Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF)
YEHCP
About
This Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) was prepared by UNICEF and is specific to UNICEF’s mandate in Components 1 and 3 of the Yemen Emergency Human Capital Project (YEHCP-Components 1&3). This ESMF has been updated from the original financing for each successive additional financing (AF1, AF2, AF3). (hereinafter the Project). The additional financing 3 will maintain the same levels of service delivery within the same governorates targeted by the original EHCP, AF1 and AF2. Under AF3, UNICEF will focus on consolidating currently supported facilities, enhancing resilience, and sustainability.
The World Bank is financing the YEHCP to provide essential health, nutrition, water and sanitation services to the population of Yemen, with a rationale of added value by having the ability to deliver a continuum of response mechanisms along the humanitarian-development nexus and ensuring the Bank’s effective collaboration with partners to mobilize a successful and technically sound crisis response in Yemen. The Project aims to improve access to healthcare, nutrition, and public health services (Component 1, which will be implemented by UNICEF and WHO) and to improve access to water supply and sanitation (WSS) and strengthening local systems (Component 2, which will be implemented by UNOPS) and Component 3 will be implemented by all three agencies, while component 4 will be activated by the agencies in case of need for an emergency response.
The ESMF was prepared to meet the requirements of the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework (ESF), most particularly the Environmental and Social Standard 1 (ESS1) on the Assessment and Management of Environmental and Social Risks, including the World Bank Group Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) Guidelines. It also meets the UNICEF Environmental and Social Standards (ESS) and practices and complies with Yemeni environmental and social laws and regulations.
The use of this framework is appropriate and necessary, given that UNICEF’s implementation of this project consists of a large number of interventions in many different localities, and that most of the location and activities will only be determined during implementation.
Specific to YEHCP-Component 1, UNICEF has in parallel prepared a Medical Waste Management Plan to meet the requirements of the ESS1 and ESS3, a Labor Management Procedure (LMP) to meet the requirements of ESS2, a GBV/SEA/SH Plan and a Security Management Plan (SMP) to meet the requirements of ESS4, and ESCP together with a Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP), which is prepared jointly by UNICEF, WHO, and UNOPS to meet the requirements of ESS1 and ESS10. All of these documents have been updated to include the second additional financing to the original project.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is responsible for EHCP-Component 1, sub-components 1.1 1.2 and 1.5, implementation, in cooperation with local partners including MoPHP and NGOs/CBOs to be determined during project implementation.
To strengthen the implementation of the Project with the environmental and social safeguarding standards, but also to ensure efficient use of resources and learning and knowledge sharing among project teams, in 2022 UNICEF established a dedicated Safeguarding Unit, composed of: a Safeguarding Programme Manager, an Environmental Safeguarding Specialist, an Environmental Safeguarding Officer, a Social Safeguarding Officer. The Safeguarding Unit works in collaboration with additional existing expertise within the office: the Risk Management Teams (Sana’a, Aden, Amman); the PSEA specialist; the GBV specialist; the Gender specialist; the Yemen Service Center (YSC), the Construction Unit.
In addition to the YEHCP, UNICEF is currently managing two other projects funded by the World Bank – Restoring Education and Learning (REAL) and Universal Cash Transfer (UCT) which are under the World Bank’s ESF and have similar ESMFs embedded within their structures and agreements.
Component 1 of the project will finance eligible activities that are currently supported by the Project. It will continue to finance delivery of high impact and essential services in the Minimum Service Package (MSP) and ensure that the MSP remains available in areas impacted by the floods. The AF-3 will work in close coordination with the newly launched Pandemic Preparedness and Response Project (PPRP - TF069037) to continue strengthening Yemen’s pandemic preparedness and response system. The EHCP will strategically invest in ongoing interventions to continue building national capacity to run the health system. Component 1 under UNICEF will facilitate the operation of PHC HFs nationwide. The facilities will be managed by the MOPHP relevant authorities. However, the project will oversee and will enhance the HFs in proper handling of the generated medical waste during operation. Therefore, the project has prepared a MWMP, updated to serve the third Additional Financing (AF3), and it will be implemented during the EHCP-AF3 lifecycle. UNICEF led components of the Project will support civil work inside selected health facilities, including refurbishment of flood damaged and selected facilities targeted for upgrading including solarization, and installation/maintenance of small incinerators as required.
The bulk of the environment, social and health and safety (ESHS) risks and impacts are associated with the medical waste management systems within the targeted health facilities.
UNICEF Safeguarding Unit will continue screening all subprojects using the screening form (see annex 1) and assessing the environmental and social risks that might be triggered by the Project, and identify, implement and monitor the relevant mitigation measures.
Under AF 1, UNICEF developed two ESMPs for the construction of incinerators in targeted health facilities – cleared by the World Bank. With the current additional financing, UNICEF will continue to ensure that the identified mitigation measures are implemented and monitored. Moreover, UNICEF will continue assessing the environmental and social risks for the Project and report to World Bank in case new risks are identified.
UNICEF will prepare proportionate ESMPs for subprojects according to the following table of content:
- Introduction
- Subproject Description
- Environmental and Social Risk Assessment and Management
- Environmental and Social Risk Monitoring Plan
- Stakeholders’ Engagement
- Budget
UNICEF will continue to implement the Project Stakeholder Engagement Plan which has been updated for the AF3. Consultations are continuously being conducted with key stakeholders (ref. SEP).
UNICEF will incorporate environmental and social requirements for contractors in tender documentation and contract documents, so that potential bidders are aware of environmental and social performance requirements expected from them and are able to reflect that in their bids. The cost to contractors of meeting the ESHS requirements will be included in their respective contracts. UNICEF will monitor compliance by contractors with these requirements.
The requirements are summarized in the ESMPs, which will be annexed to the procurement documentation.
UNICEF will monitor and report on implementation of the ESMF, with input from the TPM agent and other existing monitoring mechanisms. UNICEF Safeguarding Unit will ensure that safeguards monitoring is included in the Project’s reports to the World Bank.
The Project will use the Grievance Mechanism (GM), as detailed in the Project Stakeholder Engagement Plan. UNICEF will rely upon the existing internal protocols for the redressal of grievances.
The cost of due diligence for specific subprojects (preparation of the screening form, consultations, GM, preparation of ESMPs, and monitoring) are included in the costs/budget in the overall budget of Component 1 of the project.
