According to the Bank’s website, the project development objective is to improve access to climate-resilient infrastructure and basic services in selected cities.

The project will primarily focus on the cities of Bangui and Berberati, which have been selected because of their population size, their vulnerability to climate change risks, and their lower security risks. However, the project's targeting is designed to be flexible, and open to the possibility of other cities being selected if circumstances change, particularly in terms of security, displacement, and natural disasters risks. Other secondary cities that could be considered include Birao and Bambari, inter alia.

Component 1. Investments in Flood and Erosion Risks Reduction (US$45 million)

Component 2. Neighborhood Infrastructure and Basic Services (US$20 million)

Component 3: Project Management (US$5 million)

Environmental risks are rated as Substantial. The main potential environmental risks are related to civil works associated with the construction and rehabilitation of medium size community and climate resilient infrastructure, such as drainage and road works and public buildings such as schools, markets etc. These risks include (i) soil pollution and erosion risks due to construction and sourcing of materials (ii) water pollution from eroded land, spills and leaks of oils/chemical from vehicles and equipment; (iii) air pollution and noise due to vehicles, machinery, concrete mixing, and civil works (iv) inaccurate siting of drainage and flood-control infrastructure, water supply and sanitation facilities which could result in increased flooding, water logging and pollution; (v) occupational health and safety risks of workers ; (vi) community health and safety risks of residents, pedestrians and local inhabitants due to works in congested and crowded areas, increased vector borne diseases due to water logging or poor waste management, and provision of poor quality services including water supply due to lack of testing; (vii) risks of traffic accidents due to movement of heavy machinery and vehicles, trench and repair works; and (viii) inadequate sourcing of materials (illegal quarrying) and storage of construction materials and poor waste management, including burning and indiscriminate dumping of dredged materials and other types of waste.

Social risks are rated as Substantial. They are associated with small to moderate scale civil works in Bangui and Berberati required for resilient infrastructure for flood and erosion risks reduction (sub-component 1.1), and Component 2 neighborhood infrastructure works. Involuntary ressettlement involving physical and/or economic displacement and discruption of community access to homes or social services is likely to result from sub-component 1.1 and component 2 works. In Berberati and Bangui works include primarily road resurfacing, critical spots construction (e.g., culverts, pedestrian bridges, drainage outlet, etc.), drainage and water rentention facilities, dredging, and NbS for headward gully erosion stabilization and slope stabilization. Within Component 2, with the exception of some drainage, the project will conduct mostly rehabilitation works to enhance neighborhood infrastructures and basic services. Road works will include primarily resurfacing of secondary and tertiary roads and pedestrian pathways on existing tracks. Works will also involve rehabilitation of crossroads, health center building rehabilitation, school buildings and courtyards rehabilitation, small markets rehabilitation, public spaces, secondary drainage infrastructure, and green drainage (bioswale). Moreover, there is also a limited ESF capacity of municiplities involved in supporting the sustainability of selected climate-risk reduction investments.

Other relevant social risks include small to moderate scale labor influx and risk associated STD – HIV/AIDSs community incidences, significant SEA/SH risks on project communities, and the risk of exclusion of vulnerable groups such as returnees and IDPs from participating as community workers linked to sub-comonent 1.1 community-based maintenance.

Land acquisition risks: The project may led to temporary disruption of economic activities, obstacles to access properties due to land taking related to the works, loss of land and other assets.

A proposed grant in the amount of SDR 53.3 million (US$70.0 million equivalent).

World Bank

Laurent Corroyer
Disaster Risk Management Specialist

Emilie Sandrine Celine Jourdan
Senior Urban Specialist

Borrower/Client/Recipient

Central African Republic

Implementing Agencies

Ministry of Urban Development, Land Reform and Housing
Alban Bellet
Project Coordinator
bellet.23ap81@gmail.com

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