The World Bank Tajikistan Community and Youth Resilience Program (P168052) Environmental and Social Review Summary Concept Stage (ESRS Concept Stage) Public Disclosure Date Prepared/Updated: 11/30/2018 | Report No: ESRSC00095 Dec 05, 2018 Page 1 of 9 The World Bank Tajikistan Community and Youth Resilience Program (P168052) BASIC INFORMATION A. Basic Project Data Country Region Project ID Parent Project ID (if any) Tajikistan EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIA P168052 Project Name Tajikistan Community and Youth Resilience Program Practice Area (Lead) Financing Instrument Estimated Appraisal Date Estimated Board Date Social, Urban, Rural and Investment Project 4/24/2019 6/20/2019 Resilience Global Practice Financing Borrower(s) Implementing Agency(ies) Ministry of Finance National Social Investment Fund of Tajikistan Proposed Development Objective(s) The development objective is to improve welfare and inclusion within targeted vulnerable communities, and among Public Disclosure young men and women. In doing so, the project will contribute to the Risk Mitigation Regime program's higher-level objective of strengthening resilience, defined as a person’s, community’s and/or country’s capacity to adjust or respond to, and recover from, difficulties, adverse impacts, and/or exogenous shocks. Financing (in USD Million) Amount Total Project Cost 37.00 B. Is the project being prepared in a Situation of Urgent Need of Assistance or Capacity Constraints, as per Bank IPF Policy, para. 12? C. Summary Description of Proposed Project [including overview of Country, Sectoral & Institutional Contexts and Relationship to CPF] The proposed project is part of the Risk Mitigation Regime (RMR) included in the upcoming World Bank CPF for the Republic of Tajikistan for the period FY19-23. The RMR allocation—during the IDA-18 cycle—is in the amount of US$87 million to finance policy reforms and interventions for preventive support aimed at addressing FCV risks that have hitherto constrained development progress in Tajikistan. The proposed project will contribute to RMR objectives by strengthening resilience at the individual, community and local government levels to mitigate fragility risks. At the individual level, the project will provide psycho-social support, soft skills (including critical thinking skills), and support Dec 05, 2018 Page 2 of 9 The World Bank Tajikistan Community and Youth Resilience Program (P168052) for youth self-employment and micro- entrepreneurship. At the community level, proposed interventions include the provision of locally-identified infrastructure and the empowerment of youth to lead development initiatives. At the local government level, these interventions include strengthening the capacity of jamoat administrations and community-level institutions, including mahalla committees, to engage with citizens, and to deliver services efficiently, fairly and in response to community’s needs. Geographically, the proposed project will target Khatlon and Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBA) regions, the regions with the highest levels of absolute and relative poverty measures, respectively, and which face fragility risks due to the proximity to unstable parts of Afghanistan, large youth populations, disparities in service delivery outcomes, and legacies of violent conflict. 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 landlocked country in the heart of Central Asia, bordering Afghanistan, China, the Kyrgyz Republic, and Uzbekistan. Mountains cover more than 90% of the country rendering accessibility difficult. The project’s regions -Khatlon and GBOA- are home to interesting endemic flora and fauna, including some protected species like the snow leopard; protected areas, like the Tajik National Park in GBAO’s Pamir Mountains (a UNESCO World Heritage Site); and a rich cultural tradition. However, natural hazards such as floods, earthquakes, landslides, mudflows, avalanches and heavy snowfalls are quite common. Khatlon is known for cotton production and related medium sized industry. Most of 8.7 million people belong to the Tajik ethnic group, however, GBOA, despite its sparse population, has a linguistic diversity. Key social capital lies in the strong grassroot cohesive communities and community organizations such as Mahalla committees. Geographically, the regions share a porous and unstable border of 1,300 km to the south with Afghanistan, a hotspot for drug trafficking. Khatlon and GBAO account for the highest level of absolute and relative Public Disclosure poverty measures. Unemployment of the youth and vulnerable peoples is quite high, which represents a source of instability and a potential threat for the country as a whole. The economy is dependent predominantly on remittances and associated with this is very high female headed households. All these have resulted in extremism and clashes with the authorities. Thus, the project areas are fragile and conflict-ridden owing to both internal as well as external forces. Thus, salient environmental and social characteristics for the project include: (i) ecological fragility; (ii) high degree of diversity in terms of linguistic as well as political orientations; (iii) interregional as well as rural-urban disparities; (iv) cross border illicit trade and skirmishes; and (iv) low income and employment opportunities. D. 2. Borrower’s Institutional Capacity The National Social Investment Fund of Tajikistan (NSIFT) is expected to be the implementing agency for the project which has been functioning for 20 years as an implementing agency for local level development projects. NSIFT has its own staffing and organizational charter (and is supported with premises and utilities by the State Budget). It has implemented in the past several donor financed projects including the Bank’s P044202 and P082977 Poverty Alleviation Projects and currently implementing “Community Funds for the Promotion of Basic Education and Rehabilitation of Community Infrastructure” financed by KfW. The NSIFT is the designated implementing agency for the social development components of the CASA-1000 Community Support Project (CSP) which include similar design features to the proposed project with respect to community and local-level approaches. NSIFT currently has two offices in the Khatlon region and is in the process of opening an office in Khorog, GBAO region. Its local presence will allow the NSIFT to work in close coordination with the offices of the Khatlon and GBOA Regional Governors’ offices, as well as with other local structures to ensure local ownership, good results on the ground, and sustainability of interventions. NSIFT will carry out day to day project management and all necessary coordination with oblasts and districts. While the exact implementation arrangement will be finalized during preparation, regional offices of NSIFT may directly plan and implement social and environmental risk management. As this is the first project with NSIFT Dec 05, 2018 Page 3 of 9 The World Bank Tajikistan Community and Youth Resilience Program (P168052) prepared under the Bank’s new Environment and Social Framework (ESF), the client’s capacity to deliver an ESF based project is limited; therefore, capacity building for the client including jamoats and contractors will be included in the ESMF as well in other environmental and social instruments to be prepared during preparation and implementation. II. SCREENING OF POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL (ES) RISKS AND IMPACTS A. Environmental and Social Risk Classification (ESRC) Substantial Environmental Risk Rating Substantial The Environmental Risk Rating is Substantial primarily due to the large number expected community based activities takeing place in remote areas of GBAO and Khatlon. The physical works envisaged under Component 1a of the project are of small to medium scale. The expected environmental impacts associated with the proposed construction are expected to be temporary, predictable and reversible. The proposed project activities are not located in environmentally sensitive areas but some environmental risks and impacts could be significant. The proposed activities are not expected to generate serious adverse effects to human health and the environment. Due to the nature of proposed works and associated environmental risks, and limited capacity of NSIFT in the understanding and application of Bank's ESF, and relevant Standards, the project is classified as Substantial risk from environmental perspective and as defined under the Bank's ESF. Social Risk Rating Substantial On the social front, project areas are intrinsically diverse regions but are exposed to common fragility risks. The Public Disclosure border vulnerability and the absence of sustainable job opportunities and income-generating activities has led to unemployment and poverty which has proven to be a key push factor incentivizing individuals to join extremist groups. Certain segments are particularly exposed to such risks- women and youth. The project areas are thus characterized by : (i) 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; and (iii) social risks – ceertain sections could get excluded either due to inherent structural deficencies and/ or due to elite capture. While the first two risks remain external, project will have to manage ‘exclusion’. Lastly, the project, by design, will avoid undertaking any such activity which will result in physical and/ economic displacement. Nor any structures will be destroyed. Yet, there are remote chances of acquisiton of ‘lands’ and hence carry resettlement related risks as well. All social risks are identifiable and could be mitigated. Hence, 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 client will prepare and disclose an Environment and Social Management Framework (ESMF) that covers all applicable ESF Standards. The ESMF will have checklists for determining if a proposed activity meets environmenta and social criteria for financing under the project as well as where and when site specific Environment and Social Dec 05, 2018 Page 4 of 9 The World Bank Tajikistan Community and Youth Resilience Program (P168052) Impact Assessments (ESIAs)/ Management Plans (ESMPs) will be nescessary. The ESMF will also contain generic ESMP checklists for each type of small scale constuction envisaged by the project, namely local roads improvement and maintenance, maintenance of water resources and water supply networks, waste disposal, and other investments that improve local living conditions, including those related to social infrastructure. Project areas are fragile and conflict ridden, yet also highly fertile (in Khatlon) and potentially attractive to visit (in GBAO). The people are a potential asset as the youth in Tajikistan’s labor force could be productively engaged. Finally, both regions offer high potential for on and off farm development which can be particularly beneficial to women. However, 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 will need to prepare 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. SA will also throw light on institutional and implementation arrangements to ensure effective out reach which could include development of inclusive IEC and capacity support and capacity building. Further, a Resettlement Policy Framework (RPF) will also be developed during the preparation. Areas where reliance on the Borrower’s E&S Framework may be considered: Given the substantial environment and social risk of the project, Borrower's E&S Framework will not be used for the Project as a whole or for any of its parts. ESS10 Stakeholder Engagement and Information Disclosure Public Disclosure Project preparation has made preliminary attempts at mapping the stakeholders. Individuals and groups likely to be affected (direct beneficiaries) have been identified. They include: farmers, farming, local communities, women, youth, traders, workers, contractors and transporters . Mapping of other interested parties such as government agencies/ authorities, rival / extremist groups, 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 could be a part of the SA and 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 of the SEP will be prepared by the client, disclosed publicly as early as possible and begin implementation during the project preparation itself. As SA results become known, SEP will be updated. The client will also develop and put in place 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 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 (i.e. ESH checklists and plans; worker codes of conduct; safety training regimens; etc.). The Project is not expected to employ large numbers of contract workers. Provisions will be made to train and hire as many as possible from local communities where the Dec 05, 2018 Page 5 of 9 The World Bank Tajikistan Community and Youth Resilience Program (P168052) activities are taking place. The project proposes some small-scale operations that will continue after project closure. Some of these could be community based while others might involve higher technologies and be in the hands of private operators. The expectation is that the majority of labor will be locally hired with the possible exception of a few skilled workers. The Social Assessment will help in determining whether a specific labor management plan is required or ESMP can include labor related clauses and preventive health measures. As part of the SA, the client’s capacity to manage labor, working conditions and community health and safety will be assessed. Civil works contracts will incorporate social and environmental mitigation measures based on the World Bank Group Environment Health and Safety Guidelines and the ESMF (as well as any site specific ESIA/ESMP prepared); 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 be provided. 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 Public Disclosure Though relevant, community health and safety may not be critical, as the local communities will be in the forefront of decision making as well as in implementing the activities, communities will carry out participatory needs assessment and engage in participatory decision-making processes to prepare sub-projects that address their needs. Project will ensure that Jamoat and Mahalla committees are accountable for resource management and responsive to the preferences and needs of community members, including vulnerable groups, including those of youth and women. The ESMF will include assessment of work related health risks; works and road safety; 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 shall be available and hence no resettlement is envisaged. However, there could be some isolated instances wherein lands need to be acquired involuntarily. Towards addressing such a situation, the client will prepare a RPF, seek approval from the Bank and disclose. RPF preparation will make use of the Social Impact Assessment inputs emanating from SA. Irrespective of the method of securing lands, client will maintain a land registry depicting the details of the land deployed for the project. RPF will lay bare the next steps on preparing and implementing resettlement action plans (RAP). Dec 05, 2018 Page 6 of 9 The World Bank Tajikistan Community and Youth Resilience Program (P168052) ESS6 Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Natural Resources The activities envisaged by the project are small in scale and expected to be carried out in existing towns and villages; therefore, the standard is not currently relevant; however, the standard will be reassessed during preparation as a clearer picture of potential sub-projects is developed. ESS7 Indigenous Peoples/Sub-Saharan African Historically Underserved Traditional Local Communities This ESS applies to distinct social and cultural groups identified as per a set of criteria. And these are labelled in the ESS as indigenous peoples / sub Saharan African historically undeserved traditional local communities (IPs). The provisions of ESS applies when IPs are present in the project area or have a collective attachment to the proposed project area. Tajikistan has no such distinct groups and hence ESS is not applicable. This has been confirmed by the screening done in respect of the risks and impacts associated with this ESS. Hence this ESS is not applicable. ESS8 Cultural Heritage Tajikistan is home to one UNESCO World Heritage Site (the Tajik National Park in the Pamir Mountains in the GBAO) 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. Public Disclosure ESS9 Financial Intermediaries This standard is not currently relevant as no financial intermediaries are party to the project implementation modality. B.3 Other Relevant Project Risks Most of external and internal project risks have been identified, though site specific visits are yet to take place. Tajikistan's status as an FCV Country combined with the terrorist attack on foreign tourists in July 2018 adds a level of risk beyond those specifically related to project activities that will need to be examined during appraisal. C. Legal Operational Policies that Apply OP 7.50 Projects on International Waterways OP 7.60 Projects in Disputed Areas Dec 05, 2018 Page 7 of 9 The World Bank Tajikistan Community and Youth Resilience Program (P168052) III. WORLD BANK ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL DUE DILIGENCE A. Is a common approach being considered? No B. Proposed Measures, Actions and Timing (Borrower’s commitments) Actions to be completed prior to Bank Board Approval: 1. Prepare an Environment and Social Management Framework (ESMF) acceptable to the Bank that includes relevant Environment and Social Standards as well as information on Tajikistan’s unique flora, fauna, and cultural heritage. The ESMF will detail selection criteria for sub-activities as well as criteria and timing for preparing site specific ESIA/ESMPs; 2. Conduct a Social Assessment, including a Stakeholder Engagement Plan, that defines mitigatory measures to manage risks, minimize adverse impacts and enhance positive benefits; and 3. Develop a Resettlement Policy Framework (RPF). Possible issues to be addressed in the Borrower Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP): 1. Environment and social screening of project activities based on the ESMF, including need to prepare site specific ESIA/ESMPs; Public Disclosure 2. Application of the RPF to project activities, including the need to prepare site specific Resettlement Action Plans; 3. Continued stakeholder engagement throughout project implementation and beyond project closure; and 4. Maintenance of a land registry depicting details pertaining to land used for project activities. C. Timing Tentative target date for preparing the Appraisal Stage ESRS 28-Feb-2019 IV. CONTACT POINTS World Bank Contact: John Bryant Collier Title: Senior Environmental Specialist Telephone No: 473-8551 Email: jcollier@worldbank.org Contact: Javaid Afzal Title: Senior Environmental Specialist Dec 05, 2018 Page 8 of 9 The World Bank Tajikistan Community and Youth Resilience Program (P168052) Telephone No: 1-202-458-13 Email: jafzal@worldbank.org Contact: Suryanarayana Satish Title: Senior Social Development Specialist Telephone No: 5775+236 / 7 Email: ssatish@worldbank.org Contact: Michael G. Nelson Title: Operations Officer Telephone No: 473-5064 Email: mnelson3@worldbank.org Borrower/Client/Recipient Borrower: Ministry of Finance Implementing Agency(ies) Implementing Agency: National Social Investment Fund of Tajikistan V. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT The World Bank 1818 H Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20433 Telephone: (202) 473-1000 Public Disclosure Web: http://www.worldbank.org/projects VI. APPROVAL Task Team Leader(s): Gloria La Cava, Robert Wrobel Dec 05, 2018 Page 9 of 9