The World Bank Supporting the Socio-economic Reintegration of Ex-detainees and Ex-combatants in Southern Thailand (P170730) Environmental and Social Review Summary Concept Stage (ESRS Concept Stage) Public Disclosure Date Prepared/Updated: 04/11/2019 | Report No: ESRSC00402 May 04, 2019 Page 1 of 9 The World Bank Supporting the Socio-economic Reintegration of Ex-detainees and Ex-combatants in Southern Thailand (P170730) BASIC INFORMATION A. Basic Project Data Country Region Project ID Parent Project ID (if any) Thailand EAST ASIA AND PACIFIC P170730 Project Name Supporting the Socio-economic Reintegration of Ex-detainees and Ex-combatants in Southern Thailand Practice Area (Lead) Financing Instrument Estimated Appraisal Date Estimated Board Date «PRACTICEAREA» Investment Project Financing Borrower(s) Implementing Agency(ies) The Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre Public Disclosure Proposed Development Objective(s) The development objective of the proposed intervention is to assist the government in refining and operationalizing an enhanced socio-economic reintegration program pilot for selected ex-detainees and ex-combatants and strengthening the institutional capacity for the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre (SBPAC). Financing (in USD Million) Amount Total Project Cost 2.00 B. Is the project 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 [including overview of Country, Sectoral & Institutional Contexts and Relationship to CPF] The World Bank will work with the RTG on two sets of activities to provide technical assistance and pilot socio- economic program. These activities would be for: 1. The government to provide an enhanced socio-economic reintegration program pilot for selected ex-detainees and ex-combatants as well as their families and communities of return. Monitoring and feedback mechanisms would be established to facilitate adaptive learning. It is expected that May 04, 2019 Page 2 of 9 The World Bank Supporting the Socio-economic Reintegration of Ex-detainees and Ex-combatants in Southern Thailand (P170730) the reintegration pilot would provide support to approximately 200 existing returnees and up to 40 ex-combatants among those expected to return over the next 15 months. A multi-agency Program Advisory Committee (PAC) would be established to provide guidance to the project. A reintegration unit housed under the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Center (SBPAC) will partner with agencies overseeing socio-economic aspects of the reintegration. Some services would be provided by line agencies and non-governmental organizations. 2. The World Bank will provide technical support and capacity building (workshop and training) to assist the government in its redesign of the program including assessing various aspects of the current reintegration program, working with the advisory working committee to guide the redesign of the program, and providing technical training for staff and case workers of the new reintegration unit. Two South-south learning events will be conducted to share international experience on DDR and reintegration; knowledge management notes will be produced to take lessons from the pilot interventions. D. Environmental and Social Overview D.1. Project location(s) and salient characteristics relevant to the ES assessment [geographic, environmental, social] The project will be implemented in three southernmost provinces namely Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat which specific locations of activities including socio-economic reintegration assistance program will be identified during the project implementation phase. Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat provinces are Muslim-majority provinces, located in the southernmost part of Thailand that border Malaysia to the South and Gulf of Thailand to the Northeastern. The provinces feature a range of natural resources including forest, peat swamp forest and mangrove, rivers, coastal resources and are relatively fertile. The Southern Border Province Administrative Centre (SBPAC) will be responsible for the pilot project which aims to deliver and evaluate a redesigned socio-economic reintegration program for ex- detainees and ex-combatants. The proposed intervention has two sets of activities to provide technical assistance and Public Disclosure pilot socio-economic program. These activities would be for: 1. The government to provide an enhanced socio- economic reintegration program pilot for selected ex-detainees and ex-combatants as well as their families and communities of return. Monitoring and feedback mechanisms would be established to facilitate adaptive learning. It is expected that the reintegration pilot would provide support to approximately 200 existing returnees and up to 40 ex-combatants among those expected to return over the next 15 months. A multi-agency Program Advisory Committee (PAC) would be established to provide guidance to the project. A reintegration unit housed under the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Center (SBPAC) will partner with agencies overseeing socio-economic aspects of the reintegration. Some services would be provided by line agencies and non-governmental organizations. D. 2. Borrower’s Institutional Capacity The Southern Border Province Administrative Centre (SBPAC) would be the key entity involved in Project implementation. Other Project Implementing entities and partners will be identified as project preparation progresses. Their capacity to address environmental and social concerns will be assessed and required strengthening measures incorporated during the first six months of the project implementation prior to the actual socio-economic service delivery which is tentatively set at the end of the first year. II. SCREENING OF POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL (ES) RISKS AND IMPACTS A. Environmental and Social Risk Classification (ESRC) Substantial Environmental Risk Rating Moderate May 04, 2019 Page 3 of 9 The World Bank Supporting the Socio-economic Reintegration of Ex-detainees and Ex-combatants in Southern Thailand (P170730) The Environmental Risk Rating for the proposed project is Moderate in particular since the project will involve livelihood support activities. There are no civil construction activities planned under this operation. The project will assist the government in designing and implementing an enhanced socio-economic reintegration program pilot for 240 ex-combatants and ex-detainees and their families. The reintegration program would involve multi-sectoral assistance such as access to education/skills training opportunities, health and psycho-social services and livelihoods support. It is expected that one cycle of small grant will be provided for both sub-district level (approximately THB 300,000 or US$ 9,500) and individual or family level (grant size to be determined during implementation phase). Potential livelihood support activities include income generating activities around producing different types of agricultural products and provision of related training. Selection criteria for this multi-sector assistance, including negative list will be developed early during project implementation to ensure that adverse impacts on the environment are avoided or minimized. For example, livelihoods activities that involve exploitation/harvesting of natural resources in critical natural habitats or involve/promote use of pesticide will be ineligible for project support. The operation manual of an integrated socio-economic reintegration program that will be developed during project implementation to guide the reintegration program implementation will include this requirement. It is recognized that project activities on livelihoods support may lead adverse impacts to the environment from improper management of solid/liquid waste or other forms of local pollution. Given a limited number of grants and small investment size, these impacts are however considered as low to moderate impacts, site-specific and be readily managed thorough adoption of an Environmental Codes of Practices. Social Risk Rating Substantial The Social Risk Rating for this project is Substantial at this point of preparation given the sensitive conflict context, some concerns about the acceptability of project activities, and unknown capacity of implementing agency to manage Public Disclosure E&S risks. The proposed intervention would be undertaken at a time when the parties to the conflict have not yet engaged in a formal peace process. Consequently, it is not without risk in both security and reputational terms. The acceptability of the proposed approach would need to be carefully and sensitively consulted upon with a range of stakeholders who may need more explanation on the proposed reintegration program. The proposed approach wolud need to be crafted in consultation with community representaitves, target beneficiaries and their families. The Bank would provide technical support to the government to develop and execute a stakeholder engagement strategy (including a communication and dissemination strategy) that supports public dialogue on this aspect of peacebuilding, informs the public, sensitizes communities, and gains support for the reintegration program. Its sustained engagement in Thailand’s south has given the Bank not only significant knowledge of the target areas and issues but also trust and acceptance by state and non-state actors. Building on this experience and these relationships, the Bank would mitigate the risks through various ways. First, it would foster a transparent and participatory approach to program design that reflects the views of all relevant stakeholders. In so doing, it would seek to demonstrate that the revised program is not simply an extension of the current one. In this regard, Bank execution of Component 3 is a critical risk mitigation measure. Second, social accountability measures built into program design would allow for participatory monitoring and evaluation and identification of issues that affect implementation. Adjustments to design and implementation would confirm the RTG’s approach to reintegration as peacebuilding. Third, various reintegration activities would be undertaken by civil society organizations as these are trusted by the communities. Coordinating services across a diverse range of government and non-government agencies would help bring the RTG closer to the people. Fourth, by initially focusing on ex-combatants and ex- detainees who have already returned, the program pilot would serve as a confidence building measure that may help May 04, 2019 Page 4 of 9 The World Bank Supporting the Socio-economic Reintegration of Ex-detainees and Ex-combatants in Southern Thailand (P170730) facilitate peace dialogue. Fifth, by phasing in the various components of the proposed intervention the Bank would be able to reassess the risks prior to the launch of the program pilot. Finally, it is worth noting that the government has already approved the 20 Year Strategic Plan in which peace dialogue and conflict resolution are prioritized as a national agenda, thus the policy and direction for the peace process as well as the reintegration program would be a continuing approach. B. Environment and Social Standards (ESSs) that Apply to the Activities Being Considered B.1. General Assessment ESS1 Assessment and Management of Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts Overview of the relevance of the Standard for the Project: The design and implementation of the delivery of an Enhanced Reintegration Program Pilot including delivery of multi-sectoral socio-economic reintegration assistance such as access to education/skills training opportunities, health and psycho-social services and livelihoods support to 240 selected ex-detainees and ex-combatants and their families will require a careful Social Assessment that would be carried out at the implementation phase. The livelihoods support activities will be provided for both sub-district level and individual or family level based on their needs assessment. The team is currently working on a brief situation and needs assessment of ex-combatants and ex- detainees that is expected to be completed by May 2019. The outputs of this exercise could be used as a secondary social assessment for the safety net and socio-economic reintegration assistance. Once the project is approved, the main needs assessment is planned to be conducted and the database developed. Similarly the delivery of a Public Disclosure transitional safety net to eligible ex-detainees and ex-combatants and identification of support measures for communities of return would also require the outputs of the proposed Social Assessment. The development and execution of the stakeholder engagement strategy including communication and dissemination strategy that supports public dialogue on this aspect of peacebuilding, informs the public, sensitizes communities, and gains support for the reintegration program would require intensive stakeholder consultation. The process of assisting the government in the development of a database for the reintegration program that catalogues the target participants, socio-economic profile, and identified needs would also benefit from the Social Assessment. This information would serve as the baseline data and the foundation of a “case management system” to support participants throughout the reintegration process. The project activities on livelihoods support may lead to generation of solid/liquid waste or other forms of pollution. This may generate direct low direct and indirect impacts which are site-specific on the environment since grants size is small and number of grant is limited. It is not expected that the project will have cumulative environmental impacts. A simple Environmental Codes of Practices will be developed during project implementation to guide environmental management during execution of socio-economic reintegration assistance program and will include requirements of the relevant ESSs including ESS3 Resource Efficiency and Pollution Prevention, ESS4 Community Health and Safety and Management, ESS6 Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Natural Resources. Activities that involve harvesting of natural resources in critical habitats or use/promote use of pesticide or other types of economic ventures and activities that the project cannot support due to expected ES adverse impacts will be identified and agreed up on with the borrower and will then be reflected in a negative list to be included in the ECOPs and the operation manual. Areas where reliance on the Borrower’s E&S Framework may be considered: None. May 04, 2019 Page 5 of 9 The World Bank Supporting the Socio-economic Reintegration of Ex-detainees and Ex-combatants in Southern Thailand (P170730) ESS10 Stakeholder Engagement and Information Disclosure The Stakeholder Engagement Plan will be prepared prior to Project Appraisal in consultation with a carefully selected cohort of stakeholder representatives. One of the key activities of the operation is the development and execution of the stakeholder engagement strategy including communication and dissemination strategy that supports public dialogue on this aspect of peacebuilding, informs the public, sensitizes communities, and gains support for the reintegration program and the Stakeholder Engagement Plan would lay out a framework for its development. The project will also assist the government to develop a stakeholder engagement strategy including communication and dissemination strategy that supports public dialogue on this aspect of peacebuilding, informs the public, sensitizes communities, and gains support for the reintegration program. B.2. Specific Risks and Impacts A brief description of the potential environmental and social risks and impacts relevant to the Project. ESS2 Labor and Working Conditions ESS2 is relevant. The Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre (SBPAC) through the Program Advisory Committee in association with Ministry of Finance and in coordination with the relevant Ministries i.e. the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, Ministry of Labor and the Ministry of Public Health and NGOs to implement the 3 project components. The existing Labour Management Procedures will be assessed to see if they address the requirements of the different type of workers the project is expected to employ; e.g. direct workers employed by the Public Disclosure Borrower / implementing agencies as well as contracted workers employed through NGOs or consultant firms. If required the existing labour management procedures would be refined or new procedures prepared in consultation with the agencies as part of project implementation. Based on this assessment, the Appraisal stage ESRS will be revised accordingly. ESS3 Resource Efficiency and Pollution Prevention and Management Livelihood support activities may lead to generation of various forms of pollution such as wastewater, solidwastes, dust, noise, odour, soil erosion, etc depending on type and nature of activities. For example, skill training/implementation support for small food processing may generate wastewater, waste cooking oil and solid wastes, agricultural related activity may involve lost of top soil/soil erosion and use of fertilizer, etc. These potential impacts are expected to be limited to sub-projects location and has low adverse impacts on the environment and people. Mitigation measures will be included in an Environmental Codes of Practice to manage these impacts. Activity that involve or promote use of pesticide will not be eligible for project support and will be included in the negative list in the operation manual. ESS4 Community Health and Safety Livelihood support activities could lead to potential for community exposure to water-borne and vector-borne diseases if environmental/sanitation management is inadequate. For example, stagnant or slow-flowing water/wastewater could provide breeding ground for insects including mosquitoes that can transmit diseases e.g. May 04, 2019 Page 6 of 9 The World Bank Supporting the Socio-economic Reintegration of Ex-detainees and Ex-combatants in Southern Thailand (P170730) dengue fever. Poor solid waste management could attract insects, rodents that can transmit disease. Since project livelihood support will be a small-scale activities, it is anticipate that impact on community health due to water-borne and vector-borne disease transmission will be low. The ECOPs will include good practices to ensure adequate management of solid wastes, wastewater and drainage to prevent and minimized potential breeding ground for disease vectors. ESS5 Land Acquisition, Restrictions on Land Use and Involuntary Resettlement There is no land taking/acquisition expected as part of project design and therefore land use restrictions or involuntary resettlement impacts are not expected, hence ESS 5 is currently considered not relevant. ESS6 Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Natural Resources The project is not anticipated to lead to negative impacts on critical habitats since the project will not finance any civil works. The project support on livelihood activities that involve exploitation/harvesting of natural resources in critical/sensitive habitats will not be allowed and will be included in the negative list in operation manual. However, livelihood support activities or capacity buildings which will be identified during project implementation through needs assessment and consultations with project beneficiaries may involve conservation of natural resources e.g. canal/river or production of crops or animal husbandry. The ECOPs will include measures to enhance conservation practices and will include Good International Industrial Practices (GIIP) to avoid or minimize adverse risks or impacts on the environment and people. Public Disclosure ESS7 Indigenous Peoples/Sub-Saharan African Historically Underserved Traditional Local Communities The three southernmost provinces are home to the majority Malay Muslim population to the extent of 96%. The Bank has had experience of supporting implementation of a CDD project in these areas during 2009-2017. In the absence of Indigenous peoples, OP 4.10 was not applied and on the same basis ESS7 will also not be relevant. ESS8 Cultural Heritage None relevant. The project is not anticipated to adversely affect and will not involve support on the conservation, management and use of cultural heritage. However, the ECOP will include a Chance Finding Procedure in case physical cultural heritage is unexpectedly uncovered. ESS9 Financial Intermediaries None relevant. No FI involvement is envisaged in the project. C. Legal Operational Policies that Apply OP 7.50 Projects on International Waterways No May 04, 2019 Page 7 of 9 The World Bank Supporting the Socio-economic Reintegration of Ex-detainees and Ex-combatants in Southern Thailand (P170730) OP 7.60 Projects in Disputed Areas No III. WORLD BANK ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL DUE DILIGENCE A. Is a common approach being considered? No Financing Partners Korean Trust Fund for Economic and Peace Building Transitions. (KTF) B. Proposed Measures, Actions and Timing (Borrower’s commitments) Actions to be completed prior to Bank Board Approval: Preparation of the Environment and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP) Stakeholder Engagement Plan preparation strategy. Possible issues to be addressed in the Borrower Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP): Social Assessment. Preparation of the Environmental Codes of Practices (ECOP) C. Timing Public Disclosure Tentative target date for preparing the Appraisal Stage ESRS 30-Apr-2019 IV. CONTACT POINTS World Bank Contact: Wasittee Udchachone Title: Consultant Telephone No: Email: wudchachone@worldbank.org Contact: Shankar Narayanan Title: Senior Social Development Specialist, Safeguard Po Telephone No: 5781+3209 / Email: snarayanan@worldbank.org Contact: Gerardo Pio Francisco Parco Title: Senior Environmental Engineer Telephone No: 5776+2660 Email: gparco@worldbank.org Borrower/Client/Recipient May 04, 2019 Page 8 of 9 The World Bank Supporting the Socio-economic Reintegration of Ex-detainees and Ex-combatants in Southern Thailand (P170730) Implementing Agency(ies) Implementing Agency: The Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre V. 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 VI. APPROVAL Task Team Leader(s): Pamornrat Tansanguanwong Public Disclosure May 04, 2019 Page 9 of 9