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| Southern Mediterranean University |
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| Environmental & Social Review Summary |
This Environmental and Social Review Summary is prepared and distributed in advance of the IFC Board of Directors’ consideration of the proposed transaction. Its purpose is to enhance the transparency of IFC’s activities, and this document should not be construed as presuming the outcome of the Board of Director’s decision. Board dates are estimates only.
Any documentation which is attached to this Environmental and Social Review Summary has been prepared by the project sponsor and authorization has been given for public release. IFC has reviewed this documentation and considers that it is of adequate quality to be released to the public but does not endorse the content. |
| Project number | 25739 |
| Country | Tunisia |
| Sector | Education Services |
| Department | Health and Education |
| Company name | South Mediterranean University |
| Environmental category | B |
| Status | Pending Approval |
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| Date ESRS disclosed | February 20, 2007 |
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| View Summary of Proposed Investment (SPI), click here |
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| Overview | Category & Applicable Standards | Key Issues & Mitigation | Community Engagements | Client's Documentation |
| Overview of IFC's scope of review |
This is a Category B project according to IFC’s Procedure for Environmental and Social Review of Projects because a limited number of specific environmental and social impacts may result which can be avoided or mitigated by adhering to generally recognized performance standards, guidelines or design criteria. The following potential environment, health and safety and social aspects of the project were analyzed:
- land acquisition, site location, planning, and permitting for the proposed expansion;
- management of environmental and social issues impacts during construction;
- labor and working conditions during both construction and operational phases of the new campus;
- health, life, and fire safety for students, workers, and the public;
- potable water sourcing, wastewater disposal, and solid waste management;
- other utility usage, and energy use management; and
- the University’s activities in the local community.
The review of this project consisted of appraising technical, environmental and social information submitted by SMU, and a visit by IFC Investment Staff to the project site, to meet with SMU management and to have a first-hand look at the construction area for the new campus. |
| Project description |
South Mediterranean University (SMU or the University), a private institution based in Tunis, is expanding its capacity by constructing a 1,200 student capacity campus in the part of Tunis known as Les Berges du Lac, to replace its existing leased space. The project will enable SMU to launch:
- a full-fledged business school for undergraduate degree and MBA program within the Mediterranean School of Business (MSB or the Business School); and
- a school of Information Technology and Computer Systems Engineering.
This project is phase I of the University’s two-phase expansion plan that is expected to be completed by 2010. SMU is currently located on leased premises which restrict the University from expansion of its existing programs. The Les Berges du Lac campus will be dedicated primarily to the activities of the Business School. |
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| Identified applicable performance standards |
- PS1: Social and Environmental Assessment and Management Systems;
- PS2: Labor and Working Conditions;
- PS3: Pollution Prevention and Abatement; and
- PS4: Community Health, Safety and Security.
Besides PS1, PS2, PS3, and PS4, the project appraisal also assessed the applicability of PS5 Land Acquisition and Involuntary Resettlement, PS6 Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Natural Resource Management, and PS8 Cultural Heritage:
- With respect to PS5, the project site is 1284 square meters in an urban area, and was acquired through a willing buyer-seller arrangement, with no people required to be moved from the site.
- With respect to PS6, the project site is located in an upscale residential and business neighbourhood of Tunis, surrounded by businesses, offices and some residential areas. It is considered likely that a mosque, hospital, and parking lot will be constructed nearby.
- With respect to PS7, there are no Indigenous People impacted by the project.
- With respect to PS8, no cultural heritage was identified on site.
The assessment concluded, therefore, that PS5, PS6, PS7 and PS8 are not applicable. |
| Environmental and social categorization and rationale |
This project involves construction of a new 1,200 student capacity campus with a four-story office-like building in Tunis. Key impacts associated with the project include:
- Environmental, Health, Safety, and Social Management;
- Labor and working conditions, employee and contractor occupational health and safety, and community health and safety during construction;
- Life and fire safety.
The nature of the University’s operations is such that no major adverse environmental or social impacts are expected to result from the project, and that it will be possible to mitigate any minor, adverse impacts that might result. As a result, it has been categorized as a category B project. |
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| Key environmental and social issues and mitigation |
SMU has presented plans to address these impacts to ensure that the proposed project will upon implementation of the specific agreed measures, comply with the environmental and social requirements - the host country laws and regulations, IFC Performance Standards, and IFC environmental, health and safety guidelines. The information about how these potential impacts will be addressed by SMU is summarized in the paragraphs that follow. Further information is provided in the attached Environmental and Social Action Plan (ESAP).
- PS1: Social and Environmental Assessment and Management Systems
No environmental or social assessment reports are required by present Tunisian regulations. SMU will be required by local authorities to obtain a construction permit before undertaking any building activities. As the campus will be open to the public, SMU’s application for the construction permit is required to contain a security report (e.g., describing fire safety measures such as emergency exits, etc.) that will be reviewed by a local committee including representation from the fire department. SMU’s building plans will include the use of reinforced concrete, for robustness and safety.
SMU has agreed to develop a more formal and integrated Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS), using an IFC template as a basis. The ESMS shall be drafted by SMU and submitted to IFC for review as a Condition of First Disbursement.
Contractors for design of the new campus and its construction will apply sound principles of environmental engineering and safety engineering during the siting and construction phase, and these principles will be stipulated between the contractors and SMU in their contracts, to prevent and/or avoid any reputational or other risk for SMU associated with potential adverse environmental and social performance of the contractors. Structural elements will be designed and constructed by qualified and experienced professionals and certified and approved by competent authorities or professional to IFC, similar to the LFS requirements, as per the LFS guidelines.
- PS2: Labor and Working Conditions
Human Resources Policy and Working Conditions:
There are approximately 8 people presently employed directly as teaching and support staff, all at least 25 years old. SMU does not engage with suppliers or contractors who have employees below the legal employment age. The number of employees to be employed once the new campus is operational remains to be determined, as is the number of contractors’ laborers planned for construction of the new campus. SMU will provide IFC more information on employees and laborers and the timetable for construction as the project proceeds. For contractors’ laborers during construction work, SMU will use commercially reasonable efforts to apply the requirements of PS2 which relates to non-employee workers. SMU has appointed an individual to be responsible for HR and personnel management issues, including management of the new campus. A part of the more formal and integrated ESMS to be developed under PS1 above will be a basic HR policy and procedures covering working conditions.
Occupational Health and Safety:
Occupational health and safety will also be covered by the ESMS to be developed under PS1 above. During construction, SMU will be responsible for ensuring the security, safety, and safety training of contractors’ employees, according to the requirements of PS2.
Fire and Life Safety:
The new SMU building, like all new buildings accessible to the public and financed by IFC, must be designed, constructed and operated in full compliance with all local building codes, local fire department regulations, local legal/insurance requirements and in accordance with an internationally acceptable fire and life standard. IFC is requiring SMU to prepare an LFS Master Plan identifying major risks, applicable codes, standards and regulations and mitigation measures. The Master Plan will be prepared by a suitably qualified professional acceptable to IFC. On the basis of the Master Plan, its findings and recommendations, IFC will determine whether additional conditions in a Corrective Action Plan (CAP) are needed, and agree with the Company on a mutually acceptable time frame for implementing these conditions. The qualified professional who prepares the L&FS Master Plan will also undertake a review at the time of L&FS systems testing and commissioning and certify that construction of these systems has been carried out in accordance with the accepted design. Findings and recommendations of this review may also be incorporated into the CAP, as needed, along with a mutually acceptable time frame for implementation.
- PS3: Pollution Prevention and Abatement
IFC guidelines for energy, water, and liquid and solid waste will be applied during both the construction and operational phases of the project. During the construction phase, IFC guidelines should be reflected in contracts between SMU and contractors.
Energy:
Power at the new campus will be provided by the electrical grid operated by the Société Tunisienne d’Electricité et de Gaz. It is not yet known whether backup generators will be used; SMU will provide more information to IFC on this as the project proceeds.
Water Supply and Quality:
Water at the new campus will be used only for cleaning and restrooms. The municipal water utility will provide pre-treated water. SMU will test drinking water once a year on its campus and report the results to IFC.
Liquid and Solid Waste:
During the operational phase of this project, process wastewater will result only from cleaning and restrooms. Waste water will be discharged off into the sewage collection network and treated in a municipal waste water treatment plant. Solid waste consists mainly of paper that is disposed of through recycling and collection by public and private companies.
- PS4: Community Health, Safety and Security
SMU will evaluate health and safety (including LFS as mentioned above, and occupational health and safety) risks and impacts that could affect the local community during the design, construction, operation and decommissioning stages of the project, and will establish measures to prevent or mitigate such risks and impacts commensurate with the identified risks and impacts. These measures will be included in SMU’s integrated ESMS to be developed. |
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| Client's community engagement |
SMU does not require but highly recommends the involvement of its students in activities related to the development and the welfare of the community. SMU plans to make available its new facilities for professional organizations or other activities that could be of benefit to the community at large, as it has done in the past with its leased premises.
SMU has not received any complaints or grievances regarding this project. There will be a point of contact at SMU in case of any complaint or grievance in the future. To this point, SMU has not engaged in community consultation or disclosure regarding the new campus. SMU will make available for the public this ESRS in French on its website and at the local building site, and publish an advertisement about the ESRS in a local newspaper.
After disclosure of this ESRS, SMU will initiate communications with the local community and its representatives and local authorities to address any critical concerns that may arise during the project’s construction phase, such as noise, dust, working hours, increased local traffic and congestion due to heavy vehicles traveling into and out of the site, construction-related water supply and wastewater discharge/treatment, solid waste disposal, storage and containment at the site of hazardous material if any, as well as during the operational phase of the campus.
Questions or comments can be directed to:
Thouraya Triki, Associate Dean
Rue du Lac Constance, Les Berges du Lac
1053 Tunis, Tunisia
Telephone: +216 71 961 333
Fax: +216 71 965 955
E-mail: Thouraya.triki@msb-online.org |
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| Availability of Full Documentation |
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| Information Disclosed |
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