ESMP Luangphabang

Executive Summary

The South East Asia Disaster Risk Management Project for Lao PDR and its additional financing (LDRM and LDRM-AF, or the Project) are being implemented with financing from the World Bank (WB) with the aim of reducing the risk of flooding and enhancing the disaster risk financing capacity of Lao PDR. The activities are implemented through the following five components: Component 1. Integrate Urban Flood Risk Management, Component 2. Hydromet Modernization and Early Warning System, Component 3. Financing Planning for Disaster Resilience, Component 4. Knowledge and Coordination, and Component 5. Contingency Emergency Response. In late 2019, additional budget of about US$25 million has been added to expand the implementation of Component 1 including expansion of infrastructure investments in Oudomxay (ODX), Bolikhamxay (LPB), and Luang Phabang (LPB) provinces. This Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) is prepared for the Project activities proposed to be implemented in Luang Phabang Capital under Component 1.1 (LPB Subproject). The ESMP was prepared in accordance with the Environment and Social Management Framework (ESMF) approved by WB and applicable to the LPB subproject. A Resettlement Action Plan (ARAP) applicable to the LPB subproject is prepared in according to the Resettlement Policy Framework (RPF) approved by WB and submitted to WB separately.

Key Objective of ESMP

This ESMP aims to identify the environment and social (E&S) risks and impacts of the proposed activities identified for the LPB subproject as well as to propose mitigation measures to be carried out by the Department of Water Ways (DOW) of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (DOW/MPWT) and its contractors during the implementation of the LPB subproject. The ESMP describes the subproject description; results from the E&S screening and application of WB safeguard and Government regulations; E&S background of the subproject areas and the area of influence;, key issues and mitigation measures to be conducted during preconstruction, construction , and operations phases including the Grievance Redress mechanism (GRM) and the implementation arrangement and budget. More details are provided in specific attachments.