Northern Rural Infrastructure Development Sector Project

Resettlement is unlikely to be a significant issue in the implementation of the proposed Project in view of the identification criteria and the pre-screening activities already undertaken during the preparation phase. In order to address the concerns, international and national specialists will be engaged to assist the NPMO to ensure that resettlement procedures are followed in accordance with laws of Lao PDR and policies of ADB. The specialists will assume responsibility for the training of NPMO and PPO staff in resettlement issues and procedures. They will also be responsible for establishing procedures in respect of resettlement and assist in the identification of procedures to resolve any resettlement that might be needed associated with rural infrastructure rehabilitation. Duties of the specialists will include the following:  (i)              Review the PPTA consultant’s Final Report and the recommendations on land acquisition and resettlement therein; (ii)              Review the Resettlement Framework prepared by the PPTA consultants to prepare the safeguard studies for all subprojects; (iii)             Make recommendations to develop the RPs to a standard acceptable to ADB and have those changes incorporated in the SIRs; (iv)            Visit all participating provinces and brief the provincial administrations, PPOs and participating district staff on the land acquisition and resettlement requirements and, specifically how they differ from standard government procedures in light of ADB policies; (v)               Brief local consultants recruited to undertake RP preparation in the preparation and reporting procedures to be followed; (vi)             Review random selected RPs as they are being prepared and make suggestions for their improvement; (vii)             Review all RPs submitted with SIRs; (viii)          Liaise with the safeguards officer in each PPO and randomly review RPs being undertaken by the provincial and district governments and report anomalies to the NPMO and relevant PPO; and (ix)             Assist in developing and implementing the training program on the land acquisition and resettlement aspects of the proposed Project.   The specialists will be based on the NPMO and will travel throughout the project area as required, answering to the GIC team leader