Armenia: Grcf2 W2 - Yerevan Bus Project (Phase I)

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Armenia: Grcf2 W2 - Yerevan Bus Project (Phase I) Armenia: GrCF2 W2 - Yerevan Bus Project (Phase I) STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT PLAN Rev01 Consultancy Contract № C44610/12951/87449 November 2020 Office 713, 26/3 V.Sargsyan str. Republic Square, Yerevan, Armenia tel.: +37410 583643, mob.: +37499 109495 e-mail: [email protected] www.atms.am Armenia: GrCF2 W2 - Yerevan Bus Project (Phase I) STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT PLAN Rev 01 Armenia: GrCF2 W2 - Yerevan Bus Project (Phase I) STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT PLAN Rev01 Consultancy Contract № C44610/12951/87449 Prepared for: European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Prepared by: ATMS Solutions Ltd. Director: Dr. A. Ter-Torosyan November 2020 Document Preparation and Issue: Version Description of status Prepared by Reviewed by Issue Date Rev01 First draft of Stakeholder Dr. Suren Gyurjinyan Dr. Maia Gachechiladze- 30.11.2020 Engagement Plan Bozhesku November 2020 2 / 29 Armenia: GrCF2 W2 - Yerevan Bus Project (Phase I) STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT PLAN Rev 01 List of Abbreviations AMD - Armenian Dram CJSC - Close Joint Stock Company CNCO - Communal Non-Commercial Organization CNG - Compressed Natural Gas DD - Due Diligence EBRD - European Bank for Reconstruction and Development EIA - Environmental Impact Assessment EIA&EE - Environmental Impact Assessment and Expert Examination EIEEC - Environmental Impact Expert Examination Center E&S - Environmental and Social ESAP - Environmental and Social Action Plan ESDD - Environmental and Social Due Diligence ESHS - Environmental, Social and Health Safety ESIA - Environmental and Social Impact Assessment ESP - Environmental and Social Policy EU - European Union FS - Feasibility Study HR - Human Resources NGO - Non-Governmental Organization NTS - Non-Technical Summary PPE - Personal Protective Equipment PR - Performance Requirements RA - Republic of Armenia SEP - Stakeholder Engagement Plan ToR - Terms of Reference November 2020 3 / 29 Armenia: GrCF2 W2 - Yerevan Bus Project (Phase I) STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT PLAN Rev 01 Table of Content 0. Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 5 1. Project Description ............................................................................................................. 6 2. Legal Requirements pertaining to stakeholder engagement ............................................. 9 2.1 National Requirements of Armenia .................................................................................... 9 2.2 EBRD Requirements ....................................................................................................... 11 3. Stakeholder identification and analysis ............................................................................ 12 3.1 Stakeholder engagement approach/methodology ........................................................... 12 3.2 Stakeholder categories and groups ................................................................................. 13 3.3 Stakeholder Analysis ....................................................................................................... 13 3.4 Stakeholder engagement programme ............................................................................. 15 4. Grievance Mechanism ..................................................................................................... 20 5. Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting .............................................................................. 20 Annex 1. Public Grievance Form ................................................................................................. 22 Annex 2. Covid-19 tailored methods for stakeholder engagement. ............................................. 23 November 2020 4 / 29 Armenia: GrCF2 W2 - Yerevan Bus Project (Phase I) STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT PLAN Rev 01 0. Introduction Public transportation services are provided to the population of Yerevan by buses, trolleybuses, minibuses and the underground / Metro. Taking into account the recent tendency of growing number of vehicles in the capital, Yerevan City authorities adopted the policy of increasing the volume of big capacity rolling stocks (buses and trolleybuses) and ceasing operation of minibuses. In 2016, Yerevan municipality initiated the "New Bus Network and Integrated Tariff and Ticketing System" Project ("the Project") and commissioned WYG International (UK) to undertake the assignment in two main tasks: 1) to design a new public transport network for the City, and 2) to develop a new integrated tariff and ticketing system. The New Bus Network and Integrated Tariff and Ticketing System Report was submitted to Yerevan municipality in January 2019. European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD or “the Bank") is considering provision of a sovereign loan of up to EUR 25 million to Armenia to be on lent for the benefit of "Yerevan Bus" Close Joint Stock Company (CJSC) (the Company), which will operate bus network. The Bank will finance immediate purchase of up to 100 CNG low-floor buses (standard 12 m). The construction of a new bus depot, the upgrade of the currently operated Nor Nork (Jrvej) bus depot, and construction of CNG refuelling stations is envisioned by the Project and will be co- funded by Asian Development Bank. The Bank has engaged ATMS Solutions Ltd. (Armenia) (“the Consultant") to carry out an Environmental and Social Due Diligence (the "ESDD") of the Client’s existing operations and environmental and social assessment (E&S) of Phase 1 the Project (the "Assignment"). The EBRD has categorized Phase 1 of the Project as "B" in accordance with the EBRD’s Environmental and Social Policy (2019), which requires elaboration of the Project’s Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) as a standalone document. This document is the SEP prepared for Phase I of the Project. The SEP’s objectives are to: present the national legal framework and the EBRD’s requirements pertaining to stakeholder engagement process; identify all Project stakeholders, including those who might be considered vulnerable and might need more support during the consultation process; develop an engagement program that will be implemented by the Project to ensure that the E&S information on the Project is timely provided and properly communicated to the Project’s stakeholders, and the feedback communication channels are available to the them; define the means of engaging with the identified stakeholders in a meaningful and culturally appropriate way; and propose a procedure or a mechanism for receiving, registering and addressing grievances and suggestions from stakeholders. Thus, the SEP presents the planned stakeholder engagement process for the Project’s Phase 1 and outlines a systematic approach aimed at developing and maintaining constructive relationships with stakeholders throughout design, construction/rehabilitation and implementation stages of the Project. The SEP is a living document and is meant to be regularly analyzed, updated and developed further as the Project progresses. November 2020 5 / 29 Armenia: GrCF2 W2 - Yerevan Bus Project (Phase I) STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT PLAN Rev 01 COVID-19 Restrictions on Stakeholder Engagement Restrictions associated with COVID-19 in Armenia mainly social distancing measures may rule out some traditional stakeholder engagement and consultation approaches in the short term, which may exclude some stakeholders such as vulnerable people and/or those without internet and mobile access. If the pandemic evolves on a daily basis, the "Yerevan Bus" CJSC, should seek advice from local and international health authorities while implementing stakeholder engagement and consultations required by national laws and EBRD. Relevant sections of this SEP highlight some of these recommended engagement measures. Alternative stakeholder engagement measures accounting for COVID-19 restrictions are presented in Annex 2 of this document. 1. Project Description The public transportation services in Yerevan are provided by the following companies that are coordinated by the Department of Transport of Yerevan Municipality ("Municipality"): "Yerevan Metro after Karen Demirchyan" CJSC, "Electric Transport of Yerevan" CJSC, "Yerevan Bus" CJSC, and "Yerevantrans" CJSC. Currently, there are 562 buses actually operated on 39 routes in Yerevan. About 400 buses come out on route daily. The bus routes are maintained by "Yerevan Bus" CJSC and 16 private companies. To increase the bus stock in 2012-2017, 434 buses of different makes were imported to the capital (the last consignment was in 2017 and included three "Hyundai" buses). The share of bus service in total overland transport’s ridership was 43.2% in 2019. However, this number is still lower than desirable: the efficiency of bus itinerary operation remains low. To ensure regular transportation services to the population, it is necessary to continue increasing the number of buses and exclude the minibuses. Purchase of CNG low-floor buses The 100 CNG low-floor buses to be purchased within Phase 1 of the Project are recommended1 to be introduced into the five bus routes, from which three routes have been selected from the New Network (№№ 3, 5 and 7) and the rest two are current routes №28 and №33. The daily peak vehicle requirement equals to 87 vehicles, with 13 spare buses left in the depot. The layout of the bus routes to be introduced is given in Figure 1. 1Draft Due Diligence Report, Yerevan Bus Renewal Project - Phase 1, August 2020 November 2020 6 / 29 Armenia: GrCF2 W2 - Yerevan Bus Project (Phase I) STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
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