DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO MINISTRY OF PUBLIC HEALTH, HYGIENE AND PREVENTION Democratic Republic of Congo Health Emergency Preparedness, Response and Resilience Project Using the Multiphase Programmatic Approach (P504532) Draft ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) March 2024 1 | Page ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN 1. The Democratic Republic of Congo (the Recipient) will implement the Democratic Republic of Congo Health Emergency Preparedness, Response and Resilience Project using the Multi-phase Programmatic Approach (the Project), with the involvement of the Ministry of Public Health, Hygiene and Prevention through the Project Coordination Team (PCT), as set out in the Financing Agreement. The International Development Association (IDA) (the Association) has agreed to provide financing (P504532) for the Project as set out in the referenced Agreement. 2. The Recipient shall ensure that the Project is carried out in accordance with the Environmental and Social Standards (ESSs) and this Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP), in a manner acceptable to the Association. The ESCP is a part of the Financing Agreement. Unless otherwise defined in this ESCP, capitalized terms used in this ESCP have the meanings ascribed to them in the referred agreement. 3. Without limitation to the foregoing, this ESCP sets out material measures and actions that the Recipient shall carry out or cause to be carried out, including, as applicable, the timeframes of the actions and measures, institutional arrangement, staffing, training, monitoring, and reporting arrangements, and grievance management. The ESCP also sets out the environmental and social (E&S) instruments that shall be adopted and implemented under the Project, all of which shall be subject to prior consultation and disclosure, consistent with the ESS, and in form and substance, and in a manner acceptable to the Association. Once adopted, said E&S instruments may be revised at any time with prior written agreement by the Association. 4. As agreed by the Association and the Recipient, this ESCP may be revised from time to time, if necessary, during Project implementation, to reflect adaptive management of Project changes and unforeseen circumstances or in response to Project performance. In such circumstances, the Recipient through the PCT and the Association agree to update the ESCP to reflect these changes through an exchange of letters signed between the Association and the PCT Coordinator. The Recipient shall promptly disclose the updated ESCP. 2 | Page ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBLE ENTITY MONITORING AND REPORTING A REGULAR REPORTING Ministry of Public Health, Hygiene and Prevention/PCT Prepare and submit to the Association regular monitoring reports on the environmental, Submit quarterly reports to the social, health and safety (ESHS) performance of the Project, including, but not limited to, Association throughout Project the implementation of the ESCP, the preparation and implementation status of the E&S implementation, commencing three (3) instruments required under the ESCP, including site-specific ESMPs, stakeholder months after the Effective Date. engagement activities, safety aspects and the operation of the grievance mechanisms, Submit each report to the Association no including the provisions for SEA/SH grievances. later than 15 days after the end of the quarter. B INCIDENTS AND ACCIDENTS Ministry of Public Health, Hygiene and Prevention/PCT Promptly notify the Association of any incident or accident related to the Project which Notify the Association no later than 24 has, or is likely to have, a significant adverse effect on the environment, the affected hours after learning of the incident communities, the public or workers, including, inter alia, cases of sexual exploitation and (SEA/SH incidents or incidents abuse (SEA), sexual harassment (SH), and accidents that result in death, serious or resulting in death) and no later than 48 multiple injury. hours for any other incident or accident after becoming aware of it. Provide sufficient information regarding the nature, severity and possible causes of the incident or accident, indicating the immediate measures taken or planned to address it, and Provide subsequent report to the any information provided by any contractor and/or supervising firm, as appropriate, Association within 7 days after learning of the incident or accident. Subsequently, at the Association’s request, prepare a report on the incident or accident and propose any measures to address it and prevent its recurrence. C CONTRACTORS’ MONTHLY REPORTS Submit the monthly reports to the Ministry of Public Health, Association as annexes to the reports to Hygiene and Prevention/PCT Require contractors and supervising firms to provide monthly monitoring reports on ESHS be submitted under Action A above. performance in accordance with the metrics specified in the respective bidding documents and contracts and submit such reports to the Association. ESS 1: ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL RISKS AND IMPACTS 1.1 ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE Ministry of Public Health, Hygiene and Prevention/PCT Maintain the PCT with qualified personnel and resources to support the management of Maintain the PCT and specified ESHS risks and impacts of the Project, including an Environmental Specialist, a Social positions throughout the Development Specialist, and a GBV/SEA/SH Specialist at the national level. implementation of the Project. 3 | Page ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBLE ENTITY 1.2 ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL INSTRUMENTS Ministry of Public Health, 1. Prepare, adopt and disclose the Hygiene and Prevention/PCT 1.Adopt, and implement an Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF), ESMF, including the SEA/SH including an annexed SEA/SH Mitigation and Response Action Plan (SEA/SH AP) in a Action Plan by the Effective manner consistent with the relevant ESS for the Project. Date and shall thereafter be implemented throughout Project implementation. 2.Adopt and implement Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs) for activities, as set out in the ESMF. 2. Adopt the ESMPs prior to launching the bidding process for the respective activity and thereafter implement the respective ESMP throughout Project implementation. 1.3 MANAGEMENT OF CONTRACTORS Ministry of Public As part of the preparation of the Health, Hygiene and Incorporate into ESHS specifications of the procurement documents and contracts with respective procurement documents and Prevention/PCT suppliers/contractors and supervising firms (where applicable) relevant aspects of the contracts, and before any request for ESCP, including, inter alia, relevant E&S instruments, Labor Management Procedures, quotations. Ministry of Public Health, Code of Conduct prohibiting SEA/SH behavior and sanctions for non-compliance and Hygiene and Prevention/PCT regular training for workers on GBV, including SEA/HS risks and consequences, and any Supervise contractors throughout Project other mitigation measures established on the SEA/HS Action Plan. Subsequently ensure implementation. that contractors and supervising firms comply with and ensure that subcontractors comply with the ESHS specifications of their respective contracts. In addition, Contractor ESMPs shall include provisions for managing SEA/SH risks in line with those developed by the SEA/SH Action plan of the Project. Thereafter ensure that the contractors and supervising firms comply and cause subcontractors to comply with the ESHS specifications of their respective contracts. 1.4 TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE Ensure that the consultancies, studies (including feasibility studies, if any), capacity building activities, training, and any other technical assistance activities under the Project, Throughout the implementation of the Ministry of Public Health, including technical support, are carried out in accordance with terms of reference that are Project. Hygiene and Prevention/PCT acceptable to the Association and consistent with the ESSs. Thereafter ensure that the outputs of such activities comply with the terms of reference. 4 | Page ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBLE ENTITY 1.5 CONTINGENT EMERGENCY RESPONSE FINANCING (CERC) a) Adopt the CERC Manual and, if Ministry of Public Health, applicable, other instruments, as relevant Hygiene and Prevention/PCT a) Ensure that the Contingency Emergency Response Manual (CERC Manual) as in form and substance acceptable to the referred to in the Financing Agreement includes a description of the ESHS Association, prior to disbursement under assessment and management arrangements including, if applicable, an ESMF Category [2] in accordance with Section Addendum that will be referred to in the CERC Manual for the implementation of [III.B.1(b)] of Schedule 2 to the CERC Part, in accordance with the ESSs. Financing Agreement. b) Adopt any E&S instruments which may be required for activities under CERC component of the Project, in accordance with the CERC Manual and, if applicable, b) Adopt any required E&S instruments a CERC Addendum to the existing ESMF consistent with the ESSs, including a and include them in the respective description of the ESHS assessment and management arrangements, and thereafter bidding procedures, when appropriate, implement the measures and actions required under said E&S instruments, within and in any case prior to the the timeframes specified in these instruments. implementation of the relevant Project activities for which the E&S instrument is required. Implement the E&S instruments in accordance with the conditions stipulated therein, throughout the implementation of the Project. 1.6 ACTIVITIES SUBJECT TO RETROACTIVE FINANCING These activities will be identified during Ministry of Public Health, Project preparation, specifically during Hygiene and Prevention/PCT Identify these activities and conducted due diligence to identify any required actions to negotiations, and any required E&S ensure that such activities meet the requirements of the ESSs. Those might include the instruments or processes adopted and preparation of an E&S audit may, which normally would be completed during project implemented prior to the implementation preparation and amendment to existing work contracts, or a corrective action plan. of the relevant Project activities. ESS 2 : LABOR AND WORKING CONDITIONS 2.1 LABOR MANAGEMENT PROCEDURES Ministry of Public Health, Adopt and implement the Labor Management Procedures (LMP) for the Project, including, The LMP shall be adopted no later than Hygiene and Prevention/PCT among others, provisions on working conditions, management of workers relationships, 60 days after the Effective Date and occupational health and safety (including personal protective equipment, and emergency thereafter implemented throughout preparedness and response), code of conduct (including relating to SEA and SH), forced Project implementation. labor, child labor, grievance arrangements for Project workers, and applicable requirements for contractors, subcontractors, and supervising firms. 5 | Page ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBLE ENTITY 2.2 GRIEVANCE REDRESS MECHANISM FOR PROJECT WORKERS Establish and operationalize the Ministry of Public Health, Grievance Mechanism (GM) for workers Hygiene and Prevention/PCT Establish and operate a grievance mechanism for Project workers as described in the LMP prior to engaging Project workers and and consistent with ESS2, including procedures for reporting SEA/SH incidents in an thereafter maintain and operate it ethical and confidential manner, following a survivor-centered approach. throughout Project implementation. ESS 3 : RESOURCE EFFICIENCY AND POLLUTION PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT 3.1 WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN Ministry of Public Health, Prepare, adopt and implement the Healthcare Waste Management Plan (HWMP) to The HWMP shall be prepared as an Hygiene and manage hazardous and non-hazardous wastes consistent with ESS3. annex to the ESMF and shall be adopted Prevention/PCT In the case of the renovation of buildings containing asbestos, the Recipient shall ensure and implemented within the same that the removal of asbestos is carried out by specialized firms or institutions. timeframe as for the ESMF in action 1.2 above 3.2 RESOURCE EFFICIENCY AND POLLUTION PREVENTION AND Ministry of Public Health, MANAGEMENT Hygiene and Prevention/PCT Incorporate resource efficiency and pollution prevention and management measures into Same timeframe as for the adoption and the ESMPs to be prepared under action 1.2 implementation of the ESMPs in action 1.2 above. ESS 4 : COMMUNITY HEALTH AND SAFETY 4.1 TRAFFIC AND ROAD SAFETY Ministry of Public Health, Incorporate measures to manage traffic and road safety in the ESMF to be developed under Same timeframe as for the adoption and Hygiene and Prevention/PCT Action 1.2 above. implementation of the ESMF in action 1.2 above. 4.2 COMMUNITY HEALTH AND SAFETY Same timeframe as for the adoption and Assess and manage specific risks and impacts to the community arising from Project implementation of the ESMPs in action activities, including, inter alia, exposure to transmissible diseases (including HIV/AIDS), 1.2 above. noise, pollution and other public health issues, safety risks, the behavior Project workers, risks of labor influx, response to emergency situations, and include mitigation measures in the ESMPs to be prepared in accordance with the ESMF. 4.3 RISKS OF SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE AND SEXUAL The SEA/SH Action Plan is an appendix Ministry of Public Health, HARASSMENT (SEA/SH) to the ESMF and shall be adopted and Hygiene and Prevention/PCT The Recipient shall adopt and implement an action plan for measures to manage the risks implemented within the same timeframe of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA)/Sexual Harassment (HS) consistent with the as for the ESMF in action 1.2 above. ESS4 . The SEA/SH action plan shall include a number of measures, including but not limited to continuous SEA/SH risks identification, awareness raising activities, community consultations, project workers training, signature of a code of conduct prohibiting and 6 | Page ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBLE ENTITY sanctioning SEA/SH acts by all project actors (project workers and other actors, including officials working on the Project but whose employment is not legally transferred to the Project). The SEA/HS risk mitigation and response action plan should be properly budgeted. 4.4 SECURITY MANAGEMENT Ministry of Public Health, Hygiene and Prevention/PCT Assess through a Security Risk Assessment and implement measures to manage the Prior to carrying out of any activity that security risks of the Project, including the risks of engaging security personnel to requires the preparation of such Security safeguard project workers, sites, assets, and activities, as to be set out in eventual Security Management Plans and thereafter Management Plans, guided by the principles of proportionality and GIIP, and by implemented throughout the Project. applicable law, in relation to hiring, rules of conduct, training, equipping, and monitoring of such personnel. ESS 5 : LAND ACQUISITION, LAND USE RESTRICTIONS AND INVOLUNTARY RELOCATION ( Not currently relevant) ESS 6 : BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF LIVING NATURAL RESOURCES (Not currently relevant) ESS 7 : INDIGENOUS PEOPLES/SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAN HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED TRADITIONAL LOCAL COMMUNITIES 7.1 INDIGENOUS PEOPLES PLANNING FRAMEWORK The IPPF shall be adopted no later than Ministry of Public Health, Adopt and implement an Indigenous Peoples Planning Framework (IPPF) for the Project, 60 days after the Effective Date and Hygiene and Prevention/PCT consistent with ESS7. thereafter implemented throughout the Project. 7.2 INDIGENOUS PEOPLES PLAN (IPP) Adopt the IPP prior to the carrying out of Ministry of Public Health, Adopt and implement an Indigenous Peoples Plan (IPP) for each activity under the any activity that requires the preparation Hygiene and Project for which the IPPF requires such IPP, as set out in the IPPF, and consistent with of such IPP. Once adopted, implement Prevention/PCT ESS7. the IPP throughout Project implementation. ESS 8 : CULTURAL HERITAGE 8.1 CHANCE FINDS Ministry of Public Health, Same timeframe as for the adoption and Hygiene and Prevention/PCT Describe and implement the chance finds procedures as part of the ESMF. implementation of the ESMF in action 1.2 above. ESS 10 : STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT AND INFORMATION DISCLOSURE 10.1 STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT PLAN PREPARATION AND An SEP has been prepared, adopted Ministry of Public Health, IMPLEMENTATION and disclosed on March 12,2024. . It Hygiene and shall be applied and updated or Prevention/PCT 7 | Page ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBLE ENTITY Adopt and implement a Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) for the Project in accordance improved during Project with the provisions of ESS10, which includes measures to, among other things, provide implementation. stakeholders with up-to-date, relevant, understandable, and accessible information, and to consult with them in a culturally sensitive manner, free from manipulation, interference, coercion, discrimination, and intimidation. 10.2 PROJECT GRIEVANCE MECHANISM The Grievance Redress Mechanism, Ministry of Public Health, including SEA/HS procedures shall be Hygiene and Prevention/PCT Establish, publicize, maintain and operate an accessible grievance mechanism to receive and established before the beginning of facilitate the timely and effective resolution of Project related concerns and complaints in a Project activities and then implemented transparent, culturally appropriate and easily accessible manner to all Project-affected parties, throughout the implementation of the free of charge and without retribution, including anonymously filed concerns and complaints, Project. in a manner consistent with the ESS10. The grievance mechanism mechanism shall be equipped with several entry points to receive, record and facilitate the resolution of complaints, including those related to SEA/SH, with the possibility of referring survivors to specialized GBV service providers in a safe, confidential and survivor centered manner. CAPACITY SUPPORT (TRAINING) Prepare a training plan within 90 days Ministry of Public Health, CS1 The PIU, stakeholders, members of affected communities as well as Project workers of the Effective Date and implement it Hygiene and shall benefit from capacity support on the following topics: throughout the Project implementation. Prevention/PCT • Stakeholder Identification and Engagement ; To increase efficiency, the members of • specific aspects of environmental and social assessment the Grievance Redress Committee shall • emergency preparedness and response ; be trained on the work site for 10 days • Occupational health and safety ; after the start of the activities. • Population Health And Safety ; • Trainers training on veterinary care and veterinary laboratory activities waste management; • Train staff and cleaners on biowaste management; • Develop good practice guides and train staff involved in the use of waste management (for selective sorting, use of bins, equipment, etc.) and display internal waste management procedures; • Train laboratory technicians, but also agents in charge of BW disposal, operation and maintenance of incinerators before their installation (broad outlines of the treatment and operation process; health and safety related to operations ; emergency and rescue procedures; technical procedures; maintenance; control and monitoring of the process and residues, etc.); 8 | Page ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBLE ENTITY • Training on the health monitoring of fauna and flora; • Prevention and response to the risks of SEA/ SH and GBV associated with the Project • GRM Prepare a training plan within 90 days Ministry of Public Health, CS2 Training for Project workers on occupational health and safety including on emergency of the Effective Date and throughout the Hygiene and Prevention/PCT prevention and preparedness ; response arrangements to emergency situations; duration of the Project. health emergencies related to climate change; application of labor management procedures; including code of conduct; reporting on incidents; sexual exploitation; and abuse as well as sexual harassment; mitigating the effects of epidemics. 9 | Page