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MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE, DISASTER MANAGEMENT
AND METSOROLOGY (MECDM)
CLIMATE CHANGE DIVISION AND NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT
OFFICE
COMMUNITY RESILIENCE TO CLIMATE & DISASTER RISK IN SOLOMON
ISLANDS PROJECT (CRISP)
ENVIRONMENTAL & SOCIAL MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK
(ESMF)
SEPTEMBER 2013
E4329
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Community Resilience to Climate & Disaster Risk Social and Environmental Management Framework in Solomon Islands Project (ESMF) (CRISP)
Page 2
ABBREVIATIONS/ACRONYMS
CITES Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
CRISP Community Resilience to Climate Change & Natural Hazards in Solomon
Islands Project
CH Community Helper
ECOP Environmental Codes of Practice
EIA Environmental Impact Assessment
EMP Environmental Management Plan
ESMF Environmental and Social Management Framework
IA Implementing Agency
JOC Joint Oversight Committee (for PGSP)
MECDM Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Disaster Management
MPGIS Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening
MoFT Ministry of Finance and Treasury
PCC Project Coordination Committee
PCDF Provincial Capacity Development Fund
PG Provincial Government
PGSP Provincial Governance Strengthening Programme
PMU Project Management Unit
OAG Office of the Attorney General
SIG Solomon Islands Government
SO Safeguards Officer
TSDP Transport Sector Development Programme
WB World Bank
WDC Ward Development Committee
WS Work Supervisors
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Contents 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 6
2 Legal framework ........................................................................................................................... 7
2.1 Legislations applicable to projects .......................................................................................... 7
2.1.1 World Bank Safeguard Policies .................................................................................. 7
2.1.2 SIG Environmental and National Disaster Risk Management Legislations ............... 8
2.2 Existing In-Country Institutional Arrangements for Environmental and Disaster Risk
Management ............................................................................................................................ 9
3 Project Description ..................................................................................................................... 11
3.1 Proposed Investments ............................................................................................................ 11
3.2 General Project Implementation Arrangements .................................................................... 12
4 Socio-Environmental Baseline Conditions in Project area ..................................................... 14
4.1 Physical environment ............................................................................................................ 14
4.1.1 GSOgraphical Location ............................................................................................ 15
4.1.2 Topography and GSOlogy ........................................................................................ 15
4.1.3 Climate ...................................................................................................................... 16
4.1.4 Land Resource and Soil ............................................................................................ 16
4.1.5 Aggregate mining ..................................................................................................... 17
4.1.6 Water Resource and Usage ....................................................................................... 17
4.2 Biological Environment ......................................................................................................... 18
4.2.1 Terrestrial environment ............................................................................................ 18
4.2.2 Marine resources ....................................................................................................... 18
4.2.3 Rare/Endangered Species and Protected Areas ........................................................ 19
4.3 Socio-economic and Cultural Environment........................................................................... 19
4.3.1 Population and social organisation ........................................................................... 19
4.3.2 Housing ..................................................................................................................... 20
4.3.3 Land Use and Land Ownership ................................................................................ 20
4.3.4 Economy ................................................................................................................... 21
4.3.5 Jobs and incomes ...................................................................................................... 21
4.3.6 Water supply ............................................................................................................. 21
4.4 The challenges to the environment ........................................................................................ 21
5 Project’s Social and Environmental Potential Impacts and Risks ......................................... 22
5.1 Positive Impacts ..................................................................................................................... 23
5.2 Potential Negative Impacts and Risks ................................................................................... 23
5.3 Avoid Impacts and Mitigation Measures ............................................................................... 33
5.3.1 Avoid impacts ........................................................................................................... 33
5.3.2 Measures for mitigating potential socio-environmental impacts during construction
and operation phases – ECOP ............................................................................................... 33
6 Environmental & Social Management Framework ................................................................. 34
6.1 Five-steps of Socio-Environmental Management in CRISP ................................................. 34
6.1.1 Step 1: Socio-Environmental Eligibility Criteria and Screening .............................. 34
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6.1.2 Step 2: Screening Potential Socio-environmental Impacts ....................................... 36
6.1.3 Step 3: Select ECOP for eligible sub-projects .......................................................... 39
6.1.4 Step 4: Implement ECOPs ........................................................................................ 40
6.2 Indigenous PSOple Participation and Consultation Framework ........................................... 41
6.3 Information Disclosure .......................................................................................................... 44
6.4 Institutional Arrangements for ESMF implementation ......................................................... 44
7 Land Acquisition and Compensation Guidelines ..................................................................... 48
8 Grievance Redress Mechanism .................................................................................................. 49
Bibliography and References..............................................................................................................81
List of Key Persons met during ESMF Preparation.........................................................................82
TABLES AND FIGURES
Table 1 – WB’s Safeguard Policies and Relevance to CRISP ................................................................ 7
Table 2 – Representative investment sub-projects ................................................................................ 11
Table 3 – Operational arrangements for community-led rural investments under CRISP ................... 12
Table 4 - Operational arrangements for Provincial Government (PG)-led rural investments under
CRISP ................................................................................................................................................... 14
Table 5 – Land forms of the Solomon Islands ...................................................................................... 17
Table 6 – Potential negative impacts of the works under CRISP ......................................................... 26
Table 7 – CRISP Environmental and Social Safeguard Implementation Procedures ........................... 35
Table 8 – Safeguard Implementation Responsibilities for community-led rural investments under the
CRISP ................................................................................................................................................... 46
Table 9 - Safeguard Implementation Responsibilities for Provincial Government (PG)-led rural
investments under the CRISP ............................................................................................................... 46
Table 10 - Responsibilities of CRISP Key stakeholders in implementing Safeguard .......................... 47
Table 11 - Comparison of Provisions of the Land and Titles Act 1969 with Bank Resettlement
Principles...............................................................................................................................................69
Table 12 - Resettlement Actions in the Project Cycle...........................................................................73
Figure 1 – SI Disaster Risk Management Institutional Framework ...................................................... 10
Figure 2-- Location of Project Area ...................................................................................................... 15
FORMS
Form 1 – Socio-environmental ELIGIBILITY Screening Questions ................................................... 36
Form 2 – Socio-environmental IMPACTS Screening Questions ......................................................... 38
Form 3 –ECOP of subproject ................................................................................................................ 39
Form 4 – Records of Public Consultation ............................................................................................. 44
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ANNEXES
Annex 1: Prescribed Developments Listed in Schedule 2 of the Environmental Act
Annex 2: Complaints Record Form
Annex 3: ECOP for Investments under CRISP
Annex 4: Draft Terms of Reference for Environmental & Social Safeguards Officer – CRISP
Annex 5: Some Issues observed and Lessons Learned from previous RDP sub-projects in
Solomon Islands
Annex 6: Resettlement Policy Framework
Annex 7: Sample Consent Form
Annex 8: Compensation and Entitlement Form for Affected Person
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1. Introduction
The Solomon Islands Government (SIG) has sought World Bank assistance in preparing the
Community Resilience to Climate Change and Natural Hazards in Solomon Islands Project
(CRISP). The CRISP will be implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change,
Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM).
The CRISP will ensure compliance with the World Bank Safeguard Policies and the
requirements on environmental management of the SIG. Potential social and environmental
impacts will be identified at early stage of project preparation and negative potential impacts
will be addressed during project implementation. This Environmental and Social
Management Framework (ESMF) has been prepared during CRISP preparation to meet these
requirements. In addition, the ESMF will aim to introduce good environmental practices from
other relevant projects that are being implemented in Solomon Islands and the Pacific region.
The key contents of the ESMF are:
Legal framework: summary of the World Bank Safeguard policies and SIG
Environmental and National Disaster Risk Management legislations applicable to CRISP,
including description of existing environmental management capacity in Solomon
Islands.
Project Description: focus on the type of physical investments that may have negative
potential social and environmental impacts.
Description of Socio-environmental baseline conditions in Project area: briefly describe
the environmental and social contexts of Solomon Islands where the project will be
implemented
Prediction of Project’s social and environmental potential impacts and introductions on
mitigation measures through site selection, construction and operation phases
Environmental Management procedures applicable to subprojects, including
arrangements for subproject socio-environmental screenings, identification of mitigation
measures, the implementation and monitoring of these mitigation measures
Public Consultation and Information Disclosure plan of CRISP
Grievance redress mechanism under CRISP
The final draft ESMF will be disclosed at MECDM office for public access and comments
prior to Project Implementation.
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2. Legal framework
2.1 Legislation applicable to projects
2.1.1 World Bank Safeguard Policies
Table 1 – WB’s Safeguard Policies and Relevance to CRISP
Safeguards
Policies
Triggers and Requirements Triggered by
CRISP
Yes No
OP 4.01 -
Environmental
Assessment
This policy requires environmental assessment (EA) of projects
proposed for World Bank financing to help ensure that projects
are sound and sustainable. CRISP has been primarily classified
as environmental category B by the World Bank as most of the
potential negative impacts are foreseeable, at low or moderate
level and can be avoided or mitigated effectively.
An Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF,
this document) has been prepared and serves as an EA
document. The ESMF considers the project’s potential social
and environmental impacts and sets a mechanism for impacts
screening, mitigation and monitoring during project
implementation phase. While questions are developed for
impacts screening, the Environmental Codes of Practices
(ECOP) introduced in the ESMF will be applied during
construction phase to mitigate potential negative impacts of sub-
projects. As the project is designed with participatory approach,
extensive consultation will be incorporated in every step of sub-
project implementation including design phase.
X
OP4.04-
Natural
Habitats
The project could have limited negative impact on natural
habitats (rivers, waterway, .), given the nature of the sub-
projects and the fact that the exact location is not known.
Sub-projects with limited impact could be eligible provided that
the benefits outweigh the negative impacts and that
mitigation measures are put in place in accordance with
OP/BP 4.04.
Environmental screening will exclude subprojects that
significantly convert or degrade critical natural habitats.
X
OP 4.10 -
Indigenous
People
This policy requires assessment of whether indigenous people
(IP) including ethnic minority (EM) groups, as distinct from the
dominant social/ethnic groups, will be more vulnerable to, or
unable to fully participate in, and benefit from, a project. Since
the majority of the beneficiaries can be considered as
communities of indigenous people, a stand-alone IPP
(Indigenous People Plan) is not required. Instead, the elements
of the IPP will be integrated into the Project design.
X
Physical
Cultural
Tabu and known cultural sites will be avoided. A chance find
protocol is included in the ESMF to address the possibility of X
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Resources
OP/BP 4.11
unexpected discovery of physical cultural resources, indigenous
or foreign human remains dating from the Second World War
occupation.
OP 4.12 -
Involuntary
Resettlement
The policy is triggered. The project will provide support to
establish arrangements, through Community Officers (COs), and
assist communities to manage conflicts that undermine
community security, development and social cohesion. One key
area of conflict is land disputes over tenure and ownership.
Construction of structural disaster risk and adaptation
investments at the community and provincial levels may require
access to land or impact livelihoods of affected people. The
project will develop a participatory approach and sub-projects
should therefore have broad community support, and access to
communal or privately used land may be expected to be largely
through voluntary donation.
A Resettlement Policy Framework (annex to the ESMF) has
been prepared by the Project in case involuntary resettlement is
unavoidable, Because development of policy and process is an
important Component A output, this policy is also triggered to
guide incorporation of principles into standard operating
procedures of the line agencies engaged in DRR and DRM. The
RPF provides guidance in integrating resettlement principles in
the development of policy that will regulate implementation of
sub-projects under Component C.
.
X
2.1.2 SIG Environmental and National Disaster Risk Management Legislations
The key Solomon Islands environmental legislations applicable to the CRISP are the
Environmental Act 1998 and the Wildlife Protection and Management Act (WPMA) 1998.
The Environmental Act includes 5 parts in which Part 1 provides basic definitions and
interpretation of key terms used in the Act. Part II sets out the functions and the nation’s two
key environmental authorities namely the Environmental and Conservation Division (ECD)
and the Environmental Advisory Committee. Part III sets out regulations on Environmental
Impacts Assessment, review and monitoring of development activities. Under this part, the
Law requires that the Director, the ECD and relevant public authorities will consider the
potential impacts of development proposals on the environment. Developers of prescribed
development (listed in Schedule 2 of the Act and annexed in this ESMF) bear the
responsibilities of preparing an environmental report and submitting it to ECD for
consideration. Part IV provides provisions on pollution control.
The objective of the WPMA is to provide regulations on international trading of the country’s
wildlife resource including birds, reptiles, amphibians, mammals, insects, plants and marine
organisms. As SI became a member of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered
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Species (CITES) in 2007, the development of regulations now include all CITES
requirements.
Regarding disaster risk management, SIG has prepared the National Disaster Risk
Management Plan (NDRMP) in 2010 and the National Climate Change Policy (NCCP) for
2012-2017. The NDRMP covers both disaster risk reduction and disaster management. The
NCCP represents SIG’s responses to the challenges and opportunities related to climate
change with a focus on better coordination, cooperation and collaboration. While the CRISP
will ensure compliance with the environmental acts mentioned above, the project will operate
within the frameworks of the NCCP and NDRMP.
Another legislation that may also govern the CRISP is the Land and Titles Act (1988 and
amended in 1996) which consolidates the law relating to the tenure of land, registration of
interests in land, and compulsory acquisition of land.
The Act covers customary land rights. The Act defines customary land as " ... any land (not
being registered land, other than land registered as customary land, or land in respect of
which any person becomes or is entitled to be registered as the owner of an estate pursuant to
the provisions of Part III [of the Act]) lawfully owned, used, or occupied by a person or
community in accordance with current customary usage."
Part V of the Act deals with the purchase or lease of customary land by private treaty, and
compulsory acquisition of land. For public works the land is not acquired as such, it is gifted
or contributed following an extensive period of consultation and agreement through the
signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The MOU waives the customary
interest in the land in lieu of the public infrastructure (wharves, roads, schools, clinics and
other public utilities).
Two articles of the Constitution also provide for compulsory acquisition. Article 111 which
states that in regard to land which has ceased to be customary land, Parliament may; (i)
provide for the conversion into a fixed-term interest of any perpetual interest in such land
held by a person who is not entitled to hold such a perpetual interest (as defined by Article
110); (ii) provide for the compulsory acquisition where necessary of such land or any right
over or interest in such land; and (iii) prescribe the criteria to be adopted in regard to the
assessment and payment of compensation for compulsory acquisition (which may take
account of, but need not be limited to, the following factors: the purchase price, the value of
improvements made between the date of purchase and the date of acquisition, the current use
value of the land, and the fact of its abandonment or dereliction).
In respect of customary land, in Article 112, the Constitution allows the compulsory
acquisition of customary land or any right over or interest in it, as long as there have been
negotiations with the owner(s) of the land, right or interest prior to the acquisition, the
Community Resilience to Climate & Disaster Risk Social and Environmental Management Framework in Solomon Islands Project (ESMF) (CRISP)
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owner(s) have a right of access to independent legal advice, and the interest in the acquired
land is limited to a fixed-term interest.
2.2 Existing In-Country Institutional Arrangements for Environmental and Disaster
Risk Management
The Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology
(MECDM) is the agency responsible for state management of these covered aspects.
MECDM consists of four divisions, namely:
o Environment & Conservation Division (ECD);
o Climate Change Division (CCD);
o National Disaster Management Office (NDMO); and
o Meteorology Division (MD)
EIA appraisal and approval is the function of ECD as regulated by the Environmental Act
1998. Currently (2012), ECD’s monitoring and supervision capacity is limited with only 14
staff based in Honiara and there are no provincially-based staff. ECD is managing a pool of
five to six individual qualified environmental consultants who are capable of preparing EIA
reports for investment projects. Therefore, during the preparation phase of CRISP,
mobilisation of a qualified environmental consultant to oversee the project’s environmental
issues to ensure compliance to applicable environmental legislations would be necessary.
Institutional arrangements identified for DRM in SI covers four main levels including
international/regional, national, provincial and community as shown:
Figure 1 – SI Disaster Risk Management Institutional Framework
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Source: Natural Disaster Risk Management Plan, 2010
3. Project Description
3.1 Proposed Investments
The project development objective (PDO) is to “increase the capacity of selected
communities to manage the impacts of natural hazards and climate change”. The project
would achieve this objective by strengthening government capacity in disaster and climate
risk management, and implementing disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation
Community Resilience to Climate & Disaster Risk Social and Environmental Management Framework in Solomon Islands Project (ESMF) (CRISP)
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investments in selected communities in up to four Provinces including Guadalcanal and
Temotu.
The specific details of sub-projects will be determined during the CRISP project
implementation. Sub-projects will need to meet a number of eligibility criteria. Community-
led investments must be of a scale and level of complexity that can be addressed through
community labour, and will require a community contribution in cash or kind as per the RDP.
Under CRISP, sub-projects must have a risk reduction purpose, either to improve resilience
to natural hazards or adapt to climate change effects. Some sub-projects may be fully funded
by CRISP, but it is also envisaged that CRISP may provide the incremental funding to
address the risk reduction component of a sub-project identified under the RDP (or the PCDF
in the case of PG-led investments) which have a more general development purpose.
A schedule of representative rural investment sub-projects is listed in Table 2
Table 2 – Representative investment sub-projects
Works Threshold Scale
Community [emergency evacuation] buildings or shelters (may be
multi-purpose) > 400 sq. M
Improved water supply and storage systems > 2,000 users
Earthquake retrofit strengthening of building frames and
foundations > 1,000 sq. M
Cyclone strengthening of buildings frames and foundations > 1,000 sq. M
Foundation raising for flood alleviation and mitigation of tsunami
effects > 3 m lift
Climate proofed small bridges and piers > 20 m
Flood alleviation drainage > 100 m
Shoreline protection systems > 50 m
Road realignment as a risk reduction option > 250 m
Sanitation facilities > 200 users
Energy generation (other than hydro) > 10 kW
New irrigation schemes, or improved irrigation systems All
Integrated watershed and land management schemes to minimize
degradation of watersheds All
Infrastructure (not listed above) likely to cause changes in water use
and/or water availability All
Mini-hydro generators All
Development of village/community disaster preparedness,
evacuation and recovery plans for landslides, earthquake, tsunami
and volcanic hazards
None
3.2 General Project Implementation Arrangements
Two classes of rural investment sub-projects are proposed under CRISP, namely:
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Community-led rural investments in which each built facility is implemented, operated
and maintained by a particular village/community; and
Provincial Government (PG)-led rural investments for larger scale or more complex sub-
projects for which the beneficiaries span several communities or wards, and each facility
is implemented, operated and maintained by the PG.
Community-led rural investments will be undertaken using the RDP model but with some
improvements, as explained in Table 3.
Table 3– Operational arrangements for community-led rural investments under CRISP
Levels/structures
Project
identification,
selection,
approval
Grant processing,
implementation, financial
controls
Monitoring,
operation and
maintenance
National – MECDM and
PMU
Community
Helpers (CHs)
carry out initial
awareness and
assist communities
to identify
potential projects
The sub-project
implementation committees
(SICs) prepare technical
designs which are reviewed
and approved by the PSUs
and the PMU. A Financing
Agreement is signed between
each SIC and MECDM
Sub-projects are
entered into an
Excel database in
MECDM
Provincial – Provincial
Assembly (PA) and
Provincial Allocation
Review Committee
(PARC). PARCs are ad
hoc bodies set up under
the Project; each PARC
is constituted by PA
Members (MPAs), a
WDC representative, and
is chaired by the
Provincial Secretary (PS)
The PARC
assesses the
proposals and
recommends them
to the PA for final
endorsement. PS is
the Authorising
Officer for the
CRISP (and the
RDP) and is a
signatory to the
account for PMU
funds in the
province
CRISP uses the Provincial
Support Units (PSU) in the
provinces. CRISP provides
financial training for SIC
members and assists them in
opening bank accounts.
Signatories: 2 SIC members,
2 CRISP/RDP staff: any 2
SIC members and any 1
CRISP/ RDP staff to sign
PSUs assist in
auditing sub-
projects.
Community
Helpers monitor
and report on
activities to PSU
after every visit to
the community.
PSU/PMU conduct
environmental,
technical &
financial audits
Provincial Sector X CRISP’s engineers will assist
with designs of engineering
works and provide technical
assistance during
implementation
X
Ward Development
Committee (WDC),
provincial government
bodies. WDC
membership comprises
ward community reps
including the MPA,
traditional leader,
women and youth reps
The WDC ranks
the sub-projects
each year, and
submits the ranked
sub-projects to the
PARC
X X
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Levels/structures
Project
identification,
selection,
approval
Grant processing,
implementation, financial
controls
Monitoring,
operation and
maintenance
Village/Community –
sub-project
implementation
committee (SIC). Each
SIC comprises a Chair,
Vice-chair, Treasurer,
Secretary and other
members
Community
Helpers conduct
awareness
campaigns; the
community
chooses proposed
sub-project. The
sub-project is
submitted to the
WDC
SICs procure as specified in
the CRISP Pilot Operations
Manual (PLOM). Three (3)
quotes required. SIC make
payments to suppliers by
cheque from the SIC account.
SICs prepares operational and
maintenance plans
SICs implement
sub-project and
reports on
progress. SICs and
CHs submit final
reports. SICs are
responsible for
operation and
maintenance of
sub-projects
It is proposed that the Provincial Government (PG)-led rural investments will be undertaken
using the Provincial Government Capacity Development Fund (PCDF) model, a financing
mechanism used under the Provincial Government Strengthening Programme (PGSP). This
is described in Table 4 as it is proposed will apply under the CRISP (which will provide
technical inputs, and have its own fiduciary, social and environmental controls).
Table 4 - Operational arrangements for Provincial Government (PG)-led rural
investments under CRISP
Levels/ structures
Project
identification,
selection, approval
Grant processing,
implementation,
financial controls
Monitoring,
operation and
maintenance National – Ministry
of Provincial
Government and
Institutional
Strengthening
(MPGIS)
MPGIS issues public
expenditure management
guidelines for all
provinces. Planning is
done on an annual cycle
MPGIS prepares annual
PCDF allocations with
MOFT (for SIG
contribution) after Minimum
Conditions (MC)
assessments and approved
by JOC. Sub-projects with a
risk focus provided to
MECDM/PCC for
consideration. Not all sub-
projects completed in one
year. Audit done by the
Office of the Attorney
General (OAG) annually.
MCs are based functions
assigned in the Financial
Ordinance.
Some monitoring
done by MPGIS.
CRISP funded sub-
projects monitored
by MECDM
Provincial
Government (PG)
Prepare a 3 year rolling
development plan and
annual work-plan,
budget and revenue
forecast prepared by the
Technical Planning and
Budgeting Unit,
External assessment of
minimum conditions of
access to the PCDF/CRISP
annually. Design and
technical preparation of
projects done by PG works
dept. with support from
Supervision by
CRISP engineers
and safeguards
specialist along
with PG sector
specialists (if
available).
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Levels/ structures
Project
identification,
selection, approval
Grant processing,
implementation,
financial controls
Monitoring,
operation and
maintenance endorsed by executive
and approved by
assembly. Plans and
budgets are sent to
MPGIS, MDPAC and
MECDM for
information.
CRISP engineers.
Tendering process and
contracts awarded. Works
implemented.
Operations and
maintenance costs
agreed.
Provincial Sector Sectors engaged through
the technical planning
and budgeting unit; but
sector own plans not
necessarily integrated
into provincial plan.
CRISP’s engineers will
assist with designs. Ministry
of Infrastructure (MIS)
engineers may also
sometimes assist
Ward Development
Committee (WDC)
Activated and role
expanded in new PGSP
document of Aug. 2012
– Policy Framework on
Participatory Planning.
Village/Community Activated and role
expanded in new PGSP
document of Aug. 2012
– Policy Framework on
Participatory Planning
with village
representatives on
WDCs.
Community
monitoring group
trained. Report to
PG Works Officer
4. Socio-Environmental Baseline Conditions in Project Area
4.1 Physical environment
This baseline of existing conditions has been compiled based on available documents issued
by relevant SI ministries or produced by on-going WB financed projects such as the RDP and
REP, discussions with officers from line ministries and on-going projects, with local
community and other stakeholders during visits to RDP project sites, observations in the
field, and available information on websites and local newspapers.
4.1.1 Geographical Location
The Solomon Islands (SI) is an archipelago of about 990 islands located 1900 km northeast of
Australia. The country stretches along 1,450 km between Papua New Guinea to Vanuatu. SI
has 4,023 kilometres of coastline and comprises of nine provinces namely Guadalcanal,
Central, Western, Isabel, Malaita, Makira - Ulawa, Temotu, Choiseul, Renbel. The capital is
Honiara located on Guadalcanal. The location of Solomon Island is shown in Figure 2.
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(Source: Solomon Islands State of Environment 2008)
Figure 2 - Location of Project Area
4.1.2 Topography and Geology
Solomon Islands, excluding the Santa Cruz group, are divided into three geological provinces
including a Pacific Province, a Central Province and a Volcanic Province1. Most of the
islands are comprised of a complex collage of crustal units of terrains formed and accreted
within an intra-oceanic environment since Cretaceous times. The terrain ranges from
mountainous islands to low-lying coral atolls.
The main islands of Choiseul, New Georgia, Santa Isabel, Guadalcanal, Malaita, and Makira
have mountain ranges of mainly volcanic origin, deep narrow valleys, and coastal belts lined
with coastal forest and fringed by reefs. The smaller islands are atolls or raised coral reefs.
The lower regions are usually more stable than the upper regions with outcrops of volcanic
rocks. Soil quality ranges from extremely rich volcanic to relatively infertile limestone.
1 Ministry of Environment, Conservation and MetSOrology, 2008. Solomon Islands State of the Environment Report.
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Solomon Islands are located on the conjunction of tectonic plates, the region is highly
geologically active and there is regular seismic activity including earthquakes and uplifting of
land and reef areas. Most recently, large tsunamis occurred in April in 2007 and February
2013. Both events caused losses to human lives and property.
4.1.3 Climate
The islands' ocean-equatorial climate is extremely humid throughout the year with a mean
temperature of 27° C (80° F).
Solomon Islands are affected by the seasonal movement of the South Pacific Convergence
Zone and the Inter-tropical Zone which are the bands of cloud systems that normally bring
heavy rain over the islands during their occurrence. Annual rainfall is about 305 centimetres.
One of the phenomena that affect the climate in Solomon Islands is El Nino which is known
to have distinct oceanographic, temperature, rainfall and cyclonic conditions. Extreme
weather events were observed in the country, such as a serious drought and a category 5
cyclone that hit Tikopia Island, in 2004 and are thought to be linked to an El Nino event.
4.1.4 Land Resource and Soil
Soil fertility varies widely between and within the islands, ranging from quite infertile and
mildly toxic soils to highly fertile soils. Most upland soils have good structures, but either
lack one or more major nutrients or have a strong nutrient imbalance. Potassium deficiency
is commonly associated with calcareous and limestone parent material, while phosphorus
deficiency is common over volcanic rocks.
Table 5 – Land forms of the Solomon Islands
Island Land area Landforms Soil type
Guadalcanal 5,320 km2
Ridge volcanic mountains,
karsts, moderately, narrow
and lightly dissected ridges,
low terraces, flood plains
and fluvial fans.
Mixture of volcanic and
sedimentary rocks, humus-
rich, base-poor, shallow
loams and clays at high
altitudes and young loams,
clays and peats in valleys
and coastal plains
Malaita 4,200 km2
Volcanic cones, steep,
dissected narrow ridges,
fluvial plains, karsts,
valleys, swamps and coastal
landforms
Strongly weathered and
leached soils with low base
status to slightly and
moderately weathered
leached soils, organic with
decomposed peat.
Santa Isabel
(Bugotu)
4,121 km2
Low amplitude rounded
hills and ridges with steep
sides and crests, small areas
Moderately to strongly
weathered and leached soils
with low base status,
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Island Land area Landforms Soil type
of karsts and some cuestas organic with well
decomposed peat
Makira 3,090 km2
High to irregular rounded
ridges, rolling hills, fluvial
plains, fans and beaches
Moderately to strongly
weathered and leached soils
with low base status,
slightly weathered with little
horizon development and
organic with well
decomposed peat
Choiseul 3,837 km2
Hills and mountains with
steep sided ridges and
stable to unstable slopes
and stable narrow crests,
some being former volcanic
centres
Slightly to strongly
weathered leached soils
with little horizon
development to leached
with low base status
New Georgia 2,145 km2
Volcanic centres, out wash
fans, ridge plateaux, karsts,
fluvial plains and swamps
and extensive reef lagoon
complexes
Organic, young and slightly
to strongly weathered and
leached soils with low base
status
Source: SI State of Environment, 2008
4.1.5 Aggregate mining
Aggregate mining in the country occurs in the urban centres, mostly around Honiara. There
are some small-scale mines operating in Gizo in the Western Province. Sand and gravel
supply for areas near Honiara is from the Lungga River. Sand and aggregate extraction is
also taking place at Tetere Beach and Ranadi Beach, respectively.
4.1.6 Water Resource and Usage
Water resources in Solomon Islands are highly vulnerable in terms of small size and exposure
to climatic instability. Natural hazards and drought, pollution, saline intrusion, sea level rise
and impacts of deforestation are major threats to water sources.
Most villages use water from streams and rivers for drinking and other domestic uses.
Underground water from springs and wells or rainwater from catchment is used where there
is no access to surface water. With assistance from donors, piped water use has been
increasing recently.
There is substantial potential for hydropower from water resources on at least seven islands
but little effort has been made to evaluate the resource. The first hydro scheme developed in
Solomons was a micro hydro (Pelton turbine) plant installed in 1976 at Atoifi on Malaita with
a rated capacity of 75 kW. Two other hydro schemes were installed on the Malu’u River on
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Malaita and in Buala on SantaIsabel. Power was supplied to the hospital, health centre, a
store, a school, retail stores, a fish storage and number of residential houses. Hydro schemes
with a total capacity of approx. 0.5 MW were also under consideration at Huro River on
Makira, Sorave River on Choiseul and Rori River on Malaita.
An Australian organization, APACE (Appropriate Technology for the Community and
Environment) has involved in developing micro-hydro systems in the Solomon Islands for
over twenty years. APACE established the Village First Electrification Programme (VFEP) to
coordinate micro-hydropower development in the country.
4.2 Biological Environment
4.2.1 Terrestrial environment
SI has a total forested land area of 2,805,200 ha including non-commercial forest and cleared
areas, unlogged commercial natural forest, logged over commercial natural forests and
plantations. Solomon Islands have a diverse biological environment with about 4500 plant
species and are a hotspot of bird diversity. The major types of vegetation cover in SI are:
(a) Coastal strand vegetation, found on land subject to inter-tidal flooding. This
vegetation is primarily mangroves, accounts for about 2.3% of SI total land area and
is mostly found in Isabel, New Georgia, Malaita, Marovo Lagoon, Makira and East
Guadalcanal;
(b) Freshwater swamp/riverine forest represented by herbaceous species, palms, pandanus
and other wetland species (sago, rosewood). Such areas are sensitive to soil
compaction from logging;
(c) Low land forest, is the most common type of forest in the country and forms the
majority of commercial forest in Solomon Islands;
(d) Montane (cloud forest) occurs at high altitude with little commercial exploitation; and
(e) Seasonal dry forest and grassland cover one to two percent of SI total land area.
4.2.2 Marine resources
Coastal areas in SI are characterized by highly variable patchy ecosystems that include
estuaries, lagoons, beaches, mangroves, coral reef areas, sea grass beds, and algal beds. There
are sections of highly urbanized or populated residential areas along the coast.
The dominant coastal ecosystems are narrow fringing coral reefs that are intermittently
distributed, landward of which are developed back-reef and sea-grass areas to the west and
east of the REP area. Small patches of sandy lagoon habitats occur where the reef interacts
with outflow from streams and small coastal lagoons have formed at the mouth of many of
the rivers.
The marine flora is dominated by sea-grasses in a narrow band close to shore, and by algae
further seaward. Algal communities located further offshore within the back-reef area are
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dominated by coralline encrusting algae, Halimeda discoidea and Halimeda sp., Padina, and
blue-green algal turf.
Fish fauna is characterized by 24 common species of reef-associated fishes in nine families.
Most individuals are small and flighty; suggesting that fishing pressure on these species of
reef fish is significant.
4.2.3 Rare/Endangered Species and Protected Areas
Currently Solomon Islands have two formally protected areas namely the 1,093 ha Queen
Elizabeth Park, in Guadalcanal which is largely degraded and the 37,000 ha East Rennell
World Heritage site surrounding Lake Tengano. There are also conservation areas without
formal protection status includes Tetepare Conservation Area, Makira Conservation Area,
Simbo Conservation Area, Komarindi Catchments Area and Arnavon Conservation Area.
There are 25 threatened tree species including ebony, rosewood, rattan and some palm
species.
No endemic or endangered species were observed during field investigations during the
preparation of the CRISP. The CRISP investments aim to increase the resilience of
communities to natural hazards and the impacts of climate change, thus project sites will not
be within any protected areas. During implementation phase, project sites will be screened to
ensure that no protected areas will be affected by the project.
4.3 Socio-economic and Cultural Environment
4.3.1 Population and social organization
The population of Solomon Islands is estimated to be between 523,000 and 552,300 (2011)
people who are predominantly indigenous to the islands. Melanesians are the dominant group
(95%); the rest of the population is Polynesian and Micronesian. While sharing indigenous
status, these people have highly diverse and layered origin. There is also small group of
Chinese and people of European origins in the population. The annual growth rate of the SI
population is 2.8%.
Most of the population (85 percent) lives in villages. Only those with paid employment are
found in the urban centres and provincial headquarters of Honiara (the capital), Auki, Gizo,
Buala, Kira Kira, and Lata.
Approximately 70 distinct languages are spoken by the Melanesians and Polynesians in
Solomon Islands. A variant of English called Pijin English is also used in the country. In
church services, English is spoken although it is usually interspersed with Pijin English and
the native languages. Although Pijin English is not compulsory at school it is a means to
cement relationships in Solomon Islands as a country with multiple languages.
Traditionally, Solomon Islands do not have caste or class divisions. Instead, the country has
different tribal groups on different islands. They move along island lines or inter-island
groups according to various affiliations including marriages, church membership and general
friendship. Today, those who are employed in the formal sector form a sort of elite class, in
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contrast to those who are not formally employed either in the private or public sector.
Recently, a business class has formed.
People become leaders when they gain influence by the manipulation of their abilities around
followers and resources. Today, most leaders are elected through either consensus or popular
ballot.
Church and the government are where Solomon Islanders communicate the most. 90% of the
population is Christian and Pidgin English is used in church services. The government has a
Governor General, a Prime Minister, a speaker of the House of Parliament, and a Chief
Justice. There is no standing army or navy. The Police Field Force was established in the
1990’s.
For a long time Solomon Islands have been free from large-scale social problems, until the
ethnic tension in 2000 which crippled delivery of government services throughout the
country. The rural areas were quite free of conflicts other than some land dispute cases and
community arguments that emerged among villagers.
Except for the churches, international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) arrived in
the Solomon Islands in a big way only in the 1980’s. There are the usual ones, which include
the Red Cross, Rotary Club, Save the Children, World Vision, Oxfam and Catholic Relief.
4.3.2 Housing
Houses in urban areas usually follow Western style with three bedrooms on average. They
are built mostly of cement and timber, with iron roofs. A kitchen and other amenities are
often included. However the practice of having in-house toilets infracts the tradition, as still
practiced in rural areas, where men and women use different outside areas resulting in poor
sanitation.
In rural areas, large villages are often situated on tribal land. Villages comprise individual
families placing their homes next to other relatives. Most rural dwellings are made of sago-
palm thatching, raised on stilts and with windows.
There is usually a village square for the children to play and for village meetings. In certain
areas of Malaita some homes are made on artificial islands built over shallow shoals in a
lagoon by gathering rocks piled together.
4.3.3 Land Use and Land Ownership
The total land area is approximately 29,900 sq. km within an exclusive economic zone area
of 1.6 million sq. km. Traditional land and resource management in Solomon Islands is
community based, some 87 per cent of land is under customary resource tenure and all
natural resources i.e. forests, minerals, reefs, and islets belong to customary land owners2.
The remaining land is considered "alienated" and is subject to registration under the Land and
Titles Act.
2 Exemptions being the lands of the federal capital area (Honiara) and provincial headquarters
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4.3.4 Economy
Solomon Islands have a dual economy; the formal cash economy and the subsistence
economy. 85% of the population is dependent on subsistence agriculture, fishery, forestry and
small-scale income generating activities. The economy heavily relies on natural resources
extraction for export and domestic uses.
Agriculture supplies the main commodities. Most of the people in rural areas depend on
subsistence agriculture for sustenance. Therefore, agriculture and fishing are the main
economic activities which provide food and incomes from trading in markets.
Soltuna Limited, which produces canned tuna, Guadalcanal Plains Palm Oil Ltd (GPOL),
Solomon Islands Breweries Limited, Solomon Islands Tobacco Company and Gold Ridge
Mine are the major industrial enterprises in Solomon Islands. Small industries mostly
produce goods for domestic market, such as food processing, tobacco, corrugated roofing
sheets, fibro canoes and tanks, timber, and buttons. In the service sector, some hotels
commenced operations during the last decade of the 20th
century to promote tourism.
The export of palm oil and kernels, dried coconut, cocoa, fish and timber are the main sectors
forming the country’s trade.
4.3.5 Jobs and incomes
A high percentage of the population in SI are engaged in non-monetary work in villages,
including subsistence farming. Available data to the year 1996 indicates that a smaller part of
the population is employed in the public service, financial services trades, agriculture, fishery
and forestry, manufacturing and construction sectors.
Traditionally yams, panas and taros are the main staples in the Solomon Islands. These are
usually consumed with local cabbage, fish, shellfish and other edible marine life. Recently,
dietary habits have changed with rice, tinned fish and instant noodles becoming more
popular.
4.3.6 Water supply
Many households in the country still do not have access to piped water supply; drinking
water is obtained directly from streams and rivers by the women and children.
4.4 The challenges to the environment
The key challenges to the environment in Solomon Islands are summarised below:
Population pressure: with annual growth rate at 2.8%, population increase has put
additional pressure on the subsistence economy. Intensive cultivation to meet increased
food demand leads to reduced soil fertility and affects sustainability of the cultivation
system, particularly in hilly areas.
Logging: Among the country’s total 2 million ha of forests, total harvestable forest area is
about 598,000 ha and 288,200 ha has already been logged. There is an estimation that
commercial forest exhaustion will occur by the end of 2015.
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Commercial plantation: Exports of palm oils, palm kernels, copra and cocoa are key
contributors to GDP. Conversion of large tracts of land, mostly fertile coastal land into
commercial plantations is a significant threat to biodiversity; adds pressure on land
resources by displacing domestic food gardens and if not managed properly will pollute
river systems and coastal marine ecosystem due to excess runoff and siltation during
heavy rains.
Pollution of water sources: agricultural and logging activities promote erosion and
siltation in stream and rivers.
Climate change poses the risks to natural ecosystems, fisheries, agriculture, water
resources, biodiversity, human health, infrastructure and industries.
5. Project’s Social and Environmental Potential Impacts and Risks
To identify the project’s potential socio-environmental impacts during construction and
operation phases, the types of construction and operational activities need to be identified.
The types of structures that CRISP may provide, as shown in Table 2, include:
Community buildings or shelters,
Improved water supply and storage systems,
Strengthening of building frames and foundations and/or raising foundations,
Construction of climate proofed small bridges and piers,
Drainage
Shoreline protection systems
Road realignment for risk reduction
Sanitation facilities
New irrigation schemes or improved irrigation systems
Energy generation (other than hydro, such as mini solar energy schemes),
Integrated watershed and land management schemes to minimize degradation of
watersheds
Other infrastructure likely to cause changes in water use and/or water availability,
mini-hydro generators etc.
Activities that are likely to take place during construction phase of such structures would be:
Mobilisation of contractors to the site
Site clearance - vegetation, trees, structures, objects, top soil removal
Relocation of existing objects, structures at the site
Create/upgrade access path to the site
Build contractors office/camp
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Loading, transport and unloading of construction materials at the site such as sand,
gravel, timbers, soil, paints, glass, tiles, pipes, cement, concrete, machines, etc. Some
subprojects may store oil and lubricants
Excavation and or refill for foundation construction, pipe trenching, tank construction
etc.
General construction such as concrete mixing, concrete pouring, metal cutting and
welding, timber/glass cutting, pipe installation, general building, drilling wells,
painting,
Construction of coffer dams
Pile casting, testing and driving
Waste dumping
Water conveying/pumping
Rainwater and wastewater discharge
Tool washing and maintenance
5.1 Positive Impacts
As the above mentioned investments aim at helping local communities to become more
resilient to natural hazards, the overall project impacts will be positive. With frames or
foundations being strengthened, buildings will be better able to withstand extreme events,
minimising possible calamity caused by natural hazards such as storm, high tides or tsunami.
Improved basic infrastructure such as drainage, water supply and sanitation will help to
minimise water-related disease risks, particularly during flood events. Improved access to
irrigation and better management of watersheds contributes to improved food and water
security for local people. Improved power supply, access roads etc. will help communities to
be better connected and more accessible following disasters. Coordination and cooperation
between stake holders during project implementation will help to strengthen internal and
external social linkages so that communities can be better supported in difficult
circumstances.
5.2 Potential Negative Impacts and Risks
Construction and operations of the proposed works will have some potential negative socio-
environmental impacts as discussed in Table 6.
Depending on site-specific conditions and types of works, potential negative impacts and
risks of sub-project can be identified quite easily. If not, an Environmental
Assessment/Environmental Management Plan (EA/EMP) may be necessary.
With community-led sub-projects, the scope of works should be small and simple thus
potential socio-environmental impacts are known, should be low, temporary and reversible.
Common impacts could be dust and noise, some localised hygienic issues, removal of local
vegetation, waste generation etc. These potential impacts can be mitigated easily with a
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limited number of standard measures to be applied during construction phase and introduced
in this ESMF (in Annex 3) as Environmental Codes of Practice (ECOP).
With PG-led investments, the potential impacts and risks that should also be considered could
be waste and wastewater generation, loss of vegetation cover, tree cutting, increased erosion
risk, localised flooding risks, disturbance to wildlife and community’s daily activities,
deteriorating water quality in streams/rivers, interruption to existing water use activities,
health and safety risks for people on sites during construction phase etc. It is likely that for
most sub-projects, preparation of a sub-project EMP in the form of an ECOP and sub-project
mitigation measures, as described after Table 6, would be adequate.
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Table 6 – Potential negative impacts of the works under CRISP
Potential Impacts/ Risks Description of the issues/risks Typical activities that cause
the potential impacts/risks
Key factors determining the
likelihood and level of impacts
CONSTRUCTION
PHASE
1. Damages or loss of
vegetation cover and trees Vegetation cover and/or trees at the
construction site or any other location to
be used by the Project may be removed or
disturbed during construction phase. This
impact can be avoided, minimised or
mitigated.
Site clearance for
construction site, camps,
Construction material
exploitation and/or storage
Total land area to be cleared
The number of (high) trees be
removed
Importance of the
tree/vegetation cover to
wildlife, local landscape
and/or local community
2. Loss or degradation of
valuable natural/ ecological
resources and natural
habitats
Coral should be protected, not extracted as
this is a valuable marine resource. It grows
very slowly and it takes a long time to
recover from damage. Coral reefs protect
the shoreline from wave actions and
storms, they are a habitat for a great
variety of fish and marine life, and are
breeding grounds for fish and shellfish.
If sand, gravel and stones from river beds
are extracted, flowing pattern of rivers may
be seriously affected. The river may scour
around bridge piers and abutments and
endanger their stability. The river may
erode other sections of the river beds and
banks and thereby cause serious problems
elsewhere
Illegal timber may be logged without a
licence, in protected areas, or logged in an
unsustainable manner. Such practices lead
to permanent loss of forest
Site clearance
Construction
Extraction of natural
resources for construction
materials at important sites
particularly corals (dead or
alive) from sea, trees from
protected area, gravel from
river beds etc.
Ecological role/value of the
site
Importance of the site to local
community
Stability and/or vulnerability/
capacity to recover, of the
disturbed ecosystems
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Potential Impacts/ Risks Description of the issues/risks Typical activities that cause
the potential impacts/risks
Key factors determining the
likelihood and level of impacts
If timber is sourced from trees of high
economic value to the local community,
household income or food security of
families may be at risk.
Protected areas, wetlands, rivers and
waterways, mangrove areas, swamps, bird
sanctuaries and sea grass beds are
important to biodiversity and are valuable
landscapes (i.e. can provide ecosystem
services and have scenic value).
Some sites may be very important to local
communities in cultural/religious/
historical/archaeological aspects. If
construction takes place at or nearby such
sensitive socio-environmental features,
threats or serious/ permanent damages may
be caused to such sites.
Human access to previously undisturbed
areas may cause damage in terms of; plant
collection/removal, hunting, fire setting,
littering and damage to vegetation cover
used as wildlife habitats of wildlife. Such
potential impacts should be identified in
the early stages of sub-project planning
and be avoided during implementation of
CRISP.
3. Degradation of existing
landscape These impacts may occur when vegetation
cover/top soil is removed, when man-made
structures are introduced into previously
undisturbed natural areas, or when new
structures obstruct views to existing
landscapes.
Site clearance
Construction of new
facilities in areas with
beautiful/valuable landscape
The status and value of the
existing landscape
The outer design (size,
architectural design) of the
proposed works
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Potential Impacts/ Risks Description of the issues/risks Typical activities that cause
the potential impacts/risks
Key factors determining the
likelihood and level of impacts
4. Solid waste generation Excavation works generate waste
Waste is also generated from unused
materials; timber/glass/metal, packaging
materials and by workers; lunch
containers, leftover food etc.
Excavation
Construction
Workers daily domestic
activities
5. Wastewater generation Wastewater generated by workers from
washing and toileting.
Uncontrolled generation of wastewater
may cause environmental pollution,
nuisance, and health concerns to workers
and the public
Excavation
Use of construction
materials
Workers domestic activities
at the sites
6. Chemicals, hazardous
wastes generation Used oil, paints, lubricant, batteries, and
asbestos contain materials that are toxic.
Some solid waste may be cross-
contaminated with oil, paints etc. that may
be toxic and pose public health risks.
Site clearance
Vehicle maintenance
Painting
The quantity and type of
waste generated will depend
on the nature of the sub
project.
Waste management practices
can reduce/increase level of
impacts
7. Dust, air pollution
Exposure to high levels of dust and smoke
may have health impacts affecting
respiratory system, eyes etc.
Site clearance
Excavation
Running engine machinery
Construction material
loading and unloading
Duration and intensity of
works
Dust level
Weather conditions
Distance from source to
receptor
8. Noise and Vibration Noise disturbs hearing/listening activities
and may cause stress/headaches
Vibration may cause cracks /damage to
existing structures
Pile driving
Soil compaction
Duration, intensity of noise
and vibration
Distance from source to
receptor
9. Increased erosion
risks/siltation/ Slopes become less stable when ground
surface is disturbed; water can run faster
Site clearance
Excavation activities create
The total land area of barren
soil/surface be created
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Potential Impacts/ Risks Description of the issues/risks Typical activities that cause
the potential impacts/risks
Key factors determining the
likelihood and level of impacts
sedimentation and can erode the soil on bare slopes
where vegetation cover does not exist.
Erosion and land slide risks would be
increased if a building is located on a hilly
slope or if construction activities disturb
slopes.
The eroded top soil ends up down slope
then is washed down further by rain water
causing highly turbid water and river
bed/stream siltation/sedimentation
unsealed/barren areas
without vegetation cover
during and after
construction
Construction works carried
out on steep and/or weak
slopes
Percentage of vegetation
cover left at the site
Steepness of slope
Soil strength of slope
Rainfall, particularly its
frequency and intensity in the
area
10. Water quality degradation,
salinity intrusion risks Waste, wastewater and construction
materials from construction may be leaked,
or disposed of, into water sources near
construction sites or downstream of
construction sites.
Water quality in streams and rivers may
also be degraded if soil from slopes in the
catchment run into water bodies due to
erosion/landslide initiated by earthworks at
the sites.
Careless water use activities by workers,
for example washing working tools
directly at water sources.
Oil, fuel or any other liquid substance used
during construction, including on-site
machinery maintenance, may be leaked or
spilled into the soil. Then rainwater may
wash such contaminants to nearby water
bodies.
Construction of bridges,
piers on streams, river beds
Construction waste and
waste water discharge
Tools and machinery
washing and maintenance
The distance from
construction site to the nearest
water bodies
Construction practices related
to environmental performance
of the contractor
Rainfall during construction
phase
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Potential Impacts/ Risks Description of the issues/risks Typical activities that cause
the potential impacts/risks
Key factors determining the
likelihood and level of impacts
When freshwater is extracted from a
drilled well near a shoreline, localised
water level drawdown will occur. If salt-
fresh water interference occurs near the
well, or if groundwater is over withdrawn,
saline water may be mobilised into the
well.
Groundwater extraction
during construction phase
Distance between the well and
salt/fresh water interference
The intensity of groundwater
extraction
Storage and recharge capacity
of the aquifer
11. Increased localised
flooding risk The area surrounding the site disturbed by
construction activities may be subjected to
increased flooding risk if large loads of
solid construction materials/waste are
created in low-lying areas where drainage
is poor.
Construction solid materials
and waste loading, dumping
Local topography
The quantity of the materials
and the size of the loads
Existing drainage
Proximity between the
construction site and the area
subjected to the impacts
12. Impacts on cultural sites
such as church, historical
site, grave yard, etc.
Cultural sites may be affected with dust,
noise from material and waste
loading/disposals
Some artefacts may be exposed or
damaged during execution of earthworks
at the sites
Dust and noise generated
activities
Loading/unloading
construction materials and
wastes
Level of disturbance on the
ground
Proximity to the site
13. Social disturbance to local
community:
- traffic/ transportation
- water supply
- irrigation
- farming
- community meetings
events/ etc.
If the works are carried out on or near
existing roads, construction activities may
disturb or disrupt traffic on those roads and
pose a danger to pedestrians.
Excavation may also cause loss to
vegetation cover or disturbance to the
ground
Excavation works may disrupt the
operations thus the services provided by
local existing facilities such as water
supply, drainage, power supply etc. if the
Site clearance
Excavation
Machinery operation
Temporary blockage of
rivers/streams/ existing
irrigation canal by
construction activities
Temporary blocking of
roads for connecting a side
road to the new road
Type of works
The duration and frequency of
temporary blocks or other
construction activities
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Potential Impacts/ Risks Description of the issues/risks Typical activities that cause
the potential impacts/risks
Key factors determining the
likelihood and level of impacts
pipes/lines cross excavated areas
Stockpiles formed from excavated
materials
If construction activities takes place near
farming area, access to farm land may be
interrupted; materials, waste, and
wastewater from construction sites may
enter farms causing productivity reduction
and social conflicts
If a construction site is located near a
community centre or church, material
loads or noise from material cutting,
drilling, welding, may block access to
community centres or disturb hearing
public meetings.
14. Health/ sanitation /hygiene
in local community Stagnant water formed from disturbed
areas at construction sites increases
opportunities for mosquito breeding,
which in turn increases incidence of
vector-borne diseases. Incidence of water-
borne diseases can also be increased.
Waste generated from workers staying at
the site may attract vermin and insects
Wastewater generation may cause
nuisance and risks to human health.
Excavation creates holes or
low laying spots
The size of construction sites
The level of ground
disturbance
Drainage conditions at the site
The number of workers living
at the site
15. Safety risks to community Construction-related activities may cause
safety risks for the local community,
particularly children, if they have access to
open holes or are present at the site during
material transports/loading/unloading.
Transportation of
materials/wastes
Materials loading/unloading
Excavated holes
Machinery operations
Proximity of community
residents to the site
The quantity of materials
used/ waste generated
Community awareness of
risks related to construction
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Potential Impacts/ Risks Description of the issues/risks Typical activities that cause
the potential impacts/risks
Key factors determining the
likelihood and level of impacts
sites
16. Workers health and safety Some toxic materials such as paint, oil,
and batteries may be used during
construction. Some construction materials
may contain asbestos.
If workers are in contact with such
materials without proper protection, health
hazards may result from improper
handling and inhalation.
Unprotected holes at the sites, exposure to
traffic at road side, improperly installed
electrical wires, operating and handling of
construction plants, machinery and tools
may cause safety risks to workers
General construction
activities, operations of tools
and plants
In contact with hazardous
substances such as paints
etc.
Type of the works carried out
Type of substances workers
will be in contact with
OPERATION PHASE -
1.
Water/soil pollution Leakage or discharge of waste and
wastewater generated from the facilities
provided
Effluents from septic tanks can pollute
groundwater or surface water, particularly
if piped to an open drain
Partly treated effluents from septic tanks
can easily pollute the groundwater in the
dug well, even after many years
Polluted surface water from around the
septic tank may percolate into the
groundwater
Water use activities taking
place at buildings/shelters
Sanitation facility
Size of sanitation facilities
Volume of the effluent
discharged
Distance from discharge point
to receptor
2. Visual impacts If the facility stands out in a public area
and degrades the surrounding landscape
value
Sanitation/drainage facilities
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Potential Impacts/ Risks Description of the issues/risks Typical activities that cause
the potential impacts/risks
Key factors determining the
likelihood and level of impacts
3. Nuisance, odour,
unhygienic conditions,
public health risks
Septic tank effluent is smelly thus may
cause nuisance to the public when being
felt/seen
Septic tank effluent is only partially treated
thus can spread infection and disease that
pose health risks.
Lack of proper drainage around public taps
creates a muddy mess around the site
which may lead to unhygienic conditions
developing. Standing water creates
mosquito breeding grounds and causes
inconvenience for water users.
Open or missing faucets can spill a lot of
water in a day. Valuable water that other
users may need is wasted.
Sanitation/ drainage
facilities
Water supply
4. Conflict with downstream
water demands
When water release from upstream is
regulated/restricted in accordance with the
operational schedule of a mini hydropower
scheme, a water supply or irrigation
scheme, less water is available for use by
down-stream communities. This will
particularly affect people who do not
benefit from the sub projects and may lead
to social conflicts.
Hydro-power
Irrigation
Water supply
Generally, most of these potential impacts are at small to medium scale, localised and manageable through site selection process, consultation,
consideration of options, engineering solutions, or good construction practices as described in the section below.
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5.3 Avoid Impacts and Mitigation Measures
The mitigation measures will be proposed for each sub-project at preparation stage to avoid
potential negative impacts where possible, minimize or reduce them. The mitigation
measures will be implemented at site selection, sub-project preparation, engineering design
and construction stages as listed below.
5.3.1 Avoid impacts
The potential impacts listed in Table 6 indicated that, depending on the socio-physical and
ecological characteristics of project locations, some sub-projects may cause adverse socio-
environmental impacts. CRISP will seek to avoid sub-projects or locations with adverse
socio-environmental impacts, such as:
- Physical displacement of people, or severe impacts on livelihood assets
- Involvement in political activities
- Involvement in religious activities
- Location in socio-environmentally sensitive sites such as privately-own land,
protected areas, conservation areas, ecologically important areas, areas subjected to
high land side risks
- Construction/operation activities requiring removal of valuable trees, cultural
structures, disturbance to ecologically important areas such as mangroves, sea grass
beds, wetlands, coral reef etc.
- Subprojects using toxic chemicals specified in SI Environmental Act
A more comprehensive list of socio-environmental criteria for exclusion of sub-projects
having substantial potential adverse impacts/risks is included in Form 1 of this ESMF.
5.3.2 Measures for mitigating potential socio-environmental impacts during
construction and operation phases – ECOP
With the socio-environmental potential impacts and risks discussed in Section 5.2, the
measures are developed in the form of Socio-Environmental Codes of Practices (ECOP) to
address these impacts and risks.
While some measures can be applied to any sub-project under CRISP, others are only
applicable to selected types of sub-projects. In some cases, additional mitigation measures
may need to be proposed to address sub-project specific issues and risks.
See Annex 3 for more details.
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6. Environmental & Social Management Framework
6.1 Five-steps of Socio-Environmental Management in CRISP
The procedures for environmental management under CRISP will be based on the tasks set
out in each of the following four steps listed in Table 7 below:
Table 7 – CRISP Social and Environmental Safeguard Implementation Procedures
Step Task Purpose Stage to implement
the task
1 Screening for eligibility of sub-project based on
social and environmental
criteria.
To avoid financing sub-
projects having potential
substantial adverse impacts.
This step will be carried
out during sub-project
identification/short
listing
2 Screening for potential
socio-environmental
impacts of eligible sub-
projects
To identify potential impacts Sub-project
identification
3 Community-led
subprojects: Select
ECOP
To select the mitigation
measures from ECOP to be
implemented in sub-project
Sub-project preparation
For PG-led subprojects,
prepare Environmental
Management Plans
(EMPs) for eligible sub-
projects
To prepare EMP with
selected ECOP and additional
measures to be applied in
engineering design,
construction and operation
phases to avoid or mitigate
the potential impacts and
risks identified in step 2
Sub-project preparation
4 Implement ECOP, monitoring and reporting
To avoid or mitigate the
potential impacts identified in
step 2.
To observe environmental
conditions and take corrective
actions if/when the mitigation
measures are ineffective or if
there are unforeseen/arising
socio-environmental
problems
Engineering design
construction
operation phases
Detailed guidance for implementing the tasks listed above is given in the sub-sections below.
6.1.1 Step 1: Socio-Environmental Eligibility Criteria and Screening
CRISP will only finance socio-environmentally eligible subprojects. A subproject is
ineligible to be financed under CRISP if it has potential to cause significant adverse socio-
environmental impacts. Sub-project applications must demonstrate broad community
support.
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A set of socio-environmental criteria has been developed to assist project proponents to
identify eligibility of a sub-project.
All proposed sub-projects will be screened based on the criteria listed in Form 1 below. For
community-led sub-projects, Form 1 will be filled in by the community during a meeting
facilitated by the Community Helper (CH). The CRISP Safeguards Officer will verify the
completed form submitted by CHs. For PG-led investments, Form 1 will be filled in by the
Project Engineer, and verified by the Safeguards Officer.
Form 1 – Socio-environmental ELIGIBILITY Screening Questions
Subproject Name:
Province/Village
Brief description on sub-project proposal
Screening is carried out by: Position: Community Helper / Engineer
Date: Verify/Approved by:
Screening Questions Yes No Comments*
Will the sub-project?
1. Involve political activities?
2. Involve religious activities?
3. LOCATED at any site with features listed below:
3.1 Land that requires significant involuntary land
acquisition or has a severe impact on livelihood assets
3.2 Legally protected areas such as conservation areas,
wildlife management areas or National Parks
3.3 Land that is highly vulnerable to landslide and/or
erosion such as on a steep slope or in the running path of
rainwater
4 SITE CLEARANCE activities require removal of
4.1 Trees in protected areas or exclusion areas as defined
by the Environmental Act 1998* (see explanation at the
end of the form)
4.2 Individual household food trees?
4.3 Rare trees?
4.4 Sacred trees?
4.5 Trees that are spiritually important to community?
4.6 Antique structures or known archaeological sites?
5. CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES lead to any of the
following
5.1 Extraction of materials from lake/ river /stream beds for
construction, or filling up these water bodies
5.2 Disturbance to bird sanctuaries
5.3 Extraction of materials from coral reefs (alive/dead
coral) for construction
5.4 Use toxic chemicals prescribed in SI Environmental
Act 1998?
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5.5 Use materials with asbestos for any purpose
5.6 Lead to conversion or spreading of invasive weeds
* 1) Areas identified as protected areas by the Environmental Act 1998:
Declared as Conservation Areas under legislation
That have ecological or scientific importance including outer reef and lagoon islands,
swamps, wetlands and mangroves which are vital to the protection of important marine
resources
That exceed 400 m above sea level
That landowners do not wish to log for any reason
2) Excluded area: areas that are within a concession that are excluded from logging. They must
be marked prior to logging commencing. There are 5 types of excluded areas, these are:
Type of excluded
area
Minimum buffer Comment
Cultural areas Tabu areas – 30m
Garden areas – 30m
Villages – 200 m or as decided
by the community
The local community must be given
the chance to decide on these buffer
widths. If different from the
minimum identified then the
Forestry Department must be
notified in writing and may check
that the decision is agreed to by all
parties
Ocean/Lakes/Lagoon 100m except for a log pond
may be 50m
Buffer starts from edge of high
water mark
Landslip area The area of the slip and the
area where the soil ends up
Streams/Rivers
(flows for more than
6 months of the year)
Class I (Bed more than 10m
wide) – 50m each side
Class 2 (bed less than 10m
wide 0 – 25m each side
Buffer starts from edge of
vegetation
Gully (flows for less
than 6 months of the
year)
10m each side Buffer starts from edge of
vegetation
An eligible sub-project should have all answers as “NO” to all of the screening questions.
A subproject having at least one answer as “YES” will be ineligible for being financed under CRISP
and will be excluded if it is not possible to redesign to avoid or mitigate severe impacts.
Note that an ineligible subproject may revise its proposal based on the question(s) that has/have the
answer as “Yes” to have all of the answers as “NO” and become eligible for CRISP financing.
Conclusion on Eligibility of Sub-project
Sub-Project is Eligible Sub-Project is not Eligible
6.1.2 Step 2: Screening Potential Socio-Environmental Impacts
If a sub-project falls into any category under Annex 1 of this ESMF – Prescribed
Developments listed in Schedule 2 of the Environmental Act, which require EA reports by
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SIG, the Project will recruit an environmental consultant to carry out EA and prepare EMP
for that sub-project.
For sub-projects that do not require EA (not under category listed in Annex 1 of this ESMF,
or confirmed by MECDM), eligible sub-projects will be screened to identify potential socio-
environmental impacts based on the questions given in Form 2 below.
Form 2 – Socio-environmental IMPACTS Screening Questions
Sub-project Name:
Province/Village
Brief description on sub-project proposal
Screening is carried out by
Date:
Verify/Approved by:
Subject Screening Questions Yes No Comment
If no mitigation measure is carried out,
will the subproject … (guidance are given below)
1. Vegetation
cover, trees
1. Remove vegetation cover, log trees
during site clearance and/or
construction at the site, camps,
construction material exploitation
and/or storage?
Provide information on the total land
area to be cleared and/or the number
and the type of trees to be logged,
discuss the values of the trees
2. natural
resources/
natural
habitats
2. Be located near natural forest or
undisturbed/least disturbed /natural
habitats or natural reserve area?
Estimate the distance from the
nearest site to be disturbed by the
project to the nature reserve area
3. Landscape 3. Cause significant changes to, or
negatively affect the landscape of the
area?
Describe the nature of change, e.g.
from green site to concrete/ wooden
structures, dumps created in green
area, obstruct view to beautiful water
front etc.
4.Solid waste 4. Generate solid waste such as
excavated soil, unused materials
List the type (and quantity if possible)
of solid waste potentially generated
5. Hazardous
wastes
5. Generate hazardous waste such as
batteries, unused paints, oil, lubricant
etc.
List the type (and quantity if possible)
of solid waste potentially generated
6.Wastewater 6. Generate wastewater from the site?
e.g. lubricant etc.
List the types of activities (e.g.
concrete mixing, tools washing etc.)
that may generate waste water and
quantity.
7.Dust and
smoke
7. Cause increased dust level at the site,
or generate smoke
Identify the sources, e.g. barren soil,
disturbed ground, solid waste
dumped at the sites, sand, gravel
loaded at the site etc.
8.Noise and
vibration
8. Generate high noise and vibration Identify the sources, e.g. drilling, pile
driving, steel/timber cutting and the
time that noise/vibration lasts
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Subject Screening Questions Yes No Comment Describe the distance from the
nearest house to noise sources
9. Erosion
risks
9. Disturb slopes? Describe the construction site, status
of vegetation cover and the level of
interference by the project.
Consider rainfall during construction
phase
10. Water
quality
10. Cause water pollution by
construction waste and materials loaded
at the construction site
Estimate the type and quantity of
materials loaded at the site at a time,
the distance from construction site to
the nearest water bodies and
topographical condition
11. Local
flooding
11. Increase localised flooding risk by
temporary/permanent loading of
construction materials/wastes
Describe site topographical
condition, drainage and estimate the
maximum quantity of granular
construction materials loaded/exist at
the time at a time
12. Water
quantity
a. Withdraw groundwater in coastal
area that may lead to the risk of salinity
intrusion
estimate the nature of water use by
the project
b. Extract or use large amount of water
in local river/streams may cause
shortage to water supply to other users
in the locality?
estimate the nature of water use by
the project
13. Social
disturbance
a. Disrupt local traffic/
transportation/pedestrian traffic
b.Disrupt the operation of local water
supply system
c. Disrupt the operation of local
irrigation system
d. Disrupt the operation of local
drainage system
e. Disrupt local farming activities
f. Disrupt community meetings/social
events
g. Cause other social disturbance (specify the disturbance)
14. Safety to
community
Cause safety risk to community List the activities/circumstance that
may cause safety risks to local
community
15. Public
health
Cause concerns on public health/
sanitation /hygiene in local community
Describe the nature of the activities
that may cause health risks or create
unhygienic conditions in project area
16.Worker’s
health and
safety
concerns
Cause workers health and safety
concerns
17.PCR Impact cultural sites such as church,
historical site, grave yard, etc.
18.
Community
support
Does the project enjoy broad
community support?
To be demonstrated that
men’s, women’s, youth and
occupational groups e.g.
foresters, fishers, farmers have
been consulted and agree
(Attendance at meetings,
decisions minuted and signed
– see Form 4 below)
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Subject Screening Questions Yes No Comment
19.
Sustainability
Does the community have a plan for the
management and maintenance of assets
after implementation?
Management Plan to
accompany application for
funding
OPERATION PHASE -
1.
Water/soil pollution
2. Water/soil pollution
3. Visual impacts
4. Nuisance, odour,
unhygienic condition, public health
risks
5. unhygienic condition, public health
risks
6. Conflict with downstream water users?
Other issues Specify
6.1.3 Step 3: Select ECOP for eligible sub-projects
Based on the results of impacts screening exercised in step 2, the Community Helper will work
together with the Project Safeguards Officer and the Project Engineer to build ECOP for each sub-
project.
ECOPs for each eligible sub-project will include two parts: (a) common ECOP, which include all the
measures applicable to all sub-projects, and (b) the measures only applicable to that sub-project type
and conditions.
ECOPs for various types of sub-projects are presented in Annex 4 of this ESMF. Based on sub-project
characteristics and site conditions, additional specific measures may be developed by the Project
Safeguards Officer/Engineer or proposed by the community.
ECOP for each sub-project should be presented using Form 3 below
Form 3 –ECOP of subproject
(Determine using the instructions given in Annex 4)
Subproject:
Location:
Issue/Risks Codes of Practices to address the potential Issues/Risks
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Subproject:
Location:
Issue/Risks Codes of Practices to address the potential Issues/Risks
6.1.4 Step 4: Implement ECOPs
Design Phase
To address potential socio-environmental impacts during construction and/or operation phase
of the project, the Project Engineer will be responsible for ensuring that mitigation measures
are adequately incorporated into engineering design, bidding and contract documents where
applicable.
As consultation with local communities is a continuous process, the engineer will also ensure
that the community is informed and/or consulted about the mitigation measures (in ECOP
form) incorporated into the detailed engineering design of the sub-project/investments.
Based on the ECOP developed for specific types of sub-projects, the Engineer/Safeguards
Officer will review and modify to suit sub-project specific conditions for inclusion in the
bidding document and construction contracts. Bidders will be required to commit that they
will comply with ECOPs if a contract is awarded. The bid price should include the costs for
implementing all mitigation measures.
Construction Phase
The contractor (successful bidder) will be responsible for implementing all mitigation
measures and monitoring activities specified in the construction contract.
Work Supervisors (WS) will be responsible for day-to-day monitoring and supervision on
contractor’s environmental compliance. The WS will also determine if the mitigation
measures implemented are inadequate and require the contractor to implement additional
mitigation measures to ensure effective mitigation of negative impacts. If cases of non-
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compliance are discovered, or if unforeseen issues arise, the work supervisor will take
necessary actions toward addressing the problems.
The Project Engineers/Safeguards Officer will be responsible for overseeing environmental
compliance and provide advisory inputs to ensure compliance. During this phase, the
Engineers will provide environmental compliance oversight in parallel with engineering
supervision. The Safeguards Officer will engage in spot checks and engage in specific cases
where issues arise.
The Engineers will also provide technical assistance as required to Work Supervisors who
carry out day-to-day construction supervision to ensure that environmental monitoring is
carried out by the WS.
Beneficiary communities are encouraged to actively take part in environmental monitoring
under CRISP.
Operation Phase
In the operation phase, SI counterpart/beneficiary communities selected to implement CRISP
sub-projects will be fully responsible for maintenance and implementation of mitigation
measures identified in sub-projects’ EMPs to ensure the durability and environmental
soundness of the works supported by CRISP. In addition, the provisions of the ESMF will be
binding upon all contractors and subcontractors.
For community-led sub-projects, community’s environmental responsibilities will be bound
in written agreement between the community and the PMU before construction is started. For
the larger, PG-led contracts to be carried out under CRISP public liability insurance (which
includes cover for loss by the contractor [e.g. theft or damage due to hazards, etc.] and third-
parties [e.g. damage cause of the contractor’s works or activities]) will be required. The PMU
will recommend an appropriate level of cover for this insurance and all binding agreements
between communities, contractors and the PMU will be outlined in the CRISP Operations
Manual.
6.2 Indigenous People Participation and Consultation Framework
As the majority of the beneficiaries and affected people of CRISP can be considered as
communities of indigenous people, the requirements of the Bank Policy on Indigenous
People (OP4.10) will be met by integrating the elements of an Indigenous People Plan into
project design as described below.
COMMUNITY-LED INVESTMENTS
CRISP is designed with a community participatory approach. Institutional arrangements
require community members to be informed, consulted and fully participate from
planning stage through implementation of sub-projects.
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Community Helpers (CHs) will be supported and trained, and recruited if additional
human resources are required to supplement those available under RDP, by the Project.
CHs will conduct awareness campaigns to inform communities about CRISP
opportunities, help communities to identify potential projects, facilitate the process of
prioritising identified sub-projects and propose further support under CRISP for
implementation.
Project Engineers will assist communities with engineering works and provide technical
assistance during project implementation.
A Sub-project Implementation Committee (SIC) will be formed at Village/Community
level for each sub-project to ensure meaningful community participation in the process.
Each SIC will comprise of a Chair, Vice-Chair, a Treasurer, a Secretary and other
members. Members will be representative of all segments of the community, and will be
persons who enjoy the confidence of the community at large. The SIC will:
Implement the subproject
Report on progress of sub-project to the Implementing Agency (IA)
Make payments to suppliers and keep accounts of project expenditure to report to the IA
Prepare an operational management and maintenance plan, with assistance from the
engineers
Participate in monitoring of sub-project impacts and reporting to the IA.
Comments, suggestions and complaints from community members during planning and
implementation will be received by Community Leaders (CLs) and Community Helpers
(CHs). Such information will be forwarded to relevant personnel or organisations by the
CL/CH for consideration and actions.
PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT (PG)-LED INVESTMENTS
With PG-led investments, formal consultation with local communities will be conducted
during the preparation of engineering design. Consultations will be implemented in forms
and languages understandable to the majority of affected/beneficiary communities. Particular
efforts will be made to ensure that women can attend and be actively involved in
consultations. Opinions shared by the community will be recorded using Form 5.
Community members will participate in monitoring during construction and operation phases
of sub-projects.
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Form 4 – Records of Public Consultation
Community Meeting Minutes
Ward
Date and Location of Meeting
Number of Participants Number of Women
I. Summary of information given to the community at the meeting:
1. Project Information: The Project is planned to carry out the following activities:
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2. Potential Socio-Environmental Impacts and Risks
3. Mitigation measures that will be applied to address the key impacts and risks (ECOP)
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II. Feedback/Comments from Community
Name Comments/Feedback
6.3 Information Disclosure
In addition to specific mitigation measures applicable to each sub-project, CRISP will ensure
the following requirements are met:
Project information is disseminated to affected parties (for example local authority,
enterprises and affected households, etc) before construction commences;
Copies of these ECOPs are made available to local communities and to workers at the
site.
Notification boards are erected at construction sites providing information about the
project, as well as contact information about the site managers so that any affected
people can have the channel to voice their concerns and suggestions.
6.4 Institutional Arrangements for ESMF implementation
Implementation of safeguard procedures will follow the institutional structure of the Project
described in Table 3 and Table 4 of this ESMF. Table 8 and Table 9 below list the
responsibilities of stakeholders to carry out the safeguard of CRISP.
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Table 8 – Safeguard Implementation Responsibilities for community-led rural
investments under the CRISP
Safeguard Steps Project phase to be
implemented Implemented by
Review/
Approve by
1. Eligibility
Screening
Project
identification, site
selection
Beneficiary Community
with assistance from
Community Helpers
PARC
2. Impacts Screening Sub-project
preparation
Sub-project
Implementation
Committees (SICs)
PSUs/PMU
3. Prepare Subproject
EMPs
Sub-project
preparation
Sub-project
Implementation
Committees (SICs)
PSUs/PMU
4. Implement EMP
(including
implementing (a)
mitigation measures
and (b) carry out
environmental/
compliance
monitoring
Engineering Design
Construction
Operation
(a) Mitigation measures
Design Engineer
Contractor
Community
Work
supervisors
and SICs
Engineering Design
Construction
Operation
(b) Monitoring:
Design Engineers
Work supervisors,
Community, SICs,
Community Helpers
Community, SICs, Work
supervisors
Safeguards
Officer
Table 9 - Safeguard Implementation Responsibilities for Provincial Government (PG)-
led rural investments under the CRISP
Safeguard
Steps
Project phase to be
implemented Implemented by
Review/
Approve by
1. Eligibility
Screening
Project
identification, site
selection
MPGIS prepares Form 1 as part of
annual PCDF allocations with
MOF (for SIG contribution) or
Minimum Conditions (MC)
assessments report. Sub-projects
with a risk focus provided to
MECDM/PCC for consideration.
JOC
2. Impacts
Screening
Sub-project
preparation
Technical Planning and Budgeting
Unit of PG
3. Prepare
Sub-
project
ECOP
Sub-project
preparation
PG Works Dept. with support
from CRISP Safeguards Officer
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Safeguard
Steps
Project phase to be
implemented Implemented by
Review/
Approve by
4. Implement
ECOP
Engineering Design
Construction
Operation
(a) Mitigation measures
Design Engineer
Contractor
Community
Work
supervisors
Engineering Design
Construction
Operation
(b) Monitoring:
Safeguards Officer
Work supervisors, WDC
Contractor, Community
Community
Table 10 - Responsibilities of CRISP key stakeholders in implementing Safeguards
Stakeholder Key Responsibility
MECDM
Review and approve EIAs prepared for sub-projects, if
applicable
PMU Facilitate information disclosure process
Project Engineers
Provide inputs to sub-project ECOPs as and when required
Incorporate relevant mitigation measures proposed in sub-
project ECOPs into detailed engineering design of sub-
projects
Incorporate Environmental Codes of Practices and relevant
mitigation measures into bidding documents and construction
contracts
Oversee the implementation of mitigation measures by the
contractors
Provide guidance to contractors to address socio-
environmental issues arising during construction phase of the
work
Provide technical guidance to beneficiary communities to
promote safe and environmentally sound maintenance of the
works provided
Community Helpers
Attend safeguard training organised by CRISP
Facilitate project activities related to community consultation
and information dissemination ensuring all sectors of the
community are consulted, particularly women
Collect local information to provide inputs for socio-
environmental eligibility and impacts screening
Support communities to prepare socio-environmental
eligibility screening for relevant sub-projects during
community meetings and follow up through to sub-project
finalisation
Support communities, particularly the SICs, to prepare socio-
environmental impacts screening for sub-projects and follow
up through to sub-project finalisation
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Stakeholder Key Responsibility
Facilitate community participatory monitoring during the
construction phase of sub-projects
Facilitate formation of community management committees
to manage and maintain assets after implementation
Community
SIC
With the assistance of Community Helpers and the guidance of
SIC, members of beneficiary communities will:
Participate in environmental screening processes,
Propose alternative options to ensure that sub-projects are
eligible and/or have minimal negative socio-environmental
impacts
Provide inputs for socio-environmental impacts screening of
subproject and preparation of EMPs
Actively participate in environmental monitoring during
construction
Undertake mitigation measures during the construction phase
of the works carried out under CRISP
Arrange and implement proper management and maintenance
of the works to ensure potential impacts during operation
phase are mitigated
Contractors
Implement the mitigation measures specified in construction
contract
Monitor environmental conditions in areas disturbed by the
contractor and report to the Work Supervisor/the Engineer.
When socio-environmental issues arise, report the issues to
the Work Supervisor/the Engineer to obtain guidance on
actions. Make records of such issues and follow up.
Project Environmental
& Social Safeguards
Officer
Supervise overall CRISP environmental monitoring
Undertaking follow-up visits to ensure quality of the
implementation of the ESMF, advising on issues that may
arise
Overseeing the contracting of annual environmental audits
for CRISP
Provide inputs for the monthly environmental monitoring
reports and sending them to the PMU and Project
Coordination Committee (PCC)
Provide inputs for Project progress reports with regards to
ESMF implementation
Oversee ESMF implementation processes
Provide training on socio-environmental safeguards to
Community Helpers as soon as they are mobilised.
Briefing the Engineers on project safeguard management
procedures
Check and verify socio-environmental impacts screening
forms are properly filled in by Community Helpers/Engineers
Discuss with the Engineers the mitigation measures for
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Stakeholder Key Responsibility
incorporation into engineering designs, and environmental
terms and conditions for incorporation into bidding
documents and construction contracts
Prepare sample sub-project EMPs if required.
Coordinate with MECDM to prepare TORs for EIA and
supervise the EIA preparation process as and when required.
Facilitate the finalisation and submission of EIAs to
MECDM and the Bank.
WB
Provide technical guidance as necessary/required
Carry out periodical supervision
7. Land Acquisition and Compensation Guidelines
A Resettlement Policy Framework (see Annex 6) has been developed to guide voluntary land
donation or involuntary impacts on land and resources. The main features are summarised
here. Applications for funding of sub-projects under CRISP will need to demonstrate that
there is broad community consent for the proposal, and that the community has a plan for
management and maintenance of the sub-project assets. Therefore, as set out in the screening
for eligibility of sub-projects under CRISP, any sub-project located on privately-owned land
or on lands where involuntary resettlements would be unavoidable for example through a
voluntary donation protocol, or would cause severe hardship, or would create community
unrest will not be financed by the Project until and unless difficulties are resolved.
Community Helpers may assist with mediation. This condition of eligibility is proposed
based on the experience learnt from the implementation of the Rapid Employment Project
and the Rural Development Project in Solomon Islands.
If use of land is involuntarily lost through temporary occupation by the Project activities, rent
as agreed between the Project and the lease holder for an agreed term (time period) will be
arranged. Agreement and record of payment will be documented in writing and maintained in
the Project Office.
For involuntary loss of gardens, trees, crops, perennials, and/or productive trees/plants, or
other elements of livelihoods such as loss of business income due to the Project,
compensation will be paid by the Project at a scheduled rate (current market value) by the
Project, or based on negotiation/agreements made with the owners of the business.
Voluntary donations of land, structures or goods for project implementation will be made
with informed consent, free from any coercion, and will not unduly affect the livelihood of
the donor. The purpose and any terms of the donation will be recorded in writing with the
signature of the owner (see Resettlement Policy Framework for this project)
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8. Grievance Redress Mechanism
It will be important that any grievance redress mechanism reflect the existing process for
resolving disputes on issues related to project implementation.
The grievance resolution mechanism proposed for the CRISP is based on the above existing
system for dispute resolution. Through public consultations, beneficiaries and those affected
will be informed that they have a right to grievance resolution.
It would require the complaint first being discussed by the complainant, the CHs (as primary
contacts of the Project) and Community Leaders. If a satisfactory conclusion cannot be
reached through this process, then the matter will be directed to the courts. If the complainant
is not satisfied with the decision of the Local Court, the case will be decided by the High
Court.
The CHs will record all details of complaints (date, complainant, complaint/grievance,
attempts to resolve the complaint, and outcomes) and share them with the PMU. The record
of the grievance redress mechanism will be the subject of monitoring. Time-frames for
response to grievances will be discussed in consultations and set to avoid protracted ill-
feeling.
Annex 2 introduces a form for recording complaints from communities.
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Annex 1 – Prescribed Developments Listed in Schedule 2 of the Environmental Act
(require EA reports)
1. FOOD INDUSTRIES, including:
(a) fruit processing, bottling and canning
(b) brewing, malting and distillery works
(c) abattoirs
(d) other food processing requiring
packaging
6.CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES including
(a) pesticide production and use
(b) pharmaceutical production
(c) fertiliser production and use
(d) oil refineries
2. IRON AND STEEL INDUSTRIES 1. TOURISM INDUSTRIES including
(a) hotels
(b) golf courses
(c) recreational parks
(d) tourism resorts and estates
3. NON-METALLIC INDUSTRIES
including:
(a) lime production
(b) brick and tile manufacture
(c) extraction of mineral and mining
(d) extraction of aggregate stones and
shingles
(e) radio-active related industries
(f) manufacture of cements
2. AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY
(a) livestock development
(b) agricultural development schemes
(c) irrigation and water supply schemes
4. LEATHER, PAPER, TEXTILE AND
WOOD INDUSTRIES including:
(a) leather tanning and processing
(b) textile industries with dying facilities
(c) carpet industry with chemical dying
(d) manufacture of paper, pulp and other
wood products
3. PUBLIC WORKS SECTOR INDUSTRY
including
(a) landfills
(b) infrastructure development
(c) major waste disposal plants
(d) soil erosion and siltation control
(e) hydropower schemes
(f) reservoir development
(g) airport development
(h) waste management, drainage and
disposal systems
(i) dredging
(j) watershed management
(k) ports and harbour
5. FORESTRY including logging
operation, saw milling, all forms of
timber processing and treatment
4. OTHERS
(a) industrial estates
(b) housing development schemes
(c) settlement and resettlement schemes
(d) petroleum product and processing
works
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Annex 2: Complaints Records Form
Name of Community Helper:
For the period from: . . . . . / . . . . /. . . . . to . . . . / . . . . / . . . . .
Date Name Nature of Complaints Actions taken to follow up
and Outcomes
Complaints
addressed
completely?
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Annex 3 - ECOP for Investments under CRISP
1 = community buildings or shelters,
2 = improved water supply and storage systems,
3 = strengthening of building frames and foundations and/or
raising foundations,
4 = construction of climate proofed small bridges and piers,
5 = flood alleviation drainage
6 = shoreline protection systems
7 = road realignment as a form of risk reduction
8 = sanitation facilities
9 = new irrigation schemes or improved irrigation system, mini hydro
10 = energy generation (other than hydro, such as mini solar energy
schemes),
11 = integrated watershed and land management schemes to minimize
degradation of watersheds
12 = other infrastructure likely to cause changes in water use and/or
water availability, mini-hydro generators etc.
1. Common Codes of Practices for CRISP (the measures listed below are applicable to two or more types of investments under CRISP)
Issue/Risks Codes of Practices to address the potential Issues/Risks Applicability to sub-project types
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
1. Disruption
of vegetative
cover, tree
cutting (V)
V1 Store topsoil from excavated area for vegetation planting/
reinstatement at the end of construction
x x x x x
V2 Only cut trees and remove vegetation in areas authorised by
Works Supervisor/the Engineer.
x x x x x x x x x x x
V3 Keep the area of vegetation removal minimal x x x x x x x x x x x x
V4 Restore vegetation cover on barren soil at the end of construction x x x x x x x x x x x x
V5 Plant native trees to compensate for trees logged for timber used
in the sub-project or create vegetation cover
x x x x x x x x x x x x
2. Degradation
of natural/
ecological
resources/
natural
habitats (E)
E1 Erect temporary fences to protect the preserved trees before
commencement of any works within the site.
x x x x x x x x x x x x
E2 Do not disturb (e.g. logging, hunting, catching, shooting,
poisoning, littering) breeding ground of fishery resources such as
swamp/lagoon/sea grass bed, mangrove areas, rivers or
waterways, or grassland seasonally inundated, or any area that is
protected as a green space.
x x x x x x x x x x x x
E3 Only use legal timber for construction by requiring the supplier to
show a certificate for timber
x x x x x x x x x
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Issue/Risks Codes of Practices to address the potential Issues/Risks Applicability to sub-project types
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
E4 Only use local native species of vegetation for planting and
restoration of natural landforms
x x x x x x x x x x x x
E5 Do not dig sand, gravel or rocks from rivers for construction. x x x x x x x x x x x x
E6 Do not extract materials from coral reef for construction materials x x x x x x x x x x x x
3.Landscape
management (L)
L1 Maintain vegetation cover where possible x x x x x x x x x x x x
L2 Implement good waste management practices x x x x x x x x x x x x
L3 Cover construction waste with top soil for planting trees/flowers x
4. Solid Waste
Management (S)
S1 Provide waste bins for litter/garbage and refuse collection. Waste
bins shall be covered, tip-proof, weatherproof and scavenger
proof.
x x x x x x x x x x x x
S2 Do not burn waste on-site x x x x x x x x x x x x
S3 Store solid waste temporarily on site in a designated area
approved by the Work Supervisors
x x x x x x x x x x x x
S4 Dispose of construction waste only in areas approved by local
community/authorities
x x x x x x x x x x x x
S5 Do not dispose of any material in environmentally sensitive areas
such as swamp/lagoon/sea grass bed, mangrove areas, or
grassland seasonally inundated, or any area that is protected as a
green space in watercourses.
x x x x x x x x x x x x
S6 Reuse recyclable materials (e.g.) top soils where possible.
Materials such as wooden plates, steel, scaffolding material, site
holding, packaging material shall be collected and separated on-
site from other waste sources for reuse, for use as fill or provided
to recycling vendors.
x x x x x x x x x x x x
5.Wastewater
(W)
W1 Ensure accessibility to toilets for workers x x x x x x x x x x x x
W2 Do not discharge wastewater from toilets directly into any water
body.
x x x x x x x x x x x x
W3 Cover and seal off all water collection tanks and septic tanks at
the end of construction.
x x x x x x x x x x x x
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Issue/Risks Codes of Practices to address the potential Issues/Risks Applicability to sub-project types
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
6. Chemical or
hazardous
wastes (H)
H1 Do not use materials containing asbestos for construction x x x x x x x x x
H2 Handling of asbestos-containing materials and other toxic
substances is only to be carried out by specially trained and
certified workers
x x x x x x x x
H3 Collect used oil, lubricants, cleaning materials, etc in holding
tanks.
x x x x x x x x x x x
H4 Store chemicals with appropriate labelling and signboards x x x x x x x x
7. Dust (D), Air
quality (A)
D1 Ensure dust generated from construction activities is minimal and
at acceptable level
x x x x x x x x x x x x
D2 Spray water in dusty area in dry weather x x x x x x x x x x x x
D3 Cover material stockpiles x x x x x x x x x x x x
D4 Cover trucks carrying granular materials x x x x x x x x x x x x
D5 Stop construction and spray the site when there are complaints
about dust
x x x x x x x x x x x x
A1 Vehicles used must comply with SI regulations on allowable
emission limits of exhaust gases
x x x x x x x x x x x x
A2 Do not burn waste on-site x x x x x x x x x x x x
A3 Drivers must turn engines off if vehicle is idle for more than 5
minutes
x x x x x x x x x x x x
8. Noise (N) N1 Install silencers/mufflers on exhaust of noisy machines in
acoustically protected areas
x x x x x x x x x x x x
N2 Dampen concrete/roads before cutting x x x x x x x x x x x x
N3 Avoid construction activities before 6am and after 6pm x x x x x x x x x x x x
N4 Inform local communities at least two days before construction
takes place during early morning and/or late at night
x x x x x x x x x x
9. Erosion (R),
Siltation/
Sedimentatio
n (Se)
R1 Design slope stabilisation solutions if the works are to be built on
slopes
x x x x x x
R2 Provide permanent drainage structure if the works is on a slope x x x x x x x x x x x
R3 Include energy-dispersion structures in drainage system x x x x x x x x x x x x
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Issue/Risks Codes of Practices to address the potential Issues/Risks Applicability to sub-project types
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
R4 Avoid excavation works during wet season x x x x x x x x x x x x
R5 Keep ground clearance area to minimal levels possible x x x x x x x x x x x x
R6 Reinstate vegetation cover at earliest opportunity x x x x x x x x x x x x
R7 Carry out shaping and re-profiling cutting of slopes to minimise
erosion potential
x x x x x x x x x x x x
R8 Replant trees on exposed land and slopes to prevent or reduce
land collapse and keep the stability of slopes
x x x x x x x x x x x x
Se1 Maintain drainage system to ensure they are free of mud and other
obstructions
x x x x x x x x x x x x
Se2 Maintain original condition of undisturbed area at construction
sites
x x x x x x x x x x x x
10. Water
Quality (Wq)
Wq1 Avoid ground disturbance near water sources x x
Wq2 Design and install sediment traps to collect sediment from
rainwater before surface flow enters water bodies
x x x x x x x x x x x x
Wq3 Do not wash tools in streams, rivers or lakes x x x x x x x x x x x x
Wq4 Do not dispose of construction materials and waste in water
bodies
x x x x x x x x x x x x
Wq5 Follow chemical management instruction (Coded H) to prevent
chemical leaks into water bodies
x x x x x x x x x x x x
11. Localised
flooding (F)
F1 Create drains surrounding material loads stored at the work site x x x x x x x x x
F2 Periodically clean up drains at the site x x x x x x x x x x x
12. Disturbance
to cultural sites
(C) (temple,
church,
community
C1 Avoid unloading materials, parking vehicles/construction plants
within 20 m of any cultural site. If this is unavoidable, the
unloading/parking should be finished within 3 hours
x x x x x x x x x x x x
C2 Spray water regularly if construction is near any cultural structure x x x x x x x x x x x x
C3 Chance Find Procedure: If archaeological/historical sites,
remains and objects, graves are exposed during construction, the
Project will:
x x x x x x x x x x x x
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Issue/Risks Codes of Practices to address the potential Issues/Risks Applicability to sub-project types
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Stop the construction activities in the area of the chance find
Delineate the discovered site or area
Secure the site to prevent any damage or loss of removable
objects. In cases of removable antiquities or sensitive
remains, a night guard shall be arranged until relevant
authorities takes over
Notify the Work Supervisor who will notify local or national
authorities in charge of cultural issues within 24 hours
Decisions on how to handle the finding shall be taken by the
responsible authorities. This could include changes in the
layout, conservation, preservation, restoration and salvage
If the cultural sites and/or relics are of high value and site
preservation is recommended by professionals and required
by the cultural relics authority, the Project’ will make
necessary design changes to accommodate the request and
preserve the site
Construction works will resume only after permission is
granted from the responsible local authorities
13. Social
disturbance
(applies as
required to
all actions
under COPs)
(Ds)
Sd1 Inform community at least one week before site clearance is
started
x x x x x x x x x x x x
Sd2 Maintain open communications with the local government and
concerned communities (erect notification boards in local
language/s at construction sites providing information about
the project and contact numbers)
Respond to telephone inquiries and written correspondence in
a timely and accurate manner
Monitor community concerns and information requirements as
the project progresses
x x x x x x x x x x x x
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Issue/Risks Codes of Practices to address the potential Issues/Risks Applicability to sub-project types
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Sd3 Coordinate with local authorities (leaders of local wards or
communities, leaders of villages) for agreed schedules of
construction activities at areas near sensitive places or at sensitive
times (e.g. religious and/or festival days).
x x x x x x x x x x x x
Sd4 Inform local residents about construction and work schedules,
interruption of services and demolition where applicable
x x x x x x x x x x x x
Sd5 Investigate and implement alternatives to avoid the use of
playground space and loss of playing fields for construction
sites
Carry out consultation with those affected as early as possible
if it is not avoidable to use these sites
x x x x x x x x x x x x
14. Public Health
(P)
See specific measures relevant to various types of sub-projects x x x x x x x x x x x x
15.Worker and
public Safety
(Sa)
Sa1 Brief workers on occupational health and safety regulations x x x x x x x x x x x x
Sa2 Install fences, barriers, dangerous warning/prohibition signs
around the construction area
x x x x x x x x x x x x
Sa3 Implement traffic control measures, including road/rivers/canal
signs and flag persons to warn of dangerous conditions
x x x x x x x x x x x x
16. Occupational
Health (O)
O1 Use protective gear while working x x x x x x x x x x x x
2. Specific Codes of Practice for specific types of CRISP sub-projects
Type of
Investments
Specific Codes of Practice/Mitigation Measures
1. Community
buildings or
shelters
L4 Ensure architectural design of the works is safe for use, environmental-friendly and cultural suitable. For example,
the community should be asked if it is necessary to include a separate area in the building for women/men.
P1 Design of the buildings to include rain water catchment, water tank, sanitation facilities (including septic tanks),
and drainage
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2. Improved
water supply
and storage
systems
Sa4 Design/Provide lids for wells to enhance safety (of children) and enhance water quality protection in the event of
flooding
P2 Ensure public taps include a proper concrete yard and drainage pipes to lead water away from the tap area
P3 Build a concrete pad with a curb around the tap to contain and collect wastewater and drain away to a ditch, garden,
field or soak away pit
P4 Inform and encourage households to apply household water treatments where needed, such as sand filters, ceramic
filters, solar disinfection to significantly reduce bacteria or carbon filters to remove colour, such as from peat water.
Boiling water is a traditional household level treatment (but this uses more energy)
P5 Provide drainage around taps to minimise stagnant water. Provide training on maintenance of gutters (debris)
P6 Maintain drainage pipes to ensure good drainage at public taps
Check regularly to make sure there is a working faucet installed and that it is turned off when water is not
needed
Sd12 Provide alternative water supply to affected residents in the event of disruptions lasting more than one day
Wq1 Locate groundwater wells at least 10m upstream from any animal cage, septic tank, toilets etc
Wq2 Design and construction of dug wells/drill wells should include proper casing/sealing on surface so that
polluted surface water does not enter the aquifer
Provide lids for wells for water quality protection in the event of flooding
Wq1
0
Carry out pumping tests before construction. Pump groundwater at rate identified by the pumping tests to avoid
salinity intrusion
3. Strengthening
building
frames,
raising
foundations
L4 Ensure architectural design of the works is safe for use, environmentally-friendly and cultural suitable
P1 Design of the buildings to include rain water catchment, water tank, sanitation facility (including septic tanks), and
drainage
4. Construction
of small
bridges and
piers
Se3 The sediment in water pumped from the work area must be discharged to an appropriate sediment control measure
for treatment before release to the stream.
Wq9 Clean up stream/river bed periodically if construction is carried out over water (bridges, pier)
5. Drainage of
flood water
R3 Include energy-dispersion structures in drainage system
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6. Shoreline
protection
L1 Shape cuts and slopes to fit with surrounding landscape
L5 Landscaping and implementing any necessary remedial works at all affected areas without delay, including green-
spacing
L6 Restore, using landscaping, adequate drainage and re-vegetation of all cleared areas such as disposal areas, site
facilities, workers’ camps, stockpile areas, working platforms and any areas temporarily occupied during
construction of the project works
Se4 Perform earthworks, cuts, and fill slopes in accordance with the construction specifications, including measures
such as installation of drains, use of plant cover, etc
7. Road
realignment
E5 Ensure new alignment does not increase accessibility to ecologically sensitive areas
8. Sanitation
facilities
P7 Ensure that all parts of the septic tank system are working properly by:
Conducting inspection of septic tanks periodically
Emptying accumulated sludge every few years
Treating septic tank effluent before final disposal: septic tank effluent should be piped to a leach field
(underground/vegetated) or a pit (for soaking away)
Do not discharge septic tank effluent to an open drain or other surface water
Keep toilets clean
Wq5 Check the likely direction of groundwater flow and locate septic tank DOWNSTREAM from dug well
Locate septic tank at least 10 meters (but more is better) from any existing dug well
9. New or
improved
irrigation
schemes
To be determined during project implementation
10. Energy
generation
(e.g. mini
solar energy)
To be determined during project implementation
11. Integrated Sd6 Avoid interruptions of water supply to agricultural areas
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watershed and
land
management
schemes
Sd7 Carry out consultation to minimise disturbance to household economy and incomes
Other measures will be determined during project implementation
12. Other
infrastructure,
e.g. mini-
hydro
generators etc.
Sd8 Avoid interruptions of water supply to agricultural areas
Sd9 Provide alternative water supply to affected residents in the event of disruptions lasting more than one day
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Annex 4 - Draft Terms of Reference for
Environmental and Social Safeguards Officer – CRISP
The Safeguards Officer (SO) will carry out the following tasks:
In conjunction with the CRISP PMU, the Monitoring & Evaluation Officer/Advisor, supervise
overall CRISP environmental and social monitoring including establishing a schedule of
monitoring activities for the ESMF and setting up procedures at provincial level
Undertaking follow-up visits to ensure quality of the implementation of the ESMF, advising on
issues that may arise to relevant project staff/personnel
Ensuring that CRISP complies with all the relevant national and provincial environmental
legislations
Ensuring that the Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) and the
Resettlement Policy Framework (RFP) for CRISP are effectively managed and applied
Overseeing, together with the M&E and Procurement Officers, the contracting of annual
environmental audits for CRISP
Together with the Engineers and Community Helpers to prepare monthly environmental
monitoring reports and sending them to the PMU and PCC
Support CRISP management team in preparing and consolidating progress reports with regards to
ESMF implementation
Oversee ESMF implementation processes under Component C. Prepare sub-project EMPs if and
when required. Coordinate with MECDM to prepare TORs for EIA and supervise the EIA
preparation process. Facilitate the finalisation and submission of EIAs to MECDM and the Bank.
Provide training on safeguards, particularly on project social and environmental management
procedures, exclusion activities, impacts screening and mitigation measures to Community
Helpers. This includes providing ongoing support to existing RDP CHs and providing training to
any additional CHs that may be recruited.
Briefing the Engineers on project management procedures, the project’s requirements to
incorporate mitigation measures into engineering design, and consultation with communities
about detailed engineering design/scope of investment.
Check and verify environmental impacts screening forms filled in by Community
Helpers/Engineers.
Discuss with the Engineers about incorporating the mitigation measures into engineering designs,
and environmental terms and conditions for incorporation into construction contracts and bidding
documents.
Duration of contract
18 months, full time with an option to extend.
Qualifications and Experience
- BSc/Diploma in natural science, environmental science/management or related field
- At least five years of work experience, including environmental impact assessment and a
good understanding of social impact assessment
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- Have a good understanding of environmental management legislations and requirements in
Solomon Islands
- Prior experience in community development/mediation skills would be an advantage
- Prior work experience in internationally-funded projects is preferrable
- Have strong willingness and capability to travel frequently to the provinces for site visits
- Computer literate in MS Word and Excel. Additional computer skills would be an advantage
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Annex 5: Some issues observed and lessons learned from previous RDP sub-projects in
Solomon Islands
Good practice Possible Improvements Water retaining wall and pipes installed to
convey water downstream to community. A pipe
for sediment discharge also installed.
Community carry out maintenance
Water quality should be tested
Good: Labour intensive pipe installation with
minimal disturbance to vegetation cover.
Drainage pipe at this standpipe should be long
and wide enough to drain all wastewater away to
avoid stagnant water.
Some graves near entrance to community were
observed. EMP should notify contractor not to
load construction materials, machines nearby.
There is an opportunity for
landscaping/decorations outside this beautiful
community building
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Rainwater and septic tanks built as part of the
sub-project.
Community representative reported that
construction waste management (although very
small in quantity) was not considered adequately.
Eight water tanks were provided for rainwater
collection in a catchment of much smaller
capacity. Project should better consider the size
of catchment vs. the number of tanks provided.
Also, location and mooring for tanks should also
be considered in areas prone to hazards, such as
the one visited. Community should be trained on
procedures for management and maintenance i.e.
maintenance of gutter to ensure debris-free,
install screening/filter at inlet, drain the tank
periodically etc. Drainage in area at the tap
should also be considered. Signs such as “save
the water” should be placed at the tank.
Timber is used for classroom construction.
Localised erosion/landslide observed in the local
community. Community informed that they will
self-organise for tree planting (but mostly betel
nut trees and other trees with commercial value.)
Classroom being built on the top of a hill.
Measures for slope stabilisation, preferably
engineering structure combined with vegetation
cover, should be included as part of project
investment
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9. Annex 6 - Community Resilience to Climate Change and Natural Hazards in
Solomon Islands Project (CRISP) Resettlement Policy Framework
A) Project Description and Components
The purpose of this policy framework is to clarify resettlement principles, organizational
arrangements, and design criteria to be applied to sub-projects to be prepared during
implementation of the Community Resilience to Climate Change and Natural Hazards in
Solomon Islands Project (CRISP, Project ID: P112613) for which the Solomon Islands
Government has requested assistance from the World Bank.
Over 85% of the Solomon Islands’ population of around 552,300 live in villages with largely
subsistence economies. Land area is 229,000 km2, giving low average population densities at
2.4 persons per km2. Some 87 per cent of land is under customary tenure. Outside of the
federal capital and the provincial headquarters, natural resources such as forests, minerals,
reefs, and islets belong to customary land owners. Management is community-based.
Leadership is achieved rather than ascribed in Melanesian communities, and derives from the
ability of an individual to command resources and followers. Leaders emerge by consensus
or ballot. Non-customary “alienated" land is registered under the Land and Titles Act.
Solomon Islands are located in the “Pacific Ring of Fire”, and within the cyclone belt,
making them highly vulnerable to natural hazards. SI is amongst the 20 countries with the
highest economic risk exposure to two or more geological, hydrological and climatic hazards
that include tropical cyclones, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides, floods
and droughts.
The project development objective (PDO) is to “increase the capacity of selected
communities to manage the impacts of natural hazards and climate change”. The project
would achieve this objective by strengthening government capacity in disaster and climate
risk management, and implementing disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation
investments in selected communities in up to four provinces including Guadalcanal and
Temotu.
This will be achieved by strengthening the institutions responsible for disaster and climate
work, improving coordination between the two divisions primarily responsible for this work,
and amongst other key sectors (e.g. agriculture, water, rural development etc). This
Resettlement Policy Framework (RPF) will be used to mainstream the principles of the
Bank’s OP/BP 4.12, Involuntary Resettlement into standard operating procedures of the key
sectoral agencies. It also takes account of the sensitivities of the land based livelihoods of the
majority Indigenous Peoples. The outputs will be ‘tools’ that build on the current practice of
operational agencies and embed in them social safeguards principles to guide planning,
implementation and monitoring of investments in climate and disaster resilience.
The sub-components for the CRISP project relevant to this RPF are:
B(i) Strengthening of climate and disaster risk information and early warning systems
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C(i) Design, advisory and supervision services of rural infrastructure investments
C(ii) Development and implementation of community-led rural investment projects
C(iii) Development and implementation of provincially-led rural investment projects
Component C will support the implementation of provincial and community-level climate
change adaptation and disaster risk reduction investment activities and engineering works to
increase resilience of selected communities in Guadalcanal and Temotu provinces and up to
two more provinces to be identified by the Implementing Agency (IA), the Ministry of
Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM).
As sites of investment activities and engineering works have not yet been selected, a
Resettlement Plan cannot be prepared prior to project appraisal.
B Principles and Objectives Governing Resettlement Preparation and
Implementation
It is noted that the term ‘involuntary resettlement’ refers to any unwanted effect on assets or
livelihoods caused by the project, and is not limited to forced physical displacement.
The Solomon Islands Government (SIG) is committed in the interest of harmonious
development to:
Avoid involuntary resettlement wherever possible, and where unavoidable, to explore
options with affected persons and communities to minimise and mitigate any social
harm
Ensure that benefits are shared equitably, that affected persons are fairly compensated
for any unavoidable adverse project impacts, and are assisted to re-establish their
livelihoods to pre-project standard or better
Use projects as a development opportunity to improve upon the pre-project socio-
economic situation of affected persons and communities, and if applicable of host
communities.
These principles entrain a process of consultation and participation with beneficiaries and
affected persons throughout the project cycle. Consultation mechanisms are discussed in
Section L below.
C Process for Preparing and Approving Resettlement Plans
Work will initially be undertaken by the Project Management Unit under MECDM to identify
all institutional stakeholders who may be involved in delivery of project components with
physical impacts. These could include line Ministries and Departments with responsibility
for agriculture, forestry, water, communications and transport, as well as the relevant
Provincial Governments. These agencies will present their current operational procedures for
service delivery at a project safeguards coordination meeting. Present practice will be
examined for inclusion of the principles and procedures in this RPF. Where gaps exist, the
requirements of the RPF and the Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF)
will be integrated into current operational procedures and developed into Standard Operating
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Procedures (SOPs) that will be adopted by the line agencies and included in the Project
Operational Manual (POM) that is part of the legal agreement between SIG and the Bank.
SOPs will address the provisos described below in Sections D to M. Tools developed as part
of the SOPs will include the content of screening checklists for the Bank’s social safeguards
integrated and reconciled with SIG instruments, and policy response that reflects best
international practice. This activity will contribute to the Component A aim of mainstreaming
DRM and CCA into sector planning and investments, and will facilitate SIG’s partnership
with the Bank and other development partners for the present project and in the future.
Subsequent planning for sub-projects will follow the policies and use the tools included in the
POM addressing consultation and disclosure, voluntary land donation protocols, eligibility
criteria and compensation provisions for involuntary impacts, delivery mechanisms and
timing, a comments and complaints/grievances mechanism, budgeting for resettlement,
monitoring evaluation and progress reporting on safeguards as part of the normal project
reporting to the Bank. This will assist sustainability of the policy advice and institutional
strengthening activities beyond the effectiveness of a time and project-bound Resettlement
Plan.
If unforeseen circumstances require compulsory acquisition and development of a
Resettlement Plan or an Abbreviated Resettlement Action Plan, MECDM will prepare it in
accordance with Solomon Islands law and this Framework, and submit it for agreement with
the Bank and ensure public disclosure before the subproject proceeds.
After completion of Detailed Measurement Surveys, the sub-project resettlement plan would
include baseline socio-economic survey information, Indigenous People (IP) and gender
analysis; Affected Persons (AP) census and assets inventory; specific compensation rates and
standards; policy entitlements related to any additional impacts identified through the census
or survey; description of resettlement sites and programs for improvement or restoration of
livelihoods and standards of living; implementation schedule for resettlement activities; a
detailed cost estimate and provisions for monitoring and reporting on delivery and impacts of
the Plan.
D. Estimated Population Displacement and Categories of Displaced Persons
No physical displacement of population is envisaged in this project. Subprojects will be
developed at Ward Development Committee level with participation of representatives of
each beneficiary village. Village level projects will be requested by village Sub-project
Implementation Committees (SICs) with four officers and other members. Sub-projects
should therefore have broad community support, and access to communal or privately used
land may be expected to be largely through voluntary donation, and therefore not require a
RAP.
Component C sub-projects will be undertaken at provincial level if their scale or technical
requirements are beyond village capacity.
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Sub-projects that might require a RAP to determine livelihood compensation modalities
could involve site selection, construction or rehabilitation of:
community buildings or shelters
improved water supply and storage systems
strengthening of building frames and foundations and/or raising foundations
construction of climate proofed small bridges and piers
drainage
shoreline protection systems
road realignment as a form of risk reduction
sanitation facilities
new irrigation schemes or improved irrigation systems
energy generation (other than hydro, such as mini solar energy schemes)
integrated watershed and land management schemes to minimize degradation of
watersheds
other infrastructure likely to cause changes in water use and/or water availability,
mini-hydro generators etc
Project affected persons, if there are any, would thus include the men, women and children
who own, use or have customary access to any affected land, crops or wild produce, assets or
facilities, and whose enjoyment of these facilities is affected either temporarily or
permanently by the project, whether in their personal or work capacities.
In the context of this project, the most likely category of ‘Project Affected Person’ is the
voluntary land donor individual or group. As personal or group land is traditionally made
available for projects for the common good, a Voluntary Donation Protocol is included in this
RPF, in Section 8. Essential features of voluntary donation are freedom from coercion,
affirmation that no individual suffers severe loss, the stated purpose and duration of the grant,
and documentation of the agreement and of all interested parties.
E. Eligibility Criteria for Defining Various Categories of Displaced Persons
In the event of compulsory acquisition, persons with legal title to land, with customary but no
formal title, or with no title but a customary right to use land at the time of the Minister’s
declaration of intention to acquire land for public purposes will be recognised as eligible for
resettlement assistance. It is noted that displacement in this context refers to economic as well
as physical displacement. All involuntarily project-displaced persons with a lawful claim up
to the cut off date will be recognised, without distinction as to their ownership status, sex,
ethnicity or age. The cut-off date will be the date of the Minister’s Declaration under the
Land and Titles Act. Any involuntary displacement will be compensated according to the
principles adopted in this RPF. Compensation will be made directly to the affected person(s)
or to their legal representative if they are not legally competent.
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F. Legal Framework and Bridging any Gaps
Though involuntary land acquisition is not foreseen for this project, a description of the
provisions under the Land and Titles Act (CAP133 Revised Edition 1996) is presented below
compared with Bank principles, and a reconciliation set out. This will enable Standard
Operating Procedures developed with the line agencies for the POM to include involuntary
acquisition processes should it arise in future projects. There is no fundamental difference in
intent of the law with Bank principles; the points of difference relate in the main to detail that
is not explicit in the law, but can generally be implied. These details will be accommodated
in policy and procedure adopted in the POM. The table below summarises the resettlement
principles discussed throughout this RPF.
Table 11: Comparison of Provisions of the Land and Titles Act 1969 with Bank
Resettlement Principles
Principle Provision under Land and Titles Act 1969 Reconciliation
Avoidance and
minimization of
impacts;
availability of
alternatives for
resettlement.
Government may compulsorily acquire the
desired land by Declaration of the Minister.
There is a right of appeal to the High Court
against the selection on points of law (e.g. land
is not for a public purpose, or some portion is
not required) but no specific obligation to
examine alternatives.
Efforts will be made to
identify alternatives to
involuntary land taking;
project design options and
different alternatives for
compensation will be
discussed with APs prior to
Declaration by Minister.
Full consultation
and disclosure
about the project at
times and places
accessible to
potentially affected
persons and
communities.
Declaration may be published in the manner the
Minister thinks fit; for unregistered land, the
Commissioner posts prominent notices on or
near boundaries inviting applications for
compensation, or for registered land, serves
notice on all registered owners.
Declaration will be released
to radio and press as well as
posted on boundaries and
notified to registered
owners; public information
bulletins and Plans will
available to the public in
appropriate language.
Eligibility applies
to titled, non-titled
and customary
users of both sexes.
Any persons who were lawfully occupying the
land or lawfully exercising some right on it
immediately prior to Declaration are eligible for
consideration, whether or not a title is
registered, and are given declaration
documentation; all recognised claimants are
given an Order for Payment; compensation
payments to groups are for the benefit of them
all; spouses are treated as separate persons in
relation to registration of land.
No additional action
required, but the separate
recognition of spouses for
purposes of land registration
will be extended to
compensation, which will be
in both names.
Preference to be
given to offering
alternative land to
APs whose
livelihoods are land
based;
compensation to be
at replacement
cost.
Land in lieu is a considered option where
customary land is to be acquired. Amount of
compensation or compensation rental is
assessed by the High Court, taking into account
the condition of the land and any other
circumstances it considers relevant. Disputes
over group membership and hence entitlement
to a share of compensation may be heard by the
Magistrate’s Court. The Provincial Secretary
Proviso aligns with Bank
policy where possible to
offer land for land to APs
whose livelihoods were
land-based. Replacement
cost at market rate will be
used as the guiding principle
for valuation. APs are to be
given the opportunity to
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must assist claimants with any official
documentation in support of their claim.
Claimant’s reasonable costs in preparing and
settling a claim are refundable.
provide evidence that should
be taken into consideration
in valuation.
Land based assets
and lost elements
of livelihoods are
compensated.
Definition of land includes land-based assets
and water over it, but excepts oil, gas and
minerals under it.
No additional action
required; productive assets
and elements of livelihood
will be taken into account in
valuation of losses.
Settlements must
be made before
commencement of
civil works.
No explicit proviso. After a declaration that land
is required for a public purpose, an AP may
appeal to have the declaration quashed within
six months. The occupier of the land may
remain in possession until not more than four
months after an order to vacate. During this
period, the occupier may not make
improvements on the premises without
permission, and will not be compensated for
them. The affected person may claim
compensation from the Commissioner of Lands
normally within three months of publication of a
Declaration of Intent to acquire land. Within
three months of receipt of the claim, the
Commissioner notifies the claimant of the
outcome of their claim. If the Commissioner’s
response is accepted, payment is made within a
further three months of receipt of acceptance. If
dissatisfied the Affected Person may within
three months appeal to the High Court, which
may confirm the Commissioner’s offer, assess
what to it seems just, or direct the
Commissioner to make a further offer. If the
claimant does not appeal within three months,
the offer is deemed to have been accepted. This
process may thus take up to fifteen months or
longer depending on Court schedules, during
which the affected person’s right to improve the
land is restricted, and s/he may be ordered to
vacate.
Affected persons will not be
ordered to vacate until
agreement is reached on
resettlement. They will have
the opportunity to collect a
last harvest. Civil works will
not commence until any
applicable compensation has
been paid. Compensation
payments will recognise all
members of groups, and
spouses as separate persons.
Information about
rights, and a
grievance
mechanism to be
available.
Law sets out rights. Appeal against declaration
is available on points of law. Offers of
compensation may be appealed to the High
Court. Assistance with official documentation
for claim preparation and appeal against
valuation is available.
No additional action
required, but Project
Information Bulletins will
provide information in
simple language about legal
rights.
Costs of physical
relocation are met.
No explicit proviso. Moving, re-establishment
and transitional assistance
costs will be included as part
of the compensation
package.
Non-viable
remnant land or
buildings are fully
No explicit proviso. At the option of the AP, the
project will acquire the
whole of a partially acquired
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acquired. parcel of land or building
that is no longer adequate
for residence/ subsistence.
Vulnerable
Affected Persons
should receive
additional
consideration.
No explicit proviso. However part of the law
that applies to systematic settlement contains a
proviso for protection of the interest of an
absent or disabled claimant, indicating an intent
to protect the weaker.
As the same impact may
have greater severity on
vulnerable persons, for
example low income and
subsistence- dependent
households, female and
single parent headed
households, households
supporting elderly or
disabled persons, members
of ethnic minorities,
resettlement provisions will
take into account
vulnerability and offer
additional assistance such as
credit, land preparation,
grants of productive trees,
livestock to raise, training,
or work on the project to
compensate for
vulnerability.
G. Methods of Valuing Affected Assets
The principle of full restoration of livelihood consequent upon compulsory acquisition
requires that a project-affected good be assessed at market replacement cost, with the full
amount going to the Affected Person without deduction of costs, fees, taxes, imposts or
gratuities. The Lands and Titles Act does not explicitly state this, though the principle is
recognised in the acceptance that reasonable costs of preparation of a claim will be met.
Establishment of market value is challenging when it concerns goods that are rarely traded, as
may be the case with customary land. Considerations to take into account will be any
income derived from the lost land or asset, its location and amenity value in terms of access
to physical and social infrastructure, family and kin groups. Valuation will be set at a level
that enables the Affected Person to re-establish economic activities and social ties to the pre-
project status or better.
Temporary loss of land, for example for an easement, will be compensated at the rental value
of the loss for the area and period of time involved. Loss of production will be calculated at
the market value of the most recent harvest of any lost crop multiplied by the number of
seasons of loss.
Valuation of project-affected food trees and plants will be assessed at the market value of the
most recent harvest multiplied by the number of harvests lost, or for replacement plants to
become productive.
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Timber trees will be valued at the market value of the millable quantity of timber at the time
of compensation.
Loss of access to fisheries will be compensated at the market value of the typical harvest for
the duration of loss until replacement or recovery of the resource.
Where trees, crops or fisheries are in common ownership, the compensation will be
distributed amongst the customary users.
Structures will be compensated at the market cost of materials and labour to replace them at
the time of compensation payment.
If physical displacement is unavoidable, relocation and reestablishment expenses will be met
at actual cost. Valuation of assets such as buildings will be assessed at cost of materials
without deduction for depreciation or salvage.
If either an affected plot of land or a building is reduced to a size that is no longer viable for
the household, the project will acquire the entire asset, and either replace it with like for like,
or compensate for the full value of the lost asset.
H. Voluntary Donation Protocols and Procedures for Delivery of Entitlements
In the present project, sub-projects will be identified and discussed at the level of the village
or group of villages. It is expected that most land or land-based assets will be in customary
ownership, and that the norms of customary agreement for community access to and use of
land for purposes that have broad community support will prevail under a voluntary
arrangement as described hereunder.
Voluntary Land Donation
Voluntary land donation refers to a process by which an individual or communal owner or
group agrees to provide land or property for project-related activities. In general, voluntary
land contribution is undertaken without compensation. It is an act of informed consent, made
with the prior knowledge of other options available and their consequences, including the
right not to contribute or transfer the land. The donation must be obtained without coercion or
duress.
Voluntary land or asset donation requires a declaration by the individual, household or group
that they are donating the use of the land or asset for a specific purpose and a specific
duration of time. It is provided freely and without compensation. The following safeguards
are required:
a) Full consultation with landowners and any non-titled affected people on site selection
b) Voluntary donations should not severely affect the living standards of affected people,
i.e. no individual should lose more than 10% of their productive assets
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c) Any voluntary donation will be confirmed through written record and verified by an
independent third party such as customary tribunal, NGO or legal authority
d) Adequate grievance redress mechanism should be in place.
Documentation would be held by MECDM to provide evidence of the process. A sample
donation form is at Annex 7.
Involuntary Acquisition
In the event of involuntary acquisition, organisational procedures must ensure that
entitlements are delivered to the right person(s) in a culturally congenial manner, that they are
transparent and fully documented. Compensation would be released by the Executing
Agency and disbursed through MECDM as Implementing Agency (IA).
Claimants would be informed in writing of the details of their entitlement (see sample
entitlement form at Annex 2) and requested to attend the office of MECDM or the village
headquarters at an agreed time during normal office hours. Compensation would be handed
over, and both the claimant and a representative of the IA would sign the entitlement form
before an independent witness. If any land transfer is involved, documentation establishing
any change of title would be exchanged at the same time to ensure that parties can register the
change, and can engage in any normal lawful transaction in relation to the land.
J Resettlement Implementation during the Project Cycle
The main steps in resettlement actions, roles and responsibilities in the project cycle, are
outlined in Table ii.
Table 12: Resettlement Actions in the Project Cycle
Task/Stage Responsibility
Project Preparation
Awareness raising about risks/needs arising from
climate change and natural hazards
Community Helpers, Provincial Disaster
Officers, MECDM technical staff
Pre-identification of climate change/disaster risk
reduction projects
Ward Development Committees (WDCs),
Sub-project Implementation Committees
(SICs) with expert line Government agency
input
Screening; identification of risks and impacts MECDM, MLHS and other line Ministries as
appropriate
Community consultations; identification and
selection of options, outline plan for ownership
management and maintenance of assets, voluntary
donation arrangements
WDCs/SICs, village leaders, residents, men’s
women’s youth and occupational groups as
available
Release of Public Information Bulletin inviting
comments
MECDM
Application for funding; identification of
resettlement needs if any
WDCs/SICs/Provincial Allocation Review
Committee/Line Ministries
If necessary, Minister’s Declaration of intent to
compulsorily acquire land for the sub-project under
Lands and Titles Act
Minister of Lands
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Legal process as described in Table 1 Commissioner of Lands, Courts, APs
If involuntary acquisition proceeds, preparation of
Resettlement Plan (RAP) or Abbreviated
Resettlement Action Plan (ARAP); socio-economic
baseline survey, Affected Persons (AP) census,
inventory of affected assets, valuation, grievance
mechanism established
MECDM in consultation with affected
communities and individuals;
MECDM/WDC/SIC safeguards officers
Approval of the RAP/ARAP by SIG and the Bank;
disclosure and review period
SIG/World Bank
Revision of RAP/ARAP in response to comments
received, re-approval/disclosure
SIG/World Bank
Implementation
Resettlement actions completed/documented MECDM/APs
Civil works announced and commenced MECDM /Contractors
Civil works completed; accidental damage
compensated
Contractors
Monitoring and evaluation
Verification that all resettlement actions are
complete; lessons learned; reporting
MECDM, APs, community leaders and
members
As shown in the table above, the main work in resettlement takes place during project
identification and planning. To avoid hardship, it is required that Affected Persons’ claims
are settled prior to onset of the impact they should be compensated for. Civil works may not
commence until this condition is met.
If it is not possible to locate an owner, or if there is a dispute over ownership, the
compensation due in respect of that person or land will be held by MoFT3 as Executing
Agency in an escrow account pending location of the potential claimant or settlement of the
dispute. On legal settlement of a dispute, and after any final appeal, the sum due will be paid
out to the person(s) in whose favour the dispute was ultimately settled. If an absent claimant
has not been located within the term that a person would otherwise legally be declared
deceased, the compensation monies will be paid to his or her legal heirs.
J Grievance Redress Mechanisms
A fundamental principle of resettlement is that potentially project Affected Persons should be
fully informed, have a right to present a complaint and be given a fair hearing. Access to
information will be assured through issuing Public Information Bulletins (PIBs - see Section
L below) and fair hearing through the appeals process under the Land and Titles Act 1969, as
described in Table 1 above. The availability of a complaints process is to be disclosed in
PIBs and other public announcements, for example in declaration notices, radio and press
announcements, posters or any other publicity about the project. It will indicate the name,
position and contact details of the person(s) to whom a grievance may be addressed. This
information will also be communicated to the Ward Development Committee and the
Subproject Implementation Committee in affected areas. In addition to the normal provisos,
3 The Ministry of Finance and Treasury is the appropriate agency to hold project funds until any conditions for
disbursement have been met, and provides a degree of independent oversight of disbursement.
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since Affected Persons often lack experience of legal process, they will be made aware
through public communications that they may seek counsel and bring supporters at any stage
during a complaints process.
The contact details for the designated Complaints Officer will appear on notices, posters or
other public information about the project. In case women are reluctant to come forward, a
female committee member will be made available to hear their complaint. Persons with a
complaint will in the first instance address themselves to the Ward Development Committee
or the Subproject Implementation Committee for the activity. The Committee will attempt
immediate resolution, with assistance as required from the Village leaders. If the matter
cannot be resolved locally, the complainant will be addressed to MECDM.
MECDM will designate a Safeguards Officer to the PMU who will make her- or himself
familiar with the project and the applicable safeguards principles and procedures in the
ESMF and POM. The Safeguards Officer will endeavour to resolve any issues by negotiation
and mediation to avoid the potentially prolonged uncertainties and anxieties associated with
legal process. If necessary, an independent mediator such as an NGO with experience in
community conflict resolution may be appointed. In this case, a timetable for handling
complaints will be set, for example, within ten working days of lodgement, with an option to
revert to legal process if mediation does not succeed. Legal process is described in Table i
above.
Damage or accident caused by any contractor will be covered under the EMP.
A record will be kept of all complaints, the AP, the nature of the complaint, the time, manner
and cost of resolution. These will be consolidated in the Safeguards section of the normal
six-monthly reports to the Bank.
K. Arrangements for Funding Resettlement4
In the unlikely event that a project or sub-project will involve involuntary resettlement
MECDM, as the Implementing Agency, will perform or contract a baseline survey of the
affected community and persons, compile a census of Affected Persons and an inventory of
affected assets. From this data the IA or its agent will prepare cost estimates of resettlement
for discussion and review with investment and donor partners. The process will entail
consultations with other stakeholder line agencies as required, for example, Lands, Forestry
and Valuation.
If compensation is required, the Government and Bank partners will decide during project
implementation whether funding resettlement will be provided by the project budget or will
come from a Government contribution. Once decided, the funds will flow from source to the
Executing Agency, be released to MECDM and be disbursed to the claimants as described in
Section H above. The resettlement budget will include a contingency allowance
commensurate to the risk that input data may be inaccurate or incomplete, for example due to
4 See ‘Compensation and Entitlement Form for Affected Persons’ (Annex 8)
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uncertainties over ownership or entitlements.
The disbursement of resettlement funds against entitlements will be recorded and reported in
the normal six-monthly project activity reports.
L. Information, Consultations and Participation of Displaced Persons
Information about the project and sub-projects will initially be announced to the general
public in a PIB released to the media and available for consultation in the office of MECDM
and the local Ward Development Committees (WDC). The PIB will contain high level
information about the project aims, locations, benefits, anticipated impacts, timetable,
participants, and where to address comments or seek information. This PIB and community
consultations will precede sub-project identification and final design, through deliberations of
the Ward Development Committees and Sub-project Implementation Committees.
Community consultations need to be planned to impart technical information and to take
stock of the needs and resources of all sectors of communities to optimise resilience planning.
Before a sub-project is funded, applicants will be required to demonstrate broad support
following consultation with all sectors in communities they serve. Records of attendance at
community meetings, and decisions taken, should be attached to funding proposals and
submitted as evidence to the relevant WDC prior to sub-project approval. Vulnerability to
climate change and natural hazards affects men, women, youth, elderly and disabled persons
differently and proposals for funding need to take account of the needs and capacities of
men’s, women’s, youth, and occupational groups such as farmers, foresters and fishers and
vulnerable people in the community.
Consultation methods will respect the socio-economic context; will be held in local languages
and with appropriate visual aids, in places and at times that enable the target audiences to
attend. Women often find such consultations hard to fit into household schedules, and
particular efforts should be made to reach them. By the time a sub-project is identified,
potentially affected persons will have been identified, and alternatives to avoid or mitigate
any adverse impacts will have been taken into account in design. Community contributions
of land, labour or other inputs will have been broadly agreed. A plan addressing the
ownership, management and maintenance of investments will be in place to include in the
application for funding.
If compulsory land acquisition is unavoidable, further consultations with APs as a group will
be undertaken to develop a resettlement plan at the time of the Minister’s declaration if
applicable. Subsequent PIBs will be issued to the media and through local government offices
to announce subprojects and to alert the general public to project activities, or traffic or
construction disturbances.
Members of beneficiary communities will be involved in implementation of sub-projects to
the extent of their willingness, skills and abilities. During consultations, they will be asked to
identify the changes they hope the project will achieve. These aspirations will be reflected in
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the design of sub-project monitoring. Community representatives will be invited to
participate in monitoring.
M. Monitoring and Reporting Arrangements
Monitoring and evaluation of the CRISP project is planned under Component D (ii) project
monitoring and evaluation. This will include monitoring of delivery of the safeguards aspects
of the project as planned under the SOPs, and impact monitoring under the Project
Development Objective indicators. Indicators of interest to the beneficiaries may be identified
during consultations, and they will be invited to report against these. Community monitoring
inputs and any evaluative comment received will be included in the project progress reports
to the Bank.
If there is any involuntary resettlement, progress reports will include disbursements against
budget, unsettled claims and the reasons, any issues, complaints or grievances, their progress
and outcomes, and any lessons learned and recommendations for next steps.
If an independent mediator is appointed, they will be required to report against delivery of
resettlement measures.
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Annex 7: Sample Consent Form for Voluntary Donation
Date: _______________________
I/We: ___________________ male household head ___________________female household head,
AND/OR person (name) _____________________________ exercising custom over the affected land
at___________________________________________________________
Resident/s of _________________Village in _________________District______________,
Declare that I/We/the group is voluntarily donating the use of (specify land, assets, location, size,
type etc)
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
For the purpose of: (specify activity)
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
For the duration of: (specify commencement date and duration)
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Of My/Our own free will, I/We are waiving My/Our right to compensation of any kind for the
specified duration of the activity.
I/We declare that all residents in the ____________________________community will have free and
unfettered access to the project assets on condition of their participation in the careful maintenance of
the assets for the benefit of the whole community.
Signed:
Male household head _____________________ Female household head__________________
or Custom Group Representative___________________________________________________
on behalf of (append list of all custom owners)
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Annex 8: Compensation and Entitlement Form for Affected Person
(Name of Project/subproject)
Name of Affected Person:
Survey ID No:
(from
socioeconomic
survey form)
Address:
Entitlements:
Land:
Permanent loss:
Cadastral Lot
Number if
available
Area sq m. Value sq.m. Total assessed
value
Residential
Commercial
Water or other
reserve
Temporary loss:
Residential
Commercial
Water o other
reserve
Permanent loss of
Trees/crops:
Number Status (bearing,
non-bearing,
newly planted etc)
Unit value
Pandanus
Taro
Structures: Purpose
(dwelling,
workshop etc)
Sq.m. Value sq.m. Total assessed
value:
Permanent
Semi permanent
Local
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Income/revenue
from:
Type Permanent or
Duration/mth
Value/mth unit
value
Business
Crops
Produce
Other (specify)
Total AP
entitlement
The Affected Person will bring this form on settlement date.
I hereby declare that this is a complete, true and accurate record of my losses due to the
......................Project, and that I have received payment in full.
AP signature Date
Witness signature Date
In the presence of:
Signed for (IA) Date
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Bibliography and References
1. Ministry of Environment, Conservation and MetSOrology (former name of the Ministry
of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and MetSOrology) 2008.
Solomon Islands State of the Environment Report.
2. Ministry of Development Planning and Aid Coordination, 2007. Environmental
Assessment/Environmental Social Maangement Framework for Rural Development
Program
3. National Disaster Council, Solomon Islands Government, 2010. National Disaster Risk
Management Plan
4. Solomon Islands Rural Development Program (SIRDP), 2011. Component 1 Program
Implementation Manual
5. Solomon Islands Environmental Act, 1998
6. Ministry of Culture and Tourism, 2011. Cultural Mapping Report: Solomon Islands,
7. The World Bank. The Do and The Don’t.
8. RDP, 2007. Environmental Management Framework.
9. REP, 2010. Environmental Management Guideline Report.
Websites:
www.everyculture.com
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List of key persons met during ESMF preparation
Persons met Title Organisation
Nathaniel Nhapps Environmental Officer RDP
Robert Engineer RDP
Josef Hurutarau Officer Environmental Conservation
Division, MECDM
Connie Siliota Officer Transport Sector Development
Program (TSDP)
Winston Lado Safeguards Officer TSDP
John Lamer Community Leader Buni village
Misach Lultrer Community Leader Buni village
Brian Simbe Community Helper Pailoge
Deisam Treasurer, Community Leader
Community leader Kogulavata
Community Leader Kolobangara/Kena
Community Helper Kolobangara/Kena