Bangladesh: Bangladesh Responsive COVID-19 Vaccines for Recovery Project

OBJECTIVE

The Project will provide the Government of the Bangladesh with financing for procuring safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines.

DESCRIPTION

This proposed Project is supported under AIIB’s COVID-19 Crisis Recovery Facility (“Facility”) and co-financed with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), as additional financing, for the procurement of vaccines eligible under ADB’s Asia Pacific Vaccine Access Facility (APVAX). The Project will support in procurement of eligible COVID-19 vaccines to assist the Government of Bangladesh (GOB) in mitigating adverse health, social, and economic impacts caused by the ongoing pandemic.

ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL INFORMATION

The loan will be co-financed with ADB as lead co-financier, and the project’s environmental and social (ES) risks and impacts have been assessed in accordance with ADB’s Safeguard Policy Statement (SPS). To ensure a harmonized approach to addressing the ES risks and impacts of the project, and as permitted under AIIB’s Environmental and Social Policy (ESP), ADB’s SPS will apply to the project in lieu of AIIB’s ESP. AIIB has reviewed ADB’s SPS and is satisfied that: (a) it is consistent with AIIB’s Articles of Agreement and materially consistent with the provisions of AIIB’s ESP, including the Environmental and Social Exclusion List (ESEL) and the relevant Environmental and Social Standards (ESSs); and (b) the monitoring procedures that are in place are appropriate for the project.

ADB has categorized the ES risks of the project as Category C for Environment, C for Involuntary Resettlement and C for Indigenous Peoples (which are equivalent to Category C if AIIB’s ESP were applicable) on the basis that no adverse ES impacts are expected. The distribution and use of vaccines will result in a temporary increase in immunization waste, which will be managed both in compliance with regulations, and to a plan acceptable to ADB. The program is categorized as “effective gender mainstreaming” by ADB as it will support gender-related actions, such as encouraging vaccination of women in rural areas, strengthening vaccine-related IT systems to manage specific gender focus area, and training women staff on vaccination and relevant issues.