MR3: West Irbid Networks (F. Wastewater Project)

Overview
Project Summary Document
Environmental and Social Documentation
Procurement
Complaints

Overview

An EBRD loan of EUR 25 million, to be co-financed by investment grants of EUR 20 million from the EU's MADAD Fund, USD 2.5 million from the Global Concessional Finance Facility and EUR 5.9 million from the EBRD Shareholders Special Fund, to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, approved by the Bank in 2017 and of which implementation is on-going. The existing and proposed additional funding will finance the construction of a wastewater network in 15 towns in West Irbid governorate, enabling the towns to connect to the wastewater network including to wastewater treatment plants (the Project). The transaction is a part of the Bank's wider engagement with the Water Authority Jordan (WAJ), aimed at developing and implementing a comprehensive wastewater investment programme in order to resolve the country's current issues in the sector, caused by the rapid population growth, including an influx of Syrian refugees, which placed unprecedented strain on the wastewater system.

In 2024, the Bank seeks to provide a USD 30 million loan increase from the original loan amount of EUR 25 million, in order to close the financing gap that arose due to global price increases, the depreciation of the EUR against USD and an increase of the project coverage within the same towns.

Project ID 48496

Status Repaying

Location

Jordan

Business Sector

Municipal Infrastructure

Notice Type

State

Project timeline

Exploratory
Passed Concept Review
Passed Structure Review
Passed Final Review
Board Approved
Signed
Implementing
Completed

Company Contact Information

Sufyan Bataineh
Sufyan_Bataineh@mwi.gov.jo

Project ID 48496

Status Repaying

Location

Jordan

Business Sector

Municipal Infrastructure

Notice Type

State

Environmental Category

Approval Date

31 Oct 2017

Disclosure date

10 Aug 2017

As per section 1.4.2 (iii) of the Directive on Access to Information: "For Projects approved by Bank management where the Board of Directors has delegated the approval authority, the PSD shall be disclosed at the start of the relevant no-objection notification period to a member country of the Bank in accordance with Article 13 (iii) of the Agreement Establishing the EBRD."

Project description

Project objectives

The financing package forms part of the EBRD's Municipal Resilience Refugee Response Framework. Irbid governorate is located 83 km north of Amman, with its borders extending to the Jordanian-Syrian borders. The eastern regions of the province include the highway connecting Syria and Jordan, while the western-northern part overlooks the Golan Heights. The proximity of Irbid to the Syrian border has resulted in a significant number of Syrian refugees resettling in the city of Irbid and in the towns surrounding it. The consequent population growth has placed an unprecedented strain on the wastewater network, particularly in the towns lying to the East and West of Irbid which suffer from outdated wastewater collection infrastructure. Improvements will be achieved by providing first time sanitation to residents and thus addressing urgent socio-economic needs of both the local population and the refugee community in the Project area. The improvements are likely to circumvent potential health issues and related economic losses in the Project area.

Transition impact

ETI Score:60

cture service financial sustainability through tariff reform: Introduction of municipal water tariff increases to improve sustainability of the operation and maintenance of the water and wastewater infrastructure by reducing the gap between costs and tariff revenues.

Private sector participation and demonstration effect. The Bank, in coordination with other stakeholders and financiers, will pursue the introduction of private sector O&M to the water and wastewater infrastructure in the North of Jordan to ensure sustainability of the services.

Client information

JORDAN SOVEREIGN

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

EBRD Finance Summary

EUR 53,059,673.57

Co-financed by investment grants of EUR 19.6 million from the EU's MADAD Fund, USD 2.5 million the Global Concessional Finance Facility and EUR 5.9 million from the EBRD Shareholders Special Fund.

Total project cost

EUR 80,897,979.70

Additionality

The Bank is providing long-term financing required for capital infrastructure investment as local authorities lack budget resources and this type of financing is unavailable from commercial banks. Additionality is also represented by the Bank's industry knowledge and the ability to evaluate and assess the risks related to the sector and to ensure sound project preparation and implementation.

Environmental & Social Summary

Categorised B (ESP, 2014). Project's categorisation and the applicable E&S policy (2014) remain as originally categorised and assessed in 2017. The Project is expected to result in environmental and social ("E&S") benefits through the provision of the first-time wastewater network connections in West Irbid. Although the construction of the Project may be associated with E&S impacts, independent E&S due diligence showed that these impacts are site specific, limited and can be readily addressed. This has been confirmed through monitoring of project implementation. An Environmental and Social Action Plan ("ESAP") was agreed with WAJ to ensure that the Project is constructed and operated in line with the EBRD's E&S requirements. ESAP progress is satisfactory. A post-signing, project implementation support TC, which includes E&S, is progressing as expected with satisfactory implementation of the ESAP. This has included the development of an ESIA for local permitting and which included EBRD's E&S requirements. The Project is now fully permitted, and construction works are in progress. A stakeholder participation and outreach programme TC is also in progress. E&S due diligence was conducted by an independent consultant as part of a feasibility study and included a review of current wastewater practises, an assessment of potential Project E&S impacts, a gender assessment and a review of E&S provisions and management capacities within the WAJ and its subsidiary, YMC. The ESIA conducted further considered potential E&S impacts and defined mitigation and management measures. Project tender documents included the outcomes of such assessments to appropriately manage E&S risks and impacts associated with the Project. These measures are currently being implemented. Current wastewater management practices include the use of cess pits and septic tanks. The Project is replacing such infrastructure with a sewage network including household connections. The feasibility study, and designs, sought to avoid and reduce E&S impacts through routing the main sewage lines away from developed areas and instead following existing wadis to avoid land acquisition issues and maximise the use of gravity over the need for pump stations. Land required for the Project is largely state land but WAJ developed a livelihood restoration plan to ensure that land is acquired in line with the Bank's requirements and to avoid and reduce any potential adverse livelihood impacts. Land acquisition is primarily related to pump stations. While some biodiversity is present in the wadis the sewage lines have been routed to avoid impacts to biodiversity. Further, the sewage line corridors are being and will be reinstated. Pump stations are being established away from developed areas to avoid nuisance related impacts. Local sewage lines are being installed within the villages and have the potential to cause disruption and nuisance impacts. This activity is, however, of a temporary nature and managed with appropriate mitigation measures. The ESAP requires the development of E&S management plans for the Project with associated procedures to apply during construction to contractors, including contractor oversight, and during operation. These plans are in place and are addressing impacts such as noise and vibration, dust control, site reinstatement, worker and community health and safety and emergency response. The Project will connect the villages to a new wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) that will be developed in accordance with EU standards to accommodate future projected flows up to 2040 (West Irbid Wastewater Treatment Plant project). This replaces the original proposal of connecting to an existing WWTP. The Project will remove the need for cess pits and septic tanks avoiding odour and health issues and potential soil and groundwater impacts. Moving to a sewage network system will further reduce greenhouse gases ("GHG"), through the elimination of the need for tankers and the elimination of cess pits. Further GHG reduction will also be achieved through a move from anaerobic breakdown to aerobic treatment of wastewater. The elimination of tankers and cess pits/septic tanks may result in livelihood impacts to those providing such services. Avoiding and reducing these impacts is included in the Project livelihood restoration plan. The Project requires a substantial workforce during construction, which exceeds local worker availability. The Project has developed a labour and employment plan including procedures and commitments, and the necessary resources, focussing on such areas as equal opportunities, capacity building, working conditions and labour practices, worker accommodation and health and safety in line with the EBRD's requirements. A grievance mechanism has also been developed. In order to meet the Bank's requirements for stakeholder engagement and information disclosure, the due diligence included the development of a Stakeholder Engagement Plan which is being implemented. A Non-Technical Summary of the Project was disclosed.

Technical Cooperation and Grant Financing

Pre-signing

Technical and Environmental Review and Due Diligence: review of the existing studies and gap analysis on both technical and environmental findings and recommendations as well as an Environmental and Social Assessment (E&S due diligence) in-line with EBRD E&S requirements. The cost of the assignment is EUR 320,000, financed by the EBRD Shareholder Special Fund. Completed.

Post-signing

Procurement, Tender and Implementation Support to assist WAJ in tender preparation and Project implementation. Including, supervision engineer and health and safety and ESAP implementation.

The cost of this assignment is up to EUR 2.8 million, financed by the EBRD Shareholder Special Fund. Ongoing.

Stakeholder Participation and Outreach Programme, including responsible water use and gender components targeting the local and Syrian population. The cost of this assignment is USD 400,000 and is funded by EBRD Shareholder Special Fund. Ongoing.

Stakeholder Participation Management, focused on supporting the objectives of the community engagement plan, providing oversight of community awareness and engagement sessions to ensure inclusive approach for the targeted communities. The cost of this assignment is EUR 75,000 and is funded by EBRD Shareholder Special Fund. Ongoing.

Company Contact Information

Sufyan Bataineh
Sufyan_Bataineh@mwi.gov.jo

PSD last updated

02 May 2024

Understanding transition

Further information regarding the EBRD’s approach to measuring transition impact is available here.

Business opportunities

For business opportunities or procurement, contact the client company.

For business opportunities with the EBRD (not related to procurement) contact:

Tel: +44 20 7338 7168
Email: projectenquiries@ebrd.com

For state-sector projects, visit EBRD Procurement:

Tel: +44 20 7338 6794
Email: procurement@ebrd.com

General enquiries

Specific enquiries can be made using the EBRD Enquiries form.

Environmental and Social Policy (ESP)

The ESP and its associated Environmental and Social Requirements (ESRs) set out the ways in which the EBRD implements its commitment to promoting “environmentally sound and sustainable development”. The ESP and the ESRs include specific provisions for clients to comply with the applicable requirements of national laws on public information and consultation, and to establish a grievance mechanism to receive and facilitate resolution of stakeholders’ concerns and grievances, in particular, about the environmental and social (E&S) performance of the client and the project. Proportionate to the nature and scale of a project’s environmental and social risks and impacts, the EBRD also requires its clients to disclose information, as appropriate, about the risks and impacts of projects or to undertake meaningful consultation with stakeholders and consider and respond to their feedback.

More information on the EBRD’s practices in this regard is set out in the ESP.

Integrity and compliance

The EBRD's Office of the Chief Compliance Officer (OCCO) promotes good governance and ensures that the highest standards of integrity are applied to all of the Bank's activities in accordance with international best practice. Integrity due diligence is conducted on all Bank clients to ensure that projects do not present unacceptable integrity or reputational risks to the Bank. The EBRD believes that identifying and resolving issues in the project assessment and approval stages is the most effective means of ensuring the integrity of Bank transactions. OCCO plays a key role in these protective efforts andhelps to monitor integrity risks in projects post-investment.

OCCO is further responsible for investigating allegations of fraud, corruption and misconduct in EBRD-financed projects. Anyone, either within or outside the Bank, who suspects fraud or corruption should submit a written report to the Chief Compliance Officer by email to compliance@ebrd.com. OCCO will follow-up all matters reported. It will review all matters reported. Reports can be made in any language of the Bank or of the Bank's countries of operation. The information provided must be made in good faith.

Access to Information Policy (AIP)

The AIP, which entered into force on 1 January 2025, sets out how the EBRD discloses information and consults with its stakeholders to promote better awareness and understanding of its strategies, policies and operations. Please visit the Access to Information Policy page to find out what information is available from the EBRD website.

Specific requests for information can be made using the EBRD enquiries form.

Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM)

If efforts to address environmental, social or public disclosure concerns with the Client or the Bank are unsuccessful (for example, through the client’s project-level grievance mechanism or through direct engagement with Bank management), individuals and organisations may seek to address their concerns through the EBRD’s Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM).

IPAM independently reviews project issues that are believed to have caused (or to be likely to cause) harm. The purpose of the mechanism is: to support dialogue between project stakeholders to resolve environmental, social and public disclosure issues; to determine whether the Bank has complied with its Environmental and Social Policy or the project-specific provisions of its Access to Information Policy; and where applicable, to address any existing non-compliance with these policies, while preventing future non-compliance by the Bank.

Please visit the Independent Project Accountability Mechanism webpage to find out more about IPAM and its mandate and how to submit a Request for review. Alternatively, contact IPAM by email at ipam@ebrd.com for guidance and more information on IPAM and how to submit a request.

Environmental and Social Documentation is not available for this project.

Selected procurement notices related to this project may be shown below. Further procurement opportunities related to this and other projects, if available, maybe be viewed in the EBRD Procurement Portal.

The EBRD's Environmental and Social Policy (ESP), Access to Information policy (AIP) and Project Accountability Policy (PAP) enable sound and sustainable development in its projects. The Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM) deals with complaints about environmental, social and disclosure matters related to the Bank’s investments.

No complaints about this project have been made so far.

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MR3: West Irbid Networks (F. Wastewater Project)

Overview

Project timeline

Company Contact Information

Project description

Project objectives

Transition impact

Client information

EBRD Finance Summary

Total project cost

Additionality

Environmental & Social Summary

Technical Cooperation and Grant Financing

Company Contact Information

PSD last updated

Understanding transition

Business opportunities

General enquiries

Environmental and Social Policy (ESP)

Integrity and compliance

Access to Information Policy (AIP)

Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM)