The World Bank Assam Integrated River Basin Management Program (P174593) f Project Information Document (PID) Appraisal Stage | Date Prepared/Updated: 27-Nov-2022 | Report No: PIDA33844 Nov 27, 2022 Page 1 of 14 The World Bank Assam Integrated River Basin Management Program (P174593) BASIC INFORMATION OPS_TABLE_BASIC_DATA A. Basic Project Data Country Project ID Project Name Parent Project ID (if any) India P174593 Assam Integrated River Basin Management Program Region Estimated Appraisal Date Estimated Board Date Practice Area (Lead) SOUTH ASIA 14-Nov-2022 17-Jan-2023 Water Financing Instrument Borrower(s) Implementing Agency Investment Project Financing India Assam State Disaster Management Authority, Flood and River Erosion Management Agency of Assam, Government of Assam, Water Resources Department Proposed Development Objective(s) To reduce the vulnerability of people to climate-related disasters and improve integrated water resources management. Components Component 1: Institutional Strengthening and Strategic Studies Component 2: Water Resources Management Component 3: Disaster Risk Management Component 4: Contingent Emergency Response Component PROJECT FINANCING DATA (US$, Millions) SUMMARY -NewFin1 Total Project Cost 135.00 Total Financing 135.00 of which IBRD/IDA 108.00 Financing Gap 0.00 Nov 27, 2022 Page 2 of 14 The World Bank Assam Integrated River Basin Management Program (P174593) DETAILS -NewFinEnh1 World Bank Group Financing International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) 108.00 Non-World Bank Group Financing Counterpart Funding 27.00 Borrower/Recipient 27.00 Environmental and Social Risk Classification Substantial Decision The review did authorize the team to appraise and negotiate Other Decision (as needed) B. Introduction and Context Country Context 1. The State of Assam is one of the least economically developed parts of the country. Assam ranks 26th among 28 states in Niti Aayog's SDG Index (2020-21),1 with 32 percent of its 31.2 million2 population living below the national poverty line. Per capita GDP (constant prices) grew by 5.26 percent in 2019-20, which was just over the national average of 5.1 percent. Eighty-five percent of Assam's population lives in rural areas, and 65 percent of them depend on agriculture as their primary source of income. A significant portion of this is subsistence farming with low cropping intensity due to limited irrigation availability, among other factors, which results in low productivity per unit area compared to the average across India. 2. Yet, Assam possesses several attributes that, under a supportive economic policy, could contribute significantly to its growth and raise standards of living. This includes a rich cultural heritage, vast natural resources (particularly in water and forests), high levels of biodiversity, significant opportunities for increasing inland water transport and high agricultural potential. Assam is strategically important as the largest and most populous State in the Northeast region. The Northeast is a gateway to Bangladesh and Southeast Asia and has the potential to transform into a commercial and tourism hub. 1 SDG India Index & Dashboard 2020-21, Niti Aayog. 2Census 2011 Nov 27, 2022 Page 3 of 14 The World Bank Assam Integrated River Basin Management Program (P174593) The Brahmaputra River, which traverses through Assam on its way from China to Bangladesh, carries a third of India's freshwater runoffs and is one of the few ‘open basins’ in India where renewable water availability far exceeds current demands. The river is also an important transport artery and is designated as India’s National Waterway 2, while the smaller Barak River that also traverses Assam and parts of the Northeast constitutes National Waterway 6. The Brahmaputra River is a vital asset for Assam's people, most of whom live and work in or close to the Brahmaputra valley, and could potentially bring significant opportunities for productive use. Sectoral and Institutional Context 3. The state of Assam holds great potential for development through improved water resources management (WRM), but it has not been able to realize it, largely due to the chronic challenges in managing the destructive forces of its rivers. This includes rampant flooding that routinely affects millions of lives and damages property; massive riverbank erosion that eats away developed land; high rates of sedimentation that degrades water quality and damages infrastructure downstream, exacerbated by deforestation and improper land management in the hills of the Northeast and further upstream; and wetland degradation that jeopardizes important ecosystem services (groundwater recharge, flood moderation, fish habitat, etc.).3 The intense seasonality of the monsoon creates major challenges. Approximately 80 percent of the annual precipitation occurs within the four-month monsoon period, causing significant flooding during the rainy season, and, because of limited capacity to store and manage water, shortages in the dry period. 4. Assam is among the Indian states hardest hit by erosion and flood hazards. Almost half of Assam's landmass is prone to floods. Between 1953 and 2020, an estimated 178 million people were impacted by floods in virtually all districts of the State. Over 50 million hectares in Assam were affected by floods during this same period, which represents over 10 percent of the total area affected by floods India wide. Approximately 386,476 hectares, equivalent to approximately 7 percent of the State's landmass in 17 riverine districts was lost due to river erosion between 1954 and 2019.4 The devastating 2022 floods affected 34 of Assam's 35 districts, claimed 201 lives, damaged 315,641 houses and 243,929 hectares of cropped area, forced 743,528 people into relief camps, and adversely impacted the lives and livelihoods of around 8.8 million people across 10,008 villages.5 A high percentage of Assam’s landmass suffers from moderate to extremely severe soil loss (i.e., greater than 10 tons/ha/year) due to water erosion, and over 65 percent of the Assam's landmass has moderate to extremely severe soil loss, well over the national average of 38 percent. Another almost 30 percent faces very severe to extremely severe 3 Strategy Report on Development and Growth in Northeast India: The Natural Resources, Water, and Environment Nexus, 2007, World Bank. 4 Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) 5 ASDMA's Flood Reporting and Information Management System, accessed on September 15, 2022. An official damaged amount will be disclosed upon a completion of estimation. Nov 27, 2022 Page 4 of 14 The World Bank Assam Integrated River Basin Management Program (P174593) soil loss (i.e., greater than 40 tons/ha/year) due to water erosion, significantly higher than the national average of 5 percent.6 5. Climate change is expected to exacerbate current hazards and lead to more frequent floods and accelerated soil erosion. Climate modeling studies consistently project an increase in the frequency of extreme flooding events over the Indus-Ganga-Brahmaputra River Basins for the period 2020-2059 due to higher monsoon precipitation and accelerated glacial melting in the Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau due to warmer temperatures. The Brahmaputra River basin, 36 percent of whose drainage area in India lies within Assam, is amongst the river basins with the highest projected increase in extreme flooding events.7 This increase is expected to accelerate the rate of soil erosion8 and sedimentation in Assam, contribute to further wetland degradation, and amplify adverse impacts on the State's agricultural sector. Studies also project an increase in the number of annual drought weeks in several districts of Assam, adding to the stress from the projected higher temperatures in the region.9 6. There are several factors that constrain Assam’s ability to mitigate flood and erosio n risk and sustainably increase the productivity of water resources. The State has low capacity in integrated water resources management (IWRM) and disaster risk management (DRM). There is institutional fragmentation and limited coordination across the multiplicity of agencies working at the central, regional (northeast India), state, and local levels that are responsible for water management and disaster risk reduction. Top-down planning dominates, often with inadequate connection to the communities and people who are most directly affected. Institutional weaknesses are compounded by a dispersed and outdated knowledge base; there are serious gaps in data and information required for scientific analysis and informed decision-making on managing risks and making more productive use of water resources. Responses to routine flooding and rampant erosion have largely been piecemeal, reactive, and inflexible in dealing with the dynamic nature of the river systems and adapting to climate change. Primarily ‘gray’ infrastructure solutions – which are not appropriate in all cases, are often expensive, and can actually increase risk10 – have been designed and executed with limited consideration of the natural variation and dynamics inherent in these complex river systems.11 Integrated investment planning is in a nascent stage 6 Degraded and Wastelands of India - Status and Spatial Distribution, Indian Council of Agricultural Research and National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 2010. 7 Assessment of Climate Change over the Indian Region, 2020, Ministry of Earth Sciences, GoI. 8 Assam State Action Plan on Climate Change, 2022. 9 According to the Assam State Action Plan for Climate Change, the annual mean temperature in the Assam has increased by 0.59 degrees Celsius over the last 60 years (1951 to 2010), and it is likely to increase by 1.7-2.2 degree Celsius by 2050. 10 For example, studies (Wasson et al, 2019: Riverine flood hazard: Part B: Disaster Risk Reduction in India) have shown that building embankments to counter problems in one area can restrict river flow, increase height of flood, and cause increased flood flows downstream. Embankments may offer a sense of safety and result in more people settling onto the floodplains ('the levee effect'), which puts them at greater risk in case of breach of embankments. 11 A related issue is the maintenance of existing aging infrastructure: The risk profile could have changed simply because of degradation, which means that if infrastructure fails, it could create more significant impacts than without the infrastructure (e.g. rapid breaches and sand clogging of farm fields). Nov 27, 2022 Page 5 of 14 The World Bank Assam Integrated River Basin Management Program (P174593) and needs to be significantly strengthened. The Brahmaputra Board12, which has the mandate for the planning and integrated implementation of measures for the control of floods and bank erosion in the Brahmaputra Valley, has not been able to fully deliver on this mandate, including strategic planning and management of the basin. Its linkages with the basin states are weak, affecting uptake and “ownership� of the basin plans produced to date. In addition, gender equality, citizen engagement and ownership in water resources planning and flood and erosion management in the state is weak. 7. A progressive and systematic approach is needed to address the key water-related risks and opportunities in Assam. Given the current starting base and complexities, a consistent long-term engagement that gradually tackles the challenges and allows for adaptive learning and management is most appropriate. A critical first step is the development of an enabling institutional framework and building the capacities of relevant agencies for IWRM and DRM. These include the Assam Water Resources Department (WRD), Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), and Flood and River Erosion Management Agency of Assam (FREMAA). New and innovative governance approaches to managing flood and river erosion risks are required, which take time to evolve and consolidate.13 8. Managing flood and river erosion risks require a combination of green and gray infrastructure, and structural and non-structural approaches. Examples of nature-based, ‘green’ infrastructure that harness natural systems and have been successfully employed in various parts of the world, include watershed management, including forest management; river floodplain management; flood retention and flood bypass channels; aquifer and wetlands management; and soil management.14 An IWRM approach that integrates green infrastructure with gray infrastructure such as flood embankments, river erosion works, and dams offers the best approach for cost effective and resilient infrastructure. Non- structural solutions such as flood forecasting and early warning, emergency preparation, disaster response and recovery are also necessary to fully address all elements in the DRM cycle of mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. 9. Assam has recently upgraded its climate change plan. The Assam State Action Plan on Climate Change: 2021 – 2030 (SAPCC) provides the State’s general approach for dealing with climate change adaptation and mitigation with a focus on eight sectors, including water and disasters. The Government of Assam’s (GoA) policy document “Assam 2030: Our Dream, Our Commitment� outlines the State’s 12The Brahmaputra Board was set up under the Ministry of Irrigation (now renamed as Department of Water Resources, RD&GR, Ministry of Jal Shakti) by the Government of India under an Act of Parliament called ‘The Brahmaputra Board Act, 1980 (46 of 1980). The jurisdiction of the Board covers entire Brahmaputra and Barak Valley, spreading throughout all the States of the Northeastern Region including Sikkim and part of West Bengal falling under Brahmaputra Basin. 13 A recent World Bank study lays out a framework of the different types of Programs required to systematically address hydro-climatic risks. See Browder, et. al. (2021), “An EPIC Response: Innovative Governance for Flood and Drought Risk Management.� World Bank and Deltares 14A recent report that comprehensively covers nature-based, ‘green’ infrastructure, demonstrates that integrating green infrastructure with traditional (gray), infrastructure systems can provide for more resilient and effective solutions. See Browder, et al. (2019), “Integrating Green and Gray: Creating Next Generation Infrastructure.� World Bank and World Resources Institute. Nov 27, 2022 Page 6 of 14 The World Bank Assam Integrated River Basin Management Program (P174593) strategy for meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including those that relate to IWRM and DRM.15 10. The GoA has approached the World Bank to provide support to its agenda for strengthening IWRM and DRM through the proposed Assam Integrated River Basin Management Program (AIRBMP). The proposed Program focuses on strengthening institutions, filling critical knowledge gaps, and implementing integrated solutions through a structured basin-wide planning process to tackle the current challenges of floods and erosion, amongst others, and to seize opportunities for climate-resilient growth and improved livelihoods. The proposed Program reflects the fact that bold actions and a step change from “business as usual� will be needed, which requires strong and coordinated institutions, a sound knowledge base, a shift away from reactive and piecemeal investments to participatory (including with female and vulnerable groups), integrated and long-term planning, and a re-focusing on a more “intelligent� and adaptive approach that includes nature-based ‘green’ infrastructure and non-structural measures in combination with ‘gray’ infrastructures to achieve the desired results. 11. Gender is an important element of disaster risk management. Global studies have shown that disasters often have greater impacts on women and children due to their higher levels of exposure and vulnerability, and lower states of preparedness and coping capacity.16 In South Asia generally and in India, specifically, available data shows that women have been more severely affected than men in disasters over the last few decades.17 For example, the death toll of women was four times higher than men in recent tsunamis, floods and cyclones in India and Bangladesh.18 Disaster needs assessment (DNA) exercises conducted in India suggest that women’s participation in planning, implementing, and monitoring emergency programs and rehabilitation projects remains low.19 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and consultations suggest that planning and budgeting exercises in project areas do not reflect women’s needs on safety, sanitation and hygiene, and reproductive health related priorities in flood shelter management infrastructure. 12. A ten-year Multi-Phase Programmatic Approach (MPA) is envisioned, consisting of three four-year phases with one year overlap between each phase. The first phase is hereafter called the “Project� and is described below. An MPA approach was adopted because a long term-sustained approach is required to help address the complex issues of flood and river erosion risk management and build the capacity for IWRM. The Project will help the GoA explore new approaches, build capacity, and prepare investments for phase 2. 15https://transdev.assam.gov.in/sites/default/files/portlet/level_2%5Bcurrent-domainmachine- name%5D/ASSAM_2030_Our_Dream__Our_Commitment.PDF 16 Erman, Alvina, et. al. (2021). “Gender Dimensions of Disaster Risk and Resilience : Existing Evidence.� 17 Role of women in disaster risk governance; Kinkini Hemachandra; Science Direct, 2018 18 Gender issues in climate change discourse: Theory v/s reality; Bangladesh; M. A. Baten (2010) 19 DNA exercises undertaken by the World Bank in partnership with government agencies and UN organizations in Odisha, Kerala and pan-India Nov 27, 2022 Page 7 of 14 The World Bank Assam Integrated River Basin Management Program (P174593) C. Proposed Development Objective(s) Development Objective(s) (From PAD) To reduce the vulnerability of people to climate-related disasters and improve integrated water resources management. Key Results 13. The Project Development Objective (PDO) indicators are: • Adoption of Assam State Water Policy by GoA • Number of people protected by enhanced flood and river erosion infrastructure (100,000) • Number of people benefiting from improved flood forecasting information (4,200,000) • Number of people receiving emergency alerts from upgraded State EOC (6,000,000) • Number of people benefiting from new or upgraded flood shelters (10,000) D. Project Description 14. The Project consists of four components. 15. Component 1: Institutional Strengthening and Strategic Studies. This component focuses on institutional strengthening of WRD and ASDMA and consists of three subcomponents. 16. Component 1.1 Institutional Strengthening of WRD activities include: i) preparing the first ever Assam State Water Policy; ii) undertaking a set of Assam-Brahmaputra Basin baseline studies and preparing a “State of the Basin Report;� iii) promoting water resources transboundary knowledge exchange between Assam, Bangladesh, and Bhutan, and collaboration between the northeast India states within the Brahmaputra River basin; and iv) upgrading WRD’s management information systems. 17. Component 1.2: Institutional strengthening of ASDMA supports a set of studies to inform ASDMA’s strategic approach and improve its effectiveness. This includes: i) a multi-hazard risk financing strategy including a weather-based parametric insurance scheme; ii) improving ASDMA’s post-disaster needs assessment (PDNA) capacity; and iii) a flash flood forecasting feasibility study for Assam’s mountainous regions. 18. Component 1.3: FREMAA Project Management and Incremental Costs includes i) project management including an overall Project Management and Technical Consultancy (PMTC); ii) communication and outreach; iii) specialized individual consultants; iv) equipment; and v) FREMAA's incremental operating costs; vi) developing a corporate framework for environmental and social management in WRD, ASDMA and FREMAA. The E&S corporate framework will help the agencies better manage environmental and social impacts and risks for investments under the overall Program. This Nov 27, 2022 Page 8 of 14 The World Bank Assam Integrated River Basin Management Program (P174593) includes training and visits for staff on social and environment aspects, and for the operationalization and strengthening of grievance redress mechanisms (GRM). 19. Component 2: Water Resources Management. This component finances the structural and non- structural activities to reduce flood and river erosion risk and consists of five subcomponents. 20. Component 2.1. River Works Investments in Beki and Buridehing River Basins consists of i) river works including riverbank anti-erosion works and strengthening existing flood embankments; ii) small- scale emergency river works; and iii) piloting nature-based solutions. The approximately 50 kms of river works are considered “no-regret� and can proceed while a comprehensive Integrated Flood Risk Management Plans (IFRMP) are being developed for Beki and Buridehing basins in Component 2.2. The anti-erosion works were selected to protect critical river stretches, for example to control river migration to ensure the river does not outflank rail and road bridges. The existing flood embankment works were constructed over 50 years ago and have deteriorated over time. These works protect existing communities that would experience catastrophic losses in the event of an embankment failure. A provisional sum is reserved for piloting nature-based solutions and similar small-scale emergency works that may emerge in the Beki or Buridehing basins. 21. Component 2.2: Flood Forecasting, Integrated Flood Risk Management Plans (IFRMPS) and Investment Preparation. IFRMPs will be prepared for the Assam parts of the Beki, Buridehing, and Jiadhal basins. Most of the three basins are outside of Assam. The IFRMPs will focus on the Assam part of the basin. The IFRMPs will be developed under the co-leadership of WRD and ASDMA and produce an action plan that encompasses both structural and non-structural approaches, including the preparation of feasibility studies for Phase 2. The IFRMP process will start with “stakeholder engagement and capacity building plans� to ensure the active participation of all groups; it will also include a program to specifically target women to allow their effective participation in the planning process. This component will also upgrade the existing Assam Flood Early Warning System (FLEWS) by increasing forecasting lead times and include both river and floodplain inundation forecasts. WRD’s hydro-informatics unit (HIU), in collaboration with NESAC, will be responsible for flood forecasting and ASDMA will provide early warning through the upgraded Early Warning and Dissemination System (EWDS) described in Component 3. 22. Component 2.3 Data Collection and Embankment Asset Management. This includes support for WRD’s forecasting and planning activities, including hydro-met stations, river cross-section surveys, LiDAR survey, bathymetric surveys, etc. A flood embankment asset management plan will be prepared, for implementation in subsequent phases. 23. Component 2.4: Assam Water Center Annex for the construction of a new state of the art facility for WRD’s HIU, which will be located next to the Assam State Water Data Center and adjacent to the new ASDMA headquarters to facilitate interagency collaboration during flood disasters. Nov 27, 2022 Page 9 of 14 The World Bank Assam Integrated River Basin Management Program (P174593) 24. Component 2.5: WRD Project Management and Incremental Costs supports project management including: i) communication and outreach; ii) hiring specialized individual consultants; iii) equipment; and iv) WRD’s incremental operating costs. 25. Component 3: Disaster Risk Management. This component will help Assam improve its disaster mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery capacity and consists of five subcomponents. 26. Component 3.1: Flood Shelters involves the construction of new flood shelters, and the upgrading/augmentation of schools that are currently designated as flood relief shelters, and training on flood shelter management. The target in Phase 1 is to upgrade or construct around 25 flood shelters. in these roles. 27. Component 3.2: Early Warning and Dissemination System will support an end-to-end early warning dissemination system across Assam to be supported by geospatial analytics and an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) management system. Activities include: i) upgrading EOCs at the state level and in selected districts; ii) providing geo-referenced alerts using cell-phone broadcasting; and iii) establishing a geospatial laboratory. 28. Component 3.3: Capacity Building of Circle Quick Response Teams (CQRT) will train and equip CQRTs in Assam to respond to emergencies and to create awareness on disaster preparedness. CQRTs are teams of volunteers organized at the Revenue Circle level that provide emergency support services during disasters, such as floods. CQRT members will undergo training in life-saving skills of disaster response (first aid, search, and rescue) from empaneled training institutes and shall be provided with personal protective equipment and an emergency responder kit. Equipment material banks will be provided for equipping CQRT and First Responders to handle local-level disaster events. CQRT training facilities will be supported at the Assam Central Training Institute, including water rescue training facility, dormitories, etc. 29. Component 3.4: Climate Resilient Villages will enhance community resilience through the preparation of Village Disaster Mitigation Plans (VDMPs). ASDMA will construct low-cost resilient housing demonstration structures in some of these Villages. The target is to prepare around 40 VDMPs and 25 resilient housing demonstration units. The construction of these “technical demonstration units� (TDUs) will be accompanied by capacity building on resilient housing and are intended to motivate villagers in upgrading their own homes. ASDMA will also provide training, equipment and capacity building to the participating villages, including lightning arrestors, emergency response kits, emergency warning systems. Women-only task force will be established in each village, to allow for an open discussion on the resilience needs and priorities of women that will feed into the VDMP; at least 75 percent of the Village Land Conservation and Disaster Management Committees (VLCDMCs), which are decision-making bodies, will have 40 percent of female representatives in decision making/executive roles. Nov 27, 2022 Page 10 of 14 The World Bank Assam Integrated River Basin Management Program (P174593) 30. Component 3.5: ASDMA Project Management and Incremental Costs supports project management including: i) communication and outreach; ii) hiring of specialized individual consultants; iii) equipment; and iv) ASDMA’s incremental operating costs. 31. Component 4: Contingent Emergency Response Component: This allows an immediate response to an Eligible Crisis or Emergency, as needed, from other components to partially cover emergency response and recovery costs. This component could also be used to channel additional funds should they become available because of the Emergency. . . Legal Operational Policies Triggered? Projects on International Waterways OP 7.50 Yes Projects in Disputed Areas OP 7.60 No Summary of Assessment of Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts . 32. Environmental Risk Rating Substantial: Assam is one of the States hardest hit by erosion and flood hazards. The proposed project will have significant positive impact by addressing the key threats of flooding and erosion through building institutional capacity and integrated basin planning as well as implementing no regret investments that address erosion and flooding to people and inhabited areas / towns. The environmental risks and impacts are associated with the construction of anti-erosion works, upgrading of existing flood embankments, construction of and/or augmentation of flood shelters across four districts in Assam. These include, amongst others: loss of vegetation cover; air, soil, and water pollution; community and worker health and safety; impacts from disposal of a large quantity of excavated materials; and changes in river hydrology and aquatic ecosystems. Although FREMAA has experience in implementing a similar project with similar E&S issues and requirements of multilateral agencies, the main project implementing units WRD and ASDMA do not have similar experience. Although risks and impacts associated with anti-erosion and embarkments works are temporary and localized and can be readily mitigated, the environmental risk is rated Substantial taking into consideration the limited capacity of the implementing agencies. 33. Social Risk Rating Substantial: The social risk rating is categorized as Substantial because of (i) impacts on land and assets involving physical displacement and livelihood losses; (ii) impacts due to continuous erosion and periodic floods leading to loss of land and rendering identification of owners difficult; (iii) non-availability of more than 50 % affected people at the time of household level surveys as many landowners do not live in the vicinity of affected plots; (iv) there are several co-owners leading difficulties in apportionment of compensation; Nov 27, 2022 Page 11 of 14 The World Bank Assam Integrated River Basin Management Program (P174593) (iv) presence of tribals in project areas falling within designated tribal (Schedule VI) areas or outside and in some cases these groups meets ESS 7 characteristics though not experiencing adverse impacts requiring Free Prior Informed Consent (FPIC); (v) risks relating to labor including migrant, influx of labor, (vi) exclusion of certain disadvantaged and vulnerable groups in project activities e.g. planning and maintenance of flood shelters; (vii) Sexual Exploitation and Abuse/Sexual Harassment (SEA/SH) risks due to migration of unskilled and semi-skilled migrant labor into the project area from other districts of the State, and resultant Gender Based Violence (GBV) issues; viii) inadequate engagement of all stakeholders. 34. Sexual Exploitation and Abuse/Sexual Harassment (SEA/SH) Risk Rating Moderate Project activities of embankments and flood shelters will be carried out within or in proximity to communities and works might involve labor from outside the area. Using the GBV risk assessment tool, the SEA/SH risk is assessed to be (14.0) Moderate. All three project entities and their line departments at Circle office levels will constitute Internal Committee (IC) as per The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal Act). Further, to address the risk arising from project works in vicinity of habitations, deployment of women staff/ workers at work sites, presence in Labour Camps, as well as influx of labor into the project area, few key actions will include: i) GBV/ SEA requirements will be included in bid/contract documents, ii) training of project personnel on GBV/ SEA and redressal / referral mechanism; expand the scope of GRM to address GBV cases but in a confidential manner, etc; ensure that Codes of Conduct (CoC) are clearly understood and signed by Contractors/ staff/ officials as well as ensure separate, safe and easily accessible facilities for women and men in the place of work and the labour camps. SEA/SH risks will be assessed throughout the project period and commensurate mitigation actions will be reported on a quarterly basis. 35. The following documents were prepared and disclosed on FREMAA’s website as part of project preparation: i) Project Environmental and Social Management Framework; ii) Beki and Buridehing River Works Environmental and Social Impact Assessment and associated Environmental and Social Management Plan; iii) Resettlement Policy Framework; iv) Beki and Buridehing River Works Resettlement Action Plan; v) Stakeholder Engagement Plan; and vi) Labor Management Plan. E. Implementation Institutional and Implementation Arrangements 36. The two main project implementing units (PIUs) are WRD, which is responsible for Component 2, and ASDMA, which is responsible for Component 3. FREMAA will serve as the project management unit (PMU). FREMAA was established as a special purpose vehicle in 2010 responsible for executing and coordinating externally financed projects and is under the direction of WRD. FREMAA will also implement Component 1 in collaboration with WRD and ASDMA. For the flood forecasting activities under Component 2, WRD has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC) to provide technical assistance. For flood shelters under Component 3, Nov 27, 2022 Page 12 of 14 The World Bank Assam Integrated River Basin Management Program (P174593) ASDMA has signed an MOU with the Assam Public Works Department (PWD) which will support the procurement and construction supervision of flood shelters. FREMAA has contracted a PMTC that will provide support to WRD and ASDMA and assist FREMAA in overall project management and coordination. . CONTACT POINT World Bank Greg J. Browder Lead Water Resources Management Specialist Anup Karanth Senior Disaster Risk Management Specialist Satya Priya LNU Senior Water Resources Management Specialist Borrower/Client/Recipient India Implementing Agencies Assam State Disaster Management Authority Gyanendra Dev Tripati CEO sdma-assam@gov.in Flood and River Erosion Management Agency of Assam Jeevan B,IAS CEO ceo-fremaa@assam.gov.in Government of Assam, Water Resources Department Syed Abbasi ACS s.abbasi@nic.in Nov 27, 2022 Page 13 of 14 The World Bank Assam Integrated River Basin Management Program (P174593) 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 APPROVAL Greg J. Browder Task Team Leader(s): Anup Karanth Satya Priya LNU Approved By Practice Manager/Manager: Country Director: Santhakumar Sundaram 27-Nov-2022 Nov 27, 2022 Page 14 of 14