The World Bank Human Capital and Women's and Girls' Empowerment (Maïngo) Project Additional Financing (P181574) Additional Financing Appraisal Environmental and Social Review Summary Appraisal Stage (AF ESRS Appraisal Stage) Public Disclosure Date Prepared/Updated: 11/30/2023 | Report No: ESRSAFA654 Jan 29, 2024 Page 1 of 15 The World Bank Human Capital and Women's and Girls' Empowerment (Maïngo) Project Additional Financing (P181574) I. BASIC INFORMATION A. Basic Project Data Country Region Borrower(s) Implementing Agency(ies) Central African Republic WESTERN AND CENTRAL AFRICA Project ID Project Name P181574 Human Capital And Women's And Girls' Empowerment (maïngo) Project Additional Financing Parent Project ID (if any) Parent Project Name P171158 Central African Republic Human Capital and Women and Girls' Empowerment (Maïngo) Project Practice Area (Lead) Financing Instrument Estimated Appraisal Date Estimated Board Date Health, Nutrition & Investment Project 1/31/2024 3/18/2024 Population Financing Public Disclosure Estimated Decision Review Total Project Cost Date 1/29/2024 0 Proposed Development Objective To enhance access to essential health services, education and employment opportunities that empower women and adolescent girls in targeted areas of the Central African Republic. 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 Activities The CAR Human Capital Women and Girls’ Empowerment Project (Maïngo or “evolution, progress' in Sangho) aims to enhance access to essential health services, education and employment opportunities that empower women and adolescent girls. Women and girls are a key catalyst for change in CAR and empowering them is a long-term and transformative process for the country. The project will aim to change deeply rooted social norms and beliefs among the entire population about the role of women in the family and society more broadly, including views around Jan 29, 2024 Page 2 of 15 The World Bank Human Capital and Women's and Girls' Empowerment (Maïngo) Project Additional Financing (P181574) adolescent pregnancy and early marriage. It will aim to enhance access to integrated health services, education and skills to increase employment opportunities. The project is closely aligned with the objectives of the FY21-FY25 Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for CAR, and the National Recovery and Peace Consolidation plan (RCPCA, 2017-2023) as well as the principles of the Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs), and the World Bank Fragility, Conflict and Violence (FCV) Strategy. The project will build on ongoing national policy reforms currently supported by the WBG, while promoting collaboration with relevant WBG programs, and partners. The project has four components, likely to have implications for environmental and social risks management: D. Environmental and Social Overview D.1 Overview of Environmental and Social Project Settings The Central African Republic is a landlocked nation within the interior of the African continent. It is bordered by the countries of Cameroon, Chad, Sudan, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo. Much of the country consists of flat, or rolling plateau savanna, about 1,640 feet (500 m) above sea level. In the northeast are the Fertit Hills, and there are scattered hills in the southwestern part of the country. At 622,984 square kilometers, the Central African Republic is the world's 45th-largest country (after Somalia). Much of the Public Disclosure southern border is formed by tributaries of the Congo River, with the Mbomou River in the east merging with the Uele River to form the Ubangi River. In the west, the Sangha River flows through part of the country. The eastern border lies along the edge of the Congo-Nile watershed. The Country has suffered from decades of repeated conflicts and political instability. For a decade now, CAR has been struggling with violence and insecurity countrywide. The recent years seemed to be gradually recovering when the political turmoil of December 2020 brought a sudden increase in violence and insecurity all over the country. CAR faces an unsustainable fiscal outlook. In December 2020, violence broke out around the disputed presidential elections causing a major economic disruption due to the closure of the Bangui-Douala corridor. This contributed to the economy contracting 0.8 percent in 2020. CAR’s economic and fiscal situation then further deteriorated during COVID-19. After the Maingo Project was approved in 2021, the Russian invasion of Ukraine further compounded the country’s economic situation, as it led to fuel shortages, increasing food prices, and a further disruption to tax receipts. Hit by these three consecutive shocks, tax and customs revenues are estimated to have declined. The domestic fiscal deficit increased by 65 percent from 2019 to 2020, reaching more than 5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2021. In 2023, nearly half the country’s population depends on humanitarian assistance for basic needs and one fifth of the population of approximately 4.9 million is estimated to be forcibly displaced. Instability and violence in CAR have resulted in substantial deterioration of human capital and social services, including health. It has also exacerbated GBV/Sexual ExploitationAbuse/Sexual Harrasement (SEA/SH). The latest assessment using the preliminary SEA/SH risk assessment tool showed that the risk rate is high. The Maingo project aims to enhance access to essential health Jan 29, 2024 Page 3 of 15 The World Bank Human Capital and Women's and Girls' Empowerment (Maïngo) Project Additional Financing (P181574) services, education and employment opportunities that empower women and adolescent girls. It does so through increasing access to integrated services, and by enabling women and girls who missed out on formal schooling or were never given the opportunity to obtain life-enhancing knowledge, to access non-formal education, life skills and vocational training to enhance their abilities and access economic opportunities. - Safe spaces and clubs to established under Component 1 will be located within the existing infrastructure such as community centers, schools, hair salons, etc. -The activities related to keeping girls in the education system under Component 2 will be carried out within the existing 375 public primary schools and 54 public secondary schools, approximately. A restructuring of the Maingo project has been initiated on October 2023 to introduce emergency financing support to protect the provision of essential social services by four ministries in the CAR (which are the ministries of (i) National Education (ii) Higher Education and Research (iii) Humanitarian Action and National Reconciliation, and (iv) Promotion of Gender and Protection of Women, Family and Child). This is part of the World Bank’s support to the Recipient, which also includes restructuring of another project in the health sector, the Health Service Delivery and System Strengthening Project (P177003 - SENI-Plus – US$70 million). The restructuring includes among others, the following proposed key change to the project: A new component 5 to finance salaries and wages of between 6,500 and 7,000 civil servants in the aforementioned ministries, and related adjustment to component cost. This new component was created to finance four of the seven ministries, and as a result, US$30 million equivalent was reallocated to the newly created component. The purpose of this additional financing (AF) to Maïngo, an IDA grant of US$30 million, is to replenish the amount Public Disclosure allocated to the emergency financing support to protect the provision of essential social services. The reallocated US$30 million for emergency salary support is expected to be fully disbursed by the end FY24. Therefore, in order for the Project to attain its full objectives, this AF is needed to fill the gap. The changes include revisions to: (a) components and costs; and (b) disbursement estimates. Replenishment of the reallocated funds will ensure that the originally intended PDO remain uncompromised. The AF will allow Maïngo to pursue its contribution to the empowerment of women and girls, a key driver of human capital formation for CAR. The Project will support the community-based activities: establishing safe spaces and clubs for young women and young men, improving access to systems that improve health, education and employment opportunities of women and girls. Eight prefectures (out of 16) and Bangui have been identified as priorities for the Project. The prefectures are ranked in three phases for implementation based on where the Project can start to have the most immediate impact for women and girls. Phase one focuses on Bangui Metropolitan Area (BMA), Kemo, Nana-Grebizi and Ouaka. Phase 2 includes Mambere-Kadei and Ouham-Pende. Phase 3 includes Bamingui-Bangoran, Ouham and Vakaga. The project will advance from phase one to three over time after activities have been implemented and are ready to scale. Given the changing security situation in CAR, the phasing of prefectures may be subject to change, as may the prefectures selected for additional scale up. D.2 Overview of Borrower’s Institutional Capacity for Managing Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts Jan 29, 2024 Page 4 of 15 The World Bank Human Capital and Women's and Girls' Empowerment (Maïngo) Project Additional Financing (P181574) There will be no change for AF. Indeed, the main project counterpart is the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Cooperation (MEPC), where a Maingo PIU has been established. The PIU is equipped with the following E&S staff. - one (1) Environmental specialist with competencies in environmental health and safety management, one (1) Social specialist with a background in indigenous peoples (IPs), stakeholder and, community engagement; and one (1) Gender and GBV/SEA/SH specialist and one (1) Security specialist who are in charge of project implementation, fiduciary management and environmental and social risk management of the project. However, a separate PIU is managing component 5, which is under the Ministry of Budget and Finance (MFB). This separate PIU, which is currently in charge of the World Bank-funded Public Sector Digital Governance Project (Projet de Gouvernance Numérique du Secteur Public or PGNSP ), and also oversee fiduciary, social and environmental standards associated with the component 5. This differs from regular Maingo project activities, which will continue to be implemented by the MEPC. The MEPC has limited technical capacity to coordinate and manage this multi-sectoral project. A Project Steering Committee (PSC) chaired by the MEPC has been created to oversee, develop, and monitor the strategic orientations of the project, according to sectors. Membership of the PSC will be expanded to include representation from all ministries whose wage bills will be financed by the Maingo Project, and that are not already included the committee. The additions include the Ministries of Public Service and Administrative Reform (Ministère de la Fonction Publique et de la Reforme Administrative or MPFRA), Higher Education and Scientific Research, Agriculture and Rural Development. The PSC overseeing the implementation of the project will continue to be chaired by the MEPC. Close involvement of the two ministers responsible for public payroll and human resource policies will support effective coordination among the sector ministries and departments involved in its implementation. The PSC will also oversee progress in the implementation of the government’s program to increase the reliability of the public payroll. Any Public Disclosure unforeseen difficulty will be brought to the PSC’s attention for prompt resolution. A Dedicated Technical Committee for Payment of Social Service Wages, under the PSC but separate from the existing Maingo Project Technical Committee, will be put in place to provide technical oversight and guidance over Component 5 during the 18 months of component implementation. It will be chaired by the Chief of Staff of the MFB, with the chief of staff of the MPFRA serving as Vice-Chair, and will have a particular focus on monitoring the results of the physical inspections and other internal control procedures. This is essential to ensure the payroll of the seven ministries is free from errors and irregularities. One of the Technical Committee’s key responsibilities will be to support and review the progress of the physical verification measures to be carried out as part of Component 5, and to sustain and systematize the verification procedures over the payroll implemented as part of the MFPRA-led government program. Implementation capacity will still need to be strengthened at all levels, especially given limited knowledge and experience in implementing World Bank ESF requirements. Although the two PIUs established at the MEPC and MFB, have experience implementing WB safeguard policies, they will need capacity building due to the size of the project and multiple sectors. The same capacity building will be provided to other implementing agencies - The Ministry of Health and Population, The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (MPSE), The Ministry of Technical Education and Literacy (METL), and The Ministry for the Promotion of Women, Family, and Child Protection. At the national level, the Director General for Environment (DGE) is the main institution in the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MEDD), responsible for conducting and coordinating the environmental and social assessment process in CAR (ex., validation of ESIAs, ESMPs, analysis of field reports, inspection and environmental audit). At the departmental level, the DGE works in collaboration with local structures of the MEDD. Jan 29, 2024 Page 5 of 15 The World Bank Human Capital and Women's and Girls' Empowerment (Maïngo) Project Additional Financing (P181574) However, implementing capacity is low, especially as the DGE lacks financial and technical resources. In addition, staff often leave to join other national and international structures. Given these challenges, the World Bank team will therefore prepare and implement a capacity building and training program to help the Borrower (especially PIUs and DGE) manage environmental and social risk and Public Disclosure throughout the project timeline. Different methods to build capacity at the local level (especially on E&S) will be further explored during project preparation. II. SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL (ES) RISKS AND IMPACTS A. Environmental and Social Risk Classification (ESRC) High A.1 Environmental Risk Rating Moderate Environmental risk is still rated as Moderate after the introduction of the new component and the development of AF objectives. The project environmental risks will mainly result from the civil work. The proposed civil works in the project mainly include rehabilitation/renovation of six existing Vocational Education and Training and Literacy (VETL) centers and the potential construction of gender-sensitive WASH facilities in subcomponents 2.3 and 2.2. The project could also include the rehabilitation of safe spaces under component 1.1. However, the scale of these civil works will be of small scale and hence environmental risks and impacts associated with these activities are expected to be site- specific, temporary, low in magnitude and can be mitigated with measures that are readily identifiable. The new component 5 as well as the AF activities does not include any civil works, and hence, no adverse environmental risks and impacts are associated with this component. This rating also reflects the challenges associated with the limited environmental and social management capacity of the MEPC and MFB including other ministries leading the Public Disclosure implementation of some components. No ministry has deep experience or capacity to apply the Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) beyond aspects that are generally included in the Operational Policies, and significant efforts will be required to capacitate MEPC and the Ministry of Environment (as a regulatory body) with the ESF requirements. A.2 Social Risk Rating High The introduction of the new component 5 and the development of AF objectives will not change the social risk rating of the Maingo project, which remains high. While the overall social benefits are expected to be positive, the anticipated social risks and impacts include: (i) high risks of SEA/SH specific to the project; (ii) community and worker health and safety risks to increase HIV/AIDS transmission; (iii) risks of exclusion for marginalized and vulnerable social groups within a community (iv) security risks for project community workers and beneficiaries given the presence of non-State armed groups across the territory and specifically in some locations like (Bimingui-Borangan, Haute-Kotto, Haut-Bomou, Ouham, Ouham-Pende, Nana-Grebizi, Vakaga, etc.) targeted by the project. For the new component 5 : The overall social benefits are expected to be positive. The anticipated social risks and impacts include: (i) social tensions, which might arise from the focus on only the seven ministries covering the social sectors and exclude other government ministries; (ii) risks of exclusion of vulnerable and marginalized groups especially in rural areas where services are not available and who may as a result be excluded as project beneficiaries (for example, among civil servants: persons with disabilities, Indigenous peoples, elderly, youth, including women, minorities); (iii) the lack of transparency and accountability in the delivery of project benefits in the current difficult economic conditions could lead to a lack of trust in the services of the various ministries and a decline in the provision of social services and other public interventions; (iv) risks of sexual exploitation and abuse and sexual harassment specific to the nature of the project, which may arise from, among other things, favor-seeking by civil servants excluded. The social risk Jan 29, 2024 Page 6 of 15 The World Bank Human Capital and Women's and Girls' Empowerment (Maïngo) Project Additional Financing (P181574) classification also considered the following aspects: (i) borrower’s low capacity to manage project-related environmental and social risks and impacts in a manner consistent with the Environmental and Social Standards (ESS); (ii) current COVID-19 related risks in relation with community mobilization activities; (iii) potential risks related to stakeholder engagement activities of the project and existing social conflicts that could be exacerbated, particularly in light of upcoming national elections. B. Environment and Social Standards (ESSs) that Apply to the Activities Being Considered B.1 Relevance of Environmental and Social Standards ESS1 Assessment and Management of Environmental and Social Risks and Relevant Impacts ESS1 is considered relevant to the Project. The construction of toilets in schools, under Component 2.2, will have potential risks on community and school children due to dust and noise pollution, and labor influx, and OHS risks. There is a risk of soil and groundwater pollution from the toilets if they are not properly designed. During the operation phase, potential impacts may arise from improper maintenance of toilet (washing and cleaning) and non- provision of hygiene products (soaps and disinfectants). In case if these services are compromised, the consequential unhygienic condition will affect the girls’ health and increase their absenteeism from schools. The rehabilitation and expansion of six vocational training centers will have all kinds of construction-related impacts, though on a limited scale. This is similar to the rehabilitation of safe spaces. Capacity building of the community health workers, under Component 2.1, with the communication materials and ncessary commodities, including medical supplies, may Public Disclosure generate some environmental risks. These could include: (i) management of medical waste from community health workers and also health facilities in the project intervention areas due to the increase in referral and attendance by community members and (ii) the risks to the environment and the health of the population linked to inadequate storage, transport and disposal of waste resulting from the simple interventions (like bed nets, oral rehydration salts, vitamin A) that the project will provide; (iii) occupational health and safety (OHS) issues related to the availability and supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) for community workers, health workers and primary suppliers and (iv) community health and safety risks given close social contact. The key anticipated social risks and impacts include: (i) high risks of SEA/SH specific to the project, as assessed through the preliminary SEA/SH risk rating tool at concept stage; (ii) community and workers health and safety risks for increased HIV/AIDS and COVID-19 transmission; (iii) risks of exclusion for marginalized and vulnerable social groups within a community (including the indigenous peoples, disabled, poor women and girls, minorities, and displaced persons and/or refugees) being unable to access benefits from the project, therefore undermining the PDO (e.g. lack of access to integrated programs and essential services provided by the project, lack of access to life-skills and vocational trainings provided by the project); (iv) security risks for project's community workers and beneficiaries given the presence of non-state armed groups across the territory and specifically in some locations targeted by the project. Anticipated impacts of this project can be adequately avoided and/ or managed in accordance with an Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) that will need to be updated to reflect the new AF project design. The current version of ESMF addresses the assessment and management of environmental and social risks and impacts of the project consistent with ESS1. It establishes the procedures for preparation of site-specific instruments, such as the Jan 29, 2024 Page 7 of 15 The World Bank Human Capital and Women's and Girls' Empowerment (Maïngo) Project Additional Financing (P181574) Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs), during project implementation. The identification of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) risks and impacts and measures to manage the risks are addressed in the ESMF and documented in labor management procedures (LMPs). The mitigation measures incorporate the World Bank Group’s General Environment, Health, and Safety Guidelines (EHSGs). The updated ESMF will also include Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS) checklists, Codes of Conduct, and relevant measures to prevent SEA/SH for inclusion in the SEA/SH action plan, as well as safety training materials that will need to be prepared by the Borrower and/ or the contractor prior to implementing project activities in a specific location. A security risk assessment specific to the project and an associated security management plan has been carried out by the Borrower and integrates appropriate measures to mitigate security risks for project workers and beneficiaries. The Borrower has also prepared Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) with attention on vulnerable persons and/or disadvantaged groups in the target areas and a Grievance Redress Mechanism with GBV-sensitive channels to address SEA/SH complaints. The updated ESMF will be redisclosed on the websites of the MEPC and the World Bank once completed. Other instruments to be updated and redisclosed are : LMP, IPPF, IPP, VBG/SEA/SH plan, and SRA/SMP, With the introduction of component 5,the Bank assessed the Borrower’s capacity to manage the project’s environmental, social, safety and health performance in compliance with ESS1. The Bank will work with the Project to support enhancement of the project’s environmental and social management system and procedures to be compliant with ESS1 requirements. The PIU will monitor the environmental and social requirements and performance in accordance with the legal agreement and the ESCP. Targeted training and support to the environmental and social specialists in the PIU will be provided throughout the project lifetime. Public Disclosure The implementation of new component 5 has already started. It will generate positive and direct environmental impacts on the environment by funding the salaries and wages of workers of targeted ministries. Positive environmental impacts include the continuation of various services, programs and activities implemented in different ministries; and will have would have at best neutral effects in some cases. Negative and indirect occupational health and safety impacts could arise within the Ministries’ working environment if fiscal constraints affect the implementation of effective COVID-19 control measures, which include but are not limited to solid (infectious and non-infectious) and personal protective equipment waste management and hygiene control measures. Given that the project has a CERC component, the borrower will need a CERC manual (or a CERC section in the operations manual) with a positive list of eligible activities, and a description of institutional arrangements (how to trigger, who does what, etc) and a separate CERC ESMF to manage E&S risks. The ESMF (or CERC-ESMF) will identify and prescribe appropriate tools for each activity to address related environmental and social risks and impacts. ESS2 Labor and Working Conditions Relevant ESS2 is considered relevant to the Project. Indeed, given the complexity of the project's interventions, four types of workers will be distinguished, namely direct workers (health workers, teachers), contracted workers (construction workers, project consultants, and implementing partners (construction companies, engineering firms), primary suppliers, and community workers (community health workers, mentors). Jan 29, 2024 Page 8 of 15 The World Bank Human Capital and Women's and Girls' Empowerment (Maïngo) Project Additional Financing (P181574) The 6,500 - 7,000 civil servants to be paid with project funding will not be transferred to the project/PIU. ESS2 will therefore not apply to such government civil servants, except for the provisions of paragraphs 17 to 20 (Protecting the Workforce) and paragraphs 24 to 30 (Occupational Health and Safety). Civil servants involved with the project will remain subject to the terms and conditions of their existing public sector employment agreement or arrangement, unless there has been an effective legal transfer of their employment or engagement to the project in which case, they will become subject to ESS2 requirements for direct workers. In relation to component 5, the proposed project has involved direct workers and contracted workers. CAR’s Labor Law n°09.004, in its various articles, determines that all workers have the right to healthy conditions and protection equipment, among other measures. ESS2 requires that clear information on the terms and conditions of employment, the principles regarding non- discrimination and equal opportunity, the establishment of workers’ organizations, the rules regarding child labor and forced labor, and occupational health and safety measures, be known to the workers and always observed at project intervention sites. In relation to component 5, the LMP has assessed major labor risks including risks of GBV, in particular SEA/SH, OHS risks, possible accidents or emergencies. All community mobilization and awareness-raising activities at the community level will be carried out by community workers and/or NGOs. In relation to component 5, all training sessions and awareness-raising activities at the partner and ministry level have been carried out by project workers and/or contract workers. Communication materials/kits needed by workers/trainers have been provided. All of these categories of workers will be exposed to health and safety risks, e.g., the risk of disease infection during administration of basic services to the beneficiaries including civil Public Disclosure servants, the risk of COVID-19 transmission in safe spaces and club activities, and during payment of salaries . For suppliers and project staff, there will be the risks of road accidents, aggression and even contamination with COVID-19 and Sexual Transmitted Diseases and HIV/AIDS. The Borrower will commit (through the ESCP) to update, and redisclose, consult upon and adopt the project’s Labor Management Procedures (LMP) before any disbursement is made in the IDA grant of US$30 million, related to replenish the amount allocated to the emergency financing support to protect the provision of essential social services. The updated LMP will identify the main labor requirements and risks associated with the project and help the Borrower to determine the resources necessary to address project labor issues including risks of SEA/SH for workers, and the way project workers will be managed in accordance with the requirements of national law and ESS2. The PIU will therefore ensure the application of OHS measures and the LMP, both of which will be annexed to the ESMF. These measures include procedures for protection of workers in relation to infection control precautions and ensuring adequate supplies of PPE; and generally ensuring adequate OHS protection in accordance with the general and industry-specific Environmental, Health and Safety Guidelines (EHSGs), consistent with evolving international best practice, to avoid injury, illness, Covid19 or impacts associated with exposure to hazards encountered in the workplace as well as discriminatory hiring and compensation practices. The updated LMP will provide guidance regarding the policies and procedures that will govern community workers, project staff and other workers hired under the project. This includes terms and conditions of employment, non- discrimination and equal opportunity, and the establishment of worker organizations, measures to ensure that labor is provided on a voluntary basis, and will further ensure that the health and safety of workers, especially women are Jan 29, 2024 Page 9 of 15 The World Bank Human Capital and Women's and Girls' Empowerment (Maïngo) Project Additional Financing (P181574) given adequate attention. The project will not use child labor; minimum age limits are provided for in ESS2 and in relation to the national legislation in force. The project will also include a grievance mechanism for project worker labor disputes . The establishment of a labor GRM as developed in detail in the updated LMP will allow workers to quickly inform management of labor issues, such as a lack of PPE or unreasonable overtime. ESS3 Resource Efficiency and Pollution Prevention and Management Relevant ESS3 is considered relevant to the Project. The prevention and management of pollution - in particular the management of biomedical and medical waste - the quantities of which are bound to increase as a result of the increased referral of community members (particularily women and girls) to health centers by community health workers . Medical waste, including sharps, contaminated PPE, equipment and kits for small surgeries should be stored, transported and disposed of safely. Energy use: As part of the implementation of the project, PIU teams will need equipped offices, computers, inverters, fans, air conditioners, lighting (bulbs), etc. All these elements will lead to energy consumption, in other words, pressure on the availability and production of hydroelectric power in the country. The project will procure energy-efficient equipment for all offices, safe spaces and vocational training centers. Further, site-specific ESMPs will include adequate resource-efficiency measures for respective activities. A number of health care institutions have, under the World Bank-Health System Support Project (P119815), financed the construction of incinerators to ensure safe disposal of medical waste. A prior assessment of waste management capacity will therefore be required at the level of each sub-district prior to any project activity to ensure that adequate measures Public Disclosure are put in place to ensure proper management of medical waste. Medical waste management measures based on SENI Project (P164953) model is currently under development and will be included in the updated ESMF. ESS4 Community Health and Safety Relevant ESS4 is considered relevant to the Project. The organization of awareness-raising meetings at community level in Safe Spaces and Clubs and in the ministries may lead to a further spread of respiratory illnesses including COVID-19 at the community level and among civil servants and direct project workers, especially if social distancing measures are not observed. In the communities, the use of small-scale medical interventions when providing care to some people with infectious diseases can lead to contamination, especially if hygiene and good practice rules are not well respected. Waste from community-based care can also pose a danger to communities when it is improperly managed. In order to mitigate these risks, the PIU has put measures in place to prevent or minimize the spread of the infectious disease/COVID-19 to the communities and the ministries. As part of component 5, a Community Health and Safety Plan (CHSP) to be embedded in the updated ESMF has evaluated these risks and impacts on the health and safety of the project’s beneficiaries, and include provisions to avoid, minimize and mitigate any potential impacts during project life cycle. The CHSP has also provided an analysis of the current security situation and the impact of payment of salaries and wages to employees of targeted ministries, and SEA/SH risks for workers/civil servants, and project staff. The project has screened for, and where necessary, include specific measures to address SEA/SH risks. Jan 29, 2024 Page 10 of 15 The World Bank Human Capital and Women's and Girls' Empowerment (Maïngo) Project Additional Financing (P181574) This has been captured in the SEA/SH plan before any disbursement made for comp 5. related to payment of salaries and wages of identified civil servants in targeted ministries. However, the SEA/SH action plan will be updated before any disbursement is made in the IDA grant of US$30 million, related to replenish the amount allocated to the emergency financing support to protect the provision of essential social services. Since the security risk is not expected to be enough significant in component 5. A security mitigation measures including code of conduct has been developed and inserted into the in the SEA/SH plan before any disbursement made for comp 5. related to payment of salaries and wages of identified civil servants in targeted ministries. However, SRA/SMP will be updated before any disbursement is made in the IDA grant of US$30 million, related to replenish the amount allocated to the emergency financing support to protect the provision of essential social services. In the context of the rehabilitation of vocational training centers and safe spaces and construction of school toilets, given that these facilities are intended for a wide public, the question of accessibility to these places for people with reduced mobility and the visually impaired will be raised. The design of these facilities will consider universal access, life and fire safety, and structural safety aspects. The updated ESMF will evaluate these risks and impacts on the health and safety of the project’s beneficiaries, and include provisions to avoid, minimize and mitigate any potential impacts during the project life cycle. In addition, the updated ESMF will evaluate risks on traffic and road safety and measures to manage these traffic and road safety risks will be incorporated in the site-specific ESMPs. The updated ESMF will also provide an analysis of the current security Public Disclosure situation and the impact of access to health centers and schools, and SEA/SH risks for health workers, community workers, teachers, and project beneficiaries. An existing Security Risk Assessment (SRA)/Security Managmeent Plan (SMP) has been developed and has shown that the security risk for the Maingo project is high. Violence and insecurity increased throughout the country after the presidential election in December 2020 . To date, there is the presence of non-state armed groups in many parts of the country, who spread terror, theft, aggression and cause killings and massive internal displacement. Measures have been defined to avoid, reduce or mitigate the identified risks for workers, beneficiaries and project assets. These measures which are contained in the SMP include : Security partnerships, the provision within the PIU of a security specialist (which is already on board). Mitigation measures will also include security focal points in the prefectures who will be designated by the respective prefects of these prefectures to secure the project at the prefectural level. Background checks, stakeholder engagement, monitoring and reporting; verification of allegations of misconduct and securing of Safe Spaces, etc. An influx of health workers during outreach visits, accompanied by community workers, could increase SEA/SH risks, especially if the communities are rural and in remote areas. The project will screen for, and where necessary, include specific measures to address SEA/SH risks. This has been captured in the SEA/SH assessment and associated action plan, to be updated and re-disclosed before any disbursement is made in the IDA grant of US$30 million, related to replenish the amount allocated to the emergency financing support to protect the provision of essential social services. As the Maingo is a High-risk project and the security risk is significant, an existing security assessment and management plan, which has been prepared, will be updated to inform the Board on current level of risk and proposed management strategies. Jan 29, 2024 Page 11 of 15 The World Bank Human Capital and Women's and Girls' Empowerment (Maïngo) Project Additional Financing (P181574) ESS5 Land Acquisition, Restrictions on Land Use and Involuntary Resettlement Not Currently Relevant ESS5 is not currently relevant to the Project. Land acquisition, Restrictions on Land Use and Involuntary Resettlement due to project activities are not expected. The project will include construction and rehabilitation works for school toilets and vocational training centers, but they will be carried out within the existing facilities. ESS6 Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Natural Not Currently Relevant Resources ESS6 is not currently relevant to the Project. The Project is not expected to support any activities that might jeopardize the integrity of biodiversity or living natural resources. The E&S screening process in the updated ESMF will exclude such activities. ESS7 Indigenous Peoples/Sub-Saharan African Historically Underserved Traditional Relevant Local Communities ESS7 is considered relevant to the Project. The project will likely to implement activities in areas where Indigenous Peoples (IPs) are present. However, ESS 7 is not considered relevant in relation to Component 5. The project will pay salaries and wages in the areas where IPs (Ba-Aka) are present. The updated SEP will ensure that IPs are among the beneficiaries of outreach communication activities to allow those who are civil servants and working for the four targeted ministries to be identified or enrolled in the lists of beneficiaries. No activity under this project is expected to have an adverse effect on Indigenous Peoples (IPs). However, there is a Public Disclosure risk that IPs are excluded from participating in consultations carried out by the project or that they are not adequately undertaken in an accessible and culturally sensitive manner, which may result in IPs not being aware of the project’s provided benefits, or may result in discrimination by other groups. The updated SEP has included outreach programs to ensure that indigenous communities, especially those living in remote areas, are aware of the availability of integrated programs and essential services delivered by the project in their locations. Community mobilization and awareness-raising activities on key positive practices, as well as alternative education opportunities, will be offered to women and adolescent girls. Other non expected potential social impacts related to the exclusion will be adequately managed/ mitigated through the development, implementation and monitoring of appropriate measures. The borrower should proactively engage with the IPs to ensure their ownership and participation in project design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation. The project’s Indigenous Peoples Planning Framework (IPPF) and Indigenous Peoples Plan (IPP) is already developed, consulted upon, approved and disclosed will need to be updated and re-disclosed before any disbursement is made in the IDA grant of US$30 million, related to replenish the amount allocated to the emergency financing support to protect the provision of essential social services. The updated Indigenous Peoples Plan (IPP) shall be acceptable to the Bank that sets out measures through which the project will ensure that: (i) IPs affected by the project receive culturally appropriate social and economic benefits; and (ii) if potential adverse effects on IPs are identified, those adverse effects are avoided, minimized, mitigated or compensated. The project will not significantly impact social norms/practices aspects of the affected Indigenous Peoples. Therefore, the Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) of IPs will not be needed. ESS8 Cultural Heritage Not Currently Relevant Jan 29, 2024 Page 12 of 15 The World Bank Human Capital and Women's and Girls' Empowerment (Maïngo) Project Additional Financing (P181574) ESS8 is not relevant to the Project. Although Component 1 of the project aims at community mobilization and awareness raising on key positive practices, none of the activities aimed at achieving this objective will have an impact on cultural heritage, whether tangible or intangible. In addition, it has been confirmed during project preparation that the project will have no significant cultural heritage impact that is material to the identity and/or cultural, ceremonial, or spiritual aspects of the affected Indigenous Peoples. Thus, the project will not require the FPIC of IPs. However, ‘Chance find’ procedures has been included in the updated ESMF. ESS9 Financial Intermediaries Not Currently Relevant ESS9 is not currently relevant to the Project. No financial intermediary will be financed through Bank funds for the implementation of project activities. However, access to finance possibly through local financial institutions could be considered under the project. ESS9 would apply if the project decides to involve financial institutions to provide access to finance. ESS10 Stakeholder Engagement and Information Disclosure Relevant In consultation with the Bank, the Borrower has already prepared and disclosed a Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) proportional to the nature and scale of the project and its associated risks and impacts. The SEP is currently under implementation and shall be updated and redisclosed before any disbursement is made in the IDA grant of US$30 million, related to replenish the amount allocated to the emergency financing support to protect the provision of essential social services. Public Disclosure The objective of the SEP is to establish a systematic approach for stakeholder engagement, maintain a constructive relationship with stakeholders, consider stakeholder views, promote and provide means for effective and inclusive engagement with stakeholders and beneficiaries throughout the project life cycle, and ensure that appropriate project information is disclosed to stakeholders in a timely, understandable, culturally accessible and appropriate manner, free of manipulation, interference, coercion, discrimination and intimidation. To ensure this, the Maingo project is currently engaging meaningful consultations with all stakeholders while paying attention to the inclusion of vulnerable and disadvantaged groups. Several awareness and training sessions have been organized with stakeholders in the first beneficiary regions which are : - Grand Bangui (Bimbo et Begoua); - Préfecture de Ouaka (Bambari, Grimari, Bakala, Kouango, Ippy); - Préfecture de Kemo (Sibut, Dekoa, Mala, Ndjounkou); - Préfecture de Nana-Gribizi(Kaga-Bandoro, Mbres et Nana- outa). The concerns and needs of identified stakeholders are related to their full participation in project activities and information sharing (including the selection of beneficiaries). The Maingo project maintains and discloses a documented record of stakeholder engagement, including a description of the stakeholders consulted, a summary of the feedback received, and a brief explanation of how the feedback was considered, or the reasons why it was not. Community consultations with women and girls related to SEA/SH risk mitigation have been conducted in safe and enabling environments, such as in gender-segregated groups with female facilitators. The project is committed to identify and consult with relevant stakeholders who could promote increased recruitment and encourage retention of female mentors, community health workers and teachers to contribute to ensuring a female-friendly environment for the project beneficiaries. Such consultations have been focusing on understanding women’s and girl’s risks and vulnerabilities, understanding women and girls’ experience in community events, health facilities/ clinic and school’s environments, their wellbeing, and health safety and security concerns in relation to the project. Furthermore, the Jan 29, 2024 Page 13 of 15 The World Bank Human Capital and Women's and Girls' Empowerment (Maïngo) Project Additional Financing (P181574) consultations have included disabled groups, disadvantaged groups and minorities within project targeted communities (including indigenous peoples, poor women and girls, and displaced persons and/or refugees) and are carried out in an accessible and appropriate manner, with information provided in accessible formats. The project has developed and set up a project-specific GRM, sensitive to SEA/SH issues, and to the ethical treatment and resolution of such complaints that is proportionate of the potential risks and impacts of the project. In relation to school retention under component 2.2, with respect to measures to reduce school dropout, establishment of a GBV sensitive GRM has also considered inclusion of school counselor systems within the schools. As part of Component 5, a specific Grievance Redress Mechanism has been prepared and it is currently being implemented by the PGNSP. A mechanism has been provided for resolving disputes involving civil servants in the four ministries, which might arise from the inspections and other checks by government bodies to ascertain the presence of civil servants and the reliability of the payroll records. Moreover, stakeholders were consulted as part of the preparation/update of a Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) pertaining to the payment of salaries and wages of civil servants in the social sectors. The updated SEP sets forth the activities to engage with stakeholders throughout project implementation. The updated GRM is also served as a platform for continuous feedback from project-affected communities, other interested stakeholders and implementing partners. In addition, citizen perception surveys will be conducted at different times over the life of the project to gather feedback on the actual presence of teachers, healthcare workers and other social-sector civil servants. Public Disclosure The project-specific GRM has been included in the updated SEP for people to report concerns or complaints, and the comprehensive GRM for civil servants to be updated will result from assessment of the following features: a) Different ways in which stakeholders can submit grievances, including submissions in person, by phone, text messages, mail, e-mail, or via a website and accessibility features for people with hearing and speech impairments. b) A log where grievances are registered in writing and maintained in a database. c) Publicly advertised procedures, setting out the length of time users can expect to wait for acknowledgment, response, and resolution of their grievances. d) Transparency about the grievance procedure, governing structure, and decision-makers. e) An appeals process (including the national judiciary) to which unsatisfied grievances may be referred when the resolution of grievance has not been achieved. B.2 Legal Operational Policies that Apply OP 7.50 Projects on International Waterways No OP 7.60 Projects in Disputed Areas No B.3 Other Salient Features Jan 29, 2024 Page 14 of 15 The World Bank Human Capital and Women's and Girls' Empowerment (Maïngo) Project Additional Financing (P181574) Use of Borrower Framework No The Borrower’s E&S framework is limited. Therefore, the project will not use the Borrower’s framework for addressing environmental and social risks and impacts. The project will rely on the Environmental and Social Standards (ESSs). Use of Common Approach No The Common Approach is not relevant at this time. C. Overview of Required Environmental and Social Risk Management Activities C.1 What Borrower environmental and social analyses, instruments, plans and/or frameworks are planned or required during implementation? Given addition of component 5, E&S documents are being updated or are scheduled for updates to address emerging environmental and social risks. These include: ESMF; SEP and project GRM; LMP; a Community Health and Safety Plan (CHSP) is to be embedded in the updated ESMF; security risk assessment and management plans; and IPP. Furthermore, site-specific ESMPs are expected to be prepared before start of works. III. CONTACT POINTS World Bank Public Disclosure Task Team Leader: Abdoulaye Ka Title: Senior Health Specialist Email: aka@worldbank.org IV. 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 V. APPROVAL Task Team Leader(s): Abdoulaye Ka, Boubakar Lompo, Heriniaina Mikaela Andrianasy ADM Environmental Specialist: Charlie Foyet Sonkeng ADM Social Specialist: Barbara Metuge Emade Practice Manager (ENV/SOC) Nicolas Perrin Cleared on 09-Jan-2024 at 09:15:7 EST Jan 29, 2024 Page 15 of 15