The World Bank Food Systems Resilience Program for Eastern and Southern Africa (Phase 4) (P181112) Concept Environmental and Social Review Summary Concept Stage (ESRS Concept Stage) Public Disclosure Date Prepared/Updated: 05/23/2023 | Report No: ESRSC03583 May 23, 2023 Page 1 of 14 The World Bank Food Systems Resilience Program for Eastern and Southern Africa (Phase 4) (P181112) BASIC INFORMATION A. Basic Project Data Country Region Project ID Parent Project ID (if any) Mozambique EASTERN AND SOUTHERN P181112 AFRICA Project Name Food Systems Resilience Program for Eastern and Southern Africa (Phase 4) Practice Area (Lead) Financing Instrument Estimated Appraisal Date Estimated Board Date Agriculture and Food Investment Project 6/12/2023 7/3/2023 Financing Borrower(s) Implementing Agency(ies) Proposed Development Objective To increase the resilience of food systems and preparedness for food insecurity in Project areas Public Disclosure Financing (in USD Million) Amount Total Project Cost 0.00 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 food systems of Eastern and Southern Africa (AFE) are some of the most vulnerable in the world, and in recent years, that vulnerability has translated into a deteriorating food security situation. AFE is home to over 656 million people, many of whom are extremely poor and face significant challenges accessing adequate, safe, and nutritious food every day. AFE’s food systems are generally beset by low levels of agricultural productivity, a severely degraded and stressed natural resource base, pronounced gender inequities in food and resource access, and relatively low levels of food trade and regional market integration. AFE is also among the regions most affected by fragility, conflict and violence (FCV) as well as the effects of climate change. And food system shocks—including ones precipitated by extreme weather, pest and disease outbreaks, political and market instability, and conflict—are generally becoming more frequent and severe, putting more people at risk of being affected by both chronic and acute forms of food May 23, 2023 Page 2 of 14 The World Bank Food Systems Resilience Program for Eastern and Southern Africa (Phase 4) (P181112) insecurity. Over 40 percent of AFE’s population live on less than US$1.90 purchasing power parity per day, and as of 2019, nearly two-thirds were affected by moderate-to-severe food insecurity, 27 percent of the population severely so. Since then, the region has contended with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, historic droughts, and the war in Ukraine. In the August 2022–March 2023 timeframe, an estimated 85–136 million people in 15 of 26 assessed AFE countries were projected to experience food stress or find themselves in a food crisis, emergency, or famine (IPC Phase 2+). The Food Systems Resilience Program for Eastern and Southern Africa recognizes the need, given these circumstances, to break the cycle of shocks and emergency response by building food system resilience at the regional level. By taking both an integrated and longer-term approach to building food system resilience in the region, while offering the possibility of near-term response, the program aims to reduce the number of food insecure people in the region and as well as its preparedness for future shocks. Program investments are designed to foster climate-smart agricultural production systems, the sustainable management of natural resources, expanded market access, and a greater focus on food systems resilience in policymaking. The first phase of this multiphase programmatic approach (MPA) was approved by the Board in June 2022 and focuses on Ethiopia, Madagascar, and two regional economic community organizations, IGAD and CCARDESA. Phase 2 will focus on Tanzania, Phase 3, on Comoros, Kenya, Malawi, Somalia, and the African Union Commission (AUC), and Phase 4 on Mozambique. This MPA complements a similar World Bank program under way in West and Central Africa. Phase 4 of the MPA comprises four technical components corresponding to Pillars 2—5 of the overarching MPA. It includes a range of activities under each of these components adapted to the country’s priorities and capacities. Public Disclosure These components are: (1) (Re-)Building Resilient Agricultural Production Capacity (“MPA Pillar 2”). Including: (a) agricultural research and development, information systems, development of new varieties and innovative systems development (crop, livestock and aquaculture systems); (b) agricultural extension services and community-based technology transfer; (c) digital agriculture; (d) climate-smart technologies and practices, and policy options; (f) mitigation of post-harvest food losses (including storage); and (g) food safety and traceability systems. (2) Supporting the Sustainable Development of Natural Resources for Resilient Agricultural Landscapes (“MPA Pillar 3”). Comprising: (a) irrigated cropland leveling, and organizational strengthening; (b) water management planning and organizational strengthening. (3) Getting to Market (“MPA Pillar 4”). It includes: (a) strengthening of farmer producer organizations and agrifood enterprises; (b) investments in public facilities, post-harvest handling, trade facilitation and market linkages; (c) promoting and financing Productive Alliances for agriculture and aquaculture; (e) e vouchers for high quality commercial inputs; (f) trade policy and rule harmonization, including food and trade standards, food safety management and compliance and trade negotiations capacity; and (g) public food procurement. (4) Promoting a Greater Focus on Food Systems Resilience in National and Regional Policymaking (“MPA Pillar 5”). It comprises: (a) planning, development and implementation of policies, strategies and legal and regulatory reforms supporting food systems resilience; (b) institutional and human capacity building; (c) regional integration efforts; and (d) impact evaluation and adaptive design. D. Environmental and Social Overview D.1. Detailed project location(s) and salient physical characteristics relevant to the E&S assessment [geographic, environmental, social] May 23, 2023 Page 3 of 14 The World Bank Food Systems Resilience Program for Eastern and Southern Africa (Phase 4) (P181112) The MPA aims to implement national and regional approaches to increase food systems resilience. Phase Four of the MPA will focus on Mozambique. The project will be of national scope except for Cabo Delgado province due to the conflict situation. The project will focus both on areas that have high agricultural potential as well as areas characterized by high levels of food insecurity and climate vulnerability. Specifically, the project will prioritize areas with high agricultural potential around the development corridors – Lichinga corridor in Niassa province, Nacala, Zambezia Valley, Beira, Limpopo, and Maputo. Additionally, it will invest in wetland, semiarid, and arid areas that are prone to soil degradation, highly vulnerable to climate and market shocks, and experiencing high rates of food and nutritional insecurity. Specific areas meeting these criteria will be determined at project start. Aquaculture activities will prioritize high-potential districts with medium to high levels of food insecurity in the southern provinces of Inhambane, Gaza and Maputo. The southern region has been selected due to its high level of food insecurity, high potential to develop aquaculture and the lack of public investment due to a concentration of existing aquaculture development projects in the central and northern regions. The Project will make every effort to ensure women’s full participation in the project’s implementation and activities. In order to target women in meaningful and evidence-based ways, the project will systematically analyze and address barriers to their full participation in the agricultural sector. Through its support for agricultural extension, digital agriculture solutions, access to financial services and input markets, farmer organizations, productive alliances, and more, the project will improve women’s access to educational and training opportunities, information resources, and communication technologies and increase their awareness of innovative technologies and practices and their benefits Public Disclosure along with their ability to apply them. The project will strive to target and train as many women as men on climate smart and nutrition-sensitive agriculture and help women acquire both the knowledge and the agency they need to make or influence farm-level decisions. D. 2. Borrower’s Institutional Capacity The Project will be implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MADER), the Ministry of Sea, Inland Waters and Fisheries (MIMAIP) and the Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Action (MGCAS). Most of the proposed activities will be under the fiduciary capacity of the Agricultural Research Institute of Mozambique (IIAM) under MADER. For certain activities, MADER will delegate technical leadership to other agencies and to the MGCAS. MADER has recently created a safeguards unit which is still under-trained and understaffed and has very limited experience in preparing and implementing Bank financed projects either under the Bank Safeguards Policies or the ESF. This unit needs to be staffed, strengthened and trained in order to acquired the resources and capacities to comply with the environmental and social requirements of the Bank. ProAzul, which is under MIMAIP, will be the fiduciary agency responsible for aquaculture and sustainable fishing activities. ProAzul already has a unit dedicated to the coordination of other World Bank projects in its portfolio (MOZRURAL and MOZNORTE) therefore has the fiduciary expertise to implement fisheries activities in compliance with the ESF. The capacity of this PIU will be upgraded to handle the additional operation. II. SCREENING OF POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL (ES) RISKS AND IMPACTS A. Environmental and Social Risk Classification (ESRC) Substantial Environmental Risk Rating Substantial May 23, 2023 Page 4 of 14 The World Bank Food Systems Resilience Program for Eastern and Southern Africa (Phase 4) (P181112) The project aims at building system resilience and increase preparedness with respect to food and income security, improved soil health, adoption of sustainable agricultural practices, and sustainably managed catchments, in addition to enhancing national capacities for sustainable food systems. However, to do so, the project also presents some environmental risks, such as those related to construction, Occupational Health and Safety (OHS), community and health safety, natural habitats and biodiversity, cultural heritage, waste management associated with agricultural production and processing, e-waste from digital activities, pests and diseases, and water and soil pollution. During operation, environmental risks include soil erosion, siltation, flooding emanating from irrigation designs, water and soil salinity, water related vector borne diseases if irrigation systems are not properly maintained, hydrological flow impacts of irrigation schemes operation, and possible impacts on physical and cultural heritage, agrochemical spillage and hazardous waste generation. Most of these risks are temporary, reversible, site-specific and can be avoided and easily mitigated through standard measures. It is important to note that most of the coastal districts in Mozambique are vulnerable to climate change and extreme weather events (storms and heavy rains). Likewise, some of the inland districts of Mozambique are highly vulnerable to climate change and natural disasters (long-duration and severe droughts), which exacerbates the risk of food insecurity and poverty. This may affect the project and require management and mitigation to safeguard investments. The scope of the project is national but with limited geographical footprint. In general, the implementing and participating national institutions have some capacity to address some of the above risks. Some of the project activities to be implemented by IIAM are Technical Assistance (TA) of type 2 - policy and legal reforms with potentially downstream environmental and social impacts and TA type 3 - capacity building activities, which have more diffuse and induced impacts, often playing out over a longer term and. Both TA types, they will be undertaken in compliance with the World Bank’s Advisory Note on Technical Assistance and the ESF. For the downstream impacts and risks associated with the drafting policy documents, development of Public Disclosure appropriate training programs, strategy development the Terms of Reference (ToRs) the Terms of Reference (ToRs) will be prepared in consideration of the full range of environmental and social standards. Terms of Reference will be reviewed and approved by WB to ensure adequate assessment of environmental and social implications and consistency with the ESF. Thus, considering the ground footprint of all the referenced activities, the expected environmental, health, and safety risks of the project could be mitigated through proper consideration of environmental objectives in the planning process. Social Risk Rating Moderate The social risk is considered Moderate due to the fact that a large part of activities are related to training, technical assistance, research, institutional strengthening, policy reforms and development of information systems which are mainly to build resilience and help enhance ability of selected entities and communities to prepare for, respond and develop food systems resilience, as such there are limited social risks associated with these activities themselves. The intended beneficiaries are expected to benefit from the Program through the creation of job opportunities (in particular for women) as a result of enhanced resilience of farmers, increased agricultural yields, increased access to diverse food and nutrition, improved livelihoods, improved access to finance and an improved skill base. Potential social risks and impacts have been identified as the following: poor labor conditions and OHS as well as the potential risk of child and forced labor which is often common in the agriculture sector. There is also a potential risk of exclusion of vulnerable and marginalized groups, in particular, women and youth, and inequitable distribution of project benefits among project beneficiaries in relation to training, access to extension, information and financial services and integration in farmers’ associations, as well as operational concerns due to remoteness and insecurity, including monitoring and supervising social risks including grievance management. Community health and safety risks are anticipated to be limited to potential spread of communicable diseases, possible cases of sexual exploitation and abuse and/or sexual harassment due to the presence of project workers and potential use of security services in May 23, 2023 Page 5 of 14 The World Bank Food Systems Resilience Program for Eastern and Southern Africa (Phase 4) (P181112) Nampula and Niassa. The project will finance the modernization of IIAM’s research facilities (Subcomponent 1.1) and the rehabilitation of laboratories involved in accreditation and testing of seed quality, with designs adapted to climate-resilient standard considerations and energy efficiency (Subcomponent 1.3). Since these are minor civil works that will not require land acquisition or expansion to greenfield locations, it is not anticipated that such activities will induce physical or economic displacement impacts. Activities supporting sustainable fishing is not expected to include activities that would impose access restrictions (e.g., access to fishing areas or fish quotas) and it is therefore not anticipated to have an adverse impact on livelihoods. Contextual risks have also been considered such as security/fragility, client capacity and remote locations, although the project activities will not take place in Cabo Delgado, there is a spill over risk of the conflict prevalent in the north to the neighboring provinces, Niassa and Nampula which may potentially have an impact on the project activities. B. Environment and Social Standards (ESSs) that Apply to the Activities Being Considered B.1. General Assessment ESS1 Assessment and Management of Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts Overview of the relevance of the Standard for the Project: Overall, the program will bring about positive benefits such as increasing rural employment opportunities and improving rural livelihoods through improved agricultural productivity. Its positive environmental outcomes include resilient and sustainable water supply for productive food system and water and soil moisture conservation investments. The Program recognizes that building resilience is a long-term process that requires linkages across Public Disclosure levels (regional, national, sub-national and local). The E&S risks and impacts associated with the actual investment activities have been identified as the following: poor labor conditions and child labor, OHS, waste generation, a potential increase in pesticide use in agriculture areas and laboratories and the pollution management associated with it, risk of managing hazardous materials and waste, including biohazards (e.g. from refurbishment of buildings and laboratories),, noise and vibration, wastewater discharges and air quality as well as community H&S including sexual exploitation and abuse and sexual harassment (SEA/SH) and other forms of gender-based violence (GBV) and risks related to the potential use of security services in Nampula and Niassa. Investments in water use efficiency and irrigation infrastructure on cropland seems to be limited in magnitude and scale, thus at this stage, the impacts are expected to be non-significant impacts in context of natural habitats, however, there may be a risk of downstream indirect impacts on communities due to the irrigation schemes and potential alteration of ecosystems services that communities depend on. Given that the civil works are expected to be minor and rely largely on national contractors, the Project is not expected to lead to significant labor influx. Other potential social risks could be related to: (i) insufficient community and other stakeholder engagement; (ii) social tensions/conflicts induced by competition over agricultural resources including access to irrigation water resources and due to the ongoing contextual security risks in conflict-affected areas; (iii) operational concerns due to remoteness and insecurity, including monitoring and supervising social and environmental risks including grievance management; and (iv) weak implementation capacity especially at grassroots level with limited functional structure and trained manpower. The TA activities include strengthening the national public policies and systems’ response capacity to various shocks and stressors, thus enabling them to contribute to greater food system resilience. Risks associated with the TA relate May 23, 2023 Page 6 of 14 The World Bank Food Systems Resilience Program for Eastern and Southern Africa (Phase 4) (P181112) to inclusion in engagement, ensuring the requirements of the ESF are fully reflected in TA activities, access to information, consideration of vulnerable groups; contextual issues (e.g., drought, climate change or overexploitation of natural resources) and cumulative impacts. The program will ensure that consultancies, studies, capacity building, training and any other TA activities are carried out in accordance with the relevant requirements of the ESF. Any outputs from the TA activities shall also be consistent with the ESF. These requirements have been captured in the Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP). Other risks and impacts include those associated with the subprojects of the matching grant program: beneficiary selection, child and forced labor, poor labor conditions, occupational health and safety, water and energy consumption, hygiene and food requirements, land and water management, the use of pesticides, manure and veterinary waste management. Given the risks mentioned above, the following Environmental and Social Standards (ESS) apply: ESS1, ESS2, ESS3, ESS4, ESS6, ESS8, and ESS10. In order to manage these risks, the implementing ministry will prepare prior to appraisal an ESCP and a Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) including a Grievance Mechanism (GM). The country will prepare and disclose an ESMF including a Labor Management Procedure (LMP), an Integrated Pest Management Plan, Hazard Risk Assessment, Emergency Response Plan and a SEA/SH Prevention and Response Plan. The ESMF will outline: i) the selection process and beneficiary eligibility criteria; ii) ES screening process for subprojects; iii) requirements and process to develop ESIAs or ESMPs for the proposed civil works, once these are identified; and iv) a checklist to monitor implementation of mitigation measures (i.e., review of bidding and contractual documents, field supervision mission). In addition, the ESMF will include mitigation hierarchy measures to address risks and impacts related to Public Disclosure occupation health and safety issues, agrochemical pollution and waste management. Project activities will preferentially be conducted in modified habitats, and the ESMF will screen out critical habitats and sensitive natural habitats which would be considered to pose significant (high) risks. The adoption of good practices, giving preference to Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approaches, using combined or varied tactics, depending on the proposed use and its users, will be required to minimize risks to humans health and the environment as such the project ESMF will include a Integrated Pest Management Plan and pertaining resource efficiency use and pollution prevention and management measures as per ESS3 para. 25. In addition, the Borrower through the ESMF will analyse the potential risks and impacts generated from agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture activities to ecosystem services and propose adequate mitigations measures consistent with ESS4 and ESS6. Furthermore, E&S screening will be conducted and site-specific risks management instruments and plans (including ESMPs, ESIAs, depending on the nature and scope of the subprojects will be prepared during Project implementation, following the requirements of the ESF. A negative list or an exclusion list will also be prepared as part of ESMF to ensure that the projects proposed activities fall within or below Substantial Risk regarding environmental and social aspects. Associated facilities, if any, will be clearly identified in the course of preparation of the Project and the ESMF will also cover the potential risks and mitigation measures of the associated facilities. Areas where “Use of Borrower Framework” is being considered: Use of Borrower Framework is not being considered. ESS10 Stakeholder Engagement and Information Disclosure May 23, 2023 Page 7 of 14 The World Bank Food Systems Resilience Program for Eastern and Southern Africa (Phase 4) (P181112) Stakeholder engagement and information disclosure shall be at the heart of the Program and are envisaged as a continuous, ongoing process throughout its lifecycle. This approach will ensure participation, inclusiveness and transparency. Details of the stakeholder engagement activities are outlined in the Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) which will be disclosed prior to appraisal. The main stakeholders of the program, depending on components being implemented, may include: (i) project affected parties (PAPs) - those individuals or groups who are directly affected or likely to be affected by the Program. PAPs include positively affected beneficiaries, mainly smallholder and commercial emergent farmers (SCEFs); farmer associations; informal farmer organizations or producer interest groups including groups of women and youth who will be involved in agriculture, aquaculture and conservation-based activities. (ii) other interested parties (OIPs) - those individuals or groups who may have an interest in the Program. The OIPs are likely to include national and local government ministries and associated line departments, businesses providing agricultural services or inputs; research institutions, private sector agricultural and related service providers; agro-processers and input dealers; and public agricultural service providers, civil society who have an interest in food security in the regions, etc. and (iii) disadvantaged and vulnerable groups - those individuals or groups highly vulnerable to potential Program impacts and often do not have a voice to express their concerns or understand the impact and risk of the Program. Vulnerable groups for this program are considered to be people living in geographical areas that presents higher poverty rates, higher levels of food insecurity, in particular the IDPs in Nampula and Niassa provinces, and and areas most prone to disasters derived from climate change and other environmental factors, with emphasis on arid and semi-arid areas. The SEP will present the engagement methods to be undertaken with relevant stakeholders ensuring that the Public Disclosure techniques are culturally appropriate and relevant local languages are used to ensure meaningful engagement. Engagement activities are likely to include community meetings, focus group discussions, cultural events (theatre, dance) as well as one to one meeting as needed, learning training, demonstration session, sharing workshop. The needs of vulnerable groups will be considered in designing the engagement processes including factors such as timing, location, accessibility and use of written materials. The SEP also clearly outline and define approaches to disseminate beneficiary eligibility criteria and the selection process. The SEP will include a description of a Grievance Mechanism (GM) which will include confidential and sensitive mechanisms for receiving complaints of sexual exploitation and abuse and sexual harassment, as well as other forms of GBV and establish a protocol to enable survivor-centered responses. The GM will address complaints and suggestions coming from both beneficiaries and other interested parties. The SEP will serve as planning tool that guides the Project implementing agencies stakeholder engagements, incorporate stakeholder’s views and concerns during Project design and implementation and set feedback through monitoring. All E&S documents/reports will be made accessible to stakeholders and will be publicly disclosed prior to the Project proposal. The SEP have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of ESS10. B.2. Specific Risks and Impacts A brief description of the potential environmental and social risks and impacts relevant to the Project. ESS2 Labor and Working Conditions May 23, 2023 Page 8 of 14 The World Bank Food Systems Resilience Program for Eastern and Southern Africa (Phase 4) (P181112) ESS2 is relevant due to potential risks to labor and working conditions for applicable workers including direct and contracted workers and potentially also use of community workers. The number of workers that will be required for the civil works are not yet known, however, the nature of the activity is expected to require a low to moderate work force. There is also the potential need to engage security services for project interventions in the northern province, the number of such personnel is not yet known. Labor Management Procedures (LMP) will be prepared to identify the main labor requirements and labor risks associated with the Project based on the requirements of ESS2 and national labor laws and will be disclosed one month from effectiveness. The LMP will summarize procedures to address labor issues including, but not limited to: (i) child labor and forced labor; (ii) contracts of employment and terms and conditions of employment, (iii) protection of wages including fair treatment, non-discrimination and equal opportunity of project workers, (iv) occupation, health and safety issues which will be applicable to all project workers, (v) labor influx and associated risks including GBV; (vi) security provisions for workers involved in the distribution of innovative technologies and different agricultural inputs; and (vii) grievance mechanism for workers with accessible means to raise workplace concerns. OHS measures will be designed and implemented to address: (a) identification of potential hazards to project workers; (b) provision of preventive and protective measures, including elimination of hazardous conditions or substances; (c) training of project workers and maintenance of training records; (d) documentation and reporting of occupational accidents, diseases and incidents; (e) emergency prevention and preparedness and response arrangements to emergency situations; and (f) remedies for adverse impacts such as occupational injuries, disability and disease. Contractors will be required to prepare and implement Occupational Health & Safety Plans (OHSP) following the World Bank Group Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) Guidelines, adopt a code of conduct for all Public Disclosure workers and establish a worker-specific GRM (accessible for direct and contracted workers) before commencement of the civil works. Bidding documents for the small infrastructure activities shall include budget provisions for management of labor issues including all OHS provisions. ESS3 Resource Efficiency and Pollution Prevention and Management ESS3 is considered relevant to the project. The Project is multi-sectoral and will involve activities likely to generate pollution. Although the infrastructure rehabilitation activities are limited in magnitude and scale, they could result in pollution to land, water, and air as well as use of natural resources. The project activities may generate some adverse impacts from disposal and management of waste during the renovation works and pose non-significant public health concerns due to air emissions such as exhaust from vehicles, noise emission and fugitive dust generated during transportation of materials, and rehabilitation works and to nuisance vibration. Moreover, that are risks associated with managing hazardous materials and waste from infrastructure refurbishment/renovation works (e.g. asbestos containing materials-ACM from roofing, insulation, etc.) as well as biohazards (e.g. from laboratories and veterinary waste). Agricultural activities might induce potential risks associated with the use of pesticides such as groundwater pollution and wind drift beyond the target application area. Similarly, aquaculture activities could also include source of pollutant (e.g. antibiotics, feed supplements) in addition to typically high organic and nutrient load and suspended solids. To mitigate these risks and impacts, an Integrated Pesticide Management Plan (IPMP) will be developed as part of the ESMF. The IPMP will include: (i) a relevant survey on the local bio-pesticides and agronomic technical May 23, 2023 Page 9 of 14 The World Bank Food Systems Resilience Program for Eastern and Southern Africa (Phase 4) (P181112) practices to reduce the impacts of pests on the some agriculture value chains in project zones; (ii) a number of relevant actions to reduce the exposure of farmer groups to pesticides used in agricultural production systems; and (iii) guidelines to be adopted on the possibility of agrochemical application and disposal; training sessions to strengthen the capacity of different actors (farmers, local vendors, regional agricultural agents, etc.) on the use, storage and disposal of agrochemical products with a coherent budget available in the project financing. Inappropriate use of pesticides or waste disposal can result in contamination of air, soil and water resources that in turn could cause loss of biodiversity including destroying beneficial insect populations which act as natural enemies for some pests. The IPMP will help to mitigate potential risks to biodiversity by reducing reliance on chemical methods that can have direct or indirect impacts on biodiversity. Moreover, the agriculture and aquacultures activities will use relevant Good International Industry Practices (GIIP) such as WBG Environmental, Health, and Safety Guidelines for Aquaculture, Annual Crop Production, Perennial Crop Production, Mammalian Livestock Production, etc. The project shall follow measures outlined in the IFC Good Practice Note on Improving Animal Welfare in Livestock Operations. This would entail among others that genetic selection should always take into account the health and welfare of animals; animals chosen for introduction into new environments should be suited to the local climate and able to adapt to local diseases, parasites and nutrition; the physical environment should allow comfortable resting, safe and comfortable movement, including normal postural changes, and the opportunity to perform types of natural behavior that animals are motivated to perform; etc. Further details are available in the Good Practice Note, which Public Disclosure will be used for the purposes of ESMFs. The project is not anticipated to result in consumption of significant quantities of energy, water or raw materials or emit significant quantities of greenhouse gases. ESS4 Community Health and Safety ESS4 is considered relevant to the project as the proposed activities may pose community health and safety risks to nearby communities. Community health and safety issues are associated with risks and impacts of minor rehabilitation of civil works, such as dust, noise and vibrations and solid waste, and traffic and road safety hazards associated with increased traffic volume at rehabilitation sites. There are also potential risks associated with the operation of the agricultural production or processing activities, such as pollution, waste generation, and risks associated with the use of pesticide and fertilizers. Risks related to community health and safety include community exposure to health issues such as water-borne and vector-borne diseases from irrigation activities. Health risks also include communicable diseases such as STDs, including HIV/AIDs and spread of COVID-19. The Precision Leveling of Riceland may generated some unwanted indirect impacts to provision and regulation ecosystems services benefiting local communities and neighbor individuals or although unlikely it may pose unintended impacts resulting flooding and sediment retention to downstream users, as such thorough these issues will be assessed through subprojects ESMPs. In addition, agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture may generate potential risks and impacts to ecosystem services as result of harvesting females, eggs, fry, juveniles/fingerlings from the wild for the purpose of stocking. In Nampula and Niassa, there is also the potential need to use security services (public or private) due to the spill over May 23, 2023 Page 10 of 14 The World Bank Food Systems Resilience Program for Eastern and Southern Africa (Phase 4) (P181112) effects of the conflict in Cabo Delgado which may pose potential risks to the communities as a result of their presence (e.g. harassment, intimidation, excessive/unnecessary use of force, GBV, etc.). Risks related to Gender Based Violence, Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) and Sexual Harassment (SH) may increase during project implementation due to the presence of workers due to civil works (although small in scale) including security services in Nampula and Niassa and potentially due to the economic empowerment of beneficiaries which may shift the family power dynamics. The ESMF will include measures to adequately identify and manage such risks. The ESMF and site specific ESMPs will identify the risks and impacts and outline detailed mitigation measures for community health and safety management during construction and operation. The ESMF will provide an overarching framework for managing the engagement of security forces. A brief security risk assessment and associated management plan will be part of the ESMF. A SEA/SH Response and Prevention Plan will be prepared as part of ESMF to mitigate to the extent possible and manage SEA/SH risks, which requires integrating Codes of Conduct. ESS5 Land Acquisition, Restrictions on Land Use and Involuntary Resettlement ESS5 is considered relevant for this project. Although the project activities are not expected to require land acquisition, impose restrictions on land use or induce involuntary resettlement the standards is considered relevant at this stage in the event that sub-activities would induce such impacts as these become more defined (although these would be very minimal, mainly linked to livelihoods). The only civil works planned are the rehabilitation of laboratories that will take place on existing plots of land and will not involve any additional land acquisition. ESS6 Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Natural Resources Public Disclosure ESS6 is considered relevant. Project activities under Component 1 and 3 may lead to expansion of agricultural and fishing activities into sensitive biodiversity hotspots, including localized ones and/or natural and modified critical habitats. The global food system is the primary driver of biodiversity loss, with agriculture alone being the identified threat to 86% of species at risk of extinction worldwide. The afromontane, coastal forest and wetlands of Mozambique are considered biodiversity rich areas. The country's location and topography are among the most climate vulnerable in the world, and 54% of the population live in at-risk areas. Many of the farming lands in Mozambique are contiguous to areas that have importance for biodiversity: the country has rich flora, with over 6,000 plant species, of which over 300 species are on the IUCN Redlist and 22% are endemic. Implementation of project interventions in and around the fragile biodiversity in these regions may, therefore, cause impacts such as possible loss of biodiversity, habitat fragment. Therefore, the Program activities will not be implemented in locations which have high biodiversity conservation value or in ecologically sensitive habitats. All investments related to improvement of the food systems will take place in the existing agricultural lands and project team will take due care and constant monitoring to ensure that project interventions do not lead to conversion of natural habitats to agricultural lands. The ESMF and the ESCP exclusion criteria shall cover any activities that may involve alien species and any significant risks to biodiversity, animal welfare, land conversion or legally protected natural resources. The ESMF screening procedures will address and screen out subproject activities proposed that may have direct, indirect or cumulative impacts on critical habitat or sensitive natural habitats and will provide guidance on biodiversity screening to ensure that project activities do not alter or cause destruction or degradation of such habitat, as defined in ESS6. May 23, 2023 Page 11 of 14 The World Bank Food Systems Resilience Program for Eastern and Southern Africa (Phase 4) (P181112) At this stage is not known exactly which species will be used for aquaculture and their invasiveness potential. Similarly, it is not expected that the project will engage in plant engineering activities (GMO, breeding, etc.) resulting in potential invasiveness risks. However, these will be scoped during project preparation and adequate measures included in the ESMF consistent with the ESS6. A Biodiversity Management Plan is deemed as not relevant. The project will not finance any activity that could lead to conversion of critical habitats. No risks to biodiversity and living natural resources is anticipated because of AUC activities as they focus on technical assistances that are not anticipated to have downstream E&S risks. Most of the construction/rehabilitation works related to water management and irrigation services improvement, will take place in highly modified agricultural areas. So, it is not anticipated that those constructions will impact negatively natural habitats or modified habitats of biodiversity significance. The project risks will be also managed by applying known mitigation measures to be included in the ESIAs and ESMPs and more broadly in the ESMF. The natural resource management intervention could generate impacts on watershed, biodiversity, and ecologically sensitive areas. The profile of natural habitat will be assessed following their classification to IUCN list and ecosystems in the site-specific ESIAs and ESMP to be prepared before the financing of these activities. ESS7 Indigenous Peoples/Sub-Saharan African Historically Underserved Traditional Local Communities Public Disclosure ESS7 is not considered relevant for this project. There are no Indigenous Peoples/Sub-Saharan African Historically Underserved Traditional Local Communities that meet the criteria of IP/SSHAUTLCs, per the requirements of this Standard in the project areas. ESS8 Cultural Heritage ESS8 is considered relevant. Although the Program activities are unlikely to affect tangible and intangible cultural heritage as they will mainly be implemented in the existing farmlands. Namely, key physical investments will be undertaken in the existing agricultural land where the likelihood of existence of tangible and intangible cultural heritage is low. Chance Find Procedures shall be adopted for precautionary reasons for infrastructure investments to address unknown archeological or historical remains and objects and the procedure will be described in the ESMF for the participating countries. ESS9 Financial Intermediaries ESS9 is not considered relevant for this project. C. Legal Operational Policies that Apply OP 7.50 Projects on International Waterways No May 23, 2023 Page 12 of 14 The World Bank Food Systems Resilience Program for Eastern and Southern Africa (Phase 4) (P181112) OP 7.60 Projects in Disputed Areas No III. WORLD BANK ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL DUE DILIGENCE A. Is a common approach being considered? No Financing Partners A common approach is not being considered. No other financing partners involved. B. Proposed Measures, Actions and Timing (Borrower’s commitments) Actions to be completed prior to Bank Board Approval: The following E&S Instruments will be prepared and disclosed prior to appraisal: 1) An Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP) 2) A Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) and Grievance Mechanism (GM) Possible issues to be addressed in the Borrower Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP): The following material measures and actions will be captured in the ESCP: 1) Preparation and implementation of an Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) including a Labor Management Procedures, Integrated Pest Management Plan, Hazard Risk Assessment, Emergency Response Public Disclosure Plan and a SEA/SH Prevention and Response Plan, a brief security risk assessment and associated management plan. Organizational structure for implementation of the Program 2) Monitoring and reporting (Regular and Incidents and accidents) 3) Measures for management of contractors 4) Assess and implement measures to manage the security risks of the Project C. Timing Tentative target date for preparing the Appraisal Stage ESRS 23-May-2023 IV. CONTACT POINTS World Bank Contact: Tomas Ricardo Rosada Villamar Title: Senior Agriculture Economist Telephone No: 5220+81796 Email: trosadavillamar@worldbank.org Contact: Joao Moura Estevao Title: Natural Resources Management Specialist MarquesdaFonseca May 23, 2023 Page 13 of 14 The World Bank Food Systems Resilience Program for Eastern and Southern Africa (Phase 4) (P181112) Telephone No: +1-202-458-5486 Email: jmouraestevao@worldbank.org Contact: Edmundo Murrugarra Title: Senior Social Protection Economist Telephone No: +1-202-473-4452 Email: emurrugarra@worldbank.org Borrower/Client/Recipient Implementing Agency(ies) 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 Tomas Ricardo Rosada Villamar, Joao Moura Estevao MarquesdaFonseca, Edmundo Public Disclosure Task Team Leader(s): Murrugarra Practice Manager Africa Eshogba Olojoba Recommended on 22-May-2023 at 07:01:35 EDT (ENR/Social) Safeguards Advisor ESSA Ernani Jose Sfoggia Pilla (SAESSA) Cleared on 23-May-2023 at 08:31:45 EDT May 23, 2023 Page 14 of 14