According to the Bank’s website, the Seismic Safety Enhancement Project, financed by the Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific (JFPR), aims to improve seismic disaster preparedness and response capacity in Armenia. The JFPR grant will contribute to SSRP, the ongoing government program with similar objectives, and ADBs country partnership strategy for Armenia, notably in the priority area of disaster resilience and pillar 1 (diversified growth and wider inclusiveness through priority infrastructure investments).

The proposed project will have two interlinked outputs: (i) capacity for seismic disaster resilient infrastructure and risk management strengthened; and (ii) awareness on seismic safety, climate change, and environment resilience increased.

Output 1. The project will finance (i) reconstruction of the Voskehat secondary school in Armavir region to accomodate 432 students, (ii) development of school building maintenance guide and training of about 60 school administrative staff on its application, and (iii) the exploration of cost-effective seismic safety technologies, including retrofitting technologies such as Taishinhokyo and seismic dampers. Located 20 kilometers southwest of Yerevan, Voskehat school was selected due to its obsolete infrastructure that requires reconstruction.The school will incorporate (i) innovative seismic safety engineering; (ii) a design that supports healthy urban lifestyle, waste recycling, and combats air pollution and climate change; (iii) inclusiveness for people with disabilities; and (iv) transformative facilities including evacuation centers and spaces for community activities.

Output 2. Awareness on seismic safety, climate change, and environment resilience increased. The project will finance (i) development and implementation of an awareness program on seismic risks and responses for a targeted population of 250,000 students aged 10 to 19; (ii) study visit for 10 government and implementing agency staff, academy, and engineers to Japan to gain insights on seismic disaster management, engineering, and sustainable urban development; and (iii) installation of air pollution sensor in 10 selected schools, including the Voskehat school, and climate education for 3,000 students.

The Project safeguard classification is Category B for the environment and Category C for involuntary resettlement.

The total surface area of the land plot to be impacted under the project is 3.1169 ha. The land plot is state owned and is given to the school for free use.  The Program does not require any permanent or temporary impact on privately owned structures.

No permanent or temporary impacts on businesses, employment or access to any economic resources are anticipated. The private buildings (residential, agricultural and public use including the cemetery) are located in distance of 7-50 m from the boundaries of the site proposed for the intervention. No businesses are located near the site.

All trees including fruit, decorative and wood trees to be affected by the Project belong to the community and they will be replanted in the territory of the school at the ratio of 1:6 instead of the trees identified in this area.

The JFPR will provide grant financing equivalent to $3.0 million to be administered by ADB. The JFPR will finance expenditures for civil works, equipment, reports and communications, study visit, consulting and non-consulting services, and contingencies. The government will finance all taxes and duties, consulting services for the detailed engineering design, and jointly finance civil works through cash contributions, and provide in-kind contributions in the form of staff time, office space, equipment, furniture, and supplies.

No contacts available at the time of disclosure.

ACCESS TO INFORMATION

You can submit an information request for project information at: https://www.adb.org/forms/request-information-form

ADB has a two-stage appeals process for requesters who believe that ADB has denied their request for information in violation of its Access to Information Policy. You can learn more about filing an appeal at: https://www.adb.org/site/disclosure/appeals

ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM OF ADB

The Accountability Mechanism is an independent complaint mechanism and fact-finding body for people who believe they are likely to be, or have been, adversely affected by an Asian Development Bank-financed project. If you submit a complaint to the Accountability Mechanism, they may investigate to assess whether the Asian Development Bank is following its own policies and procedures for preventing harm to people or the environment. You can learn more about the Accountability Mechanism and how to file a complaint at: http://www.adb.org/site/accountability-mechanism/main.