Notice

Category B project supported: Six hospitals, Côte D'Ivoire

Published 30 November 2021

1. Project description

UK Export Finance (UKEF) has agreed to provide support to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, Côte D’Ivoire, for the design, construction, equipping and operation of six hospitals in Côte D’Ivoire. NMS International Limited (NMSI, “the Exporter”) will undertake the design and construction of the Project and have a seven-year maintenance contract, after which the full operation and maintenance of the hospitals will be undertaken by the Ministry of Health.

The Project aims to increase the level of medical services in the country. It involves the development of six turnkey hospitals including:

• two regional hospitals with a 150-bed capacity, located in Bouaké and Boundiali
• two regional hospitals with reduced capacity of 90 beds, located in Katiola and Minignan
• two general hospitals with an 80 bed capacity, located in Kouto and Ouangolodougou

The format for each hospital is similar, with a central hospital block housing the main clinical functions (i.e. arrival, outpatients department, diagnostics, emergency department, theatres, pharmacy, and administration). The main block will be surrounded by the ward buildings, a separate maternity building, and support functions such as laundry, technical services, catering, a mortuary, and a staff residential area. No incineration of waste is proposed.

The Project does not include any Associated Facilities^{[footnote 1]}.

2. Project sector

The Project is in the civil construction (healthcare) sector.

3. Project sponsors

The Project is being developed by the Ivorian Ministry of Health. NMSI will provide construction services for the Project and will additionally undertake a seven-year maintenance contract.

4. UK exporters

NMS International Limited (NMSI)

5. Export credit agent bank

MUFG Bank.

6. Amount of UK Export Finance support

The principal value of the UKEF support is approximately EUR 241 million.

7. OECD Common Approaches and Equator Principles

UKEF categorised the Project as a Category B i.e. having environmental, social and human rights (ESHR) impacts that are few in number, site-specific, few (if any) of which are irreversible, and for which mitigation measures are more readily available) in accordance with the definition in the 2012 (Revised 2016) OECD Common Approaches for Officially Supported Export Credits and Environmental and Social Due Diligence (the “OECD Common Approaches”).

The Project does not fall under the scope of the Equator Principles (June 2013).

8. Environmental, Social and Human Rights standards

Project-related ESHR documentation was reviewed for alignment against the 2012 International Finance Corporation (IFC) Performance Standards (PS) on Environmental and Social Sustainability and the World Bank Group Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) Guidelines.

The applicable IFC PS were:

• PS1: Assessment and Management of Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts
• PS2: Labour and Working Conditions
• PS3: Resource Efficiency and Pollution Prevention
• PS4: Community Health, Safety and Security
• PS5: Land Acquisition and Involuntary Resettlement
• PS6: Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Natural Resources
• PS8: Cultural Heritage

The applicable World Bank Group EHS Guidelines were:

• General EHS Guidelines (2007)
• EHS Guidelines for Health Care Facilities (2007)
• EHS Guidelines for Water and Sanitation (2007)

9. Nature of ESHR impacts

The review of potential ESHR risks and impacts took into account the following impacts, receptors and issues during the construction and operational phases of the Project:

• climate change
• noise and vibrations
• hazardous materials management
• waste and wastewater management
• drainage management
• air emissions
• water resources
• worker welfare
• management of third-party contractors and suppliers
• grievance mechanisms
• occupational health and safety
• emergency planning and response
• traffic management
• cultural heritage
• community engagement
• community health, safety and security
• biodiversity management

10. Assessment of ESHR impacts

A review was undertaken in line with the requirements of the OECD Common Approaches to identify potential ESHR risks and impacts of the Project and how these would be effectively managed.

The review included:

• Desk-based review of project-related documentation: Environmental and Social Impact Assessment, Environmental and Social Management Plan, and Stakeholder Engagement Plan
• Follow-up meetings and interviews with relevant Project representatives

The results of this review formed the basis for the evaluation of the Project’s alignment with relevant international standards, and recommendations for future compliance and monitoring.

11. Climate change considerations

UKEF considered the potential direct and indirect greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of the Project and effects of climate change factors on the Project as part of our ESHR review. The Project comprises the construction of six hospitals, which are not considered to be carbon intensive undertakings (such as fossil fuels or petrochemical) and so “high” Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions in excess of relevant thresholds for quantification and reporting set by international standards were reasonably not envisaged. Furthermore, a material increase in road traffic with associated GHG (Scope 3) emissions is not anticipated as many of the journeys to the hospitals are likely to be displaced from existing hospitals. The Project design has considered potential physical impacts of climate change such as changes to rainfall and weather patterns.

12. Decision

Various actions have been agreed between the Project developers, operators, and parties involved in the financing, which are necessary to ensure the Project’s on-going alignment with international standards. Following agreement of these commitments, it was concluded that the Project should meet the relevant international standards over the project cycle and UKEF therefore decided to provide its support in respect of the supply of capital goods and services by UK exporters to the Project.

A condition of support is that the Project will be subject to environmental and social monitoring in order to provide satisfaction that the Project is aligned with the relevant international standards throughout the duration of support.

UK Export Finance

November 2021

1. OECD Common Approaches defines “Associated Facilities” as: those facilities that are not a component of the project, but that would not be constructed or expanded if the project did not exist and on whose existence the viability of the project depends; such facilities may be funded, owned, managed, constructed and operated by the buyer and/or project sponsor or separately from the project. ↩