Notice of Public Disclosure for the Labor Management Procedures (LMP), Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF), and Resettlement Framework (RF) for the Liberia Electricity Sector Strengthening and Access Project (LESSAP) - Phase 2

The Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) and the Rural and Renewable Energy (RREA), through the Government of Liberia, have received funding from the World Bank to implement the Liberia Electricity Sector Strengthening and Access Project (LESSAP)-Phase 2.

The proposed Project is aligned with the Liberia Country Partnership Framework (CPF) FY19- FY24 which highlights the need for enhanced access to affordable and reliable electricity through Liberia’s renewable energy sources and improved regional energy trade. The CPF identifies the expansion of electricity services and its affordability for businesses, households, and public institutions as a necessary intervention to address constraints to economic growth, human capital development and poverty reduction. The proposed program is also consistent with the WBG’s twin goals by increasing access to electricity and improving the quality of electricity services for economic activities, job creation, and improved living standards. The proposed program also directly supports human capital development through the provision of sustainable uninterruptible electricity services to health facilities.

The purposed project builds upon the achievements of the initial phase and aims to further enhance energy access, reliability, and sustainability through continued investment in the rehabilitation and expansion of electricity infrastructure and systems. The Project will also focus on electrifying health centers and households in off-grid rural areas, provides technical assistance to support institutional reform and capacity building within the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) that will helps to enhance operational efficiency and governance, explore sustainable generation solutions to mitigate energy shortages during critical situations. Similar to the MPA design, LESSAP Phase 2 will overlap with the previous phase to ensure continuity of support and momentum with the aims to strengthen Liberia’s energy sector, promote sustainable development, and improve the lives of its citizens through increased access to electricity.

The proposed second phase will be implemented by the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) and the Rural Renewable Energy Agency (RREA) as an IPF, in line with the Program PrDO of the MPA in all fifteen (15) counties of Liberia, and the proposed Project Development Objective (PDO) is to increase access to electricity in Liberia and improve the operational efficiency of LEC. This PDO will be achieved through the following three Project components:

1.     Grid Expansion and Densification:

o   LESSAP Phase 2 will scale up the grid component to support new areas for grid expansion. This involves extending the electricity network to reach additional households and businesses.

2.     Off-Grid Solar Electricity Services: