THE WORLD BANK - ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) FOR COVID-19 EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROJECTS Government of São Tomé and Principe/Ministry of Health STP COVID-19 Emergency Response Project (P173783) ENVIRONMENTAL and SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) March 20, 2020 1|Page THE WORLD BANK - ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) FOR COVID-19 EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROJECTS ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN 1. The Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Principe (hereinafter the Recipient), will implement the STP COVID-19 Emergency Response Project (the Project), with the involvement of the Ministry of Health (MoH). The International Development Association (hereinafter the Association) has agreed to provide financing for Project. 2. The Recipient will implement material measures and actions so that the Project is implemented in accordance with the Environmental and Social Standards (ESSs). This Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP) sets out material measures and actions, any specific documents or plans, as well as the timing for each of these. 3. The Recipient is responsible for compliance with all requirements of the ESCP even when implementation of specific measures and actions is conducted by the Ministry, agency or unit referenced in 1 above. 4. Implementation of the material measures and actions set out in this ESCP will be monitored and reported to the Association by the Recipient as required by the ESCP and the conditions of the legal agreement, and the Association will monitor and assess progress and completion of the material measures and actions throughout implementation of the Project. 5. As agreed by the Association and the Recipient, this ESCP may be revised from time to time during Project implementation, to reflect adaptive management of Project changes and unforeseen circumstances or in response to assessment of Project performance conducted under the ESCP itself. In such circumstances, Recipient will agree to the changes with the Association and will update the ESCP to reflect such changes. Agreement on changes to the ESCP will be documented through the exchange of letters signed between the Association and the Recipient. The Recipient will promptly re-disclose the updated ESCP. 6. Where Project changes, unforeseen circumstances, or Project performance result in changes to the risks and impacts during Project implementation, the Recipient shall provide additional funds, if needed, to implement actions and measures to address such risks and impacts. 2|Page THE WORLD BANK - ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) FOR COVID-19 EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROJECTS MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBLE ENTITY/AUTHORITY MONITORING AND REPORTING A REGULAR REPORTING: Prepare and submit to the Association regular monitoring Quarterly report throughout Project Ministry of Health reports on the environmental, social, health and safety (ESHS) performance of implementation the Project, including but not limited to, stakeholder engagement activities and information from the grievances log. ESS 1: ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL RISKS AND IMPACTS 1.1 ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE: The Ministry of Health shall establish and PCU to be established and an Ministry of Health maintain a Project Coordination Unit (PCU) with qualified staff (including an environmental specialist and a social environmental and a social specialist) and resources to support management of specialist to be hired/appointed before ESHS risks and impacts of the Project. the carrying out of Project activities. PCU to be maintained throughout Project implementation. 1.2 ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL ASSESSMENT/MANAGEMENT PLANS AND Ministry of Health INSTRUMENTS/ CONTRACTORS a. Assess the environmental and social risks and impacts of proposed a. ESMF to be prepared before Project Project activities, in accordance with the Environmental and Social initiation. Assessment to be Management Framework (ESMF) to be prepared, disclosed and adopted conducted before the carrying out of for the Project, including to ensure that individuals or groups who, the relevant project activities. because of their particular circumstances, may be disadvantaged or vulnerable, have access to the development benefits resulting from the Project. The ESMF will include as Annex an Infection Control and Medical Waste Management Plan (ICWMP) that will follow relevant WHO guidance documents on COVID-19 and other GIIP (Good Industry b. Before the carrying out of the International Practices) consistent with the ESSs. relevant Project activities, and b. Prepare, disclose, adopt, and implement any environmental and social thereafter throughout the carrying management plans or other instruments required for the respective out of such activities. Project activities based on the assessment process, in accordance with the ESSs, ESMF, the EHSGs, and other relevant Good International Industry Practice (GIIP) including WHO guidance documents on COVID-19 in a manner acceptable to the Association. c. Before launching the procurement c. Incorporate the relevant aspects of this ESCP, including, inter alia, any process for the relevant Project environmental and social management plans or other instruments, ESS2 activities, and thereafter throughout requirements, and any other required ESHS measures, into the ESHS the carrying out of such activities. specifications of the procurement documents and contracts with contractors and supervising firms. Thereafter ensure that the contractors and supervising firms comply with the ESHS specifications of their respective contracts. d. Throughout Project Implementation 3|Page THE WORLD BANK - ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) FOR COVID-19 EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROJECTS MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBLE ENTITY/AUTHORITY d. Update ESMF or other environmental and social management plans and instruments based on updated guidance by WHO on COVID19. MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBLE ENTITY/AUTHORITY 1.3 EXCLUSIONS: Exclude the following type of activities as ineligible for financing During the assessment process Ministry of Health under the Project: conducted under action 1.2.a. above. • Activities that may cause long term, permanent and/or irreversible (e.g. loss of major natural habitat) adverse impacts • Activities that have high probability of causing serious adverse effects to human health and/or the environment not related to treatment of COVID19 cases • Activities that may have significant adverse social impacts and may give rise to significant social conflict • Activities that may affect lands or rights of indigenous people or other vulnerable minorities, • Activities that may involve permanent resettlement or land acquisition or adverse impacts on cultural heritage. • All the other excluded activities set out in the ESMF of the Project. ESS 2: LABOR AND WORKING CONDITIONS 2.1 LABOR MANAGEMENT: The Project shall be carried out in accordance with the Throughout Project implementation. Ministry of Health applicable requirements of ESS2, in a manner acceptable to the Bank, including through, inter alia, implementing adequate occupational health and safety measures (including emergency preparedness and response measures), setting out grievance arrangements for Project workers, and incorporating labor requirements into the ESHS specifications of the procurement documents and contracts with contractors and supervising firms. ESS 3: RESOURCE EFFICIENCY AND POLLUTION PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT Relevant aspects of this standard shall be considered, as needed, under action 1.2 above, including, inter alia, measures to manage healthcare risks and waste and other types of hazardous and non-hazardous waste. ESS 4: COMMUNITY HEALTH AND SAFETY Relevant aspects of this standard shall be considered, as needed, under action 1.2 above including, inter alia, measures to: minimize the potential for community exposure to communicable diseases; ensure that individuals or groups who, because of their particular circumstances, may be disadvantaged or vulnerable, have access to the development benefits resulting from the Project; manage the risks of the use of security personnel; manage the risks of labor influx; and prevent and respond to sexual exploitation and abuse, and sexual harassment. ESS 5: LAND ACQUISITION, RESTRICTIONS ON LAND USE AND INVOLUNTARY RESETTLEMENT Not relevant. ESS 6: BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF LIVING NATURAL RESOURCES Relevant aspects of this standard shall be considered, as needed, under action 1.2 above. 4|Page THE WORLD BANK - ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP) FOR COVID-19 EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROJECTS MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBLE ENTITY/AUTHORITY ESS 7: INDIGENOUS PEOPLES/SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAN HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED TRADITIONAL LOCAL COMMUNITIES Not relevant. ESS 8: CULTURAL HERITAGE Relevant aspects of this standard shall be considered, as needed, under action 1.2 above. ESS 9: FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES Not relevant. ESS 10: STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT AND INFORMATION DISCLOSURE 10.1 STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT PLAN: Prepare, disclose, adopt, and implement a A draft SEP was already prepared and Ministry of Health Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) consistent with ESS10, in a manner disclosed and shall be updated no later acceptable to the Association. than 30 days following the Effectiveness date. The SEP shall be implemented throughout the Project implementation period. 10.2 GRIEVANCE MECHANISM: Accessible and inclusive mechanisms to raise Throughout Project implementation. Ministry of Health concerns or grievance shall be made publicly available – particularly to project- affected persons – and shall be used to receive and facilitate resolution of concerns and grievances in relation to the Project, consistent with ESS10, in a manner acceptable to the Association. CAPACITY SUPPORT (TRAINING) Training topics for personnel involved in Project implementation will among others include: • COVID-19 Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations • Laboratory biosafety guidance related to the COVID-19 • Guidance on specimen collection and shipment • Standard precautions for COVID-19 patients 5|Page