According to the Bank’s website, the Project Development Objective (PDO) of the Phase 1 is to: i) strengthen the Recipient's capacity and readiness to build the multifunction Dogo-Bis dam, and ii) improve access to socio-economic services and infrastructures for the community in the project area.

The Dogo-Bis multipurpose dam program Phase-1 will finance:
(i) the construction of the main socioeconomic infrastructure necessary to improve access to the dam sites (priority roads, rural electrification, benefit-sharing program (construction or rehabilitation of schools and health centers) for populations in the vicinity of the project area;
(ii) technical, environmental, and social feasibility studies necessary for the construction of the Dogo-bis multi-purpose dam, as well as economic, financial, legal, and commercial structuring studies to ensure the project's economic and financial viability;
(iii) implementation of the project's environmental and social safeguards; and
(iv) technical assistance and institutional capacity building, through the strengthening of existing institutions, the recruitment of experts and consultants to support the project, and a training program to ensure that the Government takes full ownership of the project with a view to the successful completion of the subsequent phases of the project.

Although Phase 1 will finance soft and typically moderate risk civil engineering works such as the rehabilitation of access roads and rural electrification that do not themselves have direct adverse environmental and social impacts, it will also support technical assistance activities that include environmental and social assessments, feasibility studies and detailed technical designs for the hydro-power dam construction that are likely to generate major and irreversible E&S adverse impacts during Phase 2. Environmental downstream impacts for Phase 2 include the submersion of around 7500 ha of three gazetted forests(Ketou, Dogo et Oueme Boukou) with impacts on flora, fauna, aquatic resources, biodiversity and ecosystems disruptions as well as the emission of greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4), from organic matter submerged and stored in the dam's reservoir. Added to this are the risks of OHS during construction, the risk of dam failure, and the lack of specific legislation in Benin regarding dam safety regulations commensurate with the potential risks.

Phase 1 activities are considered Moderate risk and significant adverse impacts are unlikely as most works will occur along existing road corridors and rights-of-way, keeping land acquisition and economic displacement to a minimum. Remaining social risks mainly relate to the usual risks associated with implementing small civil works and conducting technical studies in geographically remote areas. However, the MPA is considered High risk given the complexity of the social risks and potential impacts for the Phase 2 downstream activities. Key challenges for the MPA are expected to include: (a) significant and irreversible impacts on land, land use, and livelihoods, including large-scale physical and economic displacement of affected communities; (b) stakeholder and citizen engagement in a project that will have profound socio-economic impacts on project-affected people – including vulnerable groups – due to physical and economic displacement, establishment of new communities and integration with host communities, restoration of livelihoods (e.g. agriculture, fisheries, light manufacturing, service occupations, etc.) and opportunities for benefit sharing; (c) operationalizing an effective grievance mechanism for handling a potentially large volume of complaints that will need diverse take up channels and build accessible systems for recording complaints and outcomes; (d) large scale labor management challenges, including labor terms and conditions, OHS, prevention of child labor, the establishment of safe and effective work camps and eventual retrenchment; and (e) community health and safety issues, including labor influx, with attendant risks related to social conflict, gender-based violence, sexual exploitation and abuse/sexual harassment, transmission of disease and community safety and security issues. Due to the project's phasing, affected communities may experience cumulative impacts from various components over the life of the project and beyond.

Total Project Cost: US$ 150.00 million
IDA Credit: US$ 150.00 million

CONTACT POINT - World Bank

Task Team Leader: Justin Marie Bienvenu Beleoken Sanguen
Title: Senior Energy Specialist
Email: jbeleokensanguen@worldbank.org

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