INDEPENDENT STATE OF SAMOA DIGITALLY CONNECTED AND RESILIENT SAMOA PROJECT (P180807) Negotiated ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) th 13 September 2024 FT RA D G IN RK O W 1|P a ge ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN 1. The Independent State of Samoa (the Recipient) will implement the Digitally Connected and Resilient Samoa Project (the Project), with the involvement of the Ministry of Finance (MOF), Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) and Office of the Regulator (OoTR), as set out in the Financing Agreement between the International Development Association (the Association) and the Recipient. The Association has agreed to provide financing for the Project, as set out in the referred agreement. 2. 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 Association. The ESCP is a part of the Financing Agreement. Unless otherwise defined in this ESCP, capitalized terms used in this ESCP have the meanings ascribed to them in the referred agreement. 3. Without limitation to the foregoing, this ESCP sets out material measures and actions that the Recipient 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 Association. Once adopted, said E&S instruments may be revised from time to time with prior written agreement by the Association. 4. As agreed by the Association and the Recipient, 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 Recipient through the Ministry of Finance D RA FT G and the Association agree to update the ESCP to reflect these changes through an exchange of letters signed IN RK O W between the Association and the Recipient’s Chief Executive Officer, Ministry of Finance. The Recipient shall promptly disclose the updated ESCP. 2|P a ge ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) – DIGITALLY CONNECTED AND RESILIENT SAMOA PROJECT (P180807) MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBLE ENTITY MONITORING AND REPORTING A REGULAR REPORTING Submit six-monthly reports to the Ministry of Communications Prepare and submit to the Association regular monitoring reports on the environmental, Association throughout Project and Information Technology social, health and safety (ESHS) performance of the Project, including but not limited to implementation, commencing after the (MCIT) and Office of the the implementation of the ESCP, status of preparation and implementation of E&S Effective Date. Submit each report to Regulator (OoTR) instruments required under the ESCP, stakeholder engagement activities, and the Association no later than 60 days functioning of the grievance mechanism(s). after the end of each reporting period. B INCIDENTS AND ACCIDENTS Notify the Association no later than 48 MCIT and OoTR Promptly notify the Association of any incident or accident related to the Project which hours after learning of the incident or has, or is likely to have, a significant adverse effect on the environment, the affected accident. communities, the public or workers, including, inter alia, cases of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment (SH), and accidents that result in death, serious or Provide subsequent report to the multiple. Provide sufficient detail regarding the scope, severity, and possible causes of Association within a timeframe the incident or accident, indicating immediate measures taken or that are planned to be acceptable to the Association. taken to address it, and any information provided by any contractor and/or supervising firm, as appropriate. Subsequently, at the Association’s request, prepare a report on the incident or accident and propose any measures to address it and prevent its recurrence. FT RA D G IN RK O W C CONTRACTORS’ MONTHLY REPORTS Submit the monthly reports to the MCIT and OoTR Require contractors and supervising firms to provide monthly monitoring reports on Association as annexes to the reports to ESHS performance in accordance with the metrics specified in the respective bidding be submitted under action A above, or documents and contracts, and submit such reports to the Association. as requested. ESS 1: ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL RISKS AND IMPACTS 1.1 ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE 1.Engage/appoint a Principal MCIT and OoTR 1. Establish and maintain a Sector Coordination Division within MCIT with qualified staff Environmental and Social Officer within and resources to support management of ESHS risks and impacts of the Project including 3 months of the Effective Date and a Principal Environmental and Social Officer. thereafter maintain this position and other positions as required, throughout 2. Engage/appoint a Communications Officer and additional environmental and/or social Project implementation specialists by MCIT under the SCD, to support the implementation of the Project, if and when required. 3|P a ge ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) – DIGITALLY CONNECTED AND RESILIENT SAMOA PROJECT (P180807) MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBLE ENTITY 2. Engage/appoint a Communications Officer and additional environmental and/or social specialists as required during the implementation of the Project. 1.2 ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL INSTRUMENTS MCIT and OoTR 1. Incorporate the rapid analysis of Samoa’s environmental and social framework 1. Incorporate the analysis dated (June against the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework relevant to Project 2024) into the Project Operations activities and risks into the Project Operation Manual. Also, incorporate any gap filling Manual (POM) within 3 months of the measures into the POM. Effective Date. 2. Prepare, adopt and implement environmental and social screening process as part of 2. Prepare and adopt through the the POM, including site and technology screening for Project financed infrastructure Project Operations Manual (POM) within activities to the satisfaction of the Association. 3 months of the Effective Date and before commencement of feasibility/design activities for 3. Prepare, adopt and implement Environmental and Social Assessments – ESAs (i.e. infrastructure activities; and thereafter Preliminary Environmental Assessment Report(PEAR) or Comprehensive Environmental implement throughout Project Assessment Report(CEAR) or whatever management instruments) for Project financed implementation. infrastructure activities, in accordance with the Recipient’s Environmental and Social FT RA D G IN RK O W Framework as outlined in Ministry of Works and Infrastructure Act 2002, Planning and 3. Prepare and adopt before launching Urban Management Act 2004, Environmental Impact Regulations 2007, Codes of the bidding process for the respective Environmental Practice 2007 and other relevant legislation, and ESS1, to the satisfaction subproject and thereafter implement of the Planning and Urban Management Authority (PUMA) and the Association. the ESA throughout the implementation of Project infrastructure activities. 4. Prepare, adopt and implement due diligence of privacy and data security risks associated with the Project in accordance with arrangements specified in the POM and 4. Prepare and adopt within 3 months acceptable to the Association, including measures to integrate privacy and data of the Effective Date and thereafter protection into activity design and support the development of strong legal and implement throughout Project regulatory frameworks implementation. 1.3 MANAGEMENT OF CONTRACTORS As part of the preparation of MCIT and OoTR Incorporate the relevant aspects of the ESCP, including, inter alia, the relevant E&S procurement documents and respective instruments, into the ESHS specifications of the procurement documents and contracts contracts. Supervise contractors with contractors and supervising firms. Thereafter ensure that the contractors and throughout Project implementation. supervising firms comply and cause subcontractors to comply with the ESHS specifications of their respective contracts. 1.4 TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE Throughout Project implementation. MCIT and OoTR 4|P a ge ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) – DIGITALLY CONNECTED AND RESILIENT SAMOA PROJECT (P180807) MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBLE ENTITY Ensure that the consultancies, studies (including feasibility studies, if applicable), capacity building, training, and any other technical assistance activities under the Project are carried out in accordance with terms of reference acceptable to the Association, 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 1. Throughout Project implementation MCIT and OoTR 1. Ensure that the Project workforce is managed in compliance with Samoa’s country framework for labor and working conditions and ESS2 as set out in the POM, including 2. Establish in the POM within 3 months terms and conditions of employment, nondiscrimination and equal opportunity, of the Effective Date; and thereafter workers’ organisations, child labour and minimum age, forced labour, workers grievance implement throughout Project mechanisms, occupational health and safety, and contracted workers as outlined in the implementation Labour and Employment Relations Act 2013; Labour and Employment Regulations 2016; Occupational Safety and Health Act 2002; OSH Regulation 2017, Public Service Act 2004 3. Throughout Project implementation and other relevant legislation and policy. 4. Establish in the POM within 3 months 2. Outline, adopt and implement specific labour and working requirements for Project of the Effective Date; and thereafter workers, contractors, subcontractors and supervising firms in accordance with Samoa’s implement throughout Project country framework for labour and working conditions and ESS2, as set out in the POM. implementation FT RA D G IN RK O W 3. Ensure that all Project workers are 18 years and over. 4. SEA/SH prevention and response measures will be outlined in the POM including implementation of the public sector code of conduct for direct workers; a Project specific Code of Conduct for contracted workers, workforce training, community awareness, and a response protocol. 2.2 GRIEVANCE MECHANISM FOR PROJECT WORKERS Establish in the POM within 3 months of MCIT and OoTR Establish, maintain and operate a grievance mechanism for Project workers consistent the Effective Date and thereafter with requirements under Samoa’s country E&S framework and ESS2, as set out in the maintain and operate it throughout POM. Project implementation ESS 3: RESOURCE EFFICIENCY AND POLLUTION PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT 3.1 WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN MCIT and OoTR Adopt and implement measures for managing e-waste and non-hazardous wastes Establish in the POM within 3 months of resulting from the digital infrastructure supported under the Project in accordance with the Effective Date; and thereafter Samoa’s country framework and ESS3, as set out in the POM. implement throughout Project implementation 5|P a ge ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) – DIGITALLY CONNECTED AND RESILIENT SAMOA PROJECT (P180807) MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBLE ENTITY ESS 4: COMMUNITY HEALTH AND SAFETY 4.1 TRAFFIC AND ROAD SAFETY Same timeframe as for the preparation, MCIT and OoTR Incorporate measures to manage traffic and road safety risks as part of the ESAs into the adoption and implementation of the POM as described under action 1.1 above. sub-project ESAs 4.2 COMMUNITY HEALTH AND SAFETY Same timeframe as for the preparation, MCIT and OoTR Assess and manage specific risks and impacts to the community arising from Project adoption and implementation of the activities and include mitigation measures in the ESAs to be prepared in accordance with sub-project ESAs Samoa’s E&S framework and ESS1 4.3 SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE AND SEXUAL HARASSMENT RISKS Establish in the POM within 3 months of MCIT and OoTR Establish and implement SEA/SH prevention and response measures, consistent with the Effective Date and thereafter requirements under Samoa’s country E&S framework and ESS4. implement throughout Project implementation. ESS 5: LAND ACQUISITION, RESTRICTIONS ON LAND USE AND INVOLUNTARY RESETTLEMENT 5.1 LAND ACCESS AND RESETTLEMENT Prepare and adopt before MCIT and OoTR Prepare, adopt and implement a Land Access and Compensation Protocol for the commencement of feasibility/design Project, consistent with ESS5, as set out in the POM and to the satisfaction of the activities for infrastructure activities; Association. and thereafter implement throughout Project implementation. FT RA D G IN RK O W ESS 6: BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF LIVING NATURAL RESOURCES NOT RELEVANT ESS 7: INDIGENOUS PEOPLES/SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAN HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED TRADITIONAL LOCAL COMMUNITIES NOT RELEVANT ESS 8: CULTURAL HERITAGE 8.2 CHANCE FINDS Same timeframe as for the adoption MCIT and OoTR Adopt and implement the chance finds procedures as part of the ESA prepared under and implementation of the sub-project action 1.1 ESAs ESS 9: FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES NOT RELEVANT ESS 10: STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT AND INFORMATION DISCLOSURE 10.1 STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT PLAN PREPARATION AND IMPLEMENTATION Implement the SEP (dated August 2024) MCIT and OoTR Adopt and implement a Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) for the Project, consistent that has been prepared and disclosed with ESS10, which shall include measures to, inter alia, provide stakeholders with timely, prior to appraisal throughout Project relevant, understandable and accessible information, and consult with them in a implementation 6|P a ge ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) – DIGITALLY CONNECTED AND RESILIENT SAMOA PROJECT (P180807) MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBLE ENTITY culturally appropriate manner, which is free of manipulation, interference, coercion, discrimination and intimidation. 10.2 PROJECT GRIEVANCE MECHANISM Maintain and operate the Project’s MCIT and OoTR Establish, publicize, maintain, and operate an accessible grievance mechanism, to grievance mechanism that has been receive and facilitate resolution of concerns and grievances in relation to the Project, established through the Project’s SEP promptly and effectively, in a transparent manner that is culturally appropriate and (dated August 2024) throughout Project readily accessible to all Project-affected parties, at no cost and without retribution, implementation. including concerns and grievances filed anonymously, in a manner consistent with ESS10. 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 CAPACITY BUILDING PLAN MCIT and OoTR Prepare and implement a capacity building plan for E&S risk management to support the Prepare within 3 months of the Project achievement of the following:: Effective Date. Implement throughout • All project staff familiar with all E&S instruments Project implementation. FT RA D G IN RK • Grievance mechanisms established and operating effectively O W • E&S, risk management measures, integrated into Project activity designs and POM • E&S risk management measures integrated into bidding and contracting documents • Contractors understand and can implement their E&S obligations • Improved environmental health, safety, and sanitation to the project staff and beneficiaries CS2 Provide targeted training to contractors and project beneficiaries before site-specific Throughout implementation MCIT and OoTR Project activities and throughout Project implementation as needed, including but not limited to management of E&S risks, labour management and OH&S, traffic safety, community health and safety and grievance mechanisms. 7|P a ge