Public Disclosure Authorized

INTEGRATED SAFEGUARDS DATA SHEET

CONCEPT STAGE
Report No.: AC2816

Date ISDS Prepared/Updated: 04/05/2007

I. BASIC INFORMATION
Public Disclosure Authorized

A. Basic Project Data

Country: Congo, Democratic Republic of Project ID: P101745

Project Name: CONGO DRC - Pro-Routes Project
Task Team Leader: Alain L. Labeau
Estimated Appraisal Date: October 22, Estimated Board Date: January 22, 2008
2007
Managing Unit: AFTTR Lending Instrument: Sector Investment and
Maintenance Loan
Sector: Roads and highways (100%)
Theme: Small and medium enterprise support (P)
Public Disclosure Authorized

IBRD Amount (US$m.): 0.00

IDA Amount (US$m.): 40.00
GEF Amount (US$m.): 0.00
PCF Amount (US$m.): 0.00
Other financing amounts by source:
BORROWER/RECIPIENT 0.00
UK: British Department for International Development (DFID) 72.00
72.00

B. Project Objectives [from section 2 of PCN]

The operations’s specific PDO is to reestablish lasting access to markets, and social and
administrative services in a sustainable way for people in the area of the operation. The purpose
Public Disclosure Authorized

of the operation is to reinforce the operational capacity of Congolese structures in charge of the
road network, to enable the re-opening of principal road links and their continued maintenance.

C. Project Description [from section 3 of PCN]

This operation is conceived to build on existing institutional capacities, promote low cost narrow
width roads standards, and favor long-term maintenance over more rehabilitation.

To ensure long-term sustainability through permanent institutions, the project will be managed
and implemented through existing entities of the Ministry of Public Works and Infrastructure,
which are the Cellule Infrastructure (CI) and the Office des Routes (OR).

The operation is being designed so as to be replicated and expanded to a larger network of

roads in DRC.
 There are 4 components in the operation.

Component 1 - Road rehabilitation and maintenance

The goal is to reopen as many roads as possible within the allocated budget through appropriate
technical choices (offering all season access yet with restricted road width and a spot
improvement and progressive upgrade approach) and maintain roads during the duration of the
operation. Equal emphasis will be put on rehabilitating and maintaining roads, as maintaining
roads and sustainability will come hand in hand. The operation will focus on the high-priority
road network.

Component 2 - Institutional strengthening

The objective of this component is to strengthen the institutions responsible for managing and
implementing road rehabilitation and maintenance (Ministry of Public Works and Infrastructure,
OR) and to support the creation of a Road Maintenance Fund, to ensure that rehabilitated roads
will be maintained in the longer term.

Component 3 - Social and environmental measures

The objective of this component is to implement specific and concrete actions to enhance the
positive socio-economic aspects of the operation and mitigate the potential negative social and
environmental aspects. This component would, inter alia, help address the risks of uncontrolled
logging and poaching associated to the re-opening of roads in post-conflict DRC, and it would
help identify high conservation value forests and potential new protected areas in the project?s
area.

Component 4 - Road sector coordination and harmonization

The objective of this component is to strengthen coordination and harmonization within the
road sector between government and donors, and among donors (initiation on a National Road
Sector Program, elaboration of a 10-year road strategy and a 5-year investment plan,
reinforcement of the transport sector group among donors).

D. Project location (if known)

The project will serve areas located on the high priority network.

E. Borrower’s Institutional Capacity for Safeguard Policies [from PCN]

Borrower capacity for environmental and social management capacity is weak. The project seeks
to strengthen this capacity within the roads sub-sector through the environmental and social
management component. An expert on Environmental and Social Development will reinforce the
?Cellule Infrastructure? to help execute the E&S component and ensure the project compliance
with environmental and social safeguards. The social and environmental unit within the Office
des Routes will also be strengthened.
The project will help strengthen coordination with the Ministry of Environment and Forests and
with the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation. It will aim to foster partnerships with
NGOs and other civil society organizations engaged in community development and nature
conservation.
F. Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialists
Mr Mohamed Arbi Ben-Achour (AFTS1)
Mr Robert A. Robelus (AFTU2)

II. SAFEGUARD POLICIES THAT MIGHT APPLY

Safeguard Policies Triggered Yes No TBD
Environmental Assessment (OP/BP 4.01) X
An EA for the first year’s works will be prepared. Uncertainties will exist until project
implementation on the exact location of the rehabilitation and maintenance works that will take
place for roads. An Environmental Social Management Framework (ESMF) will therefore be
developed in conjunction with the EA. This ESMF will include a screening mechanism that will
make identification of specific safeguards issues possible and will guide the preparation of
appropriate impact management instruments.
Natural Habitats (OP/BP 4.04) X
The EA will include an overview of habitats that could be affected by the project and will
identify potential "hot spots" that would require special consideration in planning, design and
implementation.
Forests (OP/BP 4.36) X
Improvements of Congolese roads could facilitate timber trade along some corridors,
including illegal logging trade. Accordingly an environmental component will be developed in
the project, in coordination with the current forestry project managed by the World Bank.
Pest Management (OP 4.09) X
Physical Cultural Resources (OP/BP 4.11) X
The EA will include an overview of physical cultural resources that could be affected by the
project and will identify potential "hot spots" that would require special consideration in the
project planning, design and implementation.
Indigenous Peoples (OP/BP 4.10) X
An indigenous people plan will be developped and carried out during implementation.
Involuntary Resettlement (OP/BP 4.12) X
Road rehabilitation and road maintenance will likely involve resettlement of local population.
Evaluation of the extent and location of possible resettlement issues and needs will be accurately
identified. A resettlement action plan for the first year’s works will be cleared and disclosed prior
to appraisal.
Safety of Dams (OP/BP 4.37) X
Projects on International Waterways (OP/BP 7.50) X
Projects in Disputed Areas (OP/BP 7.60) X

Environmental Category: A - Full Assessment

III. SAFEGUARD PREPARATION PLAN

A. Target date for the Quality Enhancement Review (QER), at which time the PAD-stage ISDS
would be prepared: 05/22/2007
B. For simple projects that will not require a QER, the target date for preparing the PAD-stage
ISDS: N/A

C. Time frame for launching and completing the safeguard-related studies that may be needed.
The specific studies and their timing1 should be specified in the PAD-stage ISDS.
The specific studies and their timing should be specified in the PAD-stage ISDS. An
Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) and a Resettlement Policy
Framework (RPF) will be cleared and disclosed prior to Appraisal. Environmental
Assessments (EAs) and Resettlement Action Plans (RAPs) will also be cleared and disclosed
prior to Appraisal for first year?s works. An Indigenous people plan will be developed and
carried out during implementation.

IV. APPROVALS

Signed and submitted by:

Task Team Leader: Mr Alain L. Labeau
Approved by:
Regional Safeguards Coordinator: Mr Warren Waters
Comments:
Sector Manager: Mr C. Sanjivi Rajasingham
Comments:

1 Reminder: The Bank’s Disclosure Policy requires that safeguard-related documents be disclosed before appraisal (i) at the
InfoShop and (ii) in-country, at publicly accessible locations and in a form and language that are accessible to potentially affected
persons.