The World Bank TRANS SAHARAN CORRIDOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (P171793) Concept Environmental and Social Review Summary Concept Stage (ESRS Concept Stage) Public Disclosure Date Prepared/Updated: 08/05/2020 | Report No: ESRSC01531 Aug 05, 2020 Page 1 of 9 The World Bank TRANS SAHARAN CORRIDOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (P171793) BASIC INFORMATION A. Basic Project Data Country Region Project ID Parent Project ID (if any) Niger AFRICA WEST P171793 Project Name TRANS SAHARAN CORRIDOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECT Practice Area (Lead) Financing Instrument Estimated Appraisal Date Estimated Board Date Transport Investment Project 9/15/2020 12/15/2020 Financing Borrower(s) Implementing Agency(ies) Ministry of Plan Ministry of Equipment Proposed Development Objective Improve road connectivity and safety between Agadez and Zinder to support social and economic development. Public Disclosure Financing (in USD Million) Amount Total Project Cost 200.00 B. Is the project being prepared in a Situation of Urgent Need of Assistance or Capacity Constraints, as per Bank IPF Policy, para. 12? No C. Summary Description of Proposed Project [including overview of Country, Sectoral & Institutional Contexts and Relationship to CPF] Improve road connectivity and safety between Agadez and Zinder to support social and economic development. D. Environmental and Social Overview D.1. Detailed project location(s) and salient physical characteristics relevant to the E&S assessment [geographic, environmental, social] The Trans Sahara Corridor is a 4600 kilometer historic trade route that runs north-south across the Sahara Desert from Algiers in Algeria to Lagos in Nigeria. It passes through Tamanrasset In Algeria, Agadez and Zinder in Niger and Kano in Nigeria. This corridor plays a critical role in the trade between Niger’s agricultural surplus regions of the South and the deficit regions of the North as well as supporting the uranium and coal mining industry that is centered on Aug 05, 2020 Page 2 of 9 The World Bank TRANS SAHARAN CORRIDOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (P171793) Arlit in the North. It is also a historic smuggling route and Agadez, in particular, is a major hub for illegal migration, arms trafficking and human trafficking. The corridor is sparsely populated. The main activities that will be financed by the project are: (1) the rehabilitation of a 220 km segment between Tanout and Tiguidit; and (2) Improving livelihoods and economic activities along the road section. The road section to be rehabilitated is currently 2 lanes, 6 meters wide with a 1 meter usable shoulder. It was constructed in 1987. Due to political instability in the ‘90s and a lack of maintenance, the road section is currently 32 years old and in a very deteriorated condition. The pavement has failed structurally and traffic is regularly interrupted and delayed. D. 2. Borrower’s Institutional Capacity The Ministry of Environment oversees environmental issues and hosts the BNEE (Bureau National des Evaluations Environnementales), the national environmental agency that oversees the approval of environmental studies, monitoring and evaluation of such studies, and implementation at the national level. The Niger legislative framework includes a decree on Environmental Assessments that ensures the integration of environmental considerations at the project level. Human and logistical resources within the Ministry of Environment and BNEE remain limited. BNEE staff will need training to strengthen capacity in this institution. This could be a joint activity with other projects under implementation in Niger. Several technical trainings on ESIA review and ESMPs monitoring were provided to limited number of staff. The BNEE is poorly equipped and may need some support for an efficient support of projects under preparation and implementation, including this project. Based on prior experience with previous transport projects in the country, national capacity to prepare and properly implement safeguard instruments has been challenging. In addition, familiarity with the ESF is limited. The environmental and social management system and procedures within the Ministry of Environment (including BNEE) will need to be enhanced to fully comply with the new ESF Public Disclosure requirements. The Project will address some of these gaps under component 3 (Operational Support). Capacity building activities relevant to the preparation and implementation of specific instruments for compliance with the WBG’s ESSs will be reflected in the Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP). The Ministry of Equipment (Ministère de l’Equipement - ME) is the implementing agency for this project. They were the counterpart for the recently approved Rural Mobility and Connectivity Project so they are familiar with WB operational policies and requirements. Their experience with the ESF, however, is limited and capacity building will need to be provided during preparation and continued during implementation under Component 3. The Project Coordination Unit (PCU) established for the Rural Mobility and Connectivity Project will be responsible for environmental and social safeguards and M&E oversight during preparation. II. SCREENING OF POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL (ES) RISKS AND IMPACTS A. Environmental and Social Risk Classification (ESRC) High Environmental Risk Rating Substantial This project will support the rehabilitation, improvement and maintenance of a 220 km road segment from Tanout to Tiguidit. This road section is part of a longer road corridor linking Agadez and Zinder and is a crucial lifeline for the delivery of services and movement of people and goods. It has been impacted by the extreme temperatures, droughts, high winds and sandstorms in the region. The project aims to make this road section climate resilient, which will have an overall positive environmental impact. However, the planned civil works are likely to be associated with Aug 05, 2020 Page 3 of 9 The World Bank TRANS SAHARAN CORRIDOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (P171793) adverse environmental risks and impacts that will need to be managed to meet the requirements of the Environmental and Social Standards under the ESF. These risks and potential negative impacts are related to: (i) Resource efficiency and pollution prevention and management (sourcing of raw materials for civil works, water and energy use, GHG emissions, dust, noise, potential contamination of water sources due to spills and run-off of petroleum products, infiltration into storage areas and improper disposal of fuels, (ii) occupational and community health and safety; (iii) potential loss of vegetation and biodiversity during civil works and preparation of sites, quarries areas for materials and higher demand of fuelwood by workers; and (iv) potential impact of civil works and excavations on cultural heritage. Social Risk Rating High A RAP for the 220 km Tanout – Tiguidit road section will be prepared and disclosed prior to Appraisal. It will clarify the direct impacts of the road rehabilitation on the local population. Land acquisition is expected to be limited given that there is an existing road platform and the plans only include a very limited widening of this platform but it is likely that there will be project affected persons (PAPs) with losses and damage to their personal property. It should be noted that other social risks are significant. As indicated above, this section of the road is part of a very complicated corridor that benefits from and feeds significant amounts of human, drug and arms trafficking. It is also a major transportation route for long haul trucking that may contribute to an increase in GBV and threats to the local communities. There are reports of significant criminal activity, including banditry, along the road that may also increase if the infrastructure improves. These risks may be exacerbated by the implementation of the project and cannot be entirely mitigated. The situation is compounded by the fact that implementation support by the Bank to ensure compliance is likely to be restricted by insecurity along the road. Alternatives including local community based monitoring, satellite imagery and an active GRM implemented by a local NGO will be considered and integrated into Public Disclosure the implementation plan. B. Environment and Social Standards (ESSs) that Apply to the Activities Being Considered B.1. General Assessment ESS1 Assessment and Management of Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts Overview of the relevance of the Standard for the Project: The proposed project is expected to generate positive environmental and social impacts by rehabilitating a vital road corridor, making it climate resilient and improving road safety. As the exact location of the road alignment is known, an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) has been undertaken to provide important inputs for project design and key safeguard instruments. A Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) and Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) are being prepared. The ESIA will include, as relevant, a security assessment, biodiversity assessment and relevant mitigation measures and a sexual exploitation and abuse/sexual harassment (SEA/SH) risk assessment and any other specific risks identified in the course of the assessment. This will be in addition to economic and demographic evaluations that will be used to inform the design and dimensioning of Component 2. In addition to the ESIA, an Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) will also be prepared to provide guidance on the management of environmental and social impacts related to road maintenance works (Component 1) rural road construction works and the development of socio-economic activities (Component 2) along the road corridor. As part of the environmental and social assessment, a Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) will be prepared, consulted upon and disclosed prior to Appraisal. The project will apply the relevant requirements of the Environmental Health and Safety Guidelines (EHSGs) for civil works and rehabilitation of infrastructure. The Borrower will monitor the Aug 05, 2020 Page 4 of 9 The World Bank TRANS SAHARAN CORRIDOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (P171793) environmental and social performances in accordance with the legal agreement. Relevant procedures relating to cultural heritage for “chance finds” will be included in the ESMF. All other relevant actions related to this ESS will be captured in the ESCP. Areas where “Use of Borrower Framework” is being considered: The operation will not use the Borrower’s E&S Framework but will be consistent with relevant national legal requirements. ESS10 Stakeholder Engagement and Information Disclosure Based on the results of the ESIA, a Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) is being prepared, validated and disclosed. It will clearly describe the key stakeholders and establish an accessible and transparent strategy for ongoing information sharing and communication. The SEP will also include the principles for the establishment of an accessible, transparent and confidential grievance redress mechanism (GRM) for the project. The final version will be disclosed per the requirements of the policy before appraisal. Public Disclosure B.2. Specific Risks and Impacts A brief description of the potential environmental and social risks and impacts relevant to the Project. ESS2 Labor and Working Conditions The project is likely to include direct workers and contract workers that will include day workers from neighboring communities. A Labor Management Procedure (LMP) that specifies the terms and conditions of employment, non- discrimination and equal opportunities, workers' organizations, measures against child and forced labor, grievance redress mechanism for labor disputes, occupational safety and health measures for the workers (direct and contract) and provisions to prevent and manage SEA/SH will be prepared prior to project approval. To ensure health and safety of workers during the construction and operational phases of the project, the Borrower will develop and implement a Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE) plan consistent with World Bank Group's Environment, Health and Safety Guidelines (EHSG) for construction activities. The plan will include procedures for incident investigation and reporting, recording and reporting of any non-compliance, emergency preparedness and response procedures and continuous training and awareness to workers that will be proportionate with the project scope. The Borrower will ensure that the ESS2 requirements are incorporated into: (a) the contracts between the Borrower and the C.ontractor and any entity (including the Owner’s Engineer) supervising the Project’s civil works; and (b) the contracts between the Contractor and any Contractors’ subcontractors. All workers will be required to sign a Code of Conduct that will be enforced by the supervising entities ESS3 Resource Efficiency and Pollution Prevention and Management Aug 05, 2020 Page 5 of 9 The World Bank TRANS SAHARAN CORRIDOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (P171793) The rehabilitation of the road section will likely impact Resource Efficiency and Pollution Prevention and Management due to the consumption of energy, water and raw material. As part of the ESIA, the Borrower will identify relevant measures for improving the efficient consumption of energy, water and raw materials, as well as other resources. It is anticipated that emissions will be generated by construction vehicles and dust will be generated by digging activities during project implementation/ construction. Those most likely to be affected are workers and people living within the proximity of construction/rehabilitation sites. The implementation of mitigation measures such as dust suppression and vehicle maintenance will be incorporated into the contractor's ESMP. Noise may be generated from the use of construction machinery and vehicle movements. The relatively short-term and nature of the works suggest that noise levels will not be excessive or cause long-term nuisances. The construction works will however, present short-term nuisance to the neighbors to some of the project sites. The Environmental and Social Management instruments to be prepared will include mitigation measures to minimize and manage the noise levels such by applying standard restrictions to hours of site work where appropriate. Construction/ rehabilitation activities will generate solid waste which will primarily include excavated soil and solid wastes. The waste generated by the construction/ rehabilitation works will largely be disposed of at approved sites according with national laws and regulations. Pest management: the need to develop a pest management plan to address the risks and impacts associated with planned livelihood and socio-economic activities will be further determined. ESS4 Community Health and Safety Public Disclosure The project will finance the rehabilitation of 220 kms of existing road that may result in risks and negative effects on the health, safety and security of the neighboring communities. Experience indicates that the influx of workers into a project area can lead to adverse social impacts, such as SEA/SH, sexually transmitted and communicable diseases, especially in rural areas. The ESIA that is currently underway will provide critical baseline and background information and will be used to inform the preparation of the LMP. The ESMP will also include labor related clauses and ensuring compliance will be the responsibility of the contractors. In close collaboration with the Bank, the Borrower will also prepare an SEA/SH Action Plan per the provisions in the GBV Guidance Note. In addition, the contractor's ESMP will also include the security plan for the project sites and a Code of Conduct that will be signed by all workers (long and short term). The contractor will make use of the general and sector-specific EHSGs for the identified activities in relation to community health and safety. ESS5 Land Acquisition, Restrictions on Land Use and Involuntary Resettlement A RAP for the 220 km Tanout – Tiguidit road section that will be financed under Component 1 will be prepared prior to Appraisal. This will clarify the direct impact of the road rehabilitation on the local population. Land acquisition is expected to be limited given that there is an existing road platform and the plans only include a very limited widening of this platform but it is likely that there will be PAPs with losses and damage to their personal property. The RAP will be implemented to the satisfaction of the Bank prior to the commencement of civil works. In addition, a RPF is being prepared to provide guidance for the management of any social risks that may arise during the implementation of the livelihood activities to be financed under Component 2. These activities and their specific locations will be identified during early implementation. Aug 05, 2020 Page 6 of 9 The World Bank TRANS SAHARAN CORRIDOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (P171793) ESS6 Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Natural Resources It is not expected that the proposed activities (construction and rehabilitation) will negatively impact biodiversity conservation or the sustainable management of living natural resources. Confirmation whether any biodiversity or other resources will be impacted or damaged by the road construction/rehabilitation and economic development activities will be assessed prior to appraisal, and relevant instruments prepared as needed. For example, there may be some uprooting of trees and cutting of shrubs before the start of civil works. ESS7 Indigenous Peoples/Sub-Saharan African Historically Underserved Traditional Local Communities There are no Indigenous Peoples/Sub-Saharan African Historically Underserved Traditional Local Communities in the project area. ESS8 Cultural Heritage It is not anticipated that the project will have a negative impact on cultural heritage. However, the small amount of excavation during the rehabilitation work may uncover a previously unknown cultural heritage site. The ESIA will provide guidance regarding how to identify tangible or intangible cultural heritage, and the ESMF will provide guidance regarding how to manage any chance finds. All construction and rehabilitation contracts will include a Chance Find procedures clause which will require contractors to stop construction/ rehabilitation in the event that cultural property sites are encountered during civil works. The Direction de patrimoine culturel of the Minstry of Public Disclosure Culture will also be consulted regarding heritage resources in the area. ESS9 Financial Intermediaries This standard is not currently relevant. B.3 Other Relevant Project Risks Insecurity in the project area is likely to negatively impact the ability of the Bank to provide implementation support or verify compliance and it could delay project activities. While civil works financed by the Fond Europeen de Developpement (FED) have been able to proceed in the same area until now, it should be acknowledged that project activities may contribute to or exacerbate existing security issues including increased risks for GBV, crime and violence. A security analysis was completed by Corporate Security to assess the ability of the Bank to visit the project area and the Borrower has included an assessment of possible security risks in the ESIA. The ESMF, ESIA and RAP will incorporate mitigation measures and and explore alternatives to direct implementation support. These will be updated as needed during implementation. Aug 05, 2020 Page 7 of 9 The World Bank TRANS SAHARAN CORRIDOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (P171793) C. Legal Operational Policies that Apply OP 7.50 Projects on International Waterways No OP 7.60 Projects in Disputed Areas No III. WORLD BANK ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL DUE DILIGENCE A. Is a common approach being considered? No Financing Partners N/A B. Proposed Measures, Actions and Timing (Borrower’s commitments) Actions to be completed prior to Bank Board Approval: Actions to be completed prior to Appraisal:  Complete Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA); Preparation of the Environmental and Social Framework (ESMF);  Preparation of the draft Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP); Public Disclosure  Preparation of a draft Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP), including the project level Grievance Mechanism (GM);  Preparation of draft Labor Management Procedure (LMP) and Labor Influx Management Plan (TBC);  Preparation of the Resettlement Policy Framework for Component 2 (RPF); Preparation of PMP (TBC); and Preparation of the Resettlement Action Plan for 220 km road section (RAP). Possible issues to be addressed in the Borrower Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP): The Borrower's Environmental and Social Commitment Plan will include a schedule for the preparation of the final versions of the SEP, LMP and ESMPs, RAPs. It should also include any security measures that will be required to ensure the security and safety of the project site. C. Timing Tentative target date for preparing the Appraisal Stage ESRS 15-Oct-2020 IV. CONTACT POINTS World Bank Aug 05, 2020 Page 8 of 9 The World Bank TRANS SAHARAN CORRIDOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (P171793) Contact: Cheick Omar Tidiane Diallo Title: Senior Transport Specialist Telephone No: 5354+5351+6343 / -226-53516343 Email: cdiallo1@worldbank.org Contact: Monica Augustina Cristina Moldovan Title: Young Professional Telephone No: 5220+85609 Email: mmoldovan@worldbank.org Borrower/Client/Recipient Borrower: Ministry of Plan Implementing Agency(ies) Implementing Agency: Ministry of Equipment V. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT The World Bank 1818 H Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20433 Telephone: (202) 473-1000 Web: http://www.worldbank.org/projects Public Disclosure VI. APPROVAL Task Team Leader(s): Monica Augustina Cristina Moldovan, Cheick Omar Tidiane Diallo Practice Manager (ENR/Social) Aly Zulficar Rahim Recommended on 04-Aug-2020 at 14:00:30 EDT Safeguards Advisor ESSA Nathalie S. Munzberg (SAESSA) Cleared on 05-Aug-2020 at 07:56:26 EDT Aug 05, 2020 Page 9 of 9