ecd.usaid.gov · web viewniger’s recent food and nutrition crises have been caused by a complex...

INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATIONFACESHEET

Activity/Project Title: Alliance for Year-Round Resilience in Tahoua and Maradi (GDA with Lutheran World Relief)

Solicitation #: [As assigned by contracting office]

Contract/Award Number (if known): TBD

Geographic Location: Niger/SahelOriginating Bureau: Africa Bureau

Supplemental IEE: Yes NoAmendment: Yes NoProgrammatic IEE: Yes No

DCN and date of Original document:

DCN and ECD link(s) of Amendment(s):

Amendment No.:

Funding Amount: USAID: $5,000,000 Private Sector: $28,046,156

Life of Project Amount: $33,046,156

Implementation Start/End:

Prepared By: Abdourahmane Ndiaye, Regional Environmental Specialist/MEOJenna Diallo, Regional Field Investment OfficerIEE Submitted by: Abdourahmane Ndiaye

Date Submitted: 5 April 2017. Revised 1 June 2017.

Expiration Date: September 30, 2021 Reporting due dates (if any):

Environmental Media and/or Human Health Potentially Impacted (check all that apply):None Air Water Land Biodiversity Human Health Other

Recommended Threshold Determination(check all that apply):

Negative Determination with conditions

Categorical Exclusion

Positive Determination Deferral Exemption USG Domestic NEPA action

Additional Elements Conditions EMMP WQAP Pesticides Deferred Other: ESF/ERR

DCA

Climate Change:GCC/Adaptation GCC/Mitigation Climate Change Vulnerability Analysis (included)

Adaptation/Mitigation Measures: See Climate Risk Management Screening in Section 3.2. A CRM screening for warehouse construction was completed using the CRM Matrix Tool for Activity Design (Matrix Template). This is an initial assessment, and suggests a High risk. The responsibility for assessing and addressing climate risk lies with

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https://www.climatelinks.org/sites/default/files/CRM%20Activity%20Tool%20Matrix%20Template%201.25.17.xlsx

the engineer-of-record and implementing partner. Thus, climate risk management will be a component of the engineering design.

Other Relevant Environmental Compliance Documentation:

Summary of findings and recommended determination

Scope: USAID/Senegal will launch a new GDA in 2017. The purpose of this IEE, in accordance with 22CFR216, is to provide the first review of the reasonably foreseeable effects on the environment, as well as recommended Threshold Decisions, for activities under the Alliance for Year-Round Resilience in Tahoua and Maradi which is a Global Development Alliance (GDA) signed between USAID/Senegal/Sahel Regional Office and Lutheran World Relief (LWR).

This IEE provides a brief statement of the factual basis for a Threshold Decision as to whether an Environmental Assessment or an Environmental Impact Statement are required for the activities managed under this program. In addition, this IEE sets out project-level implementation procedures intended to ensure that conditions in this IEE are translated into project-specific mitigation measures, and to ensure systematic compliance with this IEE during project and program implementation.

Recommended Determinations: This IEE recommends the determinations summarized in the following table. Section 3 of the IEE provides a full analysis of each intervention category, including activity descriptions, analysis of potential environmental impacts, and explanation of determinations and conditions.

Intervention Category Categorical Exclusion

Negative Determination

Positive Determination

Deferral

Diversify economic opportunities

Intensify production and marketing for high-potential crops

Intensify production and marketing for livestock

Construction or repair of warehouses

Increased access to financial services

Enhance market infrastructure (Expand Airtel’s telecommunications networks)

Strengthen organizational,

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Intervention Category Categorical Exclusion

Negative Determination

Positive Determination

Deferral

technical and management capacity of farmer and tailor associations

Strengthened disaster risk management capacity:

- Strengthened informal social safety nets

General Implementation and Monitoring Requirements: In addition to the specific conditions listed in section 3, the negative determinations recommended in this IEE are contingent on full implementation of a set of general monitoring and implementation requirements specified in section 4. These include the following: Briefings for implementing partners on environmental compliance responsibilities. Development, integration, and implementation of an Environmental Mitigation and

Monitoring Plan (EMMP) by each implementing partner. Integration of environmental compliance responsibilities in prime and sub-contracts and

grant agreements. Assurance of sub-grantee and sub-contractor environmental compliance. Environmental monitoring responsibility of the USAID/Senegal/Sahel Regional Office and

Niger Field Office. Amending this IEE to reflect new or substantially modified activities

Additionally, it is essential that AOR/CORs and IPs screen all project-specific activities against the intervention categories established in this IEE. For any project-specific activities not sufficiently covered by the analysis in this IEE, the AOR/COR and USAID/Senegal MEO should be consulted to determine whether an IEE-amendment, or project-specific IEE, is required.

APPROVAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION RECOMMENDED:

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Alliance for Year-Round Resilience in Tahoua and Maradi IEE

CLEARANCE:

Mission Director: __________/s/______________________ Date: 4/5/2017_____ Lisa Franchett

CONCURRENCE:

AFR/BEO: ________________________ Date: 06/01/2017__ Brian Hirsch

Approved: _____X____ Filename: Niger LWR GDA Alliance for Resilience IEE

Disapproved: _________

ADDITIONAL CLEARANCES:

Agreement Officer Representative: ____________________________ Date_____________ (AOR) Jennifer Karsner

Regional Program Office Director: _____________________________Date: ___________ (R/POD) Tyce Shideler

USAID/SenegalNiger Country Representative: ________________________________ Date:_____________

Alfreda Brewer

Mission Environment Officer: ________________________________ Date: ______________ (MEO) Abdourahmane Ndiaye

Regional EnvironmentalOfficer (REO): ____________________________ Date: _________ Jean W. Camilien Saint-Cyr

INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION

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PROGRAM/ACTIVITY DATA:Program/Activity Number:

Country/Region: Niger/Sahel

Program/Activity Title: Alliance for Year-Round Resilience in Tahoua and Maradi

1.0 BACKGROUND AND PROJECT DESCRIPTION

1.1 Background

Niger’s recent food and nutrition crises have been caused by a complex combination of drought/irregular rainfall, high cereal prices, environmental degradation and conflict/population displacements coupled with chronic poverty and limited recovery from previous shocks. Households in agro-pastoral and marginal agriculture livelihood zones in Tahoua and Maradi are among those most vulnerable, with some of the nation’s highest recurring rates of malnutrition and food insecurity. Gender and physical ability influences sensitivity to disturbances and the skills, strategies and mechanisms individuals use to cope with and adapt to hazards. Despite a more favorable food security outlook in Tahoua and Maradi in 2016, vulnerable yet viable households remain unable to absorb or adapt to new hazards.

This Alliance represents an opportunity to leverage $28,046,156 in new private-sector investment from Airtel, Ecobank, Société Henry Biaugeaud, Margaret A. Cargill Foundation, and others and layer strategies for resilience and inclusive growth on USAID’s prior investments in early recovery, effectively filling a gap in current RISE coverage. By deepening market-driven solutions to household livelihoods diversification; improved productivity and margins from dry cereals, small ruminants, cowpeas and onions; stronger and more accountable member services by local farmer associations; and better access to financial, market and knowledge systems, the Alliance will help 12,760 households and 102,080 people in Tahoua and Maradi—in four departments, 10 communes and 115 villages not reached by RISE—become more resilient to climate shocks and stressors all 12 months of each year.

1.2 Purpose and Scope of IEE

The purpose of this IEE, in accordance with 22CFR216, is to provide the first review of the reasonably foreseeable effects on the environment, as well as recommended Threshold Decisions, for activities under the Alliance for Year-Round Resilience in Tahoua and Maradi which is a Global Development Alliance (GDA) signed between USAID/Senegal/Sahel Regional Office and Lutheran World Relief (LWR). This IEE provides a brief statement of the factual basis for a Threshold Decision as to whether an Environmental Assessment or an Environmental Impact Statement are required for the activities managed under this program. In addition, this IEE sets out project-level implementation procedures intended to ensure that conditions in this IEE are translated into project-specific mitigation measures, and to ensure systematic compliance with this IEE during project and program implementation.

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Although a stand-alone IEE, it is nevertheless not totally independent from the JPC IEE ref: BEO_Sahel JPC REGIS ETD+ IEE 2012-2017- . This present IEE shall be viewed as an addendum to the HJPC IEE.

1.3 Climate Risk Management

An initial Climate Risk Management (CRM) screening for warehouse construction, as required by ADS 201, has been included in this IEE Amendment in section 3.2. This review was completed using the CRM Matrix Tool for Activity Design (Matrix Template). This is an initial assessment. The responsibility for assessing and addressing climate risk lies with the engineer-of-record. Thus, climate risk management will be a component of the engineering design.

1.4 Description of activities

Objective 1: Increase and sustain household incomes, assets, adaptive capacity and access to nutritious food. The project will analyze and use local supply chains (seed, tools, inputs or live animals) to generate demand for upstream suppliers/entrepreneurs; market needs and interests will be analyzed to maximize household returns on surplus production. For collective farmer association–level business services, the project will provide startup inputs and develop processes, systems and management approaches for sustainability, while activities targeting self-selected individuals will require upfront investment. Based on Tahoua and Maradi’s different agro-ecological and socioeconomic environments and LWR’s previous value chain and market assessments, target farm products and value chains are outlined in Figure 2, below:

Location Target Value ChainsDakoro (Maradi region) millet cowpea sheep Moringa oleiferaIléla (Tahoua region) millet cowpea sheep Moringa oleiferaKonni (Tahoua region) millet cowpea sheep Moringa oleifera onionsMalbaza (Tahoua region) millet cowpea sheep Moringa oleifera onions

Figure 2: Target Value Chains: Key production opportunities by location

IR 1: Diversified economic opportunities: Food and income alternatives will help offset rain-fed production shocks, so the project will provide inputs (seeds, fertilizers) to women’s groups for micro-irrigated Moringa oleifera that can be grown at the household or in small garden plots. Producers Enterprises Agents (PEAs) will demonstrate technical innovations and simple business planning, marketing strategies and record keeping. LWR will also pilot its experience with annual concerted household food and entrepreneurship planning to identify strategies to offset shocks for applicability in Niger and promote seasonal functional literacy training using new or existing village-level literacy agents.

IR 2: Intensified production and marketing for livestock and high-potential crops:

IR 2.1: Improved yields: PEAs will map suppliers of equipment, tools and other quality inputs; these suppliers will be linked to Farmer Associations (FAs) for collective procurement, like high-

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yielding (and/or drought/striga–tolerant) seed for dry cereals and cowpeas. LWR will apply its experience in improved onion (violet de Galmi) multiplication to meet Société Henri Biaugeaud (SH) Biaugeaud’s specifications. Inputs such as foundation bulbs, pumps and watering cans will be provided; multipliers will be trained by the Department of Agriculture; and seed will be purchased from multipliers, deducting input costs, and sold to other association members. PEAs will train men and women on improved production techniques, like timing (interpreting weather forecasts and local rainfall for decisions), adequate spacing, soil fertility management (using manures, parcage, compost, crop rotation, and planting cereals and legumes in association) and integrated pest management using ICT-assisted extension and field school approaches for farmers to apply new techniques and learn about input costs, expected yields and potential margins. The project will also expand soil and water conservation (tassa, stone contour bunds and farmer-managed natural regeneration) through demonstrations and technical support. Where appropriate, FAs will lend tools and carts to transport stones for contour construction and help leaders manage community environmental resources, like grazing areas previously recovered from marginal land.

IR 2.2: Increased animal productivity: Gains in small ruminant productivity will focus on linking animal fatteners with quality live animals, improved animal husbandry and animal health. PEAs will train men and women on timing lambing operations to supply live animals and synchronize with animal fattening operations for highest returns. Farmer associations will help women acquire (20% is paid upfront) sheep (brebis bicolore, Balami) from local markets, fatten them over several months, and repay, with modest interest, at the time of sale. Association leaders will be trained on the animal-fattening business plan (including profit projections and repayment schedules) and policies, roles, procedures and documentation. While some communities in Maradi and Tahoua do have a service vétérinaire privé de proximité (SVPP), LWR will contract services from the Ministry of Livestock where this does not yet exist to provide technical assistance from animal selection through care. All animals selected for fattening will be vaccinated for pox and pasteurellosis, dewormed, tagged and temporarily quarantined. The Ministry (or agreed private veterinarian) will also train PEAs on animal care techniques (feeding, watering, and use of vitamins and supplements) and basic animal health monitoring (wound care, deworming and epidemic monitoring). PEAs will be equipped with basic supplies and will provide village-level technical support on animal care, feeding practices and disease recognition using this training and ICT-assisted content.

IR 2.3: Increased marketing capacity: For targeted value chains, LWR will meet with local authorities, government and private-sector service providers, buyers, financial service providers and other chain actors to understand specific needs and opportunities. For selected crops—like Galmi onions, wheat and cowpeas—FAs will organize market-oriented production planning and manage transportation, quality control, collective warehousing (and construction or repair, where needed) and marketing operations at scale. LWR will support market identification and planning for warehouse financing (or warrantage) and provide technical support to the FAs’ business plan development, negotiation and contracting. PEAs will inform these plans with farm-level production estimates. They will also provide technical support to men and women producers on post-harvest management practices (harvesting, drying and storage) to meet the specifications of identified markets. Where needed, LWR will help FAs set up and document their collective marketing system (quality controls and stock management processes) and provide additional training and mentoring for warehouse management committees.

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IR 3: Increased access to financial services: Given the need for safe and accessible savings to help households withstand stresses, PEAs will raise awareness on the importance of savings at the household level, educating members on options for safe, mobile e-savings. Given the wide adoption of informal financial mechanisms in target communities (tontines and other village banks), PEAs will help strengthen these groups’ management, planning and record-keeping capacity; members will also be invited to participate in functional literacy training and use mobile micro-credit. In addition, the project will educate FA leaders on savings and credit/loan options (loan products, credit lines and interest rates) and policies to help leaders decide if external credit for collective procurement of production inputs or collective marketing fits their needs. Farmer associations will access collective input or warehouse credit lines (using member contributions or a stored crop as collateral for warrantage) from Ecobank. For collective input procurement, PEAs will record individual farmers’ input needs to inform FA planning; the credit is repaid once the product is sold. For warehouse/trade financing, advance payments are issued to the farmer upon receipt of a quality product; products are stored in the warehouse until delivery to the buyer, deducting the costs of operations, loan capital and interest. LWR will provide technical support to loan operations to help ensure timely and complete repayment and raise awareness on use of e-payments for prepayments, sales and profit sharing.

IR 4: Increased (physical) market infrastructure: A new warehouse is planned in Iléla to increase market access, and repairs will occur at existing warehouses in Dakoro. Airtel was initially planning construction of new cell towers, however, redirection of antennas to increase signal strength will instead take place.

Objective 2: Strengthen the organizational capacity, integration and sustainability of farmer associations to help households manage risk and leverage opportunities. LWR works with farmer associations through its model of “accompaniment”—jointly assessing strengths and weaknesses; developing strategies for greater accountability, transparency and sustainability; and coaching and mentoring organizational changes. This process aims to shape farmer associations into transparent, financially strong and technically competent organizations that represent (and advocate for) the real interests of men and women members. This includes helping associations understand the different ways men and women participate, then helping to design approaches to address barriers to full participation and decision-making. Association-managed informal social safety nets and early warning protocols will help further identify and mitigate community risks.

IR 1: Strengthened organizational, technical and management capacity

IR 1.1: Improved organizational capacity: In Tahoua, all LWR’s planned partners are registered FAs that have received capacity-strengthening support. LWR will help each assess remaining gaps and develop a tailored capacity-enhancement plan targeting services that are member-focused (organizational governance, financial management, business planning and communication) and market-focused (collecting and bulking, marketing and negotiation and market information exchange). In Maradi, however, partner CEB works with herder and agro-pastoral groups that are not all formally registered and do not currently conduct collective action. The project will survey these groups during startup and help leaders reflect on the need (or not) for a more federated structure; if so, the project will help leaders determine optimal structures, roles and responsibilities and help develop organizational documents, policies and procedures for

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formal registration. Training, technical support and mentoring for men and women members and elected leaders will consider the same key performance and capacity areas.

IR 1.2: Strengthened private extension capacity: The project’s ICT bundle will enable private extension capacity via PEAs as a sustainable business service embedded within each farmer association using existing extension training content from the Ministries of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, the Environment, Functional Literacy and other sources, and complementing that with simplified training content and audio or video and links to existing market and weather information. To help ensure that the extension package meets men and women users’ needs, LWR will work with Airtel and IT service providers to: a) design, reconfigure or adapt components of the platform, b) identify and link existing and new content, c) field-test the system in each project site with men and women users to incorporate adjustments, d) work with key stakeholders to validate any new content, e) roll out the system and train end users and f) provide ongoing technical troubleshooting.

IR 2: Strengthened disaster risk management capacity

IR 2.1: Strengthened informal social safety nets: Several of LWR’s implementing partners implement informal social safety net schemes like cereal reserves (abintchimou), animal feed banks, restocking initiatives (habbanayé) or seed banks to support their membership and other vulnerable community members. Where these informal mechanisms exist, the project will assist with business, operations and management planning to help ensure sustainability and promote learning and potential replication among other groups when promising practices are identified.

IR 2.2: Early warning protocols implemented: Current coverage with early warning systems (EWS) in Tahoua and Maradi is minimal, but coverage could expand rapidly through use of ICTs. The project will work with community, FA and government leaders to design a rapid mechanism to identify hazards, using village-based PEAs as the first point of contact. Once a PEA verifies a hazard, s/he will communicate with the relevant actor—for example, locust threats to the Ministry of Agriculture’s Office of Crop Protection, animal disease outbreaks to the Ministry of Animal Husbandry or health outbreaks to the Ministry of Health. These actors will confirm receipt of the information and share any steps taken for the PEA to complete the feedback loop.

2.0 COUNTRY AND ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION (BASELINE INFORMATION)

2.1 Locations Affected

The project will be implemented in two regions of Niger: Maradi and Tahoua. The Republic of Niger is a landlocked country in West Africa bordered by Libya to the northeast, Chad to the east, Nigeria and Benin to the south, Burkina Faso and Mali to the west, and Algeria to the northwest. Niger covers a land area of almost 1,270,000 km2, making it the largest country in West Africa, with over 80 percent of its land area covered by the Sahara Desert.

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sahara_Desert

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landlocked_country

The Region of Maradi is one of eight Regions in Niger. It is in south-center Niger, east of the Region of Tahoua, west of Zinder, and north of Nigeria's city of Kano. The administrative center is at Maradi. The population of the Region is majority Haoussa.

Most of the 35,100 km of land is classified as "Sahel", though the northern parts head toward desert, and the very southern edges along the border with Nigeria get almost 600 mm a year in average rainfall, with some areas receiving as much as 650–700 mm in better years.

The Tahoua Region covers 106,677 km². It is one of eight administrative Regions in Niger. The capital of the Region is the Commune of Tahoua.

Niger is an under developed country, and is consistently one of the lowest-ranked in the United Nations' Human Development Index (HDI); it was ranked last at 188th for 2014. Much of the non-desert portions of the country are threatened by periodic drought and desertification. The economy is concentrated around subsistence and some export agriculture clustered in the more fertile south, and the export of raw materials, especially uranium ore. Niger faces serious challenges to development due to its landlocked position, desert terrain, high fertility rates and resulting overpopulation without birth control, poor education and poverty of its people, lack of infrastructure, poor health care, and environmental degradation.

Nigerien society reflects a diversity drawn from the long independent histories of its several ethnic groups and regions and their relatively short period living in a single state. Historically, what is now Niger has been on the fringes of several large states. The majority of the population live in rural areas, and have little access to advanced education.

Climate Niger's subtropical climate is mainly very hot and very dry, with much desert area. In the extreme south, there is a tropical climate on the edges of the Niger River basin. The terrain is predominantly desert plains and sand dunes, with flat to rolling savanna in the south and hills in the north.

Demography

As of 2011, the population of Niger was 15,730,754. Expanding from a population of 1.7 million in 1960, Niger's population has rapidly increased with a current growth rate of 3.3% (7.1 children per mother).

This growth rate is one of the highest in the world and is a source of concern for the government and international agencies. The population is predominantly young, with 49.2% under 15 years old and 2.7% over 65 years, and predominantly rural with only 21% living in urban areas.

Gender and education in NigerThe gender survey conducted in 2014 by Mercy Corp (MC), Save the Children (SC) and Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in Niger has shown that the number of reproductive activities mobilizing the women and the young girls are more important than the ones mobilizing men and boys.

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Niger

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birth_control

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uranium_ore

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subsistence_agriculture

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desertification

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_Development_Index

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Developing_country

Women and young girls are busy cleaning, washing, cooking meals, and pounding, washing the dishes, rope and mat weaving. Those tasks are exclusively devoted to them. The other household activities such as household fuel supply, wild fruit collection, water chores and hulling, are women’s responsibility but young boys and men take part in it, mainly during the «rani» when they are less busy. About water chores, in many sites men and boys involve in such task only if the household has a horse cart, otherwise it remains an activity exclusively reserved for women.

Such situation explains the girls are less possibilities to attend school than boys. That were confirmed by the national gender policy document of Niger that reveals that 88% of the women are illiterate against 72% of men, with huge disparities between rural and urban areas where less than (1) woman out of twenty (20) is illiterate.

2.2 Applicable Host Country Environmental and Social Laws, Regulations and Policies

Niger environmental Policy is defined in the National Environment Plan for a Sustainable Development, which was adopted by the Government in April 2000. The objective is to systematize the management of the environmental concerns in all the decisions related to the development of the country. It consists in taking the environmental concerns into consideration from the very step of the planning and definition of the intervention (program, project or activities). Thus, it relies on a certain number of practical tools among which the environmental evaluation (EE) and the impact study on the environment (ISE).

The local governance of natural resources is well-defined in the Government of Niger “Strategy for the Accelerated Reduction of Poverty (2008) and the Rural Development Strategy”. In addition, The Government of Niger has enacted different laws governing the natural resources management and environmental protection:

“Executive Order no 98-56” related to environmental management and bio-diversity conservation;

The executive convention to fight against desertification; The law for the protection of fauna and the management of wetlands; The Environmental Code; Law 1971 017 governing fishing; Law 2004-040 governing forestry; and “Executive Order no 93-014 governing water systems.

The National Council for Sustainable Environmental Development (CNDD), a Ministry-level agency in charge of environment, a permanent secretariat for the rural code and its decentralized services, has oversight of natural resources management and environmental regulation.

Niger is also member of and implementing the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the protection and conservation of water and water resources and maintaining environmental health, as well as the prevention of natural disasters. Niger is also member of other regional and sub-regional agreements on environmental protection and the fight against desertification.

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3.0- Discussions of potential environmental impacts:

1. Improved productivity of agriculture productions (crops, vegetable)

Activities to boost crop productivity and profitability include increased use of inputs including seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides. Mishandling, misuse, or misapplication of pesticides presents profound risk to human and environmental health. Misuse of fertilizers could cause:

degradation of soil (acidification: too much Nitrogen acidifies soils in the long term),

pollution of surface water and/or underground water by runoff from fertilizers after rains or

“nutrient loading’ through over-application and poor management of agricultural run-off.

The use of mechanization can cause soil erosion if this is not done adequately it could cause soil depletion, erosion, and silting.

Using seed not adapted to climate or soils can result in crop failure/food insecurity. Exotics (including tissue cultures) can bring new pests or cause native resilient varieties to disappear.

2. Construction/rehabilitation of warehouses and other infrastructures

Construction or operation may result in sedimentation or other contamination of water Construction may interfere with drainage of upstream lands Biodiversity or other ecosystem services can be disturbed or damaged by construction

Dump sites can attract and breed disease vectors and ground water can be contaminated and unusable.

Strongly sloped sites present high risks for erosion that can permanently degrade the site and runoff that can add sediment load to nearby surface waters and result in gullying on adjoin lands and roads

Displacing inhabitants or depriving owners or users of agricultural and other uses of land, can be significant social impact if not addressed via compensation, resettlement, or negotiation

Standing water breeds insect diseases vectors, particularly mosquitoes Erosion, runoff from the site can degrade nearby surface waters and damage adjoining

lands.

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Fill, sand or gravel extracted from waterways or ecological sensitive areas can degrade water quality, ruins critical habitat, alters drainage and flow, and can create standing water.

Demolition debris or construction waste disposal can pose physical hazards or toxic hazards (leaded paint) and can create breeding habitat for diseases vectors

If the site is open to public, children and bystanders can be exposed to injury Possible injury or accidents if workers are not well protected In the absence of latrines, workers are likely to practice open defecation which

substantially increases community risks of oral-fecal route disease

Demolition and construction can produce dust and noise and disturb neighbors

3. Increased productivity of small ruminants

Environmental impacts associated with livestock rearing can include generation of waste and pollution of water bodies, overgrazing, and incorrect handling of animal products for the market. When livestock product enterprises are developed, guidelines for cleaner production (CP) will be developed for the specific enterprises to reduce waste and assure sanitation

Vaccination and other healthcare operations: Disposal sites and particularly dumps become dangerous with needles and expired drugs are tossed in an uncontrolled manner

4. Increased marketing capacity

Three activities will be done by the project under this: support market identification and planning for warehouse financing (or

warrantage) and provide technical support to the FAs’ business plan development, negotiation and contracting

provide technical support and training to men and women producers on post-

harvest management practices

provide additional training and mentoring for warehouse management

committees.

These activities are not anticipated to have any adverse impacts on the physical and biological

environment.

5. Increased access to financial services educate Farmers Associations members on options for safe, mobile e-savings strengthen saving groups in management, planning, record-keeping, functional literacy

and use of mobile micro-credit

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These activities are not anticipated to have any adverse impacts on the physical and biological

environment.

6. Increased (physical) market infrastructure

The project will simply take advantage of the extension of the mobile phone network to develop the mobile financial system.Then, the project activities are not anticipated to have adverse impacts on the physical, social and biological environment.

7. Strengthen organizational capacities - Assess Farmers Associations

- Provide training, technical support and mentoring for men and women members and

elected leaders in Farmers Organizations

These activities are not anticipated to have any adverse impacts on the physical and biological environment

8. Strengthened private extension capacity- Enable private extension capacity via Private Enterprise Agents as a sustainable

business service embedded within each farmer association using existing

extension training content

- work with Airtel and IT service providers to design, reconfigure or adapt

components of the platform

These activities are not anticipated to have any adverse impacts on the physical and biological environment.

9. Strengthened informal social safety nets

Assist informal social safety nets with business, operations and management planning to help ensure sustainability and promote learning and potential replication among other groups when promising practices are identified.

Possible negative social impacts if communities are not fully involved in the process:- The social cohesion could be threatened if the training and principles applied are not

adapted to the culture and local traditions. - Gender inequality could also be created if a gender assessment is not done before

introducing new concepts and new social safety nets.

10. Early warning protocols implemented by:

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- The use of ICTs to expand coverage of the existing early warning systems (EWS) in Tahoua and Maradi regions.

This activity is not anticipated to have any adverse impacts on the physical and biological environment.

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3.1 POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND RECOMMENDED DETERMINATIONS INCLUDING CONDITIONS

Proposed Activities Potential Adverse Impacts Recommended DeterminationsObjective 1: Increase and sustain household incomes, assets, adaptive capacity and access to nutritious foodIR1: Diversify economic opportunities

IR2: Intensified production and marketing for livestock and high-potential crops

IR2.1: Improved productivity of agriculture productions (crops, vegetable)

Activities:

- map suppliers of equipment, tools and other quality inputs


Categorical Exclusion pursuant to 22CFR 216.2(c)(1)(i) for action not having an effect on the environment and 22CFR 216.2(c)(2)(i) for education, technical assistance or training programs.

- link suppliers to FAs for collective procurement



- Development of small irrigation activities Using small motor pumps at

existing, shallow wells Each pump covers a few

hectares Several irrigation sites across

project area Water pulled from different

sources

Irrigation schemes present several distinct environmental risks. Stagnant water can create breeding habit for disease vectors. Excess withdrawals to serve the irrigation schemes can result in insufficient water for downstream ecosystems and users. Poorly managed irrigation schemes can result in permanent adverse effects to soil quality (e.g., salinization); they also pose a high risk of contaminating shallow groundwater and downstream surface waters with agricultural chemicals.Experience shows that these impacts can be controlled with a combination of siting, design andoperating practices.

A negative determination is recommended pursuant to 22CFR 216.3(a)(3)(iii) subject to the following conditions:

Monitor closely the quantity and quality of available water and prevent overuse of groundwater by matching the size of the irrigation system to the availability of groundwater and to the real needs of the plots. Monitor and mitigate the potential environmental impacts of irrigation activities on soil quality by using efficient and adapted irrigation technologies to the soil texture.

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- Provide inputs (seed, fertilizers) to women’s groups for micro-irrigated Moringa oleifera

Misuse of fertilizers could have negative impact in soil and water.Non-indigenous seed or plants may overtake areas populated by indigenous species that are better adapted to soils, climate, and water regime in the long term.New pests may inadvertently be introduced.New varieties may result in producers having no access to seed unless purchased through corporate representatives.


Women should be trained on agriculture best practices incorporating and promoting sound management practices in conformity with relevant chapters of USAID’s Sector Environmental Guidelines at: http://www.usaidgems.org/sectorGuidelines.htm)

They should be also trained on Clean Production Process to avoid misuse of fertilizers and other chemicals.

- train seed multipliers in the legislation of seed sector (production and purification technique)



- train farmers on improved production techniques

Introduction of technologies that encourage use of fertilizers, non-adapted irrigation technics, pesticides, and exotic seeds can result in adverse environmental impacts:

Degradation of natural habitat. Production of greenhouse gasses Soil erosion Reduction in soil fertility Soil compaction Reductions in surface & groundwater

quality

Non-indigenous seed or plants may overtake areas populated by indigenous species that are better adapted to soils, climate, and water regime in the long term.New pests may inadvertently be introduced.New varieties may result in producers having no access to seed unless purchased through corporate representatives.


The introduction of technologies for improving agriculture production technics will not encourage the use of fertilizers, pesticides (without an approved PERSUAP), or non-approved or GMO seeds; also, that best practices in the use of these inputs are promoted during introduction of the technologies.

Directly operated demonstration activities, irrigation activities and activities that promulgate agricultural practices must:

Establish demonstration plots in conformity with sustainable agricultural practices.

Include environmental risk and mitigation in training and technical assistance.

Incorporate and promote sound environmental management practices in general conformity with relevant chapters of USAID’s Sector Environmental Guidelines at: http://www.usaidgems.org/sectorGuidelines.htm);

Conform to fertilizer good environmental practices as per the USAID/AFR Fertilizer Factsheet (available at www.encapafrica.org/egssaa/AFR_Fertilizer__Factsheet_Jun04.pdf )

17

http://www.usaidgems.org/sectorGuidelines.htm


Substantially conform to good agricultural and irrigation practices as set out in USAID’s Sector Environmental Guidance for Irrigation and Agriculture (http://www.usaidgems.org/sectorGuidelines.htm).

Promote long-term sustainability of water resources in balance with community and ecosystem needs by maximizing water use efficiency and minimizing water quality impacts from wastewater discharges and erosion and nutrient/agrochemical runoff. https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1865/Safeguarding%20the%20World's%20Water_FY14_USAID_FINAL.pdf

Identify and promote Climate-Smart Agriculture practicese.g. https://cgspace.cgiar.org/rest/bitstreams/34363/retrievehttp://ifdc.org/fertilizer-deep-placement/

- train farmers on integrated pest management using ICT-assisted extension and field school approaches

If the training contains use of pesticides, an improper training may result in significant environmental impact due to an improper use of pesticides as:

- Intrinsic danger to all living creatures, including humans

- Resistance developed by pests- Environmental accumulation of residues

A negative determination is recommended pursuant to 22CFR 216.3(a)(3)(iii) and (§216.3(b)(l)(i) subject to the following conditions:If the project plans the assistance for procurement or use of pesticides, a Pesticide Evaluation Report and Safer Use Action Plan should be prepared and submitted for USAID approval. The project is encouraged to be part of the PERSUAP of REGIS-ER and AG in the process of elaboration.

Reference for IPM: http://www.usaidgems.org/Sectors/ipm.htm- Construction or repair of

warehouseConstruction projects may cause both direct and indirect potential adverse environmental impacts

A negative determination is recommended pursuant to 22CFR 216.3(a)(3)(iii) and (§216.3(b)(l)(i) subject to the following conditions:

1) Construction Screening must be done for each activity and address conformance with, or variation from, each of the principal elements within USAID’s preferred approach to construction (i.e., Construction Risk Mandatory Reference). These principal elements are:

a) Perform pre-design/pre-construction analyses;

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http://www.usaidgems.org/Sectors/ipm.htm

http://ifdc.org/fertilizer-deep-placement/

https://cgspace.cgiar.org/rest/bitstreams/34363/retrieve

https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1865/Safeguarding%20the%20World's%20Water_FY14_USAID_FINAL.pdf



b) Engage a USAID qualified engineering when available and where appropriate for project management;

c) Complete the engineering design by a licensed engineering firm;

d) Integrate operations and maintenance considerations in the project planning;

e) Use a Design-Bid-Build project delivery approach;f) Establish appropriate minimum qualifications and

experience for construction contractors;g) Use a firm fixed price contract for construction;h) Put performance bonding, guarantees, and warranty

requirements in construction contract;i) Contract an independent engineering firm for quality

assurance; and,j) Use fully-funded contract mechanisms for construction

related activities.

2) Construction will be undertaken in a manner generally consistent with the guidance for environmentally sound construction, provided in the Small-Scale Construction chapter of the USAID Sector Environmental Guidelines (http://www.usaidgems.org/sectorGuidelines.htm). At a minimum, (1) During construction, prevent sediment-heavy run-off from cleared site or material stockpiles to any surface waters or fields with berms, by covering sand/dirt piles, or by choice of location. (Only applies if construction occurs during rainy season.); (2) Construction must be managed so that no standing water on the site persists more than 4 days; (3) IPs must require their general contractor to certify that it is neither extracting fill, sand, or gravel from waterways or ecologically sensitive areas, nor is it knowingly purchasing these materials from vendors who do so; and (4) IPs must identify and implement any feasible measures to increase

19

the probability that timber is procured from legal, well-managed sources.

IR2.2: Increased productivity of small ruminants

Activities:

- train Association leaders on the

animal-fattening business plan



- link animal fatteners with quality

live animals



- improve animal husbandry and

animal health

Environmental impacts associated with livestock rearing can include generation of waste and pollution of water bodies, overgrazing, and incorrect handling of animal products for the market.


Animal fattening: feed management and pasture improvement, growing nutrient-rich crops just for animals, and storing fodder and hay for dry season useStorage units: constructed in a safe and site-adapted manner.Production of livestock-based goods to be sold in public markets: follow health and hygiene practices and guidelines for disposal of waste and use of chemicals (found in USAID EGSSAA documentation, specifically Livestock Production, Leather Processing, and Food Processing)http://www.usaidgems.org/Sectors/livestock.htm

Animal health activities (vaccinations): guidelines in EGSSAA Livestock Production and Medical Waste documentationhttp://www.usaidgems.org/Sectors/healthcareWaste.htm

- contract with Ministry of

Livestock to provide technical

Training farmers in animal health can include generation of waste. If these wastes are not properly managed they could have negative


20

http://www.usaidgems.org/Sectors/healthcareWaste.htm

http://www.usaidgems.org/Sectors/livestock.htm

assistance and training to farmers

in animal health and animal care

technics

impacts in environment and human health Farmers should be trained in Environmental Sound management practices of medical wastes and environmentally sound best practices on animal care

Refer to http://www.usaidgems.org/Sectors/healthcareWaste.htm

And: http://www.usaidgems.org/Sectors/livestock.htm

- equip Producers Enterprise

Agents (PEAs) with basic

supplies and will provide village-

level technical support on animal

care, feeding practices and disease

recognition

Mismanagement of veterinary wastes (syringes, nodules …) could be harmful to human and environment.


PEAs should be trained in Environmental Sound management practices of medical wastes before receiving veterinary equipment.Refer to http://www.usaidgems.org/Sectors/healthcareWaste.htm

They should also be trained on best management of livestock projects: refer to: http://www.usaidgems.org/Sectors/livestock.htm

IR2.3: Increased marketing capacity

Activities:

- support market identification and planning for warehouse financing (or warrantage) and provide technical support to the FAs’ business plan development, negotiation and contracting



- provide technical support and training to

men and women producers on post-harvest

management practices



21





- provide additional training and mentoring

for warehouse management committees.



IR3: Increased access to financial services

Activities:

- educate of Farmers Associations

members on options for safe,

mobile e-savings



- strengthen saving groups in

management, planning, record-

keeping, functional literacy and

use of mobile micro-credit



- Facilitate access to finance with

through partners Bank (Ecobank)


USAID, including the MEO and REO, will evaluate the financial Institution’s environmental policies for sufficiency to ensure compliance with the environmental provisions of the standard language in the Guarantee Agreement.

The partner financial institution will determine, assess and manage environmental and social risk in project finance. It is primarily intended to provide a minimum standard for due diligence to support responsible risk decision-making.

The USAID Sector Environmental Guidelines for Micro and Small Enterprises (http://www.usaidgems.org/sectorGuidelines.htm) and the Environmental Guidelines for Small Scale Activities in Africa (http://www.encapafrica.org/egssaa.htm), specifically Section I on

22


Agriculture and Irrigation, and Section XI Livestock production, will inform compliance with these conditions, and should be considered for use in training of the lender (Guaranteed Party) and appropriate parties.

Also, principals of Equator Protocol should be followed:http://www.equator-principles.com/resources/equator_principles_III.pdf

IR4: Increased (physical) market infrastructure

Activities

- Increase mobile coverage to underserved

communities in the project zone to enable

ICT-assisted activities (activity planned by

the Telephone Company)



Objective 2: Strengthen the organizational capacity, integration and sustainability of farmer associations to help households manage risk and leverage opportunitiesIR 1: Strengthened organizational, technical and management capacity

IR1.1: Strengthen organizational capacities

Activities

- Assess Farmers Associations These activities are not anticipated to have any adverse impacts on the physical and biological environment.


- Provide training, technical support

and mentoring for men and

women members and elected

leaders in Farmers Organizations



23

http://www.equator/

IR 1.2: Strengthened private extension capacity

Activities:

- Enable private extension capacity

via Private Enterprise Agents as a

sustainable business service

embedded within each farmer

association using existing

extension training content



- work with Airtel and IT service

providers to design, reconfigure

or adapt components of the

platform



IR 2: Strengthened disaster risk management capacity

IR 2.1: Strengthened informal social safety nets

Activities:- Assist informal social safety nets

with business, operations and management planning to help ensure sustainability and promote learning and potential replication

Possible negative social impacts:- The social cohesion could be threatened if

the training and principles applied are not adapted to the culture and local traditions.


- Communities should be involved in the process- consider of feasible environmentally and socially preferable

credit and loan options

24

among other groups when promising practices are identified.

IR 2.2: Early warning protocols implemented

- use of ICTs to expand coverage of

the early warning systems (EWS)

in Tahoua and Maradi regions



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3.2 Climate Risk Management: Niger LWR GDA Alliance for ResilienceThis section summarizes the climate risk management (CRM) screening for this activity.

ACTIVITY CRM TOOL OUTPUT MATRIX: CLIMATE RISKS, OPPORTUNITIES, AND ACTIONS* = A required element, per the Mandatory Reference # Project elements may include Purpose / Sub-purpose, Areas of Focus, or Activities / Mechanisms, etc.

1.1: Defined or Anticipated

Tasks or Interventions*

1.2: Time- frame

1.3:Geo-

graphy

2: Climate Risks*

3:Adaptive Capacity

4:Climate

Risk Rating*

5: Opportunities6.1:

Climate Risk Management

Options

6.2:How Climate

Risks Are Addressed in the Activity*

7:Next Steps for

Activity Implementation*

8:Accepted Climate Risks*

Construction of a new warehouse, and rehabilitation of existing warehouses

The planned life of the building. Likely at least 30 years and potentially much more.

New warehouse: Lléla

Rehab of existing warehouse: Dakoro

Temperature

Temperatures in West Africa Sahel are expected to increase by 3-6° C by 2100 (Climate Change Risk Profile: West Africa Sahel climatelinks.org)

Increased temperatures could lead to:

Increased cost of cooling

Deterioration of construction materials due to thermal stress.

Both surface and groundwater decreased availability due

Capacity to build on:

Government:

The Government of Niger has a “3N initiative” known as “Nigeriens feed Nigeriens”; this initiative is aimed at improving food and nutritional security while promoting sustainable agriculture.

Plans and Strategies:There are several climate related projects and plans, including a Food Security and Development Support Project in the Maradi Region, and a USAID

High

Use the most up-to-date information about how the climate is changing over the long-term to make construction site decisions.

Use locally sourced material that can withstand local climate conditions now an in the future.

Use recommendations from design firms about disaster risk reduction.

Consider how flooding at local sites has historically

Conduct Construction Risk Screening.

Follow good practice and design standards for water and sanitation, consider future climate impacts, such as increased temperatures and increases intensity of storms, when designing water and sanitation.

Include CRM in Environmental Compliance documents and implement the projects EMMP.

Ensure construction firms are aware of climate risk

Engineer-of-record will include CRM as part of engineering design.

Construction will follow engineering design.

Follow good practice and design standards for water and sanitation, consider future climate impacts, such as increased temperatures and increases intensity of storms, when designing water and sanitation.

Ensure engineering design contract includes the following language: Engineering analysis preceding design activities must include consideration of climate change and its potential impacts on the location (siting), functionality, and sustainability of resulting infrastructure and infrastructure services. Such analysis must include identification of relevant data sets and gaps, review of local building standards and codes for adequacy, and determination of safety factors or other measures of uncertainty that will

None

26



1.2: Time- frame

1.3:Geo-

graphy

2: Climate Risks*

3:Adaptive Capacity

4:Climate

Risk Rating*



Options

6.2:How Climate


7:Next Steps for



to evapotranspiration, this could especially impact kitchen, borehole, and laboratory construction and function.

Increased stress and demands on water resources, including potable water, because of demands from other sectors, mainly agriculture.

report: Climate Change and Conflict in the Sahel: Findings from Niger And Burkina Faso (March 2014; http://www.fess-global.org/Publications/Other/FESS%20Sahel_Case_Study.pdf).

Gaps in Capacity

There is a lack of weather and climate related monitoring stations.

There is a need to include climate change information and adaptation techniques across national strategic planning, including for education and construction.

There is a need for skills and resources at the local level to prepare for future climate change.

impacted access to services.

prior to construction, and follow practices that are suitable for local weather and climate conditions.

Meet minimum Disaster Risk Reduction standards in terms of structural integrity, particularly considering future climate projects.

Evaluate sites for potential flooding and water issues due to droughts.

Continue to build climate awareness and local capacity to adapt to climate change.

Consider water availability, and future use, during site selection.

Include CRM in Environmental Compliance documents and implement the projects EMMP.

Ensure construction firms are aware of climate risk prior to construction, and follow practices that are suitable for local weather and climate conditions.

Meet minimum Disaster Risk Reduction standards in terms of structural integrity, particularly considering future climate projects.

Continue to build climate awareness and local capacity to adapt to

be carried through design. The results of this analysis, including risks identified and how they are addressed, shall be documented.]

Design will include, amongst other things: 1) evaluation of sites for potential flooding, water issues due to droughts and increased temperatures, 2) analysis of how climate change will impact construction design, including material selection, and long-term use of buildings.

27



1.2: Time- frame

1.3:Geo-

graphy

2: Climate Risks*

3:Adaptive Capacity

4:Climate

Risk Rating*



Options

6.2:How Climate


7:Next Steps for



There is an overall lack of funding in the government to address national climate change priorities.

climate change.

Consider water availability, and future use, during site selection.

Rainfall and extreme weather and climate

Niger is likely to experience a later beginning and earlier end to the rainy season. In addition, rainfall events are likely to be more severe, but less frequent. Increased number dry and hotter days could lead to increased drought. Potential impacts include:

Building functions and services, such as providing water, getting rid of waste, or food

High

See above See above Changes in food and water security, as well as health, due to climate change impacts throughout Niger.

28



1.2: Time- frame

1.3:Geo-

graphy

2: Climate Risks*

3:Adaptive Capacity

4:Climate

Risk Rating*



Options

6.2:How Climate


7:Next Steps for



storage, disrupted due to flooding and heat waves.

Ground and surface water availability and quality decreased during droughts and floods.

Increased damage to building infrastructure due to flooding.

Lack of drainage for infrastructure, or building sites, in extreme flooding events.

Changes in food and water security, as well as health, due to climate change impacts throughout Niger.

29

4. RESTRICTION, IMPLEMENTATION, AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS

4.1. GENERAL RESTRICTIONS: PESTICIDES

This IEE does NOT authorize support for pesticides, including their procurement, use, transport, storage or disposal. Any pesticide activity proposed under this program would necessitate an amended IEE, including all elements of analysis required by 22CFR216.3 (b) under USAID Pesticide Procedures.

4.2. GENERAL PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS

In addition to the specific conditions enumerated in the table above, the negative determination with conditions recommended in this IEE are contingent upon full implementation of the following general monitoring and implementation requirements.

In addition:1. The USAID/SRO shall provide the Implementing Partner (hereinafter IP), with a copy of

this IEE; the IP shall be briefed on its environmental compliance responsibilities by the cognizant C/AOR. During this briefing, the IEE conditions applicable to the IP’s activities will be identified.

2. Development of EMMP. The IP shall develop and provide for C/AOR review and approval an Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plan (EMMP) documenting how the project will implement and verify all IEE conditions that apply to its activities.

This EMMP shall identify how the IP shall assure that IEE conditions that apply to activities supported under subcontracts and sub-grants are implemented. (In the case of large sub-grants or subcontracts, the IP may elect to require the sub-grantee/subcontractor to develop their own EMMP.)

(Note: The AFR EMMP Factsheet provides EMMP guidance and sample EMMP formats: http://www.usaidgems.org/Documents/lopDocs/ENCAP_EMMP_Factsheet_22Jul2011.pdf )

3. Integration and implementation of EMMP. The IP shall integrate the EMMP into the project work plan and budget, implement the EMMP, and report on its implementation as an element of regular project performance reporting.

The IP shall assure that subcontractors and subgrantees integrate implementation of IEE conditions, where applicable, into their own project work plans and budgets and report on their implementation as an element of sub-contract or grant performance reporting.

4. The cognizant USAID team will also ensure that provisions of the IEE concerning mitigative measures and the conditions specified herein along with the requirement to monitor be incorporated in all implementation instruments and sub-agreements issued under these instruments. IP shall assure that sub-contracts and sub-grant agreements reference, and require compliance with, relevant elements of these conditions.

30

Any grants or fund transfers from organizations receiving USAID funds to other organizations must incorporate provisions that the activities to be undertaken will be within the scope of the environmental determinations and recommendations of this IEE. If any ongoing activities fall outside the scope of the approved Regulation 216 environmental documentation, the activities shall be halted until an amendment to the documentation is submitted and written approval is received from USAID.

Grant proposals will be evaluated using the Environmental Review Form (ERF) see annex 1. An ERF and EMMP will be completed by the implementing partner and approved by the A/COR before any commitment of resources to the interventions in question. Any mitigation measures or design conditions specified by the approved ERF must be implemented by the partner/grantee; these measures and conditions will be informed by and substantially conform to best practices outlined in the USAID‘s Sector Environmental Guidelines available at http://usaidgems.org/sectorGuidelines.htm .

5. Assurance of sub-grantee and sub-contractor capacity and compliance. IPs shall assure that sub-grantees and subcontractors have the capability to implement the relevant requirements of this IEE. The IP shall, as and if appropriate, provide training to sub-grantees and subcontractors in their environmental compliance responsibilities and in environmentally sound design and management (ESDM) of their activities. As required by ADS 204.5.4, the USAID team must actively monitor activities for compliance with approved IEE conditions for implementation, and modify or end activities that are not in compliance.

6. Private sector partners (Ecobank, Airtel, Société Henri Biaugeaud, Margaret A. Cargill Foundation, Ron Frehner and Deb Murray) shall provide for review by USAID/Senegal’s Mission Environmental Officer (MEO) and the Regional Environmental Officer (REO) a copy of their environmental policies and procedures as a condition precedent to this Guarantee Agreement and ensure compliance with Niger environmental law and the environmental conditions of the agreement, as required under the agreement.

7. If USAID or the Implementing Partners plan any new activities or substantial modifications to existing activities outside the scope of the approved Regulation 216 environmental documentation, an amendment shall be prepared to the documentation for USAID review and approval. No such new activities shall be undertaken prior to receiving written USAID approval of environmental documentation amendments. The conditions in this section shall be incorporated into the contract language for each mechanism working under the project. The management team should consult the paper “Environmental Compliance: Language for use in solicitations and awards” for guidance.

8. Nothing in this IEE substitutes for or supersedes IP, sub-grantee and subcontractor responsibility for compliance with all applicable host country laws and regulations. The IP, sub-grantees and subcontractor must comply with host country environmental

31

regulations unless otherwise directed in writing by USAID. However, in case of conflict between host country and USAID regulations, the latter shall govern.

9. If activities are carried out in areas of the country that USAID staff cannot visit because of security concerns, every effort will be made to provide acceptable monitoring and evaluation for environmental compliance. An appropriate plan for monitoring and evaluation will be agreed upon by the A/COR and the Mission Environmental Officer before implementation of activities in insecure areas or within a reasonable amount of time in areas where activities are already being implemented.

ANNEX 1: Environmental Screening Form for subprojects/sub-grants (to be filled by the sub-grantees)

A. Applicant information Organization Parent grant or project

32

Individual contact and title

Address, phone & email (if available)

Proposed subproject /subgrant(brief description)

Amount of funding requested

Period of performance

Location(s) of proposed activities

B. Activities, screening results, and findingsScreening result

(Step 3 of instructions)Findings

(Step 6 of instructions. Complete for all moderate/unknown and high-risk

activities ONLY)

Proposed activities(Provide DESCRIPTIVE listing. Continue on additional page if necessary)

Ver

y Lo

w R

isk

Hig

h-R

isk*

Mod

erat

e or

un

know

n ris

k*

sign

ifica

nt a

dver

se

impa

cts a

re v

ery

unlik

ely

With

spec

ified

m

itiga

tion,

si

gnifi

cant

adv

erse

im

pact

s are

ver

y un

likel

ySi

gnifi

cant

A

dver

se im

pact

s ar

e po

ssib

le

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

*These screening results require completion of an Environmental Review Report

33

C. Certification:I, the undersigned, certify that:1. The information on this form and accompanying environmental review report (if any) is correct and complete.

2. Implementation of these activities will not go forward until specific approval is received from the C/AOTR.

3. All mitigation and monitoring measures specified in the Environmental Review Report will be implemented in their entirety, and that staff charged with this implementation will have the authority, capacity and knowledge for successful implementation.

(Signature) (Date)

(Print name) (Title)

Note: if screening results for any activity are “high risk” or “moderate or unknown risk,” this form is not complete unless accompanied by an environmental review report.

BELOW THIS LINE FOR USAID USE ONLY Notes:1. For clearance to be granted, the activity MUST be within the scope of the activities for which use of the ERF is authorized in the governing IEE. Review IEE before signature. If activities are outside this scope, deny clearance and provide explanation in comments section. The Partner, C/AOTR, MEO and REA must then confer regarding next steps: activity re-design, an IEE or EA.2. Clearing an ERF containing one or more findings that significant adverse impacts are possible indicates agreement with the analysis and findings. It does NOT authorize activities for which “significant adverse impacts are possible” to go forward. It DOES authorize other activities to go forward. The Partner, C/AOTR, MEO and REA must then confer regarding next steps: activity re-design, an IEE or EA.

Clearance recordC/AOTR Clearance given

Clearance denied

(print name) (signature) (date)

USAID/Senegal MEO Clearance given

Clearance denied


Regional Env. Advisor (REA) Clearance given

Clearance denied


C/AOTR, MEO and REA clearance is required. BEO clearance is required for all “high risk” screening results and for findings of “significant adverse impacts possible. The BEO may review”

Note: if clearance is denied, comments must be provided to applicant (use space below & attach sheets if necessary)

34

Supplement to the Environmental Review Form for Natural Resources ActivitiesAdditional Screening Criteria for Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance Project –Senegal

PurposeThis is a supplement to the “Instructions for environmental review of Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance Project activities.” It is to be used for natural resources-based activities, including:

Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM)

Ecotourism

Natural resources-based enterprise development with micro- and small enterprises

This supplement provides additional questions to ascertain whether these proposed activities should be categorized as “very low risk:”

If the answers to ALL the questions that follow are “NO,” then the proposed natural resource-based activity is considered “very low risk.”

If the answer to ANY question is “YES,” the activity CANNOT be considered “very low risk.”

Screening criteria

Will the activities… YES NO

Natural Resources

Accelerate erosion by water or wind?

Reduce soil fertility and/or permeability?

Alter existing stream flow, reduce seasonal availability of water resources?

Potentially contaminate surface water and groundwater supplies?

Involve the extraction of renewable natural resources?

Lead to unsustainable use of renewable natural resources such as forest products?

Involve the extraction of non-renewable natural resources?

Restrict customary access to natural resources?

Reduce local air quality through generating dust, burning of wastes or using fossil fuels and other materials in improperly ventilated areas?

Affect dry-season grazing areas and/or lead to restricted access to a common resource?

Lead to unsustainable or unnecessarily high water extraction and/or wasteful use?

Ecosystems and Biodiversity

Drain wetlands, or be sited on floodplains?

Harvest wetland plant materials or utilize sediments of bodies of water?

Lead to the clearing of forestlands for agriculture, the over-harvesting of valuable forest species?

Promote in-forest bee keeping?

Lead to increased hunting, or the collection of animals or plant materials?

Increase the risks to endangered or threatened species?

Introduce new exotic species of plants or animals to the area?

35

Will the activities… YES NO

Lead to road construction or rehabilitation, or otherwise facilitate access to fragile areas (natural woodlands, wetlands, erosion-prone areas)?

Cause disruption of wildlife migratory routes?

Agricultural and Forestry Production

Have an impact on existing or traditional agricultural production systems by reducing seed availability or reallocating land for other purposes?

Lead to forest plantation harvesting without replanting, the burning of pastureland, or a reduction in fallow periods?

Affect existing food storage capacities by reducing food inventories or encouraging the incidence of pests?

Affect domestic livestock by reducing grazing areas, or creating conditions where livestock disease problems could be exacerbated?

Involve the use of insecticides, herbicides and/or other pesticides?

Community and Social Issues

Have a negative impact on potable water supplies?

Encourage domestic animal migration through natural areas?

Change the existing land tenure system?

Have a negative impact on culturally important sites in the community?

Increase in-migration to the area?

Create conditions that lead to a reduction in community health standards?

Lead to the generation of non-biodegradable waste?

Involve the relocation of the local community?

Potentially cause or aggravate land-use conflicts?

36