INTEGRATED SAFEGUARDS DATA SHEET APPRAISAL STAGE Report No.: ISDSA656 Public Disclosure Copy Date ISDS Prepared/Updated: 23-Apr-2012 I. BASIC INFORMATION 1. Basic Project Data Country: West Bank and Gaza Project ID: P126586 Project Name: GZ:Government Services for Business Development (P126586) Task Team Leader: Jana Malinska Estimated Appraisal Date: 08-Mar-2012 Estimated Board Date: 08-May-2012 Managing Unit: MNSF1 Lending Instrument: Technical Assistance Loan Sector: Public administration- Industry and trade (50%), General industry and trade sector (30%), Information technology (20%) Theme: Other Private Sector Development (50%), Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise support (20%), e-Services (20%), Managing for development results (10%) Financing (In USD Million) Financing Source Amount Borrower 0.00 Special Financing 3.00 Total 3.00 Environmental Category: C - Not Required Is this a Repeater project? No 2. Project Objectives The GSBD project aims to improve the ability of the Ministry of National Economy to deliver timely, efficient, and quality business development information, data and services to target beneficiaries, including to MSMEs, women business owners and other marginalized groups, to promote business development. Public Disclosure Copy 3. Project Description The World Bank Government Services for Business Development (GSBD) Project is a GRANT under the WB Trust Fund for Gaza and the West Bank (TFGWB) in the amount of US$ 3 million to support of the private sector development agenda of the National Development Plan (NDP) 2011-2013. The NDP 2011-13 aims to shift the PA’s fiscal and institutional focus from reconstruction towards sustainability, by gradually reducing dependence on foreign assistance, while continuing to improve the welfare of citizens. The private sector has a critical role to play in ensuring sustainability. The PA is focusing efforts on improving the provision of services and information to enable businesses to grow and absorb a rapidly growing work force. The proposed GSBD project’s goals are aligned with this effort. The proposed GSBD Project's components are detailed as follows: Component 1: Capacity Building to Promote Private Sector Development The object of this component is to provide assistance to MoNE in delivering efficient and reliable data, information and services to companies in the WB&G. Sub-components include: Creation of the Business Development Unit (BDU) The project will support MoNE in the establishment of the BDU to provide business related information, data and services to companies and oversee MoNE’s business development agenda, through, inter alia, (i) the consolidation of information and knowledge on business policies, regulations, strategic markets abroad and investment promotion activities; (ii) development of business data, analyses and studies, including MoNE’s technical contribution to the preparation of the investment climate assessment; and (iii) strengthening MoNE’s monitoring and evaluation capacity including development and implementation of a monitoring and evaluation framework to assess the effectiveness of private sector development initiatives. Business Development Strategy Capacity Building and Implementation The project will strengthen MoNE’s capacity in business development strategy through, inter alia, support for the preparation of surveys and studies and the provision of assistance on the formulation and implementation of a business development strategy and action plan. Page 1 of 3 Private Sector Development Communications Strategy and Outreach The project will provide support to strengthen MoNE’s communication capacity including through support on the development of a private sector development communications strategy, information dissemination and outreach activities. Component 2: Modernization of Information Communication Technology (ICT) Infrastructure and Services for Business Development Public Disclosure Copy The project will strengthen and modernize MoNE’s information communication technology infrastructure for improved streamlining of business processes, through, inter alia, support for validation and updating of business process mapping, establishment of a data center, improvement of data and network security, software and hardware modernization, training, and modernization of MoNE’s website. The component will provide support to MoNE in the establishment of a new web portal for dissemination of business related information and provision of business development services aimed at increased efficiency and transparency of MoNE and the PA. Component 3: Project Management The project will strengthen MoNE’s and the PIU’s capacity for Project management and monitoring and evaluation through, inter alia, provision of goods, consultants’ services, including audit and training, and financing of Incremental Operating Costs. 4. Project location and salient physical characteristics relevant to the safeguard analysis (if known) West Bank and Gaza 5. Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialists Hana Salah (MNSSO) Suiko Yoshijima (MNSEN) 6. Safeguard Policies Triggered? Explanation (Optional) Environmental Assessment OP/BP 4.01 No Natural Habitats OP/BP 4.04 No Forests OP/BP 4.36 No Pest Management OP 4.09 No Physical Cultural Resources OP/BP 4.11 No Indigenous Peoples OP/BP 4.10 No Involuntary Resettlement OP/BP 4.12 No Safety of Dams OP/BP 4.37 No Public Disclosure Copy Projects on International Waterways OP/BP No 7.50 Projects in Disputed Areas OP/BP 7.60 No II. Key Safeguard Policy Issues and Their Management A. Summary of Key Safeguard Issues 1. Describe any safeguard issues and impacts associated with the proposed project. Identify and describe any potential large scale, significant and/or irreversible impacts: 2. Describe any potential indirect and/or long term impacts due to anticipated future activities in the project area: 3. Describe any project alternatives (if relevant) considered to help avoid or minimize adverse impacts. 4. Describe measures taken by the borrower to address safeguard policy issues. Provide an assessment of borrower capacity to plan and implement the measures described. 5. Identify the key stakeholders and describe the mechanisms for consultation and disclosure on safeguard policies, with an emphasis on potentially affected people. B. Disclosure Requirements Date Technical Assistance Project For a TA project which will finance the preparation of a specific safeguards instrument, please indicate type of document disclosed, if any. Page 2 of 3 If the project triggers the Pest Management and/or Physical Cultural Resources policies, the respective issues are to be addressed and disclosed as part of the Environmental Assessment/Audit/or EMP. If in-country disclosure of any of the above documents is not expected, please explain why: C. Compliance Monitoring Indicators at the Corporate Level (to be filled in when the ISDS is finalized by the project decision meeting) Public Disclosure Copy The World Bank Policy on Disclosure of Information Have relevant safeguard policies documents been sent to the World Bank's Infoshop? Yes [ ] No [ ] NA [ ] Have relevant documents been disclosed in-country in a public place in a form and language Yes [ ] No [ ] NA [ ] that are understandable and accessible to project-affected groups and local NGOs? All Safeguard Policies Have satisfactory calendar, budget and clear institutional responsibilities been prepared for Yes [ ] No [ ] NA [ ] the implementation of measures related to safeguard policies? Have costs related to safeguard policy measures been included in the project cost? Yes [ ] No [ ] NA [ ] Does the Monitoring and Evaluation system of the project include the monitoring of safeguard Yes [ ] No [ ] NA [ ] impacts and measures related to safeguard policies? Have satisfactory implementation arrangements been agreed with the borrower and the same Yes [ ] No [ ] NA [ ] been adequately reflected in the project legal documents? III. APPROVALS Task Team Leader: Jana Malinska Approved By: Sector Manager: Name Simon C. Bell (SM) Date: 23-Apr-2012 Public Disclosure Copy Page 3 of 3