The World Bank Community-Based Recovery and Stabilization Project for the Sahel (P173830) Project Information Document (PID) Appraisal Stage | Date Prepared/Updated: 15-Apr-2021 | Report No: PIDISDSA31960 Apr 15, 2021 Page 1 of 33 The World Bank Community-Based Recovery and Stabilization Project for the Sahel (P173830) BASIC INFORMATION OPS_TABLE_BASIC_DATA A. Basic Project Data Country Project ID Project Name Parent Project ID (if any) Western Africa P173830 Community-Based Recovery and Stabilization Project for the Sahel Region Estimated Appraisal Date Estimated Board Date Practice Area (Lead) AFRICA WEST 12-Apr-2021 15-Jun-2021 Social Sustainabilty & Inclusion Financing Instrument Borrower(s) Implementing Agency Investment Project Financing Republic of Niger - Ministry Burkina Faso PIU (under of Planning, Burkina Faso - DGDT), Executive Ministry of Economy, Secretariat for the SDS Finance and Development, Sahel Niger (SE/SDS Sahel- Mali - Ministry of Economy Niger), The Authority for and Finance the Integrated Development of the Liptako-Gourma Region Proposed Development Objective(s) The development objective of this project is to contribute to the recovery and resilience of communities in target areas of the Liptako-Gourma Region of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger through a regional approach supporting (i) integrated socio-economic services and infrastructure, (ii) livelihoods and territorial development, and (iii) regional data and coordination. Components Component 1: Resilient and inclusive recovery of conflict-affected communities Component 2: Transitional support towards stabilization and territorial development of communities Component 3: Regional dialogue, coordination and data and capacity building Component 4: Project Management Component 5: CERC PROJECT FINANCING DATA (US$, Millions) SUMMARY -NewFin1 Total Project Cost 352.50 Total Financing 352.50 Apr 15, 2021 Page 2 of 33 The World Bank Community-Based Recovery and Stabilization Project for the Sahel (P173830) of which IBRD/IDA 352.50 Financing Gap 0.00 DETAILS -NewFinEnh1 World Bank Group Financing International Development Association (IDA) 352.50 IDA Credit 352.50 Environmental and Social Risk Classification High Decision The review did authorize the team to appraise and negotiate B. Introduction and Context Country Context 1. The Liptako Gourma Region, a tri-border area in the Sahel spanning Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, is among the world’s poorest and most climate vulnerable and marginalized places .1 More than 80 percent of the over 17 million people in Liptako Gourma live in rural areas, where access to basic services and economic opportunities is lacking, and livelihoods are concentrated around farming and herding.2 Poverty rates throughout Liptako Gourma significantly exceed the national averages for all three countries, with rates significantly higher in rural areas than in urban areas. 3 Mali’s Mopti, Meneka, and Gao regions had poverty rates ranging from 49 to 62 percent in 2018, while the national average stood at 40 percent.4 Similarly, the poverty rate in Niger’s Tillaberi region in 2011 and Burkina Faso’s Sahel and Northern region in 2014 were more than 8 percent and 20 percent higher, respectively, than the national averages of 48.2 percent in Niger and 40 percent in Burkina Faso. Of concern, Liptako Gourma also lags in 1 Based on the Liptako–Gourma Authority (LGA), the Liptako-Gourma region covers administratively the following regions: In Burkina Faso, it covers eight regions, including the Centre (Ouagadougou), Centre-East (Tenkodogo), Centre-South (Manga), Centre-North (Kaya), East (Fada N'Gourma), Central Plateau (Ziniaré), North (Ouahigouya) and Sahel (Dori) regions. In Mali, it covers four regions: 5th Region (Mopti), 6th Region (Timbuktu), 7th Region (Gao) and 8th Region (Kidal). In Niger, it covers two regions and one urban community: Region of Tillabéri (Tillabéri), Region of Dosso (Dosso). Within this Liptako-Gourma region, the project will focus on the following regions: Gao, Meneka, Mopti and Tombouctou in Mali, Sahel, Centre-Nord and Nord in Burkina Faso, and Tillaberi in Niger. 2 Autorité de développement intégré des états du Liptako-Gourma (LGA) presentation (08/03/2019) in ACAPS (22 March 2019) Briefing note – Conflict and displacement in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso. 3 Rapport d’enquête multisectorielle continue, Institut National de la Statistique et de la Démographie du Burkina Faso, 2015. 4 Mali: Cartographie Nexus humanitaire et développement, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), 2018. Apr 15, 2021 Page 3 of 33 The World Bank Community-Based Recovery and Stabilization Project for the Sahel (P173830) human development, with all three countries’ scores in the bottom 5 percent of the human development index globally.5 Map 1. Regions of the Liptako-Gourma Region of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger which are the project’s target areas 2. The region shares several common characteristics which inextricably link communities across national borders. Common features include strong cultural, linguistic, and familial linkages; highly mobile populations across porous borders with closely-knit trade relations; shared dependency on climate- sensitive natural resources; a fragile socio-ecological system with a high degree of water scarcity and high vulnerability to climate change impacts; and a transnational insecurity crisis with significant cross-border spill-over effects. Despite commonalities, vulnerabilities and risks are also anchored in local dynamics and vary across communes, regions, and national boundaries, pointing to the need for any regional responses to be informed by local contexts. Investing in border areas can bring significant advantages, whichmay include: (a) the capacity to trade across borders and identify markets and better prices for goods; (b) the ability to secure employment or access labor across borders; and (c) the ongoing capacity of traditional and community-based organizations that cut across the borders to effectively manage conflict and regulate economic activity.6 In addition to cross-border trade, livelihoods, movement and institutions as sources of resilience; regional and international cooperation mechanisms (including the G5 Sahel, international military support and the role played by the diaspora), and coordinated management of shared regional assets, are elements of stability that can be capitalized upon to produce lasting effects. 3. The Liptako Gourma Region faces multi-dimensional and interrelated risks, leading to a vicious cycle of fragility that has proven difficult to overcome. The joint World Bank Group (WBG)7 and United 5UNDP. 2019. Human Development Report 2019. Beyond income, beyond averages, beyond today: Inequalities in human development in the 21st century. New York. 6 World Bank. 2020. From Isolation to Integration: The Borderlands of the Horn of Africa. Washington, DC: World Bank. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/33513 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO. 7 United Nations; World Bank. 2018. Pathways for Peace: Inclusive Approaches to Preventing Violent Conflict. Washington, DC: Apr 15, 2021 Page 4 of 33 The World Bank Community-Based Recovery and Stabilization Project for the Sahel (P173830) Nations (UN) Pathways for Peace report identifies four “arenas of contestation�, around which conflict takes place: (i) power and governance, (ii) service delivery, (iii) land and natural resources, and (iv) justice and security. For communities in Liptako Gourma, power and governance challenges include the absence of state institutions, incomplete decentralization processes, and unequal representation and voice in government for some groups, such as youth, women, people with disabilities, nomadic populations, and ethnic and religious minorities. Poor access and low-quality public services, as well as a lack of positive state presence, all aggravate governance challenges by reinforcing feelings of exclusion and marginalization. Inequitable territorial distribution of basic services, while not directly linked to violence, generates frustration and affects state legitimacy and its ability to mediate conflict. Lastly, a receding state presence in the border areas, the state’s difficulty in protecting citizens and poor access to justice services (that is perceived as favoring elites) have eroded public trust of the state. This has also created an enabling environment for non-state actors (e.g. self-defense militias) to fill security gaps left by the lack of State security, contributing to a further rise in violence. 4. Limited access to basic services also constrains communities’ ability to effectively manage shocks and stresses of all kinds. This includes the impacts of climate variability and change on land and natural resources, which are highly climate sensitive and form the basis of key sectors and livelihoods in the region. Temperatures have increased in recent years, as has variability in precipitation patterns, increasing the incidence of floods and droughts. These changes have lowered soil productivity and water availability, severely affecting agriculture and livestock. The impact of climate variability on the natural resource base has been further exacerbated by scarce employment or income-generating opportunities, which has intensified environmental degradation and competition over the region’s dwindling natural resources, which are also highly sensitive to weather-related hazards and shifting climatic conditions. This has meant that farmers and pastoralists are often at odds, competing over land and water for their livelihoods, which has in turn compounded conflicts and fragility risks, affecting agriculture through lower soil productivity and water access. Thus, fragility drivers and vulnerability to climate-related risks have reinforced and amplified each other in recent years, undermining the resilience of communities to manage risks associated with the FCV-climate nexus, resulting in negative coping strategies and maladaptation, particularly in areas with limited access to basic services and safety nets. 5. Climate risks - such as extreme temperature, extreme precipitation and flooding, and drought - are projected to increase in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger and in particular in the Liptako Gourma Region. Climate change and hazard events will increasingly affect key socioeconomic and development sectors, especially agriculture and livestock — but also infrastructure. Mean annual temperature is projected to increase by 1°C in the Sahel over the next 20 years and 4°C by the end of the century. Heat waves are expected to be more frequent, intense and longer lasting, likely increasing by 8–28 days. While rainfall is currently low, projected high rainfall variation is likely to exacerbate both drought and flood risk, particularly in the short term. By the 2050s, it is anticipated that there will be increased frequency (+1 to 43 percent) and intensity (+1 to 12 percent) of heavy rainfall events in much of the Sahara, including Burkina Faso and Mali. In Niger, estimates are increased in frequency by +16 to 75 percent and uncertain trends for intensity ranging from -4 to +21 percent. Almost 100,000 additional people are also estimated World Bank. World Bank. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/28337 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO. Apr 15, 2021 Page 5 of 33 The World Bank Community-Based Recovery and Stabilization Project for the Sahel (P173830) to be exposed to the risk of flooding in Liptako-Gourma annually. . Climate change induced migration and variations in pastoralist’s migration patterns would also intensify competition and create new tensions and conflict over natural resources, particularly amongst farmers and pastoralists. Impacts from climate variability and change on water resource availability, agriculture and livestock, together with increased climate-induced displacement will exacerbate existing food security challenges. Marginalized groups, including women, youth, and people with disabilities will be disproportionately vulnerable to climate change impacts due to their relatively higher rates of poverty and limited access to productive resources, basic services and safety nets, and exclusion from decision-making process. In the absence of support, Sahelian states face challenges in managing these climate change impacts related to existing political, economic, and social instability, poverty, historical grievances, poor governance, and weak institutions.8 6. In recent years, Liptako Gourma has seen an escalation of violence and conflict, which threatens to destabilize the entire region and undermine development gains. Violence in Sahel was initially triggered by exogenous factors related to regional dynamics, including the difficulties of the state in controlling cross-border movement of arms, people, and goods, thereby creating the possibility of violent spillover. However, current conflict risks are not only the result of the rise in regional violent extremism, but also deep-rooted structural causes and frustrations over the lack of positive state presence - that is perceived as exclusionary, contested and absent (particularly relating to protection and justice). The growing unrest, which first emerged in Northern and Central Mali, has metastasized throughout Liptako Gourma, particularly in vulnerable border areas that are isolated with weak state presence and overexposed to security threats. Since 2015 in particular, the boundaries between violent extremism, rebellions and insurrections, community self-defense and banditry have blurred.9 Between 2016-2020, the recorded number of violent events (battles, explosions, and violence against civilians) in the tri-border area increased tenfold and the conflict is estimated to have led to the death of about 6,250 people. 10 Demographics and climate change (including environmental degradation) also serve as “threat multipliers� that amplify the fragilities and even the dynamics of conflict, in particular with regard to access to natural resources and basic services.11 These dynamics often reinforce one another and are both the byproduct and a leading cause of fragility, as they have resulted in a weakened social contract between citizens and the state. Growing social unrest and discontent has also led to political upheaval. 7. Growing violence has led to an acute humanitarian, food insecurity and forced displacement crisis, which has been exacerbated by climate change and COVID-19. As many as 2.1 million people in Liptako Gourma were estimated to be in a situation of severe food insecurity between June and August 2020. Armed conflict and violence, together with the adverse effects of climate change, led to a significant displacement of 1.66 million individuals in Liptako-Gourma as of December 2020. This includes around 1.49 million internally displaced people (IDPs) (90 percent of the displaced population) and 0.17 million 8 United Nations; World Bank. 2018. Pathways for Peace: Inclusive Approaches to Preventing Violent Conflict. Washington, DC: World Bank. World Bank. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/28337 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO. 9 World Bank, 2020. Sahel Risk and Resilience Assessment (RRA). 10ACLED. Ten Conflicts to Worry About in 2021. February, 2021, https://acleddata.com/2021/02/02/ten-conflicts-to-worry- about-in-2021/#1612195879250-fd67dc25-cc2c 11 World Bank, 2020. Sahel Risk and Resilience Assessment (RRA). Apr 15, 2021 Page 6 of 33 The World Bank Community-Based Recovery and Stabilization Project for the Sahel (P173830) refugees (10 percent). Burkina Faso accounts for 64 percent of the displaced and is now the world’s fastest-growing displacement crisis with a 20-fold increase from 50,000 in January 2018 to over 1 million by October 2020. Mali and Niger hold 20 percent and 12 percent, respectively, of the region’s IDPs.12 A growing number of IDPs live in host communities in these climate hotspots, most of which are poor and vulnerable, and typically lack the resources to adapt to an increasingly hostile environment characterized by multi-hazard risks. Governments are also under increased pressure to deliver basic social services at a time when there are competing calls to increase security spending. More recently, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to significant and potentially long-lasting public health and economic impacts. COVID- 19-related movement restrictions across the three countries, including border closures, have also substantially impacted cross-border dynamics, migration and food security. The impacts of the global COVID-19 outbreak, compounded by security and climate risks, are worsening the short-term economic outlook for these countries, with further decline expected in the medium term, aggravating poverty and social challenges. 8. Children, youth, women and people with disabilities are among the most affected by the crisis.13 Children and youth have been severely impacted by school closures. In Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, about 10,000 teachers are displaced, with as many as 400,000 children estimated to be without access to education in 2019, which is a two-fold increase from 2017.14 Youth not in employment, education, or training are increasingly targeted for recruitment by extremists or armed groups, which exploit existing grievances and use egalitarian narratives to attempt to bestow a sense of purpose to marginalized youth, providing a reaffirmation of self-worth, as well as income. Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have one of the world’s youngest populations, with median age of less than 18 years old, making the need to integrate youth into the social and economic fabric even more pressing.15 While the region’s youth dividend could be a potential driver for economic growth, lack of economic opportunities for youth can translate into growing fragility risks and out-migration. Additionally, conflict and weather-related disasters are not only are major causes of disability, but also have a greater impact on people with disabilities. Failure to address hidden disabilities (such as mental and psycho-social health problems) also inhibit efforts to rebuild social capital and economic development. 9. Women face stark inequalities that can enhance their vulnerability in an FCV and climate vulnerable context. All three countries rank very low on the Gender Inequality Index which measures three important aspects of human development—reproductive health, empowerment, and economic status.16 Niger ranks last (189), Mali ranks 184 and Burkina Faso 182 out of 189 countries. Women have a 58 percent labor force participation rate in Burkina Faso; 52 percent in Mali; and 15 percent in Niger.17 In the Sahelian agricultural system, women and men work together to produce food, but they typically 12 Central Sahel and Liptako-Gourma Crisis Monthly Dashboard #12, International Organization for Migration (IOM), 4 January 2021. 13 UNHCR, Sahel Emergency, February 2021, https://www.unhcr.org/en-us/sahel-emergency.html. 14 ACAPS, Conflict and Displacement in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, Briefing Note, 22 March 2019. 15 United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. https://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/. (Medium- fertility variant). 16 United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Gender Inequality Index, UNDP 2020. http://hdr.undp.org/en/content/gender-inequality-index-gii. 17 https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.TLF.CACT.FE.NE.ZS?locations=BF-ML-NE Apr 15, 2021 Page 7 of 33 The World Bank Community-Based Recovery and Stabilization Project for the Sahel (P173830) cultivate separate crops or care for different livestock.18 For food processing, women are often associated with the primary and secondary processing of grains and the processing of poultry and small livestock. For food distribution, women typically hold a monopoly on street-food vending.19 In Burkina Faso and Mali, the majority of women’s economic participation consists of roles in agriculture and the share of female employment in agriculture is 87 percent in Burkina Faso, 64 percent in Mali, and 38 percent in Niger. 20 However, the share of female agricultural land holders is less than 10 percent in Burkina Faso and under 5 percent in Mali.21 Furthermore, discriminatory family code in the form of early and forced marriage, lack of parental authority, and unequal inheritance rights limit women’s decision-making power and participation in local institutions in Liptako-Gourma. As they are more likely to experience poverty and have less socio-economic power than men, women are disproportionately vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and face greater difficulty recovering from disasters and adapting to shifting climatic conditions. Women are disproportionately vulnerable to the impacts of climate change as they are more likely to experience poverty and their income sources are often more dependent on climate-sensitive natural resources or exposed to shocks. Women also face greater difficulty recovering from disasters and adapting to shifting climatic conditions, often as a result of patriarchal gender norms that limit their ownership of land and access to resources that support coping and adaptation 10. Gender-based violence (GBV) is highly prevalent in all three countries. Women and girls, especially those with disabilities, are highly vulnerable to GBV. Evidence from Mopti in Mali, for example, points to growing incidence of early marriage, rape, and survival sex. Conflict, militarization and insecurity in some areas of the countries have further exacerbated pre-existing risks of GBV in multiple ways: the collapse of social safety nets and protective relationships; the growing challenges in accessing life-saving services, leaving survivors isolated and unable to seek care; the weakened rule of law and state presence failing to provide protection; the increased severity of gender inequality and different manifestations of GBV. Climate change and COVID-19 also exacerbate vulnerability to GBV, for example, through increased challenges in sourcing food, water and other critical livelihood resources (often the responsibility of women), as well as lockdown measures that can make it difficult for women to escape domestic violence. In addition, it is estimated that Niger has the highest prevalence rate of child marriage globally, with 77 percent of girls married before the age of 18 and 28 percent before the age of 15.22 Burkina Faso and Mali also have a high prevalence rate of child marriage. For example, in Mali, 53 percent of girls are married before the age of 18;23 and 36 percent of women gave birth before the age of 18.24 This may be 18 Gnisci, D., "Women's Roles in the West African Food System: Implications and Prospects for Food Security and Resilience", West African Papers, No. 3, OECD Publishing, Paris, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1787/5jlpl4mh1hxn-en. 19 Gnisci, D. 2016. Women's Roles in the West African Food System: Implications and Prospects for Food Security and Resilience, West African Papers, No. 3, OECD Publishing, Paris. 20 Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). "FAO statistical yearbook 2014, Asia and the Pacific, Food and Agriculture." (2014). 21 Bouchama, N., G. Ferrant, L. Fuiret, A. Meneses and A. Thim. 2018. Gender Inequality in West African Social Institutions, West African Papers, No. 13, OECD Publishing, Paris. 22 Girls Not Bride, Child Marriage Rates in Niger, accessed at https://www.girlsnotbrides.org/child-marriage/niger. 23 Institut National de la Statistique - INSTAT, Cellule de Planification et de Statistique Secteur Santé-Développement, and ICF. 2019. Mali Demographic and Health Survey 2018. Bamako, Mali: INSTAT/CPS/SS-DS-PF and ICF. http://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR358/FR358.pdf 24 Institut National de la Statistique - INSTAT, Cellule de Planification et de Statistique Secteur Santé-Développement, and ICF. 2019. Mali Demographic and Health Survey 2018. Bamako, Mali: INSTAT/CPS/SS-DS-PF. http://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR358/FR358.pdf. Apr 15, 2021 Page 8 of 33 The World Bank Community-Based Recovery and Stabilization Project for the Sahel (P173830) exacerbated in situations of high insecurity as families may see marrying their young daughters to older men as a way to protect them and to improve access to natural and financial resources. Furthermore, sexual violence against girls in schools is of particular concern, notably in Burkina Faso25. 11. The international and regional response to the crisis has focused on security and humanitarian challenges, yet there is growing recognition to prioritize the humanitarian to development transition . Also, there is a need to reinforce regional mechanisms to respond to the main FCV drivers. In September 2013, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution calling for an integrated strategy for the Sahel, emphasizing that humanitarian needs cannot be addressed in isolation from security considerations and development efforts, including considerations of climate and disaster risks. On the security front, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, together with Mauritania and Chad, as part of the G5 Sahel, have launched a Joint Force in 2017, stepping up their military presence in the region. Other international military responses include the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) and the French Force Barkhane. However, there are concerns that security expenditures are crowding-out development investments, including for improved governance, engaging communities, and fostering social cohesion, and thereby undermining a sustainable recovery. An ambitious response, the “Sahel Alliance� - established in 2017 by Germany, France, and the European Union (EU) and subsequently joined by the WBG, the African Development Bank, the UN Development Program (UNDP) and other development partners - is working in partnership with G5-Sahel countries to support targeted development interventions in the Sahel. Its members have developed a core operating framework. This includes a pipeline of 800 projects to be implemented by 2022 totaling about EUR 11.6 billion (including USD 8.5 billion from IDA) and 12 flagship programs that showcase how the Sahel Alliance is charting new ways for partners to engage in FCV environments,26in line with G5’s Sahel Integrated Priority Action Framework (CAPI). Targeting vulnerable populations, these flagship programs use an integrated spatial and multi-sectorial approach, aimed at achieving rapid results to stabilize regions where security has been recently restored. Their “prototype� has been designed by WBG in Konna (Central Mali). The members recently agreed on implementing this integrated multisectoral approach in a systematic way, prioritizing areas through close field coordination. The proposed project is one such intervention. Sectoral and Institutional Context 12. Liptako Gourma’s complex multi-sectoral challenges with cross-border spillovers call for an integrated and holistic regional response. A regional approach offers four distinct advantages. First, it avoids “public bads� from undermining national development efforts. Lack of investments in basic services, climate adaptive resilience, and livelihood opportunities can result in out-migration, adding pressure to poor host communities and government’s capacity to respond. Second, a common framework for stabilization and cohesion, in the context of highly mobile populations across country borders, can reinforce targeted investments. Third, given the small and fragmented markets in remote areas, an 25 United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner. 2017. Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women reviews the report of Burkina Faso. https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=22292&LangID=E. 26 Sahel Alliance, https://www.alliance-sahel.org/en/sahel-alliance/; The World Bank Group, Press Release, December 15, 2020, The World Bank Boosts Support to the Sahel for a Resilient Recovery from the Security and Economic Crisis, https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2020/12/15/the-world-bank-boosts-support-to-the-sahel-for-a-resilient- recovery-from-the-security-and-economic-crisis. Apr 15, 2021 Page 9 of 33 The World Bank Community-Based Recovery and Stabilization Project for the Sahel (P173830) integrated regional response can leverage larger economies of scale by supporting livelihood and infrastructure investments that enable small-scale regional trade to continue. Fourth, stronger regional coordination can spur learning, leading to improved public policies through enhanced data sharing and regional knowledge. Failing to intervene at the regional level can lead to self-defeating national programs, as improvements on one side of the border can be disrupted and undermined by neighboring instability. Lastly, a regional approach can support the management of assets that are shared by bordering countries in an integrated way. 13. An urgent shared challenge is the need to provide immediate assistance and targeted support to prevent negative coping strategies among climate-vulnerable, conflict-affected, displaced and host community households. In the absence of income generating opportunities, and with poor road access and security constraints affecting access to fields or markets, many households are drawing on their existing assets to survive through selling livestock or consuming their crops. Non-displaced households in conflict-affected communities have seen local agricultural systems affected by the destruction of farming and irrigations facilities and attacks or thefts of cattle. Many displaced households have been forced to leave behind their cattle or tools and are therefore dependent on host populations for their survival. Needs assessment in host communities have found most displaced households to be either unemployed or have precarious and climate-sensitive livelihoods working as day laborers and farm workers. Food security is overwhelmingly cited as the main priority for the displaced. In addition to man-made disruptions, frequent floods and droughts episodes negatively impact farming and herding. Supporting livelihood restoration and climate adaptive income generating opportunities among the displaced is therefore critical for a sustainable recovery. 14. Access to water and sanitation is a growing concern for both conflict-affected and host communities in Liptako Gourma, and the challenge is compounded by the impacts of climate variability and change. The destruction of water points has been a common tactic in the region’s conflict, forcing vulnerable groups (particularly women and girls) to travel long distances, often at great personal risks (e.g. of GBV), to collect drinking water. For host communities, many of which faced prior water shortages (exacerbated by climate change), coping with rising demand from displaced populations has proved exceedingly difficult. The use of non-protected water sources, such as open wells, rivers, and lakes, is common among IDPs. Recent needs assessments in Tillaberi and Sakoira municipalities in Niger found that households travel about 8 kilometers to source water, while about 24 percent of the population in Soum province in Burkina Faso had to travel over 30 minutes to the nearest water point.27 Overcrowded conditions further strain access to limited sanitation facilities. Assessments have also found open defection to be widespread across IDP communities in all three countries, increasing the risk of disease transmission. The lack of safe and accessible sanitation facilities also places women and girls at greater risk of sexual violence. 15. Despite urgent needs, local governments in the Liptako Gourma Region lack sufficient fiscal resources, instruments, and capacity to effectively respond to the crisis and restore public confidence. 27 Conflict and displacement in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, Briefing note – 22 March 2019. https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/20190322_acaps_regional_briefing_note_mali_-_niger_- _burkina_faso.pdf. Apr 15, 2021 Page 10 of 33 The World Bank Community-Based Recovery and Stabilization Project for the Sahel (P173830) For the most part, local governments rely on budget support from donors to finance investment, since government transfers and own source revenues are used for operating expenses. A review of local development planning across communes in the three countries found that local development plans (LDPs) are not inclusive, lack conflict sensitivity, fail to adequately integrate climate change considerations, and are disconnected from budgeting process.28 LDPs are prepared for 5-year windows, and therefore did not account for the growing number of displaced or destruction of community infrastructure from the escalating conflict. Varying levels of access across the commune prevent all villages from being included in the process. Consultations are often “thin�, involving some discussions with community leaders, yet not building on village development plans or diagnostics. While annual investment plans, linked to LDPs, are meant to guide yearly investments, unclear budget allocation results in a long list of aspirations and needs without prioritization. Consequently, decisions are determined by the municipal council, often resulting in misalignments between the selected investments and community priorities, leading to frustrated expectations. 16. Development partner financed projects in the Sahel, including Liptako Gourma, focus primarily on sectoral investments. Many partners are working in the region. The EU supports regional stabilization through a program that promotes social cohesion and rehabilitating basic infrastructure. The UN has three main programs focusing on border management for stability and human security. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is financing a resilience and economic growth project, which focuses on boosting short-term income and training opportunities. And the French Development Agency’s (AFD) “Three Borders� project contributes to Liptako-Gourma’s stabilization by supporting socio- economic investments and social cohesion activities in the border areas of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. 17. The proposed project responds to a need for both bottom-up and regional approaches to simultaneously address emergency and climate change needs, heightened pressures from forced displacement, competition over natural resources (including land and water resources), and regional data monitoring gaps. Existing WBG projects in Liptako-Gourma primarily focus on sectoral approaches linked to infrastructure, food security, livestock, and human development. This includes providing a wide range of support services, like cash transfers, livelihood, labor-intensive public works (LIPWs), etc. An initial mapping undertaken during project preparation, shows the total estimated amount of active WBG activities in Liptako-Gourma to be over USD 3 billion. However, WBG’s response to a regional crisis has been predominantly national. Thus, the types of intervention and level of implementation across different countries have been uncoordinated, posing limits on curbing the transnational dimensions of FCV driving factors. There is also a deficit of cross-border dialogues and regional harmonization. Hence, given the region’s investment needs and the regional dimension of the crisis, there is considerable scope for WBG to scale up development support to Liptako-Gourma - through a regionally coordinated approach to tap on potential regional synergies. 18. The proposed project’s regionality, conflict-sensitive design, and integrated territorial approach complements the existing WBG portfolio in Liptako Gourma. The planned regional engagement complements national-level programs by providing a common framework for regional, national, and local 28This is one of the findings of a Citizen Engagement and Local Development Plan review in the Liptako-Gourma Region that was undertaken by the task team as part of the project preparation process. Apr 15, 2021 Page 11 of 33 The World Bank Community-Based Recovery and Stabilization Project for the Sahel (P173830) stakeholders to strengthen resilience and support the humanitarian to development transition. In Burkina Faso, the Local Government Support Project (P162742) supports administrative and fiscal decentralization by strengthening commune’s institutional capacity and citizen participation in local governance. The proposed project will build on existing citizen engagement modalities and leverage commune capacity improvements by supporting investments linked to LDPs. It is also a sister operation to the Emergency Local Development and Resilience Project (P175382), as it would be implemented by the same Project Implementation Unit (PIU), follow similar institutional arrangements, and target different communes to ensure comprehensive coverage. In Mali, the project will establish strong linkages with the Project Coordination Unit (PCU) and regional implementation units within the Ministry of Economy and Finance that are implementing the Mali Reconstruction and Economic Recovery (P144442) and the implementing agencies of the Emergency Safety Net Project in Mali (P127328 and P173321) that have satellite offices in Mopti and Gao. In Niger, the project is well aligned with, amongst others, the Niger Refugees and Host Communities Support Project (P164563) and the Kandadji Project (P130174) and its Additional Financings and the Niger Integrated Water Security Platform Project (P174414) which is currently under preparation. At a regional level, the proposed project’s coordinated approach for small-scale community investment, trust-building activities, and knowledge sharing for improved policy making will benefit from the West Africa Food System Resilience Program’s (P172769) regional operation designed to support agro -sylvo- pastoral systems nutritional needs and generate surplus incomes. The proposed project also complements sector specific investments, some of which have had to temporarily stop operations in Liptako Gourma due to security risk, by using a conflict-sensitive approach that enables tailored engagement in different localities, thereby restoring access to basic services and building the foundations to resume operations. 19. The proposed project contributes to a Regional and Community-Centered Approach to Lagging Regions in West Africa advanced by the Social Sustainability and Inclusion (SSI) global practice. This approach follows a development model predicated on “Thinking Regionally while Acting Locally.� It consists of two intervention pillars: (i) regional development diplomacy, and (ii) regionally-informed community-centered platforms. The first pillar recognizes the need for regional dialog among key government, humanitarian, and development actors to underpin a common policy response to shared drivers of FCV and climate vulnerability. It will support access to timely and quality data, targeted regional analytics, and the innovative use of technology (such as data and knowledge platforms) to promote cross- border learning and build a common understanding of regional best practices to inform community- centered development processes. The second pillar refers to the deployment of multi-country community-centered development platforms, designed to localize implementation while drawing on lessons from the regional dialogue. The community-centric model aims to restore the social contract between local governments and communities by ensuring local investments respond to communities’ most pressing needs and by promoting local economic development. Specifically, communities will be engaged to support (i) participatory needs assessments, (ii) the prioritization and identification of investments feeding into local development plans, (ii) monitoring and evaluation activities, and (iv) local grievance redress committees. The menu of investments, implementation modalities, security measures, and targeting approach will be harmonized drawing on regional lessons while reflecting and strengthening existing country systems. This overall regional approach is being implemented in the Lake Chad Region Recovery and Development Project (PROLAC, P161706) and is under preparation for another regional Apr 15, 2021 Page 12 of 33 The World Bank Community-Based Recovery and Stabilization Project for the Sahel (P173830) project targeting the lagging regions of the Gulf of Guinea - Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo and Benin (P175043). C. Proposed Development Objective(s) Development Objective(s) (From PAD) The development objective of this project is to contribute to the recovery and resilience of communities in target areas of the Liptako-Gourma Region of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger through a regional approach supporting (i) integrated socio-economic services and infrastructure, (ii) livelihoods and territorial development, and (iii) regional data and coordination. Key Results PDO Level Indicators 20. The following PDO-level indicators will measure progress toward achievement of the PDO: • Number of beneficiaries with improved access to socio-economic services and infrastructure (broken down by females, youth and forcibly displaced) • Number of people provided with access to improved water sources • Number of beneficiaries that report an increase in annual income (in %) as a result of project activities (broken down by females, youth and forcibly displaced) • Hectares of land area where sustainable agricultural, land and water management practices, suited to local and regional agro-ecological conditions, have been adopted as a result of the project • Joint statement and action plan agreed during an annual coordination meeting with participation of the three countries (Number) D. Project Description This project is seen as a part of a larger regional program and long-term commitment to support the recovery of and build resilience in the Liptako Gourma region. The proposed operation aims to contribute to a larger regional program by building the foundation for the sustained engagement required to systematically deepen regional coordination, harmonize policies, and create regional public goods. A long-term vision is necessary to sustain a joint response to the region’s shared FCV and climate risks, in strengthening the recovery-stabilization-climate resilient development nexus. While the first phase (i.e. this project) will focus on integrated socio-economic services and infrastructure, livelihoods and territorial development, and regional data and coordination (as explained above); subsequent phases/ projects will aim to focus on deepening this engagement and extending it in thematic and geographical terms. Given the volatile security, political, and climate vulnerable situation in the region, the exact scope of future engagement is not yet know and will be kept flexible to allow task teams to reassess and better accommodate to the fluid specific circumstances. Apr 15, 2021 Page 13 of 33 The World Bank Community-Based Recovery and Stabilization Project for the Sahel (P173830) 21. A three-pronged territorial development lens. The project follows a three-pronged territorial development approach, comprised of “concentric circles�, to tailor investments to different target areas and support the region’s recovery and resilience. The concentric circles correspond to the different project components: • The first circle, under Component 1, focuses on the immediate crisis response by targeting the source of displacement to capitalize on security gains and provide a peace dividend in conflict-affected communities. It will finance livelihood restoring and climate-resilient income generating activities, delivery of household supplies and goods, and small-scale basic infrastructure in response to communities’ most pressing needs. • The second circle, under Component 2, targets secured communes and communities, mostly in secondary cities and their surroundings, that host a large share of the forcibly displaced. The component aims to (i) mitigate mutually reinforcing FCV and climate risks related to increased competition for scarce social services, economic opportunities, and natural resources, and (ii) create the foundations for a more sustainable regional recovery through stronger links to LDPs and a renewed social contract with greater opportunities for community decision-making on local investments. It will support multi-sectoral investments, including access to socio-economic infrastructure and services (particularly water and sanitation), local economic development interventions, and environmental and natural resource management. • Finally, Component 3 will pave the way for future regional programming and larger-scale investments by building capacity for regional dialogue and implementation of harmonized local approaches. This includes supporting national and regional data and monitoring, as well as regional coordination and collaboration. The sharing of best practices (e.g. on tackling FCV and climate risks) across the three countries is expected to accelerate communities’ recovery and open opportunities for future cross- border activities as security improves. This component will also strengthen local level capacity- building, citizen engagement and social cohesion. 22. Restoring the interface between local government and citizens by supporting greater community engagement in local development planning. The project proposes to work simultaneously with local government and communities to ensure a better match between investments and needs, improve social inclusion and accountability and restore trust between government and citizens. Underpinning this approach are four key elements : (i) participatory planning and budgeting; (ii) participatory monitoring and supervision; (iii) feedback and grievance mechanisms and (iv) adequate representation and participation of women, youth and systematically excluded people including persons with disabilities, at every step of the process. First, the selection of project investments will be mainstreamed through the yearly process of updating local development plans; the project will provide assistance to local governments to ensure adequate community engagement and social inclusion in the process, and reinforce the capacity of communities to participate effectively and meaningfully. Second, beneficiary communities will take part in the monitoring of activities, notably via a digital platform facilitating interaction between communitiy committees, facilitators and local government througout the project cycle. Third, strong complaints handling mechanisms will reinforce community voice and ensure accountability. Communities will also directly take part in the implementation of investments involving Labor Intensive Public Works. Finally, facilitating partners will ensure that the voice of women, youth and Apr 15, 2021 Page 14 of 33 The World Bank Community-Based Recovery and Stabilization Project for the Sahel (P173830) systematically excluded people including persons with disabilities, is taken into account when identifying needs and planning and monitoring activities. The approach will be initiated in the first year of project implementation and will apply to the investments for both Components 1 and 2 in years 2-5 of the projects. In Year 1, a more centralized rapid prioritization exercise will be carried out with a community and municipal validation to ensure activities reflect community priorities and investments commence rapidly. 23. To address stark gender inequalities, the project has integrated gender-sensitive interventions into the various project components to promote women and girls’ economic opportunities and foster their agency and resilience. These activities will be adapted to the specific countries’ contexts and identified gender gaps. In response to gender-based disparities in economic opportunities, the project will target women through a multi-faceted approach of livelihood, agribusiness, and labour intensive activities under project components 1 and 2. Activities that aim specifically at women will be prioritized and women participation will be encouraged and ensured in all activities of these components. Increasing women’s roles in public life and decision-making will be supported by women’s participation in local development committees, as well as in the regional KMP and data work under project components 1 and 3 respectively. A female quota will be established for local development committees to ensure that a significant amount of women participate in the local development planning decision making process. Finally, gender gaps in women’s agency will be addressed through the promotion of GBV prevention and mitigation measures and response mechanisms. 24. Considering elevated security risks and their operational/reputational implications, the WBG together with the PIUs have adopted a “risk mitigation by design� strategy. Security risks are factored into all elements of project design, supervision, and implementation. Security risks play an important role in both the selection of sub-project sites, and in the sequencing of activities depending on the level of complexity allowed by ground conditions. Subject to changes in security, additional target communes and communities can be added within the project’s target regions. The initial selection of target communes was informed by security considerations, yet a regular assessment is required given rapid changes in security conditions both within and across communes. Given the regional character of the project and multiplicity of sub-project locations and activities, it is impossible to determine a priori a numeric baseline for insecurity that applies universally across all project sites. For this reason, several criteria are used to classify yellow, orange, and red/black zones. These criteria include (i) levels of insecurity - estimated according to the number of publicly available reported security incidents, open-source analyses of conflict intensity, degree of militarization, and number of forcefully displaced persons; as well as (ii) the degree of access for technical PIU staff, implementing partners, contractors and NGOs. While the project’s risks are high, the project is expected to have significantly positive economic, social, and cultural impacts in all three countries as well as contribute toward reducing the overall vulnerability of the local populations. These potential project results as compared to a situation of non-intervention therefore outweigh the project’s risks. Apr 15, 2021 Page 15 of 33 The World Bank Community-Based Recovery and Stabilization Project for the Sahel (P173830) Figure 1: Project Activities According to Security Zones 25. Component Overview. The project has five components. Each of these components is described in more detail below. The breakdown of the financing amounts by component and country is shown in the table 1. Table 1: Breakdown of the financing amounts by component and country Components Burkina Faso Mali Niger LGA Total Component 1: Resilient and inclusive recovery of 34 23 20 - 77 conflict-affected communities Sub-Component 1a: Basic livelihood support and 12 8 16 - 36 income generating activities Sub-Component 1b: Delivery of household goods and small-scale infrastructure works in crisis- 22 15 4 - 41 affected regions Component 2: Transitional support towards stabilization and territorial development of 76 47 55 - 178 communities Sub-Component 2a: Access to Resilience Social and Economic Services, Infrastructure and 56 32 40 - 128 Resilience Sub-Component 2b: Resilient livelihoods and 20 15 15 - 50 territorial development Interventions Component 3: Regional dialogue, coordination 20 15 15 2.5 52.5 and data and capacity building Sub-Component 3a: Strengthening Regional - - - 2.5 2.5 Collaboration for Recovery and Stabilization Sub-component 3b: National Capacity Building for 5 5 5 15 Regional Collaboration Apr 15, 2021 Page 16 of 33 The World Bank Community-Based Recovery and Stabilization Project for the Sahel (P173830) Sub-Component 3c: Local level capacity-building, 15 10 10 - 35 citizen engagement and social inclusion Component 4: Project Management 20 15 10 - 47 Component 5: CERC 0 0 0 - 0 Total 150 100 100 2.5 352.5 Of which PPA (included in the country totals) - - 3 - 3 C. Description of Project Components Component 1: Resilient and inclusive recovery of conflict-affected communities (US$ 77 million equivalent) 26. This component will focus on supporting recovery in partially insecure communes and communities in so-called “orange zones�. It will mitigate further displacement by addressing the immediate needs of affected communities through the provision of goods, livelihood support and the rehabilitation of small-scale productive infrastructure. Eligible communities will be able to select from a closed menu of investments under this component to address emergency needs. It will generate income through LIPWs involving target communities. It is anticipated that this component will represent 30 percent of total project investments. As stated above, the project operates in a context that is highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Activities that directly and demonstrably contribute to greater climate resilience will be prioritized in the participatory selection of project investments, with the goal of reaching a share of 65 percent of Component 1 activities contributing to climate mitigation or adaptation and/or improved management of natural resources. Security in target areas will be monitored continuously in order to adjust or suspend activities when required by circumstances.29 The activities under this component will generate useful field-level data and information that will feed into regional data collection and dialogue supported by Component 3. The regional data and dialogue on development issues in Liptako-Gourma will in turn inform adjustments to field activities. The component has two sub- components: Sub-Component 1a: Basic livelihood support and income generating activities (US$ 36 million equivalent) 27. This sub-component will focus on the short-term restoration of basic livelihood in conflict- affected areas and address the needs of target communities for economic resources. Activities under this sub-component include: • Provision of agricultural inputs such as seeds for local staple crops (maize, sorghum, beans and peas), fertilizer (such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and urea) and manual tools, with an emphasis on climate-smart agricultural practices (for example, prioritizing drought-resistant crops); • Provision of livestock kits and animal feed to farmers/herders (i.e. sheep, goat and cattle); • Extension services such as short training courses (e.g. on climate resilient practices), including e- extension services where feasible; 29Such as, for example, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Food Program (WFP), the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), the ICRC and others. Apr 15, 2021 Page 17 of 33 The World Bank Community-Based Recovery and Stabilization Project for the Sahel (P173830) • Provision of livestock kits and extension services for poultry farming, aquaculture and fishing to promote livelihood diversification (away from climate vulnerable livelihoods) and improve food security (including food insecurity affected by droughts) • Targeted LIPW activities related to soil preservation to improve soil fertility and climate-resilient small water and sanitation infrastructure, as well as restoration works and regeneration of pasture lands to improve carbon stocks and to increase environmental protection and climate resilience. 28. LIPW activities will generate well-needed income for target communities. Participants in LIPW activities will be selected through a public lottery selection system. Recruitment will be widely advertised. Eligible persons who would like to participate in the lottery for LIPW activities can register, subject to certain limits like distance to sub-project sites, previous unemployment, one individual per household etc. Names drawn will then be written on two lists by gender, to ensure 50% of beneficiaries are female. Limits and/or prerequisites which will be described in more detail in the project implementation manual (PIM) will ensure that the most vulnerable (such as youth and females) are prioritized in the selection process for participating in LIPW activities. These activities will be accompanied by men’s sensitization and engagement interventions to encourage women’s participation. Selection mechanisms will also support prioritization of youths, displaced persons and people with disabilities. The proposed method promotes a transparent, fair, and equal chance for all community members to benefit from the project, which is important in a context where trust in the government is low and social capital has been weakened. In addition to generating income, the LIPW method can contribute to social inclusion and cohesion by (i) demonstrating that a large variety of works can be done by the community (even unskilled community members) and (ii) allowing workers from different backgrounds and genders to work together. Keeping LIPW opportunities within target communities also mitigates potential risks of conflict with external laborers, which might be perceived as competing for limited new local income generating opportunities. 29. To promote climate resilience, livelihood activities financed under this component will support stress tolerant crop varieties and climate-smart cultivation practices, as well as soil preservation and the restoration and regeneration of pasture lands. Proposed activities will be screened for their contribution to improved natural resource management and climate change mitigation or adaptation, and investments with a positive contribution will be prioritized in the participatory selection of project investments. The project aims to ensure that 65 percent of activities across Component 1a and 1b will contribute demonstrably to climate mitigation or adaptation and/or improved management of natural resources. Sub-Component 1b: Delivery of household goods and small-scale infrastructure works in crisis-affected regions (US$ 41 million equivalent) 30. This sub-component will provide much-needed supplies to conflict-affected communities with moderate to substantial accessibility constraints. It will also support the rehabilitation of small-scale infrastructure. The activities financed under this sub-component will include: • Provision of basic necessity kits, consisting of household supplies like solar lightening, rainwater harvesting kits, kitchen sets, mosquito nets, plastic mats, blankets, and hygiene kits etc.; • Rehabilitation and construction of climate-resilient water and sanitation structures; and • Rehabilitation of small-scale socio-economic infrastructure, via LIPW when applicable. Apr 15, 2021 Page 18 of 33 The World Bank Community-Based Recovery and Stabilization Project for the Sahel (P173830) 31. To improve community resilience to climate change, kits will include supplies that favor the adoption of positive coping strategies, including rainwater harvesting kits (that can reduce land- degradation). The component will also promote small-scale infrastructure that integrates climate change considerations. For instance, buildings will be designed to cope with seasonal flooding or landslides and rehabilitated with options for greater natural light and therefore greater energy efficiency. Proposed activities will be systematically screened for their contribution to improved natural resource management and climate change mitigation or adaptation, and investments with a positive contribution will be prioritized. For rehabilitation works, it is estimated that 65 percent of financing will contribute demonstrably to climate mitigation and adaptation measures. Component 2: Transitional support towards stabilization and territorial development of communities (US$ 178 million equivalent) 32. This component will contribute to territorial development and stabilization in comparatively safer and more accessible communities in “yellow zones� (mostly in secondary cities and their surroundings), that host a large share of the forcibly displaced population. Investments will support communities’ access to socio-economic infrastructure and services, climate-resilient livelihoods, and environmental and natural resource management. Therefore, they will contribute to mitigating risks of increased competition for scarce resources driven by the compounding impacts of climate change and FCV. The project will support host communities and forcibly displaced alike, as well as the communes’ local institutions. The component will deploy a community-centered approach by ensuring the representation and active participation of local communities in local development planning processes, the identification and prioritization of their needs, and the implementation and monitoring of project activities. These community-centered platforms will strengthen the social contract by providing mechanisms for communities to work with local governments to drive local investments. They will foster social resilience and support a territorial development approach where investments are tailored to the realities of local development challenges (including degree of community isolation, violence, and climate risks). 33. Sub-project selection will emphasize investments that leverage synergies across complementary sectors to maximize impact. This could include, for example, developing the neighborhood surrounding a public space or a market by improving access to basic services (such as water and sanitation) and community infrastructure, while supporting livelihood opportunities with increased market accessibility (access roads to main arteries of transport, etc.). Investments will be complementary to national programs and activities of humanitarian and development partners. The project will also facilitate linkages between target areas both nationally and regionally (e.g. through spatial connective infrastructure). The regional spillover effect of community-centered investments will be maximized through (i) input from regional dialogue activities supported by Component 3; and (ii) the prioritization of activities with both local and regional relevance, and/or with high potential for regional impact in the future (taking into account findings from the West African Economic and Monetary Union / Swiss cooperation cross border project Programme de Cooperation Transfrontaliere Locale (PCTL)). Additionally, prioritization of investment for Component 2 will also favor geographical clustering of interventions to develop larger scale catalytic interventions, alongside the other key criteria of cross border linkages and benefiting IDP and host communities. Apr 15, 2021 Page 19 of 33 The World Bank Community-Based Recovery and Stabilization Project for the Sahel (P173830) 34. Sub-project selection will also prioritize investments that support climate resilience. Proposed activities will be systematically screened for their contribution to improved natural resource management and climate change mitigation or adaptation. The project aims to ensure that 65 percent of Component 2 financing will directly contribute to climate mitigation or adaptation. 35. Activities are organized into two sub-components, described below. Both community-level and municipal level investments will be supported, with implementation modalities adjusted according to the size of sub-projects and the area context. Both sub-components will use an open menu approach to ensure investments are responsive to local needs. This will also enable municipalities, communes and communities to pull resources together for larger inter-sector investments. Sub-Component 2a: Access to Resilient Socioeconomic Infrastructure and Services (US$ 128 million equivalent) 36. This sub-component will finance local investments to (i) expand and improve local service delivery; and (ii) build integrated infrastructure for local development and support regional integration and positive spillover impacts. The target communities and local governments will work together to identify and prioritize the specific social services and economic infrastructure to be funded through the yearly updating of LDPs. To ensure sustainability, only those subprojects that can have their operating costs covered, and can be maintained and staffed will be financed. An illustrative list of possible investments under this sub-component includes: • Rehabilitation of secondary and tertiary roads and construction or rehabilitation of footpaths, culverts, and small bridges (this will include the improvement of pedestrian mobility); • Rehabilitation and cleaning of drainage canals; • Rehabilitation of local electricity facilities (including the promotion of solar power); • Rehabilitation and equipment of primary and secondary schools; • Rehabilitation and equipment of health centers and provision of essential medicines; • Construction, upgrading, rehabilitation, or expansion of small-scale water supply systems (boreholes with manual or solar pumping, standpipes) and sanitation systems (household latrines - ventilated improved pit or flush toilet types, sanitation cabins); and • Activities focused on soil and water conservation (e.g. establishment and management of tree nurseries). 37. These activities will improve access to basic services that are critical for coping and building resilience to climate and other shocks. The sub-component will also ensure that the construction and rehabilitation of community infrastructure will integrate climate-resilient design practices, including the ability to cope with climate extremes (such as flooding and extreme heat). In addition, roads and electricity works will be supplied by renewable energy to the extent possible. Rehabilitated water supply systems and drainage canals will also help address water scarcity in the region and support flood risk management, thereby contributing towards mitigating climate change risks and preventing potential conflicts over water resources. Proposed activities will be systematically screened for their contribution to improved natural resource management and climate change mitigation or adaptation. The project aims to ensure Apr 15, 2021 Page 20 of 33 The World Bank Community-Based Recovery and Stabilization Project for the Sahel (P173830) that 65 percent of Component 2 activities contribute to climate mitigation or adaptation and/or improved management of natural resources. 38. The following infrastructure sub-projects are not eligible: religious buildings, construction of new schools or new health centers; construction or rehabilitation of individual dwellings; construction of new asphalted roads; and private goods to individuals. To the extent possible, the constructed/ rehabilitated infrastructure will incorporate a universal design to allow for accessibility for all. Sub-Component 2b: Resilient livelihoods and local economic development interventions (US$ 50 million equivalent) 39. This sub-component will support existing and newly established livelihood and producer groups through small infrastructure investments and skills development. It will support groups or beneficiary households in agriculture, livestock, fisheries, and agro-processing – concentrating investments in a few selected locations to maximize impact. While adopting a demand-driven approach, the project will prioritize investments with strategic value from the perspective of local economic development and territorial plans. A particular emphasis will also be put on using innovative climate-smart agricultural techniques, including targeted support to agriculture production, (pre- and post-harvest) and marketing for selected products as well as promoting Zaï or integrated agro-sylvo-pastoral systems and ecological land rehabilitation. 40. An illustrative list of possible investment packages under this sub-component includes: • Construction and rehabilitation of community storage facilities, veterinary clinics, livestock markets and vaccination facilities; • Upgrading and/or rehabilitation of community buildings, stalls and markets, especially markets with regional linkages; • Enterprise and skills development training to producer groups including women groups, based on community cluster level territorial development plans. 41. Activities of this sub-component will complement the activities of other humanitarian and development partners, especially the UNDP and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the UN. Community-centered sub-project selection will be facilitated to ensure an adequate inclusion and prioritization of the economic needs of women, youth, displaced persons and people with disabilities. 42. As in previous sub-components, activities will emphasize and promote climate resilience in the choice of livelihood activities and infrastructure to be supported. High-value agriculture and value chain development activities under this sub-component will also incorporates climate risk considerations and focus, where possible, on the adoption or inclusion of climate smart agricultural technologies including the use of drought resistant seeds and irrigation. Project activities will, for example, upscale innovative climate-smart agricultural techniques such as Zaï and integrated soil fertility management approaches in collaboration with deconcentrated extension services where available, NGOs and other stakeholders. Proposed activities will be systematically screened for their contribution to improved natural resource management and climate change mitigation or adaptation. The project aims to ensure that 65 percent of Apr 15, 2021 Page 21 of 33 The World Bank Community-Based Recovery and Stabilization Project for the Sahel (P173830) Component 2 activities contribute to climate mitigation or adaptation and/or improved management of natural resources. Component 3: Regional dialogue, coordination and data and capacity building (US$ 52.5 million equivalent) 43. This component aims to strengthen regional collaboration and build local capacity to support a harmonized regional response to existing FCV drivers through a community-centered approach. This will be done via three sub-components focused on the regional, national, and local levels. At the regional level, the project will facilitate the establishment of a Knowledge Management Platform (KMP) to address gaps across three pillars - (i) data collection, (ii) analytics, and (iii) dialogue building activities that will support the establishment and implementation of a common regional vision in Liptako Gourma. The implementation of KMP activities will require the engagement of a range of stakeholders, including (i) universities and think tanks (particularly those from the Liptako-Gourma Region); (ii) international actors (e.g. G5, Sahel Alliance) and diplomats; (iii) humanitarian, human rights and development organizations working in the region (e.g. AFD); (iv) local, regional, national and technical government officials and policy makers (from the three countries); (v) local NGOs and Community Based Organizations (CBOs); and (vi) development and human rights practitioners. At the national level, the component will finance the bulk of activities by national actors that directly contribute to the three pillars of the platform. Lastly, at the local level, and drawing on common approaches supported by the platform, the project will reinforce institutional capacity for inclusive investment planning, citizen engagement, and social cohesion activities. These activities will also include dialogue and planning for climate change and resilience. Activities that will be financed by the project will not include the collection of personal data. Sub-component 3a: Strengthening Regional Collaboration for Recovery and Stabilization (US$2.5 million equivalent) 44. Sub-component 3a will finance activities related to the KMP implemented by the Liptako Gourma Authority (LGA). The LGA, as the sole regional organization comprising only of the three national parties, is well-positioned to support the coordination of KMP activities. To support implementation, the project will finance the establishment of a PIU within the LGA, staffed with both consultants and LGA-seconded staff. The LGA-managed activities will be gradually phased to progressively strengthen implementation capacity, and specialized agencies will be contracted to support implementation of core activities. The activities to be financed include complementary investments of a regional nature across the three pillars of data collection, analysis, and dialogue (see table 2). Table 2: Illustrative list of activities to be financed under sub-component 3a Pillar 1: Building an integrated and publicly available multi-layered database for Liptako Gourma drawing on Data Collection geospatial data, satellite imagery, and raster data, and linked to national data centers. Data activities will also pay particular attention to climate data that informs climate change risks and response (such as temperature and rainfall measurements). Financing relevant Information and Communication Technology (ICT) hardware, software, connectivity, datasets, access to expertise, and training to support the integrated data center. Supporting the harmonization of data collection and analysis methodology for perceptions surveys through workshops with participating countries. Pillar 2: Development of a regional catalogue existing national and regional research and report on the Liptako Analytics Gourma via a dedicated catalogue (this will include research on climate change and climate financing). Apr 15, 2021 Page 22 of 33 The World Bank Community-Based Recovery and Stabilization Project for the Sahel (P173830) Commissioning selective regional research focused on cross-border issues and specific security challenges that undermine regional development gains (including studies on the climate vulnerability context of the region). Assisting national parties to ensure complementarity of national scholarship programs. Standardizing relevant regional KMP trainings through training of trainers activities. Pillar 3: Supporting the organization of the annual regional workshops. Dialogue Building Hosting regional discussions to discuss key policy recommendations stemming from KMP reports. Support regional workshops with subnational actors in bordering local governments to cover pressing cross-border issues such as social cohesion, climate change, conflict prevention and management, and access to justice. 45. The sub-component will also finance the development and hosting of a novel digital KMP, drawing on inputs from the national parties and other KMP stakeholders. To ensure that the digital KMP reflects the needs and preferences of all KMP stakeholders, the LGA will commission a firm experienced in human- centered design to support a co-creation process in the development of the software. The digital KMP functions will mirror the KMP investments by providing digital visualization of its core activities and supporting actionable diagnostics to inform policymaking. Some examples of potential functions include: (i) eCatalog, creating a digital library of research and reports in the region, (ii) map composer and sector diagnostics, providing system-generated diagnostics drawing on integrated data center to display information on key trends, gaps, and alerts to guide local investments, and (iii) a project tracker to identify the types of investments across the region. In addition, the digital KMP will be linked to a Community- Driven Development (CDD) application (see sub-component 3c) to disseminate key regional lessons to target communities. The KMP will complement existing and future initiatives such as AFD’s knowledge platform (Plateforme d’analyse, de suivi et d’apprentissage au Sahel, PASAS) and G5’s Sahelian Center for Early Warning. LGA will also coordinate with the G5 Sahel, WAEMU and ECOWAS to support their involvement in the KMP. 46. The KMP will have a section on research and mobilization of climate financing (such as international performance-based financing in sequestering greenhouse gases and more specifically carbon –– with the Bio Carbon Fund and the Private Sector). These funds could then enable them to scale up investments and ensure sustainability of the project’s activities in the area. Sub-Component 3b: National Capacity Building for Regional Collaboration (US$15 million equivalent) 47. This sub-component will finance activities by national parties related to the KMP to support their contributions and fruitful engagement in the regional dialogue through the platform. As with sub- component 3a, investments are structured around three pillars: (i) data collection, (ii) analytics, and (iii) dialogue building activities. In terms of data collection, the sub-component will finance capacity building of institutions at the national and local level in data and monitoring, as well as investments in new data collection and consolidation. These investments will underpin regional diagnostics and new knowledge products. Analytics supported by the KMP will build on regional data to generate evidenced-based analysis for the development of regional and cross-border policy and programming. This is expected to influence the preparation of future cross-border activities, on trade, digital/energy services, etc. Lastly, the subcomponent will finance dialogue building activities, drawing on improved regional analysis, to support a common and sustainable regional response to the crisis. Across these three pillars, linkages will be Apr 15, 2021 Page 23 of 33 The World Bank Community-Based Recovery and Stabilization Project for the Sahel (P173830) established to support multi-level stakeholder engagement involving community groups, local governments institutions, national government and development partners to promote synergies with humanitarian and development investments in the region. Special emphasis will be given to the engagement of local governments in regional activities through a series of workshops and visits that foster peer to peer learning and strengthen cross-border collaboration. Climate change risks and impacts in the region will be an integral part of the activities of this sub-component. An illustrative list of activities is below in table 3. Table 3: Illustrative list of activities to be financed under sub-component 3b Pillar 1: National integrated data centers and hardware and software solutions required for data collection Data Collection and management (a particular focus will be given on climate change data). Development and monitoring of Liptako Gouma indicators, covering multi-dimensional indicators used to monitor and compare developments on several axes, including governance, socio-economic development, security and social cohesion, climate change vulnerabilities, etc. collected through surveys. Conducting community panel perception surveys in selected localities using a mix-methods approach designed to take stock of community needs, aspirations, and intra and inter-community dynamics. Build and update project registries to map investments by sector, partner, and coverage. Pillar 2: Finance national research capacity through partnerships with local universities and think tanks to Analytics strengthen the platform’s sustainability. This includes commissioning new research based on regional development priorities grants to partner universities to finance scholarships for selected Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) students. A focus will be given to study that focus on climate change risks and impacts in the region. Support university-sponsored regular knowledge sharing events, conferences, forums, field research or development of specific courses related to regional challenges (including climate change challenges). Targeted learning programs for PIU staff, civil servants from the three member states, research partners, local governments, and CSOs covering data analysis, the use of the KMP and related digital applications, and monitoring multi-dimensional Pillar 3: Collaboration events, such as workshops and forums, involving international, regional, and local Dialog Building government actors to coordinate on and promote a common vision for the peaceful and successful development of the Liptako-Gourma Region. An annual Liptako Gourma international forum which will be hosted on a rotational basis by each participating country, and with support from the LGA. This will serve as a high-visibility event to discuss regional development issues, existing national and regional initiatives, and possible collaboration to strengthen the impact of stabilization programs. Field visits and studies to document best practices in community-driven activities, sharing lessons across the different project target areas. Lessons learned, key insights, and agreed policy changes will also be communicated back to local governments and communities leveraging project-supported digital tools to enhance a fluid dialogue across all levels of government and improve two-way exchange with communities. Sub-Component 3c: Local level capacity-building, citizen engagement and social inclusion (US$ 35 million equivalent) 48. This sub-component aims to build national, subnational, and local institutional capacity to mobilize and empower communities and implement investments responsive to local needs. It will strengthen the capacity of local stakeholders to engage in inclusive and conflict- and climate-sensitive decision making to support the investment of funds under Components 1 and 2. Specifically, the sub- Apr 15, 2021 Page 24 of 33 The World Bank Community-Based Recovery and Stabilization Project for the Sahel (P173830) component will finance three interrelated sets of activities, covering (i) sub-project cycle implementation support, (ii) citizen engagement and social accountability, and (iii) youth mobilization, social inclusion and social cohesion activities. The activities will be implemented by Facilitating Partners (FPs), which are organizations specialized in community mobilization and capacity building support, contracted by national PIUs to cover specific geographic areas. The sub-component will cover the cost of community meetings; community and commune level workshop trainings; inter-community exchanges and learning events; capacity building activities for community institutions and commune governments; social accountability activities; technical assistance throughout annual investment cycles; and youth engagement and soft skills activities. 49. The FPs will be assigned specific communes to build capacity and provide technical assistance to local governments and community institutions throughout the annual investment cycle, which includes (i) community mobilization and orientation; (ii) participatory needs assessments and prioritization of investments; (iii) sub-project proposal developments to be included in Annual Investment Plans and Local Development Plan, (iv) implementation support; (v) participatory monitoring; and (vi) participatory operations and maintenance. Communities will be represented by Community Development Committees (CDCs), which can either consist of existing or newly establish groups based on local conditions. These CDCs will benefit from training and capacity building activities, including support for the elaboration or updating of LDPs or community emergency plans. Training will include strengthening capacities for disability inclusion, local level planning on climate adaptation and mitigation, and the development of climate change communication and sensitization strategies. 50. The sub-component will support community monitoring and citizen engagement activities, to enable meaningful participation of citizens in the project. The project will establish a two-pronged grievance redress mechanism (GRM) at the local and national levels to allow affected stakeholders to raise grievances and seek redress if and when they perceive that a negative impact has arisen from the project interventions. The grievance redress mechanism (GRM) will be designed in consultation with relevant government and non-government stakeholders. It will establish accessible processes including an IT platform to submit complaints as well as clear procedures from investigation to resolution and feedback. The GRM will include the provision for appeal if aggrieved parties are dissatisfied with the outcome. Community-level GRM committees will be established to allow for real-time feedback from project beneficiaries and will be composed of at least one female member and a youth. A communication campaign will be implemented aiming at informing beneficiaries and stakeholders on how to use the GRM and stipulating the investigation and resolution sequential process, timeline and procedures. A range of communication channels will be adopted to reach people with disabilities. To address Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Sexual Harassment (SEA/SH)-related complaints safely and ethically, specific procedures will be developed integrating SEA/SH channels into the project general GRM to allow for the safe and confidential management of SEA/SH grievances. 51. A simple and innovative CDD application will also be introduced to support community committees, facilitators, and local government engagement throughout the sub-project cycle. The CDD application will be customized to reflect the institutional arrangements and processes for each country and enhance two-way communication between communities and government. The digital tools will be gradually rolled out to ensure a simple user experience and any needed modifications will be made prior Apr 15, 2021 Page 25 of 33 The World Bank Community-Based Recovery and Stabilization Project for the Sahel (P173830) to their scale-up. The use of simple digital solutions is expected to strengthen the project’s community - centered approach by ensuring a regular flow of information, providing guidance throughout different stages of the sub-project, as well as enhancing transparency on sub-project approvals, available funding allocations, community needs, and financed investments. The CDD application will advance social inclusion objectives by tracking the needs and aspirations of different groups as recorded through focus group discussions, highlighting when their preferences are matched with actual investments.30 Collected data will also feed into the KMP, to inform regional dialogue. The sub-component will finance servers, training activities, and smartphones for community committees and facilitators. 52. Youth mobilization, social inclusion and social cohesion activities will be supported and embedded in the project’s community outreach and mobilization activities. To ensure the priorities of youth, women and disadvantaged groups are adequately considered, the project will engage these groups in identifying their needs and potential investment opportunities to be listed as part of the local development plans. An illustrative list of activities includes: • Community-based psychosocial support activities, including support for survivors of GBV (particularly for those with disabilities); • SEA/SH prevention sensitization trainings; • Inclusive and accessible sensitization sessions (e.g. on disability inclusion) and formation/training campaigns on non-violent methods of resolving conflicts, violence prevention, and de-stigmatization (and including also on climate action); • Cultural and sports events to promote collaboration, team spirit, and a positive identity of the people living in the Liptako-Gourma Region; • Comprehensive sport and art curricula to help youth (including those with disabilities) develop life skills and social-emotional learning and enhance their voice and constructive engagement with the community elders; as well as to help prevent gender-based violence. Component 4: Project Management (US$47 million equivalent) 53. Project management and implementation will follow a decentralized approach using, as much as possible, the existing government structures at the national, subnational, and local levels, as well as local- level community institutions (to be established or strengthened). The component will finance the three national-level PIUs to carry out day-to-day project management responsibilities for Components 1 and 2, and sub-components 3b and 3c, namely (i) the planning, implementation, and technical oversight of program activities; (ii) effective social and environmental risks management; and (iii) financial 30 The CDD applications core functions include: (i) e-capacity building, including instructional material with concrete guidance for community committees, facilitators, and local governments on their role at different stages of the annual investment cycles, (ii) community diagnostics, designed to support the mapping of available infrastructure and services and document prioritized needs by different groups, (iii) sub-project cycle, which allows communities to submit agreed investment proposal, track approvals, and monitor implementation, (iv) community pulse surveys, consisting of high-frequency or on demand surveys to gain regular community insights to help project implementation, (v) community scorecards to allow citizens to assess sub-projects, and (vi) a GRM through multiple channels (analogue, feature phones, smartphones, web form) for citizens to voice complaints, concerns or provide feedback on project activities. Apr 15, 2021 Page 26 of 33 The World Bank Community-Based Recovery and Stabilization Project for the Sahel (P173830) management and procurement. The arrangements for project coordination will be determined at preparation stage. Relevant government agencies at the regional, national, sub-national and local levels will be involved in the implementation process with adequate capacity building support. Activities will include: (i) communication support; (ii) monitoring and evaluation (M&E) arrangements, including the set- up of a Management Information System (MIS); and (iii) measures for enhanced transparency and accountability. Data produced under Component 3 will feed directly into project supervision and oversight. The component will also strengthen the PIUs’ capacities to monitor project activities, while supporting an improved understanding of greenhouse gas (GHG) sources and trends, design mitigation strategies, and policy actions in the face of climate change. 54. The complicated security situation in each of the three countries will require a layered approach to project management and supervision as the WBG staff and consultants are unable to travel to many of the subproject sites. This layered approach will include a third-party monitoring (TPM) agency in each country, which may be a local NGO, as well as the creation of digital project monitoring and mapping platform for subprojects through the Geo-Enabled Monitoring and Supervision (GEMS) initiative.31 Both angles of this approach are outlined in more detail below: • TPM: Each of the PIU will recruit a TPM that may be a local NGO, civil society organization (CSO) or firm and which will be tasked with monitoring (i) specific crucial activities under each component; (ii) social and environmental risk management; and (iii) the local context and evolving security situation. The TPM will be reinforced by continuous community engagement and feedback which will also be regularly monitored. The TPM will be expected to undertake at least two field missions per year, if the security conditions allow for it and to use innovative technology as well as perception surveys to better understand the situation and project implementation results on the ground. TMP is not intended to substitute existing country monitoring and security assessment systems, but rather to serve as an additional source of information to support project implementation. The work of the TPM and the issues that they raise will be discussed during implementation support missions. The actors that will be implementing the TPM is also expected to cooperate closely with the communities and communities’ monitoring system of project activities, where established. In addition to this TPM which will be financed and implemented by the clients themselves, the World Bank will also seek for funding (possibly with external partnership) to complement the work of the client TPM with a World Bank financed and managed TPM. • GEMS: To systematically implement the GEMS method, a capacity-building training will be organized for local project coordinators, M&E specialists, TPM32 and WBG staff supervising the project. In addition, it will be ensured that contracts for works under this project will include an adequate budget for security costs as part of the contracts. The GEMS will also be integrated into the CDD application financed under sub-component 3c to strengthen community monitoring mechanisms and ensure that investments can be easily monitored in real-time. 31 The PIM will outline specific links in the flow of information and complementarities with state security structures. 32The project will explore if the TPM can use the GEMS methodology for (part of) their work on monitoring the situation on the ground; due to this, TPM staff would be included in the local capacity building training, or that a separate training will be organized for just them. Apr 15, 2021 Page 27 of 33 The World Bank Community-Based Recovery and Stabilization Project for the Sahel (P173830) 55. Project management will be undertaken in close coordination with security and justice forces. Social risks, including human security, will be monitored on a continuous basis by the PIUs using a system that includes monitoring and mitigation mechanisms at the community, project, and national level as well as ICT and other innovations for remote monitoring. Furthermore, a security protocol for the PIU staff and beneficiaries who participate in project activities will be detailed in the PIM. Component 5: Contingent Emergency Response Component (CERC) (US$0 million equivalent) 56. This zero-budget component will establish a contingency fund that could be triggered in the event of a man-made crises or disasters, through formal declaration of a national emergency, or upon a formal request from one of the Governments. This can include a response to communicable diseases, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. In the event of such a man-made crises or disasters, funds from the unallocated expenditure category or from other project components could be reallocated to finance emergency response expenditures to meet emergency needs. This component will therefore support Burkina Faso’s, Mali’s and Niger’s emergency preparedness and response capacity. This also includes the financing of post-crisis and/or disaster critical emergency goods, or emergency recovery and associated services, as well as targeted provision of post-crisis and/or disaster support to affected households and individuals. Implementation arrangements for the immediate response mechanism will be outlined in the PIM that the Borrower will prepare. . . Legal Operational Policies Triggered? Projects on International Waterways OP 7.50 Yes Projects in Disputed Areas OP 7.60 No Summary of Assessment of Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts . 57. While the activities that will be financed by this project are expected to have limited environmental and social impacts, they will be implemented in a fragile and highly volatile environment that is facing extreme insecurity and violence. As a result, the contextual risks related to insecurity and conflict far outweigh the direct environmental and social risks that are likely to be generated by the implementation of project activities. These contextual risks are serious and are likely to increase (or change) during the life of the project. During preparation, all environmental and social risks have been carefully screened. 58. The following environmental and social standards (ESSs) are applicable in this project: ESS1, ESS2, ESS3, ESS4, ESS5, ESS6, ESS8 and ESS10. The following instruments have been prepared and disclosed as follows: Apr 15, 2021 Page 28 of 33 The World Bank Community-Based Recovery and Stabilization Project for the Sahel (P173830) • The Environmental and Social Management Frameworks have been disclosed in-country and on the World Bank site on April 13 (Burkina Faso)33, April 14 (Niger)34 and April 15 (Mali)35. • The Resettlement Policy Frameworks have been disclosed in-country and on the World Bank site on April 13 (Burkina Faso)36, April 14 (Niger)37 and April 15 (Mali)38. • The Labor Management Plans have been disclosed in-country and on the World Bank site on April 13 (Burkina Faso)39, April 14 (Niger)40 and April 15 (Mali)41. • The Stakeholder Engagement Plans have been disclosed in-country and on the World Bank site on April 13 (Burkina Faso)42, April 14 (Niger)43 and April 15 (Mali)44. 59. The Environmental and Social Commitment Plans with be finalized and disclosed at negotiations. The Pest Management Plans and Security Management Plans (together with summaries of the already finalized Security Risk Analyses) will be finalized and disclosed before project effectiveness. E. Implementation Institutional and Implementation Arrangements 60. A designated ministry will be the project implementing entity responsible for overall implementation of the project in each country. The implementing entities will set up PIUs to support implementation and undertake fiduciary responsibility. The national PIUs in each country will be responsible for managing the project at the national level and producing national progress reports on the 33 Link for disclosure of instrument in-country: https://dgdt-bf.org/2021/04/13/cadre-de-gestion- environnementale-et-sociale-du-projet-pcrss/ and https://www.finances.gov.bf/fileadmin/user_upload/storage/Cadre_de_gestion_environnementale_et_sociale_du _projet_PCRSS.pdf 34 Link for disclosure of instrument in-country: https://sds-sahelniger.org/avis-de-publication/ 35 Link for disclosure of instrument in-country: https://www.finances.gouv.ml/ 36 Link for disclosure of instrument in-country: https://dgdt-bf.org/2021/04/12/cadre-politique-de-reinstallation- du-projet-pcrss/ and https://www.finances.gov.bf/fileadmin/user_upload/storage/Cadre_politique_de_r__R_installation_du_projet_PC RRSS.pdf 37 Link for disclosure of instrument in-country: https://sds-sahelniger.org/avis-de-publication/ 38 Link for disclosure of instrument in-country: https://www.finances.gouv.ml/ 39 Link for disclosure of instrument in-country: https://dgdt-bf.org/2021/04/12/procedures-de-gestion-de-la-main- doeuvre-du-projet-communautaire-de-relance-de-stabilisation-du-sahel-pcrss/ and https://www.finances.gov.bf/fileadmin/user_upload/storage/Proc__R_dure_de_gestion_de_la_main_d_oeuvre_d u_projet_PCRSS.pdf 40 Link for disclosure of instrument in-country: https://sds-sahelniger.org/avis-de-publication/ 41 Link for disclosure of instrument in-country: https://www.finances.gouv.ml/ 42 Link for disclosure of instrument in-country: https://dgdt-bf.org/2021/04/12/plan-de-mobilisation-des-parties- prenantes-du-projet-pcrss/ and https://www.finances.gov.bf/fileadmin/user_upload/storage/Plan_de_mobilisation_des_parties__prenantes_du_ projet_PCRSS.pdf 43 Link for disclosure of instrument in-country: https://sds-sahelniger.org/avis-de-publication/ 44 Link for disclosure of instrument in-country: https://www.finances.gouv.ml/ Apr 15, 2021 Page 29 of 33 The World Bank Community-Based Recovery and Stabilization Project for the Sahel (P173830) project. This includes financial, procurement, environmental and social risk management and M&E, in accordance with WBG guidelines and procedures. The national PIUs will be responsible for the implementation of the Components 1, 2, 3b and 3c and 4 (and 5, when triggered). The respective implementing entities and PIUs are shown in table 4. Table 4: National-level Ministries and Executing Agencies Responsible for the Project Country Country Implementing Entity Project Implementation Unit Local level institutions Burkina Ministry of Economy, A PIU will be established under the General Local government (communes), Faso Finance, and Directorate of Territorial Development of in rural areas: Village Development (MINEFID) MINEFID (Direction Générale du Développement Development Councils; in urban Territorial, DGDT) with regional antennas in areas: Community-based Sahel, Nord, and Centre Nord under the Regional organizations Directorate of Economy and Planning (DREP). Mali Ministry of Economy and A Project Coordination Unit (PCU) will be Local governments, Comité Finance established under the Ministry of Finance with d’Orientation, de Coordination regional antennas in Gao, Mopti and Ménaka. et de Suivi des Actions de Développement (COCSAD), and local development committees Niger Cabinet of the Prime A PIU will be established under the Executive Local governments (communes) Minister Secretariat for the Development and Security of and local development Sahelian-Saharan Areas of Niger (SE/SDS Sahel- committees Niger). 61. The PIUs will be headed by project coordinators, supported by a core team of specialists in procurement, financial management (FM), environmental and social (E&S) risk management, and M&E. They will also be supported by a team of technical specialists (e.g. in community mobilization, conflict prevention, livelihoods, territorial development, infrastructure and natural resource management) that will be financed by IDA, and seconded staff as relevant from different ministries. Additional specialists will be contracted based on individual country requirements under IDA financing. While the community and local governments will play a role in identifying and prioritizing the investments (under Components 1 and 2), the PIUs will be overall responsible for project implementation, including through delegating execution to MODs (in the case of Mali); or contracting implementing partners like NGOs, national agencies, private/ local contractors, CSOs and UN agencies (such as UNOPs), etc. The PIU will also partner with local authorities to implement project activities, with arrangements tailored to each component, as needed. The PIUs will rely on regional implementation units (regional antennas, RAs) for coordinating project activities, working closely with government entities at the regional and local government (commune) levels. In addition, given security related access restrictions, a TPM agency will be recruited by the PIUs to ensure compliance to the implementation guidelines to be specified in the PIMs. 62. At the regional level, the LGA will establish a unit for the implementation of sub-component 3a. The team will be headed by a project coordinator, along with a core team of specialists. The core team of specialists will consist of a procurement specialist, a FM specialist, and an additional specialist to support activities related to the KMP. A Regional Coordinating Committee (RCC) will be set up to coordinate strategies, establish a common vision, and coordinate investments in the region. The RCC will organize Apr 15, 2021 Page 30 of 33 The World Bank Community-Based Recovery and Stabilization Project for the Sahel (P173830) regional forums each year and rely on the KMP for the monitoring, sharing, and collating information, which will be supported by LGA. Regional coordination sessions are expected to be held every six months. Development partners, donors and key regional partners may be invited as observers for these sessions. The RCC will rotate presidencies amongst Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. The country presiding will also have their national PIU serve as the secretariat for the Regional Coordinating Committee (that is, if Burkina Faso is presiding, then the Burkina Faso PIU will be responsible for the secretariat function). Table 5 details the roles and responsibilities of the RCC and the National Steering Committees (NSCs) / National Review Committee. 63. An existing National Review Committee for Burkina Faso and new NSCs to be established in Mali and Niger at the national level will guide and oversee the implementation of the project. These NSCs will coordinate closely with the committee at the regional level. Table 5: Key Project-related Institutions and their Roles and Responsibilities Membership Roles and Responsibilities Regional Around three representatives of each • Provide implementation oversight of the Coordination country (including representatives of the regional program. Committee respective project line ministries, the (RCC) respective project coordinators, one • Guide, advise, and support knowledge representative of the local authorities by generation and learning as well as regional country), one representative of the LGA and policy dialogue and harmonization. representatives of key donors and regional • Conduct regular discussions and a review of (i) organizations (such as the G5 Sahel and the project activities (at a general level); and (ii) a Sahel Alliance, etc.). common action plan for the project. • The RCC will be responsible for preparing the draft statement/ action plan to be agreed during the annual forum/ planned collaboration events. NSC/ National Chaired by a high-level representative of the • Strategic guidance and oversight of project Review responsible lead ministry in charge of the management; Committee project or his/her designee. Members may • coordination; and include: (i) relevant sectoral ministries, (ii) • implementation, including approving the the associations of local authorities and (iii) annual work plans and budgets of the relevant civil society, and (iv) relevant implementing implementation levels. agencies. Other relevant stakeholders, including development and humanitarian agencies and organizations may be invited to sessions of the committee on an as- needed basis. 64. Detailed PIMs will be prepared for the three participating countries and for the LGA before project effectiveness. They will detail roles and responsibilities at the regional, national, subnational, and local levels and implementation arrangements for the project components, the technical activities, E&S safeguard management, M&E, FM, and procurement procedures. For each participating country, dated legal covenants include the . appointment of an internal and an external auditor. Apr 15, 2021 Page 31 of 33 The World Bank Community-Based Recovery and Stabilization Project for the Sahel (P173830) CONTACT POINT World Bank Nicolas Perrin Lead Social Development Specialist Gertrude Marie Mathilda Coulibaly Zombre Senior Social Development Specialist Johanna Damboeck Social Development Specialist Richard Abdulnour Senior Water Specialist Borrower/Client/Recipient Republic of Niger - Ministry of Planning Moussa Mai Moussa Mai Moussa Department Lead maimoussa05@gmail.com Burkina Faso - Ministry of Economy, Finance and Development Martial Bassole Directeur Général de Développement du Territoire mbassole@gmail.com Mali - Ministry of Economy and Finance Diakaridia DEMBELE Conseiller Technique diak28@yahoo.fr Implementing Agencies Burkina Faso PIU (under DGDT) Martial Bassole Directeur Général de Développement du Territoire mbassole@gmail.com Executive Secretariat for the SDS Sahel Niger (SE/SDS Sahel-Niger) Laoualy Ada Secrétaire Exécutif ada.laoualy@yahoo.fr Apr 15, 2021 Page 32 of 33 The World Bank Community-Based Recovery and Stabilization Project for the Sahel (P173830) The Authority for the Integrated Development of the Liptako-Gourma Region Saïdou OUA Secrétaire Exécutif ouasaidou@liptakogourma.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 Nicolas Perrin Gertrude Marie Mathilda Coulibaly Zombre Task Team Leader(s): Johanna Damboeck Richard Abdulnour Approved By Practice Manager/Manager: Country Director: Claire Kfouri 15-Apr-2021 Apr 15, 2021 Page 33 of 33