The World Bank Unlocking Human Capital for a Prosperous Nepal (P167531) Appraisal Environmental and Social Review Summary Appraisal Stage (ESRS Appraisal Stage) Public Disclosure Date Prepared/Updated: 04/28/2021 | Report No: ESRSA01406 Apr 28, 2021 Page 1 of 12 The World Bank Unlocking Human Capital for a Prosperous Nepal (P167531) BASIC INFORMATION A. Basic Project Data Country Region Project ID Parent Project ID (if any) Nepal SOUTH ASIA P167531 Project Name Unlocking Human Capital for a Prosperous Nepal Practice Area (Lead) Financing Instrument Estimated Appraisal Date Estimated Board Date Social Protection & Jobs Investment Project 4/22/2021 6/14/2021 Financing Borrower(s) Implementing Agency(ies) Nepal National Planning Commission Proposed Development Objective The proposed development objective is to strengthen local capacity in integrated service delivery and increase Public Disclosure equitable access to early childhood and adolescent interventions in selected disadvantaged areas of Nepal Financing (in USD Million) Amount Total Project Cost 80.00 B. Is the project being prepared in a Situation of Urgent Need of Assistance or Capacity Constraints, as per Bank IPF Policy, para. 12? No C. Summary Description of Proposed Project [including overview of Country, Sectoral & Institutional Contexts and Relationship to CPF] for the Relief stage, the design addresses gaps in the immediate impacts of the pandemic, especially by supporting the demand side of utilizing health and education services through mobilization of communities. For the Restructuring stage, the focus is on strengthening gaps in health systems and education services that affect early childhood development services, i.e. supporting minor upgrades of ECD centers, health facilities, systems for planning and budgeting. For the Resilient recovery stage, the focus is on data systems for health, education and social protection that would ensure informed policy decisions are made and systems in Apr 28, 2021 Page 2 of 12 The World Bank Unlocking Human Capital for a Prosperous Nepal (P167531) The project will achieve its objectives by first supporting implementation of the government’s national strategies in a complex institutional environment that requires continued high level engagement and commitment and high level leverage over sectoral programs, then promoting and stimulating investments at the Local Levels, which are the may agent on implementation of policies. The project will support parts of the broader human capital development agenda by focusing on selected activities to improve utilization of basic services by population, mainly the poor and vulnerable to as per the mandate of the Local Levels. It will follow a life cycle approach focusing on early years and adolescence, which are two key moments in life to intervene. Hence, it will help GoN to achieve its goals by (i) providing a clear operational framework; (ii) helping to fix management problems that constrain effective delivery of programs and interventions; (iii) maintaining focus on a core package of priority services critical to early years development and adolescent girls; (iv) providing incentives for multi-sectoral and multi-level coordination; (v) helping generate data across the results chain and levels of government, including outputs and intermediate outcomes at the three government levels. Therefore, Local Level Government will have the knowledge, tools and financing to ensure implementation of existent programs and policies through an effective delivery system centered around the people. To enhance people centric services, digital tools including media and outreach activities to communities and households will be made to reach the unreached. In the end, the project will address significant levels of malnutrition (which also contributes to learning poverty), geographical disparities, social exclusion, and gender inequality, promoting an effective delivery system and harnessing digital technology to improve Local Level service delivery and to create more resilient sector in presence of shocks. As such the project supports the World Bank agenda and the Nepal 3R agenda (Relief, Restructuring, Resilient Recovery) as it is aligned with CPF objectives and GoN agenda. For the Relief stage, the design addresses gaps in the Public Disclosure immediate impacts of the pandemic, especially by supporting the demand side of utilizing health and education services through mobilization of communities. For the Restructuring stage, the focus is on strengthening gaps in health systems and education services that affect early childhood development services, i.e. supporting minor upgrades of ECD centers, health facilities, systems for planning and budgeting. For the Resilient recovery stage, the focus is on data systems for health, education and social protection that would ensure informed policy decisions are made and systems in place under federalism which can respond to shocks and continue to deliver essential services. D. Environmental and Social Overview D.1. Detailed project location(s) and salient physical characteristics relevant to the E&S assessment [geographic, environmental, social] The proposed project will support activities for improved capacity of Local Levels (LLs) for delivering human capital services and for promoting access to a package of human capital services, particularly for poor and vulnerable households. Given budgetary constraints, the project will support all Palikas/Local Levels in Province 2 and in the Karnali Province which have comparatively low Human Development Index (HDI). Province 2 has 136 Palikas (77 urban municipalities and 59 rural municipalities) and Karnali has 79 Palikas (25 urban municipalities and 54 rural municipalities) making a total of 215 Local Levels covered by the project over the five-year duration of the project. The lessons from implementing the project in these two provinces will help to adjust the design and calibrate features before expanding coverage nationwide. Apr 28, 2021 Page 3 of 12 The World Bank Unlocking Human Capital for a Prosperous Nepal (P167531) Under the component to improve capacity of local levels, Component 1, the project will support LLs to deliver human capital services by improving their ability to better understand the needs of their population and the existing services, and to design and adopt procedures and planning in line with sector policies and priorities at the federal level. This will include support to strengthen human resources and also physical resources such as minor upgrading of human capital service units, including upgrades to ward offices, health and early childhood education centres (ECEC), to enable the adoption of climate-responsive approach/smart technologies to reduce Green House Gas (GHG) emissions or install energy back-ups or increase connectivity and repair water, sanitiation and health (WASH) facilities. The construction of new buildings or units is not envisaged under the project. Project activities will be limited to upgrading of existing structures within the footprint of the structure. The project will also finance data and management systems, for example, through the provision of adequate tools and technology including software, hardware and information system architecture, including, for instance, the deployment of systems to facilitate the identification and digital registration of households that will be targeted under the second component, or women and children who receive Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (RMNCH) services. The component will also support knowledge management services by financing the preparation of training/curriculum/communication materials to be used by the sector and for the activities under the second component, for example, promoting the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in classrooms and digital and lifeskills including soft skills, leadership, financial literacy, nutrition and empowerment. Under the component on accessing a stimulation package to encourage behavioral change and the use of human capital services, particularly for poor and vulnerable households, Component 2, the project will support an innovative approach i.e. “stimulation package” to stimulate the use of services by poor and vulnerable households. This aims to Public Disclosure boost demand for existing services by promoting the adoption of good practices. Activities include mass information campaigns at the local levels, as well as home visits and community sessions targeting the poor and vulnerable. The stimulation package will use technologies and media such as newspapers, radio, and TV messages, as well as tailored SMSs, social media etc. to encourage behavioral change. The stimulation package will be tailored to different groups of households, depending on their composition. While the project focuses on the poor and vulnerable, all people from the selected Palikas will benefit from the boosted system to be developed and from communication campaigns that will be delivered as part of the knowledge and information package. D. 2. Borrower’s Institutional Capacity The National Planning Commission (NPC) is the implementing agency and is responsible for overall oversight of the project. The NPC is an apex advisory body of the Government of Nepal for formulating a national vision, periodic plans and policies for development, serving as well as the central agency for monitoring and evaluating development plans, policies, and programs. A Project Management Unit (PMU) will be established under the NPC and will be responsible for day-to-day management of the project, the set-up and implementation of the project, monitoring of activities, and production of implementation progress reports and assessments. The PMU will have qualified Environmental Specialist, Social Development Specialist and Gender/GBV Specialist to support the implementation of Environmental and Social Framework (ESMF), Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP), Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP) and other required environmental and social (E&S) risk management instruments. An Intersectoral National Steering Committee (NSC) will be established prior to project effectiveness and co-chaired by the Ministry of Finance (MoF) and by a member of the NPC, and will include representatives from the Province Level. Implementing partners working with the NPC are the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST), Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA), Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens (MOWCSC), Apr 28, 2021 Page 4 of 12 The World Bank Unlocking Human Capital for a Prosperous Nepal (P167531) and Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration (MoFAGA). At the local level, existing entities will provide program staff to work closely with PMU staff to implement the program. A Local Level Government Project Management Unit (LL-PMU) with a minimal composition of a project manager, accountant, procurement, and social/environmental staff will oversee project implementation. The LL-PMU is expected to implement the project in close collaboration with wards and other partners. At the Provincial level, the Ministry of Social Development will support implementation and supportive supervision/monitoring as needed to LLs. This project represents the first time the NPC will work with the World Bank as implementing agency. Effective project implementation will require strong multi-sectoral coordination and support across the various Ministerial implementing partners. Local level units including municipalities and provinces have been accorded new functions and responsibilities under the new Constitution of Nepal 2015, however, their current capacity to implement these new functions and responsibilities is limited. As a result, environmental and social capacities are also weak, as well as the capacity at the Provincial and Federal Level. Given that activities will largely be delivered through these LLs, they will require close and dedicated support to assess and manage environmental and social risks and impacts particularly in the implementation of the Environmental and Social Framework (ESF). The project ESMF, which is currently being prepared, will further assess and detail the capacity building measures, in addition to the provision of Social, Environmental and Gender/GBV Specialists at the PMU and specialists at LLs. Capacity building measures typically include various types of trainings at different levels, as well as additional human resources to support the project activities. Capacity building of the sectoral ministries engaged in the project may also be required. Public Disclosure II. SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL (ES) RISKS AND IMPACTS A. Environmental and Social Risk Classification (ESRC) Substantial Environmental Risk Rating Moderate The environmental risk rating is assessed as Moderate. The proposed project activities include the improvement and upgrading of existing structures including ECECs, upgrading of school facilities and classrooms, refurbishment of WASH facilities and medical stores. During civil works, the anticipated environmental risks relate to occupational health and safety (OHS) of workers, generation of construction waste, nuisances during construction, and dust and noise pollution. Further, effluent issues with the wastewater generated from the rehabilitation of WASH facilities and sanitary wastes may be expected. Additional environmental risks include generation of waste from WASH facilities and pollution from WASH wastewater. These anticipated risks and impacts are typical in construction of such small-scale projects and can be readily mitigated and managed. During the operational stage of the medical and health care facilities, the use of disinfectant, chemicals and disposal of medical waste may be expected. Solid waste such as food waste and unused utensils from school and ECE centers cafeteria, and papers and learning materials as cardboard, white board, marker, toy, flex print etc are also expected. Given that the project will support the purchase of IT equipment for ECECs and school facilities, such as computers, servers and data drivers, electronic waste is also anticipated. However, the quantity of waste is expected to be limited given that the scale of activities is small. These identified impacts are site specific and can be assessed and managed through the established protocols and mitigation measures as provided in the ESMF. The limited capacity of the implementing agency also adds challenges for environmental risk management. Environmental risks and impacts associated with the use of living Apr 28, 2021 Page 5 of 12 The World Bank Unlocking Human Capital for a Prosperous Nepal (P167531) natural resources, and/ or sites of tangible cultural resources is not envisaged, as all civil works are expected to take place on existing premises. Social Risk Rating Substantial Social risk is rated Substantial. The project is expected to have a positive impact as it aims to enhance the quality of human capital services and to stimulate the use of services by poor and vulnerable groups. The risk rating of “substantial” is based largely on the limited capacity of the NPC and LLs to manage risk in this multi-sectoral and diverse project. These activities are predominantly located with the new LLs together with project oversight by the NPC which does not have previous experience as an implementing agency for World Bank-supported projects. Potential social risks are associated with the minor upgrading works to human services units although these impacts are expected to be small-scale, temporary and manageable. As these civil works will be undertaken on existing premises, it is not expected that land will need to be acquired for the project, and therefore no physical or temporary displacement is expected. The greatest social risks associated with the civil works relate to OHS risks to workers. The limited capacity to manage OHS risks is expected to be exacerbated by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Workers will need to adhere to COVID-19 OHS precautions and protocols to minimize the risk of COVID- 19 transmission between workers on work sites, and within the community. This will include wearing face masks and related personal protective equipment (PPE), maintaining social distancing and other community health and safety disturbances to community members using the human capital units under upgrade. The project is not expected to have a large labor influx; however, the targeting of poor and vulnerable communities does bring additional risks. Laborers coming from outside the region may trigger social risks to the host community related to sexual abuse and exploitation and sexual harassment (SEA/SH). The SEA/SH risk assessment found that SEA/SH risks for this project were rated moderate. As the project seeks to address inequalities in access to services such as through mass Public Disclosure campaigns, home visits, and community sessions, the project will target poor and vulnerable communities. There is the potential for exacerbating existing trends of marginalization amongst the poor and vulnerable including the elderly, people with disabilities, and indigenous peoples (IP) groups, religious minorities and lower-caste groups in terms of having access to relevant information around the project benefits which could deepen and undermine the objectives of the project. To help mitigate this risk, communications and engagements with community members will be tailored to cultural norms and for accessibility. For example, communication materials will be provided in local languages. All community and stakeholder engagements will need to follow COVID-19 related precautions including social distancing and safe hygiene practices. As noted above, the current low capacity of LLs in carrying out their new functions and mandates under the new Constitution present a risk in terms of effectively managing social risks under the project, which will be assessed over the course of the project lifecycle. B. Environment and Social Standards (ESSs) that Apply to the Activities Being Considered B.1. General Assessment ESS1 Assessment and Management of Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts Overview of the relevance of the Standard for the Project: This standard is relevant as the project will finance activities to strengthen physical resources, for example, through minor upgrading of human capital service units including ward offices, health centers, and ECECs including refurbishment of WASH facilities. It will also finance data and management systems, for example, through the provision of adequate tools and technology including software, hardware and information system architecture. The Apr 28, 2021 Page 6 of 12 The World Bank Unlocking Human Capital for a Prosperous Nepal (P167531) activities include widening of playgrounds, furnishing, cleaning, painting, plastering and demolition of structures for restructuring; immunization at the birthing centers, purchase and supply of medicines, lab tools and equipment; and furnishing and restructuring the IT rooms, purchase and supply of electronic tools and equipment etc. Potential environmental and social risks are associated with OHS risks to workers and to community members during the minor civil works, such as nuisances arising from noise and air pollution, and health care waste. There is also some risk that structures being upgraded may contain asbestos, which the borrower will be required to remove prior to commencing construction. All potential environmental and social risks and impacts are predictable, site-specific and expected to be reversible, low in magnitude and can be managed through known and readily available avoidance, mitigation and management measures. As the specific locations of the minor upgrading works have not been determined, and their site-specific impacts cannot be known during project design or preparation, a framework approach has been adopted to provide guidance on preparing site-specific documents for the assessment and management of environmental and social risks for subprojects. An Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) is being prepared that sets out policies and methodological procedures for managing the environmental and social risks and impacts of the project activities in compliance with the World Bank ESF. The ESMF, together with various forms and templates, will include a sample checklist for screening and proposed mitigation measures for potential environmental and social risks and impacts arising under the project. These will include mitigation measures to address OHS risks to workers, as well as potential risks and impacts to communities associated with the minor upgrading works. It will also include guidance on the procurement of energy-efficient ICT equipment and will provide guidance on management measures in line with international best practice for the disposal of possible e-waste in an environmentally sound manner. The ESMF will also include procedures for undertaking screening for proposed subprojects. The project will ensure that poor and Public Disclosure marginalized groups have access to the services and will be addressed as part of the project. Guidelines for ensuring inclusion will also be captured as part of the ESMF. Based on the extent of environmental and social risks, preparation of an Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) may be mandated. LL-PMUs will be responsible for preparation and implementation of ESMPs. An Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP) has been prepared to outline measures and actions which the borrower will be required to complete in order to ensure compliance with Environmental and Social Standards (ESS) requirements over the course of the project. Other environmental and social instruments and plans may be required based on the findings of site-specific screenings and assessments. The ESMF will also include guidance for screening and assessment of natural-disaster related risks such as landslides, floods and earthquakes on a case-by-case basis, and where necessary, site-specific planning, design and mitigation measures will be incorporated. Prior to effectiveness and implementation of the project, the ESMF will be consulted upon and disclosed to relevant stakeholders. ESS10 Stakeholder Engagement and Information Disclosure This standard is relevant for this project. To achieve project objectives, the project will require an extensive and comprehensive plan for stakeholder engagement, to adequately identify all stakeholders and to develop plans to appropriately engage with these stakeholder groups. A Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) will be developed by the borrower/ implementing agency and disclosed as early as possible, before the appraisal which will be proportional to Apr 28, 2021 Page 7 of 12 The World Bank Unlocking Human Capital for a Prosperous Nepal (P167531) the nature and scale of the project and associated risks and impacts identified. As the project will target group-based discrimination and vulnerability, the project will develop an effective community engagement framework which will be included in the SEP. The main project stakeholders include: local citizens who comprise users of local education, health, and social protection services; poor, vulnerable and discriminated groups; local level service providers; NGOs supporting the provision of local level services; civil society organizations; media organizations; as well as local level municipality offices, provincial offices, and federal ministries involved in the provision of basic education, health and social protection services. The SEP will include alternative methods and options for undertaking consultations where social distancing and other social procedures need to be followed, such as in the context of COVID-19. The SEP will include details of the project’s grievance redress mechanism (GRM) to enable stakeholders to raise concerns and grievances in relation to the project. The GRM will seek to draw on existing grievances mechanisms established at the federal, provincial and local levels. As the SEP is a living document, it will be updated as further details about the project is determined. B.2. Specific Risks and Impacts A brief description of the potential environmental and social risks and impacts relevant to the Project. ESS2 Labor and Working Conditions As the proposed project will involve direct workers and contract workers, and that there are anticipated labor risks and impacts associated with the minor upgrading works of human capital service units, in particular in relation to occupational health and safety (OHS), this standard is relevant for the project. Other potential risks relate to the non- payment of wages and benefits, discriminatory employment practices, grievances amongst workers, and SEA/SH, Public Disclosure issues which are all common in Nepal. Workers for upgrading existing human service structures or improvement of data and information systems at the local levels are not likely to be significant in number but may require skilled workers from outside the LL area, for example, for installation of new information equipment. Due to the nature and scale of civil works proposed under the project, risks associated with large labor influx are not expected and labor camps are not anticipated. To ensure the health and safety of workers, labor management procedures will be prepared as part of the ESMF. The procedures will provide guidance on mitigating labor risks, including specific measures for the protection of vulnerable workers such as women and people with disabilities. The procedures will also identify the main requirements, including how different workers will be managed in accordance with national laws and ESS2, risks associated with the project, and will outline necessary resources and measures to address labor issues. Mitigation measures will include OHS requirements such as the need for workers to wear PPE and the Labor Management Procedures (LMP) will include Covid-19 considerations as they relate to project workers which follow both the WHO guidelines along with the World Bank’s interim note, “Covid-19 Considerations in Construction and Civil Works Projects”. Measures will also include prohibitions such as on the use of child labor, forced labor, and on wage discrimination. A code of conduct will need to be signed by contracted workers to mitigate against SEA/SH, and workers will receive awareness training on SEA/SH related issues. The procedures will also include a grievance redress mechanism (GRM) to enable workers to raise labor-related grievances and concerns. ESS3 Resource Efficiency and Pollution Prevention and Management This standard is relevant. The project activities related to adverse environmental impacts in the form of effluent and solid waste are likely due to inefficient use of and unmanaged disposal of inter alia: Apr 28, 2021 Page 8 of 12 The World Bank Unlocking Human Capital for a Prosperous Nepal (P167531) • waste from printing materials • waste from learning materials • electronic wastes from IT equipment • effluent containing cleaning (solution containing of detergent/chemical) from ECEC and school facilities • potential issues associated with the disposal of medical waste from health care facilities and hygiene and sanitation materials • waste generated from improvement and rehabilitation of WASH facilities etc • local sand, gravel and water for construction as well as other construction materials such as iron, bricks, cement etc. The ESMF will include guidance and measures for ensuring energy and resource efficiency; and measures related to pollution prevention including disposal of generated waste. IT equipment procured by the project will conform with internationally-recognized electronics and electrical standards to reduce emissions and energy use. The implementing agencies will be encouraged to introduce buy-back arrangements with the suppliers of electrical and internet equipment. The ESMF includes measures to deal with any construction debris, solid and medical waste, and hazardous or non-hazardous materials which may need to be disposed of. If any infrastructure improvement works require full or partial demolition of existing buildings, demolition debris may be generated. Given that asbestos- containing hazardous waste is unlikely, especially on old civil structures, the likelihood of asbestos waste generation is low. During screening, if the presence of asbestos-containing waste is confirmed and/or other significant e-waste and / or hazardous wastes issues are anticipated, the Borrower will prepare a hazardous and / or e-waste management plan as part of the ESMPs. Nevertheless, the borrower will make appropriate formal arrangements for Public Disclosure the disposal and management of hazardous and / or e-waste prior to commencement of civil works. Likewise, the screening of WASH facilities to be rehabilitated, and the preparation of ESMPs, will be carried out as per procedures outlined in the ESMF. ESMPs will address issues related to water quality and availability, and wastewater from WASH facilities. The ESMF requires the assessment of risks and impacts related to raw materials, water use and air pollution, with proposed mitigation measures to be included in the ESMPs. The greenhouse emissions from the implementation of sub-project activities is not considered to be significant. ESS4 Community Health and Safety As the project involves minor civil works in the form of upgrades to human capital service units which are accessed and used by the community, this standard is relevant. Minor civil works in ward offices, ECECs and health facilities may expose community members to risks such as noise and dust pollution, and disturbances from construction activities. Whilst large labor influx is not expected, there are SEA/SH risks associated with workers undertaking civil works in existing facilities used by the community. A SEA/SH risk assesment undertaken for the project rated the SEA/SH risk as Moderate. The ESMF will include mitigation measures to address community health and safety risks, including measures to adddress SEA/SH-related risks. ESS5 Land Acquisition, Restrictions on Land Use and Involuntary Resettlement As improvements to physical resources, such as through minor upgrading of human capital service units including ECECs, are expected to take place on existing premises, land acquisition is not expected, and therefore permanent or Apr 28, 2021 Page 9 of 12 The World Bank Unlocking Human Capital for a Prosperous Nepal (P167531) temporary physical or economic displacement is not expected. However, this standard is relevant as future activities related to upgrading of service units may require some small land taking. A Resettlement Framework is being prepared as part of the ESMF to provide guidance in the circumstance that any potential future works related to improving physical resources require some land acquisition. The Resettlement Framework will be used to inform the preparation and implementation of Resettlement Action Plans (RAPs) for site-specific projects, and the RAPs will address compensation and livelihoods needs of persons affected by the land acquisition, should the need arise. ESS6 Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Natural Resources This standard is currently not considered relevant. Impacts on biodiversity and living natural resources are not expected, given that civil works to be supported by the project will be undertaken in areas that are already disturbed and anthropogenic alterations have been made to the natural environment, within the corridors of the existing developed areas, and will be limited to the footprint of existing infrastructure. ESS7 Indigenous Peoples/Sub-Saharan African Historically Underserved Traditional Local Communities Nepal’s indigenous population includes 60 indigenous ethnic minorities living across all provinces, including in the target provinces of Province 2 and Karnali Province, whose collective identity and presence is consistent with the characteristics that are specified in paragraphs 8 and 9 of ESS7. As a result this standard is relevant for this project. The proposed project does not present adverse impacts on indigenous groups. Land acquisition is not anticipated under the project and there will therefore be no expected adverse impacts from the taking of collectively owned IP Public Disclosure land. However, the project will need to ensure that IP groups are included in project consultations and engagements and particularly in communication and outreach activities planned under Component 2. The project will seek to address inequalities in access to service amongst poor and vulnerable groups, including discriminated indigenous groups, and will develop culturally appropriate measures including separate consultations with IP groups to ensure their inclusion in project activities and benefits. Consultations with IP groups will be necessary to understand how IP groups access and use human capital services for social protection, health, and education, to support the project in addressing inequalities in access to these services. Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) will not be required given that the minor civil works will take place on existing premises, however this will be further assessed during project implementation and site-specific activities are identified. Access to services for marginalized and IP groups will be assessed as part of the overall project. The ESMF will include an Indigenous Peoples Planning Framework (IPPF) that will contain guidelines to ensure the inclusion of, and meaningful consultation with, IP groups. Strategies and methods for consulting with IP groups have been included in the SEP. ESS8 Cultural Heritage This is considered relevant as the site-specific location of activities have not been determined and it is not yet known if cultural heritage such as temples will be in areas of activities. Given that the project will support the improvement of human service units on existing premises, it is not expected that cultural heritage will be impacted during the minor civil works. Potential adverse impacts to tangible and intangible cultural heritage will be screened and assessed as part of identified subprojects. The ESMF will contain a screening process to determine any potential impacts on cultural heritage, and guidance on mitigating any potential risks and impacts. Apr 28, 2021 Page 10 of 12 The World Bank Unlocking Human Capital for a Prosperous Nepal (P167531) ESS9 Financial Intermediaries The project does not involve Financial Intermediaries. Hence ESS9 is not relevant to this project. B.3 Other Relevant Project Risks Risks and impacts that may arise from natural disasters, such as from landslides and floods as well as from earthquake, is considered low for the type of project activities and will be assessed in a site-specific manner and will be addressed accordingly. The screening of the activities will be carried out to avoid any risk from the natural disasters like landslides and floods. Moreover, the site specific ESMPs will also include the mitigation actions for the possible risks of natural disasters. C. Legal Operational Policies that Apply OP 7.50 Projects on International Waterways No OP 7.60 Projects in Disputed Areas No B.3. Reliance on Borrower’s policy, legal and institutional framework, relevant to the Project risks and impacts Public Disclosure Is this project being prepared for use of Borrower Framework? Areas where “Use of Borrower Framework” is being considered: The use of the Borrower Framework will not be considered for this project although the project will meet both the requirements of the Government of Nepal and the relevant World Bank ESSs. IV. CONTACT POINTS World Bank Contact: Phillippe George Pereira Guimaraes Title: Senior Social Protection Economist Leite Telephone No: +1-202-473-2582 Email: pleite@worldbank.org Contact: Karthika Radhakrishnan Title: Senior Education Specialist Telephone No: 5770+6261 / 977-1-4236261 Email: knair@worldbank.org Contact: Manav Bhattarai Title: Senior Health Specialist Apr 28, 2021 Page 11 of 12 The World Bank Unlocking Human Capital for a Prosperous Nepal (P167531) Telephone No: 5722+6128 / 977-1-423-6128 Email: mbhattarai@worldbank.org Borrower/Client/Recipient Borrower: Nepal Implementing Agency(ies) Implementing Agency: National Planning Commission V. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT The World Bank 1818 H Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20433 Telephone: (202) 473-1000 Web: http://www.worldbank.org/projects VI. APPROVAL Task Team Leader(s): Karthika Radhakrishnan, Phillippe George Pereira Guimaraes Leite, Manav Bhattarai Practice Manager (ENR/Social) Robin Mearns Cleared on 28-Apr-2021 at 05:55:47 GMT-04:00 Public Disclosure Apr 28, 2021 Page 12 of 12