Republic of Malawi Ministry of Health Malawi Health Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Resilience Project Using the Multiphase Programmatic Approach (MPA)– P505187 Draft ENVIRONMENTAL and SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) March 2024 1 | Page ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN 1. The Republic of Malawi (the Recipient) will implement the Malawi Health Emergency Preparedness, Response and Resilience (HEPRR) Project using the multi-phase programmatic approach (the Project) with the involvement of the following key Implementing ministries: Ministry of Health, Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare, and Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs as set out in the Financing agreement. The Ministry of Health will be the main project’s implementation agency. The International Development Association (hereinafter the Association), has agreed to provide financing (P505187) for the Project, as set out in the referred agreement. 2. The Recipient shall ensure that the Project is carried out under 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 and the Grant 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, 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 a manner acceptable to the Association. Once adopted, said environmental and social instruments may be revised from time to time with prior written agreement by the Association. 4. As agreed by the Association and the Recipient, this ESCP will 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 Ministry of Health and the Association agrees to update the ESCP to reflect these changes through an exchange of letters signed between the Association. . The Recipient shall promptly disclose the updated ESCP. 2 | Page MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBLE ENTITY/AUTHORITY MONITORING AND REPORTING A REGULAR REPORTING Prepare and submit to the Association regular monitoring reports on the Submit quarterly reports to the Association throughout Ministry of Health environmental, social, health, and safety (ESHS) performance of the Project implementation. Submit each report to the Project, including but not limited to the implementation of the ESCP, the Association no later than 15 days after the end of each status of the preparation and implementation of the E&S instruments reporting period. required under the ESCP, stakeholder engagement activities, and functioning of the grievance mechanism(s). 3 | Page MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBLE ENTITY/AUTHORITY B INCIDENTS AND ACCIDENTS Promptly notify the Association of any incident or accident related to Notify the Association no later than 48 hours after learning Ministry of Health the Project that has, or is likely to have, a significant adverse effect on of the incident or accident. the environment, the affected communities, the public, or workers, including, inter alia, cases of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment (SH) and accidents that result in death, serious or multiple injury. Provide sufficient detail regarding the scope, severity, and possible causes of the incident or accident, indicating immediate measures taken or that are planned to be taken to address it, and any information provided by any contractor and/or supervising firm, as appropriate. Subsequently, at the Association’s request, prepare a report on the Provide subsequent reports to the Association within a incident or accident and propose any measures to address it and timeframe acceptable to the Association prevent and/or minimize its recurrence. ESS 1: ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL RISKS AND IMPACTS 1.1 ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE The Ministry of Health shall establish and maintain a Project Establish a PIT as set out in the Financing Agreement and Ministry of Health Implementation Team (PIT) with qualified staff and resources to support recruit an Environmental and Social Standards Specialist, by management of ESHS risks and impacts of the Project including an project effectiveness date, and thereafter maintain Environmental and Social Standards Specialist. throughout Project implementation. 4 | Page MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBLE ENTITY/AUTHORITY 1.2 ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL INSTRUMENTS Ministry of Health 1. Adopt and implement the Environmental and Social Management Plan Adopt the ESMP before effectiveness date and thereafter (ESMP) for the Project that includes Labor Management Procedures, GBV implement the ESMP throughout Project implementation. Prevention and Response Plan as well as Occupational Health and Safety Plans for the Project cleared by the Association, consistent with the requirements specified in the relevant ESSs, Environmental Health and Safety Guidelines (EHSGs), and other relevant Good International Industry Practice (GIIP). 1.3 TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE Ensure that the consultancies, studies, capacity building, training, and Throughout Project implementation. Ministry of Health any other technical assistance activities under the Project are carried out under terms of reference acceptable to the Association, that is consistent with the ESSs. Thereafter ensure that the outputs of such activities comply with the terms of reference. 5 | Page 1.4 CONTINGENT EMERGENCY RESPONSE FINANCING a) Ensure that the CERC Manual includes a description of the ESHS a) The adoption of the CERC Manual and, if applicable, other Ministry of Health assessment and management arrangements for the implementation of instruments, as relevant in form and substance acceptable to the CERC Component, in accordance with the ESSs. the Association is a withdrawal condition under Section III.B(1)(b)(ii) of Schedule 2 of the Financing Agreement for b) Adopt any environmental and social (E&S) instruments that may be the Project. required for activities under the CERC component, of the Project, in accordance with the CERC Manual and the ESSs, and thereafter b) Adopt any required E&S instrument and include it as part implement the measures and actions required under said E&S of the respective bidding process, if applicable, and in any instruments, within the timeframes specified in said E&S instruments. case, before the carrying out of the relevant Project activities for which the E&S instrument is required. Implement the E&S instruments in accordance with their terms, throughout Project implementation. ESS 2: LABOR AND WORKING CONDITIONS 6 | Page MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBLE ENTITY/AUTHORITY 2.1 LABOR MANAGEMENT PROCEDURES Adopt and implement the Labor Management Procedures (LMP) for the Adopt LMP as part of the ESMP, before effectiveness date. Ministry of Health Project as part of the ESMP under Action 1.2, consistent with ESS 2 And thereafter implement LMP throughout Project requirements including, inter alia, provisions on working conditions, implementation management of workers relationships, occupational health and safety (including personal protective equipment, and emergency preparedness and response, and procurement of equipment that would strengthen OHS management), code of conduct (including relating to SEA and SH), forced labor, child labor, grievance arrangements for Project workers, and applicable requirements for contractors, subcontractors, and supervising firms. 2.2 GRIEVANCE MECHANISM FOR PROJECT WORKERS Establish and operate a grievance mechanism for Project workers, as Establish a grievance mechanism before engaging project Ministry of Health described in the LMP and consistent with ESS2. workers and thereafter maintain and operate it throughout project implementation. ESS 3: RESOURCE EFFICIENCY AND POLLUTION PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT 7 | Page MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBLE ENTITY/AUTHORITY 3.1 WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN 1. Adopt procedures, protocols and/or other measures to ensure the Adopt an updated ICWMP before the effectiveness date and Ministry of Health safe management and disposal of medical waste as set out in the thereafter implement throughout Project implementation. updated Infection Control and Waste Management Plan (ICWMP) for the Project as part of the ESMP under Action 1.2, including, inter alia, provisions on management and disposal of medical wastes and other types of hazardous, and non-hazardous, wastes and manage/mitigate the potential impacts of pollution to the air, water and land through the management plans set out in the project ESMP. 3.2 RESOURCE EFFICIENCY AND POLLUTION PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT Adopt ESMP before effectiveness date and thereafter Ministry of Health Incorporate resource efficiency and pollution prevention and implement throughout Project implementation. management measures in the ESMP to be prepared under Action 1.2 above. ESS 4: COMMUNITY HEALTH AND SAFETY 8 | Page MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBLE ENTITY/AUTHORITY 4.1 COMMUNITY HEALTH AND SAFETY Assess and manage specific risks and impacts to the community arising Adopt the ESMP before effectiveness date and implement Ministry of Health from Project activities, and include in the ESMP under action 1.2 above, throughout project implementation. including, inter alia, transmission of communicable diseases, the potential for community, water resources, biodiversity and natural resources exposure to contamination including from emissions and wastewater. 4.2 SEA AND SH RISKS Adopt the SEA/SH Action Plan before the effectiveness date Ministry of Health Adopt and implement a SEA/SH Action Plan as part of the ESMP, to assess and thereafter implement the SEA/SH action plan throughout and manage the risks of SEA, and SH. project implementation. ESS 5: LAND ACQUISITION, RESTRICTIONS ON LAND USE AND INVOLUNTARY RESETTLEMENT ESS 5 is not currently relevant to the project, as there will be no land acquisition, restriction on land use, and involuntary resettlement. ESS 6: BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF LIVING NATURAL RESOURCES ESS 6 is not relevant to the project at this time. There will be no land use or civil infrastructure and no impacts on biodiversity conservation or interference with sustainable management of living natural resources. ESS 7: INDIGENOUS PEOPLES/SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAN HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED TRADITIONAL LOCAL COMMUNITIES ESS7 is not considered relevant to this project as there are no distinct social and cultural groups in the project area that exhibit characteristics of indigenous or traditionally under-served communities as spelled out under this standard. ESS 8: CULTURAL HERITAGE ESS 8 is not currently relevant to the project. ESS 9: FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES ESS 9 is not currently relevant to the project. ESS 10: STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT AND INFORMATION DISCLOSURE 9 | Page MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBLE ENTITY/AUTHORITY 10.1 STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT PLAN PREPARATION AND Adopt the preliminary SEP prior to appraisal, update it within IMPLEMENTATION one month of Project effectiveness and thereafter implement Ministry of Health Adopt , and implement the updated SEP prepared for the Malawi the SEP throughout Project implementation. COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Project (P173806) to cover activities under this Project, consistent with ESS10, which shall include measures to, inter alia, 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. This SEP will further be updated within one month of Project effectiveness to benefit from full consultation that would have been undertaken before then. 10.2 PROJECT GRIEVANCE MECHANISM Maintain, and operate an accessible grievance mechanism, to receive Maintain and operate the mechanism throughout Project Ministry of Health and facilitate the resolution of concerns and grievances concerning the implementation. Project, promptly and effectively, in a transparent manner that is culturally appropriate and readily accessible to all Project-affected parties, at no cost and without retribution, including concerns and grievances filed anonymously, in a manner consistent with ESS10. The Project will utilize the GRM established for the Malawi COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Project. The grievance mechanism shall be equipped to receive, register, and facilitate the resolution of SEA/SH complaints, including through the referral of survivors to relevant gender-based violence service providers, all in a safe, confidential, and survivor-centered manner. CAPACITY SUPPORT 10 | Page MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBLE ENTITY/AUTHORITY CS1 Training shall be undertaken for PIT staff and health workers on: � Stakeholder mapping and engagement • Within 6 months after project effectiveness date Ministry of Health � Prevention and response to SEA/SH and SEA/SH Grievance • Within 6 months after project effectiveness date and Management biannually thereafter. � Occupational Health and Safety • 3 months after effectiveness date and before undertaking specific activities. � Waste management (including, inter alia, transport, handling, • 3 months after effectiveness date and before storage, disposal, spills). undertaking specific activities. � ICWMP implementation • Within 3 months after effectiveness date and biannually thereafter. Administration of simulations at workplace • Annually 11 | Page