The World Bank Central African Republic Human Capital Project (Maïngo) (P171158) Concept Environmental and Social Review Summary Concept Stage (ESRS Concept Stage) Public Disclosure Date Prepared/Updated: 11/26/2020 | Report No: ESRSC01718 Nov 26, 2020 Page 1 of 13 The World Bank Central African Republic Human Capital Project (Maïngo) (P171158) BASIC INFORMATION A. Basic Project Data Country Region Project ID Parent Project ID (if any) Central African Republic AFRICA WEST P171158 Project Name Central African Republic Human Capital Project (Maïngo) Practice Area (Lead) Financing Instrument Estimated Appraisal Date Estimated Board Date Health, Nutrition & Investment Project 3/9/2021 5/13/2021 Population Financing Borrower(s) Implementing Agency(ies) Central African Republic Ministere de l'Economie, du Plan et de la Cooperation Internationale Proposed Development Objective Public Disclosure To increase access to learning and skills acquisition to contribute to future employment opportunities for women and adolescent girls, as well as to increase access to essential lifesaving services in targeted communities of the Central African Republic. Financing (in USD Million) Amount Total Project Cost 50.00 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] The CAR Human Capital Project (Maïngo or “evolution, progress' in Sangho) aims to empower women and girls to make lifesaving and life-enhancing choices to improve their lives and that of their families and communities. Women and girls are a key catalyst for change in CAR and empowering them is a long-term and transformative process for the country. The project will aim to change deeply rooted social norms and beliefs among the entire population about the role of women in the family and society more broadly, including views around adolescent pregnancy and early Nov 26, 2020 Page 2 of 13 The World Bank Central African Republic Human Capital Project (Maïngo) (P171158) marriage. It will aim to increase access, through both demand and supply side interventions, to essential health services, secondary education and vocational training. 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 Central African Republic is a landlocked nation within the interior of the African continent. It is bordered by the countries of Cameroon, Chad, Sudan, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo. Much of the country consists of flat, or rolling plateau savanna, about 1,640 feet (500 m) above sea level. In the northeast are the Fertit Hills, and there are scattered hills in the southwestern part of the country. At 622,984 square kilometres, the Central African Republic is the world's 45th-largest country (after Somalia). Much of the southern border is formed by tributaries of the Congo River, with the Mbomou River in the east merging with the Uele River to form the Ubangi River. In the west, the Sangha River flows through part of the country. The eastern border lies along the edge of the Congo-Nile watershed. The Country has suffered from decades of repeated conflicts and political instability. Nearly half of the country’s population depends on humanitarian assistance for basic needs and one-fifth of the population of 4.9 million is estimated to be forcibly displaced. Instability and violence in CAR have resulted in substantial deterioration of human capital and social services, including health. The CAR Human Capital Project aims to enable women and girls to make lifesaving and life-enhancing choices to improve their lives, and that of their families and communities. It does so Public Disclosure through community outreach, and by enabling women and girls who missed out on formal schooling or were never given the opportunity to obtain life-enhancing knowledge to access non-formal education, life-skills and vocational training to enhance themselves and to obtain economic opportunities. The project will aim to reach as many people as possible, particularily in densely populated areas. However, recognizing that the more remote and insecure regions of the country have tremendous needs and that service provision in these parts of the country is critical for the country’s long term peace and stability, the project will also use an adapted implementation approach to cater to the specific needs of these very hard to reach areas that have lower population density. Reaching communities is a major challenge in CAR. The specific locations of implementation have yet to be identified, and will be determined during project appraisal and refined after project effectiveness. D. 2. Borrower’s Institutional Capacity The main project counterpart is the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Cooperation (MEPC) where a new Project Coordination Unit (PCU) will be established. The PCU will be in charge of the project implementation, fiduciary management and environmental and social risks management of the project. The MEPC is well placed to coordinate the project as this project will incorporate multiple-sectors. However, they have limited technical capacity to coordinateand manage this multi-sectoral project. Owing to the multisectoral nature of the project, a Project Steering Committee will be created by inter-ministerial decree to oversee, develop, and monitor the strategic orientations of the project according to sectors. The Steering Committee will be chaired by the MEPC and will likely comprise the following ministries and departments: (i) Ministry Nov 26, 2020 Page 3 of 13 The World Bank Central African Republic Human Capital Project (Maïngo) (P171158) of Budget and Finance; (ii) Ministry of Health and Population; (iii) Ministry of Education (Directorate of Literacy and Non-Formal Education); (iv) Ministry of Humanitarian Action and National Reconciliation; (v) Ministry of Advancement of Women, Family and Child Protection; (vi) Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises, Handicrafts, and the Formal Sector; (vii) Ministry of Labor, Employment, Social Protection and Vocational training; (viii) the Central African Agency for Vocational Training and Employment (ACFPE); (ix) others as relevant. Implementation capacity will need to be strengthened at all levels, especially given limited knowledge and experience in implementing World Bank safeguards requirements. Furthermore, although the new PCU that will be established at the MEPC has experience in implementing WB safeguards policies in the framework of Londo project, it will need capacity building as mentioned above due to the size of the current project. Others without experience in the implementation of safeguards policies concern Ministry of Technical Education and Literacy which will lead sub- component 2.3, the Ministry for the Promotion of Youth and the Ministry of Labor which will be engaged for both sub-components 2.2 and 2.3). Only the ministries of Health who will lead sub-component 2.1 and the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education which will lead sub-component 2.2 have experience in the implementation of safeguard policies, in particular with the ongoing Health System Support and Strengthening Project (P164953) and Central African Republic Emergency Basic Education Support Project (P164295); and also with the ESF in particular with the preparation of Central African Republic COVID19 Preparedness and response program (P173832-SPRP) and Central Africa Republic - Education Sector Plan Support Project (P173103). At the national level, the Director General for Environment (DGE) is the main institution in the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MEDD) that is responsible for conducting and coordinating the environmental and social assessment process in CAR (ex., validation of ESIAs, ESMPs, analysis of field reports, Public Disclosure inspection and environmental audit). At the departmental level, the DGE works in collaboration with local structures of the MEDD. However, implementing capacity is low, especially as the DGE lacks financial and technical resources. In addition, staff often leave to join other national and international structures. Given these challenges, the World Bank team will therefore prepare and implement a capacity building and training program to help the Borrower manage environmental and social risk and Public Disclosure throughout the project timeline. In addition, different methods to build capacity at the local level (especially on E&S) will be further explored during project preparation. II. SCREENING OF POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL (ES) RISKS AND IMPACTS A. Environmental and Social Risk Classification (ESRC) High Environmental Risk Rating Moderate Environmental risk is rated as Moderate at this stage. The proposed civil works in the project will mainly include rehabilitation/expansion of six existing Vocational Education and Training and Literacy (VETL) centers and construction of gender-sensitive latrines in subcomponents 2.3 and 2.2. The project could also include rehabilitation of safe spaces under component 1.1. This will be determined during preparation. These risks and impacts are expected to be site-specific, limited in number, and can be mitigated with measures that are readily identifiable. This rating also reflects the challenges associated with the limited environmental and social management capacity of the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Cooperation (MEPC) and the other ministries who will lead the implementation of some components. No ministry has deep experience or capacity in applying the expanded ESF beyond aspects that are generally included in the Operational Policies, and significant efforts will be required to Nov 26, 2020 Page 4 of 13 The World Bank Central African Republic Human Capital Project (Maïngo) (P171158) capacitate MEPC and familiarize the Ministry of Environmental (as a regulatory body) with the expanded social and environmental. Social Risk Rating High The social risk is rated as High at this stage of project preparation. While the overall social benefits are expected to be positive, the anticipated social risks and impacts include: (i) high risks of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) and Sexual Harassment (SH) which are specific to the project, as assessed through the preliminary SEA/SH risk rating tool at concept stage; (ii) community and workers health and safety risks to increase HIV/AIDS transmission; (iii) risks of exclusion for marginalized and vulnerable social groups within a community (including the indigenous peoples, disabled, poor women and girls, minorities, and displaced persons and/or refugees) being unable to access benefits from the project, therefore undermining the project development objective (PDO) (, e.g. lack of access to Maingo events or to health facilities that will be selected as point of distribution for medical and school supplies, lack of access to life-saving assistance and supplies provided by the project, lack of access to life-skills and vocational trainings provided by the project); (iv) security risks for project's community workers, mobile health workers and beneficiaries given the presence of non-State armed groups across the territory and specifically in some locations targeted by the project. The social risk classification also considered the following aspects: (i) borrower’s low capacity to manage project-related ES risks and impacts in a manner consistent with the ESSs; (ii) current COVID-19 related risks of dissemination, and uncertainties on new waves, in relation with community mobilization activities; (iii) potential risks related to stakeholder engagement activities of the project and eventual social conflicts that could be exacerbated, particularly in light of upcoming national elections. Public Disclosure In relation to SEA/SH risks that contributed to the social risk rating being High, the preliminary risk screening was based upon the country context and project-specific indicators, particularly given: (i) the lack of training programs on SEA/SH prevention, management, and response to health and education sector personnel; (ii) the lack of referral protocols as part of the management of SEA/SH response established across the country for the health system; similarly in the education sector, the lack of protocols for the identification and care of students affected by SEA/SH; (iii) the lack of institutional codes of conduct for health service providers of the entire health system, and similarly for teachers and administrative staff of the entire education system, that include prohibitions against SEA/SH; and (iv) the lack of training programs on SEA/SH prevention, management, and response to both health service providers and the education sector personnel. These risks are further exacerbated given the project's objective to target the most vulnerable women and girls at community level to increase access to life skills and vocational trainings as alternative education; and to deliver life-saving and life-enhancing benefits by deploying mobile health workers accompanying community workers during intense community mobilization events. 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: Nov 26, 2020 Page 5 of 13 The World Bank Central African Republic Human Capital Project (Maïngo) (P171158) ESS1 is considered relevant to the Project. In fact the Maingo events, under Component 2.1 is likely to generate medical waste and could have potential occupational as well as community health and safety risks due to exposure to medical and hazardous waste and road safety. The Construction of toilets in schools, under Component 2.2, will have potential risks on community and school children due to dust and noise pollution, and labor influx, and OHS risks. There is a risk of soil and groundwater pollution from the toilets if they are not properly designed. During the operation phase, potential impacts may arise from improper maintenance of toilet (washing and cleaning) and non- provision of hygiene products (soaps and disinfectants). In case if these services are compromised, the consequential unhygienic condition will affect the girls’ health and increase their absenteeism from schools. The Rehabilitation and expansion of six vocational training centers will have all kinds of construction-related impacts, though on a limited scale. This is similar to the rehabilitation of safe spaces. Livelihoods activities under component 1.2 only involve skills training. However, access to finance possibly through local financial institutions could be considered under the project. In case project decides to involve use of financial institutions to provide access to finance, ESS9 would apply. The main key environmental risks identified so far include: (i) management of medical waste from Maingo events and also health facilities in the project intervention areas due to the increase in referral and attendance by community members; (ii) the risks to the environment and the health of the population linked to inadequate storage, transport and disposal of waste resulting from the simple interventions that the project will provide; (iii) occupational health and safety (OHS) issues related to the availability and supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) for community workers, health workers and primary suppliers and (iv) community health and safety risks given close Public Disclosure social contact. The key anticipated social risks and impacts include: (i) high risks of SEA/SH specific to the project, as assessed through the preliminary SEA/SH risk rating tool at concept stage; (ii) community and workers health and safety risks to increase HIV/AIDS and COVID-19 transmission; (iii) risks of exclusion for marginalized and vulnerable social groups within a community (including the indigenous peoples, disabled, poor women and girls, minorities, and displaced persons and/or refugees) being unable to access benefits from the project, therefore undermining the PDO (e.g. lack of access to Maingo events or to health facilities that will be selected as point of distribution for medical and school supplies, lack of access to medical life-saving assistance and supplies provided by the project, lack of access to life-skills and vocational trainings provided by the project); (iv) security risks for project's community workers, mobile health workers and beneficiaries given the presence of non-State armed groups across the territory and specifically in some locations targeted by the project. Anticipated impacts of this project can be adequately avoided and/ or managed in accordance with an Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF). At this stage, given that the specific locations of financed activities are not known and will be progressively determined as the project moves towards appraisal and implementation, the PCU will prepare an ESMF to address the assessment and management of environmental and social risks and impacts of the project consistent with ESS1. The ESMF will establish the procedures for preparation of site-specific instruments, such as the Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs), during project’s implementation. The identification of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) risks and impacts and measures to manage the risks will be addressed in the ESMF and documented in labor management procedures (LMPs) that will be included in the ESMF to protect workers from injury, illness, or impacts associated with exposure to hazards encountered in the workplace or while working. The mitigation measures will incorporate the World Bank Group’s General Environment, Health, and Safety Guidelines (EHSGs). The ESMF will include Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS) checklists, Codes of Conduct, Nov 26, 2020 Page 6 of 13 The World Bank Central African Republic Human Capital Project (Maïngo) (P171158) and any other relevant measures to prevent SEA/SH that will be included in the SEA/SH action plan, as well as safety training materials, that will need to be prepared by the Borrower and/ or the contractor prior to implement project’s activities in a specific location. Furthermore, a security risk assessment specific to the project and an associated security management plan will need to be carried out by the Borrower and integrate appropriate measures to mitigate security risks for project workers and beneficiaries. As this is a High-risk project and the security risk is expected to be significant, a draft security assessment and management plan will be prepared prior to appraisal to inform the Board on level of risk and proposed management strategy. In addition Borrower will also prepare Staholders Engagement Plan (SEP) with more attention on vulnerables and/or disadvantaged groups in the target areas, GRM with GBV-sensitive channels to address SEA/SH complaints. The ESMF will be disclosed on the websites of the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Cooperation and the World Bank before appraisal. The Bank assessed the Borrower’s capacity to manage the project’s environmental, social, safety and health performance in compliance with ESS1. The Bank will work with the Project to support enhancement of the project’s environmental and social management system and procedures to be compliant with ESS1 requirements. The Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP) will be prepared by the Borrower during project’s preparation. The Borrower’s commitments to prepare and implement E&S instruments and actions throughout the project lifecycle will be outlined in the ESCP. The PCU will monitor the environmental and social requirements and performance in accordance with the legal agreement and the annexed ESCP. Targeted training and support to the environmental and social specialists in the PIU will be provided throughout the project lifetime. Public Disclosure Given that the project’s risk is classified as High, the Borrower will hire independent consultants to carry out the required environmental and social assessments and management frameworks. Given that the project has a CERC component, the borrower will need a CERC manual (or a CERC section in the operations manual) with a positive list of eligible activities, and a description of institutional arrangements (how to trigger, who does what etc) and a section in the ESMF (or a separate CERC ESMF) to manage E&S risks, The positive list of eligible activities should be finalized during project preparation. The ESMF (or CERC-ESMF) will identify and prescribe appropriate tools for each activity in order to address the related environmental and social risks and impacts Areas where “Use of Borrower Framework” is being considered: The Borrower’s E&S framework is limited. Therefore, the project will not use the Borrower’s framework for addressing environmental and social risks and impacts. The project will rely on the Environmental and Social Standards (ESSs). ESS10 Stakeholder Engagement and Information Disclosure In consultation with the Bank, the Borrower will prepare and disclose prior to appraisal a Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) proportional to the nature and scale of the project and its associated risks and impacts, to be implemented and updated as needed throughout the project lifecycle. The objective of the SEP is to establish a systematic Nov 26, 2020 Page 7 of 13 The World Bank Central African Republic Human Capital Project (Maïngo) (P171158) approach for stakeholder engagement, maintain a constructive relationship with them, consider stakeholders’ views, promote and provide means for effective and inclusive engagement with stakeholders and beneficiaries throughout the project life cycle, and ensure that appropriate project information is disclosed to stakeholders in a timely, understandable, culturally accessible and appropriate manner, which is free of manipulation, interference, coercion, discrimination and intimidation. To ensure this, the Borrower would need, to engage in meaningful consultations with all stakeholders while paying attention to the inclusion of vulnerable and disadvantaged groups. Since we are in a context of a COVID-19 crisis, measures will be put in place to prevent or minimize the spread of the infectious disease/COVID-19 in the community. These measures will include, among others, respecting social distancing measures as stated by the government in its press release of March 13, 2019. The concerns and needs of identified stakeholders would be related to their full participation in project activities and information sharing (including the selection of beneficiaries). The Borrower will maintain, and disclose, a documented record of stakeholder engagement, including a description of the stakeholders consulted, a summary of the feedback received, and a brief explanation of how the feedback was considered, or the reasons why it was not. Community consultations with women and girls that are related to SEA/SH risk mitigation will be conducted in safe and enabling environments, such as in sex-segregated groups and with female facilitators. The project will need to identify and consult with relevant stakeholders who could promote increased recruitment and encourage retention of female health workers, teachers and community workers to contribute to ensuring a female-friendly environment for project’s beneficiaries. Such consultations will be focused on understanding women’s and girl’s risks and vulnerabilities, understand women and girl’s experience in community events, health facilities/ clinics’ environment and school’s environment, their wellbeing, and health safety and security concerns in relation to the project. Furthermore, the consultations will need to include the disabled groups, disadvantaged groups and minorities within project’s targeted communities, and be Public Disclosure carried out in an accessible and appropriate manner, with information provided in accessible formats. The project will set up a project-specific Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM), sensitive to SEA/SH issues, and the ethical treatment and resolution of such complaints that is proportionate of the potential risks and impacts of the project. In relation to school retention-under component 2.2, with respect to measures to reduce school dropout, establishment of a GBV sensitive GRM will also consider inclusion of school counselor systems within the schools. The GRM will also serve as a platform for continuous feedback from project-affected communities, other interested stakeholders and implementing partners. The project specific GRM will be outlined in the SEP for people to report concerns or complaints. 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 ESS2 is considered relevant to the Project. Indeed, given the complexity of the project's interventions, four types of workers will be distinguished, namely direct workers (health workers, teachers), contracted workers (construction workers, project’s consultants and implementing partners), primary suppliers, and community workers. All community mobilization and awareness raising activities at the community level will be carried out by community workers and/or NGOs supported by health workers. Communication materials, health products and school kits Nov 26, 2020 Page 8 of 13 The World Bank Central African Republic Human Capital Project (Maïngo) (P171158) needed by community workers and health staff will be provided to the project by providers. All of these categories of workers will be exposed to health and safety risks, i.e., for community workers and health personnel: the risk of disease infection during administration of health care to the beneficiary, the risk of COVID-19 transmission during sensitization activities due to non-compliance with barrier measures. For suppliers and project staff, these will be the risks of road accidents, aggression and even contamination with COVID-19. The Borrower will prepare the project’s labor management procedures (LMPs), which will identify the main labor requirements and risks associated with the project and help the Borrower to determine the resources necessary to address project labor issues, and the way project workers will be managed in accordance with the requirements of national law and ESS2. The PCU will therefore ensure the application of OHS measures and LMP, both of which will be annexed to the ESMF. These include: procedures for protection of workers in relation to infection control precautions and ensuring adequate supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) (particularly face masks, gowns, gloves, handwashing soap and sanitizer); and generally ensuring adequate OHS protections in accordance with the general and industry specific Environmental, Health and Safety Guidelines (EHSGs) and consistent with the evolving international best practice in relation to COVID-19 protection. The LMP will provide guidance regarding the policies and procedures that will govern health care workers, teachers, community workers, project staff and other workers hired under the project. This includes terms and conditions of employment, non-discrimination and equal opportunity, and the establishment of worker’s organizations, measures to ensure that labor is provided on a voluntary basis and will further ensure that the health and safety of workers, especially women are given adequate attention. The project will not use child labor, except in the cases provided for in ESS2 and in relation to the national legislation in force. The project will also include a grievance mechanism for Public Disclosure labor disputes of project’s workers and the roles and responsibilities for monitoring such workers. The establishment of a labor GRM as developed in detail in the LMP will allow workers to quickly inform management of labor issues, such as a lack of PPE and unreasonable overtime. ESS3 Resource Efficiency and Pollution Prevention and Management ESS3 is considered relevant to the Project. The prevention and management of pollution - in particular the management of biomedical and medical waste - the quantities of which are bound to increase as a result of the increased referral of community members (particularily women and girls) to health centers and Maingo events. Medical waste, including chemicals, contaminated PPE, equipment and kits for small surgeries should be stored, transported and disposed of safely. A number of health care institutions have, under the CF-Health System Support Project (P119815), financed the construction of incinerators to ensure safe disposal of medical waste. A prior assessment of waste management capacity will therefore be required at the level of each sub-district prior to any project activity to ensure that adequate measures are put in place to ensure proper management of medical waste. ESS4 Community Health and Safety Nov 26, 2020 Page 9 of 13 The World Bank Central African Republic Human Capital Project (Maïngo) (P171158) ESS4 is considered relevant to the Project. The organisation of awareness raising meetings at community level in the context of the current COVID-19 pandemic may lead to a further spread of the disease at the community level, especially if social distancing measures are not observed. The use of small scale medical equipment when providing care to some people with infectious diseases can lead to contamination, especially if hygiene and good practice rules are not well respected. Waste from community-based care can also pose a danger to communities when it is improperly managed. In order to mitigate these risks, the PCU will put measures in place to prevent or minimize the spread of the infectious disease/COVID-19 to the community. In the context of the rehabilitation of vocational training centres and safe spaces; and construction of school toilets, given the fact that these facilities are intended for a wide public, the question of accessibility to these places for people with reduced mobility and the visually impaired will be raised. The ESMF will evaluate these risks and impacts on the health and safety of the project’s beneficiaries, universal access to facilities, including communities living close to the health centers and locations where Maigo events will be held; and include provisions to avoid, minimize and mitigate any potential impacts during project life cycle. The ESMF will also provide an analysis of the current security situation and the impact of access to health centers/ Maingo events, and schools, and SEA/SH risks for health workers, community workers, teachers, and project beneficiaries. Influx of health workers during outreach visits, accompanied by community workers, could increase SEA/SH risks, especially if the communities are rural and in remote areas. The project will screen for, and where necessary, include Public Disclosure specific measures to address SEA/SH risks. This will be captured in the SEA/SH assessment and associated action plan, to be prepared during project preparation. The project will be implemented in certain areas with security issues where armed groups continue to operate. A security assessment will be carried out during project preparation and a security management plan with adequate security risks mitigation measures to project’s workers and beneficiaries will be developed accordingly. As this is a High risk project and the security risk is expected to be significant. A draft security assessment and management plan will be prepared prior to appraisal to inform the Board on level of risk and proposed management strategy. ESS5 Land Acquisition, Restrictions on Land Use and Involuntary Resettlement ESS5 is not currently relevant to the Project. Land acquisition, Restrictions on Land Use and Involuntary Resettlement due to project activities are not expected. The project will include construction and rehabilitation works for school toilets and vocational training centers, but they will be carried within the existing facilities. ESS6 Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Natural Resources ESS6 is not currently relevant to the Project. The Project is not expected to support any activities that might jeopardize the integrity of biodiversity or living natural resources. Nov 26, 2020 Page 10 of 13 The World Bank Central African Republic Human Capital Project (Maïngo) (P171158) ESS7 Indigenous Peoples/Sub-Saharan African Historically Underserved Traditional Local Communities ESS7 is considered relevant to the Project. The project will likely implement activities in areas where Indigenous Peoples (Pygmies AKA) are present . No activity under this project is expected to have an adverse effect on Indigenous Peoples (IPs). However, there is a risk that IPs are excluded from participating in consultations carried out by the project or that they are not adequately undertaken in an accessible and culturally-sensitive manner with them, which may result in IPs not being aware of project’s provided benefits, or may result in discrimination by others groups. The Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) will need to include outreach programs to ensure that indigenous communities, especially those living in remote areas, are aware of the availability of life-saving and life-enhancing interventions of the project in their locations, community mobilization and awareness raising activities on key positive practices, as well as alternative education opportunities offered to women and adolescent girls. The potential social impacts can be adequately managed/ mitigated through the development, implementation and monitoring of appropriate measures. This means that the borrower should proactively engage with the IPs to ensure their ownership and participation in project design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation. The project’s Indigenous Peoples Planning Framework (IPPF) will need to be developed, consulted upon, approved and disclosed prior to appraisal. Once project specific sites and activities are determined, if needed, the Borrower will prepare an Indigenous Peoples Plan (IPP) acceptable to the Bank that sets out measures through which the project will ensure that: (i) IPs affected by the project receive culturally appropriate social and economic benefits; and (ii) if potential adverse effects on IPs are identified, those adverse effects are avoided, minimized, mitigated or compensated. Thus, it will be important to determine during project preparation whether the project could in fact Public Disclosure require the Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) of IPs (if the project will significantly impact social norms/practices aspects of the affected Indigenous Peoples). ESS8 Cultural Heritage ESS8 is not currently relevant to the Project. Although Component 1 of the project aims at community mobilization and awareness raising on key positive practices, none of the activities aimed at achieving this objective will have an impact on cultural heritage, whether tangible or intangible. However, It will be important to determine during project preparation if the project will significantly impact cultural heritage that is material to the identity and/or cultural, ceremonial, or spiritual aspects of the affected Indigenous Peoples. If this is fixed, the project could also in fact require the Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) of IPs. ‘Chance find’ procedures will be included in the ESMF. ESS9 Financial Intermediaries ESS9 is not currently relevant to the Project. No financial intermediary will be financed through the Bank funds for the implementation of the project's activities. However, access to finance possibly through local financial institutions could be considered under the project. In case project decides to involve use of financial institutions to provide access to finance, ESS9 would apply. Nov 26, 2020 Page 11 of 13 The World Bank Central African Republic Human Capital Project (Maïngo) (P171158) 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 The Common Approach is not relevant at this time. B. Proposed Measures, Actions and Timing (Borrower’s commitments) Actions to be completed prior to Bank Board Approval: Preparation, consultations, and disclosure of the following ESF instruments are expected prior to project’s appraisal: - The Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP) - The Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) including GRM - The Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) Public Disclosure - The Indigenous Peoples Planning Framework (IPPF) - The Labor Management Procedures (LMP) including GRM for workers - The project SEA/SH risk assessment, and the SEA/SH action plan with proportionate mitigation measures - The draft security assessment and management plan Possible issues to be addressed in the Borrower Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP): - Finalizing and implementing the ESMF and IPPF - Finalizing a Security Assessment and Management Plan - Implementing the SEP, including the GRM - Implementing proportionate SEA/SH mitigation measures - Implementing the labor management procedures - Monitoring of the environmental and social commitments and performance in accordance with the legal agreement - ESF capacity-building C. Timing Tentative target date for preparing the Appraisal Stage ESRS 01-Feb-2021 IV. CONTACT POINTS World Bank Nov 26, 2020 Page 12 of 13 The World Bank Central African Republic Human Capital Project (Maïngo) (P171158) Contact: Mahoko Kamatsuchi Title: Senior Health Specialist Telephone No: +1-202-473-9370 Email: mkamatsuchi@worldbank.org Contact: Avril Dawn Kaplan Title: Young Professional Telephone No: +1-202-473-3873 Email: akaplan1@worldbank.org Borrower/Client/Recipient Borrower: Central African Republic Implementing Agency(ies) Implementing Agency: Ministere de l'Economie, du Plan et de la Cooperation Internationale 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): Mahoko Kamatsuchi, Avril Dawn Kaplan Practice Manager (ENR/Social) Senait Nigiru Assefa Recommended on 20-Nov-2020 at 15:03:52 GMT-05:00 Safeguards Advisor ESSA Nathalie S. Munzberg (SAESSA) Cleared on 26-Nov-2020 at 17:56:22 GMT-05:00 Nov 26, 2020 Page 13 of 13