The World Bank Economic Acceleration and Resilience for NEET (P178077) Concept Environmental and Social Review Summary Concept Stage (ESRS Concept Stage) Public Disclosure Date Prepared/Updated: 03/15/2022 | Report No: ESRSC02626 Mar 15, 2022 Page 1 of 9 The World Bank Economic Acceleration and Resilience for NEET (P178077) BASIC INFORMATION A. Basic Project Data Country Region Project ID Parent Project ID (if any) Bangladesh SOUTH ASIA P178077 Project Name Economic Acceleration and Resilience for NEET Practice Area (Lead) Financing Instrument Estimated Appraisal Date Estimated Board Date Education Investment Project 9/1/2022 12/19/2022 Financing Borrower(s) Implementing Agency(ies) People's Republic of Ministry of Youth and Sports Bangladesh Proposed Development Objective The project development objective is to promote economic inclusion and resilience of the underserved youths who Public Disclosure are not in employment, education, or training (NEET) in Bangladesh. Financing (in USD Million) Amount Total Project Cost 400.00 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 development objective is to promote economic inclusion and resilience of the underserved youths who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) in Bangladesh. The proposed project will help Bangladesh to achieve SDG 8.6 - reducing the share of NEET population and help the country to establish a system of converting its NEET youth to a productive workforce in various economic sectors with special emphasis on rural women and disadvantaged groups through (i) introducing a holistic approach to youth development, with interventions targeting acquisition of in-demand skills, improvement of psychosocial well-being and resilience, and creating an enabling environment for participation and inclusion; (ii) continuous support at every Mar 15, 2022 Page 2 of 9 The World Bank Economic Acceleration and Resilience for NEET (P178077) step, including information and outreach, skills training, and transition to the labor market for wage employment or self-employment / entrepreneurship; (iii) multimodal engagement with the local private sector as potential employers, as providers of work-based learning, and as providers of information on skills demands and skills gaps; (iv) a selection model with eligibility criteria to ensure strong focus on inclusion of underserved NEET youth, particularly of young women and disadvantaged; (vi) strengthening the capacity of state and non-state actors, including private sector and CSOs, to support youth development, better coordination, research and tracking of youths and monitoring and evaluation. The project will be implemented by an integrated Project Management Unit, under the leadership of the MoYS, and partner agencies from the Ministry of Education, and other relevant Ministries, supported by implementing partners such as NGOs and community-based organizations. D. Environmental and Social Overview D.1. Detailed project location(s) and salient physical characteristics relevant to the E&S assessment [geographic, environmental, social] The proposed project aims to promote economic inclusion and resilience of the youths who are not in employment, education, or training (NEET) in Bangladesh. The project interventions across the country will help establish a system of converting the NEET youth to a productive workforce in various economic sectors with special emphasis on rural women and disadvantaged groups. Selection and targeting the underserved NEET youths will focus on less educated rural youth, especially women, hard-to-reach, underserved and crises affected regions such as hill-tracts, Cox’s Bazar and lagging behind population such as disabled, transgenders, tea-garden laborers and others. The project will Public Disclosure undertake awareness programs, capacity enhancement of the stakeholder agencies, and innovative training programs, literacy and education support to youths on jobs and trades and early school dropped out adolescents and youths through distance learning and non-formal means of schooling. The Project will include four components: Component 1: Promote Youth Competencies, Employer Linkages and Entrepreneurial skills; Component 2: Creating Enabling Environment and Increased Resilience; Component 3: System Level Capacity Enhancement; and Component 4: Project Management, Communications, and Monitoring and Evaluation. The project will partner with Bangladesh Open University (BOU) and experienced local NGOs to design and deliver training and literacy support through available study centers, training centers and mobile training centers. Small scale civil works for renovations of existing training centers, classrooms and offices will be financed. D. 2. Borrower’s Institutional Capacity The Ministry of Youths and Sports (MoYS) will be implementing the project partnering with the BOU and NGOs in coordination with the Department of Youth Development (DYD), Directorate of Sports, National Sports Council, Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishtan (BKSP) and the local government authorities at the Union, Upazila and Districts. The MoYS and it’s implementation partners have no prior experience of implementing World Bank financed project therefore, they are new to the World Bank Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) requirements and procedures. A detailed assessment of the capacity of the implementing and partner agencies will be carried out during preparation. Project design will include capacity risk assessments and development of related risks mitigation. Institutional capacity of the implementing agencies will need to be strengthened for implementation and coordination of other partnering ministries and non-governmental organizations. II. SCREENING OF POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL (ES) RISKS AND IMPACTS Mar 15, 2022 Page 3 of 9 The World Bank Economic Acceleration and Resilience for NEET (P178077) A. Environmental and Social Risk Classification (ESRC) Moderate Environmental Risk Rating Moderate Overall environmental risks of the proposed project have been rated as Moderate. The activities will include minor civil works including renovation of training centers and office buildings. Thus, the environmental impacts will be related to small contracts, primarily in the form of worksite related occupational health & safety issues, pollution, and waste management, therefore, the impacts are expected to be minor, localized and reversible. The environmental risks of the proposed project have been rated moderate, also, taking into consideration the institutional capacity of the MoYS and other co-implementation partners, as the MoYS is new to World Bank financed projects especially to the ESF requirements and processes. A detailed assessment of the capacity of the implementing and partner agencies will be carried out during preparation. The risks will be mitigated through, an Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF), which will be detailed in the Operations Manual, incorporated in the Institutional Development Plan, and monitored throughout implementation. Environmental risks will be revisited at the appraisal stage considering final project/sub-projects design, geographic locations and implementation arrangements. Social Risk Rating Moderate The social risks of the proposed project have been rated as Moderate. The proposed project will avoid any new constructions but may undertake minor civil works for renovation of existing training centers, study centers, classrooms and offices avoiding involuntary displacement of people. The project will target the NEET youths, majority of whom are female, particularly in rural areas to enhance their employability and entrepreneurial skills Public Disclosure and enabling gender-friendly environment. Labor influx at works sites will be low and so will be the associated risks of gender-based violence (GBV). The risk of GBV may include sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) and sexual harassment (SH) to be assessed during project preparation. Social risk of elite capture and exclusion is also relevant as many of the households of the NEET youths will be poor and also from vulnerable and socially excluded groups including ethnic minorities. The implementing and partner organizations are new to the requirements of ESF in identification, design and implementation of projects with finance from the World Bank. The risks will be mitigated through the development and implementation of ESF instruments. 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: This standard is relevant to the proposed project to clarify the process and responsibilities in identifying and managing the environmental and social risks and impacts associated with proposed activities. The project proposed to design and undertake innovative training programs, literacy and non-formal education support to early school dropped-out adolescents and youths. Innovative training programs will be conducted through training centers available with the DYD and rented in venues for Mobile Training Centers (MTCs) for the hard-to-reach and underserved NEET youths, particularly females from the rural areas. No new construction but small scale civil works will be carried out for renovation and refurbishment of existing training centers and setting up new training centers on rented in premises. The project will promote demand-driven continuing education program for early school Mar 15, 2022 Page 4 of 9 The World Bank Economic Acceleration and Resilience for NEET (P178077) dropped-out youth. BoU. It will support entrepreneurial skills training in collaboration with the local and national employers through shared-financing schemes for apprenticeship and internship programs for the project beneficiaries. The project will endure to creating a conducive environment for the NEET youth by promoting social marketing through community engagement, awareness raising campaigns, group activities, promoting sports and cultural events, and support increased resilience through soft-skills and building coping techniques. The project will support capacity enhancement of the central and local level agencies to coordinate skill development activities, research and policy planning, design of innovative interventions, implementation and monitoring and evaluation. Though the E&S risks and impacts are manageable, the anticipated environmental risks and impacts of the project are related to the small-scale renovation works within existing footprints. The risks and impacts include, possible occupational and community health and safety (OHS) issues, noise, vibration, dust pollution and waste generation and management. However, the works packages and exact locations of the activities for renovation works, stakeholders i, and beneficiaries targeted for project support will be determined during implementation. Environmental and social risks and impacts of the activities to be undertaken will be known at the implementation level. An Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) will therefore, be developed by appraisal. The ESMF for the project, will be reviewed and cleared by the Bank and disclosed in country and at the WB external website before appraisal. The ESMF will have principles and guidelines based on which sub-projects at the implementation level will be screened and the level of due diligence required. The ESMF will include specific requirements to be considered for identification of investment schemes. In accordance with the ESMF, environmental and social screening will be Public Disclosure conducted for all the sites/activities and ESMPs will be produced. The ESMF will also include the required training and awareness procedures to be provided to the communities on the proper management to mitigate and deal with the risks of COVID-19 infection. Environment and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP) will be developed before appraisal that will contain material measures, actions (including timeline and responsibilities) to be taken to address various ES issues including capacity development and training. ESMF requirements will be detailed in the Operations Manual, incorporated in the Institutional Development Plan, and monitored throughout the implementation. Areas where “Use of Borrower Framework” is being considered: Borrower's framework is not being considered. ESS10 Stakeholder Engagement and Information Disclosure Consultations and disclosure of information with stakeholders will be at the core for planning and implementation of the project. The key stakeholders include officials at the Ministry of Youths and Sports, Directorate of Sports, National Sports Council, BKSP (Bangladesh Sports Learning Institution) and the local government authorities at the Union, Upazila and Districts. The project preparation process will be all-inclusive engaging with communities and stakeholders of all groups and vulnerabilities including experts and advocacy organizations. The engagement and feedback mechanisms and their implementation will be worked out and vetted with the communities and stakeholders through disclosure and consultation process during preparation. MoYS, in the project preparation process, will identify specific and relevant stakeholders and prepare a Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) illustrating methods, channels and timing of engagement, feedback and grievance redress mechanism synchronized with the Mar 15, 2022 Page 5 of 9 The World Bank Economic Acceleration and Resilience for NEET (P178077) Government's Central GRS to raise concerns about the Project. A draft SEP agreed with the Bank will be disclosed before appraisal. 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 This standard is relevant as the project involves small scale civil works for rehabilitation and improvement of training centers, study centers, classrooms and offices. The overall OHS risks for the workers are likely to be low only small number of direct and contracted workers will be involved with the MoYS, DYD, Directorate of Sports, National Sports Council, BKSP and the local government authorities. Labor influx considering individual works sites is likely to be low, however gender mix in project workers and the target group beneficiaries may expose the women and girls to GBV and SEA/SH risks. However, MoYS will prepare Labor Management Procedures (LMP) for guiding the project management unit coordinating all the implementing partners and collaborators. The consultants and contractors to be engaged by the PMU will develop and agree with the PMU, Labor Management Plans (including Codes of Conduct) proportionate to potential risks and impacts at works sites and beneficiary areas prior to mobilization. This plan will also include the assessment and required mitigation measures to ensure health and safety of the workers that may be exposed to health risks. Issues such as child labor, forced labor, gender and GBV/SEA/SH issues, OHS will be addressed in the bidding and contract documents. A worker-specific Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) will be developed as part of the LMP for the workers to report any issues relating workplace safety and other concerns. OHS protections measures will also include COVID-19 prevention protocols. Public Disclosure ESS3 Resource Efficiency and Pollution Prevention and Management Project activities during renovations may generate dust and pollutant emissions including exhaust from vehicles and machinery. Given the small-scale size of civil works, impact of these emissions is expected to be minimum and can be kept within national standards and below health hazard level with mitigation measures. The project will adopt resource efficient design of the re-constructions/renovation and use of environment-friendly building materials. The implementation of mitigation measures such as dust suppression and vehicle maintenance will be applied to minimize the impact of air emissions during renovation activities, and residual impacts are expected to be limited in scope and duration. The project will also encourage the use of non-fire bricks and environmentally friendly material for rehabilitation activities where possible. Attempt will also be made to make the institutes more resource efficient. Use of renewable energy will be encouraged during the operation phase and some tools will be devised so that there are controls over the use. ESMF will provide policies, protocols and directives to assess and manage such emissions and wastes as per national laws in compliance with this ESS and good international industry practices. ESS4 Community Health and Safety This standard is relevant as the project involves civil works in settlement areas in urban and rural areas with resultant movement of workers to and from the works sites. During renovation, minor civil works and few vehicles movement in populated areas could expose communities to lower degree of health and safety risks, however, a separate vehicle movement safety procedure is unlikely to be necessary. Given the size of civil works, labor influx at works sites will Mar 15, 2022 Page 6 of 9 The World Bank Economic Acceleration and Resilience for NEET (P178077) likely be low. Adequate engineering, health and safety measures will be adopted to avoid any issue on community health and safety. It’ll also require contractors to install a safety system around the construction sites and a Community Health & Safety Plan, including procedures on incident investigation and reporting, recording and reporting of non-conformances, emergency preparedness and community awareness raising activities. However, given the project implementation approach and gender mix of target group beneficiaries, the project may induce moderate risks of GBV/SEA/SH at project sites (works sites, study centers & training centers) and beneficiary areas. Potential risks to the communities at and around the project sites may be induced due to weak implementation of contingency plans at the local level, workers codes of conduct (CoC), poor public awareness, and lack of information. Policy and procedures to address such issues will be included in the ESMF. The PMU will prepare SEA/SH action plan to combat risks of SEA and SH with prevention and mitigation measures. WBG EHS guidelines and SEA/SH guidance note will be followed in the preparation of the site specific environmental and social assessment and all labor, gender and GBV/SEA/SH related plans. ESS5 Land Acquisition, Restrictions on Land Use and Involuntary Resettlement The project will avoid land acquisition and involuntary displacement of people. MoYS will be using the existing training centers of DYD, Union based training centers, existing study centers of BoU and organize mobile training centers in rented in premises at selected locations. No green field site will be taken and no new construction will be allowed under the project. Only small scale renovation and refurbishment works will be allowed to ready the designated study centers, class rooms and training centers within existing footprints only. Public Disclosure ESS6 Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Natural Resources This standard is not relevant. The proposed project is expected to be implemented nationwide, however, works will be implemented within existing footprints and/or premises. Thus, impacts on biodiversity and living natural resources are not expected. ESS7 Indigenous Peoples/Sub-Saharan African Historically Underserved Traditional Local Communities This standard is relevant to the project. The project will cover ethnic minority populations in the plain and hill tract areas, some of whom are characterized as indigenous peoples as per this standard. None of these peoples will be adversely affected rather benefitted from the project interventions. ESS8 Cultural Heritage The project will avoid activities and locations near culturally sensitive areas. ESS9 Financial Intermediaries This standard is not relevant to the project. Mar 15, 2022 Page 7 of 9 The World Bank Economic Acceleration and Resilience for NEET (P178077) C. Legal Operational Policies that Apply OP 7.50 Projects on International Waterways No OP 7.60 Projects in Disputed Areas No III. WORLD BANK ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL DUE DILIGENCE A. Is a common approach being considered? No Financing Partners There will be no financing partners on this project. B. Proposed Measures, Actions and Timing (Borrower’s commitments) Actions to be completed prior to Bank Board Approval: • Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) with E&S capacity assessment of the implementing agencies/partners. (Prior to appraisal) • Stakeholders Engagement Plan (SEP) (Prior to appraisal) • Environment and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP) (Prior to appraisal) Public Disclosure • Labor Management Procedures (LMP) (Prior to appraisal) Possible issues to be addressed in the Borrower Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP): • ESMP based on screening of sub-projects (after sites have been identified). • Update the SEP and the LMP as necessary. • Recruit specialists (especially Environment and Social Specialists, Gender and GBV specialist), within 45 days of project approval by the Government. • Preparation of SEA/SH Risks Management Plan within three months of signing the project. • Capacity building measures including training of PMU staff on E&S issues, citizen engagement and risks management including grievance response protocol. • Monitoring and evaluation plan with reporting requirements. • The type and timing of the ES instruments preparation. • Specific timeline and responsibility assignment against each commitment C. Timing Tentative target date for preparing the Appraisal Stage ESRS 31-May-2022 IV. CONTACT POINTS World Bank Mar 15, 2022 Page 8 of 9 The World Bank Economic Acceleration and Resilience for NEET (P178077) Contact: Syed Rashed Al-Zayed Title: Senior Economist Telephone No: 5764+4335 Email: salzayed@worldbank.org Contact: Mokhlesur Rahman Title: Senior Operations Officer Telephone No: 5764+4351 Email: mrahman2@worldbank.org Borrower/Client/Recipient Borrower: People's Republic of Bangladesh Implementing Agency(ies) Implementing Agency: Ministry of Youth and Sports 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 Public Disclosure VI. APPROVAL Task Team Leader(s): Syed Rashed Al-Zayed, Mokhlesur Rahman Practice Manager (ENR/Social) Josefo Tuyor Recommended on 08-Mar-2022 at 04:06:9 GMT-05:00 Safeguards Advisor ESSA Pablo Cardinale (SAESSA) Cleared on 15-Mar-2022 at 14:17:47 GMT-04:00 Mar 15, 2022 Page 9 of 9