The World Bank Social Accountability for Nutrition and Early Childhood Services in Benin (P172247) Appraisal Environmental and Social Review Summary Appraisal Stage (ESRS Appraisal Stage) Public Disclosure Date Prepared/Updated: 07/30/2021 | Report No: ESRSA00997 Jul 30, 2021 Page 1 of 8 The World Bank Social Accountability for Nutrition and Early Childhood Services in Benin (P172247) BASIC INFORMATION A. Basic Project Data Country Region Project ID Parent Project ID (if any) Benin AFRICA WEST P172247 Project Name Social Accountability for Nutrition and Early Childhood Services in Benin Practice Area (Lead) Financing Instrument Estimated Appraisal Date Estimated Board Date Health, Nutrition & Investment Project 8/5/2020 Population Financing Borrower(s) Implementing Agency(ies) Care International CARE International Benin- Benin/Togo Togo, Care International Benin & Togo Proposed Development Objective Public Disclosure To contribute to improving state-society joint monitoring and problem solving for nutrition and early childhood services for children 0-12 years through collaborative social accountability mechanisms in target municipalities in Benin, as well as other levels of government as relevant. The project will employ a threefold approach for achieving the PDO: 1. developing and iterating a capacity development model to increase civil society-local government capacities for joint monitoring and problem-solving on nutrition outcomes; 2. developing, testing, adjusting and iterating monitoring mechanisms for nutrition and early childhood development through sustainable collaborative social accountability processes; and, , 3. using the learning produced iteratively to reflect and inform the project’s collaborative social accountability approach throughout the project implementation. Financing (in USD Million) Amount Total Project Cost 0.50 B. Is the project being prepared in a Situation of Urgent Need of Assistance or Capacity Constraints, as per Bank IPF Policy, para. 12? Jul 30, 2021 Page 2 of 8 The World Bank Social Accountability for Nutrition and Early Childhood Services in Benin (P172247) No C. Summary Description of Proposed Project [including overview of Country, Sectoral & Institutional Contexts and Relationship to CPF] To contribute to improving state-society joint monitoring and problem solving for nutrition and early childhood services for children 0-12 years through collaborative social accountability mechanisms in target municipalities in Benin, as well as other levels of government as relevant. The project will employ a threefold approach for achieving the PDO: 1. developing and iterating a capacity development model to increase civil society-local government capacities for joint monitoring and problem-solving on nutrition outcomes; 2. developing, testing, adjusting and iterating monitoring mechanisms for nutrition and early childhood development through sustainable collaborative social accountability processes; and, , 3. using the learning produced iteratively to reflect and inform the project’s collaborative social accountability approach throughout the project implementation. 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 geographic scope covers both national and local level and touches up to six (6) departments and six (6) Public Disclosure communes in Benin: Ouesse in the department of Collines, Matéri in the department of Atacora, Gogounou in the department of Alibori, Allada in the department of Atlantique, Adjohoun in the department of Oueme et Djakotomey in the department of Couffo. Three of the selected communes are located in the southern part of the country (Allada, Ajohoun and Djakotomey), two in the northern (Materi and Gogounou) and Ouesse is located in the center of Benin D. 2. Borrower’s Institutional Capacity Benin has an acceptable legal and regulatory environmental and social framework. The national agency called Agence Beninoise pour l’Environnement (ABE) is the entity that oversees the approval of environmental and social studies, as well as the monitoring and evaluation of such studies and their implementation at the national level. This entity has acceptable technical capacities but is under staffed. In addition, within the context of the implementation of the new environmental and social standards of the Environmental Safety Framework (ESF), capacity building is required to enable this structure to fully play its role. CARE International is listed as an implementing agency of the proposed project. This organization has experience in implementing nutrition projects and providing early childhood services through collaborative social accountability mechanisms, particularly social education on inclusion, gender-based violence, etc. CARE International Benin’s capacity has been assessed to fully incorporate collaborative social accountability mechanisms according to ESF requirements, and appropriate measures have been provided to address relevant gaps prior to project appraisal stage. In this sense, the project implementation team will include mainly social competencies on social risks management to enable it to lead the implementation of the Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP), Labor Management Procedures (LMPs), and the SEP (Stakeholders Engagement Plan) developed by the Borrower. II. SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL (ES) RISKS AND IMPACTS Jul 30, 2021 Page 3 of 8 The World Bank Social Accountability for Nutrition and Early Childhood Services in Benin (P172247) A. Environmental and Social Risk Classification (ESRC) Low Environmental Risk Rating Low Most of the project activities are capacity building activities. Based on that, the environmental risk of the project is deemed low and no specific environmental and social risk and impact assessment is expected to be conducted later. Social Risk Rating Low The project social risk classification is rated low at this stage of preparation. The proposed project aims to foster system-wide change through sustainable multi-stakeholder and multi-level accountability engagement. Its planned activities will mainly contribute to building capacity—through collaborative, accountable engagement—in the nutrition and child development sector for partners and stakeholders, in order to raise awareness of behavioral change. No physical construction is expected within the project design. From this perspective, the overall social impact of the proposed project would be positive. However, since project implementation will involve several stakeholders (administrative authorities, technical services, civil society organizations, community-based organizations, children and their families, etc.), an assessment of the Borrower’s capacity to properly manage the project's social risks has been carried out by the Bank. The conclusions of this assessment reveal that Care International-Benin has policies and guidance documents related to the management of social risks’ (equality, gender and development, protection against harassment, exploitation and child sexual abuse and abuse, fraud and corruption, feedback management mechanisms and a citizen engagement strategy). The following recommendations have to be carried out for strengthening the Borrower’s capacity and framing the project's social risks: (i) review of the complaints management document to comply with the requirements of the Grievance Public Disclosure Mechanism (GM) checklist of the World Bank group; (ii) carry out Sexual Exploitation and Abuse/Sexual Harassment- Violence Against Children (SEA/SH-VAC) risk assessments and set up mitigation measures through an action plan in accordance with the project environment and with social risks management documents and the World Bank Group note on good practice; (iii) assign the current Coordinator of the Food Security and Nutrition Program within CARE Benin, whose profile and skill set are similar to that of a Social Development specialist, as responsible for managing the social risks of the project no longer than ninety (90) days after the effectiveness date of the project. The Coordinator will be supported by the monitoring and evaluation specialist of the Food Security and Nutrition Program. 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: Given that most project activities are capacity building activities, the environmental risk of the project is deemed low and no specific environmental risk and impact assessment is expected to be conducted later. The Bank team has carried out an assessment of relevant national policies and the Borrower's capacity to manage the project’s social risks. The result of this assessment is presented in project documents, including the Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP), the SEP, and the LMP. The ESCP includes the commitments and timeline for mitigation measures and actions, including provisions related to sexual exploitation and abuse/sexual harassment-violence against children and GM. Jul 30, 2021 Page 4 of 8 The World Bank Social Accountability for Nutrition and Early Childhood Services in Benin (P172247) ESS10 Stakeholder Engagement and Information Disclosure The project’s key stakeholders include, among others, the government ministries in charge of Agriculture, Health, Social Protection, Development, Finance, Decentralization, Trade, as well as professional organizations, Food Industries’ Association, National Association of Municipalities, research and training institutions and civil society, project beneficiaries and potentially affected people. A stakeholder engagement plan has been developed and disclosed prior to the project approval. This plan aims to address the specific risks identified by the key stakeholder groups (administrative authorities, technical services, civil society organizations, community-based organizations, etc.). It includes an overview of project stakeholders and establishes a systematic approach for engaging stakeholders. It also includes a section related to the grievance mechanism for handling project-related complaints and maintaining a constructive relationship with stakeholders, taking into account their views, as well as promoting and providing means for effective and inclusive engagement throughout the project life-cycle. It ensures that appropriate project information is disclosed to stakeholders in a timely, understandable, accessible and appropriate manner. The GM will address any identified SEA/SH-VAC risks. It will recognize its need to be accessible to a wide diversity of stakeholder groups. The SEP will be updated as and when necessary. All the consultation and participation activities under the project will be held in accordance with the Covid 19 protection measures setting up in Benin as well as the guidance note of World Bank regarding public consultations in constraint situation (March 2020) 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 will include direct workers through the Project Implementation Unit (CARE International Benin). The Borrower will need to meet the requirements described in the ESS2 for terms and conditions of employment, such as non-discrimination and equal opportunity, freedom of association, the prevention of child labor and forced labor, a grievance mechanism, etc. Civil servants working in connection with the project full-time or part-time will remain subject to the terms and conditions of their existing, public-sector terms of employment or agreements, unless there has been an effective legal transfer of their employment or engagement in the project. An LMP is prepared, according to the national laws and regulations in force, regarding working conditions and ESS2 requirements. It has also established strong guidelines to avoid child employment. The LMP includes a grievance mechanism for labor disputes and specifically mentions that no risks of forced labor and child labor are envisaged within the project activities. ESS3 Resource Efficiency and Pollution Prevention and Management The proposed project is not expected to generate any pollution to air, water or land. Hence, the potential environmental risks and impacts associated with ESS3 are not relevant at this stage. However, the relevance of ESS3 will be further reviewed assessed during project preparation as part of the environmental and social assessment process. Jul 30, 2021 Page 5 of 8 The World Bank Social Accountability for Nutrition and Early Childhood Services in Benin (P172247) ESS4 Community Health and Safety The project is not expected to adversely affect local communities’ health or safety as the project will not finance any civil works. However, as the project will involve several stakeholder groups, SEA/SH and VAC risks will be assessed once the project comes into force. An action plan will be developed, including information, communication and capacity building activities, to disseminate information related to project's SEA/SH and VAC risks. The action plan will establish a survivor-centered response protocol to ensure that any SEA/SH and VAC incidents are properly reported and that all survivors reporting an incident receive timely access to the package of services available, including health, psycho-social, and legal support. The project GM will include provisions to safely and ethically register SEA/SH- and VAC-related complaints and allegations. ESS5 Land Acquisition, Restrictions on Land Use and Involuntary Resettlement The planned activities of the proposed project are not expected to involve land acquisition leading to involuntary resettlement. ESS6 Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Natural Resources This ESS is not relevant as activities supported by the project do not constitute a threat neither for the biodiversity conservation nor the sustainable management of living natural resources. The proposed project is not expected to involve primary production and/or harvesting of living natural resources. Public Disclosure 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 This ESS is not relevant as the project is not financing activities that might impact cultural heritage. ESS9 Financial Intermediaries This standard is not relevant. C. Legal Operational Policies that Apply OP 7.50 Projects on International Waterways No The project activities will not impact any international waterways OP 7.60 Projects in Disputed Areas No There is any disputed area in the project location Jul 30, 2021 Page 6 of 8 The World Bank Social Accountability for Nutrition and Early Childhood Services in Benin (P172247) B.3. Reliance on Borrower’s policy, legal and institutional framework, relevant to the Project risks and impacts Is this project being prepared for use of Borrower Framework? No Areas where “Use of Borrower Framework” is being considered: This project will not use the Borrower’s E&S Framework in the assessment, development and implementation of investments. However, it will comply with relevant national legal and regulatory requirements. IV. CONTACT POINTS World Bank Contact: Ann-Sofie Jespersen Title: Senior Governance Specialist Telephone No: +1-202-473-0143 Email: ajespersen1@worldbank.org Contact: Hirut Johnson Title: Leadership Development Specialist Telephone No: +1-202-458-8791 Email: hjohnson2@worldbank.org Contact: Yao Gnona Afangbedji Title: External Affairs Officer Public Disclosure Telephone No: 5390+3937 / 229-21-363937 Email: yafangbedji@worldbank.org Borrower/Client/Recipient Borrower: Care International Benin/Togo Implementing Agency(ies) Implementing Agency: CARE International Benin-Togo Implementing Agency: Care International Benin & Togo 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 VI. APPROVAL Task Team Leader(s): Hirut Johnson, Ann-Sofie Jespersen, Yao Gnona Afangbedji Jul 30, 2021 Page 7 of 8 The World Bank Social Accountability for Nutrition and Early Childhood Services in Benin (P172247) Practice Manager (ENR/Social) Maria Sarraf Cleared on 10-Jul-2021 at 21:39:38 GMT-04:00 Public Disclosure Jul 30, 2021 Page 8 of 8