GOVERNMENT OF SOLOMON ISLANDS Building Capacity in Statistics and Audit in the Solomon Islands (CAPSA) P180723 ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) Version: Appraisal 21st August 2023 ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN 1. The Government of Solomon Islands (the Recipient) will implement the Building Capacity in Statistics and Audit in the Solomon Islands (CAPSA) Project (the Project), with the involvement of the Solomon Islands National Statistics Office (SINSO) and the National Office of the Auditor General of the Solomon Islands (OAG) as the Implementing Agencies, as set out in the Financing Agreement. The International Development Association (the Association) has agreed to provide financing (P180723) for the Project, as set out in the referred agreement. 2. The Recipient shall ensure that the Project is carried out in accordance with the Environmental and Social Standards (ESSs) and this Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP), in a manner acceptable to the Association. The ESCP is a part of the Financing Agreement. Unless otherwise defined in this ESCP, capitalized terms used in this ESCP have the meanings ascribed to them in the referred agreement. 3. Without limitation to the foregoing, this ESCP sets out material measures and actions that the Recipient shall carry out or cause to be carried out, including, as applicable, the timeframes of the actions and measures, institutional, staffing, training, monitoring and reporting arrangements, and grievance management. The ESCP also sets out the environmental and social (E&S) instruments that shall be adopted and implemented under the Project, all of which shall be subject to prior consultation and disclosure, consistent with the ESS, and in form and substance, and in a manner acceptable to the Association. Once adopted, said E&S instruments may be revised 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 and the Association agree to update the ESCP to reflect these changes through an exchange of letters signed between the Association and the Minister of Finance, on behalf of the Recipient. The Recipient, through SINSO and OAG, shall promptly disclose the updated ESCP. 5. A Project Steering Committee (PSC), comprising key members of SINSO, OAG, and the Ministry of Finance and Treasury (MoFT), has been instituted and will hold overall responsibility for project governance. A Project Support Team (PST), reporting to the PSC, will be established with its core function to provide supplementary capacity necessary for effective project activity management. 2|Page ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) – Building Capacity in Statistics and Audit in the Solomon Islands Project MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBLE ENTITY MONITORING AND REPORTING A REGULAR REPORTING Submit six-(6) monthly reports to the National Statistics Office Prepare and submit to the Association regular monitoring reports on the environmental, Association throughout Project (SINSO) and the Office of the social, health and safety (ESHS) performance of the Project, including but not limited to implementation, commencing three (3) Auditor General of the the implementation of the ESCP, stakeholder engagement activities, functioning of the months after Project effectiveness. Solomon Islands (OAG) with grievance mechanism(s), and any other ESHS plans prepared for Project Activities. Submit each report to the Association the support of the Project no later than 10 days after the end of Support Team (PST). each reporting period. B INCIDENTS AND ACCIDENTS Notify the Association no later than 48 SINSO and OAG with the Notify the Association of any incident or accident related to the Project which has, or is hours after learning of the incident or support of the PST. likely to have, a significant adverse effect on the environment, the affected accident. 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 Provide subsequent report to the multiple injury. Provide sufficient detail regarding the scope, severity, and possible Association within a timeframe causes of the incident or accident, indicating immediate measures taken or that are acceptable to the Association. 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 incident or accident and propose any measures to address it and prevent its recurrence. ESS 1: ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL RISKS AND IMPACTS 1.1 ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE Within three (3) months after Project Project Steering Committee The Recipient shall establish and maintain a Project Support Team (PST) with a Project effectiveness as set out in the Financing (PSC). Manager that is tasked with carrying out environmental and social risk management Agreement and before the carrying out tasks described in the ESCP and SEP. of the relevant Project activities and thereafter maintain these positions throughout Project implementation. 1.2 ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL INSTRUMENTS Throughout Project implementation. SINSO and OAG with the The Recipient shall ensure that the project solely finances technical assistance (TA) support of the PST. activities and procurement of office equipment, and does not fund any physical works. Identified E&S risks shall be managed through the ESCP and SEP. 3|Page ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) – Building Capacity in Statistics and Audit in the Solomon Islands Project MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBLE ENTITY 1.3 MANAGEMENT OF CONTRACTORS Throughout Project implementation. SINSO and OAG with the Incorporate the relevant aspects of the ESCP, including a code of conduct, into individual support of the PST. consultant contracts. 1.4 TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE Throughout Project implementation. SINSO and OAG with the Ensure that the consultancies, studies (including feasibility studies, if applicable), support of the PST. capacity building, training, and any other TA activities under the Project are carried out in accordance with terms of reference (TOR) acceptable to the Association, that incorporate E&S risk management considerations (e.g., inclusion of vulnerable people, indigenous peoples, etc.) and are consistent with the ESSs and relevant Solomon Islands law. Thereafter, ensure that the outputs of such activities comply with the TOR. The Recipient shall submit any TA TORs, work plans, and outputs for no-objection by the Association prior to finalization to ensure consistency with WB Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) and relevant Solomon Islands legal and Good International Industry Practice (GIIP) requirements ESS 2: LABOR AND WORKING CONDITIONS 2.1 LABOR MANAGEMENT PROCEDURES Throughout Project implementation. SINSO and OAG with the Hire direct workers and consultants following the Recipients procurement guidelines, support of the PST. under written contracts. The Recipient shall not hire any vulnerable workers, such as migrant workers or low-wage workers, nor any workers under the age of 18. All project workers shall be made aware of, and commit to, following a code of conduct including provisions on the prohibition of SEA/SH behaviors. TORs for the regional survey workers will include E&S considerations such as a code of conduct (including provisions on the prohibition of SEA/SH behaviors), grievance procedures, and occupational health and safety considerations such as ensuring first aid kits and safety at sea measures are in place . 4|Page ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) – Building Capacity in Statistics and Audit in the Solomon Islands Project MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBLE ENTITY 2.2 GRIEVANCE MECHANISM FOR PROJECT WORKERS Prepare and adopt workers’ GM SINSO and OAG with the The IA’s shall follow SIG’s public service general orders and code of conduct where it approved by the Association within one support of the PST. relates to addressing grievances. SINSO shall also enforce the Statistics (amendment) Act (1) month after Project Effectiveness 2007 in dealing with relevant grievances (e.g., offences, terminations, legal civil cases and thereafter monitor the GM etc.).Where grievances relate specifically to financial issues, SINSO shall apply the Public throughout Project Implementation. Financial Management Act. The Recipient shall also provide project workers with a mechanism by which to share workplace-related grievances confidentially, including a mechanism for handling and sharing SEA/SH related complaints. ESS 7: INDIGENOUS PEOPLES/SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAN HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED TRADITIONAL LOCAL COMMUNITIES 7.1 Ensure and cause all contractors to ensure that all provisions with regard to culturally Throughout Project implementation. SINSO and OAG with the appropriate communications as described in SEP, e.g. use of local languages, are support of the PST followed in all project activities. ESS 10: STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT AND INFORMATION DISCLOSURE 10.1 STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT PLAN PREPARATION AND IMPLEMENTATION Disclose the final SEP no later than one SINSO and OAG with the Disclose the draft SEP prior to appraisal and adopt and implement a final SEP for the (1) month after Project effectiveness support of the PST Project, consistent with ESS 10, which includes measures to, inter alia, provide and thereafter implement the SEP stakeholders with timely, relevant, understandable and accessible information, and throughout Project implementation. consult with them at all critical phases in a culturally appropriate manner, which is free of manipulation, interference, coercion, discrimination, and intimidation. 10.2 PROJECT GRIEVANCE MECHANISM Within two (2) months after Project SINSO and OAG with the Establish, publicize, operate, and maintain an accessible GM, to receive and facilitate effectiveness and thereafter operate support of the PST resolution of concerns and grievances in relation to the Project, promptly and and maintain the GM throughout effectively, in a transparent manner that is culturally appropriate and readily accessible Project implementation. to all Project-affected parties, at no cost and without retribution, including concerns and grievances filed anonymously, in a manner consistent with ESS 10. The IAs shall equip the GM to receive, register, and facilitate the resolution of SEA/SH complaints, including through the referral of survivors to relevant gender-based violence service providers e.g., SafeNet, all in a safe, confidential, and survivor-centered manner. 5|Page ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) – Building Capacity in Statistics and Audit in the Solomon Islands Project MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBLE ENTITY CAPACITY SUPPORT CS1 Ensure project workers and contractors are aware of the project’s SEP and ESCP. Within one (1) month after hiring SINSO and OAG with the project workers and contractors and support of the PST The focus topics can include: thereafter during project • The SEP and good practices related to engaging stakeholders (including implementation. vulnerable groups) in an ethical and responsive way. • The project’s GM, including the processes for handling sensitive complaints such as SEA/SH incidents. • Occupational health and safety, including first aid training. • Documentation, monitoring, and reporting. • Other topics (to be determined according to needs). 6|Page