Vietnam - Improving the Institutional Capacity for Water Pollution Control Project : procurement plan

The World Bank Group 55169 REQUEST FOR IDF FINANCING Click here for a quick reference guide Focus Area Date Received by the RIC Non-Focus November 9, 2005 Region CountrylRecipient Implementing Agency EAP Vietnam Vietnam Environmental Protection Agency Managing Unit Task Team Leader Amount of Grant Requested EASES Phuong Thi Thanh Tran 300,000 Title of Proposed Project Improving the institutional capacity for water pollution control in Vietnam Development Objective The project objective is to strengthen the legal framework for water pollution control and the effectiveness of its implementation. This would be carried out through: (i) improvements to the implementing instruments for Decree 67 and Decision 64, (ii) strengthening the capacity of key agencies for compliance and monitoring and evaluation of these; (iii) improving public awareness and participation; and (iv) providing assistance to the business sector in achieving environmental compliance. The project would assist MoNRE and all relevant stakeholders to successfully implement the recently issued by Government regulations related to industrial water pollution, namely Decree 67/2003-QD-CP on "Environmental Protection Charges for Waste Water" and Decision No. 6412003/QD-TTg on "National Plan on Strict Enforcement for the Most Serious Polluters". Link to CAS and/or ESW (core diagnostics. e.g.. CPAR. CFAA. PER. CEU etc.). and relationship to Bank operations The project would span two CASs - the current one ('03- '06) and a new CAS that is early in preparation now (to cover the period '06- , 10). The project fits well within the sustainable development theme of the current CAS, for which the Bank has been assisting Vietnam on pollution management through policy dialogue under the Poverty Reduction Strategy Credits. The Bank's CAS for 2006- 2010, now under preparation, is being aligned to support implementation of the Socio-Economic Development Plan for 2006-2010. Improving pollution management is one of the key targets of the draft SEDP Pillar III on Environment. The grant would be complementary to the on-going AAA Country Environmental Analysis with its focus on the larger policy framework for industrial pollution. Relationship to country/recipient's development program, including donor activities Pollution management is included in the Government's recent national plans and strategies. Vietnam's national and sectoral plans and strategies identify dealing with the country's wastewater pollution problems as a national priority. Addressing pollution clean-up is included in the National Strategy for Environmental Protection until 2010 and 2020 (approved by the Prime Minister in 2003), the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resource's Five Year Plan 2006-2010, and the Government's draft Socioeconomic Development Plan (SEDP) for 2006-1010. The SEDP is the successor strategy of the Comprehensive Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy (CPRGS, 2003-2006). The Government issued Decree 6712003-QD-CP (Environmental Protection Charges for Waste Water) to begin to control water pollution. It issued Decision No. 6412003/QD-TTg (National Plan on Strict Enforcement for the Most Serious Polluters) to reallocate, close down or adapt cleaner technologies and appropriate treatments for the most serious polluters in Vietnam. The first tranche of the program targeting 439 polluters to be carried out in the period 2003-2007, followed by a second, larger tranche that targets 3,850 polluters during the period from 2008 to 2012. The success of the implementation of these two regulations will depend on MONRE's capacity to adapt the regulations in a changing economy, and to monitor and evaluate (M&E) environmental performance of the polluters. It will also be important for MONRE to improve the transparency of these measures and their performance, which would require adoption of a good public information program. The grant would be one of the first efforts in enforcing the amended Law on Environmental Protection (LEP) which has a new requirement on public consultation and involvement in environmental conservation. The grant would complement activities both on- going and completed supported by donors including CIDA, Sida and Demark, respectively on pollution control capacity of some provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DONREs) and environmental information reporting on wastewater fees. There would be no overlap with these donor financed activities. Description of the IDF-financed components and activities 1. Improve policy, methodology, and capacity of environmental authorities for the implementation of Decree 67 and Decision 64: