ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation Public Information and Awareness Services for Vulnerable Communities in Lao PDR ENVIRONMENTAL and SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) September 2021 1|Page ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN • Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation, Laos Programme Office (hereafter Helvetas) will implement the Public Information and Awareness Services for Vulnerable Communities in Lao PDR Project (the Project). The World Bank (hereinafter the Bank) has agreed to provide financing for the Project. • Helvetas will implement material measures and actions so that the Project is implemented in accordance with the relevant Environmental and Social Standards (ESSs). This Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP) sets out the plans for the implementation and the timing of the measures and actions proposed in the Environmental and Social Review Summary (ESRS), the Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) and Labor Management Procedures (LMP). • The ESRS rates the environmental risks and impacts of the project low and the social risks and impacts moderate. It concludes that: ➢ no direct and indirect adverse environmental impacts are foreseeable from project activities. ➢ unintentional social risks may arise i) from conflicts directly or indirectly derived from the activities related to the land registration process supported by the Enhancing Systematic Land Registration (ESLR) Project or any other development projects with unresolved land-related conflicts; and/or ii) from insufficient coordination of project stakeholders; working conditions of the entities subcontracted by Helvetas; or from difficulties to effectively reach out to affected communities with specific needs and requirements (social norms, vulnerabilities, language, literacy, etc.). ➢ in order to address those risks and impacts, Helvetas shall develop and disclose i) a Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP/ESS10) to guide the consultation, coordination and collaboration among the project stakeholders, including the establishment of a Public Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM), proportionate to the potential risks and impacts of the project and consistent with the GRM of the ESLR project; ii) Labor Management Procedures (LMP/ESS2) which apply for Helvetas contracted workers and (to the extent possible) to contracted workers of parties subcontracted by Helvetas, including requirements on Occupational Health and Safety (OHS), provisions including Code of Conduct (CoC) for Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA), Gender Base Violence (GBV) and Violence Against Children (VAC) prevention and for the development/management of a labor grievance mechanism. ➢ Helvetas, applying the principle of proportionality, will not have to prepare an additional Indigenous People specific ESF instrument beyond the SEP, but will align with the contents and mitigation measures included in the Ethnic Group Development Framework (EGDF) of the ESLR project, when needed. • Helvetas is responsible for compliance with the provisions of any other E&S documents including the Labor Management Procedure (ESS2) and the Stakeholder Engagement Plans (ESS10) required under the ESF and referred to in this ESCP, and the implementation of the specific measures and actions of this ESCP. • Implementation of the material measures and actions set out in this ESCP will be monitored and reported to the Bank by Helvetas as required by the ESCP and the conditions of the legal agreement, and the Bank will monitor and assess progress and completion of the material measures and actions throughout implementation of the Project. • As agreed by the Bank and Helvetas, this ESCP may be revised from time to time during Project implementation, to reflect adaptive management of Project changes and unforeseen circumstances or in response to assessment of Project performance conducted under the ESCP itself. In such circumstances, 2|Page ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) Helvetas will agree to the changes with the Bank and will update the ESCP to reflect such changes. Agreement on changes to the ESCP will be documented through an exchange of letters signed between the Bank and Helvetas. Helvetas will promptly disclose the updated ESCP. • Where Project changes, unforeseen circumstances, or Project performance result in changes to the risks and impacts during Project implementation, Helvetas shall provide additional funds, if needed, to implement actions and measures to address such risks and impacts, which may include risks related to social impacts and labor management procedures, including gender-based violence. 3|Page ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBILE ENTITY/AUTHORITY ESS 1: ESCP MANAGEMENT, MONITORING AND REPORTING A ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE • Helvetas will establish and maintain an organizational structure with • During the first three months of project Helvetas Programme Office, Vientiane qualified staff and resources to support the implementation of the implementation ESCP. B MANAGEMENT of SUB-GRANTEES • Helvetas will incorporate the relevant aspects of the ESCP, including • After selection of sub-grantees by end of Helvetas Project Manager the SEP and the LMP, and of the Helvetas safeguard policies in the the 1st Semester of Y1 respective agreements with sub-grantees and other service providers. • Helvetas will provide orientation training on the relevant ESF • During 2rd Quarter of Y1 and every time Helvetas Project Manager requirements, ESCP and Helvetas policy related matters and all below new sub-grantees / service providers are measures specified in the ESCP, SEP and LMP to all types of project recruited workers including direct workers, contracted workers and primary suppliers employed or engaged by sub-grantees and service providers. C REGULAR REPORTING • In the regular reporting to the Bank, Helvetas will include the progress • Every 6 months during the project Helvetas Project Manager on and the status of the implementation of the ESCP, particularly implementation related to ESS 2 and ESS 10 (issues on the code of conduct, stakeholder engagement activities, functioning of the grievance mechanism(s)) D INCIDENTS AND ACCIDENTS • The Bank will be informed immediately of any incidents linked to the • Incident reports will be provided within a Helvetas Project Manager in consultation project, especially social and health and safety incidents, together timeframe acceptable to the Bank (at least with Helvetas Programme Office, with indications about the measures (to be) taken to address the 48 hours after the date of occurrence) Vientiane incident. ESS 2: LABOR AND WORKING CONDITIONS 4|Page ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBILE ENTITY/AUTHORITY 2.1 LABOR MANAGEMENT PROCEDURES Finalize the draft LMP in accordance with the National Labor Law (2018), the ESS2 and with reference to Helvetas polices, regulations and code of conduct on social management and safeguards, mobbing, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, child protection, corruption and fraud, conflict of interest, and anti- money laundering. • Helvetas will update the LMP and the analysis of the project’s • Prior to project worker employment Helvetas Programme Office, Vientiane potential adverse impacts and risks on occupational and (to become part of the contractual community health and safety, and adapt the Helvetas policies documents and operational and regulations to the specific project context guidelines): Q1 of Y1 • The regulations and the code of conducts will be adapted so • Prior to the contracting of sub- Helvetas Project Manager with that they apply for project workers beyond Helvetas staff. grantees and entering working support of Helvetas Programme Office arrangements with other partners (oversight function) (based on due diligence): Q1 of Y1 • The adherence of the LMP requirements will be monitored and • Throughout project implementation Helvetas Project Manager with the LMP will be revised throughout the project implementation support of Helvetas Programme Office when needed. (oversight function) 5|Page ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBILE ENTITY/AUTHORITY 2.2 GRIEVANCE MECHANISM FOR PROJECT WORKERS Helvetas has a grievance mechanism in place, which allows all types of project workers to raise workplace concerns. • Helvetas will complement and adapt this mechanism for all project • In the first three months of project Helvetas Project Manager with support of workers as described in the LMP and the SEP. Particular attention will implementation, before the beginning of Helvetas Programme Office/HR (oversight be given to ensure that the grievance mechanism is accessible for subgrantee/community engagements function) ethnic people. • The GRM will become part of the project operational guidelines and • During the first three months of the Helvetas Project Manager with support of be introduced at the launching workshops. project when the operational guidelines Helvetas Programme Office/HR (oversight will be developed (prior to sub- function) contracting) • Once established, Helvetas will maintain, and operate the grievance • Throughout the implementation of the Helvetas Project Manager with support of mechanism for all project workers, as described in the LMP and the project Helvetas Programme Office/HR (oversight SEP. function) and in coordination with Lao Front for National Development (LFND) and Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Lao PDR (MoNRE) 2.3 OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY (OHS) MEASURES Occupational, health and safety (OHS) measures will be adopted and • Prior to project staff employment (to Helvetas Programme Office, Vientiane specified in the contractual documentation and the operational become part of the contractual guidelines. documents and operational guidelines) and • Prior to the contracting of sub-grantees Helvetas Project Manager with support of and entering working arrangements with Helvetas Programme Office/HR (oversight other partners (based on due diligence) function) ESS 10: STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT AND INFORMATION DISCLOSURE 10.1 SEP PREPARATION: • During project preparations and MoU Helvetas Programme Office in consultations, prior to the start of collaboration with LIWG, LFND and Finalize the draft SEP in line with ESS10 and ESS7 and submit to project activities. MoNRE the Bank for clearance. 6|Page ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBILE ENTITY/AUTHORITY 10.2 SEP DISCLOSURE: The SEP will be disclosed as integral part of the ESCP • Before project effectiveness / prior to Helvetas Programme Office in before beginning of the project activities. the beginning of the project activities collaboration with LIWG, LFND and (with agreement of the Line Ministry) MoNRE 10.3 SEP IMPLEMENTATION: The SEP will be reviewed and updated • Throughout project implementation Helvetas Project Manager in collaboration throughout the implementation of the project, also to ensure that with LIWG, LFND and MoNRE Indigenous Peoples (IPs) officially recognized as Ethnic Peoples (EPs) or Ethnic Groups (EGs) in Lao PDR are fully consulted and have opportunities to actively participate in the determination of the project contents and implementation arrangements. The SEP will be aligned with the contents and mitigation measures included in the EGDF of the ESLR project, when needed. The disclosure and consultation strategies and practices will be adapted • After approval of MoU during launching and finetuned to support the interaction and communication with the events: Q3/Y1 implementation organizations and beneficiary stakeholders during the Helvetas Project Manager in collaboration following project cycle management milestones: with LIWG, LFND and MoNRE • In the first three months after selection • Information and dissemination of final MoU at all levels of stakeholder of sub-grantees engagement (e.g. District, Provincial coordination meetings, project Helvetas Project Manager launching events) • Q3/Y1Q3/Y1; Q1 & Q3 of Y2 & Y3 • Stakeholder participation in the baseline data collection and dissemination of baseline information (Implementation Management Helvetas Project Manager Committee Meetings) • Throughout project implementation (quarterly COP meetings, LIWG core • Yearly planning, reporting and progress with multi-stakeholder member meetings, Sharing events) LIWG participation (Implementation Management Committee Meetings) • Feedback and analysis and through community of practice (LIWG learning events) Helvetas Project Manager • Q4/Y2 & Q4/Y3 • Stakeholder interviews and social audits during project mid-term review and end line surveys (Implementation Management Committee Meetings) 7|Page ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBILE ENTITY/AUTHORITY 10.4 PROJECT GRIEVANCE REDRESS MECHANISM: • Helvetas will complement and adapt its mechanism for • In the first three months of project Helvetas Project Manager with support of use of all project implementers and beneficiary implementation, before the beginning of Helvetas Programme Office/HR (oversight subgrantee/community engagements function) and in coordination with LFND stakeholders as described in the SEP. Particular attention and MoNRE will be given to ensure that the grievance mechanism is accessible for the target villages and ethnic people. Helvetas Project Manager with support of • The GRMs will be aligned and made consistent with GRM • In the first three months of project Helvetas Programme Office/HR (oversight of the ESLR project. implementation, before the beginning of function) subgrantee/community engagements Helvetas Project Manager with support of • The GRMs will become part of the project operational • During the first three months of the Helvetas Programme Office/HR (oversight guidelines. project when the operational guidelines function) and in coordination with LFND will be developed (prior to sub- and MoNRE contracting with sub-grantees) Helvetas Project Manager with support of • The GRMs will be introduced at the launching and initial • After approval of MoU during launching Helvetas Programme Office/HR (oversight events Q3/Y1 function) and in coordination with LFND information events and be adjusted and updated with and MoNRE experience and emerging risk profiles reflected. • Throughout the implementation of the Helvetas Project Manager with support of • Once established, Helvetas will maintain, and operate the Helvetas Programme Office/HR (oversight project grievance mechanism for all project workers, as function) and in coordination with LFND described in the LMP and the SEP. and MoNRE 8|Page ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBILE ENTITY/AUTHORITY 10.5 CAPACITY SUPPORT (TRAINING) Helvetas Training to be provided and targeted groups: After the project effectiveness and before activity implementation by subgrantees General training on the World Bank Environmental and Social and Government officials. Management Framework: Sub-grantees’ staff and Government officials involved in the Project. Throughout project implementation Specific training on SEP including meaningful consultation and communication with the vulnerable and ethnic peoples using Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials, GRM and LMP including OHS and CoC for SEA/GBV/VAC prevention: Sub-grantees’ staff and Government officials involved in the Project. 9|Page