World Bank - ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) KINGDOM OF MOROCCO Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation Accelerating the Transformation of Higher Education and Research Program P178910 EMVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) October 16, 2023 Page 1 sur 5 World Bank - ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN 1. The Kingdom of Morocco (the Borrower) will implement the Higher Education Sector Support Operation in association with the Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation (MESRSI) as set out in the Loan Agreement. The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the Bank) has agreed to provide financing for the Project as set out in the referred agreement. The Bank has agreed to provide financing for technical assistance for the Program as set forth in the relevant Agreement. This ESCP applies only to the additional activities carried out under the Project referred to above. 2. The Borrower shall ensure that the Project is implemented in accordance with the Environmental and Social Standards (ESS) and the provisions of this Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP), in a manner acceptable to the Bank. The ESCP forms part of the Loan Agreement. Unless otherwise specified in this ESCP, capitalized terms used herein have the meanings ascribed to them in the relevant agreement. 3. Without limitation to the foregoing, this ESCP sets out material measures and actions that the Borrower 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 Bank. Once adopted, said E&S instruments may be revised from time to time with prior written agreement by the Bank. 4. As agreed by the Bank and the Borrower, 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 Borrower through the Project Management Team (PMT) MESRI, and the World Bank agree to update the ESCP to reflect these changes through an exchange of letters signed between the Bank and the Borrower ’s intermediary. The Borrower shall promptly disclose the updated ESCP. Page 2 sur 5 World Bank - ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBLE ENTITY MONITORING AND REPORTING A REGULAR REPORTING Semi-annual reports. Submit each report to the MESRSI-PMT based on [Environmental, social, health, and safety (ESHS) performance needs to be Bank within 60 days after the end of each calendar information/data from the MESRSI-DRH monitored and reported to the World Bank.] semester. and the Communications Unit. Prepare and submit to the Bank regular monitoring reports on the environmental, social, health and safety (ESHS) performance of the Project, including but not limited to the implementation of the ESCP, status of preparation and implementation of E&S instruments required under the ESCP, stakeholder engagement activities, and functioning of the grievance mechanism(s). B INCIDENTS AND ACCIDENTS Notify the Bank no later than 48 hours after MESRSI-PMT based on Promptly notify the Bank of any incident or accident related to the Project learning of the incident or accident. information/data from MESRSI-DRH and which has, or is likely to have, a significant adverse effect on the the Communications Unit. environment, the affected communities, the public or workers, including, Provide a subsequent report to the Bank within 10 inter alia, cases of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment days of notification of the incident. (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 Bank’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 Throughout Project implementation MESRSI-PMT via MESRSI-DRH and Maintain a unit with qualified staff and resources to support management public universities of ESHS risks and impacts of the Project according to the existing structure The focal points (at HRD level and at each as defined in the POM. university involved in the Project) shall be maintained throughout the implementation of the Operation. Page 3 sur 5 World Bank - ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) 1.2 TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE Throughout Project implementation MESRSI-PMT, with support from Ensure that the consultancies, studies (including feasibility studies, if MESRSI-DRH applicable), capacity building, training, and any other technical assistance activities under the Project are carried out in accordance with terms of reference acceptable to the Bank, that are consistent with the ESSs. Thereafter ensure that the outputs of such activities comply with the terms of reference. ESS 2: LABOR AND WORKING CONDITIONS 2.1 LABOR MANAGEMENT PROCEDURES Labor management measures (code of conduct, MESRSI-PMT, with support from Adopt and implement the labor management measures to manage the GM, non-discrimination, no child labor, etc.) shall MESRSI-DRH staff involved in the operation, including, inter alia, provisions on working be adopted and integrated into the POM no later conditions, management of workers relationships, occupational health and than 3 months after the effective date and before safety, code of conduct (including relating to SEA and SH), grievance any firm or consultant is hired. arrangements for Project workers, and applicable requirements for These measures shall be followed throughout the contractors, subcontractors, and supervising firms. implementation of the Project and shall be updated as necessary. 2.2 GRIEVANCE MECHANISM FOR PROJECT WORKERS Add a consultant specific channel to the grievance MESRSI-PMT, with support from MESRI- Establish and operate a grievance mechanism for Project workers, as mechanism before hiring project workers and DRH, MESRI-DSSI (Directorate of described in the labor management procedures and consistent with ESS2. maintain it thereafter throughout project Strategy, Statistics and Information implementation. Systems) DAJEC ESS 4: COMMUNITY HEALTH AND SAFETY 4.1 SEA AND SH RISKS No later than 3 months after the Effective Date, MESRSI-PMT, with support from MESRI- Adopt and implement measures incorporated into the POM to assess and as part of the POM update, and thereafter, DRH manage the risks of SEA and SH. maintain throughout Project implementation. ESS 10: STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT AND INFORMATION DISCLOSURE 10.1 Prepare and adopt and implement a Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) for No later than 3 months after the Effective Date, MESRSI-PMT, with support from MESRI- the Project, consistent with ESS10, which shall include measures to, inter alia, as part of the POM update, and thereafter, DRH in collaboration with the provide stakeholders with timely, relevant, understandable and accessible maintain throughout Project implementation. Communications Unit information, and consult with them in a culturally appropriate manner, which is free of manipulation, interference, coercion, discrimination and intimidation, including consultations with universities and other stakeholders regarding their views on the project and potentially related risks. 10.2 PROJECT GRIEVANCE MECHANISM The GRM shall be updated no later than 3 months MESRSI-PMT, with support from after the effective date, and then maintained MESRSI-DRH, -DAJEC and -DSSI and throughout Project implementation. public universities Page 4 sur 5 World Bank - ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) Update, publicize, maintain, and operate an accessible grievance mechanism, to receive and facilitate resolution of concerns and grievances in relation to the 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 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. The MESRSI-DHR collaborates with the universities, which identify a focal point for monitoring the implementation of a functional GRM, and relevant POM MOP actions. CAPACITY SUPPORT (training) RC1 MESRSI’s training needs in the following areas: throughout Project implementation and in MESRSI-PMT through MESRSI-DHR ESCP and POM: implementation procedures and monitoring/evaluation plan; compliance with the POM RC2 Focal points to receive training on the grievance redress mechanism. throughout Project implementation and in MESRSI-PMT with support from compliance with the POM MESRI-DHR Design and production of training module, including at least the following aspects: • Complaint reporting and handling procedure; • Complaints resolution procedure; • Documentation and handling of complaints; • Use of the procedure by the various stakeholders. RC3 Information/awareness-raising and training on the risks of SE/SEA: throughout Project implementation and in MESRSI-PMT, with support from - Identifying the risks of SH/SEA compliance with the POM MESRSI-DHR - Identification of SH/SEA risk prevention and mitigation measures, such as codes of conduct; - Dissemination of actions in the POM. Page 5 sur 5