Sustainable and Inclusive Secondary Cities Project

active

The Project targets selected secondary cities across Cote d’Ivoire while prioritizing cities located in the northern part of the country. The primary focus of the Project will be to support inclusive, green and climate-resilient urban development through investments in urban infrastructure and services (e.g., schools, health centers, recreational facilities, markets, urban roads, sanitation, drainage, and solid waste management) and support to local governments in matters related to urban planning, land administration, municipal services, infrastructure management, and local economic development. The Project Development Objective (PDO) will be achieved with investments channeled through the following four components: Component 1 - Green and Climate Resilient Urban infrastructure (US$250 million), will build or rehabilitate urban infrastructure to improve urban living conditions, promote local economic development, and foster social inclusion. This Component will support Quick Impact Investments (subcomponent 1.1, US$40 million), of which a first group has been identified with the active participation of local governments and communities during project preparation. Investments were screened for environmental and social impacts and will be implemented as soon as the project becomes effective. They include (i) renovation and construction works such as fences, classrooms, canteens, gender-segregated latrines, painting, and maintenance of public buildings; (ii) purchase of goods for the renovated facilities and to support local women and youth associations; (iii) tree planting, cleaning, and anti-erosion measures. Component 1 also includes the renovation and construction of social and economic infrastructure (subcomponent 1.2, US$60 million) that is instrumental in fostering social cohesion, improving living standards, building climate resilience, protecting existing vegetation, and promoting local economic development. Investments include: (i) construction and rehabilitation of health and education facilities, notably primary and secondary schools, vocational education centers, public libraries, cultural centers, childcare centers, local health centers, maternities, and dispensaries; (ii) greening of public spaces; (iii) creation and protection of green spaces such as parks, forests, and riverbanks; and (iv) investments in the rehabilitation and construction of economic infrastructure such as public markets, cattle markets, and bus stations. Subcomponent 1.3 roads, sanitation, solid waste management and water infrastructure (US$150 million), focuses on the construction or rehabilitation of medium- and large-scale urban infrastructure that contributes to making cities greener and more resilient to climate change, support local food systems, while contributing to their emergence as regional and domestic connectors. Investments include the rehabilitation or construction of about 70km of urban roads, the preparation of Sanitation and Drainage Master Plans, and the construction of approximately 30 km of stormwater channels and complementary Nature Based Solutions to reduce and manage floods. It will also finance the preparation of Communal Solid Waste Management Plans and the the first phase of construction of sanitary landfills in Odienne, Boundiali, Tengrela and Bouna.Component 2 - Support to Local Governments (US$30 million) aims to strengthen the capacity of local governments in matters related to urban planning, land administration, and municipal services (subcomponent 2.1, US$10 million) through the (i) update and preparation of climate and disaster informed Urban Master Plans, Detailed Urban Plans, and Local Development Plans; (ii) regularization of urban subdivisions, urban land tenure, and housing policies; and (iii) establishment of Geomatics Units in selected target cities. Subcomponent 2.2 Capacity Development for Urban Management and Social Participation (US$8 million) will finance the (i) hiring of municipal engineers to help plan and oversee project activities and to strengthen local governments’ capacity to program, operate, and maintain urban infrastructure; (ii) Formulation and implementation of technical assistance and training plans to address matters such as green and climate resilient urban infrastructure, urban infrastructure operations and maintenance programming, institutional operations, local economic development, urban planning, and social and environmental safeguards; and (iii) Hiring community organizers and implementation of activities aiming at encouraging and strengthening citizen engagement. Subcomponent 3.3 Local Economic Development (U$12 million), will (i) prepare studies and strategies to support local economic development and private sector participation, (ii) establish or reinforce local economic development services; (iii) and promote sustainable development of local food systems.Component 3 - Project Management (US$20 million) will finance project management and coordination costs including: (i) staffing, training, equipment, and operating costs for the expansion of the Project Coordination Unit (PCU) of the Urban Resilience and Solid Waste Management Project (PARU, P168308). The PARU PCU is based in Abidjan and an office will be opened in Korhogo to host the project team responsible for implementing the Sustainable and Inclusive Secondary Cities Project; (ii) establishment of the project Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) system; (iii) development and implementation of all Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) activities, including a Grievance Mechanism; and (iv) public information, citizen engagement, communication, and knowledge exchange. Component 4 - Contingent Emergency Response Component (US$0 million) is included per World Bank Policy Investment Project Financing. There will initially be no allocated funds. The Borrower may request the reallocation of project funds to this component in case of (i) urgent need of assistance because of a natural or man-made disaster or conflict; or (ii) experience capacity constraints because of fragility or specific vulnerabilities.