The World Bank Gulf Of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion Project (P175043) Additional Financing Appraisal Environmental and Social Review Summary Appraisal Stage (AF ESRS Appraisal Stage) Public Disclosure Date Prepared/Updated: 02/05/2025 | Report No: ESRSAFA933 Feb 05, 2025 Page 1 of 14 The World Bank Gulf Of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion Project (P175043) I. BASIC INFORMATION A. Basic Operation Data Operation ID Product Operation Acronym Approval Fiscal Year P175043 Investment Project Financing (IPF) Northern Gulf of Guinea 2022 Regional Project Operation Name Gulf of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion project Country/Region Code Beneficiary country/countries Region Practice Area (Lead) (borrower, recipient) Western and Central Benin, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Togo WESTERN AND CENTRAL Social Sustainability and Africa AFRICA Inclusion Borrower(s) Implementing Agency(ies) Estimated Appraisal Date Estimated Board Date Republic of Benin, General Secretariat of the Presidency 05-Feb-2025 28-Feb-2025 Republic of Côte (Benin), Ministry of Local Government d’Ivoire, Republic of Decentralisation and Rural Ghana, Republic of Development (Ghana), National Public Disclosure Togo Community Development Support Agency (ANADEB) (Togo), Prime Minister’s Office (Côte d’Ivoire) Estimated Decision Total Project Cost Review Date 03-Feb-2025 506,000,000.00 Proposed Development Objective to improve regional collaboration and the socioeconomic and climate resilience of border-zone communities in the target northern regions of the Gulf of Guinea countries exposed to conflict and climate risks. 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 Feb 05, 2025 Page 2 of 14 The World Bank Gulf Of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion Project (P175043) Summary Description of Proposed Additional Financing for Benin The AF will support the Government of Benin in addressing the inflow of refugees by scaling-up the delivery of socio-economic infrastructure and income generating activities aimed at bolstering the medium- and long-term resilience of both refugee and host communities. The Project initiative will aid the government’s efforts to mitigate fragility factors arising from spillovers of the Sahel conflict, compounded by internal challenges related to inadequate and uneven access to public services and economic opportunities. It will also contribute to preventing an increase in fragility associated with the continuous arrival of refugees and to strengthening resilience and social cohesion. The parent project, COSO was approved on March 31, 2022, as a regional project targeting the northern regions of the Gulf of Guinea countries, namely Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Togo. For COSO in Benin, the Financing Agreement for US$90 million in IDA resources was signed on April 26, 2022, and became effective on September 20, 2022. The project is structured around 5 components. Component 1, on Investing in Community Resiliency and Inclusion, promotes a community-driven approach to development through a mix of complementary socioeconomic investments centered around the most vulnerable identified village clusters. Component 2, on Building Foundation and Capacity for Inclusive and Resilient Communities, finances various training and capacity-building activities that can build the capacity of local stakeholders to support or manage community- resilient and inclusive investments. Component 3, on Regional Coordination Platform and Dialogue, established a regional coordination platform through data collection and analysis, knowledge generation, and dialogue building to inform joint regional responses to shared FCV risks. Component 4 is about project management, and component 5 provides a contingent emergency funding mechanism that could be triggered in the event of a natural or man-made disaster and/or health crisis. As the crisis in the Sahel deepens with increased violence and attacks by armed terrorist groups fueling greater cross border and internal displacement and growing insecurity in the region, the COSO project is being called upon to respond with a scale up of its coverage activities, with a focus on the areas impacted by Public Disclosure displacement. Under the additional financing, the project’s core focus will remain unchanged, directing its activities to areas with refugee populations, and adapting its implementation mechanisms to ensure the inclusion of refugee and host communities in mobilization processes. The participatory process for identifying priority local investments will be amended to ensure the adequate participation of displaced populations. Strategies for investing in local economic development will be informed by the livelihood needs of refugee populations and hosts. Capacity building activities will be guided by recent evidence on effective approaches to promote positive attitudes towards displaced communities. D. Environmental and Social Overview D.1 Overview of Environmental and Social Project Settings For this specific AF, it will be only focused on Benin. The parent project currently covers 72 arrondissements, mostly in border areas of the four departments (Alibori, Atacora, Borgou and Donga). The AF will expand the project in the areas most impacted by refugee inflows, namely in the communes of Materi, Banikoara, Tanguieta, Natitingou and Toucountouna. These regions are often characterized by savannah vegetation, as well as harsh agricultural conditions linked to the particularity of the (dry) climate and less fertile soils. They fall under a dry tropical climate with an average of 1000 mm annually with grasslands and certain savannah ecosystems, as well as protected areas (Pendjari in Benin). Moreover, climate change is a major threat multiplier to Benin, further limiting access to natural resources and fueling inter-communal tensions. Based on the experience from the parent project, the proposed AF activities (which will remain the same for the AF), the main focus will be on: (i) the maintenance of the biodiversity contained in the ecosystems; (ii) the use of local species (fish, plant material); (iii) the reduction of possible sources of pollution, particularly those related to dust rising during the construction/rehabilitation of rural roads and infrastructures, (iv) to the possible use of fertilizers and chemicals on irrigated plots, (v) overseeing the accident and incident managements and reporting for individual sub-projects, (vi) proper procedure and documentation of voluntary land donation and (vii) Feb 05, 2025 Page 3 of 14 The World Bank Gulf Of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion Project (P175043) ensuring no child labor incidences occur by regularly verifying construction sites. Moreover, a tight management should be required for activities that might be associated with water and soil resource pollution. The AF selected target regions, exhibit the highest levels of multi-dimensional poverty and face fragility risks due to their proximity to unstable areas in the Sahel, with increasing security incidences in Benin since the start of the parent project. These targeted northern departments are characterized by insufficient participation and representation in decision-making processes, which contribute to perceptions of exclusion. This concerns specifically foreign populations (including IDPs and refugees), women and young people, who generally do not have the same right to voice their opinion as the village chief and the notables (the village elders). Furthermore, these rural northern areas often tend to lack voice in key decisions on development agendas in the country, generating a sense of exclusion from public life for the people living there. This exacerbates their vulnerability to external challenges, particularly the potential spill-over of conflict situations in the Sahel. Therefore, enabling communities and local authorities in these areas to actually decide what they priorities are, which projects they want to finance and to be able to put these in place, enhances their sense of participation, decision making and sense of feeling included in larger political decisions. Therefore the project aims to directly address some of these issues in the northern regions, where this is particularly prevalent. The northern departments of Benin are characterized by high levels of poverty and limited access to basic services such as education and healthcare. This disproportionately affects women and youth, who often bear the brunt of poverty. For instance, women may have limited access to economic opportunities due to traditional gender roles that confine them to the home. Similarly, youth, particularly those from poor families, may lack access to quality education, which Public Disclosure hampers their future employment prospects and perpetuates the cycle of poverty. Traditional societal norms and practices in these regions often marginalize women and youth. Women, in particular, may face discrimination and exclusion from decision-making processes both within the family and the community. This limits their ability to influence policies or decisions that directly affect their lives. Youth, on the other hand, may be overlooked in favor of elders in decision-making processes, leading to a sense of disenfranchisement. The security situation has also deteriorated since the start of the parent project, making many communities more vulnerable to terrorist attacks and external violence. This has increased the number of IDPs and refugees in these areas. This has made supervision more challenging for the project in certain areas despite the presence of a regional office and local E&S assistants. D.2 Overview of Borrower’s Institutional Capacity for Managing Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts The agency responsible for implementation of project activities will continue to be the Technical Secretariat for the Coordination of the Social Cohesion Project (Secréteriat Technique à Coordination du Projet de Cohésion Sociale (SETCO). The PIU set up under the parent project will retain the overall responsibility for coordination, supervision, and environmental and social safeguards compliance, as well as for monitoring and evaluating AF supported activities. The PIU has a team consisting of a social and gender specialist, an environmental specialist, and two E&S assistants hired to the SETCO Regional Units in Parakou and Natitingou. It will be reinforced with additional E&S assistants to be recruited and based within the new regional office to be established in Kandi to ensure proper E&S risks management. In addition, the AF will also incorporate partnerships with CNRA and the National Agency for Social Protection (Agence Nationale De Protection Sociale, ANPS) for the implementation of certain activities. The AF will strengthen the capacity Feb 05, 2025 Page 4 of 14 The World Bank Gulf Of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion Project (P175043) of the CNRA to support the national policy on refugees and host communities. ANPS will support the delivery of psychosocial support activities by leveraging the existing commune one-stop-shop social protection services (le guichet unique de protection sociale, GUPs). To facilitate field-level monitoring and coordination of activities related to refugees and host communities, a coordination body will be established in the North, including SETCO, the Beninese Agency for Integrated Border Space Management (ABeGIEF), SP-CNRA, the National Agency for Civil Protection, ANPS, UNHCR, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). They are responsible for managing the project at the national level, including environmental and social risk management in accordance with World Bank guidelines and procedures. They have a project coordinator, supported by subject matter specialists including for social (including SEA/SH aspects) and environmental issues , as well as a security specialist, charged with all security monitoring/management aspects, technical specialists such as on CDD/rural development, infrastructure, agriculture livelihoods, knowledge management, ICT, and additional specialists as needed for each country. Furthermore, the project has hired regional safeguards assistants that oversee the implementation of E&S in the field and the harder to reach areas due to the rising levels of insecurity. There have been procedures put in place to document voluntary land donation, better HSE practices, accident reporting and oversight of the companies undertaking the construction activities. The specialists have participated in a Benin wide PIU capacity building on the ESF and they have received individual capacity building provided by the Bank E&S specialists. Further capacity building is foreseen under the ESCP for all ESS but specific sessions will focus on resettlement, social inclusion and reporting on E&S issues. Overall the performance at this time is considered satisfactory and the PIU has a good willingness to implement E&S instruments and manage risks. II. SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL (ES) RISKS AND IMPACTS A. Environmental and Social Risk Classification (ESRC) Substantial Public Disclosure A.1 Environmental Risk Rating Substantial The AF will support the same suite of activities as those of the parent project but will scale up the existing interventions in a wider geographical area. The AF activities are expected to have some positive environmental impacts owing to the fact that the AF will follow the same approach and have the same focus as the parent project in terms of climate-resilient architecture and design, use of renewable energy, adoption of techniques to improve energy efficiency and natural resource management and climate change mitigation or adaptation in targeted project areas. Likewise, the potential environmental risks and adverse impacts are expected to be the same, as the supported activities are the same ones of the parent project. These include occupational health and safety (OHS) issues associated with noise emissions and dust rising, exposure to hazardous waste, and injury; misuse of fertilizers and pesticide, disruption of natural habitats and ecosystem services they support including water and soil pollution risk linked to Waste and Hazardous Materials Management. Based on the nature and medium-scale of the activities, the AF activities risks and impacts will be substantial, site specific and reversible with potential transboundary adverse impacts. Although, the implementing agencies' experience with ESF under the parent project is acceptable, the E&S monitoring of activities remains a major challenge due to the current security context in certain project areas. Substantial A.2 Social Risk Rating The social risk rating for the AF project is also considered Substantial . The activities and the locations of the subprojects are the same as the parent and the social risks and impacts are expected to be the same; this includes potential conflict between IDPs/refugees and host communities, land loss due to land donation for sub-projects, child Feb 05, 2025 Page 5 of 14 The World Bank Gulf Of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion Project (P175043) labor incidences on construction sites, limited voice and participation from women and youth, elite capture, poor health and safety practices, unsafe motorcycle use by community agents, a deteriorating security, scattered and hard to supervise projects due to many of them being in the red zoneThe project will be implemented in a very fragile environment, with annual droughts, floods, which increase population tensions especially between herders and settled populations, as these increased levels of resource scarcity exasterbates prohblems in an already fragile and poverty stricken environment. As with the parent project, the proximity of the project areas – especially those in the north - to the insecure areas of the Sahel mean that they are more vulnerable to the impacts of violent extremism and the spillover has become a reality in these areas. The parent project has not yet experienced any security incidences but in the regions where the project is being implemented there have been killings of local populations, asset destruction and loss of livelihoods caused by hijadist terriorist groups. Therefore it is possible that these risks could become a reality for the AF, as the activities will cover a wider georgraphical area in the same departements, where the parent project intervenes and the security concerns have been registered. The parent project developed a security risk assessment (SRA) and Security Management Plan (SMP) that will be updated no later than 3 months after the AF effectiveness date.. In the parent project there has been no land acquisition required and no physical/economic resettlement or displacement The sub-projects are generally subject to land donations, as traditionally in these areas, the chef de terre (land chief), who owns the land has already foreseen certain plots of land for the hospital, the school and another for a potential community infrastructure. As these are all types of sub- projects under the AF , this process will likely continue. It has been requested under the parent project that land donations be documented by the PIU, which is being done by the social specialist in a data base, where all documents relevant to the land for the sub-project are stored and it is ensured that the land donation has been signed by the relevant authorities. The land donation are consulted and overseen by the E&S assistances in the regional office. If the Public Disclosure security situation continuous to decrease, it will be important to contemplate how potentially an IT enhanced screening tool might help supervision. It is important that land donations are carried out correctly as part of the AF project. The Resettlement Framework (RF) of the parent project will be used for the AF and if necessary Resettlement Plans (RPs) in line with the RFs will be developed. B. Environment and Social Standards (ESS) that Apply to the Activities Being Considered B.1 Relevance of Environmental and Social Standards ESS1 - Assessment and Management of Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts Relevant The activities financed by the AF are the same as those that are being financed by the parent project. They will focus on a village cluster approach and having youth and women in the driver seat of the activities to be financed, which will generally include small scale village based interventions, regional market and road upgrades, schools and water and sanitation facilities to name a few. Just like the parent project, the activities may generate environmental, social and security risks and impacts particularly those related to the rehabilitation/ construction works, soil and water conservation measures, flood control structures, regeneration of pasture lands to improve carbon stocks, energy efficiency and water and sanitation facilities. On the social side, just like in the parent project, there could be security risk associated with terrorist actions, conflict within the community and with herders, risks of SEA/SH, the risks of child labor and inadequate documentation of donated land. The land donation just like in the parent project require a very rigorous documentation process and should build on the database that was established as part of the parent project. On the environmental side, they could also lead to increased traffic circulation, air and noise pollution, soil Feb 05, 2025 Page 6 of 14 The World Bank Gulf Of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion Project (P175043) and water pollution due to the presence of chemicals or hazardous materials, and olfactory nuisance (volatile organic compounds), proliferation and attraction of rodents in the vicinity of waste disposal and composting plants, as well as the need for waste management, including hazardous waste such as asbestos from existing buildings to be upgraded/rehabilitated, and medical waste from rehabilitated and equipped health care centers. In addition, disruption of natural habitats and ecosystems services could occur due to the expansion of rural roads and construction/rehabilitation of bridges and small irrigation canals. At this stage, the exact village locations and the precise activities that will be chosen by each cluster are not yet known. The Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) prepared for the parent project will be used for the AF. The ESMF outlines procedures for screening and mitigating the potential risks and impacts from proposed project activities, in particular those that could involve civil work: rural roads, upgrading social infrastructure, natural resource management and climate adaptation measures, water and sanitation infrastructure etc. and other potential activities that will require resource efficiency and pollution management (e.g. hazardous wastes). Mitigation measures to minimize these risks and impacts, related specifically to resource efficiency and pollution management, such as hazardous waste, are included in the ESMF. To ensure that project activities support local public health directives, and do not put beneficiaries or laborers at risk, the project will introduce a “WASH standard” to any infrastructure that will be supported by the project. The ESMF includes: (a) checklist to screen for potential environmental and social impacts; (b) procedures for participatory screening of proposed sites and activities and the environmental and social considerations; (c) procedures for assessing potential environmental and social impacts of the planned project activities, including cumulative/transboundary impacts and SEA/SH risks; (d) institutional arrangements for avoiding, minimizing, mitigating and managing the impacts identified, according to the mitigation hierarchy; (e) typical environmental and social management planning processes to address negative impacts throughout project implementation; (f) a system Public Disclosure for monitoring the implementation of mitigation measures; and (g) the capacity-building measures recommended for environmental and social planning and the monitoring of project activities; (h) project grievance mechanism;; and (i) a specific chapter on cultural heritage, including “Chance Find” procedure to manage potential risks related to Cultural Heritage discovered during project implementation. Besides, the ESMF makes use of the general and sector-specific World Bank Group Environmental, Health and Safety Guidelines (EHSGs) relating to waste management facilities for the types of subprojects identified, mainly waste disposal and composting plants. When project sites are identified, specific ESIAs/ESMPs, and E&S audits (if needed), will be prepared as per the guidelines provided in the ESMF.. Lastly, the Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP) has been updated for the AF including all commitments, staffing and timelines to be respected. ESS10 - Stakeholder Engagement and Information Disclosure Relevant The SEP that was prepared and disclosed for the parent project is being reviewed and updated to include the boader geographical scope of the project, the need for consultations specifically with IDPs and refugees, the need for translation, when required, to ensure integration of the new population and engagement with actors who are specifically dealing with these populations (e.g. UNHCR). The GM is operational and the specialists have required its functionality during various supervision mission. Grievances are being received mainly via community agents and treated either locally with the community agents and the GM committee or with support from the PIU based E&S specialists. To ensure that the GM is fully accessible to refugee and IDP populations, extra consultations will be conducted with them and where necessary extra support from community agents and/or NGOs or dedicated organisations to provide them support to lodge a complaint and follow its resolution will be put in place. The departements remain the same as the parent project but the AF will extend project activities to newly identified Feb 05, 2025 Page 7 of 14 The World Bank Gulf Of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion Project (P175043) communes, there will likely be new stakeholders at this level, where the PIU will engage and consult as it has been the case for the parent project, where the PIU has established good relationships with all of the regional actors. There are risks that certain villages and local authorities are more dominant than others and that therefore some benefits from the project will be spread unevenly, therefore stakeholder engagement, avoiding elite capture and strong individual community participation will be key. It will be important that the stakeholder engagement processes are systematically held with youth representatives to avoid elders using youth merely as pawns to promote their own interests. The northern regions are generally more traditional and therefore an increased effort will need to be made to systematically include women to reach the desired representation, otherwise, there is a risk for exclusion and underrepresentation by women. It is also important that the IDP and refugee populations will be heard, as there voice will not be considered as prominent by the local communities but it is important that they are considered and taken into account to foster a sense of belonging between host communities and new arrivals. Citizen engagement and stakeholder engagement is also included in the wider project design and implementation, with information from a variety of surveys and consultations regularly informing project investments and strengthening and recalibrating programming. In addition, the instruments created to collect data on social cohesion through the CDD app (community pulse survey) will be leveraged to periodically collect information on attitudes towards refugees, and relations between members of host and displaced communities to monitoring the situation and see if there is any need for improvements. ESS2 - Labor and Working Conditions Relevant The Labor Management Procedures (LMP) that was developed for the parent project will be also used for the AF. To date, the PIU has been effectively implemented the LMP and will continue to be responsible for monitoring and Public Disclosure enforcing it. All of the measures put in place for the LMP of the parent project will apply to the AF activities, as the risks faced by labor will likely be the same with the exception that IDPs and refugees are a distinct vulnerable group, that will therefore be specifically watched under the new project to ensure that no discrimination or abuse occurs. The E&S assistance in the field have been closely monitoring the construction site as there have been incidences of child labor (apprentices working), HSE deficiencies, one worker accident and a need to ensure that the company hired to undertake the works is following E&S requirements. This oversight will continue in the AF. The labor GM developed under the parent project will be updated after the AF Effective Date to include refugee and IDPs populations, this will be particularly with a view to provide support to lodge complaints and enable them to be supported throughout the process. ESS3 - Resource Efficiency and Pollution Prevention and Management Relevant Energy and Water Use Efficiency: Project design includes technical options to improve energy efficiency. However Cross-border security (small lights, electricity, etc.), public marketplaces, warehouses and storage, and cold chain facilities, child-care facilities will use energy in their operation. For energy efficient use, rationalization measures such as the setting up of systems for the optimization of installations, technical solutions for energy efficiency, including adoption of measures specified in the EHSGs to optimize energy use, will be implemented during the project activities. As for the water use for irrigation plots and community pond, water supply systems, and “WASH standard”, it is expected that the parent project and the AF will not consume much water since (i) it will be small plots to irrigate, and the project will not rely on any existing dams for water supply. Therefore, there are no potential significant adverse impacts on communities, other water users or the environment. However, rationalization measures on water use and the maintain of its quality will need to be put in place to ensure that there is no water contamination. Feb 05, 2025 Page 8 of 14 The World Bank Gulf Of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion Project (P175043) Regarding refrigerants used in cold chain facilities, mitigation measures also need to be taken with the aim of addressing chemicals permissible according to national and international conventions (Montreal Protocol). Air pollution: Construction/rehabilitation works are likely to generate dust arising. To reduce the impact of dust elevation, appropriate measures/actions are proposed in the ESMF and will be detailed in ESIAs/ESMPs to be prepared later (if needed) to minimize air emissions. Those measures include continuous sprinkling and vehicle maintenance will need to be conducted to minimize dust emission and exhaust from heavy vehicles and machinery around construction sites, so as not to cause adverse impacts on neighboring communities. The monitoring of the increase in GHG emission will be carried out by the Borrower, based on the estimate of GHG emissions to be developed as part of the ESIA, during project implementation. Raw materials use: The rehabilitation, and/or expansion of rural roads, community facilities and small bridges, could involve construction materials and other raw materials extracted from the natural environment. It is not expected the project uses potentially significant construction materials. However, Borrowers will ensure that an efficient extraction and use of raw materials is carried out and appropriate measures, as specified in the EHSGs and other Good International Industry Practices (GIIPs), are included in the ESIAs and specific ESMPs for this purpose. Noise management: Rural road rehabilitation/ construction and facilities works could result in noise impacts and nuisance in terms of noise disturbance for the riverside communities. The ESMF includes mitigation measures to minimize and ensure acceptable noise levels, such as not working at night and minimizing the use of noise-intensive machinery. These measures will be detailed in ESIAs/ESMPs to be prepared later, as necessary. Waste and Hazardous Materials management: Project activities, in particular rehabilitation / construction of rural roads, community facilities expansion, rehabilitation, upgrading, and equipping of public local market infrastructure could involve solid and liquid waste production management. Notwithstanding this, waste is also expected to come from the activities related to the agriculture livelihoods, Public Disclosure livestock, and pond activities as well as construction debris, effluent discharge. There is also likely the use of chemicals as part of construction for which adequate mitigation measures are define in the existing ESMF. Knowing that exposure to asbestos is one of the main concerns of existing building rehabilitation, appropriate measures for asbestos management referred to the Construction and Decommissioning section of EHSGs are included in the ESMF to manage such hazardous materials and waste (including inter alia, OHS measures, air pollution and soil contamination avoidance measures, training, etc.). For all hazardous chemicals and materials, the Borrower will produce a hazardous waste management plan outlining the measures to be taken by all relevant contractors. ESIA/ESMP will include adequate measures to minimize production upstream and encourage recycling where possible, in addition to those foreseen by the ESMF for the project, namely the development of a waste management plan on the worksite. Pest Management: The cross-border trade promoted as part of the project, can (i) enable agricultural producers to sell their goods more quickly, leading to more business and increased returns; and (ii) improve access to agricultural inputs (seeds and fertilizers). However, most obsolete, prohibited or unregistered pesticides are easily and often cheaply available at the borders of countries (for instance Cote d’Ivoire-Ghana border). Thus, the project’s support for agricultural intensification activities will likely result in an increase of agrochemicals use. Based on this, the project has developed a Pest Management Plan (PMP), as a chapter in the ESMF to manage the potential risks and impacts of phytosanitary use. ESS4 - Community Health and Safety Relevant Like for the parent project, community health and safety issues are likely to be related to the rehabilitation/ construction in terms of risks of accidents, OHS risks, increased air emissions and noise. Moreover, with the addition of IDPs and refugee communities, there is a greater risk of SEA/SH, as the women would not be perceived as the Feb 05, 2025 Page 9 of 14 The World Bank Gulf Of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion Project (P175043) women of the village and there might be issues of trading favors for receiving a land parcel for the family to install itself or be able to practice agriculture. There is also the issue of conflict between the host communities and the newly arrived populations, regarding resources and traditions / customs. A stand-alone SEA/SH prevention and management action plan has been developed under the parent project and will be updated to include the new project areas and IDP / refugee populations. Appropriate consultations led by social specialist will be undertaken with women and girls of the IDP and refugee population and maintained during project implementation. Moreover, cross- border regional trade areas in the areas where the AF will be implemented, represents a critical source of employment and income, especially for women. Because of the flexibility it affords, the small startup capital it requires, and the earning opportunities it offers in border areas where no other alternative is available, women make up the largest share of informal traders. As the project will aim to support women in these activities, it is important that the heightened risks for SEA/SH caused by border authorities seizing women's goods (especially if the female trader is illiterate and/or lacks the necessary legal documents) or requiring sexual favors to trade are taken into consideration and are mitigated against. The PIU social expert has knowledge of SEA/SH and has been putting in place SEA/SH measures including developing conventions with SEA/SH institutions and local actors who are working in the domain. He has developed and will update the SEA/SH plan from the parent project no later than 3 months after the AF Effective Date. The remaining community health and safety measures that are outlined in the existing ESMF and ESCP will remain relevant and where needed there will be specific ESIAs and ESMPs developed for sub-projects. The training and a code of conduct for workers will be updated to include a specific focus on IDPs and refugees as well. The SRA and SMP for the parent project will be updated no later than 3 months after the AF Effective Date, to include the expanded geographical areas and the new populations. The SMP for the parent project provides measures to tackle project implementation and monitoring arrangements, exploring options of collaboration with public and Public Disclosure private security forces (security personnel) for provision of security of Project workers, sites and / or assets. If there is a need to engage the security personnel during the project AF implementation, appropriate mitigation measures consistent with the ESS4 requirements on use of security forces and set out in the ESMP or updated Security Management Plan will be implemented to manage the related-security risks. Since the security documents they were prepared and disclosed, there has been an increase in security incidents in the northern region, not the exact sites of the parent project but the regions around them. This could mean that by extending the interventions in the regions themselves, the risk of potential security incidences impacting the project could increase as well. The PIU specialists have been regularly monitoring social risks, including human security, using a monitoring mechanism at the community, subnational, and national levels as well as leveraging digital technology and other innovations for remote monitoring. The main security responsibilities, decisions and procedures for the PIU staff and beneficiaries who participate in project activities are detailed in the Project Implementation Manual (PIM). The PIU also hired a security specialist, charged with all security monitoring/management aspects, including liaison with the armed forces, local communities, and security audits of Project sites. ESS5 - Land Acquisition, Restrictions on Land Use and Involuntary Resettlement Relevant No large-scale land acquisition or physical or economic displacement has been required during the implementation of the parent project and it is not foreseen that the AF activities will require any involuntary resettlement. For the parent project, the land that has been required for being the community related infrastructure has been donated by the chef de terre (the land chief) or other private land owners. For the consultation process, this is done at community level, where generally there is either a community development plan in which the specific land parcel is already inscribed in the plan and/or the chef de terre (the land chief) provides the land to the project for its Feb 05, 2025 Page 10 of 14 The World Bank Gulf Of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion Project (P175043) implementation, as it is for the benefit of the community. The process is generally following traditional ways of donating land with the addition that it is being documented by the PIU for record keeping. Furthermore, the process of land donation may be acceptable if the following elements are demonstrated consistent with ESS5: (a) the potential donor or donors have been appropriately informed and consulted about the project and the choices available to them; (b) potential donors are aware that refusal is an option, and have confirmed in writing their willingness to proceed with the donation; (c) the amount of land being donated is minor and will not reduce the donor’s remaining land area below that required to maintain the donor’s livelihood at current levels; (d) no household relocation is involved; (e) the donor is expected to benefit directly from the project; and (f) for community or collective land, donation can only occur with the consent of individuals using or occupying the land. The Recipient shall maintain a transparent record of all consultations and agreements reached. There are some larger infrastructure projects such as rehabilitation/construction of rural markets that could cause temporary disruption of economic activities and temporary or permanent physical displacement. These works, which will use local and community labor and will take place largely in existing footprints. To date the rural markets that were extended did not lead to resettlement or loss of livelihoods as the market sellers were able to continue their economic activities while the market was being rehabilitated. The existing Resettlement Framework (RF) that outlines the key principles of resettlement will remain the same for the AF. Where necessary the project will develop site-specific Resettlement Plans (RPs) in line with the RFs to manage these impacts. ESS6 - Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Natural Relevant Resources This standard remains relevant since the project areas contain some savannah ecosystems as well as protected areas Public Disclosure that have rich biodiversity. The application of this ESS seeks to ensure that all precautions are taken in the project to protect biodiversity in rural areas, as some activities (namely rehabilitation work, agriculture, community ponds, livestock, and fisheries) could have potential adverse impacts on biodiversity and natural habitats. Regarding vegetation loss, the clearing and loss of areas of vegetation and faunal habitat will be minimal. The overall impact on vegetation will be minimal to moderate. Moreover, project investments, including afforestation activities will contribute to improve the landscape and micro climate of the project intervention areas. The existing ESMF provides guidance on applying the mitigation hierarchy and the precautionary principles in the design and implementation of such activities to promote the sustainable management of natural resources. Thereafter, ESIAs/ESMPs to be prepared during the implementation phase will provide mitigation measures to ensure that project activities do not alter or cause the destruction of any natural habitats and the biodiversity they contain. The ESIAs/ESMPs will include provision to manage living natural resources in a sustainable manner, through the application of good management practices and available technologies. Procurement documents and contracts with contractors and supervising entities will include such measures. ESS7 - Indigenous Peoples/Sub-Saharan African Historically Underserved Traditional Not Currently Relevant Local Communities Indigenous Peoples/Sub-Saharan African Historically Underserved Traditional Local Communities are not present in the project areas. Should the presence of indigenous communities be confirmed through further screening during implementation, the necessary assessments, consultations and instruments will be undertaken as per the requirements of this standard. Feb 05, 2025 Page 11 of 14 The World Bank Gulf Of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion Project (P175043) ESS8 - Cultural Heritage Relevant Benin has a rich cultural heritage that stems from its diverse ethnic groups that have made significant contributions to the country’s eclectic culture. Preserving and promoting Benin's cultural heritage is a priority for the country. And efforts are made to safeguard historical sites. The W-Arly-Pendjari Complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in West Africa, spanning the borders of Benin, Burkina Faso, and Niger. Other significant sites listed on national heritage inventories can be found in the project area. The Project will finance activities that will involve light earthwork and will require some small-scale excavation, such as rural roads rehabilitation/construction of facilities etc. These types of activities may lead to discovery of cultural heritage. The ESMF that has been developed for the parent project includes “chance finds” procedure for protecting cultural heritage, in accordance with national legislation and the practices of the national ministry or agency responsible for the protection of cultural heritage and ESS8. These “chance finds” procedures are included in all works contracts that the parent project has issued. This practice will continue under the AF. The “chance finds” procedure is carried out by the PIU, in collaboration with communities for activities to be implemented by community workers and under CDD approach. Likewise, where applicable, site-specific ESIAs/ESMPs to be prepared will include a chapter on cultural heritage to ensure that there is no pre-existing or known cultural heritage sites that could be affected by the project. In accordance with ESS10, the Borrower will identify stakeholders relevant to the cultural heritage already known to exist or likely to be encountered during the project lifecycle, and carry out meaningful consultations, with national heritage institutions and local communities. ESS9 - Financial Intermediaries Not Currently Relevant Public Disclosure There will be no financial intermediaries in this project B.2 Legal Operational Policies that Apply OP 7.50 Operations on International Waterways Yes OP 7.60 Operations in Disputed Areas No B.3 Other Salient Features Use of Borrower Framework No The Borrower framework is currently not being considered for this project at this time but the PIU will receive training to examine where there would be entry points to strengthen the Borrower framework for utilization for future projects. Use of Common Approach No There are no financing partners Feb 05, 2025 Page 12 of 14 The World Bank Gulf Of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion Project (P175043) 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 implementation? The parent project has developed an ESMF, a RF, a LMP, a GM and a SEA/SH plan, which will be used for the AF. The SEP will be updated and disclosed prior to the AF Appraisal and the remaining documents will be updated by AF Effective Date. The SRA/SMP and The SEA/SH plan for the parent project will be updated to take into account specific measures for ID/refugees no later than 3 after the AF effective date. These instruments take into account all of the E&S mitigation measures that are being implemented by the parent project and their implementation will continue throughout the AF, as the activities are the same types of interventions in a larger geographical area. The ESCP for the parent project will also be revised and updated to include the AF activities and the new populations. III. CONTACT POINT World Bank Task Team Leader: Susan Wong Title: Lead Social Development Specialist Email: swong1@worldbank.org TTL Contact: Ashutosh Raina Job Title: Senior Social Development Specialist Public Disclosure Email: araina@worldbank.org TTL Contact: Manuel Emilio Figueredo Thomson Job Title: Senior Social Development Specialist Email: mfigueredo@worldbank.org TTL Contact: Julia Lendorfer Job Title: Senior Social Development Specialist Email: jlendorfer@worldbank.org IV. 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 V. APPROVAL Task Team Leader(s): Susan Wong, Ashutosh Raina, Manuel Emilio Figueredo Thomson, Julia Lendorfer Feb 05, 2025 Page 13 of 14 The World Bank Gulf Of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion Project (P175043) V. APPROVAL ADM Environmental Specialist: Edichi Brigitte Andoh Epse Mobongol ADM Social Specialist: Hubert Maurice Waterinckx Public Disclosure Feb 05, 2025 Page 14 of 14