INTEGRATED SAFEGUARDS DATASHEET APPRAISAL STAGE I. Basic Information Date prepared/updated: 03/17/2013 Report No.: AC6896 1. Basic Project Data Original Project ID: P118895 Original Project Name: VU: Telecommunications & ICT Technical Assistance Project Country: Vanuatu Project ID: P143465 Project Name: Telecommunications and ICT TA, Additional Financing Task Team Leader: Natasha Beschorner Estimated Appraisal Date: Estimated Board Date: November 30, 2012 Managing Unit: Lending Instrument: Technical Assistance Loan Sector: General information and communications sector (100%) Theme: Regulation and competition policy (70%);e-Government (30%) SPF Amount (US$m): 0 GEF Amount (US$m.): 0 PCF Amount (US$m.): 0 Other financing amounts by source: Borrower 0.00 Pacific Regional Infrastructure Facility Trust Fund 2.73 2.73 Environmental Category: C - Not Required Simplified Processing Simple [] Repeater [] Is this project processed under OP 8.50 (Emergency Recovery) Yes [ ] No [X] or OP 8.00 (Rapid Response to Crises and Emergencies) 2. Project Objectives The PDO is to enhance the policy, legal and regulatory environment for ICT infrastructure and e-Government development by strengthening oversight institutions for telecommunications and ICT in Vanuatu. 3. Project Description The Additional Financing of (total) US$2.73 million would support the following revised components: (a) Component 1: ICT Policy and E-Government Support US$0.60 million would consist of advisory assistance and capacity-building for the Office of the Government CIO (OGCIO) in consultation with stakeholders across and outside the Government in the following areas: (i) Support for updating ICT/e-Government sector policy and legislation in line with industry developments and Government objectives, including second-generation reforms and application of ICT in other sectors; and monitoring ICT sector development; and (ii) Design and development of implementation plans for "quick win" e-Government applications (as already identified by stakeholders); and high-level design and implementation planning for longer-term larger scale Government information systems. (b) Component 2: ICT Regulatory Support (TRR) US$ 2.05 million would finance consultant services (sector regulator, legal and regulatory specialists, economist/market analyst), which would also provide on the job training and mentoring in the following areas to address continuing as well as emerging regulatory challenges: (i) Establishing and regulating the technical and commercial aspects of the wholesale access regime, including the interconnection regime; this will be particularly important if a submarine cable Project goes ahead; (ii) Coordinating with OGCIO, as requested, support the consultation, preparation and drafting of regulations, rules and other subordinate instruments as needed for the effective management and implementation of the ICT sector, including consumer protection and consumer codes of practice; (iii) Regulating competition and limiting anti-competitive behavior; (iv) Conducting market studies, to understand the market and delivery of user benefits and opportunities (including gender disaggregation); (v) Resolving disputes between operators, and establishing resolution frameworks for disputes between operators and users; and (vi) Conducting community and industry awareness campaigns to address consumer issues related to service coverage and expansion, including increased access for women. (c) Component 3: Project Management US$0.08 million. Project implementation arrangements are already established as a function of the TRR. This funding will continue the support for this activity for the duration of the Project. 4. Project Location and salient physical characteristics relevant to the safeguard analysis The project location is in the capital city of Port Vila. 5. Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialists Mr Knut Opsal (EASER) Mr Gerardo F. Parco (EASPS) 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: The project will finance advisory support, capacity building and regulatory support and will involve no physical interventions. No safeguard policies will be triggered. 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 Environmental Assessment/Audit/Management Plan/Other: Was the document disclosed prior to appraisal? Date of receipt by the Bank Date of "in-country" disclosure Date of submission to InfoShop For category A projects, date of distributing the Executive Summary of the EA to the Executive Directors Resettlement Action Plan/Framework/Policy Process: Was the document disclosed prior to appraisal? Date of receipt by the Bank Date of "in-country" disclosure Date of submission to InfoShop Indigenous Peoples Plan/Planning Framework: Was the document disclosed prior to appraisal? Date of receipt by the Bank Date of "in-country" disclosure Date of submission to InfoShop Pest Management Plan: Was the document disclosed prior to appraisal? Date of receipt by the Bank Date of "in-country" disclosure Date of submission to InfoShop * 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: 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 No Infoshop? Have relevant documents been disclosed in-country in a public place in a No form and language that are understandable and accessible to project-affected groups and local NGOs? All Safeguard Policies Have satisfactory calendar, budget and clear institutional responsibilities N/A been prepared for the implementation of measures related to safeguard policies? Have costs related to safeguard policy measures been included in the project N/A cost? Does the Monitoring and Evaluation system of the project include the N/A monitoring of safeguard impacts and measures related to safeguard policies? Have satisfactory implementation arrangements been agreed with the N/A borrower and the same been adequately reflected in the project legal documents? D. Approvals Signed and submitted by: Name Date Task Team Leader: Ms Natasha Beschorner 03/07/2013 Environmental Specialist: Mr Gerardo F. Parco 03/07/2013 Social Development Specialist Mr Knut Opsal 03/08/2013 Additional Environmental and/or Social Development Specialist(s): Approved by: Sector Manager: Mr Randeep Sudan 03/17/2013 Comments: