The World Bank Sri Lanka’s Maternal and Early Childhood Nutrition Services (P180886) Concept Environmental and Social Review Summary Concept Stage (ESRS Concept Stage) Public Disclosure Date Prepared/Updated: 11/14/2023 | Report No: ESRSC03928 Nov 15, 2023 Page 1 of 7 The World Bank Sri Lanka’s Maternal and Early Childhood Nutrition Services (P180886) I. BASIC INFORMATION A. Basic Project Data Country Region Project ID Parent Project ID (if any) Sri Lanka SOUTH ASIA P180886 Project Name Sri Lanka’s Maternal And Early Childhood Nutrition Services Practice Area (Lead) Financing Instrument Estimated Appraisal Date Estimated Board Date Health, Nutrition & Investment Project 5/30/2024 Population Financing Borrower(s) Implementing Agency(ies) Estimated Concept Review Total Project Cost Date 0 Proposed Development Objective The project development objective is to increase access to selected community-based nutrition interventions by Public Disclosure pregnant and lactating women and children under-five in vulnerable districts in Sri Lanka. The vulnerable districts including Mullaitivu, Mannar, Batticaloa, and Monaragala where poverty headcount ratio is 19-29 compared to the national average of 4.1 in 2019 (MoNPEA & MoDM, 2016). 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 Activities The proposed innovative pilot project will support Sri Lanka’s maternal and early childhood nutrition program through community empowerment and will cover 20 vulnerable regions (MOH divisions) across all provinces of Sri Lanka. The 20 vulnerable regions reside roughly 8 percent of the population in the country. The beneficiaries of the proposed project are pregnant and lactating mothers (approximately 22,800) and children under the age of five (approximately 120,000). The project will be implemented by the Family Health Bureau of the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Scale Up Nutrition (SUN) civil society network. The expected project duration is 36 months with a proposed investment of US$3.000 million ($2.753 million Recipient Grant and $0.247 million Bank Supervision Grant). Seven innovative activities that have been identified in consultation with the Ministry of Health and the SUN civil society network will be supported by this project and they include: (i) Assist communities to establish multi-sector nutrition committees at community level; (ii) Strengthen mother support groups (MSGs); (iii) assist communities to develop locally-customized low-cost nutritious meal menus that include locally available cheaper food alternatives, and Nov 15, 2023 Page 2 of 7 The World Bank Sri Lanka’s Maternal and Early Childhood Nutrition Services (P180886) sensitizing the community to adopt the new food menu; (iv) Provide start-up support to communities and build capacity to produce local community-prepared nutritional supplements; (v) Strengthening community-based food banks and community kitchens; (vi) conduct a situation assessment to determine the current challenges and requirements for the delivery of these activities; and (vii) provide mobility support to frontline health workers and their teams to deliver community-based nutrition services. The project design will include a built-in monitoring and rigorous evaluation system to capture and disseminate the lessons learned. D. Environmental and Social Overview D.1 Overview of Environmental and Social Project Settings This nationwide project aims to provide assistance to support Sri Lanka’s maternal and early childhood nutrition program through community empowerment during the economic crisis and will cover 20 vulnerable regions (MOH divisions) across all nine provinces of Sri Lanka covering urban, rural and estate sectors. The project will not support any civil works, hence any adverse environmental and social impacts are not envisioned. The direct beneficiaries of this project would be pregnant and lactating mothers and children under the age of five. While providing essential health and nutrition services, it will also provide livelihood support and community support to strengthen the community development in the vulnerable regions of Sri Lanka. D.2 Overview of Borrower’s Institutional Capacity for Managing Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts The Project Management Unit (PMU) of Ministry of Health (MOH) which was established under the World Bank Public Disclosure assisted Primary Health Care System Strengthening Project (PSSP) will be responsible for all administrative functions as an immediate measure to fast-track implementation. Ministry of Health has extensive working experience with the World Bank for the last 15 years adhering to safeguards and ESF. Sri Lanka Covid - 19 Emergency Response and Health Preparedness Project also one among such projects successfully implemented by the MoH adhering to the Environment and Social Framework. The Ministry has been trained on numerous occasions on the application of safeguard policies and ESF. Given the low level of risk, recruitment of a full-time E&S officer is not required. However the Environment and Social focal point of the World Bank assisted PSSP, who has adequate qualifications and experience related to implementing World Bank financed projects, will provide necessary support on E&S implementation of the project. A Project Steering Committee at the MOH will be established to provide oversight, monitor implementation progress, and to decide on critical actions to address implementation challenges. In addition to MOH, this committee will include members from the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the SUN civil society and business alliances and academia. Further, the young child nutrition program has been integrated into the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) services. It is managed by the Ministry of Health’s Family Health Bureau (FHB) through MoH in 324 divisions with a set of health professionals. Therefore, sufficient staff will be in place to implement the project. Further, the Scale Up Nutrition (SUN) civil society network also has community level reach in the country in providing nutrition for vulnerable people. II. SCREENING OF POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL RISKS AND IMPACTS Nov 15, 2023 Page 3 of 7 The World Bank Sri Lanka’s Maternal and Early Childhood Nutrition Services (P180886) A. Environmental and Social Risk Classification (ESRC) Low A.1 Environmental Risk Rating Low The Environmental risks associated with the project is rated as ‘low’ as the project doesn’t have a physical footprint and only seeks to provide assistance to support Sri Lanka’s maternal and early childhood nutrition program through community empowerment during the economic crisis. A majority of activities will be on conducting rapid assessments, providing mobility supply to medical officers, assisting communities to develop locally-customized low- cost nutritious meal menus, assisting start-up community mother support groups and establish multi-sector nutrition committees, build capacity to produce local community-prepared nutritional supplements; and strengthening community-based food banks and community kitchens. The project will support establishment of several local nutrition supplement manufacturing facilities to locally manufacture nutrition supplements and development of community-based food banks and kitchens serving within the existing physical resources. In support of establishing nutrition supplement manufacturing facilities or developing community food bank / kitchen, the project will only assist communities with capacity enhancement, logistics and other form of inputs within their existing physical resources. Therefore there won’t be any civil works including new construction or rehabilitation of buildings under this component. The food waste generated from the manufacturing nutrition supplements, food banks and kitchen servings will be managed in line with the national requirements on food safety and food waste management. A.2 Social Risk Rating Low The social risks associated with the project is rated as ‘low’ as the project doesn’t have a physical interventions and Public Disclosure focuses on capacity building and soft interventions. Further, the project has already identified the malnutrition prevalence in 20 divisions in the country. Further, a rapid community-level situation assessment will be carried out to determine the current challenges and community requirements for delivering nutrition services to the pregnant and lactating mothers, and the under 5 children who are suffering from malnutrition or at risk of malnutrition. This quick assessment will identify the new target beneficiaries, the local situation, and challenges, as well as the local resources, based on which specific community-based nutrition improvement strategies will be detailed. There will be a set of criteria in place when selecting the beneficiaries. Physical interventions such as construction works will not be financed by the project. Hence social risks and resettlement impacts are not expected. Further, the project will provide assistance to community to develop the alternative food menu, to select community members for committees, training on home gardening and supply essential equipment and utensils support local community to produce simple nutrition supplements such as nutrients powders, biscuits, puddings, etc. For this purposes, proper selection criteria along with action plan will be prepared by the PMU to ensure fairness in selection process. Risks will be mitigated through providing access to Grievance Redress Mechanisms for all stakeholders to provide feedback and bring any grievances related to exclusion to the attention of the project. Pregnant and lactating mothers and children under the age of five affected by economic crisis among Indigenous people will be given equal opportunities to be part of this community driven initiative B. RELEVANCE OF STANDARDS AND POLICIES AT CONCEPT STAGE B.1 Relevance of Environmental and Social Standards Nov 15, 2023 Page 4 of 7 The World Bank Sri Lanka’s Maternal and Early Childhood Nutrition Services (P180886) ESS1 Assessment and Management of Environmental and Social Risks and Relevant Impacts This standard is relevant. Given the nature and scope of the project, there aren’t any social or environmental risks and impacts anticipated as project activities will target the vulnerable and poor of 20 divisions with proper selection criteria which will be made transparent and communicated. The project will not support any civil works, hence any adverse environmental and social impacts are not envisioned. Borrower will prepare an ESCP and it will be operational throughout the project. The ESCP will incorporate requirements and commitments for Stakeholder Engagement and Labor Management, therefore no separate instruments will be prepared for Stakeholder Engagement and Labor Management. In addition, E&S risk management measures will be integrated into the TORs and products of all activities executed under the project. ESS2 Labor and Working Conditions Relevant ESS2 is relevant. This project does not have labor influx, but workplace SEA/SH risks are prevalent. Project workforce includes: (i) direct workers from MoH (ii) contracted workers, experts with Consultancy Firms for assessments, technical advice and for capacity building and (iii) Community Workers the members of community level Committees. Civil servants will adhere to the terms and conditions of the existing public sector, unless there has been an effective legal transfer of their employment in the project. In case if MoH doesn’t have existing behavior standards prohibiting misconduct, harassment the civil servants will need to agree to the project specific CoC. For all project workers, rules prohibiting child and forced labor; and OHS will apply. Labor management requirements, including GRM for workers will be integrated in the ESCP. Public Disclosure ESS3 Resource Efficiency and Pollution Prevention and Management Not Currently Relevant This standard is not relevant. ESS4 Community Health and Safety Not Currently Relevant This standard is not relevant. No rehabilitation, civil works, or other actions that would imply environmental or social risks, having negative impact on the environment, or negatively impacting community health and safety will be financed. Since the Covid-19 Pandemic is now ended, infection transmission risks during interaction between beneficiaries and government officials are not expected. ESS5 Land Acquisition, Restrictions on Land Use and Involuntary Resettlement Not Currently Relevant This standard is not relevant. Activities that will result in the involuntary taking of land, relocation of households, loss of assets or access to assets that leads to loss of income sources or other means of livelihoods, and interference with households’ use of land and livelihoods, will not be considered under the project. ESS6 Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Natural Not Currently Relevant Resources This standard is not relevant. The project does not involve any civil or rehabilitation works that would affect biodiversity or natural resources. Nov 15, 2023 Page 5 of 7 The World Bank Sri Lanka’s Maternal and Early Childhood Nutrition Services (P180886) ESS7 Indigenous Peoples/Sub-Saharan African Historically Underserved Traditional Not Currently Relevant Local Communities This standard is not relevant. ESS8 Cultural Heritage Not Currently Relevant This standard is not relevant. The project does not involve any civil or rehabilitation works that would have an impact on cultural heritage. ESS9 Financial Intermediaries Not Currently Relevant This standard is not relevant ESS10 Stakeholder Engagement and Information Disclosure Relevant ESS10 is relevant. The project will engage with multiple stakeholders and Project Beneficiaries. A standalone Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) will not be prepared since project is low risk. However, the stakeholder engagement activities will be planned as part of selecting beneficiaries from the Office of Medical Officers of Health (MOH) Mothers support groups, multi sector nutrition committees and community driven livelihood and home gardening activities. Therefore, the ESCP will include relevant measures for engagement with the key stakeholders of the project. A GRM will also be functional at the project implementation area to respond to queries and address any grievances including SEA/SH in regards to the project. Public Disclosure B.2 Legal Operational Policies that Apply OP 7.50 Projects on International Waterways No OP 7.60 Projects in Disputed Areas No B.3 Other Salient Features Use of Borrower Framework No No Use of Common Approach No No C. Overview of Required Environmental and Social Risk Management Activities C.1 What Borrower environmental and social analyses, instruments, plans and/or frameworks are planned or required by Appraisal? Nov 15, 2023 Page 6 of 7 The World Bank Sri Lanka’s Maternal and Early Childhood Nutrition Services (P180886) An Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP) will be prepared by the PMU, MOH and agreed on with the World Bank at Appraisal stage. The ESCP will embed commitments for Stakeholder Engagement and Labor Management requirements. III. CONTACT POINTS World Bank Task Team Leader: Deepika Eranjanie Attygalle Title: Senior Health Specialist Email: dattygalle@worldbank.org IV. 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 V. APPROVAL Public Disclosure Task Team Leader(s): Di Dong, Deepika Eranjanie Attygalle ADM Environmental Specialist: Disna Kumari Bandara Makumbure Gedara ADM Social Specialist: Shanek Mario Fernando Nov 15, 2023 Page 7 of 7