The Kyrgyz Republic Ministry of Education and Science Higher Education Quality and Innovation Project (P178592) ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN DRAFT January 2023 1|Page ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN 1. The Kyrgyz Republic will implement the Higher Education Quality and Innovation Project (the Project), with the involvement of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic (MoES), as set out in the Financing Agreement. The International Development Association (the Association) has agreed to provide financing (178592) for the Project, as set out in the referred agreement. 2. The MoES 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 MoES shall carry out or cause to be carried out, including, as applicable, the timeframes for actions and measures, institutional , staffing, training, monitoring and reporting arrangements, and a 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 MoES, this ESCP may be revised from time to time during the Project implementation, to reflect adaptive management of Project changes and unforeseen circumstances or in response to assessment of Project performance. In such circumstances, the MoES and the Association agree to update the ESCP to reflect these changes through an exchange of letters signed by the Association and the MoES. The MoES shall promptly disclose the updated ESCP. 2|Page RESPONSIBILE MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME ENTITY/AUTHORITY MONITORING AND REPORTING A REGULAR REPORTING Prepare and submit to the Association regular monitoring reports on environmental, The first report is due three months after MoES social, health, and safety (ESHS) performance of the Project, including but not limited to project entry into force. Thereafter every six PCU the implementation of the ESCP, status of preparation and implementation of E&S months as part of regular project reporting instruments required under the ESCP, stakeholder engagement activities and functioning throughout the project implementation of the grievance mechanism(s). period. Submit each report to the Association no later than 30 days after the end of each reporting period. B INCIDENTS AND ACCIDENTS MoES Promptly notify the Association of any incident or accident related to the Project which Notify the Association of any incident or PCU has, or is likely to have, a significant adverse effect on the environment, the affected accident within 48 hours after learning of communities, the public or workers, including, inter alia, cases of sexual exploitation and the incident or accident. abuse (SEA), sexual harassment (SH), and accidents that result in death, serious or multiple injury specific to the Project activities. In such cases, provide sufficient detail regarding the scope, severity, and possible causes Provide, subsequent detail report to the of the incident or accident, findings of the Root Cause Analysis (RCA), when undertaken, Association on the incident or accident indicating immediate measures taken or that are planned to be taken to address it, and within 30 days after occurrence of an any information provided by any contractor and/or supervising firm, as appropriate. incident or accident the Association. 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 Maintain the existing PCU, within the MoES, with qualified staff and resources to support PCU E&S staff will be maintained throughout MoES the management of ESHS risks and impacts of the Project. The PCU E&S specialists, public Project implementation. PCU relations and citizen engagement specialist will work in coordination with the Association team to ensure ESF compliance including implementation of this ESCP, the ESMF, SEP and LMP. 3|Page 1.2 ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK (ESMF) Prepare, consult, adopt, disclose, and thereafter implement an Environmental and Social Adopt the ESMF prior to Project MoES Management Framework (ESMF) for the Project, consistent with the relevant ESSs. Effectiveness, and thereafter implement PCU the ESMF throughout Project implementation. 1.3 Screen proposed activities/subprojects in accordance with the ESMF adopted for the Submit the subproject or site-specific ESMP MoES Project and, thereafter, cause subproject entities to prepare, consult, adopt, disclose, for the Association’s prior review and no PCU and thereafter implement the site-specific Environmental and Social Management Plan objection, adopt, and disclose the ESMP (ESMP) or ESMP checklist, as set out in the ESMF. The proposed activities described in before launching the bidding process for the the exclusion list set out in the ESMF shall be ineligible to receive financing under the respective subproject. Once adopted, Project. implement the respective ESMP throughout Project implementation. 1.4 SELECTION CRITERIA AND MECHANISM Develop selection criteria and transparent selection mechanism for implementing the Prepare and adopt the AIF OM prior to start MoES Academic Innovation Fund (AIF) activity under the Subcomponents 1.2 and 1.3 as part of the AIF activities. PCU the AIF Operational Manual (AIF OM), acceptable to the Association, consulted upon, disclosed and implemented throughout Project implementation. Thereafter implement throughout Project implementation. 1.5 TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE Ensure that consultations, research, capacity building, training and any other technical ToRs are submitted to the Association for MoES assistance activities provided under the Project are carried out in accordance with the ToRs review prior to bidding on the assignment PCU acceptable to the Association, which include relevant ESS requirements. throughout Project implementation. Ensure that any outcomes of technical assistance activities, including but not limited to preparatory activities envisaged under the Project, comply with the relevant ESS. 1.6 ASSOCIATED FACILITIES In case of Associated Facilities are identified in the Centers of Excellence under the Throughout Project implementation. MoES Subcomponent 1.1 during the project implementation, MOES shall ensure that the PCU activities in these associated facilities are carried out in accordance with the applicable requirements of the ESSs, including, contractors management, and other relevant measures included in the ESMF, SEP and LMP. ESS 2: LABOR AND WORKING CONDITIONS 4|Page 2.1 LABOR MANAGEMENT PROCEDURES Adopt and implement LMP for the Project to the satisfaction of the Association. The LMP Adopt the LMP prior to Project appraisal, MoES will include, inter alia, provisions on working conditions, management of workers and thereafter implement the LMP PCU relationships, occupational health, and safety (including personal protective equipment, throughout Project implementation. and emergency preparedness and response), 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 described in the LMP Establish grievance mechanism prior to MoES and consistent with ESS2. hiring Project workers and thereafter PCU maintain and operate it throughout Project implementation. ESS 3: RESOURCE EFFICIENCY AND POLLUTION PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT 3.1 WASTE MANAGEMENT MoES The ESMF should develop and implement measures and actions to manage resource The ESMF must be finalized, accepted prior PCU efficiency and pollution prevention, include measures for recycling and management of to Project effectiveness and implemented waste and hazardous materials (especially asbestos which may be contained in old throughout Project implementation. buildings, mercury contained in fluorescent lamps, medical waste management, management of electronic waste, etc.), and monitor the implementation of these measures. Include measures to manage the use of raw materials, water and energy, air, water, soil and waste pollution associated with works, equipment, agricultural related activities and other relevant project activities. 3.2 EFFICIENT USE OF RESOURCES CONSERVATION The ESMF, with resource conservation MoES The ESMF should include resource and water conservation measures and monitor the measures, must be finalized, accepted prior PCU implementation of these measures. to Project effectiveness and implemented throughout Project implementation. ESS 4: COMMUNITY HEALTH AND SAFETY 4.1 COMMUNITY HEALTH AND SAFETY Assess and manage specific risks and impacts to the community arising from Project Integrate the ESMP in the bidding MoES activities including behavior of Project workers, community exposure to pollution and documents before launching the bidding PCU disturbance effects and SEA/SH risk. Include mitigation measures in the ESMPs to be process for the respective subprojects. prepared in accordance with the ESMF. Integrate the relevant measures from ESMPs into Implement the respective ESMP throughout the bidding documents and protocols for operation of new equipment. Project implementation. ESS 5: LAND ACQUISITION, RESTRICTIONS ON LAND USE AND INVOLUNTARY RESETTLEMENT 5|Page 5.1 This ESS is not relevant to the project ESS 6: BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF LIVING NATURAL RESOURCES 6.1 This ESS is not relevant to the project ESS 7: INDIGENOUS PEOPLES/SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAN HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED TRADITIONAL LOCAL COMMUNITIES 7.1 This ESS is not relevant to the project ESS 8: CULTURAL HERITAGE This ESS is not relevant to the project 6|Page ESS 9: FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES This ESS is not relevant to the project ESS 10: STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT AND INFORMATION DISCLOSURE 10.1 STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT PLAN PREPARATION AND IMPLEMENTATION Adopt and implement the SEP for the Project to the satisfaction of the Association and Adopt the SEP prior to Project appraisal and MoES consistent with ESS10. The SEP includes measures to, inter alia, provide stakeholders thereafter implement the SEP throughout PCU with timely, relevant, understandable, and accessible information, and consult with them Project implementation. in a culturally appropriate manner, which is free of manipulation, interference, coercion, discrimination, and intimidation. 10.2 PROJECT GRIEVANCE MECHANISM In accordance with the SEP, establish, publicize, maintain, and operate an accessible Establish the grievance mechanism prior to MoES grievance mechanism, to receive and facilitate resolution of concerns and grievances in commencement of the project activities, and PCU relation to the Project, promptly and effectively, in a transparent manner that is thereafter maintain and operate the culturally appropriate and readily accessible to all Project-affected parties, at no cost and mechanism throughout Project without retribution, including concerns and grievances filed anonymously, in a manner implementation. consistent with ESS 10. 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 CS1 Conduct training for MoES relevant staff and other key stakeholders on the following Throughout Project implementation MoES topics: according to the Project annual training PCU - WB Environmental and Social Framework and requirements of the ESSs; plans. - Stakeholder mapping and engagement and information disclosure; - Environmental and social impacts and mitigation measures; - Labor management procedures; - Project and Project workers Grievance mechanism; - Code of Conduct and SEA/SH prevention measures. 7|Page CS2 Conduct training for Project workers on the following topics: Conduct training once Project workers hired MoES − WB Environmental and Social Framework and requirements of the ESSs; prior to start project activities, thereafter PCU − Occupational health and safety measures; according to the Project annual training − Community health and safety risk mitigation measures; plans. − Labor Management Procedures; − Code of Conduct and SEA/SH risk prevention measures; − Project and Project workers grievance mechanism. − Covid-19 mitigation Prevention and Control Recommendations − Incident reporting and understanding of ESIRT (Environmental and Social Incident Reporting Toolkit) provisions. 8|Page