The World Bank Monrovia Integrated Development Project (P169718) Project Information Document (PID) Concept Stage | Date Prepared/Updated: 21-Jun-2021 | Report No: PIDC26493 May 30, 2021 Page 1 of 9 The World Bank Monrovia Integrated Development Project (P169718) BASIC INFORMATION A. Basic Project Data OPS TABLE Country Project ID Parent Project ID (if any) Project Name Liberia P169718 Monrovia Integrated Development Project (P169718) Region Estimated Appraisal Date Estimated Board Date Practice Area (Lead) AFRICA WEST Feb 01, 2022 Jul 21, 2022 Urban, Resilience and Land Financing Instrument Borrower(s) Implementing Agency Investment Project Financing Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Public Works Development Planning Proposed Development Objective(s) The Project Development Objective (PDO) is to enhance urban living conditions and climate resilience in Greater Monrovia, and to strengthen municipal and institutional capacities for integrated urban management. PROJECT FINANCING DATA (US$, Millions) SUMMARY-NewFin1 Total Project Cost 49.60 Total Financing 49.60 of which IBRD/IDA 40.00 Financing Gap 0.00 DETAILS -NewFinEnh1 World Bank Group Financing International Development Association (IDA) 40.00 IDA Grant 40.00 Non-World Bank Group Financing Other Sources 9.60 FRANCE: Govt. of [MOFA and AFD (C2D)] 9.60 May 30, 2021 Page 2 of 9 The World Bank Monrovia Integrated Development Project (P169718) Environmental and Social Risk Classification Concept Review Decision Substantial Track II-The review did authorize the preparation to continue Other Decision (as needed) B. Introduction and Context Country Context 1. Liberia’s economic performance has remained weak since the Ebola outbreak in 2014, with marked deterioration observed in the last two years. The country consolidated peace and stability after a devastating civil war (1989-2003) and recorded a decade of solid economic growth at an annual average growth rate of 7.4 percent during 2004-2013. However, since 2014, Liberia has endured multiple shocks including the regional outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), a sharp decline in global prices of the country’s main exports – rubber and iron ore, and the drawdown of United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL). Liberia’s basic infrastructure and social services remain affected by the civil wars, resulting in poor living conditions for most of the population. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic stalled efforts towards job creation, reversed the declining trend in poverty reduction, constrained domestic resource mobilization, and increased Government expenditures. Consequently, the economy contracted by 3.0 percent in 2020. 2. Greater Monrovia could play an important role in supporting the economic transformation necessary for the country to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and to build back better. Greater Monrovia is the largest agglomeration in Liberia, but decades of conflict has stalled investments and development. Greater Monrovia is home to about 1.3 million people, a fourth of the country’s total population and the growth rate of Monrovia is 4.46 percent annually.1 3. Climate-related hazards are negatively affecting the country’s economy and its population in general and the Greater Monrovia area in particular. Liberia receives a high rainfall especially along the coast and Monrovia is the wettest capital of the world with a yearly average of more than 5 meters. Climate change is projected to increase temperature2 and impact water availability across Liberia, as well as change the amount and distribution of precipitation with significant inter-annual variability3 and an increase in extreme weather events such as heavy rainfall, and storm surges in next 30 years. The population affected by flooding will jump to around 20 percent of the population and the impact on critical infrastructure (roads, schools, hospitals) will increase substantially, in 2050, if no action is taken. The direct economic damage on an annual basis will increase to 1 - 1.5 percent of GDP.4 1 World Bank (2019): Greater Monrovia Region. Spatial Analysis. 2 Under a high-emission scenario, projections show a likely increase of monthly temperatures of 3.2ºC for the 2080-2099 period, with a possible increase of more than 4.8ºC by 2099 for Liberia (World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal (CCKP)) 3 Under a high-emission scenario, monthly precipitation is projected to change by -1.3mm per month in the 2040-2059 period (World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal (CCKP) 4 Deltares (2021): Flood risk profile for Greater Monrovia. May 30, 2021 Page 3 of 9 The World Bank Monrovia Integrated Development Project (P169718) Sectoral and Institutional Context 4. Urban development and disaster risk management are key elements of Liberia’s medium-term national development strategy, the Pro-poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development (PAPD). The PAPD (2018-2023) emphasizes the role of urban areas and especially of Greater Monrovia in supporting the economic transformation necessary for the country to generate shared prosperity. Floods are highlighted in the PAPD as a cause of climate induced disasters. The PAPD is also cognizant of the extent of informality and lack of service access that has paralyzed the economy of Greater Monrovia. The PAPD also includes a high-level national target on strengthened financial and administrative autonomy of five pilot cities (including Monrovia and Paynesville).5 5. Monrovia’s drainage system is fragmented and insufficient. Monrovia’s surface water system was constructed between 1955-1957 with later additions to accommodate urban growth. The system is plagued by several challenges, including lack of maintenance (only 15 employees of the Ministry of Public Works (MPW) are working on surface water drainage in Monrovia), inadequate drainage construction and connection to sewers, illegal connections of sewage pipes to drains, and lack of funding.6 6. Inadequate sanitation systems in Greater Monrovia increase communities’ health risk and contribute to environmental pollution, especially during flood events. Most of the sewer network in Greater Monrovia is blocked and often overflowing, leading to the use of alternative means of wastewater disposal. In addition, access to clean water in informal neighborhoods is limited. The ongoing Liberia Urban Water Supply Project (P155947) is investing in the rehabilitation and expansion of the Monrovia water distribution network. as well as capacity building of the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation (LWSC). 7. Duala market is one of Monrovia’s biggest markets and is illustrative for the challenges faced by Monrovia’s markets. Duala market has expanded 11.8 times in size without any planning since its creation. Therefore, Duala market suffers from a fragmented and ineffective drainage system. A lack of clarity of organizational structure and lack of investments contributes to food losses and lack of revenues to invest in the market infrastructure. The Redlight market in Paynesville faces similar issues, however analytical information is not available. 8. Lack of planning capacities and enforcement of planning, zoning and building control exacerbates flood risks and contributes to proliferation of informal settlements. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) financed a Master Plan for Greater Monrovia in 2009, which is however not binding.7 Responsibilities for urban planning, zoning, management and permitting in Greater Monrovia are fragmented and capacity is weak. There is currently no urban planning law and the zoning laws date from the late 1950s. The Greater Monrovia Urban Development Strategy (2021- 2042) provides the basis for more systematic planning and investments in the city going forward. 9. Addressing urban resilience requires addressing gender gaps. Women’s political participation at the municipal level and decision-making structures is low.8 The lack of involvement of women exacerbates existing gender gaps, such as women’s limited access to safe, affordable, accessible infrastructure or gender-blind infrastructure design that doesn’t consider and address women’s needs. The PAPD and Liberia’s Gender Policy (2009) envisage gender equality to be entrenched as a cross-cutting concern leading to more empowered women and girls. The project will follow this principle and streamline gender issues throughout project activities. 10. Monrovia is particularly vulnerable to climate change due to its low-lying, flat topography and lack of adequate drainage. A disaster and climate risk assessment for Monrovia reveals that about 140,000 people in Greater Monrovia are directly affected by predominantly pluvial flooding on average every year. Average annual direct economic May 30, 2021 Page 4 of 9 The World Bank Monrovia Integrated Development Project (P169718) damage is about US$20 million (0,6 percent of GDP). Every year critical infrastructure is affected by flooding, with about 100 schools, 5 health units and 150 kilometers of road in Monrovia alone. Relationship to CPF 11. The project will contribute to CPF Pillar 3 (narrowing the infrastructure gap to foster equitable development) and its objective III.8 (more resilient urban environments and rural communities). The interventions under the project will support closing the infrastructure gap in unserved areas and improving socio-economic resilience of Greater Monrovia. In addition, the project will also contribute to CPF pillar 1 (strengthening institutions and creating an enabling environment for inclusive and sustainable growth), particularly objective I.1. (Greater transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the public institutions). C. Proposed Development Objective(s) The Project Development Objective (PDO) is to enhance urban living conditions and climate resilience in Greater Monrovia, and to strengthen municipal and institutional capacities for integrated urban management. Key Results (From PCN) 12. The following outcomes are proposed to measure the PDO, which will be refined during project preparation: • Outcome 1: Area of Greater Monrovia protected from 1 in 5-year flood events • Outcome 2: People provided with improved urban living conditions (sex-disaggregated) • Outcome 3: Improved capacity of resilient urban planning and management in Greater Monrovia D. Concept Description 13. To meet its development objectives, the proposed Project will have four components, which are presented in the table below. In addition to US$40 million IDA financing, the French Development Agency (AFD) will provide co-financing in the amount of EUR8.0 million (US$9.6 million) for neighborhood upgrading activities under component 1 in three neighborhoods (Shoe Factory, Wood Camp, Lakpazee). In addition, AFD will finance project management activities under component 4. 14. An AFD-financed feasibility study has identified a short list of priority neighborhoods, building on existing assessments from the Know Your City (KYC) campaign9. Neighborhoods were selected on the basis of a multi-criteria analysis including criteria related to population density, informality, connectivity and potential impact (see Annex 2). This final site selection and subsequent agreement on final investments per selected area are being reviewed and discussed 5 The Greater Monrovia area consists of the cities of Monrovia, Paynesville, 9 Townships, and one borough 6 JICA (2017): The Master Plan Study on Urban Facilities Restoration and Improvement in Monrovia in the Republic of Liberia. Follow-Up Survey – Storm Water Drainage. 7 World Bank (2020): Greater Monrovia Urban Review. A Spatial Analysis investigating Constraints and Opportunities. 8 Cities Alliance (2020): Women Transforming Monrovia. An Urban Assessment from a Gender Perspective in Liberia. 9 Cities Alliance (2016): Know Your City Campaign – Slum Profile Reports May 30, 2021 Page 5 of 9 The World Bank Monrovia Integrated Development Project (P169718) with the client as part of a potential Project Preparation Advance (PPA), which would finance the finalization of site selection processes, required hydrographic, topographic, and bathymetric surveys and feasibility studies. Based on this, designs will be developed, in consultation with target communities. Component 1: Resilient Urban Upgrading in Greater Monrovia 15. This component aims to improve basic infrastructure and services in selected poor and vulnerable neighborhoods and markets and strengthen flood and climate resilience. An area-based approach will be implemented that takes a multi- sectoral and comprehensive resilient urban upgrading approach, considering the interconnected needs of the target neighborhoods and markets. Wherever possible Nature Based Solutions (NBS) will be incorporated in the designs. Infrastructure to be upgraded will be designed to meet climate resilient standards and incorporate adaptation and mitigation benefits where possible. Community engagement throughout the intervention design will ensure that key priorities are considered, including gender aspects. Project investments shall complement existing/ongoing World Bank financed projects in related sectors. 16. The component will finance neighborhood upgrading activities, such as dry weather access roads and walkways, footbridges, tertiary water supply and sanitation, public spaces, community toilets, sports grounds, green corridors, playgrounds, study/seating areas, and light-emitting diode (LED) street lighting. Wherever possible Nature Based Solutions (NBS) will be incorporated in the designs. Further, project activities will support improved market infrastructure including market stalls, roofing, water and sanitation facilities, run off and tertiary drainage, electricity including solar panels, childcare centers, and cold and dry storage facilities to improve profits and productivity. Throughout the neighborhood and market upgrading, the project will finance rehabilitation of existing and implementation of new drainage infrastructure. Where necessary, this will be complemented with new blue-green-grey drainage measures. Component 2: Strengthening Integrated Resilient Urban Development Capacity 17. This component will support capacity building of municipalities and institutions associated with resilient urban development and flood risk management in the Greater Monrovia Area. Capacity building activities are intended to contribute to better planning, increasing fiscal space, and improved coordination, which in turn is intended to contribute to improved management, operation, and maintenance of infrastructure. 18. The component will finance technical assistance to review and update the 2009 Master Plan and will be based on analytical work from the Bank10 and others to assist in identifying short, medium, and long-term resilient investments in the city. Per the gender gaps identified above, spatial development plans will be reviewed and revised, paying special attention to the needs of women to avoid gender-blind infrastructure designs already at the urban planning stage. As part of the Spatial Development Plan, the project will support mapping, visualization, and communication of risk information amongst stakeholders and local communities to inform integrated watershed management and flood preparedness planning at the local level. Support to the development of a spatial data infrastructure will contribute to improved coordination of actors as spatial data becomes more available across all relevant stakeholder. The component will also finance technical support to improve existing planning and zoning processes to ensure they are more efficient, transparent, and affordable as well as gender inclusive. Women’s participation and decision-making in existing multi- stakeholder platforms at the national, municipal and informal settlement level will be strengthened as well. Finally, 10Community mapping of select flood-prone informal settlements in Monrovia; COVID-19 analysis and recommendation for wholesale market (Duala); COVID-19 hotspot risk analysis for Greater Monrovia; Drone mapping of Greater Monrovia; Flood modelling study; Spatial Analytics for development trends in Greater Monrovia; etc. – See summary of leveraged studies under the Greater Monrovia Urban Review ASA (P166939) May 30, 2021 Page 6 of 9 The World Bank Monrovia Integrated Development Project (P169718) property taxation will be supported through mapping and identification of properties and establishment of a digital billing and accounting system to improve own-source revenue generation and financial sustainability of resilient infrastructure investments. 19. The component will finance activities to ensure sustainability of the proposed activities by financing the planning and implementation of O&M measures for infrastructure and regular monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of spatial and investment plans. Specific activities to be financed are the development of respective OSM manuals, maintenance checks in the project areas, development of M&E systems for spatial and investment planning, and capacity building at the national and local government and community levels to strengthen community-led O&M approaches based on citizen engagement mechanisms as outlined above. Monitoring systems of spatial development plans will be linked to the proposed digital municipal data infrastructure when feasible. Component 3: Project Management 20. This component will finance the Project Management Unit (PMU) activities related to project coordination, safeguards implementation, M&E, procurement, etc. Operational costs to support efficient management of the project will be included. Component 4: Contingency Emergency Response Component (CERC) 21. The CERC is a zero-sum component included to mitigate situations of urgent need and allows for the rapid reallocation of funding in the event of a natural disaster or crisis that has caused, or is likely to imminently cause, a major adverse economic and/or social impact. 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 . 22. The E&S risk rating takes into consideration, amongst other things, the type of project and nature of its activities, the sensitivity of project areas as well as E&S implementation capacity. Project component 1 includes rehabilitating priority city-wide and neighborhood level infrastructure investments, and existing public assets in Greater Monrovia. The civil works may involve demolition, excavation, alterations, and other civil works. These activities might create short-term disturbances and create inconveniences to people in the project area. Since most of the project activities will take place in densely populated urban communities and within the city where restriction to project locations may not be possible, issues such as public health and safety, noise and dust pollution are some of the risk and impacts to be addressed. Community health and safety issues, especially with regards to the safety of the rehabilitated community infrastructures, such as market buildings, public toilets and community centers, will need to be considered in the design, construction, and operation phases of these facilities. The potential risks and impacts would need to be explored further including issues related to soil, water availability, and use for construction, cultural heritages, inconvenience to the people during implementation, if any, among others. May 30, 2021 Page 7 of 9 The World Bank Monrovia Integrated Development Project (P169718) 23. The social risk rating related to the project has considered i) the likely risk to exclude women and most vulnerable people from the project benefit thereby widening the inequality gaps, ii) the weak E&S capacity of the implementing agency PMU to manage social risks and impacts, iii) lack of a single entity governing Greater Monrovia and often-overlapping mandates of involved entities which is likely to create coordination and collaboration challenges. The project is proposed in metropolitan region of capital city, Monrovia. Criteria for neighborhood selection and methodology for neighborhood and municipal infrastructure prioritization would be developed through a participatory process during project preparation. The proposed activities of rehabilitation and construction of infrastructure indicate and anticipated the risks of relocations of squatters and encroachers, if they are found squatting or encroaching the public properties identified for rehabilitation. To address this, an Abbreviated Resettlement Action Plan (ARAP)/Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) shall be prepared, if required so. To guide preparation of the ARAP/RAP, a Resettlement Policy Framework (RPF) shall be prepared and cleared by the Bank for ready reference. 24. The project works, under component 1 may create inconveniences to the local residence due to generating dust during demolition and clearing of the site, construction, diversion of the traffic, etc. To deal with these situations, the measures suggested in an Environment and Social Management Plan (ESMP) will address such issues. Overall, the project activities are not expected to create irreversible or long term negative social impacts. 25. The issues related to Gender-Based Violence (GBV) is critical in the country. In addition, the project may require deployment of outside laborers for specialized works. Subsequently the local conditions and influx of outside laborers may complicate this issue. 26. Overall, the project positively impact environment, people, society and the risks and impacts are expected for short term and reversible during construction period. . CONTACT POINT World Bank Robert Curle Jesse Reid, Linus Benedikt Pott Senior Disaster Risk Management Specialist Borrower/Client/Recipient Ministry of Finance and Development Planning Samuel Tweah, Jr Minister dtweah@mfdp.gov.lr Implementing Agencies May 30, 2021 Page 8 of 9 The World Bank Monrovia Integrated Development Project (P169718) Ministry of Public Works James Reynolds Assistant Minister for Planning and Programming jjreynolds@mpw.gov.lr 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): Robert Curle Jesse Reid, Linus Benedikt Pott Approved By APPROVALTBL Country Director: Khwima Lawrence Nthara 23-Jun-2021 May 30, 2021 Page 9 of 9