Kyrgyz Republic Emergency COVID-19 Project (P173766) [Draft] ENVIRONMENTAL and SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) [March 20, 2020] 1|Page ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN 1. The Kyrgyz Republic (the Recipient) will implement Emergency COVID-19 Project, with the involvement of the following Ministries/agencies/units: Ministry of Health (MOH), and the Ministry of Emergency Situations (MOES). The International Development Association (hereinafter the Association) has agreed to provide financing for the Project. 2. The Recipient will implement material measures and actions so that the Project is implemented in accordance with the Environmental and Social Standards (ESSs). This Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP) sets out material measures and actions, any specific documents or plans, as well as the timing for each of these. 3. The Recipient is responsible for compliance with all requirements of the ESCP even when implementation of specific measures and actions is conducted by the Ministry, agency or unit referenced in 1. above. 4. Implementation of the material measures and actions set out in this ESCP will be monitored and reported to the Association by the Recipient as required by the ESCP and the conditions of the legal agreement, and the Association will monitor and assess progress and completion of the material measures and actions throughout implementation of the Project. 5. As agreed by the Association and the Recipient, this ESCP may be revised from time to time during Project implementation, to reflect adaptive management of Project changes and unforeseen circumstances or in response to assessment of Project performance conducted under the ESCP itself. In such circumstances, the Recipient will agree to the changes with the Association and will update the ESCP to reflect such changes. Agreement on changes to the ESCP will be documented through the exchange of letters signed between the Association and the Recipient. The Recipient will promptly disclose the updated ESCP. 6. Where Project changes, unforeseen circumstances, or Project performance result in changes to the risks and impacts during Project implementation, the Recipient shall provide additional funds, if needed, to implement actions and measures to address such risks and impacts. 2|Page MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBLE ENTITY/AUTHORITY MONITORING AND REPORTING A REGULAR REPORTING: Prepare and submit to the Association regular monitoring Quarterly throughout Project MOH reports on the environmental, social, health and safety (ESHS) performance of Implementation the Project, including but not limited to, stakeholder engagement activities and grievances log. ESS 1: ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL RISKS AND IMPACTS 1.1 ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE: The existing MOES Project Implementation Unit Additional Environmental and social MOH, MOES PIU (PIU) will implement the Project on behalf of the MOH. The PIU will continue to specialist appointed in PIU, as necessary, maintain qualified staff and resources to support management of ESHS risks and for carrying out of the Project activities. impacts of the Project including environmental and social risk management PIU at MOES maintained throughout specialists. Project implementation. 1.2 ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL ASSESSMENT/MANAGEMENT PLANS AND a. The ESMF is to be prepared prior MOH, MOES PIU INSTRUMENTS/ CONTRACTORS commencement of Project activities. a. Assess the environmental and social risks and impacts of proposed Project Screening under the ESMF shall be activities in accordance with ESS1 and the Environmental and Social conducted before the carrying out of Management Framework (ESMF) prepared for the Project. The ESMF will the respective Project activities. include templates for site specific Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMP) and Infection Control and Medical Waste Management Plans b. ESMPs, ICWMPs or other instruments (ICWMP). Assessment includes ensuring that individuals or groups who, acceptable to the Association should because of their particular circumstances, may be disadvantaged or be prepared for relevant Project vulnerable, have access to the development benefits resulting from the activities prior to carrying out of such Project. activities, and thereafter throughout b. Prepare, disclose, adopt, and implement ESMPs, ICWMPs or other the carrying out of such activities. instruments required for the Project activities based on the assessment process, in accordance with the ESSs, the ESMF, the EHSGs, and other relevant c. Before launching the procurement Good International Industry Practice (GIIP) including relevant WHO Guidelines process for the relevant Project on COVID-19 in a manner acceptable to the Association. activities, and thereafter ensure that c. Incorporate the relevant aspects of this ESCP, including, inter alia, any contractors and supervising firms environmental and social management plans or other instruments, ESS2 comply with the ESHS specification in requirements, and any other required ESHS measures, into the ESHS their contracts throughout carrying specifications of the procurement documents and contracts with contractors out of such activities. and supervising firms. Thereafter ensure that the contractors and supervising firms comply with the ESHS specifications of their respective contracts. 3|Page MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBLE ENTITY/AUTHORITY 1.3 EXCLUSIONS: Exclude the following type of activities as ineligible for During the assessment process conducted MOH, MOES PIU financing under the Project: under action 1.2.a. above. • Causing long term, permanent and/or irreversible environmental or social impacts; • With a high probability of causing serious adverse effects to human health and/or the environment not related to COVID-19 treatment; • With significant adverse social impacts/ which may give rise to significant social conflict; • That may affect lands or rights of vulnerable minorities; • That may involve resettlement, land acquisition, or adverse impacts on cultural heritage; • Any other exclusions detailed in the ESMF. ESS 2: LABOR AND WORKING CONDITIONS 2.1 LABOR MANAGEMENT: The Project shall be carried out in accordance Throughout Project implementation. MOH, MOES PIU with the applicable requirements of ESS2, in a manner acceptable to the Association, including through, inter alia, implementing adequate occupational health and safety measures (including emergency preparedness and response measures), setting out grievance arrangements for Project workers, and incorporating labor requirements into the ESHS specifications of the procurement documents and contracts with contractors and supervising firms. ESS 3: RESOURCE EFFICIENCY AND POLLUTION PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT Relevant aspects of this standard shall be considered, as needed, under Throughout Project implementation. MOH, MOES PIU action 1.2 above, including, inter alia, measures to manage health care wastes and other types of hazardous and non-hazardous wastes. ESS 4: COMMUNITY HEALTH AND SAFETY Relevant aspects of this standard shall be considered, as needed, under Throughout Project implementation. MOH, MOES PIU action 1.2 above, including: minimizing exposure to disease; ensuring vulnerable parties’ access to Project benefits; managing risks of security personnel and labor influx; and preventing/responding to sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment. ESS 5: LAND ACQUISITION, RESTRICTIONS ON LAND USE AND INVOLUNTARY RESETTLEMENT Relevant aspects of this standard shall be considered, as needed, under action 1.2 above. ESS 6: BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF LIVING NATURAL RESOURCES Not considered currently relevant. ESS 7: INDIGENOUS PEOPLES/SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAN HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED TRADITIONAL LOCAL COMMUNITIES 4|Page MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBLE ENTITY/AUTHORITY Not relevant. ESS 8: CULTURAL HERITAGE Not considered currently relevant. ESS 9: FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES Not relevant. ESS 10: STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT AND INFORMATION DISCLOSURE 10.1 STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT PLAN: Prepare, disclose, adopt, and A draft SEP was already prepared and MOH, MOES PIU implement a Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) consistent with ESS 10, disclosed and shall be updated no later in a manner acceptable to the Association. than 30 days following the Effectiveness Date. SEP to be implemented throughout Project implementation 10.2 GRIEVANCE MECHANISM: Accessible grievance arrangements shall be Throughout Project implementation. MOH, MOES PIU made publicly available to receive and facilitate resolution of concerns and grievances in relation to the Project, consistent with ESS 10, in a manner acceptable to the Association. CAPACITY SUPPORT (TRAINING) Training topics for personnel involved in Project implementation will Throughout Project implementation. MOH, MOES PIU among others include: • COVID-19 Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations • Laboratory biosafety guidance related to the COVID-19 • Medical waste management, use of incinerators • Specimen collection and shipment • Standard precautions for COVID-19 patients • Risk communication and community engagement • WHO guidelines on quarantine and Sanitary Regulations and Norms of the Kyrgyz Republic 5|Page