1.1 Environmental and Social Assessment of the Project

The Government of Federated States of Micronesia (GoFSM) has applied for financing from the World Bank (WB) for the FSM Skills and Employability Enhancement Project (SEEP) to improve the quality of and equitable access to secondary vocational education and skills trainings, and to improve access to and effectiveness of employment support programs. Part of the SEEP includes the assessment of environmental and social risks including:

• Preliminary Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) for Federal States of Micronesia Skills Academy (FSA).

• Labor Management Procedures (LMP).

• Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) – this document.

• Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP).

1.2 Stakeholder Engagement Plan

1.2.1 Purpose and Scope

This Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) presents and describes the stakeholder engagement activities (primarily information acquisition, disclosure and consultations, dissemination of key issues/results and participatory design approaches) proposed for the Project. This SEP draws on experience of previous stakeholder engagement for Project activities in the FSM (including from the DIGITAL FSM, Prioritized Road Investment and Management Enhancements (PRIME) and Strategic Climate-Oriented Road Enhancements (SCORE) Projects).

The SEP is aligned with the provisions of the World Bank (WB) Environmental and Social Standard (ESS) 10: Stakeholder Engagement and Information Disclosure (WB, 2017)1, as well as other national and international standards (refer Section 3).

This is a “live document” that can be updated periodically to meet the changing demands of the Project and as further information becomes available. Works-specific or Technical Assistance (TA) -specific Stakeholder Engagement Plans may be prepared based on specific activity or stakeholder needs. For example, a specific Stakeholder Engagement Plan may be required for the project activities relating to FSA.

1.2.2 SEP Objectives

The purpose of this Plan is to ensure appropriate stakeholder consultation, participation and information sharing at all levels – including project sites and communities, with the goal of supporting Project decision-making and implementation. This Plan stresses the need for beneficiaries and other stakeholders to have ample opportunity to express their views on project objectives, activities and consequences. The SEP is an essential tool in effectively managing communication between the project, beneficiaries and stakeholders.

The objectives of this Plan are to:

• Provide guidance for stakeholder engagement such that it meets the standards of International Best Practice (IBP), including adhering to WB ESS10 and ESS7.

• Identify key Project stakeholders at the national level and within each State. This SEP considers indigenous people but notes that most FSM people are indigenous.

• Identify the most effective methods and structures through which to disseminate Project information, and to ensure regular, accessible, transparent and appropriate consultation.

• Support NDoE to build mutually respectful, beneficial and lasting relationships with stakeholders.

• Develop a stakeholder engagement process that provides stakeholders with an opportunity to influence Project planning and design.

• Ensure that the beneficiaries are engaged in the identification of issues and associated project benefits.

• Outline the Grievance Mechanism (GM) for implementation of the SEEP.

• Identify roles and responsibilities for implementation of stakeholder engagement activities.

• Describe means of reporting and disclosure of key information and instruments in a manner that can be readily understood by all key stakeholders (including the community and vulnerable groups).

• Identify potential communications challenges (e.g. over consultation, confusion with other Projects, etc) and opportunities (e.g. synergies with other consultation activities and facilitators known to the community).