KYRGYZ REPUBLIC ================= CLIMATE RESILIENT WATER SERVICES PROJECT ============================================= APPRAISAL STAGE-DRAFT Environmental and Social Commitment Plan October 2022 Bishkek Environmental and Social Commitments Plan 1. The Kyrgyz Republic (hereinafter the Recipient) shall implement the Climate Resilient Water Services Project (hereinafter the Project), with the participation of the Water Resources Service (WRS) under the Ministry of Agriculture and the Department of Drinking Water Supply and Wastewater Disposal (DDWSWD) of the State Agency for Architecture, Construction, and Communal Services as the Project Implementing Entities (hereinafter the PIEs). The International Development Association (hereinafter the Association) agreed to provide funding for the Project. 2. The Recipient shall implement material measures and actions so that the Project is implemented in accordance with the Environmental and Social Standards (ESSs). This Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP) sets out material measures and actions, any specific documents or plans, as well as the timing for each of these. 3. The Recipient shall also comply with the provisions of any other Environmental and Social (E&S) documents required under the ESF and referred to in this ESCP, such as Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF), Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA), Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs), Resettlement Framework (RF), Resettlement Plans (RPs), Labor Management Procedures (LMP), Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) and Security Management Plan (SMP) and the timelines specified in those E&S documents. 4. The Recipient is responsible for compliance with all requirements of the ESCP even when implementation of specific measures and actions is conducted by the Ministry, agency or other agency referenced in paragraph 1. 5. The implementation of the material measures and actions set out in this ESCP shall be monitored and reported to the Association by PEIs as required by the ESCP and the conditions of the financing and project agreements, and the Association shall monitor and assess progress and completion of the material measures and actions throughout implementation of the Project. 6. As agreed by the Association and the Recipient, this ESCP may be revised from time to time during Project implementation, to reflect adaptive management of Project changes and unforeseen circumstances or in response to assessment of Project performance conducted under the ESCP itself. In such circumstances, the Recipient shall agree the changes with the Association and shall update the ESCP to reflect such changes. Agreement on changes to the ESCP shall be documented (through the exchange of letters signed between the Association and the Recipient). The Recipient shall promptly disclose the updated ESCP on its official website. 7. Where Project amendments, unforeseen circumstances, or Project implementation results in changes in risks and impacts during Project implementation, the Recipient shall provide additional funds, if necessary, to implement actions and measures to address such risks and impacts. 1|Page DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) Climate Resilient Water Services Project MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBILE ENTITY/AUTHORITY MONITORING AND REPORTING A REGULAR REPORTING Prepare and submit to the Association regular monitoring reports on the Monitoring reports: Every six WRS and DDWSWD environmental, social, health and safety (ESHS) performance of the Project, months, starting from project including but not limited to, the implementation of the ESCP, status of preparation effective date throughout and implementation of E&S documents required under the ESCP, stakeholder implementation. engagement plan, and the grievance mechanism. In addition, prepare and submit to the Association a mid-term report (MTR) and a project completion report. Project completion report: 60 days prior to the end of the Project. B NOTIFICATION OF INCIDENTS AND ACCIDENTS a. Promptly notify the Association of any incident or accident related to the a. Immediately, but no later than WRS and DDWSWD, Project which has, or is likely to have, a significant adverse effect on the 48 hours after taking notice of environment, the affected communities, the public or workers. the incident or accident. b. shall provide sufficient details regarding the incident or accident, indicating a. The contractor shall notify the immediate measures taken to address it, and include information provided by concerned PIE immediately any contractor and supervising entity, as appropriate. Subsequently, as per the after the incident or accident Association’s request, prepare a report on the incident or accident and propose happens. any measures to prevent its recurrence within an agreed timeframe. b. An incident or accident report, acceptable to the Association, c. Other incidents and accidents not subject to immediate notification and shall be submitted within 30 reporting in accordance with this provision shall be included in the regular days after the occurrence of the Project reports pursuant to action A of this ESCP. Provide reasonable detailed incident or accident. elaboration of related incident or accident, indicating an immediate action taken to address it, and include information provided by any (sub) Contractor, the injured party and regulatory authority, if necessary. Furthermore, prepare an c. part of the regular project incident or accident report and put forward any measures to prevent recurrence, reporting and throughout the in accordance with the reporting environmental and social incidents toolkit, project implementation. specified in the Environmental and Social Management Framework. 2|Page DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) Climate Resilient Water Services Project MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBILE ENTITY/AUTHORITY C CONTRACTORS’ MONTHLY REPORTS As per contracts’ specifications to be signed by PIEs or other parties with selected Reporting once a month WRS and DDWSWD, Contractors, all Contractors will be required to provide reports on ESMPs’ following signing of the contract implementation and Occupational Health and Safety issues to their employers. on the ESMPs implementation Furthermore, such reports would be submitted to the Bank by PIEs upon request. and OHS issues. ESS 1: ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL RISKS AND IMPACTS 1.1. ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE a. Maintain throughout Project implementation effective staffing and institutional Both PIEs shall hire all required WRS and DDWSWD structures to support the management of the project E&S risks and impacts. Both E&S staff no later than 30 days PIEs should each maintain one Environmental Specialist with experience in after the Project is Effective and Occupational Health and Safety (OHS), and one Social Specialist, who will also maintain throughout Project be responsible for gender-based violence (GBV) as part of the Project implementation. implementation team. b. Mobilize additional staff on short-term or long-term assignment as necessary to b. As needed starting 90 days manage the E&S risks of the Project in accordance with the ESSs and ESMF after project Effective Date and institutional assessment/needs, including subject matter specialists on OHS, maintained throughout project environmental and social impact assessment, safety of dams, GBV including implementation. sexual exploitation and abuse and sexual harassment SEA/SH, labor conditions (including prevention of child and/or forced labor, health & safety), land tenure, and social inclusion. 3|Page DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) Climate Resilient Water Services Project MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBILE ENTITY/AUTHORITY 1.2. ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL ASSESSMENT a. Finalize, consult on, disclose, adopt, maintain, and implement the draft a. The draft ESMF shall be WRS and DDWSWD Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) satisfactory to reviewed and accepted by the the Association to screen and manage the environmental and social risks Association and finalized, and impacts of the Project in accordance with the ESSs. The ESMF should consulted on, and re-disclosed outline the guiding principles of environmental and social screening, before Project effective Date. assessment, review, management, and monitoring procedures for all The ESMF shall be envisaged activities. implemented throughout the life of the Project. b. Conduct scoping of key environmental and social risks and impacts of the b. Before commencement of Project and identify appropriate mitigation measures as further described in relevant Project activities, 1.4, 1.5 and 5.2 in accordance with the Environmental and Social throughout Project Management Framework (ESMF), Resettlement Framework (RF) and the implementation ESSs. 1.3 MANAGEMENT TOOLS AND INSTRUMENTS Before commencement of WRS and DDWSWD Undertake site-specific environmental and social risk screening and impact relevant Project activities, assessments for sub-projects in accordance with the ESMF and RF. All activities throughout Project that may lead to high E&S risks shall be excluded from the Project and ineligible implementation. for Project financing as detailed in the exclusion list in the ESMF. 1.4 Screen any proposed subprojects and activities in accordance with the ESMF Subprojects shall be screened in WRS and DDWSWD prepared for the Project, and, thereafter, draft, adopt, and implement the accordance with the ESMF and subproject ESIA/ ESMP, and any other instruments as the ESMF and ESSs related ESIAs/ ESMPs shall be require for the respective subproject activities, in a manner acceptable to the prepared and adopted prior to Association. commencement of relevant sub- project activities, and will be implemented throughout Project implementation. 4|Page DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) Climate Resilient Water Services Project MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBILE ENTITY/AUTHORITY 1.5 The site-specific documents shall be disclosed to stakeholders, including local Before commencement of WRS and DDWSWD communities, in accordance with the Stakeholder Engagement Plan. relevant Project activities, throughout Project implementation. 1.6 EXCLUSIONS The following type of activities shall not be eligible for finance under the Project: These exclusions shall be applied WRS and DDWSWD • Activities that may cause long term, permanent and/or irreversible (e.g., as part of the assessment process loss of major natural habitat) adverse impacts. conducted under action 1.2, 1.4, • Activities that have high probability of causing serious adverse effects to and 1.5 above. human health and/or the environment (e.g. loss of biodiversity). • Activities that may have significant adverse social impacts and may give rise to significant social conflict. • Activities that may involve high risk/impact land acquisition, involuntary resettlement or restrictions of access or adverse impacts on cultural heritage. and • All the other excluded activities set out in the ESMF of the Project. 5|Page DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) Climate Resilient Water Services Project MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBILE ENTITY/AUTHORITY 1.7 MANAGEMENT OF CONTRACTORS Develop and implement procedures for managing project employees, contractors, During the preparation of WRS and DDWSWD and subcontractors. This shall include the following: procurement documents as − Environmental and social and occupational health and safety requirements, relevant, and before consistent with sub-project specific ESIA/ESMP and LMP, shall be commencement of subproject included in the procurement and contracting process, including bidding activities, thereafter, maintained documents, for potential civil works. throughout Project − Relevant requirements shall be included in contracts and subcontracts implementation. consistent with the requirements of ESSs. − Preparation of detailed ESMPs that are costed, with enough budget to mitigate E&S risks. − WRS and DWSSDD shall monitor contractor commitment and compliance with ESSs and contract and subcontract terms as applicable − Codes of conduct shall be required for contractors, subcontractors, primary suppliers, and their workers. − Establish grievance mechanisms for contractors and subcontractors, workers, affected communities and other stakeholders to handle concerns and complaints. − Ensure and require that contractors follow site-specific ESMPs and integrate/annex the relevant areas into contracts for civil works. − Require contractors to prepare OHS Management Plans, commensurate with the risks and impacts of sub-projects. − Ensure and require that contractors adopt and implement a subproject LMP consistent with the Project LMP and ESS2. ESS 2: LABOR AND WORKING CONDITIONS 2.1. LABOR MANAGEMENT PROCEDURES Finalize and adopt the Labor Management Procedures acceptable to the Finalize and adopt the Labor WRS and DDWSWD Association. Management Procedures acceptable to the Association prior to Project effective date. 2.2. Ensure the implementation of the LMP is consistent with ESS2, in a manner Throughout Project WRS and DDWSWD, acceptable to the Association. implementation 6|Page DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) Climate Resilient Water Services Project MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBILE ENTITY/AUTHORITY 2.3. GRIEVANCE MECHANISM FOR PROJECT WORKERS Establish, maintain, and operate a grievance mechanism for Project workers Ensure the operation of GM prior WRS and DDWSWD acceptable to the Association for Project workers, as described in the LMP and to hiring of Project employees. consistent with ESS2 2.4. OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY MEASURES Prepare, adopt, and implement occupational, health and safety (OHS) measures During investment WRS and DDWSWD specified in the OHS Safety Checklist. All contractors shall be required to develop, implementation (construction implement and monitor an OHS Management Plan commensurate with the risks phase). and impacts of the sub-project. Monitor that occupational health and safety standards are met at workplaces in line with national occupational health and safety legislation, ESS2 OHS requirements, WB EHS guidelines, WHO and WB guidelines on COVID-19 prevention. Undertake subproject safety design review to identify safety risks and mitigation During the design of subprojects measures and ensure that mitigation measures are in cooperated in the approved and before tendering. design. As a part of water supply subprojects, when it is possible to dismantle and dispose Before commencement of works. WRS and DDWSWD of old asbestos-cement pipes, (Sub)Contractors shall provide training and protective measures for their personnel. ESS 3: RESOURCE EFFICIENCY AND POLLUTION PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT 3.1. Assessment of risks and impacts of construction works and proposed mitigation During preparation and WRS and DDWSWD measures related to the use of raw materials, water use, water and soil implementation of ESMP for contamination, air pollution and dust control, noise management related to work specific subprojects. and machinery, waste disposal, disposal of hazardous substances such as paints and varnishes, described in the ESMF, will be included in the ESMP for all specific subprojects. ESS 4: COMMUNITY HEALTH AND SAFETY 4.1. TRAFFIC AND ROAD SAFETY When carrying out work on road sections, to ensure the safety of workers, During preparation of ESMPs for WRS and DDWSWD contractors will install traffic control and restriction signs and, if necessary, the specific subprojects and movement of vehicles will be carried out with the help of a traffic controller. throughout project implementation. 7|Page DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) Climate Resilient Water Services Project MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBILE ENTITY/AUTHORITY 4.2. COMMUNITY HEALTH AND SAFETY Ensure preparation, adoption and implementation of measures and actions to assess During the preparation and WRS and DDWSWD and manage specific risks and impacts to the community associated with the Project implementation of the ESMPs activities, including excessive noise and dust levels, site safety awareness, any and before the start of the temporary declines in water quantity or quality and access restrictions behavior of tendering process for works. Project workers, risks of labor influx, response to emergency situations, etc. The proposed measures should be specified in the site-specific ESMPs to be prepared in accordance with the ESMF requirements and the relevant OHS protocols following WB EHS Guidelines. 4.3. DAM SAFETY The WRS will hire 1-2 independent dam safety experts to inspect and evaluate the During preparation of designs of WRS and DDWSWD safety status of Bazar-Kurganexisting dams, its appurtenances, and its performance works for Kara-Unkursay history; review and evaluate their dam owner’s operation and maintenance Irrigation Scheme and complete procedures; and provide written report for findings and recommendations for any the written report prior to remedial work or safety-related measures that might be required to upgrade the dam procurement of works for the to an acceptable standard of safety. irrigation scheme. For technical assistance of capacity building for dam safety, the WRS will engage During the preparation of ESMPs experienced and competent professionals to guide the dam safety assessments and for specific subprojects and provide high-level technical input to the Dam Safety Unity within WRS. throughout project implementation. 4.4. SEA/SH RISKS MITIGATION Ensure that site-specific ESMPs include actions to prevent and mitigate risks of During preparation of the WRS and DDWSWD sexual exploitation and abuse and sexual harassment (SEA/SH) in line with ESMF procurement documents. and enforce their implementation. This includes but is not limited to: development Prior to commencement of works and adherence to Code of Conduct for all employees, SEA/SH-sensitized grievance and throughout Project mechanism, carry out GBV service providers mapping (as appropriate), awareness implementation. raising of all employees and community members on SEA/SH risks and mitigation measures. 4.5. AWARENESS-RAISING FOR THE COMMUNITY For subprojects involving substantial infrastructure or social impacts, hold Prior to commencement of works WRS and DDWSWD awareness-raising sessions in each Project-affected community on the risks related to community health and safety, and inform them of their rights and obligations of the Contractor as well as the avenue for grievances and redress. 8|Page DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) Climate Resilient Water Services Project MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBILE ENTITY/AUTHORITY 4.6 SECURITY ASSESSMENT Prepare a Security and Conflict Risk Assessment Report. Conduct a security The security and conflict risk WRS and DDWSWD assessment to identify and evaluate relevant security risks and consult on the assessment report shall be findings with project stakeholders. prepared within 3 months of project effective date and no Prepare a Security Management Plan (SMP) if found required based on the Security project activities will be carried and Conflict Risk Assessment Note. out in the areas with security risk till the Security Assessment has been finalised. The SMP shall be prepared, if required, once the project activities are identified and prior to financing any project activity. 4.7 SECURITY PERSONNEL In the event that security personnel are involved in the Project, PIEs shall develop, Prior to initiating subproject WRS and DDWSWD implement, and require any contractors to develop and implement, measures and activity which requires deploying actions to assess and manage the risks to Project-affected communities and Project security personnel and thereafter workers that could arise from the use of security personnel, in accordance with maintained throughout Project ESS4 and the Security Management Plan in 4.6. implementation. 4.8 SECURITY MANAGEMENT If required, the PIEs shall adopt and implement across all Project activities Prepared, consulted on, and WRS and DDWSWD involving security personnel a Security Management Plan (SMP) consistent with disclosed before any deployment ESS4 and acceptable to the Association. The SMP shall be designed to protect all of security personnel, maintained Project workers and Project-affected people from risk of violence in the region or throughout Project and from the risks of hiring security personnel. implementation. ESS 5: LAND ACQUISITION, RESTRICTIONS ON LAND USE AND IN VOLUNTARY RESETTLEMENT 5.1 RESETTLEMENT FRAMEWORK Finalize the draft Resettlement Framework (RF) and comply with it throughout The draft RF shall be consulted WRS and DDWSWD project implementation. on, finalized and disclosed before Project effective date. The RF will be followed throughout the project implementation. 9|Page DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) Climate Resilient Water Services Project MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBILE ENTITY/AUTHORITY 5.2 RESETTLEMENT PLANS Prepare, adopt, and implement Resettlement Plans (RPs) in accordance with ESS5 Implement RPs prior to WRS and DDWSWD and consistent with the requirements of the project RF that has been prepared for commencing Project activities for the Project, before carrying out the associated activities, in a manner acceptable to which the RF requires the the Association. Carry out the detailed census as part of RPs preparation. preparation of RP. 5.3 GRIEVANCE MECHANISM Ensure that any grievances related to land acquisition, land use restrictions, impacts Throughout Project WRS and DDWSWD on private assets and livelihoods, or resettlement are processed via the project implementation Grievance Mechanism. 5.4 MONITORING AND REPORTING Ensure that monitoring and reporting on land acquisition and resettlement activities Throughout Project WRS and DDWSWD are conducted separately or as part of regular reporting. implementation ESS 6: CONSERVATION OF BIODIVERSITY AND SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF LIVING NATURAL RESOURCES 6.1. Assessment of biodiversity risk shall be undertaken as part of Action 1.4 and 1.5. During the preparation of WRS and DDWSWD above. Respective measures to manage biodiversity risks shall be developed and ESIAs/ESMPs for specific reflected in site-specific ESIAs and ESMPs and bidding documents. subprojects and throughout project implementation. Apply mitigation measures throughout the project life Incorporate relevant mitigation measures in bidding documents and contractor's contract ESS 7: INDIGENOUS PEOPLE/HISTORICALLY UNDERAPPRECIATED TRADITIONAL LOCAL COMMUNITIES IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA This ESS is not relevant to the project ESS 8: CULTURAL HERITAGE 8.1 RANDOM SEARCHING Ensure that contractors follow the random searching procedures outlined in the Throughout the period of WRS and DDWSWD ESMF and included in all site-specific ESIAs and ESMPs. implementation of the subprojects 10 | P a g e DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) Climate Resilient Water Services Project MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBILE ENTITY/AUTHORITY 8.2 CHANCE FINDS Adopt and implement the chance finds procedure described in the sub-project ESMPs (including Chance Find WRS and DDWSWD specific ESIAs and ESMPs developed for the Project. Procedure) shall be prepared before the start of the tendering process for works and shall be implemented throughout the Project implementation. ESS 9: FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES This ESS is not relevant to the project ESS 10: STAKEHOLDERS ENGAGEMENT AND INFORMATION DISCLOSURE 10.1. STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT PLAN Adopt and implement a Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) consistent with Draft SEP shall be consulted on, WRS and DDWSWD ESS10, in a manner acceptable to the Association. finalized and re-disclosed before Project effective Date. Stakeholder engagement activities Following the project SEP, and prior to subproject activity implementation, program shall be prepared prior to subproject specific stakeholder engagement activities program shall be prepared subproject activity and implemented. implementation. 10.2. STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT AND INFORMATION DISCLOSURE The SEP and any subsequent stakeholder engagement activities programs shall be Prior to commencement of WRS and DDWSWD disclosed with the use of different, culturally appropriate communication activities approaches to ensure communication with the most disadvantaged and vulnerable groups. 10.3. GRIEVANCE MECHANISM FOR THE PROJECT Update, adopt, maintain and operate a grievance mechanism (GM), as described in GM shall be operationalized WRS and DDWSWD the SEP. within 30 days of Project effective Date and in any event before activities commence on site. 11 | P a g e DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) Climate Resilient Water Services Project CAPACITY SUPPORT (TRAINING) CS1 CAPACITY SUPPORT (TRAINING) Training to be provided by WBs Task Teams during project implementation to Within the first year of the project WRS and DDWSWD relevant staff of PIEs and other involved agencies on: implementation, in order of − ESF training. relevance, followed by, at − Screening and preparation of site-specific ES instruments and specific minimum, annual refresher aspects of environmental and social assessment, supervision and trainings as needed throughout monitoring as described in the ESMF. project implementation − Relevant occupational health and safety issues including COVID-19 precautions. − Incidence reporting and root cause analysis. − Gender Action Plan, SEP and GM implementation. − Labor Management Procedures. − Security and conflict risk assessment and management; and − Prevention of and response to sexual exploitation and abuse, and sexual harassment. CS2 Training for Project workers by contractors on: The trainings shall be delivered at − Basic E&S and OHS risk management. the commencement of WRS and DDWSWD − Occupational health and safety including on emergency prevention and engagement of project workers, preparedness and response arrangements to emergency situations. followed by, at minimum, one − Community Health and Safety. annual refresher training − COVID-19 infection safety awareness, community health and safety. − Security and conflict risk assessment and management. − SEA/SH risk prevention and Labor Management Procedures. − Code of Conduct. − Grievance Mechanism. 12 | P a g e