Page 1 INTEGRATED SAFEGUARDS DATASHEET APPRAISAL STAGE I. Basic Information Date prepared/updated: 03/15/2010 Report No.: AC5143 1. Basic Project Data Original Project ID: P069055 Original Project Name: Education Modernization Project Country: Tajikistan Project ID: P114313 Project Name: Education Modernization Project - Addl Fin Task Team Leader: Scherezad Joya Monami Latif Estimated Appraisal Date: April 5, 2010 Estimated Board Date: May 25, 2010 Managing Unit: ECSHD Lending Instrument: Specific Investment Loan Sector: Secondary education (65%);Primary education (35%) Theme: Education for all (67%);Education for the knowledge economy (33%) IBRD Amount (US$m.): 0.00 IDA Amount (US$m.): 2.00 GEF Amount (US$m.): 0.00 PCF Amount (US$m.): 0.00 Other financing amounts by source: BORROWER/RECIPIENT 0.00 0.00 Environmental Category: B - Partial Assessment Simplified Processing Simple [] Repeater [] Is this project processed under OP 8.50 (Emergency Recovery) or OP 8.00 (Rapid Response to Crises and Emergencies) Yes [ ] No [X] 2. Project Objectives The overall goal of the Project is to stave off further decline in the education system in Tajikistan and to support the process of rebuilding. The Project's development objective (PDO) remains the same and is to set the stage for change at the national level while improving learning conditions and school enrollment and completion through Grade 5 in selected districts. The aim of the proposed Additional Financing (AF) is to enable Tajikistan to scale up the activities and investments under the on-going project, and thus allow it to further develop the student assessment system in Tajikistan. 3. Project Description The on-going project's development objective is being achieved through: (i) support for community initiatives namely, school grants to improve quality, enrollment and infrastructure, and grants to district education offices for rehabilitation; (ii) support for capacity building through curriculum strengthening, development of new textbooks, student assessment and data collection, teacher training and management strengthening including monitoring and evaluation; and (iii) strengthening service delivery through rehabilitation of school buildings, provision of classroom and textbook printing. The Page 2 proposed Additional Financing will expand the work done under the student assessment sub component in the project and finance (i) the construction of a building for the newly established National Testing Center (NTC) of Tajikistan; and (ii) equipment and furniture for the NTC. 4. Project Location and salient physical characteristics relevant to the safeguard analysis The project site is on a piece of land occupied by an unused warehouse of a vocational college. The existing building will be torn down and a 2-3 level bloc will be built in its place. The location is well contoured and is rounded by residential areas from the North and East side; by the existing school from the South, and by national road on the Western side which goes towards Varzob. The area is flat and there are no signs regarding slope processes. In its vicinity there are no environmental sensitive areas and/or physical cultural monuments. In the front of the current warehouse (at the distance of about 8-10 m) is an access road to the residential area which is the only road located there. 5. Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialists Mr Arcadie Capcelea (ECSSD) 6. Safeguard Policies Triggered Yes No Environmental Assessment (OP/BP 4.01) X Natural Habitats (OP/BP 4.04) X Forests (OP/BP 4.36) X Pest Management (OP 4.09) X Physical Cultural Resources (OP/BP 4.11) X Indigenous Peoples (OP/BP 4.10) X Involuntary Resettlement (OP/BP 4.12) X Safety of Dams (OP/BP 4.37) X Projects on International Waterways (OP/BP 7.50) X Projects in Disputed Areas (OP/BP 7.60) X II. Key Safeguard Policy Issues and Their Management A. Summary of Key Safeguard Issues 1. Describe any safeguard issues and impacts associated with the proposed project. Identify and describe any potential large scale, significant and/or irreversible impacts: Describe any safeguard issues and impacts associated with the proposed project. Identify and describe any potential large scale, significant and/or irreversible impacts: The Environmental Category for the proposed Additional Financing is B as only a small scale construction of the National Testing Center is planned which would not generate any large scale and significant environmental and social impacts. Possible adverse environmental and social impact is the following: generation of noise, dust, and vibration during operation of the construction machinery; temporary limitation or restriction of access due to location of a construction camp; congestion of traffic due to transportation of construction materials; soil and water pollution resulting from operation spills of fuel and lubricants; accumulation of solid waste at construction camps and generation of Page 3 construction waste; and potential impacts associated with indoor construction activities in the case of the usage of noxious/toxic solvents and glue and of lead-based paints. The project may cause some social risks, in particular: (i) for vocational students passing the road used by trucks; (ii) students accidentally entering the construction site; (iii) disturbance to classes from possible noise from construction during teaching hours. All these impacts are minor and can be easily managed during the project implementation. The project would also bring positive social impacts as the proposed activities would increase the youth opportunities for continuous education. The Project Additional Financing would not trigger the World Bank's policy toward Resettlement, OP 4.12, since the construction of the National Testing Center on the area of an existing school (on an unused part of the grounds of a vocational school) and would not require acquisition of land. 2. Describe any potential indirect and/or long term impacts due to anticipated future activities in the project area: The long term impact is positive and related to improving opportunities for learning outcomes in the country. 3. Describe any project alternatives (if relevant) considered to help avoid or minimize adverse impacts. N/A 4. Describe measures taken by the borrower to address safeguard policy issues. Provide an assessment of borrower capacity to plan and implement the measures described. For the proposed AF the same Environmental Guidelines (EG) as that of the original project will be used. While the proposed activities under the AF are known (construction of the NTC) the design of the NTC building will be done during project implementation after which the EMP would be drafted. At this stage the same EG as that of the original project will be used. As required under the EG, a site specific Environmental Management Plan (EMP) will be prepared by the borrower after the building has been designed and before construction can begin. The EMP will cover typical preventive and mitigation approaches to common civil works contracts with localized impacts, and specify that the contractor ensures the workers safety. It will also specify relevant measures for preventing dust and noise pollution, proper handling, transportation and disposal of construction wastes. Furthermore, the proposed mitigation measures will include minimizing risks for students by reducing the speed of trucks on the road to 20- 30 km/h in addition to providing training to the drivers on community safety as well as informing the community during the public consultation on these risks. Moreover, the construction site will be fenced in order to prevent access of students from the Vocational School and allowing for more control of the perimeter. The EMP will also include a Monitoring Plan with measures that will be employed to track the effectiveness of the mitigation measures and described the environmental indicators to be monitored. Page 4 A review of the status of EMP implementation and of compliance of subprojects with environmental safeguards financed under the initial project was done in the beginning of February, 2010, during a supervision mission. During the mission, a World Bank safeguards specialist reviewed and verified implementation of the EG for supported so far sub-projects. Overall implementation was found to be good, with specified mitigation measures being followed and documented as required. All supported subprojects have been preliminary assessed from an environmental point of view, based on an Environment Management Plan, which specifies a set of typical mitigation measures to be applied during subprojects implementation. The EMPs are routinely included in the biding documents and are part of the signed contracts. During the supervision mission field visits were made and discussions held with representatives from local government, environmental inspectors and project beneficiaries on project impact. It was observed that there have been no cases of impact and/or environmental issues which might require corrective measures. Minor adverse environmental impact during the construction activities were related mostly to dust, noise, asbestos removal and construction wastes. In order to minimize these activities the contractors have followed the best construction practices in this regard, including watering of the debris and construction material, conducting activities only during the daytime, etc. There have been no cases of non compliance with the stipulated construction and environmental requirements. There are engineers and other staff in place in the project who have adequate capacity to ensure environmental and social safeguards are adhered to. 5. Identify the key stakeholders and describe the mechanisms for consultation and disclosure on safeguard policies, with an emphasis on potentially affected people. The initial project EG was disclosed and consulted in the country. For the project AF in accordance with the EG, an EMP public consultation and disclosure process will be undertaken when the EMP. The consultation will involve all interested parties, including surrounding residents who might be affected by the construction and operation of the new Center. EMP disclosure and consultation will be done in country and also sent to the World Bank to be disclosed at the Infoshop, before the civil work construction can begin. B. Disclosure Requirements Date Environmental Assessment/Audit/Management Plan/Other: Was the document disclosed prior to appraisal? Yes Date of receipt by the Bank 12/16/2002 Date of "in-country" disclosure 11/11/2002 Date of submission to InfoShop 11/22/2002 For category A projects, date of distributing the Executive Summary of the EA to the Executive Directors Resettlement Action Plan/Framework/Policy Process: Was the document disclosed prior to appraisal? Date of receipt by the Bank Page 5 Date of "in-country" disclosure Date of submission to InfoShop Indigenous Peoples Plan/Planning Framework: Was the document disclosed prior to appraisal? Date of receipt by the Bank Date of "in-country" disclosure Date of submission to InfoShop Pest Management Plan: Was the document disclosed prior to appraisal? Date of receipt by the Bank Date of "in-country" disclosure Date of submission to InfoShop * If the project triggers the Pest Management and/or Physical Cultural Resources, the respective issues are to be addressed and disclosed as part of the Environmental Assessment/Audit/or EMP. If in-country disclosure of any of the above documents is not expected, please explain why: C. Compliance Monitoring Indicators at the Corporate Level (to be filled in when the ISDS is finalized by the project decision meeting) OP/BP/GP 4.01 - Environment Assessment Does the project require a stand-alone EA (including EMP) report? Yes If yes, then did the Regional Environment Unit or Sector Manager (SM) review and approve the EA report? Yes Are the cost and the accountabilities for the EMP incorporated in the credit/loan? Yes The World Bank Policy on Disclosure of Information Have relevant safeguard policies documents been sent to the World Bank's Infoshop? Yes Have relevant documents been disclosed in-country in a public place in a form and language that are understandable and accessible to project-affected groups and local NGOs? Yes All Safeguard Policies Have satisfactory calendar, budget and clear institutional responsibilities been prepared for the implementation of measures related to safeguard policies? Yes Have costs related to safeguard policy measures been included in the project cost? Yes Does the Monitoring and Evaluation system of the project include the monitoring of safeguard impacts and measures related to safeguard policies? Yes Have satisfactory implementation arrangements been agreed with the borrower and the same been adequately reflected in the project legal documents? Yes Page 6 D. Approvals Signed and submitted by: Name Date Task Team Leader: Ms Scherezad Joya Monami Latif 03/12/2010 Environmental Specialist: Mr Arcadie Capcelea 03/12/2010 Social Development Specialist Additional Environmental and/or Social Development Specialist(s): Approved by: Regional Safeguards Coordinator: Ms Agnes I. Kiss 03/12/2010 Comments: Sector Manager: Mr Alberto Rodriguez 03/09/2010 Comments: