The World Bank Sikasso- Korhogo-bobo-dioulasso (skbo) Basin Of Integration - Burkina Faso (P181499) Concept Environmental and Social Review Summary Concept Stage (ESRS Concept Stage) Public Disclosure Date Prepared/Updated: 04/19/2024 | Report No: ESRSC04256 Jan 24, 2025 Page 1 of 8 The World Bank Sikasso- Korhogo-bobo-dioulasso (skbo) Basin Of Integration - Burkina Faso (P181499) I. BASIC INFORMATION A. Basic Operation Data Operation ID Product Operation Acronym Approval Fiscal Year P181499 Investment Project Financing (IPF) SKBo Basin of 2025 Integration- BF Operation Name Sikasso- Korhogo-Bobo-Dioulasso (SKBo) Basin of Integration - Burkina Faso Country/Region Code Beneficiary country/countries Region Practice Area (Lead) (borrower, recipient) Burkina Faso Burkina Faso WESTERN AND CENTRAL Transport AFRICA Borrower(s) Implementing Agency(ies) Estimated Appraisal Date Estimated Board Date Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Infrastructure and 18-Feb-2025 31-Mar-2025 Finance and Accessibility Prospective Public Disclosure Estimated Concept Total Project Cost Review Date 15-Mar-2024 200,000,000.00 Proposed Development Objective The Project Development Objective (PDO) is to improve multimodal connectivity to support value chains and sub- regional trade in the SKBo basin. B. Is the operation being prepared in a Situation of Urgent Need of Assistance or Capacity Constraints, as per Bank IPF Policy, para. 12? No C. Summary Description of Proposed Project Activities The proposed project aims to facilitate the integration of the subregion and the development of trade by improving road and rail infrastructure to meet development challenges through an integrated development approach within SKBo. As such, the project will promote the concept of Basin of Integration and Stability to finance the development of climate resilient and redundant transport network, namely the railway line Ouagadougou - Cote d'Ivoire Border, the rehabilitation of the missing road sections (RN11), and the feeder roads connecting to it to rural agricultural areas and Jan 24, 2025 Page 2 of 8 The World Bank Sikasso- Korhogo-bobo-dioulasso (skbo) Basin Of Integration - Burkina Faso (P181499) secondary cities to support value chains and sub-regional trade. The proposed project is being processed as a Series of Projects (SOP). The SOP approach will allow the participation of potential additional countries in the future such as Mali and Cote d’Ivoire, and expansion to other sectors. This approach will allow for a programmatic-phased engagement according to the country’s needs, program readiness and availability of resources. D. Environmental and Social Overview D.1 Overview of Environmental and Social Project Settings The Sikasso-Korhogo-Bobo Dioulasso (SKBo) cross border zone is located in the western part of Burkina Faso, the eastern part of Mali and the northern part of Côte d'Ivoire. SKBo was created in 2005 by the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) to develop joint projects. The proposed project will intervene only in Burkina Faso, a landlocked country characterized by a savanna gradually giving way to sparse wooded areas from the north to the south. The country is affected by natural hazards, and impacts are expected to intensify with climate change. Around sixty ethnic groups live within the country with a population that is growing rapidly at 3 percent per annum. The working age population is characterized by a low educational attainment, and high illiteracy rates. Burkina Faso’s economy is still heavily reliant on agriculture and mining, which contribute the bulk of its export revenues. Women and young people, mainly those living in rural areas, are the most disadvantaged. Regarding economic opportunities, female-headed households are more likely to be poor than those headed by men. Women’s labor force participation was rated at 58.3 percent, versus 73.1 percent for men, in 2022 (https://genderdata.worldbank.org/countries/burkina- faso). Furthermore, the country is facing a difficult social and political environment (two military coups successively in two years) and a challenging security situation. Progress is made in terms of gender equality, but major gaps remain mainly in human endowment, economic opportunities, voice, and agency. Gender-based violence is a concern Public Disclosure considering that harmful practices such as early marriage and female genital mutilation (https://www.unfpa.org/data/fgm/BF) persist. D.2 Overview of Borrower’s Institutional Capacity for Managing Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts The proposed project implementation arrangements have been not yet clearly established. Based on preliminary discussions, it is most likely that the project will be implemented by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Development (MID), through an existing implementing agency called the Permanent Secretariat of the Transport Sector Program – PS/TSP. This agency is experienced with the implementation of the World Bank financed projects and is therefore familiar World Bank environmental and social safeguards policies. In addition, PS/TSP has attended several trainings on ESF requirements held by Burkina Country Office E&S experts. Nevertheless, PS/TSP will likely establish a project coordinating unit (PCU) with qualified staff and sufficient resources to support the management of the Project-related E&SS risks. PCU will include an environmental specialist, a social development specialist, a SEA/SH specialist, and a security officer. Based on the magnitude of civil works expected in the proposed project, environment and social development assistants will be hired to support close monitoring of the implementation of mitigation measures in the field. The capacity of E&S specialists and assistants will be built up by the World Bank team to ensure project compliance with the ESF and project's E&S commitments. The E&S specialists will be recruited early at the preparation stage using the Project Preparation Advance (PPA) resources. The recruitment will be based on terms of reference (TOR) acceptable to the Bank to implement environmental and social requirements in accordance with borrower's commitments. The recruitment report along with the CVs of the selected candidates will be reviewed by the Bank, to ensure conformity with the TOR and the final selection will also be cleared by the Bank. Capacity building of the national system is underway mainly the creation of a social risk management department within the national environmental and social agency is still awaited. Jan 24, 2025 Page 3 of 8 The World Bank Sikasso- Korhogo-bobo-dioulasso (skbo) Basin Of Integration - Burkina Faso (P181499) II. SCREENING OF POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL RISKS AND IMPACTS A. Environmental and Social Risk Classification (ESRC) Substantial A.1 Environmental Risk Rating Substantial The environmental risk is rated as “Substantial” at this stage due to the range of activities and the substantial environmental risks and impacts that may result from these activities. The key activities include: (i) rehabilitation of 115 km of the RN11 Banfora - Sidéradougou – Ouo; (ii) emergency works on the existing Ouagadougou-Bobo- Dioulasso-Côte d'Ivoire border railway line including track and ballast renewal, bridges and hydraulic structures; (iii) building community infrastructure and rural access roads to support local economic development and open up agricultural production zones; iv) providing decarbonized Intermediate Means of Transport in the context of a pilot project for electric 2 and 3-wheelers ; (v) construction of commercial and agricultural logistics facilities (markets, storage, multi-functional platforms and distribution centers); (vi) implementing trade facilitation and resource pooling measures ; and (vii) construction of logistics infrastructure along the corridors. The key potential risks and impacts associated with the expected activities are related to: (i) resource efficiency and pollution prevention and management (sourcing of raw materials for civil works, water and energy use, dust, noise, potential contamination of water sources due to construction waste (hazardous and non-hazardous); (ii) occupational and community health and safety as well as human security due to the civil works in crowed areas; (iii) the loss of natural vegetation due to the rights of way of the works and biodiversity risks associated with habitat destruction and the creation of areas where materials are borrowed and (iv) risk related to insecurity in the project area, etc. Public Disclosure Substantial A.2 Social Risk Rating The project social risk is rated Substantial at this stage considering the expected activities and as implementation's sites of these activities are not yet certainly known. Based on the description of the expected activities, the implementation of proposed project may be associated with the social risks related to (i) labor and working conditions, including child labor and forced labor, sexual exploitation and abuse and sexual harassment due to some labor influx, health and safety of both workers and local communities during civil works, (ii) risk of incidents and accidents during civil works both for workers and communities, (iii) social conflicts due to the lack of communication on the project’s benefits and/or multi-actors management issues as some expected investments will be carried out in crowded areas where several stakeholders with different interests for the project, will be involved, (iv) social exclusion mainly for Internal Displaced Populations and vulnerable groups from using commercial and agricultural facilities, (v) land acquisition, economic displacement and involuntary resettlement compensation, etc. Despite that the security risk is not at the high level in the western and southern part of Burkina Faso where the project will be implemented, it could be an important issue based on the volatile and the recurrent deterioration of the situation along the country that could spill over to these areas. B. Relevance of Standards and Policies at Concept Stage B.1 Relevance of Environmental and Social Standards ESS1 - Assessment and Management of Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts Relevant Jan 24, 2025 Page 4 of 8 The World Bank Sikasso- Korhogo-bobo-dioulasso (skbo) Basin Of Integration - Burkina Faso (P181499) E&S risks and impacts associated with civil works are expected to be limited and reversible with appropriate measures to avoid, minimize, and compensate potential impacts. Given that investment sites have not yet known for activities under component2, the Environmental and Social Management Framework of BF-Secondary cities Urban Mobility and Development Project (P177918), will be updated by appraisal. The ESMF will provide guidance on risk assessment, screening process, and will guide the preparation of subsequent ESIA/ESMP once investment’s sites are known. The ESMF might include measures related to the project identified E&S risks including EHSGs' provision for occupational and community health and safety. Site-ESIAs might be prepared and disclosed before the commencement of civil works. ESIAs will be prepared and disclosed prior to the project approval for known sites. The Environmental and Social Commitment Plan will be prepared to monitor E&S performances by appraisal. ESS10 - Stakeholder Engagement and Information Disclosure Relevant The project will prepare a Stakeholder Engagement Plan in consultation with the key stakeholders including those who could be affected directly by the project. The SEP will identify clearly the key stakeholders that will be involve within the project including vulnerable groups associated with the project, outline the characteristics and interests of stakeholder groups, and include timing and methods of engagement throughout the project lifecycle. It will be built on a consultation and participation process throughout the project cycle to ensure that key stakeholders fully understand the objectives of the project, the processes, the benefits, and how they can participate effectively. The SEP includes a project-level, Grievance Mechanism to assure safe and confidential documentation, the response and management complaints. The GM shall be transparent and accessible to all key stakeholders. The SEP will be consulted upon and disclosed within the country and on Bank's website. Public Disclosure ESS2 - Labor and Working Conditions Relevant Based on expected activities, the proposed project will involve direct workers as well as contracted and supply workers. The Labor Management Procedures of BF-Secondary cities Urban Mobility and Development Project (P177918) will be updated to reflect the proposed project context. It will establish the terms and conditions of employment as well as non-discrimination and equality of opportunity, the freedom to associate with workers’ organizations, exclusion of child by indicating applicable rules of minimum age, forced labor from project activities, prevention and control against SEA/H, outlining adequate occupational health and safety measures and a labor grievance mechanism. These requirements will be reflected in the Project Implementation Manual. The project's team and contractors will require to sign code of conduct that would address community health and safety. Trainings will be held for workers before the beginning of works. The LMP will be disclosed by the country and Bank. ESS3 - Resource Efficiency and Pollution Prevention and Management Relevant The proposed activities will likely have implications for Resource Efficiency and Pollution prevention and management due to the consumption of energy, water, and raw material, and the management and disposal of wastes. It is anticipated that dust and noise will be generated during works and affect most likely workers and people living close to the work sites. Short-term nuisance both to workers and close neighbors, solid waste and potentially hazardous wastes which will primarily include excavated soil and solid wastes could also generated from expected works. Mitigation measures to deal with all mentioned risks (improving the efficient use of energy, water, and raw materials, dust suppression and vehicle maintenance, etc.) will be incorporated into the C-ESMP. Contractors will be required to Jan 24, 2025 Page 5 of 8 The World Bank Sikasso- Korhogo-bobo-dioulasso (skbo) Basin Of Integration - Burkina Faso (P181499) prepare, as part of their C-ESMPs, a waste management plan in line with national laws and regulations, and the Good International Industry Practices of hazardous wastes. ESS4 - Community Health and Safety Relevant Based on civil works planned under component1 and 2, the overall risks and impacts to community health and safety are considered to be significant. Mitigation measures will be stipulated clearly in the Contractor’s ESMPs, and contractors will be fully responsible for preparing a security management plan for the project sites. The scale of the labor influx associated with the project activities should be moderate risk rating at this stage. Therefore, mitigation measures to be outlined in ESMPs will provide safe and confidential venues to report complaints including SEA/H. A code of conduct (CdC) for ensuring community health and safety, will be prepared and included in bidding documents. All workers involved the project are required to sign CoC and contractors are responsible for ensuring workers’ compliance with. Despite that security risk is lower in the project area, the situation could spill over. A security assessment will be carried out and measures will be set out in the SMP. ESS5 - Land Acquisition, Restrictions on Land Use and Involuntary Resettlement Relevant It is expected that activities under components1 and 2, to respectively carry out infrastructure works on road and rail corridors and building community infrastructure and rural access roads, providing commercial and agricultural logistics facilities and distribution centers, improving logistics infrastructure along the corridors leading to Côte d'Ivoire and Mali to facilitate cross-border trade. These activities could impact private property and lead to land acquisition, land use and involuntary resettlement issues. As investment sites are not yet known certainly to date for Public Disclosure activities under component 2, the Resettlement Policy Framework of BF-Secondary cities Urban Mobility and Development Project (P177918) will be updated and guided the preparation of subsequent Resettlement Action Plans once subproject sites are known and well delimited. The RPF will be disclosed prior to appraisal. For known activities (ie: rehabilitation of 115 km of the RN11), RAPs are directly required. ESS6 - Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Natural Relevant Resources The proposed project is not expected to involve protected areas and biodiversity sites. At this stage, there is no greenfield construction foreseen but upgrading or rehabilitating existing sites. Therefore, the ESMF will provide guidance on screening and mitigation measures to ensure that project activities do not alter or cause destruction of any critical or sensitive natural habitats. The mitigation measures will be applied during project implementation : minimize loss of vegetation by clearly delineating work areas and limiting clearing to these areas as well as limiting access to neighboring areas, minimize clearing of vegetation where possible, selectively felling by avoiding protected species cut, compensation reforestation with impacted local trees species, ensuring the monitoring of reforestation to avoid any net loss of biodiversity taking into account the mortality rate. ESS7 - Indigenous Peoples/Sub-Saharan African Historically Underserved Traditional Not Currently Relevant Local Communities There are no known Indigenous Peoples/Sub-Saharan African Historically Undeserved Traditional Local Communities in the project area. Jan 24, 2025 Page 6 of 8 The World Bank Sikasso- Korhogo-bobo-dioulasso (skbo) Basin Of Integration - Burkina Faso (P181499) ESS8 - Cultural Heritage Relevant It is not anticipated that the project will have a potential impact on known cultural heritage. However, the project will finance activities involving excavation. SAW4's country diagnostic screening for Burkina Faso has listed identified cultural heritages registered in the national register located in the general area of the proposed project. ESMF as well as ESIAs will clearly identify cultural heritages in the proposed project areas, that might be affected by project activities, and include provisions and procedures to follow in case of “Chance Finds”. C-ESMPs and bid documents mainly contracts should include a “Chance Finds” clause with recommendation to stop works once cultural property sites are encountered. In case of an important identified cultural heritage or high impacts and risks, a CHMP will be part of the ESIA. In line with the mitigation hierarchy, known cultural heritage will be avoided disclosure of information will be limited the protection one. ESS9 - Financial Intermediaries Not Currently Relevant The project will not involve an FI. B.2 Legal Operational Policies that Apply OP 7.50 Operations on International Waterways No OP 7.60 Operations in Disputed Areas No Public Disclosure B.3 Other Salient Features Use of Borrower Framework In Part Borrower Framework will be completed by ESF requirements about identified ES risks and impacts management. Use of Common Approach No NA C. Overview of Required Environmental and Social Risk Management Activities C.1 What Borrower environmental and social analyses, instruments, plans and/or frameworks are planned or required by Appraisal? The Borrower will prepare: - an Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP) by appraisal - ESIA/ESMP for identified sites by approval - subsequent RAPs for identified sites if applicable by approval Based on the recent experience with preparing of a similar operation, the Borrower will update the following instruments form the BF-Secondary cities Urban Mobility and Development Project (P177918), by appraisal: -Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) -Labor Management Procedures (LMP) Jan 24, 2025 Page 7 of 8 The World Bank Sikasso- Korhogo-bobo-dioulasso (skbo) Basin Of Integration - Burkina Faso (P181499) -Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) -Resettlement Policy Framework (RPF) -Security due diligence assessment and Security Management Plan (SMP) All these instruments will be disclosed both in-country and on the World Bank's website. III. CONTACT POINT World Bank Task Team Leader: Malaika Becoulet Title: Senior Transport Specialist Email: mbecoulet@worldbank.org IV. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT The World Bank 1818 H Street, NW Public Disclosure Washington, D.C. 20433 Telephone: (202) 473-1000 Web: http://www.worldbank.org/projects V. APPROVAL Task Team Leader(s): Malaika Becoulet ADM Environmental Specialist: Yacouba Ouedraogo ADM Social Specialist: Fatoumata Diallo Jan 24, 2025 Page 8 of 8