Page 1 INTEGRATED SAFEGUARDS DATASHEET APPRAISAL STAGE I. Basic Information Date prepared/updated: 04/03/2006 Report No.: AC2221 1. Basic Project Data Country: Moldova Project ID: P099841 Project Name: Avian Influenza Control & Human Pandemic Preparedness & Response Project Task Team Leader: Anatol Gobjila Estimated Appraisal Date: April 3, 2006 Estimated Board Date: May 15, 2006 Managing Unit: ECSSD Lending Instrument: Emergency Recovery Loan Sector: General agriculture, fishing and forestry sector (50%);Health (50%) Theme: Natural disaster management (P);Other communicable diseases (P);Rural policies and institutions (S);Other environment and natural resources management (S) IBRD Amount (US$m.): 0.00 IDA Amount (US$m.): 8.00 GEF Amount (US$m.): 0.00 PCF Amount (US$m.): 0.00 Other financing amounts by source: BORROWER/RECIPIENT 0.75 US: AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (USAID) 0.30 EC: EUROPEAN COMMISSION 0.60 JAPAN: MINISTRY OF FINANCE - PHRD GRANTS 0.50 Financing Gap 0.45 2.60 Environmental Category: B - Partial Assessment Simplified Processing Simple [] Repeater [] Is this project processed under OP 8.50 (Emergency Recovery) Yes [X] No [ ] 2. Project Objectives The overall objective of the Project is to minimize the threat posed to humans by Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) and other infectious diseases that originate in animals. To achieve this, the Project will conduct surveillance for outbreaks of such diseases, prepare for outbreaks, and act to control outbreaks among humans and animals. 3. Project Description Component 1:Animal Health. The component supports government surveillance of the HPAI and other diseases by procurement of vital laboratory equipment for identifying viruses and through training of technicians. Moreover, it strengthens HPAI control programs through training and through procurement of special equipment for culling birds. To encourage reporting of sick animals, the component establishes and contributes to a compensation fund for farmers whose poultry are culled. Page 2 Component 2: Human health. This component strengthens the health system's response capacity through investments in laboratory equipment for identifying viral infections, equipment for intensive care units, training, and potentially, anti-viral medications and vaccines (should one become available). Component 3: Public Awareness & Information. This component supports information and communication activities to increase public understanding of HPAI and to promote commitment and cooperation by civil society, the private sector, and government. Component 4: Implementation Support and Monitoring & Evaluation. This final component supports project management, monitoring, and evaluation. 4. Project Location and salient physical characteristics relevant to the safeguard analysis The project is a national project which covers the entire country, to varying degrees, depending on the location of outbreaks for purposes of virus eradication at the source. Capacity will be strengthened to allow proper disease monitoring throughout the country. This will require specific interventions in regions where satellite animal health laboratories exist. On the human health side, project activities will be both country wide and regional. 5. Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialists Mr Aleksandar Nacev (ECSSD) 6. Safeguard Policies Triggered Yes No Environmental Assessment (OP/BP 4.01) X Natural Habitats (OP/BP 4.04) X Forests (OP/BP 4.36) X Pest Management (OP 4.09) X Cultural Property (OPN 11.03) X Indigenous Peoples (OP/BP 4.10) X Involuntary Resettlement (OP/BP 4.12) X Safety of Dams (OP/BP 4.37) X Projects on International Waterways (OP/BP 7.50) X Projects in Disputed Areas (OP/BP 7.60) X Page 3 II. Key Safeguard Policy Issues and Their Management A. Summary of Key Safeguard Issues 1. Describe any safeguard issues and impacts associated with the proposed project. Identify and describe any potential large scale, significant and/or irreversible impacts: Activities under the Project are not expected to have any adverse environmental effects as they are focused largely on public sector capacity building and improved readiness for dealing with outbreaks of avian influenza in domestic poultry. These prevention-focused activities are expected to have a positive environmental impact as the Project's investments in facilities, equipment, and training for laboratories will improve the effectiveness and safety over existing avian influenza handling and testing procedures on animal and human health sides by meeting international standards established by the OIE and WHO. This would be reinforced by the mainstreaming of environmental safeguards into protocols and procedures for the culling and disposal of animals during AI outbreaks. 2. Describe any potential indirect and/or long term impacts due to anticipated future activities in the project area: Since The Project will support investments in disposal capacity for culled poultry, a set of environmental management measures will be designed for environmentally safe disposable of bio waste, by the local public veterinary services supported under the Project. The scope of such measures will be specified in an EMP to be designed as a condition of the disbursement of Component I - Animal Health. 3. Describe any project alternatives (if relevant) considered to help avoid or minimize adverse impacts. No social safeguard policy is triggered by the Project, however the Project is designed to mitigate the negative impacts of mandated culling of poultry on small scale backyard poultry producers through the establishment of a Compensation Fund. The operating scheme for the Compensation Fund has been designed, and its further refinement is envisaged during the initial implementation period of the Project. 4. Describe measures taken by the borrower to address safeguard policy issues. Provide an assessment of borrower capacity to plan and implement the measures described. The Borrower will carry out an EA and design an EMP. The team has requested and obtained a waiver for delay of the EA due to the emergency nature of the investment operation. The project will be implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry, and the Ministry of Health and Social Protection. Implementation support will be provided by an existing PMU, which is supporting the Bank-financed Rural Investment and Services Program (RISP). Given the latter's involvement with EA issues in existing projects, the PMU's capacity for EA elaboration and implementation is deemed sufficient. 5. Identify the key stakeholders and describe the mechanisms for consultation and disclosure on safeguard policies, with an emphasis on potentially affected people. The Borrower will prepare and disclose an Environmental Assessment, as discussed above. The scope of enviornmental management activities will be specified in the EMP. Page 4 The Borrower’s capacity to plan and to implement the measures is adequate. The project provides contingency funding for the implementation of the EMP recommendations. B. Disclosure Requirements Date Environmental Assessment/Audit/Management Plan/Other: Date of receipt by the Bank 06/01/2006 Date of "in-country" disclosure 06/15/2006 Date of submission to InfoShop 06/29/2006 For category A projects, date of distributing the Executive Summary of the EA to the Executive Directors * If the project triggers the Pest Management and/or Cultural Property, the respective issues are to be addressed and disclosed as part of the Environmental Assessment/Audit/or EMP. If in-country disclosure of any of the above documents is not expected, please explain why: The project is processed as an emergency project, and the disclosure will be done before effectivness of the credit. C. Compliance Monitoring Indicators at the Corporate Level (to be filled in when the ISDS is finalized by the project decision meeting) OP/BP/GP 4.01 - Environment Assessment Does the project require a stand-alone EA (including EMP) report? Yes If yes, then did the Regional Environment Unit or Sector Manager (SM) review and approve the EA report? No Are the cost and the accountabilities for the EMP incorporated in the credit/loan? No The World Bank Policy on Disclosure of Information Have relevant safeguard policies documents been sent to the World Bank's Infoshop? No Have relevant documents been disclosed in-country in a public place in a form and language that are understandable and accessible to project-affected groups and local NGOs? No All Safeguard Policies Have satisfactory calendar, budget and clear institutional responsibilities been prepared for the implementation of measures related to safeguard policies? Yes Have costs related to safeguard policy measures been included in the project cost? Yes Does the Monitoring and Evaluation system of the project include the monitoring of safeguard impacts and measures related to safeguard policies? Yes Have satisfactory implementation arrangements been agreed with the borrower and the same been adequately reflected in the project legal Yes Page 5 documents? D. Approvals Signed and submitted by: Name Date Task Team Leader: Mr Anatol Gobjila 03/30/2006 Environmental Specialist: Mr Aleksandar Nacev 03/30/2006 Social Development Specialist Mr Pierre Olivier Colleye 03/30/2006 Additional Environmental and/or Social Development Specialist(s): Approved by: Regional Safeguards Coordinator: Mr Ronald N. Hoffer 03/30/2006 Comments: Sector Manager: Mr Benoit Paul Blarel 03/30/2006 Comments: