Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP)

- The Democratic Republic of the Congo (hereinafter “the Recipient”) shall implement the Trade Facilitation and Integration Project (GLTFIP) (hereafter “the Project 174814”), under its Ministry of Foreign Trade. The International Development Association (hereinafter “the Association”) has agreed to provide funding for the project.

- The Recipient shall implement material measures and actions so that the Project is implemented in accordance with the World Bank Environmental and Social Standards (ESSs). This Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP) sets out material measures and actions, any specific documents or plans, as well as the timing for each of these.

- The Recipient shall also comply with the provisions of any other environmental and social (E&S) documents required under the ESF and referred to in this ESCP and the timeframes indicated in these E&S documents. These E&S documents shall include the Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF), the Resettlement Policy Framework (RPF), the Indigenous Peoples Planning Framework (IPPF), the Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP), the Labor Management Procedures (LMPs), and the Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) and Sexual Harassment (SH) Prevention and Response Action Plan (SEAH Action Plan). Other specific instruments shall be prepared as needed during the implementation of the project such as Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs), Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs), Resettlement Action Plans (RAPs), and Hazardous Waste Plans (HWMPs), Biodiversity Management Plan (BMP), Resettlement Action Plans (RAPs), Indigenous Peoples Plans (IPPs), Grievance Mechanism (GM), Security Management Plans (SMPs).

- The Recipient is responsible for ensuring compliance with all requirements of the ESCP, even when the implementation of certain measures and actions falls under the responsibility of the Ministry, agency or unit referenced in paragraph 1 above or another entity.

- Implementation of the material measures and actions set out in this ESCP shall be monitored and reported to the Association by the Recipient through the Ministry of Foreign Trade as required by the ESCP and the conditions of the legal agreement, and the Association shall monitor and assess progress and completion of the material measures and actions throughout implementation of the Project.

- As agreed by the Association and the Recipient, this ESCP may be revised from time to time during the implementation to reflect adaptive management of project changes and unforeseen circumstances or in response to assessment of project performance conducted under the ESCP itself. In such circumstances, the Recipient through the Ministry of Foreign Trade shall agree to the changes with the Association and shall update the ESCP to reflect such changes. Agreement on changes to the ESCP shall be documented through an exchange of signed letters between the Association and the Recipient the Recipient shall promptly disclose the updated ESCP.

- Where Project changes, unforeseen circumstances, or Project performance result in changes to the risks and impacts during Project implementation, the Recipient shall provide additional funds, if needed, to implement actions and measures to address such risks and impacts, which may include, without limitation, environmental risks such as environmental, health and safety effects, flooding, erosion, the appearance of animal or plant epidemics, the influx of labor, the risk of degradation of natural resources and pollution of the environment (air, soil and water pollution, reduction of vegetation in the event of tree felling and deforestation, nuisances due to activities and construction site waste); risks of disruption of free movement and socio-economic activities; risks of social conflicts in case of non-local employment or non-respect of customs and habits; risks to the health and safety of the populations (emergence of diseases among the populations and workers, accidents related to construction site activities, health risks related to poor management of hazardous waste, including biomedical waste, loss of land, property and sources of income, gender-based violence (sexual harassment, rape, unwanted pregnancies among the beneficiary populations, etc.); and risks related to child labor and forced labor.

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