The World Bank Improving Early Childhood Development in the West Bank and Gaza (P168295) Appraisal Environmental and Social Review Summary Appraisal Stage (ESRS Appraisal Stage) Public Disclosure Date Prepared/Updated: 10/22/2019 | Report No: ESRSA00306 Oct 22, 2019 Page 1 of 11 The World Bank Improving Early Childhood Development in the West Bank and Gaza (P168295) BASIC INFORMATION A. Basic Project Data Country Region Project ID Parent Project ID (if any) West Bank and Gaza MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH P168295 AFRICA Project Name Improving Early Childhood Development in the West Bank and Gaza Practice Area (Lead) Financing Instrument Estimated Appraisal Date Estimated Board Date Education Investment Project 10/21/2019 12/16/2019 Financing Borrower(s) Implementing Agency(ies) Palestine Liberation Ministry of Education, Organization Ministry of Health Proposed Development Objective(s) Public Disclosure Improve the coverage and quality of targeted early childhood development services for children from gestation until age 5 in the West Bank and Gaza. Financing (in USD Million) Amount Total Project Cost 9.00 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 project aims to (1) strengthen early healthcare, nutrition, and stimulation; (2) increase access to high-quality kindergarten services; and (3) improve availability of ECD data. D. Environmental and Social Overview D.1. Project location(s) and salient characteristics relevant to the ES assessment [geographic, environmental, social] Oct 22, 2019 Page 2 of 11 The World Bank Improving Early Childhood Development in the West Bank and Gaza (P168295) The project is nationwide, covering communities in both West Bank and Gaza. Component 1 aims to strengthen early healthcare, nutrition and stimulation services provided to Palestinian children from gestation to 48 months. This component is likely to include supply and installation of new healthcare equipment, programs to improve nutrition and baby formula to targeted communities. Component 2 aims to improve access to high quality kindergarten services. Subcomponent 2.1 aims to expand access to Kindergarten education via construction of new KG classrooms, rehabilitation of existing classrooms, possibly supply and installation of supporting facilities such as play areas and kitchen facilities. The exact locations of the targeted schools will be determined via a mapping exercise for the location and capacity of existing public and private KG2 classrooms to construct the supply. The exercise will be overlaid with a poverty map, providing additional information on how best to target the most vulnerable populations. D. 2. Borrower’s Institutional Capacity The project is multi sectoral, including the Ministry of Education, Health, and Social Development. Given the high capacity of the PIU overseeing the education projects financed by the Bank and overall high institutional capacity of the Mistry of Education, the MOEHE will have the primary responsibility for project implementation and ensuring compliance with the Bank’s procedures and guidelines. The MOEHE will closely coordinate efforts with the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Social Development for the implementation of specific activities related to the health and social sectors. The PIUs role in the past has been limited to provide oversight and monitoring of the procurement and financial management of the projects and the PIU is staffed mainly with qualified financial and procurement specialists, given the fact previous projects have been category “C” according to OP 4.01 with no activities of significant environmental impacts. Therefore, there are no environmental or social specialists onboard the PIU and the staff existing staff has little or no previous experience in the Social or Environmental Safeguards or the new Bank’s ESF framework. The institutional capacity of the PIU currently managing the Bank’s education projects was assessed Public Disclosure with regards to their GRM system, consultation, and overall safeguards capacity to be limited. On the ministry level, it was found that consultations and citizen engagement are not systematically applied to all projects. Departments involved in the implementation of projects have conducted occasional consultations with stakeholders for certain activities, e.g., preparation of the National Strategy for Early Childhood Development and Intervention. There is a Complaints Unit in each of the three ministries. The units are part of the ministries organizational structure and administered by a Head of Department and equipped with trained staff. The Complaints Unit work is regulated by the Council of Ministers Decision No (8). . As part of Capacity Development, the MOEHE will recruit an Environmental and Social Officer who will oversee the implementation of the Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF), prepare site-specific ESMPs for the construction locations, and ensure contractors compliance. II. SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL (ES) RISKS AND IMPACTS A. Environmental and Social Risk Classification (ESRC) Moderate Environmental Risk Rating Moderate The project is classified as Moderate Risk, given the combination of environmental and social impacts of the project activities in the education and health sectors, and the limited existing capacity for environmental and social risk management within the existing PIU and the concerned ministries. The environmental impacts are related to the construction of new KG classrooms within the existing footprint of selected schools in West Bank and Gaza, rehabilitation of existing classrooms, possibly installation of furniture and play equipment, the occupational health and safety for the operation of supplied medical equipment, and possibly medical waste generated. All these aspects will be examined in detail at the appraisal stage. Oct 22, 2019 Page 3 of 11 The World Bank Improving Early Childhood Development in the West Bank and Gaza (P168295) Social Risk Rating Moderate On the social side, the project will overall have positive impacts. The class room construction under component 2 will be done within the exiting footprint of the existing schools, therefore it is unlikely that any land acquisition will be involved. This will be further assessed during project preparation. Considering the project will be nation wide there could be some vulnerable groups and communites in the project area. If the case, special attention will be paid to the needs and concerns of these communites. Stakeholder Engagement Framework (SEF) will consider vulnerable groups and communites that could be in the project areas and provide mechanisms that ensure their full participation. The potential social risks are related to exclusion of intended beneficiaries who do not seek services at PHCs, this risk is low since over 90% of the women do seek maternal health within 2 days of giving birth but still those who do not seek the services could be excluded. Another potential exclusion relates to the private KG2 providers. In general, private sector is the provider of 90% of the KG2 classrooms and since one of the components of this project is assistance for expansion and development of KG2 classrooms, those private sector providers that are not registered due to cost involved could be excluded from the project benefits, including children using private KGs. Finally, the GRM systems within the existing ministries and PIU s. as noted above, are not functioning well. Therefore, some gap filling measures, as explained above, are needed. 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: Public Disclosure Overview of the relevance of the Standard for the Project: The project has education and health components which include activities of construction and rehabilitation of KG classrooms in schools, possibly supply of furniture, play areas and kitchen, and supply of equipment to improve health care to mothers and infants in selected clinics. Those activities entail construction risks, and OHS impacts that need to be managed. The construction activities will most likely be conducted by local contractors and labor management aspects are discussed further under ESS2. The community health and safety will be further assessed in ESS4. It is unlikely the project will involve land acquisition; more details will be given under ESS5. Details on stakeholder engagement, consultations, and GRM will be addressed under ESS10. . Client has prepared an Environmental and Social management Framework (ESMF) which sets the rules for implementation. The ESMF is being prepared and consulted among stakeholders of the project and will be disclosed by project appraisal. During implementation, site-specific ESMPs will be prepared for each construction location. ESS10 Stakeholder Engagement and Information Disclosure The primary project stakeholders involves beneficiaries (including pregnant women, children from prenatal through age 5), primary health care providers, teachers, schools, three ministries involved in the project implementation, and private sector providers of KG. Consultations a number of stakeholders was carried out as part of the project preparation, including the preparation of the ESMF, and the findings of the consultation are integrated into the project design. Stakeholder engagement Framework is prepared that will be the bases for SEP that will be developed once the sites are identified. Oct 22, 2019 Page 4 of 11 The World Bank Improving Early Childhood Development in the West Bank and Gaza (P168295) 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 Types of Labor involved in the project: Direct Workers employed directly by the client for project implementation and Contracted workers through third party contracts for implementation of civil works in schools and clinics. The construction of new KG classrooms, rehabilitation of existing classrooms, supply and installation of KG equipment, kitchen, and playgrounds, supply and installation of medical equipment at primary healthcare clinics, will most likely be conducted via local contractors. Therefore, the provisions of this ESS2 will apply to these contracts and will be part of the bidding documents and specifications, particularly the OHS aspects to construction workers and operators of healthcare equipment ESS3 Resource Efficiency and Pollution Prevention and Management The construction and rehabilitation activities of classrooms are expected to generate solid waste and the provisions of the contracts will entail proper and safe disposal of construction solid waste. The operation of the KG classes and healthcare clinics will entail generating E-Wastes and possibility some medical waste. The nature and quantities of both types of waste will be further assessed and proper measures for safe disposal will be determined in the site specific ESMPs. The ESMPs will include waste management plan that will consider resource efficiency and pollution prevention measures. Public Disclosure ESS4 Community Health and Safety The construction activities for KG classrooms (new construction and rehabilitation) will take place within the existing footprint of schools, most likely during schooling year. All measures to ensure safety of school kids and the surrounding communities should be ensured to prevent any accidents or injuries. All construction materials, paintings, electrical and mechanical equipment, playgrounds, shall comply with safety standards for school kids ESS5 Land Acquisition, Restrictions on Land Use and Involuntary Resettlement At this stage, ESS5 is not expected to be relevant to the project. The expansion of KG classrooms in schools will be done within the existing footprints of schools, no land acquisition is expected. However, given the coverage of the project and the fact that not all schools are identified then based on the mapping exercise the relevance of this standard will be further assessed during preparation and implementation. If it shows that it would be relevant then appropriate instrument will be prepared. ESS6 Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Natural Resources ESS6 is not relevant to this project given the fact project activities are conducted in urban areas, within the existing footprints of schools and healthcare clinic. No Forests or natural habitats will be affected by the project activities ESS7 Indigenous Peoples/Sub-Saharan African Historically Underserved Traditional Local Communities Oct 22, 2019 Page 5 of 11 The World Bank Improving Early Childhood Development in the West Bank and Gaza (P168295) At this stage, this ESS7 is not expected to be relevant to the project as there are not known Indigenous People present in the project area. ESS8 Cultural Heritage At this stage, ESS8 is not expected to be relevant to the project, project activities are not expected to affect tangible or non-tangible cultural heritage. ESS9 Financial Intermediaries ESS9 is not expected to be relevant to the project given the fact all project activities are implemented by the PA line ministries and no FI are involved. C. Legal Operational Policies that Apply OP 7.50 Projects on International Waterways No No international waterways will be impacted by project activities OP 7.60 Projects in Disputed Areas No Project activities are conducted in the communities of West Bank Gaza under the PA authority and will not have impacts on the legal status of the PA or the territories under its jurisdiction Public Disclosure III. BORROWER’S ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) DELIVERABLES against MEASURES AND ACTIONs IDENTIFIED TIMELINE ESS 1 Assessment and Management of Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE: MOE and MOH will establish and maintain an organizational structure with qualified staff and resources to support management of E&S risks including an Environmental and Social Officer (ESO) responsible for 01/2020 implementing the Project activities. The ESO will oversee the implementation of the Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF), prepare site-specific ESMPs for the construction locations, Environmental and Social Health and Safety (ESHS) management and ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL ASSESSMENT: Prepare the ESMP based on the ESMF and update, SEF/SEP, and LMP that has been prepared for the 01/2020 Project, in a manner acceptable to the Association once subprojects are identified MANAGEMENT TOOLS AND INSTRUMENTS: Screen any proposed subproject in accordance with the Environmental and Social Management 03/2020 Framework (ESMF) prepared for the Project, and, thereafter, draft, adopt, and implement the Oct 22, 2019 Page 6 of 11 The World Bank Improving Early Childhood Development in the West Bank and Gaza (P168295) subproject Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP), as required, in a manner acceptable to the Association. The following plans will be developed and implemented:  Environmental and social standard’s sections to be included in the TORs, tender documents for suppliers and MANAGEMENT OF CONTRACTORS: Incorporate the relevant aspects of the ESCP, including the relevant E&S documents and/or plans, and the Labor Management Procedures, into the ESHS specifications of the procurement documents with contractors. Thereafter ensure that the contractors comply with the ESHS specifications of their 02/2020 respective contracts. These measures shall include, but not limited to: • Assessment of the environmental and social risks and impacts associated with contracts of suppliers/con PERMIT, CONSENTS AND AUTHORIZATIONS: Obtain or assist in obtaining, as appropriate, the permits, consents and authorizations that are applicable to the Project from relevant national authorities; making sure to comply, as appropriate, with the conditions established in these permits, consents and authorizations throughout the Project 01/2020 implementation. All suppliers for MOH’s equipment and raw-materials for construction works should be authorized suppliers/providers with legal documents to Operat Public Disclosure ESS 10 Stakeholder Engagement and Information Disclosure SEF and SEP for the identified sites were prepared. Further site specific SEPs will be prepared in accordance with the terms of the SEF once subproject locations are identified. SEP will be updated 11/2019 throughout the project implementation ESS 2 Labor and Working Conditions Update, adopt, and implement the Labor Management Procedures (LMP) that have been developed for the Project and which includes the following 01/2020 Information to workers regarding their terms and conditions of employment including hours of work, wages, Cont wages, overtime, compensation and benefits, holidays, leaves, etc.;  Provide workers with adequate periods of rest per week, annual holiday and sick leave, as required 01/2020 by national law  Ensure Non-Discrimination and Equal Opportunity in the pro  Labor (Cont) Set out measures to prevent GBV and SEA in accordance to the ESF; 01/2020  Ban the use or support of child, forced or compulsory labor; Oct 22, 2019 Page 7 of 11 The World Bank Improving Early Childhood Development in the West Bank and Gaza (P168295) Works should have signed contracts with clear terms as per the Palestinian Labor law. Continue GRIEVANCE MECHANISM FOR PROJECT WORKERS: Establish, maintain, and operate a grievance mechanism for Project workers, as described in the LMP 03/2020 and consistent with ESS2 OHS MEASURES: Prepare, adopt, and implement occupational, health and safety (OHS) measures specified in the ESMP acceptable to the Association to address: 02/2020  Identification of potential hazards to the Project workers;  OHS Measures (cont)  Provision of preventive and protective measures; 02/2020  Training of the Project workers and maintenance of training records;  Documentation and reporting of occupational accidents, diseases and incidents. GBV AND SEA RISKS: Prepare, adopt, and implement a stand-alone GBV Action Plan, to assess and manage the risks of GBV 02/2020 and sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA). The assessment (in 4.2) shall include assessment of risks on GBV and SEA which will be Public Disclosure GVB AND SEA (cont) prepared prior to initiating construction and implementation of the Project and will continue 02/2020 throughout the life cycle of the Project EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE: As part of the manual for OHS measures include measures on emergency preparedness and response 03/2020 and ensure coordination, including:  Carry out the Risk Hazard Assessment (RHA), as part of the Environmental and So PROJECT WORKERS TRAINING: Project contractors in coordination with the recipient through (PCU) shall design and deliver training 03/2020 for Project’s workers in hygiene, health and safety, sexual transmitted diseases, GBV and SEA. ESS 3 Resource Efficiency and Pollution Prevention and Management MANAGEMENT OF WASTE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS:  Generation of waste and hazardous materials will be avoided or minimized in all possible measures; 02/2020  Develop detailed plan and implement measures and actions to manage waste and hazardous materials Continue: : 02/2020 and require contractors to submit waste management plan including storage, final disposal, and Oct 22, 2019 Page 8 of 11 The World Bank Improving Early Childhood Development in the West Bank and Gaza (P168295) supervision;  Exclude the use of chemicals and hazardous materials subject to international bans. Continue Resource efficiency and pollution prevention and management measures will be covered under the 03/2020 ESMP . ESS 4 Community Health and Safety TRAFFIC AND ROAD SAFETY: Adopt and implement measures and actions to assess and manage traffic and road safety risks as 06/2020 required in the ESMPs to be developed under action XX above. Bidding document of construction work will require bidders to submit Continue: their management plans for potential traffic and road safety risks to workers and potentially affected 06/2020 communities throughout the subproject implementation including monitoring. SECURITY PERSONNEL: Prepare, adopt, and implement a stand-alone Security Personnel Management Plan consistent with 03/2020 the requirements of ESS4, in a manner acceptable to the Bank.. ESS 5 Land Acquisition, Restrictions on Land Use and Involuntary Resettlement Public Disclosure There are no defined locations where land acquisition or resettlement is required. The expansion of public KGs/Schools will be within the footprint of the KGs/Schools. Therefore, there are no mitigation measures to be undertaken under ESS 5. ESS 6 Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Natural Resources There are no actions under the Project affecting biodiversity or living natural resources given the fact project activities are conducted in urban areas, within the existing footprints of schools and healthcare clinic ESS 7 Indigenous Peoples/Sub-Saharan African Historically Underserved Traditional Local Communities There are no actions under the Project affecting Indigenous Peoples or Sub-Saharan Historically underserved Traditional Local Communities, therefore there are no mitigation measures to be undertaken under ESS7. ESS 8 Cultural Heritage CHANCE FINDS: Develop and document ‘Chance Finds procedure that will detail what the construction contractors 03/2020 must do in case valuable artefacts or culturally valuable materials are found. Such procedure will be included in all contracts relating t Oct 22, 2019 Page 9 of 11 The World Bank Improving Early Childhood Development in the West Bank and Gaza (P168295) ESS 9 Financial Intermediaries There are no actions under the Project related to Financial Intermediaries, therefore there are no mitigation measures to be undertaken under ESS9. B.3. Reliance on Borrower’s policy, legal and institutional framework, relevant to the Project risks and impacts Is this project being prepared for use of Borrower Framework? No Areas where “Use of Borrower Framework” is being considered: West Bank and Gaza’s E&S Framework is not being proposed to be applied in whole or in part for this project. The EIA policy of the PA coincides with most of the provisions of ESS1. However, projects are categorized either with high environmental impacts where a full-fledge EIA is required by the Environment Quality Authority, or minor impacts where an elementary environmental assessment is required. The scope of coverage of EIA depends on the type of the project, however, several aspects covered by the environmental and social standards are not covered, particularly the social impacts. . IV. CONTACT POINTS Public Disclosure World Bank Contact: Samira Ahmed Hillis Title: Program Leader Telephone No: 5366+6581 Email: shillis@worldbank.org Contact: Samira Nikaein Towfighian Title: Education Spec. Telephone No: 202-458-9403 Email: snikaein@worldbank.org Borrower/Client/Recipient Borrower: Palestine Liberation Organization Implementing Agency(ies) Implementing Agency: Ministry of Education Implementing Agency: Ministry of Health V. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT Oct 22, 2019 Page 10 of 11 The World Bank Improving Early Childhood Development in the West Bank and Gaza (P168295) 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): Samira Ahmed Hillis, Samira Nikaein Towfighian Practice Manager (ENR/Social) Pia Peeters Cleared on 21-Oct-2019 at 18:11:37 EDT Public Disclosure Oct 22, 2019 Page 11 of 11