THE REPUBLIC OF SIERRA LEONE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECURITY Strengthening the Rice System in Sierra Leone Through South-South Cooperation Project (P180898) ENVIRONMENTAL and SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) May 2024 1|Page ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN The Government of Sierra Leone (The Recipient) shall implement the Strengthening the Rice System in Sierra Leone Through South-South Cooperation Project (P180895), with the involvement of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, as set out in the Grant Agreement. 1. The Recipient shall ensure that the Project is carried out in accordance with the Environmental and Social Standards (ESSs) and this Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP), in a manner acceptable to the World Bank. The ESCP is a part of the Grant Agreement and the Project Agreement. Unless otherwise defined in this ESCP, capitalized terms used in this ESCP the meanings ascribed to them in the referred agreement(s). 2. Without limitation to the foregoing, this ESCP sets out material measures and actions that the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security shall carry out or cause to be carried out, including, as applicable, the timeframes of the actions and measures, institutional, staffing, training, monitoring and reporting arrangements, and grievance management. The ESCP also sets out the environmental and social (E&S) instruments that shall be adopted and implemented under the Project, all of which shall be subject to prior consultation and disclosure, consistent with the ESS, and in form and substance, and in a manner acceptable to the World Bank. Once adopted, said E&S instruments may be revised from time to time with prior written agreement by the World Bank. 3. As agreed by the World Bank and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, this ESCP will be revised from time to time if necessary, during Project implementation, to reflect adaptive management of Project changes and unforeseen circumstances or in response to Project performance. In such circumstances, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security through Strengthening the Rice System in Sierra Leone Through South-South Cooperation Project (P180895) and the World Bank agree to update the ESCP to reflect these changes through an exchange of letters signed between the World Bank and the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security. The Recipient shall promptly disclose the updated ESCP. 2|Page ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) – [name] Project MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBLE ENTITY MONITORING AND REPORTING A REGULAR REPORTING Ministry Of Agriculture Prepare and submit to the World Bank regular monitoring reports on the and Food Security environmental, social, health, and safety (ESHS) performance of the Quarterly, starting from the (MAFS) through the Project, including but not limited to (i) the implementation of the ESCP, (ii) effective date and 30 days after Food Systems Resilience the status of preparation and implementation of E&S instruments required the end of the quarter and Project (FSRP) under the ESCP, (iii)stakeholder engagement activities, (iv) and functioning throughout the project Project Management of the grievance mechanism(s). implementation. Unit (PMU) B INCIDENTS AND ACCIDENTS Notify the World Bank] no later MAFS/FSRP/PMU Promptly notify the World Bank] of any incident or accident related to the than 48 hours after learning of Project which has, or is likely to have, a significant adverse effect on the the incident or accident. environment, the affected communities, the public, or workers, including, inter alia, cases of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment Provide subsequent reports (SH), and accidents that result in death, serious or multiple injury. Provide acceptable to the World Bank sufficient detail regarding the scope, severity, and possible causes of the within a timeframe of 20 days of incident or accident, indicating immediate measures taken or that are the World Bank’s request planned to be taken to address it, and any information provided by any contractor and/or supervising firm, as appropriate. Subsequently, at the World Bank’s request, prepare a report on the incident or accident and propose any measures to address it and prevent its recurrence within a timeframe acceptable to the World Bank ESS 1: ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL RISKS AND IMPACTS 1.1 ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE Establish and maintain a PMU, as FSRP, PMU As part of the project's implementation, MAFS shall maintain the Food set out in the legal agreement, Systems Resilience Program-Sierra Leone (FSRP -SL 2) (P178132) staff, including maintaining the FSRP including environmental (one), social (one), gender/GBV, and youth (P178132) staff, including inclusion (one) specialists. No additional staff is anticipated for this grant environmental (one), social (one), implementation. MAFS shall also maintain a PMU with qualified staff and gender/GBV, and youth inclusion resources to support the management of the project's ESHS risks and (one) specialists maintain these impacts. positions throughout Project implementation. 1.2 ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL INSTRUMENTS FSRP, PMU 1. Update and implement an Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) for the Project, consistent with the relevant ESSs. 3|Page ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) – [name] Project MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBLE ENTITY 2. The FSRP will need to adopt the ESMPs for Strengthening the Rice System 1. Adopt the ESMF and ESMP no in Sierra Leone Through South-South Cooperation and implement the later than 90 days of the Project Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP)], as set out in the ESMF. Effective date, and thereafter The proposed project described in the exclusion list set out in the ESMF shall implement the ESIA and ESMP be ineligible to receive financing under the Project. throughout Project implementation. 2. Adopt the ESMF no later than 90 days of the Project Effective date, and thereafter implement the ESMF throughout Project implementation. 1.3 MANAGEMENT OF CONTRACTORS As part of the preparation of FSRP PMU, procurement documents and Incorporate the relevant aspects of the ESCP, including, inter alia, the respective contracts. relevant E&S instruments, the Labor Management Procedures, and code of Contractors will be Supervised conduct, into the ESHS specifications of the procurement documents and throughout Project contracts with contractors and supervising firms. Thereafter ensure that implementation the contractors and supervising firms comply and cause subcontractors to comply with the ESHS specifications of their respective contracts. 1.4 TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE Throughout Project Rokupr Agricultural implementation. Research Center Ensure that the consultancies, studies (including feasibility studies, if (RARC), applicable), capacity building, training, awareness raising and any other FSRP PMU technical assistance activities under the Project. The SEP, ESMF, GRM are carried out in accordance with terms of reference acceptable to the [World Bank, that are consistent with the ESSs. Thereafter ensure that the outputs of such activities comply with the terms of reference. ESS 2: LABOR AND WORKING CONDITIONS 2.1 LABOR MANAGEMENT PROCEDURES LMP has been prepared and FSRP PMU disclosed as part of the ESMF not later than 90 days of the Project Effective date, and shall be maintained throughout the Project implementation 4|Page ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) – [name] Project MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBLE ENTITY Adopt and implement the Labor Management Procedures (LMP) for the Project, including, inter alia, provisions on working conditions, management of workers relationships, occupational health and safety (including personal protective equipment, and emergency preparedness and response), code of conduct (including relating to SEA and SH), forced labor, child labor, grievance arrangements for Project workers, and applicable requirements for contractors, subcontractors, and supervising firms. 2.2 GRIEVANCE MECHANISM FOR PROJECT WORKERS Establish a grievance mechanism MAFS, FSRP PMU prior to engaging Project workers Establish and operate a grievance mechanism for Project workers, as and thereafter maintain and described in the LMP and SEP and consistent with ESS2. operate it throughout Project implementation ESS 3: RESOURCE EFFICIENCY AND POLLUTION PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT 3.1 WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN Adopt the WMP as part of the MAFS, FSRP PMU Adopt and implement a Waste Management Plan (WMP), to manage ESMF not later than 90 days of hazardous and non-hazardous wastes, consistent with ESS3. the Project Effective date, and thereafter implement the WMP throughout Project implementation. 3.2 RESOURCE EFFICIENCY AND POLLUTION PREVENTION AND Same timeframe as for the MAFS, FSRP PMU MANAGEMENT adoption and implementation of Resource efficiency and pollution prevention and management measures the ESMF. should be incorporated into the ESMF to be prepared under action [1.2] above. ESS 4: COMMUNITY HEALTH AND SAFETY. 4.1 COMMUNITY HEALTH AND SAFETY MAFS, FSRP PMU Assess and manage specific risks and impacts to the community arising No later than 90 days from Project activities like behavior of Project workers, risks of labor influx, response to emergency situations, and include mitigation measures in the ESMPs to be prepared in accordance with the ESMF. 4.2 SEA AND SH RISKS Adopt the SEA/SH Action Plan MAFS, FSRP PMU before no later than 90 days and Adopt and implement a SEA/SH Action Plan as part of the ESMP to assess and manage the risks of SEA and SH. thereafter implement the SEA/SH Action Plan throughout Project implementation. ESS 5: LAND ACQUISITION, RESTRICTIONS ON LAND USE AND INVOLUNTARY RESETTLEMENT 5|Page ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) – [name] Project MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBLE ENTITY 5.1 RESETTLEMENT POLICY FRAMEWORK No instrument is needed. The project activities will be implemented within existing research center farms and do not require any land acquisition. For a demonstration on beneficiaries' plots, the project shall follow the due process of consultation and document. ESS 6: BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF LIVING NATURAL RESOURCES The ESMF update will include an Exclusion list that categorizes farming in mangroves as ineligible. ESS 7: INDIGENOUS PEOPLE/SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAN HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED TRADITIONAL LOCAL COMMUNITIES The Association has conducted screening and there are no Indigenous Peoples/Sub-Saharan African Historically Underserved Traditional Local Communities in Sierra Leone who meet the ESS7 criteria. The relevance of ESS7 will be considered as deemed relevant during project implementation. ESS 8: CULTURAL HERITAGE The project does not involve actions related to cultural heritage, so no mitigation measures are to be undertaken under ESS8 for the Project. ESS 9: FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES It's not relevant. The small grants will be managed directly by the PIU, guided by a grant manual prepared to the satisfaction of the IDA, without the involvement of financial intermediaries, in the acquisition of production, harvesting, and post-harvest (threshing, winnowing, and drying) equipment/items by organized SMEs. So, ESS9 is not relevant at this stage. ESS 10: STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT AND INFORMATION DISCLOSURE 10.1 STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT PLAN PREPARATION AND Adopt the SEP by Appraisal and IMPLEMENTATION thereafter implement the SEP throughout Project Adopt and implement a Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) prior to implementation. Project Appraisal for the Project, consistent with ESS10, which shall include measures to, inter alia, provide stakeholders with timely, relevant, understandable, and accessible information, and consult with them in a culturally appropriate manner, which is free of manipulation, interference, coercion, discrimination and intimidation. 10.2 PROJECT GRIEVANCE MECHANISM Maintain and operate the FSRP PMU mechanism throughout Project Establish, publicize, maintain, and operate an accessible grievance implementation. mechanism to receive and facilitate the resolution of concerns and grievances related to the Project promptly and effectively, in a transparent manner that is culturally appropriate and readily accessible to all Project- affected parties, at no cost and without retribution, including concerns and grievances filed anonymously, in a manner consistent with ESS10. 6|Page ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) – [name] Project MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBLE ENTITY The grievance mechanism shall be equipped to receive, register, and facilitate the resolution of SEA/SH complaints, including through the referral of survivors to relevant gender-based violence service providers, all in a safe, confidential, and survivor-centered manner. CAPACITY SUPPORT CS1 Training may be required for PMU staff, stakeholders, communities, and Quarterly WB, MAFS, RARC Project workers] on: • stakeholder mapping and engagement • specific aspects of environmental and social assessment • emergency preparedness and response • community health and safety.] CS2 Specific training for Project workers on occupational health and safety QUARTERLY WB including on emergency prevention and preparedness and response arrangements to emergency situations. 7|Page