The World Bank
DRC Forest and Savanna Restoration Investment Program (P178642)
Appraisal Environmental and Social Review Summary
Appraisal Stage
(ESRS Appraisal Stage)
Public Disclosure
Date Prepared/Updated: 04/08/2023 | Report No: ESRSA02694
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The World Bank
DRC Forest and Savanna Restoration Investment Program (P178642)
BASIC INFORMATION
A. Basic Project Data
Country Region Project ID Parent Project ID (if any)
Congo, Democratic EASTERN AND SOUTHERN P178642
Republic of AFRICA
Project Name DRC Forest and Savanna Restoration Investment Program
Practice Area (Lead) Financing Instrument Estimated Appraisal Date Estimated Board Date
Environment, Natural Investment Project 4/5/2023 5/30/2023
Resources & the Blue Financing
Economy
Borrower(s) Implementing Agency(ies)
Ministry of Finance Ministry of Environment and
Sustainable Development
Public Disclosure
Proposed Development Objective
To improve forested landscape management and enhance community livelihoods in selected project areas.
Financing (in USD Million) Amount
Total Project Cost 300.00
B. Is the project being prepared in a Situation of Urgent Need of Assistance or Capacity Constraints, as per Bank IPF
Policy, para. 12?
No
C. Summary Description of Proposed Project [including overview of Country, Sectoral & Institutional Contexts and
Relationship to CPF]
The DRC FOREST program relies on a series of proven strategies, plans and actions to improve the management of
forested landscapes thereby improving the livelihoods of forest-adjacent and dependent communities in the 10 CPF
provinces. FOREST’s multi-pronged approach has the long-term aim of reducing pressure on forested landscapes
thereby reducing deforestation, forest degradation and the GHG emissions that result from forest loss. As mentioned
above, DRC faces a myriad of issues with rural poverty at the fore. Agriculture is the economic bedrock for much of
DRC’s rural population and the age-old method of forming new fields through slash and burn methods is
simultaneously destroying forested landscapes and degrading soils while providing little food security. Communities
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The World Bank
DRC Forest and Savanna Restoration Investment Program (P178642)
have little support or opportunity to conduct land use planning activities that can help them balance needs and costs
of actions while at the same time receiving support for enhanced food and economic security. At the same time, the
national and provincial agencies that need to support informed planning and risk assessment lack capacity. Through
activities under Component 1 which help communities develop appropriate land use plans to improve sustainable
management of natural resources, and those under Component 2 which invest in agroforestry and forest plantations
for market crops, e.g., timber, fuelwoods, palm oil and food crops and development of their markets and value chains,
the FOREST program activities work together to reduce pressure on forested landscapes through improving local
livelihoods, enhancing management, increasing capacity and respecting local rights. The work of these components
also works to build back degraded and deforested areas helping to enhance biodiversity and overall forest health. In
addition to these local land use planning and implementation activities, Component 1 also looks to build the
necessary capacity at the national and provincial levels to ensure Ministry of Environment and other targeted
agencies’ staff are able to fully understand the development and use of strategic environmental and social plans and
other risk assessment tools. This enhanced capacity is key to enabling government to better understand the trade-
offs it faces with regard to key environmental and social risks, especially regarding climate, biodiversity and
livelihoods and thus improve the ability to make informed decisions with regard to policies, strategic plans and
programs and their implementation and impacts over the longer term. With activities under the above components
along with Component 3 which looks at the development of value chains for efficient charcoal and investments in
cleaner cooking, FOREST targets both the supply and demand side of cooking fuel which puts significant pressure on
forests and the ecosystem services they provide. Finally, Component 4 works to build the capacity for measurement,
reporting and valuation tools and methods such that realistic incentives can be provided to communities for these
‘safeguarded’ ecosystem services and financing for long-term management can be assured.
Public Disclosure
D. Environmental and Social Overview
D.1. Detailed project location(s) and salient physical characteristics relevant to the E&S assessment [geographic,
environmental, social]
The operation will implement a Series of Projects (SOP) with a geographical scope focused on the Western (Kinshasa,
Kongo Central and Kwilu) and Central (the three Kasais and Lomami) basins under the first phase (SOP1). The West
Basin is the least forested, with only 32 percent of its area still covered in forest. One third of the forest in the West
Basin is secondary (degraded) forest. In the Central Basin, just over 10 percent of forest is secondary. Savannas cover
vast areas in the south of the West Basin (in particular Kinshasa and Kwilu) and in most of the Center (except north of
Kasai and Kasai Central). Protected areas (PA) account for 5 percent of the total area of the Central and West Basins
(ref. ESS6). However, the expansion of small-scale agriculture and harvesting trees to meet energy demands has led to
significant deforestation from 2001-2020 in Kinshasa (30 %), Kasaï Central (20%) and Kongo Central (20 %). For
example, in Kwilu (west basin), the main causes of deforestation are slash-and-burn agriculture; charcoal production,
which supplies Kinshasa; and logging, with 10 percent of households practicing wood-based crafts. DRC’s peri-urban
landscapes are hotspots of forest conversion for subsistence, shifting, agriculture with the overuse of herbicides and
pesticides. Mining ( Kasai 122 active an non active permits; Kongo Central:247: Kwilu: 13; Kasai : 151; Lomani 23;
Kinshasa : 33; Kasai central :45; Kasai Oriental :55)-Casdastre Minier (RDC, 2020) and illegal logging also add increasing
pressure on forest resources, and in these settings, deforestation and land degradation are increasing exposure to
climate change impact for communities and agricultural systems —including crops, livestock, water systems, and
infrastructure. Furthermore, these basins are vulnerable to extreme weather events and natural hazards (floods,
landslides, erosion among others) whose severity is likely to increase due to climate change (prevalence of extreme
precipitation events). These targeted basins belongs to the Congo Basin River with a dense network of streams and is
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DRC Forest and Savanna Restoration Investment Program (P178642)
home to many lakes in its upper reaches. The following rivers are in the project area : Kwilu, Kasai, Lubi, Kalelu,
Lubilanji, Kanshi, Sankuru, Lomami, Tshikapa and Lulua rivers. Inland navigable waterways are also found and include
Matadi-Banana and Mpioka-Isangila; the Kasai River (for evacuating agricultural products) - the Kwilu River navigables
to Kikwit. Erosion and sedimentation caused by deforestation and land use practices has increased flood risk and
reduced streamflow. Agricultural runoff has also polluted surface waters, threatening human health and biodiversity
(USAID, 2020). Sugarcane cultivation (1600 ha in Mbanza-Ngungu) has increased contamination from pesticides,
fungicides, and fertilizers in surface water. Due to the high rainfall, Agriculture is predominantly rainfed the targeted
basins( provinces). The Central and West Basins are then important for (i) agroforestry (successful agroforestry
interventions are found in the targeted provinces and include community agroforestry (Bas Congo Province and
Bateke / Kinshasa Plateau; 22,000 hectares of agroforestry plantations, combining a range of crops (acacia, fruit trees,
oil palm and other perennials) and implementation models (for rural communities and small private operators) under
Improved Forested Landscape Management Project (IFLMP) (P128887), and (ii) agriculture activities, with the
development of agro-industrial parks- core component of the country’s approach to national development, palm oil
supply chain and cassava production (9,086,164 tons of cassava on 969,644 ha), that may lead to further
deforestation. Deficient rural roads make the production, transportation, and conservation of high value perishable
goods and non-timber forest products prohibitive. Rural Office des Voies de Desserte Agricoles (OVDA ) does not have
a precise inventory of the quality of this network or the state of bridges and other small infrastructure but considers it
in poor or very poor condition.
The proposed project will also support capacity building for transition to more efficient charcoal production. Over
300,000 people in the DRC are employed by the fuelwood energy sector, and one study shows revenues related to
charcoal production account for 75% of producer’s household incomes in Kinshasa (Cibemba, A., 2021). Companies,
Public Disclosure
such as bakeries, breweries, restaurants, brickmakers and forgers in aluminum, also depend on firewood or charcoal
for their daily work. The area needed for fuelwood plantations to meet the needs of the main urban centers in the
two basins is estimated at just over 10,000 km2 (nearly 6,000 km2 in the West basin, 4,000 km2 in the Central basin).
Charcoal production in the following targeted provinces is as follows : Kwilu (150,000 T/yr); Kinshasa (900,000 T/yr)
and Kasaï Oriental (300,000 T/yr). The project will promote the adoption and scaling-up of sustainable agroforestry
practices and implementation of ecosystem restoration and conservation activities in degraded areas aiming to help
establish enabling conditions for integrated landscape management. Screening has identified that indigenous peoples
are present in the project site (Lomami, Kasaï Central; Kasaï oriental and Kasai) numbering up to 107460 (REPALEF ,
2022) and/or might be negatively affected by the project. They are Batwa peoples, the main indigenous hunter-
gatherer communities in DRC.
D. 2. Borrower’s Institutional Capacity
The Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MEDD), through the existing Forest Investment Program
Coordination Unit (FIP-CU), will be the implementation entity for the project. Main fiduciary and environmental and
social risk management responsibilities will remain with FIP-CU. Since 2014, FIP-CU has been managing the Improved
Forested Landscape management Project (P128887) under the World Bank’s safeguard policies, and has been
implementing under safeguards the Maï-Ndombe Emission Reductions Program (P160320). FIP-CU staff is therefore
familiar with the World Bank’s safeguard policies. However, the experience of FIP-CU related to ESF is limited, and
capacity building will be required. In addition, activities will be implemented in multiple provinces with low E&S risk
management capacities. For efficient supervision, FIP-CU will establish six (06) devolved branches (Kinshasa is not
included as it hosts the FIP-CU), each one covering 01 province. FIP-CU will hire a new full-time socio-environmental
specialist and a GBV expert based at the national level (Kinshasa). In addition, there will be one assistant safeguards
specialist with expertise in GBV issues (also in charge of M&E) in each targeted province (Kongo Central, Kwilu,
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DRC Forest and Savanna Restoration Investment Program (P178642)
Lomami , the three Kasai). They shall be hired within 90 days after the Project Effective Date and shall thereafter be
maintained throughout the implementation of the Project. In addition, the FIP-CU will be strengthened with two
biodiversity and natural resources management specialists. They shall be recruited within 90 days from the Effective
Date to complement the FIP-CU E&S Specialists. It is expected that FIP-CU will need substantial support from
independent consultants and World Bank E&S team for the preparation and implementation of instruments required
under the ESF.
Other institutional entities which will be involved in implementation of project activities and will sign Memoranda of
Understanding (MOU) with FIP-CU to define respective roles and responsibilities. These include:
- The National Agency for Electricfication and Energy Services in Rural and Periurban Areas (ANSER) which will
implement Sub-component 3.2 supporting cleaner cooking in key urban areas and support policies for clean cooking
market development.
- The Offices of Roads (OdR) which will construct/rehabilitate agricultural service roads and bridges under Sub-
component 2.4.
In adition, the project also have a number of insitutional beneficiaries such as the Congolese Agency for the
Environment (Agence Congolaise de l’Environnement - ACE) for capacity building and environmental mamagement
(Sub-component 1.3), the Institute for the Conservation of Nature (ICCN) for the consideration of conservation
aspects in activities around protected areas (Components 1 and 2),; the Institute of Agronomic Research (INERA); the
National Seed Service (SENASEM) for the production of seeds and the supervision of seed growers (Component 2); the
Directorate of Forest Inventories and Management (DIAF) and other MEDD services to support MRV and carbon
finance activities (Component 4 ). The Network of Indigenous and Local Populations for the Sustainable Management
of Forest Ecosystems (REPALEF), the Reformed Climate Working Group on REDD+ (GTCRR) and other local CSO
Public Disclosure
platforms will support M&E activities (Component 5). REPALEF will also support the implementation a specific
component of the project’s GRM to specifically ensure continuous feedback from IPs on project activities.
Result-based Grant Agreements will be signed by FIP-CU with agroforestry and forestry private operators under Sub-
component 2.1b and with clean cooking operators under Sub-component 3.2. These Result-based Grant Agreements
shall include E&S considerations (E&S criteria/clauses; standards for environmentally and socially sustainable
silvicultural practices appropriate for small producers, ESMP for subproject requiring an ESIA). Payment for Ecosystem
Services (PES) contracts will be signed between Local Implementation Agencies (LIAs) and Communities (Local
Development Committees and individual community members) to support community activities under Sub-
component 2.1.a, 2.2 and 2.3.
LIAs will sign Technical Assistance contract with the project to implement community-focused activities in the field,
including land use planning (Sub-component 1.2) and physical investments including plantation, restoration and
conservation approaches (Sub-components 2.1.a, 2.2, 2.3). Other specialised contractors will support implementation
on specific aspects as needed (e.g., gender, geolocalisation etc.). Sub-component 2.3 will be implemented through a
delegated implementing agency (DIA) which will be a non-governmental organization (or consortium of) recruited
through international competitive selection. Under Sub-component 2.4, LIAs will work with the Local Development
Committees (LDC) to maintain local rural feeder roads through labor-intensive approaches
LIAs and DIAs will adhere to small-scale plantations under sustainable management standards and will have a proven
track record designing and conducting training workshops on agroforestry packages to restore degraded lands and
implementation, soil and water management, climate resilient agroforestry packages, and WB environmental and
social standards. An operator will be recruited through an international competitive process to support FIP-CU in
implementing the Result-based Grant mechanism for private operators under Sub-component 2.1.b. This operator
will have a proven track record supporting investment in agroforestry and forestry value chains as well as
incorporating E&S considerations into matching grants business proposals.
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DRC Forest and Savanna Restoration Investment Program (P178642)
The MEDD governs environmental policies and their compliance through its main national agency, the Congolese
Agency for the Environment (Agence Congolaise de l’Environnement - ACE). The ACE is responsible for the monitoring
and management of environmental and social impacts for all projects in compliance with national regulation. This
agency is however understaffed and has limited capacity, the project will include ACE staffs on ESF capacity building
trainings. FIP-CU will develop and implement, within 90 days after the Project Effective Date , an environmental and
social training plan that will include topics such as the Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) of the World Bank,
recommendations regarding SEA/SH risk management, the E&S instruments prepared for the project, participatory
monitoring and evaluation for the projects, a tracking system of E&S aspects during project implementation, and
other significant actions as detailed in the project’s Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP). Training
activities will target FIP-CU and all the above list stakeholders.
The project has dedicated subcomponent 1.3 to build the necessary capacity for Improved Environmental & Social
Risk Management at the national and provincial levels to ensure Ministry of Environment and other targeted
agencies’ staff are able to fully understand the development and use of strategic environmental and social plans and
other risk assessment tools. This enhanced capacity is key to enabling government to better understand the trade-
offs it faces about key environmental and social risks, especially regarding climate, biodiversity and livelihoods and
thus improve the ability to make informed decisions about policies, strategic plans and programs and their
implementation and impacts over the longer term.
II. SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL (ES) RISKS AND IMPACTS
A. Environmental and Social Risk Classification (ESRC) High
Public Disclosure
Environmental Risk Rating High
The Environmental Risk Rating is assessed as High, as the investments are expected around protected areas (Comp. 1
and 2) and at two basin levels. It is also because until the appraisal stage not all locations and types of investments
are known. This classification is based on (i) the activities to be funded by the project, particularly related to
biodiversity, pollution and health and safety risks and impacts related to site selection, management and harvesting
operations for agroforestry and plantations for fuelwood and; (ii) a wide range of small and medium scale
interventions in different sectors and in multiple areas; distribution of clean and efficient cooking solutions to 500,000
households, 500 subproject proponents, including small landowners (10 ha-50 ha) and small- and medium-enterprises
with different particularities, which can be critical especially for the implementation phase of the project ; (iii)
technical assistance activities under comp. 1, 2 , 3, 4 and 5 ; (iv) client’s ESF capacity to identify and manage E&S risk
as this is their first ESF project; and (v) key environmental risks and impacts related to the project activities. No
activities will be allowed in Protected areas and per the Exclusion List included in the ESMF, subprojects with
significant risks and/or adverse impacts on critical habitat and the biodiversity that it supports will not be funded. Key
environmental risks and impacts are anticipated to result mainly from activities under the Components 1, 2 , 3, and 4
and 5, and will include loss biodiversity or conversion of natural and semi natural vegetated land to other types of
land cover classes -if good practices in land restoration are not applied correctly-under components 1&2; water
overuse for seedling production in nurseries; introduction of invasive species through reforestation and/or
agroforestry activities; potential contamination due to the use of agrochemicals and pesticides; improper waste
management of cleared vegetation; OHS hazards for the workforce due to the careless use of machinery and
equipment; distribution of clean and efficient cooking solutions (comp. 3) will have potential environmental risks and
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DRC Forest and Savanna Restoration Investment Program (P178642)
impacts related to the storage and final disposal of used clean and efficient cooking solutions containing hazardous
waste; and disposal/recycling of solar panels in case solar panels are promoted. Support small road and bridges
rehabilitation/maintenance activities may include air, noise and water pollution, erosion, soil contamination,
deforestation, land degradation, generation hazardous waste during small-scale construction, forest degradation,
ecosystem services degradation, community and worker’s health and safety risks; implementation and downstream
effects from the conclusions of the technical assistance and capacity building activities, landscape restoration
activities may entail impacts on water quality and quantity and aquatic ecology; risk of forest/savannah fire; soil
erosion due to earthworks and runoff (comp. 4). In addition, there might be impacts related to Occupational and
Community Health and Safety such as fire safety, construction safety, transportation and pesticide exposure, etc. The
project is also exposed to exogenous climate risks/natural disasters such as flood, intense rainfall, landslide, etc. Since
communities in these basins are largely dependent on natural resources for livelihoods, adverse impacts on
ecosystems and associated ecosystem services would present an environmental risk for communities as well.
Activities to reduce climate/natural disaster risks and to strengthen the adaptive capacity of targeted forests and rural
forest dependent communities will be included in the project activities. Lastly, the ability for the World Bank to
supervise environmental and social risk management is limited in some targeted areas.
Social Risk Rating High
Activities under component 1 (Development of Simple Land Use Plans at the village level and Support to Enhanced
Land Use Planning in targeted Provinces) might carry downstream impacts and the project will have to ensure that
terms of reference related to those activities are consistent with the ESF. Likewise, all technical assistance activities
carry social risks, which will have to be mitigated. Activities under component 2 related to plantation development
and under Component 3 related to transition to efficient charcoal production carry a range of potential negative
Public Disclosure
social risks, that include physical and economic displacement/restriction of access to resources and inadequate
compensation for those impacted. This is particularly relevant to potential activities in the center basin (Kasais), that
is known to host Indigenous Peoples and where there’s a potential for FPIC to be triggered under some sub-projects.
A resettlement Policy Framework (RPF) and and Indigenous Peoples Planning Framework (IPPF) were prepared ,
consulted upon, and publicly disclosed on March 26, 2023. They provide guidelines for the elaboration of eventual
Resettlement Action Plans (RAP) and Indigenous People Plans (IPP). The Project also presents risks of increased social
conflicts, risk of land legacy issues, risk of complex ownership structures etc. Mitigation measures for these risks are
also included in the RPF. Community-led civil works initiatives for fire prevention, agricultural secondary roads, and
small bridges rehabilitation carry risks that include those related to labor (child labor, forced labor, labor disputes,
etc.), Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Sexual Harassment (SEA/SH), and social exclusion, particularly during the
recruitment of community workers. The project will be required to prepare Labor Management Procedures to
address these risks. In addition, some of the targeted provinces host internally displaced persons and have been
identified by the Bank’s own quarterly country wide Security Risk Assessment as hotspots for violent conflicts,
kidnappings, harassment, etc. The project might make use of security personnel to safeguard some of the newly
established plantations, which might also pose risks to the surrounding communities. The client will prepare a
Security Personnel Management Plan to address the risk. Because of the above mentioned risks and the wide
geographical scope of the project, with some areas posing issues of accessibility for supervision, social risk is presently
rated as high.
B. Environment and Social Standards (ESSs) that Apply to the Activities Being Considered
B.1. General Assessment
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DRC Forest and Savanna Restoration Investment Program (P178642)
ESS1 Assessment and Management of Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts
Overview of the relevance of the Standard for the Project:
ESS1 is relevant due to impacts and risks that may be caused by various project activities to be implemented within
project areas. Components 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, with embedded technical assistance activities, will lead to potential
environmental and social risks and impacts described under section II A above Environmental and Social Risk
Classification (ESRC). To manage environmental and social risks and impacts mentioned above and considering that
the specific subproject locations are not yet known at this stage, the project prepared and disclosed on December 13,
2022 a draft project-level Environmental and social management Framework (ESMF) and it has been finalized,
approved and shall be redisclosed by appraisal.
The ESMF (i) provides guidance on E&S screening and classification of subprojects including the Exclusion List of
activities considered as ineligible for funding under the project . In line with the ESMF, no interventions will take place
in critical habitats, (ii) examines the project’s overall direct, indirect and cumulative risks and impacts, setting out the
principles, rules, guidelines and procedures to assess, mitigate and monitor potential risks and impacts from project
activities, (iii) includes E&S risk and impact screening criteria, biodiversity screening approach and generic mitigation
measures, and (iv) describes the strategy and timeline for identifying actions and measures that address any threats
to biodiversity conservation including threats on critical habitats, endangered species (fauna and flora) including
threats caused by invasive species.
In addition, the ESMF includes (i) a Pest Management Plan (PMP), (ii) an SEA/SH prevention and response Action plan,
(iii) a description of E&S implementation arrangements, (iv) a subproject exclusion list that the project will not
finance which includes: plantations that involve any conversion or degradation of critical habitats or industry-scale
commercial harvesting operations and intensified crop agriculture involving substantially increased agrochemical use;
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(v) guidance for environmentally and socially sustainable silvicultural practices appropriate for small producers.
The following E&S management approach is outlined in the ESMF:
- 500 subprojects are planned and all of them will be screened for E&S risks and impacts, and the screening
will result in a classification of the sub-project as low, moderate, substantial or high risk. Subprojects rated low and
moderate would be governed by a standard ESMP while subproject rated substantial or high would be governed by
site-specific ESIA-ESMP. Similar subproject within a similar geographic areas, e.g. all acacia plantations or agroforestry
packages, new tree plantations and land restoration activities within a defined geographic area will be screened and
clustered geographically, and governed by one specific Environnmental and Social Assessment (ESA) instrument.
However palm or other plantations that are not in the same area would be governed by a separate instrument. Based
on E&S screening findings, an ESA instrument (ESIAs/ESMPs or a standard ESMPs) will be prepared or adopted for
each cluster. ESIAs/ESMPs for agroforestry, tree plantations, small-scale palm oil plantations and land restoration
subprojects will result in : standards for environmentally and socially sustainable silvicultural practices appropriate
for small producers and a set of E&S criteria/Checklist for small producers to be included in the grant agreements
with the farmers. Standards will be consistent with the World Bank Group EHS Guidelines for Forest Harvesting
Operations. All agroforestry, tree plantations, small-scale palm oil plantations and land restoration subproject
proponents will be expected to adhere to standards for environmentally and socially sustainable silvicultural
practices.
- Given the wide range of small and medium scale civil work interventions in different sectors
(rehabilitation/construction of rural roads, maintenance of rural roads, storage facilities, etc.) and in multiple areas,
the following approach is adopted : based on screening findings, the first interventions will be clustered
geographically per activity (food processing/storage facilities/Non-Timber Forest products,
rehabilitation/construction of rural roads). An ESIAs&ESMPs will be prepared for each first cluster and sector. They
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DRC Forest and Savanna Restoration Investment Program (P178642)
will result in standard ESMPs for small-scale rehabilitation works (rural roads/bridge construction/rehabilitation, rural
road maintenance through labor-intensive approach; construction of firebreaks; storage facilities); Based on
screening findings, ESIAs & ESMPs will be prepared and adopted for efficient and clean energy solutions subprojects
including clean charcoal production (Enhanced carbonization techniques). Efficient and clean energy solutions, road
rehabilitation, construction of storage facilities, construction of firebreaks, etc. may entail extraction of raw materials
(sand, clay, etc.) for the construction. Risks and impacts associated with the ancillary works are addressed in the
ESMF and will be further identified and addressed in any subsequent ESA instruments (ESIA, ESMP).
- For all sub-projects ESIA and RAP to be developed, the potential cumulative and regional impacts will be
assessed. During ESIA preparation, cumulative impacts and threats to biodiversity will be assessed by analyzing how
landscape disturbances interact with each other, and whether these interactions are positive or negative, and
measure the risk to the environment. It will also determine how multiple disturbances change the resource areas by
examining indicators such as tree health, species, socio-economic status of resource users and neighboring
communities.
- As the construction, agroforestry, restauration and plantation activities will involve hazardous work, persons
under the age of 18 will not be employed in these activities. All implementing entities listed under D. 2. Borrower’s
Institutional Capacity will take steps to prevent accidents, injury, and disease arising from, associated with, or
occurring in the course of work by minimizing, as far as reasonably practicable, the causes of hazards based on
international industry practice, reflected also in the World Bank Group Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS)
Guidelines. The Borrower will address areas that include the (i) identification of potential life-threatening hazards to
workers; (ii) provision of preventive and protective measures, including modification, substitution, or elimination of
hazardous conditions or substances; (iii) training of workers; (iv) documentation and reporting of occupational
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accidents, diseases, and incidents; and (v) emergency prevention, preparedness, and response arrangements.
Requirements to follow good industry practice and EHS Guidelines will be included in bidding documents of all civil
works contractors. The site-specific Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs) will include OHS measures
and monitoring plans, including SEA/SH mitigation measures in line with those identified by the project and outlined
under the SEAS/SH Action Plan.
Alternative analysis. During implementation, the project will ensure application of stringent measures appropriate to
the nature and scale of the risk and impact, including:
- studying potential project alternatives that would avoid critical natural habitats and other sensitive
environmental, social and cultural receptors, minimizing land acquisition as set out in relevant ESSs; avoiding
involuntary resettlement or if unavoidable, minimizing land acquisition as set out in relevant ESSs, by considering
alternatives when designing the project/footprints and subprojects including borrow pits, access road crusher plant
sittings, and avoiding forced eviction, critical natural habitats and other sensitive environmental, social and cultural
receptors.
- mitigating the adverse social and economic effects of land acquisition or land use restrictions. An RPF has
been drafted consulted upon and will and disclosed on March 26, 2023 – It provides methodology to screen and
identify potential land and displacement risks for activities that have not yet identified specific sites. For sites
identified after appraisal, the project will prepare, consult, obtain approval and disclose the RAPs and implement
them before the start of civil works.
All terms of reference and final deliverables for any technical assistance (preparation and validation of land use plans;
preparation of Simple Land Use Plans; development of management plans and dedicated committees for CFCLs;
support national policy and regulatory frameworks for the development of cleaner cooking technologies) and studies
(prospective studies on spatial development planning in key sector; etc.) to be carried out under the Project shall be
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DRC Forest and Savanna Restoration Investment Program (P178642)
prepared, adopted, and completed in form and substance satisfactory with the ESF requirements. It shall incorporate
E&S sustainability considerations to fulfil the requirements of national laws and international good practices as
exemplified in the World Bank ESSs.
In addition to the ESMF, the Borrower has prepared an ESCP, that will be finalized and disclosed by Appraisal. It
includes all the measures and actions to ensure compliance with the ESF and the project’s E&S instruments, including
the SEA/SH Action Plan, as well as related implementation details, including monitoring and reporting activities and a
training plan to strengthen the capacity of the project workers throughout project implementation. Regarding climate
and disaster related risks, infrastructures would be equipped to mitigate risks posed by climate change and natural
hazards.
ESS10 Stakeholder Engagement and Information Disclosure
In consultation with the world Bank, the client has prepared and will implement an inclusive Stakeholder Engagement
Plan (SEP). A SEP was prepared, consulted upon and disclosed on March 26, 2023.
The client shall seek stakeholder feedbacks and opportunities for proposed future engagement, ensuring that all
public consultations are inclusive and accessible to all project basin residents respecting the scope and local
specificities through suitable channels. When major changes are made to the SEP, a revised SEP should receive the no
objection of the Bank and then be publicly disclosed.
The Borrower will engage meaningful public consultations with all involved stakeholders throughout the project life
cycle with attention to social inclusion of vulnerable and disadvantaged groups (including the IP, elderly, violence
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survivors, internal displaced persons, refugees, persons with disabilities, female headed households and orphans and
vulnerable children). The Borrower shall provide stakeholders with timely, relevant, understandable and accessible
information, and consult with them in a culturally appropriate manner, which is free of manipulation, interference,
coercion, discrimination and intimidation. The borrower will maintain, and disclose, 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 incorporated. The SEP will
include procedures for setting out a Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM). The GRM platform will seek to establish a
continuous feedback and responsive platform between project-affected communities and implementing structures.
REPALEF will support a IP specific component of the project’s GRM to specifically ensure continuous feedback from
IPs on project activities. The GRM will include procedures to handle SEA/SH complaints in a confidential and ethical
manner, following a survivor centered approach, including multiple entries and referral pathways to refer GBV
survivors to quality services providers in case any incident occurs.
During project implementation, preparation of Simple Land Use Plans; development of management plans and
dedicated committees for CFCLs, etc. will be developed and implemented in a participatory manner to ensure diverse
stakeholder engagement in natural resource management. The Indigenous People Framework Plan includes a
consultation and engagement approach tailored to the IP and describes conditions under which FPIC might be
required and corresponding measures.
B.2. Specific Risks and Impacts
A brief description of the potential environmental and social risks and impacts relevant to the Project.
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ESS2 Labor and Working Conditions
The project will likely employ different types of workers, including direct workers, contracted workers, community
workers and primary supply workers. Direct workers could be government civil servants seconded to the project or
those recruited to fill positions within the FIP-CU – both set of workers will be governed by a set of civil services code.
Contracted workers will be employed as deemed appropriate by contractors, sub-contractors, and other
intermediaries, details of which will be known as and when activities' implementation begins. Local community
members will be engaged in community works on a voluntary basis through an individual or collective agreement.
Third parties (contractors/subcontractors) may hire local community members in noncomplex seasonal, large-scale,
work that must be performed within a short period of time according to agro-technical requirements (e.g. forest
planting, planting, weeding, harvesting, etc.).
However, given the nature of the project, most workers are likely to be community workers who would be involved in
activities under Components 2 and 3. Labor Management Procedures (LMP) were developed, consulted upon, and
disclosed March 26, 2023. It includes guidelines for (i) a worker specific GRM (for direct and contracted workers)
established with specific procedures to report SEA/SH complaints and (ii) one for community workers with the same
SEA/SH specific procedures. The LMP also addresses the risks of use of child labor and forced labor within community
labor. It provides clear guidelines and conditions associated with work to be performed by children aged between 15
and 18. The LMP identifies main labor requirements (how different categories of workers shall be managed in
accordance with national laws and ESS2 requirements) and risks associated with Labor resources necessary to
address labor issues. The signing of codes of conducts (COC) will be a condition of employment for any and all
temporary or full-time workers. These COC will include provisions for addressing SEA/SH with applicable sanctions in
case of non-compliance and include prohibitions against sexual activity with anyone under the age of 18. Similarly,
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prescriptions regarding child labor are included in the Code of Conduct The project will ensure that regular worker
trainings in local languages are conducted by the contractor on labor provisions, codes of conduct, GBV, including
SEA/SH risks and consequences, and the grievance redress mechanisms sensitive to SEA/SH.
The risks and impacts associated with rehabilitation of existing roads and small bridges, and efficient and clean
cooking solutions, etc. will pose occupational health and safety risks and hazards. To ensure the health and safety of
workers, the ESMF includes sections on Environment Health and Safety (EHS) based on the World Bank Group EHS
Guidelines and subsequent instruments (ESIA or ESMP) and will (i) conduct a risk-based assessment of all civil works,
rehabilitation/landscape restoration activities and operation tasks, and provide appropriate safety measures, (ii)
develop and implement site specific Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE) plans in line with World Bank Group
Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) Guidelines. Site-specific plans shall include .prevention of SEA/SH risks among
workers, , job safety analysis (JSA) for high-risk tasks and Key Performance Indicators (KPI) for the health and safety
plan. These plans shall also include procedures on incident investigation and reporting, recording and reporting of
non-compliance, emergency preparedness and response procedures and continuous training and awareness to
workers. Some reference of OHS measures will summarily be referred to in the standalone LMP (labor issues, etc.).
All terms of reference and final deliverables, for any technical assistance and studies to be carried out under the
Project shall be prepared, adopted, and completed in form and substance satisfactory with ESS2.
ESS3 Resource Efficiency and Pollution Prevention and Management
ESS3 is relevant to project activities. According to the nature and relatively small to medium scale civil works, the
risks and impacts related to resource efficiency and pollution will be minor, short-lived, localized and confined to the
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area immediately surrounding the construction/rehabilitation sites. The risk and impacts associated with
rehabilitation of existing agricultural roads, construction of new small bridges, may be relevant under ESS3 due to air
pollution by the increase of dust and noise emissions from construction vehicles leading to impacts on water and air
quality, generation of both general and hazardous waste during construction, soil and surface water pollution from
construction works and campsites mainly due to oil spill, etc. Also risks and impacts associated with charcoal
production, efficient and clean cooking solutions shall be relevant due to indoor air pollution generation of both
general and hazardous waste during construction, including generation of hazardous waste. Distribution of solar
system will have potential environmental and social risks and impacts related to the storage and final disposal of used
batteries containing hazardous waste; and disposal/recycling of solar panels. In addition to disposal and recycling
issues, solar batteries may cause environmental, social and safety risks during transportation, installation, and
operation (e.g., fire and explosion risks).
Raw materials and resource efficiency. The main construction materials for installation of clean and efficient energy
solutions, small infrastructure development (e.g., road rehabilitation, construction of small bridges, construction of
firebreaks, etc.), agroforestry practices and charcoal production, etc. shall include sand, gravel, hard stones
(aggregates), etc.. All of these materials will be obtained from licensed, commercially operating quarries or borrow
pits localized within the project areas, prioritizing the use of areas already under exploration over the opening of new
ones. E&S due diligences for subprojects and material investigations and will be carried out respectively by FIP-CU
and Contractors before commencement of works following the procedures in the ESMF aiming to identify sources for
suitable construction materials, including borrow pits, sand pits, quarry sites and construction water sources.
Air emissions: during the construction/rehabilitation of rural roads, implementation of landscape restoration
activities and charcoal production , air emissions will be possible, and fugitive dust generated by
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construction/operation activities. The ESMF includes mitigation measures such as dust suppression and vehicle
maintenance, etc. Appropriate pollution prevention and management measures will be included in the ESMP and
those measures will be applied by subproject proponents to avoid the release of pollutants or, when avoidance is not
feasible, minimize discharges harmful to humans and the environment.
Noise and vibration: During the construction phase, noise might likely be generated from the use of construction
machinery and vehicle movements. The relatively short-term and small-scale nature of the works suggest that noise
levels will not be excessive or cause long-term nuisances. The ESMF proposes generic mitigation measures and
subsequent instruments (ESIA and ESMP) will include mitigation measures to minimize and manage the noise levels
by applying standard restrictions to hours of site work.
Management of hazardous and nonhazardous wastes. Landscape restoration, food crops production, alternative
income generation initiatives, agroforestry practices and charcoal production, road rehabilitation, construction of
small bridges) and installation of small renewable energy solutions will generate debris materials, wastewater, the
excavated material, topsoil and vegetation, etc. Hazardous waste is expected to include used engine oil, used
batteries, healthcare waste, used tires, oily rags and empty containers. Organic waste as part of the agroforestry
harvesting, processing of agroforestry and NTF products, charcoal production activities is expected. Organic waste
will be managed as an asset for the elaboration of soil amendments (organic fertilizers). All other types of waste
generation will be managed according to the requirements included in the ESMF. Standard ESMPs to be prepared
during implementation will include measures for common and hazardous waste management.
Energy use and water: Water is expected to be required for irrigation during the plantation production stage
(seedlings in nurseries) of species for reforestation and agroforestry activities. Water during the plantation
management stage is expected to rely mainly on rainwater, as such, these activities will be planned and carried out
during the rainy season. However, it is possible that additional water for irrigation purposes may be required. In such
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case, water for irrigation purposes is expected to be provided through existing irrigation schemes (the rehabilitation,
modernization, and/or upgrading of existing irrigation systems is not eligible for project financing). During
implementation, each site-specific project activity will further screen and assess water access. The screening would
identify which subprojects would require a detailed water balance and the process for how it will be prepared during
implementation. Water consumption is still necessary for the assessment on sustainability of the conversion of
savanna to oil palm plantations (Quezada et al. 2017). Subprojects that have been screened and determined to be
significant users of water per ESS3 will not be eligible for project financing. Specific mitigation measures, including
water provision and usage (with special focus on water efficiency), will be included in standard ESMPs and ESIAs, as
appropriate. The need for assessment of potential cumulative impacts of water use upon communities and the
environment will be determined on a case-by-case basis, and the Bank will support FIP-CU in the identifying and
implementing appropriate mitigation measures. Project activities such as Support for the Development of Sustainable
Value Chain for Energy and Efficient Cooking will be designed and implemented in such a manner so as to ensure
efficient consumption of energy, water and raw materials in part through adoption of good international practice as
set out in the World Bank Group EHSGs.
Soil erosion and runoff: road rehabilitation, construction of small bridges and agroforestry and landscape restoration
may entail soil erosion and sedimentation if good practices in land restoration and erosion control are not applied
correctly-under components 1&2.
Pesticides. The project will minimize the use of low toxicity pesticides for project activities and will promote the use
of organic fertilizers to the extent possible. not involve use of chemical pesticides for food crops production,
alternative income generation initiatives and agroforestry activities. The ESMF includes mitigation measures to
mitigate the risks from the use of agrochemicals and pesticides and includes a Pest Management Plan (PMP) to guide
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the use of ecologically based pest control and support the safer and more efficient use of agrochemicals and
pesticides in the project. These measures will guide the preparation of standard for environmentally and socially
sustainable silvicultural practices appropriate for small producers and a set of E&S criteria/Checklist for small
producers to be included in the grant agreements with the farmers or of site-specific PMPs as part of site-specific
ESMPs.
Indirect and cumulative risks and impacts are be described in the ESMF. ESIA/ESMP reports shall include increased
rates of natural resources exploitation; changes in land use pattern; impacts on biodiversity because of the expansion
of agroforestry activities, increased use of agrochemical in community agroforestry etc.
Climate risks and GHG emissions. As part of the project preparation, an estimate of the project's greenhouse gas
mitigation potential was prepared using the Ex-Ante Carbon-balance tool (EX-ACT) of the Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The total mitigation potential of the DRC FOREST Projet is 445,8 million
tCO2: 440.5 million from land-based activities, and 5.3 million from the clean cooking component. The mitigation
potential of the project’s land-based activities is 519,588,334 tCO2e over the analysis period (25 years)- The major
contribution comes from Afforestation and reforestation activities. In addition, the total mitigation potential of the
Clean Cooking component is 3,824,147 tCO2e. However, the gross fluxes in tCO2e from the project are expected to
be from land use changes (deforestation), afforestation and cropland (Perennial). These sources are not consistent
with meeting ESS3 requirements for annual GHG accounting. When considering the net GHG emissions (i.e. relative
to the without project scenario, the project will result in a net carbon sink of CO2 (i.e. it will actually reduce GHG
emissions to the atmosphere), Activities would sequester and avoid about 30-35 million tCO2e and bring over 4
million hectares of land under sustainable land use. Project activities which address forest depletion and degradation,
and preventing land use change will serve to mitigate the effects of natural hazards and reduce vulnerability to
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DRC Forest and Savanna Restoration Investment Program (P178642)
climate change. The project is also exposed to exogenous climate risks/natural disasters such as flood, intense
rainfall, landslide, etc. and a range of good engineering practices incorporating mitigation measures will be adopted
All terms of reference and final deliverables, for any technical assistance and studies to be carried out under the
Project shall be prepared, adopted, and completed in form and substance satisfactory with ESS3.
ESS4 Community Health and Safety
ESS4 is relevant to the project activities. Potential adverse health and safety risks and impacts to affected
communities posed by project activities are mainly associated with community exposure to project-related traffic and
road safety risks, water pollution resulting from palm oil and food crops and the development of associated markets
and value chains, community exposure to natural hazards such as extreme weather events, forest fire safety issues
from activities inside forest areas, and limited life and fire safety risks for minor- small scale roads and bridges
construction/rehabilitation. Misuse and inappropriate storing and handling of pesticides and fertilizers are also a
potentially serious risk to the safety. The project is expected to improve ecosystem services in its areas of influence.
Subcomponent 2.2: Landscape restoration and protection through Payment for Environmental Services (PES) will
provide Payment for Environmental Services (PES) to communities in forest-savannah mosaic areas to 1) protect
savannas against fire to bolster natural regeneration and restore forest soils, and 2) protect forest tracts with high
conversation value in terms of biodiversity and ecosystem services. 960 Local Development Committees in 2,800
villages will receive PES for collective investments.
Traffic and road safety risks: Rehabilitation of agricultural roads and small bridges and other activities such as
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landscape restoration, agroforestry and forest plantations for market crops, e.g., timber, fuelwoods, palm oil and
food crops and development of their markets and value chains, alternative income generation initiatives, will entail
road safety risks. The ESMF addresses potential traffic and road safety risks to workers including drivers, affected
communities and road users throughout the project life cycle, and where appropriate, will develop measures and
plans. Subsequent instruments (ESIA and ESMPs) shall assess and include measures and actions to address road
safety risks.
Given that the project area is vulnerable to natural disaster risks, including flood, landslide, erosion, forest/savannah
fire safety issue, and hydro meteorological storms among others, the ESMF proposes that subproject site selection is
based on the climate vulnerability of the sites according to exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacities, and state of
ecosystem degradation as well as respective physical and socio-economic drivers for degradation. Standard ESMPs
and other ESMPs will include an Emergency Response Plan to address potential natural disaster events that may
endanger the health and safety of the community, and procedures to manage and mitigate these risks accordingly.
Measures to address forest /savannah fire issues are incorporated into the project design under Subcomponent 2b
(Landscape restoration and fire prevention for savannas and plantations).
Security Risks: For provinces with identified security risks to the project, the Client will carry site specific Security Risk
Assessments (SRA) and if necessary, prepare Security Management Plans (SMPs). Where the use of security
personnel is envisaged to safeguard project’s sites, equipment, and/or personnel, the project will be required to
prepare a Security Personnel Management Plan prior to their recruitment and deployment into the relevant sites.
Currently, an initial SEA/SH risks screening has allowed to identify potential risks for the specific areas and activities;
however, it will be necessary to have an GBV/SEA/SH risk assessment in order to evaluate the contextual GBV,
including SEA/SH risks and how the anticipated activities by the project could create and/or exacerbate those risks,
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and to identify appropriate mitigation measures to manage any eventual SAE/SH risk. Based on the results of the
GBVGBV/ SEA/SH assessments that will be carried out, the project will identify GBV service providers in the areas of
intervention, and evaluate the quality of identified services. In addition, the project will elaborate a referral pathway
for SEA/SH survivors, which will include, at a minimum, quality medical services, psychosocial assistance, and legal
support. At this stage the SEA /SH level of risks is considered substantial. According to the level of risk, the project
will develop a SEA/SH Prevention and Response Action Plan (SEA/SH AP), annexed to the ESMF, under which the
primary mitigation and response measures will be: (i) elaboration of a code of conduct, prohibiting SEA/SH and
outlining sanctions in case of non-compliance, which will be signed by all workers, including PIU personnel, (ii)
mapping of services providers, including a quality evaluation of services offered in the areas of intervention, (iii) links
with GBV service providers to which GBV survivors, including SEA/SH survivors, will be referred, (iv) awareness-raising
strategies describing how workers and local communities will be sensitized to GBV, including SEA/SH risks, and
worker responsibilities under the codes of conduct; (v) accountability and response mechanism to report SEA/SH
incidents in an ethical and confidential manner, following a survivor-centered approach. The project will ensure that
the sensitization measures are correctly directed towards the communities. The project will therefore have to ensure
that the communities are indeed well informed about the GRM that will manage SEA/SH complaints, and that this
mechanism is safe and accessible to the workers and the neighboring communities. The SEA/SH action plan will be
implemented by the borrower in accordance with the SEA/SH GPN and will also be aligned with the SEP for the
implementation of SEA/SH aspects.All terms of reference and final deliverables, for any technical assistance and
studies to be carried out under the Project shall be prepared, adopted, and completed in form and substance
satisfactory with ESS4.
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ESS5 Land Acquisition, Restrictions on Land Use and Involuntary Resettlement
Activities under component 2, and those related to plantation development and transition to efficient charcoal
production, are likely to cause physical and economic displacement/restriction of access to collective resources.
Similarly, interference with pastoral uses might also result from project activities, even in cases where land is not
directly or fully acquired. The Client has drafted a Resettlement Policy Framework to address these risks and provide
guidelines for the elaboration of eventual Resettlement Action Plans (RAP) when required. The RPF was prepared,
consulted upon, and disclosed on March 26, 2023. No activities requiring the resettlement (physical, economic, or
otherwise) will be carried out without a Bank-approved RAP and its implementation.
ESS6 Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Natural Resources
ESS6 is relevant to these project activities. The project will be implemented in degraded natural habitats (savannah
areas), considered modified habitats under ESS6, in 07 provinces across the country; however, given that some sub-
projects may be located inside or within the periphery of protected areas (Salonga National Park, waterfalls on the
Congo River, Luki Biosphere Reserve and mangrove natural reserve, presence of species with High Conservation
Values such as Elephant, etc.), a precautionary approach will be taken e.g. where sub-project screening and scoping
indicate that there is good reason to believe that important biodiversity features may be present and could be
adversely affected by project activities, the sub-project will be screened out. In line with the ESMF, no interventions
will take place in critical habitats.
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The impact assessment will consider not only fauna, flora, species of conservation concern, but also the
integrity/fragmentation of habitats, unplanned events (forest/savannah fire) and indirect impacts such as increased
access to previously inaccessible high-biodiversity areas. Some project activities may pose a risk if they are not
properly identified and mitigated, including (i) lack of biodiversity information and conservation requirements in land
use plans; (ii) inappropriate selection of species for that do not consider the environmental characteristics
(biodiversity, types of soil, water requirements, vulnerability of pest and disease) of the areas to be reforested; (iii)
introduction of invasive species on reforestation and/or agroforestry activities; and, (iv) excessive and unnecessary
use of agrochemicals/pesticides during plantation production and/or during rice production that could harm or be
toxic to non-target living organisms posing a risk to habitats and biodiversity. In addition, efficient and clean cooking
solutions, rehabilitation and maintenance and agricultural secondary roads and small bridges, agroforestry and forest
plantations for market crops, e.g., timber, fuelwoods, softwood, Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs), palm oil and
food crops and development of their markets and value chains, may have impacts and risks on natural habitats, birds
and bats due to the potential clearing of vegetation that may be required during its preparations and bird and bat
collision and impact on migratory routes that will need to be assessed. Potential loss or clearing of vegetation that
may be required during its preparations, soil erosion and degradation due to land clearance for corridors widening
near the rehabilitation of existing roads and the construction of bridges.
To address these risks, the ESMF requires biodiversity screening and includes mitigation measures following the
mitigation hierarchy and considering good practices in line with the WBG EHS Guidelines. The ESMF also includes an
exclusion list of ineligible activities to be financed under the project, such as: (i) activities within natural protected
areas that are not contemplated in their management plans. Sub-project activities within a protected area, should
that occur, the FIP-CU will have to demonstrate in the ESIA and/or ESMP that said sub-project is legally permitted; is
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aligned with the management objectives of the protected area; that relevant stakeholders have been consulted; and
that, as appropriate, additional programs are implemented to promote conservation; (ii) activities that promote land
use changes from forestry to agriculture; (iii) conversion, deforestation, degradation, or any other alteration of
natural or critical habitats, among others.
ESIAs/ESMPs for all subprojects shall include mitigation measures to ensure that subproject activities do not alter or
cause the destruction of critical and/or natural habitats and otherwise comply with ESS6. For all sub-projects rated as
High and Substantial, subproject briefs and/or Terms of References (ToRs) for preparation of the E&S instrument(s)
shall be acceptable to the Association and consistent with ESS6 requirements on preparation of a Biodiversity
Management Plan (BMP).This project involves small-scale producers and to address the requirements in paras 31-17
(Sustainable management of living natural resources), the borrower will develop and implement as part of the
ESIAs/ESMPs standards for environmentally and socially sustainable silvicultural practices appropriate for small
producers. He will also develop a set of E&S criteria/Checklist for small producers to be included in the grant
agreements with the farmers. The project includes support for technical assistance to develop sustainable forest
management practices. Standards will be consistent with the World Bank Group EHS Guidelines for Forest Harvesting
Operations. Small-scale producers, local communities under community forest management, or by such entities
under joint forest management arrangements adhere to a time-bound action plan to achieve such a standard. The
action plan will be developed with the meaningful participation of project-affected parties and be acceptable to the
Bank. The client will ensure that all such plantations are monitored with the meaningful participation of project-
affected parties.
Once the exact project activity and location are defined, site specific- environmental and social impact assessment
(ESIA) for agroforestry packages, tree plantations, palm oil plantations, etc. including cumulative impact assessment
and biodiversity assessment, and environmental and social management plan (ESMP) will be developed and
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DRC Forest and Savanna Restoration Investment Program (P178642)
implemented appropriately by the client to ensure biodiversity and natural habitats are properly managed and no
negative impacts are incurred as a result of the project supported activity. It will identify all protected, naturaland
critical terrestrial and freshwater habitats as well as species of conservation concerns in the project areas of
influence.
The specific ESIAs/ ESMPs for agroforestry packages, tree plantations, palm oil plantations, etc. shall consider
agroforestry/plantation/palm oil plantation operational phase issues such as indirect impacts and potential
encroachment or socio-economic activities (formal and informal). Project activities will not support industrial-scale
forest plantations (with industrial plantations life cycle of over 60 years while involved individual or community
plantations of the project will only last 7 years). The project activities will be limited to individual or community
agroforest Plantations in savanna areas or buffer zones to mitigate poaching activities in forests and increase
productivity of land use by supporting those activities of agroforestry plantations.
Environmental impacts are expected to be reversible as landscape management, forest reserves shall be indirectly
impacted positively by maintaining surrounding ecosystem health, protecting critical habitats and biodiversity
conservation. The Borrower shall ensure that all project activities are screened and any additional environmental
assessments that may be required/needed are carried out and the mitigation measures implemented to reduce the
direct, indirect and the residual impacts of these activities. The ESMF contains an annex of detailed instructions on
screening process of different activities. This process is essential to ensure that the project does not harm natural or
critical habitats, such as ecologically sensitive areas or key biodiversity areas.
All terms of reference and final deliverables, for any technical assistance and studies to be carried out under the
Project shall be prepared, adopted, and completed in form and substance satisfactory with ESS6. The Borrower will
ensure that the project obtains approvals from relevant authorities on implementing project in or adjacent to the
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protected areas.
ESS7 Indigenous Peoples/Sub-Saharan African Historically Underserved Traditional Local Communities
The project will be implemented in provinces known to host Indigenous Peoples, notably in the Central Basin ( Kasai,
Kasai Central, Kasai Oriental, Lomami). The Project activities could disproportionately impact IPs, as some activities
might displace them from their ancestral lands or restrict their access to shared resources; Notably those associated
with Component 2 and intends to invest in agroforestry and the establishment of forest plantations. There’s also a
risk of their exclusion in the process of establishing land use plans under component 2. The Client has drafted an
Indigenous Peoples Planning Framework (IPPF), which was consulted upon, and disclosed on March 26, 2023, to
ensure that IP benefit from the project in a culturally appropriate manner. While the draft IPPF guides the
elaboration of eventual Indigenous Peoples Plans (IPP), the Project will also need to establish guidelines to manage
the potential for FPIC in specific cases, and the SEP indicates ways in which the project shall ensure open and
culturally appropriate consultations with IP communities. FPIC will be required under the following circumstances: (a)
the Project has adverse impacts on land and natural resources subject to traditional ownership or under customary
use or occupation;(b) it causes relocation of Indigenous Peoples/Sub-Saharan African Historically Underserved
Traditional Local Communities from land and natural resources subject to traditional ownership or under customary
use or occupation; or (c) has significant impacts on Indigenous Peoples/Sub-Saharan African Historically Underserved
Traditional Local Communities’ cultural heritage that is material to the identity and/or cultural, ceremonial, or
spiritual aspects of the affected Indigenous Peoples/Sub-Saharan African Historically Underserved Traditional Local
Communities’ lives. The IPPF includes FPIC guidelines : (i) the type of project activities that will require FPIC, (ii) an
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identification of national commitments or guidelines in relation to Indigenous People and FPIC, (iii) an approach for
mapping the land and resource use and rights of IPs - applicable groups in project intervention locations, (iv) likely
project impacts on IPs as well as a process for evaluating location-specific project impacts, (v) the approach to
consultation with affected IP groups, (vi) the FPIC process including working with IP groups to define key steps in the
consent process including the mechanism for confirming or withholding consent, (vii) measures for monitoring and
evaluation of the implementation of (FPIC) agreements and Indigenous Peoples Plans, (viii) roles and responsibilities
in leading and overseeing the FPIC process, and (ix) templates of key documents, which could include a Consent
Process Agreement, a Consent Statement and an Indigenous Peoples Plan. After Project Effectiveness, the client will
assess the need to carry out a pilot test of these guidelines at one project location to evaluate and refine the FPIC
approach.
ESS8 Cultural Heritage
ESS8 is relevant because some areas within targeted provinces may be considered as sacred areas by involved local
communities while others may have presence of tangible and intangible cultural heritage such potential cultural
heritage. This ESS8 is studied during preparation and any potential negative impacts or risks are guided through the
ESMF instrument. The ESMF includes a section on protection of Cultural Heritage. The chance finds procedure will be
developed as part of the ESMPs in participation with key stakeholders, taking into consideration views of
communities including women and girls, and included in the site-specific management plans. Subsequently, this shall
also be incorporated into ESMP-C together with contractor’s environmental, social, health and safety management
plans. ESS8 is also relevant since project activities shall occur in areas where tangible and intangible cultural heritage
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are common. Local communities maintain shrines, sacred groves, forest reserves, etc., and have developed years of
belief systems and customary practices around some of the sites, villages and forests. Most communities also have
traditional knowledge, cultural beliefs, values and practices relating to natural resources use and management. A
Cultural Heritage Management Plans will also be prepared as part of the ESMPs, in accordance with the guidelines of
the ESIAs and consistent with ESS8. The SEP also incorporates specific considerations for engaging local communities
and traditional authorities on the management of these issues associated with known cultural sites and artifacts in
the project areas.
ESS9 Financial Intermediaries
None
C. Legal Operational Policies that Apply
OP 7.50 Projects on International Waterways No
OP 7.60 Projects in Disputed Areas No
B.3. Reliance on Borrower’s policy, legal and institutional framework, relevant to the Project risks and impacts
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Is this project being prepared for use of Borrower Framework? No
Areas where “Use of Borrower Framework” is being considered:
The client's E&S Framework is not proposed to be relied on for this project, in whole or in part. However, as relevant
and consistent, national legal framework and legislation can be referred to and recognized.
IV. CONTACT POINTS
World Bank
Contact: Pierre Guigon Title: Senior Environmental Specialist
Telephone No: +1-202-458-1060 Email: pguigon@worldbank.org
Borrower/Client/Recipient
Borrower: Ministry of Finance
Implementing Agency(ies)
Implementing Agency: Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development
Public Disclosure
V. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
The World Bank
1818 H Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20433
Telephone: (202) 473-1000
Web: http://www.worldbank.org/projects
VI. APPROVAL
Task Team Leader(s): Pierre Guigon
Practice Manager (ENR/Social) David Seth Warren Cleared on 07-Apr-2023 at 18:25:59 EDT
Safeguards Advisor ESSA Martin Henry Lenihan (SAESSA) Concurred on 08-Apr-2023 at 13:51:49 EDT
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