GRANT NUMBER D8420-SL Financing Agreement (Resilient Urban Sierra Leone Project) between REPUBLIC OF SIERRA LEONE and INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION GRANT NUMBER D8420-SL FINANCING AGREEMENT AGREEMENT dated as of the Signature Date between REPUBLIC OF SIERRA LEONE (“Recipient”) and INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION (“Association”). The Recipient and the Association hereby agree as follows: ARTICLE I — GENERAL CONDITIONS; DEFINITIONS 1.01. The General Conditions (as defined in the Appendix to this Agreement) apply to and form part of this Agreement. 1.02. Unless the context requires otherwise, the capitalized terms used in this Agreement have the meanings ascribed to them in the General Conditions or in the Appendix to this Agreement. ARTICLE II — FINANCING 2.01. The Association agrees to extend to the Recipient a grant, which is deemed as Concessional Financing for purposes of the General Conditions, in an amount equivalent to thirty five million three hundred thousand Special Drawing Rights (SDR 35,300,000) (“Financing”), to assist in financing the project described in Schedule 1 to this Agreement (“Project”). 2.02. The Recipient may withdraw the proceeds of the Financing in accordance with Section III of Schedule 2 to this Agreement. 2.03. The Maximum Commitment Charge Rate is one-half of one percent (1/2 of 1%) per annum on the Unwithdrawn Financing Balance. 2.04. The Payment Dates are February 15 and August 15 in each year. 2.05. The Payment Currency is Dollar. ARTICLE III — PROJECT 3.01. The Recipient declares its commitment to the objective of the Project. To this end, the Recipient shall carry out the Project through its Ministry of Finance in accordance with the provisions of Article V of the General Conditions, Schedule 2 to this Agreement. ARTICLE IV — EFFECTIVENESS; TERMINATION 4.01. The Additional Conditions of Effectiveness consist of the following: -2- (a) the Recipient has prepared and adopted the Project Implementation Manual, in form and substance satisfactory to the Association; and (b) the GEF Grant Agreement has been executed and delivered and all conditions precedent to its effectiveness or to the right of the Recipient to make withdrawals under it (other than the effectiveness of this Agreement) have been fulfilled. 4.02. The Effectiveness Deadline is the date ninety (90) days after the Signature Date. 4.03 For purposes of Section 10.05(b) of the General Conditions, the date on which the obligations of the Recipient under this Agreement (other than those providing for payment obligations) shall terminate is twenty (20) years after the Signature Date. ARTICLE V — REPRESENTATIVE; ADDRESSES 5.01. The Recipient’s Representative is the minister responsible for finance. 5.02. For purposes of Section 11.01 of the General Conditions: (a) the Recipient’s address is: Ministry of Finance Treasury Building, George Street Freetown, Sierra Leone; and (b) the Recipient’s Electronic Address is: E-mail: minister@mof.gov.sl 5.03. For purposes of Section 11.01 of the General Conditions: (a) The Association’s address is: International Development Association 1818 H Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20433 United States of America; and (b) the Association’s Electronic Address is: Telex: Facsimile: 248423 (MCI) (+1)-202-477-6391 -3- AGREED as of the Signature Date. REPUBLIC OF SIERRA LEONE By: _____________________________________/s1/ Authorized Representative Dennis K Vandi Name: __________________________/n1/ MINISTER Title: __________________________/t1/ 29-Jul-2021 Date: __________________________/d1/ INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION By: _____________________________________/s2/ Authorized Representative Abdu Muwonge Name: __________________________/n2/ Country Manager Title: __________________________/t2/ 22-Jul-2021 Date: __________________________/d2/ -4- SCHEDULE 1 Project Description The objective of the Project is to improve integrated urban management, service delivery, and disaster emergency management in Western Area and secondary cities of Sierra Leone. The Project consists of the following parts: Part A: Institutional and Capacity Development in Integrated Urban Management Institutionalizing and strengthening city and district councils in urban management capabilities that are critical for efficient revenue generation, planning, as well as delivery and sustainable management of resilient infrastructure and services, in particular: 1. Strengthening integrated urban planning and spatial Data Infrastructure, including: (a) preparation and implementation of spatial plans (i.e., master, local plans, and planning schemes), and provision of training in urban planning; (b) technical assistance to building control functions; (c) reviewing and/or developing planning laws, strategies, and codes; (d) implementing a robust municipal spatial data infrastructure and related systems; and (e) creation and implementation of a digital platform for citizen engagement for city councils. 2. Upgrading urban property tax administration and system, including building the capacity of city and district councils, and provision of training for comprehensive upgrading of the municipal property-tax systems, inter alia: (a) carrying out property surveys to update the property tax database; (b) developing and upgrading an information technology (IT) system to house the property tax database and providing related training and capacity building; (c) conducting structured training in geographic information systems, property valuation, development control, and surveying; (d) developing systems to facilitate taxpayer billing and payments; and (e) carrying out taxpayer sensitization and outreach activities. Part B: Resilient Municipal Infrastructure Investment and Urban Greening Upgrading resilient municipal infrastructure and services at neighborhood-and city-levels, in particular: 1. Urban upgrading and greening, including: (a) designs preparation, construction supervision, and preparation of safeguards instruments; (b) carrying out the construction and rehabilitation of roads, drainage networks, footbridges, water and sanitation facilities, walkways, street and high mast lights, in the city of Freetown; (c) urban greening initiatives through a tree planting campaign; and (d) canopy -5- monitoring and asset management of the tree planting campaign, inter alia: (i) a remote (satellite-imagery-based) canopy monitoring system; and (ii) a field- based asset management. 2. Upgrading solid waste management in Western Area and secondary cities, including: (a) carrying out a comprehensive solid waste management system investment in Western Area, inter alia: (i) carrying out the construction (including the design, build and supervision) of a modern landfill that will service the residents of Freetown and its neighboring Western Area Rural District; (ii) carrying out the construction and rehabilitation of waste sorting and recycling facilities (waste transfer stations); (iii) acquisition of transport and disposal equipment; (iv) provision of technical assistance to design a sustainable model incorporating the entire solid waste management value chain; and (v) support to the informal waste management to stimulate the recycling sector and provide livelihood alternatives for the existing dump sites, and closure of the existing landfill; (b) upgrading of the ancillary infratructure at the existing landfill and operational systems in Bo, inter alia: (i) the renovation of site ancillaries such as access road, perimeter fence and weighbridge at the existing landfill; (ii) the upgrading of the current vehicle maintenance facility; (iii) acquisition of transport and disposal equipment; (iv) carrying out an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), feasibility and design for the future upgrading of the existing landfill to restore clear access and create additional disposal capacity; (v) provision of training to City Council solid waste management workers; (vi) carrying out the preliminary studies for the design for the construction of the new landfill referred to in Part B.2(a) above; and (vii) development of environmental and social management instruments required for the landfill referred to in Part B.2(a) above; and (c) improving solid waste management operational performance in selected secondary cities. 3. Upgrading markets in selected secondary cities, including carrying out comprehensive program of activities to upgrade of central markets in select cities, inter alia, designing, improvement and construction of market stalls, roofing, water and sanitation facilities, drains, electricity, and childcare centers. Part C: Emergency Management Institutional and Capacity Development Building the capacity of the national and local governments in emergency preparedness and response, in particular: -6- 1. Strengthening early warning, emergency preparedness and response systems, including: (a) improving the operations of incident command teams, inter alia: (i) acquisition of equipment; (ii) provision of training; and (iii) development of operational plans and procedures, and improvement of critical infrastructure and facilities; (b) designing and operationalizing an integrated emergency management system, inter alia: (i) strengthening the National Disaster Management Agency; (ii) equipping the emergency operation centers; and (iii) building the institutional and technical capacity of Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency, and National Water Resources Management Agency to provide hydromet and early warning services; and (c) provision of training and acquisition of tools to respond adequately to the specific needs of vulnerable persons, including those with disabilities during emergencies. 2. Contingent Emergency Response Component Providing immediate response to an Eligible Crisis or Emergency, as needed. Part D: Project Management Strengthening the capacity of the Project Management Unit (PMU) and relevant ministries, agencies, departments (MDAs) and city councils for Project management and implementation, in particular: (a) recruiting Project staff, for project management, monitoring and evaluation, financial and technical audits and mid-term and end-project evaluations, environmental and social management, financial management, and procurement; (b) establishing and operationalizing a grievance redress mechanism for the Project; (c) enhancing advocacy, knowledge exchange and partnerships for sustainable urban development; and (d) supporting the implementation and management of environmental and social instruments. -7- SCHEDULE 2 Project Execution Section I. Implementation Arrangements A. Institutional Arrangements 1. Ministry of Finance (MoF) Fiscal Decentralization Division (FDD) (a) The Recipient shall at all times during the implementation of the Project, ensure that funds, facilities and resources, are available to MoF for the purpose of ensuring prompt and efficient oversight, and overall coordination, administration, contract management, monitoring, reporting and communication of the Project. (b) Without limitation to the provisions of sub-paragraph 1(a) immediately above, the Recipient shall maintain, at all times during implementation of the Project, the FDD within MoF with mandate, terms of reference, staff, and resources, satisfactory to the Association, and with the responsibility for overall coordination and management of the project. 2. Project Management Unit (PMU); and Project Fiduciary Management Unit (PFMU) (a) The Recipient shall, at all times during implementation of the Project, maintain the Project Management Unit (PMU) under the FDD with terms of reference, resources and technical staff, satisfactory to the Association, including a Project manager, a financial management specialist or an accountant, a procurement specialist, a civil engineer, a monitoring and evaluation specialist, an environmental specialist, a social specialist, a gender, and gender-based violence specialist, and a communications and community engagement specialist, all with terms of reference, qualifications, and experience, satisfactory to the Association. (b) Without limitation to the provisions of sub-paragraph 2 (a) immediately above, the PMU shall be responsible for day-to-day management, implementation and planning of the Project, environmental and social management aspects, communication, reporting, monitoring and evaluation, all in accordance with the Project Implementation Manual. (c) Without limitations to the provisions of this paragraph I.A.2(a-b) above, the Recipient shall, at all times during the Project implementation, maintain the PFMU within the MoF with terms of reference, resources and technical staff, satisfactory to the Association. The PFMU shall be -8- responsible for managing the fiduciary (i.e., financial management and procurement) aspects of the Project. 3. Project Steering Committee (a) The Recipient shall maintain the Project Steering Committee throughout the Project implementation period. (b) Without limitation to the provisions of paragraph 1(a) above, the Project Steering Committee shall, inter alia, be responsible for providing overall policy and strategic guidance for the Project. 4. Project Technical Committee (a) The Recipient shall maintain the Project Technical Committee throughout the Project implementation period. (b) Without limitation to the provisions of paragraph 1(a) above, the Project Technical Committee shall, inter alia, be responsible for: (i) providing technical advice to the Project Steering Committee, and other Project agencies on Project implementation as detailed in the Project Implementation Manual. 5. City and Ward Level Implementation Teams The Recipient shall establish, and thereafter, maintain: (a) city project implementation teams with the responsibility to oversee projects activities on the ground in their respective cities/agency; (b) on ad hoc basis technical working group of city councils and representatives of relevant MDAs to share experiences and good practices and establish standardized approaches to address common challenges; and (c) ward committees comprising of members selected in accordance with the criteria established under the Local Government Act, and with the responsibility for community mobilization, facilitating community planning, enumerations/socio-economic surveys, and other community capacity building initiatives, all in accordance with the Project Implementation Manual. B. Project Implementation Manual 1. The Recipient shall carry out the Project in accordance with the provisions of a manual satisfactory to the Association (the Project Implementation Manual). 2. The Project Implementation Manual shall include, inter alia, the following provisions: (a) disbursement and financial management arrangements; (b) institutional administration, coordination and day-to-day execution of activities of the Project; (c) monitoring, evaluation, reporting and communication; (d) fiduciary aspects (i.e., procurement and financial management); (e) Project -9- impact and implementation indicators, including the procedures for monitoring and evaluation of the Project; (f) arrangements for management and monitoring of environmental and social management aspects; and (g) such other administrative, financial, technical and organizational arrangements and procedures as shall be required for the Project. 3. In case of any conflict between the arrangements and procedures set out in the Project Implementation Manual, and the provisions of this Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement shall prevail and, except as the Association shall otherwise agree, the Recipient shall not amend, abrogate or waive any provision thereof without the prior written agreement of the Association. C. Annual Work Plans 1. The Recipient shall prepare and furnish to the Association for its approval, not later than November 30 of each year during the implementation of the Project, a proposed work plan (including a budget therefor) containing all activities proposed to be carried out under the Project during the following Fiscal Year. 2. The Recipient shall exchange views with the Association on each such proposed annual work plan (including budget), and shall thereafter adopt, and carry out, or cause to be carried out, such program of activities for such following Fiscal Year as shall have been agreed with the Association, as such plan may be subsequently revised during such following fiscal year with the prior written agreement of the Association (“Annual Work Plan”). D. Environmental and Social Standards 1. The Recipient shall, ensure that the Project is carried out in accordance with the Environmental and Social Standards, in a manner acceptable to the Association. 2. Without limitation upon paragraph 1 above, the Recipient shall, ensure that the Project is implemented in accordance with the Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (“ESCP”), in a manner acceptable to the Association. To this end, the Recipient shall, ensure that: (a) the measures and actions specified in the ESCP are implemented with due diligence and efficiency, as provided in the ESCP; (b) sufficient funds are available to cover the costs of implementing the ESCP; (c) policies and procedures are maintained, and qualified and experienced staff in adequate numbers are retained to implement the ESCP, as provided in the ESCP; and -10- (d) the ESCP, or any provision thereof, is not amended, repealed, suspended or waived, except as the Association shall otherwise agree in writing, as specified in the ESCP, and ensure that the revised ESCP is disclosed promptly thereafter. 3. Without limitation upon the provisions of paragraph 2 above, if 60 days prior to the Closing Date, the Association determines that there are measures and actions specified in the ESCP which will not be completed by the Closing Date, the Recipient shall: (a) not later than 30 days before the Closing Date, prepare and present to the Association, an action plan satisfactory to the Association on the outstanding measures and actions, including a timetable and budget allocation for such measures and actions (which action plan shall be deemed to be an amendment of the ESCP); and (b) thereafter, carry out said action plan in accordance with its terms and in a manner acceptable to the Association. 4. In case of any inconsistencies between the ESCP and the provisions of this Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement shall prevail. 5. The Recipient shall, ensure that: (a) all measures necessary are taken to collect, compile, and furnish to the Association through regular reports, with the frequency specified in the ESCP, and promptly in a separate report or reports, if so requested by the Association, information on the status of compliance with the ESCP and the environmental and social instruments referred to therein, all such reports in form and substance acceptable to the Association, setting out, inter alia: (i) the status of implementation of the ESCP; (ii) conditions, if any, which interfere or threaten to interfere with the implementation of the ESCP; and (iii) corrective and preventive measures taken or required to be taken to address such conditions; and (b) the Association is promptly notified of any incident or accident related to or having an impact on the Project which has, or is likely to have, a significant adverse effect on the environment, the affected communities, the public or workers, including, in accordance with the ESCP, the environmental and social instruments referenced therein and the Environmental and Social Standards. 6. The Recipient shall, establish, publicize, maintain and operate an accessible grievance mechanism, to receive and facilitate resolution of concerns and grievances of Project-affected people, and take all measures necessary and appropriate to resolve, or facilitate the resolution of, such concerns and grievances, in a manner acceptable to the Association. -11- 7. The Recipient shall, ensure that all bidding documents and contracts for civil works under the Project include the obligation of contractors, and subcontractors and supervising entities to: (a) comply with the relevant aspects of ESCP and the environmental and social instruments referred to therein; and (b) adopt and enforce codes of conduct that should be provided to and signed by all workers, detailing measures to address environmental, social, health and safety risks, and the risks of sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment and violence against children, all as applicable to such civil works commissioned or carried out pursuant to said contracts. E. Establishment of the Grievance Redress Mechanism The Recipient shall, not later than sixty (60) days of the Effective Date, establish, operationalize, and thereafter, maintain throughout Project implementation, a grievance mechanism, in form and substance satisfactory to the Association. F. Contingent Emergency Response Component 1. In order to ensure the proper implementation of Part C.2 of the Project (“Contingent Emergency Response”) (“CERC Part”), the Recipient shall ensure that: (a) a manual (“CERC Manual”) is prepared and adopted in form and substance acceptable to the Association, which shall set forth detailed implementation arrangements for the Contingent Emergency Response Part, including: (i) any structures or institutional arrangements for coordinating and implementing the Contingent Emergency Response Part; (ii) specific activities which may be included in the Contingent Emergency Response Part, Eligible Expenditures required therefor (“Emergency Expenditures”), and any procedures for such inclusion; (iii) financial management arrangements for the Contingent Emergency Response Part; (iv) procurement methods and procedures for the Contingent Emergency Response Part; (v) documentation required for withdrawals of Financing amounts to finance Emergency Expenditures; (vi) a description of the environmental and social assessment and management arrangements for the Contingent Emergency Response Part; (vii) a template Emergency Action Plan; and (viii) a CERC ESMF; (b) the Emergency Action Plan is prepared and adopted in form and substance acceptable to the Association; (c) the Emergency Response Part is carried out in accordance with the CERC Manual and the Emergency Action Plan; provided, however, that in the event of any inconsistency between the provisions of the CERC Manual -12- or the Emergency Action Plan and this Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement shall prevail; and (d) neither the CERC Manual or the Emergency Action Plan is amended, suspended, abrogated, repealed or waived without the prior written approval by the Association. 2. The Recipient shall ensure that the structures and arrangements referred to in the CERC Manual are maintained throughout the implementation of the Contingent Emergency Response Part, with adequate staff and resources satisfactory to Association. 3. The Recipient shall ensure that: (a) the environmental and social instruments required for the Contingent Emergency Response Part are prepared, disclosed and adopted in accordance with the CERC Manual and the ESCP, and in form and substance acceptable to the Association; and (b) the Contingent Emergency Response Part is carried out in accordance with the environmental and social instruments in a manner acceptable to the Association. 4. Activities under the Contingency Emergency Response Part shall be undertaken only after an Eligible Crisis or Emergency has occurred. Section II. Project Monitoring, Reporting and Evaluation The Recipient shall furnish to the Association each Project Report not later than forty-five (45) days after the end of each six calendar months, covering the six calendar months. Section III. Withdrawal of the Proceeds of the Financing A. General Without limitation upon the provisions of Article II of the General Conditions and in accordance with the Disbursement and Financial Information Letter, the Recipient may withdraw the proceeds of the Financing to: (a) finance Eligible Expenditures; and (b) repay the Preparation Advance; in the amount allocated, if applicable, up to the percentage set forth against each Category of the following table: -13- Amount of the Grant Percentage of Category Allocated (expressed in Expenditures to be SDR) Financed (inclusive of Taxes) (1) Goods, works, non- 12,958,600 Such percentage of consulting services, disbursement as the consulting services, Association may from Training, and Operating time to time determine Costs for Parts A.1, B.1, based on the approved B.2(b) and (c), and D of Annual Work Plans the Project (2) Goods, works, non- 10,695,900 Such percentage of consulting services, disbursement as the consulting services, Association may from Training, and Operating time to time determine Costs for Part B.2(a) of the based on the approved Project Annual Work Plans (3) Goods, works, non- 9,880,500 100% consulting services, consulting services, Training, and Operating Costs for Parts A.2, B.3, and C.1 of the Project (4) Emergency Expenditures 0 100 % under Part C.2 of the Project (5) Refund of Preparation 1,765,000 Amount payable Advance pursuant to Section 2.07(a) of the General Conditions TOTAL AMOUNT 35,300,000 B. Withdrawal Conditions; Withdrawal Period 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of Part A above, no withdrawal shall be made: (a) for payments made prior to the Signature Date; or -14- (b) for payments under Category (2) until: (i) a site for the construction of a new landfill in Western Area Rural District is selected and secured on the basis of environmental and social assessments, satisfactory to the Association; and (ii) the Recipient has prepared, adopted and disclosed the following Environmental and Social Framework instruments: (A) Environmental and Social Impact Assessment; (B) Environmental and Social Management Plan (including, a gender-based violence (GBV) Action Plan; and (C) Resettlement Action Plan, all in form and substance satisfactory to the Association; or (c) for Emergency Expenditures under Category (4) until: (i) (A) the Recipient has determined that an Eligible Crisis or Emergency has occurred, and has furnished to the Association a request to withdraw Financing amounts under Category (4); and (B) the Association has agreed with such determination, accepted said request and notified the Recipient thereof; (ii) the Recipient has adopted the CERC Manual and Emergency Action Plan, in form and substance acceptable to the Association; and (iii) the Recipient has: (A) prepared, adopted and disclosed the CERC ESMF; and (B) adopted the CERC Manual and Emergency Action Plan, all in form and substance acceptable to the Association. 2. The Closing Date is July 31, 2026. -15- APPENDIX Definitions 1. “Anti-Corruption Guidelines” means, for purposes of paragraph 5 of the Appendix to the General Conditions, the “Guidelines on Preventing and Combating Fraud and Corruption in Projects Financed by IBRD Loans and IDA Credits and Grants”, dated October 15, 2006 and revised in January 2011 and as of July 1, 2016. 2. “Annual Work Plan” means the annual work plan for the Project, to be prepared by the Recipient during each fiscal year, including a program of activities and budget from inclusion in the Project during the following fiscal year, as described in Section I.C.2 of Schedule 2 to this Agreement. 3. “Category” means a category set forth in the table in Section III.A of Schedule 2 to this Agreement. 4. “Contingent Emergency Response Component Operations Manual” and “CERC Operations Manual” each means the operations manual referred to in Section I.F of this Agreement, to be adopted by the Recipient for the CERC Part of the Project in accordance with the provisions of said Section. 5. “CERC ESMF” means the Environmental and Social Management Framework the framework for the CERC Part to be prepared and adopted by the Recipient, and disclosed, in form and substance satisfactory to the Association, said framework setting out the principles, rules, guidelines and procedures to screen and assess the potential adverse environmental and social risks and impacts (including health and safety issues) of CERC Part activities, including the risks of gender-based violence and sexual exploitation and abuse, adopt measures to avoid, reduce, mitigate or offset environmental and social adverse risks and impacts, including measures that endeavor to prevent and respond to gender-based violence and sexual exploitation and abuse, procedural, budget and institutional arrangements and actions needed to implement these measures, and information on the agency or agencies responsible for addressing the Projects’ risks and impacts; as well as for the preparation of environmental and social management plans, as such framework may be amended by the Recipient from time to time, with the prior written agreement of the Association. 6. “CERC Part” means the contingent emergency response component under Part C.2 of the Project. 7. “Eligible Crisis or Emergency” means an event that has caused, or is likely to imminently cause, a major adverse economic and/or social impact to the Recipient, associated with a natural or man-made crisis or disaster. -16- 8. “Emergency Action Plan” means the plan referred to in Section I.F of Schedule 2 to this Agreement, detailing the activities, budget, implementation plan, and monitoring and evaluation arrangements, to respond to the Eligible Crisis or Emergency. 9. “Emergency Expenditure” means any of the Eligible Expenditures set forth in the CERC Operations Manual in accordance with the provisions of Section I.F of Schedule 2 to this Agreement and required for the activities included in the CERC Part of the Project. 10. “Environmental and Social Commitment Plan” or “ESCP” means the environmental and social commitment plan for the Project, dated March 25, 2021, as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with the provisions thereof, which sets out the material measures and actions that the Recipient shall carry out or cause to be carried out to address the potential environmental and social risks and impacts of the Project, including the timeframes of the actions and measures, institutional, staffing, training, monitoring and reporting arrangements, and any environmental and social instruments to be prepared thereunder. 11. “Environmental and Social Impact Assessment” or “ESIA” means the document to be prepared and adopted by the Recipient satisfactory to the Association setting out details of potential environmental and social risks, including risks of gender- based violence and sexual exploitation and abuse, and adverse impacts associated with any Project activities, together with an environmental and social management plan defining measures to manage such risks and impacts, including measures that endeavor to prevent and respond to gender-based violence and sexual exploitation and abuse, procedural, budget and institutional arrangements and actions needed to implement these measures and including any schedules to such assessment, and as such assessment may be amended by the Recipient from time to time, with the prior written approval of the Association. 12. “Environmental and Social Standards” or “ESSs” means, collectively: (i) “Environmental and Social Standard 1: Assessment and Management of Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts”; (ii) “Environmental and Social Standard 2: Labor and Working Conditions”; (iii) “Environmental and Social Standard 3: Resource Efficiency and Pollution Prevention and Management”; (iv) “Environmental and Social Standard 4: Community Health and Safety”; (v) “Environmental and Social Standard 5: Land Acquisition, Restrictions on Land Use and Involuntary Resettlement”; (vi) “Environmental and Social Standard 6: Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Natural Resources”; (vii) “Environmental and Social Standard 7: Indigenous Peoples/Sub- Saharan Historically Underserved Traditional Local Communities”; (viii) “Environmental and Social Standard 8: Cultural Heritage”; (ix) “Environmental and Social Standard 9: Financial Intermediaries”; (x) “Environmental and Social Standard 10: Stakeholder Engagement and -17- Information Disclosure”; effective on October 1, 2018, as published by the Association. 13. “Fiscal Year” means the fiscal year of the Recipient commencing period on January 1 and ending on December 31 of each year. 14. “GEF Grant Agreement” means the agreement entered into between the Recipient and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, acting as the implementing entity of the Global Environmental Facility (GEF TF0B5658), providing for a grant to the Recipient to assist the Recipient in the carrying out of the Project. 15. “General Conditions” means the “International Development Association General Conditions for IDA Financing, Investment Project Financing”, dated December 14, 2018 (revised on August 1, 2020 and April 1, 2021). 16. “Local Government Act” means the Recipient’s Local Government Act, 2004, as amended. 17. “Ministry of Finance” or “MoF” means the Recipient’s ministry responsible for finance, or any successor thereto. 18. “National Disaster Management Agency” means the agency established and operating pursuant to the National Disaster Management Act, 2020, of the laws of the Recipient. 19. “National Water Resources Management Agency” means the Agency established and operating pursuant to the National Water Resources Management Agency Act, 2017, of the laws of the Recipient. 20. “Operating Costs” means recurrent costs of the Project, based on Annual Work Plans approved by the Association, such term including: (i) operation and maintenance of vehicles, repairs, rental, fuel and spare parts; (ii) computer maintenance, including hardware and software, printers and photocopiers; (iii) communication costs and shipment costs (whenever these costs are not included in the cost of goods); (iv) small office supplies; (v) maintenance for office facilities; (vi) utilities and insurances; (vii) bank charges; and (viii) travel, accommodation and per diem costs for technical staff carrying out training, preparatory, supervisory and quality control activities. 21. “Preparation Advance” means the advance referred to in Section 2.07(a) of the General Conditions, granted by the Association to the Recipient pursuant to the letter agreement signed on behalf of the Association on December 2, 2019, and on behalf of the Recipient on December 10, 2019. -18- 22. “Procurement Regulations” means, for purposes of paragraph 87 of the Appendix to the General Conditions, the “World Bank Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers”, dated November 2020. 23. “Project Implementation Manual” means the manual, satisfactory to the Association, and referred to in Section B.2 of Schedule 2 to this Agreement, as the same may be amended from time to time with agreement of the Association. 24. “Project Management Unit” or “PMU” means the PMU for the Project referred to in Section I.A.2(a) of Schedule 2 to this Agreement. 25. “Project Fiduciary Management Unit” means the Project Management Fiduciary Unit within the MoF with the responsibility for fiduciary aspects of the Project and referred to in Section I.A.2(c) of this Agreement. 26. “Project Steering Committee” means an oversight committee of the Recipient referred to in Section I.A.3 of Schedule 2 to this Agreement. 27. “Project Technical Committee” means a technical committee of the Recipient referred to in Section I.A.4 of Schedule 2 to this Agreement. 28. “Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency” means the agency established and operating pursuant to the Sierra Leone Meteorological Act, 2017, of the laws of the Recipient. 29. “Signature Date” means the later of the two dates on which the Recipient and the Association signed this Agreement and such definition applies to all references to “the date of the Financing Agreement” in the General Conditions. 30. “Training” means the reasonable cost of training of persons involved in Project- supported activities, based on the Annual Work Plans approved by the Association, such term including seminars, workshops, and study tours, and costs associated with such activity including travel and subsistence costs for training participants, costs associated with securing the services of trainers, rental of training facilities, preparation, acquisition and reproduction of training materials, and other costs directly related to training preparation and implementation. 31. “Western Area” means the geographical area within the territory of the Recipient, known as the Western Area, including the city of Freetown and the Western Area Rural District.