THE WORLD BANK - ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) The Gambia Ministry of Health The Gambia COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Project (P173798) ENVIRONMENTAL and SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) 19 March 2020 1|Page THE WORLD BANK - ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN 1. The Gambia (the Recipient) will implement The Gambia COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Project (the Project), with the involvement of the following ministries/agencies/units: Ministry of Health. The International Development Association (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 THE WORLD BANK - ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBLE ENTITY/AUTHORITY MONITORING AND REPORTING A REGULAR REPORTING: Prepare and submit to the Association Quarterly throughout the Project Ministry of Health, The Gambia regular monitoring reports on the environmental, social, health implementation period. 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: The Ministry of Health shall Health and safety specialist hired or Ministry of Health, The Gambia establish and maintain a PCU with qualified staff and resources to appointed before the carrying out of Project support management of environmental and social risks and activities. [PIU/PMU/PCU] maintained impacts of the Project including environmental and social risk throughout Project implementation] management specialists. 3|Page THE WORLD BANK - ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBLE ENTITY/AUTHORITY 1.2 ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL ASSESSMENT/MANAGEMENT Ministry of Health, The Gambia PLANS AND INSTRUMENTS/ CONTRACTORS a. Assess the environmental and social risks and impacts of a. Assessment conducted before the proposed Project activities in accordance with ESS1, including carrying out of the respective to ensure that individuals or groups who, because of their Project activity. particular circumstances, may be disadvantaged or vulnerable, have access to the development benefits resulting from the Project. b. Plans or instruments prepared b. Prepare, disclose, adopt, and implement any environmental before the carrying out of the and social management plans or other instruments required relevant Project activities, and for the respective Project activities based on the assessment thereafter to be implemented process, in accordance with the ESSs, the ESMF, the EHSGs, and throughout the carrying out of such other relevant Good International Industry Practice (GIIP) in a activities. manner acceptable to the Association. c. Before launching the procurement c. Incorporate the relevant aspects of this ESCP, including, inter process for the relevant Project alia, any environmental and social management plans or other activities and thereafter throughout instruments, ESS2 requirements, and any other required ESHS the carrying out of such activities. measures, into the ESHS specifications of the procurement documents and contracts with contractors and supervising firms. Thereafter ensure that the contractors and supervising firms comply with the ESHS specifications of their respective d. Throughout project implementation contracts. d. Update environmental and social management plans or other instruments based on updated guidance by WHO on COVID19. 4|Page THE WORLD BANK - ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBLE ENTITY/AUTHORITY 1.3 EXCLUSIONS: Exclude the following type of activities as ineligible These exclusions shall be applied as part Ministry of Health, The Gambia for financing under the Project: of the assessment process conducted 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 • Activities that may have significant adverse social impacts and may give rise to significant social conflict • Activities that may affect lands or rights of any vulnerable communities, • Activities that may involve permanent resettlement or land acquisition or adverse impacts on cultural heritage • All the other excluded activities set out in the ESMP of the Project. ESS 2: LABOR AND WORKING CONDITIONS 2.1 LABOR MANAGEMENT: The Project shall be carried out in Throughout Project implementation. Ministry of Health, The Gambia accordance with the applicable requirements of ESS2, in a manner acceptable to the Association, 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 3.1 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 5|Page THE WORLD BANK - ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBLE ENTITY/AUTHORITY 4.1 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 labor influx; and prevent and respond to sexual exploitation and abuse, and sexual harassment. The Recipient will put measures in place to prevent or minimize the spread of the infectious disease/COVID-19 to the community. The Recipient will implement emergency preparedness measures in case of laboratory accidents/ emergencies e.g. a fire response or natural phenomena event The Recipient will operate quarantine and isolation centers in line with WHO guidelines on “Key considerations for repatriation and quarantine of travelers in relation to the outbreak of novel coronavirus 2019-nCoV� as well as the Africa CDC guideline on “Africa CDC Guidance for Assessment, Monitoring, and Movement Restrictions of People at Risk for COVID-19 in Africa�. The Recipient will ensure the avoidance of any form of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by relying on the WHO Code of Ethics and Professional conduct for all workers in the quarantine facilities as well as the provision of gender-sensitive infrastructure such as segregated toilets and enough light in quarantine and isolation centers. The Recipient will ensure that any security personnel operating for quarantine and isolation centers and screening posts follow strict rules of engagement and avoid any escalation. ESS 5: LAND ACQUISITION, RESTRICTIONS ON LAND USE AND INVOLUNTARY RESETTLEMENT 5.1 Relevant aspects of this standard shall be considered, as needed, Throughout Project implementation. Ministry of Health, The Gambia under action 1.2 above. 5.2 All eventual construction will be undertaken within existing Throughout Project implementation. Ministry of Health, The Gambia facilities and thus at this point ESS5 is not considered relevant. In case land acquisition leading to economic or physical displacement would be necessary, resettlement action plans would be developed to the satisfaction of the Bank prior to commencement of any land acquisition. ESS 6: BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF LIVING NATURAL RESOURCES 6.1 Relevant aspects of this standard shall be considered, as needed, under action 1.2 above. ESS 7: INDIGENOUS PEOPLES/SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAN HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED TRADITIONAL LOCAL COMMUNITIES 7.1 Not relevant, as there are no IP/SSAHUTLCs in the project area. ESS 8: CULTURAL HERITAGE 8.1 Relevant aspects of this standard shall be considered, as needed, under action 1.2 above. 6|Page THE WORLD BANK - ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBLE ENTITY/AUTHORITY 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 Ministry of Health, The Gambia implement a Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) consistent with disclosed and shall be updated within 2 ESS10, in a manner acceptable to the Association. months after the Effective Date. 10.2 GRIEVANCE MECHANISM: Accessible grievance arrangements Throughout Project implementation. Ministry of Health, The Gambia shall be 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) Training topics for personnel involved in Project implementation Throughout Project implementation. Ministry of Health, The Gambia will 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 and Africa CDC guidelines on quarantine including case management 7|Page