Page 1 INTEGRATED SAFEGUARDS DATASHEET APPRAISAL STAGE I. Basic Information Date prepared/updated: 03/26/2007 Report No.: AC1925 1. Basic Project Data Country: Afghanistan Project ID: P097030 Project Name: CIVIL SERVICE REFORM PROJECT Task Team Leader: Anne Tully Estimated Appraisal Date: April 1, 2007 Estimated Board Date: May 29, 2007 Managing Unit: SASPR Lending Instrument: Technical Assistance Loan Sector: Central government administration (80%);Sub-national government administration (20%) Theme: Administrative and civil service reform (P) IBRD Amount (US$m.): 0.00 IDA Amount (US$m.): 20.40 GEF Amount (US$m.): 0.00 PCF Amount (US$m.): 0.00 Other financing amounts by source: BORROWER/RECIPIENT 0.00 0.00 Environmental Category: C - Not Required Simplified Processing Simple [X] Repeater [] Is this project processed under OP 8.50 (Emergency Recovery) Yes [X] No [ ] 2. Project Objectives The objective of the project is to assist the Afghan authorities in transforming a critical proportion of the civil service to one that is performing its core functions with improved professionalism; adhering to regularized and transparent rules and procedures; and with greater accountability for the use of public resources. In turn this will contribute to the government's wider objective of improving the management of public expenditures so as to achieve satisfactory and sustainable development outcomes in Afghanistan. The project will focus on supporting the government's civil service reform strategy through ensuring government agencies are organized, staffed and monitored in line with service delivery objectives. 3. Project Description In support of this objective, the project is comprised of three components. Component One: Implementation of Organizational Reforms within core ministries ($8.4m) Building on the experiences under the Priority Reform and Restructuring program (PRR), the project will provide support to selected ministries as they take charge of their Page 2 own reorganization efforts in a post-PRR environment. The project would make available to selected ministries a small team of international and national advisers who would assist the ministry with ensuring structures and staffing plans having been reorganized in line with agreed functions and service delivery goals. This will build upon PRR exercises already undertaken by those ministries, but will approach this from a service delivery angle and involve the whole ministry including its sub-national units. The priority focus of organizational restructuring will be on common function departments (Finance and Human Resources). Component 2: Implementation of Human Resource Management Policies($8.7m) This component will support the institutionalization of a modern and professional human resource management system so that by the end of the Compact period a critical mass of the civil service will be managed, predictably and consistently, according to updated civil service management rules and procedures. This will have resulted from implementing a modern grading structure and pay levels; merit-based appointments and vetting procedures undertaken for civil service positions at all levels of government, including central government (Compact Benchmark 2.1.4); annual performance-based reviews undertaken for all senior staff (Compact Benchmark 2.1.4,) and training in new HR procedures conducted for more than 1000 HR staff in line ministries. Component 3: PAR Oversight($3.3m) This component will reinforce IARCSC in executing its broad mandate to (i) direct and coordinate the Government?s program in public administration reform, (ii) coordinate donor assistance around priorities and (iii) conduct the monitoring and outreach required to support the PAR Steering Committee and Cabinet Subcommittee on PAR and also to reach out to a wider constituencies. 4. Project Location and salient physical characteristics relevant to the safeguard analysis Not applicable 5. Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialists Page 3 6. Safeguard Policies Triggered Yes No Environmental Assessment (OP/BP 4.01) X Natural Habitats (OP/BP 4.04) X Forests (OP/BP 4.36) X Pest Management (OP 4.09) X Physical Cultural Resources (OP/BP 4.11) X Indigenous Peoples (OP/BP 4.10) X Involuntary Resettlement (OP/BP 4.12) X Safety of Dams (OP/BP 4.37) X Projects on International Waterways (OP/BP 7.50) X Projects in Disputed Areas (OP/BP 7.60) X II. Key Safeguard Policy Issues and Their Management A. Summary of Key Safeguard Issues 1. Describe any safeguard issues and impacts associated with the proposed project. Identify and describe any potential large scale, significant and/or irreversible impacts: Not applicable 2. Describe any potential indirect and/or long term impacts due to anticipated future activities in the project area: Not applicable 3. Describe any project alternatives (if relevant) considered to help avoid or minimize adverse impacts. Not applicable 4. Describe measures taken by the borrower to address safeguard policy issues. Provide an assessment of borrower capacity to plan and implement the measures described. Not applicable 5. Identify the key stakeholders and describe the mechanisms for consultation and disclosure on safeguard policies, with an emphasis on potentially affected people. Not applicable B. Disclosure Requirements Date * If the project triggers the Pest Management and/or Physical Cultural Resources, the respective issues are to be addressed and disclosed as part of the Environmental Assessment/Audit/or EMP. If in-country disclosure of any of the above documents is not expected, please explain why: Not applicable Page 4 C. Compliance Monitoring Indicators at the Corporate Level (to be filled in when the ISDS is finalized by the project decision meeting) The World Bank Policy on Disclosure of Information Have relevant safeguard policies documents been sent to the World Bank's Infoshop? N/A Have relevant documents been disclosed in-country in a public place in a form and language that are understandable and accessible to project-affected groups and local NGOs? N/A All Safeguard Policies Have satisfactory calendar, budget and clear institutional responsibilities been prepared for the implementation of measures related to safeguard policies? N/A Have costs related to safeguard policy measures been included in the project cost? N/A Does the Monitoring and Evaluation system of the project include the monitoring of safeguard impacts and measures related to safeguard policies? N/A Have satisfactory implementation arrangements been agreed with the borrower and the same been adequately reflected in the project legal documents? N/A D. Approvals Signed and submitted by: Name Date Task Team Leader: Ms Anne Tully 03/05/2007 Environmental Specialist: Social Development Specialist Additional Environmental and/or Social Development Specialist(s): Approved by: Regional Safeguards Coordinator: Mr Frederick Edmund Brusberg 03/26/2007 Comments: This project is transferred to SASPR for safeguards oversight. Sector Manager: Mr Ijaz Nabi 03/26/2007 Comments: Grateful your approval of ISDS prior to submission to infoshop.