INTEGRATED SAFEGUARDS DATA SHEET CONCEPT STAGE Report No.: AC6260 Date ISDS Prepared/Updated: 07/08/2011 I. BASIC INFORMATION A. Basic Project Data Country: Mongolia Project ID: P125445 Project Name: Mongolia EFA-FTI Graduation Grant Task Team Leader: Kin Bing Wu Estimated Appraisal Date: October 10, Estimated Board Date: February 27, 2012 2011 Managing Unit: EASHE Lending Instrument: Specific Investment Loan Sector: Pre-primary education (100%) Theme: Education for all (100%) SPF Amount (US$m.): 0.00 GEF Amount (US$m.): 0.00 PCF Amount (US$m.): 0.00 Other financing amounts by source: Borrower 2.12 EFA-FTI Education Program Development Fund 10.00 12.12 B. Project Objectives [from section 2 of PCN] The Project Development Objective is to assist the Government to expand access to pre-school education in order to improve school readiness. This will be achieved by increasing access to preschool education, creating alternative preschool classes, improving teaching and learning environments, supplying learning materials, furniture, equipments, and toys, and undertaking monitoring and evaluation. C. Project Description [from section 3 of PCN] The project has three components: Component 1: Increasing Kindergarten Capacity in Urban and Rural Areas ($11,060,000) 1.1. Build 40 new kindergartens, of which 21 will be built in aimag centers and 19 in Ulaanbaatar. 1.2. Supply furniture, equipments, indoor and outdoor playgrounds, toys, teaching materials and kitchen for the new kindergartens. Component 2: Creating Alternative Pre-school Classes in Rural Areas ($755,000) Provide 150 mobile ger-kindergartens in rural areas to serve herder’s children. Each ger- kindergarten consists of two gers, desks, chairs, a board, carpet, toys, stereo player, portable toilets and other learning materials. Component 3: Grant Management and Monitoring and Evaluation ($300,000) The existing FTI project implementation unit (PIU) will execute the proposed project and provide smooth and quality implementation to the project. Procurement and Financial Management will follow the World Bank’s rules and procedures. Monitoring and evaluation of the progress and outcomes of the project objectives and activities fall under this component. D. Project location (if known) The proposed project will be located in a total of 19 districts in Ulaanbaatar and 21 Aimag centers. E. Borrower’s Institutional Capacity for Safeguard Policies [from PCN] The proposed project will be implemented by the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science(MECS). The identification mission confirms that MECS has already established a Project Implementation Unit (PIU) comprising adequately qualified staff. The PIU will execute the proposed project. The PIU Director will provide overall coordination of the EFA-FTI grant. He will be assisted by a Deputy Director in charge of the day-to-day operation and implementation of activities. The Deputy Director will be supported by 4 key staff members. The PIU will be required to designate staff to manage environmental and social risks, and the PIU staff will be trained in World Bank safeguards and follow these safeguards policies. Since the potential environmental impacts likely to be associated with the anticipated civil works are minor and site-specific, these arrangements are considered acceptable. F. Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialists Mr Feng Ji (EASCS) Mr Jun Zeng (EASCS) II. SAFEGUARD POLICIES THAT MIGHT APPLY Safeguard Policies Triggered Yes No TBD Environmental Assessment (OP/BP 4.01) X The potential impacts on the environment are mainly associated with Component 1 which proposes to build 40 new kindergartens in urban areas of aimag centers and Ulaanbaatar. The potential impacts on the environment are minor, site-specific, and reversible in nature; for these impacts mitigation measures can be designed readily. Given the nature and small scale of the proposed civil works under the project, a formal environmental assessment report was not considered necessary. However, as the construction activities are going to be undertaken in urban areas, there are likely to be some concerns relating to inconveniences or nuisances to surrounding areas during construction. Therefore, for the purpose of enhancing environmentally- friendly measures and mitigating any adverse impacts caused by the construction activities, an Safeguard Policies Triggered Yes No TBD Environmental Safeguard Guideline will be prepared including a checklist on construction sites, a checklist on Environmentally-Friendly Design Criteria, a standardized Environmental Management Plan, institutional arrangements to follow the Guideline, as well as requirements on monitoring, supervision and reporting. Natural Habitats (OP/BP 4.04) X The project will not convert, degrade or restore any natural habitats or critical natural habitats. Forests (OP/BP 4.36) X The project will not finance activities that would involve significant conversion or degradation of critical forest areas or related critical natural habitats as defined under the policy. Pest Management (OP 4.09) X The project will not procure any pesticides nor will any use of pesticides result from the project. Physical Cultural Resources (OP/BP 4.11) X The project will not adversely affect sites with archeological, paleontological, historical, religious, or unique natural values. The chance of finding cultural relics during construction might occur and relevant clauses will be included in all construction contracts. Indigenous Peoples (OP/BP 4.10) X The Social Specialist visited the project area to conduct a screening to determine whether ethnic minority peoples are present in, or have collective attachment to, the project area. Within 40 proposed sites, 39 of them located in Mongolian areas and no Indigenous People’s community was identified in these project areas. One kindergarten will be constructed in Ulgii soum of Bayan-Ulgii Province, where Kazakh communities are present; the beneficiaries of this kindergarten are Kazakh families, according to the PIU. Moreover, a certain number of mobile Kindergartens will be distributed to the province. The Kazakh communities are "Indigenous People" as defined in the World Bank’s OP4.10; and therefore, the subcomponent will trigger Bank’s OP4.10 on Indigenous People. According to the OP4.10, the client will undertake a social assessment to evaluate the sub- component’s potential positive and adverse effects on the Indigenous People, and to examine project alternatives where adverse effects may be significant. The client will engage in free, prior and informed consultation with Kazakh communities and will assess whether the Kazakh Communities provide their broad support to the sub-project or not. To carry out the social assessment, the client will hire social consultant whose qualification, experience and TOR are acceptable to the Bank. Since the Kazakh communities are the overwhelming majority of direct sub-component beneficiaries, and the element of an Indigenous Peoples Plan will be included in the overall project design, a separate IPP is not required. Involuntary Resettlement (OP/BP 4.12) X According to the PIU and MECS, all 40 construction sites will be located on state-owned land, and the use of this land will not result in any: (i) relocation or loss of shelter; (ii) loss of assets or access to assets; (iii) loss of income sources or means of livelihood, whether or not the affected persons must move to another location; or (iv) the involuntary restriction of access to legally designated parks and protected areas resulting in adverse impacts on the livelihoods of Safeguard Policies Triggered Yes No TBD the displaced persons. The Social Specialist of the Task Team reviewed the available legal documents of those lands including "Government Resolution letters", "Land Certificates", and "Land Drawings". During the mission, the Task Team also visited 10 randomly selected proposed construction sites both in UB and in provincial areas and found no involuntary resettlement is needed to support the construction of the proposed kindergartens and their supporting facilities, including electrification, heating, water supply and sewage pipelines. The proposed construction sites will be located near existing roads and the client confirmed that there will be no recent plan to construct access roads to those kindergartens. No linked project has been identified during the mission. Based on above information, the Task Team concludes that the project will not trigger the Bank’s OP4.12 on Involuntary Resettlement. Therefore, no further actions is required from this perspective. 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 Environmental Category: B - Partial Assessment III. SAFEGUARD PREPARATION PLAN A. Target date for the Quality Enhancement Review (QER), at which time the PAD-stage ISDS would be prepared: N/A B. For projects that will not require a QER, the target date for preparing the PAD-stage ISDS: 08/23/2011 C. Time frame for launching and completing the safeguard-related studies that may be needed. The specific studies and their timing1 should be specified in the PAD-stage ISDS. N/A. 1 Reminder: The Bank’s Disclosure Policy requires that safeguard-related documents be disclosed before appraisal (i) at the InfoShop and (ii) in-country, at publicly accessible locations and in a form and language that are accessible to potentially affected persons. IV. APPROVALS Signed and submitted by: Task Team Leader: Ms Kin Bing Wu 06/30/2011 Approved by: Regional Safeguards Coordinator: Mr Panneer Selvam Lakshminarayanan 07/07/2011 Comments: Sector Manager: Mr Eduardo Velez Bustillo 06/30/2011 Comments: