The World Bank Africa Centres for Disease Control Support Program to combat COVID-19 and future public health risks (P178633) Project Information Document (PID) Concept Stage | Date Prepared/Updated: 25-Mar-2022 | Report No: PIDC33882 Mar 10, 2022 Page 1 of 7 The World Bank Africa Centres for Disease Control Support Program to combat COVID-19 and future public health risks (P178633) BASIC INFORMATION A. Basic Project Data OPS TABLE Country Project ID Parent Project ID (if any) Project Name Eastern Africa P178633 Africa Centres For Disease Control Support Program to Combat COVID-19 and Future Public Health Risks (P178633) Region Estimated Appraisal Date Estimated Board Date Practice Area (Lead) AFRICA EAST May 05, 2022 Jun 15, 2022 Health, Nutrition & Population Financing Instrument Borrower(s) Implementing Agency Investment Project Financing Africa Centres for Disease Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention Control and Prevention Proposed Development Objective(s) The project development objective is to enhance the capacity of Africa Centers for Disease Control (ACDC) to respond to the current COVID-19 pandemic and prevent, detect and respond to future public health threats. PROJECT FINANCING DATA (US$, Millions) SUMMARY-NewFin1 Total Project Cost 50.00 Total Financing 50.00 of which IBRD/IDA 50.00 Financing Gap 0.00 DETAILS -NewFinEnh1 World Bank Group Financing International Development Association (IDA) 50.00 IDA Grant 50.00 Mar 10, 2022 Page 2 of 7 The World Bank Africa Centres for Disease Control Support Program to combat COVID-19 and future public health risks (P178633) Environmental and Social Risk Classification Concept Review Decision Moderate Track I-The review did authorize the preparation to continue Other Decision (as needed) B. Introduction and Context Regional Context In response to the challenges presented by the pandemic over the last two years, Africa Centres for Disease Control (Africa CDC) has emerged as a visionary and technically sound public health institution – from a regional and global perspective – setting an ambitious pace for an innovative agenda in the years ahead. In this context, the proposed operation is critically timed and a high value-add for Africa CDC and the World Bank in terms of a transformative investment that is poised to exceed the monetary value of the financing. This project will enable the Africa CDC to maximize its impact as a leading global public health institution today and into the future. The operation will support Africa CDC in intensifying its efforts to strengthen institutional framework to support countries in enhancing core preparedness and emergency response capacities. Sectoral and Institutional Context Africa is the least prepared continent globally and is a hotspot for disease outbreaks, suffering from the continuous emergence and re-emergence of infectious diseases. Population growth, urbanization, and changes in land use are driving increased contact between people and animal hosts. Climate change, conflict, and fragility further compound this reality and heighten the threat of infectious diseases, access to essential health services, as well as food insecurity. Building the institutional capacity to prepare and effectively respond to health crises is essential to improve health outcomes, requiring substantial investments in the sector over the long term. These investments need to support preparedness and health system strengthening (HSS), simultaneously, as a resilient health system requires robust preparedness capacities. The Africa CDC operates through three levels: a secretariat based at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; five regional collaborating centers hosted in Egypt, Gabon, Kenya, Nigeria, and Zambia; subregional Centers of Excellence and National Public Health Institutes (NPHIs). Africa CDC has also initiated structured collaboration and engagement with the Regional Economic Communities (RECs). The engagement with ongoing activities within the RECs will further harness existing assets towards achieving Africa CDC’s strategic objectives. The proposed operation will complement and expand the scope of key activities underway through the WB’s ongoing operation, Africa CDC Regional Investment Financing Project (P167916). Relationship to CPF This project is consistent with the Regional Integration & Cooperation Assistance Strategy for Africa, covering the period FY18-FY23. The strategy urged the need for collective action of which disease surveillance, prevention and Mar 10, 2022 Page 3 of 7 The World Bank Africa Centres for Disease Control Support Program to combat COVID-19 and future public health risks (P178633) control constitute important aspects. The strategy highlights the lessons of experience that merit attention in the design of regional integration projects. C. Proposed Development Objective(s) Enhance the capacity of Africa Centers for Disease Control (ACDC) to respond to the current COVID-19 pandemic and prevent, detect and respond to future public health threats. Key Results (From PCN) The proposed PDO will contribute towards i) catalyzing the ongoing continental-led efforts to respond to the COVID- 19 pandemic, including accelerating the deployment of COVID-19 vaccines; ii) strengthening continental and sub- regional capacities and public health assets to effectively prevent, detect, and response to health emergencies, in compliance with international standards; iii) facilitating an enabling environment to enhance regional manufacturing and research and development (R&D) capacities; and iv) reinforcing the institutional coordination of the Africa CDC’s sub-regional structure and supporting the institution in the roadmap of becoming its own specialized health agency. The proposed PDO indicators are the following: a. Number of reports using meta-analysis of hesitancy surveys to COVID-19 vaccination that include actionable policy recommendations for developing communication campaigns at the country level b. Number of regional laboratories that receive and/or maintain accreditation under WHO AFRO standards. c. Number of people that have been trained in basic, intermediate, and advanced epidemiologic surveillance. d. Number of sub-regional rapid response “SWAT� teams set up, equipped, and operational. e. Continental morbidity and mortality monitoring and data sharing system created and operational. f. Operational fiduciary and governance framework of Africa CDC as an autonomous agency of the African Union. The key results including intermediate results indicators (IRIs) will be refined during project preparation. A detailed description of how PDO and intermediate indicators will be used to measure progress in achieving the project’s development objectives, will be provided in the Project Appraisal Document (PAD). D. Concept Description The proposed operation will include four components: i) COVID-19 response; ii) strengthening regional and sub- regional preparedness and response capacities; iii) enhancing institutional capacity at central and sub-regional levels; and iv) a Contingent Emergency Response Component (CERC). The description and indicative cost estimates of the components and sub-components are detailed below. • Component 1: COVID-19 Response (U$10 million IDA)- Under this component, the project will support Africa CDC’s continental support to member states in the ongoing containment and mitigation activities to respond to the COVID-19 crisis and enhance and accelerate deployment of COVID-19 vaccines. a. Sub-component 1a. Enhancing regional COVID-19 detection and response capacities b. Sub-component 1b. Support to the COVID-19 vaccine deployment efforts c. Sub-component 1c. Continental communications • Component 2: Strengthening Africa CDC’s regional and sub-regional preparedness and response capacities Mar 10, 2022 Page 4 of 7 The World Bank Africa Centres for Disease Control Support Program to combat COVID-19 and future public health risks (P178633) (US$30 million IDA)- This component will support regional and sub-regional efforts to enhance preparedness and response capacities, at regional, sub-regional, and country level. a. Sub-component 2a: Strengthening surveillance, laboratory networks, and response capacities b. Sub-component 2b: Human resources development c. Sub-component 2c: Fostering an environment that enables regional R&D and manufacturing capacities • Component 3: Enhancing institutional capacity at central and sub-regional levels (US$10 million IDA)- This component will focus on all aspects related to management, governance, monitoring and evaluation, fiduciary, coordination, and knowledge generation and communications in both the central and sub-regional distributed levels of the Africa CDC. a. Sub-component 3a. Improving the sub-regional, distributed capacities of Africa CDC b. Sub-component 3b. Support to transition to specialized autonomous agency c. Sub-component 3c. Project management and coordination • Component 4: Contingent Emergency Response Component (CERC) (US$ 0 million) Legal Operational Policies Triggered? Projects on International Waterways OP 7.50 No Projects in Disputed Areas OP 7.60 No Summary of Screening of Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts . The Project will have positive impacts as it will support Africa CDC’s COVID -19 Response and strengthening Africa CDC’s regional and sub-regional preparedness and response capacities (Component 1 and 2). No environmental risk is anticipated because of the activities to be financed under Component 1; however, technical assistance activities should be undertaken following the requirements of OESRC Advisory Note on Technical Assistance so that potential downstream risks could be properly managed. Furthermore, occupational health and safety risks to consultants or project workers should be identified and managed in compliance with the requirements of ESS2. The project will have social benefits for the public by strengthen the regional system on prevention and control of COVID 19 and other public health risks. There are project activities that need to be socially inclusive to avoid or minimize downstream impacts of social exclusion. During the design and implementation of such interventions, the accessibility and needs of different target groups including vulnerable social groups should be considered. Overall, assessing the activities to be directly financed by the project, the social risk is rated moderate at this stage. To manage potential environmental and social risks of the Project, Africa CDC shall prepare: 1) Environmental and Social Commitment Plan outlining its commitment to implement the Project activities in compliance with the ESF; and Stakeholder Engagement Plan. Specific requirements will be reflected in the Africa CDC’s Environmental and Social Commitment Plan. Similarly, key project workers’ health and safety risk management and other labor related commitments shall be included in the Environmental and Social Commitment Plan and Labor Management Procedure. Mar 10, 2022 Page 5 of 7 The World Bank Africa Centres for Disease Control Support Program to combat COVID-19 and future public health risks (P178633) . CONTACT POINT World Bank Fernando Xavier Montenegro Torres, Jumana N. Qamruddin Senior Economist, Health Borrower/Client/Recipient Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention John Nkengasong Director General nkengasongj@africa-union.org Implementing Agencies Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention John Nkengasong Director General nkengasongj@africa-union.org 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 Task Team Leader(s): Fernando Xavier Montenegro Torres, Jumana N. Qamruddin Approved By APPROVALTBL Practice Manager/Manager: Country Director: Mohammed Dalil Essakali 25-Mar-2022 Mar 10, 2022 Page 6 of 7 The World Bank Africa Centres for Disease Control Support Program to combat COVID-19 and future public health risks (P178633) Mar 10, 2022 Page 7 of 7