Ongoing Projects

Draft Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP)

Executive Summary

The South East Asia Disaster Risk Management Project for Lao PDR and its additional financing (LDRM-AF, AF, or the Project) is 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 (BKX), and Louang Phabang (LPB) provinces.

This Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) is prepared for the BKX subproject in accordance with the Environment and Social Management Framework (ESMF) approved by WB and applicable to the subproject. An abbreviated Resettlement Action Plan (ARAP) applicable to the subproject was prepared in according to the Resettlement Policy Framework (RPF) approved by WB and it is submitted separately.

Key Objective of ESMP

This document is the ESMP of BKX subproject, expected to be constructed in late 2022 to end of 2024. The ESMP provides details on the environmental and social (E&S) issues and mitigation measures, management and monitoring requirements that will need to be carried out by the Department of Water Ways (DOW) of Ministry of Public Works and Transport (DOW/MPWT) and its contractors during the implementation of the subproject. The ESMP briefly identifies description of the subproject, results from the E&S screening and application of WB safeguard and Government regulations, E&S background of the subproject areas and the affected area including the area of influence, and key issues and mitigation measures to be conducted during preconstruction, contraction, and operations phases including the implementation arrangement and budget. More details are provided in specific attachments.