Integrated Safeguards Data Sheet Appraisal Stage I. BASIC INFORMATION Report No.: 89940 A. Basic Project Data Country: Kyrgyz Republic Project ID: P148471 Project Name: Scaling-Up the Peer-to-Peer Learning in Public Finance at the Local Self- Government Level Task Team Leader: Gregory Kisunko Estimated Appraisal Date: July 30, 2014 Estimated Board Date: N/A Managing Unit: ECSP4 Lending Instrument: Grant Sector: (60%) Sub-National Government Administration; (40%) General Public Administration Sector Theme: (20%) Decentralization; (60%) Public Expenditure, Management and Procurement; (20%) Other Public Governance IBRD Amount (US$m.): 0.00 IDA Amount (US$m.): 0.00 Other financing amounts by source: ECA PFM TF US$ 1,099,441 Environmental Category: C Simplified Processing Simple [X] Repeater [ ] Is this a transferred project Yes [X] No [ ] ISDS Prepared/Updated July 20, 2014 B. Project Objectives: The main Development Objective is to support the Government in establishing countrywide communities of practice (COPs) and using these COPs to increase capacity of local budget officers, elected heads of LSG units and local council members through innovative peer-to-peer learning approach. C. Project Description: Component 1: Project management, including Community of Practice building activities. This component will fund the following activities: (i) Establishing a Project Management Unit (PMU) through hiring of consultants and capacity building; (ii) Contracting out the fiduciary oversight, which includes both - procurement and financial management functions will be undertaken by the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) under the Kyrgyz Ministry of Finance; (iii) Coordination of all project activities, i.e. PTP event for Recourse Persons and rayon level PTP events; (iv) Activities related to project oversight by the Steering Committee (SC), e.g. providing SC members with at least semi- annual activity updates, organization of SC meetings, etc. Component 2: Organization and delivery of learning events to the Resource Persons. This component will fund logistical and administrative arrangements related to organization and delivery of PTP learning and training events for 40 rayon level Resource Persons (RPs) in each COP that will help improve their understanding of Public Finance Management (PFM) at the local level and help them be effective leaders and resource persons of rayon-level communities of practice and to sustain COP at the rayon level. It is expected that the training for 40 rayon level RPs in each COP will be conducted at least once in three months. Component 3: Organization and delivery of PTP learning at rayon level. This component will fund rayon level PTP learning for all 40 rayons of the country- both formal events and advice provided to the COP members by rayon level RPs. It is expected that formal PTP events at rayon level will be held at least once in three months and will include relevant participants (financial officers, local council members working in budget committee) from each Ayil Okmotu (LSG units) in that rayon (therefore, all 453 rural LSG units will be covered). Organization and conduct of the PTP evens will be a shared responsibility of the PMU and rayon RP (for each COP). It is also expected that the formal PTP events when and if possible would be aligned with the relevant rayon level meetings COP members supposed to attend as a part of their work responsibilities. Component 4: Evaluation. This component will fund baseline and end-of-project data collection and benchmarking and end of project evaluation. It is expected that evaluation will be done by an independent entity that was not a part of project implementation. This component will also fund an independent end-of-project audit. D. Project location and salient physical characteristics relevant to the safeguard analysis (if known): The project will be implemented countrywide, involving representatives from all rayons of Kyrgyz republic. E. Borrower’s Institutional Capacity for Safeguard Policies: The project will be implemented by the State Agency for Local Self-Government and Interethnic Relations under the Kyrgyz Government with the support of the Project Management Unit - Secretariat. The institution doesn’t have experience in implementing safeguards issues. F. Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialists on the Team: Arcadii Capcelea, Sr. Environmental Specialist Asli Gurkan, Social Development Specialist II. SAFEGUARD POLICIES THAT MIGHT APPLY Safeguard Policies Triggered (please explain why) Yes No TBD Environmental Assessment (OP/BP 4.01) X The proposed grant would support only TA activities, including consulting services and training and will not have any environmental or social impacts. The TA to be financed does not include support for preparation or design of any physical investments that would trigger the SG policies. Thus this OP is not triggered. Safeguard Policies Triggered (please explain why) Yes No TBD 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 The proposed grant would support only TA activities, including consulting services and training and will not have any land acquisition/resettlement impacts. The TA to be financed does not include support for preparation or design of any physical investments that would trigger the SG policies. Thus this OP is not triggered. 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 Piloting the Use of Borrower Systems to Address X Environmental and Social Safeguard Issues in Bank- Supported Projects (OP/BP 4.00) III. SAFEGUARD PREPARATION PLAN Target date for the Quality Enhancement Review (QER), at which time the PAD-stage ISDS would be prepared: N/A For simple projects that will not require a QER, the target date for preparing the PAD-stage ISDS: N/A Time frame for launching and completing the safeguard-related studies that may be needed: The specific studies and their timing should be specified in the PAD-stage ISDS: N/A IV. APPROVALS Signed and submitted by: Task Team Leader: Gregory Kisunko Feb. 21, 2014 Approved by: Regional Safeguards Coordinator: Agi Kiss Feb 28, 2014 Comments: Sector Manager: Alberto Leyton (acting for Adrian Fozzard) Aug 5, 2014 Comments: