ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) FOR RMI COVID-19 EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROJECT Republic of the Marshall Islands RMI COVID-19 Emergency Response Project (P173887) Negotiated ENVIRONMENTAL and SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) April 14, 2020 1|Page ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) FOR RMI COVID-19 EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROJECT ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN 1. The Republic of the Marshall Islands (hereinafter RMI or the Recipient) will implement the RMI COVID-19 Emergency Response Project (the Project), with the involvement of the Ministry of Health and Human Services (MOHHS). MOHHS will lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Finance (MOF) and other government ministries/agencies/units on Project implementation as may be necessary. The International Development Association (hereinafter the Association) has agreed to provide financing for the Project. 2. The Recipient will implement material measures and actions so that the Project is implemented in accordance with the Environmental and Social Standards (ESSs). This Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP) sets out material measures and actions, any specific documents or plans, as well as the timing for each of these. 3. The Recipient is responsible for compliance with all requirements of the ESCP even when implementation of specific measures and actions is conducted by the Ministry, agency or unit referenced in 1. above. 4. Implementation of the material measures and actions set out in this ESCP will be monitored and reported to the Association by the Recipient as required by the ESCP and the conditions of the legal agreement, and the Association will monitor and assess progress and completion of the material measures and actions throughout implementation of the Project. 5. As agreed by the Association and the Recipient, this ESCP may be revised from time to time during Project implementation, to reflect adaptive management of Project changes and unforeseen circumstances or in response to assessment of Project performance conducted under the ESCP itself. In such circumstances, the Recipient will agree to the changes with the Association and will update the ESCP to reflect such changes. Agreement on changes to the ESCP will be documented through the exchange of letters signed between the Association and the Recipient. The Recipient will promptly disclose the updated ESCP. 6. Where Project changes, unforeseen circumstances, or Project performance result in changes to the risks and impacts during Project implementation, the Recipient shall provide additional funds, if needed, to implement actions and measures to address such risks and impacts. 2|Page ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) FOR RMI COVID-19 EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROJECT MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBLE ENTITY/AUTHORITY MONITORING AND REPORTING A REGULAR REPORTING: Prepare and submit to the Association regular monitoring Six-monthly throughout Project Ministry of Health and Human reports on the environmental, social, health and safety (ESHS) performance of the implementation. Services (MOHHS) to provide data Project, including but not limited to, the implementation of the ESCP, status of and Ministry of Finance (MOF) preparation and implementation of E&S documents required under the ESCP, Department of International stakeholder engagement activities and grievances log, Labor Management Development Assistance (DIDA) Procedures, contractor’s ESHS implementation, ESHS incidents and the Central Implementation Unit (CIU) functioning of the grievance mechanisms. to prepare and submit reports. B INCIDENTS AND ACCIDENTS Minor incidents will be reflected in the MOHHS to provide data and MOF Promptly notify the Association of any incident or accident related to the Project six-monthly reports to the Association, DIDA (CIU) to prepare and submit which has, or is likely to have, a significant adverse effect on the environment, the serious incidents will be notified to the reports. affected communities, the public or workers. Provide sufficient detail regarding Association immediately. the incident or accident, indicating immediate measures taken or that are planned to be taken to address it, and any information provided by any contractor and A report would be provided to the supervising entity, as appropriate. Subsequently, as per the Association’s request, Association, as requested. prepare a report on the incident or accident and propose any measures to prevent its recurrence. These activities are outlined in the Project’s Grievance Mechanism. ESS 1: ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL RISKS AND IMPACTS 1.1 ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE: The Project management and implementation Two CIU environmental specialists, one MOHHS and MOF DIDA (CIU) will be led by a Project Director within the MOHHS. Assessment and management international and one national, are of the environmental and social risks and impacts are delegated to the already on board and a social specialist environmental and social staff of the Central Implementation Unit (CIU) who will shall be recruited no later than two provide operational support to the Project. The CIU staff will coordinate with the months of the effective date of the Project Director and other key staff of the Ministry of Health and Human Services Financing Agreement for the Project (MOHHS) to manage environmental and social risks and impacts. (Effective Date). At a minimum, one CIU staff will include at least two individuals with responsibility for environmental specialist and one social implementation, monitoring and reporting for relevant environmental and social specialist shall thereafter be maintained aspects including but not limited to the ESMF, LMP and SEP. by the MOF DIDA CIU throughout Project implementation period. 3|Page ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) FOR RMI COVID-19 EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROJECT MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBLE ENTITY/AUTHORITY 1.2 ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL ASSESSMENT/MANAGEMENT PLANS AND a. ESMF to be prepared, disclosed and MOF DIDA (CIU) to prepare and INSTRUMENTS/ CONTRACTORS adopted no later than 30 days after disclose the instruments with a. Assess the environmental and social risks and impacts of proposed Project the Effective Date and prior to MOHHS review and input. MOHHS activities, in accordance with Environmental and Social Management commencement of relevant Project and MOF DIDA (CIU) to adopt and Framework (ESMF) to be prepared, disclosed and adopted for the Project. The activities. Assessments to be implement instruments. ESMF will include measures to ensure that individuals or groups who, because conducted prior to the carrying out of of their particular circumstances, may be disadvantaged or vulnerable, have the relevant Project activities. Until access to the development benefits resulting from the Project. the ESMF is approved, the Project will b. Prepare, disclose, adopt, and implement any environmental and social apply the WHO standards on COVID- management plans or other instruments required for the respective Project 19 response in a manner consistent activities based on the assessment process, in accordance with the ESSs, the with ESS1. ESMF, the EHSGs, and other relevant Good International Industry Practice (GIIP) including relevant WHO guidelines on COVID-19, in a manner acceptable b. Before the carrying out of the to the Association. relevant Project activities, and c. Incorporate the relevant aspects of this ESCP, including, inter alia, any thereafter throughout the carrying environmental and social management plans or other instruments, ESS2 out of such activities. requirements, and any other required ESHS measures, into the ESHS specifications of the procurement documents and contracts with contractors c. Before launching the procurement and consultants. Thereafter ensure that the contractors and consultants process for the relevant Project comply with the ESHS specifications of their respective contracts. activities, and thereafter throughout the carrying out of such activities. 4|Page ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) FOR RMI COVID-19 EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROJECT MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBLE ENTITY/AUTHORITY 1.3 EXCLUSIONS: The following type of activities shall not be eligible for During the assessment process conducted MOHHS and MOF DIDA (CIU) financing under the Project: under action 1.2.a. above. • Activities that may cause long term, permanent and/or irreversible (e.g. loss of major natural habitat) adverse impacts; • Activities that have high probability of causing serious adverse effects to human health and/or the environment not related to the treatment of COVID-19 cases; • Activities that may have significant adverse social impacts and /or may give rise to significant social conflict; • Activities that may involve adverse impacts on cultural heritage; • Activities involving the acquisition of land, land use restriction or the involuntary resettlement of affected persons; • The disposal of medical waste in any site adversely impacting natural habitats or ecosystem services; and • All the other excluded activities set out in the ESMF of the Project. ESS 2: LABOR AND WORKING CONDITIONS 2.1 LABOR MANAGEMENT: The Project shall be carried out in accordance The LMP shall be prepared, disclosed and MOF DIDA (CIU) to prepare and disclose the with the applicable requirements of ESS2, in a manner acceptable to the adopted as part of the ESMF no later than instruments with MOHHS review and input. Association, including through, inter alia, implementing adequate 30 days after the Effective Date and before MOHHS and MOF DIDA (CIU) to adopt and occupational health and safety measures (including emergency the carrying out of the relevant Project implement instruments. preparedness and response measures), setting out grievance activities. arrangements for Project workers, and incorporating labor requirements into the ESHS specifications of the procurement documents and All measures specified in this action 2.1 shall contracts with contractors and consultants. These requirements will be be implemented throughout the Project outlined in the Labor Management Procedures (LMP). implementation period. 2.2 OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY (OHS) MEASURES The IPC&WMP will be prepared, disclosed MOF DIDA (CIU) to prepare and disclose the Adopt, implement and update the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) and adopted as part of the ESMF, no later instruments with MOHHS review and input. measures in line with the ESMF, LMP, Infection Prevention Control & than 30 days after the Effective Date and MOHHS and MOF DIDA (CIU) to adopt and Waste Management Plan (IPC&WMP) and WHO guidelines on COVID-19 before the carrying out of the relevant implement instruments. in a manner acceptable to the Association. Project activities. MOHHS will make available the necessary training, infrastructure and All measures specified in this action 2.2 shall supplies to enable adherence to their infection prevention and control be implemented throughout the Project standards and the IPC&WMP. implementation period. 5|Page ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) FOR RMI COVID-19 EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROJECT MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBLE ENTITY/AUTHORITY 2.3 WORKER CODE OF CONDUCT Throughout Project implementation. MOHHS Ensure that all health workers adhere to the WHO Code of Ethics and Professional conduct. Provisions to prevent Sexual Exploitation and Abuse/Sexual Harassment (SEA/SH) shall be included in the Code of Conduct (CoC) for workers in line with relevant national laws and legislation and adopted and applied under the Project in a manner consistent with ESS2. 2.4 GRIEVANCE MECHANISM FOR PROJECT WORKERS Prepare and implement a GM as part of LMP. MOF DIDA (CIU) to prepare the GM, with Establish, maintain, and operate a Grievance Mechanism (GM) for MOHHS review and input. MOHHS and project workers, as described in the LMP and consistent with ESS2, with GM for project workers to be established MOF DIDA (CIU) to implement the GM. focal points to address these grievances established within MOHHS. and functional within 30 days after the MOF DIDA (CIU) to collect data and report. Effective Date and thereafter implement/update throughout Project implementation. Any grievances received before the GM is functional will be managed consistent with ESS2. ESS 3: RESOURCE EFFICIENCY AND POLLUTION PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT Relevant aspects of this standard shall be considered, as needed, under action 1.2 above, including, inter alia, measures to manage health care wastes and other types of hazardous and non-hazardous wastes. ESS 4: COMMUNITY HEALTH AND SAFETY Relevant aspects of this standard shall be considered, as needed, under action 1.2 above including, inter alia, measures to: minimize the potential for community exposure to communicable diseases; ensure that individuals or groups who, because of their particular circumstances, may be disadvantaged or vulnerable, have access to the development benefits resulting from the Project; manage the risks of the use of security personnel; manage the risks of gender based violence; and prevent and respond to sexual exploitation and abuse, and sexual harassment. ESS 5: LAND ACQUISITION, RESTRICTIONS ON LAND USE AND INVOLUNTARY RESETTLEMENT Not relevant. ESS 6: BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF LIVING NATURAL RESOURCES Not relevant. ESS 7: INDIGENOUS PEOPLES/SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAN HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED TRADITIONAL LOCAL COMMUNITIES Not relevant. ESS 8: CULTURAL HERITAGE Not relevant. ESS 9: FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES Not relevant. ESS 10: STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT AND INFORMATION DISCLOSURE 6|Page ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) FOR RMI COVID-19 EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROJECT MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBLE ENTITY/AUTHORITY 10.1 STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT PLAN: Adopt, update and implement the Update, disclose and adopt the preliminary MOF DIDA (CIU) to update and disclose the Preliminary Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) consistent with ESS10, in SEP no later than 30 days after the Effective SEP, with MOHHS review and input. a manner acceptable to the Association. Date and implement the SEP throughout the MOHHS and MOF DIDA (CIU) to implement Project implementation period. the SEP. 10.2 GRIEVANCE MECHANISM: Accessible grievance arrangements shall be Adopt the GM for the Project and MOF DIDA (CIU) to prepare the GM with made publicly available to receive and facilitate resolution of concerns implement and update the GM and all MOHHS review and input. MOHHS and CIU and grievances in relation to the Project, consistent with ESS10, in a requirements under this action 10.2 to implement the GM. MOF DIDA (CIU) to manner acceptable to the Association. Without limitation to the throughout the Project implementation collect data and report. foregoing, the Recipient shall adopt, implement and update the Project period. GM, included in the Project’s SEP, throughout Project implementation. CAPACITY SUPPORT (TRAINING) CS1 MOHHS, Pacific Island Health Officer’s Association (PIHOA) and other Relevant implementing agency and support MOF DIDA (CIU) and MOHHS to provide relevant agency and support staff responsible for the Project to receive staff to be identified and to receive ESF training. training on the Project’s ESF instruments and WHO guidelines on training within two months of the Effective COVID19, and the roles and responsibilities of different key agencies in Date. Refresher and support trainings to be the ESF implementation. Specifically, training will be provided on: provided throughout the Project • Training in safe handling and disposal of hospital waste, including implementation period. protective personal equipment (PPE) • Training in effective stakeholder engagement processes • Sensitization training on sexual exploitation and abuse, and sexual harassment. CS2 Contractors to receive training on the relevant aspects of the Project ESF Prior to work commencing, throughout MOF DIDA (CIU) instruments and relevant ESHS requirements. Project implementation. CS3 MOHHS to prepare and implement training as per Component 1 on Throughout Project Implementation. MOHHS infection prevention and control for facility staff to limit risk of hospital- based infection. 7|Page