The World Bank Rwanda - Energy Access and Quality Improvement Project (P172594) Concept Environmental and Social Review Summary Concept Stage (ESRS Concept Stage) Public Disclosure Date Prepared/Updated: 02/25/2020 | Report No: ESRSC01119 Feb 25, 2020 Page 1 of 12 The World Bank Rwanda - Energy Access and Quality Improvement Project (P172594) BASIC INFORMATION A. Basic Project Data Country Region Project ID Parent Project ID (if any) Rwanda AFRICA P172594 Project Name Rwanda - Energy Access and Quality Improvement Project Practice Area (Lead) Financing Instrument Estimated Appraisal Date Estimated Board Date Energy & Extractives Investment Project 7/20/2020 9/30/2020 Financing Borrower(s) Implementing Agency(ies) Ministry of Finance and Rwanda Energy Group, Economic Planning Rwanda Development Bank (MINECOFIN) Proposed Development Objective(s) Public Disclosure Improve access to energy and efficiency of energy service delivery to households, businesses and public institutions in Rwanda. Financing (in USD Million) Amount Total Project Cost 150.00 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 proposed EAQIP project will form part of a large, multi-donor energy sector investment financing program to support the Government of Rwanda’s energy access objectives during the period of the National Strategy for Transformation (NST1; 2017-2024). The multi-donor program will have a total volume of an estimated US$ 550 m. The total IDA investment would be US$150 million, spread across four components of grid electrification, improving grid reliability and efficiency, advancing off-grid energy and clean cooking, and providing technical assistance, capacity building and implementation support. The grid-related and TA components will be implemented by the EARP PIU in EDCL, which has demonstrated its effectiveness under the EASSDP project (IDA16). The off-grid and clean cooking Feb 25, 2020 Page 2 of 12 The World Bank Rwanda - Energy Access and Quality Improvement Project (P172594) components will be implemented either by EARP or by the Renewable Energy Fund (REF) PIU in the Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD). D. Environmental and Social Overview D.1. Project location(s) and salient characteristics relevant to the ES assessment [geographic, environmental, social] The proposed operation will largely cover rural areas in Rwanda. The specific sites for the project intervention are not yet identified at this stage. The site-specific details will be identified during project preparation and implementation; and detailed environment and social description of those project/project activities location will be described when those details become available. The type of investment under component 1 includes investment in grid connections for households, commercial and industrial consumers, and public institutions (US $ 95,000,000). Component two (2) investments are related to improving grid stability and operation efficiency investments, which will cover the following: rehabilitation of an old domestic hydropower plant (HPP) called Ntaruka, built on the Mukungwa River (one of the tributaries of the Nyabarongo River which drains to the Akagera River that, in turn, discharges into Lake Victoria), to contribute to the security of renewable energy generation in Rwanda (US $ 11,000,000), installation of automatic voltage regulators on 220kV to reduce voltage rises due to low loading on 220kV (US$ 8,000,000), installation of power system stabilizers and governing systems on main generators (US $ 500,000), building GIS system (US $ 6,000,000) and completing installation of smart metering for all distribution transformers and medium/large customers (US $ 4,500,000). Associated facilities for this project particularly in relation to components one and two will be considered; and the ESA process will address them during the project preparation. Public Disclosure Component 3, is related to catalyzing private sector investment in off-grid energy and clean cooking and under this component investment will be in the following areas, results-based financing for (a) off-grid solar connections to reach poorer more remote areas and (b) clean cooking solutions, with business models and financing instruments yet to be determined (US $ 20,000,000). The fourth component is about technical assistance (TA), institutional capacity building and implementation support. Investment under this component will include TA to address sector performance improvements and forward-looking options for sector development (US $2,000,000); capacity building in planning, skills development, audit, social risk management and compliance (US $ 1,000,000); and finally implementation support (US $ 2,000,000). As part of the TA, extensive support will also be provided on the clean cooking component of the project, particularly on policy and regulatory improvement and entrepreneurship development, including targeted training for women entrepreneurs. D. 2. Borrower’s Institutional Capacity Electricity services in Rwanda are provided by Rwanda Energy Group (REG), under the oversight of the Ministry of Infrastructure (MININFRA). REG is a Government owned holding company comprising two independent subsidiaries, the Energy Utility Corporation Limited (EUCL) and the Energy Development Corporation Limited (EDCL). The EUCL is a vertically integrated utility which owns certain generation assets and buys electricity from IPPs, along with maintaining the transmission and distribution network, and providing electricity to consumers. The EDCL is responsible for building assets (generation as well as transmission/distribution), which are transferred to the EUCL Feb 25, 2020 Page 3 of 12 The World Bank Rwanda - Energy Access and Quality Improvement Project (P172594) upon completion. MININFRA oversees the investment as well as operations of REG as the governing ministry. The cash deficit of REG for both investment and operational purposes is provided through electricity sector subsidies by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN). In terms of implementation arrangement, the grid-related and TA components will be implemented by the EARP PIU in EDCL, which has demonstrated its effectiveness under the EASSDP project (IDA16). The PIU will be strengthened appropriately by recruiting critical staff specifically to support effective implementation of the project and social risk management of the EARP PIU in EDCL will further be assessed during project preparation proportionate environment and social risk management measures we be integrated in the project design. Staff requirements will be determined during preparation. The off-grid and clean cooking components will be implemented either by EARP or by the Renewable Energy Fund (REF) PIU in the Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD), and the environment and social risk management of either EARP or Renewable Energy Fund (REF) PIU in BRD will be assessed during project preparation when the final decision is made on which agency will implement this component. The World Bank has funded several operations under REG and there is one ongoing (Rwanda Energy Sector Strengthening Project, RESSP). The Bank’s experience with REG on-going projects regarding E&S management is that there is internal inadequate coordination due to the implementation arrangement when it comes to dealing with E&S risks. The sharing of staff between EUCL, EDCL and EARP under REG has contributed to compensation delays for on- going operation. Public Disclosure BRD has experience with managing Bank-funded projects and is currently implementing two others bank funded projects such as the socio-economic inclusion of refugees and host communities, Rwanda renewable energy project and the affordable housing project. BRD has developed an ESMS developed under these projects. II. SCREENING OF POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL (ES) RISKS AND IMPACTS A. Environmental and Social Risk Classification (ESRC) Substantial Environmental Risk Rating Substantial The project’s environmental risk rating is currently substantial considering the anticipated risks and impacts associated with construction of (medium-voltage) power distributions lines (component 1), rehabilitation of the old Ntaruka HPP (part of component 2), and distribution of solar system (part of component 3). It also considers technical assistance that involves sector performance improvements and forward-looking options for sector development; capacity building in planning, skills development, audit and compliance; and policy and regulatory improvement and entrepreneurship development, including targeted training for women entrepreneurs under clean cooking solutions (part of component 4), among others. The distributions lines and rehabilitation of the old Ntaruka HPP will involve civil works, which may have risks and impacts on biodiversity, natural resources and cultural heritage. Regrading the Ntaruka HPP, size of the dam and type of rehabilitation and legacy risks associated with it are not known at this concept stage. Information on these and other issues, including dam safety plans requirements, and risks and impacts on downstream communities and on biodiversity and natural resources will be assessed during the project preparation stage. Thus, the environmental risk rating may need to be revised based on the Ntaruka HPP assessment, Feb 25, 2020 Page 4 of 12 The World Bank Rwanda - Energy Access and Quality Improvement Project (P172594) along with the findings of environmental and social audit and related legacy risks. Distribution of solar system will have potential environmental and social risks and impacts related to the storage and final disposal of used batteries containing hazardous waste; and disposal/recycling of solar panels. In addition to disposal and recycling issues, solar batteries may cause environmental, social and safety risks during transportation, installation, and operation (e.g. fire and explosion risks). The implementing entities require capacity building to manage adequately potential risks and impacts in a manner consistent with the ESSs and satisfactory to the Bank. Therefore, the specific capacity building areas along with budget and staff required for ESSs and related aspects of implementation will be assessed during the project preparation. Overall, the project will also have potential occupational health and safety risks and impacts. Detail environmental and social assessment proportionate to the potential risks and impacts will be carried out during the project preparation. Social Risk Rating Moderate The social risk rating at this stage is moderate due to the risks related to the investments proposed in component one of the project. The investment in grid connections for households, commercial and industrial consumers, and public institutions is likely to involve compensation requirements for affected assets such as crops and trees. The expropriation experience with the bank funded projects in the energy is that there are delays in the process of preparation and implementation of resettlement instruments, especially the expropriation payments, and this has affected project implementation progress with the on-going energy projects of similar nature. The project design will have to integrate proportionate social risk management measures to avoid similar occurrences under this new operation. Other potential risks such as exclusion of the vulnerable and GBV risk will also be further assessed. B. Environment and Social Standards (ESSs) that Apply to the Activities Being Considered Public Disclosure 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: ESS 1 is relevant for this operation due to the environment and social risks related to the proposed investment under components one, two, three and four of this operation. Component one will involve investment in grid connections for households, commercial and industrial consumers, and public institutions. These activities will involve compensation for affected trees, crops and minimum restrictions on land under distribution lines and hence the need to prepare appropriate environment and social risk management tool as part of the design. Component two (2) investments are related to improving grid stability and operation efficiency investments, which will cover rehabilitation of Ntaruka HPP, installation of automatic voltage regulators on 220kV, installation of power system stabilizers and governing systems on main generators, building GIS system and completing installation of smart metering for all distribution transformers and medium/large customers. The proposed activities under this component poses significant OHS issues such as management of oils and lubricants for turbines, transformers and support infrastructures, management of lead/acid batteries and materials; and hence the need to have proportionate risk mitigation measures integrated in the project design. Environmental and social audit of Ntaruka HPP being considered for rehabilitation will be carried out prior to project appraisal to identify legacy risks that this project is taking on, along with remedial actions for implementation. Associated facilities for this project related to components one and two will be considered; and the ESA process will address them during the project preparation. The third component of the project, is related to catalyzing private sector investment in off-grid energy Feb 25, 2020 Page 5 of 12 The World Bank Rwanda - Energy Access and Quality Improvement Project (P172594) and clean cooking and under this component investment will be in the following areas, results-based financing for (a) off-grid solar connections to reach poorer more remote areas and (b) clean cooking solutions, with business models and financing instruments yet to be determined. There are also positive environmental contribution of the project activities, for instance, by supporting electrification through solar off-grid solutions the project will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions if equivalent electricity were sourced from fossil fuel-based utility-scale power plants or emergency diesel power plants. Despite these beneficial impacts, the solar system will have waste management issues, including disposal of used batteries containing hazardous waste. The clean cooking solutions will be very helpful for reducing deforestation and forest degradation, and thus contribute to climate change goals of the country. Component four will involve technical assistance such as sector performance improvements and forward-looking options for sector development; capacity building in planning, skills development, audit and compliance; and policy and regulatory improvement and entrepreneurship development, including targeted training for women entrepreneurs (under clean cooking solutions). The policy and regulatory development/improvement part will comprise improving fuel/stove regulations, quality standards, testing capacity, and tax/tariff policies to support clean cooking market development. All these TA activities may have direct or indirect environment and/or social impacts which will require adequate assessment of environmental and social implications to be included in the project design and relevant ESSs instruments, including the ESMF, in a manner consistent with the ESSs and satisfactory to the Bank. Overall, as part of the environmental and social assessment, it is envisaged that, prior to appraisal, the implementing agencies will prepare Environmental and Social Commitment Plan, Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF), Resettlement Policy Framework, Stakeholder Engagement Plan, Labor Management Procedures, and Environmental and Social Audit of Ntaruka HPP. Also, as the project intends to use Financial Intermediaries (FIs) Public Disclosure as project implementation entities, the FIs’ Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS) will be prepared prior to project appraisal once a decision is made to use FIs. During the project implementation, site specific environmental and social standards instruments such as environmental and social impact assessments, environmental and social management plans, and/or resettlement action plans will be prepared as required. The ESMF will cover, environmental and social baseline of the project; review of relevant national policy, institutional and regulatory frameworks; environmental and social risks/impacts and mitigation measures; project coordination and implementation arrangements; capacity building and training; environmental and social screening process; generic environmental and social management plan (ESMP) for distinctive activities of the project (such as grid connections, improving grid stability and operation efficiency investments including Ntaruka rehabilitation, off-grid solar connections, clean cooking, and TA activities); terms of reference for the preparation of site specific ESIA/ESMP; chance finds procedures for cultural heritage, and relevant guidelines (such as solar batteries and panels management, and EHS General and transmission/distribution guidelines), among others. The disadvantaged and vulnerable groups will be considered following Bank Directive on Disadvantaged and Vulnerable Groups. Areas where “Use of Borrower Framework” is being considered: The borrower’s framework, neither in whole nor in part, is not proposed to be relied on for the project. . However, this will further be explored during the project preparation. ESS10 Stakeholder Engagement and Information Disclosure The proposed project will involve various stakeholders which include, households, businesses, and public institutions in target areas in Rwanda through the following channels: (a) a portion of the currently unelectrified households who will get electricity connections (on-grid or off-grid); (b) households using biomass for cooking are expected to get Feb 25, 2020 Page 6 of 12 The World Bank Rwanda - Energy Access and Quality Improvement Project (P172594) health and economic benefits by switching to cleaner cooking options; (c) a portion of currently unelectrified public institutions in Rwanda, including schools and health centers (all hospitals in Rwanda are electrified), will get electrified. In addition, these stakeholders will be engaged in the TA component of the project (as required), including policy and regulatory improvement and entrepreneurship development, including targeted training for women entrepreneurs. REG will be a direct beneficiary of the project as it is expected to benefit from higher cost-recovery through improved operational efficiency (lower technical and commercial losses), and potentially higher revenues through increased electrification rate and improved quality of service. The list of key stakeholders, including women and vulnerable people, will be determined during project preparation. The client will prepare a Stakeholders Engagement Plan (SEP), including specific gendered social assessment, for this operation and disclose its draft as early as possible, prior to project appraisal. A project specific grievance redress mechanism (GRM), proportionate to the potential environmental and social risks and impacts of the project, will also be developed through inclusive and participatory approach and put in place to respond to concerns and grievances of project-affected parties in a timely manner. 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 Anticipated key labor risks and impacts are mainly associated with the planned construction works, and investments related to improving grid stability and operation efficiency, including Ntaruka HPP rehabilitation. There may be risks of child labor associated with the use of local labor. The client must provide appropriate measures for the protection Public Disclosure of vulnerable project workers such as women and people with disabilities and care will be given to both categories to ensure inclusion. Among skilled workers, the majority of those involved will be existing government civil servants. As such, these employees will remain subject to the terms and conditions of their existing public-sector employment. Majority of the unskilled workers will be sourced from the community members in the project site and a few required skilled workers from outside of the project area. Due to the discrete nature of these activities labor camps and influx are not anticipated. These individuals will however be subject to the requirement of ESS2 in relation to labor and working conditions including occupational health and safety and worker specific grievance redress mechanisms. Likewise, any technical consultants contracted by the project will also need to adhere to such standards. To ensure health and safety of workers during the construction, improving grid stability and operation efficiency, and operational phases of the project, a Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE) plan in line with Good International Industry Practice (GIIP) and EHS Guideline for Electric Power Transmission and Distribution will be prepared as part of the CESMPs, with general guidance provided as part of ESMF. The plan will include procedures on incident investigation and reporting, recording and reporting of non-conformity, emergency preparedness and response procedures and continuous training and awareness to workers. In addition, the project will need to develop and implement written labor management procedures (LMP) that will set out the way in which project workers will be managed including a code of conduct to mitigate GBV related risks. ESS3 Resource Efficiency and Pollution Prevention and Management ESS3 is relevant for the project. The project, through its four components, is expected to improve access to energy and efficiency of energy services delivery in the country, largely in the rural areas. The project’s proposed Feb 25, 2020 Page 7 of 12 The World Bank Rwanda - Energy Access and Quality Improvement Project (P172594) investments, including off-grid solar power and clean cooking, will also contribute to Rwanda’s priority mitigation actions under its National Determined Contributions (NDC). The off-grid solar power and clean cooking solutions will also contribute to the reduction of deforestation and forest degradation and indoor air pollution. Thus, in addition to improving resource/energy-efficient practices, the project will have positive environmental contribution through reducing greenhouse gas emissions, which will be grossly estimated during the preparation stage. However, the project will have risks and impacts of pollution in relation to management of oils and lubricants for turbines, transformers and support infrastructures; solar batteries and panels; and construction/rehabilitation activities, among others. The project may also have environmental damage due to improper management of construction/ rehabilitation material (such as extraction of excess sands and gravels), waste, and domestic waste which may cause expansion of project's environmental footprint. The TA part of the project, including the policy and regulatory development/improvement activity may have impact on resource efficiency and pollution management. All these issues, along with risks and impacts related to fuelwood and related resources required for clean cooking solutions, will be further assessed during project preparation as part of the ESA process. The management of impacts/risks of the above issues will be addressed in the project design and in the ESMF (including solar batteries and panels management guidelines, and application of WBG EHS Guidelines for Electric Power Transmission and Distribution) and other ESS instruments during the project preparation stage and further detailed in site specific ESIAs/ESMPs for subprojects during the project implementation stage. Moreover, in relation to components one and two, the client shall commit to require civil works contractor(s) to develop C-ESMP (comprising HSE plan, waste management plan, and restoration plan for borrow and quarry sites (as required) as per the ESMF and site specific ESMP/ESIA, and enforce their implementation accordingly Public Disclosure ESS4 Community Health and Safety Majority of the unskilled workers will be sourced from the community members in the project site and a few required skilled workers from outside of the project area. The project is not anticipated to contribute to significant labor influx in the project sites. However, potential community health and safety risks in the project sites are related to increase in crime, prostitution, gender-based violence (GBV) and other related social risks. Also, the project could contribute to potential structural safety risks such as electric shocks during connections, increase in road accidents due to increased number of vehicles during construction phase especially in formal settlement where we have a large number of people in a project site. The other potential community health risk relates to the potential for spread of communicable diseases due to the influx of people in search of work in the project sites. The project does not anticipate any use of security personnel. Also, there will be potential risks and impacts to community health and safety related to generation of wastes, noise, and dust; transportation of construction and HPP (Ntaruka) rehabilitation materials, and possibility of unauthorized entrance to construction and rehabilitation sites; and restoration of borrow and quarry sites. There will be risks related to transportation, installation, and operation of solar batteries (e.g. fire and explosion risks); and collection, storage and disposal of used solar batteries containing hazardous waste as well. Regarding Ntaruka (being considered for HHP rehabilitation), there will be potential community health and safety risks depending on dam size and type of rehabilitation. In addition, environmental and social audit of Ntaruka HPP will be carried out prior to project appraisal to identify legacy risks along with remedial actions for implementation. The TA component of the project, including the policy and regulatory development/improvement may have impact on community health and safety. All these potential community health and safety risks, along with mitigation measures, will be addressed in the ESMF (comprising generic ESMPs; guidelines for management of solar batteries and panels, and application of WBG EHS Guidelines for Electric Power Feb 25, 2020 Page 8 of 12 The World Bank Rwanda - Energy Access and Quality Improvement Project (P172594) Transmission and Distribution, and electromagnetic interference and electrocution, among others) and other relevant ESSs instruments, including E&S audit of the Ntaruka, during the project preparation and further detailed in the site specific ESIAs/ ESMPs for subprojects during the project implementation stage as required. It is good to underline that WBG’s EHS Guidelines for Electric Power Transmission and Distribution will be carefully assessed and used particularly to address risks related to ROW management, electronic magnetic fields, OHS and community health and safety; and all these will included in the ESMF and detailed in the site specific ESSs instruments (ESMPs/ESIAs). Except the above risks and impacts (which will be managed through preparing and implementing site specific ESIAs/ESMPs for subprojects, and Ntaruka’s environmental and social audit), the project is generally expected to result in positive community health impacts specifically for those households who will benefit from grid connection, off-grid solar connection and clean cooking solutions. ESS5 Land Acquisition, Restrictions on Land Use and Involuntary Resettlement The project will involve civil works in on-grid connection for a portion of the currently unelectrified households across different parts of the Country. These activities will involve expropriation, restriction on land use and expropriation. Resettlement impacts are mainly expected to be temporary and largely economical. No voluntary land donation anticipated under this project. The client will prepare a Resettlement Policy Framework (RPF) before appraisal that will give guidance to the implementing agencies during project implementation on how to deal with resettlement and expropriation issues. In addition to RPF, the client will prepare ESMF, SEP, ESCP (comprising specific gendered social assessment) and Ntaruka’s environmental and social audit (to identify legacy risks and prepare remedial actions for implementation) prior to project appraisal. Public Disclosure ESS6 Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Natural Resources Rwanda is known for its biodiversity and living natural resources, and is a party to the Convention on Biological Diversity. Therefore, ESS6 is relevant for the project, as some of the proposed investments could have potential impacts on biodiversity conservation and sustainable management of living natural resources. The extent of the impacts will be known during the project preparation and implementation depending on the nature of the project’s proposed investments and their specific sites. In this regard, Ntaruka being considered for old HPP rehabilitation (Comp. 2a) could have potential impacts on aquatic biodiversity/living natural resources and ecological flows. Ntaruka HPP was built on the Mukungwa River, one of the tributaries of the Nyabarongo River which drains to the Akagera River that, in turn, leads to Lake Victoria. Ntaruka’s environmental and social audit will be prepared to identify its legacy risks prior to project appraisal. Grid densification and expansion (Comp. 1), investments in grid stability and utility operation (Comp. 2b), and technical assistance for instance related to policy and regulatory improvement and entrepreneurship development, and forward-looking options for sector development (Comp. 4) may have impacts as well. Also, the clean cooking solutions may have impacts on forest and other resources if biomass sources and other supply chains are not properly identified and managed in a sustainable manner as per GoR’s laws and WB ESSs. In this regard, there is a need to address sustainable management of primary production and harvesting of living natural resources using relevant mitigation measures. Therefore, the overall potential risks to and impacts on natural, modified and critical habitats and legally protected areas will further be assessed during the project preparation as part of the ESA process. The findings will be addressed in the ESMF which will incorporate the elements for screening and applying mitigation hierarchy for the potential risks to biodiversity and living natural resources. The ESMF approach, including the environmental and social screening process, is very useful to manage Feb 25, 2020 Page 9 of 12 The World Bank Rwanda - Energy Access and Quality Improvement Project (P172594) biodiversity and natural resource issues as per this standard at the subproject level using site specific ESSs instruments (such as ESMPs/ESIAs/RAPs as required) to be prepared and implemented during the project implementation stage. Also, based on the client’s site specific ESSs instruments, the client will require civil works contractor(s) to prepare C-ESMP(s) (satisfactory to the GoR and the WB) and implement it accordingly during construction/rehabilitation. ESS7 Indigenous Peoples/Sub-Saharan African Historically Underserved Traditional Local Communities Relevance of this ESS will further be assessed during project preparation as part of the ESA process and as we get more information and clarity especially about selected and confirmed locations and sites for project implementation. ESS8 Cultural Heritage Relevance of this ESS will be further assessed during the project preparation (with an emphasis on components one and two as they will have construction/rehabilitation works) as part of the ESA process. Although no impacts to cultural heritage are anticipated, the project will incorporate “chance find” procedures in the ESMF, ESIA and ESMPs when physical cultural resources are encountered during construction/rehabilitation works. ESS9 Financial Intermediaries The project team is yet to determine if Financial Intermediaries are involved as part of project implementation Public Disclosure entities. Further assessment will be conducted with regard to FIs when this decision is made during the project preparation. C. Legal Operational Policies that Apply OP 7.50 Projects on International Waterways Yes The project will finance the rehabilitation of an old domestic hydropower plant called Ntaruka, built on the Mukungwa River. This River is one of the tributaries of the Nyabarongo River which drains to the Akagera River that, in turn, discharges into Lake Victoria. OP 7.60 Projects in Disputed Areas No III. WORLD BANK ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL DUE DILIGENCE A. Is a common approach being considered? Yes Financing Partners The project expects to be co-financed by European Investment Bank (EIB), the Saudi Fund and the OPEC Fund for International Development, and parallel financed by African Development bank (AfDB). The consideration for common approach will further be explored during project preparation. Feb 25, 2020 Page 10 of 12 The World Bank Rwanda - Energy Access and Quality Improvement Project (P172594) B. Proposed Measures, Actions and Timing (Borrower’s commitments) Actions to be completed prior to Bank Board Approval: The client will prepare the following document prior to Board Approval ESMF, RPF, SEP, ESCP (including specific gendered social assessment), LMP, Environmental and Social Audit of Ntaruka HPP being considered for rehabilitation, and ESMS for FI (based on the decision to be made during the project preparation). Possible issues to be addressed in the Borrower Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP): The borrowers ESCP will address the following issues 1. Environment and social risk management in terms of staffing proportionate to the project scope and risks, 2. Grievance redress mechanism appropriate for this project 3. Implementation of ESMS and ESS9 requirements 4. Timelines for the preparation of ESIAs and RAPs 5. Preparation of OHS plans appropriate for this operation 6. Environment and social risk monitoring and reporting arrangements for this operation 7. Gendered social assessment (SA) to look at potential gender impacts and recommendations for social and gender inclusion 8. Implementation of remediation measures identified in Environmental and Social Audit of Ntaruka HPP C. Timing Public Disclosure Tentative target date for preparing the Appraisal Stage ESRS 30-Jun-2020 IV. CONTACT POINTS World Bank Contact: Norah Kipwola Title: Senior Energy Specialist Telephone No: 5396+3318 / Email: nkipwola@worldbank.org Contact: Joern Thorsten Huenteler Title: Energy Specialist Telephone No: 5220+88646 / Email: jhuenteler@worldbank.org Borrower/Client/Recipient Borrower: Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN) Implementing Agency(ies) Implementing Agency: Rwanda Energy Group Implementing Agency: Rwanda Development Bank Feb 25, 2020 Page 11 of 12 The World Bank Rwanda - Energy Access and Quality Improvement Project (P172594) 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): Norah Kipwola, Joern Thorsten Huenteler Practice Manager (ENR/Social) Iain G. Shuker Recommended on 20-Feb-2020 at 00:27:59 EST Safeguards Advisor ESSA Nathalie S. Munzberg (SAESSA) Cleared on 25-Feb-2020 at 14:10:41 EST Public Disclosure Feb 25, 2020 Page 12 of 12