Nepal : Prevention and Control of COVID-19 through WASH and Health initiatives in Secondary and Small Towns

Sovereign Project | 55060-001

1.The project aims to support Government of Nepal efforts to improve selected local governments' capacity to respond better to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and similar health emergencies in the future. It supports (i) community interventions to provide essential water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure and services to block the interpersonal transmission of COVID-19 in public spaces; (ii) behavior-centered community mitigation measures to contain the pandemic and manage community unease and misinformation; and (iii) strengthen capacity of the Department of Water Supply and Sewerage Management (DWSSM), 5 secondary towns, and 10 small towns to respond in a timely way to COVID-19 and other public health emergencies in future. The project is linked to ongoing Asian Development Bank (ADB) projects in small towns and a project in the pipeline on integrated water supply and sewerage management

Project Details

  • Project Officer
    Paudel, Shiva Prasad
    South Asia Department
    Request for information
  • Country/Economy
    Nepal
  • Sector
    • Health
Project Name Prevention and Control of COVID-19 through WASH and Health initiatives in Secondary and Small Towns
Project Number 55060-001
Country / Economy Nepal
Project Status Active
Project Type / Modality of Assistance Grant
Source of Funding / Amount
Grant 9219-NEP: Prevention and Control of COVID-19 through WASH and Health initiatives in Secondary and Small Towns
Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific US$ 5.00 million
Operational Priorities OP1: Addressing remaining poverty and reducing inequalities
OP2: Accelerating progress in gender equality
OP3: Tackling climate change, building climate and disaster resilience, and enhancing environmental sustainability
OP4: Making cities more livable
OP5: Promoting rural development and food security
OP6: Strengthening governance and institutional capacity
OP7: Fostering regional cooperation and integration
Sector / Subsector

Health / Disease control of communicable disease

Water and other urban infrastructure and services / Urban policy, institutional and capacity development - Urban sanitation

Gender Effective gender mainstreaming
Description 1.The project aims to support Government of Nepal efforts to improve selected local governments' capacity to respond better to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and similar health emergencies in the future. It supports (i) community interventions to provide essential water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure and services to block the interpersonal transmission of COVID-19 in public spaces; (ii) behavior-centered community mitigation measures to contain the pandemic and manage community unease and misinformation; and (iii) strengthen capacity of the Department of Water Supply and Sewerage Management (DWSSM), 5 secondary towns, and 10 small towns to respond in a timely way to COVID-19 and other public health emergencies in future. The project is linked to ongoing Asian Development Bank (ADB) projects in small towns and a project in the pipeline on integrated water supply and sewerage management
Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy

COVID-19 in Nepal. Cities have been experiencing unprecedented urban issues and challenges that have been further aggravated by COVID-19. This situation holds true for Nepal cites and calls for new responses from novel perspectives. Nepal had 595,364 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 8,098 deaths as of 8 June 2021. On 10 May, the Ministry of Health and Population called out to development partners for urgent support to address the rapid surge of COVID-19 cases in Nepal. Without effective containment measures and a successful vaccine rollout, the rapid spread of infection remains a high risk. The pandemic adversely affected the economy in fiscal year (FY) 2020 with tourism, wholesale and retail trade, transport, construction, and manufacturing hard hit. Gross domestic product growth was forecasted to drop from 7.0% in FY2019 to 2.3% in FY2020. Further, normal city ecosystem has been disturbed and efforts to eradicate poverty interrupted.

Nepal's response to COVID-19. In April 2020, with technical support from the World Health Organization, the government promulgated the Nepal Preparedness and Response Plan, which lays out preparedness actions and key responses to undertake in Nepal to address the COVID-19 pandemic. As in most countries, Nepal is pursuing a combination of a range of non-pharmaceutical interventions, many of which fall into categories of behavior change: (i) self-isolation for symptomatic individuals, (ii) increased hand hygiene, (iii) social distancing, (iv) working from home when possible, and (v) school closure. Nepal has launched a COVID-19 vaccination drive to stop or at least slow local transmission of COVID-19. With local governments mandated to manage health services by mobilizing their resources, their capacity to design and implement appropriate interventions in the community is key to successfully containing the COVID-19 pandemic and any future health emergencies.

Challenges to local governments. Major challenges render local governments unable to prevent community transmission in an appropriate and timely manner: (i) insufficient disinfection and medical services to block interpersonal COVID-19 transmission in public spaces; (ii) weak capacity for community engagement and risk communication to strengthen people's health literacy and good hygiene practices; and (iii) inadequate institutional capacity to design, implement, and adjust community interventions in accordance with the dynamic nature of the pandemic.

Impact

Healthy, alert, and conscious citizens oriented to happy life achieved

Project Outcome
Description of Outcome

Local government and community capacity to mitigate and contain the COVID-19 pandemic and similar future health emergencies in 5 secondary and 10 small towns strengthened

Progress Toward Outcome The project is being implemented and outcome level achievement will be assessed later.
Implementation Progress
Description of Project Outputs

Essential public facilities and services to block interpersonal transmission of COVID-19 provided

Behavior-centered community mitigation measures strengthened

Institutional capacity of selected local governments to contain the COVID-19 pandemic strengthened

Status of Implementation Progress (Outputs, Activities, and Issues)

1a. GESI-Responsive Mobile Handwashing Units: RFQ documents are prepared for GESI responsive health screening desks and handwashing stations for five municipalities at 40 locations. The RFQ for this was issued on 22 June 2022.

1b. GESI-Responsive Mobile Toilets: PMO is preparing bidding document for procurement of 30 mobile toilets. The IFB will be published by July 2022.

1c. GESI-Responsive Multipurpose Shelters: One package for construction of multipurpose community shelters in five municipalities was awarded on 31 May 2022. PMO is preparing bidding documents for the construction of additional 15 shelters in other project municipalities. IFB will be published by July 2022.

1d. Existing Public Toilets Rehabilitated or Refurbished: The public sanitation facilities to be refurbished will be finalized by July 2022, and procurement following the RFQ will be concluded by August 2022.

1e. GESI-Responsive Health Desks: RFQ for procurement of GESI responsive health screening desks and handwashing stations for five municipalities at 40 locations was issued on 22 June 2022.

2. Behavior Changes Community Mitigation Measures: A draft plan is prepared and will be implemented will start from July 2022.

3. Strengthening Institutional Capacity of Selected Local Governments to Contain the COVID-19 Pandemic: A draft plan is prepared and will be implemented will start from July 2022.

Geographical Location Nation-wide
Safeguard Categories
Environment B
Involuntary Resettlement B
Indigenous Peoples B
Summary of Environmental and Social Aspects
Environmental Aspects Project Output which involves small scale construction will have limited environmental impacts that are site-specific and temporary during civil works. Similarly, only limited impacts are expected during facility operation. An environmental assessment and review framework has been prepared and includes environmental selection criteria for subprojects, a framework environmental management plan, and a code of construction practice. It will be the basis for environmental safeguard assessment including conduct of meaningful consultation and the preparation of planning documents for subprojects to be prepared after project approval. Initial environmental examinations or a due diligence report will be prepared based on the result of screening using the ADB Rapid Environmental Assessment Checklist, and in accordance with requirement of the ADB Safeguard Policy Statement (2009, as amended from time to time).
Involuntary Resettlement The project outputs that require land are multipurpose shelters and public toilets. Government lands are being identified for proposed components in project towns. Impacts are expected to be limited. No components involving significant involuntary resettlement will be taken up by the project. The resettlement framework agreed with the executing agency will be the basis for preparing resettlement planning documents for outputs prepared after project approval. Resettlement plans or due diligence reports will be submitted to ADB for clearance prior to start of construction and will be disclosed on ADB, executing agency, and project towns' websites, as well as to affected persons, if any.
Indigenous Peoples No adverse impacts to indigenous peoples, as defined by the ADB Safeguard Policy Statement, have been identified, and no components involving adverse impacts to indigenous peoples will be selected for implementation. Only positive impacts to indigenous people are anticipated, which will be enhanced by awareness of project benefits to indigenous peoples and vulnerable households in project areas. An indigenous peoples planning framework has been prepared to guide the preparation, implementation, and monitoring of an indigenous peoples plan, as required. Meaningful widespread consultations are proposed with indigenous communities in the project area. Indigenous peoples' participation will be ensured during project design and implementation.
Stakeholder Communication, Participation, and Consultation
During Project Design The Project Management Office will prepare a stakeholder communication strategy and submit to ADB for review by the end of the first quarter after grant effectiveness. The strategy will follow ADB's Public Communications Policy 2011. The stakeholder communication strategy will be based on a stakeholder analysis and will incorporate the following components: (i) Compilation of stakeholder communication activities undertaken so far, including gender-disaggregated data on participants, minutes of meetings and photographs; (ii) role of the PMO, RPMOs in coordinating and communicating with central government, local governments, and institutional stakeholders; (iii)public communication plan for disseminating project related information (a) to the general public, particularly those who may be impacted by the proposed projects; and (b) to vulnerable groups, and how to avail benefits under the project; (iv)disclosure of safeguards reports, if any in the ADB and PMO websites and to affected persons and local non-government organizations/community-based organizations, in local language; and (v) other communication arrangements at the local community level including through notice boards, newspapers, local radio stations and cable television, etc.
During Project Implementation During project implementation concerned stakeholders will be consulted as and wen needed regarding the project progress, underlying issues and way forward.
Business Opportunities
Consulting Services

All consultants will be recruited according to ADB Procurement Policy (2017, as amended from time to time) and Procurement Regulations for ADB Borrowers (2017, as amended from time to time). The terms of reference for all consulting services are detailed in Section D.

An estimated 72 person-months of national consulting services are required to: (i) facilitate design, supervision, and management of planned civil works and oversee the procurement of goods and equipment; (ii) support project management and quality assurance; (iii) support PMO in ensuring that safeguards requirements are met; (iv) facilitate implementation of GESI initiatives of the project; (v) support PMO in undertaking capacity building and training activities envisaged under the project. Four individual consultants will be recruited following ADB's individual consultants' selection.

Procurement

All procurement (including consulting services)15 of goods and works will follow ADB Procurement Policy (2017, as amended from time to time). The value for money procurement under the project will be achieved by competitive process through local market. The experienced implementing agency is expected to conduct such in a timely manner.

Open competitive bidding (OCB) (national advertisement) procedures and request for quotations will be used, depending on the size of the contract and market situation. No international advertisement is required given the size of the packages under the project. Community participation will be used for very small contracts to be carried out by the local community and contractors or WUA for works such as fencing, preparation of drying beds for sludge, etc. The Government may opt for the e-bidding system developed by the public procurement monitoring office in work and goods contracts.

The first OCB (national advertisement) contract and request for quotations for works and goods under the project will be subject to prior review by ADB. Procurement capacity assessment.

Responsible ADB Officer Paudel, Shiva Prasad
Responsible ADB Department South Asia Department
Responsible ADB Division Nepal Resident Mission (NRM)
Executing Agencies
Ministry of Water Supply (formerly Ministry of Water Supply and Sanitation)
Timetable
Concept Clearance 30 Jun 2021
Fact Finding 31 Jan 2021 to 26 Feb 2021
MRM 06 May 2021
Approval 30 Jun 2021
Last Review Mission -
Last PDS Update 30 Jun 2022

Grant 9219-NEP

Milestones
Approval Signing Date Effectivity Date Closing
Original Revised Actual
30 Jun 2021 29 Jul 2021 18 Aug 2021 31 Dec 2024 - -
Financing Plan Grant Utilization
Total (Amount in US$ million) Date ADB Others Net Percentage
Project Cost 5.50 Cumulative Contract Awards
ADB 0.00 27 Oct 2023 0.00 3.92 78%
Counterpart 0.50 Cumulative Disbursements
Cofinancing 5.00 27 Oct 2023 0.00 1.78 36%
Status of Covenants
Category Sector Safeguards Social Financial Economic Others
Rating - Satisfactory - Satisfactory - Unsatisfactory

Project Data Sheets (PDS) contain summary information on the project or program. Because the PDS is a work in progress, some information may not be included in its initial version but will be added as it becomes available. Information about proposed projects is tentative and indicative.

The Access to Information Policy (AIP) recognizes that transparency and accountability are essential to development effectiveness. It establishes the disclosure requirements for documents and information ADB produces or requires to be produced.

The Accountability Mechanism provides a forum where people adversely affected by ADB-assisted projects can voice and seek solutions to their problems and report alleged noncompliance of ADB's operational policies and procedures.

In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any designation of, or reference to, a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the Asian Development Bank does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area.


Safeguard Documents See also: Safeguards
Safeguard documents provided at the time of project/facility approval may also be found in the list of linked documents provided with the Report and Recommendation of the President.

Title Document Type Document Date
Prevention and Control of COVID-19 through WASH and Health initiatives in Secondary and Small Towns: Social Monitoring Report No. 4 Social Monitoring Reports Dec 2023
Prevention and Control of COVID-19 through WASH and Health initiatives in Secondary and Small Towns: Environmental Monitoring Report (September 2022-February 2023) Environmental Monitoring Reports May 2023
Prevention and Control of COVID-19 through WASH and Health initiatives in Secondary and Small Towns: Environmental Monitoring Report (March-August 2022) Environmental Monitoring Reports Mar 2023
Prevention and Control of COVID-19 through WASH and Health initiatives in Secondary and Small Towns: Social Monitoring Report No. 3 Social Monitoring Reports Mar 2023
Prevention and Control of COVID-19 through WASH and Health initiatives in Secondary and Small Towns: Multipurpose Community Shelters Package 3 Land Acquisition, Involuntary Resettlement, and Indigenous Peoples Due Diligence Report Safeguards Due Diligence Reports Jan 2023
Prevention and Control of COVID-19 through WASH and Health initiatives in Secondary and Small Towns: Social Monitoring Report No. 2 Social Monitoring Reports Jan 2023
Prevention and Control of COVID-19 through WASH and Health initiatives in Secondary and Small Towns: Multipurpose Shelter in Gurbakot, Rapti, Butwal, Pokhara, Bidur and Suryabinayak Initial Environmental Examination Initial Environmental Examination Dec 2022
Prevention and Control of COVID-19 through WASH and Health initiatives in Secondary and Small Towns: Multipurpose Community Shelters Package 2 Land Acquisition, Involuntary Resettlement, and Indigenous Peoples Due Diligence Report Safeguards Due Diligence Reports Oct 2022
Prevention and Control of COVID-19 through WASH and Health initiatives in Secondary and Small Towns: Multipurpose Community Shelters Package 1 Final Land Acquisition, Involuntary Resettlement, and Indigenous Peoples Due Diligence Report Safeguards Due Diligence Reports Oct 2022
Prevention and Control of COVID-19 through WASH and Health initiatives in Secondary and Small Towns: Social Monitoring Report No. 1 Social Monitoring Reports Aug 2022
Prevention and Control of COVID-19 through WASH and Health initiatives in Secondary and Small Towns: Multipurpose Shelter in Bharatpur, Bheemdatta, Dhangadhi, Nepalgunj and Tikapur Initial Environmental Examination Initial Environmental Examination Aug 2022
Prevention and Control of COVID-19 through WASH and Health initiatives in Secondary and Small Towns: Environmental Monitoring Report (September 2021-February 2022) Environmental Monitoring Reports Mar 2022
Prevention and Control of COVID-19 through WASH and Health initiatives in Secondary and Small Towns: Updated Environmental Assessment and Review Framework Environmental Assessment and Review Framework Apr 2021
Prevention and Control of COVID-19 through WASH and Health initiatives in Secondary and Small Towns: Resettlement Framework Resettlement Frameworks Apr 2021
Prevention and Control of COVID-19 through WASH and Health initiatives in Secondary and Small Towns: Environmental Assessment and Review Framework Environmental Assessment and Review Framework Apr 2021
Prevention and Control of COVID-19 through WASH and Health initiatives in Secondary and Small Towns: Indigenous Peoples Planning Framework Indigenous Peoples Planning Frameworks/Indigenous Peoples Development Frameworks Apr 2021

Evaluation Documents See also: Independent Evaluation

None currently available.


Related Publications

None currently available.


The Access to Information Policy (AIP) establishes the disclosure requirements for documents and information ADB produces or requires to be produced in its operations to facilitate stakeholder participation in ADB's decision-making. For more information, refer to the Safeguard Policy Statement, Operations Manual F1, and Operations Manual L3.

Requests for information may also be directed to the InfoUnit.

Tenders

Tender Title Type Status Posting Date Deadline
Emergency Preparedness Plan Specialist-I Individual - Consulting Closed
Emergency Preparedness Plan Specialist-II Individual - Consulting Closed
Public Health Specialist Individual - Consulting Closed
Public Health Specialist Individual - Consulting Closed
Grant Coordinator (Team Leader) Individual - Consulting Closed
Social Development Specialist Individual - Consulting Closed
Senior Design and QAQC Engineer Individual - Consulting Closed
Grant Coordinator (Team Leader) Individual - Consulting Closed
Public Health Specialist Individual - Consulting Closed
Senior Design and QAQC Engineer Individual - Consulting Closed
Social Development Specialist Individual - Consulting Closed
55060-NEP: Prevention and Control of COVID-19 through WASH and Health Initiatives in Secondary and Small Towns of Nepal Advance Notice Active

Contracts Awarded

No contracts awarded for this project were found

Procurement Plan