The World Bank Integrated Economic Development and Community Resilience Project (P173688) Concept Environmental and Social Review Summary Concept Stage (ESRS Concept Stage) Public Disclosure Date Prepared/Updated: 08/26/2021 | Report No: ESRSC02247 Aug 26, 2021 Page 1 of 16 The World Bank Integrated Economic Development and Community Resilience Project (P173688) BASIC INFORMATION A. Basic Project Data Country Region Project ID Parent Project ID (if any) Solomon Islands EAST ASIA AND PACIFIC P173688 Project Name Integrated Economic Development and Community Resilience Project Practice Area (Lead) Financing Instrument Estimated Appraisal Date Estimated Board Date Social Sustainability and Investment Project 2/7/2022 5/31/2022 Inclusion Financing Borrower(s) Implementing Agency(ies) Solomon Islands Ministry of Provincial Government Government and Institutional Strengthening, Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Public Disclosure Metereology Proposed Development Objective The project development objectives are to: (i) improve infrastructure, services, economic activity and resilience to climate and disaster risks in rural communities; and (ii) to strengthen the provincial governments’ responsiveness to citizens. Financing (in USD Million) Amount Total Project Cost 19.50 B. Is the project being prepared in a Situation of Urgent Need of Assistance or Capacity Constraints, as per Bank IPF Policy, para. 12? No C. Summary Description of Proposed Project [including overview of Country, Sectoral & Institutional Contexts and Relationship to CPF] The Project will be designed as an Investment Project Financing (IPF) operation and implemented over a five year period from 2022-2027. The Ministry of Finance and Treasury will be the Executing Agency for the Project and the Aug 26, 2021 Page 2 of 16 The World Bank Integrated Economic Development and Community Resilience Project (P173688) Ministries of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening (MPGIS) and Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology (MEDCM) will serve as the Implementing Agencies. They will be required to work closely with the nine Provincial Governments (PGs) at the provincial level as almost 90 percent of project resources will be channeled to the Provincial and Ward levels. The Project will be aligned and operate within existing institutional arrangements under the Solomon Islands Government (SIG) Provincial Capacity Development Fund (PCDF). The Project will focus on two main areas. First, ‘ financing grants to the PGs on an annual basis in accordance with the PCDF cycle; and Second, improving the capacity of subnational entities at the PG and Ward levels to support economic development, mainstream climate resilient measures, and support the development of an integrated bottom-up planning process to execute community-informed planning and the delivery of subprojects investments. This is where the Project can make a useful contribution, to help SIG to implement MPGIS’ Policy Blueprint, by building PG capacity to better manage PCDF resources to respond to community-level demands and resilience and disaster risks, in a systematic and sustainable way. While fiscal transfers to the provinces have increased overtime, the PGs need additional resources and human capacities for sustainable and inclusive mechanisms to consolidate and prioritize local needs, and the adequate administrative and technical capacity to monitor, account and report on the resources that are used to meet these needs as well as deliver outputs and outcomes. In addition, through procedures to be developed, the project will seek to promote the empowerment of women and other vulnerable groups through improved voice and agency, in the planning, prioritization and implementation of subprojects. The Project Development Objectives are to: (i) improve infrastructure, services, economic activity and resilience to Public Disclosure climate and disaster risks in rural communities; and (ii) to strengthen the provincial governments’ responsiveness to citizens. The Project will include three components: Component 1: Performance-Based Grants for Resilient Development will be implemented by MPGIS in coordination with MECDM and the PGs. This component will finance four annual grant cycles, implemented through the PGs to deliver a range of Provincial and Ward level economic and social infrastructure and services designed to improve market access, basic services, build community resilience and promote local economic development. Subgrants will be advanced to PGs only when certain conditions under the PCDF manual are met and will be linked to specific subprojects. No activities will be retroactively financed under this component. Investments under this component will seek to complement the Solomon Islands Agriculture and Rural Transformation Project (P173043, PE) investment by financing infrastructure to improve local access and connectivity outcomes. Such activities will help to stimulate local economic activity in the depressed rural markets affected by COVID-19. This may include construction of small feeder roads, water supply, foot bridges, jetties, storage facilities and markets, etc. The project will also finance investments in social infrastructure (e.g. rehabilitation of education and health facilities such as public schools and clinics, and housing for teachers and health workers) which contributes to the reduction of social disparities, delivery of services and plays an important role in promoting inclusive growth. Investments will also incorporate climate mitigation and disaster resilience design practices and measures, such as installation of solar panels and rainwater tanks as integral components of the facilities. -Component 2: Support to Subnational Entities will be implemented by MPGIS and MECDM. This component will build the capacity that is needed at the local level for the PGs to effectively execute the grants, including by giving MPGIS and MECDM the opportunity to recruit against vacant positions. Specifically, the component will finance activities Aug 26, 2021 Page 3 of 16 The World Bank Integrated Economic Development and Community Resilience Project (P173688) that: (i) strengthen the capacity of the PGs to plan and manage subnational investments in coordination with sectoral ministries and build the skills to manage and report on related recurrent costs; and (ii) augment the capacity of the Ministries and PGs at the provincial level, including financing technical assistance and other non-investment activities required for implementation at the provincial level, such as training, travel, capacity building and additional project personnel. This component will include two subcomponents: Subcomponent 2(a) on Subnational Support from Planning to Execution will be implemented by MPGIS in coordination with MECDM and the PGs. It will finance the recruitment, training and supervision of Provincial Program Coordinators (PPCs) to support PGs with the planning and implementation of investments under Component 1 and to work with Ward level officers hired by MPGIS to implement a range of training, local-level governance and accountability initiatives, including participatory planning meetings, gender targeting, a grievance redress mechanism, promote public awareness and help improve budget literacy and participatory performance monitoring. Key tasks to be carried out include training of the PPCs to support the Ward level officers on the facilitation of planning and prioritization of subprojects at the community level; orientation and training of the WDCs as well as provincial and local government officials and other sectoral frontline staff; and the implementation and reporting of social accountability and gender targeting measures, including helping to resolve project-related grievances. Subcomponent 2(b): Building Resilient Communities will be implemented by MECDM in coordination with MPGIS and the PGs. It will finance the recruitment, training and supervision of additional Disaster, Climate and Environment Officers to work with the Disaster and Meteorology Officers (DMOs) based in the PGs and support the PPCs and Ward level officers in subproject planning and implementation of investments under Component 1 with a focus on raising Public Disclosure awareness climate change awareness and resilience building. Key tasks include the preparation of construction designs and provision of engineering support to implement the subgrants; supervising works; and supporting operations and maintenance. The Disaster, Climate and Environment Officers will also be trained to administer relevant aspects of -the integrated participatory planning tools prepared under the Project. Component 3: Project Management will be jointly implemented by MPGIS and MECDM and finance project management support to monitor and report on the project, including the establishment of a joint Project Management Unit (PMU). This component will include dedicated staff from each ministry and additional consultants who will report to designated sections of each of the ministries to support their respective parts of the project but also shared consultant staff, where appropriate, and physical resources. The PMU will include, at a minimum, a: Project Manager, Civil/Environmental Engineer, Finance, Procurement, Training, M&E and Environmental and Social (E&S) Officers. It will include advisory support for Component 1, including contributing to the cost of the annual performance assessments, the PCDF operations manual, associated national-level training and oversight for Subcomponents 2(a) and 2(b), joint project reporting, including communications and media, technical assistance, grievance management, financial management, procurement, environmental and social risk management, consultants, goods, and incremental operating costs, including transport to outer islands. The PCDF Grant Manual will be updated to reflect these activities in addition to the Project’s Environmental and Social Management Framework screening requirements. In addition, as part of the Project’s evaluation, baseline, midline and end-line surveys supplemented by qualitative/perception surveys of community members and beneficiaries in Project impact areas will be financed to measure the Project’s performance in accordance with the Results Framework. Additional TA may also include: studies that focus on ways to manage the enabling environment (e.g., legislative reform, policy reform, public financial management reform, asset registry and maintenance planning reform); work to review and recommend reforms to strengthen the minimum conditions and/or performance criteria for PCDF and the systems for ascertaining Aug 26, 2021 Page 4 of 16 The World Bank Integrated Economic Development and Community Resilience Project (P173688) compliance with them as well as training and small-scale field experiments that foster downward accountability, citizen engagement and innovation. D. Environmental and Social Overview D.1. Detailed project location(s) and salient physical characteristics relevant to the E&S assessment [geographic, environmental, social] Solomon Islands is a small and fragile island developing state in the south-west Pacific with a population of 650,000. It is among the countries with high levels of institutional and social fragility. The country’s fragility derives largely from its short history of a democratic central government and the unsteady balance between central/provincial hegemony and fragmented traditional affiliations. Its fragility has multiple dimensions including a recent history of civil unrest known as "the tensions”; vulnerability to natural disasters; deteriorating food and nutrition security; high levels of youth unemployment; land tenure disputes; weak governance; unsustainable deforestation/timber extraction; relatively small domestic markets; exports exposed to international price volatility; and the impacts of climate change. National food poverty and basic needs poverty headcounts are relatively low at 4.4% and 12.7% respectively, but there are significant disparities between rural and urban areas, and between provinces. Logging contributes 17% to the GDP, while the agricultural sector contributes around 20-21% and agriculture being the largest employer, provides employment to 60% of the population. Solomon Islands faces major gaps in infrastructure and services across the country, especially in rural areas, and is prone to climate change risks and natural hazards. Rates of access to clean water, roads, and basic education and health services remain low, even in areas close to Honiara, but especially in rural areas and more remote islands. There are only 5 kilometers of roads per 100 sq. km, the lowest ratio in the Pacific, and travel in most rural areas is Public Disclosure only by motorboat. Nationally, less than 20 percent of the population has access to electricity and in many of the outer islands, less than 5 percent have access to electricity. Pre-existing inequalities disproportionately impede the capacity of vulnerable groups (women, youth, disabled) to adopt resilience measures, which means that they will bear a greater brunt of their adverse social and economic impact. The country has rich ecosystems and biodiversity, both terrestrial and marine. However, these are threatened by unsustainable logging practices, and by high rates of population growth and underemployment which lead to pressure to develop income from cash crops, leading to habitat degradation. Solomon Islands is in the "Pacific Ring of Fire” and within the cyclone belt, making it highly prone to natural hazards. Over the past 30 years there have been seven major disasters triggered by natural hazards, resulting in loss of life and severe adverse economic impacts. Extreme weather events are likely to increase in intensity due to climate change. Solomon Islands is also currently experiencing an unprecedented level of economic disruption due to restrictions on the movement of people, goods, and services put in place to reduce the spread of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). The project will operate at a national level and target all provinces and will include three components, (i) Component 1: Performance-Based Grants for Resilient Development; (ii) Component 2: Support to Subnational Entities which will include Subcomponent 2(a) on Subnational Support from Planning to Execution, and Subcomponent 2(b): Building Resilient Communities; and (iii) Component 3: Project Management. Component 1 seeks to complement the Solomon Islands Agriculture and Rural Transformation Project (ART Project), which is currently in negotiation. The Art project aims to enhance institutional capacity and increase food resilience and provide improved market access in selected commodities and value chains. Components 1 and 2 will draw lessons learned from the Rural Development Programs (RDP I and II), nationwide programs which have improved basic infrastructure and services in rural areas and strengthens linkages between smallholder farming households and markets in Solomon Islands via over 600 sub-projects Aug 26, 2021 Page 5 of 16 The World Bank Integrated Economic Development and Community Resilience Project (P173688) D. 2. Borrower’s Institutional Capacity The proposed implementing agencies for the project are the Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening (MPGIS) and the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM). The Implementing Agencies will work closely with the Provincial Governments (PGs) as almost 90 percent of project resources will be channeled to the Provincial and Ward levels. The Project will provide funding for performance based grants to be delivered to the PGs through the PCDF administered by the MPGIS. It is proposed that a Development Account held by MPGIS and Ministry of Finance and Treasury (MOFT) be established for the purposes of the Project at the Central Bank of the Solomon Islands. This will allow for the segregation of IDA funds. Following the same procedures applied under the PCDF, it is proposed that PGs open PCDF subaccounts at the PG level, to receive the subgrants. Subgrants for specific projects will be advanced to PGs only when certain conditions under the PCDF manual are met. A separate operating account, jointly held by the Implementing Agencies, will be opened at a commercial bank in accordance with Solomon Islands’ trust instrument procedures. This account will be used to pay for all other eligible Project expenditures. No activities will be funded retroactively. Both MPGIS and MECDM have some experience in managing IDA-financed projects. However, this is their first project applying the ESF. The MPGIS and MECDM do not currently have designated E&S staff. To fill this gap, Component 3 will include dedicated E&S staff and finance additional consultants who will be assigned to each Coordinating Ministry and who will report to designated sections of the ministries to support their respective parts of the project. It will include advisory support for communications and media, grievance management, and environmental and social risk management. An associated risk is exposure of rural areas to the effects of climate change and geophysical hazards, including storm Public Disclosure surge, flooding, and tropical cyclones, amongst others. In this regard, MECDM is responsible for sustainable environmental management, climate change adaptation and mitigation, disaster risk management and meteorological services for Solomon Islands, and has a presence in the provinces through its disaster management and climate change officers stationed in the provincial capitals and Provincial Disaster Offices. During project preparation, specific project design features drawing on MECDM’s experience in implementing the CRISP will be considered to enhance resilience and reduce vulnerability to the impacts of climate change and natural hazards, including strengthening the resilience of small-scale infrastructure to be built under the project. Both agencies lack internal implementation capacity that is required by the Bank to comply with fiduciary requirements and the ability to respond to subnational and community demands in a timely manner. To address this gap, a joint Project Management Unit located in a project office will service both ministries (as done under RDPII and CRISP), particularly with respect to meeting the Bank’s financial management, procurement and monitoring and evaluation requirements. At the provincial level, dedicated staff will be trained on the project’s reporting processes. There will also be some funding for technical assistance and this would be requested through the PMU. However, MPGIS and MECDM will hold their own Designated Accounts and be responsible for the performance of their relevant components and subcomponents as well as providing regular technical supervision (e.g., construction designs, engineering support and environmental and social management, among other areas). To ensure adequate support, additional technical and implementation support within the PMU will be identified and MPGIS/MECDM will prepare a capacity building plan and budget, which can be elaborated in the ESMF. II. SCREENING OF POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL (ES) RISKS AND IMPACTS A. Environmental and Social Risk Classification (ESRC) Moderate Aug 26, 2021 Page 6 of 16 The World Bank Integrated Economic Development and Community Resilience Project (P173688) Environmental Risk Rating Moderate The project has moderate environmental risk. Impacts are expected to be temporary, minor and easily managed through conventional environmental and social (E&S) risk management approaches. The project will not fund any subprojects which are assessed as substantial or high risk. Environmental impacts and risks are described below: (i) Component 1 will finance performance based grants to deliver a range of productive community and/or provincial/inter-Ward level resilient small infrastructure. This may include construction of small feeder roads, water supply, foot bridges, jetties, storage facilities and markets, etc. The project will also finance investments in social infrastructure (e.g. rehabilitation of education and health facilities such as public schools and clinics, and housing for teachers and health workers). Investments will incorporate climate mitigation and disaster resilience design measures, such as installation of solar panels and rainwater tanks. Environmental impacts of Infrastructure construction/rehabilitation are likely to be temporary, reversible, and manageable. Construction impacts may include waste and hazardous materials handling and disposal (e.g. asbestos), community and worker health and safety risk and the risk of COVID-19 to workers and the community, should an outbreak occur. Water sources could be contaminated by the project activities due to poor drainage and management of storm water causing erosion. Construction works may result in dust and noise nuisance and, in extreme cases, injuries to community members. Construction could result in soil erosion. Operational impacts could include degradation of habitats due to increased access as a result of construction of feeder roads/ jetties and occupational health and safety impacts through the operation of some infrastructure or facilities. Off-site activities include quarrying operations, which if not managed properly, may cause localized adverse impacts such as unsustainable material sourcing. Project activities will result in resource consumption during both construction and operational phases. Examples include: construction Public Disclosure materials; aggregates; water; and energy (ii) Component 2 will finance activities required to support implementation at the provincial level. With a focus on resilient infrastructure investments under the project, it is recognized that capital spending creates recurrent obligations for maintenance, which requires planning, budgeting, and execution capabilities on an ongoing basis. Overall, this will contribute to positive environmental and social benefits to institutions in overseeing activities that have social and environmental implications. However, capacity building and training activities may create worker health and safety risks, and If not managed properly technical assistance (TA) activities may lead to downstream impacts, such as construction impacts for infrastructure developments, or impacts due to increased access as a result of construction of feeder roads (for example opening up new areas to logging). (iii) Component 3 will finance project management support to monitor and report on the project, including the establishment of a PMU. Additional TA may also include: studies that focus on ways to manage the enabling environment (e.g., legislative reform, policy reform, public financial management reform, asset registry and maintenance planning reform); work to review and recommend reforms to strengthen the minimum conditions and/or performance criteria for PCDF and the systems for ascertaining compliance with them as well as training and small-scale field experiments that foster downward accountability, citizen engagement and innovation. Health and safety risks, including COVID 19 transmission risk will need to be managed for PMU staff. Travel restrictions which may arise as a result of COVID also pose a risk to monitoring of environmental and social risks. Social Risk Rating Moderate The Social risk rating is assessed as moderate, as the project will mainly finance sub-projects that will have minor impacts on land usage and access, require the temporary mobilization of limited amounts of contracted and community workers, and the potential for social conflict over access to project benefits (albeit minimal due to a bottom-up, and community informed approach being adopted). The social impacts of this project are expected to Aug 26, 2021 Page 7 of 16 The World Bank Integrated Economic Development and Community Resilience Project (P173688) benefit the overall population of Solomon Islands, with the project to be implemented in all nine provinces. While the negative social impacts are expected to be limited, a moderate social risk rating is justified, due to the fragile country context, the complexity of matters related to land, and the history of social conflict. As the exact locations for subprojects are not confirmed social impacts will vary depending on the location of the subprojects. . As the Project will seek to complement the ART’s agriculture and livelihood investments by financing infrastructure to improve local access and connectivity outcome such as construction of feeder roads, water supply, foot bridges, jetties, storage facilities and markets, as well as social infrastructure (which may include rehabilitation of education and health facilities such as public schools and clinics, and housing for teachers and health workers ). These activities have the potential to impact on land (whether it is land access or land use). While Land is a potential source of social conflict in the Solomon Islands, the sub-projects to be financed by this project will likely require minimal amounts of communal or privately used land. In addition, when land is acquired, there are established procedures in place to allow for its usage for project purposes in a way that compatible with the requirements of ESS5. Due to the likely involvement of community labor, community and occupational health and safety risks will need to be monitored and managed, with appropriate training programs rolled out prior to the commencement of works. These risks, along with along with the risks related to, and mitigation measures for sexual abuse and exploitation or sexual harassment (SEA/SH) will be discussed further in the sections on ESS2 and ESS4, which will outline measures to be implemented in a manner which reflects and is proportionate to the nature and scope of the project; the specific project activities in which the community workers are engaged and the nature of the potential risks and impacts to the community workers. To complement the bottom-up and community informed approach adopted by the project, a stakeholder engagement plan (SEP) will be prepared for the project prior to appraisal. The SEP will include all stakeholders at all levels including national, provincial (provincial government). ward development committees and local level including Public Disclosure leaders that represent the nine provinces. This will be reviewed as the name of the provinces become known. B. Environment and Social Standards (ESSs) that Apply to the Activities Being Considered B.1. General Assessment ESS1 Assessment and Management of Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts Overview of the relevance of the Standard for the Project: The environmental and social impacts of project activities are mostly positive, delivering a number of environmental, social, safety, and health benefits such as improved access to existing and new infrastructure aswell as building the capacity needed by the Ministries and the PG at the provincial level. Construction of small-scale infrastructure and/or rehabilitations activities can generate some pollution and other adverse environmental impacts. For example, pollution may arise from mishandling or inappropriate disposal of oils, cement, waste and hazardous materials. Water sources could be contaminated by the project activities due to poor management practices, particularly for infrastructure developments next to or over water bodies e.g. jetties and foot bridges. Construction of boreholes in non-saline ground water could impact groundwater quality and drawdown. Construction works may result in dust and noise nuisance and, in extreme cases, injuries to community members. In addition, poor design of infrastructure or poor practice during construction may lead to damage to natural drainage channels and soil erosion. Construction of jetties may result in water quality and marine/aquatic ecology impacts. These impacts and risks will be managed by the following measures: avoid or minimize water, land, and noise pollution from construction works through the application of good engineering designs and good practices for construction by incorporating environmental mitigation measures (for example, control of works, dust and noise Aug 26, 2021 Page 8 of 16 The World Bank Integrated Economic Development and Community Resilience Project (P173688) prevention measures, proper management of hazardous and nonhazardous wastes, and surplus materials) in the technical design and tender documents. Coral rock and coastal sand mining will be avoided in this project. Operational impacts could include degradation of habitats and additional pressures to environment due to increased access as a result of construction of feeder roads. nfrastructure construction may include greenfield sites as well as construction within existing building footprints. An ESMF will be prepared prior to appraisal to examine the risks and impacts associated with the sub-projects. The ESMF will include the principles, rules, guidelines and procedures to assess the environmental and social risks and impacts of the various project activities,including an appropriate screening process and measures and plans to reduce, mitigate and/or offset adverse risks and impacts. The ESMF will include a list of activities which are ineligible for financing, including subprojects assessed to have substantial or high E&S risk. The ESMF will incorporate details or templates for CESMPs and/or ESCOPs and will provide the mitigation measures expected in those sub-plans proportional to the scale of impacts and risks for both construction and operational impacts. The ESMF will also include an assessment of the most appropriate sources for construction materials as well as mitigation measures to minimize the consumption of these resources. The ESMF will include information on the implementing agencies, including an assessment of their capacity to manage environmental and social risks and impacts. The PCDF grant operational manual will be revised to refer to ESMF screening requirements for subprojects. Environment, health and safety concerns associated with Component 1 are expected to be temporary, site specific/localized, and readily managed through the ESMF. The ESMF will incorporate details or a template for CESMPs and/or ESCOPs that includes occupational health and safety (OHS) measures for workers. The OHS measures will be applicable to all project workers, including the implementing agencies, contractors and subcontractors, community labor and primary suppliers and will be detailed in the Labor Management Procedure (LMP). Strategies Public Disclosure outlined in the SEP will recommended hygiene procedures as outlined in WHO guidance as part of COVID awareness. Travel restrictions which may arise as a result of COVID also pose a risk to monitoring of environmental and social risks. Training and TA activities will aim to build local capacity to monitor E&S risks within the PGs. TA activities will include preparation of construction designs and provision of engineering support, studies, training and small-scale field experiments, skills and capacity building activities, which could lead to downstream environmental and social impacts if they are not screened and managed properly. The ESMF will outline procedures for screening and managing TA activities for social and environmental risks including downstream risks. Per the Bank Guidance for Technical Assistance and ESF 2019, E&S objectives shall be integrated into capacity building activities. The ESMF will include mitigation measures and procedures (including Labor Management Procedures (LMPs), and Construction Environmental and Social Management Plan (CESMP) and Environmental and Social Code of Practice (ECOP) outlines) for MPGIS and MECDM to address potential specific risks and impacts, along with a capacity building plan and budget for environmental and social risk management. While, there will be no major civil works anticipated under the project, the country context is characterized by high rates of gender based violence. Therefore, in order to minimize the risk of sexual exploitation and abuse or sexual harassment (SEA/SH) occurring due to project activities, the ESMF and associated documents will include measures such as awareness raising, and a code of practice. In addition, to address potential inequities in accessing project benefits, the project operational manual, and stakeholder engagement plan, will include procedures to promote the empowerment of women and other vulnerable groups through improved voice and agency, in the planning, prioritization and implementation of subprojects. Areas where “Use of Borrower Framework” is being considered: Use of Borrower E&S Framework does not apply to this project. Aug 26, 2021 Page 9 of 16 The World Bank Integrated Economic Development and Community Resilience Project (P173688) ESS10 Stakeholder Engagement and Information Disclosure ESS10 is relevant. The project recognizes the need for effective and inclusive engagement with all of the relevant stakeholders, including those who will benefit from activities outlined in Component 1. A Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) will be prepared prior to appraisal to engage with stakeholders on the E&S risks of the project and will be disclosed on MPGIS’s and MECDM’s official websites. The SEP will identify and analyse key stakeholders (i.e. affected parties, other interested parties and disadvantaged and vulnerable groups) and will describe the process and modalities for sharing information on the project activities, incorporating stakeholder feedback into the Project and reporting and disclosure of project documents. As the project is community informed- , the SEP will place a strong emphasis on the representatives of the nine provincial governments as key stakeholders. The SEP will also acknowledge the particular challenges with marginalized and vulnerable social groups, especially those living in remote areas. The SEP will ensure that stakeholders are engaged throughout the project cycle, with meaningful consultation; timely disclosure of relevant, understandable, and accessible information; consulted in a culturally appropriate manner. The SEP also outlines the Project’s Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) which will enable stakeholders to raise project related concerns and grievances. Strategies outlined in the SEP will minimise close contact and follow recommended hygience procedures as outlined in WHO guidance as part of COVID awareness. The LMP will be prepared for the project, it will set out a way where project workers will be managed, in accordance with the requirements of national law and this ESS. Along with the SEP, ESMF the LMP will be disclosed. Public Disclosure B.2. Specific Risks and Impacts A brief description of the potential environmental and social risks and impacts relevant to the Project. ESS2 Labor and Working Conditions ESS2 is relevant due to potential risks on labor and working conditions for all types of workers. The project will largely be working with government civil servants and contracted workers. The small infrastructure works that will be done, will require contracted workers. Labor and working conditions measures will be in place particularly for workers employed by contractors, who are unlikely familiar with core provisions for labor and working condition risk management aligned with ESS2Labor risks are related to occupational health and safety, due to possible accidents or incidents arising from project activities such as construction works. Under the project, staff can be frequently exposed to safety risks when they are required to travel to the provinces in most cases by mode of boat or small aircraft. Engaging minor workers is a risk to the project as actitivies are largely community informed-, and monitoring of community workers may not be as rigorous. Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) measures will be applicable to all project workers, including contractors and subcontractors, and community labor. Specific attention will be given to sensitization and training of community workers on OHS risks, and the technical knowledge and behavioral awareness to minimize the risks. Project travel safety procedures will be required and the project will fund all necessary safety equipment associated with project travel, including vessels if necessary. During this time of COVID, special attention will be given to workers as measures to mitigate the spread of COVID will apply to all subprojects. Clear communication of risks and prevention measures will be included within training and stakeholder engagement activities The project will follow WHO guidance tools for COVID preparedness and response. Aug 26, 2021 Page 10 of 16 The World Bank Integrated Economic Development and Community Resilience Project (P173688) To meet ESS2 requirements, an LMP will be prepared prior to appraisal. This will include identification of worker types, a brief summary of labor laws in Solomon Islands, (Labor Act Cap 73, 1978) and outline the working conditions to be applied on the Project. The OHS measures will be designed and implemented to address: (a) identification of potential hazards to project workers; (b) provision of preventive and protective measures, including modification, substitution, or elimination of hazardous conditions or substances; (c) training of project workers and maintenance of training records; (d) documentation and reporting of occupational accidents, diseases and incidents; (e) emergency prevention and preparedness and response arrangements to emergency situations; and (f) remedies for adverse impacts such as occupational injuries, disability and disease. The project will ensure that all tender documents for infrastructure include budget provisions for all OHS provisions as well as other costs associated with labor management (e.g. the operation of a grievance redress mechanism). The project will regularly monitor the contractor’s performance in implementing OHS measures. Project’s regular reporting system should include project’s performance on the OHS implementation. In accordance with ESS2 and national law, due to the hazardous work situation (e.g. construction work and use of machinery), children under the age of 168 will not be allowed to work on the project. The use of forced labor or conscripted labor on the project will also be prohibited, this will be outlined in the LMP to distinguish between any labor work undertaken under community informed projects and civil works. . Provided that there will be significant community labor, the risks of child labor will remain substantial and will be monitored closele given the country context. The LMP will also include a grievance mechanism (GM) which will be provided to all workers and, measures will be in place for all workers (including contractors) to access the GM to raise any concerns related to the project. Public Disclosure ESS3 Resource Efficiency and Pollution Prevention and Management ESS3 is relevant to the project. Small scale construction or rehabilitation works may require the use of a range of materials such as aggregates and cement as well as use of water and/or energy. Construction and demolition waste will also be generated. The ESMF will identify opportunities for construction waste reuse, and the safe options for waste disposal. It will include assessment of appropriate construction materials sources well as mitigation measures to minimize the consumption of these resources. Investments will incorporate climate mitigation and disaster resilience design practices and measures, such as installation of solar panels and rainwater tanks as integral components of the facilities. This will not only promote use of renewable energy to mitigate climate change and provide water security but also optimize the use of these facilities to provide services to the communities. The higher value investments to be financed (e.g., boreholes in non-saline ground water and related storage/distribution systems across multiple wards, access roads in flood prone areas, and emergency and community shelters), will have a specific climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction purpose. The ESMF will include estimate of gross GHG emissions or justification for why this is not considered necessary. The climate change adaptation measures identified in the engineering designs will be assessed under ESS3. The project will not fund any subprojects, including water supply projects, which are assessed as substantial or high risk and this will be documented in the ESMF. Other issues relating to pollution prevention and management specific to small scale infrastructure construction (including off-site activities e.g. quarries) include stormwater, noise, air emissions, wastewater and water quality. The Aug 26, 2021 Page 11 of 16 The World Bank Integrated Economic Development and Community Resilience Project (P173688) ESMF will incorporate details or template for CESMPs and/or ECOPs and will provide the mitigation measures expected in those sub-plans proportional to the scale of impacts and risks. Through the implementation of procedures and measures stated in the ESMF and any activity level CESMPs/ESCOPs, contractors will be required to avoid or minimize the release of pollutants and assure compliance with Environmental, Health and Safety Guidelines and good construction practice. Mitigation measures will be required in CESMPs/ESCOPs to also ensure the appropriate handling; storage, use and disposal of hazardous (e.g. asbestos) and non-hazardous materials and wastes under their control. Only licensed and permitted quarries would be considered and environmental and social assessments will be carried out on the potential sources of aggregates. No coral rock or coastal sand will be used in this project. The ESMF will cover resource efficiency, pollution prevention, climate resilience and other environmental risk management responsibilities, and the preparation of any activity specific plans such as CESMPs/ESCOPs, which will be implemented by the contractors, sub-contractors and community members ESS4 Community Health and Safety ESS4 is relevant as a number of project activities have the potential to create adverse impacts on the health and safety of adjacent communities, including, but not limited to: - community exposure to health issues such as water-borne and vector-borne diseases through inadequate implementation of proper wastewater and solid waste management. Public Disclosure - community exposure to project-related traffic or road safety risks due to trucks movements carrying construction materials. - community safety during construction works including environmental, social, health and safety (ESHS) issues and specifications to require contractors to exclude the public, especially children, from the vicinity of site works. In the absence of physical barriers, a watchperson / flag-person is to be present where machines are working to warn away passers-by and alert machine operators to risks. The ESMF will evaluate the risks and impacts to community health and safety during the project life-cycle and will establish preventive and control measures including assessment of traffic risk/management. Infection Prevention and Control measures in the form of a training, awareness will be implemented to provide knowledge on transmission of disease but also measures to prevent COVID transmission in light of the current pandemic. Without adequate controls and procedures, project activities have the potential to contribute to the spread of COVID 19, especially into the provinces. Consultation within the communities affected by the project will take place to ensure that the right information is disclosed. The risk of COVID transmission under this project is a potential social risk, however a plan to address COVID-19 (was developed then by the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS), the project will ensure that the right measures are in place, especially during consultations and community engagement. The project will apply measures to minimise close contact and follow the recommended good hygiene procedures as outlined in the WHO guidance tools as part of the COVID awareness and prevention. While current travel restrictions are in place because of COVID, appropriate measures will be taken to reduce the risk. The LMP and ESMF will include a GBV (SEA/SH) risk assessment and preventative measures and the project will promote the avoidance of SEA/SH by implementing the WHO Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct for all workers. Aug 26, 2021 Page 12 of 16 The World Bank Integrated Economic Development and Community Resilience Project (P173688) ESS5 Land Acquisition, Restrictions on Land Use and Involuntary Resettlement This standard is relevant. While the project does not expect to have any permanent impact on land and does not envisage land acquisition or involuntary resettlement, it may be necessary to negotiate access to communally owned, and privately used, land to facilitate the footprint of the sub-project that will ultimately benefit local residents . Activities that will be financed under this project, that will improve local access and connectivity outcome such as construction of feeder roads, water supply, foot bridges, jetties, storage facilities and markets, as well as social infrastructure (which may include rehabilitation of education and health facilities such as public schools and clinics, and housing for teachers and health workers ), have the potential to impact on land (whether it is be land access or land use) Activities under this project will take place in nine provinces where most of the land is customary and some activities may require land negotiations in regard to communal land access or use. No land acquisition or resettlement is anticipated, however the project may need to have access to communal lands and use of land that will be required on a temporary basis. Under the previous RDPII project, the use of voluntary land donation forms have been in place to support negotiations where land was used or access on a temporary, negotiated timeline. The appropriate instruments and protocol access will be considered for the project activities when project components are defined. The project will prepare a resettlement plan (abbreviated) annexed in the Public Disclosure ESMF to include the potential ways land needs would be addressed. Similar to RDPII the project may use voluntary land donation forms and requirements for communal land access. This will also be reflected in the ESMF. ESS6 Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Natural Resources ESS 6 is considered relevant at this time. Although the exact project locations are not known, impacts on natural habitats are expected to be limited and should be easily avoidable through appropriate screening as part of investment planning at Ward and inter-Ward level. Exclusion criteria will be established in the ESMF to exclude such activities that involve alien species and to avoid and minimize impacts on natural habitats, biodiversity and legally protected natural resources. Relevance of this ESS will be further assessed during Project preparation.subprojects may fund construction of infrastructure on greenfield sites as well as the expansion of existing infrastructure. Construction of infrastructure could result in degradation of biodiversity via the direct removal of vegetation or via erosion, degradation of surface, groundwater or marine water quality, increased access to areas which may open them to logging or agriculture. The ESMF will include screening criteria which will exclude activities which are assessed to have high or substantial risk of impacts to biodiversity. ESS7 Indigenous Peoples/Sub-Saharan African Historically Underserved Traditional Local Communities While ESS7 is relevant , the vast majority of the population (95%) are indigenous melanesians, and as such the majority of the project beneficiaries would also be indigenous according to the criteria of ESS7. Therefore neither an IPPF or sub-project IPPs will not be required. Instead, the key requirements of ESS7 (e.g. culturally appropriate mechanisms of engagement), will be incorporated into project design and included into the Aug 26, 2021 Page 13 of 16 The World Bank Integrated Economic Development and Community Resilience Project (P173688) ESMP and SEP. Since there is a strong focus on community informed activities under this project, community consultations will involve all community members including the women, youth, elderly and vulnerable groups. Community consultations will be facilitated and documented by suitably qualified personnel in the dedicated management unit within MPGIS / MECDM in accordance with the SEP. Under ESS7, none of the circumstances requiring FPIC are present for the project activities. ESS8 Cultural Heritage ESS8 is not relevant under the project. Project activities are unlikely to affect the tangible and intangible cultural heritage and/or access to known physical cultural resources such as structures of spiritual value to communities, objects and structures having high landscape values etc. Appropriate screening as part of investment planning at Ward and inter-Ward level should avoid impacts to known cultural heritage resources. To address unknown archeological or historical remains and objects, including graveyards and/or individual graves, Chance Find Procedures (for infrastructure investments) will be included in the ESMF. ESS9 Financial Intermediaries ESS9 is not relevant. The project will not use any Financial Intermediaries. The IECDR Project will provide funding for performance based grants to be delivered to the Provincial Governments Public Disclosure (PG) through the Provincial Capacity Development Fund (PCDF) administered by the Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening (MPGIS). It is proposed that a Development Account held by MPGIS and Ministry of Finance and Treasury (MOFT) be established for the purposes of the Project at the Central Bank of the Solomon Islands. This will allow for the segregation of IDA funds. Following the same procedures applied under the PCDF, it is proposed that PGs open PCDF subaccounts at the PG level, to receive the subgrants. Subgrants will be advanced to PGs only when certain conditions under the PCDF manual are met, A separate operating account, jointly held by the Implementing Agencies, will be opened at a commercial bank in accordance with Solomon Islands’ trust instrument procedures. This account will be used to pay for all other eligible Project expenditures. Based on the above, the IECDR Project would not trigger ESS 9 as the PCDF would be managed and administered by the implementing agency (MPGIS) and executing agency (MOFT), neither of which is a financial service provider. Subgrant funds would be held by the Central Bank but would be administered and released by MPGIS and MOFT. C. Legal Operational Policies that Apply OP 7.50 Projects on International Waterways No OP 7.50 will is not triggered but this will be confirmed during the project preparation as project locations are not predetermined. OP 7.60 Projects in Disputed Areas No OP 7.60 is not triggered as the project will not be located in any area under legal or international dispute nor competing territorial claims. Aug 26, 2021 Page 14 of 16 The World Bank Integrated Economic Development and Community Resilience Project (P173688) III. WORLD BANK ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL DUE DILIGENCE A. Is a common approach being considered? No Financing Partners No other financing partners. B. Proposed Measures, Actions and Timing (Borrower’s commitments) Actions to be completed prior to Bank Board Approval: Development and public disclosure of the following E&S documents prior to appraisal: 1. Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP) 2. Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) 3. Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) including community grievance mechanism & stakeholder consultations. 4. Labor management procedures (LMP) and grievance mechanism for project workers. Possible issues to be addressed in the Borrower Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP): Budget, staffing, and operational arrangement requirements for project environmental and social risk management including the preparation and implementation of the project-ESMF, SEP, LMP and RP; the operationalization of a project level grievance mechanism (GM) as outlined in the ESMF; and the application of E&S risk management instruments for site-specific activities/typologies (e.g. CESMPs and/or ESCOPs). Public Disclosure C. Timing Tentative target date for preparing the Appraisal Stage ESRS 01-Oct-2021 IV. CONTACT POINTS World Bank Contact: Sonya Woo Title: Senior Social Development Specialist Telephone No: 5740+6434 / 61-2-92356434 Email: swoo1@worldbank.org Contact: Virginia Ann Horscroft Title: Senior Public Sector Specialist Telephone No: 5740+6585 / 612-923-56585 Email: vhorscroft@worldbank.org Contact: Tevi Maltali Obed Title: Disaster Risk Management Specialist Telephone No: 5793+1007 Email: tobed@worldbank.org Borrower/Client/Recipient Borrower: Solomon Islands Government Aug 26, 2021 Page 15 of 16 The World Bank Integrated Economic Development and Community Resilience Project (P173688) Implementing Agency(ies) Implementing Agency: Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening Implementing Agency: Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Metereology V. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT The World Bank 1818 H Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20433 Telephone: (202) 473-1000 Web: http://www.worldbank.org/projects VI. APPROVAL Task Team Leader(s): Virginia Ann Horscroft, Tevi Maltali Obed, Sonya Woo Practice Manager (ENR/Social) Ann Jeannette Glauber Recommended on 24-Aug-2021 at 08:08:54 GMT-04:00 Safeguards Advisor ESSA Nina Chee (SAESSA) Cleared on 26-Aug-2021 at 14:22:57 GMT-04:00 Public Disclosure Aug 26, 2021 Page 16 of 16