The World Bank HT Adaptive Social Protection for Increased Resilience (P174111) Appraisal Environmental and Social Review Summary Appraisal Stage (ESRS Appraisal Stage) Public Disclosure Date Prepared/Updated: 10/28/2020 | Report No: ESRSA01089 Oct 28, 2020 Page 1 of 9 The World Bank HT Adaptive Social Protection for Increased Resilience (P174111) BASIC INFORMATION A. Basic Project Data Country Region Project ID Parent Project ID (if any) Haiti LATIN AMERICA AND P174111 CARIBBEAN Project Name HT Adaptive Social Protection for Increased Resilience Practice Area (Lead) Financing Instrument Estimated Appraisal Date Estimated Board Date Social Protection & Jobs Investment Project 11/11/2020 2/26/2021 Financing Borrower(s) Implementing Agency(ies) Ministry of Economy and PIU MAST, Ministry of Social Finance Affairs and Labor Proposed Development Objective Public Disclosure The PDO is to provide cash transfers to targeted households and establish an adaptive safety net system in Haiti Financing (in USD Million) Amount Total Project Cost 75.00 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 Adaptive Social Protection for Increased Resilience project (ASPIRE) would provide poor and vulnerable households unconditional cash transfers linked to accompanying measures to meet their immediate consumption gaps and increase their resilience through nutrition, health, financial literacy activities. With a view towards longer term development, the project would also support the development of the foundations of the social protection system and the capacity of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor to implement adaptive social protection programs, in particular focusing on the strengthening of the social registry and the development of beneficiary management information systems, including payments, GRM, and M&E. The ASPIRE would be for a total of US$ 75 million financed from IDA grants, and would supports four components, to be implemented over a five-year period. The components Oct 28, 2020 Page 2 of 9 The World Bank HT Adaptive Social Protection for Increased Resilience (P174111) would be: (a) Delivery of an UCT with behavior changing accompanying measures, (b) Establishing the foundations for an adaptive SSN system, (c) Project Management and Evaluation, and (d) Contingency Emergency Response Component. D. Environmental and Social Overview D.1. Detailed project location(s) and salient physical characteristics relevant to the E&S assessment [geographic, environmental, social] Haiti’s current social protection system, including programs to provide SSN, is weak, fragmented, and fraught with numerous implementation challenges. The proposed project builds on lessons learned from numerous donor-funded engagements in the social projection sector in Haiti to design a new program to meet urgent social protection needs. Targeted acute needs include to provide a buffer to external shocks to vulnerable households affected by COVID-19. At the same time, the project aims to tackle chronic challenges such as food insecurity and the high exposure of the most vulnerable segments of the population to economic shocks from natural disasters and extreme weather events. This is all occurring within an increasingly fragile social context wherein socio-political unrest has spilled over into broader insecurity and increased violence at a national level, with some Departments and cities experiencing peaks of at-times violent unrest. This new approach embodies the first effort to operationalize a social safety net program in line with the Government of Haiti’s recent social protection strategy (NSPPP), while relying on – and continuing to reinforce – the national social registry (SIMAST). A central element of the proposed project will be to capitalize from the delivery of SSNs to promote socially desirable behaviors to enhance non-monetary welfare among beneficiary households. Public Disclosure The Project’s initial assessment is that the intervention will focus first on the Grand Anse department, though this may be revisited, based on vulnerability criteria and access given the security related constraints (the departments with the highest level of vulnerability are Grand Anse, Ouest and North-west). The number of individuals to benefit from the cash transfer is 90,000 and will be based on the Haitian Deprivation and Vulnerability Index (HDVI) Proxy. The beneficiaries will include households with children under the age of 5, persons with disabilities and pregnant women. Although the project explicitly targets poor and vulnerable households there are still a number of risks that could jeopardize the full realization of the project’s objectives. The health and safety of those who are delivering the packages needs to be ensured. This includes physical safety and freedom from intimidation. Those delivering the packages could be targets for intimidation and violence. Female headed or majority female households who qualify for assistance could also be potential targets, as well as potential victims of gender-based violence. People with disabilities may find it harder to access the services or indeed to access information about potential benefits. COVID- related concerns will elevate project environmental and social risk should the pandemic continue and may potentially endure throughout the project lifecycle. The pandemic has a potentially larger impact on people with disabilities who are disproportionately affected by health risks and situations of high unemployment. The management of basic sanitary services and social distancing has been a challenge for Haiti during the pandemic and in many parts of the country it has been ignored. The risk of increased rates of infection due to lack of social distancing measures or use of personal protective equipment (PPE) elevates the risk profile of all investment operations, including the current project. D. 2. Borrower’s Institutional Capacity Oct 28, 2020 Page 3 of 9 The World Bank HT Adaptive Social Protection for Increased Resilience (P174111) The Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor (MAST) will be the main institution responsible for overall project implementation. MAST will engage the UN World Food Programme (WFP) for implementation and day-to-day activities under the Project. This will be MAST’s first time implementing a Bank-financed project. MAST has no previous experience in managing and implementing investment operations financed by the World Bank. The environmental and social (E&S) capacity of MAST has been assessed, with a view to identifying specific capacity building requirements to effectively meet ESF standards as applicable to this project. Capacity building support has been provided to MAST throughout project preparation, and a E&S consultant will be hired no later than 60 days after Project effectiveness as a key member of the PIU team to monitor E&S commitments during project implementation. During implementation, any additional gaps identified will be filled through recruitment of staff and/or consultants, training series for current and future staff, as well as capacity support to implementing partners. WFP, as delegated implementing agency, will also receive training on applicable World Bank fiduciary standards (including ESF) to ensure they can support implementation and reporting during project execution. Other actors involved in project implementation will include the Direction for Civil Protection, the regional office of the Minsitry of Health and the local police through the Unité Départementale du Maintien de lOrdre (UDMO). II. SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL (ES) RISKS AND IMPACTS A. Environmental and Social Risk Classification (ESRC) Substantial Public Disclosure Environmental Risk Rating Low The environment risk rating is classified as Low (L) at this stage of project preparation. The core project activities are providing cash transfers and strengthening delivery systems. Adverse environmental risks and impacts related to these activities are likely to be minimal or negligible. The main anticipated environmental risk is likely to be around waste management, particularly the need for project workers to dispose of their PPE in a safe manner during the period when COVID-related protective measures are to be followed. Waste management, while a problem more broadly in Haiti, can be effectively managed in the context of this operation due in a large part to standard operating procedures of WFP, the main implementing partner, which follow good international industry practice, including WHO standards. Social Risk Rating Substantial The social risk rating at this stage is classified as Substantial (S) at this stage of project preparation. While the overall social benefits are expected to be positive, identified social risks and impacts include: sexual exploitation and abuse and sexual harassment (SEA/SH) and gender-based violence, project workers exposure to the COVID-19 virus, transmission of the virus to local communities and beneficiaries and the deployment of security forces for cash transport and distribution. These are addressed through the project’s Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF). A Stakeholder Engagement Plan has been developed incorporating a stakeholder mapping and a communication strategy to guide the interactions with the wide range of beneficiaries (including the most vulnerable among them) and ensure that a Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) is in place for addressing concerns and grievances during the project execution. Oct 28, 2020 Page 4 of 9 The World Bank HT Adaptive Social Protection for Increased Resilience (P174111) 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 environmental risks associated with this project are considered low. The main potential risk is inadequate or improper use and disposal of project-procured PPE to ensure worker safety during COVID. Social risks are assessed as Substantial. One of the most salient issues under the project activity is the identification of extremely poor households, and vulnerable populations, including female headed households and people with disabilities, entitled to receive the cash transfers and accompanying measures. It is critical, thus, to ensure that the measures to reach the extreme poor are effective. This will be addressed through the development of a fair and transparent Standard Operating Procedure for the targeting, registration and payment of beneficiaries and investing in robust M&E systems, under Component 3. While the overall social benefits are expected to be positive and pro-poor, identified social risks and impacts include: sexual exploitation and abuse and sexual harassment (SEA/SH) and gender-based violence, project workers exposure to the virus, transmission of the virus to local communities and beneficiaries and the deployment of security forces for cash transport and distribution. To adequately manage the above risks, the project has prepared a draft Environmental and Social Management Public Disclosure Framework (ESMF) to (i) provide general social baseline information relevant to the project; (ii) assess the anticipated environmental and social (E&S) risks and impacts of project activities; (iii) describe how project activities will be reviewed and screened, including the type and timing of any E&S assessment instruments; and (iv) detail the institutional arrangements for E&S assessment, management, supervision and reporting. SEA/SH and security risks are managed through measures included in the ESMF. The ESMF will take into account the WBG’s Envirionmental, Health and Safety Guidelines (EHSGs). Opportunities for discrimination in the identification of beneficiaires is mitigated by the ‘census sweep’ approach of the project to identify beneficiaries into the SIMAST national registry which removes opportunities for subjectivity in beneficiary identification as well as through the stakeholder engagement process and grievance mechanism which include special measures for disadvantaged and vulnernable groups. The ESMF contains a CERC-ESMF as an annex to deal with the E&S risk management provisions in the event the Emergency Response Component is triggered throughout project implementation. The CERC includes a) the positive list of potential activities that the CERC could finance; b) institutional arrangements in case the CERC is activated; and c) the specific E&S management procedures if the CERC is activated. The well-developed draft ESMF has been prepared, and will be disclosed, consulted and finalized before project negotiations. ESS10 Stakeholder Engagement and Information Disclosure The COVID-19 pandemic poses a challenge for stakeholder engagement and disclosure of information, as stakeholder engagement and consultation processes cannot be conducted as per normal ESS10 requirements. As long as COVID- related restrictions place limitations on traditional forms of stakeholder engagement, the requirements of ESS10 will Oct 28, 2020 Page 5 of 9 The World Bank HT Adaptive Social Protection for Increased Resilience (P174111) be met by following guidance set out in the World Bank’s “Technical Note: Public Consultations and Stakeholder Engagement in WB-supported operations when there are constraints on conducting public meetings” (March 20, 2020). Stakeholder engagement is at the core of project design, with a communication and awareness raising campaign as a central element. It is important to separate this campaign from the stakeholder engagement planning process to meet the obligations of ESS10, but it is equally important to note some of the synergies between the two processes, which will be leveraged to the extent possible. Identification of project stakeholders, the project beneficiaries, and analysis of their needs and levels of influence has been done during preparation of the draft Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP), with the identification of disadvantaged or vulnerable groups who might be affected by the project requiring special attention. The SEP will ensure that the engagement and consultation processes will be continuous throughout the life of the project, including design, implementation and completion. Beneficiaries and project-affected parties should have access to a GRM and a hotline to raise concerns and grievances as well as to request clarifications on various aspects of the project and its potential impacts. This GRM is identified and described in the SEP. The SEP addresses the timing and methodologies for meaningful and participatory consultations, including arrangements for information disclosure to all stakeholders. Consultation activities will be held with project affected and interested parties either virtually or in physical locations that will be identified in consultation with the communities and their representatives to ensure meaningful consultation, transparency and accountability Public Disclosure throughout project implementation. The SEP includes measures on how to engage with vulnerable groups, who are the project’s main beneficiaries. The SEP also includes Citizens Engagement Indicators to track the implementation of participatory approaches by the project. During implementation stage, it is envisioned that the client will carry out beneficiaries’ satisfaction surveys to evaluate public satisfaction through phone surveys and workshops. The client will regularly assess the emerging stakeholder needs during implementation of the pandemic response and will update SEP accordingly to address emerging needs of stakeholders. A well-developed draft SEP has been prepared, and will be disclosed, consulted and finalized before project negotiations. 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 considered relevant to this Project. MAST will establish a PIU which will be a hybrid strucutre composed of civil servants and consultants considered as direct workers. Employees of implementing partners, including from the WFP and their field-based partners who will for example deliver accompanying measures to households (e.g. awareness campaigns) are considered contracted workers under ESS 2. Oct 28, 2020 Page 6 of 9 The World Bank HT Adaptive Social Protection for Increased Resilience (P174111) Whilst physical works are not envisaged under the project, the nature of the pandemic requires occupational health and safety (OHS) training in line with international good practice to be considered in all contracts with workers. Training will be delivered in order to limit exposure to the virus, communicate provisions for treatment if exposed, and to avoid transmission to local communities and beneficiary households. While the number of workers cannot be estimated at the current stage, no large-scale labor influx is expected. All workers who will be coming into close contact with communities and the labor management procedures will include a specific code of conduct, including GBV provisions, as well as a general code for interacting with beneficiaries, communities and partners. In line with ESS2, the use of forced labor or the use of child labor for any person under the age of 18 in hazardous work situations is prohibited. People under the age of 15 (per Haiti's Labor Code) will not be hired by the project. For any project workers aged 15 to 18 years old, there will be a prohibition on any project-related work that is likely to be hazardous or interfere with their education or health. As mitigation measures, the Borrower will implement adequate OHS measures in line with the ESMF, which includes related guidelines on infection prevention during COVID-19 pandemic. Measures relating to OHS, to protect workers from injury, illness, or impacts associated with exposure to hazards encountered in the workplace or while working, will be documented in the Labor Management Procedures (LMP) that will be annexed to the ESMF. The OHS measures will consider the World Bank Group's General Environment, Health, and Safety Guidelines (EHSGs) and will include the obligation to provide infection prevention and control precautions, adequate supplies of PPE, etc. The Borrower will also ensure a nondiscriminatory, decent work environment; including ensuring that all workers adhere to the World Health Organization (WHO) Code of Ethics and Professional conduct as well as Good Industry Practice and WHO guidance on COVID-19. A code of conduct will be signed by all project workers – including security Public Disclosure personnel. The measures to ensure compliance with ESS 2 will be embeded in all project contracts and monitored by the PIU. A worker GRM will be established in line with the requirements of ESS2, as detailed in the LMP. A well-developed draft LMP has been prepared, and will be disclosed, consulted and finalized before project negotiations. ESS3 Resource Efficiency and Pollution Prevention and Management This ESS is relevant to the Project, however risks and impacts related to resource efficiency and pollution prevention and management as a result of the cash transfer activities are expected to be minimal. The potential for direct and indirect environmental risks or impacts to Project workers and beneficiaries, especially regarding safe disposal of sanitary material and used PPE, has been assessed with relevant measures included in the ESMF. The project is not expected to include significant use of water or impacts on water quality. In addition, the project is not expected to produce significant greenhouse gas emissions. ESS4 Community Health and Safety ESS4 is considered relevant to the Project. One risk factor is related to COVID-19 where poor community engagement practices or unauthorized mass gatherings of people could raise exposure risk to community workers and beneficiaries, which could lead to further spread of the disease through the project. As mitigation measures, the Borrower will design and implement provisions to prevent or minimize the spread of COVID-19 to the community as detailed in the ESMF. A second factor relates to the risk of GBV, in particular Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) and Oct 28, 2020 Page 7 of 9 The World Bank HT Adaptive Social Protection for Increased Resilience (P174111) Sexual Harassment (SH). The widespread distribution of cash resources has the potential to increase GBV risk, as women who are eligible for aid may be more vulnerable to being targeted. As a mitigation measure, the Borrower will develop SEA/SH mitigation measures as part of the ESMF to mitigate risks to any project worker or project beneficiary. The Project’s SEP outlines how to engage stakeholders, including the most vulnerable and disadvantaged individuals and groups, to ensure they know about the Project benefits. A third factor relates to potential improper conduct by any security personnel used to support project-financed activities. Mitigation measures related to the use of security personnel have been included in the ESMF in line with the ESF Good Practice Note “Assessing and Managing the Risks and Impacts of the Use of Security Personnel”. Since Haitian police will likely be mobilized as part of the government’s response to deliver this Project, the PIU will take measures to ensure that, prior to deployment such personnel are: (i) screened to confirm that they have not engaged in past unlawful or abusive behavior, including sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment (SH) or excessive use of force; (ii) adequately instructed and trained, on a regular basis, on the use of force and appropriate behavior and conduct (including in relation to SEA and SH), as set out in ESMF; and (iii) deployed in a manner consistent with applicable national law. All allegations of unlawful or abusive acts of any national or private security personnel, should be reviewed, acted upon (or request appropriate parties to take action) to prevent recurrence and, where necessary, report unlawful and abusive acts to the relevant authorities through the project’s Grievance Redress Mechanism. ESS5 Land Acquisition, Restrictions on Land Use and Involuntary Resettlement No land will be either temporarily or permanently acquired for this project. There will be no physical or economic displacement. Public Disclosure ESS6 Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Natural Resources This ESS is not relevant as the Project will not finance any activities that involve direct, indirect or cumulative risks and impacts related to habitats biodiversity conservation, and sustainable management of living natural resources. ESS7 Indigenous Peoples/Sub-Saharan African Historically Underserved Traditional Local Communities ESS7 is not relevant to the project as there are no IP/SSAHUTLCs in Haiti as per standard definition of ESS7. ESS8 Cultural Heritage ESS8 is not relevant to the Project for the suggested project interventions. ESS9 Financial Intermediaries This standard is not relevant for the suggested project interventions. C. Legal Operational Policies that Apply OP 7.50 Projects on International Waterways No Oct 28, 2020 Page 8 of 9 The World Bank HT Adaptive Social Protection for Increased Resilience (P174111) OP 7.60 Projects in Disputed Areas No 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 Areas where “Use of Borrower Framework” is being considered: None. IV. CONTACT POINTS World Bank Contact: Diego Angel-Urdinola Title: Senior Economist Telephone No: +1-202-473-4161 Email: dangelurdinola@worldbank.org Borrower/Client/Recipient Public Disclosure Borrower: Ministry of Economy and Finance Implementing Agency(ies) Implementing Agency: PIU MAST Implementing Agency: Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor 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): Diego Angel-Urdinola Practice Manager (ENR/Social) Valerie Hickey Cleared on 23-Oct-2020 at 18:24:36 GMT-04:00 Oct 28, 2020 Page 9 of 9