The World Bank Improving Administrative Records for SDGs implementation and evidence-based policymaking in Paraguay (P170670) Appraisal Environmental and Social Review Summary Appraisal Stage (ESRS Appraisal Stage) Public Disclosure Date Prepared/Updated: 07/23/2019 | Report No: ESRSA00213 Jul 23, 2019 Page 1 of 8 The World Bank Improving Administrative Records for SDGs implementation and evidence-based policymaking in Paraguay (P170670) BASIC INFORMATION A. Basic Project Data Country Region Project ID Parent Project ID (if any) Paraguay LATIN AMERICA AND P170670 CARIBBEAN Project Name Improving Administrative Records for SDGs implementation and evidence-based policymaking in Paraguay Practice Area (Lead) Financing Instrument Estimated Appraisal Date Estimated Board Date Other Investment Project 6/21/2019 Financing Borrower(s) Implementing Agency(ies) Government of Paraguay Instituto Desarrollo Proposed Development Objective(s) Public Disclosure Improved quality in the production and use of administrative records for evidence-based policymaking to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2, 3, 4, and 10 (Zero Hunger, Good Health and Wellbeing, Quality Education, and Reduced Inequality). Financing (in USD Million) Amount Total Project Cost 0.35 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] Improving Administrative Records for SDGs implementation and evidence-based policymaking in Paraguay through conducting assessments, capacity building activities and trainings together with Ministries of Education and Health. D. Environmental and Social Overview D.1. Project location(s) and salient characteristics relevant to the ES assessment [geographic, environmental, social] Jul 23, 2019 Page 2 of 8 The World Bank Improving Administrative Records for SDGs implementation and evidence-based policymaking in Paraguay (P170670) This Project will be implemented at the national level, supporting the National Strategy for the Development of Statistics in Paraguay (NSDS), particularly improving quality in the production and use of administrative records (AR) for evidence-based policymaking to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2, 3, 4, and 10 (Zero Hunger, Good Health and Wellbeing, Quality Education, and Reduced Inequality). This will involve among other activities, strengthening capacities of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Ministry of Education and Sciences in related matters. The Project will neither finance nor support any civil works, purchase of equipment or purchase of chemicals. In this sense, the activities supported by the Project are not expected to have negative environmental or social risks. D. 2. Borrower’s Institutional Capacity The implementing agency is the Instituto de Desarrollo (ID) located in Asunción, Paraguay, who will support the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Ministry of Education and Sciences. The ID is a higher education institution that has been carrying out teaching, research, and technical assistance on development areas such as economics, management, agriculture and agribusiness, political economy, education, health, environment and climate change, local development, public administration, and rural development. The potential environmental and social risks associated with the WB Environmental and Social Standards have been screened. No significant issues from the environmental and social perspective have been identified in connection with the activities of the Project. Hence, it is considered that the institutional capacity at the implementation agency is currently sufficient to meet the objectives of the WB Environmental and Social Standards as pertinent to the Project, given the Project’s current context and timing. II. SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL (ES) RISKS AND IMPACTS Public Disclosure A. Environmental and Social Risk Classification (ESRC) Low Environmental Risk Rating Low The Project is focused on technical assistance and capacity building activities for improving the quality in the production and use of administrative records for evidence-based policymaking to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2, 3, 4, and 10 (Zero Hunger, Good Health and Wellbeing, Quality Education, and Reduced Inequality). It will neither finance nor support any civil works, purchase of equipment or purchase of chemicals. In this sense, the activities supported by the Project are not expected to have negative environmental impacts or risks. The overall environmental risk and potential adverse environmental impacts are considered not significant. Social Risk Rating Low Social risk is rated low since Project's activities (review of documents, report writing, training and workshops) are for the improvement of the quality in the production and use of administrative records for evidence-based policymaking to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2, 3, 4, and 10 (Zero Hunger, Good Health and Wellbeing, Quality Education, and Reduced Inequality). Thus, activities are intellectual that do not encompass risks or adverse impacts on the society/populations/particular social groups in the present, neither any of the Project's deliverables would do it in the future. B. Environment and Social Standards (ESSs) that Apply to the Activities Being Considered B.1. General Assessment Jul 23, 2019 Page 3 of 8 The World Bank Improving Administrative Records for SDGs implementation and evidence-based policymaking in Paraguay (P170670) ESS1 Assessment and Management of Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts Overview of the relevance of the Standard for the Project: The potential environmental and social risks and impacts associated with the WB Environmental and Social Standards have been screened and no significant issues from the environmental and social perspective have been identified in connection with the activities of the Project. Hence, it is considered that the screening process performed is currently sufficient to ensure the accomplishment of the objectives of the WB Environmental and Social Standards as pertinent to the Project, given the Project’s current context and timing. The Project is focused on technical assistance and capacity building activities for improving the quality in the production and use of administrative records. The Project will deliver formal training and knowledge sharing on quality assurance principles and good practices in administrative records to key champions, namely the statistics, planning, and monitoring and evaluation units. These activities will build human capital to improve SDGs-related administrative records in Paraguay, but more specifically at the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and at the Ministry of Education and Sciences for improving quality in the production and use of AR for evidence-based policymaking to support the SDGs 2, 3, 4, and 10. Activities also include: a) build capacities for adequately disseminating health and education-related AR among the public, media, and academic community, in compliance with legal and ethical constraints; and b) install virtual community of policymakers from developing countries in the region, and beyond, for exchanging good practices in the production and communication of SDGs-related administrative records. As the Project will neither finance nor support civil works, purchase of equipment or purchase of chemicals, it is not expected to entail environmental risks and/or have negative environmental impacts. Public Disclosure ESS10 Stakeholder Engagement and Information Disclosure The Project already includes in its design stakeholder engagement (SEP) and activities aimed at strengthening information dissemination. In addition the project prepared a SEP that will allow systematic feedback of relevant stakeholders throughout the project cycle. The SEP will also benefit of seeking opinion from knowledgeable specialists on how the design of the project can be improved to promote social inclusion on the data collection of indigenous peoples, disability, gender, etc. In that sense, the TORs will include identification of vulnerable groups (IP, SOGI, gender, disabilities), by embedding the analytical work into the overall project design, as possible. In other words, where feasible, include consideration of how the statistical surveys, data collection can be improved to promote consideration of social inclusion. Key stakeholders for the Project are officials and experts from the Instituto de Desarrollo of Paraguay, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare of Paraguay, Ministry of Education and Science of Paraguay, United Nations Population Fund, Science and Engineering research council of the United Kingdom, and Office for National Statistics of the UK, as well as members of civil society, for example local Universities, Colegio de Medicos, etc. Specifically, one of the main results of the Project is to build capacity among AR-producers for adequately disseminating health and education-related administrative records among the public, media, and academic community, in compliance with legal and ethical constraints. In that sense, the Project aims at addressing the several challenges to make AR more user-friendly. For example, metadata to describe information is not usually published. Also, neither a basic vocabulary of reference nor geographical territories for sub-national disaggregation are normalized across AR producers. Finally, even though access to information and data transparency has increased substantially over the last five years, information is not yet timely distributed to the media for their purposes. In short, the Project will help generate more active and user-friendly data dissemination strategies among the public, media, and academic community. In addition, another key result of the Project is to install a virtual community of Jul 23, 2019 Page 4 of 8 The World Bank Improving Administrative Records for SDGs implementation and evidence-based policymaking in Paraguay (P170670) policymakers from developing countries in the region, and beyond, for exchanging lessons learned and good practices in the production and use of SDGs-related AR. Systematic virtual exchanges will be used to accelerate the diffusion of innovation among like-minded public officials in an area that is prioritized worldwide. 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 The Project will be mainly implemented by local staff from the ID (Government Civil Servants) and local consultants as well as external experts/university professors hired to perform specific tasks (other Direct Workers). Therefore, although in a limited and narrow sense, ESS2 is assessed as relevant for the Project. Appropriate occupational health and safety measures related to the activities foreseen under the project (administrative-related tasks in indoor environment) would be applied. Consultant contracts would reflect appropriate labor and working conditions as per ESS2. ESS3 Resource Efficiency and Pollution Prevention and Management The Project will neither finance nor support any civil works activities. No rehabilitation or construction of new infrastructure or other actions having an impact on the environment will be financed through the project. No purchase of equipment or chemicals will be involved. In this context, the Project will not make use of resources like water, energy and/or raw materials, and it is not expected that any activities financed by the Project will generate Public Disclosure any kind of pollution. Therefore, potential environmental and social risks and impacts associated with this Standard have been screened and determined to be not currently relevant. ESS4 Community Health and Safety The Project will neither finance nor support any civil works activities. No rehabilitation or construction of new infrastructure or other actions having an impact on the environment will be financed through this project. No purchase of equipment or chemicals will be involved. In this context it is not expected to generate any negative impact on the community health and safety. Therefore, potential environmental and social risks and impacts associated with this Standard have been screened and determined to be not currently relevant. ESS5 Land Acquisition, Restrictions on Land Use and Involuntary Resettlement The Project will not require any type of land acquisition, restriction on land use or involuntary resettlement. Therefore, potential environmental and social risks and impacts associated with this Standard have been screened and determined to be not currently relevant. ESS6 Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Natural Resources The Project will neither finance nor support any civil works activities. No rehabilitation or construction of new infrastructure or other actions having an impact on the environment will be financed through this project. No Jul 23, 2019 Page 5 of 8 The World Bank Improving Administrative Records for SDGs implementation and evidence-based policymaking in Paraguay (P170670) purchase of equipment or chemicals will be involved. In this context it is not expected to generate any negative impact on the Biodiversity Conservation and Living Natural Resources. Therefore, potential environmental and social risks and impacts associated with this Standard have been screened and determined to be not currently relevant. ESS7 Indigenous Peoples/Sub-Saharan African Historically Underserved Traditional Local Communities The Project will not affect Indigenous People as covered by ESS7. Therefore, potential environmental and social risks and impacts associated with this Standard have been screened and determined to be not currently relevant. Nonetheless, the Project could help in the identification of vulnerable groups (IP, SOGI, gender, disabilities), by embedding the analytical work into the overall project design, if possible. In other words, where feasible, include consideration of how the statistical surveys, data collection can be improved to promote consideration of social inclusion. ESS8 Cultural Heritage The Project will finance technical assistance and capacity building activities for statistics. There is no physical intervention, civil works, purchasing of equipment or chemicals involved. In this context it is not expected any possibility of directly or indirectly affecting tangible or intangible cultural heritage. Therefore, potential environmental and social risks and impacts associated with this Standard have been screened and determined to be not currently relevant. Public Disclosure ESS9 Financial Intermediaries The Project will not imply the use of Financial Intermediaries. Therefore, potential environmental and social risks and impacts associated with this Standard have been screened and determined to be not currently relevant. C. Legal Operational Policies that Apply OP 7.50 Projects on International Waterways No OP 7.60 Projects in Disputed Areas No III. BORROWER’S ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) DELIVERABLES against MEASURES AND ACTIONs IDENTIFIED TIMELINE ESS 1 Assessment and Management of Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts No stand alone deliverable is expected. The TA grant funded project developed an Environmental and 06/2019 Social Commitment Plan (ESCP) that will be implemented by the recipient of the grant, Instituto Jul 23, 2019 Page 6 of 8 The World Bank Improving Administrative Records for SDGs implementation and evidence-based policymaking in Paraguay (P170670) Desarrollo. The ESCP sets out a summary of the material measures and actions to ensure Instituto Desarrollo will implement material measures and actions so that the project is implemented in accordance with the World Bank Environmental and Social Standards (ESSs). ESS 10 Stakeholder Engagement and Information Disclosure The project has already develop a Stakeholder Engagement and Information Disclosure, and the 07/2019 document is part of the ESCP. ESS 2 Labor and Working Conditions Instituto Desarrollo will develop and implement labor management procedures, one week after signing the Agreement, appropriate management procedures will 11/2019 be put in place and thereafter maintained for consultant contracts. ESS 3 Resource Efficiency and Pollution Prevention and Management ESS 4 Community Health and Safety ESS 5 Land Acquisition, Restrictions on Land Use and Involuntary Resettlement Public Disclosure ESS 6 Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Natural Resources ESS 7 Indigenous Peoples/Sub-Saharan African Historically Underserved Traditional Local Communities ESS 8 Cultural Heritage ESS 9 Financial Intermediaries B.3. Reliance on Borrower’s policy, legal and institutional framework, relevant to the Project risks and impacts Is this project being prepared for use of Borrower Framework? No Jul 23, 2019 Page 7 of 8 The World Bank Improving Administrative Records for SDGs implementation and evidence-based policymaking in Paraguay (P170670) Areas where “Use of Borrower Framework” is being considered: The Project will not make use of the Borrower's E&S Framework but will comply with all national legal requirements. IV. CONTACT POINTS World Bank Contact: Mustafa Dinc Title: Senior Economist/Statistician Telephone No: 473-6233 Email: mdinc@worldbank.org Contact: Buyant Erdene Khaltarkhuu Title: Statistician Telephone No: 458-5498 Email: bkhaltarkhuu@worldbank.org Borrower/Client/Recipient Borrower: Government of Paraguay Implementing Agency(ies) Implementing Agency: Instituto Desarrollo Public Disclosure 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): Mustafa Dinc, Buyant Erdene Khaltarkhuu Practice Manager (ENR/Social) Maria Gonzalez de Asis Cleared on 28-Jun-2019 at 16:10:58 EDT Jul 23, 2019 Page 8 of 8