The World Bank RESTRUCTURING ISDS Benin Cross Border Tourism and Competitiveness Project (P149117) Integrated Safeguards Data Sheet Restructuring Stage Restructuring Stage | Date ISDS Prepared/Updated: 10-Dec-2020| Report No: ISDSR31180 Regional Vice President: Ousmane Diagana Country Director: Coralie Gevers Regional Director: Abebe Adugna Dadi Practice Manager/Manager: Consolate K. Rusagara Task Team Leader(s): Magueye Dia The World Bank RESTRUCTURING ISDS Benin Cross Border Tourism and Competitiveness Project (P149117) . I. BASIC INFORMATION 1. BASIC PROJECT DATA Project ID Project Name P149117 Benin Cross Border Tourism and Competitiveness Project Task Team Leader(s) Country Magueye Dia Benin Approval Date Environmental Category 25-Mar-2016 Full Assessment (A) Managing Unit EAWF1 PROJECT FINANCING DATA (US$, Millions) SUMMARY -NewFin1 Total Project Cost 50.00 Total Financing 50.00 Financing Gap 0.00 DETAILS -NewFinEnh1 World Bank Group Financing International Development Association (IDA) 50.00 IDA Credit 50.00 2. PROJECT INFORMATION PROG_INF O Current Program Development Objective The Project Development Objective is to contribute to increased cross-border tourism and private sector investment in selected tourism destinations and value chains, in Recipient's territory. . The World Bank RESTRUCTURING ISDS Benin Cross Border Tourism and Competitiveness Project (P149117) 3. PROJECT DESCRIPTION 1. The original Project Development Objective (PDO) of the Cross-Border Tourism and Competitiveness Project (PCTT) (P149117), is to contribute to increased cross-border tourism and private sector investment in selected destinations and value chains. The Project was approved on March 25, 2016 and became effective on December 30, 2016 as an IPF in the amount of US$50 million, with a scheduled closing date of December 31, 2021. The Project includes four components: 2. Component 1: Improving Benin’s Tourism Development Framework (US$8 million): This component comprises enabling environment reforms, training and marketing activities. The major reform supported by this component, the redesign of the tourism business licensing and classification system will be implemented by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). 3. Component 2: Tourism Destination and Product Development (US$23.5 million): Currently, 91 percent of this component has been committed. Key activities include: a. The rehabilitation of Ouidah’s flagship site, the Portuguese Fort (US$5.2m); under construction since March 2020, expected completion March 2021. Within this physical complex, this includes the construction of the International Museum of the Memory of Slavery. b. The upgrading of four heritage sites and monuments along the slave route (US$2.3m); all works contracts have been signed, some have begun since August 2020. c. Urban revitalization of the historic Zoungbjdoi village & touristic routes (US$3m); negotiations initiated with United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) for turnkey solution, expected to be delivered in August 2021. d. Challenge Fund (US$1m) had a successful first edition over 2018-19; the second and final call for proposals will begin in December 2020. 4. Component 3: Support to MSME upgrading, linkages and expansion (US$10 million): The Joint IFC/IDA Risk Sharing Facility is operational, with the partner bank utilizing the facility up to a level of 70 percent, to extend US$16.2m worth of credit to SMEs in Benin. A number of activities of this component have been paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Innovation Forum, set to be held in May 2020 was postponed indefinitely, pending improved conditions. Similarly, the launch of the Business Plan Competition was put on hold and the corresponding resources (US$.5m) could be allocated to support the government’s urgent economic rescue program for the private sector. 5. Component 4: Project Management (US$4.5 million): This component supports project implementation and the reform of the Tourism statistics system. 6. The Project received Category A classification during the appraisal stage in 2016 due to the presence of activities that have since been dropped. The project was classified Category A due to the potential indirect The World Bank RESTRUCTURING ISDS Benin Cross Border Tourism and Competitiveness Project (P149117) and cumulative negative impact on biodiversity and natural habitat and resettlement challenges. This was due to the possible inclusion of two sensitive coastal areas: extensive works near and within the area of Djegbadji’s coastal lagoon and Fidjrosse. Both are located in coastal areas with ecosystem contribution to fisheries, tourism development and biological conservation. Djegbadji is located by a coastal lagoon (designated Ramsar site) with associated mangrove vegetation and informal fishing settlements. Fidjrosse is located on the outskirts of Cotonou and is a densely populated and growing zone. 7. Following project approval, the March 2016 presidential elections led to a changeover in GoB, resulting in revised priorities that reflect Category B ratings. The GoB formulated its new national and sectoral strategy and undertook a review of Project activities. This review resulted in the request to drop the activities related to Djegbadji and Fidjrosse which triggered the Category A, and to focus project investments on smaller-scale upgrades to the Portuguese Fort and surrounding tourism sites in the city of Ouidah (see Component 2 description, above). The Ouidah investments were already identified and planned through the original project design; the only difference was a scaling-up of the museum scenography of the Fort to meet international standards. The project was restructured in 2019 to remove the financing associated with these activities and reallocate it to the other pre-identified subcomponents (mainly the museum scenography for the Portuguese Fort upgrading). 8. Currently the Project has an overall safeguards rating of Moderately Satisfactory. The livelihoods of forty-one people have been temporarily and economically affected since the launch of the project, and no additional persons are expected to be affected until project closure. The majority of these PAPs were informal ambulant sellers in the vicinity of the Portuguese Fort, which were affected by the closure of the Fort for the construction associated its rehabilitation financed by the Project. These PaPs have been temporarily reinstalled to nearby locations for the 1-year construction period and have been fully compensated for potential economic losses, consistent with the project’s RAP. They will be able to move back once the Fort’s upgrading is finalized and will be better off due to improved conditions (a marketplace is being constructed) and increased economic opportunities from an expected increase in visitors. 9. The safeguards that have been, and will be triggered in practice are consistent with a Category B project. The removal of the sensitive and densely populated sites of Fidjrosse & Djegbadji have negated the need for the Project to be Category A. The project as it stands has triggered Environmental Assessment (OP/BP 4.01), Pest Management (OP 4.09), Physical Cultural Resoures (OP/BP 4.11) and involuntary resettlement (OP/BP 4.12) due to a small number of PaPs being temporarily displaced from their livelihood activities. The Safeguard policies triggered thus far (and expected to be triggered for the duration of the project) are consistent with Category B rating. 10. As such, the project is requesting a restructuring to change the project Safeguards Category from Category A to B, in order to reflect reality and to be in line with the project current and planned activities . This restructuring will more accurately align project activities with safeguards category ratings and will enable the Project to accelerate the emergency Additional Financing the GoB has requested for a COVID-19 economic rescue fund. The AF will provide liquidity support to micro and small enterprises. The AF will support the Benin The World Bank RESTRUCTURING ISDS Benin Cross Border Tourism and Competitiveness Project (P149117) Government’s efforts to respond to the economic challenge the COVID-19 pandemic poses to the private sector, workers and vulnerable communities through existing instruments. 11. All AF activities will only comprise technical and financial support, and no civil works or potential resettlement are expected to be undertaken with Additional Financing funds. The potential risks and impacts of the AF activities will not be “significant� as described under OP/BP 4.01, nor require the cat egory of the project to be Category A as defined under OP/BP 4.01. d. The original project activities have been assessed against the COVID-19 Specific Risk Considerations and the risks and impacts are not considered significant as per Paragraph 4d (OP/BP 4.01). 4- PROJECT LOCATION AND SALIENT PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS RELEVANT TO THE SAFEGUARD ANALYSIS (IF KNOWN) 12. Technical assistance activities (components 1.1, 1.3, 2.3, 3.1 and 3.2) are implemented at the national level and will not raise specific safeguard issues. Other subcomponents are taken place in Municipality of Ouidah located 42 kilometers from Cotonou and very famous for its role in the Atlantic slave trade from the 17th to the 19th century. This urban agglomeration comprises the Slave Route, a path lined with monuments by which the slaves were taken to join the ships passing through the "Porte du non-retour� a commemorative arch on the seafront and the Ouidah History Museum, installed in an 18th century Portuguese fort which recounts the slave trade in the city. Direct negative impacts from the project to the vegetation are unlikely since the project does not intend to cut any trees in this vicinity and the works will occur on buildings that have few to no trees around them. On the other hand, the sites of the rehabilitation works of the Porte du non-retour (restoration of artwork and painting that was undertaken in the 1990s) and its adjacent colonial building (adaptive reuse of approx. 50m2 building into a tourism visitor center) are located on the beach in an area between a coastal lagoon and the ocean, but are not part of the lagoon (situated over 50m from the lagoon). The rehabilitation of sites for tourism use near the coast is likely to induce an increase in tourist activity with possible multiplication of visits into associated mangrove vegetation (Racemosa sp.; Avicennia sp.) area including the contribution to fishing and biological conservation (Stop-over habitat for Afrotropical and Palaearctic migratory birds, habitat of Sitatunga and African manatee). The country designated this ecosystem Ramsar site No. 1017. Also called “Lower Couffo Valley, Aho Channel, Coastal Lagoon and Lake Aheme� Ramsar site no. 1017 is a category of 47,000 hectares of "continental O" wetland consisting of a complex of coastal lagoons, lakes and ria located in the southern region of Benin, near the Atlantic Ocean, in the eastern part of the Gulf of Guinea, although the project will not be directly intervening in the Ramsar site. 13. Benin’s coastal region is one of the most densely populated regions in the country (Cotonou, the country's largest economic metropolis is located and other medium and small towns are in the same watershed), which suggests why the primary tropical forests have been replaced by man-made landscapes and megafauna species have almost disappeared. The high population growth rate in the region will put increasing pressure on natural resources, even in a “no project� situation. Tons of fish, crabs, shrimps and oysters are produced by these ecosystems which support tens of thousands of community jobs. Therefore, the safeguard analysis was to inform about the threats that mangrove ecosystems and watercourses would experience as a result of project investments and other activities, although the development objective clearly suggests judicious use of resources. The World Bank RESTRUCTURING ISDS Benin Cross Border Tourism and Competitiveness Project (P149117) 14. The project may be impacted by the upgrading investments in the zone, increasing visitation to the site, an influx of new residents to the area, negative esthetic impacts, more residential construction close the areas, and a potential increase in vandalism and erosion of the sites. The socially inclusive investments in Ouidah may result in limited involuntary resettlement and potential temporary loss of income. The historic core of Ouidah is occupied by a vibrant community of different social and economic backgrounds and can be heavily congested in terms of traffic. No direct negative impacts are expected from the project, but indirect negative impacts may include temporary loss of income for the market sellers and traders, increased congestion on the roads from increased tourist numbers, busses etc. with reduced air quality, increase in crime, violence and negative social behavior. . 4. PROJECT LOCATION AND SALIENT PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS RELEVANT TO THE SAFEGUARD ANALYSIS (IF KNOWN) Technical assistance activities (components 1.1, 1.3, 2.3, 3.1 and 3.2) are implemented at the national level and will not raise specific safeguard issues. Other subcomponents are taken place in Municipality of Ouidah located 42 kilometers from Cotonou and very famous for its role in the Atlantic slave trade from the 17th to the 19th century. This urban agglomeration comprises the Slave Route, a path lined with monuments by which the slaves were taken to join the ships passing through the "Porte du non-retour� a commemorative arch on the seafront and the Ouidah History Museum, installed in an 18th century Portuguese fort which recounts the slave trade in the city. Direct negative impacts from the project to the vegetation are unlikely since the project does not intend to cut any trees in this vicinity and the works will occur on buildings that have few to no trees around them. On the other hand, the sites of the rehabilitation works of the Porte du non-retour (restoration of artwork and painting that was undertaken in the 1990s) and its adjacent colonial building (adaptive reuse of approx. 50m2 building into a tourism visitor center) are located on the beach in an area between a coastal lagoon and the ocean, but are not part of the lagoon (situated over 50m from the lagoon). The rehabilitation of sites for tourism use near the coast is likely to induce an increase in tourist activity with possible multiplication of visits into associated mangrove vegetation (Racemosa sp.; Avicennia sp.) area including the contribution to fishing and biological conservation (Stop-over habitat for Afrotropical and Palaearctic migratory birds, habitat of Sitatunga and African manatee). The country designated this ecosystem Ramsar site No. 1017. Also called “Lower Couffo Valley, Aho Channel, Coastal Lagoon and Lake Aheme� Ramsar site no. 1017 is a category of 47,000 hectares of "continental O" wetland consisting of a complex of coastal lagoons, lakes and ria located in the southern region of Benin, near the Atlantic Ocean, in the eastern part of the Gulf of Guinea, although the project will not be directly intervening in the Ramsar site. Benin’s coastal region is one of the most densely populated regions in the country (Cotonou, the country's largest economic metropolis is located and other medium and small towns are in the same watershed), which suggests why the primary tropical forests have been replaced by man-made landscapes and megafauna species have almost disappeare 5. ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL SAFEGUARDS SPECIALISTS ON THE TEAM The World Bank RESTRUCTURING ISDS Benin Cross Border Tourism and Competitiveness Project (P149117) Abdoul Wahabi Seini, Social Specialist Medou Lo, Environmental Specialist Fabienne Anne Claire Prost, Environmental Specialist Alphonse Emadak, Environmental Specialist Moussibaou Tassou, Environmental Specialist SAFEGUARD_TABLE 6. SAFEGUARD POLICIES TRIGGERED Safeguard Policies Triggered Explanation The Environmental Assessment (OP/BP 4.01) policy is triggered due to the potential for adverse social and environmental impacts under the project main components. Based on the proposed scope of the restructured project activities, the project is proposed as an environmental risk category B. Although the activities aim to support the development of tourism, including ecotourism, thus helping to protect the conservation of biodiversity, the restructured project will support civil works for the construction, rehabilitation and/or equipment for a better quality of the tourism facilities. Different types of negative environmental impacts are therefore possible relating to infrastructure investments that will be supported by this project:(i) impacts from civil works associated with restoration and Environmental Assessment (OP) (BP 4.01) Yes construction; (ii) impacts from new construction; (iii) impacts associated with occupational health and safety (e.g. noise, dust, possible contaminants in the dust, etc. (iv) assessment of other social impacts not associated with resettlement or land acquisition. Rehabilitation and construction works are taken or will take place on the property of existing installations; therefore, negative environmental and social impacts, direct and cumulative, are likely to be limited in time and space, and actions to minimize and mitigate have been included in the project's ESMF. Specifically, the rehabilitation works also include the treatment of termites on the site of the Portuguese Fort carried out by the Directorate of Plant Production under the Ministry of Agriculture. This includes a shock treatment followed by long-lasting preventive treatments The World Bank RESTRUCTURING ISDS Benin Cross Border Tourism and Competitiveness Project (P149117) against the resurgence of termites, including regular check-ups at two-month intervals. The latter introduces the use of pesticides for this activity which will be monitored over twelve (12) months. The project prepared a pest management plan (as part of the ESMF under OP4.01) promoting among others natural vector control and agrobiological techniques to avoid / reduce the use of chemicals, thus minimizing the risk of indirect pollution in the long term. On the other hand, if they are poorly managed, the indirect impacts, following the tourism revitalization in the areas of mangrove ecosystems and rivers after rehabilitation of installations, will probably lead to long-term degradation of natural habitats and classified wetlands. In the same perspective, the probability of an increase in the potential prevalence of communicable diseases and risks related to occupational safety, etc. is not negligible. The project is therefore classified as a category B project in accordance with OP / BP 4.01. Consequently, the following frameworks and Plans were developed and communicated in the country and to the Bank's InfoShop on the following dates: (i) an environmental and social management framework (ESMF) on November 24, 2015; (ii) a Resettlement Policy Framework (RPF) on January 16, 2016 and 3 RAPs in 2020; and (iii) a pest management plan (PMP) was part of the ESMF under OP4.01. In addition, in technical support for the development of the master plan for the tourist area, a strategic environmental and social assessment (EESS) was funded under component 2 and disclosed in Infoshop on February 11, 2016. ESIAs for specific investments have been prepared during implementation as outlined in the ESMF prior to the dropping of Fidjrosse and Djebadji. Performance Standards for Private Sector No Activities OP/BP 4.03 Though the project aims at supporting the valorization of the biodiversity hotspots of the Natural Habitats (OP) (BP 4.04) Yes coastal area through ecotourism and sustainable tourism development, specific attention should be The World Bank RESTRUCTURING ISDS Benin Cross Border Tourism and Competitiveness Project (P149117) paid to the footprint this activity would induce on the conservation of species due to likely high influx of tourists. The ESMF (i) set forth guidelines to enhance the sustainability of the ecotourism activities to develop; and (ii) recommended support to existing conservation initiatives at national and community levels. The project will not finance activity in forest Forests (OP) (BP 4.36) No degradation, forestry of forest products commercialization. The PMP which is part of the ESMF will address Pest Pest Management (OP 4.09) Yes Management under OP 4.01 The investments area was part of the ancient kingdom of Danxome, famous by its contribution to slave trade. For instance, Ouidah city was the principal port of departure to the Americas through the Gore/Senegal stopover. Given the project’s investment in cultural heritage sites, a cultural management plan will be prepared and included in ESMP. The ESMF provided clear guidelines and measures for handling chance find underground resources. The cultural heritage sites that the Physical Cultural Resources (OP) (BP 4.11) Yes project is investing in include: (i) upgrading of the Portuguese Fort; (ii) renovation of the Door of No Return; (iii) upgrading of the slave auction site (place aux encheres); (iv) adaptive reuse of a colonial customs house into a tourism visitor center; and (v) improving the tourism routes in Zoungbodji neighborhood, which is along the slave route and contains two heritage sites (there will be no project interventions on these two heritage sites). There are no indigenous people in the project Indigenous Peoples (OP) (BP 4.10) No intervention area. As the project drooped the sites of Fidjrosee and Djegbadji, the current ongoing activities are expected to have moderate social impact due to the temporarly limiting access to shops owners who will temporarily lose their income generating Involuntary Resettlement (OP) (BP 4.12) Yes resources during the civil works. The project team prepared three RAPs (Rehabilitation of the Portuguese Fort, Old Auction Square, the old Customs House) and has already implemented two RAPs out of three RAPs. 31 PAP identified as economically affected persons were satisfactory The World Bank RESTRUCTURING ISDS Benin Cross Border Tourism and Competitiveness Project (P149117) compensated. In addition, as livelihood restoration initiative in the meantime, it was agreed during the Civil Works, to reinstall temporarily these PAP in the nearby locations for the 1-year construction period. These PAP will be able to move back once the Fort’s upgrading is finalized and will be better off due to improved conditions with local marketplace being constructed. This will increase the economical opportunities from an expected increase in visitors ( local and tourists. The third RAP finalization process is ongoing and will be implement prior to the commencement of the Civil work�. The project will not finance dam construction or Safety of Dams (OP) (BP 4.37) No activity associated with existing dam. The project will not finance activity located on Projects on International Waterways (OP) No international waterways or that will directly affect (BP 7.50) such waterways. Projects in Disputed Areas (OP) (BP 7.60) No The project areas are not under dispute. KEY_POLICY_TABLE II. KEY SAFEGUARD POLICY ISSUES AND THEIR MANAGEMENT A. SUMMARY OF KEY SAFEGUARD ISSUES 1. Describe any safeguard issues and impacts associated with the Restructured project. Identify and describe any potential large scale, significant and/or irreversible impacts. The project is classified category B to better align with actual project activities because of the cancellation of some activities bearing potential indirect and cumulative negative impacts on biodiversity and natural habitat and resettlement challenges. Those negative impacts were dueto activities planned to be carried out in two sensitive coastal areas: Djegbadji and Fidjrosse. Both located in coastal areas with ecosystem contribution to fisheries, tourism development and biological conservation (Habitat of stopover of Afrotropical and Palearctic migratory birds, habitat of Sitatunga and African manatee), and designated Ramsar Sites (Ramsar No. 1017). Djegbadji is located by a coastal lagoon with associated mangrove vegetation and informal fishing settlements. Fidjrosse is located on the outskirts of Cotonou and is a densely populated and growing zone. In fact, the GoB formulated its new national and sectoral strategy and undertook a review of Project activities. This review resulted in the request to drop the activities related to Djegbadji and Fidjrosse (which initially were classified the category as category A), and to focus project investments on smaller-scale upgrades to the Portuguese Fort and surrounding tourism sites in the city of Ouidah (see Component 2 of the project). The Ouidah investments were already identified and planned through the original project design; the only difference was a scaling-up of the museum scenography of the Fort to meet international standards. The removal of the planned extensive works at the sensitive and densely populated sites of Fidjrosse Djegbadji have also reduced the scoop of land acquisition and economic impact. The project as it stands has triggered Environmental Assessment (OP/BP 4.01), Physical Cultural Resources (OP/BP 4.11) and involuntary resettlement (OP/BP 4.12). The Safeguard policies triggered based on the current scope of activities are consistent with Category B rating. The World Bank RESTRUCTURING ISDS Benin Cross Border Tourism and Competitiveness Project (P149117) The Project subsequently produced an Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF), a Resettlement Policy Framework (RPF) and a Pest Management Plan (PMP- as part of the ESMF), all consulted upon and disclosed in-country and at the Bank InfoShop. In addition, technical support to the development of the tourism area strategic plan and a Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment (SESA) were produced, as well as the preparation of three Resettlement Actions Plans (RAP): (i) the rehabilitation of the old Portuguese Fort and the construction of the International Museum of the Memory of Slavery (MIME); ii) the rehabilitation of the old auction square; iii) the rehabilitation of the old customs house. So far, the team has satisfactorily implemented two RAPs for around 31 PAP identified as economically affected under the RAPs for the Portuguese Fort investment. Overall, the project negative impacts could show up in the medium to long terms with the expected revitalization of tourism. The impacts will probably lead to long-term degradation of natural habitats and classified wetlands. Conversely, the positive impacts are expected to materialize in the short term in the following forms: (i) valorizing ecotourism resources thereby enhancing protection and conservation of associated biological wealth and natural habitats; (ii) better valorization and conservation of cultural assets as part of sightseeing activities; (iii) increase of market value of land and social services within the project's zone; (iv) creation of fulltime employment opportunities and improvement of livelihoods to the benefit of local communities; (v) creation of temporary job along with improvement of employees' income. No direct potential large scale, irreversible and/or significant adverse impacts are expected to occur due to the project investments. 2. Describe any potential indirect and/or long term impacts due to anticipated future activities in the project area. The coastal area of Benin, which will host two small-scale projet sites (Door of No Return and Customs House) for tourism development, is part of the Ramsar site no. 1017 because of its mangrove vegetation and the lagoon that hosts indigenous birds and receives seasonally Afrotropical and Palearctic migratory waterfowl. If the project succeed in fostering tourism in the area, the ongoing population growth will be supplemented by high influx of tourists, which even seasonal will induce increased pressure on the natural environment. Depletion of biodiversity, threat to natural habitat and known critical natural habitat, pollution of water bodies due to deficient waste management, social changes and health and safety risks (insecurity, sexual communicable diseases, etc.) are likely to occur if appropriate sustainable management measures, land use rules and pollution prevention efforts are not permanently implemented and monitored. 3. Describe any potential 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. Regarding the borrower's capacity in managing the expected environmental risks and impacts, the institutional and regulatory frameworks were assessed as adequate. The national environmental assessment Agency (‘’Agence Béninoise pour l’Environnement’’ -ABE) has had a good track record in implementing and/or overseeing environmental and social management plans/measures of Bank-funded operations. The World Bank RESTRUCTURING ISDS Benin Cross Border Tourism and Competitiveness Project (P149117) On the other hand and following project approval, the new government established the ANPT (Tourism and Heritage Promotion Agency) as the entity in charge of tourism development, and Seme City, whose mandate is to support innovation and entrepreneurship. ANPT has been assigned as implementing agency that houses the Project Implementing Unit (PIU). The PIU has recruited and will maintain throughout the project lifecycle two specialists: (i) an environmental specialist and (ii) social safeguard specialist. 5. Identify the key stakeholders and describe the mechanism for consultation and disclosure on safeguard policies, with an emphasis on potentially affected people. The key stakeholders consulted during the preparation and has been consulted during the implementation of the project include, but not limited to: (i) the directly affected people namely merchants; (iv) the local authorities and communities of the affected communes (Ouidah);. They have been variously consulted during the preparation of the safeguard documents, and has participated in the validation processes. Formal processes of consultation and public hearing mechanisms as set through the national regulations has applied, and the implementing entity has pursued the communication efforts to: (i) ensure a good flow of information and facilitate a dialogue with the affected populations, the key stakeholders and the public; (ii) offer avenues for the affected populations’ concerns to be appropriately expressed and discussed; (iii) support the implementation of the project's major activities; and (iv) promote a good visibility of the project’s results and impacts. A grievance redress and conflict resolution mechanism has also been prepared and the operationalisation process is ongoing. DISCLOSURE_TABLE B. DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS ENV_TABLE Environmental Assessment/Audit/Management Plan/Other Date of receipt by the Bank Date of submission for disclosure 10-Nov-2015 25-Nov-2015 For Category ‘A’ projects, date of distributing the Executive Summary of the EA to the Executive Directors 04-Mar-2016 “In country� Disclosure Country Date of Disclosure Benin 18-Nov-2015 Comments RESETTLE_TABLE Resettlement Action Plan/Framework Policy Process The World Bank RESTRUCTURING ISDS Benin Cross Border Tourism and Competitiveness Project (P149117) Date of receipt by the Bank Date of submission for disclosure 18-Dec-2015 04-Feb-2016 “In country� Disclosure Country Date of Disclosure Benin 20-Jan-2016 Comments PEST_TABLE Pest Management Plan Was the document disclosed prior to appraisal? Yes Date of receipt by the Bank Date of submission for disclosure 10-Nov-2015 25-Nov-2015 “In country� Disclosure Country Date of Disclosure Benin 18-Nov-2015 Comments COMPLIANCE_TABLE C. COMPLIANCE MONITORING INDICATORS AT THE CORPORATE LEVEL EA_TABLE OP/BP/GP 4.01 - Environment Assessment Does the project require a stand-alone EA (including EMP) report? Yes If yes, then did the Regional Environment Unit or Practice Manager (PM) review Yes and approve the EA report? Are the cost and the accountabilities for the EMP incorporated in the credit/loan? Yes NH_TABLE OP/BP 4.04 - Natural Habitats Would the project result in any significant conversion or degradation of critical Yes natural habitats? The World Bank RESTRUCTURING ISDS Benin Cross Border Tourism and Competitiveness Project (P149117) If the project would result in significant conversion or degradation of other (non- critical) natural habitats, does the project include mitigation measures Yes acceptable to the Bank? PM_TABLE OP 4.09 - Pest Management Does the EA adequately address the pest management issues? Yes Is a separate PMP required? Yes If yes, has the PMP been reviewed and approved by a safeguards specialist or PM? Are PMP requirements included in project design? If yes, does the project Yes team include a Pest Management Specialist? PCR_TABLE OP/BP 4.11 - Physical Cultural Resources Does the EA include adequate measures related to cultural property? Yes Does the credit/loan incorporate mechanisms to mitigate the potential adverse Yes impacts on cultural property? IR_TABLE OP/BP 4.12 - Involuntary Resettlement Has a resettlement plan/abbreviated plan/policy framework/process framework Yes (as appropriate) been prepared? If yes, then did the Regional unit responsible for safeguards or Practice Manager Yes review the plan? PDI_TABLE The World Bank Policy on Disclosure of Information Have relevant safeguard policies documents been sent to the World Bank for Yes disclosure? 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 Yes and local NGOs? ALL_TABLE All Safeguard Policies The World Bank RESTRUCTURING ISDS Benin Cross Border Tourism and Competitiveness Project (P149117) Have satisfactory calendar, budget and clear institutional responsibilities been Yes prepared for the implementation of measures related to safeguard policies? Have costs related to safeguard policy measures been included in the project Yes cost? Does the Monitoring and Evaluation system of the project include the monitoring Yes of safeguard impacts and measures related to safeguard policies? Have satisfactory implementation arrangements been agreed with the borrower Yes and the same been adequately reflected in the project legal documents? III. APPROVALS Task Team Leader(s) Magueye Dia Approved By Safeguards Advisor Nathalie S. Munzberg 22-Dec-2020 Practice Manager/Manager Consolate K. Rusagara 22-Dec-2020 .