THE WORLD BANK - ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP): TAJIKISTAN EMERGENCY COVID-19 PROJECT Republic of Tajikistan Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Population Tajikistan Emergency COVID-19 Project (P173765) ENVIRONMENTAL and SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) March 20, 2020 1|Page THE WORLD BANK - ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP): TAJIKISTAN EMERGENCY COVID-19 PROJECT ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN 1. The Republic of Tajikistan (the Recipient) will implement the Tajikistan Emergency COVID-19 Project (the Project), with the involvement of the following Ministries/agencies/units: Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Population (MOHSP). The International Development Association (hereinafter the Association) has agreed to provide financing for the Project. 2. The Recepient 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 Recepient 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 Recepient 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 the implementation of the Project. 5. As agreed by the Association and the Recepient, 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 Recepient 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 Recepient. The Recepient 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 THE WORLD BANK - ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP): TAJIKISTAN EMERGENCY COVID-19 PROJECT MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBLE ENTITY/AUTHORITY MONITORING AND REPORTING A REGULAR REPORTING: Prepare and submit to the Bank regular monitoring reports Quarterly throughout Project implementation MOHSP on the environmental, social, health and safety (ESHS) performance of the Project, including but not limited to, stakeholder engagement activities and grievances log. ESS 1: ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL RISKS AND IMPACTS 1.1 ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE: Ministry of Health and Social Protection (MOHSP) The PIU Environmental and Social Safeguards MOHSP shall establish and maintain a PIU with qualified staff and resources to support the Officer shall be appointed before the Effectiveness management of ESHS risks and impacts of the Project including environmental and Date. social risk management specialists. PIU should be maintained throughout Project implementation 1.2 ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL ASSESSMENT/MANAGEMENT PLANS AND MOHSP INSTRUMENTS/ CONTRACTORS a. Assess the environmental and social risks and impacts of proposed Project a. The ESMF to be prepared no later than one activities in accordance with ESS1 and the Environmental and Social month after the Effectiveness Date. Screening Management Framework (ESMF) prepared for the Project. The ESMF will include under the ESFM shall be conducted before the templates for site specific Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMP) carrying out of the respective Project activities. and Infection Control and Medical Waste Management Plan (ICWMP). Assessment includes ensuring that individuals or groups who, because of their b. ESMPs or instruments acceptable to the particular circumstances, may be disadvantaged or vulnerable, have access to Association, will be prepared before beginning the development benefits resulting from the Project. the relevant Project activities, and thereafter b. Prepare, disclose, adopt, and implement any environmental and social implemented throughout the implementation management plans (ESMPs) or other instruments required for the respective of such activities. Project activities as per the screening process, in accordance with the ESSs and the ESMF, in a manner acceptable to the Bank. c. Before launching the procurement process for c. Incorporate the relevant aspects of this ESCP, including, inter alia, any the relevant Project activities and thereafter environmental and social management plans or other instruments, ESS2 ensure that contractors and supervising firms requirements, and any other required ESHS measures, into the ESHS comply with the ESHS specifications in their specifications of the procurement documents and contracts with contractors contracts through their involvement in the and supervising firms. Thereafter ensure that the contractors and supervising respective Project activities. firms comply with the ESHS specifications of their respective contracts. 3|Page THE WORLD BANK - ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP): TAJIKISTAN EMERGENCY COVID-19 PROJECT MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBLE ENTITY/AUTHORITY 1.3 EXCLUSIONS: The following type of activities shall not be eligible for These exclusions shall be applied as part of MOHSP finance under the Project: the assessment process conducted under • Activities that may cause long term, permanent and/or action 1.2.a. above. irreversible (e.g. loss of major natural habitat) adverse impacts on the environment • Activities that may have significant adverse social impacts and may give rise to significant social conflict • Activities that may affect lands or rights of indigenous people or other vulnerable minorities, • Activities that may involve permanent resettlement or land acquisition or adverse impacts on cultural heritage • All the other excluded activities set out in the ESMF of the Project. 1.4 TARGETED SOCIAL ASSISTANCE: Ministry of Economic Development and Continuous monitoring of food prices Monitoring to be done for the first six Trade and MOHSP Effecting cash transfers if food prices rise months, then as and when the situation warrants ESS 2: LABOR AND WORKING CONDITIONS 2.1 LABOR MANAGEMENT: The Project shall be carried out in accordance Throughout Project implementation. MOHSP with the applicable requirements of ESS2, in a manner acceptable to the Bank, including through, inter alia, implementing adequate occupational health and safety measures (including emergency preparedness and response measures), setting out grievance arrangements for Project workers, and incorporating labor requirements into the ESHS specifications of the procurement documents and contracts with contractors and supervising firms. ESS 3: RESOURCE EFFICIENCY AND POLLUTION PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT Relevant aspects of this standard shall be considered, as needed, under Throughout Project implementation. MOHSP 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 4|Page THE WORLD BANK - ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP): TAJIKISTAN EMERGENCY COVID-19 PROJECT MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBLE ENTITY/AUTHORITY Relevant aspects of this standard shall be considered, as needed, under Throughout Project implementation. MOHSP 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 labor influx; and prevent and respond to sexual exploitation and abuse, and sexual harassment. ESS 5: LAND ACQUISITION, RESTRICTIONS ON LAND USE AND INVOLUNTARY RESETTLEMENT 5.1 Relevant aspects of this standard shall be considered, as needed, under Throughout Project implementation. MOHSP action 1.2 above. ESS 6: BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF LIVING NATURAL RESOURCES All works will be conducted within the existing footprint of facilities; hence, this standard is not considered currently relevant to the proposed project interventions. ESS 7: INDIGENOUS PEOPLES/SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAN HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED TRADITIONAL LOCAL COMMUNITIES Not relevant. ESS 8: CULTURAL HERITAGE All works will be conducted within the existing footprint of facilities; hence, this standard is not considered currently relevant to the proposed project interventions. ESS 9: FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES Not relevant. ESS 10: STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT AND INFORMATION DISCLOSURE 10.1 STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT PLAN: Prepare, disclose, adopt, and A draft SEP was already prepared and MOHSP implement a Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) consistent with ESS10, disclosed and shall be updated no later in a manner acceptable to the Association. than 30 days following the Effectiveness Date. 10.3 GRIEVANCE MECHANISM: Accessible grievance arrangements shall be Throughout Project implementation. MOHSP made publicly available to receive and facilitate resolution of concerns and grievances in relation to the Project, consistent with ESS10, in a manner acceptable to the Association. CAPACITY SUPPORT (TRAINING) 5|Page THE WORLD BANK - ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP): TAJIKISTAN EMERGENCY COVID-19 PROJECT MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBLE ENTITY/AUTHORITY Training topics for personnel involved in Project implementation will Throughout Project implementation. MOHSP among others include: • COVID-19 Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations • Laboratory biosafety guidance related to the COVID-19 • Specimen collection and shipment • Standard precautions for COVID-19 patients • Risk communication and community engagement • WHO guidelines on quarantine and Tajikistan Sanitary Regulations and Norms 6|Page