The World Bank Solomon Islands Agriculture and Rural Transformation Project (P173043) Appraisal Environmental and Social Review Summary Appraisal Stage (ESRS Appraisal Stage) Public Disclosure Date Prepared/Updated: 02/18/2022 | Report No: ESRSA01926 Feb 18, 2022 Page 1 of 13 The World Bank Solomon Islands Agriculture and Rural Transformation Project (P173043) BASIC INFORMATION A. Basic Project Data Country Region Project ID Parent Project ID (if any) Solomon Islands EAST ASIA AND PACIFIC P173043 Project Name Solomon Islands Agriculture and Rural Transformation Project Practice Area (Lead) Financing Instrument Estimated Appraisal Date Estimated Board Date Agriculture and Food Investment Project 6/28/2021 3/17/2022 Financing Borrower(s) Implementing Agency(ies) Solomon Islands Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Proposed Development Objective To increase agricultural production and improve market access in selected value chains in the Project Provinces, and Public Disclosure in case of an Eligible Crisis or Emergency, respond promptly and effectively to it. Financing (in USD Million) Amount Total Project Cost 15.00 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 [including overview of Country, Sectoral & Institutional Contexts and Relationship to CPF] The project will support the smallholder farmers of Solomon Islands in improving their income opportunities by engaging them in key crop production and selected value chains through formation and development of their own Agribusiness Producer Organizations and by creating productive infrastructure. The project will also develop the capacity and services of Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock to improve the agriculture sector and support the smallholders. D. Environmental and Social Overview Feb 18, 2022 Page 2 of 13 The World Bank Solomon Islands Agriculture and Rural Transformation Project (P173043) D.1. Detailed project location(s) and salient physical characteristics relevant to the E&S assessment [geographic, environmental, social] Solomon Islands is a small and fragile island developing state of around 1,000 islands in the south-west Pacific with a population of 694,619 and a total land area of about 28,400 square kilometres. Solomon Islands is classified as a least developed country, as well as a Fragile and Conflict-affected Situation (FCS) country and is among the countries with high levels of institutional social fragility. The biggest driver of economic growth has been logging, which is continuing at unsustainable rates and contributes little to the welfare of rural communities. Income from logging is expected to decline sharply over the next years due to the Government’s approach to move to a more sustainable path in the forestry sector over the medium-term. Currently, logging contributes 17% to the GDP, while the agricultural sector contributes around 20-21% and agriculture being the largest employer, provides employment to 60% of the population. The country’s fragility derives largely from its very short history of a democratic central government and the unsteady balance between central/provincial hegemony and fragmented traditional affiliations. Its fragility has multiple dimensions including a recent history of civil unrest known as "the tensions”; vulnerability to natural disasters; deteriorating food and nutrition security; high levels of youth unemployment; land tenure disputes; weak governance; unsustainable deforestation/timber extraction; relatively small domestic markets; exports exposed to international price volatility; and the impacts of climate change. National food poverty and basic needs poverty headcounts are relatively low at 4.4% and 12.7% respectively, but there are significant disparities between rural and urban areas, and between provinces. Public Disclosure The country faces long-standing underlying food security challenges. The agriculture sector continues to face a number of challenges, including the limited availability of suitable agriculture land, the depletion of soil fertility due to intensive land use for logging and mining, the impact of climate change, high internal transport costs, rudimentary or missing infrastructure in terms of warehouses, processing facilities, roads, wharfs and jetties, insufficient or insecure land tenure for small landholders, and limited access to finance and other agricultural support service. These are compounded by a highly dispersed rural population with poor access to infrastructure and services, further aggravated by extreme vulnerability to natural disasters and climate change. Solomon Islanders mostly rely on the productivity of smallholder agriculture for household income and food security. Agriculture has been identified as the most important sector of the Solomon Islands economy and sustains over 85 percent of the country’s rural economy. Communities generally grow their food for consumption; however, rural to urban migration has affected this traditional practice. Agricultural production throughout the country is quite diverse due to variations in climate, soil, and topography. Over 80 percent of the population lives in rural areas and is largely dependent on subsistence agriculture and fisheries. More than 100,000 households are dependent on the cultivation and sale of crops to meet their basic cash needs. Many households including 76% of all rural women engaged in subsistence agriculture as their primary economic activity. Around 40,000 households grow and harvest coconut for cash and food and up to 20,000 households are engaged in producing cocoa. Eighty percent of rural households keep pigs or poultry. Any disruption to exports has an immediate impact on rural household incomes. Households currently spend on average 46 percent of their income on buying food – rising to 53 percent in rural areas. Urban and peri-urban residents are highly dependent on imported food (imported goods represent over 80 percent of household food expenditure). In 2017, food accounted for 25 percent of total imports with rice imports alone costing almost USD 50 million. Rice consumption is over 70 kg per capita/year and rising. The need to strengthen domestic food markets has been recognized by both the Government and donors. Feb 18, 2022 Page 3 of 13 The World Bank Solomon Islands Agriculture and Rural Transformation Project (P173043) The agricultural sector currently contributes around 20-21% of GDP and provides employment to 60% of the population. The sector faces a number of challenges, including the limited availability of suitable agriculture land, the depletion of soil fertility due to intensive land use for logging and mining, the impact of climate change, high internal transport costs, rudimentary or missing infrastructure in terms of warehouses, processing facilities, roads, wharfs and jetties, insufficient or insecure land tenure for small landholders, and limited access to finance and other agricultural support services. Almost 80 percent of Solomon Islanders live in rural areas, 32% of households have less than 1 hectare, 25% have 1 to 4 hectares and 16.5% have 4 to 10 hectares of land i.e., 57% of households are smallholders and have less than 4 hectares of land. Many households including 76% of all rural women engaged in subsistence agriculture as their primary economic activity. The country has rich ecosystems and biodiversity. Its environment is threatened by unsustainable logging practices, leading to habitat destruction, soil erosion, landslides and flooding. High rates of population growth and underemployment lead to pressure to develop income from cash crops, leading to further habitat destruction. Extreme weather events are likely to increase in frequency and severity, increasing incentive to move agricultural and livestock activities to higher ground. The project scope is aimed at a national scale with selected provinces yet to be determined during implementation. The project typologies are clustered as (i) agricultural and livestock improvement including agronomic practices, processing; livestock breeding, husbandry practices; and productive research; (ii) infrastructure such as provincial offices, field experiments stations; and (iii) technical assistance (TA) and capacity building for Business Planning, Public Disclosure agribusiness partnership, and product branding. D. 2. Borrower’s Institutional Capacity The Executing Agency will be the Ministry of Finance and Treasury (MoFT) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Land (MAL) will be the implementing agency. MAL has some experiences in working with the Bank’s operations and operationalizing safeguards policies through their role in implementing Component 2 under the Rural Development Program II (RDP II, P149282). However, the project will apply ESF policy and will require more capacity building to support MAL to effectively implement a Bank-funded project on its own. The project presents additional challenges, including adjusting to the ESF requirements. The project will make use of short term experts (national and international) to enhance MAL’s implementation capacity and to provide specific technical inputs and training sessions under component 2 to improve the knowledge and skills of existing extension officers and its target beneficiaries. MAL has knowledge and some capacity to regulate agriculture-related environmental safeguards, including the formation and regular convening of a Pesticide Registration Advisory Committee (PRAC) to regulate the use of pesticides. However, MAL has heavily relied on external consultants for environmental management. Lessons learned from RDP II suggest that environmental and social (E&S) capacity and performance varies among provinces where availability of resources is found to be limited. Under RDPII, an external E&S safeguards specialist was hired for screening and resolving safeguard issues both prior to a sub-project being included in the program and during sub-project implementation. Weaknesses noted in the safeguards implementation include, but not limited to, no proactive analysis of potential E&S risks beyond the procedures and insufficient monitoring and reporting of E&S issues as part of the project operations. The transition to the ESF will require MAL and project staff at all levels, Feb 18, 2022 Page 4 of 13 The World Bank Solomon Islands Agriculture and Rural Transformation Project (P173043) including contractors and suppliers, to develop a broad understanding of the ESF approach including the proportionality concept and adaptive management of E&S risks. It will also require development of specific capacity in relation to each relevant environmental and social standard (ESS).. Two part-time local safeguards staff will be recruited to assist with this process, one environmental safeguards specialist and one social safeguards specialist. The project team is proposing that a dedicated Agriculture Sector Coordination Unit (ASCU) within MAL be established to function as a Project Management Unit (PMU) to support the implementation, coordination, documentation and monitoring, learning and evaluation (MLE) of the project. The ASCU will include the following: Financial Management, Procurement, Monitoring & Evaluation, Engineering/Civil Works Communications, a full-time Environmental Risk Management Consultant and a full-time Social Risk Management Consultant will also be recruited to the PMU. If two full-time local Environmental and Social Risk Management Consultants are not able to be recruited, one full time local Environmental and Social Consultant and one international part-time Environmental and Social Consultant may be recruited instead. In the absence of staff in the project operational areas in different provinces, MAL may recruit Young Professionals from the School of Natural Resources and Applied Sciences (SNRAS) under Solomon Islands National University on a contractual appointment basis to offer their services to the project at different capacities. The unit will collaborate with other value chain stakeholders and development partners through the value chain roundtables. MAL has prepared a capacity building plan and budget, which is outlined in the Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) and in the Environmental and Social Commitment (ESCP) with specific activities, responsibilities, timeframe of activities, responsibilities on the Bank and borrower side. Public Disclosure II. SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL (ES) RISKS AND IMPACTS A. Environmental and Social Risk Classification (ESRC) Substantial Environmental Risk Rating Substantial The project is expected to deliver long term positive E&S impacts through economic development, community livelihood opportunities and capacity building. Some project components involve significant environmental risks and impacts, however, with the implementation of appropriate mitigation measures these risks are expected to be temporary, predictable and/or reversible. Based on this, as well as the limited capacity of the borrower, and undefined project footprint, the environmental risks are considered substantial. This environmental risk rating will be revisited once the Borrower has demonstrated compliance with their commitments (e.g. addressing capacity constraints and improving E&S risk management track record) and there is greater definition regarding the magnitude of the project activities. Key environmental impacts and risks are associated with: (i) agriculture and livestock activities including impacts to soil, groundwater and surface water as a result of poor management of runoff from slaughtering, livestock and agricultural operations; (ii) health and safety concerns if Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is ineffectively applied for enhancing production of cocoa, coconut or other crops; (iii) travel– including island crossings–to remote areas associated with the project implementation will expose MAL and the project staff to considerable health and safety risks, as experienced during the RDP II where several lost-at sea incidents occurred during project related travel; and (iv) construction and rehabilitation of small scale infrastructure will trigger environmental impacts, which are likely temporary, reversible, and manageable. Impacts in construction phase may include temporary erosion, storm water, sedimentation of water bodies, dust, pollution from Feb 18, 2022 Page 5 of 13 The World Bank Solomon Islands Agriculture and Rural Transformation Project (P173043) inappropriate construction materials, waste disposal including management of demolition and construction waste, and impacts to community and workers health and safety . Technical assistance will contribute to positive environmental and social benefits to institutions in overseeing activities that have social and environmental implications. Per the World Bank Guidance for Technical Assistance and ESF 2019, E&S objectives shall be integrated into terms of reference (TOR) for capacity building activities. The Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) includes: procedures to screen adverse impacts and risks and provides triggering criteria for the level of environmental assessment required (including the requirement for cumulative impact assessment where appropriate); operation phase guidelines to ensure that supported farmers will have knowledge for sustainable operations (including codes of practice for agricultural and livestock production and a pest management plan(PMP)); and measures (including labour management procedures (LMP), Environmental codes of practice (ECOP), and an outline of the contents required for an Environmental and social management plan (ESMP) for MAL to address potential risks and impacts, including capacity building plan for environmental and social risks management. Social Risk Rating Substantial The Social Risk is rated at substantial. The project activities will largely benefit the population as it aims to improve the food security of poor and smallholder agriculture households by strengthening Producer Organizations (PO) improving the knowledge and skills of staff in MAL (Agriculture Extension Officers)), provide a career opportunity for young professionals and internship programs available to student, to develop training modules for producer organisations (PO), provide training for smallholder farmers, facilitate private sector and NGOs link to POs and use new technology for outreach activities. However, as the project is designed around a value chain approach, the risk of having many actors (consisting of representatives from POs, traders, processors, exporters, chamber of commerce, Commodity Export Marketing Authority (CEMA), Pacific Horticultural and Agricultural Market Access Public Disclosure (PHAMA), Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI), relevant ministries, development partners, etc. ) may delay the project because of a lack in coordination. The SEP captures a streamline approach looking at the collaboration of each parties involved at different phases of the project. The project will have a large capacity building approach working with smallholder farmers through improved agriculture extension and advisory services which will lead to higher productivity and production, including equitable women representation. A key social risk however is that marginalized and vulnerable social groups, including women may be unable to access services because of their inability to work on the land because of their access to land, gender stereotypes, or perceptions regarding physical disabilities. Community and workers health and safety risks is captured in the ESMF and is not considered to be significant on the ground, however risk with travel to remote areas associated with the implementation of activities, for example island crossings and travel in small shipping vessels may expose the project workers to considerable health and safety risks as well as risks related to the management of the usage of pesticides and operations of small slaughter slabs for smallstock (i.e.: poultry and pigs).. The ESMF has identified these risks and seek to establish preventative measures through developing safe travel procedures, and proper solid waste management, proper signage for safety risks, and specifications to exclude the public, especially children from the vicinity of the site works A Labor Management Procedure (LMP) is in place for all workers. Given the wide geographic scope of the project, and the wide variety of stakeholders involved, communication and clear dissemination of information will be crucial to the effectiveness. The project will require strong communication to support effectiveness. A stakeholder engagement plan (SEP) has been developed to include extensive community consultation and engagement especially with the value chain approach . However, stakeholder engagement consultations have been delayed due to COVID-19 related travel restrictions to the provinces. High level stakeholder consultation will take place on the 22nd of January 2021. The social risks associated with infrastructure rehabilitation are likely temporary, reversible, and manageable. Impacts in construction phase may include the dust, Feb 18, 2022 Page 6 of 13 The World Bank Solomon Islands Agriculture and Rural Transformation Project (P173043) noise, solid waste, and social disturbance, such as the traffic safety issue. The local communities will be exposed to increased traffic fleets transporting construction materials and equipment for the sub-projects in the countryside. There will be no land acquisition, involuntary resettlement under the Project, the activities under the components will take place on existing MAL land and private land that already belongs to the farmers. B. Environment and Social Standards (ESSs) that Apply to the Activities Being Considered B.1. General Assessment ESS1 Assessment and Management of Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts Overview of the relevance of the Standard for the Project: The project is expected to deliver positive E&S impacts including increased access to good agronomic and animal husbandry practices in the industry, promotion of organic farming and integrated pest management (IPM), improved existing and new infrastructure, assets, and equipment for better commodities, value chains, processing and commercialization as well as institutional building for producer organizations (POs). Environmental impacts of Component 3. Project Management are negligible. Impacts of Component 4. Emergency Response (US$ 0) will be screened and confirmed, if the government requested fund transfer for Disaster Recovery during the course of project implementation. Typologies under Components 1 and 2 can be grouped as: i) agricultural and livestock commodities include investments in improved crop production, agronomic practices, primary and secondary processing; agricultural research and productive infrastructure; and livestock Public Disclosure breeding and husbandry practices (pigs and poultry); ii) small-scale infrastructure such as rehabilitation and/or construction of provincial offices (potentially including demolition of existing offices), and iii) technical assistance and capacity building for Business Plan for producer organizations (POs), agribusiness partnership, and product branding and marketing protocol. Construction of small-scale infrastructure can pose some pollution and other adverse environmental impacts. Pollution may arise from mishandling or inappropriate disposal of oils, cement, and waste management (construction or minor demolition waste from demolition of existing structures). Water sources could be contaminated by the project activities with poor drainage and management of storm water. Construction works may result in dust nuisance and, in extreme cases, health injuries to community members. In addition, poor design of infrastructure or poor practice during construction may lead to damage to natural drainage channels and soil erosion. These impacts and risks will be managed by the following measures: avoid or minimize water, land, and noise pollution from civil works through the application of good engineering designs and good practices for construction by incorporating environmental mitigation measures (for example, control of works, dust prevention measures, proper management of hazardous and nonhazardous site wastes, and surplus materials) in the technical design and tender documents. Agricultural and livestock production can pose impacts on workers and community health and safety, particularly with regards to proper and safe use and handling of pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Activities and investments under this typology are not expected to involve purchase and distribution of pesticides or related application equipment, and they are not expected to result in significant increase in pesticide use. Lessons learned from RDP II Feb 18, 2022 Page 7 of 13 The World Bank Solomon Islands Agriculture and Rural Transformation Project (P173043) show that much of the agriculture and livestock practices are of low intensity and smallholder farmers use only limited quantities of approved fertilizers and/or chemicals. Operation phase agriculture and livestock production impacts will be dealt through core project activities by strengthening agricultural extension service, trainings and preparation of practice codes. In addition, the project aims to further strengthen the implementation of integrated pest management strategies and in general improve sustainability of practices. Environment, health and safety concerns associated with Components 1 and 2 are expected to be temporary, site specific/localized, and readily managed through the ESMF. The ESMF incorporates details or template for International Good Agricultural Practice (GAP), Pesticide Management Plan (PMP), ECOP, Occupational health and safety (OHS) for workers. The OHS measures will be applicable to all project workers, including of the implementing agencies, contractors and subcontractors, community labor and primary suppliers and are detailed in the Labor Management Procedure (LMP). Special attention will be given to safe project travel procedures, following the safety incident in the RDP II Project. TA activities will focus on improving sustainability of farmers practices. For precautionary risk management approach, outreach, training and capacity building for participating communities will include safe use and handling of all agrochemicals, including pesticides, chemical fertilizers and soil amendments, agricultural discharge to surface water through runoff of pesticides, chemical fertilizers and manure. The ESMF includes procedures to enhance the positive E&S aspects associated with the implementation of TA activities. The project will contribute and prioritise gender in activities such as developing and strengthening POs with equitable women representation and support women-led enterprises who want to establish agribusiness partnerships. This will Public Disclosure benefit women who make up the majority of the market sellers in rural areas, often they are the ones cultivating the land, especially in the provinces. There will be no-large scale or high-risk civil works under the project however the risk of GBV is high in the country, and in recognising the role of women in the agriculture sector, measures to mitigate and prevent any forms of sexual exploitation and abuse or sexual harassment (SEA/SH) will be done through awareness raising, code of practice to minimise potential risks. The ESMF, LMP SEP and ESCP have been disclosed on the MAL website as of 4 February 2022. ESS10 Stakeholder Engagement and Information Disclosure ESS10 is relevant. The project recognizes the need for effective and inclusive engagement with all of the relevant stakeholders. A draft Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) is in place and high level stakeholder consultation took place on the 22nd of January 2021 to engage with stakeholders on the E&S risks of the project and was disclosed on MAL’s official website https://solomons.gov.sb/ministry-of-agriculture-and-livestock/ on 14 December 2020. The draft SEP has identified and listed key stakeholders (i.e. affected parties, other interested parties and disadvantaged and vulnerable groups) and describes the process and modalities for sharing information on the project activities, incorporating stakeholder feedback into the Project and reporting and disclosure of project documents. As the project aims to build capacity along selected value chains, the draft SEP takes into account all the stakeholders who will benefit from the activities outlined in component 1: Food Security and Agricultural Commercialization through Producer Organizations component 2: Institutional Capacity Development. Feb 18, 2022 Page 8 of 13 The World Bank Solomon Islands Agriculture and Rural Transformation Project (P173043) The draft SEP acknowledges the particular challenges with marginalized and vulnerable social groups, especially those living in remote areas, including women and children. Further, the draft SEP outlines the Project’s Grievance Mechanism (GM), which is available on the MAL website to which enable stakeholders to raise project related concerns and grievances. The SEP will be updated regularly to reflect the changes to the COVID-19 restrictions to capture broad stakeholder consultations that may have been missed at the early stage of the project implementation. B.2. Specific Risks and Impacts A brief description of the potential environmental and social risks and impacts relevant to the Project. ESS2 Labor and Working Conditions ESS2 is relevant due to potential risks on labor and working conditions for all types of workers. As discussed in ESS1, labor and working conditions, particularly for workers employed by contractors and suppliers, who are unlikely familiar with core provisions for labor and working condition risk management aligned with ESS2. Labor risks are related to possible accidents or incidents, potential worker lay-off or position transition with the input production and processing facilities, and relatively weak labor law enforcement for seasonal workers at production bases. Under the project, staff can frequently expose safety risks when they are required to travel to the provinces in most cases the preferred mode of transport is by boat or small aircraft . The dedicated management unit within MAL will be equipped with strict travel regulation especially in severe weather conditions and appropriate safety Public Disclosure equipment for example: life jackets, first aid kit and radio phone to reduce the risk of any incident occurring during the travel to the provinces. Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) measures will be applicable to all project workers, including contractors and subcontractors, community labor and primary suppliers. Specific attention will be given to sensitization and training of community workers on OHS risks, and the technical knowledge and behavioral awareness to minimize the risks. Project travel safety procedures will be emphasized and the project will fund all necessary safety equipment associated with project travel, including vessels if necessary. To meet ESS 2 requirements, MAL has prepared an LMP, which includes identification of worker types, briefly summarise labor laws in Solomon Islands, and outline the working conditions to be applied on the Project. The OHS measures are designed and implemented to address: (a) identification of potential hazards to project workers; (b) provision of preventive and protective measures, including modification, substitution, or elimination of hazardous conditions or substances; (c) training of project workers and maintenance of training records; (d) documentation and reporting of occupational accidents, diseases and incidents; (e) emergency prevention and preparedness and response arrangements to emergency situations; and (f) remedies for adverse impacts such as occupational injuries, disability and disease. The project will ensure that all tender documents for infrastructure include budget provisions for all OHS provisions as well as other costs associated with labor management (e.g. the operation of a grievance redress mechanism). The Feb 18, 2022 Page 9 of 13 The World Bank Solomon Islands Agriculture and Rural Transformation Project (P173043) project will regularly monitor the contractor’s performance in implementing OHS measures. Project’s regular reporting system should include project’s performance on the OHS implementation. In accordance with ESS2 and national law, due to the hazardous work situation (use of machinery and pesticides), children under the age of 18 will not be allowed to work on the project. The use of forced labor or conscripted labor on the project is also prohibited. The LMP includes a grievance mechanism (GM) which will be provided to all workers, especially throughout the value-chain, and measures will be in place for all workers (including contractors) to access the GM to raise any concerns related to the project. ESS3 Resource Efficiency and Pollution Prevention and Management ESS3 is relevant since improving agriculture and livestock production can lead to the extensive use of pesticides to boost productivity. The project is not expected to result in substantial or significant point sources of environmental pollution or greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The Bank team can further assess with the Borrower about quantification and support for the project-GHG emissions as needed. Potential pollution and resource damage associated with small-scaled infrastructure, agricultural and livestock development are likely localized, site specific, and manageable with known technical approaches. The operation of productive infrastructure and slaughter slabs for smallstock (i.e. poultry and pigs), could lead to environmental, hygiene, health, and safety issues if waste products and wastewater are not adequately managed. Public Disclosure MAL has committed to applying the slaughtering hygiene, health, and safety standards required under the FAO guidelines, site-specific ESMPs might be required subject to results of the environmental and social impact screening during implementation. The project can contemplate activities that may lead to pest and pesticide management issues, e.g. the project may involve changed agricultural practices in an area or diversification into new crops, intensification of existing low- technology systems. If the Project supports the purchase of pesticides or leads to increase use of pesticides, potential environmental pollution and health effects would be the main concerns, particularly when pesticide is supplied to cocoa farmers. At this stage, pesticide use in the country is very low as pesticides are expensive and smallholder farmers cannot afford. Construction activities under the Project will require the management of waste, including potentially demolition waste. The ESMF includes procedures to screen waste management risk for sub-projects in accordance with GIIP and WB ESHS Guidelines and encourages the reuse and recycling of materials wherever possible. Indirectly through TA and by building capacity of extension services, the project will support better operation of farmers including waste and resource management and better guidelines for sustainable practices. A Pest Management Plan has been prepared by MAL as part of the ESMF to ensure safety for human and the environment associated with the transport, storage, handling and disposals of agrochemicals including packaging materials. The ESMF covers resource efficiency, pollution prevention and other environmental risk management responsibilities, which be implemented by the contractors, sub-contractors and community members. Furthermore, the project can take a precautionary risk management approach, outreach, training, and other capacity building activities to inform Feb 18, 2022 Page 10 of 13 The World Bank Solomon Islands Agriculture and Rural Transformation Project (P173043) and enhance safe use and handling of all agrochemicals, including pesticides, chemical fertilizers, or soil amendments. ESS4 Community Health and Safety ESS4 is relevant as the project typologies, for example on higher agricultural production and infrastructure, can pose potential safety concerns for the communities within the vicinity of works especially when they are carried out by community workers or near a community. Risks related to community health and safety can include, but not limited to: - community exposure to health issues such as water-borne and vector-borne diseases through adequate implementation of proper wastewater and solid waste management. - community exposure to project-related traffic or road safety risks due to trucks movement carrying construction materials, and hazardous materials such as pesticides, chemical fertilizers and soil amendments. - emergency events related to natural disaster and climate risks (e.g. droughts and flooding). - community safety during construction works including environmental, social, health and safety (ESHS) issues and specifications to require contractors to exclude the public, especially children, from the vicinity of site works. In the absence of physical barriers, a watchperson / flag-person is to be present where machines are working to warn away passers-by and alert machine operators to risks. - travel to remote areas in small boats and aircraft has been identified in the ESMF to be a risk to the safety of workers on the Project. Public Disclosure The ESMF evaluates the risks and impacts to community health and safety during the project life-cycle and establishes preventive and control measures. ESS5 Land Acquisition, Restrictions on Land Use and Involuntary Resettlement ESS5 is not relevant. Project activities do not require the acquisition of land, cause restrictions on land use or include involuntary Resettlement. While land in Solomon Islands is complex due to customary land ownership, the activities under Component 1 will take place on existing farmland, which is generally owned by smallholders (i.e.: home nutrition garden, cultivation of different food crops and feed crops, smallstock raising) and some government land, whereas; activities under Component 3 will take place on government owned or leased land such as facilities that belong to MAL (i.e.: feeder roads and jetties that are linked to the production of zones for food security, mini feed mills, slaughter slabs for pig and chicken) . ESS6 Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Natural Resources ESS6 is relevant due to potential impacts on animal welfare, biodiversity or supply chain issues and from primary production of living natural resources: rearing of plants and animals, including annual and perennial crop Feb 18, 2022 Page 11 of 13 The World Bank Solomon Islands Agriculture and Rural Transformation Project (P173043) farming, animal husbandry. The project is not anticipated to invest in new farmland and conversion of natural habitats. Impacts under ESS 6 can be further assessed during Project preparation as part of the ESA process. Exclusion criteria can also be established in the ESMF to exclude such activities that involve alien species or any significant risks on biodiversity, animal welfare, land conversion or legally protected natural resources. ESS7 Indigenous Peoples/Sub-Saharan African Historically Underserved Traditional Local Communities ESS7 is relevant under the Project. The investments under ART will be carried out in provinces in which Indigenous Peoples are the overwhelming majority of project beneficiaries as known for Solomon Islands. An IPPF and sub- project IPPs are not prepared since the overwhelming majority of project beneficiaries are IPs, consistent with ESS7 paras 14 and 15. Community consultations will be facilitated and documented by suitably qualified personnel in the dedicated management unit within MAL. Under ESS7 none of the circumstances requiring FPIC are present for the project activities. ESS8 Cultural Heritage ESS8 is not relevant as the project activities will not open up new agricultural areas, but focus on existing farms and MAL provincial premises, which are unlikely to affect the tangible and intangible cultural heritage and/or access to Public Disclosure known physical cultural resources such as structures of spiritual value to communities, objects and structures having high landscape values etc. To address unknown archeological or historical remains and objects, including graveyards and/or individual graves, Chance Find Procedures (for infrastructure investments) can be included in the ESMF. ESS9 Financial Intermediaries ESS9 is not relevant. The project will not use any Financial Intermediaries. C. Legal Operational Policies that Apply OP 7.50 Projects on International Waterways No OP 7.50 is not triggered as the project will not invest in irrigation or infrastructure related to any known International Waterways. OP 7.60 Projects in Disputed Areas No OP 7.60 is not triggered as the project will not be located in any area under legal or international dispute nor competing territorial claims. B.3. Reliance on Borrower’s policy, legal and institutional framework, relevant to the Project risks and impacts Is this project being prepared for use of Borrower Framework? No Feb 18, 2022 Page 12 of 13 The World Bank Solomon Islands Agriculture and Rural Transformation Project (P173043) Areas where “Use of Borrower Framework” is being considered: Use of Borrower Framework does not apply to this project. IV. CONTACT POINTS World Bank Contact: Son Thanh Vo Title: Sr Agricultural Spec. Telephone No: 5740+6580 / 61-2-92356580 Email: svo@worldbank.org Contact: Kara Mouyis Title: Operations Officer Telephone No: 5740+6560 / 61-2-9235-6560 Email: kmouyis@worldbank.org Borrower/Client/Recipient Borrower: Solomon Islands Implementing Agency(ies) Implementing Agency: Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Public Disclosure V. 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 VI. APPROVAL Task Team Leader(s): Son Thanh Vo, Kara Mouyis Practice Manager (ENR/Social) Ann Jeannette Glauber Cleared on 16-Feb-2022 at 07:44:11 GMT-05:00 Safeguards Advisor ESSA Nina Chee (SAESSA) Concurred on 18-Feb-2022 at 12:44:3 GMT-05:00 Feb 18, 2022 Page 13 of 13