DESCRIPTION
The Project involves the reconstruction of specialized hospitals to ensure compliance with the 2018 Turkish Building Earthquake Code (as revised), enabling the continuity of healthcare services and providing safe spaces for Istanbul’s residents in the event of earthquakes. The Project will also expand hospital capacity from 1,548 to 1,600 beds. In addition, it will enhance resilience to climate change, improve energy and resource efficiency, and incorporate nature-based solutions, with the objective of achieving Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Level certification.
The Project has two components:
- Component A: Reconstruction and Capacity Expansion of Three Hospitals in the Bakırköy Health Campus (EUR481 million, AIIB Financing: EUR291 million). Activities under this component will include: (a) site preparation; (b) reconstruction of hospital buildings to meet the 2018 Turkish Building Earthquake Code standards, and facilitate an increase in bed capacity; (c) integration of design elements to ensure resilience to climate-related hazards; (d) incorporation of energy-efficient, low-carbon and resource-efficient elements in the building’s systems; and (e) installation of hospital utilities essential for service delivery.
- Component B: Project Management, Construction Supervision and Monitoring and Evaluation (EUR19 million, AIIB Financing: EUR9 million). This component will finance operational and project management costs, including monitoring and evaluation activities, and support on environmental and social (ES) safeguards, procurement, and financial management. This component will also support construction supervision.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL INFORMATION
Applicable Policy and Categorization. AIIB’s Environmental and Social Policy (ESP), including the Environmental and Social Standards (ESSs) and the Environmental and Social Exclusion List (ESEL), will be applicable to the Project. Following ES due diligence conducted at Concept stage, ESS1 (Environmental and Social Assessment and Management) will apply to the Project. ESS2 (Land Acquisition and Involuntary Resettlement) is not applicable, as the Project will be implemented within the existing boundaries of the health campus and no land acquisition or physical or economic displacement is anticipated. ESS3 (Indigenous Peoples) is not applicable, as there are no Indigenous Peoples in Türkiye. The Project is preliminarily assigned Category B in accordance with the Bank’s ESP. The anticipated environmental and social (ES) risks and impacts are expected to be site-specific and primarily associated with construction activities within an operational healthcare environment and subsequent facility operation. These risks are expected to be manageable through the application of good international practices. The categorization will be confirmed during due diligence.
Environmental and Social Instruments. An Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) will be prepared to assess and manage the Project’s ES risks and impacts. In addition, an Environmental and Social Audit of the existing Bakırköy Health Campus will be carried out. The audit will review existing policies, management systems, procedures and operational practices to manage ES aspects. A Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) will also be developed to define stakeholder identification, consultation and information disclosure arrangements throughout the Project lifecycle. The SEP will include a project-level grievance redress mechanism (GRM), as well as a separate mechanism for workers.
Environmental and Social Aspects. Construction-phase environmental impacts are expected to include temporary and site-specific effects, such as dust, noise, vibration, construction waste generation and traffic-related disturbances. Operational impacts will primarily relate to healthcare waste management and wastewater handling. Existing facilities rely on established waste management systems, including segregation and off-site disposal through licensed contractors. These aspects will be further assessed as part of the ES due diligence (ESDD), and appropriate mitigation and management measures will be defined in the ESMP and supporting plans. The Project will be implemented within the Campus, and no land acquisition or physical or economic displacement is anticipated. This will be further confirmed during ESDD. Potential social risks and impacts are mainly linked to construction within an active healthcare setting. These include temporary disruption to hospital services, patient and staff safety concerns, limited access within the Campus and a need for careful planning of construction phases and service relocations. These issues will be reviewed further during project preparation and managed with appropriate measures. Special attention will be given to vulnerable groups, including patients needing specialized care, and to ensuring accessibility and inclusive service delivery. In addition, potential risks related to gender-based violence and sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA/SH) will be assessed as part of the ESDD, particularly in relation to construction activities and interactions within the healthcare environment. Mitigation measures will be incorporated into ESMP and SEP, including codes of conduct and relevant management procedures.
Occupational Health and Safety (OHS), Labor and Employment Conditions. The Project will involve OHS risks associated with both construction activities and operations within an active hospital environment. Construction-related risks will include typical hazards such as working at heights, excavation, the use of machinery and exposure to noise and dust. In addition, healthcare-specific risks such as exposure to infectious materials, sharp and hazardous substances will need to be managed, particularly given the interface between construction activities and ongoing hospital operations. The existing OHS systems will be reviewed through the ES Audit to be conducted during Project preparation, and will be strengthened, as needed, in accordance with good international practice. Key labor-related risks are expected to be associated with contractor workforce management, working conditions and coordination within an operational hospital environment.
Stakeholder Engagement, Consultation and Information Disclosure. Stakeholder engagement will be an important aspect of the Project, given its urban setting and operational healthcare context. Key stakeholders are expected to include patients, healthcare workers, hospital management, nearby communities and relevant public institutions. The channels for communication and feedback will be reviewed during the ESDD to assess their effectiveness and identify areas for improvement. A project-specific SEP will be prepared to define stakeholder identification, consultation and information disclosure arrangements throughout the Project lifecycle. Consultations will be conducted in a manner that is accessible and inclusive, with particular attention to vulnerable groups. Feedback received during consultations will be considered in Project design and implementation, as appropriate. The ES instruments will be disclosed by IPCU and AIIB at least 30 days prior to Project approval, in accordance with the requirements of ESP.
Project Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM). IPCU has an established GRM for both project-affected people and the contracted workers. It has integrated its GRM with the national CIMER platform, enabling grievances to be submitted through official national channels. IPCU also applies additional channels at the site level for its ongoing projects. These include placing complaint boxes and establishing QR code-based grievance systems for both community members and workers to improve accessibility and transparency. IPCU has also developed a GRM Management Information System (MIS) to support systematic tracking and monitoring of grievances. The Project will utilize IPCU’s existing GRM system to receive and address ES concerns in a timely and transparent manner. The GRM will be accessible to all relevant stakeholders and will include arrangements for both community members and workers.
Monitoring and Reporting Arrangements. IPCU will monitor the Project’s ES aspects through existing institutional arrangements. IPCU ES capacity for the Project will be assessed during the ESDD. Contractors will be responsible for the implementation of site-specific ES measures, including OHS requirements, in line with Project ESMP and related management plans. Semi-annual progress reports will be prepared based on agreed format. AIIB will conduct semi-annual missions to support and monitor Project implementation. The scope and frequency of reporting will be defined during ESDD.
