. A total of 2 MW solar PV capacity is expected to be installed under the subcomponent. The subcomponent will also include the installation of solar PV capacity and battery storage as well as the distribution networks in several large communities. The selection of the communities will be based on the mini-grid feasibility study which is being carried out by USTDA and expected to be completed by December 2020. In addition to the usual factors which are considered in the selection of the mini-grid sites, high emphasis will be put on the availability of big industrial/commercial entities to anchor electricity demand and provide constant revenue. Based on the initial analysis and also the experience of the Department for International Development (DFID) projects, it is expected that 8 to 12 mini-grids would be financed under the component. Subcomponent 2(b) - Installation of solar PV systems for health facilities and schools: The PHRD grant and IDA fund will finance the installation of solar PV systems for about 200 health facilities and about 500 primary and or secondary schools and special schools which are not going to be electrified through grid extension or mini-grid in the next five years. An analysis has been carried out to review the types of equipment at different types of health facilities that required electricity services of different quality. Depending on the size of the health and education facilities, the solar PV sizes are expected to range from 1 kW to 20 kW with a total capacity of around 2 MW. The systems will not only provide electricity to electrical equipment at the public facilities, but it will also power a water pump if a nearby operational borehole is available and/or the workers' commodities. The selection of the health facilities will be based on several factors, including the potential to extend electricity service to nearby villages and communities through the development of mini-grids in the future and possibly the presence of maternity wards. Libraries of about 50 selected schools will be provided with solar lanterns. Subcomponent 2 (c) - Provision of technical assistance for market assessment, capacity building, result monitoring and evaluation(PHRD): The activities under this subcomponent will support the implementation of the above subcomponents and help achieve the intended outcomes. The specific activities include market assessment and affordability analyses of productive uses in rural Sierra Leone, awareness-raising, capacity building of the beneficiaries on business management including women-led businesses, capacity building of the private 21 sector, monitoring and evaluating results against targets, summarizing experiences and lessons for program improvement. 1.3.3 Component 3: Human Capital Development and Project Implementation Support This component involves 2 subcomponents Sub-component 3(a) - This subcomponent will support MoE in the following areas: i. the procurement of services of a private firm for the operation, maintenance and future expansion of the mini-grid under Component 2; ii. preparation of a clean cooking investment project; iii. the strengthening of the institutional capacity of the key stakeholders in promoting and managing the development of renewable energy, and implementing the National Electrification Strategy; iv. strengthening of policy and institutional capacity to reduce gender disparity in energy sector employment, in particular in EDSA and concerning energy access; and v. operational expenditures. Sub-component 3(b) - This sub-component will: i. support EDSA by building on the progress made in improving EDSA’s management and staff capacity, further strengthening the governance and management of EDSA to achieve full corporatization and commercialization so that EDSA management has the autonomy and incentives to manage and is fully accountable for the results; ii. support EDSA to improve the network’s resilience to climate disasters by improving Operation and Maintenance (O&M) procedures and enhancing staff capacity; and iii. support project implementation by EDSA as needed, including implementation of environmental and social requirements. Table 2: Project Description Summary Implementing Components Agency Component 1: Electrification by grid extension • Distribution network expansion and customer connection EDSA • 66 kV sub-transmission line EDSA • 33 kV distribution lines to link with the transmission network EDSA • Meters EDSA • Construction supervision engineering consultant EDSA Component 2: Off-grid market development Subcomponent 2.1: Solar generation and battery storage in Moyamba MoE Subcomponent 2.2: Solar PV systems for health facilities and schools MoE Subcomponent 2.3: Results monitoring and evaluation MoE Component 3: Human Capital Development and Implementation Support • Implementation support to MoE MoE • Studies and training MoE • Technical advisers, consulting services and Training EDSA 22 Specifically, the potential impacts that warrant impact assessments and development of the Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) are discussed below. 1. Electricity Generation According to the Energy Planning Unit (EPU) in the MoE, the 2015 status of energy sources in the country included Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO), diesel, biomass, and hydroelectric power. In the northern region (including Northwestern and Northern Provinces), biomass (30.25 MW), HFO (6 MW), diesel (7.18 MW) and hydroelectric power (50.3 MW) were the main sources of energy in 2015. In the Southern Province (mainly Bo District), diesel (10 MW) was the main source of energy generation while hydroelectric power (6 MW) was the biggest source of energy in the Eastern Province (Kenema District), followed by diesel (2 MW). The ESMF will include policy guidelines for future avoidance or mitigation from adverse impacts associated with those sources. 2. Electricity Distribution Figure 2 shows the various energy distribution networks considered in the ESLEA Project. The 225 KV network is currently under construction whilst the WAPP and the smaller networks are planned. In addition to these, the nation currently has existing distribution networks for the Bumbuna and Dodo hydroelectric systems as well as those that distribute energy from thermal plants in the western region. Figure 2: Existing, ongoing construction, and planned transmission lines for various energy distribution networks considered in the ESLEA 23 The beneficiaries of the Program will include the following: Households: Access to electricity contributes to an improvement in the quality of life by enabling newly connected consumers to undertake productive and income-generating activities (less time spent on fetching traditional sources of energy and clean water) and enhanced access to information/communication (through phone, radio, television, and so on). Empirical evidence also points to health benefits owing to the reduction of indoor air pollution due to reduced kerosene consumption. Social Institutions (Health facilities, schools and water pumping stations): Improvements in the quality of public service delivery are expected through increased electricity connections, especially of public facilities such as schools; clinics; hospitals (for example, for cold chain, vaccine and medicine refrigeration, lighting, sterilization); and water pumping stations (for example, for safe drinking water) used by poor and vulnerable households. Productive Enterprises: Improved access to electricity supply will contribute to increased productivity and income of enterprises (particularly for micro/small/medium enterprises) and will assist them in reducing their dependency on expensive diesel generation that has a substantially higher per-unit cost. Besides, increased access to electricity can boost productivity and reduce sales and equipment losses. Electricity Sector Institutions: The sector institutions, especially MoE and EDSA, are expected to benefit from the strengthening of planning and implementation capacity, which could translate into an improved institutional performance as well as cost-effectiveness, efficiency, transparency, and accountability of the sector. Off-Grid Solar (OGS) Companies: The solar companies will benefit through increased access to financing for business development support and working capital allowing them to expand their businesses by building inventory, widening distribution channels and increasing training for distribution agents, improving after-sales services through increasing technicians and introduction of trouble-shooting technologies, as well as extend their product line and introduce innovations. Women: Providing female-headed rural households, social infrastructures, and women-led enterprises with improved electricity services have the potential to promote gender equality, create employment and business opportunities for women, and improve development outcomes regarding, for example, education. Under the project, gender-differentiated considerations will be mainstreamed as part of the utility’s operations. 1.4 Objectives and Rationale for the ESMF Even though increased access to uninterrupted electricity ensures economic development in Sierra Leone, this effort may not be sustainable if the social and environmental aspects of such development are left out. The purpose of preparing the ESMF in the implementation of the ESLEA project is to create for the MoE, EDSA and other implementing agencies (including consultants and contracting entities) a framework that will facilitate compliance with relevant National, World Bank and other safeguard requirements for this project. The ESMF is prepared to identify and mitigate the environmental and social impacts of the ESLEA project. 24 The ESMF also guides in designing appropriate measures and plans to reduce, mitigate and/or offset adverse impacts and enhance positive outcomes. 1.4.1 The objectives of the ESMF The objectives of the ESMF can be summarized as follows. • Assessment of potential adverse environmental and social risks or impacts associated with ESLEA activities and the ways to avoid, minimize or mitigate them; • Identify issues and/or obligations for addressing the management of environmental and social impacts to be included in contracts with project contractors; • To establish clear procedures and methodologies for the preparation of Environmental and Social Management Plans and review, approval and implementation of project- specific Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs) for future electric energy sector activities; • To specify appropriate roles and responsibilities, and outline the necessary reporting procedures, for managing and monitoring environmental and social concerns related to future electric energy sector activities; • To determine the training, capacity building and technical assistance needed to successfully implement the provisions of the ESMF; and • To provide practical information resources for implementing the ESMF. The objectives will cover aspects ranging from electricity generation to electricity distribution. 1.4.2 The Rationale for the ESMF The World Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) requires the Bank and Borrowers to better manage environmental and social risks of projects and to improve development outcomes. ESLEA is therefore subject to the World Bank ESF requirement. 8 of the 10 Environmental and Social Standards (ESSs) apply to the project. The 8 ESS applicable to the project are: ESS1: Assessment and Management of Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts ESS2: Labour and Working Conditions ESS3: Resource Efficiency and Pollution Prevention and Management ESS4: Community Health and Safety ESS5: Land Acquisition, Restrictions on Land Use and Involuntary Resettlement ESS6: Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Natural Resources ESS8: Cultural Heritage ESS10: Stakeholder Engagement and Information Disclosure As specific project locations in the ESLEA have not been identified at this stage, the ESMF provides a general impact identification framework to assist project implementers to screen the projects and institute measures to address adverse environmental and social impacts. This ESMF thus applies to all subprojects to be financed under ESLEA. Specific information on country-wide project locations, land requirements, biophysical features, etc., when known at a later stage, will be subject to the provisions herein and may trigger the preparation of site- 25 specific instruments such as Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) and Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) reports. The ESMF constitutes the proponent’s commitment to ensure sustainable electricity supply in Sierra Leone. 26 SECTION TWO POLICY, LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK 2.0 Introduction The policy, legal and institutional frameworks governing development projects usually provide guidelines with a view of ensuring, amongst others, protection of the environment, livelihood, wellbeing of workers and residents, and sustainable development. The policy and legal provisions are found in various national policies and legal documents. International policies on environmental management include the World Bank guidelines on environmental health and safety and the World Bank Environmental and Social Standards (ESSs), which form part of the World Bank’s 2016 Environmental and Social Framework (ESF). These form important guidelines for the ESLEA. Section two presents the policy, legal, and institutional framework that may affect the ESLEA. 2.1 National Policies and Regulations 2.1.1 The Forestry Act, 1988 Sierra Leone’s Forestry Act came into effect on 1st July 1988 and the Chief Conservator of Forestry, with directives from the minister, was designated the responsible officer for implementation of regulations that are informed by the Act. The chief conservator has the role to conserve the nation’s forests, ensuring sustainable availability of forest products, and the protection of the soil and water resources that serve as natural capital for the forest ecosystems. The initial operation of electricity supply involves installations that may require the clearing of vegetation along the transmission line. Therefore part V, section 18 of this Act requires that the chiefdom council of any chiefdom may agree with the Chief Conservator providing for the constitution as a community forest of any land within the chiefdom, subject to the approval of the District Officer for the District in which the land is situated. Subsection 2 of section 18 of the forestry Act – 1988 states that every agreement shall, therefore: 1. describe the areas to include in the forest by reference to geographical features, markers, co-ordinates and measurement, and indicates the same on a map of suitable scale, which shall be annexed to the agreement; 2. describe the forest resources and potential of the area; indicated the purpose of tapping from the forest, such as the supply of fuel, building poles, production of commercial timber, protection of soil and water supplies; 3. contain a detailed inventory of any rights that will be suppressed upon the utility of the forest, and provide for adequate compensation for such rights, either in money or through the allocation of equivalent right in other land within the chiefdom; 4. contain a list of existing rights that will be confirmed by the agreement; 27 5. be valid for such period not exceeding 99 years as is reasonable, in view of the purpose for which the forest is to be constituted In this Act, part VI, section 21, subsection 2 indicates that no protected forest may be cut, burned, uprooted, damaged or destroyed, except with a written permission from the Chief Conservator. Removal of a national or community forest by whatever means, without legal permission, is an offence punishable with a fine not exceeding ten thousand Leones or a term of two years imprisonment or both. In taking cognizance of the importance of conserving the environment, the Act has ruled in section 17, that anyone permitted to fell timber is liable to pay a reforestation fee. The fee is based on the quantity of timber felled or extracted, and the rate is to be prescribed by the Minister. The fee, which is to be paid to the Chief Conservator, will be paid into a reforestation fund established under the Act. However, at the end of any activity, if the proponent embarks on reforestation, and satisfies the Chief Conservator, the fee previously paid for reforestation, will be refunded. Component 1 of the project will involve the construction of transmission lines within districts that host important forest zones, though the transmission line will follow existing rights of way along existing roads. The Forestry Act, 1988 is an important reference document that would guide EDSA and the Contractors in their work 2.1.2 The Forestry Regulations, 1989 These regulations came into force on the 1st of July 1990. The Chief Conservator holds the same responsibilities as he does for the Act of 1988 being the head of the Forestry Division. Generally, community forests are managed by the Forestry Division or, by agreement with the Division, it could be managed by the local government or a Community Forest Association. Based on this responsibility of the Division, no protected forest shall be tampered with in any way as is stated in section 21, subsection (2) of the Forestry Act- 1988, without written permission from the Chief Conservator of the Forest. In section 15 of the Forestry Regulations 1989, subsection (1) states that a license may be issued by an inspector of the Forestry Division authorizing the holder of the mining lease to clear land in a classified forest for the purpose of an activity. However, having acquired his license, deforestation of, or vegetation removal from the environment, can only be affected by the proponent under certain conditions. These conditions are found under section 15, subsection 3 and are highlighted below. 1. Removal of vegetation can be done for an operation only within an area licensed for this purpose. 2. The specified land areas shall be cleared within a stated time, but trees requested not to be felled, removed or damaged, are to be left standing. 3. Trees to be felled shall be identified, except where total felling is authorized 4. A forest severance fee and a minor forest produce fee shall be paid in respect of all forest product that is merchantable, which may be removed by clearance of vegetation. 5. At the completion of the activity, the area shall be replanted with approved crops or trees by the proponent, or provision made for this to be done by payment of the estimated reforestation cost. 28 6. Required method of cultivation and silviculture specified by the Chief Conservator must be employed. For environmental protection, it is stated in section 38 of part XI, that no land between the high and low watermarks, nor those above the high water mark on both sides of the bank of any waterway, covering a distance of one hundred feet (approx. 33m), shall be cleared of any vegetation except permitted by a clearance license. Sacred bushes are protected by the stipulated regulations of section 40, whereby clearance of vegetation from land designated as a sacred bush, is prohibited except by clearance authority from the Chief Conservator. Component 1 of the project will involve the construction of transmission lines within districts that host important forest zones, though the transmission line will follow existing rights of way along existing roads. The Forestry Regulations, 1989 is an important reference document that would guide EDSA and the Contractors in their work 2.1.3 The National Forestry Policy, 2010 The goal of the National Forestry Policy, 2010, is for the conservation, establishment, protection, and management of trees and forests for the sustainable development of Sierra Leone. To ensure sustainable forest management, the policy focuses on eight priority areas: (i) forest land management, (ii) wetlands management, (iii) forest-based industry and products, (iv) ecosystem conservation management, (v) education and awareness, (vi) research and monitoring, (vii) capacity building, and (viii) strategic planning. Under forest land management, the policy aims at empowering rural communities to conserve and develop Sierra Leone’s forest resources for the economic and environmental benefit of the present and future generations. This entails that the policy promotes economic opportunities that encourage reforestation and planting trees as a business, e.g. trees for poles. This policy is an important reference document that would guide EDSA and the Contractors in their work because Component 1 of the project will involve the construction of transmission lines within districts that host important forest zones, though the transmission line will follow existing rights of way along existing roads. 2.1.4 Wildlife Conservation Amendment Act, 1990 The Wildlife Conservation Act, 1972, and the Forestry Act, 1988 are the main legislations that deal with issues of Biodiversity Conservation in Sierra Leone. It provides for the establishment, conservation, and management of National Parks, Game Reserves, and other forms of Natural Reserves. Specific provisions dealing with the protection, management, and conservation of these areas and the limitations therein are highlighted in Part II of the Act and include the following: 1. Prohibition of all forms of hunting, capture and other activities leading to the injury of wild animals; 2. Destruction of any plant form by any means including fire; 3. Fishing within these protected areas; 29 4. Erection of structures, construction of dams, forestry, agriculture, mining or prospecting activities; 5. Introduction of species from outside of the boundaries of the reserve. The Wildlife Conservation Act, 1972 draws attention to the protection of wildlife within forest conservation areas. This Act will guide EDSA and the Contractors to ensure that areas that are prohibited from hunting and destruction of all forms of wildlife species are respected. Since the project passes through districts that are of high forest conservation values it is important that EDSA and the contractors make reference to this Act. 2.1.5 The National Environment Policy, 1994 The National Environmental Action Plan (NEAP) was an outcome of the 1992 Rio Declaration on Environment and Development after endorsement by the GoSL. The NEAP recommended a set of actions that were to be taken to redress environmental degradation and facilitate the sustainable utilization of natural resources. One of the NEAP recommendations was to develop a National Environmental Policy. The National Environmental Policy was developed in 1994 to promote sustainable social and economic development through sound management of the Sierra Leone environment. The policy promotes co-operation with other governments, relevant international/regional organizations, local communities, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and the private sector. The National Environment Policy requires all Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as well as development initiatives to assure the quality of life for all Sierra Leoneans. The Policy directs here that the Sierra Leoneans must enjoy an adequate and sustainable quality of life by the fulfillment of basic needs and provision of amenities through appropriate strategies. A key policy objective is to ensure the provision and maintenance of adequate and affordable healthcare for all. The recently established Ministry of the Environment now houses the National Environment Policy, 1994, and plays a facilitating, coordinating, and advisory role in ensuring its implementation and set of relevant and acceptable standards. This is the national policy that guides and directs all environmental management issues in the country and so it is important that EDSA and the contractors closely study this policy document. 2.1.6 The Sierra Leone Environment Protection Act, 2008/2010 The Act which was signed as a legal document in September 2008 and amended in July 2010 established the Agency. Following the enactment of this Act, a National Environment Protection Board was established within the Environment Agency. The Board facilitates coordination, cooperation and collaboration among Government Ministries, local authorities and other governmental agencies in all areas relating to environmental protection. The Department, pursuant to the Act, coordinates environmentally related activities and serves as the focal point of national and international environmental matters relating to Sierra Leone. 30 According to this Act an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report is demanded for certain types of project activities. The contents of the assessment must be contained in a report that should be submitted to the Director of the Department. A proponent requesting to carry out an activity that may compromise the benign state of the environment would be mandated to commence its operations by the issue of an EIA license, on approval of a submitted EIA report. The Board may also disapprove to issue an EIA license if it envisages that the proponent’s activities would have a significant adverse effect on the environment and the community. Projects requiring an EIA, are those, as given in the first schedule of the Act, whose activities involve or include the following: 1. Exploitation of hydraulic resources (e.g. dams, drainage and irrigation projects, water basin development and water supply). 2. Infrastructure (e.g. roads, bridges, airports, harbours, transmission lines, pipelines and railways). 3. Industrial Activities (e.g. metallurgical plants, wood processing plants, chemical plants, power plants, petro-chemical plants and refinery). 4. Extractive industries (e.g. mining, quarrying, extraction of sand, gravel, salt, peat, oil and gas). 5. Waste management and disposal (e.g. sewage systems and treatment plants, landfills, treatment of plants for household and hazardous waste). 6. Housing construction and development schemes. Subject to the Act, regulations are made, as given in section 34, to establish national environmental standards, pertaining to (1) water quality, (2) effluent limitations, (3) air quality, (4) waste, (5) atmospheric protection, (6) Ozone protection, (7) noise control, (8) pesticide residues and (9) odour. The introduction of any internationally banned chemicals or substances into Sierra Leone is prohibited, as well as the discharge of any hazardous and toxic substances into the air, land and waters of Sierra Leone. Failure to comply with this regulation is an offence, and the defaulting company is liable on conviction, to a fine not exceeding Le2, 000,000 or a term of imprisonment not exceeding two years, or both. The second schedule of this Act gives several determinant factors that qualify the preparation of an EIA. These factors are given below as stated in the schedule; 1. The impact on the community 2. The location of the project 3. Whether the project transforms the locality 4. Whether the project has or is likely to have, a substantial impact on the ecosystem 5. Whether the project results in the diminution of the aesthetic, recreational, scientific, historical, cultural or other environmental quality of the locality 6. Whether the project endangers any species of flora or fauna or the habitat of the flora and fauna of the locality 7. The scale of the project 8. The extent of degradation of the environment 9. Whether the project will result in an increased demand for natural resources in the locality 31 10. The cumulative impact of the project together with other activities or projects on the environment 11. The contents of the EIA The third schedule of the Act defines the contents to be considered in preparing the EIA. It is stated in this Act that an EIA shall contain a true statement and description of the following; 1. The location of the project and its surroundings. 2. The principle, concept and purpose of the project. 3. The indirect or direct effects the project is likely to have on the environment. 4. The social, economic and cultural effects that the project may have on society. 5. The communities, interested parties and Government Ministries consulted 6. Any action or measures which may avoid, prevent, change, mitigate or remedy the likely effect on the society. 7. Any alternatives to the project. 8. Natural resources to be used in the project. 9. The plans for decommissioning of the project. 10. Any other information, necessary for a proper review of the potential environmental impact of the project. The minister has the authority as stated in section 33, to make regulations that would make it incumbent on the project owner to maintain insurance or other appropriate financial security. This is to guarantee payment of compensation for any damage, resulting from the operations of the project. Alternatively, the proponent may provide a guarantee for payment, for preventive measures, or for rehabilitation where necessary. This Act is the primary national environmental management instruments that guide the conduct of Environmental management studies so it important that MoE, EDSA and contractors pay particular attention to the provisions in this Act for this project Requirements and Procedure to acquire an EIA License Having presented the details of the EPA Act, 2008/2010, it is clear that this is an infrastructure project that requires an EIA License especially when it is clear that the impacts are going to be substantial. The Sierra Leone Environmental Protection Agency (EPA-SL) presents the following procedures/stages of an EIA process. • Registration: Write a letter of application to the EPA-SL introducing the project, and requesting a screening form (this can be done on the client’s behalf). EPA will then acknowledge the letter with instructions for the purchase of the screening form which will be jointly filled by the consultant and the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) and submitted to EPA-SL for review. Currently, the cost of the form is Le 250,000 (two hundred and fifty thousand Leones). • Project Screening: This EPA-SL reviews the contents of the screening form, categorise the project, and gives the approval to proceed with the study. A ground-truthing visit to the project site is made during this stage, wherein a team of GIS technicians and 32 environmental officers from EPA-SL visit the site to confirm coordinates/locations provided and determine areas of concern at the locations which may need to be specifically addressed during the ESIA study. The practice has been that the client (EDSA in this case) provides transport and allowance for the EPA team. • Scoping: Following EPA-SL’s approval to proceed with the study, a cross-section of the EIA team will do a reconnaissance visit to the project sites to determine the scope of environmental issues and factors to be considered during the main study to prepare guidelines for the conduct of the EIA. A scoping report will then be compiled based on this assessment, which will include a Terms of Reference (ToR) for EPA-SL’s approval. • Environmental and Social Impact Studies and Preparation of the Report: This stage involves data collection, analyses, and reporting of the findings of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) study. The report will document clearly and impartially the project's impacts, the proposed measures for mitigation, the significance of effects and impacts on the environment, and the concerns of the interested public and the communities affected by the project. The report will be presented in two volumes: The Main ESIA Report and the Environmental and Social Management Plan Report. • Public Hearing and Review of the ESIA Report: Two or more Public Consultation and Disclosure workshops shall be held by the client. The final ESIA will incorporate the conduct of the public consultation and Disclosure workshop. • Decision Making: The EPA-SL will review and if satisfied with the content of the report, approve it. The licence is issued on approval following the payment of a license fee which is contingent on the project footprint. • Compliance and Enforcement: This stage involves environmental and social monitoring and reporting of project activities to ensure that they comply with the terms and conditions of the licence. EPA-SL requires that quarterly and annual reports are submitted as a prerequisite for the annual renewal of the licence. Monitoring fees are also charged which is 20% of the licence fee 2.1.7 National Electricity Act of 2011 This Act unbundled the former National Power Authority (NPA) into two separate entities, the EGTC and EDSA. Part VI outlines EDSA’s cardinal function as the supply, distribution, and retail sale of electricity for the entire country except in areas where a license has been issued to another qualified entity. Part X of the National Electricity Act of 2011 deals with land acquisition and related environmental practices which makes this Act very important for this project. This Act gives the Minister the powers to acquire land for EGTC or EDSA or both even if the land is private property or there is some private interest in the land. Such utility will be subject to payment of adequate compensation to be paid by the GoSL, firstly, and the Authority or company will 33 reimburse the government at a later time. During the life of EGTC or EDSA or both, the agencies will at any time decide to sell, lease, or dispose of any land easement, property, or interest in any land or waterway in a proper manner. This Act gives the authority for excavation of streets or roads for the purpose of laying a supply line, and the erection of poles and any other erections for the purpose. The company or Authority should consult the relevant ministry before excavating any street and they shall rehabilitate the street or road after the breakage. Section 58 of the National Electricity Act 2011 gives the power to cut or lop any tree shrub or hedge, which obstructs or interferes with any supply line of the company or the authority, the laying or erection of any supply line or proposed route of the supply. A fourteen days’ notice shall be given to the occupier of the land before the lopping and cutting of any tree, shrub, or hedge. Sections 59 and 60 of the said Act gives the power to the Authority or designated company to enter land previously acquired for a certain purpose. The Authority has obligation to give reasonable notice to the occupier of such land with the intention to enter and notice of the intention to enter and construct, respectively. Electric cables shall not be placed across any navigable waterway whether above or below or underground without the consent and approval of the Minister. All companies or independent power producers should comply with all environmental health and safety legislations as per Section 62. 2.1.8 The Sierra Leone Electricity and Water Regulatory Act 2011 This Act establishes the Sierra Leone Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission. The commission is therefore responsible to formulate, implement, monitor quality and compliance, provide tariff guidelines, licenses and implement regulatory frameworks for the safe, secure, affordable and reliable supply of water and electricity in Sierra Leone. The PV and mix generation at Moyamba makes this Act very important for this project. 2.1.9 The Factories Act, 1974 This Act became effective on the 30th of May 1974. It deals with health and safety measures as they concern any factory worker. It protects the worker through demands for all aspects of cleanliness, reports of all injuries, accidents, diseases, and death. A Factories Appeal Board is in operation and has the duty of hearing and determining any appeal submitted by factory owners, thus giving right where it is due. Going by the interpretation of the word factory, as stipulated in this Act, industrial companies are factory- based companies and are therefore covered by any legislation about this industry. This Act covers workplace health and safety, ensuring that: 1. enough and suitable sanitary facilities to be provided for employees; 34 2. printed copies of any regulations made under any part of the act that is to be enforced within the workplace should be posted in the factory; 3. owners of factories shall make sure the necessary precautions are taken to ensure the safety of employees; 4. competent persons should oversee machinery and that two or more engineers should not oversee one machinery; 5. any factory machinery developing more than 250 horsepower or where any amount develops more than 75 horsepower, should be under the general supervision of an engineer; 6. any factory having machinery developing more than 250 horsepower shall be inspected regularly by an engineer; 7. accidents should be reported to the respective authorities as prescribed in the act This Act addresses issues of occupational health and safety, hiring of experts, work permits and hiring of labour which is very important for this project and as such EDSA and particularly the contract should make constant reference to this document. 2.1.10 The Local Government Act, 2004 This Act deals with the establishment and operation of local councils around the country to enable meaningful decentralization and devolution of Government functions. It stipulates that a local council shall be the highest political authority in the locality and shall have legislative and executive powers to be exercised under this Act or any other enactment. It shall be responsible, generally, for promoting the development of the locality and the welfare of the people in that locality. The local council shall source resources allocated by the central government and its agencies, national and international organizations, and the private sector. Proponents are bound to operate within areas controlled by one local council or shared by two or more local councils. There is also a relationship between the local council and the Chiefdom within which a proponent operates. Hence, proponents shall involve local councils in their development work. The schedules in the Local Government Act outline the functions of various MDAs that have been devolved to local councils. The project areas are within the jurisdiction of the local councils and these councils have the mandate to monitor some of these projects as they house the Environment and Genders officers of the Ministry of energy and ministry of gender respectively. 2.1.11 Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Act, 2012 This Act delineates issues dealing with radiation, which is also of environmental concern. The significance of this Act is to regulate, control, and supervise the acquisition, importation, exportation, transportation, and disposal of radioactive substances and devices emitting ionizing radiation. Non-ionizing radiation substances is been added to the amended version of this Act. Sections 29 and 30 of this Act clearly states that a license is required for the export and import, re-export, transit, transshipment of any nuclear material, equipment, or technology. Written 35 application of such license should be made to the radiation authority together with an assessment of the nature of the radioactive substance or device emitting ionizing radiation and the magnitude and likelihood of exposure attributed to the substance or device; a description of the installation or practice; a safety impact assessment for the protection of workers and the public; all relevant information to support the application; and the prescribed fee. This Act is important for this project because of the possible non-ionizing radiation that might be emitted during the installation of transformers. 2.1.12 The National Lands Policy, Sierra Leone, 2015 This Policy highlights Land distribution (acquisition and allocation), access to land by all Sierra Leoneans and investors, land tenure systems, land use planning and regulations, land management and administration systems, and land adjudication systems. It is these guiding land and compensation issues that make this policy important to the project The following are policy statements in the National Lands Policy: A. The sovereign title to Government/State lands and public lands shall vest in the National Lands Commission as follows:- I. As to Government/State lands in trust for the citizens of Sierra Leone as a whole; and II. As to public lands in trust for the citizens of Sierra Leone as a whole or in trust for the particular community that originally owned the land as prescribed by the statute or other law creating the same; and B. The sovereign title to private lands shall henceforth vest as follows:- I. As to land held under freehold tenure in the Western Area in the individual, group of individuals or corporate entity absolutely; II. As to communal lands in the Provinces in the new Chiefdom Lands Committee (instead of the Chiefdom Council) in trust for the particular community concerned; III. As to family lands held under family tenure in the Province in the family as a unit; IV. As to land held under Customary tenure in the Provinces in the Chiefdom Lands Committee/Village Area Lands Committee or the family which made the grant of usufructuary rights in perpetuity to the groups or individuals or corporate entity subject to the grantor’s residuary rights. According to the policy, the acquisition must be necessary for the interest of (1) defence, (2) public safety, (3) public order, (4) public morality, (5) public health, (6) town and country planning, and (7) development and utilization of the property to promote the public benefit. 2.1.13 The Sierra Leone Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission (SLEWRC) Act, 2011 This Act establishes the Sierra Leone Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission. The commission is therefore responsible to formulate, implement, monitor quality and 36 compliance, provide tariff guidelines, licenses and implement regulatory frameworks for the safe, secure, affordable and reliable supply of water and electricity in Sierra Leone. As per Section 66 of the SLEWRC Act, no 13 of 2011, the Commission developed a mini-grid regulation in 2018. (SLEWRC Mini-Grid Regulations, 2018). The Regulation sets out general requirements to be adhered to by the mini-grid licensee to mitigate any adverse effect and impact of its operations and activities on the environment. The Regulation also sets out general requirements that mitigate any adverse effect and impact of its operations and activities on the health and safety of staff members, consumers and other individuals. The PV and mix generation in Moyamba makes this Act very important for this project. 2.2 International Environmental instruments/obligations for Sierra Leone Sierra Leone endorses and adheres to internationally accepted principles of the 1972 Stockholm Declaration and the 1992 Rio Declaration as adopted by the United Nations Conferences. Sierra Leone is also a signatory to the following environmental conventions: - Convention on Wetland of Significant Importance (RAMSAR); Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES); African Convention on Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources; Montreal Protocol for the Protection of the Ozone Layer; Cartagena Protocol on Substances that deplete the Ozone Layer; Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD); Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC); and the Convention on Desertification (UNCCD) and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants(POPs). These Convention, protocols, and treaties promote the conservation of the environment and natural resources as well as occupational health and safety of workers while acknowledging the importance of social and economic development. This project triggers compliance with these international environmental instruments. 2.2.1 The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) This Convention was adopted on the 22nd May 2001 in Stockholm and Sierra Leone became a signatory to this convention on the 27th August 2001. Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are chemicals that are persistent bio-accumulators found in fatty tissues. They are bio- magnified through the food chain, and adversely affect health and the environment. This convention recommends the elimination or restriction of production and use of all internationally produced POPs (i.e. Industrial chemicals and pesticides). The chemicals to be eliminated are Aldrin, Chlordane, Dieldrin, Endrin, Heptachlor, Hexachlorobenzen (HCB), Mirixtexaphene, Polychlorinated Biphensylsis (PCBs). The convention also seeks to continue minimization and, where feasible, ultimate elimination of the release of POPs, such as Dioxins and Furans. Stockpiles and waste containing POPs must be managed and disposed of in a safe, efficient and environmentally friendly manner with regards to international rules, standards, and guidelines. 37 2.2.2 World Bank (WB) Guidelines: Environmental, Health, and Safety Guidelines, General EHS Guidelines, 2007 The Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) Guidelines are technical reference documents with general and industry-specific examples of good international industry practice. These general EHS guidelines are designed to be used together with the relevant Industry Sector EHS guidelines, which guide users on EHS issues in specific industry sectors. Under the EHS guidelines, the World Bank has several guidelines many of which apply to various components of the proposed project namely: a) EHS Guidelines - Environmental • Hazardous Materials Management • Waste Management • Noise • Contaminated Land b) EHS Guidelines - Occupational Health and Safety • General Facility Design and Operation • Communication and Training • Physical Hazards • Chemical Hazards • Biological Hazards • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) • Special Hazard Environments • Monitoring c) EHS Guidelines – Community Health and Safety • Structural Safety of Project Infrastructure • Life and Fire Safety (L&FS) • Traffic Safety • Transport of Hazardous Materials • Emergency Preparedness and Response d) EHS Guidelines - Construction and Decommissioning • Environment • Occupational Health & Safety • Community Health & Safety 2.2.3 World Bank Environmental, Health, And Safety Guidelines for Electric Power Transmission and Distribution The EHS Guidelines for Electric Power Transmission and Distribution include information relevant to power transmission between a generation facility and a substation located within an electricity grid, in addition to power distribution from a substation to consumers located in residential, commercial, and industrial areas. Some of the following are addressed in the EHS Guidelines: · • Construction site waste generation; · • Terrestrial Habitat Alteration • Construction of Right-of-Way • Avian and Bat Collisions and Electrocutions 38 It is important that the PIU and the Contractor take note of these guidelines. 2.2.4 World Bank Environmental and Social Standards (ESSs) The ESSs are technical reference documents which form part of the World Bank’s 2016 Environmental and ESF that guide the proponent on their application with general and industry-specific examples of Good International Industry Practice (GIIP). These industry sector ESS guidelines are designed to be used together with the General EHS Guidelines document, which guides the developer, in this case, the Ministry of Environment, on environmental, health, and social issues potentially applicable to the ESLEA. These guidelines are considered for implementation of ESLEA, and with specific application to the construction of power distribution lines and installation of solar PV systems in the targeted project towns and communities in the provinces. The ESS Guidelines contain the measures that are generally considered to be achievable in new facilities by existing technology at reasonable costs. The ESS Guidelines for Electric Power Transmission and Distribution include information relevant to power transmission between a generation facility and a substation located within an electricity grid, in addition to power distribution from a substation to consumers located in residential, commercial, and industrial areas. Where Sierra Leone regulations differ from the measures presented in the ESS Guidelines, the ESLEA project will be expected to achieve whichever is more stringent, and for this case, the ESS guidelines. If less stringent measures than those provided in these EHS Guidelines are appropriate, given specific ESLEA circumstances, a full and detailed justification for any proposed alternatives will be needed as part of the site-specific environmental and social assessment. This justification should demonstrate that the choice for any alternate performance measure is protective of human health and the environment. In short, the ESS guidelines shall be used in conjunction with applicable Sierra Leonean laws such as the Factories Act, 1974 and the Public Health Ordinance Act, 1960 and Public Health Act, 2004. Table 3 presents summaries of the relevant standards and how they will be addressed in the ESLEA. 39 Table 3: Summary of World Bank ESS Concerning the ESLEA Project ESS Summary of ESS Relevant/Not ESLEA project Remarks No. Relevant Implications for the ESS ESS 1 Assessment and Management of Environmental Relevant Construction and The specific line routes and their and Social Risks and Impacts: rehabilitation of electricity locations of the project are not ESS 1 prescribes that an assessment and infrastructure in the known. Because these details are not management of environmental and social risks provinces will demand known, a framework for conducting and impact analysis is required of projects for land and this may involve Environmental Assessment on such them to qualify for bank financing. loss of vegetation cover, activities has been provided in this The assessment is done to help improve livelihood, and income. It ESMF. decision making to ensure that they are is expected that these The project has a sustainable risk environmentally sound and sustainable. impacts will trigger this because the likely impacts are readily Projects are screened to determine the safeguard. identified, mitigated, and managed. appropriate extent and type of assessment. The Bank classifies the proposed project into one of This ESMF proposes that site- four categories, depending on the type, specific ESIAs/ESMPs shall be location, sensitivity, and scale of the project and prepared, consulted upon, and the nature and magnitude of its potential disclosed both in-country and at environmental impacts. World Bank external website before the start of any construction activity during project implementation. ESS 2 Labour and Working Conditions: This ESS Relevant This ESS requires that The project will employ contract recognizes the importance of employment workers' health and staff, community labour, and creation and income generation in the pursuit working conditions are primary supply workers as of poverty reduction and inclusive economic considered very important appropriate. Thus, labour and growth. However, the ESS prescribes that the in the workplace and that working conditions would be well project proponent should promote sound they are treated fairly and managed, and as such the labour and worker-management relationships and enhance in a non-discriminatory working conditions would be the development benefits of the project by manner and also treated addressed in the ESIAs/ESMPs of the treating workers in the project fairly and with equal opportunity. project. providing safe healthy working conditions. The 40 ESS Summary of ESS Relevant/Not ESLEA project Remarks No. Relevant Implications for the ESS objective of ESS 2 is to promote safety and This ESMF proposes that future health at work, promote fair treatment, prevent ESIAs/ESMPs of this project the use of all forms of forced labour, and complies with ESS2 support the principles of freedom of association. ESS 3 Resource Efficiency and Pollution Prevention Relevant There are potential Potential human health risks could and Management: This ESS recognizes that ecosystem disruptions and occur from the leaching of materials such projects often generate pollution to air, health risks from the Solar from broken photovoltaic modules. water, and land, and consume finite resources PV installations and PV that may threaten people, ecosystem services, battery accessories, The primary chemicals of concern and the environment at the local and regional particularly for Component from the leaching of photovoltaic levels. 2 of the project. modules are heavy metals such as This policy helps the borrower to manage pests cadmium and selenium. that affect either agriculture or public health, The distribution power The policy also applies to the management of lines will involve handling, Also, the use of creosote-treated all chemicals that pose a threat to the storage, and use of wooden poles in Component 2 will be closely environment and the Bank supports a strategy creosote-treated poles. managed by verifying that the poles that promotes the use of biological or Creosote is used as a are well treated and dried. The environmental control methods and reduces fungicide, insecticide, management of poles will also be reliance on synthetic chemical pesticides. miticide, and sporicide to done carefully and staff working treat distribution poles. with poles will be given PPEs that will reduce any body contact with the poles. Cement poles will also be explored and if deemed cheaper and accessible, the project will use more of the concrete or steel tabular than wooden poles. This ESMF proposes that future ESIAs/ESMPs of this Project 41 ESS Summary of ESS Relevant/Not ESLEA project Remarks No. Relevant Implications for the ESS complies with ESS3 and suggest that the project will use more of the concrete or steel that wooden poles. ESS 4 Community Health and Safety: ESS4 recognizes There are health, safety, The corresponding responsibility of that project activities, equipment, and and security risks and MoE/EDSA shall be to avoid or infrastructure can increase community impacts on project-affected minimize such risks and impacts, exposure to risks and impacts. Also, communities. with particular attention to people communities that are already subjected to who, because of their particular impacts from climate change may experience circumstances, may be vulnerable. acceleration or intensification of impacts due to Issues of community health and project activities. safety at the community and project level are provided for in this ESMF. This ESMF proposes that future ESIAs/ESMPs of this Project complies with ESS4 ESS 5 Land acquisition, Restrictions on Land Use and Relevant Construction and Although the line routes shall follow Involuntary Resettlement: This ESS recognizes rehabilitation of electricity existing roads, the ESIA and ESMP that project-related land acquisition and infrastructure will require of specific activities should address restrictions on land use can have adverse land and this may involve any possibility of a loss of land, impacts on communities and persons. Project- restrictions on land use, assets, or access to assets leading to related land acquisition or restrictions on land economic displacement loss of income sources or other use may cause physical displacement (loss of land, assets, or means of livelihood. (relocation, loss of residential land, or loss of access to assets leading to shelter), economic displacement (loss of land, loss of income sources or This ESMF proposes future assets, or access to assets leading to loss of other means of livelihood). ESIAs/ESMPs of this Project income sources or other means of livelihood), These activities will trigger complies with ESS5 or both. this safeguard. The implication here is that the project should improve 42 ESS Summary of ESS Relevant/Not ESLEA project Remarks No. Relevant Implications for the ESS the living conditions of poor or vulnerable persons who might be affected by the project rather than leaving them in abject poverty or in a state that is worse off than they were before project activity(ies). ESS 6 Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Relevant The possibility for If the project traverses Management of Living Natural Resources: The disruption of ecosystem natural habitats such as wetlands, Bank supports the protection and conservation services and biodiversity is impacts of the project on such of biodiversity and sustainably managing living high along the line route as habitats will be mitigated through natural resources as these are fundamental to well as during construction measures outlined in this ESMF. sustainable development. and rehabilitation activities. This ESMF proposes future Requirements related to ecosystem services are ESIAs/ESMPs of this Project set out in ESS1. complies with ESS6 ESS 8 Cultural Heritage: This ESS recognizes that Relevant The possibility for If the project traverses cultural heritage, in its many manifestations, is disruption of cultural cultural heritage sites or intangible important as a sourced of valuable scientific heritage is high along the bodies, these will be mitigated and historical information, as an economic and line route as well as during through measures outlined in this social asset for development, and as an integral construction and ESMF. part of people ‘s cultural identity and practice. rehabilitation activities. The objective of this ESS is to protect cultural This ESMF proposes future heritage from the adverse impacts of project ESIAs/ESMPs of this Project activities and to promote meaningful complies with ESS8 consultations with stakeholders regarding cultural heritage. ESS 10 Stakeholder Engagement and Information Relevant Construction and Stakeholder engagement shall be Disclosure: ESS 10 informs that the Bank rehabilitation of electricity conducted to mitigate against the recognizes the fact that effective stakeholder infrastructure will impact social and environmental risks and engagement can improve the environmental the social and economic life this is provided for in this ESMF. 43 ESS Summary of ESS Relevant/Not ESLEA project Remarks No. Relevant Implications for the ESS and social sustainability of projects, enhance of people and their project acceptance, and make a significant environment. For any such The preparation of this ESMF has contribution to successful project design and project to be sustainable, gone through extensive stakeholder implementation. stakeholder engagement engagement and information Stakeholder engagement is an inclusive process has to be conducted disclosure. In a similar vein, this conducted throughout the project life cycle. throughout the life cycle of ESMF is proposing that future Where properly designed and implemented, it the project. ESIAs/ESMPs of this project comply supports the development of strong, with ESS 10. constructive responsive relationships that are important for the successful management of a project’s environmental and social risks. 44 2.2.5 Comparison of Sierra Leonean Regulations and World Bank’s ESS 2 This table presents a comparison of the Sierra Leonean regulations against ESS2 and provides measures to fill the gaps related to safeguards for labour and working conditions. ESS2 dictates that such projects develop a labour management procedure. Annex vii in this ESMF provides the labour management procedures for this project. Table 4: Comparison of the Laws of Sierra Leone and World Bank ESS 2 concerning Labour and Working Conditions Category The Laws of Sierra Leone ESS2 Gap Filling Measures Under the Project Working conditions The Constitution of Sierra ESS2 requires the client to set ESS2 will be followed Leone, 1991 prohibits out in a non-discrimination discrimination by the state and labour management procedure individuals. Sierra Leone has in which the project worker little domestic legislation will be managed. The terms giving effect to the right to and conditions of the non-discrimination. Notably, employment, to include his the country lacks non- rights related to hours of work, discrimination provisions in wages, overtime, key fields such as employment. compensation and benefits. Protecting the workforce The minimum age for the This ESS requires the project ESS2 will be followed because engagement of a child in light labour management procedure appropriate risk assessment is work is thirteen years
Section to specify the minimum age for required prior to work 127 of the Child Rights Act, employment in accordance commencing and 
 2007 with national laws and WB regular monitoring of health, guidelines which is 14 years. working conditions, hours of According to Section 125 of the work and the other Child Rights Act, 2007 and requirement. 
 45 Section 52 of Chapter 212, Employers and Employed Ordinance, 1935 the minimum age of work for a child is 15. The minimum age for the engagement of a person in hazardous work is eighteen years according to Section 128 of the Child Rights Act; 2007 Sections 47–56 of Chapter 212, Employers and Employed Ordinance, 1935 An employer is required to keep a register of children and young persons employed with their birth date or apparent ages as in Section 130 of the Child Rights Act, 2007. Part II, Section 2, and Part IV, Sections 14–15 and 21 of the Anti-Human Trafficking Act; 2017 Section 19 of the Constitution of Sierra Leone prohibits forced labour Part II, Section 2, and Part IV, Sections 14–15 and 21 of the 46 Anti-Human Trafficking Act of 2005; Section 60 of the Child Rights Act,2007 prohibits child trafficking. Grievance mechanism PART VIII Chapter 212 of the This ESS requires a grievance ESS2 will be followed Employers and Employed Act, mechanism to be provided for 1935 covers Breach of Contract all direct workers and and Disputes Between contracted workers and, where Employers and Employed. 
 relevant, their organizations to raise workplace concerns Occupational Health and Factories Act, 1974 deals with This ESS takes into account the ESS2 will be followed Safety (OHS) health and safety measures as General Environmental Health they concern any factory and Safety Guidelines (EHSGs) worker. It protects the worker and, as appropriate, the through demands for all industry-specific EHSGs and aspects of cleanliness, reports other Good International of all injuries, accidents, Industry Practice (GIIP) It diseases, and death. takes into account (a) identification of potential hazards to project workers, particularly those that may be life-threatening; (b) provision of preventive and protective measures, including modification, substitution, or elimination of hazardous conditions or substances; (c) training of project workers and maintenance of training records; (d) documentation 47 and reporting of occupational accidents, diseases and incidents; (e) emergency prevention and preparedness and response arrangements to emergency situations; 19 and (f) remedies for adverse impacts such as occupational injuries, deaths, disability, and disease. Contracted workers PART II and PART VIII This ESS requires the client to ESS2 will be followed Chapter 212 of the Employers make reasonable efforts to and Employed Act, 1935 covers ascertain that third parties who of contract workers. 
 engage contracted workers are legitimate and reliable entities and have in place labour management procedures applicable to the project that will allow them to operate in accordance with the requirements of the ESS Community workers There is no known written law In situations where the project ESS2 will be followed with respect to community includes the provision of works but there is a normal labour by community workers, practice of food for work. the client shall ensure that, according to ESS 2, the employment should reflect and be proportionate to: (a) The nature and scope of the project; (b) The specific project activities in which the 48 community workers are engaged; and (c) The nature of the potential risks and impacts to the community workers Primary supply workers Primary supply workers This ESS requires that where ESS2 will be followed should also follow child there is a significant risk of labour, forced labour and child labour or forced labour safety issues in the child Right related to primary supply Acts, 2007, Employer and workers, the client requires the Employed, 1935 and the primary supplier to identify Factories Act of 1974 those risks. The labour management procedures will set out roles and responsibilities for monitoring primary suppliers. If child labour or forced labour cases are identified, the client will require the primary supplier to take appropriate steps to remedy them. 49 2.3 Institutional Framework As in all projects, there are some institutions that are responsible for the planning, design and implementation of project deliverables. In a similar vein, the implementation of environmental and social safeguards is the responsibility of these same institutions. This section discusses the institutions responsible for this project. 2.3.1 The Ministry of Energy (MoE) The Ministry of Energy is the arm of the GoSL tasked with the responsibility to formulate and implement policies, projects, and programmes on energy and provide oversight functions across the entire energy supply chain for all sub-sector agencies (which include electricity production, electricity transmission, electricity distribution, and supply) and other forms of energy supply and utilization coordinating and managing all aspects of energy in its various forms in the country. This Ministry has oversight responsibility over EDSA and therefore all technical and financial matters of the project will have to have clearance from the Minister and his technical team. 2.3.2 The Ministry of the Environment The Ministry of the Environment, established in November 2019, is responsible for a range of government policies related to the protection and management of the environment and natural resources. The Ministry is mandated to perform the following functions: A. Lead on the development and supervision of the legal and policy framework for building national environmental resilience as it relates to climate change, natural resources management, including forestry and wetlands conservation B. Provide policy advice to the President and government, take the lead on all aspects of the environment and in particular make recommendations for the protection and management of the environment C. Formulate and review environmental policies, legislation, and standards to ensure consistency and application of international policies relating to environmental protection to safeguard human health and wellbeing of people in Sierra Leone D. Develop, coordinate and implement climate change legislation, adaptation and mitigation policies and strategies, programmes, and initiatives in the country E. Develop policies to ban and reduce the abusive use of plastic bags and on the protection and management of environmentally sensitive areas F. Ensure environmental compliance and enforcement in Sierra Leone through EPA-SL G. Coordinate relations with national and international organizations dealing with environmental issues H. Collaborate with all relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies working on environmental issues I. Mobilize resources in support of the strengthening environmental resilience 50 J. Perform any other function assigned to the Ministry by law or decision of the Cabinet of Sierra Leone This recently established Ministry has a huge mandate. It supervises the Environment Protection Agency, Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Authority as well as the Forestry Department. All issues dealing with environmental impact assessment, environmental and social management plans, resettlement planning as well as radiation protection has to be cleared by the Minister with the portfolio. Thus, EDSA and the Contractors must continue updating the Ministry about the progress the project is making as well as the challenges. 2.3.3 Electricity Generation and Transmission Company (EGTC) EGTC is responsible for the generation, the transmission of electricity, and the sale of electricity to EDSA as per the power purchase agreement approved. EGTC will also manage the national transmission grid, which connects electricity generation sources to customer centres for distribution. EGTC has the mandate to handle energy generation and since the project has PV and mixed energy generation, this entity needs to be in the know. 2.3.4 The Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA) EDSA is responsible for the supply of electricity. Key functions of EDSA include: 1. Be responsible for the supply, distribution and retail sale of electricity for the entire country except in areas which the Commission has issued a distribution license to another appropriately qualified entity; 2. Be responsible for dispatch and system control of electricity within its territory; 3. Establish as far as is practicable uniform standard voltages throughout its area of supply; 4. Secure the supply of electricity at reasonable prices; 5. Carry on any business usually associated with electricity distribution and supply; 6. Promote and encourage the economic and efficient use of electricity, especially for domestic, commercial, agricultural, industrial and manufacturing purposes; 7. Perform any other functions incidental or consequential to its functions under the 2011 Act. EDSA has the mandate to handle transmission and distribution issues. 2.3.5 The Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission The Sierra Leone Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission is established to formulate, implement, monitor quality and compliance, provide tariff guidelines, licenses and implement regulatory frameworks for the safe, secure, affordable and reliable supply of water and electricity in Sierra Leone. The PV and mix generation at Moyamba makes this commission very important in fixing tariffs for energy generated. 51 2.3.6 Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Authority The Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Authority exercises regulatory and supervisory control for the beneficial and peaceful uses of radioactive substances and their applications, including licensing, inspection, and enforcement throughout Sierra Leone, to provide adequate protection to the public, workers and the environment against the harmful effects of radiation. The Nuclear Safety Radiation Protection Act, 2012 prescribes the mandate and responsibilities of the Nuclear Safety and Radiation Authority (Radiation Protection Board) as a Regulatory Authority for Radiation Protection, Nuclear Safety and Security, Waste Safety as well as ionizing and non-ionizing radiation. The vision of the Authority is to protect people, property, and the environment against exposure to radiation that may lead to cancer and other related diseases in Sierra Leone. The Mission of the Authority is to establish the highest standard of protection compatible with requirements of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and other International against people and the environment by eliminating or minimizing to the barest minimum, the adverse effects of radiation. The objective for which the Authority is established is to regulate, control, and supervise the uses, acquisition, importation, exportation, transportation, and disposal of radioactive substances and devices emitting ionizing and non-ionizing radiation. This makes the Authority very important for this project. 2.3.7 Environment Protection Agency - Sierra Leone (EPA-SL) The Environment Protection Agency was set up to replace the National Commission for Environment and Forestry (NaCEF), which was mandated to oversee issues about the environment and forestry. The Environment Protection Agency was established with a Board of Directors set up as its governing body. This Board consists of a Chairman and representatives from the various line Ministries and a Unit as stated in section 3 of Part II of the Environment Protection Agency Act Subject to this Act, the Board shall have the control and supervision of the Agency. The Agency shall act in liaison and co-operation with government agencies to control pollution and the general protection of the environment. The Agency, subject to this Act, shall promote effective planning in the management of the environment, coordinate and monitor the implementation of Environmental instruments for the ESLEA project. 2.3.8 The Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA) The SLRA is the institution responsible for managing roads in the country. Their mandate is to develop and maintain the national roads network, advise Government on general road policies and contribute to addressing transport concerns, among others. The SLRA manages RoW issues in Sierra Leone. Issues of permission and identification of RoW will be handled by SLRA for this Project. 52 SECTION THREE BASELINE CONDITIONS 3.1 Project Biophysical Setting 3.1.1 Description of the project area Sierra Leone is divided into 5 administrative regions namely, the Northern, Eastern, Southern, North-Western Provinces and Western Area. These regions are further divided into 16 administrative districts. The northern region districts are Bombali, Tonkolili, Koinadugu, and Falaba. Districts in the northwest are Karene, Port Loko, and Kambia. Kenema, Kono, and Kailahun are in the eastern region; Bo, Bonthe, Pujehun, Moyamba, in the southern region; and Western Area Urban and Western Area Rural in the western region. The ESLEA will be undertaken in 8 district-headquarter towns from 4 administrative regions in the country; Koinadugu, Bombalili and Tonkolili in the Northern Province; Kono and Kailahun in the Eastern Province; Pujehun, and Moyamba in the Southern Province; Waterloo in the Western Rural District. Figure 3 shows the project districts in Sierra Leone. Figure 3: Map of Sierra Leone showing Project Districts 53 Project location in the Western Area (Western Area Rural) The Western Area Rural (WARD) is found predominantly around the peninsula of Sierra Leone’ Western Area and is bordered by the Western Area Urban District in the North-West. The Atlantic Ocean in the South and South-West, Moyamba District in the South-East and Port Loko in the North-East (Figure 4). WARD is divided into four sections: Mountain Rural, Waterloo Rural, York Rural and Koya Rural. The 2015 National Population and Housing Census recorded that 444270 inhabitants (221351 males and 222919 females) live in the district. Like the rest of the country, the district enjoys a tropical climate with rainfall ranging from 3,000 to 4,000 mm per year. Waterloo is the district headquarter town and the largest city. The livelihood of the inhabitants is dependent mostly on petty trading, food crop production, forestry and fishing. The district is home to one of the Sierra Leone fishing hubs – Tombo. Figure 4: Map of Western Area Rural District showing the Sections Project locations in the Northern Province (Koinadugu, Bombali and Tonkolili) Koinadugu District borders Karene, Bombali and Tonkolili Districts to the south-west, Kono District to the south, Falaba District to the north-east, and the Republic of Guinea to the North (Figure 5). The district capital is Kabala, the largest town in the district. The district has ten chiefdoms, namely Diang, Gbonkobon Kayaka, Kalian, Kamukeh, Kasunko Kakellian, Nieni, Senqbe, Tamiso, Wara-Wara Bafodia, and Wara-Wara Yagala. 54 Sierra Leone’s 2015 Population and Housing Census indicated that the district has 204,019 inhabitants (100,807 males and 103,212 females), the least populated district in the northern region (Statistics Sierra Leone, 2018). The population is ethnically diverse with major tribes being Fula, Susu and Mandingo. Agriculture is the main livelihood activity for most of the district inhabitants. The district is renowned for growing vegetables and remains one of the major supplying conduits of exotic vegetables for Freetown, Sierra Leone’s capital. The district is also prominent for cattle rearing predominantly among the Fula ethnic group. Notwithstanding these economic activities, the 2019 Multidimensional Poverty Index identified Koinadugu District as the second-poorest district in the country with a poverty index of 86.5% (Statistics Sierra Leone, 2019). Figure 5: Map of Koinadugu District showing the Chiefdoms Bombali district is situated in Sierra Leone’s Northern Region. The District is bordered by four districts: Koinadugu, Port Loko, Kerene and Tonkolili ( Figure 6). The redistricting exercise in 2017 removes the envious position of being the second-largest district from Bombali. The district is divided into 12 Chiefdoms (Bombali Shebora, Bombali Siaray, Makari, Gbanti, Paki Masabong, Safroko Limba, Biriwa Limba, Gbendembu, Ngowahun, Kamaranka, Mara and Magbaiamba Ndowahun) The largest city and administrative headquarter town is Makeni. The population of Bombali district is ethnically diverse, although the Temne and Limba form the largest ethnic groups. The 2015 Population and Housing Census stated that 422960 individuals (205,914 males and 217,046 females) inhabit the district. The main livelihood of inhabitants of the district includes agriculture, trade and small-scale mining. 55 Figure 6: Map of Bombali District showing the Chiefdoms The district is strategically located in the centre of Sierra Leone. The district comprises nineteen chiefdoms (Figure 7) with Magburaka serving as the administrative town and Mile 91 as the commercial hub. The population of the district is predominantly Muslim, with a Christian minority. By 2015, 513,984 people (254,601 males and 259,383 females) lived in the district. The district is traversed by s ome of Sierra Leone’s major rivers including the Pampana and Rokel River. Livelihood for the inhabitants includes agriculture, mining and trading. 56 Figure 7: Map of Tonkolili District showing the Chiefdoms Project locations in the Southern Province (Pujehun, and Moyamba) The district-headquarter town of Pujehun District, Pujehun, is one of the ESLEA project locations. Pujehun District is the third-largest in the Southern Province. It borders the Atlantic Ocean in the southwest, the Republic of Liberia to the southeast, Kenema District to the northeast, Bo District to the north, and Bonthe District to the west ( Figure 8). The District has 14 chiefdoms, which include Gallines, Perri, Mano Sakrim, Soro Gbema, Kpaka, Makpele, Yakemu Kpukumu Krim, Malen, Barri, Sowa, Pejeh and Kpanga Kagonde. Pujehun town is the largest and district capital of the district. Other major towns of the district include Potoru, Bomi, Gandorhun, Zimmi, Gendema, and Masam. According to the 2015 Population and Housing Census, Pujehun District has a population of 346,461 with 168,869 males and 177,592 females (Statistics Sierra Leone, 2018). The Mende is the dominant ethnic group and they are predominantly Muslims. 57 Figure 8: Map of Pujehun District showing the Chiefdoms Pujehun District has a monsoon type climate characterized by two distinct types of seasons; rainy season (end of May to the beginning of November) and dry season (end of November to the beginning of May). Rain-fed agriculture is the main economic activity in the district providing a livelihood for the majority of the village population. Slash and burn shifting cultivation are the main agricultural practices in the district. Cash and food crops cultivated in the district include Cocoa, Coffee, Oil Palm, Maize, Cassava, and Rubber. However, these agricultural potentials have not significantly benefited the populations. The 2019 Multidimensional Poverty Index identified the district as the poorest in Sierra Leone with a poverty index of 87.2% (Statistics Sierra Leone, 2019). Notwithstanding, Pujehun District’s agricultural potential and parks have attracted multi- national agro-industrial companies and tourists. An estimated 16,248.54 acres of land was leased to Socfin Agricultural Company (SL) Limited, in the Malen Chiefdom, for the cultivation of palm oil (Baxter & Schaefter, 2013). The district is home to patches of the Upper Guinea Rainforest and the Gola Rainforest National Park (GRNP), which is situated in the Barri and Makpele Chiefdoms. The Moyamba District, headquarter-town Moyamba, is one of the ESLEA Project locations. Moyamba District has the largest geographic area in the Southern Province. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean in the west, Port Loko and Tonkolili Districts in the north, Bo District in the east, and Bonthe District in the south. Moyamba District comprises fourteen (14) chiefdoms including Lower Banta, Upper Banta, Timdale, Bagruwa, Kagboro, Dasse, Kowa, Kaiyamba, Kongbora, Kori, Kamajei, Fakunya, Ribbi and Bumpe (Figure 9). In addition to Moyamba Town, Moyamba District has three major towns; the college town of Njala, which 58 hosts the nation’s second-largest university; Rotifunk; and Shenge, known for its prominence in the fishing industry. By 2015, the District’s population was 318,588 (153,699 Males and 164,889 females). The District is one of the most ethnically diverse districts because it transitions into three culturally diverse regions in the country. Moyamba District transitions into the Mende dominated the region in the southeast, the Themne dominated regions in the north and the Krio dominated regions in the west. Rain-fed agriculture is the main economic activity of the inhabitants providing a livelihood for over 71% of the population. Oil palm and ginger are the main cash crops and cereals (maize, rice, sorghum, and millet) and tuber crops (yam, cassava, and cocoa) are the main food crops in the district. The district is home to two of the country’s industrial mining companies: Iluka and Vimetco. Figure 9: Map of Moyamba District showing the Chiefdoms Project locations in the Eastern Province (Kono and Kailahun) Koidu City, the district headquarter-town of Kono, will be the location of the ESLEA. Kono District borders Kenema District to the southwest, the Republic of Guinea to the east, Falaba District to the northeast, Koinadugu District to the northwest, Tonkolili District to the west and Kailahun District to the southeast. The district is divided into 14 chiefdoms namely Fiama, Gbane, Gbane Kandor, Gbense, Gorama Kono, Kamara, Lei, Mafindor, Nimikoro, Nimiyama, Sandor, Soa, Tankoro, and Toli (Figure 10). Koidu City is the largest town and capital of the district with a population of 128,030 inhabitants (63,858 males and 64,172 females). Other 59 major towns that are prominent for their large deposits of diamonds include Yengema, Motema, Tombodu, Jaiama Sewafe, and Jaiama Nimikoro. The 2015 Housing and Population Census report put the district’s population at 506,100 inhabitants (252,751 males and 253,349 females). Given the occurrence of alluvial diamonds in the district, the population is mixed between Christians and Muslims and home to a diversity of ethnic groups. The district is the largest diamond producing district in the country and is home to the known kimberlite diamond dike in the country. Mining officially started in the district in the 1930s and boomed until the 1990s when the civil war interrupted economic activities in the country. Alluvial diamond and gold mining are still the major economic activities in the district. However, communities are increasingly switching to agricultural activities because of the significant reduction in alluvial diamond deposits. Food crops that are gaining traction include cassava, rice, and maize; cash crops include oil palm, coffee and cocoa. A major impact of decades of diamond mining is serious environmental degradation such as deforestation, loss of biodiversity, and poor water quality and availability. Figure 10: Map of Kono District showing the Chiefdoms Kailahun is the headquarter town of Kailahun District and the designated location for the ESLEA. The district comprises fifteen (15) chiefdoms including Kissi Kama, Kissi Teng, Kissi Tongi, Luawa, Upper Bambara, Kpeje Bongre, Penguia, Yawei, Kpeje West, Jahn, Mandu, Dea, Malema, Jawie, and Njaluahun (Figure 11). 60 The 2015 population census recorded 526,379 inhabitants (260,586 males and 265,793 females) for the districts. The population in the district is predominantly Muslim and the Kissi and Mende are the principal ethnic groups. Rain-fed agriculture is the main livelihood for residents in Kailahun District. The district often gets eight months of rain ranging from 2000 to 3000 mm per year and this provides a conducive environment for the cultivation of cash crops. The district is renowned for growing Cocoa and coffee. The vegetation is a mix of savanna, forest and secondary growth and the northern stretch of the GRNP is found in the Malema Chiefdom. It is expected that this project uses RoWs along existing roads and will not pass through Gola North or Gola Forest (North or South) Figure 11: Map of Kailahun District showing the Chiefdoms 3.1.2 Climate The climate of Sierra Leone is a monsoon type humid tropical climate with two distinct seasons. The dry season is from November to April and the rainy season is from May to October. The annual rainfall averages about 3,000 mm, ranging from a low reading of 2,000 mm in the North to a high reading of 4,000 mm in the South. The average monthly temperature ranges from 23oC to 29oC, but it can rise to an average maximum of 36oC in the lowlands towards the end of the dry season while in the highlands the average monthly temperature could be as low as 15oC at the beginning of the dry season. The seasonality of the weather conditions described above is primarily the result of the north- south movement of a zone of discontinuity often referred to as the Inter-Tropical Front (ITF). 61 As the belt oscillates slowly across West Africa, the country is alternately affected by southwest winds bringing moist air that often results in rains, and the northeast dry winds. Rainfall data covering the project area was obtained from the Meteorology Agency in Freetown. The Agency collates monthly rainfall data in some major towns in the country. Monthly rainfall data were available for 5 project towns covering 2018 and 2019 for 3 towns, 2018 data for Makeni and cumulative data from 2015 -2018 for Waterloo. Table 5 presents the available rainfall data for some project towns Table 5: Mean Monthly Rainfall MEAN MONTHLY RAINFALL (MM) DATA PROJECT TOWN YEAR JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC Kono 2018 5.1 25.3 106 83 112.2 270 370.2 428.4 409.6 152.2 233.2 10.2 2019 4.2 32.8 55.6 241.8 217.3 299 388.9 511.5 396.2 331.9 184.6 12.3 Pujehun 2018 7.3 10.6 62.8 110.8 150.0 498.1 582.8 608.9 474.3 291.5 160.0 14.1 2019 3.0 35.0 100.2 112.5 21.5 510.9 620.3 689.8 385.4 135.1 89.9 20.2 Moyamba 2018 3.6 4.7 35.9 42.8 82.3 331.4 608.0 604.9 476.9 284.2 119.8 10.5 2019 12.3 7.9 44.6 120.5 99.7 440.5 559.2 611.7 354.4 112.6 111.5 89.1 Makeni 2018 0 25 50.8 38.4 102.4 378.5 574.3 399 599 462.2 193.4 0 Waterloo 2015 - 2.3 4.1 8.1 47.8 192.4 649.4 990.1 888.8 901.2 599.6 110.2 230.0 2018 3.1.3 Land Cover Classification in the Project Area The nine districts that will benefit from the ESLEA are among the least developed in the country. Most of the land has not been developed; land cover types are predominantly farmland, forests, grassland, and a few towns and villages remotely interspersed between. Kailahun and Pujehun Districts form part of the GRNP . It is not surprising that the GoSL has prioritised these regions for improvement in electricity supply. Error! Reference source not found.Error! Reference source not found. shows land cover types in the project districts. 62 Figure 12: Land Cover Types in the Project Area Closed forest, Open forest and herbaceous vegetation are the main land cover types in Pujehun district. The district has patches of the Upper Guinea Forest, The GRNP forest reserve. Two principal lakes of the country, Lake Mapi and Mabesi are found in the district. Principal land and land cover use in Moyamba District include closed forest, Open forest, water bodies and herbaceous vegetation. Like the other coastal districts, the Moyamba district is vegetated with herbaceous wetland vegetation and coastal mangrove vegetation. Brackish water in the coastal areas provides a conducive environment for the growth of several species of the mangrove plant. Predominant herbaceous vegetation can be found in the northeastern portion of the district. Kailahun District is mostly forested. The south-eastern tip of the district is covered by patches of the Upper Guinea Forest - the GRNP. There are several built-up areas in the district. The vegetation of the district constitutes permanent crops including cocoa, coffee, and oil palm. The principal land cover types in Kono District include built-up, closed forest, open forest, herbaceous vegetation and bare soil. The district has an expanded built-up area given the population growth influenced by mining activities. Bare land are due to abandoned and deforested mined out areas. In Koinadugu District, the principal vegetation includes open forest and closed forest. The undergrowth provides an environment for cattle rearing. Neighbouring Falaba District’s 63 dominant land cover types include open forest and closed forest. Similarly, the undergrowth provides an environment for cattle rearing. 3.1.4 Physiography Sierra Leone is mainly divided into four principal regions. The sharp and extensive Escarpment in the north-eastern region of the country is an extension of the Guinea Highlands, which serves as a principal watershed for some of the major West African rivers. The escarpment is home to the Koinadugu and Kono Plateaus in the north and east, respectively with a number of isolated highlands including the Sankan Biriwa Mountain (1709m) in the Tingi Hills and Mount Bintumani (1948m) in the Loma Mountains (Munro & van der Horst., 2012). The second region is the Interior Plain, which is a strip of undulated landmass with a width of about 100km but run parallel to the coastline. The third physiographical region is the Coastal Plain, which is a zone of mangroves, beaches, mangrove, swamps and lowlands with elevations below 100m. The Freetown Peninsula is the fourth region and is home to Freetown, Sierra Leone’s capital and largest city. The Peninsular has an undulating landscape with mountains that rise impressively from 200 m to 1,000 m above sea level. 3.1.5 Hydrography Sierra Leone is divided into twelve river basins and is drained by nine major rivers and series of minor coastal creeks and tidal streams (Figure 13). Five of the river basins are shared with Guinea and two with Liberia. These rivers which mostly originate from the Koinadugu – Kono Plateaux include the Great Scarcies (Kolenté River), Little Scarcies, Rokel (Seli River) Gbangbaia, Jong, Sewa, Waanje, Moa and Mano. The Great Scarcies, form portions of the border with Guinea, while the Mano forms much of the country’s frontier wi th Liberia. The river basins range in size from 5,460 square miles (14,140 square km) for the Sewa to less than 385 square miles (1,000 square km) for the smaller basins. 64 Figure 13: Major Rivers of Sierra Leone 3.1.6 Soil Characteristics Sierra Leone is divided into sixteen (16) Soil provinces, ranging from those that are well- drained and fertile to those that are poorly drained and sometimes not fertile. The Peninsula Mountain of the Western Area are the outcome of large basic intrusion of gabro and norite that are probably of Precambrian age. These soils are very rich in iron. Soils of the sandy beach ridges and lagoons are mostly found in the Southern coastline and belong to the Bullom Series. Soils of the Coastal Swamps are found in the salt or brackish water environment and some are for the most part poorly drained. The greater part of the landscape is covered by sandy soils, and some part by loamy, which experience serious leaching during the rainy season 3.1.7 Protected and Sensitive Areas Sierra Leone has several protected and sensitive sites including forest, game and strict nature reserves and national parks, which are designated as conservation sites. The Western Area Peninsular Forest Reserve was declared a National Park in 2012, and it is one of the eight biodiversity hotspot and host nearly 80-90% of the country’s territorial biodiversity. Other national parks across the country include the Gola Forest National Park, declared in 2011 and Outamba Kilimi, declared in 1995. Other sites of ecological importance include the Tiwai Island Wildlife Sanctuary and the in Pujehun District and the Sierra Leone River Estuary (a Ramsar site) in Port Loko District (Figure 14). No-hunting forests reserved include the Loma Mountain and Tingi Hills and the Kangari Hills in the Tonkolili, District. 65 Figure 14: Protected and Sensitive Areas of Sierra Leone 3.1.8 Flora and Fauna Sierra Leone’s ecosystem found in the western edge of the Upper Guinean Forest ecosystem is listed on the World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF’s) Global 200 list of critical regions for conservation and is designated as one of Conservation International’s 34 global biodiversity hotspots. It is 8th in the world in terms of plant species diversity and fifteenth in terms of plant species endemism. Wild flora vegetation types include the lowland moist and semi-deciduous forests, part of the West Guinean lowland forests, inland valley swamps, wooded savanna, boliland and mangrove swamps. Sierra Leone is home to approximately 2,090 known higher plant species. Common plant species include: • Red mangrove which grows in swamp areas along the western coast; • Oil palm used for palm oil and palm wine; • Cotton tree one of which is a historical symbol of Freetown; and the • Red iron tree There are approximately 147 known species of mammals, 669 known bird species, 67 known reptile species, 35 known amphibian species and 99 known species of fish scattered in different habitats within the country (Belcastro & Larsen., 2006). The GRNP hosts a large number of bird and mammal species, including the very rare pygmy hippopotamus while the Tiwai Island, lying in the Moa River, is home to a number of bird, mammal, primate and turtle 66 species. Some mammals found in Sierra Leone are duiker, hippopotamus, African Bush Elephant. 3.3 Socioeconomic Status 3.3.1 Population Characteristics Populations in the project districts are predominantly rural and have not enjoyed an uninterrupted electricity supply over the years. This is one key factor that ranks them among the poorest in the country. Table 6 presents the populations in the project districts and their proportions in rural versus urban areas. Table 6: 2015 Population distribution per District in the study area District Total Population Rural Urban Kailahun 526,379 373,093 153,286 Kono 506,100 381,438 124,662 Moyamba 318, 588 295,891 22,697 Pujehun 346, 461 318,344 28,117 Koinadugu 409, 372 335,847 73,525 Bombali 606,544 433,486 173,058 Tonkolili 531,435 424,105 107,330 Western Area Rural 444,270 43,638 400,632 3.3.2 Livelihood and Economy The agricultural sector is the backbone of Sierra Leone’s economy comprising food crops, tree crops, fishery, livestock, and forestry. The 2015 PHC reveals that there are 732,461 agricultural households, accounting for 57.9% of the total households in the country. Out of the 732,461 agricultural households, 85.4% are engaged in the cultivation of crops; 73.6% of those farmers are engaged in animal husbandry, and 33.6%, in fisheries. Crops are largely produced by smallholders. The 2015 PHC reported regional household agricultural production in Metric Tons (MT) where the Northern region with 389,996 MT (44.7%) has the highest production, followed by the Eastern region with 240,186 MT (27.6%) and the Southern region with 235,465 MT (27.0%). The Western Area recorded the least with 6,045 MT (0.7%). Sierra Leone is a country rich in mineral resources, where diamond and gold are the primary export commodities. According to the Sierra Leone Integrated Household Survey (SLIHS), poverty remains high in the country with the official poverty rate at 56.8% in 2018. The overall poverty rate was deduced from an extreme poverty rate of 12.9% and a food poverty rate of 54.5%. The poverty rate is especially high in rural areas (73.9%) compared to urban areas (34.8%). Pujehun has the highest poverty rates amongst the ESLEA districts. Livelihood activities in the project districts have a mix of similarities and nuanced differences. Almost every rural area in Sierra Leone has bits and pieces of livelihood activities 67 characteristic of the others. However, each community is uniquely gravitating towards one or few as the signature livelihood activity for that region. In Moyamba District, agriculture remains the mainstay of the district residents. Crops grown in the district include oil palm, cereals (maize, rice, sorghum, and millet), and starchy food crops (yam, cassava, and cocoa-yam). Also, cashew, black pepper, ginger, pineapple, and sugarcane are popular farm products in the district. In the coastal chiefdoms, salt production has traditionally been an important economic activity. The port of Nitti in Banta chiefdom provides the only deep-water port in the south for direct merchandise loading and off- loading. The major weekly trade activities are in Gbangbatoke of Banta chiefdom, and goods are traded directly here with suppliers coming by boat from Freetown and Guinea. Sea fishing is a common livelihood in the coastal population, the main fish trading centre is Shenge in Kagboro chiefdom, which is also one of the main traditional boat building locations in the country. In Pujehun District, residents are involved in rain-fed cash and food crops (cash crops: cocoa, coffee, oil palm, and rubber; food crops: rice, cassava, and maize,). Socfin is a large foreign company involved in the development of commercial oil palm. This has created job opportunities for residents working in the plantations and managing environmental and social issues. In Kono District, mining is an important economic activity as the district is the largest diamond producer in Sierra Leone. Only a few people are involved in farming. The diamond mining industry has attracted the influx of many people from other parts of the country to Kono. However, residents in Kono are beginning to switch to agriculture due to depletion in diamond deposits. Kailahun District is known for its mixed economy with small-scale mining and agricultural production of coffee, cacao, and rice. In the 1980s and early 1990s, the border town, Koindu, in Kailahun District was a major hub for international trade with transactions between citizens in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. This trade centre was destroyed during the civil war in the 1990s. Agriculture (the production of food crops, and livestock) is the main livelihood of more than 84% of the population in the Koinadugu District. The main market zones for the produce from agricultural activities are Makeni and other major towns in Bombali District, Kabala, Tonkolili District, Freetown, and export to Guinea. The district is a primary source of supply of green leafy and spicy vegetables to these regions. Neighbouring Falaba District is a typical rural district with residents engaged primarily in similar types of livelihood activities (farming, livestock rearing, and small scale mining). According to SLIHS 2018, 91% of the main source of income was household income from self- employment, followed by income from employment income (cash and in-kind income). 68 Table 7: Income Source by Regions Total percentage percentage households' Region Cash Income In-kind Income of cash of in-kind Employment income income income East 174,570 13,792 188,362 92.68 7.32 North 24,240 50,357 74,596 32.49 67.51 South 43,240 33,601 76,841 56.27 43.73 West 505,284 109,336 614,621 82.21 17.79 Total 781,521 219,861 1,001,382 78.04 21.96 With regards to in-kind employment income, Northern region recorded (50,357 or 67.5 percent), Southern region (33,601 or 43.7 %), Western (109,336 or 27.2 %), and Eastern region recorded the least (13,792 or 7.3 %). Table 8: Expenditure on food and non-food items per regions Food Region Non-food Own food Gift value of food Food purchased East 416,602 108,572 1,929,906 1,822,768 North 296,364 110,829 1,640,905 1,959,912 South 386,794 179,139 1,516,776 1,820,060 West 23,638 38,648 3,111,345 6,206,045 Rural 1,294,529 491,882 4,639,064 4,272,195 Urban 111,571 96,259 5,184,982 8,926,645 All 1,406,100 588,140 9,824,046 13,198,840 3.3.3 Education and Literacy The 2015 National Population Census reveals that 50% of the national population 15 years and above had never gone to school. According to the 2018 SLIHS data on education, 61.3% have attended formal schools while the remaining 38.7% have never attended schools. These statistics comprise 52.1% Males and 47.9% Females who have attended formal schools and those who have never attended schools are 40.6% Males and 59.4% Females. The present government initiated the free quality education programme in September 2018 whose motive is to give access to quality primary and secondary education to more than one million children in the country. 21% of the country’s budget is allocated to this programme. Table 9 shows the percent of the population that has ever attended school with Tonkolili (9.4%) and Koinadugu (3.1%) recording the highest and lowest percentages, respectively. Also, total literacy (can read and write English and at least one local language and perform arithmetic operations) depicts that Bombali and the Western Rural Districts recorded higher levels than the national average (which is 50%). 69 Table 9: Percentage District of Attainment of formal Education and Literacy rate in the Project Districts District Percentage Total Literacy Rate (%) Distribution of School Attainment Kailahun 6.8 35.5 Kono 4.6 42.5 Pujehun 3.4 28.9 Koinadugu 3.1 43.0 Moyamba 3.7 29.7 Bombali 5.5 51.3 Tonkolili 9.4 37.8 Western Rural 6.4 65.8 3.3.4 Health - Infectious diseases Sierra Leone is divided into 13 health districts that correspond to the Districts of Sierra Leone except for the Western Area Rural and Western Area Urban districts which are combined into the Western Area Health District. Each district has a health management team and an average of 50 Peripheral Health Units (PHU) and over 100 technical staff. The management team is responsible for planning, organizing, and monitoring health provision, training personnel, working with communities and supplying equipment and drugs. Infectious diseases are a major impediment to socio-economic development in Sierra Leone. Due to poor sanitation and lack of adherence to basic public health practices, cholera, dysentery, and other diarrhoeal diseases are common especially in the rainy season. When it rains, surface runoff transports open defecation into drinking water sources or contaminate crops. Because the country lacks state of the art treatment processing of foods, direct consumption exposes citizens to these preventable diseases. In addition to diarrhoeal diseases, typhoid fever and malaria are leading killer diseases in the country, especially in rural areas. During the period 2014-2015 the largest ever outbreak of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) raged the West African sub-region with nearly 29,000 people infected and 11,323 deaths. Sierra Leone was hit by this deadly virus for 18 months (May 2014 – November 2015). The outbreak caused a serious shock to the agricultural, mining, and all other sectors of Sierra Leone. It was reported that rice (which is the country’s staple food) production declined significantly during the epidemic as compared to 2013. According to the Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU), Sierra Leone’s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by just 4.6% in 2014, compared to 20.9% in 2013. During the EVD outbreak, there was a disruption of food chains due to the closing of markets, roadblocks and quarantines, restricted cross-border trading, and changes in supplier behaviour resulting from the fear of contracting the deadly disease. These significantly reduced the income of EVD-affected communities, including producers, suppliers, traders, and consumers. The SLIHS further reported that 6,499 children were orphaned during the epidemic in Sierra Leone with the Northern region heavily affected followed by Kenema. 70 The 2019 Corona Virus disease (COVID-19) has also had its toll on Sierra Leoneans. The nation recorded its index case on the 30th of March 2020. His Excellency the President declared a public health emergency for Sierra Leone, and this has been laden with intermittent lockdowns, travel restrictions, and restrictions on public gatherings. Notwithstanding, the nation is still recoding active COVID-19 cases; as of the 19th June 2020, Sierra Leone had recorded 1,298 cumulative new confirmed cases, 53 deaths, and 732 recoveries. Also, all districts but for Karene have reported confirmed COVID-19 case. The economic consequence of COVID-19, so far, has been reported by the international growth centre on tracking the economic consequence of COVID-19 (May 15th, 2020). According to the report, (i) 68% of business owners have reported a drop in weekly income since March 2020; (ii) 71% of business owners report difficulties accessing customers due to government restrictions; (iii) 57% of businesses report a drop-in demand, and 51% report difficulties accessing suppliers; (iv) 57% of businesses have had to temporarily lay-off workers; and (v) 37% reduced the number of working hours. The average number of hours worked in a typical day reduced by about 2.5 hours. 3.3.5 Land Ownership Structure In Sierra Leone, land is categorized as state land, private land, or communal land. The main statutory law governing the acquisition of land in the provinces is the Provinces Land Act of 1927, Cap 122, alongside customary law. Under the customary law, at least three different types of land tenure arrangements are recognized – family tenure, communal tenure, and individual tenure. According to Renner-Thomas, 2010, family tenure is the most widespread. Customary land tenure systems are not uniform across the country and vary from one ethnic group to the other. However, in customary law land is vested in tribal authorities who include Paramount Chiefs and their Chiefdom Councilors who serve as custodians of the land. It is considered that land in the provinces is held by ancestors, living community members, and unborn family members (Williams, 2006). The management and preservation of the land is in the hands of the current generation who does so in the interest of the ancestors and future generations. Much of the land has been individualized in the names of lineages, families, and individuals (Unruh and Turay 2006; Dale 2008). Most chieftaincy land is held by extended families. Families have rights of access, use, and transfer by lease. In some areas, people from outside the chiefdom, (known as “strangers”), are not allowed to exclusively own land. They lease land from landowning families and they (“strangers”) pay a nominal amount of the crop-yield to the family. Rights to sell chieftaincy land are generally limited to sales within the family or community. Some chieftaincy land is retained as communal land for community use (Williams, 2006; Unruh and Turay 2006; Dale 2008). Chieftaincy land under customary tenure can be obtained by purchase (citizens only) or lease. Private and chieftaincy land that has been individualized into family holdings can be transferred by inheritance. Land transfers of family holdings of chieftaincy land are subject to the approval of all family members and the paramount chief. Chiefs may lease communal land that has not been individualized as a family or individual holding (Unruh and Turay 2006). Land in Sierra Leone can be compulsorily acquired by the government - the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone provides that no property shall be taken except where “necessary in the interests of defense, public safety, public order, public morality, public health, town and country planning,” and for “promotion of public 71 benefit or public welfare.” Under such circumstances, there must be “prompt payment of adequate compensation.” Constitutional protections do not apply for takings based on other legal authority, including for purposes of “carrying out . . . agricultural development or improvement which the owner or occupier of the land has been required, and without reasonable or lawful excuse refused or failed to carry out” 3.3.6 The Current Status of Battery and Solar Panel Collection, Transport, Storage and Disposal in Sierra Leone The Sierra Leone Electrification and Water Regulatory Commission has developed the mini- grid Regulation in 2018 for Sierra Leone. The mini-grid Regulation, 2018 provides regulation on installation, operation, decommissioning and disposal of lithium batteries, solar PV, inverters, chargers, conductors, transformers and switch gears. Annex vi details specific guidelines on lithium solar batteries transportation and disposal. Collection, transportation and disposal of hazardous waste materials shall be part of the EPC Contracts and the responsibility of the contractors. Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) Solar panels (life span 20+ years) and Li-ion batteries (life span 10+ years) being made of hazardous materials would require safe handling and storage until such time as recycling technologies or proper engineered landfills have been developed in Sierra Leone for their safe disposal. Consultation with the Renewable Energy Director on the status of battery and solar panel collection, transport, storage and disposal in Sierra Leone indicate that discussions are on the way with Sierra Leone Standards Bureau to conclude on developing standard guidelines on the quality of solar equipment and accessories to be imported into the country. Also, on inquiries from the Moyamba District Council on how the storage of solar panels is done, the information gathered was that they store the panels and batteries in rooms reserved for storage of solar equipment. Land space has been put aside in Moyamba Town where bulk solar equipment can be stored and installed. As it stands, waste dumpsites are the available location to dispose of batteries and solar panels. Generally in the country, no specific waste dumpsite has been designated for the disposal of solar PV systems. However, the Technical Institute, Kissy Dockyard, Freetown has submitted a proposal for the purchase of a recycling plant for solar PV systems. 72 SECTION FOUR POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACTS 4.0 Introduction In component 1, the 66kv sub-transmission line and the 33kv distribution line will be constructed largely along existing public roads and the existing Right of Way (RoW). Transformer stations will also be constructed along the RoW to minimize environmental impact and land acquisition. During the construction of the sub-transmission and distribution lines, there is a likelihood that land will be needed for the construction of camps to house staff, labourers, storage of materials, amenities etc. where land requirements may be minimal. In remote areas, the contractors may also require roads to access the sites and deliver supplies and labour. This also is not expected to pass through any sensitive habitat or forest. In component 2, the solar PV system and battery storage in Moyamba will be constructed on open land which has been secured. The mini-grid sites have not been identified, but one of the main selection criteria is the availability of land and this activity will require much smaller land. However, both the construction of the PV facilities and connecting lines may require small parcels of land and this site is not in any sensitive habitats or forest. A key objective of this ESMF is to provide an inventory and analysis of the potential impacts of the ESLEA on the valid environmental and social components in the project area. Potential impacts are extrapolated from changes that may occur before and after project inception. The ESLEA is anticipated to bring significant positive changes to the populations in the project districts. However, the project would also have adverse environmental and social impacts that need to be assessed using the ESMF before project implementation. The expected environmental and social impacts are the usual ones with the contraction of distribution lines, like vegetation clearance, noise, dust, waste disposal etc. This section presents the assessment of potential environmental (physical and biological), community health and safety and social impacts associated with the construction and operation of the ESLEA and the measures to minimize the likelihood of the projected impacts. 4.1 Positive Impacts ESLEA is envisioned to have a significant positive impact on the livelihood of the customers and also on the environment. The potential positive impacts of the proposed activities of the project are discussed below. 73 4.1.1 Carbon Emissions Reduction It is envisioned that small business units and households will have increased access to electricity as against the current diesel and petrol generating plants that are high polluting sources. The provision of solar energy sources and the construction and rehabilitation of distribution lines will lead to a reduction of carbon emissions. This will, however, be dependent on the affordability of the electricity by the locals. 4.1.2 Reduced Indoor Pollution It is also envisioned that improved access to electricity by business units and households will reduce the use of biomass energy (fuelwood, charcoal) as an energy source for cooking and drying. This will have a direct reduction in the percentage of respiratory diseases at the local level. Research shows that 95% of Sierra Leoneans depend on crude fuel including wood and charcoal (Taylor and Satoshi, 2012). The provision of electricity in homes and restaurants will reduce the use of firewood and charcoal. Indoor pollution from cooking with firewood and charcoal has been highlighted as a significant cause of respiratory diseases among women and girls in Sierra Leone which sometimes causes unexplained deaths. Therefore, the electricity will reduce such deaths. 4.1.3 Reduction in negative pressure on women and girls In rural Sierra Leone, women and girls bear the greatest responsibility for biomass energy collection. Improved access to electricity will cut down on the number of man-hours spent on this activity which could otherwise have been spent on other productive work. Thus, increased access to electricity will help to empower women and girls to become more productive while at the same time help in reducing the negative pressure on them. The project also seeks to address gender gaps thus: (a) in urban areas, poorer, female-headed households have disproportionately lower access to energy; (b) due to lower asset ownership and access to finance and information women can launch income-generating activities far less often than men and have fewer opportunities even when they manage; (c) women are often under-represented and left out of the talent pool in the energy sector, and (d) addressing women’s basic needs in health and education are lagging behind that of men 4.1.4 Improved Security Darkness often results in insecurity. With an improvement in the availability of light in remote parts of these provincial towns, security would have been improved as the lighting in and outside homes of residences would contribute to the security of residences and investments that may have positive economic impacts on individuals, households, and the country. 74 4.1.5 Improved Delivery of Social Services in Health and Education The improvement and extension of electricity to health facilities and schools will accelerate the improved delivery of services in these two sectors. A complete transformation will be achieved in the maternity wards and the general hospital administration. Women will no longer deliver under darkness and surgical operations will not be faced with the challenges of a blackout. This would improve the preservation of vaccines, the health of women, children and reduce infant mortality. In schools, opportunities will be created for students to have more productive hours in school libraries and even at home where study times are often interrupted with blackout or the use of lamps and candles will be a thing of the past. Pupils will have extended hours of study time and if affordable, they will have the opportunity to use computers and access the internet in their homes and/or schools. This is especially significant in terms of contribution to human capital and socio-economic development. 4.1.6 Employment Generation The project’s activities, both the new construction and the rehabilitation of infrastructure facilities, will require the establishment of works yards in parts of the district headquarters towns, assembly of equipment and materials, clearance of these works yards, mobilization/transportation, and installation of poles and wires, transformers and accessories. These will create employment in the short run. EDSA plans to employ locals to carry out most of these tasks that may not require too much- skilled labour. This impact is positive and will affect local retail business owners who would mainly benefit from secondary effects of increased incomes and spending power of construction workers. In the long term, the ESLEA is anticipated to motivate young citizens in the project locations to have career choices in this field. These locals will be encouraged to take up disciplines that advance sustainable electricity generation and supply and become future employees of the ESLEA. This will lay a solid foundation for sustainable community involvement in the generation and supply of electricity to fellow citizens in the project areas. The Bankasoka hydro project in Port Loko is a case in point. A Group of youths formed an organization involved in light/energy in Port Loko where they received training from EDSA. The recruitments of technicians are always sourced from this group throughout. In addition to career development, electricity will boost local businesses who will be able to improve on the provision of goods and services. Such improvement is brought about thanks to the internet, which will enhance the expansion of markets and building networks around the world. This expansion will create employment opportunities for young citizens locally. 75 4.1.7. Improved Livelihoods A direct benefit of electricity is the availability of heating and cooling that would adjust temperatures and make life comfortable. Generally, electricity will improve the living standards of the locals in many ways including the preservation of food by the use of refrigerators. Lack of reliable electricity is a disincentive towards acquiring household items such as fridges and television sets and utilization of the same. During consultations, several households with such household items complained that utilization of these is being hampered by poor electricity access. The people welcomed the project emphasizing that it will enable families to acquire and buy perishables which will help in the planning and running of their homes. 4.1.8 Incentives for Small-Scale Enterprises The youths and young adults today find it difficult to get jobs. The trend is they see the setting up of small businesses as a way out of the poverty trap. Thus, they now run income-generating businesses such as saloons, barbershops, restaurants, and mini-shops for food and groceries. However, due to lack of electricity, their operations are hampered and very costly, and some have even abandoned the businesses due to a lack of electricity for their operations. The provision of electricity to these areas will increase the business opportunities and income to many individuals and hence contribute to the improvement of livelihood in the country. 4.2 Potential Negative Impacts Some potential negative impacts have been identified from looking at similar projects, literature review and consultation with different stakeholders. These negative impacts are likely to be observed during and after the implementation of the project activities. 4.2.1. Loss of Vegetation The project will construct sub-transmission lines, distribution networks which include transformers stations, solar PV plants including housing for batteries, inverters and other equipment, and the construction campsites/ works yard, sanitation facilities and access roads. These will require the clearing of vegetation. The clearing of vegetation will be minimal for the sub-transmission and distribution networks since they are expected to pass through existing public roads or RoW. In the case of the land space provided for the Moyamba solar PV system, minimal clearing of the secondary bush will be done. During operation, there will be a routine clearance of vegetation along the transmission line route to prevent fire outbreaks that may result from contact between vegetation and the sub-transmission and distribution lines. 76 Some of the impacts may not be reversible because the vegetation is removed to clear the RoW for the installation of poles, carrying out routine r maintenance and land for the PV plants which will discourage regrowth where heights may compromise the safety of the transmission line. 4.2.2 Loss of Habitats The project is not expected to cause significant damage to habitats given that the transmission lines will follow and be located along existing public roads and RoW. 4.2.3 Soil Contamination and Erosion The project’s pre-construction and construction activities will require site clearance for the establishment of a works yard, road building to access the site, tree felling on routes running through forests, digging of foundation pits for poles, mobilization/transportation of construction materials and manpower. The most significant potential impacts will be due to soil structure and soil quality from soil excavation or compaction. The soil characteristics and type of construction activity determine the magnitude and extent of the impact. Soil compaction during the backfilling of excavated soils may lead to temporary effects on the natural infiltration of rainwater. However, these impacts are temporary, localised and marginal. The removal of trees for the construction of new distribution lines especially on slopes may lead to loss of vegetation through site clearance for line routes rendering the soil vulnerable to soil erosion. 4.2.4 Water Contamination There is every likelihood that the project construction activities may cross water bodies or works yard are located near water bodies. During construction and operation, there is a high risk of contamination of these surface water bodies from the following activities: • Run-off from excavation; • Run-off from dampening systems to control dust emissions; dumping of spoil material; • Sanitary effluents from construction workers camp; • Oil and chemical spills; washing of vehicles and other machinery; • All other activities causing soil contamination discussed earlier can also cause water contamination. • Oil and water separators and settling ponds will be installed where appropriate to minimize the risk of contaminated construction water entering water bodies or groundwater; • Contraction activities should follow the appropriate measures to avoid and contain any spillage and pollution of the water. 77 4.2.5 Solid Waste Solid wastes to be generated during construction activities and stringing of cables include construction wastes, food/packing materials littered by workers, scrap copper wires, cables etc. Wastes if not managed can be spread all over the sites and outside the project footprint. These have the potential to contaminate surface water bodies flowing in proximity to the construction sites. All the project districts have designated waste dump sites managed by the local councils and the local councils are equipped with waste disposal trucks. Sierra Leone does not have any landfill site at the moment. Currently, efforts are being made to establish two landfill sites in the Western Area. 4.2.6 Concerns Related to the Management of Hazardous Materials Hazardous materials in this sector include insulating oils/gases (e.g. Polychlorinated Biphenyls [PCB] and sulfur hexafluoride [SF6], and fuels, in addition to chemicals or products for wood preservation for poles and associated wood construction material. The use of herbicides for RoW vegetation maintenance can also pose a major threat, but this is not expected to be used. The lithium-ion batteries to be used with the solar units do not have liquid hence do not emit pollutants. The lithium-ion batteries are generally safe and unlikely to fail once there are no defects and the batteries are not damaged. Possible hazards associated with lithium battery damage include possible battery venting, explosion and/or fires. Damage to lithium batteries can also occur immediately or over a while from physical impact, exposure to certain temperatures, and/or improper charging. Lithium batteries also become a risk when they are disposed of after 20+ years of use, where they pose the risk of leaching heavy metals. a) Insulating Oils Insulating oil or transformer oil is often used in the operation of oil transformers, which also includes transport, storage, filling, handling of oil in the operation of various devices and managing used oil. Waste transformer oils at transformer stations are normally generated during replacement with new oils and damage to the power transformer may cause the discharge of transformer oil into the environment. These oils if not handled safely, shall pose a risk to the environment by polluting water, soil, and air and the life and health of people. These risks may be particularly dangerous if waste insulating oils run into water flows used to supply settlements with drinking water. b) Wood Preservatives The majority of wooden utility poles are treated with pesticide preservatives to protect against insects, bacteria, and fungi, and to prevent rot. The preservatives most commonly used for 78 power poles are oil-based pesticides such as creosote, pentachlorophenol (PCP), and Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA). The use of these preservatives is being limited in some countries due to their toxic effects on the environment. While in use, poles may leach preservatives into soils and groundwater, however, levels are highest directly beside poles and decrease to within normal levels at approximately 30 centimeters (cm) distance from the pole. The most significant potential environmental impacts occur at specialized wood treatment facilities if not managed appropriately. Poles should be pretreated at an appropriate facility to ensure chemical fixation and prevent leaching, and to impede the formation of surface residues at the right-of-way. 4.2.7 Air Quality Construction activities have the potential to impact air quality from the emissions of air pollutants from temporary power generators, construction equipment, and construction activities will also create dust. The following would be expected during construction: • Emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NOx in particular) and carbonmonooxide (CO) mainly from construction-related vehicles [and to a lesser degree from construction generators and other hydrocarbon (HC) powered equipment]; and • Dust, particulate matter (as PM2.5 and PM10) created by construction-related vehicle traffic on unpaved roads. This impact may last during construction, once the transmission line is built and operational and the RoW reinstated, no significant effects on air quality are anticipated. 4.2.8 Noise and Vibration Potential noise sources during construction works may include on-site movement of vehicles and machinery. Construction areas close to communities may generate significant noise and vibration from blasting. Vibration from drilling and excavation activities is a major source of concern if any structures and trees are located within proximity to the blasting locations. The vibrations may cause damages to the structures and trees. However, the project is not expected to involve any blasting. 4.2.9 Concerns related to Electric and Magnetic Fields During the operation stage, the power transmission will result in the development of electromagnetic fields. There are growing concerns over the possible increased risk of cancer from exposure to electromagnetic radiation from an overhead transmission line. People living around the transmission lines are potentially prone to exposure to Electro-Magnetic Field (EMF). The workers also have high exposure to EMF due to proximity to electric powerlines. Although there is public and scientific concern over the potential health effects associated with 79 exposure to EMF (not only power lines transformers, and substations, but also from everyday household uses of electricity), no empirical data is demonstrating adverse health effects from exposure to typical EMF levels from power transmissions lines and equipment. However, while the evidence of adverse health risks is weak, it is still sufficient to warrant limited concern. 4.2.10 Concerns related to Terrestrial Habitat Alteration a) Forest Fires If underlying growth is left unchecked, or slash from routine maintenance is left to accumulate within right-of-way boundaries, sufficient fuel can accumulate that may promote forest fires. Transmission line poles may collapse as a result of the forest fire. Such occurrences have led to interruptions in power supply as well as damage to humans and other living things. b) Risk of Avian and Bat Collisions and Electrocution The construction of transmission lines in the RoW has the potential to impact on birds. There is the potential danger of debasement of breeding grounds, avian electrocution, bird collision with lines and interference in the navigation of birds. No specific breeding grounds of birds have been identified within the RoW. A bird collision incident happens when a bird physically strikes either the overhead conductor or the overhead ground wire of a power line. In the case of transmission lines, the overhead ground wire is usually involved. It is generally accepted that birds can usually avoid the highly visible bundled conductors but often fail to see the thin ground wire Closely-spaced exposed equipment, such as jumper wires on transformers, poses an electrocution risk to small birds. The electrical design factor most crucial to avian electrocutions is the physical separation between energized and/or grounded structures, conductors, hardware, or equipment that can be bridged by birds to complete a circuit. As a general rule, electrocution can occur on structures with the following characteristics: • Phase conductors are separated by less than the wrist-to-wrist or head-to-toe (flesh-to- flesh) dimensions of a bird. The wrist is the joint toward the middle of the leading edge of a bird’s wing. The skin covering the wrist is the outermost fleshy part on the wing; • Distance between grounded hardware (e.g., grounded wires, metal braces) and any energized phase conductor that is less than the wrist-to-wrist or head-to-toe (flesh-to flesh) distance of a bird. 4.2.11 Labor and Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Environment and Social Standard 2 (ESS2) requires that workers' health and working conditions are considered very important in the workplace and that they are treated fairly and in a non-discriminatory manner and also treated with equal opportunity. The project will be 80 employing direct workers, contract staff, and primary supply workers as appropriate. key labor risks will include non-transparent and discrimination in recruitment process, poor terms of employment and working conditions, lack of protection for vulnerable worker (eg women and persons with disabilities) force and child labor, labor grievance, inadequate OHS protection etc. Most occupational health and safety issues during the construction of electric power distribution lines prevention and control are well documented and practiced by EDSA. The occupational health and safety hazards specific to electric power transmission and distribution projects primarily include live power lines, working at height, electric and magnetic fields, and exposure to chemicals. These impacts include, among others, exposure to physical hazards from use of heavy equipment and cranes; trip and fall hazards; exposure to dust and noise; falling objects; work in confined spaces; exposure to hazardous materials; and exposure to electrical hazards from the use of tools and machinery, sanitation issues, etc. The critical impacts of standalone PV units will include the climbing on rooftops to install the units. There may be a risk of falls which may lead to fatalities. HIV Aids issues stand out especially as the movement of people has to take place within the project corridors. 4.2.12 Community Health and Safety Community health and safety impacts during the construction of transmission and distribution lines are common to those of most large industrial facilities. These impacts include, among others, dust, noise, and vibration from construction vehicle transit, accidents, and communicable diseases associated with the influx of temporary construction labour. Community health and safety impacts during the utilization of electricity may include electrocution, electromagnetic interference, and visual amenity. Electrocution can happen in the household if any member of the community or households including children touch bare livewires or when they try to extend connections of electricity to other houses. Electromagnetic interference impact will occur where houses are constructed under distribution. These affect radio and television (TV) waves making it difficult for communities and households to access and get connected to the radio and TV stations. Additionally, electromagnetic fields created under the distribution lines directly affect human health in particular, children's brain development. 4.2.13 Aesthetics The Aesthetics risk of the sub-transmission distribution line and Solar PV depends on whether the lines and panels stand out or blends in the environment. The overall aesthetic effect is likely to be negative to most people, especially where proposed lines might cross natural landscapes and private properties. Tabular/wooden/concrete poles 81 may seem out of proportion and not compatible with neighbourhood landscape in some case disturbing their scenic views. Some people, however, do not notice sub-transmission lines and Solar PV or do not find them objectionable from an aesthetic perspective. To some, the utilities may be viewed as part of the infrastructure necessary to sustain everyday lives and activities. 4.2.14 Impact on Cultural/Archaeological Resources Cultural resources are nonrenewable resources that are critical to human existence, history and culture. Cultural/archaeological sites are places and objects of beauty, cultural, historic, scientific, social, or spiritual value. There is a likelihood that the project construction activities will impact cultural resources. Archaeological and historical sites. The Potential effects on cultural heritage assets can generally be avoided through careful routing and/or site selection 4.2.15 Pressure on Local Resources The construction workers will require supplies such as water, fuel, and camp supplies. Also, solar PV plants may require a considerable amount of water to clean the surface of the panels. However, the larger the Solar power plant the higher the water requirement. Obtaining these supplies from the existing local sources can exert additional pressure on these sources which may already be over-exploited and therefore adversely affect the local communities. Any such impact on the local community can increase their hardship and even result in disruption of the construction works. 4.2.16 Loss of Land, Assets and Livelihood The project land requirements; the construction of sub-transmission and distribution lines, transformers stations are expected to to require land though minimal. subtransmission lines and distribution networks and transformer stations will be constructed largely along existing public roads and RoW. For the PV systems, about 500 acres (202ha) of land has been provided. The land does not have housing infrastructure but there is the possibility to have crops grown by residents who may want to seek compensation at project implementation. While the right of ways (RoWs) for subtransmission lines and distribution networks remain uncertain, it is expected that the routing and stringing of the lines may cause economic displacement through impacts on farmlands, crops, and economic trees. In addition, the planting and stringing of power distribution networks within the various townships may result in partial demolition and/or relocation of structures. This impact is expected to be minimal. 4.2.17 Concerns related to the Influx of Population a) HIV/AIDS Concerns and COVID-19 There were 67,000 (43,000 – 100,000) people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus 82 (HIV) in Sierra Leone in 2016, among whom 26% (15% - 42%) were accessing antiretroviral therapy. During construction, workers may travel to new remote areas and camp for some days. The interactions between workers and the local communities may bring about new Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) infections on either side. COVID-19 has spread to all districts in the country. As of November 22, the Government of Sierra Leone has confirmed 2,405cases of COVID-19,74 deaths and 1,828 recoveries within its borders. Currently, the rate of confirmed cases have reduced b) Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) The presence of external workforces, higher wages and search for jobs and procument opportunities during construction may lead to increase in Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Sexual Harassment (SEA/SH) risks for women and girls in particular and associated ills.Projects create changes in the communities in which they operate and can cause shifts in power dynamics between community members and within households. Male jealousy, a key driver of GBV, can be triggered by labor influx on a project when workers are believed to be interacting with community women. Hence, abusive behavior can occur not only between project-related staff and those living in and around the project site, but also within the homes of those affected by the projec c) Insecurity and theft The population is expected to increase in these towns as some people may go into those communities in search of jobs. Such an influx will attract insecurity incidences like theft and rape. Project infrastructure will be located in relatively remote areas in the provincial and district headquarter towns. The market demand for copper and other electric utilities have made these materials the target for thieves. Thefts of copper wire from utilities occur primarily at substation transformers, from utility poles. The thefts have several adverse consequences, including the obvious economic impact, service disruptions, and possibly personal injury or death for persons involved in the theft or subsequent recovery efforts. 83 SECTION FIVE PROPOSED IMPACT MITIGATION MEASURES 5.0 Introduction The section provides general mitigation measures covering the identified potential broad areas of impacts from the previous section for use in the project EAs. Subproject ESMPs will detail site-specific mitigation measures. All positive impacts do not have mitigation measures. 5.1 Impact Mitigation Measures 5.1.1 Loss of Vegetation The following mitigation measures will be taken, As there are several requirements in the National Electricity Act, 2011, some mitigation measures are proposed with regards to the loss of vegetation during construction and operation of the project: • An important mitigation measure is from the World Bank (WB) Environmental and Social Standard (ESS) 6 on Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Resources before mitigating the negative impacts. The Bank’s ESS 6 supports the protection and conservation of biodiversity and sustainably managing living natural resources as these are fundamental to sustainable development. • Therefore, cutting down trees will be avoided where possible. However, where it will be necessary to cut down trees be it in forest land or customary land, the following will be the mitigation measures. • Where such trees are cut in the customary and privately-owned land, compensation will be given to the affected household according to the stipulated rates in the Crop Compensation Rates of 2014 approved by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security. • Where such losses occur in village woodlots and village forest reserves, e.g. graveyards, replanting other trees in agreed new areas with the village committees and leaders will be done. This will be to replace the cut trees and even add more trees planted in the communities. • Where such trees are cut in Government forest reserves, game reserves and national parks, first care will be taken to avoid lines passing through such protected areas. Where it will not be possible, reforestation programs will be implemented with selected villages and areas recommended by the Forestry Department. 84 5.1.2 Loss of Habitats The following mitigation measures should be implemented: • Avoiding environmentally sensitive areas to prevent severe impacts on flora and fauna; • The crossing of water bodies will be minimized, and buffer zones of undisturbed vegetation will be left between route alignments and watercourses; • Replanting in disturbed buffers and adjacent areas to accelerate re-vegetation and succession; • Fencing or planting barriers to reduce the risk of collisions between animals and electric installation facilities; and • Installing encroachment control measures, e.g. erection of warning signs, etc.; • Adjust pole placement to be within edges of the road to minimize vegetation loss; • The trimming of the vegetation along the line route should focus on trees that exceed 5m high in areas along the forest edges; and • A restoration tree planting project is recommended in consultation with either the Forestry Department at the National level or the respective district councils 5.1.3 Soil Contamination and Erosion The following measures should be followed: • To minimise the impact on the soil material from contamination, it is recommended that soils should be placed away from streams of water along slopes or in direct line with local drainage; • Loose soil should not be left uncovered before backfilling and the excess soil should be removed after poles are cast; • Construction activities should be planned in the dries as that will minimise rainwater run-off or ant loss due to infiltration. If the digging is done during the rainy season, care should be taken to ensure that all dug holes are filled before the next rainfall. This should be done by digging only holes that can be filled within a day. Holes should not be left unfilled over several days during the rainy season as this may lead to the dug soil being eroded; • And, if holes are poorly compacted, loose soils may be eroded, leading to siltation of drainage channels. This will be mitigated through proper compaction of the pole holes; • Construction materials shall be stored within the project footprint area to avoid soil contamination. The movement of materials and manpower shall be restricted to designated tracks/roads. 85 5.1.4 Water Contamination The following measures are proposed: • A pollution prevention plan should be developed; • Construction works near water bodies will be carried out ensuring that no debris or excavated soil fells into the surface water bodies; • Oil and water separators and settling ponds will be installed where appropriate to minimize the risk of contaminated construction water entering water bodies or groundwater; • Contraction activities should follow the appropriate measures to avoid and contain any spillage and pollution of the water. The GoSL is highly committed to improving water regulation, monitoring and quality of safe drinking water in the country. A National Water Resources Management Agency (NWRMA) has been formed which is mandated to manage and safeguard water resources at the local, national and transboundary level in Sierra Leone The Sierra Leone Standards Bureau is also a National Statutory body responsible for standardization and quality assurance and services for both the local market and for export. In a bid to specifically regulate water bottling/sachet companies, the Bureau formulated the Sierra Leone Standard water quality (SLS43:2014). This is the available water quality regulatory standard currently used in Sierra Leone. It is available in annex ix. 5.1.5 Solid Waste The following implies for general solid waste: • Disposal of installation, construction and related waste materials at designated and approved waste dump site; • Adoption of waste minimization measures; • Incorporation of a waste management plan in project planning and contract specifications; • Collaboration with relevant local authorities to enforce appropriate sanitation and other bylaws; • Public awareness campaigns to observe proper waste management measures; and • Speedy reclamation of waste disposal and borrow area sites. 5.1.6 Concerns Related to the Management of Hazardous Materials a. Insulating Oils Insulating oil must be treated with extreme care to prevent any contamination. The most common contaminants are water, solid particles and chemical solvents. Water and solid contaminants are the easiest to filter while separating chemical solvents is almost impossible. 86 Storage facilities designed for receiving insulating oil in bulk must have dedicated hoses, lines, pumps and tanks. A system for re-drying and filtering of the oil must also be provided. The insulating oil must be tested for DDF, IFT, breakdown voltage, moisture, acidity, conductivity1 and PCB levels upon delivery and prior to acceptance. Facilities to test insulating oil must also be available so that oil can be tested upon delivery and prior to acceptance. · ETS 0010-New mineral insulating oil; · ETS 0032- New natural ester insulating oil; and, · ETS 0029 Regenerated mineral insulating oil. Insulating oil must always be stored within a bunded area complying with GPE 0075. It is also necessary to construct if possible, a transformer oil pit collector which would prevent oil spills from the transformer into the environment in case of emergencies or accidents. b. Waste from Solar Pv Facilities i. Batteries must be disposed of at a suitable waste management facility; ii. For disused Solar panel Cadmium telluride (CdTe) Wafers: Hazardous Waste must be collected and brought to a recycling centre, iii. For decommissioning and disposal of inverters, charge controller and other electronic equipment Inverters, charge controller and other electronic equipment, must be disposed of in an environmentally friendly way iv. Waste must be collected and brought to a recycling centre; v. During operation, the contractors responsible for panel and battery replacement will be charged with the responsibility of collection, transportation and disposal of wastes; vi. Contractors should follow the operation manual of solar equipment and accessories. The mini-grid regulations (see annex vi) provided guidelines for the collection, transportation and disposal of wastes. c. Wood Preservatives Recommended measures to prevent and control the impacts of wood preservatives at the point of use include: • Evaluating the cost and benefit of using alternative pole materials (e.g. steel, concrete); • Consider the use of alternative preservatives (e.g. copper azote); • Undertake appropriate disposal of used poles. Landfill facilities should be capable of handling wastes that may have chemical leaching properties. Disposal through incineration or recycling should consider associated air emissions and secondary product residues of preservative chemicals. However, if creosote wooden poles are used, precautions would include: • The Contractor should only procure poles that have been well seasoned and dried (not having dripping creosote); 87 • Contractors shall be required to develop and implement Standard Handling Procedures for creosote-treated poles, specifically focusing on the use of protective gear, storage, transportation, the removal of any accumulated fluid, such as rainfall, to ensure application and use of standard health and safety practices; • Workers should be provided with appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) such as wear long-sleeve shirts and long pants and use gloves impervious to the chemicals; • Workers to minimize unnecessary contact with poles treated with creosote materials; • The poles should not be placed in waterlogged areas and should not come in contact with public drinking water; • Disposal of off-cuts of poles should not be by burning but be collected and handed to a licensed hazardous waste management agent alongside other hazardous wastes such as PV materials in the project; • Wash work clothes separately from other household clothing; • The workers should regularly be taken through safety drills, and emergency preparedness training is allowing for quick and efficient responses to accidents that could result in human injury or damage to the environment; A more sustainable option to avoid the chemical hazards of creosote-treated poles is to use concrete poles. General considerations made in the selection of support for overhead lines include their mechanical strength, their ageing behaviour, their appearance, possible methods of assembly or installation, environmental aspects and of course, associated costs. Concrete poles meet all the above considerations and this has been proven in many terrains. Concrete poles are not adversely affected by wet or dry rot, birds (especially woodpeckers), fire, rust, or chemicals (such as fertilizers and salt spray)and are maintenance-free. 5.1.7 Air Quality The following measures are proposed: • Vehicles and machinery should be operated and maintained according to the manufacturers' specifications; • The project should develop a dust management plan; • Avoid runoff of mud and water and maintain drains in a clean state; • Remove dusty materials from the site as soon as possible if not being re-used. If being re-used, cover or vegetate if possible; • Minimise drop heights when loading stockpiles or transferring materials; and • Impose speed limits on haul routes and in construction, compounds to reduce dust generation. WHO air quality guidelines are normally considered in Sierra Leone. 88 5.1.8 Noise and Vibration The following mitigation measures should be followed: • The equipment and vehicles used during the construction process will comply with the World Health Organisation (WHO) standards as well as WBG EHS Guidelines on noise; • The construction activities near the settlements should not be carried out during night time; • Contractors will adopt appropriate noise attenuation measures to reduce the noise generated from construction activities. The noise attenuation measures will include, (i) fitting of high-efficiency mufflers to the noise generating equipment; and (ii) keeping acoustic enclosures around drilling equipment; • Equipment will be regularly inspected and maintained to ensure it is in good working order. The condition of mufflers should regularly be checked; • Where practicable, stationary equipment will be located in an acoustically treated enclosure; • Fitting of mufflers or silencers of the type recommended by manufacturers. • Provision of noise barriers, including “tree belt” or “tree buffer”; • Enforcement of noise control guidelines (EPA-SL permissible noise levels). No known regulatory guidelines are currently available in Sierra Leone for noise. The WHO and IFC standards are normally followed in Sierra Leone. 5.1.9 Labor and Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) The EHS document should be used to guide the overall management of OHS issues. In summary, the mitigation measure will include: • Contractors to adapt the Labor Management Procedures on annex vii to ensure a availability of clear recruitment protocols, written employment contracts with clear working conditions, protection of vulnerable workers, prohibit the use of forced and child labor, availability of Grievance Mechanism for workers complaints etc • All workers need to be provided with the recognized and appropriate Personal Protective Equipment while at the construction site including hardhats, gloves, and safety belts for climbing up the poles, boots, and overalls. Use of PPE will have to be strictly enforced; • Competent workers and staff should be allowed to operate any machinery and equipment to reduce the incidents of accidents; 89 • During the construction, the project site should be completely sealed off and warning signs erected informing the public to keep off the construction site when construction is in progress; • The Contractor should continuously train his staff or conduct refresher training to ensure that the staff is up-to-date with knowledge of new or latest equipment. The health and safety of workers are fundamental in this project and therefore all measures to avert health and safety challenges should be respected by contractors.. The spread of HIV Aids and COVID-19 has been a potential risk to the project and thus the entire public health preventive measures presented below should be strictly adhered to. 5.1.10 Community Health and Safety The mitigation measures to address the project impacts on communities’ health and safety are: • Construction works yard should be located farther away from communities; • Covid-19 guidelines should be followed; • The project should develop a Traffic Management Plan that will also address traffic safety for communities; • The communities should be informed about the nature of construction activities and the associated health and safety risks; awareness-raising of the communities will be carried out for this purpose with the help of training sessions, posters, signage, and other similar means; • Awareness-raising of communities will be carried out, in a culturally-sensitive manner, about communicable diseases including sexually transmitted infections; • The construction sites/ works yard should be fenced as appropriate to minimize entry of the local communities particularly children in the work areas; • Barricading tapes should be placed around dug holes for risk of residents falling into them; • The GRM established should be able to address community grievances related to health and safety. 5.1.11 Aesthetics Electric transmission lines may be routed to avoid areas considered scenic. Routes can be chosen that pass through existing roads. The form, color, or texture of a line can be modified to somewhat minimize aesthetic impacts. Structures constructed of wood or of rust-brown oxidized steel may blend better with wooded landscapes. Stronger conductors can minimize line sag and provide a sleeker profile. ROW management can also mitigate the visual impacts of transmission lines. 90 5.1.12 Impact on Cultural/Archaeological Resources • Electric energy generation and distribution facilities will avoid alignments and locations that cut through known cultural sites. • Cultural resources uncovered during works will be handed over to the National Museums and Monuments authority for preservation or preservation of the site. • When cultural resources are found (chance find) during works, the work should be stopped and the Museum and Monuments authority invited to excavate and remove the artifacts. • Salvage excavation and relocation of artifacts or ruins from a cultural site; • Collaboration between the electric energy agencies and the Museums and Monuments authorities in determining and avoiding damage to cultural sites and resources; and • Marking and fencing important cultural sites during the construction period. • The World Bank chance find procedure shall be incorporated in the contract documents to deal with a chance find of artifacts in for example, in borrow areas, route alignment excavation, etc. 5.1.13 Pressure on Local Resources The mitigation measures to address impacts associated with the availability of local resources and supplies are: • The contractor will prepare and implement a plan to obtain key supplies such as water and fuel, in consultation and coordination with the local community; • The plan will ensure that there is no significant impact on the local community and local resources; • Liaison with the community will be maintained. • The project GRM will also address community grievances related to the usage of local resources. 5.1.14 Loss of Land, Assets and Livelihood The following mitigation principles will be followed to prevent or reduce the impacts of land acquisition and loss of property: • Choosing route locations away from built-up areas and restricting the extent of project works to avoid interference with existing activities; • Adoption of a reduced easement and following existing roads and RoW to minimize land requirements, or design changes (underground, for instance) to reduce impacts on properties and activities; • Alternative considerations in route selection; • Integration of mitigation measures in electric energy development designs, where appropriate; 91 • Preparation of Resettlement Action Plan as needed • Compensation rates for owners of the land, properties, etc. that reflect current market prices or replacement cost; and • Resettlement/rehabilitation of affected persons if necessary (preparation of resettlement action plan). Where compensation and or resettlement issues are envisaged, the project should follow the principles mentioned below Resettlement and Compensation Entitlements Principles The resettlement and rehabilitation principles adopted for the ESLEA will be following the Constitution of Sierra Leone, other Sierra Leonean laws and World Bank ESS 5. The World Bank policies provide compensation at replacement cost, resettlement and rehabilitation assistance to all project-affected persons (loss of land, residences, business establishments and other such immovable properties), including the informal dwellers/squatters in the corridor footprint. The basic resettlement principles and guidelines include: • Avoid involuntary resettlement where feasible, or minimization, exploring all viable alternative project designs. • Consult affected persons meaningfully and provide opportunities to participate in planning and implementing resettlement programs. • Assist affected persons in their efforts to improve their livelihoods and standards of living or at least to restore them, in real terms, to pre-displacement levels. • Inform affected persons about their rights/options about land acquisition/resettlement. • Provide prompt and effective compensation at full replacement cost (without deducting depreciation or salvage value) for losses of assets attributable directly to the project. • All PAPs are eligible for compensation for lost assets and livelihood irrespective of ownership of title to land. • Compensation and Rehabilitation assistance will be paid before displacement. • No civil works will be initiated unless compensation for land and assets and rehabilitation assistance is provided to all eligible PAPs. • Provide multiple options for resettlement (self-relocation or assisted relocation) of the affected residential structures, including informal dwellers/squatters. • Provide relocation assistance to the owners of residential structures and informal dwellers/squatter households and titleholders for relocating household goods and assets. • Provide special measures and assistance for vulnerable groups. • Appropriate grievance redress mechanism will be established at multiple levels to ensure speedy resolution of disputes if any. 92 • All activities related to resettlement planning, implementation, and monitoring would ensure the involvement of women. Efforts will also be made to ensure that vulnerable groups are included. • Provisions will be kept in the budget for those who were not present at the time of enumeration. However, anyone moving into the project area after the cut-off date will not be entitled to assistance. 5.1.15 Concerns related to the Influx of Population The following principles will be followed in assessing and avoiding, minimizing and/or mitigating labour influx: • Tapping into the local workforce by adopting recruitment criteria that is transparent and fair to local communities; • Advertising upcoming opportunities through the local media; • In consultation with local authorities, prepare a roster of interested workers and their skills to identify a suitable labour pool locally; • Provide a list of the local labour pool to contractors at pre-bid meetings for recruitment consideration; • Train local workers within a reasonable timeframe to meet project requirements (if such trained staff are needed afterward for the operation and maintenance of the infrastructure); • Limit work permits for workers with skills unavailable locally; • Prohibit contractors from hiring onsite and instead set up formal recruitment offices to discourage project “followers” from loitering and/or settling around the project site in hope of job opportunities. • Institute a working project-level GRM that is known to and accessible by the host communities to manage labour influx related risks. The following threats of labour influx can be mitigated thus: a. COVID-19 and HIV Mitigation Measures A swift COVID-19 response by GoSL was the establishment of a COVID-19 response team named the National COVID-19 Emergency Response Centre (NaCOVERC). A State of Public Health Emergency has been declared throughout the country and public health preventive measures were been put in place. These measures include: • Public gatherings are cancelled. The government has imposed restrictions on the number of passengers travelling by public transportation. • Citizens are required to observe social distancing protocols, wear cloth face coverings in public, stay home if they are sick, and seek medical attention if they show symptoms of COVID-19. If you have fever, tiredness, and cough, call 117 right away. 93 • Office of the President has put out a Memorandum to all Public Workers requesting all MDAs to put measures in place for the proper use of face masks, regular hand washing and/or use of hand sanitizers, and the physical/social distancing. • All citizens are also advised to enforce the regulations/protocols to defeat the pandemic as early as possible. The following COVID-19 safety measures shall be implemented by EDSA and the project contractors: • Frequently touched surfaces shall be cleaned and disinfected daily - Use detergent or soap and water before disinfection • Project Vehicles will carry no more than the driver and 3 passengers at any given time. • Facemasks shall be worn at all times on the field and in vehicles. Personnel shall avoid touching the facemask, especially its exterior, or taking it off and putting it back on unnecessarily which increases the need to touch it. • Hands shall be regularly washed, especially: − After handling your mask, − Before eating or preparing food − after touching public surfaces − After using the restroom − Before touching your face − After leaving a public place/gathering • If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry. • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. • Sharing of tools shall be avoided as far as is reasonably possible – pens, books etc. • Any extended interactions (consultations, etc.) with the project stakeholders during the assessment will only be done after: - Providing a disposable facemask for the person(s) being interviewed to wear - Maintaining a distance of 2 meters from the person(s) • Equipment shall be sanitized by wiping with rubbing alcohol and cotton wipes/tissues after use, at the end of the day. • Workers shall not go to work if they are unwell Additionally, WHO guidelines on ‘Getting your workplace ready for COVID-19’ can be accessed on https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/advice-for-workplace- clean-19-03-2020.pdf 94 There is a commitment at all levels of management to ensure that necessary budgetary allocations are made towards HIV/AIDS issues and that the national policy on HIV-AIDS is implemented as intended. Highlights of the principles which will be followed are set out below, based on the International Labour Organization (ILO) guidelines and those of the Sierra Leonean Ministry responsible for Health. It will apply to all employees in the sector. The provisions will also be binding on contractors. • HIV/AIDS prevention clauses will be incorporated into works contracts and the bills of quantity. • The ethical principles governing the handling of persons with other medical conditions will apply. Relationships of infected /potential workers will be governed by the basic human rights as enshrined in the Constitution of Sierra Leone. Dismissals will not be based on HIV status. • Provisions regarding HIV/AIDS will be integrated as far as practicable with existing labour relations policies and regulations. • An HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment policy for workplaces will be enforced. • Due care and confidentiality will be exercised in handling information regarding the HIV status of workers in the sector. • Workplace programs on HIV for electric energy contractors will be established and will include preventive activities through: o Advocacy via information provision, education and communication; o Peer education and counselling; o Condom use promotion and distribution; o Counselling and care for people living with AIDS (PLWAs) – ▪ Facilitation of voluntary counselling and testing of HIV status of workers, ▪ Provisions for management of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI), ▪ Assistance to bereaved families, ▪ HIV /AIDS education to communities in which workers of the sector are working will be included in target groups for education and information provision. b. Gender-Based Violence (GBV), Sexual Harassment (SH) and Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) The project mitigation measures shall be commensurate to a Moderate risk level and shall include the following measures: (a) SEA/SH risk assessment will be integrated in the project ESIA/ESMPs; (b) the bidding documents will clearly define the requirements and expectations for contractors and workers; (c) contractual obligations will also require the contractor to have a CoC and training on its obligations under the CoC on SEA and Sexual Harassment, as well as a SEA/SH Action Plan and accountability and Response Framework as part of the project ESMP; 95 (d) ToR of the supervision consultant will include the need to incorporate in the team a social specialist with knowledge of GBV; (e) include SEA/SH sensitive approaches in the project GM; and (f) the project will recruit a GBV focused NGO that will support the to enhance the GM in order to adequately and promptly address any potential project-related SEA grievances, conduct service provider mapping, provide training to the AI particularly the Social and Gender specialist, support with case management and referral etc. c. Insecurity and theft The workstations shall be suitably fenced to ward off persons from the premises. Also, security officers shall man the workstations at all times to ensure security and report all incidents that might be out of the ordinary for prompt action. Also, suitable warning signs indicating the dangers within shall be placed at regular intervals on the fencing to warn would-be encroachers. Similarly, contractors will be trained on how to enforce good behaviours among their workers. Flyers and posters will also be distributed in the construction sites warning the workers and the communities of these dangers at the same time serving as a deterrent to thieves. Local leaders will be engaged in identifying local community member who has integrity and good social standing to be recruited as casual workers. Also, local leaders will be assisted in forming and developing security measures and activities to reduce theft and insecurity in the construction site during construction and after. 5.1.16 Tree Cutting during Maintenance Activities • Transmission lines corridors should be planned to avoid critical habitat • Compensatory tree plantation should be carried out where necessary. In the case of private trees, compensation will be paid to the owners for the loss of production or loss of its value. 5.1.17 Concerns related to Electric and Magnetic Fields The standards for mitigating EMF for transmission lines and primary distribution lines are indistinguishable includes increasing distance, phase cancellation, and underground. The Scope of the magnetic field from a distribution line depends on the amount of current flowing on that line, which again is reliant on the use of electricity. Largely, current flows on primary distribution lines are lower than on transmission lines, thus creating lower magnetic field levels. The key methods for mitigating EMF include increasing distance from the line, using phase cancellation, shielding, and limiting voltage and current flow levels. The amount of EMF exposure is related to the distance from a power line source. The intensity of both the electric and magnetic fields from traditional overhead transmission lines is inversely proportional to 96 the square of the distance from the source. This means the level of exposure decreases rapidly with increasing distance from the source conductors. The increasing distance can be achieved by increasing the conductor height above ground, increasing the width of the right of way, or relocating the line to a route more distant from inhabited areas. Also, lines with current-carrying conductors positioned vertically on power line structures produce lower magnetic fields than power lines with conductors positioned horizontally. A common transmission line configuration is the vertical double-circuit, where a set of three conductors is attached, one above the other, to each side of the transmission tower. The three conductors comprise the three phases of the power network, with each conductor carrying current. Electric utilities use the letters A, B and C to signify a three-phase circuit, with each letter representing one conductor and its phase. A little extra cost, electromagnetic fields can be reduced by 50 percent or more by reversing the phase order of the circuit (i.e., C, B and A). Partial cancellation of both magnetic and electric fields is thus achieved. The effectiveness of this arrangement is also dependent on the current flowing through each circuit. Another less used approach is to generate out-of-phase fields from a separate conductor placed between the transmission line and the area where field reduction is desirable 5.1.18 Increased Hazardous Wastes A Project Waste Management Plan should be developed. Wastes collection containers (preferably marked ‘degradable’ and ‘bio-degradable’) shall be placed at all construction sites and these containers when filled shall be collected and deposed at designated wastes dump sites. Excavation materials that cannot be reused should be deposited in a waste dumpsite. The District Councils in all regions have designated waste dump sites. Councils are also equipped with waste collection vehicles. Therefore, EDSA shall liaise with the respective councils to dispose of damaged solar panels or batteries. Sierra Leone does not have any landfill site at the moment. Currently, efforts are being made to establish two landfill sites in the Western Area. Works yard should be equipped with temporary sanitary facilities. 5.1.19 Vandalism of Infrastructure This impact is to be mitigated through: • The Project Implementation Team sensitizing the communities on the adverse effects of stealing and vandalizing electrical installation through radio projects and messages through religious gatherings; 97 • During construction, the contractors should hire those workers who have been vetted by their local area leadership and with letters of introduction from local chiefs and village leaders; • For copper wires that are used for grounding transformers, concrete cement will be applied on top of the wires to make it difficult to remove the copper wires; • Project equipment should be guarded during construction, and all workers will be provided with identification tags to reduce intruders to working areas; • Identification tags to be provided to all the workers on the project sites and such identifications will remain the property of the contractor once an employee leaves employment; • Registered Security Guards should be recruited to specifically guard project property; and • Contractors to work closely with area local leadership to help address security and safety at the sites and the campsite. 5.1.20 Forest Fires Recommended measures to prevent and control the risk of forest fire include: • Removing blowdown and other high-hazard fuel accumulations; • Time thinning, slashing, and other maintenance activities to avoid forest fire seasons; • Disposal of maintenance slash by truck or controlled burning. Controlled burning should adhere to applicable burning regulations, fire suppression equipment requirements, and typically must be monitored by a fire watcher; • Planting and managing fire-resistant species (e.g. hardwoods) within, and adjacent to, RoW; • Establishing a network of fuel breaks of less-flammable materials or cleared land to slow the progress of fires and allow firefighting access. 5.1.21 Risk of Avian and Bat Collisions and Electrocution Recommended prevention and control measures to minimize avian and bat collisions and electrocutions include: • Aligning transmission corridors to avoid critical habitats (e.g. nesting grounds, heronries, rookeries, bat foraging corridors, and migration corridors); • Maintaining 1.5 meters (60-inch) spacing between energized components and grounded hardware or, where spacing is not feasible, covering energized parts and hardware; • Retrofitting existing transmission or distribution systems by installing elevated perches, insulating jumper loops, placing obstructive perch deterrents (e.g. insulated ”V’s”), changing the location of conductors, and / or using raptor hoods; 98 • Considering the installation of underground transmission and distribution lines in sensitive areas (e.g. critical natural habitats); • Installing visibility enhancement objects such as marker balls, bird deterrents, or diverters for lines passing through Important Bird Area (IBA). 99 SECTION SIX IMPLEMENTATION AND MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK 6.0 Introduction This section lays out the approaches, procedures, and methods that will be used to control and minimize the environmental and social impacts of all construction and operational activities associated with the project. This ESMF recommends that adequate environmental and Social Safeguards Specialists are attached to the Project Implementation Unit (PIU)for the implementation of the ESMF. This Section of this ESMF provides guidance on the management measures to be adopted for various types of planned investments under the project in general. The section addresses the key ESMF areas relevant to its successful implementation, including: • Safeguards management approach and process; • Institutional arrangements; • Capacity assessment, training needs and capacity building; and • Environmental and social monitoring and reporting. 6.1 Safeguards Management Approach and Process The environment and social management process and the instrument for the ESLEA have been designed keeping in mind the varied scope of work/activities under the project. To effectively plan, design and integrate environmental and social dimensions into project preparation and implementation, key steps have been formulated. These steps must be followed through the key stages of the project cycle such as concept identification, screening (including its documentation), assessment (basic or detailed as needed), implementation review and monitoring. In this sub-section, we lay the roadmap that guides the implementation of prevention or mitigation strategies for environmental and social issues that may result from the implementation of the ESLEA. 6.1.1 Screening Process, Impact and Risk Approach Screening is the first key decision of the EA process. The screening procedure is necessary because of the large number of sub-projects and activities in the ESLEA that are potentially subject to an environmental assessment. During this process, a determination can be made whether the sub-projects require an EIA or not; identify the key impacts and risk associated and establish terms of reference for an ESIA or ESMP and RAPs. 100 The objectives of the screening process are: a) To determine the level of environmental work and the type of follow-up safeguards instrument required (i.e., whether an ESMP or ESIA and RAP is required; whether chance finds procedures, and other simple mitigation measures will suffice; or whether no additional environmental work is required); b) To determine the appropriate environmental class for each activity. c) To determine which World Bank Environmental and Social Standards (ESS) apply to (are triggered by) the subproject; d) To determine appropriate mitigation measures for addressing adverse impacts; e) To Incorporate mitigation measures into the development plans; f) To determine which construction and rehabilitation activities are likely to have potentially negative environmental and social impacts; g) To determine if there will be land acquisition, impact on assets, loss of livelihood, and/ or restricted access to natural resources; h) To Indicate the need for a Resettlement Action Plan (RAP), which would be prepared in line with the Resettlement Policy Framework (RPF); i) To Facilitate the review and approval of the screening results regarding construction and rehabilitation proposals; and j) Provide guidelines for monitoring environmental and social parameters during the construction, rehabilitation, operation, and maintenance of the infrastructure service facilities and related project activities. The ESLEA is to be implemented within the new World Bank Environmental and Social Framework, which encompasses ten (10) environmental and social standards (ESS 1-10). This also means the categorization has changed from A, B, C, etc. to now using "High", "Substantial", "Moderate" and “Low”. There has not been any amendment to the EPA-SL 2008/2010 Act in so far as categorization of projects is concerned to take on board the current WB classification. 6.1.2 Environmental and Social Screening in this Framework The EPA Act of 2008 proposes the conduct of EIA for development projects. Under the first schedule of the amended Act of 2010, stage two talks about screening. However, these instruments do not contain guidelines regarding the identification, assessment, and mitigation of potential localized impacts. The Environmental Protection Agency of Sierra Leone (EPA-SL) has a screening form that is given to the project proponent after an application for an Environmental Permit is made and a reasonable fee for the form is paid to the Agency’s Account at the Bank of Sierra Leone (see a sample of the screening form at Annex ii). The screening process outlined below complies with ESIA procedures for meeting the environmental and social management requirements of EPA-SL. The Environmental and 101 Social Screening Process also meets the requirements of the World Bank’s ESS1, Environmental and Social Assessment. It provides a mechanism for ensuring that potential adverse environmental and social impacts of the ESLEA are identified, assessed, and mitigated as appropriate, through an environmental and social screening process. 6.1.3 Application of the Screening Processes Screening of Project Activities and Sites In the classification of sub-projects as high, substantial and low, a better option would be to subject the sub-projects to screening and initial assessment. Specifications for the proposed sub-transmission lines, distribution lines and mini-grid sites will be determined and become clearer in terms of route and locations when a detailed project design is available. Once the actual route is determined, a transect walk along the routes will help identify subproject environmental and social parameters to be impacted. The availability of such information will help determine subproject categories consistent with ESS1, the determination of appropriate environmental and social mitigation measures, and the justification to prepare an ESIAs/ESMPs and/or RAPs. Information on the project route is not available, therefore the subprojects cannot be categorized at this stage in the preparation of this ESMF. In conformity with the EPA-SL mode of operation, environmental screening results are to be reviewed and cleared by the EPA-SL Board. Impact classifications The screening classifies the sub-projects into one of the following environmental and social classes according to the World Bank classification. Classification: ‘High’ (requires ESIA) ESLEA sub-project would be classified as “High” if it would likely result in one or more major adverse environmental risks. When powerlines pass through sensitive habitats, built-up areas, there are serious environmental and social implications. Projects classified as ‘’High’’ would require a full-blown ESIA. Classification: Substantial ESLEA subprojects will be classified as Substantial if they have potential environmental risks that are less severe than those subprojects and can pose risks that can be readily mitigated. The activities that constitute the construction of transmission lines, distribution lines and transformer stations will be constructed along existing public roads and RoW. Also, solar Pv facilities on an available land free of infrastructure and a non-sensitive habitat, installation of standalone solar units on rooftops and or backyards will use a lesser footprint. The environmental and social impacts for the listed activities will be minimal and hence an ESMP with a custom fit. Site-specific environmental mitigation measures should be developed for 102 subprojects classified as Substantial. Also, some relevant generic mitigation measures specified in the ESMF will apply. Subjecting the project to initial screening, the project can be classified as substantial. Classification: Low or Moderate ESLEA project activities are delegated as low or moderate if they do not include civil works and if no noteworthy environmental issue has been identified and no particular mitigation measures are required. In such cases, subprojects can continue without reference to extra environmental requirements. Deciding the Required Type of Environmental and Social Work The Screening Form will be completed by the Environmental and Social Management Specialists at the PIU, who would liaise with the World Bank and EPA-SL for the determination of their significance, assignment of appropriate environmental class, and recommendation of appropriate safeguards instrument that should be prepared for the subproject. In situations where the screening process identifies the need for land acquisition, loss of assets, or loss of livelihoods, a RAP (or ARAP) shall be prepared consistent with the standards and guidelines outlined in the Resettlement Policy Framework and the World Bank’s ESS5. The Social Specialist will confirm that any land donation was truly voluntary and free of community pressure or coercion. Where community land is donated, the project will confirm the land is unoccupied or not being utilized by any individual and that the donor was not forced/pressured. When there are minimal or no impacts (as determined using the screening form), the project must consult internally with the implementing entity and have confirmation from the World Bank. Once an agreement is reached, the safeguard person may proceed with the minimum regular reporting requirements which will be discussed and agreed upon with the World Bank before the commencement of works/action. No subproject requiring preparation of a safeguards instrument should commence until the said safeguards instrument is completed by the Client, approved by the World Bank and EPA-SL, and disclosed publicly in Sierra Leone and by the World Bank external website. 6.1.4 Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Process Scoping Report The regulations require that the scope of ESIA shall be outlined in a scoping report to be prepared by the proponent, coordinated with the World Bank and submitted to EPA-SL for clearance. The scoping report sets out the scope or extent of the ESIA to be carried out by the applicant and includes draft Terms of Reference (ToR) which must indicate the essential issues 103 to be addressed in the ESIA. On the acceptance of a scoping report by the EPA-SL and the World Bank, the implementing agency is informed to submit an ESIA based on the scoping report. Impact Assessment The assessment process will identify and assess the potential direct and indirect environmental and social impacts of the proposed installation activities and materials, evaluate alternatives, in terms of the construction sites and even the materials as well as design and implement appropriate mitigation, management, and monitoring measures. These measures will be captured in a project-specific ESMP or ESIA, as needed, based on the environmental screening carried out for each sub-project. Where an ESMP or ESIA has been prepared, EPA-SL and the World Bank will review the reports to ensure that all environmental and social impacts have been identified and that effective mitigation measures have been proposed. Preparation of any ESMPs, ESIAs, and/or RAPs will be carried out in consultation with the relevant Ministries. The Environmental and Social Safeguard Specialists, in close consultation with the EDSA and MoE team, will arrange for the: i. preparation of the scoping report, including ESMP/ESIA terms of reference; ii. recruitment of a consultant to prepare the ESMPs/ESIAs; iii. public consultations; iv. review of ESMPs/ESIAs by PIU; v. review and approval of the ESMPs/ESIAs by EPA-SL; and vi. World Bank review and approval. The Environmental and Social Management Specialists will arrange for the preparation of any RAPs, following the provisions outlined in the Resettlement Policy Framework. Review and Clearance of ESIAs and ESMPs For sub-projects categorized as High or Substantial, the ESIA or ESMPs will be reviewed by EPA-SL and the bank as follows: EPA-SL • Review of the scope of work (Terms of Reference), • Review of the draft ESIA or ESMP, • Clearance of the final ESIA or ESMP. World Bank • No-objection on the scope of work (ToR) and consultant contract, • Review of the final ESIA or ESMP after it has been reviewed and cleared by EPA-SL. The minimum contents of ESMPs and ESIAs are provided in Annex iii and Annex iv respectively. Disclosure 104 In conformance with ESS10, subproject-specific ESMP or ESIA reports will be made available to the public as follows: • Disclosure Notices in local newspapers with wide circulation and soft copies of reports will be available on EDSA websites. Hard copies will be available at MoE, and EDSA offices. • Disclosure through the ‘World Bank External Website’. The PIU shall ensure that subprojects are screened, respective safeguard instruments prepared, cleared, and disclosed as stipulated. It is very important that the ESMF is disclosed to relevant stakeholders and their comments/responses are absorbed. PIU shall also ensure that ESIA or ESMP and/or RAP are prepared before project implementation. Implementation of ESMPs, Monitoring and Reporting ThePIU shall ensure that once the ESMP has been disclosed and the ESIA licences obtained for the sub-projects, the project would be implemented according to the terms and conditions of the licence. 6.2 Institutional arrangements The sub-section outlines the roles of different stakeholders in executing this ESMF. The legal regime in Sierra Leone makes provision for the involvement of several Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in implementing this document. The policies, legal framework, and institutional arrangements governing such projects are very rigid, but inadequacies exist, including insufficient human capital and in most cases the availability of the required budget. These roles are highlighted below. 1. The Ministry of Energy (MoE) Mandate and Responsibility - The primary mandate of the Ministry of Energy is to formulate and implement policies, projects, and programmes on energy and provide oversight functions across the entire energy supply chain for all sector agencies which include EGTC, EDSA, EWRC and other forms of energy supply and utilisation. The MoE will lead and coordinate the implementation of component 2. The Project Management Unit (PMU) will take the lead in executing this component of the project and will maintain and Environmental and Social Specialist to oversee E&S issues under this component while providing capacity support to EDSA. 2. Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA) Mandate and Responsibility – Generally, EDSA is responsible for the supply, distribution, and retail sale of electricity for the entire country. There is a Project Management Team (PMT) that will be responsible for the preparation and implementation of component 1 of the project. The PMT will oversee the design, construction and commissioning of the transmission lines and substations as well as coordinating the implementation of that component of the ESMF. The PMT shall also review and approve the design of the poles, specification of the cables and associated equipment/ infrastructure, and civil works contracts following various environmental and social standards. EDSA will maintain an Environmental and Social 105 Management Unit (ESMU) which includes one Environmental Specialist and a Social Develoment and Gender Officer. 3. The Ministry of Environment In November 2019, the Ministry of Environment was established. The staff of the then environment department in the Ministry of Lands, Housing and the Environment has been transferred to the newly created Ministry of the Environment. Roles and Functions –In summary, the Ministry’s mandate which was gazetted in May 2020 is to ensure the protection and management of the environment and its natural resources. One of its functions is to ensure environmental compliance and enforcement in Sierra Leone through the EPA-SL. Safeguards Capacity – The Ministry through its officers in the regions shall establish safeguard compliance of this ESMF 4. The Environmental Protection Agency of Sierra Leone (EPA-SL) The Act forming the EPA mandated the agency to oversee issues about the environment and forestry. The EPA generally oversees the EIA process which this project might not be an exception to. Summary of the main functions of the EPA in the EIA processes are as follows: • registers and categories the project; • conducts ground-truthing of the project site; • reviews and make recommendations concerning agreed ToR of the project • monitors public disclosure; • approve license through the EPA board; • audits and monitors project implementation Safeguards Capacity – The Agency has personnel in all districts headquarter towns who are responsible to monitor project development and implementation. An EIA license dictates regular monitoring of project activities, hence the EPA is well equipped with the right technical staff to monitor this ESMF 5. The Ministry of Lands, Housing and Country Planning (MLHCP) Mandate and Responsibility - This MLHCP develops appropriate policies and programmes for lands and country planning. They provide clarification in case of any disagreements in land and land tenure and also enforce planning and building control. Should the project trigger physical displacement, the MLHCP shall be a major stakeholder in the valuation of structures. Capacity – More recruitment has been done in the recent past and trained personnel are decentralized within the districts. 6. The Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA) The project transmission line routes are expected to follow as much as possible existing roadway alignments. This being the case, then the routes will follow the RoW. 106 Mandate and Responsibility- According to the SLRA Act, the authority is the only body responsible to establish the width of the RoW. The authority therefore permits and authorizes the use of RoW for the Construction and erection of utilities. The SLRA should be consulted before the actual survey of line routes is carried out. Capacity–The SLARA has district offices with professional staff in all districts of Sierra Leone. 7. Forestry Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry The project transmission lines may pass through a protected or community forest. Where such a situation occurs, the Forestry Department in the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) shall be consulted. Mandate and Responsibility – The Forestry Act of 1988 mandates the Director of Forestry or his representatives to enforce the legislation. Capacity– MAF has officials of the Forestry Department in every district in Sierra Leone. 8. Local Councils Mandate and Responsibility- Through the Local Government Act, 2004, the local councils make up the highest political authority in the project environments. These local councils are the focal points for the dissemination of project information, consultations with PAPs, and compensation issues. Safeguards Capacity – All councils within the country have environmental and social offiers and community relations officers to support E&S supervision. 6.3 Chance Find Procedures Cultural resources are important sources of valuable historical and scientific information. They are integral parts of a people’s cultural identity and practices. This sub-section outlines actions that will be followed if previously unknown heritage resources, particularly archaeological resources, are encountered during project construction or operation. The safeguards specialists at the PIU shall ensure that these procedures are included in the bidding and contract documents of all sub-projects. If the Contractor discovers archaeological sites, historical sites, remains and objects, including graveyards and/or individual graves during excavation or construction, the Contractor shall: • Stop the construction activities in the area of the chance find; • Delineate the discovered site or area; • Secure the site to prevent any damage or loss of removable objects. In cases of removable antiquities or sensitive remains, a nightguard shall be arranged until the responsible local authorities or the National Museum takes over; • Notify the Construction Supervision Consultant who in turn will notify responsible local or national authorities in charge of the Cultural Property (within 24 hours or less); • Relevant local or national authorities would be in charge of protecting and preserving the site before deciding on subsequent appropriate procedures. This would require a 107 preliminary evaluation of the findings to be performed. The significance and importance of the findings should be assessed according to the various criteria relevant to cultural heritage; those include the aesthetic, historic, scientific or research, social and economic values; • Decisions on how to handle the finding shall be taken by the responsible authorities. This could include changes in the layout (such as when finding an irremovable remain of cultural or archaeological importance) conservation, preservation, restoration and salvage; • If the cultural sites and/or relics are of high value and site preservation is recommended by the professionals and required by the cultural relics authority, the Project’s Owner will need to make necessary design changes to accommodate the request and preserve the site; • Decisions concerning the management of the finding shall be communicated in writing to relevant authorities; and • Construction works could resume only after permission is granted from the responsible local authorities concerning the safeguard of the heritage. 6.4 Community engagement, consultation strategy and participation framework 6.4.1 Community Engagement Strategy The key elements of the citizen engagement strategy for ESLEA will include the following: (i) disclosure of important project related information by the implementing agencies and contractors on its website and at the appropriate local level and other disclosure procedures agreed with the Bank, (ii) a framework for consultation with the key stakeholders including the affected communities and important electricity user groups (e.g., households and businesses) during planning, design and implementation of all sub-projects; (iii) ensuring free, prior, informed consultation with the affected communities and key electricity user groups and their representatives for obtaining broad community support as a part of the preparation of specific sub-projects relevant to that area; and (iv) the establishment of Grievance Redress Mechanisms (GRM) at various project levels to meet specific grievance redress requirements of operations/projects; Key objectives of the community engagement strategy are: help manage community expectations. In this context, it is important to specifically target vulnerable groups, including women and children. Also, engaging local NGOs active in the area may help to provide outreach programs. 6.4.2 Consultation Strategy and Participation Framework To ensure people’s participation in the planning phase and aiming at the promotion of public understanding of project scope, activities and impacts, various sections of project-affected persons and other stakeholders will be engaged in various consultations throughout the project planning and implementation consistent with the project Stakeholder Enggement Plan (SEP) which has been disclosed. 108 Public participation, consultation and information dissemination will begin with initial social assessment activities during the initial phases of project preparation. Public consultation activities and information dissemination to PAPs and local authorities will continue as the project preparation activities proceeds in a project. Through respective electricity sector agencies, local governments and civil society, PAPs will be regularly provided with information on the project and the resettlement process before and during the project preparation and implementation stages. This framework shall be a sub-set of the overall communication strategy of all ESLEA sub-projects. Some potential communication methods will include provisions of information boards, pamphlets distribution, organizing meetings with key informants and town/village committees and opinion gathering through phones and SMSs. All electricity sector projects will be required to prepare and disclose Public Consultation and Communication Plans as part of the project preparation process. A percentage of the project cost will be allocated for the preparation and implementation of the communication strategy. A template for the consultation framework is presented in Table 10 below. Table 10: Consultation Framework Project Stage Consultation Activity Project Information dissemination and consultation with PAPs during field surveys: Preparation Project description and its likely impacts Objective and contents of the surveys General provisions of compensation policy Mechanics and procedures for public participation and consultation Grievance redress procedures It is a good practice to prepare a brief Public Information Brochure (PIB) for distribution to all the PAPs. The PIB will very briefly explain the sub-project objectives, likely benefits and adverse impacts, general provisions of the compensation policy, and grievance redress mechanisms. Information dissemination to local authorities after completion of census & inventory and during the ESIA/ESMP/RAP preparation: Sub-project components proposed policies and procedures including proposed resettlement and compensation strategies a summary of impacts tentative implementation schedule roles and responsibilities of the sub-project proponents and local authorities Consultation with the community and other key stakeholders: Options for the mode of compensation for affected assets When the draft ESMP and RAP are available they should be provided to key stakeholders and local NGOs in their native language and put in a public place. Feedback should be requested and incorporated into the final documents. The feedback could be received through email, phone, face-to-face interaction, meetings etc. respecting all issued COVID-19 protocols. Details of all the public meetings held with people and local government officials with dates, locations and the information provided and the major emerging issues 109 should be documented. It is recommended that ESMP and RAP and other documents include this list, as an attachment. Where public announcements are made, the details, together with a copy of the text of the announcements should be provided in the documents. The draft ESMP and RAP/SIA should be discussed with local authorities and a copy of the document should be kept with regional and local level authorities. PAPs should be informed through public announcements on the availability of the draft documents at the regional and local government levels. Project Information dissemination and consultation with PAPs during ESMP and RAP Implementation implementation (respecting all COVID-19 protocols): Sharing ESMP and RAP document with local authorities Major resettlement policy provisions and grievance redress mechanisms should be informed to the PAPs and beneficiary households in the project area through village-level public meetings. One to one meeting with the PAPs to explain their eligibility Placing of a micro plan for compensation and resettlement in affected villages for review and minimize grievances Payment of compensation to PAPs in a public meeting to maintain transparency Household consultation for skill improvement training, use of compensation amount and livelihood restoration Public Establish a Stakeholder Monitoring Group (SMG), consisting of affected people Participation in and civil society members. The group will be responsible for the monitoring of all Project aspects of EMP and resettlement implementation and provide feedback to the Monitoring and implementing agency. Ex-Post Participation of PAPs in monitoring will provide project management with a Evaluation more accurate reflection of PAPs reactions and perceptions. 6.4.3 Stakeholder Engagement during Preparation of Resettlement Framework Consultation during this framework preparation was done openly and transparently. Stakeholders were given notice of the consultation with a project summary document shared by email or WhatsApp (as convenient for the stakeholder). During the consultations, a printed copy of the project document was also shared among stakeholders who could not access it via the internet or social media. The content of the summarized project document was read out to stakeholders in their local languages. Face-to-face consultations were done for all Ministries Department and Agencies (MDAs), Moyamba, Pujehun, and Kailahun Districts while phone discussions were done for Waterloo, Bombali and Tonkolili. COVID-19 rules were strictly adhered to in all face-to-face consultations. The following are a summary of concerns during the consultation: • In cases of land acquisition, affected persons should be in the centre of negotiations and compensation. • The people in the project-affected areas should be involved in all consultations and they should be sensitized about the project, its benefit, and impacts. Groups within each project affected areas should be considered (especially youth groups and 110 women’s groups). Also, local authorities should be consulted and worked with throughout the project. • Because road constructions are underway in some of the project affected areas, the project should meet with councils and the various road construction companies to plan the design for the power lines in tandem with the road construction design. • Women should be actively involved and their concerns should be heard throughout the project. • The people in project-affected areas should be employed to work in the project especially where they have the necessary skills and training. • The GRM should be very effective in resolving any potential conflict that may occur in project-affected areas. • District councils should be involved in the project. The councils should be given the necessary resources to supervise, monitor, and evaluate the project. • The electricity should be made cheap and affordable for the people considering that the people in the project affected areas are low-income earners. • There should be guidelines for contractors of the project to address and prevent issues of sexual exploitation of minors, violence, and abuse against girls and women, child labour and other social and gender-related issues. • An environmental impact assessment study should be done to ascertain the impacts of the project and measures be drawn on how to mitigate those impacts. • A feasibility study should be done in the project affected areas to determine the capacity or megawatt of electricity needed in each location. 6.5 Assessment of Implementing Agency Capacity to Implement Safeguards In terms of IAs capacity to implement the safeguards requirements of the project, the following four capacity assessment tools looked into are: technical capacity; regulatory capacity; governance capacity; and monitoring and evaluation capacity. i. The Ministry of Energy (MoE) The Ministry of Energy is the arm of the GoSL tasked with the responsibility to formulate and implement policies, projects and programmes on energy and provide oversight functions across the entire energy supply chain for all sub-sector agencies (which include electricity production, electricity transmission, electricity distribution and supply) and other forms of energy supply and utilization coordinating and managing all aspects of energy in its various forms in the country. The Ministry has oversight responsibilities to ensure that the ESLEA project is implemented successfully. The MoE currently has a PMU led by the planning department. The PMU comprises a communication specialist, a financial management specialist (FMS), planning engineers and M&E officers. However, the PMU is currently staffed to primarily manage the technical assistance component of ESURP. MoE has a lot of staff and experts in the preparation of mini- grid projects, and the preparation and implementation of standalone PV systems for public 111 institutions. The ministry has been closely involved in the implementation of the solar PV mini-grid projects, including solar PV systems for a large number of health facilities and a number of schools supported by EU and DFID. The MoE together with EDSA engineers and Senior Environmental and Social Safeguard Specialist are all well trained with over 10 - 15 years of experience in the energy and environmental related fields. As this project has a big component to support mini-grid and standalone solar PV system deployment, the PMU will be restructured and significantly beefed up. The project will recruit a coordinator with experience in mini-grid and solar PV that will be appointed to lead and coordinate the implementation of component 2 and 3(a). The project will also equip the PMU with experienced staff with expertise in solar PV technology and procurement. The capacity to monitor results will be key to ensure the success and effectiveness of component 2. Therefore, the project will support the further strengthening of the MoE’s existing M&E system. ii. EPA-SL The overall mandate of the Agency is the effective management and protection of the environment – which is its primary mandate. The Agency has twenty-two(22) functions including, the formulation of environmental policies, the issuance of environmental permits and acting as focal points on all issues concerning the environment. The Agency derives its mandate from the Environment Agency Act, 2008 as amended in 2010. This legislation does not address resettlement or social issues. However, the Mines and Minerals (Environment Protection) Regulations 2013, which is a statutory instrument, specifically addresses resettlement for the mining sector. The EPA has several departments whose functions are relevant for implementing the safeguard requirement of ESLEA such as Field Operations and Extension, Policy Planning and Research, Public Relations and Inter-sectoral Coordination and Compliance and Enforcement Departments. The Field Operation and Extension (FOE), as well as the Planning and Research departments, are responsible for monitoring. Monthly monitoring plans are developed which includes staff from other departments of the Agency. Proponents are monitored quarterly, for example, EDSA’s Contractors. Safeguard measures and checklists are prepared to serve as guidelines in what FOE Staff are to measure. The EPA conducts joint monitoring exercises with other line ministries such as the Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Development and the Ministry of the Environment when there is a need for monitoring and evaluation of ongoing energy projects or ongoing resettlement activities in an energy project. The regional offices of the EPA have formal collaborative mechanisms with the district and local councils and work closely with them on certain environmental issues. Subcommittees have been established to tackle environmental concerns, and the regional offices of the EPA work closely with the Environment and Social Officers (ESO) of the Councils. The EPA has helped the councils to develop bye-laws to address a range of issues and training has been 112 provided to the twenty-nine (29) Chief Administrators and ESOs on environmental protection and waste management. In terms of its governance capability, the Planning and Research Department is responsible for the majority of the reporting done by the EPA. It prepares the Annual Reports and regular updates to Parliament, including reports on the implementation of the national strategic plan. There is a department for Public Relations and Inter-sectoral coordination that handles the media aspect and utilizes radio, television and print media to update the public on the work of the EPA. Also, the Agency has been engaging stakeholders at the local level and holds town hall and community meetings to inform the public about its activities. Highlights of some of the monitoring exercises of similar projects include the following: • The Environmental Impact Assessment and the Resettlement Action plan done by Sierra Rutile for the expansion of their mine. • The Environmental Impact Assessment and Resettlement Action Plan done by SEWA Energy for the 27 MW Hydro, etc. iii. The Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA) EDSA is responsible for the supply of electricity, distribution and retail sale of electricity for the entire country except in areas which the Authority has issued a distribution licence to another appropriately qualified entity; dispatch and system control of electricity within its territory; establish as far as is practicable uniform standard voltages throughout its area of supply; carry on any business usually associated with electricity distribution and supply; promote and encourage the economic and efficient use of electricity, especially for domestic, commercial, agricultural, industrial and manufacturing purposes; perform any other functions incidental or consequential to its functions under the 2011 Act. EDSA currently has a Project Management Team (PMT) that is implementing the investment component of ESURP, Bo- Kenema Network Rehabilitation & Extension Project, CLSG-Rural Project for thirty-nine (39) communities etc. The PMT comprises mainly of staff of the Engineering Department (Planning and Projects), Environmental and Social Management Unit (ESMU) and dedicated staff of EDSA’s Finance Department and the Procurement Unit. The team is supported by experienced consultants that are assisting in project implementation and in building the capacity of the regular EDSA staff. The consultants include a supervision engineer, an environmental specialist, social and gender specialist (to be recruited shortly), a senior procurement specialist, and an FMS supported by finance assistance, civil engineer, substation engineer and specialized consultants that are hired as per project demands. The PMT is headed by the Director of Engineering (Technical Services) but the day-to-day coordination of the overall implementation is handled by an experienced project coordinator. EDSA also has monitoring experience, it already monitors its key performance indicators. EDSA prepares quarterly and monthly reports for its board and MoE. The utility also has a grievance-handling mechanism in place and carries out routine customer satisfaction surveys. Although both MoE and EDSA are involved in implementing ongoing energy sector projects funded by the Bank, and presently maintain internal units and staff for managing 113 environmental and social impacts of projects , the demands of ESLEA would require the recruitment of additional safeguards staff and consultants so as to meet the diversified activities and wide project regions to be covered. It is expected that MoE and EDSA would require, at different stage of project implementation, a total of six or more environmental, social and gender specialists to support the preparation of site specific instruments, supervise the implementation of ESMPs and RAP, monitor and evaluate the impacts, and timely handle compaints. Also, funding should be provided to effectively implement the safeguards instruments. Comprehensive training and capacity building for MoE’s and EDSA’s staff is required. MOE and EDSA will also implement an integrated E&S information management system to enhance E&S reporting and coordination, establish a digital GM to combine with existing traditional systems for complaints uptake and resolution; and engage GBV service provider to ensure confidential uptake and response to SEA/SH complaints. iv. The Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA) The SLRA is the institution responsible for managing roads in the country. Their mandate is to develop and maintain the national roads network, advise Government on general road policies and contribute to addressing transport concerns, among others. The SLRA manages RoW issues in Sierra Leone. SLRA has regional offices and the officers in these Regional do collaborate with EDSA, EPA, utility companies for the assignment of the RoWs which are the natural pathways for transmission line installation. They have also been functional in the identification of RoWs for the following projects: • The rehabilitation and expansion of the Wilkinson road • The rehabilitation and expansion of the Spur road • The rehabilitation and expansion of the Freetown Masiaka highway • The construction of the Bo-Liberia highway etc. v. Local Councils The Local Government Act 2004 provides the main legal framework for local councils. The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development has responsibility for implementing decentralisation and local governance reforms. There are nineteen (19) local councils, made up of 6 city councils and one municipal council in the urban areas, and fifteen (15) district councils in the predominantly rural areas. All councils within the country have environment, Gender and social officers posted to these councils by their appropriate ministries. Ministry of Environment and the EPA are responsible for Environmental officers attached to local councils and the Ministry of Gender and children affairs are responsible for gender and social officers attached to the councils. These officers regularly monitor happenings at the local level and they periodically update their respective ministries as the case may be. vi. Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) Several CSOs exist in Sierra Leone. The Centre for Accountability and Rule of Law (CARL), Campaign for Good Governance (CGG), Green Scenery and NAMATI are the oldest, 114 structured and professional civil societies known to have supervised RAP implementation of a World Bank-funded project among others. Firstly, CARL has expanded its activities to include the monitoring of various governance- related programmes, including access to social and economic services, citizen participation in governance, and respect for human rights and rule of law. As a result of its extensive work on promoting transparency and accountability, both at the community level and national levels, the organisation has earned a good reputation for being credible, independent and responsive to the needs of the communities where it works. CARL has appreciable experience in managing and supervising the resettlement of project affected persons, which experience can be useful for the implementation of this framework The budget for capacity training will be highlighted in the budget. Secondly, Namati supports communities to protect customary land rights, challenge land grabs, remedy environmental harm, and, if they wish, negotiate fair deals with investors. The 5-year goals of this organization are to: • significantly reduce environmental and social harm in fifty (50) mining, agricultural, or development projects, and • change policy nationwide so that the people who depend on the land a meaningful voice in what happens to it Namati has vast experiences and expertise in Land and Environment justice, health justice and citizenship justice. In Sierra Leone concerning Land and Environment Justices, this CSO can be very relevant for the implementation of this ESMF. Finally, the Campaign for Good Governance (CGG) works to advocate for good governance in Sierra Leone. CGG has regional offices and works a lot on women and other gender-related issues. This CSO can be very relevant for the implementation of this ESMF. 6.6 Monitoring and Reporting The ESMF (this document) has identified potential environmental and social issues and risks related to the project activities and have proposed subsequent mitigation measures. To ensure effective implementation of measures in the ESMF, the following monitoring and reporting system which include both internal monitoring and reporting and external monitoring and evaluation. The significance of monitoring stems from the fact that the inputs derived from the ESMF into the project design and planning, including mitigation measures, are based largely on “predictions”. It is essential that the basis for the choices, options and decisions made in formulating or designing the project and other environmental and social safeguard measures are verified for adequacy and appropriateness. Monitoring verifies the effectiveness of impact management, including the extent to which mitigation measures are successfully implemented. Monitoring specifically helps to: • Improve environmental and social management practices; 115 • Check the efficiency and quality of the EA processes; • Establish the reliability and credibility of the EA for the project (as well as the quality of experts providing EA consultancy services in the ESLEA); and • Provide the opportunity to report the results on safeguards and impacts and proposed mitigation measures implementation. 6.6.1 Internal Monitoring and Reporting Once an environmental permit is secured for a project, a contract is awarded and the project implementation will commence. The PIU(and other implementing agencies, as appropriate) commence monitoring as an important feedback mechanism. This ensures that the environmental and social mitigation measures: • Identified in the planning phase (contained in the EA reports), and incorporated in the project design and cost are being implemented; • Are maintained throughout the construction phase, and where applicable in the operation phase, and to the decommissioning of sites, facilities and equipment; and • Where inadequate, additional remedial actions are identified (including corrective measures or re-design of mitigation measures). The monitoring by the Environmental and Social Management Unit (ESMU) of PIU is effectively on the contractors engaged in the ESLEA subproject and covers other areas such as adherence to the environmental and social clauses and principles. The ESMPs and RAPs that are prepared and/or the other mitigation provisions that are made as components or part of the project ESA will also be monitored. The monitoring results will be analysed and the monitored information and recommended actions will be compiled for the attention and action of the respective implementing agencies. The monitoring report will be formalized with the agency’s agreed action and timeframes and submitted as the respective implementation agency’s AER to the EPA-SLand the MOE, and the Bank. PIU shall assume the responsibility of leading the monitoring and reporting on the compliance of project implementation. The PIU must put in place an effective internal monitoring mechanism. It shall be fully capacitated to undertake such tasks thereby recruiting regional safeguards specialists for effective monitoring of sub-projects. The project monitoring framework shall develop standard reporting forms which shall provide for quarterly and yearly reports. This will include: a. List of consultations held, including locations and dates, name of participants and designations; b. Main points arising from consultations including any agreements reached; c. A record of grievance applications and grievance redress; d. Construction supervision reports that include assessment of contractors compliance with safeguards; e. Safeguards staff at the regional level will prepare consolidated quarterly monitoring reports on respective sub-projects which in addition to the above data will include: 116 i. Number of provincial staff and counterparts trained on ESMF compliance; ii. Number of consultations and groups consulted; iii. Update on grievances including pending cases. 6.6.2 External Monitoring and Reporting The project shall incorporate external monitors. Often times, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) are suitable for such a task. The PIU shall share project monitoring reports with the MoE, EPA-SL and the Bank and these reports would be assessed to ascertain safeguard compliance using site-specific ESMPs/ESIAs if prepared. The safeguards assessment will assess whether: (i) the ESMF process is being correctly adhered to; (ii) relevant mitigation measures have been identified and implemented effectively and whether these need to be adjusted to reflect changing circumstances and; (iii) the extent to which all stakeholder groups are involved in sub-project implementation. The project will hire contractors to undertake project construction, therefore, the PIU shall ensure that the mitigations outlined in this ESMF is implemented for components 1 and 2. Supervising engineers and environmentalists should be attached to contractors during construction. Daily monitoring during construction shall be conducted by the supervising engineers and the environmentalist attached to the contractors. The EPA-SL carries out its compliance monitoring to satisfy itself that the permit conditions and relevant standards and mitigation measures are being fulfilled by the executing agency. Traditionally, EPA’s oversight role covers or represents the monitoring interest of the other regulatory institutions. These institutions such as the Forestry Department, SLRA, etc., however, have the right to perform their monitoring activities and to deal with the contractor through the executing agencies. The Bank will conduct periodic audits of the projects and access documented information. The table below presents monitoring indicators and responsible parties. Table 11: ESMF Monitoring Indicators and Responsibilities Monitoring Monitoring Indicator Emperical Indicators Responsible Level Party At ESMF Level Good enough Circulation of Records of consultations ESMF to stakeholders and meetings M&E Unit of MoE/ ESM Unit Capacity building and of EDSA training programs Number of workshops At Subproject The preparation of the Records of the screening M&E Unit of Level screening forms for all form applied in all MoE/ ESM Unit subprojects subprojects. of EDSA Preparation of ESMP/ESIA Independent consultants contracted to prepare ESMP/ESIA reports Environmental Permiting 117 Subproject Environmental Assessment licences from EPA-SL Monitoring and Evaluation M&E Unit of Records of subproject MoE/ ESM Unit monitoring reports of EDSA (monthly, quarterly and annually) Daily on –site compliance (during construction, monitoring will be done on a daily basis while construction last) Overall compliance 6.7 Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) A systematic and functional GRM should be adopted to address the concerns of aggrieved parties (PAPs, vulnerable groups including women, gender-sensitive issues, workplace concerns and community concerns). Such a mechanism should detail the processes involved in registering grievances at no cost to the aggrieved parties as mentioned above. In the context of this ESMF, a grievance could mean a simple query or inquiry, concern, issue, or formal complaint that bothers the lives of aggrieved parties. The layers of the GRM should be well publicised as a way of educating PAPs, recruited workers and other residents on the process. Alternative means of access, however, will be the public information centres that will be established at various project sites. At the same time, information about where complaints can be lodged should be provided by the client and or the consultant will be published on public notice boards, communicated verbally at all public meetings, and outreach sessions so that there is a wider public understanding and acceptance of the mechanisms proposed for grievance redress. 6.7.1 Rationale for GRM The primary purpose of the GRM is to hear the complaints or address the concerns of aggrieved parties to a fair extent and on time. Dissatisfaction can cause an aggrieved party to act beyond expectations, which would culminate in some unforeseen repercussions that would negatively affect project implementations and stall project progression. Consequently, the GRM to be proposed during the preparation of the sup projects’ ESIA or ESMP shall seek to achieve the following objectives: • Encourage registration, acknowledgment, and recording of all concerns or issues raised by aggrieved; • Identify the frequencies of issues raised: for instance, unpaid compensation, inadequate compensation, disregard for local ritual ceremonies, land acquisition, workplace concerns and many more; 118 • Ensure that complaints are properly registered, tracked and documented, with due regard for confidentiality; • Address the composition of a committee that would handle all grievances; • Inform people of the public information centre establishment and access; • Establish procedures for the GRM to enhance easy access, transparency and accountability, and tackle escalation of grievances beyond expectations; • Manage the concerns raised by aggrieved parties to achieve a win-win situation within a reasonable time frame that would comply with national and international best practices; and • Record all resolutions agreed upon by all parties involved and ensure that aggrieved persons are satisfied with every outcome of remedial resolution to foster harmony in sub-projects. 6.7.2 Potential Sources of Grievance Since many aggrieved parties have livelihoods that depend on the land, the loss of land is thought to also result in the loss of their livelihoods. In a similar vein, aggrieved have unique local knowledge or farming practice that is particularly adapted to the specific features of their current environment, which could make their livelihood strategies and land management practices ineffective in the new situation. In this regard, training to assist them to adapt their strategies may be needed to ensure adequate livelihood (and income) restoration. Another potential source of grievance is considered to be corruption. Many PAPs believe that project land acquisition has previously provided opportunities where clever and sometimes conniving individuals, internal and external to the community, have gained a disproportionate benefit. Similarly, there are concerns that the compensation due to PAPs may be paid very late, which could create considerable stress and inconvenience and lead PAPs to incur further costs. Assuming this perception is right, especially where payments are delayed for lengthy periods, they may be inadequate because of inflation when they are finally made. It is important to note that the compensation discussed in this context should not be paid only in monetary terms, as the project could fail to capture the total amount of compensation that is due PAPs. This can cause adverse social and human right issues, and potentially expose the project to undue reputational risks and possible legal challenges in the future. Other sources of grievance may include work-related concerns such as terms of the employment, rights related to hours of work, wages, overtime, compensation and benefits, injuries, deaths, disability, disease and hazards to project workers. 6.7.3 GRM Institutional Framework The GRM will be a project wide GRM that will also be available for use by PAPs. The GRM will be a web based application that will work interconnectedly with local level actors at the community/chiefdom, District, and provincial levels. This is to ensure that all measures are taken to address the grievance. The web application will be housed at MOE and provides access to EDSA and contractors to register complaints received at sub-project level or the field. At the Community/Chiefdom level, a Grievance Redress Committee (GRC) shall be 119 established and composed of traditional chiefs, ward committee representatives, the project, community-based organisations, Legal Aid Board (as Arbitrator) and law enforcement agencies. The GRC will be headed through a consensual appointment done with affected communities, and steps will be taken to ensure that all grievances are properly documented and transferred to the digital platform for tracking of resolution. PAPs may also make complaints directly through the digital platform either by calling, sending text, whatsapp etc. The project will identify an NGO GBV service provider to setting up and ethically manage SEA/SH complaints. Detailed structure of the GRM will be finalized prior to recruitment of project workers and described in the project implementation manual. The GRM implementation process will involve the following steps: The safeguards specialist at MOE will man the platform to ensure timely sorting and escalation of grievances to resolving officer Assign a focal person (s) from ESDA, Contractors and local GRC for grievance uptake and reporting Train assigned focal person (s) to receive and log complaints in the GRM Database; Constitute GRM Committee to resolve grievances Screen, classify and refer complaints to appropriate unit for redress Monitor, track and evaluate the process and results Provide feedback to complainant within two weeks, and an opportunity for appeal if not satisfied with resolution approach Overall, the process for grievances reporting by aggrieved parties include following and presented in Figure 15. • Lodge complaints through phone call, text message, whatsapp, in-person directly to the digital platform or the GRC at the local levels • Acknowledgment and registration; • The investigation, verification, and determination of resolution options; • Provision of feedback to the stakeholder regarding resolution and progress towards resolution and complainant satisfied; • Final resolution -tracking and documenting actions and outcomes in the database and with the stakeholder; • Where a PAP is fully satisfied with the resolution process, the matter will be formally closed; • If the complainant is not satisfied with the mediation provided using the project GRM, a referral should be made to the court of Law. This stage of the process should be avoided, though it can be utilised to get a final review of the matter being reported. 120 Figure 15: GRM Flow Chart 6.7.4 Guidelines and Tools for Reporting and Processing Grievances Grievances will be filed by an aggrieved person at the entry-level using a complaint form (See annex v for sample form). The form will describe the complaint and provide for action at the three levels of redress- community/chiefdom, district, and provincial. Ideally, complaints should be acknowledged in 7 days and resolved within thirty (30) days, except complaints and grievances that relate to the valuation of affected assets that need to be managed by a unit set up by the project. 121 All complaints received in writing (or written when presented verbally) and processed through the stages identified in the GRM, will be recorded in a register or log sheet. The register presents the date of the complaint, the name of the complainant, the community he/she is from, a description of the complaint, and the actions taken to address the grievance (which shall also note the status of the grievance). Simple guidelines for processing and reporting grievances that can be adapted to the different contexts of the project are presented below: • All grievances concerning non-fulfillment of contracts, levels of compensation, or use/demolish assets without compensation, work-related concerns, etc. shall be addressed to the GRC. All attempts shall be made to settle grievances amicably. Those seeking redress and wishing to state grievances will do so directly to the GRC. If the complainant’s claim is rejected, the matter shall be brought before an agreed third party or the local administration before approaching the legal system in case of unresolved complaints at the local level also. The GRC shall maintain records of grievances and complaints, including minutes of discussions, recommendations and resolutions made; • The grievance being reported should be clearly defined; • The type of grievance being documented should also be defined in terms of how it is received: oral, written, by mobile phone, email, or text message. There should be a clear description of the owner of the complaint or where the grievance comes from to ensure accessibility to the GRM. Aggrieved parties should choose their entry point that is at their convenience. However, the GRM should start at the local level before allowing appeals to higher levels at the District and provincial levels. If it is at the community level, the first point of contact is the GRC established by the project at the chiefdom level. The point of contact at the district level is the district Council. The point of contact at the provincial level is the key supervisory body of the GRC or relevant agencies responsible for monitoring the sub-projects, which may comprise the MSWGCA, MoE, and the SLP. • Mobile phone hotlines should be maintained to provide aggrieved parties with the access they need to those who can document and address their grievances; • At all three levels, a grievance registry should be maintained to monitor and record the types of grievances that are raised, their status, and the type/level of remedial actions taken. • Remedial actions have to be flexible They can vary from a letter response to a referral (to the next redress level/structure), a meeting or dialogue with the complainant(s), a final resolution process beneficial to all parties; • Acknowledgment of receipt of grievance reports should be within seven days. This can be done by any member of the GRC/ local authority and should be forwarded to GRC. Grievances should be addressed in fifteen (15) days following the report or be moved to the next level in the redress mechanism where the problem should be resolved within fourteen (14) days; 122 • Outcomes from the decision should be provided within thirty (30) days of the receipt of the complaints, which should be communicated by the appropriate GRC representative. Once a grievance or complaint has been resolved or being escalated, the officer responsible shall complete a Grievance/Complaint Resolution/Escalation Form (see Annex v for sample form) to close out the complaint or record the reason for escalation, and the form shall be signed by the officer and the complainant (if s/he so desires), with a witness. • The court of law will serve as the last resort for all types of grievances. Responsible structures for grievance redress should ensure that this option is avoided as much as possible. However, the decision to use the court as a redress mechanism should be left to the discretion of the aggrieved parties. 123 SECTION SEVEN COST AND IMPLEMENTATION BUDGET 7.0 ESMF Implementation Budget This section of the ESMF presents a consolidated budget estimate for the implementation of the ESMF. According to the Project Appraisal Document (PAD), component 1 which is the Electrification of towns and communities through grid extension is financed by the International Development Association (IDA). Component 2 which is the Electrification through mini-grid and standalone solar systems is co-financed by the International Development Association (IDA) and the Japan Policy and Human Resource Development (PHRD). The budget components include: implementing agency safeguards capacity development activities; a training program for all relevant entities to implement their ESMF responsibilities; allowances for the preparation of subproject ESIAs, ESMPs, RAPs, etc.; and annual reviews. ( Table 12), below, presents a provisional estimate of the budget needed to implement the ESMF. The timely flow of funds is contingent on the total contract sum and payment request. When the payment request is greater than or equal to USD 100,000, it is done directly from the Bank and when the payment request is below USD 100,000 it is done via a special account. Payment request shall be prepared by the accountant at PIU which is then reviewed by the FMS and approved by the Project coordinator before sending to the Director-General of EDSA who is “A-Signatory” to the special account. The Deputy Director-General and the FMS are “B-Signatories’ to the account. Table 12: Provisional ESA Implementation Budget Indicative No. Unit Cost (USSD$) Total Cost Source of Budgetary Item (US$) Funding 1. Stakeholder 9 2500 15,000 Project trainings/ Source Consultation meetings on ESMF 2. Preparation and Lump Lump Sum 340,000 Project implementation of Sum Source specific instruments (ESMPs and ESIAs) 3. Monitoring and Lump Lump Sum 60,000 Project Evaluation of ESMP Sum Source implementation 4. Compensation for Lump Lump Sum To be Project PAPs Sum included in Source RAP 5. GRM Lump Lump Sum 35,000 Project Implementation Sum Source 124 6. Training and Lump Lump Sum 50,000 Project Capacity building of Sum Source environmental and social safeguards personnel Budget Sub- total 500,000 10% Contingency Lump Lump Sum 50,000 Project Sum Source TOTAL $ 550,000 The above costs will be funded by the ESLEA budget. Costs related to the required mitigation measures for ESLEA subprojects are not set out in the budgets presented here. These will be assessed and internalized by sub-project-specific ESIAs, ESMPs, RAPs and ARAPs as part of the overall subproject cost. It is extremely difficult to estimate the proportion of project costs that can be expected to be devoted to mitigation measures. However, a rough rule of thumb is that it can be estimated to cost between 3% and 5% of the total project cost. 125 REFERENCES African Development Bank group. (2020). Sierra Leone Economic outlook. Retrieved July 2020, frhttps://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.afdb.org%2Fen%2Fcountri es-west-africa-sierra-leone%2Fsierra-leone-economic- outlook&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEUavCSMOD-Qc33vnYAZny-uySZ8Q Arcadia. (2020). How many solar panels you’ll need to power your home. Retrieved July 19, 2020, from https://www.arcadia.com/energy-101/energy-sources/how-many-solar-panels- you-ll-need-to-power-your-home/ Belcastro, C., & Larsen, T. B. (2006). Butterflies as an indicator group for the conservation value of the Gola forests in Sierra Leone. Report to the Gola forest conservation concession project CountryMeters. (2020). Quick facts about the population of Sierra Leone. Retrieved from https://countrymeters.info/en/Sierra_Leone EIA. (2020). Solar explained - Photovoltaics and electricity. (U.S Energy Information Administration) Retrieved July 19, 2020, from https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/solar/photovoltaics-and-electricity.php Lindsell, J. A., Klop, E., & Siaka, A. M. (2011). The impact of civil war on forest wildlife in West Africa: mammals in Gola Forest, Sierra Leone. Oryx, 45(1), 69-77 Mansaray, A. S., Aamodt, J., & Koroma, B. M. (2019). Water Pollution Laws in Sierra Leone - A Review with Examples from the UK and USA. Natural Resources, 9, 361-388. doi:10.4236/nr.2018.911023 Mott, M.S., Robinson, D.H., Walden, A., Burnette, J. and Rutherford, A.S., 2012. Illuminating the effects of dynamic lighting on student learning. Sage Open, 2(2), p.2158244012445585. Munro, P. G., & van der Horst, G. A. (2012). The domestic trade in timber and fuelwood products in Sierra Leone: current dynamics and issues. Freetown: FAO/EU Neuert, M. (2012). Possible Safety Distances to Consider for EMF Sources. Retrieved July 21, 2020,from https://emfinfo.org/guidelines- distance.html#Table_of_EMF_Safety_Distances:_Safe_Distances_from_Various_EMF_Source s Ophardt, C. (2003). Virtual Chembook - Electricity Generation. Retrieved July 21, 20120, from http://chemistry.elmhurst.edu/vchembook/193sources.html Sierra Leone Integrated Household Survey (SLIHS) Report 2018 Taylor, B.K., 2014. Sierra Leone: The land, its people and history. New Africa Pres. 126 Taylor, E.T. and Nakai, S., 2012. Prevalence of acute respiratory infections in women and children in Western Sierra Leone due to smoke from wood and charcoal stoves. International journal of environmental research and public health, 9(6), pp.2252-2265. UCS. (2013). Environmental Impacts of Hydroelectric Power. Union of Concerned Scientists. Retrieved from https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/environmental-impacts-hydroelectric- power University of Calgary. (2018, June 4). Hydroelectric facility. Energy Education. Retrieved from https://energyeducation.ca/encyclopedia/Hydroelectric_facility WB. (2019). Solar resource maps of Sierra Leone. Retrieved July 19, 2020, from https://solargis.com/maps-and-gis-data/download/sierra-leone Williams. (2006). Land and Pro-Poor Change in Sierra Leone. World Bank. (2020). Sierra Leone - Rural Population. Trading Economics. Retrieved from https://tradingeconomics.com/sierra-leone/rural-population-percent-of-total-population-wb- data.html 127 ANNEXES Annex i: ToR for Environmental Instruments GOVERNMENT OF SIERRA LEONE Ministry of Energy SIERRA LEONE ELECTRIFICATION PROJECT (SLEP) TERMS OF REFERENCE Consulting Services for the Preparation of Environmental and Social Management Instruments 1. BACKGROUND The Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL) has secured funding form the World Bank to implement the Sierra Leone Electrification Project (P171059). The proposed electrification supports the government sector strategy and builds on IDA’s sustained engagement in the country’s energy sector. The main objective of the project is to increase electricity access rate and improve financial performance of the power sector. The proposed activities, when completed will enhance the capacity of the distribution network to take and distribute additional electricity to be provided by Cote D’Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone Guinea (CLSG) interconnection and other generation capacity and further improve EDSA’s technical and commercial performance. The project is structured in five main components and would involve construction of substations and transmission lines in district capital towns and surrounding towns. The construction of infrastructure facilities will: (i) provide new electricity services to consumers in the towns and some surrounding communities of Kailahun, Bendugu, Kambia and Kabala which currently have no access to electricity; and (ii) provide low cost, more environmentally friendly and more reliable grid electricity to replace the high cost electricity generated through more polluting liquid fuel, inefficient plants. The electrification of district capital towns under the project complements the completed Energy Access Project (EAP) and the ongoing Energy Sector Utility Reform Project (ESURP) which all focused on Freetown, the country’s capital. The MoE, as the supervising ministry of the energy sector, will oversee the overall coordination of the whole project, including ensuring the preparation of regular progress reports and has appointed a General Projects Coordinator(GPC) for all donor funded projects. EDSA would be responsible for implementing component 1, 2 and 4 and subcomponent (b) under component 5. EDSA has been the implementing agency for ESURP and has a Project 128 Implementation Team (PIT) (headed by a Project Coordinator) at Energy Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA) that is providing Technical Assistance to implement ESURP. The SL Electrification Project has five main components as follows: (1) electrification of six district capital towns and surrounding villages through grid connection with the CLSG or other segments of the 225 kV network; (2) electrification of two district capital towns and surrounding villages through mini-grid solution; (3) an off- grid component that would not be connected to the Bumbuna network to promote stand- alone systems for homes, schools and hospitals/clinics; (4) the supply and installation of a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System (SCADA) for the distribution network; and (5) technical assistance for private sector particiaption, human capital development, and project implementation support. This TOR is for the preparation of an environmental and social Management Framework (ESMF) and a Resettlement Framework (RF) for the first two components. Component 1: Electrification of district headquarters and communities through grid extension The component includes: (i) construction of 33 kV lines to connect Koidu, Port Loko, Kailahun, Bendugu, Kambia, Kabala to the 225 kV transmission lines currently under construction; (ii) construction of a 66 kV line to connect Kailahun, passing through several towns and communities, to the 225 kV line as a 33 kV line would have voltage drop below acceptable limit and a 225 kV line is too costly to justify the demand; (iii) construction of a shield wire to connect Pujehun to the shield wire under construction to link with the 225 KV line; (iv) rehabilitation and expansion of the distribution network in Koidu and Port Loko; and (v) construction of new distribution networks in Kailahun, Bendugu, Kambia, Kabala. The project activities, both new construction and rehabilitation, in each town include: (i) 33 kV distribution lines and distribution transformers; (ii) low voltage distribution lines; (iii) service lines and connections to households, commercial, industrial users and public institution like schools and health clinics; and (iv) installation of bulk and households meters. The route selection and design of the transmission lines will be completed following detailed survey. The transmission lines will mostly connect one town to another and pass sparsely populated areas. The selection of transmission routings will aim to avoid any ecologically sensitive or protected areas and the relocation of residential houses, and if possible sited alone existing public roads to minimize environmental and social impacts. The lines would be mounted mostly on poles (concreate or steel tubular) which have very small footprints (≤ 1m dia.) or on steel lattice structures (≤ 4m dia.) where land space is not a constraint. The 66 kV line would have a second 33 kV line to distribute electricity to all the communities within 1km of the line. All sub-transmission lines would have a 24 band Optical Ground Wire (OPGW) as shield wire not only for use by the utility for their communication and control purposes but also for public use to support the digitization efforts of the Government. The distribution network will be located mostly in towns and communities. The design of the distribution network and service connections will be finalized following site and customer survey. The project activities in each area will be implemented through one or more EPC contractors to be competitively procured. 129 Component 2: Electrification of district headquarters and communities through mini-grid solution The component will construct the infrastructure facilities to provide new electricity services to the district headquarter towns of Bonthe, Moyamba and surrounding communities. The component includes two subcomponents: 3(a) the construction of a distribution network in each district headquarter town area; and 3(b) the construction of a mix of generation options for electricity production in each district area. For each district headquarter town, the activities under subcomponent 3(a): include 33 kV lines, distribution transformers, low voltage distribution lines, service connections to and meters for households, commercial, industrial users and public institution like schools and health clinics. The design of the medium, low voltage lines and service connections will be finalized following detailed survey. These lines would be mounted only on poles (mainly wood). The 33 kV and 11 kV lines shall be bare or insulted (for densely built up areas) aluminum conductors, whilst the low voltage shall all be aerial bundled insulated conductors. The activities under subcomponent (b) include the construction of a mix of generation options including solar PV and battery storage. The total capacity, optimal mix of generation and siting of the PV plant and storage facilities will be determined through a least cost analysis, based on the resource availability in each project area. The project activities in each area will be implemented through one or more EPC contractors to be competitively procured. However, it is likely that the generation part and network part will be implemented through different contractors. The activities as described in component 1 and 2 above may extend adverse social and environmental impacts on the immediate natural and social environment of the project. These impacts are largely expected to be limited and site specific. The following World Bank Environment and Social Standards (ESS) are considered relevant for purposes of assessment and management of the expected impacts: • ESS1: Assessment and Management of Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts • ESS2: Labour and Working Conditions • ESS3: Resource efficiency and pollution prevention and Management • ESS4: Community Health and Safety • ESS5: Land Acquisition, Restrictions on Land Use and Involuntary Resettlement • ESS6: Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Natural Resources • ESS 8: Cultural Heritage • ESS10: Stakeholder Engagement and Information Disclosure In view of the above, and given that specific sites for key installations are not determined yet, it is considered appropriate to develop an Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF), which will outline procedures of environmental and social screening; and a Resettlement Framework (RF), which will outline procedures for managing impacts that may result from project-related land acquisition and involuntary resettlement. 2. OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSIGNMNET The objectives of the assignment are to: 130 A. Undertake screening of potential impacts of the Sierra Leone Electrification Project and to prepare generic Environmental and Social Management Plans for the direct impacts and indirect impacts, as well as incremental impacts from rehabilitation and re- construction works for infrastructure and distribution lines. B. Formulate an Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) standards and procedures, specifying how unidentified subprojects whose locations are unknown will systematically address environmental and social issues in the screening for environmental and social impacts and categorization, site selection criteria, mitigation/enhancement measures, design, implementation and operational phases as well as maintenance of the subproject lifecycle. C. Provide operational guidance on how to mitigate, inspect and monitor potential environmental and social issues during preparations, construction, and operation and maintenance of sub projects D. Prepare a RF that lays out the policies, procedures, institutional arrangements, schedules, indicative budgets that will govern land acquisition, physical relocation of households and commercial enterprises, and other social impacts that may result from implementation of the proposed project. This should include required mitigation measures for potential social impacts, instruments to be prepared, valuation and compensation procedures, grievance redress mechanism and how to engage project affected parties in planning and implementation of project activities. 3. SCOPE OF SERVICES ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK (ESMF) As part of this assignment, the consultant is expected to prepare an ESMF taking into consideration the activities and institutional arrangements for project implementation. The initial stage of the consultant’s intervention will be the scoping of the project’s field of influence, activities and impacts that will have to be studied in the ESMF. The ESMF should contain the following sections: 1. Project Description: An overview and general description of the project objectives, components and associated activities, with an emphasis on components that will finance subprojects; anticipated types of subprojects, and types that will be excluded from financing; project target areas; project coordination and implementation arrangements for managing the subproject cycle; and annual reporting and audit requirements. The section will also explain the rationale for the RAP. 131 2. Purpose and Objectives of the ESMF: The main objectives of the framework and the consultant methodology used in the preparation of the ESMF. 3. Baseline Data: The ESMF should also give adequate information on the current environmental situation and socioeconomic and cultural characteristics in project areas, including physical, and biological environments, as well as socio-economic and cultural settings in project area. 4. Analysis of Environmental and Social Impacts, Issues and Risks: The consultant should identify specific environmental and social impacts, issues and risks that might require separate environmental and social assessment in relation to location, project size, and other site-specific factors. 5. Environmental and Social Policy and Regulatory Framework: Analyze the existing environmental policies, laws, conventions and protocols on environmental and social impact assessment, both national and international, and assess needs for their strengthening. In addition, the Consultant should analyze sub-sector specific policies, laws, regulations and directives with potential for environmental implications. In particular, the adequacy of the sub-sectoral development and investment planning process should be reviewed in terms of objectives, methodology and procedures for review and approval of plans and projects. The Framework should assess whether environmental and social issues are sufficiently addressed by current procedures. 6. Development of Environmental and Social Management Framework: The Consultant should propose a mechanism for environmental and social screening, evaluation and supervision within the project implementation team, which will ensure that funded projects/sub-projects are environmentally sound and sustainable and that any adverse environmental consequences and social impacts and risks are recognized early in the project’s cycle. This study is expected to develop an environmental and social screening and reporting section including environmental and social screening criteria, a simple checklist and draft TORs for Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA). 7. Chance Find Procedure: Cultural resources are important sources of valuable historical and scientific information. They are integral parts of a people’s cultural identity and practices. The consultant shall outlines actions required if previously unknown heritage resources, particularly archaeological resources, are encountered during project construction or operation. 8. Development of Environmental and Social Management Plan: The ESMF shall recommend practical and cost-effective actions to prevent, minimize, mitigate or compensate for adverse impacts and to enhance positive ones. Estimate the impacts and costs of mitigation measures, including those for consultation and institutional and personnel 132 capacity building during project implementation. The ESMF shall include proposed work programs, budget estimates, schedules, staffing and training requirements, and other necessary support services to implement the mitigating measures. 9. Institutional Framework: The Consultant shall propose institutional arrangements to handle the preparation, implementation and supervision of comprehensive environmental and social assessment of the proposed project. Such framework should include means for strengthening of implementing institutions to be able to assess and manage the environmental and social impacts and risks of the project and its sub- projects. To this end, the ESMF will address institutional tasks and cover every stage of the project process (from the initiation and reviews to the monitoring of the implementation of Environmental and Social Management Plans (EMPs)). The ESMF should also assess the capacity of the implementing agencies to undertake such screening, implementing and monitoring processes. The Framework should also examine ways to enhance EDSA’s environmental and social unit capacity to conduct or supervise the environmental and social analyses of all sub-project proposals. 10. Training Need: The Consultant should assess institutional capacity of implementing agencies on ESMF implementation and identify needs for capacity building. The ESMF should also describe how sensitization meetings and launching workshops could bring out environmental and social issues and considerations of the sub-projects. Based on the findings, the Consultant will develop an ESIA training program for various stakeholders including proposed recipients – EDSA, the Ministry of Environment, National Protected Area Authority, and the Environmental Protection Agency, National Minerals Agency, Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development and other relevant MDA. 11. Public Engagement and Information Disclosure: Consistent with the ESS10, the consultant should propose a strategy for consultation and disclosure process from project design, ESMF development and implementation. The Consultant will in close coordination with implementation agencies, assist in carrying out stakeholder consultations with national NGOs, community opinion leaders, scientific experts, relevant MDAs and the private sector in order to present and discuss potential impacts of (sub-) project activities and a proposed mechanism to address them under the ESMF and reflect their views into account. Consultation process and major issues raised need to be documented and attached to the ESMF. 12. Grievance redress mechanism (GRM): The consultant shall design functional and accessible mechanisms for expressing concerns and achieving remedies for project- affected people, promote a mutually trustful and constructive relationship and enhance 133 social accountability and ultimately the achievement of project development objectives. To the extent possible, the GRM should take into account the existing mechanism in implementing agencies, EDSA’s internal structures as well as existing community systems for dispute resolution. 13. Monitoring and Evaluations: Describe a monitoring regime that will be established, prioritizing those elements that must be in place to allow for baseline to be established against which changes during construction and operation can be assessed with identification of who is responsible for actions for M & E 14. Implementation Schedule: Consultant should describe an implementation schedule covering all activities from preparation, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation. These should indicate the target dates for delivery of all activities and sub- projects. 15. Costs and budget: provide detailed (itemized) cost estimates necessary to carry out all recommendations contained in the ESMF. This section should clearly indicate that the funding for the implementation of recommendations would come from Government/EDSA/project sources, describe arrangements for timely flow of funds, and fiduciary considerations that are consistent with Sierra Leone’s financial management and World Bank fiduciary requirements. RESETTLEMENT FRAMEWORK The consultant will prepare a Resettlement Framework outlining proposed procedures for land acquisition and involuntary resettlement, measures (compensation and livelihood assistance) for mitigating effects of displacement and involuntary resettlement, and the institutional arrangements for implementing such measures. Prior to preparing the RF, the consultant shall conduct rapid field assessment and collect baseline information (primary and secondary) relevant to social screening to determine the various social impacts that may affect the lives of the people and or habitats in the proposed project area. Where applicable, the consultant should estimate the approximate size of land that may be acquired, the current land patterns, number of households, business structures and other properties that are likely to be affected. The consultant should determine the approximate scale of physical relocation of residential households, public infrastructure, commercial structures (both movable and immovable) and other persons/families/households, who may be directly affected on the account of land acquisition and or execution of the project. Assess the extent and magnitude of project impact on public utilities such as telecom, electricity, water and sewerage systems that may be affected. This shall include but not limited to: 134 • Identification of common/community property and or resources that may be affected (e.g. schools, community buildings, clinics, hand pumps, wells, graveyards etc.); • land quality including areas with high agricultural yields, areas of degradation; • ownership, access to and use of natural resources, and local development status; • Study the types of land ownership (private, community owned areas), sources of livelihoods and category/type of owners in the project area; The Consultant shall conduct a rapid assessment potentially affected households and business entities and losses that may occur due to access restrictions etc. The survey also should assess whether there is a potential issue associated with land appreciation resulting from the project and potential impacts to those without security of tenure. The sample survey may not necessarily be a full-scale census of potentially affected population, but should identify: • the social, economic, and demographic profile of the people and communities affected such as population, gender, ethnicity, vulnerable groups, etc.; • spatial distribution of population and growth rates, location and data of cities and villages in the project area; • administrative structure of the local administration, mandates and extent of engagement of community groups on local issues/ administration; • their views and perceptions on the proposed project ; • economic activities, employment, income and poverty status of the people in the project area; • local economic development trends and ongoing government initiatives for development in the project area; • conduct a preliminary analysis of the nature, scale and magnitude of all potential direct, indirect, induced and cumulative impacts that the proposed investments are likely to cause, and classify the same using established methods The RF should contain the following sections: 1. Project Description: The Consultant shall provide an overview of project and general description of the project components and associated activities. This section shall provide emphasis on component(s) that will finance subprojects; anticipated types of subprojects, and types that will be excluded from financing; project target areas; project coordination and implementation arrangements, with details of institutional arrangements for managing the subproject cycle; and annual reporting and audit requirements. 2. Purpose and Objectives: This section should present the main objectives of the framework, direct and indirect social impacts and the Consultant methodology that used in the preparation of the RF. 3. Legislative Framework for the Land Acquisition and Involuntary Resettlement: This section shall contain a summary about the key relevant laws in relation to the land ownership, expropriation, transfer of ownership and compensation issues. It should also present the main administrative and institutional framework for issues related to land management and resettlement in Sierra Leone. This chapter shall present the gaps between the WB’s ESF standards and the Sierra Leonean Legislations. It should contain measures and recommendations to bridge the gaps (if any) between the two. 135 4. Social Assessment and socio-economic survey Findings: This section should include methodology for survey, the baseline, socio-economic data, and the steps for the identification of project-affected persons (PAPs) and other social impacts and estimated population likely to be displaced. 5. Eligibility criteria and Methods of Valuing Affected Assets: This section should detail the estimated land acquisition and likely categories of impacted persons, eligibility criteria for various categories of PAPs, quantification of impacts per PAP category, the valuation of land used by the public and calculation methods for compensation, payments and related considerations including livelihood restoration. 6. Organizational Elements, Entitlement Matrix and Procedures for Delivery of Entitlements: This section shall detail the process of preparation of RAPs, submission and approval processes. It also should explain linkages between the RAP and the actual project execution including how resettlement is linked to the implementation of civil works. Further, it shall contain a detailed entitlement matrix prepared in consultation with PAPs, EDSA, Ministry of Energy and other stakeholders, including the criteria for eligibility of compensation and other resettlement assistance and, present entitlements by type of impacted assets and category of impacted persons. 7. Measures to address Gender and other social Vulnerabilities: Identify gender and vulnerable people issues and concerns during the project implementation and post resettlement/implementation periods, due to household management roles for women. The consultant should identify Project-relevant gaps between males and females, propose specific actions to address these gaps, and finally present indicators to monitor outcomes from actions identified to address these gaps. 8. Methods for Consultation with and participation of PAPs: This section should describe the terms and methodologies to be adopted for consultation and participation of PAPs in the process of development of RAPs and until they have received their entitlements. This process should be elaborated to avoid and minimize confusion and suspicions for PAPs and relevant authorities engaged in land acquisition and or other compensation determination and disbursement processes. This should be detailed for different levels of consultations, the expected outcomes at different stages of the consultation and participation approaches that should be adopted. The Consultant shall conduct stakeholder consultations with key interested parties including community Service Organizations (CSOs), non-governmental organizations through focus group decision and interviews to gather qualitative data and information on the social concerns, suggestions and recommendations to avoid, minimize social risks and adverse impacts, if any to implement the project. Further, the consultant shall: 136 • conduct consultations with each stakeholder category and present a Stakeholder Analysis of local stakeholders such as local government, associations, resident communities, and or others who could play a role in the project implementation process with positive/negative influence on the outcomes; • record and analyze people’s perception of the project, its adverse impacts, and minimum acceptable mitigation measures (relocation options, if any are required assistance offered) that will enable them to cope with displacement or loss of livelihoods – temporary or permanent in nature, if any; • consultations should also focus on coping mechanisms currently being used by communities; d) hold separate focused group discussions (FGDs) with women and other vulnerable groups (as identified from the survey). • draw up impact categories critical to determine potential adverse impacts and analysis of the relative vulnerability and risks to the affected communities. 9. Resettlement Action Plans (RAPs) and Income generation/Restoration plans: This section should detail the various steps for preparation and approval RAPs by all relevant authorities and include key elements such as asset survey and enumeration of PAPs, valuation and compensation methods, resettlement benefits, project schedule, grievance redress mechanism, method for consultation and participation, monitoring and evaluation arrangements. It should also include details on selection of relocation sites (temporary or permanent) and plans for housing, infrastructure and services, in case of movement or demolition of affected residential, commercial, residential-cum- commercial structures and communal properties are required. 10. Grievance Redress Mechanisms: In this section, provide the detailed description of existing grievance redress mechanisms for the project at national, regional, district and chiefdom levels available to PAPs for grievance redress. It should also include levels of GRM and their composition for type of grievances. The identification of eligible people for compensation, the valuing and compensation and any other complaints they may have with the entire process should be mentioned. 11. Implementation Arrangements: Indicate the responsibilities assigned to key institutions, MDAs, and stakeholders involved/authorised to execute the project will be detailed with their roles, responsibilities and relationship with the project activities. Present an assessment of the implementing agency, specific to implementation of RAPs. Provide an assessment of the strengths, weaknesses and opportunities for capacity enhancement to address social and gender issues and citizens engagement. Prepare an indicative action plan by type of training, audience and frequency. 12. Monitoring and Evaluation Procedures: The section should include institutional monitoring and evaluation (M & E) arrangements for the project (external/internal), parameters/indicators for M & E, periodic evaluation, reporting and dissemination of these reports. 137 13. Budget and Funding Arrangements and Time: This section should provide an overall cost estimates for land acquisition, resettlement including for monitoring of the resettlement activities. If there are multiple sites, the RF should give an indicative budget for resettlement for each of the sites or communities. The financial responsibility of the relevant stakeholders, where applicable, should be categorically stated to avoid ambiguity of source of funds for resettlement activities. 4. TIME TABLE AND DELIVERABLES The Consultant who would work on daily bases with the Environmentalist and the Gender and Social Development Specialist would report directly to the Project Coordinator of PIT and is expected to submit to him the following: a. Inception report: describing in details the procedures/methodology for the assessment and timetable for completion of the ESF and RF preparation process (two weeks after contract signing); b. Draft reports: The consultant shall prepare separate for the ESMF and the RF (ten weeks after submission of inception report) c. Report summarizing the stakeholder workshop to discuss draft report (two weeks after submission of draft report); d. Final report: Upon receiving feedback from PIT and the WB, the consultant shall revise the report incorporating all comments and concerns PIT and WB and submit final report (four weeks after receiving feedback and comments from PIT and WB). During the review process, the consultant is expected to assist PIT to organize the disclosure and consultation process. All data and reports related to this exercise belong to the Client and the Consultant must seek the consent of EDSA /PIT before giving it to any party. 5. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION • A Senior Social or Resettlement Specialist or an equivalent qualification with at least 8 years of relevant experience, with emphasis on social impacts assessments, land acquisition and involuntary resettlement in urban settings. • The Consultant should have proven experience with World Bank’s ESS/Safeguards Policies and/or similar policy requirements of major lending organizations including the IFC, ADB, and AfDB. • Must have been involved in at least two assignments for the preparation of RAP/ARAP in the energy sector. • Demonstrable experience in preparing RAP/ARAP studies in the sub region would be an advantage. 138 6. PERIOD OF THE ASSIGNMENT The assignment is expected to take eighteen weeks after signing of the contract. The assignment allows for five man-months from month 1 to month 5 divided among a consultant and two experts, constituting the team. 7. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED The assignment is expected to require high level qualification of a Team Leader, a Social Development Expert and an Environmental Management Expert. Team Leader: The following qualifications are required for the Consultant (Team Leader): • A minimum of a Master’s Degree in natural resources management, environmental or social sciences or an equivalent qualification with at least ten (10) years of relevant experience, of which five (5) years are relevant experience in developing countries. • The Consultant should have proven experience with World Bank Safeguards Policies and requirements. • Must have been involved in at least two assignments for the preparation of ESMF/RF RAP/ESIA in the energy sector in Sierra Leone, sound knowledge of the socioeconomic and environmental context of the energy sector of Sierra Leone • Familiarity with participatory rural appraisal and social issues associated with the environment and energy sector of Sierra Leone. Demonstrable experience in preparing ESMF/RF/ESIA/RAP studies in the sub region would be an advantage. Social Development Expert: At least a Master’s Degree in the social sciences with a minimum of 10 years’ experience in the energy sector. Environmental Expert: At least a Master’s Degree in environmental management and or related fields with a minimum of ten (10) year’s experience in the energy environment 8. ESTIMATED MAN-MONTHS The estimated man-months for the entire assignment is 5 man-months (100 days). The man- months could indicatively be divided among the Consultant and two experts according to the table below: Consultant Man-month Team leader 2.0 Social Development Specialist 1.5 Environmental Management Expert 1.5 Total estimation duration 5.0 9. LOCATION OF THE ASSIGNMENT The assignment location is Sierra Leone and specific studies in designated Districts, Towns and Chiefdoms in the country. 10. FACILITIES TO BE PROVIDED BY CLIENT The client will provide the following facilities to the consultant: 139 a. Access to relevant documents that might be supportive to the assignment b. Organize mini-stakeholder workshop for the presentation and discussions of the draft report; and c. Letter(s) introducing the consultant wherever required in the execution of duties However, the Consultant shall provide all the administrative, technical, and professional and support staff needed to carry out their services efficiently and diligently. The Consultant shall also provide all other necessary facilities and logistical support for their staff or team(s) engaged, including accommodation, vehicles/transportation, utilities, office supplies and any other necessary materials to render their services. 140 Annex ii: Initial Assessment / Screening Form ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, SIERRA LEONE (Completed in Duplicate) Sub-Project Name: __________________________________________________________ Region: ___________________ District:_________________ Town: __________________ Address for correspondence ________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ Contact Person _______________________________ Position _____________________ Phone No._________________________________ Fax No. _________________________ E-mail Contact_________________________________________________________ Telephone: Fax: E-mail: 1.0 Description of Sub-project 1.1 Nature of Sub-project and Duration ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………… 1.2 Scope of Sub-project [Size of labour force, area covered, type of raw materials (quantities and sources), types of equipment, implements, machinery, etc..] ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… … 1.3 Location [attach a site plan or a map (if available)] 141 i. Location or Area (and nearest Town(s)): …..……………………….…………………… ii. Land take (total area for sub-project and related activities): ………………………………… 1.4 Site Description and Sensitivity [Attach photographs and sketches showing distances] i. Distance from nearest water body or drainage channel (minimum distance measured from the edge of proposed site to the bank of the water body or drain). More than 100 meters □ 100 meters □ Less than 100 meters □ ii. Number of water bodies and/or drainage channels/depressions close to site ………………………………………………………………………………………… ….. iii. Distance to nearest community (house) and/or other existing structures from the proposed site: ………………………………………………………………………………………… ……… iv. Number of affected properties within the designated project area: …………………………………………………………………….…………………… ……… 1.5 Land Cover and Topography i. Land cover of the site consists (completely or partly or noticeably) of: Vegetation □ Sparse Vegetation □ Physical Structure(s) □ Flood Plane □ Agriculture (Animals) □ Cultural Resource □ Water □ Agriculture (Crops) □ Other specify……… ii. Elevation and topography of the area for the Sub-project: Flat □ Valley □ Slope □ Undulating □ Hill □ Mountain □ Depression □ iii. Elevation and topography of the adjoining areas (within 500 meters radius of the site): Flat □ Valley □ Slope □ Undulating □ Hill □ Mountain □ Depression □ 2.0 Infrastructure i. The Sub-project would be developed in/on: Undeveloped site □ Partly developed site □ Well developed Other (specify) ……………………… ii. The Sub-project would involve excavation Yes □ No □ iii. Estimated number and depth of the excavations, etc.): ……………………………………………… vi. Are any of the following located on-site or within 50 metres from the edge of the proposed site? 142 Water supply source Yes □ No □ Pipeline Yes □ No □ Power supply source (electric pylon) Yes □ No □ Drainage Yes □ No □ Other(s) specify: ……………………………………………. 3.0 Environmental and Social Impacts 3.1 Land Use i. Complete change of existing land use Yes No ii. High population of landowners to be resettled Yes No 3.2 Air Quality – Is the proposed sub-project: i. Expected to emit any of the following during construction and operation? Dust □ Smoke □ VOCs □ ii Expose workers or the public to substantial emissions? Yes □ No □ iii. Result in cumulatively increased emissions in the area? Yes □ No □ vi. Create objectionable odour affecting people? Yes □ No □ 3.3 Flora and Fauna - Would the proposed Sub-project: i. Have adverse effect on any reserved area? Yes □ No □ ii. Have adverse effect on wetland areas through removal, filling, Yes □ No □ hydrological interruption or other means? iii. Interfere substantially with the movement of any wildlife Yes □ No □ species or organisms? vi. Be located within 100m from an Environmentally Sensitive Yes □ No □ Area? 3.4 Cultural Resources - Would the proposed sub-project: i. Disturb any burial grounds or cemeteries? Yes □ No □ ii. Cause substantial adverse effect on any archaeological or historic Yes □ No □ site? iii. Alter the existing visual character of the area and surroundings, Yes □ No □ including trees and rock outcrops? 3.5 Water Quality and Hydrology - Would the proposed sub-project: i. Generate and discharge during construction: Liquid waste □ Liquid with oily □ substance Liquid with human or □ Liquid with chemical □ animal waste substance Liquid with pH outside 6-9 □ Liquid with odour/smell □ range ii. Lead to changes in the drainage pattern of the area, resulting in Yes □ No □ erosion or siltation? iii. Lead to increase in surface run-off, which could result in flooding Yes □ No □ on or off-site? 143 iv. Increase runoff, which could exceed the capacity of existing storm Yes □ No □ water drainage? v. Lead to multiple water users, which could affect water quality and Yes No quantity? 3.6 Noise Nuisance - Would the proposed Undertaking: i. Generate noise in excess of established permissible noise level? Yes □ No □ ii. Expose persons to excessive vibration and noise? Yes □ No □ 3.7 Waste Generation i. Types: Solid □ Liquid □ Gaseous □ Other ……………………………….. ii. Quantity: ………………………………………………………………………………….. iii. Means/Place of Disposal: …………………………………………………………………. 3.8 Occupational Health and Safety – Would the proposed sub-project: i. Expose workers to emissions? Yes No ii. Involve using machinery that generate excessive noise (above Yes No 70dB) and vibration? iii. Expose workers to working at height? Yes No iv. Expose workers to heavy lifting? Yes No 3.9 Socio-economic. – Would the proposed sub-project: i. Lead to loss of livelihoods Yes No ii. Influx of people from other communities? Yes No 3.10 Other Environmental and Social Impacts ………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………. ………………….…………………… 4.0 Management of (Environmental and Social) Impacts 4.1 Air Quality ………………………………………………………………………………………………….. ………………………………………………………………………………………………….. ………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………. 4.2 Flora and Fauna ………………………………………………………………………………………………….. …………………………………………………………………………………………………. ………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………….. 144 4.3 Cultural Resources ………………………………………………………………………………………………….. ………………………………………………………………………………………………….. ………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………. 4.4 Coastal and Water Resources ………………………………………………………………………………………………….. ………………………………………………………………………………………………….. ………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………… 4.5 Noise ………………………………………………………………………………………………….. ……………………………………………………………………………………..…………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………….. 4.6 Occupational Health and Safety ………………………………………………………………………………………………….. ………………………………………………………………………………………………..… ………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………. 4.7 Waste Generation ………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………… 4.8 Socio-economic ……………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 4.9 Other Measures ………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………… DECLARATION I, …………………………………………… hereby declare that the information provided on this form is true to the best of my knowledge and shall provide any additional information that shall come to my notice in the course of processing this application. ……………………………….. ……………………………. 145 Signature Date Official use Recommendations: Requires and EIA and/ or RAP Requires a PEA Does not require further environmental study 146 Annex iii: Indicative outline of ESMP An ESMP consists of the set of mitigation, monitoring, and institutional measures to be taken during implementation and operation of a project to eliminate adverse environmental and social risks and impacts, offset them, or reduce them to acceptable levels. The ESMP also includes the measures and actions needed to implement these measures. The Borrower will (a) identify the set of responses to potentially adverse impacts; (b) determine requirements for ensuring that those responses are made effectively and in a timely manner; and (c)describe the means for meeting those requirements. Depending on the project, an ESMP may be prepared as a stand-alone document1 or the content may be incorporated directly into the ESCP. The content of the ESMP will include the following: A. Mitigation • The ESMP identifies measures and actions in accordance with the mitigation hierarchy that reduces potentially adverse environmental and social impacts to acceptable levels. The plan will include compensatory measures, if applicable. Specifically, the ESMP: (i) identifies and summarizes all anticipated adverse environmental and social impacts (including those involving indigenous people or involuntary resettlement); (ii) describes—with technical details—each mitigation measure, including the type of impact to which it relates and the conditions under which it is required (e.g. continuously or in the event of contingencies), together with designs, equipment descriptions, and operating procedures, as appropriate; iii) estimates any potential environmental and social impacts of these measures; and (iv) takes into account, and is consistent with, other mitigation plans required for the project (e .g ., for involuntary resettlement, indigenous peoples, or cultural heritage). B. Monitoring • The ESMP identifies monitoring objectives and specifies the type of monitoring, with linkages to the impacts assessed in the environmental and social assessment and the mitigation measures described in the ESMP2. 1 This may be particularly relevant where the Borrower is engaging contractors, and the ESMP sets out the requirements to be followed by contractors. In this case the ESMP should be incorporated as part of the contract between the Borrower and the contractor, together with appropriate monitoring and enforcement provisions. 2 Monitoring during project implementation provides information about key environmental and social aspects of the project, particularly the environmental and social impacts of the project and the effectiveness of mitigation measures . Such information enables the Borrower and the Bank to evaluate the success of mitigation as part of project supervision, and allows corrective action to be taken when needed . 147 Specifically, the monitoring section of the ESMP provides (a) a specific description, and technical details, of monitoring measures, including the parameters to be measured, methods to be used, sampling locations, frequency of measurements, detection limits (where appropriate), and definition of thresholds that will signal the need for corrective actions; and (b) monitoring and reporting procedures to (i) ensure early detection of conditions that necessitate particular mitigation measures, and (ii) furnish information on the progress and results of mitigation. C. Capacity Development and Training • To support the timely and effective implementation of environmental and social project components and mitigation measures, the ESMP draws on the environmental and social assessment of the existence, role, and capability of responsible parties on-site or at the agency and ministry level. • Specifically, the ESMP provides a specific description of institutional arrangements, identifying which party is responsible for carrying out the mitigation and monitoring measures (e.g., for operation, supervision, enforcement, monitoring of implementation, remedial action, financing, reporting, and staff training). • To strengthen environmental and social management capability in the agencies responsible for implementation, the ESMP recommends the establishment or expansion of the parties responsible, the training of staff and any additional measures that may be necessary to support the implementation of mitigation measures and any other recommendations of the environmental and social assessment. D. Implementation Schedule and Cost Estimates • For all three aspects (mitigation, monitoring, and capacity development), the ESMP provides (a) an implementation schedule for measures that must be carried out as part of the project, showing phasing and coordination with overall project implementation plans; and (b) the capital and recurrent cost estimates and sources of funds for implementing the ESMP. These figures are also integrated into the total project cost tables. E. Integration of ESMP with Project • The Borrower’s decision to proceed with a project, and the Bank’s decision to support it, are predicated in part on the expectation that the ESMP (either stand-alone or as incorporated into the ESCP) will be executed effectively. Consequently, each of the measures and actions to be implemented will be clearly specified, including the individual mitigation and monitoring measures and actions and the institutional responsibilities relating to each, and the costs of so doing will be integrated into the project’s overall planning, design, budget, and implementation. 148 149 Annex iv: Indicative outline of ESIA Where an environmental and social impact assessment is prepared as part of the environmental and social assessment, it will include the following: A. Executive Summary • Concisely discusses significant findings and recommended actions. B. Legal and Institutional Framework • Analyzes the legal and institutional framework for the project, within which the environmental and social assessment is carried out, including the issues set out in ESS1, paragraph 263. • Compares the Borrower’s existing environmental and social framework and the ESSs and identifies the gaps between them. • Identifies and assesses the environmental and social requirements of any co- financiers. C. Project Description • Concisely describes the proposed project and its geographic, environmental, social, and temporal context, including any offsite investments that may be required (e.g. dedicated pipelines, access roads, power supply, water supply, housing, and raw material and product storage facilities), as well as the project’s primary suppliers. • Through consideration of the details of the project indicates the need for any plan to meet the requirements of ESS1 through 10. • Includes a map of sufficient detail, showing the project site and the area that may be affected by the project’s direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts. D. Baseline Data • Sets out in detail the baseline data that is relevant to decisions about project location, design, operation, or mitigation measures. This should include a discussion of the accuracy, reliability, and sources of the data as well as information about dates surrounding project identification, planning, and implementation. • Identifies and estimates the extent and quality of available data, key data gaps, and uncertainties associated with predictions. • Based on current information, assesses the scope of the area to be studied and describes relevant physical, biological, and socioeconomic conditions, including any changes anticipated before the project commences. 3 ESS1, paragraph 26, states that the environmental and social assessment takes into account in an appropriate manner all issues relevant to the project, including: (a) the country’s applicable policy framework, national laws and regulations, and institutional capabilities (including implementation) relating to environment and social issues; variations in country conditions and project context; country environmental or social studies; national environmental or social action plans; and obligations of the country directly applicable to the project under relevant international treaties and agreements; (b) applicable requirements under the ESSs; and (c) the EHSGs, and other relevant GIIP . 150 • Takes into account current and proposed development activities within the project area but not directly connected to the project. E. Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts • Takes into account all relevant environmental and social risks and impacts of the project. This will include the environmental and social risks and impacts specifically identified in ESS2–8, and any other environmental and social risks and impacts arising as a consequence of the specific nature and context of the project, including the risks and impacts identified in ESS1, paragraph 28. F. Mitigation Measures • Identifies mitigation measures and significant residual negative impacts that cannot be mitigated and, to the extent possible, assesses the acceptability of those residual negative impacts. • Identifies differentiated measures so that adverse impacts do not fall disproportionately on the disadvantaged or vulnerable. • Assesses the feasibility of mitigating the environmental and social impacts; the capital and recurrent costs of proposed mitigation measures, and their suitability under local conditions; and the institutional, training, and monitoring requirements for the proposed mitigation measures. • Specifies issues that do not require further attention, providing the basis for this determination. G. Analysis of Alternatives • Systematically compares feasible alternatives to the proposed project site, technology, design, and operation—including the “without project” situation—in terms of their potential environmental and social impacts. • Assesses the alternatives’ feasibility of mitigating the environmental and social impacts; the capital and recurrent costs of alternative mitigation measures, and their suitability under local conditions; and the institutional, training, and monitoring requirements for the alternative mitigation measures. • For each of the alternatives, quantifies the environmental and social impacts to the extent possible, and attaches economic values where feasible. H. Design Measures • Sets out the basis for selecting the particular project design proposed and specifies the applicable. EHSGs or if the ESHGs are determined to be inapplicable, justifies recommended emission levels and approaches to pollution prevention and abatement that are consistent with GIIP. I. Key Measures and Actions for the Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP) 151 • Summarizes key measures and actions and the timeframe required for the project to meet the requirements of the ESSs. This will be used in developing the Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP). J. Appendices • List of the individuals or organizations that prepared or contributed to the environmental and social assessment. • References—setting out the written materials both published and unpublished that have been used. • Record of meetings, consultations and surveys with stakeholders, including those with affected people and other interested parties. The record specifies the means of such stakeholder engagement that were used to obtain the views of affected people and other interested parties. • Tables presenting the relevant data referred to or summarized in the main text. • List of associated reports or plans. Annex v: Sample Grievance Report Form GRIEVANCE REPORT FORM Received by: _________________________ Date Received: ___________ Reported by: _________________________ Database ID: _____________ Responsible Agency:_________________ _ Staff Name: _______________ Location:__________________________________________________________ Village First Name, Last Name Contact Details Complainant(s) Local Chief Acknowledged by: ____________________ Date Acknowledged: _______ Description of Concern: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………. 152 Category: Compensation / Land Access / Inadequate Notification/ Disruption to Business or Property / Property Damage / Irrigation / Boundary Dispute / Environmental Damage / Construction Activities / Safety Risk /Traffic / Other Proposed Resolution or Feedback: ………………………………………………………………………………………. Complainant satisfied with process? Yes ☐No ☐ Why not?………………………………….…………… Complainant satisfied with outcome? Yes ☐No ☐ Why not? ……………………….………………….. Print Name (Complainant): ____________________________________________ Signed (Complainant): _________________________________ Date:________ Signed (Recipient): __________________________________ Date:________ Copied to: _________________________________________________________ 153 Annex vi: Specific Guidelines on Lithium Solar Battery Storage Transportation and Disposal (SLEWRC Mini- Grid Regulations, 2018) Type of Phase in the Recommended link Health and Safety Equipment Project to Environmental Protection ✓ Do not discharge completely and do not overcharge (risk of explosion). Installation & ✓ Keep away from solar radiation. Lithium Battery Operations ✓ Batteries must be disposed at a suitable waste management facility based on International Standards after end of lifetime 
 ✓ Wear safety gear. ✓ Must be a safe working environment. ✓ A comprehensive occupational safety program, including training and site orientation. ✓ Competent persons to effectively respond to emergency events. Operation ✓ Keep a record of all occupational injuries and illnesses and divulge these records to SLEWRC or body on demand for examination and analysis. ✓ Should have adequate insurance policy to cover facilities, employees and third parties. Solar PV 
 ✓ For CdTe modules: Hazardous Decommissioning & Waste must be Disposal collected and brought to a recycling centre. 
 154 ✓ Consult manufacturer’s guidelines or where necessary the manufacturer 
 Inverters, charge Installation ✓ Must only be installed by professional electricians. controller and other electronic ✓ Must be a safe working environment. equipment ✓ A comprehensive occupational safety program, 
including training and Inverters, charge site orientation. controller and other ✓ Competent persons to effectively respond to 
emergency events. Operation electronic ✓ Keep a record of all occupational injuries and illnesses 
and divulge these equipment records to SLEWRC or 
body on demand for examination and analysis. ✓ Should have adequate insurance policy to cover 
facilities, employees and third parties. 
 Must be disposed in an environmental friendly Decommissioning & way. Waste must be Disposal collected and brought to a recycling centre. Due to the weight of equipment, use appropriate lifting and installation Transport & Storage equipment (e.g. crane). Distribution Box Conductors ✓ Select a site ✓ Installation only by an electrician 
 Transformers where the risk of ✓ Wear all applicable safety gear like safety shoes, safety 
gloves Installation flooding is low. ✓ Comply with the SLEWRC Distribution Code. ✓ Use fire proved 
 material. 
 155 ✓ Must be a safe working environment. ✓ Wear appropriate safety gear ✓ Must only be operated by trained electricians. ✓ Comply with the SLEWRC Distribution Code. ✓ A comprehensive occupational safety program, including 
training and Operation site orientation. ✓ Competent persons to effectively respond to 
emergency events. ✓ Keep a record of all occupational injuries and illnesses and 
divulge these records to SLEWRC or body on demand for 
examination and analysis. ✓ Should have adequate insurance policy to cover facilities, 
employees and third parties. ✓ The foundations must be removed and the place recover its original status. ✓ Transformer Decommissioning & may contain Due to the weight of equipment, use appropriate lifting and installation Disposal hazardous and equipment (e.g. crane). polluting material which has to be brought ✓ to a collection point where it can be treated. 
 156 Annex vii: Labour Management Plan The ESLEA project perceives the need to secure the principal rights of workers since the labour force is an important resource. Thus, making sure there is a healthy worker-management rapport, treating workers equitably and providing them with safe working conditions are pivotal components to the sustenance of this project. This Labour Management Plan (LMP) is for the duration of the project construction phase. During the construction phase, labour requirements are often determined by project work specification. It is the responsibility of the hired contractor to recruit personnel for the various classes of workers mentioned below. Although this LMP here is a generaic one, it is expected that hired contractors develop specific labour management procedures for the different sub projects. The objectives of the labour management procedure are: • To advance the reasonable treatment, non-segregation, and equivalent opportunity of workers • To build up, keep up, and improve the worker-management relationship. • To promote compliance with national employment and labour laws. • To secure workers, including vulnerable categories of workers such as women. • To promote safe and healthy working conditions and the health of workers. • To avoid the use of forced and child labour. The ESLEA LMP follows the requirements outlined in ESS2 and it's captured in 1 to 6. 1. Types and number of Project Workers The ESLEA project will involve the following classes of workers: Direct Workers Are enrolled or engaged directly by the project to work exclusively with the project. 5 employees are dedicated to this project who are mostly civil and public servants. Contracted workers Are enrolled or engaged through third parties to perform work related to the project. The precise number of contractors who will be employed is not known as of now. When implementation begins this information will be known. components 1 and 2 may include minor construction and rehabilitation and will engage civil works contractors and workers. Community Workers Are enrolled from the community or nearby communities where the particular activity takes place. These will be employed on a needs basis. 2. Potential Labour Risks As per the nature of the ESLEA project activities, a major labour risk is envisaged. 157 Labour risks associated with Civil Works contractor workers at subproject level: local contractors who will be hired locally will implement subprojects and all of them will be required to have a written contract consistent with the objective of ESS2, in particular about child and forced labour. The Child Rights Act of 2007 makes provision for the elimination of child labour, protection of children and young persons and prohibition of hazardous child labour. Labour risks including labour influx and associated Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, Sexual Harassment, child labour and forced labour are viewed as low given the nature of project activities in components 1 and 2. Since civil works to be upheld under the project will be little in scale and prioritized by local communities themselves, the risk of forced labour is expected to be little. In any case, the contractor will be needed in the agreement to make commitments against the utilization of forced labour, and task staff responsible for contractor supervision will monitor and report the absence of forced labour. Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) risks are viewed as low to moderate contingent on the type of subproject works to be implemented. Notwithstanding, since the civil contractors’ workers are probably unskilled and untrained neighborhood populace, in any case, hazard remains that a few mishaps may happen that lead to wounds. All contractors will be required to develop and implement written labour management procedures, including procedures to establish and maintain a safe working environment as per the requirements of the ESS2. All contractors will be required under the Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) to ensure workers will use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), receive basic safety training and other preventive actions as provided. A major risk is associated with climbing on electric poles, hence contractors’ ESMP should cover this. Employment Risks. Workers will be hired by the project, either directly as project staff or indirectly as part of contractors or service providers. There is a risk of unaccounted working hours and the lack of overtime compensation. Contractors should be encouraged to treat this as a major concern as it normally leads to an uprising among workers. 3. Working Conditions and Management of Worker Relationship In line with the requirements of ESS 2 and the laws of Sierra Leone, the ESLEA project will adopt and implement human resources policies and procedures appropriate to its size and workforce that set out its approach to managing workers. Documented information that is clear and understandable, regarding their terms and conditions of employment, their rights under the laws of Sierra Leone and any applicable collective agreements, including their rights related to hours of work, wages, overtime, compensation, and benefits will be provided by the ESLEA project upon immediate enrolment and at any material change that might occur. 158 The ESLEA project will base the enrollment on the principle of equitable opportunity, fair treatment and non-discrimination concerning recruitment and hiring, compensation (including wages and benefits), working conditions and terms of employment, access to training, job assignment, promotion, termination of employment or retirement, and disciplinary practices. measures will be taken to prevent and address harassment, intimidation, and/or exploitation, especially regarding women. The current minimum wage in Sierra Leone is Le 600,000 (USD 60). A grievance mechanism for workers to raise workplace concerns is provided for in section 6.7. During recruitment, the workers shall be informed of this mechanism and how to access it easily. The mechanism will involve an appropriate level of management and address concerns promptly, using an understandable and transparent process that provides timely feedback to those concerned, without any retribution. The mechanism will also allow for anonymous complaints to be raised and addressed. The mechanism will not impede access to other judicial or administrative remedies that might be available under the law or through existing arbitration procedures, or a substitute for grievance mechanisms provided through collective agreements. 4. Protecting the WorkForce Child Labour: The ESLEA project won’t utilize Children in any way that is monetarily exploitative or is probably going to be risky or to meddle with the child's education, or to be unsafe to the child's wellbeing or physical, mental, spiritual, moral, or social development. Under the Child Rights Act of 2007, the minimum age for admission of children into full-time employment is fifteen (15) as per section 125 of the Child Rights Act of 2007 and Section 52 of Chapter 212, Employers and Employed Act. The minimum age for the engagement of a child in light work is thirteen years as per section 127 subsection one of the child Right Act of 2007. However, the minimum age for engagement of persons in hazardous work is eighteen (18) as per section 128 subsection of the Child Right Act of 2007 and Sections 47–56 of Chapter 212, Employers and Employed Act. The minimum age for employment or engagement set out in the World Bank’s ESS 2 is age fourteen (14). The project will comply with the World Bank’s minimum age and that of the laws of Sierra Leone. This project will likewise guarantee that children younger than eighteen (18) are not employed in hazardous work. All work of people younger than eighteen (18) will be dependent upon appropriate risk assessment and regular monitoring of health, working conditions and hours of work. The GoSL has established institutional mechanisms for the enforcement of laws and regulations on child labour which includes the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs (MGCA), Ministry of Labour and Social security (MLSS), Ministry of Justice’s Director of public prosecution, 159 Ministry of Internal Affairs' Police and Transnational and Organized Crime Unit. There mandates include: • to formulate, implement, and monitor compliance with child labour regulations through its Child Labour Unit. • enforce labour laws in the formal sector. • embark on nationwide sensitization and popularization of the labour migration policy, impacting child labour. • to undertake criminal proceedings, including enforcement of criminal laws against forced child labour If a minor under the minimum labour eligible age is discovered working on the project, measures will be taken to immediately terminate the employment or engagement of the minor in a responsible manner, taking into account the best interest of the minor. This project will not employ forced labour which consists of any work or service not voluntarily performed. 5. Occupational Health and Safety This project will take steps to prevent accidents, injury, and disease arising from, associated with, or occurring in the course of work by minimizing, as far as reasonable and practicable. The project will address areas that include the: • identification of potential hazards to workers, chiefly those that may be life-threatening; • provision of preventive and protective measures, including modification, substitution, or elimination of hazardous conditions or substances; • training of workers; • documentation and reporting of occupational accidents, diseases, and incidents; and • emergency prevention, preparedness, and response arrangements. 6. Workers Engaged by Third Parties Concerning contracted workers, the project will make reasonable efforts to ascertain that the third parties who engage contracted workers are reputable and legitimate organizations and have an appropriate labour management procedure. The project will establish policies and procedures for managing and monitoring the performance of such third-party employers with the requirements of this ESS Also, the project will incorporate these requirements in contractual agreements with such a third- party. Contracted workers will have access to a grievance mechanism. In cases where the third party employing or engaging the workers is not able to provide a grievance mechanism to such workers, the project’s grievance mechanism will be available to the contracted workers. 160 Contractors’ labour management records and reports that may be reviewed would include: • representative samples of employment contracts or arrangements between third parties and contracted workers, • records relating to grievances received and their resolution, • reports relating to safety inspections, including fatalities and incidents and implementation of corrective actions, • records relating to incidents of non-compliance with national law, adherence to applicable contractor workers code of conduct and • records of training provided for contracted workers to explain occupational health and safety risks and preventive measures. 7. Incident and Accident Reporting In case of manifestation of an incident or accident-related or having an impact on this project which has, or likely to have, substantial adverse effect on the environment, the affected communities, the public or workers, the implementing agency shall: • not later than five (5) calendar days after having been informed of such incident or accident, inform the Bank by any electronic means of its nature, or circumstance and any effect or impact resulting or likely to result therefrom as soon as reasonable and practicable. • not later than twenty (20) days after such incident or accident, provide the Bank with a summary report that includes a description of the incident or accident, and the measures, if any, that EDSA is taking or plans to take to address it and to prevent any future similar event as reasonable and practicable and • keep the Bank informed of the on-going implementation of the said measures and plans. Regular reporting: • Accidents and grievance log books are placed in all construction sites • The supervision consultants’ monthly progress report will provide details on accidents • All regular progress report to the Bank will include information on accidents and incidents • Any severe injury (requiring off-site medical care) or fatality incident shall be reported to the Bank within 24 hours with basic information and a detailed incident report including the following will be submitted within 10 working days: a. root cause analysis and b. corrective action plan on i. immediate mitigation measures in case of continuing danger (e.g. fencing, signboard, guards) ii. compensation to the affected family based on a clear rational iii. risk assessment and correct application of ESHS management procedures, and 161 iv. medium- and long-term mitigation measures including enhancement of safety measures, audits, and additional training. 162 Annex viii: Stakeholders Consultation Ministry of Environment (30-6-2020) Name Institution/ Designation Comment/Concern/Question Response Organization Edwin Ministry of Senior Advised that the project should involve affected Project communities will be consulted Baimba Environment Environmental communities in the planning stage. Officer Mentioned that the current Resettlement policy is about to be tabled in parliament Lahai S. Ministry of Assistant Expressed appreciation for the fact that the ministry is The consultant had identified the ministry is a key Keita Environment Environmental consulted and noted that the Ministry is an important stakeholder and that MoEnv is the first to be Officer stakeholder in such a project. consulted. He advised that the project should take note of environmental-related Acts and work by them An extensive desk study will be done to access throughout. Acts related to the management of the Also suggested that issues around land acquisition environment, land acquisition, and resettlement. should be greatly considered and handled with the utmost relevance. That proper negotiations and compensation should be carried out. He further noted that several projects have failed to honour this aspect thus leading to dispute with The RF will make recommendations for the RAP to the local people. follow national laws and world Bank ESS He also recommended that project documents and reports should be submitted to the Ministry of The client shall be informed Environment. 163 Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Food Security (1-7-2020) Name Institution/ Designation Comment/Concern/Question Response Organization John S Ministry of Director of He registered that the ministry has sent out a proposal to The information provided on the review of crop Kamara Agriculture and Crops review the crop compensation rate. He says the current compensation is noted and every effort will be made Forestry compensation rate is low compared to the amount of to ensure that compensation matters are dealt with time, energy, resources, and effort put out by farmers, following the law. and also the market value of crops does is not commensurate to the current crop compensation rate. He added that compensation matters should be taken seriously where lands would be acquired from users especially farmlands. He also noted that there should be massive sensitization and awareness-raising in the project-affected The project will continuously engage local communities considering the fact the project is a delicate communities and stakeholders to sensitize and one dealing with high tension cables. Hence, he added update on project work. Currently, stakeholder that farmers should be sensitized to keep a safe distance engagement is on-going. from the high tension cables and not cultivating under the cables because it poses risk to causing disaster. He added that no settlement or agricultural activity should be allowed with the safe zone of the high tension power lines. He also mentioned the ministry plays a supervisory role in the compensation process to ensure the process is facilitated and in compliance with the crop compensation guidelines. 164 Ministry of Lands, housing and Country Planning (1-7-2020) Name Institution/ Designation Comment/Concern/Question Response Organization Jobo Ministry of Head National He mentioned that the land tenure system in the provinces Samba Lands Housing Lands Policy should be paid keen attention to in such a project which The information provided regards the land and Country Unit might need to acquire land from people. He explained that tenure system is well noted and every effort Planning the Freehold tenure system which operates in the provinces will be made to respect the land tenure laws has ownership of land as privately owned by individuals. He, obtaining in the provinces. Where therefore, pointed out that if there is a need to acquire land, compensation issues arise, these will be the individuals who own the land themselves should be adequately addressed. considered an integral part of the negotiation along with local authorities who should serve as supervisory bodies to ensure There is an eligibility criterion in the RF that a smooth transition. He noted that a twist of this system in the outlines who is eligible for compensation. All past in other projects has caused drawbacks in the case those directly affected by the project will be wherein local authorities are the ones who negotiate land eligible and the calculation of compensation acquisition deals and have remunerations made to them shall be done with the help of independent leaving out the actual landowners because the local evaluators. authorities are considered as custodians of the land. He also admonished that in any case where a family owns a parcel of land required for the project, during such negotiations women should be included and given the chance to have their say or input in the process. He also advised that even in cases where route taken along the Right-of-Way, in an even some parcels have been developed and occupied by residents, they should project should endeavor to compensate those individuals. He also mentioned that the National Land Policy should be consulted for proper guide on the tenure system in the country especially in the provinces where the project is centred. 165 Moyamba Consultation (7-7-2020) Name Institution/ Designation Comment/Concern/Question Response Community Joseph Moyamba Chairman Mr. Mbogba expressed great joy and delight over the This is very welcome and the advice B. District project and the approach to consult them at the initial made concerning employment, Mbogba Council stage. He noted the following: compensation mechanism, conducting that several projects have gone bad because it had an EIA on the project, monitoring, and failed to involve stakeholders and the people affected. evaluation is very much welcome. The project will go all out to ensure that the - that the council will give their support to views of the Chairman are well make the project successful because electricity followed. is very key to development and the township of Moyamba does not have electricity supply. - that the council will ensure to adequately sensitize the people on the project and its component. For this, he required that the council should be involved throughout the project. - expressed that the project should make it a priority to employ residents in the town who have the required skills for jobs in the project. - advised that proper redress and compensation mechanism should be put in place to promptly compensate people who might forfeit their land and/or have their plantations or businesses destroyed or disrupted in the course of the project. - advised that environmental impacts should be taken into consideration and that mitigation measures should be put in place to minimize some of the appalling impacts. 166 - pledged the council’s total commitment towards the project as he noted that they have competent staff to monitor and evaluate the project. - added that the monitory role should not only be limited to the council but other groups as well such as the CSOs, NGOs, youth groups, women’s groups, etc. he noted. Philip Moyamba Chief Expressed that the council should be given access to This concern is well noted and the Suma District Administrator fully monitor the project. Thus, he noted that the project will ensure that a monitoring Council council should be provided with the required support mechanism is put in place and that to monitor and supervise the project to its completion. Councils will be involved. Haroun Moyamba District Officer Emphasized that the resident of the town who has the Opportunities shall be available for Keh District required skills and expertise the project requires skilled and unskilled labour within the Tommy Office - should be hired. communities. The Contractor who will Ministry of He also added that compensation for land which the be awarded the job will put in place a Local project might utilize should be significant. He, Recruitment Procedure and this will be Government therefore, advised that should there be such as case, implemented in concert with the & Rural proper negotiations should be carried with Councils to guide recruitment. Development landowners and they should be fairly compensated. Foday Moyamba Gender Desk Expressed that incoming migration which such a This is very welcome and that Tejan District Officer project creates tends to impacts women and children mechanism will be put in place to Sonnie Council negatively. He highlighted that such a project poses address all these concerns. problems to social issues such as sexual-based violence, child marriage, and so on. On that, he posited that workers coming to work in the project should be sensitized and guided on these social issues and how not to violate them adding that the township has strict laws to protects the rights and dignity of women and girls. 167 Pujehun Consultation (7 -7-2020) Name Institution/ Designation Comment/Concern/Question Response Community Sheikh Sowa Pujehun District Chairman Was excited about the project. He mentioned the This is noted and every Council following: effort will be made to address the concerns of the - that the council is central in this project District Chairman. and thus has a huge management role to play in the project. - that Pujehun has a cluster of about four communities which are about a quarter- mile, hence, he appealed for the project to extend to those towns as well. - recommended that a property survey should be carried out to assess the electricity needs of residents so that adequate megawatt of electricity will be provided. - requested for the project upon completion should be handed over to the council to manage its distribution and income generation. This devolution he said will help the council generate funds to maintain the project and to also implement other projects. - advised that keen attention to the potential negative impact which the project will have on the environment and that measures should be put in place to minimize those impacts. He noted that the council has Environmental Officers who will be monitoring to see if actions to 168 minimize damage to the environment are followed during the project. Sahr E. Pujehun District Chief Also emphasized that the council should be given Each district shall appoint a Yambasu Council Administrator the mandate to run the management, distribution, Community Liaison Officer and supply of the electricity after the project is (CLO) and the CLO shall be concluded. This he also added will ensure the in close contact with the sustainability of the project. He also furthered that project to transmit all the council has the ability and capability to interest. supervised, monitor, and manage such a project which will benefit the town. He added that the project is very pivotal to the development of the town, hence, he urged for its start as soon as possible noting the town is deprived of electricity. Sylvester M. Kpanga Chiefdom- Chiefdom Speaker He lauded the project as he mentioned that This concern is well-noted Kamara Pujehun electricity is a felt need in Pujehun. He noted that and adequate steps shall be with electricity comes other sectors of growth and made to respect the land development. tenure rights of the people. He added that a project of such magnitude has got its advantages and disadvantages. But he furthered that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. He continued that such a project involves the utilization of land and with a high possibility of relocating land users and taking away land from ordinary people. He maintained that this factor has posed problems for many projects wherein compensations are not made. He admonished that negotiations and compensation with land users who might be required to give up their lands should be considered a priority. 169 He also called for continued community engagement and sensitization on the project because it deals with high tension cables. Prince Kpanga Chiefdom- stakeholder He buttressed and emphasized the compensation Concerns noted. Kemokai Pujehun for land which will be utilized. He also added the electricity which will be provided should be cheap and affordable adding that they must ensure to supply the actual megawatt of power need in the town. He also appealed for the project to be extended to other nearby towns in the district. Kailahun Consultation (8 -7-2020) Name Institution/ Designation Comment/Concern/Question Response Community Sahr A.K Kailahun District Chairman The chairman was delightful as he welcomes This is very much noted and the Lamin Council the project. advice made concerning He firstly expressed that the council is very compensation, sensitization, pivotal in the development of the township, employment, RoW issues will be thus, he committed the council's followed. commitment to supporting the project to become successful. His first concern had to deal with the route of the transmission line. Mr. Lamin noted that compensation guidelines should be put in place to fairly compensate people whose land would probably be occupied by the project. He further noted that settlement should be made with vendors who occupy the right of way where they do their businesses if those areas would be affected. 170 He also suggested that there should be massive sensitization of the project and community engagement. He explains that this will help the people understand the components of the project, its positive and negative impacts, and what they should do to not endanger themselves. He sternly warned that people should be involved in the project. He noted that women should be allowed to play a critical role in the implementation of the project noting that women form a majority of business owner especially small businesses which need electricity to thrive. Mr. Lamin pledges the support of the council in monitoring the supervising the project. Bintu A. Kailahun District Chief Administrator Expressed that the council will support the The support of the Council in Vangahun Council project in terms of sensitizing the people and terms of sensitizing the people is popularizing the project. She also added the highly welcome. The question of council will be focal in supervising and lack of resources to monitor the monitoring the project while adding that project is noted and will be they have competent staff to do so. She communicated to the project however expressed concerns over the lack of management. There is going to be resources of the council to conduct efficient a monitoring mechanism and the monitoring as she requested that the project Council will be part of that should include funds for the council to carry mechanism. out effective monitoring and evaluation of the project. She emphasized the need to thoroughly engage the people through consultations to get their reactions about the project. Consultations and stakeholder engagement are on-going as the 171 project considers this a very important component. Jonathan Kailahun District Deputy Chief Noted that information plays a key This is very welcome and the advice Comber Council Administrator role in timely relay efficient made concerning considering the information to the people. In this vein, Council as partners in information he expressed that the council will take dissemination will be followed. Thank the lead in popularizing the project to you for the support promised in terms the people. On that note, he appealed of popularizing the project. that council should be considered as close partners hence, they should be informed about details as the project progresses. Alhaji Kailahun District Development Planning Expressed that they are committed to Thank you for the words of Ansumana Council Officer supporting the venture which has the commitment to support the potential to trigger other development in the project and that the promise to township. He noted they will play a crucial play a crucial part in monitoring role in monitoring the project. is very much welcome. He revealed that the council’s proactive intervention in supervising the proposed road construction within the township will see a modern engineering design that will make provision for the passage of cables underground. He noted this will ensure the safety of high tension cables and the non- usage of poles. He advised that this project should consider using this underground means of passing the transmission line to prevent the risk of high tension cable causing damage to people. He also expressed that the council will be committed to monitoring the project throughout the project life cycle. Philip A. Kailahun District Ag. Gender Officer He pointed out that women should be Each Council shall have a CLO Boima Council recognized and should be the inner core to and one main task of the CLO is 172 achieve success in the project. He advised to closely monitor the project to against social issues around women and forestall any adverse social issues girls which such a project tends to raise. He that may arise as a result of advised that the project should commit to project activities. ensuring those issues are recognized and given preference to protect women in the township during the project. Chief Kailahun Town Chief He welcomed the project initiative as ESLEA will work closely with the Maada expressed that electricity is a priority need Council in addressing affordable Ndoleh for Kailahun. electricity issues and all other Chief Maada Ndoleh noted the following: concerns will be addressed during continuous engagement - that Kailahun has electricity which is during project implementation. provided by a private individual noting that cost is exhibiting and that they cannot afford it. - that this project should provide affordable electricity for them. expressed concerns over the materialization of the project which making reference to several other consultations as such which they have had with providing electricity in the town but each of which had proved futile. He, therefore, appealed for this project to be materialized and with urgency noting they welcome the initiative and that they are ready to support it fully. that the town is peaceful and welcoming to strangers. But pointed out that there are bylaws which they have in place which must be followed by workers who might come to work in the project. He furthered that they 173 are very keen on those bylaws as a result the project should make it integral to admonish its staff and other personnel to work following those norms while they come to the town. Morrison A. Kailahun Local Court Chairman Asked about the timeline of the project and This request was noted and that Jusu Court the various phases of the project to help the question will be transmitted them keep track of the project and monitor it to the project management to along the way. provide the requisite answer. Chief Brima Luawa Foiya- Section Chief Asked about the scope of the project as he The scope of the project included Sumanyand Kailahun appealed for the scope to the project to be electrification of six districts a extended to reach other towns and headquarter towns through grid communities within the district. connections with the CLSG or other segments of the 225 kV network and electrification of two districts headquarter and surrounding towns through mini-grid solutions. Senya Allieu Sinnava Women’s Member She expressed concern over the exorbitant ESLEA will work with the Group -Kailahun cost of electricity which is currently Council in addressing affordable provided by a private individual which she electricity issues and all other says makes it difficult for them to acquire concerns will be addressed especially as women who have businesses during continuous engagement that most need electricity. On that note, she during project implementation. appealed that the ESLEA project should provide affordable electricity for them. Hawa Peaceful Mothers Secretary She emphasized the concern to extend the This concern is very well noted Kemokai Union- Kailahun project’s scope to other communities with and this shall be passed on to the district as she noted that electricity is a project management but with no major pillar in transformational assurance at this stage that this development. will happen. Lucy K. Peaceful Mothers Treasurer She expressed that women are The project will continuously Kanneh Union- Kailahun predominantly engaged in small businesses engage with local communities that depend on electricity. She furthered that and all interests including 174 most women are breadwinners in their women’s interest will be homes. She noted that women should be considered. included in the project since the benefit of the project will have a huge impact on them and will determine whether they succeed in their businesses or not. As a result, she mentioned women should be allowed to make input throughout the project. Navo Kaikai Kailahun Former Member of She mentioned the following: The concerns are well noted and Parliament and Business expressed hope that the project materializes that the project will ensure that Proprietress in the next two years as she noted that the laws around child labour electricity is a felt need form the town. shall be strictly adhered to. Secondly, the aspect of expressed concerns over the safety recruitment is one that the of the project noting that the project Contractor will have a common should follow safety guidelines to understanding with the Council maintain the safety of the to ensure that residents also environment and also its workers. benefit from project - added that priority should be given implementation. to residents of the town who have the necessary skills to be employed by the project. She also noted that there should be massive sensitization of the project to the people for which she pledged their commitment. She issued a stern warning against child labour as she noted that the township has zero tolerance towards it. 175 Tonkolili Consultation (18 -9 -2020) Name Institution Designation Comment/concern/question Response Hawa Women’s Women’s She expressed delight over the project. She also revealed that The consultant agreed with Madam Forna Leader, Leader it’s a good project and that electricity is a major development Forna that women are indeed key to Tonkolili which they have longed for, hence, on behalf of the women, the project. He revealed that they she committed full support towards the project. She also are considered the core of the further expressed that the project stands to benefit women project and that they will be greatly considering that they are largely involved in business. included and encourage to She however warned that women’s interest should highly be participate in the consultations and regarded as they are very critical to such a project. throughout the project. Yabom Tonkolili Chairperson She expressed that the council is delighted to receive such a The consultant noted that thorough Sesay District project. She also committed the council’s support towards the consultations will be made with the Council project. She maintained that there is a need to thoroughly people involving every group in engage the people through consultations to get their reactions communities. The consultant and views about the project. furthered that the project approach and consultations is people- centered. Western Rural District Council (21-09-2020) Name Institution Designation Comment/concern/question Response Marian J Ward C, Environmental She maintained that the consultation is a step In concur to Madam Tucker’s Tucker Western Rural Officer in the right direction noting that it will submission, the consultant District Council significantly guide the project. She expressed maintained that Environmental issues that environmental factors are significant to be are critical to such project especially considered on such a huge project. Thus, she potentially negative impacts. Thus, he advised that there should be thorough visible maintained that thorough environmental studies done in the project area environmental studies will be in tandem with the livelihood of the people so conducted to determine possible that the potential negative impact will be negative environmental impact such minimized. which also has the potential to affect the livelihood of the people as well as 176 outline mitigation measures to reduce those impacts. Bombali District (21-09-2020) Name Institution Designation Comment/concern/question Response PC Kasanga Bombali District Paramount Chief He noted with pleasure that he is delighted about the project. He committed his full support to the project as he advised that more consultations should be held with the people in order to involve them in the project which will affect them directly. He mentioned that he is committed to fully supporting the project. 177 Annex ix: Water Standard SL 2014 PARAMETERS MAXIMUN LIMITS mg/l Total Dissolved Solid (TDS) 2500 Total Suspended Solid (TSS) 25 Turbidity 75 NTU Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD5) 30 Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) 100 Aluminium 0.04 Ammonia Nitrogen 10.0 Total Arsenic 0.5 Soluble Arsenic 0.1 Barium 0.7 Boron 1.0 Cadmium 0.1 Calcium 100 Chloride 500 Chlorine 0.1 Chromium (Total) 0.5 Chromium (Hexavalent) 0.05 Copper 1.0 Cyanide (total) 1.0 Cyanide – (Weak Acid Dissociable- WAD) 0.5 Cyanide – Free 0.1 Detergents 10 Fluoride 1.0 Iron 2.0 Lead 0.1 Magnesium 100 Manganese 1.0 Mercury 0.1 Nickel 0.5 Nitrate – N 20 178 Nitrite – N 1.0 Oil & Grease 2.5 Phenolic Compound 0.2 Phosphate 5.0 Total Phosphorus 2 Selenium 0.05 Silver 0.5 Sulphate 500 Sulphide 1.0 Tin 5 Zinc 5 179