Improving Early Childhood Development (ECD) Project Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) Version for Project Restructuring (August 20, 2021) Contents Error! Bookmark not defined. 1.Project Description, Restructuring, and Environmental and Social Risks Error! Bookmark not defined. 1.1. Introduction Error! Bookmark not defined. 1.2. Project Objective 1 1.3. Rationale for Project Restructuring 2 1.4. Project Components 2 1.5. Proposed Changes Under Restructuring 3 1.6. Implementation Arrangements for Environmental and Social Management 4 1.7. Potntial Environmental and social Risks and Impacts 4 2.Summary of Stakeholder Engagement Activities ....................................Error! Bookmark not defined. 2.1. General Public Consultation for the original project Error! Bookmark not defined. 2.2. Consultation meetings for project restructuring Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.Stakeholders Identification and Analysis .................................................Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.1. Affected Parties under Component 1 Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.2. Affected parties under Component 2 Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.3. Affected parties for the project restructuring activities Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.4. Other Interested Parties under Component 1 Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.5. Other Interested Parties under Component 2 Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.6. Other Interested parties for the project restructuring activities 11 3.7. Disadvantaged / Vulnerable Individuals or Groups 11 3.8. Summary of Project Stakeholder Needs 12 4.Stakeholder Engagement Program/Plan .................................................Error! Bookmark not defined. 4.1. Purpose and Timing of SEP Error! Bookmark not defined. 4.2. Purpose Strategy for Information Disclosure Error! Bookmark not defined. 4.3. Information Disclosure for Component 1 Error! Bookmark not defined. 4.4. Information Disclosure for Component 2 Error! Bookmark not defined. 4.5. Proposed Strategy for Consultation Error! Bookmark not defined. 4.6. Strategy for Consultation for Component 1 Error! Bookmark not defined. 4.7. Strategy for Consultation for Component 2 Error! Bookmark not defined. 4.8. Strategy for Consultation for Project Restructuring Activities (Components 1 & 2) Error! Bookmark not defined. 1 4.9. Proposed strategy to incorporate the view of vulnerable groups Error! Bookmark not defined. 4.10. Timeline Error! Bookmark not defined. 4.11. Review of Comments 36 4.12. Reporting on Environmental and Social Management 37 5.Resources and Responsibilities for Implementing Stakeholders Engagement Activities ............. Error! Bookmark not defined. 5.1. Resources Error! Bookmark not defined. 5.2. Estimated Budget Error! Bookmark not defined. 6.Grievance Redress Mechanism ...............................................................Error! Bookmark not defined. 6.1. Feedback/grievance monitoring and recording 40 6.2. The grievance mechanism and process for complaints related to Gender Based Violence (GBV), Sexual Harassment and Sexual Abuse (SH/SEA) 41 6.3. Workers’ Grievance Mechanism 43 6.4. World Bank Grievance Redress System 44 6.6. Part of the learning process Error! Bookmark not defined. 7.Monitoring and Reporting .......................................................................Error! Bookmark not defined. 8.Annexes ...................................................................................................Error! Bookmark not defined. 2 Abbreviations and Acronyms ADHD Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder CAE Child Abuse/Exploitation DG Directorate General ECD Early Childhood Development EEG Electroencephalogram EMDR Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing ESC Environmental and Social Consultant ESCP Environmental and Social Commitment Plan ESMF Environmental and Social Management Framework ESMP Environmental and Social Management Plan ESO Environmental and Social Officer EU European Union FG Focus Group GBV Gender Based Violence GM Grievance Mechanism GRM Grievance redress Mechanism GRS Grievance Redress Service ICT Information and communications technology IQ Intelligence quotient KG Kindergarten LMP Labor Management Procedures MCH Mental Community Health MHPSS Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services MOE Ministry of Education MOH Ministry of Health MOSD Ministry of Social Development NIET National Institute for Education Training 3 OHS Occupational Health and Safety PCU Project Coordination Unit PHC Primary Health Care PMU Project Management Unit PPP Private Sector Providers PS Private Sector PTSD Post-traumatic stress disorder RCCE Risk Communication and Community Engagement RDNA Rapid Damage Needs Assessment SEA Sexual Exploitation and Abuse SEF Stakeholder Engagement Framework SEP Stakeholder Engagement Plan SH Sexual Harassment UN United Nations UNDP United Nations Development Programme UNICEF United Nations Children’s Fund UNRWA United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees USA United States of America USD United States Dollar UXO Unexploded Explosive Ordnance WB World Bank WHO World Health Organization 4 1. Project Description, Restructuring, and Environmental and Social Risks 1.1 Introduction Improving Early Childhood Development in the West Bank and Gaza project (ECD project) was approved on 18 December 2019. The project has a budget of 9 million USD and is currently expected to close on 31-Jan-2025. The project is nationwide, covering communities in both West Bank and Gaza. Three Ministries are involved in the implementation of the project: Ministry of Education (MOE), Ministry of Health (MOH), and, Ministry of Social Development (MOSD). In accordance with the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Standard 10 (ESS10), a stakeholder engagement plan (SEP) needs to be prepared and implemented for all Bank supported investment policy financing (IPF) projects. Hence, a SEP was prepared and disclosed for the ECD project in October 2019.The ECD is now being restructured to address the emergency needs in Gaza in the aftermath of the war in May 2021. This version of the SEP (August 20, 2021) has been prepared in line with the project restructuring and to support effective and timely engagement various categories of stakeholders throughout the lifetime of the project. This SEP is structured as follows: Section 1 provides an overview of the original project components and the activities introduced under restructuring. It also outlines the environmental and social risks for the project; Section 2 provides a summary of stakeholder engagement activities that have been undertaken to date for the original project and for the project restructuring; Section 3 identifies the key stakeholders who will be informed and consulted about the project, including individuals, groups, or communities that are affected or likely to be affected by the project (project-affected parties) and may have an interest in the project (other interested parties); Section 4 describes the purpose and timing of stakeholder engagement program summarize the main goals of the stakeholder engagement program and the envisaged schedule for the various stakeholder engagement activities. It also includes the proposed strategy for information disclosure which briefly describe what information will be disclosed and the types of methods that will be used to communicate this information to each of the stakeholder groups; Section 5 describes the resources and responsibilities for implementing stakeholders’ engagement activities; Section 6 summarizes the Grievance Redress Mechanisms that have been established on the project’s level and the workers’ level; and, Section 7 describes the monitoring and reporting process. 1.2 Project Objective The main purpose of the project is to improve the coverage and quality of early childhood development services for children from gestation until age 5 in the West Bank and Gaza by strengthening early healthcare and nutrition of pregnant women and infants, enhancing parenting practices that promote children's early stimulation, increasing access to high-quality 5 kindergarten (KG) services, and strengthening multi-sectoral coordination for planning and delivery of ECD services. A description of project components is provided in Section 1.4 below. 1.3 Rationale for Project Restructuring Eleven days of war, conflict and hostilities afflicted Gaza in May 2021. The human toll in the strip mounted to almost 2,000 Palestinians physically injured, including over 600 children; and 260 Palestinians killed, including 66 children and 41 women. Core physical infrastructure was also damaged, including schools, hospitals and health centers, water and sanitation facilities, and transport, energy and communications networks.1 Children in the 0-5 age bracket were especially vulnerable to the devastation and shocks caused by the war in Gaza. In particular, the war had a dramatic impact on children’s physical and psychological health. Exposed to high levels of hostilities and toxic stress, children in Gaza are in dire need of mental health and psychosocial support services (MHPSS).2 Specifically, a mass scale-up of MHPSS is required to prevent the development of mental health disorders: from psychological first aid and structured psychosocial support, to case management and clinical mental health services. However, Gaza’s healthcare system is struggling to respond to the large number of vulnerable populations with MHPSS needs due to chronic shortages of qualified healthcare workers. Beyond the direct impact on children’s wellbeing, the war also destroyed or impaired the delivery of key services for children. Specifically, damages to educational infrastructure risk reducing access to KG services, which are key to ensure children’s readiness for primary school. Furthermore, children who have been forcibly displaced or whose housing units were damaged remain at particular risk of being cut off from key services and learning materials. These children are likely to lack access to educational materials, stationary, games, and toys. These materials are not only conducive to their early learning, but also have the potential to support their psychosocial wellbeing. In order to address the emergency in Gaza, MOH and MOE have requested that the project be restructured, and unutilized funds be reallocated to finance activities in Gaza. The scope of the restructuring is described in Section 1.5 below. 1.4 Project components The project is composed of the following 4 components: • Component 1: Health Care: Promoting early health development: 1 World Bank (2021). Gaza Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment. June 2021. Washington, D.C. https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/178021624889455367/pdf/Gaza-Rapid-Damage-and-Needs- Assessment.pdf 2 In Gaza, four levels of MHPSS services (basic services and security; community and family support; focused, non- specialized supports; and specialized services, in accordance with the Inter-Agency Standing Committees MHPSS Guidelines (2007)) are provided by 14 service providers, including the Ministry of Health, UN agencies (such as WHO) and NGO partners. Psychosocial support services are provided in all five governorates, while mental health services are provided by a limited number of service providers. (Source: UNICEF. A review of the humanitarian mental health and psychosocial needs and gaps in West Bank and Gaza. September 2019.) 6 Subcomponent 1.1: Strengthening prenatal and postnatal care Subcomponent 1.2: Strengthening early nutrition and simulation during the first 1,000 critical days of life This component will be under the leadership of the MOH, in close collaboration with MOSD • Component 2: Education: Improving access to high quality KG services Subcomponent 2.1: Expanding access to KG23 Subcomponent 2.2: Enhancing quality of KG services This component will be under the leadership of MOE • Component 3: Improving availability of ECD data This component will be under the leadership of the MOE, in close collaboration with MOSD • Component 4: Project management and implementation support Subcomponent 4.1: Project management and implementation support for MOH- under the leadership of MOH. Subcomponent 4.2: Project management and implementation support for MOE- under the leadership of MOE. 1.5 Proposed Changes under Restructuring To help address the urgent mental health and psychosocial needs of children in Gaza, the MOH has requested the redistribution of funds under subcomponent 1.2. US$600,000 from sub- component 1.2 will be reallocated to support MHPSS services for children and their caregivers to address short-term needs resulting from the war, while at the same time strengthening capacity for improved MHPSS service delivery in the medium- to long-term. Specifically, new activities will include capacity building to improve the availability and quality of MHPSS services provided by the MOH and MOE. Through the MOH, the project will support the establishing and strengthening of MHPSS services in Gaza through a multi-layered approach: (1) identification, referral and immediate care, (2) focused non-specialized care at the community mental health centers, and (3) specialized services. Healthcare providers in primary health care centers will receive training and guidance on how to screen children under five for potential mental health issues (e.g., post-traumatic stress disorders). Healthcare workers would then provide treatment when appropriate or refer patients to more specialized MHPSS services as needed. The MOH may also organize capacity building activities and develop protocols targeting nursery and KG teachers and school principals on screening for mental health disorders in schools and providing caregivers information on available services. As they interact with children for multiple hours in a day and observe their social interactions, teachers play an important role in detecting mental health conditions that could impede normal child development. They will 3 There are two levels in kindergarten (KG), KG1 and KG2 7 thus benefit from clear and consistent guidance on what behaviors to look out for, how to emotionally support their students more generally, and how they should communicate with parents so that children get the health services they need. Given the substantial needs of KG age children in Gaza, MOE has requested reallocating the financing under Component 3 of the project, to repair infrastructure damages to KGs and provide learning materials. While activities under Component 3 (“Improving availability of ECD data�) of the project are important, MOE considers that they are not a priority in the current context of humanitarian crisis. As such, financing under this component (US$600,000) will be reallocated to Component 2 of the project. Approximately US$140,000 will be reallocated to subcomponent 2.1 to finance reparations of infrastructure damages to KGs in Gaza. Damages to KG infrastructure in Gaza range from minor to moderate. Upon restructuring of the project, funds will be used to rehabilitate approximately 80 private KGs that have been damaged during the war. Roughly US$460,000 will be reallocated to subcomponent 2.2 to finance relevant teaching and learning materials to KG age children in Gaza. Reallocated funds will support the provision of approximately 7,500 child kits to the most vulnerable children aged 4-5 who have been forcibly displaced during the war, those living in temporary or damaged housing, and those attending KGs that are in need of repairs. In addition, the child kit will be accompanied by an informational leaflet to parents on local psychosocial support services available to them and their children. 1.6 Implementation arrangements for environmental and social management The implementation arrangements of the restructuring activities are the same as the original project as detailed in the Project Appraisal Document (PAD). There are 2 implementing entities (MOE and MOH), each has a project implementation unit (Project Coordination Unit at MOE and Project Management Unit at MOH). Each unit has hired staff for environmental and social management: an Environmental and Social Officer (ESO) at the PCU-MOE and Environmental Health and Safety Officer (EHSO) at the PMU-MOH. PCU-MOE has the primary responsibility to consolidate all environment and social (E&S) and financial management (FM) reports. PCU-MOE is primarily based in West Bank, but it also has some staff in Gaza. For the restructuring, an Environmental and Social Consultant (ESC) will join the PCU-MOE Gaza staff to provide additional ES support for all Gaza activities. 1.7 Potential environmental and social risks and impacts of the project Environment: The project’s environmental risk rating remains Moderate, given the combination of environmental and social impacts of the project activities and the PCU capacity. The project activities in the education and health sectors include supplying of medical equipment (including hearing test equipment, congenital cataract equipment, and ultrasound), and construction of new KG classrooms within the existing footprint of selected schools in West Bank. The identified restructuring activities in Gaza Strip after the war include minor rehabilitation activities of up to 80 (minor and moderately) damaged private KGs; provision of learning materials for the most vulnerable children aged 4-5, who have been displaced due to the war; capacity building to improve availability and quality of MHPSS 8 provided by the MOH and MOE through a multi-layered approach: at the community level, primary care levels, and at the level of community mental health centers such as training/on-the-job coaching of MOH and MOE staff in early detection and appropriate referral of children suffering from mental health disorders such as post- traumatic stress disorders and acute stress disorders; and, establishing psychosocial support services at community level. The identified medical equipment aims to enhance the quality of antenatal care, the risks include potential health and safety risk during operation, safe disposal of equipment’s at the end of life as none of the equipment use or produce any type of waste, or medical waste The environmental risks related to the construction or rehabilitation of existing KG classrooms within the existing footprint of selected schools in West Bank, and rehabilitation of KG’s in Gaza Strip under the restructured project include noise, generation of dust, solid waste and wastewater, labor occupational health and safety, community health and safety, and traffic safety, potential risk of exposure to COVID-19. However, the KG minor rehabilitation activities may have additional health and safety risks for workers and the community, related to the potential presence of unexploded ordinances (UXO) and non-hazardous and hazardous waste mixed within the rubble. Therefore, the KG sites that were directly shelled or include rubble at the work sites will be initially screened for UXO., whereas most of the rubble in Gaza Strip has been removed including the selected KG’s zones, this would minimize the risk of rubble presence at the sub-project sites. On the other hand, the learning materials and capacity building activities under sub-components 2.2 and the supply of equipment under subcomponent 1.2 are of low environmental risk. The PCU hosts an ESO of limited experience to support the project activities in West Bank. To address these capacity gaps, the Bank’s team has, and will continue providing, extensive support to assist and guide in meeting the project’s E&S requirements. The PCU, however, does not have an ESO in the Gaza Strip, nor does the PCU ESO have access to Gaza. The PCU needs to ensure the presence of a qualified E&S ESC who will be assigned responsibility for implementation of the project’s environmental and social requirements in accordance with the ESCP. The ESC will also help build the capacity of designated team members in Gaza to implement the E&S measures. The ESC was engaged on August 18, 2021. The ESC will conduct the E&S screening conditioned with precautionary measure, to restrict the ESC access to the suspected sites until the UNMAS screening and clearance, prior finalizing the E&S screening , prepare the ESMP checklist, conduct site-specific consultation, and will coordinate with the MOE ESO in West Bank for the Bank approvals where needed. Once implementation commences, the ESC will monitor the compliance with the E&S requirements and report to the PCU/MOE and MOH/EHSO. Social: On the social side, the overall social risk remains moderate. The classroom construction under Component 2 will be done within the existing footprint of the existing schools and hence, no land acquisition is anticipated. This will also be further assessed during preparation of sub-projects. Rehabilitation of damaged private KGs in Gaza will also be done in the existing footprint of the facilities and no land acquisition issues are involved. The primary social risk is 9 of potential exclusion of some vulnerable groups and communities (e.g. those living in remote locations and access restricted areas, women headed households, the forcibly displaced including those living with host families etc.) and unregistered private KG service providers from project benefits. In general, the private sector is the provider of KG2 classrooms in Gaza and since one of the components of this project is assistance for rehabilitation of KG2 classrooms (Component 2.1), those private sector providers that are not registered due to the cost involved and the children using their services, could be excluded from project benefits. Similarly, there is a potential risk that the most vulnerable groups and communities may not be able to access and benefit from project interventions (e.g. provision and proper use of child kits and access to mental health and psychosocial support at the community and primary health center levels) due to issues with targeting, outreach, and availability of requisite information. These risks and corresponding mitigation measures are described in detail in the Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) for the project. The ESMF is being updated and will be cleared and disclosed, as committed in the project’s Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP), in the beginning of September 2021. The rehabilitation works in KGs and small-scale civil works in the community mental health centers (e.g. painting of rooms, installation of machines etc.) entail possible labor and workers’ health and safety risks and impacts. The project’s LMP is being updated to reflect any new project workers as a result of the restructuring and will include health and safety mitigation measures. The updated LMP will be cleared and disclosed, as agreed in the project’s ESCP, in the beginning of September. There is a moderate risk of SEA/SH/GBV due to construction/rehabilitation related activities in schools and healthcare centers and requisite mitigation measures will be included in the relevant E&S plans that will be prepared prior to initiating construction. Finally, grievance mechanisms within each ministry are in place and are being coordinated through the PCU for the purposes of the project. These mechanisms will continue to be strengthened as required. A more detailed description of the environmental and social risks, impacts and mitigation measures is included in the restructured project ESMF. 2. Summary of Stakeholder Engagement Activities 2.1. General Public Consultation for the original project Due to the emergency situation in Palestine, and due to the Covid 19 restrictions that prohibited the gathering of more than 3 persons as per the MOH instructions, the meetings and consultations for the original project were carried out virtually (online) via various communication tools like Microsoft Teams and Zoom. A General Public Consultation workshop was carried out virtually on May 4, 2021. 37 stakeholders from different institutions attended the workshop (more than 20 of stakeholders were representatives from the women, youth, community representatives, Municipalities 10 etc.). the rest were representatives from the governmental ministries and authorities, mainly, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Social Development. The workshop was conducted online using Microsoft Teams Software. The environmental and social risks and mitigation measures were covered and consulted with all attendees. Participants did not raise any concerns regarding the environmental and social issues relating to the project, mainly all of them have a good background from previous similar projects. In turn, the ESO explained and illustrated the WB Environmental and Social standards for all the attendees and discussed the ESSs associated with the project. The ESO discussed the GM Manual during the Public Consultation and presented all the tools available to file a grievance during the project implementation. The General Public Consultation agenda was divided into two sections as the following: Part One: The Presentation The first part of the general public consultation agenda included an online presentation. It provided an overview of the project, its objectives and components. Also, the WB Environmental and Social standards that are related to this project were discussed in addition to the GM. Moreover, updated environmental and social measures that should be taken into consideration during the design and implementation phase were discussed with the attendees. Part Two: Questions and Discussion All the attendees welcomed the project and encouraged to proceed with the project under the current emergency situation, as the KG2 sector is marginalized in the region, hence such interventions are well needed. The ESO asked all the attendees for any clarifications or questions. As mentioned above, they haven’t raised any concerns about the environmental and social issues regarding the project, mainly all of them have a good background from the previous similar projects. Moreover, the ESO asked them to share any concerns or questions that may arise later and at any time, to be discussed and taken during the specific consultation that will be conducted as part of the site-specific ESMPs preparation. After the consultation, the PCU received good feedback from various stakeholders. In addition, stakeholders have shown a keen interest to receive periodic updates. The PCU informed them that the PCU team will conduct a specific consultation for each site separately that will include all the specific site stakeholders. For more details on the public consultation meeting refer to Annex 1. 2.2. Consultation meetings for project restructuring A round of public consultations was conducted for project restructuring. The first consultation meeting was conducted on July 11, 2021 in Gaza City. About 40 persons, representing different groups and with different interests, attended the workshop, with representatives from MOE, Projects Coordination Unit (PCU), KGs’ headmistress/owners, KG Children’s parents and local and international NGOs. The second consultation was conducted on August 08, 2021. About 32 persons, representing different groups and with different interests, attended the 11 workshop, with representatives from different departments at the MOH, United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), World Health Organization (WHO), MOE, MOSD, KGs’ headmistress/owners, KG Children’s parents and local NGOs providing MHPSS services. The ESO at the MOE and the Project coordinator at the MOH from the West Bank also attended the meeting remotely via Microsoft Teams. The consultation meetings introduced the participants to the stakeholder engagement SEP and the ESMF. Participants were also provided information regarding the Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) that is in place. The presentation highlighted, in detail, the new emergency areas of intervention under the restructuring, as well as the objective and content of the SEP and the ESMF. The presentation also highlighted the special provisions for vulnerable groups and the details of the GRM, including the different steps of the grievance resolution process, focusing on the different complaints uptake channels, and the special referral pathways for the project-related GBV/SEA/SH complaints and grievances. The last part of the meeting was dedicated for discussion of the participants’ concerns or expectations associated with the Project and the restructured activities as well as the SEP and the ESMF. All concerns, comments and recommendations raised by the participants during the discussions as well as the provided response to these concerns are attached in the meetings summary reports in Annex 2 and Annex 3. Participants raised a few issues including requesting the enrollment of the educational staff and caregivers to be engaged in the evaluation of the learning kits to be distributed as part of the project. Participants highlighted the urgent need for psychosocial support for children and teachers at kindergartens and requested that this be included in the project. Participants recommended to conduct further meetings with relevant specialized stakeholders to discuss the specific capacity building needs and activities at the community mental health centers in Gaza. Suggestions also included training of the mental health professionals on trauma therapeutic techniques, including EMDR, play therapy, and Cognitive-Behavior Therapy. Participants also highlighted the preferred methods for communication and disclosure of information such as WhatsApp groups, phone calls and text messages. Specific needs identified for engagement activities include conducting meetings in venues that are easily reachable and do not require long commutes. 3. Stakeholders Identification and Analysis Directly and indirectly affected groups and communities are different for Components 1, 2 and 3, as described below. At a later stage, after mapping of the affected communities, affected parties will be identified within a specific geographic area. Identifying the targeted location will be overlaid by a poverty map targeting the most marginalized areas. 3.1 Affected Parties under Component 1 • Pregnant Women: the project aims to improve the quality of anti-natal care for women in the targeted communities. It is estimated that the project will reach to 7500 pregnant women in the governorates of Tubas, Ramallah, Hebron and Jerusalem 12 (Al-Khan A—Ahmar Bedouin community) in the West Bank and around 1500 pregnant women in the governorate of North Gaza. • Children (0-48 months): The project aims to improve the quality of health services to neonates (0-28 days) who will benefit from health care screening services such hearing test and retinal screening. Infants and children who will benefit from screening of any developmental delay and through parent counseling for early simulation. • Families with Children (0 –48 months): who will benefit from the health care equipment and management that is presented by this project. • Primary Health care providers and health providers at the facility level in the selected facilities: they will benefit from training on ECD assessment in order to identify any developmental delay, also they will be trained on the use of the medical equipment that will be introduced as part of the project. • Primary Health Care clinics and hospitals will benefit from acquisition of medical equipment. 3.2 Affected parties under Component 2 • KG students and their families in the selected facilities (both public and private KGs): the project aims to improve access in public facilities through increasing enrollment of students, and improve both access and quality in private facilities. • Teachers: this project may propose many job opportunities for KG teachers, as well as intensive, one-year in-service training program to qualify private KG teachers, at the preparation stage, schools will be targeted to look for what are the qualifications that need improvements, by the implementation phase, the MOE will have a clear training program specifications to best benefit and meet the needs of both schools and teachers. • KG2 in Public and Private Schools: one of the components will be the refurbishment and/or extensions of KG2 classrooms in remote communities with high-levels of poverty and low KG2 enrollment rates. The MOE strategy to address the need of these schools is conducting site visits through the D.G. buildings department at the MOE to inform schools of the project scope and assess the current condition of the school infrastructure. While for private KG providers, facilities shall be enhanced and it is expected that enrollment rate will be increased as well. • Universities who will be implementing the professional diploma programs for KG teachers. 3.3 Affected parties for the project restructuring activities • Damaged private KGs: According to MOE assessment, many KGs in Gaza have been damaged during the war. Damages to KG infrastructure range from minor to moderate. Upon restructuring of the project, funds will be used to rehabilitate about 80 damaged private KGs. 13 • Kindergarten students in the damaged KGs: children at damaged KGs will benefit from the rehabilitation of the KGs’ infrastructure and from the provision of child kits. • Children and their families in displaced and damaged areas: children aged 4- 5 who have been forcibly displaced during the war, and those whose houses have been subject to damages and lost their belongings will be targeted through Child kits that will include stationary, handicraft materials, educational games, and toys. • Healthcare workers in primary health care centers and community mental health centers: Capacity building and training activities under the restructuring activities of subcomponent 1.2 will target health care providers working in these centers. Further, two community mental health centers will be supported by setting up the needed equipment and facilities for diagnosis and treatment especially of children with developmental delays, and by hiring/ supporting specialized professionals including speech therapists, clinical psychologists, social workers, and physicians trained in mental health care. 3.4 Other Interested Parties under Component 1 • UNRWA medical staff: will benefit from the training on ECD assessment. It is estimated that 150 medical staff will be targeted. • Private Sector Clinics (ENT): will benefit from the referrals of the specific cases identified by the screening of children in public facilities. • Universities: the ECD will be integrated within the curriculum in Al-Quds and Al-Najah universities. • Health Educators at the District offices: these educators will communicate will all stakeholders through Local Health Education and Promotion Committees. They will also help in reaching out to certain disadvantaged/ vulnerable groups at risk of exclusion such as the 10% of women who do not seek services at the Primary Health Clinics, or any targeted Bedouin communities. They can also help in identifying risks and impacts of the project. 3.5 Other Interested Parties under Component 2 • Parents of KG students • Education District Offices • Municipalities: these entities will have a role issuing construction permits, and in organizing public meetings as part of the stakeholder engagement activities, they can also help in disclosing the project information on the Municipality FACEBOOK pages or billboards • Communities where target schools are located • Civil Society Organizations (CSOs): CSOs can play a major role in raising awareness among targeted communities and parents about the importance of children enrollment in KG and its benefits on child social and intellectual growth. They can also help in identifying risk and impacts of projects. 14 3.6 Other Interested Parties for project restructuring activities • Parents/caregivers of kindergarten students • MOE in the Gaza Strip (Director General of the General Administration of Rehabilitation and Educational Supervision, Director of KGs, Director of KGs Licensing Unit, Director of Buildings and projects, Director of projects department), • UN agencies and local, national and international NGOs (namely UNRWA, UNICEF, Save the Children, Islamic Relief, WHO, Teacher Creativity Center). These organizations might have in-depth knowledge regarding the project context. Some of them specifically have previous experience in providing educational kits during crises and they could help in identifying the best materials to be included in the child kits, as well as the potential targeting mechanisms to ensure the most vulnerable populations are reached. The project will also target other MHSSP service providers in the Gaza Strip. 3.7 Disadvantaged / Vulnerable Individuals or Groups The Project under Component 1 will target disadvantaged and vulnerable individuals and groups such as pregnant women, children and their families in the Bedouin communities in the governorates of Tubas, Hebron, Ramallah and Khan AL-Ahmar and in the H2 area in Hebron city. Under Component 2, despite the fact that the project has set a target of expanding, refurnishing, or constructing KGs classrooms in different geographical areas in Palestine, there will still be many challenges for various people. Especially those who live in villages, or Bedouins, or even children with disabilities (whether mental or physical), to fully benefit from this project due to many reasons, but mainly transportation limitations. Under the restructuring process, some vulnerable groups and communities might be potentially excluded from project benefits (e.g., children living in remote locations, Bedouin communities and access restricted areas, children of women headed households, and some children who were forcibly displaced including those living with host families). Special attention will also be paid to the needs and concerns of vulnerable groups and communities. The updated SEP, in keeping with project restructuring, includes mechanisms to ensure provision of requisite information, in accessible formats, to and meaningful engagement of the most vulnerable and marginalized throughout the lifetime of the project. Similarly, there is a potential risk that the most vulnerable groups and communities may not be able to access and benefit from project interventions (e.g., provision and proper use of child kits and access to mental health and psychosocial support at the community and primary health center levels) due to issues with targeting, outreach, and availability of requisite information. The project will take all these aspects into consideration, especially in the preparation and design phases, through contacting organizations in those areas who deal with such issues in order to reach these vulnerable groups. In order to ensure disadvantaged or vulnerable needs are being taken into consideration, and that they are reached, ministries will adopt several 15 mechanisms such as publishing all information about the project in Arabic; holding workshops or meetings at suitable location that women can easily access; provide needed facilities in public meetings for handicap or people with disabilities etc. Regarding the grievance mechanism, the ministries will take into account the availability of needed recourse for this group to give feedback or send a complaint. For example, if an internet option is not available to women at villages, the Project Management Units at the ministries will provide them with alternative options, like phone calls mechanism, and so on. 3.8 Summary of Project Stakeholder Needs 3.8.1 Stakeholders Needs for the Health Component (Component 1) Specific needs (accessibility, Key Stakeholder Language Preferred notification large print, Community characteri group Needs means childcare, stics daytime meeting) Pregnant Approxim NA • Primary Morning timing women ately 1323 Healthcare Clinics meetings; number of (PHC); women • mobile clinics; accessible will be • local radios; venue; affected • municipality for Facebook page; booking • local leadership female health (to reach out for providers, Bedouin women). home visits 11 cities and Parents of Approxim NA • PHC; Daytime villages in Children ately 8040 • municipality meetings; Tubas under 5 children Facebook page Governorate affected and bulletin municipality board; meeting room; • mosques. women associations meeting rooms; health clinics; venues equipped for children with special needs Medical staff Approxim NA Official letters from the In Health in public ately 70 MOH informing the clinics facilities clinics, medical and hospitals. 16 Specific needs (accessibility, Key Stakeholder Language Preferred notification large print, Community characteri group Needs means childcare, stics daytime meeting) UNRWA staff clinics and (doctors, Tubas nurses Government and Hospital communit y health workers) will be trained Pregnant Approxim NA • Primary Morning timing women ately 2950 Healthcare Clinics meetings, number of (PHC); accessible women • mobile clinics; venue, affected • local radios; for • municipality female health booking Facebook page; providers, • local leadership home visits 56 cities and (to reach out for villages in Bedouin women). Ramallah Governorate Parents of Approxim NA • PHC; Daytime Children ately • municipality meetings, under 5 43585 Facebook page municipality children and bulletin meeting room, affected board; • mosques. women associations meeting rooms, health clinics; Venues equipped for children with special needs Medical staff Approxim NA Official letters from the In Health in public ately 271 MOH informing the clinics facilities clinics, medical and hospitals UNRWA staff clinics and (doctors, Ramallah nurses 17 Specific needs (accessibility, Key Stakeholder Language Preferred notification large print, Community characteri group Needs means childcare, stics daytime meeting) Government and Hospital communit (Palestinian y health Complex) workers) will be trained Pregnant Approxim NA • Primary Morning timing women ately 2558 Healthcare Clinics meetings, number of (PHC); women • mobile clinics; accessible affected • local radios; venue, for • municipality booking Facebook page; female health • local leadership providers, (to reach out for home visits. 18 cities and Bedouin women). villages in Hebron Parents of Approxim NA • PHC; Daytime Governorate Children ately • municipality meetings, under 5 49430 Facebook page municipality children and bulletin meeting room, affected board; • mosques. women associations meeting rooms, health clinics; venue equipped for children with special needs Medical staff Approxim NA Official letters from the In Health in public ately 120 MOH informing the clinics facilities clinics, medical and hospitals UNRWA staff clinics and (doctors, Hebron nurses (Alia) and Government communit Hospital y health 18 Specific needs (accessibility, Key Stakeholder Language Preferred notification large print, Community characteri group Needs means childcare, stics daytime meeting) workers) will be trained Pregnant Approxim NA Mobile clinic; Mobile clinics women ately 80 AL Khan Al- pregnant community Ahmar women representative. community will be in Jerusalem affected governorate Children Approxim NA Mobile clinic; Mobile clinic under 5 ately 500 children community local will leadership. benefit Medical staff Official letters In Health in public facilities mobile clinic Pregnant Approxim NA Primary Healthcare Clinics; Morning timing women ately 1500 local radios;, meetings, number of municipality Facebook accessible women page. venue, female affected health for providers, booking home visits Parents of Approxim NA • PHC; Daytime 13 cities in Children ately • municipality meetings, the North of under 5 291342 Facebook page municipality Gaza children and bulletin meeting room, governorate affected board; women ( 9 clinics • mosques associations MOH and 4 , meeting UNRWA) rooms, health clinics. Venue equipped for children with special needs Medical staff Approxim NA Official letters from the In Health in public ately 200 MOH informing the clinics facilities clinics, medical and hospitals UNRWA staff 19 Specific needs (accessibility, Key Stakeholder Language Preferred notification large print, Community characteri group Needs means childcare, stics daytime meeting) clinics and (doctors, Gaza nurses Government and Hospital communit y health workers) will be trained 3.8.2 Stakeholders Needs for the Education Component (Component 2) Specific needs (accessibility, Preferred Stakeholder Key Language large print, Community notification School group characteristics Needs child care, means Name daytime meeting) Yatta Al World Bank Approximately Arabic Official Online / face Ameen Projects 2 number of letters from to face Coordination KG2 teachers the MOE Daytime Unit, affected informing meetings, the schools, D.G of Building, letters from Directors of municipality the relevant informing departments private in the KG2s. ministry General Education / Kindergarten Directors of education directorates Headmasters’ schools Under the project 20 Specific needs (accessibility, Preferred Stakeholder Key Language large print, Community notification School group characteristics Needs child care, means Name daytime meeting) Teachers in the primary classes KG’s school supervisors, Residents and neighbors of the project area, local society Mothers / Fathers Council, Organization of Fatah and the popular movements Youth committees in the town (if possible) Police station Civil Defense Yatta Al The same Approximately Arabic Official Online / face Nassreh Stakeholder 2 number of letters from to face School group of Al KG2 teachers the MOE Daytime Ameen affected informing meetings, the schools, letters from municipality informing private KG2s. Bani Na’im Om Al The same Approximately Arabic Official Online / face Rashrash Stakeholder 2 number of letters from to face 21 Specific needs (accessibility, Preferred Stakeholder Key Language large print, Community notification School group characteristics Needs child care, means Name daytime meeting) group of Al KG2 teachers the MOE Daytime Ameen affected informing meetings, the schools, letters from municipality informing private KG2s. Yatta Banat Al The same Approximately Arabic Official Online / face Huda Stakeholder 2 number of letters from to face group of Al KG2 teachers the MOE Daytime Ameen affected informing meetings, the schools, letters from municipality informing private KG2s. Sa’ir Wadi Al The same Approximately Arabic Official Online / face Reem Stakeholder 2 number of letters from to face group of Al KG2 teachers the MOE Daytime Ameen affected informing meetings, the schools, letters from municipality informing private KG2s. Aqraba Aqraba The same Approximately Arabic Official Online / face Stakeholder 2 number of letters from to face group of Al KG2 teachers the MOE Daytime Ameen affected informing meetings, the schools, letters from municipality informing 22 Specific needs (accessibility, Preferred Stakeholder Key Language large print, Community notification School group characteristics Needs child care, means Name daytime meeting) private KG2s. Jericho Marj The same Approximately Arabic Official Online / face Na’ja Stakeholder 2 number of letters from to face group of Al KG2 teachers the MOE Daytime Ameen affected informing meetings, the schools, letters from municipality informing private KG2s. Bani Na’im Maher The same Approximately Arabic Official Online / face Imwas Stakeholder 2 number of letters from to face group of Al KG2 teachers the MOE Daytime Ameen affected informing meetings, the schools, letters from municipality informing private KG2s. Yatta Om The same Approximately Arabic Official Online / face Salama Stakeholder 2 number of letters from to face group of Al KG2 teachers the MOE Daytime Ameen affected informing meetings, the Schools, letters from municipality informing private KG2s. 23 3.8.3 Stakeholders Needs for the restructured activities Specific needs Preferred Language (accessibility, large Stakeholder group Key characteristics notification Needs print, child care, means daytime meeting) KG Headmasters/Owners and Arabic Official Daytime meetings, but Headmasters/Owners staff of the 80 damaged KGs letters from not within the regular and staff targeted in the project the MOE working hours of the through KG for teachers Staff/teachers to be emails or targeted through MHPSS phone calls training activities. Parents/caregivers of Parents/caregivers of Arabic WhatsApp Public meetings KG students approximately 7,500 groups, number of children who phone calls, were forcibly displaced or text whose houses have been messages subject to damages and lost their belongings UN agencies and non- Organizations that have in- Arabic Official Daytime meetings governmental depth knowledge regarding invitation (during the regular organizations the project context. Have letters (e- working hours) previous experience in mail, phone), providing educational kits KG working during crises and are aware group of best materials to be meetings included in the kits as well as the potential targeting mechanisms to ensure the most vulnerable populations are reached. Organizations that work in the MHPSS service sector. 4. Stakeholder Engagement Plan 4.1 Purpose and Timing of SEP The goal of this SEP (version for restructuring) is to improve and facilitate decision making and establish a way to communicate with affected people involved and other stakeholders in a timely manner, especially in light of the structure of this project, with many parties involved, and that these groups are provided the opportunity to voice their opinions and concerns that may influence Project decisions. In other words, the goal of SEP is to minimalize risk and optimize benefits for all parties involved in this project. 24 One of the steps to ensure stakeholder engagement is that the involved ministries will hold meeting and awareness workshops for beneficiaries as necessary. As series of meetings were conducted during the preparation phase of the original project. Below is a suggested tentative timeline for the SEP during implementation and for restructuring: • Implementation stage – At this stage, the project will have a clearer picture, workshops to raise awareness and explain expected risks for beneficiaries can be held. Ministries will coordinate with local councils to announce such meetings so as many people as possible can attend. Such meetings can be announced through newspaper or social media sites. At this stage, we will be more interested in communication with affected parties. These meetings are planned to start at first month of implementation and go on through the project lifecycle. Most importantly, these meetings will target interested parties as well, like local NGOs and Health Educators active in health and education, and private sector, not to mention vulnerable communities. The current target is to hold a public meeting once a month in a different target area, hoping to cover as much local communities as possible by the end of the implementation stage. • Completion stage – handover meetings will be held upon completion of the project to discuss and celebrate outcomes with beneficiaries. Such meetings will be attended by schools’ principals, school’s community, Universities, nursery owners, clinics including mobile clinics, hospitals local council, and villagers and so on. These meetings will take place upon each stage completion. A more definite timeline will be developed by effectiveness of the restructuring and in time for site-specific interventions. 4.2 Proposed Strategy for Information Disclosure Information on the project’s components and sub-components as well as the project’s different implementation stages will be disclosed to people, such as the purpose of the project, project elements, project expected timeline, and type of activities involved. The types of methods that will be used to communicate this information to each of the stakeholder groups will vary according to the target audience. These methods will include meetings with the targeted audience, workshops, announcement in the local mosques and on the municipalities Facebook pages and websites. Additional methods will be through the local newspaper “AL-Quds� and the local radio stations. The three ministries will disclose the project’s information on their websites through the following links: Ministry of Education: http://www.palpcu.ps/en/article/47/Publications - Ministry of Health: http://site.moh.ps/index/CategoryView/CategoryId/20/Language/ar - Ministry of Social Development: https://www.mosa.pna.ps/ 25 Moreover, the ministries will ensure that most people in the vicinity of the project routinely get information and are notified on the project’s progress. For stakeholders who live in remote areas such as the Bedouin communities, meetings will be conducted with the targeted audience and their comments on the engagement plan and suggestions for improvement will be included in the plan. Posters and leaflets will be placed, in the schools and clinics. All future project related documents will also be disclosed on this ministries’ webpages including future updates. Details about the project Grievance Redress Mechanism will also be posted on the websites. In accordance with World Bank Policies, the following documents will be disclosed on the World Bank and the MOE and MOH websites: - Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) - Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs) - Stakeholder Engagement Framework (SEP) - Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP) 4.3 Information Disclosure for Component 1 List of Timetabl Target Percent Project Informatio Methods e: Responsibilit Component 1 stakeholder age Stage n to be Proposed Location ies s reached disclosed / Dates Subcompone Design Detailed Public -1 Pregnant 60% ESO, Public nt 1.1 Stage informatio meetings, months women, Health, DG, n about focus prior to families with MOH medical Investments project groups impleme children (0- staff in to improve design and meetings ntation 48 months), district quality of pre- plans, with offices and postnatal pregnant medical staff care expected women in outcomes, and government families, clinics and Subcompone Public and hospitals, nt 1.2: private workshops Strengthenin clinics g early targeted in UNRWA nutrition and each leaflets in medical staff stimulating communit local clinics and Local during the y, and communitie first 1,000 hospitals. s critical days of number of life affected pregnant women and children, 26 activities to be undertake n in each clinic and hospital, timeline of activities awareness raising Pre- Project World 1 month Suppliers, 60% PMU and implemen status, Bank before consultants Procurement tation & informatio external impleme Unit at MOH Procurem n on website, ntation ent general MOH procureme website, nt notice UNDP website, local newspaper s Implemen Dates and Through Through Pregnant 60% MOH medical tation venues of visits to out women, staff in Stage each health project district activity, clinics, impleme families with offices type of ntation children (0- activity, municipalit lifecycle 48 months), GRM y mechanis Facebook, medical staff ms in mosques government clinics and hospitals, UNRWA medical staff and; Local communitie s Controllin Action Newspape 1 week Local 80% of ESO, PMU g & plan, rs/ after community, targets and Public Monitorin Maintenan Ministries project Health Health g ce plan for Websites/ 27 medical radio/ completi clinics and general equipment interviews on hospitals directorate , long-term with main expected staff on the outcomes project final handover final acceptanc e 4.4 Information Disclosure for Component 2 List of Timetabl Target Percenta Componen Project Informatio Methods e: Responsibiliti stakeholde ge t2 Stage n to be Proposed Location es rs reached disclosed / Dates Design Detailed Public 2 months Local 60% ESO, district Stage information meetings, prior to communiti offices about focus impleme es, supervisors project groups ntation teachers, and engineers design and meetings, mothers, Sub- plans, workshops nursery Component expected owners 2.1 outcomes, Public and Expanding private Access to Schools KG2 targeted in Refurbishm each ent and/or community, Extensions number of Sub- affected Component children, 2.1 works to be undertaken Expanding in each Access to school, KG2 Design and timeline of Pilot of a works, risks PPP Model and mitigation measures with definite timeline 28 List of Timetabl Target Percenta Componen Project Informatio Methods e: Responsibiliti stakeholde ge t2 Stage n to be Proposed Location es rs reached disclosed / Dates Pre- Project Fact 1 month Contractors 60% ESO, district implement status, Sheets, before , offices ation & expected site visits impleme supervisors Procureme risks, times to projects ntation local and engineers nt of sites, pre- community constructio bid , schools, n, conference Implement risk Posters/ Through Local 60% ESO, district ation Stage manageme radio/ local out community offices nt plan, that newspaper impleme , supervisors includes (Al Quds ntation and engineers risk Newspape lifecycle school mitigation, r) community GRM , mechanism s parents of students at the targeted schools Controlling Maintenanc Newspape 1 week Local 80% of ESO, district & e plan, long- rs/ after community targets offices Monitoring term Ministries project , supervisors expected Websites/ completi and engineers outcomes radio/ on school final interviews community handover with main final staff on the acceptance project 4.5 Information Disclosure for Project Restructuring Activities (Components 1 & 2) List of Timetabl Target Percenta Activity Project Informatio Methods e: Responsibiliti stakeholde ge Stage n to be Proposed Location es rs reached disclosed / Dates Addressing Preparation The Inception June, MOE and 30% of PCU and D.G. emergency and design purpose of meetings, 2021 MOH Target of recovery Stage the project, formal relevant Populati Constructions needs for Project meetings, directorate on at MOE ECD in the elements, roundtable s Gaza Strip project meetings UN PCU/MOH in the expected agencies Health and timeline, and 29 List of Timetabl Target Percenta Activity Project Informatio Methods e: Responsibiliti stakeholde ge Stage n to be Proposed Location es rs reached disclosed / Dates Education and type of internation Sectors activities, al NGOs Grievance with mechanism experience s that are in the available project context Pre- Information Public July, MOE 60% PCU and D.G. implement about meetings, 2021 relevant of Building at ation project focus directorate MOE design and groups s plans, meetings, KGs’ expected workshops headmaste outcomes, rs/owners, KGs targeted, parents/ number of caregivers affected of KG children, students works to be and undertaken children in in each KG, displaced timeline of and works, risks damaged and areas; mitigation measures and local with and definite internation timeline al NGOs Grievance mechanism s that are available Information Public August, MOE and 60% PCU/MOH about meetings, 2021 MOH project focus relevant design and groups directorate plans, meetings, s expected workshops KGs’ outcomes, headmaste KGs rs/owners, targeted, number of parents/ affected caregivers 30 List of Timetabl Target Percenta Activity Project Informatio Methods e: Responsibiliti stakeholde ge Stage n to be Proposed Location es rs reached disclosed / Dates children, of KG works to be students undertaken and in each KG, children in timeline of displaced works, risks and and damaged mitigation areas and; measures with local and definite internation timeline al NGOs Grievance mechanism Health care s that are providers available working in MHPSS primary Training health care needs centers and Implement risk Posters/ Through KGs’ 60% PCU and D.G. ation Stage manageme radio/ out headmaste of nt plan, that Social impleme rs/owners, Constructions includes media ntation at MOE risk platforms lifecycle parents/ mitigation, (e.g. caregivers PCU/MOH GRM WhatsApp) of KG mechanism students s and children in displaced and damaged areas Controlling Long-term Newspape 1 week KGs’ 80% of PCU and D.G. & expected rs/ after headmaste targets of Monitoring outcomes project rs/owners, Constructions final MOE completi at MOE handover Website/ on parents/ final caregivers PCU/MOH acceptance radio/ of KG interviews students with main and staff on the children in project displaced and 31 List of Timetabl Target Percenta Activity Project Informatio Methods e: Responsibiliti stakeholde ge Stage n to be Proposed Location es rs reached disclosed / Dates damaged areas 4.6 Proposed Strategy for Consultation Project stakeholders will be given the opportunity to comment and voice their concerns on the ECD project regarding the design of sub-projects and throughout implementation. During the design and early phases of implementation of the original meeting, public meetings were conducted to inform project stakeholders about the project’s objectives and get feedback from the local community. A General Consultation (described in Section 2) meeting was held via online technology by Microsoft Team on May 4, 2021. A round of public consultations with various stakeholders was conducted for the project restructuring in July and August 2021 and as part of the pre-implementation phase of the restructured activities. Additional public consultation meetings will be held with stakeholders throughout the project cycle life, to ensure that the public are pleased with the outcomes and have no concerns about the construction process. For MOH, public meetings will be held with pregnant women, parents and children as well public and UNRWA health providers. For the MOE, workshops will be held in schools prior to construction, to raise awareness among students, teachers, parents, and administration on risk management during construction in schools, and how to deal with emergencies. In order to control the risks of virus transmission, the PCU will be advised, when conducting stakeholder consultation meetings, to take into account the national restrictions regarding public gatherings during Covid-19 pandemic (conduct small-group consultation sessions, respect social distancing, use facemasks and sanitizers) and the Bank’s note on “Public Consultations and Stakeholder Engagement in WB-supported operations when there are constraints on conducting public meetings� (please see Annex 4). The tables below include main examples on topics of consultations during the stages of the ECD project: 4.7 Strategy for Consultation for Component 1 Componen Timetabl Topic of Target Percenta t1 Project Methods e: Responsibilit Consultatio stakeholde ge Stage Proposed Location ies n rs reached Subcompo / Dates nent 1.1 Design Detailed Public 2 months Pregnant 60% ESO, MOH Stage information meetings, prior to women, medical staff Piloting a about focus impleme families in district multisector project groups ntation with offices al ECD meetings children ( 0- 32 package for design and with 48 Palestinian activities, pregnant months), families women medical expected and staff in outcomes families, governmen Subcompo such as workshops t clinics and nent 1.2: digital hospitals, Strengtheni script for UNRWA ng MCH service medical service at providers, staff and public Local facilities end training communiti to service es providers, toolkits for parents and children and the national ECD website, Public and private clinics targeted in each community, number of affected pregnant women and children, activities to be undertaken in each clinic and hospital, timeline of activities Pre- Developme World 1 month Suppliers, 60% PMU and implement nt of ToRs Bank before Procurement ation & with all consultants Unit at MOH 33 Procureme technical external impleme nt specificatio website, ntation ns. MOH Procureme website, nt process UNDP for the website, supply of medical local equipment newspaper and the s selection of consulting firms/indivi dual consultants Implement Pregnant Through Through Pregnant 60% MOH medical ation Stage women: visits to out women, staff in Ultra-Sound health project district examinatio clinics, impleme families offices n, hearing ntation with test and municipalit lifecycle children (0- retinal y 48 screening. Facebook, months), Infants and mosques medical children: staff in screening of governmen any t clinics and developme hospitals, ntal delay -Parents: UNRWA parent medical counseling staff and; for early simulation. Local communiti es Medical staff: use of medical equipment and health education Controlling Action plan, Newspape 1 week Local 80% of ESO, PMU & Maintenanc rs/ after community targets and Public Monitoring e plan for Ministries project , Health Health medical Websites/ 34 equipment, radio/ completi clinics and general long-term interviews on hospitals directorate expected with main outcomes staff on the final project handover final acceptance 4.8 Strategy for Consultation for Component 2 Component Target Topic of Method Stakeholders Project Stage Timetable Responsibilities Consultation used Implementation Waste Suggestions At the Neighborhood MOE district Stage management boxes, beginning of and schools offices Ministries implementation close to Contractor, ESO websites, construction phone calls work Component Implementation Traffic Local At the Neighborhood Contractor, 2.1 Stage management council, beginning of close to ESO, MOE Municipality, implementation construction district offices Expanding Ministries work Access to KG2 Design Stage Share District September District D.G. General Component designed offices 2019 supervisors, Education 2.2 professional meetings other diploma universities – KG Teacher program non Professional with district participating- Diploma supervisors, educators - share the toolkit District design with offices, MOE the district supervisors, university educators and teachers 35 4.9 Strategy for Consultation for Project Restructuring Activities (Components 1 & 2) Timetabl Topic of Target Percenta Project Methods e: Responsibiliti Activity Consultatio stakeholde ge Stage Proposed Location es n rs reached / Dates Preparation KGs’ Public July- KGs’ 60% ESO/PCU and design headmaste meetings, August, headmaste ESO/MOH Stage rs/owners : 2021 rs/owners, Information focus about groups parents/ project meetings, caregivers design and of KG plans, workshops students and expected children in outcomes, displaced number of and affected damaged children, areas and works to be Addressing undertaken UN emergency in each KG, agencies recovery and needs for timeline of internation ECD in the works, al NGOs Gaza Strip in the risks and Health and mitigation Healthcare Education measures providers sectors with at primary definite health care timeline centers and community Grievance mental mechanism healthcare s that are centers available UN agencies and internation al NGOs: Best items to be included in 36 the child kits and the potential targeting mechanism s to ensure the most vulnerable populations are reached Primary healthcare centers and community mental healthcare centers: MHPSS training and equipment needs Pre- Developme World July, Suppliers 60% PCU, implement nt of TORs Bank 2021 Contractors procurement ation & with all external unit at MOE, Procureme technical website, D.G. of nt specificatio MOE Constructions ns website, at MOE Procureme local nt process newspaper for the s supply of the child kits And selection of suppliers and contractors Developme World July, Suppliers 60% PCU, nt of TORs Bank 2021 Contractors Procurement with all external unit at MOH technical website, specificatio MOH ns website, Procureme local nt process newspaper for the s supply of equipment 37 and rehabilitati on activities at the community mental health centers And selection of suppliers and contractors Developme nt of TORs for the training and capacity building activities Implement risk Posters/ Through KGs’ 60% PCU/MOE, ation Stage manageme radio/ out headmaste D.G. of nt plan, that Social impleme rs/owners, Constructions includes media ntation at MOE, KGs risk platforms lifecycle parents/ department mitigation, (e.g. caregivers at MOE GRM WhatsApp) of KG mechanism students PCU/MOH s and children in displaced and damaged areas Controlling long-term MOE 1 week Parents/car 80% of PCU/MOE & expected Website/ after egivers of targets PCU/MOH Monitoring outcomes radio/ project targeted final interviews completi children, handover on KGs’ final headmaste acceptance rs/owners Healthcare providers at primary health care centers and community mental 38 healthcare centers 4.10 Proposed strategy to incorporate the view of vulnerable groups The PCU at the MOE and MOH plan to overcome the barrier of communication with vulnerable groups during this project through several strategies that will be developed to ensure equal access to information and benefits by all the community at the targeted areas and to meet the special needs of the vulnerable population; the suggested strategies are as follows: • For starters, the vulnerable population in each target community will be identified • Ministries will coordinate with specialized local community institutions that have direct communication with vulnerable population to ensure inclusion • Ensure that public meetings are announced through channels that reach the vulnerable populations (i.e. public school, mosques, leaflets on bus stations, etc) • Ensure that the language of informed consent is comprehensible to the group or at least use a translator if necessary • Ensure that location of public meetings is accessible to vulnerable groups 4.11 Timeline4 2020 2021 2022 2023 Task Responsibility -21 -22 -23 -24 Component 1: promoting early health development 1.1 Investments to Improve Quality of Pre- and Postnatal Care Activity 1 – Supply of Medical Equipment 1. MOH-WB/ ECD -G1 / Supply of Medical Equipment MOH X 1.2 Strengthening early nutrition and stimulating during the first 1,000 critical days of life Activity 1 - Content Development and Production of Parenting Intervention Materials 4 This timeline will be updated by effectiveness of the restructuring. 39 2020 2021 2022 2023 Task Responsibility -21 -22 -23 -24 Component 2: Improving Access to High-Quality KG Services 2.1 Expanding Access to KG-2 Activity 1 - Refurbishment and/or extensions 1. Development of TORs with all technical specifications MOE 2. Procurement Process to hire local firm(s) MOE 3. Refurbishment and/or classroom MOE extensions X X X X Activity 2 - Design PPP 1. Development of TORs with all technical specifications MOE 2. Procurement Process to hire international firm/university MOE MOE 3. Roll-out of PPPs X X X X 2.2 Enhancing Quality of KG Services Activity 1 - KG Teacher Professional Diploma 1. Development of TORs with all technical specifications MOE/ MOSD 2. Procurement process to hire universities MOE/ MOSD MOE/ 3. Roll-out of professional diploma MOSD X X X X Activity 2 - KG Teacher Toolkit 1. Development of TORs with all technical specifications MOE/ MOSD 2. Procurement process to hire international firm MOE/ MOSD MOE/ MOSD 3. Distribution of toolkits X Activity 3 - Quality Assurance System for KG 1. Development of TORs with all technical specifications MOE/ MOSD 2. Procurement Process to hire international firm/ university MOE/ MOSD 3. Newly Developed tools programmed in iPad and ready to be MOE/ MOSD used by KG supervisors X 40 4.12 Review of Comments As explained in more details above, communication and feedback from stakeholders will be taken into consideration at each stage of this project. The Ministries plan to have several public meetings with the target population pre-implementation and post implementation to receive reviews and comments. Further, roundtable meetings and one-on-one meetings with stakeholders will be held as well. In addition, the Ministries plan to use the ‘Complaints and Suggestions System’ they have on the Ministries websites to hear feedback from the population. Prior to implementation, information about the website and/or phone numbers of the departments will be disclosed to public. 4.13 Reporting on Environmental and Social Management Reporting about environmental and social performance shall be included in technical reports submitted on annual basis to the World Bank. Additionally, PCUs will report any incidents promptly and action will be taken. 5. Resources and Responsibilities for Implementing Stakeholders Engagement Activities 5.1 Resources Ministries of Education and Health through the PCU and the PMU will be responsible for managing and implementing the Stakeholder Engagement Plan. The PCU and the PMU have considered an allocation for the implementation of the SEP activities. This includes hiring an Environmental and Social Officer (ESO) and all related activities that will be conducted as stated in the project costing tables. The PCU in the MOE hired the ESO who will be the main focal point through the design and construction phase and shall be responsible to ensure that communication with all targeted groups is being done as appropriate and follow up on the implementation of the SEP and shall include this in the periodical reports submitted to the MOE and MOH and the WB. In the MOH, the Directorate General (DG) of Public Health is the main party responsible to follow up and supervise all health providers at the health district offices. Also, it will have some responsibilities in the implementation and follow up of the SEP. The DG of Public Health shall ensure that all health providers are informed early enough and are all having the same understanding of the needed communications with the different target groups. The Directorate General (DG) of Buildings at the MOE is the main party responsible to follow up and supervise all engineers at the education district offices. Also, they will have some responsibilities in the implementation and follow up of the SEP. The DG Buildings shall ensure that all engineers where constructions works are planned are informed early enough and are all having the same understanding of the needed communications with the different target groups. 41 The following people will be responsible for carrying out the stakeholder engagement activities and will be responsible for providing information if people have comments or questions about the project or the consultation process: 1- Name of focal point at MOH: DG of Public Health Dr. Yasser Bouziya Phone: 0562401918 Email: yasser515@gmail.com 2- Name of focal point at MOE: Contact (1) DG of General Education, Mr. Sadeq Khdour Phone: 0562501063 Email: sadiq.khdour@moe.edu.ps Contact (2) Environmental & Social Officer (ESO) Eng. Tameem Badawi Project Coordination Unit – PCU 0598782117 Email: tbadawi@palpcu.com The implementation of SEP activities will be documented, tracked, and managed by ESO, who will be responsible for documenting all stakeholder’s database through registration log, meeting minutes, attendance sheets, and regular reports to the MOE and the World Bank. The complainant information and the details of the complaint should be entered in the GRM Tracking Matrix. 5.2 Estimated Budget A detailed budget for implementing the stakeholder engagement activities over the project’s lifecycle is attached in the table below. The PCU will review the plan every six months to determine if any changes to stakeholder classification or engagement are required. If so, the plan will be updated and the budget will be revised accordingly. The Environmental and Social Officer will dedicate a time effort of 15% for the implementation of the SEP. 42 Table 5-2: Estimated budget for four years Unit Times Total Qua Cost /5year Cost Activities ntity (USD) s (USD) Stakeholder Engagement Activities Assessment and consultation visits (West Bank and Gaza)- (Gaza: 77 Schools- 38 visits twice- one assessment and one consultation) * 20 USD average for each visit= 38*2*20= 1520 USD)- 2060 West Bank (9 schools* 2 visits each* 30 USD average cost = 9*2*30=540 USD ) 1520+540= 2060 USD Communications materials (posters, pamphlets, flyers… 3 1,000 1 3,000 including design) Survey 3 1500 1 4500 Short video 1 2,000 1 2,000 Newspaper announcements and Radio spots 14 800 1 11,200 Sub-total - Stakeholder Engagement Grievance activities GM Communications materials (including design) 1,000 TOTAL 23,760 5.3 Management Functions and Responsibilities The DG of Public Health (MOH) and of Buildings (MOE) and the PCU-ESO shall have frequent and continuous communication and follow up with the district offices during the design and construction phase. Site visits shall be taking place during the construction phase and site visit reports shall be documents and handed to the Director General of Public Health and Buildings and the PCU and PMU. Timely reports shall also be included in the annual and semiannual reporting to the World Bank. 6. Grievance Mechanism In Palestine, the right of the public to complain in Palestine is ensured by the grievance bylaw was approved by the Ministerial Cabinet in 2005 and updated in 2009. The Bylaw sets the rules for grievance of the public and the improving the performance of the Palestinian Ministries and Authorities. The PCU and PMU at both ministries customized the pre-existing complaints system to meet the project needs. PCU and PMU will inform the stakeholders about the system and the 43 process during public meetings and local community activities and will keep a log of the complaints at hand. The GM will continue to be improved and enhanced throughout implementation, as required, under the guidance of the World Bank project team. Grievance feedback shall be communicated with complainant by telephone, fax, email, or in writing. 6.2 Feedback/grievance monitoring and recording There is a Complaints Unit at the Ministry of Education and at the Ministry of Health. The units are part of the ministries’ organizational structure and administered by Heads of Unit and equipped with trained staff. The Complaints Unit work is regulated by the Council of Ministers Decision No. (8) of 2016 and by the Procedure Manual No. (20/17) of 2017. Both documents are made public and published in Arabic on the following ministries’ websites: • For MOE: http://www.palpcu.ps/en/article/47/Publications • For MOH: http://site.moh.ps/Index/CategoryView/CategoryId/21/Language/ar A detailed GM manual that includes guidelines on filing and handling complaints at the project’s level has been prepared with the support of the World Bank consultant. MOE will keep log for grievances and how complaints were resolved within a stipulated time frame and then produce monthly reports for senior management. Grievances/feedback reports include data on numbers of grievances/feedback received, compliance with business standards, issues raised in grievances/feedback, trends in grievances/feedback over time, the causes of grievances/feedback, whether remedial action was warranted, and what redress was provided. Ministries will also make sure that the existence of the GM mechanism will be communicated to all stakeholder groups. Information on the how and where to file complaints will be disclosed to people as part of the Information Disclosure Strategy. Ministries will ensure that the GM and the complaint system is applied properly according to the related laws and regulations and grievances/feedback made public periodically. The GM that was developed for the original project shall remain accessible and functional to receive and facilitate the resolution of concerns and grievances in relation to the restructured project in accordance with ESS10. Adequate resources shall be provided for the continued operation of the GM and the Bank’s project task team will confirm adequacy of the budget. For Projects in Gaza Strip, the ESC hired at the PCU (engaged on August 18, 2021) will be responsible for receiving project related complaints in coordination with the ESO, the D.G. of Buildings at the MOE and the EHSO at the MOH. The project’s level GM Manual will be updated to include roles and responsibilities of the PCU-ESO (MOE), PMU-EHSO (MOH) in addition to the ESC. 44 6.3 The grievance mechanism and process for complaints related to Gender Based Violence (GBV), Sexual Harassment and Sexual Abuse (SH/SEA) The grievance mechanism for the restructuring activities shall receive, register and address concerns and grievances related to GBV/SEA/SH in a safe and confidential manner, including through the referral of survivors to gender-based violence service providers. The project will also ensure via the stakeholder engagement that stakeholders are informed about the GRM. The project level GM will include specific procedures for GBV, SEA/SH including confidential reporting and ethical documentation of GBV cases. The project’s ESO will be responsible for addressing and responding to complaints related to children, and women who may be exposed to violence, sexual exploitation and abuse and sexual harassment. A GRM email address (tbadawi@palpcu.com) and a telephone number (0598782117) will be communicated to project’s affected parties during consultations and through different stakeholder engagement methods. The ESO will also be responsible for managing complaints with high priority, seriousness, data protection and privacy through channeling the complaint to the Head of PCU/Minister of Education/Minister of Health to follow-up on it. Training will also be provided by a GBV expert for the ESO on detection of cases of gender-based violence and handling of inquiries, complaints and grievances related to GBV. Moreover, national laws, regulations and strategies include some provision to address issues regarding sexual exploitation and abuse and sexual harassment. The key document in this regard is the Charter of Women's Rights that was issued in 2008 by the Ministry of Women Affairs (MOWA) and a coalition of civil society organizations. The charter includes the Declaration on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, which provides for the protection of women from all forms of violence against them in the workplace, particularly harassment. On the other hand, the MOE (previously named Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE)) Strategic Plan for 2017–2022 commits to achieving inclusion and equality by focusing on health education, awareness on sexual and reproductive health, and issues relating to combating child marriages, discrimination, violence, and inequality. In addition, MOH has recirculated its Palestinian Ministry of Health Codes of Conduct: Ministerial Decision (6) of year 2020 which includes generic instructions for conducting the relation between coworkers, the public and administration. The following sexual harassment and sexual abuse grievance procedures, in line with the MOE, MOH and MoSD GBV regulations will be followed: I- Refer the victim to a specialized gender unit at the MOE or the Ministry of Women Affairs to provide support. 45 II- In the case the survivor decides to seek justice the following procedures will be followed after obtaining the survivors’ permission: 1- The ESO will be assigned to receive and handle SEA/SH complaints. Telephone information line, email address and procedures will be communicated to beneficiaries during consultation and induction sessions. The telephone number can also be used by employees/workers to discuss questions or concerns about the harassment without having to express an identity. 2- Follow clear procedure for addressing the SEA/SH that will include the following steps: 2.1 private interview with the complainant and articulate the allegations in writing; 2.2 investigate the claim. Investigation can be done by a special committee for the prevention of sexual harassment. The committee should be gender balanced and could include a member of senior management, and trained sexual harassment staff member. Investigation will be conducted in total confidentiality to prevent any humiliation of the complainant. 2.3 a finding is made as whether the complaint is substantiated; 2.4 a written report documenting the investigation process, evidence, findings and recommended outcome(s) is submitted to the Head of PCU/Minister of Education/Minister of Health. 2.5 the Head of the PCU implement the recommended outcome(s) or decide on an alternative course of action. 2.6 determine the forms of disciplinary action and sanction and the scope of the application of these actions. Disciplinary and sanction should be included in the organization regulations and/or the labor agreement. 6.4 Workers’ Grievance Mechanism The labor management procedures (LMP)5prepared for this project describes the details related to the complaints system that will be prepared by the project contractor to handle workers' grievances. MOE will require contractors to develop and implement a grievance mechanism for their workforce including sub-contractors, prior to the start of any civil works or installation of equipment. Implementing ministries will also develop and implement a grievance mechanism for their workers/staff. 5 A LMP was prepared for the original project at appraisal (October 2019) and is being updated in line with the restructuring activities. Provisions related to LMP are also being updated in the ESCP for the restructuring activities and will be cleared and disclosed by early-September 2021. 46 The GM for all project workers types (identified in the LMP updated for restructuring) to cover on-going as well as new activities introduced under restructuring will be established by the end of August (as committed to in the project ESCP), as described in the updated LMP and consistent with requirements under relevant national law as confirmed by the Bank and ESS2, and maintained and operated for the restructured project. The GM will receive any project related grievances from all project workers types such as compensation, discrimination, OHS concerns, GBV/SEA/SH, and any others in as described in the LMP. The GM for project workers will be operational by the end of August 2021 and maintained throughout the implementation of the restructured project. The ESC at the PCU, in coordination with the ESO and the EHSO at the MOE and MOH respectively, will be responsible for monitoring the implementation of the workers’ grievance mechanism in Gaza. A workers’ complaints manual is being finalized by the ministries. The workers grievance mechanism will be described in staff induction trainings, which will be provided to all project workers. The workers grievance mechanism will include: • a procedure to receive grievances such as comment/complaint form, suggestion boxes, email, a telephone hotline. • stipulated timeframes to respond to grievances. • a register to record and track the timely resolution of grievances. • an assigned staff to receive, record and track resolution of grievances. Information about the existence of the grievance mechanism will be readily available to all project workers (direct and contracted) through notice boards, the presence of “suggestion/complaint boxes�, and other means as needed. The ESO will monitor the contractors’ recording and resolution of grievances, and report these to the PCU in the monthly progress reports. 6.5 World Bank’s Grievance Redress Service (GRS). Additionally, communities and individuals who believe that they are adversely affected by a project supported by the World Bank may also complaint directly to the Bank through the Bank’s Grievance Redress Service (GRS) (http://projects-beta.worldbank.org/en/projects- operations/products-and-services/grievance-redress-service). A complaint can be submitted to the Bank GRS through the following channels: • By email: grievances@worldbank.org • By fax: +1.202.614.7313 • By mail: The World Bank, Grievance Redress Service, MSN MC10-1018, 1818 H Street Northwest, Washington, DC 20433, USA. 6.6 Part of the learning process Project partners will identify all complaints and their serious consequences to be presented regularly during the meetings as part of the learning process. 47 7 Monitoring and Reporting 7.1 Involvement of Stakeholders in Monitoring Activities PCU-MOE will carry out the environmental and social monitoring throughout the subproject implementation in order to verify environmental and social compliance, and to measure the implementation of the recommended mitigation measures. PCU-MOE will conduct compliance monitoring, using the specific environmental and social measures relevant to, and prescribed for the activities as well as to assess general environmental and social management/performance. An E&S monitoring plan will be prepared by the ESO by mid- September, 2021. Monthly summaries and internal reports on public grievances, enquiries and related incidents, together with the status of implementation of associated corrective/preventative actions will be collated by ESO and referred to the senior management of the project(s). The monthly summaries will provide a mechanism for assessing both the number and the nature of complaints and requests for information, along with the Project’s ability to address those in a timely and effective manner. The Ministries and PCU/PMU plan to engage stakeholders and third parties to complement or verify the Ministries own monitoring activities and collaborate with such agencies and third party; who will include Municipalities, local councils, and education district officers Monitoring reports documenting the social performance of the Project during the implementation will be prepared by the ESO for submission to MOH and to the World Bank. These reports will be submitted quarterly. These reports will include a section regarding stakeholder engagement and grievance management. Table7-1 proposes a comprehensive set of indicators related to SEP performance at this stage. 7.2 Reporting back to Stakeholder Groups The project will report back to stakeholders on various aspects of the project including complains, progress of the project, performance, and any other relevant issues. As discussed above, complaints related to component 1, the PMU at the MOH will keep a log of all complaints related to health and concerns received from stakeholders and will work on solving them in coordination with the Public Health Directorate General. The PCU at the MOE will keep a log of all complaints and concerns received from stakeholders related to component 2 and will work on solving them. As per the Ministries’ systems of complaints, each complaint will have a tracking number and contact information of the complainer so the Ministries can get back to them when the problem is solved. On a larger scale, the Ministries can discuss solved issue and lessons learned during public meetings with the stakeholders, or simply let local councils or municipalities know the latest updates so that they can relay it the community. As for reporting back results or solutions, the ministries will use the same mechanisms used to receive the feedback for the reporting back. 48 Information on public engagement activities undertaken by the Project during the year may be conveyed to the stakeholders in two possible ways: • Publication of a standalone annual report on project’s interaction with the stakeholders. • A number of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) will also be monitored by the project on a regular basis, including the following parameters: - Number of public hearings, consultation meetings and other public discussions/forums conducted within a reporting period (e.g. monthly, quarterly, or annually). - Frequency of public engagement activities. - Geographical coverage of public engagement activities. - Number of public grievances received within a reporting period (e.g. monthly, quarterly, or annually) and number of those resolved within the prescribed timeline. - Type of public grievances received. Number of press materials published/broadcasted in the local, regional, and national media. 49 8 Annexes 8.1. Minutes of Meeting for General Public Consultation Introduction Due to the emergency situation in Palestine, and due to the Covid 19 restrictions that prohibited the gathering of more than 3 people as per the MOH instructions. All of the meetings and the consultations conducted were carried out virtually (online) via communication tools like Microsoft Teams and Zoom. However, this public consultation workshop was carried out virtually on 4th of May 2021. 37 of stakeholders from different institutions attended the workshop (more than 20 of stakeholders are representatives from the women, youth, community representatives, Municipalities……, etc.). the rest are representatives from the governmental ministries and authorities, mainly Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Social Development. The workshop was conducted online using Microsoft Teams software. The update of the environmental and social aspects was covered and consulted with all attendees. It was found that the attendees have an understanding of the Environmental and Social measures for the project. And they haven’t raised any concerns about any Environmental and Social issues regarding the project, mainly all of them have a good background from previous similar projects. In turn, the ESO explained and illustrated the WB Environmental and Social standards for all the attendees, and discussed the ESSs that are associated with our project. The General Public Consultation agenda was divided into two sections as the following: Part One: The Presentation The first section of the general public consultation agenda was an online presentation. It provided an overview on the project, objectives and components. Also, discuss the WB Environmental and Social standards that related to our project. Moreover, provided all of the updated environmental and social measures that should be taken into consideration during the design and implementation phase. The topics taken in consideration during the first section: • Applicable World Bank Environmental and Social Standards: the ESO illustrated the applicable WB ESSs for all the attendees that are related to the project. Mainly, ESS1,ESS2,ESS4 AND ESS10. • Discuss the Environmental and Social Risks Health Component. Ms. Taghreed Hijaz from the MOH determine the health equipment under this project, after that the ESO discuss the ES measures related to the Health component. 50 • Labor and working conditions: the ESO discussed this point widely, that aimed to highlight the construction/refurbishment activities including noise and dust, falling and falling objects, exposure to hazardous materials and exposure to electrical hazards from the use of tools; and cooperation of medical equipment (mainly monograms and general stats monitoring equipment such as indirect Ophthalmoscope, direct Retinoscopy, handheld Auto Refracto-Kerato meter, and Neonatal incubators); and Gender-Based Violence (GBV), Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA), and child Abuse/Exploitation (CAE) risks. The risk on this aspect is fairly high given the construction sites are distributed over the entire West Bank and in some cases could be remote. Finally, the terms and Conditions of Employment, Occupational Health and Safety. • Stakeholder Engagement Plan: the ESO identified the stakeholders, the engagement method, approach, frequency. • Public consultation: how to consult with the sub-project’s affected people during the COVID 19 emergency situation. • Aims of the Civic Engagement for the project. • Grievance Redress Mechanism: the definition of complaint, Complaints channels, documentation, uptake, process, close the complaint, and reporting of complaints. And the ESO reflect the procedure within the Covid 19 pandemic. • Environmental and social Requirements and recommendations: based on the project type; environmental and social requirements should be taken in to consideration. 51 52 Part Two: Questions and Discussion All the attendees welcomed the project and encouraged to proceed for the well needed project under the current emergency situation, especially that the KG2 sector is marginalized in the region. the ESO asked all the attendees for any clarifications and any questions. As mentioned above, they haven’t raised any concerns about the Environmental and Social issues regarding the project, mainly all of them have a good background from the previous similar projects. Moreover, the ESO asked them to prepare any concerns and any questions that may arise later so they may be answered in future discussions and taken during the specific consultation that will be conducted for preparing the site specific ESMPs. on the other hand, after the consultation, the PCU gained a good feedback from the different attendees. And they appeared a high attention to listen an update from time to time. The PCU inform them to conduct a public consultation for each site separately. Invitation for the virtual online General Public Consultation Old one (Before WB ES team comments on the PPP for the General Consultation) New one 53 List of Attendees (Registration online Via Microsoft Teams) No. Name Organization Title Osamah Said 1 Hamdouneh Al Azhar University/ Gaza Dean of Education 2 Entesar Hosheye Um Salma School School Principal 3 Suheil Salha Al Najah University Head of Elementarty School 4 Hala Madeye Um Salma Girls School KG Teacher Directorate of Education - 5 Amal Johar Jericho Head of Buildings Department 6 Tamer Jaru PCU/ Gaza Compliance Officer Dean Assistant of Educational 7 Nabeel Al Moghrabi Al Quds Open University Sciences Dean of Intestive Academic 8 Nabeel Al Jundi Hebron University Program 9 Taghreed Hjaz Ministry of Health Community Health Department Directorate of Education - 10 Sawsan Al Sweti Jericho Head General Education Directorate of Education - 11 Iman Al Sherif Jericho KG Supervisor 12 Rami Masoud Al Quds Open University Administrative Employee 13 Montaser Halabi Local Community - Yatta Dean of Education 14 Rowaida Al Qadi Ministry of Health 15 MOHanad Aqel Ministry of Health 16 Boad Khales Al Quds University Directorate of Education - 17 Areej Bani Odeh Jericho 18 Kayed Masoud Police 54 General Manager of Planning Department 19 Hani Hamamdeh Directorate of Education - Yatta 20 Nasouh Motawe Police Directorate of Education- 21 Hala Madeye Northern Hebron General Manager of General Education 22 Jihad Aladra Directorate of Education - Yatta Directorate of Education - 23 Sawsan Abu Mohsen Jericho 24 Sabreen Khalil Ministry of Social Development 25 Areen Al Mimi Ministry of Social Development 26 Ruba Ashqar Ministry of Education -Buildings Directorate of Education - 27 Taaleen Bsharat Jericho 28 Husain Abu Sabha Directorate of Education - Yatta Directorate of Education- 29 Bassam Zbedat Northern Hebron 30 Isra Sarahneh Ministry of Social Development 31 Khalid Shiha Ministry of Health Directorate of Education- 32 Habeeb Mnasra Northern Hebron 33 Ibrahim Meree Police Directorate of Education- 34 Jihan Bani Odeh Southern Nablus 35 Entesar Abu Sabha Directorate of Education - Yatta 36 Sana Shawar PCU PCU Director 37 Tameem Badawi PCU ESO Below are some pictures of the meeting: 55 56 57 List of invitees The invitation for all stakeholders through the focal point in the competent Ministry. Please, refer to the invitation above. Ministry .No Stakeholder 1 WB Project Coordination Unit 2 D.G OF Building 3 Director of Department relevant to the Project 4 General Education/KGS Department 5 Director of Directorate relevant to the Project 6 School Head Master 7 Basic Grades Teachers 8 KGs Supervisors MOE 9 Location Neighbors 10 Local Communities 11 Fathers/Mothers Council for Students 12 Municipality / Village Council 13 Fatah Movement 14 Youth Committee 15 Police Center 16 Civil Defense 1 Clinics staff 2 Department of Community Health 3 Department of School and Nutrition Health 4 Department of Preliminary Care 5 Heath Directors 6 Mother and Child Health Supervisor 7 General Director of Preliminary Health MOH 8 General Director of Public Health 9 Directorates of Nursing 10 Clinics Neighbors 11 Municipality / Village Council 12 Police Center 13 Civil Defense 14 Children Parent's below 5 Years 15 Some of Pregnant Women 1 Family and Children Department MoSD 2 Nurseries Department 3 Information Technology Department 58 Also, as WB requested by email, MOH will invite the additional stakeholder staff as following in addition to the previous stakeholder list: • UNRWA medical staff: will benefit from the training on ECD assessment. It is estimated that 150 medical staff will be targeted. • Private Sector Clinics (ENT): will benefit from the referrals of the specific cases identified by the screening of children in public facilities. In addition to the previous stakeholder, the WB request from the MOH and MOE to invite the following: • Universities: the ECD will be integrated within the curriculum in Al-Quds and Al-Najah universities. ( For MOE ) • Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) working in the health and education sectors. CBOs in the affected communities can also participate. (For Both Ministries) 59 8.2. Summary of the Consultation meeting for the restructured activities (MOE) As part of stakeholders' engagement in the pre-implementation phase of the restructured activities under the ECD project, a consultation meeting was conducted on July 11, 2021 at the meetings hall in the Ministry of Education office (MOE) in Gaza City. About 40 persons, representing different groups and with different interests, attended the workshop, with representatives from MOE, Projects Coordination Unit (PCU), KGs’ headmistress/owners, KG Children’s parents and local and international NGOs (List of participants is attached). The meeting began with welcoming remarks by MOE, presented by Dr. Mona Al Sadeq, followed by an introduction to the project that was provided by Dr. Hani Nijim-PCU, in which he briefly described the project objectives, components, outcomes and activities, as well as the restructured areas of intervention that were designed to address the emergency recovery needs in Gaza. Introduction to the Workshop by MOE and PCU A presentation was provided to introduce the participants to the stakeholder engagement plan and inform them about the grievance redress mechanism that is in place during different phases of the project. The presentation highlighted, in more details, the new emergency areas of intervention under the restructuring process, as well as the objective and content of the SEP, touching on the identified stakeholder’s categories and needs. The presentation has also discussed the special provisions for vulnerable groups and the details of the GRM, including the different steps of the grievance resolution process, focusing on the different complaints’ 60 uptake channels, and the special referral pathways for the project-related GBV/SEA/SH complaints and grievances (The presentation provided during the meeting is attached). The last part of the meeting was dedicated for the discussion of the participants concerns or expectations/hopes associated with the Project and the restructured activities as well as the SEP. All concerns, comments and recommendations raised by the participants during the discussions as well as the PCU/MOU response to these concerns are illustrated in Table 1. E- mails of the PCU coordinator assistant and the manager of the projects department at MOE were provided to the participants, so they can easily contact them for any further clarifications regarding the project or for sending some other concerns that were not raised during the meeting. Discussion during the meeting The different groups were asked to identify the preferred means of communication to be adopted for communication and sharing of information during different project phases. In his regard, the following tools were identified: • For NGOs: e-mails and phone calls along with the KG working group. • For KG owners, teachers and children parents: WhatsApp groups as well as phone calls and text messages Specific needs identified for engagement activities include providing transportation for people in remote areas to the nearest meeting and conducting the meetings after the regular working hours. 61 Table 1: Key issues raised during the consultation meeting Category Comments/concerns Response Maha Nabhan – Headmistress of Ya A third area of intervention under Hala KG in Gaza City the restructured activities is related to providing psychological first aid • Our KG damaged; there has been and managing mental health damage to the area where the KG is disorders for young children and located; teachers at the KG were their caregivers; this component is under huge psychological stress still under discussion with the during the war, which has affected Ministry of Health. Results of this and their ability to provide necessary component should inform the two psychological support to the children. components in the education sector. • We hope that you can inform us regarding the needed information The SEP will ensure appropriate from our side that can help stakeholders’ participation during accelerating the rehabilitation different project phases. process. KGs headmistress/Owners • We cannot be more grateful to the parties responsible for the project and for the meeting for having us here today to hear from us. Zahra Abu Oun- Headmistress of Al Clear and transparent selection We’am KG in Beit Lahia criteria will be in place. When selecting the children to be targeted under Area 2 (Child kit), a clear criteria should be followed and shared with the KG administration, so that they can handle any conflicts that may arise between beneficiaries and non- beneficiaries; the best solution to avoid conflicts is that if a specific KG is targeted, all of its children are considered beneficiaries. Shadia Abu Salama – Headmistress of A third area of intervention under Al Salam KG in Al Zaytoun the restructured activities is related neighborhood to providing psychological first aid and managing mental health • The children at the KG as well as disorders for young children and their teachers should be targeted their caregivers; this component is 62 Category Comments/concerns Response through psychological support still under discussion with the programs Ministry of Health. • Quality of the provided items in the Child kit should be monitored; items provided in some previous projects were expired and useless. Jihan Abu Jayyab – Owner of Al - Tufoula al Haditha KG in Gaza City Any activity that would target the KG teachers should not take place during regular working hours Khetam Al Hasanat-Owner of Ahbab - Toyour Al Janna KG in Deir Al Balah The project will significantly contribute to the improvement of the KGs educational provision and learning environment, yet we hope that it could also ensure the sustainability of the outputs at the KGs level, to ensure for instance that the teachers will not leave the KG after gaining the capacity- building diploma. Samah Al Ghazali – Mother of a child A third area of intervention under at Ya Hala KG in Gaza the restructured activities is related to providing psychological first aid Along with the excellent interventions and managing mental health under this project, there should be an KG Children Parents disorders for young children and emergency psychological support their caregivers; this component is program for children. still under discussion with the Ministry of Health. Rasmiya Shaheen – Mother of a KG A third area of intervention under Child in Rafah the restructured activities is related to providing psychological first aid My child’s physical and mental health has and managing mental health been severely affected as a result of the disorders for young children and war; he is now suffering from hearing their caregivers; this component is impairments due to the very close heavy 63 Category Comments/concerns Response bombardments. He is also suffering for still under discussion with the psychological disorders; he cannot do Ministry of Health. anything or go anywhere without having me with him. Zahra Al Saifi – Mother of a KG child To be considered in the design of in Beit Lahia the activities. Any activity that would target the KG teachers should not take place during regular working hours to avoid any psychological implications on children, who are attached to their teachers. Yousef Ibraheem – Owner of Tamayaz Eng. Mohammed Nassar/Projects KG in Rafah Department at MOE: Rehabilitation of the KGs should take The project will aim to complete all place as soon as possible; we still cannot needed rehabilitation before KGs receive any new applications, as the KG are scheduled to reopen for the new building is not safe. school year in August Eman Faroukh-KG teachers’ trainer Dr. Hani Nijim/PCU: • Interventions from different funding Since the very beginning of this agencies in the KGs should be unified project, different stakeholders KG teachers and should go in line with the MOE were/are engaged in order to ensure efforts to ensure the effectiveness of the integration of resources and the these interventions. sustainability of the project impact. The project was designed and is being implemented in full coordination with the MOE. 64 Category Comments/concerns Response Lina Taha- Islamic Relief Dr. Hani Nijim/PCU: • Would all of the project activities be The activities will be implemented implemented in the Gaza Strip as in at the national scale, where both the the West Bank? Or should there be Gaza Strip and the West Bank will some activities that will only be benefit from the project outcomes. implemented in the West Bank? Three universities from the Gaza • Why not to carry out the Strip are involved directly in the rehabilitation of damaged KGs taking project. into consideration the principles of Further, the new restructured Building Back Better to reduce the activities are designed specifically impact of Covid-19 pandemic on local and international NGOs to address the emergency recovery children learning? needs in Gaza. Delays of the implementation of the Parent project activities are associated with some instable constraints, such as the Covid-19 pandemic and the 11-days war. Eng. Jamal Abd Al- Bari/Buildings unit-MOE: The project is designed to restore the conditions at the damaged KGs to their original state directly ahead of the war, the other components of the project will, however, assist in improving the education provision, learning and wellbeing of KG children. 65 Category Comments/concerns Response Wafaa Al Ghussain - Teacher Creativity Center in the Gaza Strip • Local NGOs and community-based committees could positively contribute in the design of such projects; such parties should be engaged in the projects at early stages. • Teacher Creativity Center has been developing a study about the needs of early childhood in the Gaza Strip; a draft of the study is planned to be completed in the coming few days; results of the study could be shared with the MOE and the WB. 66 List of Meeting Participants 67 68 8.3 Summary of the Consultation meeting for the restructured activities (MOH) As part of stakeholders' engagement in the pre-implementation phase of the restructured activities under the ECD project, a consultation meeting was conducted August 08, 2021 at the meeting hall of the MOH’s General Directorate of Human Resources Development in Gaza City. About 32 persons, representing different groups and with different interests, attended the workshop, with representatives from different departments at the MOH, UNRWA, WHO, MOE, MoSD, KGs’ headmistress/owners, KG Children’s parents and local NGOs providing MHPSS services(List of participants is attached). The ESOs at the MOE and MOH in the West Bank have also attended the meeting remotely via Microsoft Teams. The meeting began with welcoming remarks by MOH, presented by Dr. Medhat Mohaisen and Dr. Fathi Abu Warda, in which they briefly described the background and context of the project as well as the restructured areas of intervention that were designed to address the emergency recovery needs in Gaza. Introduction to the Workshop by MOH Then a presentation was provided to introduce the participants to the stakeholder engagement plan (SEP) and the environmental and social management framework (ESMF) and inform them about the grievance redress mechanism that is in place during different phases of the project. The presentation highlighted, in more details, the new emergency areas of intervention under the restructuring process, as well as the objective and content of the SEP and the ESMF. The presentation has also discussed the the details of the GRM, including the different steps of the grievance resolution process, focusing on the different complaints’ uptake channels, and the special referral pathways for the project-related GBV/SEA/SH complaints and grievances. 69 SEP and ESMF Presentation The last part of the meeting was dedicated for the discussion of the participants concerns or expectations/hopes associated with the Project and the restructured activities as well as the SEP and the ESMF. The participants agreed that the provided information regarding the project’s SEP and ESMF were sufficient and clear. All concerns, comments and recommendations raised by the participants during the discussions as well as the response to these concerns are illustrated in Table 1. Discussion during the meeting The different groups were asked to identify the preferred means of communication to be adopted for communication and sharing of information during different project phases. In his regard, the following tools were identified: • For NGOs: e-mails and phone calls 70 • For KG owners, teachers and children parents: WhatsApp groups as well as phone calls and text messages Specific needs identified for engagement activities include conducting the meetings in venues that are easily reachable and do not require long commute. Table 1: Key issues raised during the consultation meeting Category Comments/concerns Response • Dr. Saeed Al Kahlout- Training Center, • Any thoughts Community Mental Health Directorate regarding the capacity − It is recommended to conduct a FG meeting that building needs will be gathers relevant specialized stakeholders to received via e-mail discuss the exact capacity building needs and and WhatsApp group activities at the community mental health to enhance the centers in Gaza, which might include equipping capacity building new rooms for play therapy as well as training program. of the centers’ staff to specifically deal with children under 5 years old. • Good suggestions for − Training of the mental health professionals on training topics and trauma therapeutic techniques, including will be considered EMDR, play therapy, and Cognitive-Behavior during the detailed Therapy. These trained therapists should be able training program to train relevant staffs at MoE and MoSD. preparation. • Dr. Mohammed Abu Shawish- Department • Good suggestions for of Programs and Psychological Support, training topics and Community Mental Health Directorate will be considered MOH Training activities could include: during the detailed training program − Training of primary health care workers on preparation. the child mental and behavioral disorders • These suggestions fit module of the WHO-Mental Health Gap well with the Action Programme (MHgap) proposed activities of − Training staff of community mental health the MoH restructured centers on trauma and PTSD therapeutic program of the ECD techniques including Cognitive-Behavior project. Therapy and exposure therapy − Training of trainers- non-specialized staff at kindergartens regarding the early detection of mental health disorders To address the mental health needs of children as a result of the war, the following activities should also • The proposed be considered: equipment and − Equipping community mental health playroom will be centers to include rooms for play therapy studied by the MoH and may be adapted. 71 Category Comments/concerns Response and equipping them with psychometric • Providing tools (IQ, PTSD, ADHD, etc.) medications for − Providing the needed medical treatment for mental disorders for mental disorders for children children under this project will be studied and if found possible will be adapted • Dr. Hisham al Mudallal- Directorate of Mental Health Planning and Development, • This project will Community Mental Health Directorate improve 2 centers − All of the six community mental health centers only due to budget in Gaza should be improved to provide primary limitations, however, mental health services for children; this could the other 4 centers can include equipping a room for play therapy at be improved under each center and building the capacity of the staff future interventions. (doctors, nurses, psychologists and social workers) − Setting up and equip two community mental health centers to provide more specialized mental health and psychological support services (one cold be in Khan Younis to provide MHPS services for the Southern and the Middle governorates and the other could be in Gaza to provide services for Gaza and the Northern governorate) • Dr. Khaled Milad- Community Mental • This concern will be Health Directorate raised to the technical We need to focus on trauma diagnosis and treatment team in the MoH and rather than on autism and developmental delays. a decision will be Providing EEG machines and equipping two taken regarding sensory rooms would not significantly assist in excluding the Autism addressing the mental health emergency recovery therapy and needs of children in Gaza. concentrating on trauma therapy as it is directly related to the War impact on children in Gaza. • Dr. Mousa Abed- Primary Care Directorate • Yes, Primary health − Primary health care providers’ role should not care providers’ should be limited to screening and referring children to be involved in the more specialized MHPSS services, they should treatment, and they also be involved in the treatment process. should also be able − Primary health care workers could be targeted refer difficult cases to through training programs that focus on the 72 Category Comments/concerns Response child mental and behavioral disorders module of specialized MHPSS the WHO-Mental Health Gap Action services. Programme (MHgap) • This is a good − Referral pathways to specialized services suggestion to adapt should be clear to ensure that the cases are the WHO-Mental appropriately tracked. Health Gap Action − School health services staff should be part of the Programme (MHgap), capacity-building program. it should be included in the training program. • School health services staff will be included, this will be recommended to the technical team at the MoH. • Waleed Sabbah – Director of NGOs Coordination Unit • This is a good Final identification of the activities that will take suggestion that can be place under the new areas of interventions should be implemented by the carried out by the MOH in close coordination with MoH and MoE in the the MoE, by planning and implementing a more inception period of specialized workshop/FG meeting that gathers project different MHPSS actors and service providers in implementation Gaza. • The main activities of the recent project restructuring include all the details suggested in this consultation meeting so far, with no contradictions. • Dr. Adel Ouda – Directorate of Mental Health Services • Fully agree The war has its negative impacts on children mental and physical health; setting up sensory rooms and providing EEG machines would improve children physical health and mental health as well. • Abeer Al Shurafa- Mental Health • The training activities MOE Department under this project will − Training activities under the project should target KG teachers target KG teachers and/or counsellors to equip and/or counsellors to 73 Category Comments/concerns Response them with knowledge and indicators to screen be able to early detect children with behavioural disorders. behavioural disorders. − Early detection of behavioural disorders could − A group of Parents further be enhanced by providing KGs with will also be playrooms for psychological and behavioral educated with counseling activities. awareness sessions − Parents should be targeted through awareness that deal with sessions that deal with concepts of mental concepts of mental health and psychological problems that children health and suffer from. psychological − Capacity building activities should target problems that special education workers. children suffer from. • Faten Al Leddawi- Licensing and • Agreed, the project Accreditation Department should work on − The project should work on raising awareness raising awareness amongst parents, amongst parents, caregivers, families and caregivers, families communities on concepts of mental health and and communities on on MHPSS services available and how to access concepts of mental them. health and on MHPSS − Providing KGs with educational games and services available and playrooms would enhance the effectiveness and how to access them. sustainability of the project outcomes. • Providing KGs with educational games and playrooms can be implemented in future interventions, budget is limited. • Dr. Shereen Al Masri – Director of KG • That’s right, the MoE department and MoH are doing Implementation of the project activities should take their best to complete into consideration that KGs are scheduled to reopen all the reports and for the 2021-22 school year very soon. documents so that the project will be cleared by the World Bank and the project implementation starts as soon as possible. KG • Maha Nabhan - Headmistress of Ya Hala KG • Providing KG headmasters in Gaza City owners/headmasters and teashers − When Ya Hala KG was first opened in 2006, 1 with a guideline in 200 student was found to have indicators of on screening for 74 Category Comments/concerns Response And KG behavioural disorders; during the past five mental students’ health disorders in years, this number has significantly increased to parents have about 1 in 30 student with such indicators.KGs and providing − The conditions during the past year were not caregivers healthy for children physical and mental health information on given the introduction of remote learning for available services children as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; would be so helpful. the war has further exacerbated these unhealthy This is a good conditions adding more psychological stress on recommendation that children and their families. will be raised to the − Providing KG owners/headmasters with a MoH and MoE guideline on screening for mentaltechnical team. This health disorders in KGs and providingrecommendation fits caregivers information on available services will in the scop of the would be so helpful. training concept of the project. • Heba Muhanna – Teacher at Al Salam KG in • This is a good Gaza recommendation and − A key problem that KG teachers usually face is a specific training parents not accepting the idea that their child need that can be might has a mental or psychological problem. adapted: “Training of Training of KG teachers should take into KG teachers should consideration providing them with the needed take into information, tools and indicators so that they consideration can convince the parents of their children providing them with problems, if any. the needed − Awareness raising activities should also target information, tools and KG children parents and caregivers in this indicators so that they regard. can convince the parents of their children problems� • Tahreer Ibraheem – Headmistress of Tamayyaz KG in Rafah Providing KGs, especially those that were damaged during the war, with educational games and playrooms would have a great positive impact on children mental health. • Rasmiya Shaheen - Mother of a KG Child in • Dr. Fahid thanked Rafah Mrs. Rasmay for here My child’s physical and mental health has been attendance and severely affected as a result of the war; he is now presenting here child suffering from hearing impairments due to the very problems due to the close heavy bombardments. He is also suffering for War as an important 75 Category Comments/concerns Response psychological disorders; he cannot do anything or example of Gaza go anywhere without having me with him; he’s children wo were become so aggressive. mentally and physically damaged Rehabilitation of community mental health centers to be able to deal with children would be so helpful. • Ruba Al Bitar – Family and Childhood • Agreed, as mentioned Department previously. MoSD Training activities should target child protection counselors at the MoSD (5 counselors), who are responsible for supervising the licensed KGs. 76 ‫س‬ List of Meeting Participants 11 ‫س‬ ‫‪12‬‬ ‫س‬ 8.4 Technical Note: Public Consultations and Stakeholder Engagement in WB- supported operations when there are constraints on conducting public meetings With the outbreak and spread of COVID-19, people have been advised, or may be mandated by national or local law, to exercise social distancing, and specifically to avoid public gatherings to prevent and reduce the risk of the virus transmission. Countries have taken various restrictive measures, some imposing strict restrictions on public gatherings, meetings and people’s movement, and others advising against public group events. At the same time, the general public has become increasingly aware and concerned about the risks of transmission, particularly through social interactions at large gatherings. These restrictions have implications for World Bank-supported operations. In particular, they will affect Bank requirements for public consultation and stakeholder engagement in projects, both under implementation and preparation. WHO has issued technical guidance in dealing with COVID-19, including: (i) Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) Action Plan Guidance Preparedness and Response; (ii) Risk Communication and Community engagement (RCCE) readiness and response; (iii) COVID-19 risk communication package for healthcare facilities; (iv) Getting your workplace ready for COVID-19; and (v) a guide to preventing and addressing social stigma associated with COVID-19. All these documents are available on the WHO website through the following link: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/technical-guidance. This Note offers suggestions to World Bank task teams for advising counterpart agencies on managing public consultation and stakeholder engagement in their projects, with the recognition that the situation is developing rapidly and careful regard needs to be given to national requirements and any updated guidance issued by WHO. It is important that the alternative ways of managing consultation and stakeholder engagement discussed with clients are in accordance with the local applicable laws and policies, especially those related to media and communication. The suggestions set out below are subject to confirmation that they are in accordance with existing laws and regulations applying to the project. Investment projects under implementation. All projects under implementation are likely to have public consultation and stakeholder engagement activities planned and committed as part of project design. These activities may be described in different project documents and will involve a variety of stakeholders. Commonly planned avenues of such engagement are public hearings, community meetings, focus group discussions, field surveys and individual interviews. With growing concern about the risk of virus spread, there is an urgent need to adjust the approach and methodology for continuing stakeholder consultation and engagement. Taking into account the importance of confirming compliance with national law requirements, below are some suggestions for task teams’ consideration while advising their clients: Task teams will need to review their project, jointly with the PMUs, and should: Identify and review planned activities under the project requiring stakeholder engagement and public consultations. 13 ‫س‬ • Assess the level of proposed direct engagement with stakeholders, including location and size of proposed gatherings, frequency of engagement, categories of stakeholders (international, national, local) etc. • Assess the level of risks of the virus transmission for these engagements, and how restrictions that are in effect in the country / project area would affect these engagements. • Identify project activities for which consultation/engagement is critical and cannot be postponed without having significant impact on project timelines • Assess the level of ICT penetration among key stakeholder groups, to identify the type of communication channels that can be effectively used in the project context. Based on the above, task teams should discuss and agree with PMUs the specific channels of communication that should be used while conducting stakeholder consultation and engagement activities. The following are some considerations while selecting channels of communication, in light of the current COVID-19 situation: • Avoid public gatherings (taking into account national restrictions), including public hearings, workshops, and community meetings. • If smaller meetings are permitted, conduct consultations in small-group sessions, such as focus group meetings If not permitted, make all reasonable efforts to conduct meetings through available online channels, including webex, zoom and skype. • Diversify means of communication and rely more on social media and online channels. Where possible and appropriate, create dedicated online platforms and chatgroups appropriate for the purpose, based on the type and category of stakeholders. • Employ traditional channels of communications (TV, newspaper, radio, dedicated phone-lines, and mail) when stakeholders to do not have access to online channels or do not use them frequently. Traditional channels can also be highly effective in conveying relevant information to stakeholders and allow them to provide their feedback and suggestions. • Where direct engagement with project affected people or beneficiaries is necessary, identify channels for direct communication with each affected household via a context specific combination of email messages, mail, online platforms, dedicated phone lines with knowledgeable operators; • Each of the proposed channels of engagement should clearly specify how feedback and suggestions can be provided by stakeholders. • An appropriate approach to conducting stakeholder engagement can be developed in most contexts and situations. However, in situations where none of the above means of communication are considered adequate for required consultations with stakeholders, the team should discuss with the PMU whether the project activity can be rescheduled to a later time, when meaningful stakeholder engagement is possible. Where it is not possible to postpone the activity, the task team should consult with the OESRC to obtain advice and guidance. 14 ‫س‬ Investment projects under preparation. Where projects are under preparation and stakeholder engagement is about to commence or is ongoing, such as in the project E&S planning process, stakeholder consultation and engagement activities should not be deferred, but rather designed to be fit for purpose to ensure effective and meaningful consultations to meet project and stakeholder needs. Some suggestions for advising clients on stakeholder engagement in such situations are given below. These suggestions are subject to the coronavirus situation in the country, and restrictions put in place by governments. The task team and the PMU should: • Review the country COVID-19 spread situation in the project area, and the restrictions put in place by the government to contain virus spread. • Review the draft Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP, if it exists) or other agreed stakeholder engagement arrangements, particularly the approach, methods and forms of engagement proposed, and assess the associated potential risks of virus transmission in conducting various engagement activities. • Be sure that all task team and PIU members articulate and express their understandings on social behavior and good hygiene practices, and that any stakeholder engagement events be preceded with the procedure of articulating such hygienic practices. • Avoid public gatherings (taking into account national restrictions), including public hearings, workshops and community meetings, and minimize direct interaction between project agencies and beneficiaries / affected people. • If smaller meetings are permitted, conduct consultations in small-group sessions, such as focus group meetings. If not permitted, make all reasonable efforts to conduct meetings through available online channels, including webex, zoom and skype meetings. • Diversify means of communication and rely more on social media and online channels. Where possible and appropriate, create dedicated online platforms and chatgroups appropriate for the purpose, based on the type and category of stakeholders. • Employ traditional channels of communications (TV, newspaper, radio, dedicated phone-lines, public announcements and mail) when stakeholders do not have access to online channels or do not use them frequently. Such channels can also be highly effective in conveying relevant information to stakeholders, and allow them to provide their feedback and suggestions. • Employ online communication tools to design virtual workshops in situations where large meetings and workshops are essential, given the preparatory stage of the project. Webex, Skype, and in low ICT capacity situations, audio meetings, can be effective tools to design virtual workshops. The format of such workshops could include the following steps: o Virtual registration of participants: Participants can register online through a dedicated platform. o Distribution of workshop materials to participants, including agenda, project documents, presentations, questionnaires and discussion topics: These can be distributed online to participants. 15 ‫س‬ o Review of distributed information materials: Participants are given a scheduled duration for this, prior to scheduling a discussion on the information provided. o Discussion, feedback collection and sharing: ✓ Participants can be organized and assigned to different topic groups, teams or virtual “tables� provided they agree to this. ✓ Group, team, and table discussions can be organized through available social media means, such as webex, skype or zoom, or through written feedback in the form of an electronic questionnaire or feedback forms that can be emailed back. o Conclusion and summary: The chair of the workshop will summarize the virtual workshop discussion, formulate conclusions, and share electronically with all participants. • In situations where online interaction is challenging, information can be disseminated through digital platform (where available) like Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp groups, Project weblinks/ websites, and traditional means of communications (TV, newspaper, radio, phone calls and mails with clear description of mechanisms for providing feedback via mail and / or dedicated telephone lines. All channels of communication need to clearly specify how stakeholders can provide their feedback and suggestions. • Engagement with direct stakeholders for household surveys: There may be planning activities that require direct stakeholder engagement, particularly in the field. One example is resettlement planning where surveys need to be conducted to ascertain socioeconomic status of affected people, take inventory of their affected assets, and facilitate discussions related to relocation and livelihood planning (if related). Such survey activities require active participation of local stakeholders, particularly the potentially adversely affected communities. However, there may be situations involving indigenous communities, or other communities that may not have access to the digital platforms or means of communication, teams should develop specially tailored stakeholder engagement approaches that will be appropriate in the specific setting. The teams should reach out to the regional PMs for ENB and Social Development or to the ESSA for the respective region, in case they need additional support to develop such tailored approaches. • In situations where it is determined that meaningful consultations that are critical to the conduct of a specific project activity cannot be conducted in spite of all reasonable efforts on the part of the client supported by the Bank, the task team should discuss with the client whether the proposed project activities can be postponed by a few weeks in view of the virus spread risks. This would depend on the COVID-19 situation in the country, and the government policy requirements to contain the virus spread. Where it is not possible to postpone the activity (such as in the case of ongoing resettlement) or where the postponement is likely to be for more than a few weeks, the task team should consult with the OESRC to obtain advice and guidance. 16