The World Bank Early Childhood Development Project to build Tajikistan’s Human Capital (P169168) Appraisal Environmental and Social Review Summary Appraisal Stage (ESRS Appraisal Stage) Public Disclosure Date Prepared/Updated: 01/24/2020 | Report No: ESRSA00375 Jan 24, 2020 Page 1 of 15 The World Bank Early Childhood Development Project to build Tajikistan’s Human Capital (P169168) BASIC INFORMATION A. Basic Project Data Country Region Project ID Parent Project ID (if any) Tajikistan EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIA P169168 Project Name Early Childhood Development Project to build Tajikistan’s Human Capital Practice Area (Lead) Financing Instrument Estimated Appraisal Date Estimated Board Date Education Investment Project 1/22/2020 4/30/2020 Financing Borrower(s) Implementing Agency(ies) Republic of Tajikistan Ministry of Finance Proposed Development Objective(s) To increase utilization of a basic package of health and preschool education services for 0 to 6 year old children. Public Disclosure Financing (in USD Million) Amount Total Project Cost 73.00 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 project aims to increase utilization of a basic package of health and preschool education services for 0 to 6 year old children in Tajikistan. Components 1 and 2 focus on national level interventions, Component 3 focuses on targeted district level interventions, while Component 4 supports project management and coordination. The first component aims to strengthen the system capacity to deliver a basic package of integrated health and education services (BP) that promotes improved ECD outcomes. Under this component: • Technical assistance is expected to be procured for updating and where required, developing the resources needed to support implementation of the BP at the national and district level (e.g., developing a BP Operational Manual, updating the national prenatal care guidelines and tools, updating the national child growth and development monitoring program, review and adaptation of curricula, equipment and teaching and learning materials Jan 24, 2020 Page 2 of 15 The World Bank Early Childhood Development Project to build Tajikistan’s Human Capital (P169168) for existing and alternative preschool models and revising preschool construction designs to be more cost effective, energy efficient, educationally sound and safe). • Managerial staff and trainers will be provided with relevant training to build their knowledge and capacity to oversee and implement the BP. Training will integrate content on gender targeting and climate change adaptation and mitigation, including energy and water conservation measures that can be taken in their workplaces and promoted through their regular work. • A national monitoring and evaluation system on ECD will be developed and evaluations of project interventions will be undertaken to support government’s capacity to measure and evaluate child development outcomes. • Financing reforms will be supported through financing from the Global Financing Facility (in the form of reimbursements for Disbursement Lined Indicators) to incentivize the inclusion of primary health care as one of the areas for the early roll-out of the national program-based budgeting program. • Finally, the project will also support the development of a cohesive and coordinated ECD regulatory framework, including governance, financing mechanism, and staffing. Core elements of the BP will be rolled out nationally under Component 2. This will be achieved through two sub- components: • The first will be investment in social and behavior change communications. The project will finance: (a) a stakeholder analysis; (b) a comprehensive Communications Strategy with culturally appropriate messages and approaches to target audiences at various levels to enhance the understanding about the full definition of ECD, including nutrition, responsive care and early stimulation, and alternative early learning interventions; and (c) Public Disclosure implementation of the Communications Strategy using a wide range of tools, such as television, newspapers, radio and social media campaigns. • The second sub-component will enable nation-wide roll out of the child growth and development monitoring (CGDM) program through financing the production and distribution of materials for the implementation of the updated ambulatory card for pregnant women, and for the implementation of updated CGDM; basic equipment and training to PHC facilities and their staff to implement the program. This component will provide training and the provision of ultrasound and laboratory equipment at regional level to support prenatal care and early detection of intrauterine growth restriction, congenital and genetic defects and other conditions that can affect intrauterine and childhood development. This sub-component will also finance rehabilitation, training and equipment to districts PHC centers and other rehabilitation services to support further assess, treatment and rehabilitation of children referred from rural PHC Centers. Under Component 3, the project aims to support local administrations and communities in targeted districts in developing, implementing and monitoring their ECD plans which are aligned with the goals of the BP. This will be achieved through three sub-components: • Under the first sub-component, the project will introduce a vital innovation to help target districts develop integrated ECD plans aimed at delivering the BP. The project will finance: (a) training for district staff in planning, implementation and monitoring implementation progress; (b) TA to develop implementation plans to achieve the BP in target districts; and (c) a targeted SBCC campaign at the local level, which will aim to assess ECD needs, develop integrated ECD plans, enhance family and community support for early childhood stimulation and development, improve parental practices, and empower health workers and educators to support parents and provide quality services that promote improved ECD outcomes at the local level. Jan 24, 2020 Page 3 of 15 The World Bank Early Childhood Development Project to build Tajikistan’s Human Capital (P169168) • Local administrations and communities in targeted districts will be supported in the implementation of their district ECD plans under the second sub-component through rehabilitation and provision of equipment and supplies, and training for selected PHC facilities, increasing support to nurses implementing the CGDM program, and expansion in access to preschool education. o PHC facilities will be rehabilitated to improve access to water and sanitation, quality and safety of existing infrastructure that are resilient to climate and geophysical hazards and energy efficient, and creation of ECD service rooms and settings for ECD programming. Many PHC facilities require rehabilitation and in a small number of selected cases, construction of new facilities may be needed and supported. Child development rooms will be part of PHC facilities rehabilitation (through designating existing spaces for this purpose or adding additional rooms, where possible). These will provide health workers and parents with a dedicated space, and materials, to implement the CGDM program, communicate about parenting and enhance child stimulation. Additional training will be provided to PHC workers including primary care nurses to take part in early child stimulation in the PHC facilities and during the household visits. Household visits will be based on the assessment of the risks and outcomes of the CGDM program. o To expand access to preschool education, the project will finance: (a) construction of 3 new KGs in selected locations, retrofitting existing spaces to accommodate new students in 55 KGs, and construction and retrofitting of 500 ELCs; (b) establishing up to 1,500 community child development groups (CCDGs) ; (c) training of teachers, facilitators, coaches and other staff (some sessions jointly with PHC staff); (d) procurement and distribution of appropriate classroom furniture and equipment; (e) production and distribution of teaching and learning materials to all KGs, ELCs and CCDGs supported by the project; and (f) quarterly coaching visits to KGs, ELCs and CCDGs supported by the project. The teaching and learning materials provided to CCDGs will be in sufficient quantities to enable caregivers to borrow materials to take home and read or play with their children. The MoES will recruit new KG and Public Disclosure ELC teachers, and coaches/methodologists, and is committed to financing their salaries from their budget. This will help defray the cost of accessing preschools for the lowest income group and is expected to contribute significantly to their ability to participate in preschool services. Communities will select premises for CCDGs (if outside of a public facility) and finance the remuneration of CCDG facilitators. • Active monitoring of the ECD pans at the district and the mohalla level will be supported through the use of ongoing institutional monitoring mechanisms (such as the education management information system and the Ministry of Health and Social Protection’s internal monitoring arrangements). Additional data collection would be financed, including attendance data of children in ELCs and KGs, and enrollment and attendance data of families in CCDGs. • Local accountability and citizen engagement will be strengthened by engaging parents and communities in the implementation of activities across the project, building on existing systems to engage parents and community members and working at the community level to identify needs and gaps in services promoting improved ECD outcomes. In addition, synergies with the recently approved community-driven development projects, CSP and SERSP, offer platforms for deeper engagement working with mahallas and community-subcommittees. Two mechanisms for engagement are planned: (a) the SMS-based information and beneficiary feedback mechanism “Mobile Engage”; and (b) a participatory planning and monitoring mechanism through women’s (or parent) groups to allow local monitoring the performance of their PHCs and preschools. The fourth component will provide support for the execution of project management and coordination activities. The component will finance: (a) external consulting services required, including consultants to staff the PIG in the areas of procurement, FM, M&E, community mobilization, and other technical positions, liaison officers for coordination with the MoF, MoHSP, MoES and authorities of the prioritized districts and mahallas; (b) office and equipment; (c) training for PIG and all concerned parties, as needed for project implementation; (d) audits, and operating costs, including Jan 24, 2020 Page 4 of 15 The World Bank Early Childhood Development Project to build Tajikistan’s Human Capital (P169168) travel for study tours and supervision; and (e) workshops and conference, as agreed with the Bank, to facilitate good practices and share lessons learned. D. Environmental and Social Overview D.1. Project location(s) and salient characteristics relevant to the ES assessment [geographic, environmental, social] Tajikistan is a small mountainous and locked country in the heart of Central Asia, bordering Afghanistan, China, the Kyrgyz Republic, and Uzbekistan, with an area of 143,100 km2 and an estimated population of 8.7 million people. Tajikistan consists of 4 administrative divisions. These are the provinces (Viloyat) of Sughd and Khatlon, the autonomous province of Gorno-Badakhshan (abbreviated as GBAO), and the Region of Republican Subordination (RRP)– Each region is divided into several districts, (Tajik: Ноҳия, nohiya or raion), which in turn are subdivided into jamoats (village-level self-governing units) and then villages (Qyshloqs). There are 58 districts and 367 jamoats in Tajikistan. Geographical coverage of region/ district/ villages are yet to be decided. So, as of now, the ESRS describes physical characteristics in general for the country as a whole. Tajikistan has mountains covering more than 90% of the country rendering livelihoods and accessibility extremely difficult. Natural hazards such as floods, earthquakes, landslides, mud-flows, avalanches and heavy snowfalls are quite common resulting in significant economic losses and human casualties. The country is at high risk of earthquakes, flooding and out-of-season glacial melting, all of which can quickly overwhelm national capacity and become localized crises. Population growth, urbanization and climate change continue to exacerbate the impact of disasters, which are expected to occur more frequently and intensively and to affect more people in the future. Children are among the most vulnerable to natural hazards, and their well-being Public Disclosure suffers in the short and long terms. In 2017, children in Tajikistan suffered five small-scale natural disasters, including avalanches, floods, mud flows and earthquakes, in addition to measles and rubella outbreaks. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tajikistan’s HDI value for 2017 is 0.650— which put the country in the medium human development category— positioning it at 127 out of 189 countries and territories. However, when the value is discounted for inequality, the HDI falls to 0.562, a loss of 13.6 percent due to inequality in the distribution of the HDI dimension indices. Tajikistan has a GII value of 0.317, ranking it 69 out of 160 countries in the 2017 index. In Tajikistan, 20.0 percent of parliamentary seats are held by women, and 98.9 percent of adult women have reached at least a secondary level of education compared to 87.0 percent of their male counterparts. For every 100,000 live births, 32 women die from pregnancy related causes; and the adolescent birth rate is 36.4 births per 1,000 women of ages 15-19. Female participation in the labour market is 45.5 percent compared to 73.3 for men. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- There are well over 800,000 children in Tajikistan who are 0 to 5 years of age. This means that more than one in ten people in the population is in this age group. Despite economic progress and gains in stability, the life of the typical child of this age remains uncertain. Poverty is still a constraint and is having a particularly large impact on young children and on women because of the special vulnerability of these segments of the population. Significant unemployment has led to large-scale migration for work, especially among men. Women have been left behind to head households, and they have thus become responsible for supporting their families, as well as carrying out their other domestic duties and take care of children. All these have impacted early child development and in turn on human capital development and poverty reduction in the country. Specifically, the following summarizes the existing social baseline relevant to the project. Jan 24, 2020 Page 5 of 15 The World Bank Early Childhood Development Project to build Tajikistan’s Human Capital (P169168) HEALTH: 1. infant mortality has declined in the past 15 years from 74 to 39 per 1000 live births and child mortality from 93 to 45 per 1000 live births. However, disparities by wealth and geographical locations have proved to be critical. 2. 41% out of 122 newly reported HIV cases among children age 0-18 in 2016 were due to vertical transmission from mothers. 3. • Coverage of voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) for Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) has suffered for want ot HIV testing kits. SOCIAL PROTECTION: 1. Only women in official employment are entitled to access social protection benefits, whereas the vast majority of Tajik women, in particular in rural areas, are not officially employed. 2. One in every 10 children is not registered in time. 3. Girls and boys with disabilities are among the most vulnerable groups of children who are affected by gaps in existing services, this is especially true in rural and remote areas (including early detection and rehabilitation services). NUTRITION: 1. One of the factors driving food insecurity is the inability of households to purchase nutritious food (10-20 percent of citizens do not have enough money to buy basic food products). 2. One fourth of children 0-5 years suffer from stunting (DHS 2012), the irreversible result of chronic nutrition deprivation. EDUCATION: Public Disclosure 1. Early childhood education (ECE) remains inaccessible for over 80% of children in Tajikistan, mostly from rural areas, depriving them from having opportunities to attain the emotional, behavioral, and cognitive skills needed to learn and achieve successfully in school prior to starting primary schooling. 2. Recent assessment (GPE-4, 2016) of ECE services in Tajikistan reported provision of low quality of services, which affects learning outcomes of children and their success in schooling. 3. ECE sector is underfunded with only 0.85% of the total education budget and 0.25% of GDP. D. 2. Borrower’s Institutional Capacity The proposed project requires a multi-sectoral approach of involving several ministries- finance, education, health, social protection, and close coordination water and sanitation. Accordingly, a multi-sectoral council will be established at the national level to provide policy oversight and stewardship of the project. Day to day project management will rest with a Project Implementation Unit comprising personnel from different ministries. Nature and composition of PIU will be firmed up before the project preparation commences. Given that several agencies will be involved in managing the project and that ESS approach is new to them, borrower's capacity is expected to be quite limited. This will require appropriate and adequate capacity support and capacity development efforts. II. SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL (ES) RISKS AND IMPACTS A. Environmental and Social Risk Classification (ESRC) Substantial Environmental Risk Rating Moderate The Environmental Risk Rating is "Moderate". The project will finance small scale infrastructure works for the construction and rehabilitation of pre-schools and health centers. These interventions are expected to take place on Jan 24, 2020 Page 6 of 15 The World Bank Early Childhood Development Project to build Tajikistan’s Human Capital (P169168) the property of existing facilities; therefore, they will be mostly community-based activities and environmental issues (and impacts thereof) are not expected to be significant. The risk is rated "Moderate" rather than "low" given the potential remoteness of some of the project areas where current capacity for addressing the relevant ESSes is expected to be low, and the limited capacity and experience of implementing agencies in the application of the Bank’s ESF. The physical works envisaged under both components 1 and 2 are of small to medium scale and the associated environmental impacts are expected to be temporary, predictable, and easily mitigable. The proposed project activities are not expected to be located in environmentally sensitive areas; however, as the final districts for project activities have not been identified, there remains the potential for proximity to sensitive areas. The proposed activities are not expected to generate serious adverse effects to human health and the environment. Social Risk Rating Substantial Social Risk Rating is Substantial as project areas are intrinsically diverse regions and are exposed to common conflict and fragility risks which will have a bearing on the project outcomes. The project areas are thus characterized by : (i) geographical- inter regional and international/ cross border risks; (ii) economic risks – high rate of unemployment in particular among youth and significant dependency of household income on remittances which is vulnerable to external economic conditions and fluctuations; (iii) social risks – certain sections could get excluded either due to inherent structural deficiencies and/ or due to elite capture; and (iv) institutional risks – inadequate capacity of the client in ESS application. The border vulnerability and the absence of sustainable job opportunities and income- generating activities has led to migration, unemployment and poverty which has impacted adversely 'women' particularly for the poor and vulnerable households. These apart, a number of issues related to Health, Social Protection, Nutrition and Education described above in D1 section are expected to be key impediments to inclusive ECD which the Project needs to adders in order to achieve the objective. While some risks are 'contextual' and remain Public Disclosure external to the project, others have been addressed. During the preparation, project designs have been carefully reviewed and amended based on the result of Social Assessment which forms a part of ESIA/ESMF. Lastly, the project, by design, will avoid undertaking any activity which will result in physical and/ economic displacement. Nor are any structures expected to be destroyed. Yet, there are limited chances of acquisition of ‘lands,’ as related to construction of new kindergartens and construction and retrofitting of ELCs., hence carry resettlement related risks as well. All social risks are identifiable and could be mitigated. Hence, the risk is rated substantial. 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 environment risk is rated moderate and social risks is rated substantial; therefore, the overall ESF risk level is substantial, due primarily to the fragile social conditions, the remoteness and number of planned activities, and inexperience of the client delivering ESF. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Towards addressing the risks, following instruments have been prepared: (i) Environment and Social Management Framework (ESMF): (ii) Social Assessment to inform the design of the project and the design of more detailed, site- specific social assessments that may be conducted during implementation when target rayons are identified, specially, in identifying more detailed socioeconomic, demographic and other relevant profiles of poor and vulnerable households at risk of exclusion and developing means for the Project to reach out to them; (iii) Jan 24, 2020 Page 7 of 15 The World Bank Early Childhood Development Project to build Tajikistan’s Human Capital (P169168) Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP); (iv) Resettlement Policy Framework (RPF) ; and (v) Labor Management Procedures (LMP). A framework approach is deployed since the project is financing a broad range of small and medium scale activities, most of which will not be identified until implementation begins. The ESMF will cover applicable ESF Standards and the World Bank Group’s Environmental Health and Safety Guidelines. The ESMF will have checklists for determining where and when site specific Environment and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs)/Management Plans (ESMPs) will be necessary. The ESMF will also contain generic ESMP checklists for the small scale constuction and rehabilitation for pre-schools and health centers envisaged by the project. Risks of exclusion and elite capture pose major threats which needs to be mitigated. But, currently, fullest picture of the social profile of direct beneficiaries and their capacity to interface with the project is not known. Given this situation, the client prepared a Social Assessment that includes: (i) stakeholder identification/mapping; (ii) stakeholder analysis of expectations, concerns, and issues; (iii) assessments of positive and negative impacts; and (iv) a social management plan to mitigate the negative impacts and enhance positive benefits. The Project’s institutional and implementation arrangements have been modified based on the result of the SA to ensure an effective outreach which includes development of inclusive IEC and capacity support and capacity building. A separate component 2.1, Social and Behavioral Change Communications, will be financed under the project towards developing and implementing a communication campaign to create fuller awareness and shared common understanding about the significance of ECD --covering nutrition, responsive care and early stimulation, and alternative early learning interventions – deploying a wide range of audio, video and print media as well as social media. Further, a Resettlement Policy Framework (RPF) has been prepared to address any unforeseen land acquisition related issues. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Public Disclosure Documentation and information available and reviewed as part of E&S screening are as follows: 1. “Tajikistan: Country Economic Update, Spring 2018.” World Bank, Washington, DC. 2. OECD State of Fragility Report, 2018. 3. Tajikistan Risk and Resilience Assessment, World Bank, Washington, DC, 2017. 4. Tajikistan Country Gender Assessment, ADB, 2016. 5. National Gender Profile of Agricultural and Rural Livelihoods – Tajikistan, FAO, 2016. 6. “World Bank. 2013. Tajikistan : Early Childhood Development. Systems Approach for Better Education Results (SABER);. Washington, DC. © World Bank. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/16278 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.” 7. Protecting the Young: Our First Commitment: https://www.unicef.org/tajikistan/media_8988.html 8. https://www.unicef.org/about/annualreport/files/Tajikistan_2017_COAR.pdf 9. http://blogs.worldbank.org/voices/psd/category/countries/tajikistan 10. The 2018 Fragility Forum: Managing risks for peace and stability-- https://blogs.worldbank.org/voices/category/countries/tajikistan 11. Early Childhood in Tajikistan - Unicef https://www.unicef.org/tajikistan/C2C-BookletA4.pdf 12. UNICEF Tajikistan - The children - Early Childhood Years https://www.unicef.org/tajikistan/children.html 13. Changing mind-sets and pioneering social work in Tajikstan - CELCIS https://www.celcis.org/.../Chaning_mindsets_and_pioneering_social_work_in_Tajikistan... 14. Tajikistan 2017 Demographic and Health Survey - Key Findings [SR250] https://www.dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/SR250/SR250.pdf Jan 24, 2020 Page 8 of 15 The World Bank Early Childhood Development Project to build Tajikistan’s Human Capital (P169168) 15. Education | Tajikistan | U.S. Agency for International Development https://www.usaid.gov/tajikistan/education ESS10 Stakeholder Engagement and Information Disclosure Detailed identification of project affected stakeholders have been made during the preparation. Stakeholders who will be affected directly have been distinctly delineated. Mapping of other interested parties such as government agencies/ authorities, rival / NGOs and CSOs needs to be done fully. Given the highly diverse stakeholder profile and that their expectations and orientation as well as capacity to interface with the project are different, a Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) will need to be developed. This will enable the project to identify elaborately different stakeholders and provide an approach towards reaching each of the sub groups. SEP will also identify impediments, if any, at reaching out to stakeholders as well as reflect/ build capacity of the client in engaging with stakeholders. A draft SEP has been prepared by the client, and disclosed on their website. A variety of engagements have already happened. SEP will be updated as preparation advances. The client has also developed a Grievance Redressal Mechanism (GRM) to enable stakeholders air their concerns/ comments/ suggestions, if any. 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 Public Disclosure Project could encompass the following categories of workers: direct workers, contracted workers, community workers, and primary supply workers. Direct workers could be either government civil servants or those deployed as ‘technical consultants’ by the project. The former will be governed by a set of civil services code, the latter by mutually agreed contracts. Community workers are quite likely as there could be community based civil works, details will be identified during preparation. Primary supply workers also need to be identified. And contract workers will be employed as deemed appropriate by contractors, sub contractors, and other intermediaries, details of which will be known as and when activities' implementation begins. The project proposes some small/ medium scale infrastructure for the construction or rehabilitation of health centers and pre-schools; therefore, contractors are expected to be from the local vicinity. The expectation is that the majority of labor will be locally hired with the exception of a few skilled workers. Risk of child/ forced labor is considered to be limited. The client has prepared a labor management procedure which will set out details for preparing the labor management plans. Provisions will be made to train and hire as many as possible from local communities where the activities are taking place. The ESMF will include sections on Environment Health and Safety (EHS) including specific instruments that will need to be prepared either by the client or the contractor prior to commencement of works (ESH checklists, codes of conduct; safety training etc.). Civil works contracts will incorporate social and environmental mitigation measures based on the WBG EHS Guidelines and the ESMF; other referenced plans e.g. Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP), RPF etc. as well as specific language referencing the prioritization of the hiring of unskilled local labor. All civil works contracts will include industry standard Codes of Conduct that include measures to prevent Gender Based Violence/Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (GBV/SEA). A locally based Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) specifically for direct and contracted workers will also be provided. Jan 24, 2020 Page 9 of 15 The World Bank Early Childhood Development Project to build Tajikistan’s Human Capital (P169168) ESS3 Resource Efficiency and Pollution Prevention and Management The ESMF will include sections on resource efficiency and Pollution Prevention and Management. Assessment of risks and impacts and proposed mitigation measures related to relevant requirements of ESS3, including raw materials, water use, air pollution, hazardous materials, and hazardous waste will be included within scope of the ESMF and ESMPs as relevant. ESS4 Community Health and Safety Though relevant, community health and safety may not be critical, as the local communities will be closely involved in decision making as well as in implementing the activities. The Project will ensure that proponents of and contractors for sub-activites are responsive to the preferences and needs of community members, including women and vulnerable groups. The ESMF will include assessment of work related health risks; HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases; excessive noise and dust levels, site safety awareness and access restrictions; and labor influx. Fencing will be installed around all construction sites and areas where there is a risk to community health and safety. Community organizations (Mahalla) will be empowered to undertake social audit/ monitoring from time to time which will cover CHS as well. ESS5 Land Acquisition, Restrictions on Land Use and Involuntary Resettlement The project by design will avoid activities that may involve physical/ economic displacement and/ or loss of structures. Being small scale activities and that they are community driven, flexibility in terms of design and location Public Disclosure shall be available and hence no resettlement is envisaged. While most activities are expected to be within the footprint of publicly owned lands, there could be some isolated instances wherein limited amount of lands need to be acquired involuntarily for construction or retrofitting of kindergartens and early learning centers. Towards addressing such a situation, the client has prepared a Resettlement Policy Framework, sought approval from the Bank and disclosed the same. RPF lays bare the next steps on preparing and implementing resettlement action plans (RAP). The framework clarifies resettlement principles, organizational arrangements, and design criteria to be applied to sub- projects or project components to be prepared during project implementation. Once the sub-project or individual project components are defined and the necessary information becomes available, such a framework will be expanded into a specific resettlement action. Project activities that will cause physical and/or economic displacement will not commence until such specific plans have been finalized and approved by the Bank. ESS6 Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Natural Resources During preparation, the standard was assessed during preparation and it was confirmed that the activities envisaged are small in scale and expected to be carried out in existing towns and villages; therefore, the standard is not considered relevant. ESS7 Indigenous Peoples/Sub-Saharan African Historically Underserved Traditional Local Communities Based on the screening against ESS 7, this ESS is not considered relevant to the project. Jan 24, 2020 Page 10 of 15 The World Bank Early Childhood Development Project to build Tajikistan’s Human Capital (P169168) ESS8 Cultural Heritage Tajikistan is home to two UNESCO World Heritage Site as well as nine candidate sites. Although the small scale activities envisaged are not expected to have direct physical impact on the heritage monuments, indirect impacts from project financed activities will be closely looked at and mitigation measures provided during the preparation of ESMF. The ESMF will include a section on protection of Cultural Heritage as well as proper "chance find" procedures to be included in site specific ESIA/ESMPs and checklists. ESS9 Financial Intermediaries This standard is not currently relevant as no financial intermediaries are party to the project implementation modality. 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) Public Disclosure DELIVERABLES against MEASURES AND ACTIONs IDENTIFIED TIMELINE ESS 1 Assessment and Management of Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE: Establish an organizational structure with qualified staff to support management of E&S risks including environment and social specialists responsible for ensuring full 04/2020 compliance with the ESF and relevant instruments, which shall include the Environmental and Social Specialists at PIG, and Regional Environmental and Social Safeguards Consultants. Maintain Organizational Structure as necessary throughout Project implementation. 06/2024 ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK (ESMF): Prepare an ESMF to identify and assess the environmental and social risks and impacts of the Project and appropriate mitigation 12/2019 measures. ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIAL SCREENING OF SUBPROJECT ACTIVITIES: based on the ESMF and the site specific ESIA/ESMPs. Though a continuous activity, the first two sub projects from each Project 06/2024 component and from each participating district, to be shared with and cleared by the Bank. ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK (ESMF): Due Diligence- Other Civil 06/2024 Construction Jan 24, 2020 Page 11 of 15 The World Bank Early Childhood Development Project to build Tajikistan’s Human Capital (P169168) Prepare a template for preparing a Due Diligence Note (DDN) to serve as a decision tool for associating with civil works/ buildings constructed/ likely to be constructed by others. MANAGEMENT OF CONTRACTORS: Develop and implement procedures for managing contractors and subcontractors, including consideration of standard clauses to include in bidding 06/2024 documentation/contracts for civil works and supervision. PERMIT, CONSENTS AND AUTHORIZATIONS: Obtain or assist in obtaining, as appropriate, the permits, consents and authorizations that are applicable to the Project from relevant national authorities. 06/2024 Comply or cause to comply, as appropriate, with the conditions established in these permits, consents and authorizations throughout Project implementation. ESS 10 Stakeholder Engagement and Information Disclosure SEP PREPARATION: Prepare, adopt and disclose a Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP). 12/2019 SEP IMPLEMENTATION: Implement the SEP throughout project implementation. As necessary, update 06/2024 and re-disclose updated SEP throughout Project Implementation. PROJECT GRIEVANCE MECHANISM (GRM): Develop the arrangements for the grievance mechanism. 12/2019 Ensure implementation, monitoring, and reporting on the Project GRM. 06/2024 Public Disclosure CONSULTATION ON ESF INSTRUMENTS: Detailed stakeholder consultation on all ESF Instruments 12/2019 (ESMF, RPF, SEP) conducted by completion of Project Appraisal. ESS 2 Labor and Working Conditions LABOR MANAGEMENT PROCEDURES: Development, adoption and implementation labor management 06/2024 procedures (LMP). GRIEVANCE MECHANISM FOR PROJECT WORKERS: Development, adoption and maintenance of a 06/2024 grievance mechanism for Project workers. OHS MEASURES: Develop, adoption, and implementation of occupational, health, and safety (OHS) measures consistent with the ESMF, ESS2 and World Bank Group Environmental 06/2024 Health and Safety Guidelines for inclusion in the LMP. EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE: As part of the OHS measures specified in 2.3, include measures on emergency preparedness and response, and ensure coordination with measures under 06/2024 4.5, below and implement throughout the project. PROJECT WORKERS TRAINING: Implement training of Project Workers designed to heighten awareness 06/2024 of risks and to mitigate impacts on local communities. Jan 24, 2020 Page 12 of 15 The World Bank Early Childhood Development Project to build Tajikistan’s Human Capital (P169168) ESS 3 Resource Efficiency and Pollution Prevention and Management MANAGEMENT OF WASTE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS: Develop, adopt and implement measures 12/2019 and actions to manage Project-related waste and hazardous materials. ESS 4 Community Health and Safety TRAFFIC AND ROAD SAFETY: Develop, adopt and implement measures and actions to assess and manage traffic and road safety risks. 12/2019 COMMUNITY HEALTH AND SAFETY: Develop, adopt and implement measures and action to assess and manage specific risks and impacts to the community arising from Project activities, including in relation 12/2019 to Project Workers and any risks of labor influx. GBV AND SEA RISKS: Develop, adopt and implement measures and actions to assess and manage the risks of gender-based violence (GBV) and sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), including Code of 06/2024 Contact to be included in bidding documents. GBV AND SEA RISKS DURING PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION: Specify additional funds available to implement measures to address GBV and SEA risks and impacts that may arise during Project 12/2019 implementation. Include in stakeholder training. Public Disclosure EMERGENCY RESPONSE MEASURES: Develop measures to address emergency events and ensure 12/2019 coordination with measures under 2.4 above. COMMUNITY AWERENESS: Conduct community capacity building to heighten awareness of risks and to mitigate impacts as outlined in the SEP, training section of the POM, and the Project’s annual 06/2024 Training Plan. ESS 5 Land Acquisition, Restrictions on Land Use and Involuntary Resettlement LAND ACQUISITION AND RESETTLEMENT: Prepare Resettlement Policy Framework. 12/2019 RESETTLEMENT PLANS: If needed, develop and implement resettlement plans [RAPs] consistent with 06/2024 the requirements of the RPF and ESS5. MONITORING AND REPORTING: Ensure that monitoring and reporting on land acquisition and 06/2024 resettlement activities are conducted separately or as part of regular reporting. 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 Jan 24, 2020 Page 13 of 15 The World Bank Early Childhood Development Project to build Tajikistan’s Human Capital (P169168) CHANCE FINDS: Develop and implement a chance finds procedure in the ESMF and include as a 06/2024 requirement in site-specific ESIAs/ESMPs. 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 Areas where “Use of Borrower Framework” is being considered: Given the substantial social risk of the project and the unfamiliarity of the Client with the World Bank's ESF, the Borrower's E&S Framework will not be used for the Project as a whole or for any of its parts. IV. CONTACT POINTS World Bank Contact: Ayesha Y. Vawda Title: Lead Education Specialist Telephone No: 5775+268 / 7 Email: avawda@worldbank.org Public Disclosure Contact: Carlos Marcelo Bortman Title: Lead Health Specialist Telephone No: 458-9730 Email: mbortman@worldbank.org Borrower/Client/Recipient Borrower: Republic of Tajikistan Implementing Agency(ies) Implementing Agency: Ministry of Finance 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): Ayesha Y. Vawda, Carlos Marcelo Bortman Jan 24, 2020 Page 14 of 15 The World Bank Early Childhood Development Project to build Tajikistan’s Human Capital (P169168) Practice Manager (ENR/Social) Kevin A Tomlinson Cleared on 23-Dec-2019 at 20:44:42 EST Public Disclosure Jan 24, 2020 Page 15 of 15