initial environmental examination · the rest dfsa environmental safeguard and compliance...

INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION Environmental Threshold Decision Memo PROJECT/ACTIVITY DATA

Project/Activity Name: Tigray Productive Safety Net Program 4 (TPSNP4) Amendment (Y/N): No Geographic Location(s) (Country/Region): Ethiopia Implementation Start/End: September 30, 2016 - September 29, 2021 Solicitation/Contract/Award Number: AID-FFP-A-16-00006 Implementing Partner(s): REST Tracking ID/link: TBD

ORGANIZATIONAL/ADMINISTRATIVE DATA

Implementing Operating Unit(s):

(e.g. Mission or Bureau or Office)

DCHA Food for Peace (FFP)

Funding Operating Unit(s):

(e.g. Mission or Bureau or Office)

DCHA Food for Peace (FFP)

Funding Account(s): Title II Funding Amount: $192,840,800 Other Affected Unit(s): AFR Lead BEO Bureau: DCHA Prepared by: Haftay Tsegay Date Prepared: 5/19/2017

ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE REVIEW DATA

Analysis Type: • Initial Environmental Examination Environmental Determination(s): • Categorical Exclusion

• Negative Determination with Conditions Initial Environmental Examination Expiration

Date:

End of Project September 29, 2021

Climate Risks Identified (#): Low ______ Moderate ___X___ High ______ Climate Risks Addressed (#): Low ______ Moderate ___X___ High ______

1

DCHA/FFP/REST-TPSNP4

INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION APPROVAL MEMO

USAID BUREAU ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER APPROVAL

This BEO Decision Memo is to inform REST that the TPSNP4 IEE has been approved with Conditions (below and Attachment 1) by the DCHA Bureau Environmental Officer (BEO), on May 29, 2018.

__________________________________________________________________________

SUMMARY OF DCHA BUREAU SPECIFIC CONDITIONS 1 Condition 1: REST irrigation activities have been reclassified as a Positive Determination and hence must re-submit the Environmental Assessment (EA) for irrigation activities (incl. watershed rehabilitation like check dams).

Condition 2: REST must reallocate TPSNP4 resources in the project to ensure effectiveness and efficiency of the pest management and pesticide utilization, as are currently deficient. Condition 3: REST must develop a Water Quality Assurance Plan (WQAP), including fluoride, to address water contamination concerns. Condition 4: REST must update their Climate Risk Management (CRM) screening based on suggestions provided. Condition 5: REST must ensure that sufficient funds are allocated in order to ensure environmental compliance and completion of assessments; the REST environmental budget will need to be updated during annual reporting.

1 Required details pertaining to these Conditions are found in Attachment 1.

2

FFP ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE FACESHEET FOR THE TITLE II DEVELOPMENT FOOD SECURITY ACTIVITY (DFSA)

INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION

Activity/Project Title: Title II Development Food Security Activity, REST Tigray Productive Safety Net Program 4 (TPSNP4) FY2016/FY2020 Contract/Award Name & Number: Geographic Location (Country)/ Region/Global): Tigray/Ethiopia/Horn of Africa Operating Unit(s): DCHA Food for Peace

Amendment Supplemental IEE

DCN and date of Office-Level IEE: Link: Amendment No.: N/A

Annual Funding Amount: $42,620,900 Life of Project Amount: $192,840,800

Implementation Start/End: 09/30/2016 to 09/29/2021 IEE Prepared By: Haftay Tsegay Date Prepared: 05/19/2017

Implementing Partner: Relief Society of Tigray (REST)

Recommended Threshold Determination:

X Categorical Exclusion Negative Determination With Conditions

Positive Determination Deferral X

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS:

The main purpose of activities under the REST Tigray Productive Safety Net Program 4 (TPSNP4) is to address the underlying causes of food insecurity in twelve woredas in Tigray by making vulnerable rural men and women more resilient to shocks, and increasingly food, nutrition and livelihood secure. To achieve this goal, beneficiary communities together with the local government and REST have identified and prioritized activities that are both achievable and climate smart. Most planned activities will be implemented as Public Works with substantial technical support, and the involvement of some skilled technicians for certain components. REST in collaboration with other pertinent stakeholders will supervise and monitor these activities during implementation, and will evaluate the achievements on the basis of technical performance, climatic risks and overall objectives. Sample woreda and tabia sites have already been identified, assessed and checked for their climate risks and characteristics. In addition, REST together with government experts have consulted, and referred to research studies and documents to better understand the climate risks associated with TPSNP4 activities, and to obtain lessons and experiences. Hence, based on these references, field assessments, REST and other stakeholder experiences, the activities have systematically been rated for their climate risks. Activities rated as low

X

are: trainings, exposure visits, formation of associations, review meetings, formation of multi sectorial forums, literacy programs, workshops, interface meetings, handing over of materials and other similar activities. Activities rated as moderate for their climate risks are: all physical and biological soil and water conservation measures; water harvesting structures for percolation, irrigation, livestock watering points and all irrigation infrastructures; construction of food storage facilities and food commodity distribution; nursery management for tree and fruit seedling production and grass splits and seed multiplication; FMNR, area enclosures and tree seedling plantation and vegetative plant management; provision of improved grass and vegetable seeds, and fruit seedlings; water lifting technologies; oxen driven mold board plowing; transferring of livelihood assets; micro-garden management; and road construction. Annex 2 of this IEE clarifies how risks are addressed and the available opportunities to strengthen climate resilience (See Activity level climate risk management table). Overall, stakeholders at regional and tabia level identified climate risks for all activities and incorporated solutions into the plan, ensuring that activities are strictly implemented, supervised and monitored with care in order to avoid climate risks. Stakeholders will also consider principles that help to integrate climate smart approaches under each purpose (especially incorporate experiences from the Climate Smart Initiative pilot projects in Ethiopia). The purpose of this Food for Peace (FFP) Initial Environmental Examination is to analyze and document the REST DFSA environmental safeguard and compliance requirements, as described in section IV of the FFP FY2016 RFA1. ENVIRONMENTAL THRESHOLD RECOMMENDATIONS:

The proposed Title II DFSA development activities are rated from low to moderate risks. Accordingly, Environmental Threshold recommended by the IEE including possible mitigation measures, monitoring systems and the responsible parties specified in this IEE for Bureau Environmental Officer decision. (1) Categorical exclusion: A Categorical Exclusion, per 22 CFR 216.2(c) (1) (i) and 216.2(c) (2) (v) is recommended for the following activities under Purpose (P): P1, P2, P3 and P4:

- Facilitate provision of client cards & aware them with their entitlement - Advocacy on primacy of transfer at regional & district level - Develop fixed transfer schedule & follow up - Purchase and provision of construction, agricultural materials and tools, Effective micro-organism

and oxen driven mold board to targeted beneficiaries and school furniture (combined desk; shelf for reading corner; teacher’s chair), watering cane to micro garden beneficiaries

- Conduct awareness creation on environmental management. - Benefit Women/men HHs in the community from the communal resources - Business plan preparation - Community facilitators coach target beneficiaries - Mandatory saving for livelihood asset transfer beneficiaries - Link to beneficiaries to DECSI, traders and suppliers - Formation and strengthen of: Producers groups, water user associations and watershed bylaws - Beneficiary selection - Institutional delivery services

1 https://www.usaid.gov/what-we-do/agriculture-and-food-security/food-assistance/programs/development-programs

- Micro garden development and composting - Family planning - Growth monitoring services - Hand washing with soap and water before and after food preparation, - Proper use of toilet - Properly wash of food utensils,

A Categorical Exclusion, per 216.2(c)(2)(i) is recommended for the following activities under P1, P2 and P3: Training activities on:

- PIM to steering committees, WFSTF, TFSTF, CFSTF and Tabia appeal committees; commodity and ware house management to ware house staffs; on environment to community level environmental committees and user groups; Watershed management for Woreda Experts’; for new apportioned hillside group users / Land less youths; community and sectoral DRM training; Early Warning (EW) and DRM for woreda EW committees; Early warning and DRM for Regional EW committees; Risk Reduction Techniques and Technologies; Tree Nursery Management; Agroforestry practices and Farmer managed natural regeneration (FMNR) practices and utilization; Renewable and energy saving technologies to beneficiaries; GIS-Arc view software for Woreda field staff; diversified coping to farmers; Small Scale Water harvesting technologies to farmers and experts; Irrigation water harvesting technologies (Underground + surface water) to farmers and experts; water use efficiency for water user association leaders; water lifting technology to beneficiaries; Different Agronomic/cultural Practices of fruit & vegetable production to beneficiaries; irrigation water cooperatives principles ;Fruit nursery management & grafting to fruit nursery staffs; improved farm implement (mold board plough operation) to beneficiaries; Livestock feed treatment and improvement (using OEM) to beneficiaries; Irrigation Structure Designing Software for REST HQ IDD staff to study and design staff; farmers on climate smart water, soil fertility and soil management; Business Skills training for vulnerable groups; coaching and technical support for facilitators; Functional Adult Literacy (FAL); Alternative Basic Education for boys and girls (ABE); Women Literacy Program (WLP); Initial and refreshment training for ABE facilitators; FAL facilitators Initial and refreshment ;WLP Facilitators initial and refreshment; IGA practices and financial service giving institutions; commercial market to farmers;

A categorical Exclusion, per216.2(c)(2)(i), (viii) is recommended for the following activities under P4: Training activities on:

- nutrition sensitive sector to experts; nutrition and environmental sanitation to Religious leaders and community representatives; family planning HIV/AIDS, environmental sanitation & nutrition promotion to drama club members; nutrition & adolescent girls club to school students; micro garden development to beneficiaries; health and nutrition education to beneficiaries through mobile van

A categorical Exclusion, per 216.2(c)(2)(iii) and 216.2(c)(1)(i) is recommended for the following activities under P1 and P3: (meetings, workshops and exposure visits):

- Facilitate interface meeting & joint monitoring of transfer between clients & service providers - Workshop on area closure hand over and exit strategy - Conduct Multi-stakeholder forum on DRM - Multi sectoral plat form on Natural resource management activities - Interface meeting between financial service providers and beneficiaries

- Interface meeting between financial service providers and beneficiaries - Centers Management Committee workshop - Experience sharing on GRAD VESA approach - Learning visit for ABE, FAL, WLP and CMC

A categorical Exclusion, per 216.2(c)(2)(iii), (Viii) and 216.2(c)(1)(i) is recommended for the following activities under P4: (nutrition based activities)

- Establish nutrition & adolescent girl clubs - Identifying and screening best performing HHs on nutrition activities and Provision of certificate - Use of clean water for drinking and food preparation, - Anti-natal care and Post-natal care (on feeding practice of women, immunization)

(2) Negative determination with conditions: A negative Determination with condition, subject to the condition that must per, 216.3(a)(2)(i), (iii) is recommended for the following activities under P1, P2, P3 and P4:

- Physical soil and water conservation measures:( hillside terrace, stone bund, bench terracing, micro basins (half-moon, herring bone, eyebrow basin) and trench bunds)

- Hallow block warehouse - Gully rehabilitation measures: (loose rock check dams (LRCDs), gabion check dams (GCDs)

and sand bag check dams(SBCDs)) - Biological soil and water conservation measures: (collection of grass seeds, grasses and sisal

seedling production and planting of vegetative propagating plants, grass cuttings and splits on treated gullies and catchments)

- Forestry Development activities:(Area enclosure, tree nursery operation and management, tree seedling production and planting; collection and direct sowing of economic legume seeds)

- Direct surface activities to recharge ground water table (percolation ponds, percolation channels and deep trenches)

- Tree watering pond /hillside rainwater harvesting ponds) - Small scale irrigation schemes: (spring development, spate irrigation, water harvesting

checkdams and flood, small river diversion, electrical Pumps, underground check dams and open hand dug wells and mini-dams)

- Agricultural inputs;(purchase of improved and local fruit and vegetable seeds, production and provision of fruit and vegetable seedlings (grafted mango, orange, apple, Papaya, guava, tomato, onion, cabbage, Swiss chard, lettuce and pepper))

- Compost pit preparation - livestock water ponds with trough - Livestock forage development (over sowing of improved and local forage seeds) - community road/feeder road (DS 9 and DS10) - Transfer of productive assets (grants) to asset poor HHs, (on –farm activities-goats and sheep

fattening, rearing and poultry production) - Construction of teaching class rooms and dry latrines - Purchase and Provision of improved vegetable seeds to micro-garden beneficiaries

5/29/18

x

APPROVAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIONS RECOMMENDED:

A. Missio

Mission Environment

' B. Food fo eace, Washington Clearances

Agreement Officer's Representative (AOR) ~ W~ Date: VZ.@ 12..-1 I I (?

Agreement Officer (AO)/Director _ _ ~~-------=""""----·Date: 12.. h 3 /1 I 7 ~

C. Concurrence

Bureau Environment Officer, OCHA _ _ ti_~_fk_a:__.:::...J_. _ct_e_S_C_e_~_i __ Erika Clesceri

DApproved 0 Not Approved

CC: Relevant Regional BEO

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4

Date: - ----

REST Initial Environmental Examination Title II TPSNP4 FY2016/FY2020 5

TITLE II INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION (IEE)

Food Aid Program Data Food Aid Program Name: REST Title II Tigray Productive Safety Net Program 4 (TPSNP4) Food Aid Program Category: Title II Development Food Security Activity Awardee: Relief Society of Tigray (REST) Host Country: Tigray/Ethiopia Food Aid Program Life of Award:

FY2016 to FY2020

1. Background and Activity Description

1.1 IEE Purpose and Scope

This Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) is prepared for the approved five-year REST/Ethiopia Title II Development Food Security Activity (DFSA) pursuant with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Environmental Procedures (22 CFR 216)2, Agency Automated Directives System (ADS)3 part 204 requirements, and the 2014 President Obama Executive order 136774. This IEE presents a review of the reasonably foreseeable effects on the environment of the development activities proposed under the REST/DFSA. It provides Threshold Decisions as to whether an Environmental Assessment or an Environmental Impact Statement will be required. In addition, this IEE incorporates a Climate Risk Management Plan in accordance with findings of the REST field assessment. The field assessment for climate risk and environment was carried out pursuant to USAID’s Climate Risk Screening and Management Tool5, and environmental screening processes detailed under Regulation 2166 . The processes used for the REST IEE preparation includes data collecting, compilation and analysis, and the development of an Environmental Mitigation and Management Plan (EMMP). REST carried out this IEE process in collaboration with stakeholders through continuous meetings and field visits to observe environmental consequences of the proposed development activities and the impact of climate change upon them. Adherence to the procedures in this IEE is not in lieu of any environmental assessment procedures required under Ethiopian law, nor can adherence to Ethiopia’s environmental policy 7 including the Government Environmental Social Management Framework Revised Guidelines

2 USAID 22 CFR 216 Agency Environmental Procedures,

http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/environment/compliance/reg216.pdf 3 USAID’s Automated Directive System (ADS) chapter part

204:https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1865/204.pdf 4 Climate-Resilient International Development Memorandum of September 23, 2014 -Deepening U.S.

Government Efforts To Collaborate With and Strengthen Civil Society: Source, https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2014-09-26/pdf/2014-23228.pdf

5 USAID Climate Risk Screening and Management Tool: Source, https://www.climatelinks.org/resources/climate-risk-screening-management-tool

6 USAID’s Pre-implementation Environmental Impact Assessment Process : Sources: http://www.usaidgems.org/Workshops/MalawiMay2013Materials/PDFs/6_22CFR216_Apr2013.pdf

7 Environmental Policy of Ethiopia, http://theredddesk.org/sites/default/files/environment_policy_of_ethiopia_1.pdf


for PSNP48 be substituted for compliance with the procedures in this IEE. However, efforts will be made to ensure a maximum degree of compatibility between the two respective assessment information requirements. The scope of this IEE includes the preparation of Regulation 216, and climate risk management documentation pertaining to an environmental review of the development activities. Thus, this IEE will serve as an inclusive device to clearly identify likely environmental influences that could be caused by Title II DFSA activities. Through the documentation of likely environmental influences, the program will minimise or redue the IEE outcomes and endorsements through an appropriate, measurable, achievable, monitor-able, and reportable, robust and rigorous mitigation measures and monitoring systems planned into the project design (Annex 1). Any significant changes in project activities or in the project environment will result in IEE amendments to be submitted with future annual plans. 1.2 Background

Situated in northern Ethiopia in an area roughly 54,000km2 in size, the Tigray Region has one of the country’s poorest economies, and has long suffered from chronic and transitory food insecurity. It is a semi-arid/arid region consisting of complex landforms dominated by rugged mountain plateaus and deep gorges ranging in elevation from 500 to 3,200 masl. A difficult setting for livelihood development, there are three distinctive geographic areas: the central highlands, the western lowlands, and the eastern desert plains. Each has a diversified agro-ecology with distinct soil, geology, vegetation cover and other natural resources. The main rainy season generally runs from about June to September, with the most regular, substantial rains occurring in July and August (average 200-1600mm/year)9.Rainfall is sparse, erratic and increasingly unpredictable due to intensifying climate changes. Food security is also under stress from a growing and changing population. The estimated total population in 2015 was 5.15 million people (2.54 million male/2.61 million females), and is continuing to increase at an annual rate of 2.5 percent.

Agriculture is the mainstay of Tigray’s economy and accounts for roughly 40 percent of regional GDP. More than 80 percent of the population lives in rural areas where livelihoods rely on the cultivation of crops (sorghum, teff, millet, maize, pulses), supplemented by animal husbandry (small ruminants, poultry, cattle for milk and meat as well as animal traction, and bee-keeping which is increasingly the only production option open to landless households). Small plot landholdings dominate the sector, make-up nearly 90 percent of cultivated lands, and contribute an estimated 85 percent of annual agricultural output. Over the last five years, the regional agricultural sector grew by an average of 8.6 percent per year10, but will likely retract in 2015/2016 due to severe drought conditions, highlighting the vulnerability of agriculture to natural vagaries. Despite the notable progress in wellbeing and economic growth over the past decade, widespread poverty and food insecurity still persists in Tigray. The factors perpetuating the cycle of poverty and food insecurity in rural areas are; a) over-dependence on rain-fed agriculture, undeveloped farm technology, and lack of income to invest in diversification and productivity measures 8 The EPRDF MoA –ESMF for PSNP Phase 4, https://nrmdblog.files.wordpress.com/2016/06/esmf-psnp-4.pdf 9 In some areas there is a secondary short rainy season called belg which falls during the months of March to May

These bi-modal rainfall areas are in parts of the Southern Zone, and the highlands of the Eastern Zone. Belg rains are mostly sporadic, and of considerably lesser amount.

10 Data on the Tigray economy has been obtained from the Tigray Growth and Transformation Plan II, 2015. Ibid


such as irrigation, improved seeds, better equipment, and livestock ; b) severe eco-system degradation and a scarcity of natural resources. Though there have been notable successes in natural resource restoration over the last two decades, eco-system degradation is a major, ongoing cause of vulnerability. Soil erosion and loss of ground cover are particularly widespread. The resultant land degradation has not only decreased the fertility of the soils but also resulted in the loss of biodiversity, lowering of the water table, diminished prime grazing land and caused an overall loss in agricultural productivity. This in turn has increased the vulnerability of the region to cyclic droughts, floods and chronic food insecurity.

Climate variability and changes come on top of these problems. Climate extremes such as droughts and floods are further amplifying existing environmental degradation. A combination of steep slopes (49 percent of the region’s land is mountainous), removal of vegetation cover and erosive rain (high intensity rainfall) has rendered the region’s environment extremely vulnerable to flood hazards, often leading to extreme forms of land degradation such as gully erosion. Together these factors have reduced the capacity of the natural environment to provide livelihood resources to rural populations that depend on them, resulting in reduced yields, loss of income or consumption, and thus perpetuating economic vulnerability, including food insecurity. Now in its fourth phase (PSNP 4), the PSNP is a food security program targeting highly climate-vulnerable and food insecure households in rural Ethiopia. The PSNP is currently operational in eight regions, and covers a core caseload of approximately 7.9 million individuals (including a 1.2 million caseload in Tigray) through cash or food transfers. The program incorporates a number of important components, such as: public work activities geared towards improving climate resiliency; consumption support through safety net transfer to protect assets of the most climate-vulnerable community members; and a livelihood component to help households diversify out of climate-dependant activities and increase their income. The PSNP comprised 1 percent of Ethiopia’s GDP in 2010/11, and reduced the national poverty rate by two percentage points11. Designed in alignment with the government of Ethiopia’s safety net program, the REST TPSNP4 aims to “enhance resilience to shock and improve food, nutrition and livelihood security among vulnerable rural women and men in 12 woredas of Tigray”. To achieve this goal, the TPSNP4 theory of change (TOC) centers on four interlinked domain of changes (purposes) encompassing: a) reduced vulnerability to shocks and stresses; b) increased agricultural production and productivity; c) improved sustainable livelihood of vulnerable women, men and youth groups; and d) reduced malnutrition among pregnant and lactating women, and children under five. These purposes are considered applicable within the PSNP and food security context in Tigray. During the program life (FY2016/FY2020), REST will implement the DFSA in 12 chronically food insecure woredas located in the Tigray National Regional State, namely: Ahferom, Werie Leke, Kilte Awlealo, Kolla Tembien, Gulo Mekeda, Ganta Afeshum, Hawzien, Seharti Samre, Hintalo Wajerat, Enda Mehoni, Raya Alamata and Offla. 1.3 Description of Project Activities

The proposed REST DFSA development activities are presented below by Purpose (P), Sub-purpose (SP) and Intermediate Outcome (IO); and together these seek to address the overarching problems of food insecurity in the proposed 12 program areas. A key principle that forms part of the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation approach adopted by REST is to


incorporate integrated climate smart methodologies and best practices learnt from the Ethiopia Climate Smart Initiative Pilot12. GOAL: Enhanced resilience to shock and improved food, nutrition and livelihood security among vulnerable rural women and men in 12 woredas of Tigray.

Purpose 1: Reduced vulnerability to shock and stress among women and men This purpose focuses on targeted beneficiaries living in the most fragile and degraded environments found in the program area. They are highly exposed to any climate related risks because they are extremely resource poor, making them unable to adapt or mitigate any climate change induced risks. Section 4.2 of the GFDRE Rural Development Policy and Strategy (RDPS)13 states that the drought-prone areas of the country where millions of people are becoming increasingly vulnerable to hunger, and where desertification is posing a serious danger to agricultural livelihoods, require special attention. In particular, section 4.2.3 of the RDPS states that the scanty and erratic nature of rainfall, and the depletion and degradation of natural resources, compounded by deforestation, soil erosion and inappropriate hillside farming are serious concerns in these areas. To counter these food security constraints Purpose 1 encompasses three main preconditions (sub-purposes) that must be met in order to reduce the vulnerability of target households in the program area. The sub-purposes aim to (a) smoothen consumption gaps and stabilize household assets; (b) enhance climate smart natural resources management; and (c) improve local capacity to manage disaster risks. This purpose is directly pursuant to the overall objective of the Government RDPS which is “to ensure food security by combining several different approaches including relief in the face of transitory and chronic food shortages, voluntary resettlement, soil and water conservation as well as environmental protection and animal resources development”. The REST Environmental Rehabilitation and Agricultural Development Department (ERAD), is responsible for the overall planning, design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the Natural Resource Management and agricultural development activities in collaboration with the regional, woreda and community level stakeholders. All planning and implementation modalities for every activity will be performed in accordance with the national level Community Based Participatory Watershed Development Guidelines (Volume114). Base maps for every project watershed is developed at the woreda and community level based on the Community Based Participatory Watershed Development Guideline (Volume 215), with close technical assistance from REST Head Office Geographic and Information System (GIS) specialists. On

12 Report on strengthening resilience in a changing climate, Towards a Climate Smart Productive Safety Net

Program in Ethiopia. https://nrmdblog.files.wordpress.com/2016/06/csi-policy-report.pdf 13 The Government of Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Rural Development Policy and Strategy plan.

Source http://www.moa.gov.et/documents/93087/562697/moard+policy+%26+strategy-+english.pdf/62142be6-254e-4fa9-854a-60373833bc02

14 Community Based Participatory Watershed Development Guideline-Volume-1, 2005, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Source: http://agriwaterpedia.info/images/f/fe/Ministry_Agriculture_Ethiopia_Community_Based_Watershed_Management_Guideline_2005_Part_1_A.pdf

15 Community Based Participatory Watershed Development Guideline-Volume-2, 2005, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Source https://nrmdblog.files.wordpress.com/2016/04/cbpwd-guidelines-annex.pdf


average, the two guidelines are pursuant to the USAID sector Environmental Guideline on Agriculture16. SP1.1 Consumption gap smoothened and assets stabilized in vulnerable female and male

headed households

IO 1.1.1 Appropriate, timely and accessible safety net transfers received by targeted women and men Activity Category 1: Food Transfers

- Facilitate provision of client cards and raise awareness of client entitlements. - Advocacy on the primacy of transfers at regional and woreda level. - Facilitate interface meetings and joint monitoring of transfers between clients and service

providers. - Develop fixed transfer schedule and follow-up on its implementation. - PSNP client targeting. - Verification of Public Works, PASS and Client Cards. - Construct food storage facilities near to community settlements. During construction,

monitoring and evaluation of activities will be conducted as per the USAID sector environmental guidelines - construction17.

Activity Category 2: Capacity Development

- PIM TOT training for Steering Committee and WFSTF members. - PIM training for TFSTF and CFSTF members. - PIM training for Tabia Appeal Committees. - Training on commodity and warehouse management. - Training on transfer scheduling and timely transfer. - Learning visit with partners (commodity distribution management).

SP1.2 Improved local capacity to manage disaster risk IO 1.2.1 Environmental governance improved Activity Category 1: Environmental Governance In the past, the ways in which farmers managed available natural resources was more sustainable. Indeed, many farmers successfully managed natural resources which have been functioning effectively for hundreds of years, and represent a valuable, accumulated investment. These are also reservoirs of largely untapped natural resource management experiences. Various research indicate that farmer managed natural resources contribute to the production of a significant portion of subsistence food supplies. Accordingly, REST in coordination with the government and the community at large, proposed the following activities:

- Conduct multi-stakeholder forums. - Conduct training to watershed committees, community level environmental committees and

user groups. - Conduct awareness creation on environmental management. 16 USAID Sector Environmental Guidelines Agriculture Partial Update 2014 | Last Full Update: Prior to 2003 Source: http://www.usaidgems.org/Documents/SectorGuidelines/SectorEnvironmentalGuidelines_Agriculture_2014.pdf 17 http://www.usaidgems.org/Sectors/construction.htm


- Benefit female and male headed households in the community from the communal resources. - Establish watershed bylaws. The main purpose of these proposed activities is to address the following issues: (a) to reduce the destruction of the natural resources; (b) to formulate and strengthen community bylaws to ensure both male and female households benefit equally from the communal assets developed through the Title II DFSA interventions; (c) to implement a holistic climate change related risk management framework which will enable vulnerable populations to strengthen their food and income security; (d) to document any best indigenous natural resource management practices, and then to disseminate to other sites to be scaled-up; and (e) to facilitate the handing over of physically treated communal areas to user groups to sustainably benefit equally from the developed outcomes by integrating physical activities with income generating activities such as enclosures with beekeeping, water harvesting structures with the plantation of productive fruits or crops, forage development with fattening of small ruminants etc.; and (f) hold discussions on environment and climate change issues with stakeholders and to come up with better solutions; and (g) to encourage user groups through close technical support and input supply when available. IO 1.2.2 Environmentally and economically sound vegetation cover increased Activity Category1: Biological Soil and Water Conservation Measures

For various reasons, most of the program area watersheds are bare and have little or no vegetation cover. This situation is exacerbated by the rugged topography causing severe soil erosion and gully expansion in all land use systems found in the project areas. Integrated watershed management practices are therefore important for improving the natural resource base on degraded hillsides. Accordingly, REST in collaboration with woreda level stakeholders and the community at large, selected and prioritized the following biological soil conservation measures to be scaled-up under the DFSA life of activity. Activities under this category include:

- Nursery management: Nursery sites are places where seedlings are propagated, managed and grown to an appropriate size for plantation depending on: i) management practices, ii) availability of resources, iii) objective, iv) agro-ecology of the area, and v) community demand. REST has identified three types of existing nursery sites to be continued over the coming five years encompassing: (1) tree nursery sites for producing site suited exotic and indigenous tree seedlings, (2) fruit development nursery sites aimed at producing improved and local fruit seedlings and vegetables, and (3) forage development nursery sites for producing improved and local forage seeds and grass cuttings, and splits to be planted in physically treated gullies and hillsides. The type of improved fruit seedlings, tree and forage grass seeds are selected based on the GoE Ministry of Environment, forest and climate change policies and proclamations to avoid any environmental risks posed on the environment and human health. During the field assessment of nursery sites, the following points were given attention: (1) availability of water to raise the described number of seedlings; (2) the physical features of the nursery sites with regards transport access; (3) the source and availability of local materials mainly forest soil, sand, shed materials; (4) the availability of labour to work in nurseries during peak periods; and (5) that seeds are collected , sown and mulched to reduce evaporation, and that seedlings are shaded to reduce evapotranspiration, are watered as required until the appropriate size is attained and transported to plantation sites.


Local communities prioritized the selection of women to operate the day to day nursery activities, with close technical back-up and supervision from Development Agents and REST woreda experts. Nursery tools, seeds and materials such as polythene tubes are some of the nursery materials that will be provided to community nurseries.

- Tree seedling production and plantation: Different tree seedlings/species are to be produced in the proposed nursery sites as planned. Priority will be given to the production of indigenous tree seedling species that have nitrogen fixing and /or economic benefits. The breakdown of tree seedlings to be raised in each subsequent year is 20% exotic and 80% indigenous species. Because of the semi- arid climatic condition of Tigray, most seedlings will be raised in polythene tubes. Usually the out-planting of tree seedlings takes place in July on physically treated degraded hillsides. According to the government planation strategy, 25% of the total produced tree seedlings will be planted on the selected planation sites, while the remaining 75% will be distributed to individual households. Activities are in line with the USAID Sector Environmental Guidelines - Forestry18.

- Sowing of grass and tree seeds: Under this activity, grass species which have an extensive and fibrous root system, are drought tolerant, and have a palatability value will be over-sown on the physically treated degraded sites and bunds. Different local species will be identified and sites for grass collection will be chosen. Seeds collection will be done by public work beneficiaries. The rate of grass seeds sowing per hectare on average is 100 kilograms. However, the sowing rate can be reduced or increased depending on the actual site condition, and will be undertaken through community voluntary free labor contributions. Furthermore, other exotic grass species such as Elephant grass, Vetiver grass, etc. will be used mainly in gully sites.

- Planting of local vegetative materials: These vegetative materials will be planted on the lower

side of terraces. These materials include sisal, aloe, euphorbia etc. Out of these, some of the sisal seedlings will be raised together with the other tree and shrub species in tree nurseries, and will be out-planted on boundaries or pockets of private lands prepared by individual farmers. Gully sites will be the primary areas to be selected for sisal planting. The plantation will be undertaken along the check dams and other physical structures (e.g. terraces). This activity is solely the responsibility of community members in respective Tabias, and will not be remunerated.

- Grass cuttings/splits planting: This refers to the practice of planting grass cuttings or raised splits on the reshaped parts of physically treated gullies and bunds. The grass cuttings and/or splits will be planted on treated gullies and hillsides to stabilize the physical structures, produce forage, reduce soil erosion, and enhance moisture retention in surrounding areas.

- Provision of improved fuel saving stoves: The major focus/purpose of these fuel saving stoves

is to reduce fuel wood and charcoal consumption for cooking (including food transfers), as well as reduce the use of fuel wood which has adverse effects on local community health especially, poor women headed households, and the environment. Dependency on fuelwood and charcoal significantly increases rates of deforestation or forest degradation, resulting in increased fuel wood shortages and escalating fuelwood and charcoal prices. To overcome these challenges, REST will support and assist in the purchase of improved stoves for poor women headed households. To further promote the use of this low-cost energy option, REST will implement the activities in collaboration with the local government and communities at large. During the 18 http://www.usaidgems.org/Sectors/forestry.htm


implementation, monitoring and evaluation of this activity, the USAID Sector Environmental Guidelines - Energy19 will be considered.

- Area enclosing: This is a low cost land management practice applied through initiation and

close discussion with government agents and communities. Enclosing areas from human and animal interference is a proven good practice for rehabilitating degraded hillsides in the northern highlands of Ethiopia. This system reduces soil erosion, improves soil fertility and recharges underground water. Given some years of recovery period, grass can also be cut and carried from these are enclosures to supplement green feed or hay to feed livestock. It is applicable in all agro-ecological zones of the program areas. For better regeneration of natural vegetation (20, 21) and underground water recharging results, soil and water conservation measures, and water harvesting practices will be integrated with area enclosing.

- Agroforestry practices: Agroforestry is a traditional farmland management practice in all the

12 REST DFSA program areas. This practice includes the planting of multipurpose tree seedlings between crops (mixed cropping) in home gardens and farmlands to enhance soil fertility through decomposition of shed leaves and twigs and/or nitrogen fixing. Agroforestry seedlings are also planted on bunds and boundaries as live fences to provide various benefits to smallholder farmers. An additional indigenous agroforestry practice emanates from natural regeneration called “farmers managed natural regeneration (FMNR)”. This practice is very beneficial because there is no need for seedling production, planting and strict guarding. The species regenerate themselves and are self-protected from livestock browse by having strong and sharp thorns. The only simple management practices required involve protecting them from damage during ploughing, and pruning them to enhance growth. Generally, the benefits from agroforestry practices include:

1. Enhanced economic benefits for smallholder farmers through increased and diversified products (e.g. fodder, wood, firewood, bee forage, farm implements), increased production and productivity due to enhanced soil fertility, reduced input costs, increased financial returns, and diversified crop and livestock production systems;

2. Enhanced environmental benefits by improving soil fertility, reducing soil erosion, improving water conservation, increasing crop and livestock protection from wind, restoring degraded lands, contributing to biodiversity conservation and climate change adaptation and mitigation;

3. Increased social benefits by improving human health and nutrition status, and saving labor and costs for firewood and fodder.

As a result, REST in collaboration with woreda stakeholders and communities, proposed these activities for implementation during the life of the project.

- Livestock forage development: Crop residue and grazing areas are the main source of feed for livestock in all project areas. However, because of recurrent droughts and other climate change impacts, livestock feed shortages are extensive across the region. To address these shortages REST will promote and integrate forage development activities/public works into the DFSA as a means of ensuring a sustainable source of animal feed both in quantity and quality. Taking such 19 http://www.usaidgems.org/Sectors/energy.htm 20 https://www.omicsgroup.org/journals/the-effect-of-enclosures-in-rehabilitating-degraded-vegetation-2168-

9776.1000128.php?aid=33063 21http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ldr.1146/abstract;jsessionid=EA3E573DE65AF460F7C2EF0F384E605

A.f03t04?userIsAuthenticated=false&deniedAccessCustomisedMessage=


action will help to minimize soil erosion, address environmental concerns, and avert further land degradation problems in the project areas. Project activities will include grazing land enrichment, over sowing of closure areas, and the development of legume herbs and trees. The type of local and improved grass seed varieties that will be promoted are Hyperemia Spps, Disodium Spps, Eragrostis Spps, Andropogon Spps, Phelaris aquatic, Cenchrus, cilliaries, chlorides Guyana, patrician maximum, cowpea, lablab, Leucaeana leucocephala, and Sesbania Sesban. The objective of promoting improved grass seed identification is to select the right species that match the correct ecological system where seeds can give maximum biomass and seed yields without causing any environmental issues. In order to favor good performance of the biomass, the land will be ploughed and prepared as required. Then after sowing the site will be guarded by communities until the time of harvest. Finally, the community will share the harvested forages and grasses equally by households. Individual farmers will also be encouraged to practice intercropping, under sowing and backyard forage development.

- Provision of different trainings: Under this intervention component, REST will collaborate with government agents/experts and community leaders to provide appropriate training to watershed committees, environmental committees, nursery foremen/women, technicians and area enclosure guards. The training will focus on quality tree seed collection and storage, grazing land enrichment, nursery management for seedlings production, pitting and planting, hygiene and sanitation for nursery staff, area enclosure management, advantage of farmland agroforestry practices and the need for environmental considerations, renewable and energy saving technologies, ArcGIS software to woreda field staff, watershed management approaches and apportioning hillsides to user groups. Training will comprise of practical and theoretical sessions, and will be undertaken in selected training sites near to community settlements. The training will be undertaken based on the regional level Technical Training Manual which is a live document, and prepared based on ground level observed and recorded technical gaps in consideration of the USAID Sector Environmental Guideline on Forestry. The main purpose of this training is to improve the knowledge and skill base of targeted beneficiaries so that they are able to apply appropriate management methods of communal natural resources development through DFSA assistance, and to make their environment clean. The REST NRM Division (within ERAD) is responsible for implementing the activities in collaboration with the government and communities. That is, the REST woreda public work and infrastructure officers in collaboration with woreda technical committees, development agents and community/beneficiaries who will perform the day-to-day activities, and monitoring and evaluation of all natural resource management interventions. In general, the community will be empowered technically in order to acquire the basic skills to carry out environmentally sound and sustainable development programs. Close and continues monitoring and evaluation will be carried out by REST staff, BOARD, the elected local communities (watershed and environmental committees), and other interested elders for appropriateness, effectiveness and objectives of the activities. Activity Category 2: Construction of Small Scale Rainwater Harvesting Structures Activities under this category include: Hillside rain water harvesting ponds: Different sized small rainwater harvesting structures will be constructed in physically treated catchments. The main purpose of ponds is to harvest rainwater for the watering of out-planted tree seedlings during the dry season. During the project


period (FY2016 to FY2020) a total of 145 ponds with an average water holding capacity of 15m3

per structure will be constructed. IO 1.2.3 Improved soil conservation and moisture availability Activity Category 1: Physical Soil and Water Conservation Measures

Soil erosion and its on-site and off-site adverse impacts posed on the livelihood of smallholder farmers and the environment is a main problem in the drought prone TPSNP4 program areas. For instance, section 4.2.5 of the GFDRE Rural Development Policy and Strategy states that the shortage of land is the main problem in the drought prone regions of the country. Furthermore, section 1.4 of this policy and strategy, explains that the agro-ecological zone of the highlands of Ethiopia is ideal for farming but farmland is limited and rapidly being eroded, and population density is high. The Government of Ethiopia GTP-II Plan (page 123) also reiterates that to undertake crop and horticulture development with adequate moisture, ongoing natural resource conservation efforts have to be transformed to the next higher level. Given this setting, REST in cooperation with woreda and community level stakeholders, selected and prioritized the following physical soil and water conservation technologies to be scaled-up in the ongoing Title II DFSA: hillside terraces, hillside terraces with trench, bench terrace, stone bund, trench bund, stone faced trench bund and micro basins. To evaluate the impact of these proposed soil and water conservation measures, further soil erosion assessments22 will be conducted on sample sites. The technical descriptions and design specifications are stated in the abovementioned national level guideline (Volume-1). Activities under this category include:

- Hillside terrace (HT) - Hillside terrace with trench (HTT) - Stone faced + Trench bund (SF+TB) - Stone bund (SB) - Trench bund (TB) - Micro-basin (MB) - Eyebrow Basin (EB) - Herringbone (HB) - Half-moon (HM)

Bench terrace: This is a physical soil and water conservation technology that is constructed on unproductive and degraded steep slope hillsides (12% to 41% gradient) in the project watersheds to convert degraded areas into a productive series of vertical standing horizontal walls and benches which are suitable for agricultural practices. The vertical face of each bench terrace is made of stone walls erected at 0.5% slope riser. This soil conservation technology was primarily introduced and proposed for the DFSA as a contribution towards solving the problem of land shortages among landless youth in drought prone areas. Using Title II cash resources, the landless youth will participate in the implementation of the technology. Bench terraces will be integrated with hillside terraces and other physical structures together with trenches that are effective in harvesting rainwater which in turn both reduces soil erosion and enhances underground water recharging that ultimately contributes to the sustainable supply of irrigation water. The landless individuals will be selected by communities in each program area based on selection criteria stipulated in the Ethiopian Land Tenure Proclamation for hillside apportioning. 22 http://www.solid-earth-discuss.net/7/3511/2015/sed-7-3511-2015.pdf


The list of selected marginalized groups will be submitted to the Woreda Land Administration desk and respective Woreda administrative bodies for final approval. The final approved list of beneficiaries will then be submitted to REST woreda coordination offices. Finally, the constructed bench terraces will be shared among landless youths organized in group. ERAD is responsible for undertaking the feasibility studies, designing, implementing and monitoring of bench terraces in collaboration with woreda stakeholders. The overall design and layout of bench terraces is in accordance with the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources Field Guidelines23. Activity Category 2: Direct Surface Techniques to Recharge Groundwater

Under this activity, different sized groundwater recharging technologies will be constructed on marginal lands in priority watersheds. The objectives of these artificial recharging structures are:

• To harvest and store excess surface runoff generated from watersheds; • To restore depleted aquifers with recharge to enhance irrigation and other uses; • To improve existing streams through percolation; and • To enhance biomass production through improved water availability in the subsurface soil

profiles. Accordingly, REST will construct percolation ponds, percolation channels and deep trenches in suitable watersheds to enhance the underground water table. These are low cost structures that will be implemented using integrated watershed approaches that draw on the knowledge and skills of local communities. Management of the activities is by watershed committees, environmental committees, contour markers, production cadres and extension agents. All designs, specifications and implementation approaches are clearly stated in the national level guideline volume 1. Furthermore, these activities are free from adverse effects like inundation of large surface areas, loss of cultivable land, displacement of local populations and substantial loss from evaporation. According to the findings of an independent Public Works Impact Assessment (M.A Consulting Group, 2009), the construction of water conservation structures have assisted in reducing surface runoff, increased infiltration, and raised groundwater levels, thereby enhancing spring yields, increasing stream base-flows, and extending flow periods. These artificial recharging measures are site specific and replication of the techniques even from similar areas will be based on the local hydrogeological and hydrological conditions. Factors considering during planning include:

• Hydrogeological studies to decipher the rainfall pattern, evaporation losses and climatological factors;

• Hydrological studies to ascertain the availability of surface water for the purpose of recharging the ground water reservoir,

• Soil infiltration studies to ascertain the limiting factors such as soil type, moisture content, organic matter, vegetation cover, farming and soil management practices etc. that affect the soil infiltration capacity of the specific areas.

Activity Category 3: Gully Rehabilitation Measures

23 A Field Guideline on Bench Terrace Design and Construction

https://nrmdblog.files.wordpress.com/2016/04/bench-terrace-manual.pdf


Under this activity, different gully rehabilitation or reclamation measures will be constructed along the cross-section of gully beds, in sites identified with gully erosion problems. The main purpose or aim of gully rehabilitation using an integration of physical and biological measures is:

• To reduce gully bank expansion and deepening of bed gradients; • To retain or accumulate fertile sediments on its upstream reservoir which is favorable for

crop and/or forage production and tree production; • To create land access for landless youths. These are communal gully areas that will be

reclaimed after treatment and distributed to land less individuals; • To harvest surface runoff generated from hillsides that can serve as a source of water for

supplementary irrigation, and watering of biological measures out-planted along the gully bank and off-sets; and

• To recharge underground water in downstream areas. Gully check dams reduce the speed of runoff flow and retain water to create opportunities for seepage into the sub-surface strata.

The proposed gully control measures are scaled-up now and are the result of many years of REST experience. Premised on this, gully rehabilitation interventions will be carried out after the completion of catchment treatment via physical and biological soil conservation measures. REST in collaboration with government and communities, will implement several gully rehabilitation measures based on the following factors:

- Land use and management systems and practices - Shape and type of a gully - Soil properties; - Gully bed gradient; - Availability of local construction materials; - Vegetation cover; - Rainfall condition of the area; and - Topography (shape and size of watersheds, length and gradient of slopes of watersheds).

Each check dam is designed with a spill way24, apron, downstream and upstream retaining wall and one meter and half maximum effective height. In FY 2017, a total of 24 check-dams with a 8m3 capacity/per check-dam will be constructed. The total effective height of each type of gully rehabilitation measures is 0.75m (minimum) and 1.5m (maximum). The detailed technical descriptions, design specifications, and implementation approaches for each activity are clearly described in the CBPWDG (volume 1), and the FAO Watershed Management Field Manual on Gully Control25. Activities under this category include:

Gabion check-dams (GCD), loose rock check-dams (LRCD) and sand bag check-dams (SBCDs)

Activity Category 4: Periodic/Annual Maintenance Mechanisms

This focuses more on the sustainability of the communal assets developed through the Title II DFSA interventions. Activities under this category include:

24 https://directives.sc.egov.usda.gov/OpenNonWebContent.aspx?content=17548.wba 25 http://www.fao.org/docrep/006/ad082e/AD082e02.htm


Operation and Maintenance plan preparation: Once the construction is completed, soil and water conservation measures will have a maintenance plan starting from the planning stage so that beneficiaries of the catchment and responsible body for the management and maintenance of the schemes will be clear from the start. Operation and maintenance of the treated hillsides will be formally handed over to respective owners of the interventions for management and maintenance purpose, and their role and responsibility will be clearly defined. Provision of appropriate trainings to community level environmental committees, watershed committees, production cadres and contour markers on the standards of soil and water conservation measures and environmental considerations, IO 1.3.1 Increased local capacity to prevent and mitigate disaster risk Activity Category 1: Capacity Development Activities under this category include:

- Conduct community and sectoral Disaster Risk Management training - Conduct multi-stakeholder forum on Disaster Risk Management - Training on Early Warning and Disaster Risk Management for Woreda Early Warning

Committees - Training on Early Warning and Disaster Risk Management for Regional Early Warning

Committees - Training on Disaster Risk Reduction techniques and technologies

Purpose2:ImprovedAgriculturalProductionandProductivityamongVulnerableFemaleandMaleHouseholds

Since 2005, when REST rolled out its PSNP, the application of integrated watershed management approaches to improve the agriculture sector and boost the livelihood base of smallholder farmers, has gained prominence. In particular, over this period REST has recorded many positive results in its safety net woredas without causing adverse impacts on the environment and human health. However, climate change induced risks such as the scanty and erratic nature of rainfall patterns, increased surface temperature, and shortages of water for irrigation are increasingly emerging as a threat to many smallholder farmers in most parts of Tigray. Section 4.2.1 of the Ethiopian Rural Development Policy and Strategy highlights the fact that agricultural production in drought prone areas is not yet fully viable, due to the high reliance on rain-fed agriculture. This, coupled with the backward agricultural technologies in use, has caused severe fluctuations in annual output levels. Given this context and the need to make farming households more resilient, especially against climate related risks, Purpose 2 will focus on the improved use and sustainable management of irrigation water resources, and the increased use of improved agricultural techniques and technologies and inputs. Main sub-purposes are improved management of small scale irrigation schemes, increased access to small scale irrigation structures, increased access to water points for livestock development, and increased use of agricultural technologies and inputs. Calibrated to the agro-ecology and drawing on REST prior experience in irrigation, a number of different irrigation schemes will be constructed jointly by REST, the government and communities. During implementation, monitoring and evaluation of these activities, REST will apply the USAID Sector Environmental Guidelines for Agriculture26. The aims of Purpose 2 are: 26 http://www.usaidgems.org/Sectors/agriculture.htm


• The introduction of improved agricultural technologies and inputs to farmers; • Improved resilience of smallholder farmers to any climate related risks by introducing

climate smart agricultural practices; • Reduced water shortages for livestock during the dry seasons; • Increased means of income sources for smallholder farmers; • Improved knowledge and skills of targeted beneficiaries on agronomic practices, efficient

and effective use and management of irrigation water; • To create job opportunities; and • Improved smallholder household nutritional status.

SP 2.1 Improved use and sustainable management of agricultural water resources

IO 2.1.1: Improved management of small scale irrigation systems Activity Category 1: Formation and Capacity Development of Irrigation Water User Groups

The main purpose of forming Water Users Associations (WUA) is to empower communities (and their representatives) to develop efficient and fair use of water and irrigation systems for sustainable production. Activities under this category include:

Establishing and strengthening water user associations (WUA): The process of establishing WUA will promote community ownership of the schemes, and ensure the equitable distribution of water supplies to meet the economic and social needs of water users, and avoid any environmental issues. Even though the number of WUA for one small scale irrigation scheme (SSI) depends on the number of beneficiaries and irrigation capacity of the scheme, from REST experiences the total members in one WUA is not more than 15 households. The association leaders comprise one WUA chairman/woman, vice chairman/woman, treasurer, cashier, secretary, two to three members, and men and women elders from among upstream and downstream river water users. Maintenance of the irrigation infrastructure is undertaken by the WUA members. From experience, the Water Committee is responsible for the mobilization of resources required for maintenance activities, and for the scheduling of maintenance of the primary, secondary and tertiary canals. Maintenance activities within a block and covering small areas are completed by the block or team members with coordination by the team leaders. In general, WUA are effective in the management of water allocations and distribution. The maintenance costs for motor pumps and irrigation infrastructure are covered by the WUA for both types of irrigation schemes. The pump operation and maintenance costs during the growing season are equally distributed among the water users and the money is paid back to the WUAs at the end of the growing season after the product is sold.

Provision of training: Training will be given to WUA and Development Agents in collaboration with woreda stakeholders. The topics to be covered are on agronomic practices, soil management practices, efficient and effective water utilization, hygiene and sanitation practices and operation and maintenance of irrigation schemes.


IO 2.1.2: Increased access to small scale irrigation water by men and women households Activity Category 1: Climate Smart Small Scale Irrigation Schemes

This activity focuses on water harvesting technologies for irrigation in order to contribute to the reduction of poverty, stimulate rural employment and food security, and promote the adoption of improved irrigation technologies by smallholder farmers. Based on previous DFAP experiences, REST is seeking to scale-up SSI under the DFSA at a level demanded by communities. The design of each scheme has been undertaken by the REST study and design team27 factoring in the following points:

• SSI profile design stage: encompassing the analysis of the following preparatory activities in the project areas: (a) small scale irrigation schemes, (b) demands and options, (c) water use rights, (d) interests and conflicts over water, (e) development in the whole area (including the areas without water and the repercussions of small scale irrigation schemes in the community), (f) potential of small scale irrigation structures for users/household/group, (g) monitoring of traditional water management in the area, (h) institutions and formation of water user association during and after construction, and (i) early warning information .

• SSI feasibility study stage: involving the conduct of (a) participatory meetings, (b) analysis of SSI sites, (c) analysis of cost effectiveness, (d) risk analysis and analysis of degradation of natural resources, (e) need assessment of soil and water management activities required to protect the SSI system, (f) availability of labor, (g) technical and financial inputs, (h) implementation strategy, and (i) definition of institutional functions and quantification of the benefits and obligations.

• SSI final design stage: involving the review and analysis of (a) the design, (b) selection of best options, (c) topography, (d) hydrology (source of water supply, flow rate and runoff volume), (e) sediment load, and soil characteristics, (f) construction details on (capacity, cut and fill volume, borders, complementary structures such as feeder channels, sediment trap, inlet channel, spillway etc.), (g) implementation schedule compatible with the needs of future SSI schemes users, and (h) development of a monitoring and evaluation plan and analysis of experiences (feedback for future activities).

Activities in this category include:

a) Rainwater harvesting structures:

• Mini-dams for irrigation: during the project period FY2017/FY2021 a total of 4 mini-dams with an average water holding capacity of 350m3 per structure and irrigating capacity of 15 hectares per structure, will be constructed.

• Rainwater harvesting check-dams for irrigation: during the project period FY2017/FY2021 a total of 129 water harvesting check-dams with average water holding capacity of 150m3 per structure and irrigation capacity of 8 hectares/structure will be constructed.

b) Stream flow and flood diverting systems with an average irrigating capacity of 8-13 hectares of land per structure. Activities include:

• Small river diversions • Spring development

27 REST study and Design Team under the Irrigation Development Department, is a group of: hydraulic engineer,

hydro geologist, socio-economist, agronomist, environmentalist, geologist, surveyor and draftsman.


• Spate/flood diversion irrigation systems

c) Lifting system: These structures are constructed with an average irrigation capacity of 5 to 8.5 hectares of land per structure and include:

• Open hand dug wells for resource poor women headed households • Underground check-dam ponds • Electrical irrigation system

The REST Irrigation Development Department (IDD) is not only responsible for planning and designing the SSI activities, but also for implementing, monitoring and evaluating the construction work undertaken by communities on a public work basis, and skilled labourers on a cash basis. The implementation will incorporate all necessary physical and biological measures on related scheme catchment areas by REST, communities and the government in line with the USAID Sector Guideline on Agriculture. IO 2.1.3 Increased access to water for livestock production Activity Category 1: Livestock Water Point Development

Water shortages are critical in the project area, and worsen during prolonged dry periods, severely affecting water availability for livestock. The limitation of watering points has led to over stocking in some areas causing high rates of soil erosion and over grazing that leads to land degradation. The migration of animals to distant places in search of water is one coping strategy however this results in the loss of energy, dehydration, the transmission of water borne diseases and infection from other diseases; ultimately affecting the productivity and health of livestock, while causing high rates of mortality. Therefore, the availability of clean water is essential for livestock production and productivity. REST in collaboration with woreda technical committees and communities will develop a series of livestock watering ponds in close proximity to villages. The size and design of watering ponds can vary from site to site depending on the climatic conditions (temperature, humidity, rainfall and wind) affecting animal daily water requirements (litres per head), livestock type, soil conditions and type of forages (content of dry matter). ERAD will conduct the planning, design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the structures in collaboration with the government and communities. The main activities under this category are:

• Excavation and paving of livestock watering ponds • Trough construction • Establishing and strengthening Water User Associations During construction, the following technical points will be considered:

- The excavated soil materials will either be distributed around the ponds to raise the height and pond water holding capacity, disposed into physically treated gullies near the ponds, or other sites nominated by communities in consultation with community environmental committees.

- Compaction of the pond beds with moistened impermeable materials to reduce percolation and lateral flow of harvested water.

- Cement reinforced troughs will be constructed at about 5-10 meters distance from ponds depending on the topography of the site, in order to minimize water contamination from cattle dung/waste. Every trough will have a conveyance system to deliver water from the ponds.


- Ponds will be fenced with biological or physical measures to prevent unforeseen environmental problems around the water sites and water contamination via animal wastes.

- Silt traps will be constructed in the runoff water ways leading to the entrance and outlet points to trap sediments from entering the ponds, and to allow the safe flow of excess water into the natural drainage lines, respectively. The users will manage the ponds by establishing water user associations whose role is to coordinate and advise pond user groups, and ensure the proper functioning and maintenance of the ponds.

SP 2.2 Increased use of improved agricultural techniques, technologies and inputs IO 2.2.1 Increased access to improved agricultural techniques and inputs among women and men households Activity Category 1: Local and Improved Agricultural Inputs Activities under this category include:

• Provision of improved fruit seedlings such as orange, mango, apple, avocado and guava • Improved vegetable seeds such as tomato, onion, cabbage, swisschard, lettuce and pepper • Provision and preparation of local vegetable seeds such as potato tuber and garlic • Water lifting technologies (motor pumps) Activity Category 2: Soil Fertility Enrichment Activities under this category include:

- Compost pit preparation: Composting is an effective and environmentally friendly intervention for changing backyard waste and kitchen scraps into beneficial decomposed soil material that consists of important soil nutrients that can boost crop yields of poor women headed households. Decomposing materials are placed into 1m x 1m x 1m compost pits and the materials placed layer over layer (typically crop residues, weeds, grass materials or any other decomposing materials, followed by manure, light soil and ash on top to fasten decomposition). This is followed by another cycle until the pit is filled. If manure is not available, light soil is placed on top of the organic matter and then ash. This way the pit has to be filled. Every layer of the organic matter will have about 20cm thickness. Other layers (soil and ash) can be a thin layer of up to 5cm each. Every layer is watered to keep moist while filling with decomposed materials. This way the pit is filled, then finally covered with straw, weed or grass materials to maintain heat and reduce evaporation. Only light moisture is required in the compost pit (i.e. not wet) to reduce bacteria levels. Another pit with similar volume must be prepared to place the over turned, partly decomposed biomass into after about two months’ time. The partly decomposed materials need to be well mixed during over turning into the empty pit in the early morning, and wait for about a month until it is completely decomposed. Then this decomposed biomass can be applied onto crop or vegetable fields or fruit pits after a total period of three months from the day of complete filling of the pits. REST woreda agronomists in collaboration with technical committees, development agents and beneficiaries, are responsible for carrying out the activities starting from planning, designing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating compost pits preparation and the entire composting process. The preferred sites for compost pit preparation are elevated areas so that no rainwater enters the pits during the rainy season to avoid any water inundation. A temporary shed maybe constructed over the pit to protect it from heavy rains.


- Oxen driven mold board plough (1 per household): Oxen driven mold boards will be provided to model farmers for demonstration purposes. Selection of beneficiary farmers is carried out at community level based on predetermined criteria such as being a PSNP beneficiary, experience in soil management, having available labour with priority given to female headed households. Final approval of the selected beneficiaries is completed at the woreda level.

- Provision of various trainings: Once beneficiaries are selected, REST and government

stakeholders will provide trainings to improve their knowledge and skills on soil management practices with a focus on compost preparation, tillage practices using moldboards, planting and management of leguminous tree species, and agroforestry practices.

Activity Category 4: Livestock Forage Development Activities under this category include:

- Effective Microorganism (OEM): This liquid form microorganism was developed in the 1980s by Japanese Professor Teruo Higa, through a natural process of fermentation not chemically synthesized or genetically engineered. EM is a combination of beneficial tiny abiotic microorganisms, phototrophic bacteria, photosynthetic bacteria, lactic acid bacteria, yeast, fungi and effective actinomycetes. The objective of this innovation is to substitute the use of chemical fertilizers during crop production, and it is increasingly gaining acceptance28. Furthermore, effective micro-organism is also used to prepare silage as animal feed after fermentation. It breaks down or raptures the lignin that covers the proteins and vitamins found in feed. According to the recommendation of the inventor, the mixture of the liquid should consist of a mix of 18 litres of water with 1 kg molasses/or 50gm sugar and 1 litre of activated EM to be used with 70 kg of crop residues. This composition must be buried for 48 hours for fermentation, and be continuously fed to livestock for 5 days, and then repeated for up to 90 days continuously to effectively fatten animals. This environmentally sound technology was previously applied in different parts of Ethiopia, by different organizations like the Ministry of Agriculture, GIZ, and REST/GRAD, as a result of which, meat and milk production levels improved and user farmers appreciated its effects. Furthermore, according to research conducted in Ethiopia among 20 lactating crossbreed cows, the technology showed increased palatability, digestibility and feed intake that resulted in improved milk production and body condition of animals. It increased intake by 1.7 kg of feed per day per animal, increased 0.5 litres of milk production per day, and reduced the amount of supplementary feed to about 0.25kg per day per animal. As a result, REST with the BoARD and communities will demonstrate the technology with model farmers who will selected on the basis of having sufficient crop residue, and ownership of dairy animals and those being fattened. Application of the technology by individual farmers will start after receiving approval from the Tabia Administration and extension agents, and training from woreda experts. REST will purchase the technology and distribute it to selected beneficiaries, and ensure day-to-day technical follow up, monitoring and evaluation of the results.

- Purchase and multiplication of forage grass seeds: Local and improved grass seeds will be purchased and sown in forage multiplication centers, with seeds broadcasted in physically treated areas. Seeds will be purchased from certified private seed producer groups. For the

28 EM in Agriculture; Source- http://world.saion-em.co.jp/file_6/file_6-9.pdf


success of this intervention, REST woreda agronomists and government experts will be responsible for checking and testing the quality and agro-ecological suitability of the seeds.

Purpose3:ImprovedSustainableLivelihoodsofVulnerableWomenandMenHouseholds

Climate variability is a key driver of environmental degradation in Tigray, and negatively impacts on the livelihoods and asset base of the poorest and most vulnerable households. This is reiterated in the assessment report on the PSNP-HABP which also concludes that the resilience of these households can be improved through targeted assistance. Purpose 3 is therefore designed to build coping capacity and resilience by supporting opportunities for the poor to engage in diverse livelihoods, acquire assets through the provision of credit to buffer against shocks and stresses and foster access to markets. Activities are based on the experiences and lessons learnt from the REST-CGAP and GRAD programs which offer pathways to graduation through household access to financial services, markets, literacy and acquisition of productive assets. The proposed activities include the following: IO 3.1.1 Improved access to, and use of livelihood assets among asset poor women, men and youth beneficiaries Activity Category 1: Livelihood Assets Transfer to Asset-poor Women and Men

This activity category seeks to engage and link ultra-poor PSNP beneficiaries to the option of three livelihood pathways: off-farm, on-farm and employment opportunities. The selection and targeting of ultra-poor beneficiaries will be conducted as per selection criteria articulated in the new PSNP4 Program Implementation Manual. The REST woreda livelihood officers together with REST coordination offices, government experts and community representatives will collaborate on field assessments to identify beneficiaries and their needs with regards the type of livelihood pathway. Approval of the selected beneficiaries and their chosen livelihood pathway will be given at the Tabia and Woreda levels. On-farm activities: Targeting ultra-poor beneficiaries, this livelihood pathway has an exclusive focus on animal husbandry activities as follows:

• Goat and sheep fattening • Goat and sheep rearing • Beekeeping • Poultry production The USAID Sector Environmental Guidelines - Livestock29 will be applied during the planning and environmental assessment of the on-farm livelihood activities, and during project implementation, monitoring and evaluation throughout the LOA. Activity Category 2: Gender Equitable Households and Community Decision Making Processes

The following activities will be implemented to improve gender equity in households and community decision making processes. These activities include:

• Awareness creation on gender • Gender empowerment training

IO 3.1.2 Increased entrepreneurial skills, aspirations and practices (farm and off-farm) 29 http://www.usaidgems.org/Sectors/schools.htm


Activity Category 1: Increased Access to Quality Business Development, Mentoring and Skills Support to Women and Men Activities under this category include:

• Business plan preparation • Coaching of target beneficiaries by Community Facilitators • Business skills training for vulnerable groups • Experience sharing on the GRAD VESA approach • Interface meeting between financial service providers and beneficiaries • Training on coaching and technical support for facilitators Activity Category 2: Improved Level of Literacy among Vulnerable Women and Men Activities under this category include:

• Women Literacy Program (WLP) • Functional Adult Literacy (FAL) • Alternative Basic Education for boys and girls (ABE) • Center Management Committee workshop • Learning exposure visit for ABE, FAL, WLP and CMC Activity Category 2: Formal School Support

For the planning, design and environmental assessment of the construction of additional school classrooms, REST considered the USAID Sector Environmental Guidelines – Construction. Activities under this category include:

• Procurement of required construction materials • Construction of dry latrines in ABE centers • Construction of teaching classrooms • Provision of school furniture (combined desk, shelf for reading corner, teacher’s chair) Activity Category 3: Capacity Development

Activities under this category include:

• Initial, and refreshment training for ABE Facilitators • FAL facilitators Initial and refreshment training • WLP Facilitators initial and refreshment training • Center Management Committee workshop • Learning visit for ABE, FAL, WLP and CMC

IO 3.1.3 Increased access to, and use of appropriate financial service by women and men

Activity Category 1: Capacity Development


• Training on IGA practices and financial service giving institutions • Mandatory saving for livelihood asset transfer beneficiaries • Link to DECSI

SP 3.2 Increased access to markets


IO 3.2.1 Input/output linkage and use of market information improved

Activity Category 1: Capacity Development and Linkages


• Link beneficiaries with traders • Link beneficiaries with suppliers • Establish Producers Groups • Conduct training for farmers on commercial markets • Strengthen partnerships with market initiative programs Activity Category 2: Physical Access to Markets


The construction of rural access roads is instrumental to creating access to markets, social services and development program sites in rural project areas. These activities include:

- Community road construction (DS9 and DS10): A series of DS9 and DS10 paved roads will be constructed with a capacity to enable the transport of machinery, vehicles and human/foot traffic, and to facilitate access to social and other services. The USAID Sector Environmental Guideline - Rural Roads30 will be used for the planning, design and environmental assessment of rural road activities, and during monitoring and implementation throughout the LOA.

- Provision of Training: REST in collaboration with the Tigray Rural Road Authority will provide TOT training to woreda experts on site selection, planning, design, implementation, monitoring, impact of climate change on community roads, evaluation and IEE and EMMP and report writing. These trained experts will in turn provide training to community level road construction foremen and forewomen, environmental committees, Development Agents and key persons from the community in order to improve their knowledge and experience in the implementation and maintenance of rural roads.

- Construction of small sized fords and culverts: Construction of small fords sized

approximately 3m in length x 4m width (or smaller), and culverts sized 1m diameter (or smaller) will be constructed in program areas to connect community access roads disconnected by gullies, small bisected or water logged areas that hinder passage. Site selection, planning, design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of rural access roads is the joint responsibility of ERAD, REST woreda coordination offices, Woreda Rural Road Construction and Transport Offices, road foremen and women, Development Agents and communities level environmental committees. Construction is based on the ERA National Road Design Standards for community/feeder roads DS10 and DS9 standards, and will conform with the recommendations of the USAID Programmatic Environmental Assessment of Road Construction and Rehabilitation Projects in Ethiopia, 201331.

Identification, design and priority selection of primary locations to be linked by roads will be discussed and agreed upon with the development committees of each Woreda, representatives of respective targeted beneficiaries and other woreda stakeholders. Tabia representative development committees, extension agents and REST project coordination staff will jointly

30 http://www.usaidgems.org/Sectors/schools.htm 31 USAID Sector Environmental Guideline Rural access roads; Partial Update 2015 | Last Full Update: Prior to

2003


mobilize targeted public work beneficiaries into group work forces to undertake the construction. Tools and equipment needed for the construction will be distributed to each Woreda and Tabia. Beneficiaries who participate in road construction will receive Food for Work payment (food transfer).

Purpose4:Reduced malnutrition among CU5, pregnant and lactating mothers Sub-purpose 4.1: Improved diversified food utilization by PLW, CU5 and exclusive breast feeding practice Climate change related risks such as increases in surface temperature, erratic and scarcity of rainfall are progressively increasing. This situation combined with recurrent droughts and the vulnerability of target beneficiaries are resulting in numerous environmental and health problems such as malaria, meningitis, and hunger. Despite the fact that different efforts are underway to alleviate the level of malnutrition among food insecure households, malnutrition still remains one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality among children under five. IO 4.1.1 Improved skill and knowledge of women, men and youth on ENA, IYCF and preparation of local complementary food items Activity Category 1: Capacity Development and Nutrition Promotion Nutrition promotion sessions will be carried out on: initiating proper breast feeding at different stages of child development, complementary feeding, proper feeding of a sick child, frequency and maternal nutrition and micro-nutrition utilization. Activities under this category include:

• Training to drama club members on family planning, HIV/AIDS, environmental sanitation and nutrition promotion

• Establishing nutrition and adolescent girl clubs in five woreda level schools • Training on nutrition and adolescent girl clubs for school students (30 from each school) • Entertainment education on nutrition through drama clubs • Identifying and screening best performing households on nutrition activities • Provision of certificate for best performing households IO 4.1.2 Increased availability and access to diversified and nutrient dense foods Activity Category 1: Micro-garden Practices

Micro-garden practices have been introduced to poor households to enable them to grow and produce vegetables for consumption, to improve family nutritional status, and to generate income from sale of surplus crops. Micro-gardening is practiced in homesteads, and use a small space so that management is easy for women and children. The production can also be carried out year round. Water can be fetched and applied every three to four days in the dry season to continue production. Beneficiary selection is carried out by community leaders in collaboration with extension agents. REST is responsible for the provision of materials, improved seeds and training, supervision, and monitoring in collaboration with other pertinent stakeholders. Activities in the micro-garden practice include:

• Beneficiary selection • Training on micro garden development • Provision of watering cans and improved vegetable seeds • Micro-garden preparation (1m2 to 1.5m2) • Compost preparation


• Micro-garden management

Sub-purpose 4.2 Reduced prevalence of communicable diseases IO 4.2.1 Improved hygiene and sanitation practices among PLW and caregivers

Activity Category 1: Hygiene and Sanitation Practices

REST will introduce a menu of hygiene and sanitation practices to improve the health of targeted beneficiaries in collaboration with the Tigray Health Bureau, Woreda Health Offices and other stakeholders. Hygiene and sanitation promotion activities will include:

• Use of clean water for drinking and food preparation • Hand washing with soap and water before and after food preparation • Proper toilet use • Proper washing of food utensils • Health and nutrition education through mobile van Activity Category 2: Awareness Creation on the Use of Sanitary Products Awareness creation among adolescent girls will be performed to improve their personal hygiene by REST in collaboration with other stakeholders. Awareness creation activities include:

• Awareness creation on menstrual hygiene management of women and adolescent girls • Personal hygiene management

IO 4.2.2 Improved use of preventive health services

Activity Category 1: Awareness Creation on Preventive Health Services Awareness creation of targeted pregnant mothers will be performed to improve the use of delivery services, anti-natal and post- natal care, growth monitoring services and family planning. REST will carry out the awareness raising actions in collaboration with other pertinent stakeholders. Activities in this category include:

• Focused anti-natal care (e.g. on feeding practices, immunization) • Institutional delivery services • Post-natal care • Family planning • Growth monitoring services


2. Country and Environmental Information 2.1 Locations Affected

This FY2017/FY2021 Title II Development Food Security Activity (DFSA) will focus on the delivery of the Tigray Productive Safety Net Program 4 in 12 woredas located in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. Characterized as food insecure, severely drought-prone, climate change impacted and resource poor, the 12 woredas are Ahferom, Werie Leke, Kilte Awlealo, Kolla Tembien, Gulo Mekeda, Ganta Afeshum, Hawzien, Seharti Samre, Hintalo Wajerat, Enda Mehoni, Raya Alamata and Offla. Targeted beneficiaries are the most vulnerable and poor in Tigray, reside in marginal rural areas, and have limited capacity to adapt and mitigate the impacts of climate and other changes. Livelihoods and access to services in these areas present a number of challenges that affect the long-term wellbeing of project beneficiaries. 2.2 Topography of the Program Area

The topography of the program area is punctuated by undulating plains, steep mountains, rugged plateaus and deep gorges which account for some 60 percent of the total Tigray landmass. There is an essential difference between the highlands and the lowlands of the program areas in terms of climate, population distribution, and access to water resources, economic activities and lifestyle. Similar to other parts of Ethiopia, the farming system in the program area is dominated by traditional, oxen driven systems resulting in low productivity. The average landholding size is 0.5 hectares per household. In the heavily populated areas of Ahferom woreda in the central zone of Tigray, and Gulo Mekeda and Ganta Afeshum in the eastern zone, landholding size falls to 0.25-0.30 hectares per household. Thus, to meet the day to day food requirements of the increasing population, farming is expanding onto steep slopes that are not suitable for living and cultivation practices. This has a significant impact in land degradation in these areas. 2.3 Water Resources in the Program Area

Currently, insufficient water for irrigation, domestic use and for livestock is a critical problem in the program areas. In some parts such as Werie Leke, Seharti Samre, and Ganta Afeshum Woredas, available surface water is located far from cultivated lands among undulating topographies, making access for farming and irrigation very difficult given farmers limited resources. Thus, surface water only exists locally for a very short time as runoff following the rainy season (June to August) among the gorge areas and depression storages very close to farmland. The major source of water in the program areas, especially during the dry season is from surface and underground small scale irrigation schemes. The undulating topographical arrangement, and the poor soil formation and depth makes hand dug well construction difficult especially in Werie Leke, some parts of Ahferom and Seharti Samre, Hintalo Wajerat, Kilte Awlealo and Gulo Mekeda. Accordingly, rainwater harvesting has been tried however; the scanty and erratic nature of rain in these woredas is a constraint for accelerated development. In general, groundwater is relatively scarce, except in gorges and lowland parts of the project area. Drilling of boreholes is however feasible, and has to follow the Ministry of Water Resources Development (MoWRD) guidelines not to cause any negative effect on the environment, and bacteriological and chemical water quality tests has to be performed before the population starts to use it. 2.4 Soil Composition

The predominant soil types in the twelve project woredas are: Lithosols, Chromic Vertisols, Fluvisols, Mollic Gleysoils, Cambic Arensols, Rendzina, Haplic Xerosols


(saline phase), Luvisols, Euric and Vertic Cambisols. Generally, though these different soil types are suitable for agricultural crop production, they are highly vulnerable to soil erosion, and he scanty and erratic nature of rainfall. 2.5 Climatic Conditions

Rainfall is predominantly mono-modal in the project area, and falls between June to September which is the main rain season in Tigray. Some short rains fall between February and March but only in Ganta Afeshum, Gulo Mekeda, Hawzien, Kilte Awlealo, Raya Alamata, Offla, and Enda Mehoni. The average annual rainfall is between 500 – 600 mm. The surface water and soil moisture in the short rainy season is important for land preparation and livestock feed. The daily average temperature varies between 130C - 250C. 2.6 Agriculture and Natural Resource Base

Crop and livestock farming plays a major role in maintaining the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in target woredas. Teff, barely, wheat and maize are the main staple food crops grown. Teff and some minor irrigation products are the major source of income. Most commonly owned livestock are sheep, goats, oxen, cows, camels and donkeys, though livestock asset ownership is very low among the most food insecure farming households. As crop production is the dominant source of income, oxen are kept mainly for plowing of cultivated lands. Households who own cows, donkeys and small ruminants use them for milk, transportation, and buffering cash needs, respectively. Natural resources in the project areas are declining because of severe soil erosion arising from the undulating topography, moisture stress, and shallow depth of soils. This combined with recurrent drought and climate change induced stresses are key causes of hunger and poverty. Land cover is becoming increasingly sparse because of unwise natural resource utilization and management. Gulo Mekeda and Hintalo Wajerat woredas are the most degraded areas in the TPSNP4. Hillsides, as well as farmlands are bare, and scanty forests and bushes are confined around churches and mosques. Soil erosion caused by wind, and the surface runoff generated from the uppermost part of the watersheds, and scanty and erratic rainfall is rising, and becoming a threat for many resource poor men and women households. 2.7 Infrastructure

Social infrastructure centers such as access to a bank, health facilities, electricity, telephone services, etc. are mostly located in large towns, woreda and some kebele administration centers. The program areas near to these centres have good access to different social service facilities; while, the remaining rural populations living far away from the large towns and woredas have little or no access to these services. Accordingly, women and men travel at least 20 to 25 km find social service centers.

3. Country National Environmental Policies and Procedures 3.1 Environmental Policies and Strategies

a. The FDRE Constitution: The Proclamation of the Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (Proclamation No 1/1995) has a special article on sustainable development, natural resources and the environment. For example, Article 40 of the Constitution proclaims that land and natural resources are commonly owned by the people of Ethiopia and shall not be subject to sale or other means of exchange. It stipulates the rights of


Ethiopian farmers and pastoralists to obtain land for cultivation and for free grazing without payment and the protection against eviction from their possession.

b. Ethiopia Growth and Transformation Plan: The GTP particularly emphasizes the fact that

consideration of the environment plays a pivotal role in sustainable development. The Plan aims at building a ‘Green Economy’ and implementing the existing environmental laws as part of the key strategic directions to be pursued during the plan period.

c. Ethiopia’s Climate Resilient- Green Economy Strategy: This green economy plan focus on

two strategies: Adaptation to climate change impacts and mitigation of Greenhouse Gases (GHGs).

d. Tigray Regional State Constitution: The Tigray Regional State has its own constitution;

keeping the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Constitution in its fullness and establishing its regional specifics. The Tigray Regional State Constitution has addressed land and natural resources management and environmental protection via three main points: a) the Regional Government is entrusted to administer land and natural resources in the name of the people and organize for the common benefit of the same, b)the Regional Government and people of the Region are responsible for the conservation of natural resources and the environment, and c) concerned communities shall be given opportunity to express their opinions in the formulation and implementation of policies in relation to the environment.

e. Environmental Policy of Ethiopia: The overall goal of Ethiopia’s environmental policy is “to

improve and enhance the health and quality of life of all Ethiopians and to promote sustainable social and economic development through the sound management and use of natural, human-made and cultural resources and the environment as a whole, so as to meet the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. The policy states sectoral-environmental policies, cross sectoral environmental policy and policy implementation. The policy is pursuant to the USAID environmental regulations and policies.

f. Ethiopian Water Resources Management Policy (1999): The overall goal of the Policy is to

enhance and encourage all national efforts towards the efficient, equitable and optimum utilization of available water resources in Ethiopia for significant socioeconomic development, on a sustainable basis. The Policy aims to ensure the fair access to water for everyone and in a sustainable manner, protect water resources and sources, and promote cooperation for the management of river basins. The Policy also requires water resources schemes and projects to have Environmental Impact Assessment and Evaluation.

g. Biodiversity Conservation and Research Policy: Provides policy guidance towards the effective conservation, rational development and sustainable utilization of the country's biodiversity. The policy objectives accentuate public participation in biodiversity conservation, development and utilization, and also ensure that communities share from the benefit accrued from the utilization of the genetic resources and their traditional knowledge. The policy consists of comprehensive provisions on the conservation and sustainable utilization of biodiversity, and it underlines the requirements for implementers to adopt during planning and operational phase of projects and for those projects engaged in biological resource utilization to follow ESIA procedures. Besides the Policy, the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan provide guidance towards the effective conservation, rational development and sustainable utilization of the country's biodiversity. It also


encourages and supports public participation in the conservation, development and use of biological resources

3.2 Environmental Proclamations

All the following proclamations are also pursuant to the USAID environmental regulations and procedures:

• Environmental Protection Organs Establishment Proclamation, No. 295/2002 • Definition of Powers and Duties of the Executive Organs Proclamation No.916/ 2015

(including the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change) • Environmental Impact Assessment Proclamation No. 299/2002 • Environmental Pollution Control Proclamation No. 300/2002 • Forest Development, Conservation and Utilization Proclamation No. 542/2007 • Rural Land Administration and Use Proclamation, No.456/2005 • Ethiopian Water Resources Management Proclamation, No. 197/2000 4. Evaluation of Project Issues with Respect to Environmental

Impact Potential

REST staffs in coordination with government stakeholders and the community at large, were conducted activity screening though field analysis for activity screening through field analysis for IEE to determine potential environmental impacts of physical SWC measures, biological SWC measures, climate smart small scale irrigation schemes, rural community roads and livestock watering points for which Negative Determination with Conditions is recommended moderate to low, and can be reduced or eliminated through mitigation measures. This is largely due to the small scale nature of the projects’ activities. 4.1 Physical Soil and Water Conservation Measures The overall aim of these physical soil and water conservation technologies is to (a) reduce surface runoff generated from the upper part of degraded watersheds, (b) reduce soil erosion and its on-site and off-site effects, (c) trap spongy type of permeable soil layers on the upper part of the terraces, (d) enhance soil moisture content of the specific sites that would improve agricultural production and productivity of smallholder farmers, (e) create land for landless youth in specific sites, and (f) enhance adaptive capacity of smallholder farmers against climate change related risks. Additionally, according to case study report Ethiopian Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP) Integrating Disaster and Climate Risk Management (June 2013), public work activities were found to strengthen environmental management and climate resilience. This resulted in dual benefits related to improved livelihoods and increased community safety. Although physical soil and water conservation measures can be implemented to address the above mentioned purposes, there can be instances where improper planning, designing and construction procedures take place which could bring detrimental impacts on the environment. Below is an analysis of the potential negative impacts and effects that soil and water conservation measures could have if not properly performed.

- Breeding place for rodents: Structures such as stone terraces on croplands could serve as breeding spots for rodents. This can result in the reduction of crop yields due to rodent damages.

- Harmful to downstream areas: Footpaths, cattle tracks and free grazing in terraced fields, gullies treated with check dams, and in run-off conveyance structures could result in failures


of structures and could bring concentration of run-offs that is detrimental to downstream areas.

- Reduction of land holding size: Improper design and choice of physical soil and water conservation techniques can take more land, and reduce smallholder cultivable land size.

- Temporary water logging: The construction of soil and water conservation structures can result in water logging, if the chosen techniques are not suitable to the land capability classification and soil nature of the rehabilitation area. This can create seasonally marshy areas that could result in crop failure, loss of grazing lands, and loss of valuable soil micro-organisms.

- Disturbance of soil strata: If proper care is not taken during construction, subsoil could be mixed with topsoil to result in poor crop growth and yields for the reason that subsoil has less organic content.

4.2 Biological Soil and Water Conservation Measures The main aim of these biological measures is to address the following issues: (a) ensure a good planting program, (b) stabilize physical soil and water conservation measures, (c) reduce the shortage of livestock feed, (d) enhance soil fertility, water infiltration capacity and moisture content, (e) boost the means of income, and the income sources of smallholder farmers, (f) increase the vegetation cover of degraded areas and improve the micro-climatic conditions of these areas, (g) create a suitable habitat for site-specific wild animals, (h) help farmers by obtaining access to planting materials from nearby sources, (i) reduce the shortage of fuel wood at the household level, (j) serve as check-dam construction materials where there is shortage of stone, and (k) contribute to the restoration of indigenous tree and grass species. These expected results are confirmed in the findings of the independent Public Works Impact Assessment (M.A Consulting Group, 2009), that soil and water conservation projects led to significant and visible increases in wood and herbaceous vegetation cover, and a broader diversity of plant species, in turn contributing to an increased supply of livestock feed, bee forage, and medicinal plants. Soil and water conservation cost-to-benefit ratios for soil loss reduction, woody biomass and forage production and carbon sequestration ranged from 1.5 to 2.6, with an average of 1.832.

Although biological conservation measures are implemented to bring about the above mentioned benefits, these can result in adverse impacts if they are not properly planned and performed. Some of the potential negative impacts that biological conservation measures could bring if not properly implemented are given below: - Competition between trees and crops: Improperly selected and planted trees on farmland

may compete with, rather than support, agricultural crops because they: cast too much shade, use too many scarce nutrients or too much water, reduce growing space, interfere with farming operations such as plowing and tilling of crops, host pests and diseases and deplete soil fertility over the long term due to overuse. Neem and eucalyptus trees are some of tree species which can bring about some of these consequences.

- Result in unexpected outbreak of pests: Introduction of new tree and grass species could result in the unexpected outbreak of pests.

- Domination over indigenous vegetation species: Introduction of new plant species to an area may dominate the local plant species, particularly if the new species have outstanding

32 A ratio above 1 signifies an overall gain (i.e., cost of inputs less than the benefits accrued for any particular

intervention) as compared to a “no intervention” scenario.


features preferred by the community over the indigenous species (e.g. eucalyptus in many parts of Ethiopia), resulting in loss of biodiversity. Furthermore, exotic tree /seed species could impact native plants, animals, and other ecosystems, as well as impact human livelihoods, and agricultural activities. Controlling damage from invasive species can be extremely costly and sometimes nearly irreversible.

- Cause weed problems: Some grasses used for grass strips could spread dramatically fast and attack adjacent croplands. This could result in a serious weed problem and yield decrease. The same problem could occur with vegetative barriers, though it is less likely.

4.3 Nursery Establishment and Operation The potential negative impacts that could arise if nurseries sites are not selected and managed properly include the following: - Spread of plant diseases: When many seedlings grow close together and are not well

aerated fungal, bacterial and other diseases can spread easily to nearby nursery beds and seedlings. Close spacing can also lead to etiolated and weak plants which are susceptible to diseases. Diseases can be spread to the environment which can affect other vegetation when seedlings are planted out in fields.

- Social conflict: Inefficient use of water for nursery operations may cause shortages of water for downstream users.

- Health problems: Tree nursery sites without a latrine may lead to open defecation around nursery sites. During the rainy seasons night soils can be washed away into the nearby water bodies and rivers. This can cause the spread of water borne diseases such as typhoid, cholera, and dysentery.

- Domination of exotic species over indigenous species: If due attention is not given to proper planning of species, more of the exotic species can be produced while ignoring the indigenous species. This can bring dominance of exotic over indigenous species, contributing to the loss of some species which ultimately can result in biodiversity losses.

- Improper seed collection: A reduction of trees can result if mother trees are felled during seed collection activities. In addition, a reduction in natural propagation can be faced if a large amount of seeds is collected from limited sources in a particular area. Such a reduction of natural propagation could have a negative impact on the environment.

- Environmental pollution: Environmental problems can be faced when nursery inputs such as polythene tubes are not well managed, and the selection of nursery sites and the design of nursery blocks and beds are not properly conducted.

4.4 Area Enclosure Area enclosing is a practice executed in line with the Ethiopia Climate Resilient Green Economy Strategy that calls for “promoting area enclosing through the rehabilitation of degraded hillsides, pasturelands and farmlands, leading to enhanced rejuvenation and soil fertility, and thereby ensuring additional carbon sequestration (above and below ground)” as one of the strategies for protecting and re-establishing forests for economic and ecosystem services, including carbon stocks. Although area enclosing is an easy execution and less costly form of soil conservation, it has posed the following problems with regard to management, and negative impacts on the people who will use the land set aside for this purpose. It is felt that some of these limitations might have influenced the success of these activities: (a) area enclosing can result in social conflict for


resource use if men and women inhabitants in the program area do not obtain the right to benefit equally from the developed communal assets, (b) area enclosing can reduce the area available for livestock grazing. This could result in increased pressure on other specific areas that lead to serious degradation of the stressed areas. However, in all REST program areas, the selection and implementation approach of area enclosing is totally community controlled. Guards are chosen by people from each Tabia/Kushet to look after or to protect the areas. There are local by-laws or regulations (known as serit) agreed upon its safety and usage of the enclosures. Tabia or Kushet leaders in collaboration with local people set time when and how wood gathering and cutting of grasses in matured area enclosures. Every inhabitant in the same Kushet where the enclosure site is located has equal right to benefit from the communally developed assets such as grass collection (hay) and fuel wood. 4.5 Climate Smart Small Scale Irrigation Schemes Small scale irrigation schemes are important for boosting the livelihood base of smallholder farmers and enhancing water flow in areas where they are constructed. The Public Works Impact Assessment (M.A Consulting Group, 2009), found that small-scale irrigation from water sources developed by the PSNP helped some 4-12 percent of households to increase their livestock holdings and incomes by 4–25 percent. Even very small irrigated plots (190 m2) were estimated to be capable of generating gross profit margins of ETB 4,200 to 6,000 per year (US$413-9133) if double cropped. Thus, the most important purpose of SSI schemes, in terms of volume and economic perspective, is to obtain access to irrigation water for crops and trees, but also livestock and for domestic use – factors taken into account during SSI design, along with net water requirement and loss considerations. Although SSI schemes are constructed to supplement agricultural crops and reclaim farmlands, failure to wisely plan, implement, monitor and evaluate any given site could have the following adverse impacts. - Socioeconomic impacts: New irrigation schemes can disrupt communal land use rights and

cause discontinuity between traditional and legal land rights. Individual water usage rights may need negotiation, particularly for small plots. Changes to field plans may be necessary and some cultivated land may be lost, which will require adequate compensation. Furthermore, these small scale irrigation schemes can also harm downstream river water users by reducing water volume and/or quality.

- Threats to human health: Irrigation projects can bring, or cause, many waterborne diseases among humans and animals that include malaria, schistosomiasis, dengue fever, bancroftian and lymphatic filariasis, river blindness, roundworm, tapeworm, guinea worm, yellow fever, sleeping sickness, cholera, typhoid and hepatitis. For example, stagnant or slow-flowing water, such as clogged irrigation canals, waterlogged fields and rivers under extremely low-flow regimes can facilitate the breeding of mosquitos and snails that transmit malaria and schistosomiasis, respectively. Using polluted water for irrigation can spread roundworms and tapeworms. Finally, pollutants, including pesticide residues, excess nutrients from fertilizers, and saltwater intrusions in groundwater, and all untreated drinking water sources can lead to increased sicknesses and deaths. Furthermore, open defecation will be exercised if irrigation projects do not consider the importance of toilets for construction crew.

- Growth of unwanted crop weeds: Poorly maintained canals result in water losses and can facilitate growth of unwanted weeds in the canals.

33OANDA exchange rate of 31 December 2008.


- Increased soil salinity: Constant use of irrigation water on farmland coupled with improper management can reduce soil fertility over time by making it more saline. This can lead to salt build-up on farmlands if an effective drainage system is not properly designed. A high level of salt in the soil limits crops growth, reduces seed germination and yields, and makes soils more difficult to work with. Excessively saline soils force farmers to abandon their fields.

- Alteration of hydrology: Diverting water for irrigation alters river flow regimes (patterns of flow volume) and extracting of higher levels of groundwater during the dry season may affect the depth of water table.

- Soil erosion and sedimentation: When there is precipitation, only a limited amount can be absorbed into the irrigable land, because irrigated land is already wet. Thus, runoff from irrigated croplands during a storm can therefore be heavier than runoff from un-irrigated areas. This runoff carries dissolved impurities, sediments and any farm chemicals into the water bodies. If this water is stored in reservoirs it induces physical, chemical and biological changes, all of which affect water chemistry. The rate at which sedimentation occurs within a reservoir depends on the physiographic features and land-use practices of the catchment, as well as the way the dam is operated. Increased sedimentation from upstream can also clog irrigation intakes, pumps, filtration operations and downstream in-field channels. Poor design, construction and placement of irrigation water inlet points can all erode the soil at the head of an irrigated field. The eroded soil may accumulate in the middle or at the tail ends of the field where the water moves more slowly, interfering with in-field water distribution. Furthermore, irrigation systems can alter the natural water course causing erosion. The new water course can subsequently expose new and more soil to erosion. Channels carrying water to farmlands can cause erosion if the water carrying capacity is too small for actual flow, or if the slope causes high speed flow.

4.6 Livestock Watering Facility Development Although the development and construction of livestock watering facilities help to reduce the problem of water supply for livestock, the conduct of improper planning, design work, implementation and monitoring and evaluation of livestock watering points can have a detrimental impact on the environment. Some of the potential negative impacts that livestock watering points can have if they are not properly implemented and managed are given below: When farmers have unrestricted access to livestock watering points, this may cause disturbances, environmental degradation and loss of productivity. For instance, cattle spend as little as 4 minutes a day actually drinking but can spend 10 times as long loafing around the water area which increases the likelihood of water quality problems. The fact is that, during the loafing time, the cattle drop their dung around and within the watering points. Large amounts of livestock manure can bring considerable quantities of phosphates and nitrates through run-off flooding on the land and leaching into the ground. These nutrients can cause eutrophication (rapid plant growth in livestock watering points such as algae, solids, etc.) that can create sedimentation, and organic material leading to oxygen depletion (BOD) of the water. Furthermore, effects of depletion of groundwater levels, loss of native fringing vegetation, weed invasion, soil compaction, soil erosion and poor water quality could be the expected environmental risk associated with this problem. If watering points are not fenced or protected well, there can be unrestricted overstocking of animals, and serious falls from slippage (especially among children) that can result in deaths.


4.7 Forage Development The only potential negative impact under this activity is the introduction of new pests and weeds when new exotic grasses are introduced. However, REST will purchase improved seeds subjected to seed quarantine examinations by the Ministry of Agriculture and will only accept the inputs when certified as safe. 4.8 Rural Community Road Rural access roads are fundamental to facilitating entry to social and agricultural development activities such as health services, markets, education, training and increased awareness of environmental issues. If improperly planned, designed, implemented, monitored and evaluated however, rural community road construction can have a direct detrimental impact on the environment and human health as detailed under the 2013 Roads PEA34. The potential negative impact that community road could have if not properly implemented and maintained include: (a) degradation of water quality, (b) soil erosion, (c) land degradation problems, and (d) negative impacts on community health and safety. 4.9 Dry Latrine Construction REST will construct separatesmall dry latrines in rural formal schools for girls and boy student. Though construction of such school latrines can make a significant contribution to the enhanced health condition of the school community, if the construction is not improperly planned, implemented and managed, a latrine could have a direct detrimental impact on the environment and human health. These negative impacts are: (a) increased transmission of vector borne disease, and (b) cause of disease transmission to field workers and consumers of agricultural products. 4.10 Additional School Classrooms Additional classrooms will be constructed to assist in improving the quality of education in rural areas, based on the design standard of the Tigray Bureau of Education. Some detrimental impacts on the environment and human health can however occur if the construction of the school classrooms are not properly planned, designed, implemented and monitored as per regulations and standards. These include: - An increased incidence of suffocation and communicable diseases can potentially occur

when classroom windows are jammed shut and cannot be properly opened (very common in rural based schools).

- Soil erosion due to clearing of vegetation for school classroom construction. - Social conflict if school classrooms are constructed on private land, and if the process for

land compensation is delayed. 4.11 Livelihood Asset Transfers (on-farm livelihood pathways) The major focus of on-farm livelihood asset transfers for resource and asset poor households is to improve asset ownership, raise household incomes, enhance diet diversity, and build literacy skills as a buffer against shocks. Livelihood asset transfers can have a direct detrimental impact on the environment and human health if the transfer and chosen livelihood pathway (e.g. sheep and goat fattening ad rearing, poultry production) are improperly planned, implemented and monitored. Some potential negative impacts that can be faced are described below:

Sheep and goat fattening and rearing: - Land degradation/soil erosion 34


- Harm to human health - GHG emission/Produce methane gas - Contamination from manure - Bad odour - Poultry affect the quality of drinking water through the leaching of nitrates, and possible

pathogen transfers to groundwater affecting drinking water quality - Greenhouse gas emissions in the form of nitrous oxide

4.12 Food Storage Construction Near Village Settlements The potential negative impacts include the following if storage sites are not properly selected and managed: Adverse social impacts: - Warehouse construction may displace local inhabitants. - Reduced access to environmental resources. - Noise and dirt from the site may disturb neighbours. - If local labor is not used, this may also generate resentment or anger.

Spread of disease: - Entry of warehouse construction workers from other sites may introduce new diseases to the

local population or increase the incidence of local contamination (e.g. HIV/AIDS). - Specific types of facilities such as those for healthcare, sanitation, and solid waste can also

increase the spread of a variety of diseases unless proper waste-handling procedures are followed.

4.13 Tree Watering Pond Construction/Hillside Rainwater Harvesting Ponds The potential negative impacts from tree watering pond sites if not properly selected and managed include (a) deforestation, and (b) may aggravate soil erosion.

4.14 Agricultural Inputs Included under agricultural inputs are the purchase of improved and local fruit and vegetable seeds, and production and provision of fruit and vegetable seedlings (grafted mango, orange, apple, papaya, guava, tomato, onion, cabbage, swisschard, lettuce and pepper). If an error is made during seedling selection, production and provision, this could result in the following adverse environmental impacts:

- Outbreak of new pests such as aphids, late and early blights. - Possible displacement of land races especially cabbage, onion and wild tomato as well as

risks from local pests and droughts. 4.15. Compost Pit Preparation If an error is made during compost pit site selection, construction and management, this could result in soil erosion. 5. Recommended Mitigation Actions (incl/ Monitoring & Evaluation) 5.1 Recommended Determinations The recommended determinations for each activity for Categorical Exclusion and Negative Determination with Conditions, and the relevant Regulation 216 citations are presented in the following two tables.


Table 1: List of Activities for Categorical Exclusion (CE) & Relevant Regulation 216 Citations

Activity or Programmatic Component

Recommended Determination

Purpose 1: Reduced vulnerability to shocks and stresses among women and men - Facilitate the provision of client cards, and create

client awareness of their entitlement. - Advocacy on the primacy of transfers at regional and

woreda level. - Develop fixed transfer schedule and ensure follow up. - Purchase and provision of construction and

agricultural materials and tools. - Conduct awareness creation on environmental

management. - Ensure women/men households in the community

benefit from the communal resources. - Establish watershed bylaws.

Categorical Exclusion, per 216.2(c )(1)(i) and 216.2(c)(2)(V)

- Facilitate interface meetings and joint monitoring of transfers between clients and service providers.

- Workshop on area closure handover and exit strategy. - Conduct multi-stakeholder forum on DRM - Multi-sectoral platform on natural resource

management activities.

Categorical Exclusion, per 216.2(c ) (2) (iii) and 216.2(c)(1)(i)

- PIM training for Steering Committees, WFSTF, TFSTF, CFSTF and Tabia Appeal Committees.

- Training on commodity and warehouse management. - Conduct training to community level environmental

committees and user groups. - Training on watershed management for Woreda

Experts. - Training for new apportioned hillside group users /

landless youths. - Conduct community and sectoral DRM training. - Training on Early Warning (EW) and DRM for

woreda EW committees. - Training on Early Warning and DRM for regional EW

committees. - Training on Disaster Risk Reduction techniques and

technologies. - Training on tree nursery management. - Training on agroforestry practices and Farmer

Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) practices and utilization.

- Training on renewable and energy saving technologies to beneficiaries.

- Training on GISArcview software for field staff. • Training of farmers on diversified coping strategies.

Categorical Exclusion, per 216.2(c )(2)(i)


Purpose 2: Improved agricultural production and productivity among vulnerable women and men - Training on small scale water harvesting technologies. - Training on irrigation water harvesting technologies

(underground + surface water). - Training on water use efficiency for water user

association leaders. - Formation and strengthening of Water User

Associations. - Training on water lifting technologies. - Trainings on different agronomic and cultural practices

related to fruit and vegetable production. - Training on irrigation water cooperative principles (5

days)

Categorical Exclusion, per 216.2(c)(2)(i)

- Training on fruit nursery management and grafting. - Training on improved farm implements (mold board

plough operation). - Training on livestock feed treatment and improvement

(using OEM). - Training on Irrigation Structure Designing Software for

REST Head Office IDD study and design staff. - Training of farmers on climate smart water, soil fertility

and soil management.


- Purchase and provision of oxen driven mold board to targeted beneficiaries.

- Purchase and provision of effective micro-organism to targeted beneficiaries.


Purpose 3: Improved sustainable livelihood of vulnerable women, men and youth groups - Business plan preparation. - Community facilitators coach target beneficiaries. - Procurement of required construction materials. - Provision of school furniture (combined desk, shelf for

reading corner; teacher’s chairs). - Mandatory saving for livelihood asset transfer

beneficiaries. - Link to DECSI. - Link beneficiaries with traders. - Link beneficiaries with suppliers. - Establish Producers Groups. - Strengthen partnerships with market initiative

programs.


- Interface meetings between financial service providers and beneficiaries.

- Centers Management Committee workshop.

Categorical Exclusion, per 216.2(c ) (2) (iii) and 216.2(c)(1)(i)


- Business skills training for vulnerable groups. - Training on coaching/technical support for facilitators. - Experience sharing on GRAD VESA approach. - Functional Adult Literacy (FAL). - Alternative Basic Education for boys and girls (ABE). - Women Literacy Program (WLP). - Learning visit for ABE, FAL, WLP and CMC. - Initial and refreshment training for ABE Facilitators. - FAL facilitators initial and refreshment training. - WLP Facilitators initial and refreshment training. - Learning visit for ABE, FAL, WLP and CMC. - Training on IGA practices and financial service giving

institutions. - Provision of training to farmers on commercial market


Purpose 4: Reduced malnutrition among CU5, pregnant and lactating mothers - Training to experts from the nutrition sensitive sector. - Training on nutrition and environmental sanitation to

religious leaders and community representatives. - Training to drama club members on family planning,

HIV/AIDS, environmental sanitation and nutrition promotion.

- Training on nutrition and adolescent girls club to school students (30 from each school).

- Training on micro garden development. - Health and nutrition education through mobile van.

Categorical Exclusion, per216.2(c)(2)(i),(viii)

- Establish nutrition and adolescent girl clubs. - Entertainment education on nutrition via drama club - Identifying and screening best performing HHs on

nutrition activities - Provision of certificate for best performing HHs - Beneficiary selection. - Provision of watering cans. - Micro garden management. - Use of clean water for drinking and food preparation, - Hand washing with soap and water before and after

food preparation. - Proper use of toilet. - Proper washing of food utensils. - Anti-natal care (e.g. feeding practices, immunization) - Institutional delivery services. - Post-natal care. - Family planning - Growth monitoring services - Micro garden development and composting

Categorical Exclusion, per 216.2(c ) (2) (iii),(viii) and 216.2(c)(1)(i)


Table 2: List of Activities for Negative Determination with Condition and the Relevant Regulation 216 Citation

Activity or Programmatic Component

Recommended Determination

Purpose 1: Reduced vulnerability to shocks and stresses among women and men Warehouse construction. Negative Determination with condition, subject to

the condition that must per, 216.3(a)(2)(i), (iii)

Physical Soil and Water Conservation measures: hillside terrace, stone bund, bench terracing, micro basins (half-moon, herring bone, eyebrow basin) and trench bunds.

Negative Determination with condition, subject to the condition that must per, 216.3(a)(2)(i),(iii)

Gully rehabilitation measures: Loose rock check- dams (LRCD), gabion check dams (GCD) and sand bag check-dams (SBCD)

Negative Determination with condition, subject to the condition that must per 216.3(a)(2)(i),(iii)

Biological Soil and Water Conservation measures: Collection of grass seeds, grasses and sisal seedling production and planting of vegetative propagating plants, grass cuttings and splits on treated gullies and catchment.

Negative Determination with condition, subject to the condition that must per 216.3(a)(2)(i),(iii)

Forestry development activities: Area enclosure, tree nursery operation and management, Tree seedling production and planting and Collection and direct sowing of economic legume seeds


Direct surface activities to recharge ground water table (percolation ponds, percolation channels and deep trenches).


Tree watering pond construction/hillside rainwater harvesting ponds.


Purpose 2: Improved agricultural production and productivity among vulnerable women and men Construction of Small Scale Irrigation schemes: spring development, spate irrigation, water harvesting check-dams and flood, small river diversion, electrical pumps, underground check- dams, open hand dug wells, and mini-dams.


Agricultural inputs: Purchase of improved and local fruit and vegetable seeds, production and provision of fruit and vegetable seedlings (grafted mango, orange, apple, papaya, guava, tomato, onion, cabbage, swisschard, lettuce and pepper).

Negative Determination with condition, subject to the condition that must per,216.3(a)(2)(i), (iii)

Compost pit preparation. Negative Determination with condition, subject to the condition that must per,216.3(a)(2)(i), (iii)

Construction of livestock water ponds with trough. Negative Determination with condition, subject to the condition that must per, 216.3(a)(2)(i), (iii)


Purpose 3: Improved sustainable livelihood of vulnerable women, men and youth groups Livestock forage development (over sowing of improved and local forage seeds).


Construction of community road/feeder road (DS 9 and DS10).

Negative Determination with condition, subject to the condition that must per, 216.3(a)(2)(i), (iii)

Transfer of productive assets (grants) to asset poor households (on -farm activities-goats and sheep fattening, and rearing).

Negative Determination with condition, subject to the condition that must per,216.3(a)(2)(i),(iii)

Formal school support through the construction of teaching classrooms and dry latrines.

Negative Determination with condition, subject to the condition that must per, 216.3(a)(2)(i), (iii)

Purpose 4: Reduced malnutrition among CU5, Pregnant and lactating mothers Purchase and provision of improved vegetable seeds to micro-garden beneficiaries.


5.2 Monitoring and Evaluation plan

REST will incorporate the recommended mitigation and monitoring measures into its Monitoring and Evaluation Plan. The relevant staff in coordination with and the USAID/Ethiopia Mission Environmental Office (MEO) can also monitor the implementation of the recommended mitigation and monitoring measures.

Any new activity added to the DFSA that is not included in this document will be subjected to an IEE. If there is a need to implement new activities not covered by this IEE, REST will prepare and submit an amended IEE to USAID for its approval. 5.3. Environmental Mitigation Plan

The overall mitigation plans for activities having negative determinations with conditions are presented in Annex 1 below.


Annex 1: Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plan (EMMP)

Activity/Impact/Mitigation Table 1

Project Type Activity Description of Impact Prescribed mitigation measures

Food storage

Hallow block Warehouse construction

- Spread diseases - Adverse social impacts (displace local

inhabitants, Noise and dirt from the site may disturb neighbors, generate resentment or anger)

- Compact nearby farm lands and then reduce soil infiltration capacity

- Use as much as possible available skilled and semiskilled local farmers/labor.

- Provide training and awareness creations to crew members and local communities on prevention and care of sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV/AIDS.

- Prepare and distribute leaflets regarding contact with local residents, and enforce guidelines.

- Restrict nearby farmlands from excessive human tramping and unloading of construction materials such as stone, gravel and sand.

- Plant multipurpose and site suited tree species within and surrounding of the warehouse to enhance micro climatic condition of the warehouse compound and shade for recipients.

Physical Soil and Water Conservation Measures:

- Hillside terrace, - Stone bund, - Bench Terracing, - Cut-off drain, - Micro basins and - Trench bunds)

- Breeding place for rodents-resulted to crop failures

- Erosion of down slope areas from overtopping and damage of structures due to incorrect layout and construction of structures

- Reduce land holding size of farmers: - Create temporary water logging - Cause sloughing effect if excessive water

infiltrates soils

- REST technical staffs ensure the proper design and selection of appropriate structures to the respective land form to reduce temporary water logging and landholding size of farmers.

- Physical soil conservation measures integrated with biological soil conservation measures to enhance their durability; benefit in a sustained manner and reduce breeding of rodents.

- Protect conserved areas from interference of livestock and also convince communities to have foot paths and cattle tracks that will not disturb constructed structures and create further soil erosion.

- Provide training to production cadres, contour makers, farmer technical leaders, experts and development agent to improve their knowledge and skills on sustainable use and management of natural resources.

- REST technical staffs will conduct frequent site supervision in


coordination with woreda level technical committees and community level technical leaders.

- Divert excess runoff water in to safe natural depression storages or natural water ways.

- Ensure good collaboration among stakeholders and full participation of community elders and relevant design experts

- Physically and biologically treated and matured hillsides should be handed over to the community with full of operation and maintenance plans

Direct surface activities to recharge ground water table

- Percolation ponds

- Percolation channel

- Deep trench

- When constructed in weathered limestone/alkaline soils - could increase PH of the water ground water

- When constructed in a catchment with high concentration of manure or animal wastes – could increase the nitrate content of the groundwater

- Deliver training to experts, watershed committees and DAs before and during construction of ground water recharging activities (direct surface activities): on technical considerations and management practices.

- Performed in the program areas/sites with soil textures of sandy to loam

- Performed in a program area /sites where their groundwater is >3 ft. below surface


Gully rehabilitation

- Gabion check dams

- Loose rock check dams

- Sand bag check dams

- Failure of check dams due to peak flood and boulders came along with it.

- Gully bank erosion - Flood overtop in to nearby farmlands

- Stabilize gullies with physical and biological measures. - Improve gully catchments to reduce and regulate the run-off

rates (peak flows) generated from the upper catchments and diversion of surface water above the gully area in to safe areas (natural drainage or water body)

- Conduct training to experts and DAs on proper design and construction of gully rehabilitation measures.

- Early warning information should have to be integrated in to design of gully rehabilitation measures

- Ensure adequate spillway to pass excess flood safely. - Ensure good collaboration among stakeholders and full

participation of community elders and relevant design experts - Properly treated gullies will be handed over to the community

with full of operation and maintenance plan

- Easily spearing of plant diseases –very close spacing in germination and

- As usual, REST selects recommended type species that are compatible with crop production and the environment.


Biological soil and water conservation measures

Nursery operation and management

nursery beds. - Temporary water logging –nursery

beds/trenches not designed well - Social conflict related to water use and

land tenure - Health problem- lack of toilet within

nursery sites –resulted to open deification

- Series environmental problem - improper management of poythentube and other nursery inputs

- Domination of exotic species over indigenous species

- REST technical experts in collaboration with stakeholders should conduct detail study

- Promote use of all mechanical and cultural possible methods of controlling pests that occur in nursery sites.

- Facilitate nursery sites to be handed over to the landless user groups with full of operation and maintenance plans

- Ensure good collaboration among stakeholders and full participation of community elders and relevant experts

- Provide training to nursery staffs to improve their knowledge and experience on hygiene and sanitation practice, efficient use and management of water, on polythene tubes and other inputs management and disposal, water drainage systems and other technical issues

- REST forestry expert should conduct regular monitoring in collaboration with government experts.

Collection and sowing of grass seeds, Grasses and sisal seedling production, Planting of vegetative propagating plants, grass cuttings and splits on treated gullies and catchment

- Soil Nutrient competition between crops and grass

- Resulted in unexpected outbreak of pests

- Domination over indigenous vegetation species

- Cause weed problem on farmland and catchments

- Ensure that the new varieties are subject to the national guarantee of the ministry of agriculture and that they are certified for purity from any foreign weeds.

- Promote use of all mechanical and cultural possible methods of controlling pests that occur in nursery sites

- Promote use of treated seeds against common pests whenever new varieties are introduced to avoid the importation of new pests.

Tree seedling production and plantation

- Loss of local biodiversity including useful niche species

- Deplete ground water due to plantation of Eucalyptus tree within water bodies.

- Exotic species can become invasive - Pests and disease

- Use mixed planting of exotic and indigenous species where ever planting of exotic species are found suitable and important to the intended purpose


- Eucalyptus tree will be out planted on physically treated hillsides - Select species which are environmentally compatible with ecology and economically useful. - Diversify species in agroforestry practices.


Area enclosure

- Social conflict for resource computation.

- Lead to serious degradation of the stressed areas.

- REST in a very close collaboration with all stake holders, particularly with the owners and intended beneficiaries should develop management plans for Enclosure.

- Form and strengthen local rules and regulations to ensure equitable water distribution

- Provide training to beneficiaries, watershed committees, experts and Development agents on sustainably use and management of area enclosure.

- Matured area exposures should hand over to the community with full of operation and maintenance plan

Livestock forage development

- Introduction of new pests and weeds with the newly introduced exotic grasses.

- REST selects locally adapted grass seeds and subjected to quarantine examinations by the ministry of agriculture and received only when they are certified negative.


- Promote propagation of local grasses and legume seeds to minimize risk of over domination by exotic species.

Agricultural inputs

Purchase of improved and local fruit and vegetable seeds, Production and provision of fruit and vegetable seedlings (grafted Mango, Orange, Apple, Papaya, Guava, tomato, onion, cabbage, Swiss chard, lettuce and pepper),

- Outbreak new pests such as aphids, late and early blights.

- Possible displacement of land races especially cabbage, onion and wild tomato as well as risks from local pests and droughts

- Ensure that the new varieties are subject to the national guarantee of the ministry of agriculture and that they are certified for

purity from any foreign weeds. - Promote the use of traditional pest management such as ash spray, soap and water solution spray etc. and farther promote

traditional agronomic practices to minimize pest problems. - Promote use of treated seeds against common pests whenever

new varieties are introduced to avoid the importation of new pests.

- Promote landrace vegetables and fruits in order to keep a pace with the introduction of new varieties and thereby minimize the risk of displacement from the later.

Soil fertility enrichment

Compost pit preparation

- Soil erosion

- Ensure proper site selection, construction and management of compost pit

- Plant nitrogen fixers tree species such as F. Albida/momona/ to reduce soil erosion due to high wind and to protect the


compost from sunshine.

Climate Smart Small Scale Irrigation Schemes

Mini-dams

- Destruction of vegetation - Soil destabilisation as a result of

excavation - Unplanned human settlements - Degradation of irrigated land (Salinization;

Alkalization; Waterlogging and Soil acidification)

- Loss of productive land and natural resources

- Changes in land and water uses, access and rights, that can lead to social conflicts.

- Derangement of livestock grazing - Damage to downstream areas-due to

failure of mini-dams - Increase Water borne diseases e.g.:

diarrhoea and cholera associated with poor sanitary conditions and misuse of reservoir water for domestic purposes, leptospirosis associated with rodent urine.

- Water related diseases e.g.: malaria, onchocerciasis, filariasis associated with increases in vector breeding and contact.

- Water contact diseases e.g.: schistosomiasis and swimmer's itch associated with domestic and occupational behaviour.

- Water washed diseases e.g.: scabies and skin infections associated with poor sanitary and hygienic conditions.

- Impact from borrow and quarry activities

- Minimise vegetation clearing around the reservoir. - Use existing borrow pits rather than creating new ones and

restore borrow pits after completion by stabilising slopes and facilitate regeneration of vegetation

- Establish access mechanisms (compensation) to land in the watershed in order to control unorganised settlements

- Maintain channels to prevent seepage, siltation and weeds to reduce inefficiencies.

- Design channels to have access during maintenance. - Minimize loss of land especially productive land during designing. - Create water user organisations to effectively manage water

resources and ensure equitable access among users. - Set aside alternative grazing areas to compensate those lost. - REST study and design team in collaboration with woreda

technical committees, woreda and regional early warning committees and the community at large should prepare designs of mini-dams in consideration to the early warning information

- Provide training to beneficiaries and water user associations on efficient and effective water utilization and management

- Facilitate the implementation of appropriate latrines and other sanitation facilities.

- Information, education and communication about safe uses of water reservoirs to avoid contamination.

- Environmental management for vector control and use of bed nets and repellents, rapid diagnosis and treatment.

- Safe food storage and handling in camping screws Ensure good collaboration among stakeholders and full participation of community elders and relevant design experts

- Hand over properly constructed mini-dams to beneficiaries and Woreda water resources office with full operation and maintenance plans.

- Develop, communicate and implement safety and preventive measures for participants in the construction and form a safety


committee to aware participants & take care of accidents. - REST shall use the government and community approved quarry

sites for extracting stones and water impermeable soils. REST will obtain necessary government permits before procurement of materials.

River diversion

- Water shortage to downstream users and dispute may raise

- Aggravate downstream river bed and bank erosion

- Flood overflows in to nearby farmlands - Farmers near to the main structure not

benefited since the gravity system excludes them

- Alter the Natural Flow Regime

- Environmental flow assessments are determined to maintain the hydrological regimes and provide protection of river flows and ecosystem characteristics.

- Rehabilitate river catchment areas to reduce sedimentation of river diversion reservoirs and to enhance stream flow capacity.

- Construct communal overnight water storage ponds close to irrigation canals to harvest night flow waters which can be further utilized through pumping.


- Construct appropriate gabion/loose rock retaining walls on downstream and upstream parts of the main weir to prevent over flow of flood in to nearby farmlands

- Provide poundage at the structure with the help of sluice gates so as to use water lifting mechanism in a regulated and equitable manner.

- Stabilize upstream and downstream river banks by an appropriate biological soil and water conservation measures to minimize river bank erosion and sedimentation of downstream water bodies.

- Provide training to water user associations on irrigation water management, hygiene and sanitation practices; cropping pattern, market and postharvest handling systems.

- Facilitate for developing site specific rules and regulations to ensure equitable water distribution or use.

Water harvesting check dam ponds

- - - Overflow of flood in to a nearby farmland - Damage to downstream areas due to

failure of structure

- REST study and design team should prepare detailed designs of structures in collaboration with regional and woreda level early warning committees; woreda technical committees and community at large.

- Updated early warning information will be considered during construction and farming practices.


- Construct an appropriate gabion retain walls on upstream and downstream parts of the main weir. The physical retain wall have to be reforested with site suited multipurpose soil conservation measures.

- Conduct training to water user associations, technical leaders, environmental committees and development agents on water management, hygiene and sanitation, postharvest handling, market situation and crop patterns.

- Ensure good collaboration among stakeholders and full participation of community elders and relevant design experts.

Spate irrigation

- Uncontrolled excess flood water causes soil erosion/or damage command areas

- There is an increase in weeds whose seeds are brought by flood water

- Failure of weir due to peak flood and resulted to damage of downstream areas

- Maintain channels to prevent seepage, and reduce inefficiencies resulting from siltation and weeds. Designs should include possible ways to access channels for maintenance purpose.

- Establish and strengthen water user associations to regulate flow of flood and maintain the scheme in collaboration with Tabia leaders and community at large.

- Focus on watershed based and integrated Natural Resource Management practices to reduce on-site and off-site soil erosion problems via minimizing speed and facilitate percolation of excess runoff generated from catchments.


- Updated early warning information will be incorporated in to the overall planning and design of spate irrigation.

Open-hand dug well for irrigation

- Provide water contaminated with nutrients and bacteria from animal waste

- Threat for life when not fenced - Ground water depletion

- Facilitate fencing of open hand dug wells properly with vegetative barriers/barded wires to minimize life accidents and over stocking of animals around water points.

- Promote upper catchment treatment and construction of series of percolation ponds to recharge ground water table at specific sites.

- Ensure good collaboration among stakeholders and full participation of community elders and relevant design experts,

- Provide training to pond user groups on efficient and effective ground water utilization and management.

- Monitor ground water levels


Spring development

- Stagnant (standing) water may lead to contamination and may cause health problems due to vector borne diseases.

- Provide training and awareness raising to spring development users, community and development agent to drain stagnant water periodically.

- Establish and strengthen spring water users - Ensure good collaboration among stakeholders and full

participation of community elders and relevant design experts.

Underground check dam

- Injuries for animals and children when the check dam not properly constructed

- River bed scouring problem-if not well operated and maintained.

- REST study and design teams and experts from ERAD should have to prepare detailed designs of structures in collaboration with

communities and government experts. - Regular monitoring of activities and technical support from

regional senior engineers to woreda experts. - Intensifying of river banks and beds with biological soil and water

conservation measures. - Provide training to community level environmental committees,

development agents and water users on safe construction and management of the check dam.

Electrical pump irrigation

- Water shortage to downstream users and dispute may raise

- Environmental flow assessments are important to maintain the hydrological regimes and provide protection of river flows and ecosystem characteristics.

- Facilitate users to develop rules and regulations to ensure equitable water distribution Ensure good collaboration among stakeholders and full participation of community elders and relevant design experts.

- Establish and strengthen water user associations - Provide training to water user associations on efficient use and

management of water and cropping pattern

Livestock water ponds

Small sized ponds (110m3/pond)

- Contaminate water with animal manure and sedimentation

- Soil erosion around livestock water points

- Threat for life when the pond gets its full capacity

-

- Facilitate proper fencing of watering points with dry and vegetative barriers to avoid life accidents and minimize over stocking of animals around water points in collaboration with communities.

- Ensure local bylaws and regulations in place that focus on sustained and management of livestock watering points.

- Promote soil and water conservation activities around the watering points in order to reduce soil erosion due to livestock stocking and poorly constructed pond. Furthermore, stabilize


pond side slopes with stone ripraps. - Establish user associations and strengthen livestock watering

points to manage the overall livestock watering points source

- Separate the watering troughs from the watering points at a reasonable distance to minimize surface and ground water contamination.

- An appropriate small pit/ silt trap will be contracted along a runoff entrance points

Rural access road/Community road (DS10 & DS9)

Planning and Design phase

Planning of Road (assessment of priority road segments )

- Lay foundation for negative environmental impacts.

- Ensure good collaboration among stakeholders and full participation of community elders and relevant design experts.

- Avoid routing across environmentally sensitive areas such as agriculturally productive soils, forest, protected areas.

- Avoid planning of roads construction across historic, religious, or cultural significant areas.

Establishing design standards

- Cause soil erosion and land degradation - Degrade water quality, alter hydrology - Lead to injury, disease, and disturbance of

local residents - Improper sized, sited and number of

drainage structures

- The road design should be prepared according to the national road standard with Environmental Design Checklist, including Community consultation on the design of the roads.

- Drainage structures will be included in the designs using the Rational Formula and will have proper size, site, strength of structures and small culverts and fords as required.

Construction phase

Surveying and Setting Out

- Sloped areas and raised roads - Cause soil erosion - Accidents - Degrade water quality - Alter hydrology

- Provide training to road specialist and Foremen - The roads should follow contours and avoid creating slopes

greater than 12 percent and heavy earthworks. - Use the "Profile Board Method". By Simple surveying equipment

such as ranging rods, profile boards, measuring tapes and line levels which are easy and inexpensive to purchase

Site clearing or leveling

- Create deforestation - adverse impact on agricultural land - Damage or destroy sensitive ecosystems

- Initiate re-vegetating with plants and other appropriate local flora immediately after construction of road

- Destruction of large plants/trees is not encouraged


- Produce areas of bare soil that cause erosion, siltation, changes in natural water flow, damage aquatic ecosystems

- Noise and air pollution

Excavation, cutting, and filling

- Cause erosion, siltation, changes in natural water flow, and damage to aquatic ecosystems

- Cause land subsidence or landslides when fill is inappropriately placed, causing injuries and damages

- Block water courses when it is inappropriately fill

- Injuries due to un proper use of construction tools

- Balance the cuts and fills whenever possible to minimize earthwork.

- Do not fill the flow-line of a watercourse to permit natural water flow

- Preparation of hand tools related to their cultural tools. - Appropriate filling of embankment. - physical soil and water conservation measures on the upper

catchment to minimize quantity & velocity of water - Gully reclamation using either scouring check made from stone

or from stick to minimize the velocity of water flow and maximize sedimentation.

- Construction of appropriate side ditches to minimize deterioration of the road and obstacle for off-road driving.

- On steeper slopes stabilize slopes by planting indigenous vegetation species with the best erosion control properties, better root strength and depth, site adaptability, and other socially useful properties to anchor soil and use it as obstacle for off-street driving

Drainage structures construction

- Destruction of settlements near to the outlet

- Cause soil erosion - Damage valuable ecosystems and habitats - Alter hydrology - Adverse impacts on human health and

safety - adverse impact on agricultural land

- Construct proper size, location and drainage structure such as small culvert and ford as required.

- Install drainage structures during rather than after construction is completed to protect erosion of initial operating stage of the road

- Stabilize outlet of ditches (inside and outside) with stone construction or vegetative barriers placed on contour to dissipate energy and to prevent creation or to expand gullies.

- Construct road side rain water harvesting ponds to reduce volume of surface runoff generated from the road side ditch. Harvested water will help farmers to water tree seedlings out planted on th


road side.

Design verification and quality control

- - Conduct periodic supervision of construction to check that it is constructed according to original plan and design.

Road handover - Deterioration of road - Improper use of recourses - Adverse impact on health and safety

- Hand-over the road to the community with full responsibility and accountability.

- Prepare and apply bylaws for off road driving, destruction of road for sustained use of natural resources.

Operation & maintenance phase

Road maintenance And management

- Create gullies on the road and outlet of drainage structures

- Soil erosion and land degradation - Breed disease vectors in settling basins

and retention ponds - Narrowing the right of way of the road

- Follow up and maintain drainage structures and ditches. - Clean out culverts and side ditches and run outs when they begin

to fill with sediments or other obstacles. - Fill mud holes by durable locally available materials. - Remove downed trees and limbs which narrow the road.

Formal school support

Additional school class rooms

- Displace untenured residents or reduce farmers’ or pastoralists’ lands

- Alter the erosion or flooding impacts on neighbouring homes or buildings.

-

- Find alternative location if proposed one is not possible: - Provide equivalent land or fair monetary compensation. - Build on a pre-determined location planned by community

representatives. - Design to protect existing trees on-site serving as a source of

shade, windbreak, or providing other benefits - Ensure good collaboration among stakeholders and full

participation of community elders and relevant design experts.

Construction of dry latrines

- Increase diarrheal diseases - Cause disease transmission to field

workers and consumers of agricultural products

- Bad Oder

- Maintain humidity of composts below 20% and supplement excreta with alkaline materials (ashes or lime). The pile should remain both odours free and insect free. Applications of ashes will help reduction of pathogen.

- Construct sealed vaults to hold dehydrating and curing material - Ensure proper operation and maintenance so that the soil

amendment taken out after the treatment period is truly sanitized - Conduct training and awareness creation to students to wash

hands properly with soap and water after toilet.


Livelihood asset transfer On-farm livelihood activities

Sheep and goats fattening and rearing

- Land degradation/Soil erosion - Harm to human health - GHG emission/Produce methane gas - Water prolusion / Contamination from

manure - Bad Oder - Diseases transmission -

- Protect free grazing from livestock and use cut and carry system. - Protect stream areas and riverbanks from browsing and grazing

though fencing or herding techniques. - Focus to grazing/browsing management (Proper stocking, Pasture

resource identification and description; Reduced livestock number according to land capability; Conserve fodder as hay; Plan where to graze at different seasons; Apply proper and well regulated rotational grazing system.

- Ensure good collaboration among stakeholders and full participation of community elders and relevant experts.

- Focus to reseeding (over sowing natural pastures with suitable grass and legume species and maintain trees).

- Improve resource efficiency to change fermentation processes in the ruminant’s yards to decrease GHG emission intensities.

- Focus to reduce stock density and overgrazing; appropriate rotations and introduction of legumes to enhance digestibility and nutritional uptake of grass to influence production of methane (CH4) in the rumen.

- Manure management such as handling, storage and disposal of urine and faces from livestock to mitigate GHG emissions and to reduce air and water pollution.

- Composting and applying of small ruminants’ manure as organic fertilizers in gardens, pastures and fodder plants

- Integrate sheep and goat in cash crop plantation for value adding and utilizing animal waste as organic fertilizers

- Clean shelters regularly - Encourage rotational pasture grazing to allow recovering of

pasture and control worms. - Provide training to targeted beneficiaries on waste and general

goats and sheep health management. - use good quality and uncontaminated feed (e.g. in which

Concentrations of pesticides and dioxins are known and do not exceed acceptable levels) which contains no more copper, zinc,


and other additives necessary for animal health. - Affected animals should be isolated and immediately consult

veterinarians

Poultry production

- Affect quality of drinking water: leaching of nitrate, and possible pathogen transfers to groundwater affecting the quality of drinking water

- Greenhouse gas emissions in the form of nitrous oxide.

- Provide training to targeted beneficiaries on quality of poultry feeds, manure management and composting.

- Affected poultries should be isolated and immediately consult veterinarian

- Dead poultry should be properly buried in a waste dumping area. - Ensure good collaboration among stakeholders and full

participation of community elders and relevant experts.

Environmental Monitoring and Evaluation Report Table 2

Prescribed Mitigation Measure

Responsible Party for Mitigation Measure & Implementation

Monitoring Methods Estimated Cost

Results

Indicators Methods Frequency

Dates Monitored

Problems Encountered

Mitigation Effectiveness

Recommended Adjustments

Hallow block warehouse construction

- Use as much as possible available skilled and semiskilled local farmers/labour.

- Provide training and awareness creations to crew members and local communities on prevention and care of sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV/AIDS.

- Prepare and distribute leaflets regarding contact with local residents, and enforce guidelines.

- REST-Supply and Transport department, construction specialist, will be responsible to provide technical support, to implement, monitor, evaluate and to compile progress and quarter reports.

- REST environmentalist in coordination with Woreda environmental Protection desks: Responsible to participate and to ensure design of the warehouse to minimize adverse impacts on the environment

- # of crew members trained and aware on care and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases

- # of standardized food distribution points/warehouses constructed

-

Field visit and public consultation

Routine monitoring


- Restrict nearby farmlands from excessive human tramping and unloading of construction materials such as stone, gravel and sand.

- Plant multipurpose and site suited tree species within and surrounding of the warehouse to enhance micro climatic condition of the warehouse compound and shade for recipients.

-

- Woreda Food Security coordinator, Public work focal person, REST program and supply coordinator, MERL officer- will be responsible to implement, monitor, evaluate and prepare and submit progress and quarter report

to REST Headquarters. - Kebele: FSTF, tabia leader,

water shed committee, supply site representative, environmental committee, beneficiaries and Das will be responsible to implement, monitor, evaluate and to prepare report and submit progress and quarter reports to woreda REST program and supply coordination .

Physical soil and water conservation measures (Hillside terrace, Stone bund, Bench Terracing, Cut-off drain, Micro basins (half-moon, herring bone, eyebrow basin) and Trench bunds)

- REST technical staffs Ensure the proper design and selection of appropriate structures to the respective land form to reduce temporary water logging and landholding size of farmers.

- Physical soil conservation measures integrated with

- REST-NRM specialist, Public work officer, Environmentalist BOARD-NR specialist and ERAD head will be responsible to implement, monitor, evaluate and to compile progress and quarter reports.

- Woreda –Public work focal person, REST program coordinator and

- % of public work sub projects constructed according to technical standards.

- Hectare of land treated with different soil and water conservation

- Field visit - Public work

consultation

- Routine monitoring


biological soil conservation measures to enhance their durability; benefit in a sustained manner and reduce breeding of rodents.

- Protect conserved areas from interference of livestock and also convince communities to have foot paths and cattle tracks that will not disturb constructed structures and create further soil erosion.

- Provide training to production cadres, contour makers, farmer technical leaders, experts and development agent to improve their knowledge and skills on sustainable use and management of natural resources.

- REST technical staffs will conduct frequent site supervision in coordination with woreda level technical committees and community level technical leaders.

- Divert excess runoff water in to safe natural depression storages or natural water ways.

- Ensure good collaboration among stakeholders and full participation of

Infrastructure and public work officer and MERL officer- will be responsible to implement, monitor, evaluate and to prepare and submit progress and quarter reports to REST Headquarters.

- Kebele: Development agent, PSNP supervisor, water shed committee, environmental committee and beneficiaries will be responsible to implement, monitor, evaluate and to prepare progress and quarter reports and to submit to woreda REST coordination office and Office of Agriculture and Rural development

-

techniques. - % of public works

projects for which operation and maintenance mechanisms are established.

- Number of

people implementing risk-reducing practices/actions to improve resilience to climate change as a result of USG assistance.


community elders and relevant design experts

- Physically and biologically treated and matured hillsides should be handed over to the community with full of operation and maintenance plans

Direct surface activities to recharge ground water table (percolation ponds, percolation channels and deep trenches)

- Conduct training to experts, watershed committees and DAs before and during construction of ground water recharging activities (direct surface activities): on technical considerations and management practices.

- Performed in the program areas/sites with soil textures of sandy to loam

- Performed in a program area /sites where their groundwater is >3 ft. below surface


- REST-NRM specialist, Public work officer, Environmentalist, BOARD-NR specialist and ERAD head: will be responsible to implement, monitor, evaluate and to compile progress and quarter reports

- Woreda: Public work focal person, REST program coordinator and infrastructure and public work officer, MERL officer and respective bureaus- will be responsible to implement, monitor, evaluate and to prepare and submit progress and quarter reports to REST Head quarters

- Kebele: Development agent, PSNP supervisor, water shed committee ,environmental committee and beneficiaries will be responsible to implement, monitor, evaluate and to prepare and submit

- # of DAs, experts, watershed committees trained

- # of ground water recharging activities constructed properly in the right sites


consultation



progress and quarter reports to woreda REST coordination office and Office of Agriculture and Rural development

Gully rehabilitation measures (Gabion check dams, Loose rock check dams and Sand bag check dams)

- Stabilize gullies with physical and biological measures.

- Improve gully catchments to reduce and regulate the run-off rates (peak flows) generated from the upper catchments and diversion of surface water above the gully area in to safe areas (natural drainage or water body)

- Conduct training to experts and DAs on proper design and construction of gully rehabilitation measures.

- Early warning information should have to be integrated in to design of gully rehabilitation measures

- Ensure adequate spillway to pass excess flood safely.

- Ensure good collaboration among stakeholders and full

- REST-NRM specialist, Public work officer, Environmentalist, BOARD-NR specialist and ERAD head: will be responsible to implement, monitor, evaluate and to compile progress and quarter reports

- Woreda: Public work focal person, REST program coordinator and infrastructure and public work officer, MERL officer and respective bureaus- will be responsible to implement, monitor, evaluate and to prepare and submit progress and quarter reports to REST Head quarters

- Kebele: Development agent, PSNP supervisor, water shed committee, environmental committee and beneficiaries will be responsible to implement, monitor, evaluate and to prepare and submit progress and quarter reports to woreda REST coordination office and Office of Agriculture and Rural development

- # of gullies improved via biological and mechanical measures

- # of treated

gullies hand over to the community with full of operation and maintenance plan

-



participation of community elders and relevant design experts

- Properly treated gullies will be handed over to the community with full of operation and maintenance plan

Biological soil and water conservation measures Nursery operation and management

- As usual, REST selects recommended type species that are compatible with crop production and the environment.

- REST technical experts in collaboration with stakeholders should conduct detail study

- Promote use of all mechanical and cultural possible methods of controlling pests that occur in nursery sites.

- Facilitate nursery sites to be handed over to the landless user groups with full of operation and maintenance plans


- Provide training to

- REST-Forestry specialist, Public work officer, Environmentalist, BOARD-Forestry specialist and ERAD head: will be responsible to implement, monitor, evaluate and to compile progress and quarter reports

- Woreda: Public work focal person, REST program coordinator and Biological officer, MERL, respective bureaus- will be responsible to implement, monitor, evaluate and to prepare and submit progress and quarter reports to REST Head quarters

- Kebele: Development agent, PSNP supervisor, water shed committee, environmental committee and beneficiaries will be responsible to implement, monitor, evaluate and to prepare and submit progress and quarter reports

- # of nursery sites strengthened/improved

- % of nursery staffs trained on hygiene and sanitation practices

- # of matured nursery sites handover to the landless user groups with full of operation and maintenance plan


consultation

Routine monitoring


nursery staffs to improve their knowledge and experience on hygiene and sanitation practice, efficient use and management of water, on polythene tubes and other inputs management and disposal, water drainage systems and other technical issues

- REST forestry expert should conduct regular monitoring in collaboration with government experts.

to woreda REST coordination office and Office of Agriculture and Rural development

Tree seedling production and planting

- Use mixed planting of exotic and indigenous species where ever planting of exotic species are found suitable and important to the intended purpose


- Eucalyptus tree will be out planted on physically treated hillsides

- Select species which are environmentally compatible with ecology and economically useful.

- Diversify species in agroforestry practices.

- REST-Forestry specialist, Public work officer, Environmentalist, BOARD-forestry specialist and ERAD head: will be responsible to implement, monitor, evaluate and to compile progress and quarter reports

- Woreda: Public work focal person, REST program coordinator and biological officer, MERL, respective bureaus- will be responsible to implement, monitor, evaluate and to prepare and submit progress and quarter reports to REST Head quarters

- Kebele: Development agent,

- Proportion of exotic species planted.

- - Planted seedlings

survival rate. - -


consultation -



PSNP supervisor, water shed committee, environmental committee and beneficiaries will be responsible to implement, monitor, evaluate and to prepare and submit progress and quarter reports to woreda REST coordination office and Office of Agriculture and Rural development

Area Enclosure(Ex-Closure)

- REST in a very close collaboration with all stake holders, particularly with the owners and intended beneficiaries should develop management plans for Enclosure.

- Form and strengthen local rules and regulations to ensure equitable water distribution

- Provide training to beneficiaries, watershed committees, experts and Development agents on sustainably use and management of area enclosure.

- Matured area exposures should hand over to the community with full of operation and

- REST-Forestry specialist, Public work officer, Environmentalist, BOARD-Forestry specialist and ERAD head: will be responsible to implement, monitor, evaluate and to compile progress and quarter reports

- Woreda: Public work focal person, REST program coordinator and infrastructure and public work officer, respective bureaus- will be responsible to implement, monitor, evaluate and to prepare and submit progress and quarter reports to REST Head quarters

- Kebele: Development agent, PSNP supervisor, water shed committee, environmental committee and beneficiaries will be responsible to

- Hectares of closed areas with improved management practice as a result of USG assistance.

- Number of Women/Men HHs in the targeted woredas using fuel saving technologies

- - Ha of matured

area enclosure handover to the community with full of operation and maintenance plans


consultation -



maintenance plan implement, monitor, evaluate and to prepare and submit progress and quarter reports to woreda REST coordination office and Office of Agriculture and Rural development

Collection and sowing of grass seeds, Grasses and sisal seedling production, Planting of vegetative propagating plants, grass cuttings and splits on treated gullies and catchment


- Promote use of all mechanical and cultural possible methods of controlling pests that occur in nursery sites

- Promote use of treated seeds against common pests whenever new varieties are introduced to avoid the importation of new pests.

-

- REST-Biological soil and water conservation specialist, Public work officer, Environmentalist, BOARD-Forestry specialist and ERAD head: will be responsible to implement, monitor, evaluate and to compile progress and quarter reports

- Woreda: Public work focal person, REST program coordinator and infrastructure and public work officer, respective bureaus- will be responsible to implement, monitor, evaluate and to prepare and submit progress and quarter reports to REST Head quarters

- Kebele: Development agent, PSNP supervisor, water shed committee, environmental committee and beneficiaries will be responsible to implement, monitor, evaluate and to prepare and submit progress and quarter reports


-


consultation -



to woreda REST coordination office and Office of Agriculture and Rural development

Agricultural inputs: Purchase of improved and local fruit and vegetable seeds, Production and provision of fruit and vegetable seedlings (grafted Mango, Orange, Apple, Papaya, Guava, tomato, onion, cabbage, Swiss chard, lettuce and pepper),


- Promote the use of traditional pest management such as ash spray, soap and water solution spray etc. and farther promote traditional agronomic practices to minimize pest problems.

- Promotion of the use of treated seeds against common pests whenever new varieties are introduced to avoid the importation of new pests.

- Promotion of landrace vegetables and fruits in order to keep a pace with the introduction of new varieties and thereby minimize the risk of displacement from the later

- REST-Agronomist, Public work officer, Environmentalist and ERAD head: will be responsible to implement, monitor, evaluate and to compile progress and quarter reports

- Woreda: Public work focal person, Livelihood officer, REST program coordinator and, respective bureaus- will be responsible to implement, monitor, evaluate and to prepare and submit progress and quarter reports to REST Head quarters


- Quintal of agricultural inputs provided to beneficiaries

- # of men and women HHS who have accessed to improved agricultural inputs

- # of hectares under improved technologies or management practices as a result of USG assistance


consultation -


Livestock forage development (improved and local grass seedling collection and sowing, planting of grass cuttings and splits)


- REST selects locally adapted grass seeds and subjected to quarantine examinations by the ministry of agriculture and received only when they are certified negative.


- Promote propagation of local grasses and legume seeds to minimize risk of over domination by exotic species.

- REST-Livestock specialist, Environmentalist, BOARD-Livestock specialist and ERAD head: will be responsible to implement, monitor, evaluate and to compile progress and quarter reports

- Woreda: Public work focal person, REST program coordinator and MERL officer, respective bureaus- will be responsible to implement, monitor, evaluate and to prepare and submit progress and quarter reports to REST Head quarters



Climate smart Small Scale Irrigation Schemes: (Min-dams, Small river diversion, water harvesting check dam ponds, Electrical pump, Spate irrigation ,open hand-dug well and underground check dam)

Mini-dams

- Minimise vegetation clearing around the reservoir.

- Use existing borrow pits rather than creating new

- Region -REST-Study and Design staff, site engineers, Agronomists, Environmentalist and IDD

- # of HHs who lost their land for mini-dam construction


consultation



ones and restore borrow pits after completion by stabilising slopes and facilitate regeneration of vegetation

- Establish access mechanisms (compensation) to land in the watershed in order to control unorganised settlements

- Maintain channels to prevent seepage, siltation and weeds to reduce inefficiencies.

- Design channels to have access during maintenance.

- Minimize loss of land especially productive land during designing.

- Create water user organisations to effectively manage water resources and ensure equitable access among users.

- Set aside alternative grazing areas to compensate those lost.

- REST study and design team in collaboration with woreda technical committees, woreda and regional early warning committees and the community at large should prepare designs of mini-dams in consideration to the early warning information

- Provide training to beneficiaries and water user

head-will be responsible to implement, monitor, evaluate and compile progress and quarter reports.

- Woreda: Engineers from Water resource bureau, Public Focal person, REST program coordinator and MERL, Land use and protection desk, will be responsible to implement, monitor, evaluate and to prepare and submit progress and quarter reports to REST Headquarters.

- Kebele: Development agents, PSNP focal Person, tabia leader, land administrator, watershed committee, environment committee, beneficiaries and elders : will be responsible to implement, monitor, evaluate and to prepare and submit progress and quarter reports to woreda REST coordination office and respective bureaus

received an alternative/compensate farm land/ grazing areas

- - Hectares under

new or improved/rehabilitated irrigation and drainage services as a result of USG assistance

- Number of for profit private enterprises, producer’s organizations, water user’s associations, women's groups, trade and business associations and community-based organizations (CBOs) that applied improved technologies or management practices as a result of USG assistance

- - # of mini-dams

properly constructed

- $US 5,909.01


associations on efficient and effective water utilization and management

- Facilitate the implementation of appropriate latrines and other sanitation facilities.

- Information, education and communication about safe uses of water reservoirs to avoid contamination.

- Environmental management for vector control and use of bed nets and repellents, rapid diagnosis and treatment.

- Safe food storage and handling in camping screws


- Hand over properly constructed mini-dams to beneficiaries and woreda water resources office with full operation and maintenance plans.

- Develop, communicate and implement safety and preventive measures for participants in the construction and form a safety committee to aware participants & take care of accidents.

- REST shall use the

- - # of camp screw

with appropriate temporary latrines

- - % of irrigation

water users award on hygiene and sanitation practices


government and community approved quarry sites for extracting stones and water impermeable soils. REST will obtain necessary government permits before procurement of materials.

Small River Diversions

- Environmental flow assessments are determined to maintain the hydrological regimes and provide protection of river flows and ecosystem characteristics.

- Rehabilitate river catchment areas to reduce sedimentation of river diversion reservoirs and to enhance stream flow capacity.

- Construct communal overnight water storage ponds close to irrigation canals to harvest night flow waters which can be further utilized through pumping.


- Construct an appropriate gabion/loose rock retaining walls on downstream and upstream parts of the main weir to prevent over flow of flood in to nearby farmlands.

- Region -REST-Study and Design staff, site engineers, Agronomists, Environmentalist and IDD head-will be responsible to implement, monitor, evaluate and compile progress and quarter reports.


- Kebele: Development agents, PSNP focal Person, tabia leader, land administrator, watershed committee, environment committee, beneficiaries and elders : will be responsible to implement, monitor, evaluate and to prepare and submit progress

- % of small river diversion upper catchments treated with biological and physical measures

- # of overnight reservoirs constructed

- Number of gabion/Loose retain walls constructed

- # of river diversions properly constructed

- - Hectare of land

put under small-scale irrigation as a result of USG assistance

-


consultation -


$US 7,878.68


- Provide poundage at the structure with the help of sluice gates so as to use lift mechanism in a regulated and equitable manner.

- Stabilize upstream and downstream river banks by an appropriate biological soil and water conservation measures to minimize river bank erosions and sedimentation of downstream water bodies.

- Provide training to water user associations on irrigation water management, hygiene and sanitation practices; cropping pattern, market and postharvest handling systems.

- Facilitate for developing site specific rules and regulations to ensure equitable water distribution or use.

and quarter reports to woreda REST coordination office and respective bureaus

Water Harvesting Check Dam Ponds

- REST study and design team should prepare detailed designs of structures in collaboration with regional and woreda level early warning committees; woreda technical committees and community at large. Latest early warning information will be considered during construction and farming practices.

- Region -REST-Study and Design staff, site engineers, Agronomists, Environmentalist and ERAD head-will be responsible to implement, monitor, evaluate and compile progress and quarter reports.

- Woreda: Engineers from Water resource bureau, Public Focal person, REST program coordinator and

- # of water harvesting check dam ponds properly constructed

- Km of Gabion/Loose rock retain walls properly constructed

-


consultation -


$US5,909.01


- Construct an appropriate gabion retain walls on upstream and downstream parts of the main weir. The physical retain wall have to be intensified with site suited multipurpose soil conservation measures.

- Conduct training to water user associations, technical leaders, environmental committees and development agents on water management, hygiene and sanitation, postharvest handling, market situation and crop patterns.


MERL, Land use and protection desk, will be responsible to implement, monitor, evaluate and to prepare and submit progress and quarter reports to REST Headquarters.

- Kebele: Development agents, PSNP focal Person, tabia leader, land administrator, watershed committee, environment committee and beneficiaries : will be responsible to implement, monitor, evaluate and to prepare and submit progress and quarter reports to woreda REST coordination office and respective bureaus

- # of water harvesting check dam ponds hand over to users with full of operation and maintenance plan

- - # of water

harvesting check dam ponds operated and maintained

-

Spate Irrigation

- Maintain channels to prevent seepage, and reduce inefficiencies resulting from siltation and weeds. Designs should include possible ways to access channels for maintenance purpose.

- Establish and strengthen water user associations to regulate flow of flood and maintain the scheme in collaboration with Tabia leaders and community at large.


- Woreda: Engineers from Water resource bureau, Public Focal person, REST program coordinator and MERL, Land use and protection desk, will be

- # of spate irrigations properly constructed

- - # of water user

associates formulated and strengthened

- - % of spate

irrigation catchments


consultation -



- Focus on watershed based and integrated Natural Resource Management practices to reduce on-site and off-site soil erosion problems via minimizing speed and facilitate percolation of excess runoff generated from catchments.


- Updated early warning information will be incorporated in to the overall planning and design of spate irrigation.

responsible to implement, monitor, evaluate and to prepare and submit progress and quarter reports to REST Headquarters.

- Kebele: Development agents, PSNP focal Person, tabia leader, land administrator, watershed committee, environment committee and beneficiaries: will be responsible to implement, monitor, evaluate and to prepare and submit progress and quarter reports to woreda REST coordination office and respective bureaus

treated with different NRM measures

- - # of spates

operated and maintained

-

Open Hand-Dug Wells

- Facilitate fencing of open hand dug wells properly with vegetative barriers/barded wires to minimize life accidents and over stocking of animals around water points.

- Promote upper catchment treatment and construction of series of surface activities to recharge ground water table of the specific sites.

- Ensure good collaboration among stakeholders and full participation of community elders and relevant design


- Woreda: Engineers from Water resource bureau, Public Focal person, REST program coordinator and MERL, Land use and protection desk, will be responsible to implement, monitor, evaluate and to

- # of Open hand dug wells properly constructed

- - # of hand dug

wells fenced with barbed wire

- - # of open hand

dug wells hand over to users with full operation and maintenance plan


consultation -


$US108,331.85


experts - Provide training to pond user

groups on efficient and effective ground water utilization and management.

- Monitor ground water levels

prepare and submit progress and quarter reports to REST Headquarters.

- Kebele: Development agents, PSNP focal Person, tabia leader, land administrator, watershed committee, environment committees and beneficiaries : will be responsible to implement, monitor, evaluate and to prepare and submit progress and quarter reports to woreda REST coordination office and respective bureaus

Spring Development

- Provide training and awareness raising to spring development users, community and development agent to drain stagnant water periodically.

- Establish and strengthen spring water users


- -



- Kebele: Development agents,

- # of spring developments properly constructed

- - # of spring

developments operated and maintained

-


consultation -



PSNP focal Person, tabia leader, land administrator, watershed committee, environment committees and beneficiaries : will be responsible to implement, monitor, evaluate and to prepare and submit progress and quarter reports to woreda REST coordination office and respective bureaus

Under ground check dam ponds

- REST study and design teams and experts from ERAD should have to prepare detailed designs of structures in collaboration with communities and government experts.

- Regular monitoring of activities and technical support from regional senior engineers to woreda experts.

- Intensifying of river banks and beds with biological soil and water conservation measures.

- Provide training to community level environmental committees, development agents and water users on safe construction and management of the check dam.

- Region -REST-Study and Design staff, site engineers, Agronomists, Environmentalist and ERAD head-will be responsible to implement, monitor, evaluate and compile progress and quarter reports.


- Kebele: Development agents, PSNP focal Person, tabia leader, land administrator, watershed committee, environment committee and

- # of underground check dams properly constructed

-


consultation -



beneficiaries : will be responsible to implement, monitor, evaluate and to prepare and submit progress and quarter reports to woreda REST coordination office and respective bureaus

Electrical Pump Irrigation

- Environmental flow assessments are important to maintain the hydrological regimes and provide protection of river flows and ecosystem characteristics.

- Facilitate users to develop rules and regulations to ensure equitable water distribution


- Form and strengthen water user associations

- Provide training to water user associations on efficient use and management of water and cropping pattern



- Kebele: Development agents, PSNP focal Person, tabia leader, land administrator, watershed committee, environment committee and beneficiaries : will be responsible to implement, monitor, evaluate and to prepare and submit progress

- # of electrical pumps properly constructed

-


consultation -



and quarter reports to woreda REST coordination office and respective bureaus

Soil fertility enrichment (compost pit preparation)

- Ensure proper site selection, construction and management of compost pit

- Plant nitrogen fixers tree species such as F.Albidia/momona/ to reduce soil erosion due to high wind and to protect the compost from sunshine

- Region: REST ERAD head, agronomist, responsible to provide technical support in routing of road and to compile progress and quarter reports.

- Woreda: environmental desks, REST infrastructure and public work officer. livelihood officer and MERL responsible to supervise environmentally sensitivity of selected compost pit and to prepare and submit progress and quarter reports to REST coordination office and respective bureaus.

- Kebele: The target beneficiaries, responsible to identify environmentally sensitive area, to implement, monitor and evaluate.

- Das and PSNP supervisors will be responsible to give technical support, to prepare and submit progress and quarter reports to woreda REST coordination office and other respective bureaus.

- # of compost pits constructed or improved


consultation -


Livestock Water Points


- Facilitate proper fencing of watering points with dry and vegetative barriers to avoid life accidents and minimize over stocking of animals around water points in collaboration with communities.

- Ensure local bylaws and regulations in place that focus on sustained use and management of livestock watering points.

- Promote soil and water conservation activities around the watering points in order to reduce soil erosion due to livestock stocking and poorly constructed pond. Furthermore, stabilize pond side slopes with stone ripraps.

- Establish user associations and strengthen livestock watering points to manage the overall livestock watering points source

- Separate the watering troughs from the watering points at a reasonable distance to minimize surface and ground water contamination.

- An appropriate small pit/ silt trap will be contracted along a runoff entrance points

- Region REST-Study and Design staff, Livestock specialist, Public work officer, Environmentalist and ERAD head will be responsible to implement, monitor, evaluate and compile progress and quarter reports

- Woreda: Livestock specialist, Infrastructure and public work officer, MERL, Engineers from Water resource bureau and REST program coordinator will be responsible to implement, monitor, evaluate, to prepare and submit progress and quarter reports to REST head quarters

- Kebele: Development agents, PSNP supervisors, watershed committees, environmental committees and beneficiaries will be responsible to implement, monitor, evaluate, prepare and submit progress and quarter reports to REST woreda coordination office and respective bureaus.

-

- # of Livestock water points properly fenced

- - Number of water

points constructed or rehabilitated

-


consultation -



Rural access road/Community road (DS10 & DS9)

Planning and Design stage


- Avoid routing across environmentally sensitive areas such as agriculturally productive soils, wet lands, forest, protected areas and parks if possible;

- Avoid planning of roads construction across historic, religious, or cultural significant areas.

- Region: REST ERAD head, Public work officer, responsible to provide technical support in routing of road and to compile progress and quarter reports.

- Woreda: environmental desks, Road and transport officer, REST infrastructure and public work officer and MERL responsible to supervise environmentally sensitivity of selected route and to prepare and submit progress and quarter reports to REST coordination office and respective bureaus.

- Kebele: The community at large and target beneficiaries, responsible to identify environmentally sensitive area like historical sites, to implement, monitor and evaluate. Das, PSNP supervisors and road technicians –responsible to give technical support, to prepare and submit progress and quarter reports to woreda REST coordination office and other respective bureaus.

- Km of rural road planned and designed in coordination with relevant stakeholders

-

- Possible field visit to insure the selected road segment with minimum destruction of the environment.

-


Establishing Design Standards


- The road design should be prepared according to the national road standard with Environmental Design Checklist, including Community consultation on the design of the roads.

- Drainage structures will be included in the designs using the Rational Formula and will have proper size, site, strength of structures and small culverts and fords as required.

- Regional: REST ERAD head and public work officer will be responsible to provide technical support to woreda experts, to coordinate implementation, monitoring and evaluation of activities. To compile progress and quarter reports.

- Woreda: Road and transport office and REST coordination office: responsible to prepare or adapt designs according to national standards either by their experts or other design professionals.

- Woreda REST coordination office in coordination with respective bureaus will be responsible to implement, monitor, evaluate, prepare and submit progress and quarter reports to REST headquarters.

- REST environmentalist in coordination with Woreda environmental Protection desks: Responsible to participate and to ensure design of the road minimize adverse impacts on the environment

- DFSA project focal person: Responsible to coordinate the whole process.

- kebele food security task force, watershed committee,

- km of road properly designed according to national road design standards

-

- Evaluate the design of the road with the existing situation of site.

- Checking the appropriateness of designed drainage structure for existing topography.



environmental committee and the community and target beneficiary: Are responsible to participate in the design and preparation process to simplify the implementation

-

Construction phase

Surveying and Setting Out

- Provide training to road specialist and Foremen

- The roads should follow contours and avoid creating slopes greater than 12 percent and heavy earthworks

- Use the "Profile Board Method". By Simple surveying equipment such as ranging rods, profile boards, measuring tapes and line levels which are easy and inexpensive to purchase

- Region: REST ERAD department head, public work focal persons, environmentalist are responsible to provide technical support, to implement, monitor, evaluate, prepare/compile progress and quarter reports.

- The woreda road and transport office and REST coordination office: Responsible to guide the road construction and rehabilitation projects

- Woreda environmental protection desks: will be responsible to involve in technical support in protection of the environment

- Woreda REST coordination office in collaboration with respective bureaus responsible to implement,

- # of road specialists and forman trained

-

- Verification about collaboration among stake holders

- Possible field visit by environmental and road Specialists



monitor, evaluate, prepare and submit progress and quarter reports to REST Headquarters.

- Kebele: Development agents, trained road technicians, environmental committee, watershed committee and beneficiaries are responsible to implement, monitor, evaluate, prepare and submit progress and quarter reports to Woreda REST coordination office and other respective bureaus.

-

Site clearing or leveling

- Initiate re-vegetating with plants and other appropriate local flora immediately after construction of road

- Destruction of large plants/trees is not encouraged

-

- Trained Foremen/Forewomen: Responsible guide of the proper execution of activities with the community

- DFSA project focal person: Responsible to coordinate the whole process

- # of appropriate tree seedlings planted along road sides -post road construction

- Field visiting and observe the protection of Environment by replantation

- Public consultation for hearing existence of complains for loosing agricultural lands, damaged agricultural products etc.



Excavation, cutting, and filling

- Balance the cuts and fills whenever possible to minimize earthwork.

- Do not fill the flow-line of a watercourse to permit natural water flow

- Preparation of hand tools related to their cultural tools.

- Appropriate filling of embankment.

- physical soil and water conservation measures on the upper catchment to minimize quantity & velocity of water

- Gully reclamation using either scouring check made from stone or from stick to minimize the velocity of water flow and maximize sedimentation of soil.

- Construction of appropriate side ditches to minimize deterioration of the road and obstacle for off-road driving

- On steeper slopes stabilize slopes by planting indigenous vegetation species with the best erosion control properties, better root strength and depth, site adaptability, and other socially useful properties to anchor soil and use it as

- Trained Foremen/Forewomen: Responsible guide of the proper execution of activities with the community

- DFSA project focal person: Responsible to coordinate the whole process

- ha of road catchments treated with physical and biological measures

- # of appropriate side ditches constructed

- Km of roads constructed or improved

- Check whether the construction tools much to the cultural tools or not

- Evaluate Soils physical and chemical Characteristics, Productivity of agriculture, pastures, forests, etc.

- Evaluate the agricultural production of the soil each time



obstacle for off-street driving

Drainage structures construction

- Construction of proper size and location and drainage structure such as culvert and ford as required.

- Install drainage structures during rather than after construction is completed to protect erosion of initial operating stage of the road

- Stabilize outlet of ditches (inside and outside) with stone construction or vegetative barriers placed on contour to dissipate energy and to prevent creation or to expand gullies.

- Construct road side rain water harvesting ponds to reduce volume of surface runoff generated from the road side ditch. Harvested water will be help farmers to water tree seedlings out planted on the road side

- REST woreda regional level experts: will be responsible to provide technical and regular monitoring the whole activities

- The woreda road and transport office: will be responsible to guide the drainage structure construction

- Woreda environmental protection desks: Will be responsible to give technical support in the construction of drainage structures

- Trained Foremen/Forewomen: will be responsible be in guide of the proper execution of activities with the community

- DFSA project focal person: will be responsible to coordinate the whole process

- # of small sized fords and culverts properly constructed or improved

- -

- Visually spot check for drainage problems, such as accumulation of water on road surfaces, blocking of water flow due to inappropriate size of culverts, soil erosion due to poorly design outlet of drainage structures.

- Careful routine inspection of culvert and fords, ideally during a rainfall event to check functioning of drainage(O& M phase)


$US68,938.45

Design verification and quality control

Conduct periodic supervision of construction to check that

- The woreda road & transport office, woreda environment

- # of supervisions conducted

- Check the similarity of

- Routine monitorin


it is constructed according to original plan and design.

- DFAP project focal person joint inspection team verify compliance with the environmental management plan.

the designed and constructed road

g

Road hand over

- Hand-over the road to the community with full responsibility and accountability.

- Preparation of bylaws for off road driving, destruction of road for irrigation and use of natural resources.

- The woreda road & transport office, woreda environment

- Protection sector, DFAP project focal person joint hand over the road for the community by signing formal agreements between kebeles administration and road Authority.

- Km of road hand over to community with bylaws

-

- Cheeking the existence of formal agreement between the road authority and the community.


Operation & maintenance phase

Road maintenance and management

- Follow up and maintain drainage structures and ditches.

- Clean out culverts and side ditches and run outs when they begin to fill with sediments or other obstacles

- Fill mud holes by locally available materials when the road is beginning to deteriorate.

- Remove downed trees and limbs which narrow the road.

- The woreda road & transport office in collaboration with DFAP project focal person should be follow periodic maintenance of the road.

- The community should maintain the road periodically

- Km of drainage structures properly maintained

- # of culverts clean out properly

-

- Verify that road maintenance is being carried out as planned including cleaning of culverts and side ditches


Formal school support

Construction of additional school class rooms


- Find alternative location if proposed one is not possible:

- Provide equivalent land or fair monetary compensation, provided these are accepted voluntarily.

- Build on a pre-determined location planned by community representatives.

- Design to protect existing trees on-site serving as a source of shade, windbreak, or providing other benefits


-

- Woreda Education office and REST coordination office will be responsible to provide technical and regular monitoring the whole activities, to prepare and submit progress and quarter reports to REST headquarters.

- The woreda education bureau: will be responsible to guide design and quality of construction materials

- REST environmentalist in coordination with woreda environmental protection desks: Will be responsible to give technical support in the construction of school class rooms


- # of school class rooms constructed or improved

- # of HHs

received equivalent land and/or accommodations or fair monetary compensation

- # of trees out planted in the school compound

-

- Field visiting and observe the soil property, quality of local materials and their source

- Public consultation


Construct dry latrines

- Maintain humidity of composts below 20% and supplement excreta with alkaline materials (ashes or lime). The pile should remain both odours free and insect free. Applications of ashes will help reduction of pathogens.

- Woreda Education office and REST coordination office will be responsible to provide technical and regular monitoring the whole activities, to prepare and submit progress and quarter reports to REST headquarters.

- # of dry toilets properly constructed

- - - # of dry latrines

hand over to community/government

- Field visiting and observe the soil property, quality of local materials and their source

- Public consultation for hearing



- Construct sealed vaults to hold dehydrating and curing material

- Ensure proper operation and maintenance so that the soil amendment taken out after the treatment period is truly sanitized

- Conduct training and awareness creation to students to wash hands properly with soap and water after toilet.

- The woreda education bureau: will be responsible to guide design and quality of construction materials

- REST environmentalist in coordination with woreda environmental protection desks: Will be responsible to give technical support in the construction of school class rooms


-

stakeholders with operation and maintenance plan

existence of complains for any adverse impacts of dry toilets..

Livelihood asset transfer to asset poor women and men HHS

On-farm livelihood activities

Sheep and Goats fattening and rearing

- Protect free grazing from livestock and use cut and carry system.

- Protect stream areas and riverbanks from browsing and grazing through fencing or herding techniques.

- Focus to grazing/browsing management (Proper stocking, Pasture resource identification and description; Reduced livestock number according to land capability; Proper season of grazing; Conserve fodder as hay; Plan

- REST Regional Livelihood officer: will be responsible to provide technical and regular monitoring of activities, to compile progress and quarter reports.

- REST woreda coordination office in coordination with the woreda livelihood officer: will be responsible to provide technical support, to implement, monitor, evaluate, prepare and submit progress and quarter reports to REST headquarters.

- Ha of treated hillsides and grazing areas protected from livestock interference

- - # of ultra-poor

safety net households apply cut and carry system

-

- Field visiting and observe the targeted beneficiaries interest and their efforts, quality of local

- Public consultation for hearing existence of any complaints from beneficiaries and others .



where to graze at different seasons; Proper distribution of grazing and Rotational/lenient grazing / regulated grazing)


- Focus to reseeding (over sowing natural pastures with suitable grass and legume species and maintain trees).

- Improve resource efficiency to change fermentation processes in the ruminant’s yards to decrease GHG emission intensities.

- Focus to reduce stock density and overgrazing; appropriate rotations and introduction of legumes to enhance digestibility and nutritional uptake of grass to influence production of methane (CH4) in the rumen

- Manure management such as handling, storage and disposal of urine and faces from livestock to mitigate GHG emissions and to reduce air and water pollution.

- Composting and applying of small ruminants’ manure as organic fertilizers in gardens, pastures and fodder plants

- REST environmentalist in coordination with woreda environmental protection desks: Will be responsible to give environment related technical supports to woreda technical committees and beneficiaries.



- Integrate sheep and goat in cash crop plantation for value adding and utilizing animal waste as organic fertilizers

- Clean shelters regularly - Encourage rotational pasture

grazing to allow recovering of pasture and control worms

- Provide training to targeted beneficiaries on waste and general goats and sheep health management.

- use good quality and uncontaminated feed (e.g. in which concentrations of pesticides and dioxins are known and do not exceed acceptable levels) which contains no more copper, zinc, and other additives than is necessary for animal health.

- Affected animals should be isolated and immediately consult veterinarians

Poultry production

- Provide training to targeted beneficiaries on quality of poultry feeds, manure management and composting.

- Affected poultries should be isolated and immediately consult veterinarian

- Dead poultry should be properly buried in a waste dumping area (legal site)

- REST Regional Livelihood officer: will be responsible to provide technical and regular monitoring of activities, to compile progress and quarter reports.

- REST woreda coordination office in coordination with the woreda livelihood officer: will be responsible to provide

- # of targeted beneficiaries trained

- % of healthy and productive poultry

-

- Field visiting and observe the targeted beneficiaries interest and their efforts, quality of local

- Public consultation for hearing




technical support, to implement, monitor, evaluate, prepare and submit progress and quarter reports to REST headquarters.

- REST environmentalist in coordination with woreda environmental protection desks: Will be responsible to give environment related technical supports to woreda technical committees and beneficiaries.


existence of any complaints from beneficiaries and others .

- Total required budget for EMMP (program cost and wage only) $US196,967


Annex 2: Activity-Level Climate Risk Management

Tasks

Climate Risks

Risk

Rating

How Risks Addressed/Accepted Opportunities to

Strengthen Climate Resilience

References/ Links

Purpose-1: Reduced vulnerability to shocks & stresses among women & men Construction of food storage facilities/hallow warehouse

- Physical damage to storage facilities due to increased intensity of precipitation, temperature, flood and lightning.

- Deterioration of storage facilities due to increase maximum and minimum temperatures

Moderate risk

- Climate smart and quality of the construction is being improved

- Climate smart flood protection approaches is planned together with & performed properly during the construction

- Climate smart construction and food saving experience is gained - Job opportunity during

climate smart ware house construction

https://www.usaid.gov/ads/policy/200/201mat

Food transferring to vulnerable target women & men HHs

- Food infestation due to increase in temperature and intensity of rainfall - Rural roads connecting to the food distribution point could damage due to unexpected flood hazards. As a result of which, targeted food insecure households may have exposed for different economic problems, because they may not receive their ration timely.

Moderate risk

- Integrate latest early warning information in to design and implementation approach of rural roads connecting to the food distribution points and other public gathering centers.

- Properly covered the commodity with strong watertight tent to protect from rain shower and humidity.

- Aware drivers not to drive in the hot hour, rather aware them to transport commodity in the morning and evening.

Climate smart knowledge transfer among beneficiaries (such as helping each other during hard time, saving money for hard time, etc.)


Biological soil and water conservation measures (Production of grasses and sisal seedlings, Planting of vegetative propagating plants,

- Resources for production of grasses and sisal can be scarce due to water stress from low precipitation (drought, erratic rains,).

- Low quality and quantity seedlings due to high intensity of temperature, evapotranspiration, drought,

- Low survival and growth of planted grasses and sisal due to low soil moisture content resulted from scanty and erratic nature of rainfall. This lower in vegetation cover resulted increase to wind erosion.

- Low survival and growth rate of plants due to increased temperature intensity, low precipitation (drought and erratic rainfall) high evapotranspiration,

- Outbreak of pesticides due to increase in temperature

- Decreasing precipitation may reduce downward filtration and leaching. Climate determines the dominant vegetation types, their productivity, the decomposition rate of their litter deposits, and influences soil reaction in this indirect way.

Moderate risk

- Care is taken to prevent from direct sun shine by making sheds and plants are watered as required,

- Hardening of plants is practiced, - Produced grasses and sisals are

planted in treated plantation hill sides, where moisture is detained in situ and used by plants

- Vegetative plants are planted in large planting pits which do collect runoffs and also are planted in gullies which have relatively better moisture content due to reclamation structures and are watered until they establish well and become tolerant to moisture stress.

- Increase in the duration of infiltration (moderation of slopes; terracing contour ploughing; establishment of permanent and dense vegetation cover; tillage; improvement of infiltration; soil conservation farming system)

- May help you to Identify and select environmentally sound, quality and drought tolerant grass seeds and seedlings/cuttings

- May enhance survival rate of planted biological soil and water conservation measures due to increase in annual precipitation and soil moisture content of the local area. This will be effective when integrated with physical soil and water conservation measures and sustainable use and management of communal natural resource assets

https://www.climatelinks.org/sites/default/files/asset/document/GHG%20Emissions%20Factsheet%20Ethiopia_final%20for%20PDF%20v3_11-02 15_edited_rev08-23-16.pdf

Collection of grass seeds from area exclosure and other

Shortage of seeds due to scanty and erratic nature of rainfall, recurrently occurred drought and high

Moderate risk

- Grass seeds are mainly collected from area enclosures, plantation sites, and multiplication centers where most of sites are treated with physical structures to collect runoffs in which grasses grow relatively better and have

- Experience and knowledge sharing among local farmers and other stakeholders

- May increase availability of


rehabilitated fam lands

temperature that leads to high evapotranspiration and stress

matured seeds. - Grass multiplication centers are well managed and produce good quality seeds. - Construction of rain water harvesting

structures near grass multiplications centers

forage, growth of natural tree species due to increase in precipitation and soil moisture content. This can be effective when area enclosures integrated with soil and water conservation measures.

Sowing of grass seeds on bunds, area exclosure , gullies and catchments

Low germination, growth and survival rate of broad casted grass seeds due to low precipitation, high evapotranspiration, scanty and erratic nature of rainfall

Moderate risk

- Sowing of seeds is executed after proving sufficient shower is received. - Seeds that fall on the lower parts of

bunds get moisture from collected and retained runoff - Consider an early warning

information in to planning and implementation of proposed development activities

Identification of suitable grass species and technologies

Physical soil and water conservation measures (different terraces)

These physical structures can be broken at some points due to high precipitation and flood that causes on-site and off-site further soil erosion ,gully formation and other environmental problems

Moderate risks

- Farming communities have developed experience for long time in executing SWC physical structures and know where to take care to protect damages,

- Assessment after heavy rains is regularly done and maintenances are carried out when there is any breakage or damage

- Intensification of physical soil and water conservation measures through drought resistant local biological soil and water conservation measures such as aloe, cactus etc.

- Construction of series surface runoff reducing structures such as small sized ponds, diverting surface runoff in to vegetative natural drainage systems.

- Enhance training of community members and technical supervision at

- Experience sharing among stakeholders on how to manage the excess flow of water.

- Experts get time to modify and look other soil and water conservation measures and practices. Furthermore, the experts also may aware of integrating climate smart approaches and weather related information during planning and implementation stage of development activities


field level in the different SWC techniques in order to improve awareness on climate smart approaches during planning to implementation stages to increase effectiveness of the SWC structures.

http://www.careclimatechange.org/files/reports/Ethiopia_Pastoralists_Report2009.pdf http://sdwebx.worldbank.org/climateportal/

Direct surface ground water recharging activities/technologies (percolation ponds, percolation channels and derp trenches)

- These structures can be silted up with soils due to high precipitation and flood denying the objective of collecting runoff water,

- Increase in temperature may resulted to loss of soil moisture or harvested water due to evaporation

- Failure of structure due to an expected flood hazards generated from pond upper catchments.

- when an expected food hazards happened, unwanted debris and fine particles came log with the flood get rest in the reservoir, then after percolate in to the underground water strata –which may have resulted to ground water contamination.

- May increase raise in water table due to increase annual precipitation

Moderate risk

- Percolation structures are excavated usually at the bottom of a treated hillside where erosion is minimized but some water ways are directed towards these structures after preparing silt traps to minimize silting up of these structures.

- These structures harvest runoff at any time whether there is high or low precipitation.

- May help to Experts and

then community level technical leaders to identify the right sites requested for recharging of the ground water table.

- May reduce problem of surface water availability due to increase in precipitation. This help experts and farmers to search and shift to other surface water harvesting technologies and practices.

Gully rehabilitation with physical and biological measures

- Check dams may be broken at weak points due to high precipitation and flood and hence can further widen gullies and bring sever soil erosion

Moderate risk

- Climate smart approaches such as consideration of weather information during planning, implementation and monitoring of check dams

- Integrate physical structures with environmentally sound and climate

- Knowledge transfer among stakeholders

- Help to be proactive for any climate related risks/shocks and to look for other gully rehabilitation measures and practices


smart biological measures - Ensure that active participation of

local communities planning to implementation and monitoring of gully rehabilitation measures.

- Consider indigenous experience and knowledge of local communities on peak discharge control systems

during planning and activity implementation stages.

Nursery (tree, fruit and forage) operation and management

- Affect germination and growth of seedlings due to low precipitation and increase in temperature and then reduce availability of quality seedlings

- May cause tree seedling Pesticides due to increase in temperature

- Reduce quality and availability of tree seedlings

- May damage nursery sites due to unexpected high flood generate from catchments of the nursery sites

Moderate risk

- Nurseries are established on places where there is water year round and seedlings are watered as required from the available water source. - Catchment treatment with various

types of physical structures has generally a good impact on recharging of underground water that enhances rivers, springs, streams or wells where nurseries are established near to these water resources. - Most nurseries are fenced with live

fences that have impact of reducing evaporation and winds, - Nurseries are generally well

protected from floods by constructing structures - Bed sheds are used to reduce

temperature intensities, - Hardening of seedlings is practiced to

adapt harsh condition

- Knowledge and experience

sharing among farmers - May increase availability of

surface water. This may help local farmers to have their own fruit, tree and vegetable seedling multiplication center near to their farm land.

Area-enclosure (expansion and existing)

- Rejuvenation of area enclosures can be affected due to low precipitation and high temperature intensity that leads to high evapotranspiration, slow growth vegetation. Then after Wild animals may migrated to other countries for food and shelter searching

Moderate risk

- Area enclosures integration with climate smart soil and water conservation measures to enhance soil as well as soil degradation moisture content of the enclosed areas/Watershed development and conflict resolution - Community assets arising from the

area enclosure equitably shared. This

- Area enclosing creates opportunity to retrieve rare plant species, and increases biodiversity; hence, climate risk tolerant species can be identified.


- Outbreak of pesticides to due increase in temperature and frequency of recurrent droughts

is to increase the sustainable use and management of area enclosures via reducing social conflict for animal forage collection from area enclosures in a dry season.

- Maintenance and management system put in place to sustain those benefits during the hard time.

- Plantation of environmental sound, pesticide and drought resistance tree seedling species within the enclosed areas to enhance vegetation cover of the area and then reduce the effect of rain drops during intense precipitation and migration of wild animals.

- Strengthen the learning, innovation and evidence engine at the center of local communities

- Prepare baseline data for some of area enclosures.

Purpose-2: Agricultural production and productivity among vulnerable women and men HHs Improved

Small scale irrigation schemes

Mini-dams

- Dams can be damaged and fail to collect water and/or silted up due to increase in heavy precipitation and high boulders and sediments came along with the peak flood generated from the dam site catchments. Failure can cause yield reduction, health and environmental problems on downstream areas. Moreover, the increased sediment load is likely to change the river morphology which, together with the increased turbidity, will affect the downstream ecology.

- Reduced water due to increased temperature (high evaporation) and

Moderate risk

- Precipitation in the Northern part of Ethiopia is known to be erratic, torrential and causes forceful floods. Considering this general situation, constructions of water harvesting structures in this area are performed with care to resist the natural problems. Weather related information’s considered during planning and design stages of dams to anticipate the peak flood generated from the catchment areas

- Catchment area of dams are treated usually with stone bunds, check dams,

- Effective and efficient irrigation water utilization

- Farmers may give due attention for the need for functional operation and maintenance system of dams

- May increase availability of surface water close to farmer’s farm land due to increase annual precipitation. Accordingly, farmers may not be interested to build mini-

http://www.iisd.org/cristaltool/experiences.aspx


low precipitation

etc. to reduce soil erosion and its off-site adverse impacts

- Amount of water in dams, evaporation and the areas to be irrigated are calculated and the types of crops (early maturing varieties) are determined to minimize the extent of the problem.

- In general, multi-purpose reservoirs offer enormous scope for minimizing adverse impacts. In the case of modifying low flows, identifying downstream demands to determine minimum compensatory flows, both for the natural and human environment, is the key requirement and such demands need to be allowed for at the design stage. The ability to mimic natural flooding may require modifications to traditional dam off take facilities. In particular, passing flood flows early in the season to enable timely recession agriculture may have the added advantage of passing flows carrying high sediment loads.

dams rather they may want to get support from government and interested donors on improved agricultural technologies, techniques and inputs.

https://www.climatelinks.org/sites/default/files/asset/document/ethiopia_adaptation_fact_sheet_jan2012.pdf

Water harvesting check dam ponds

- Disruption of structure and silting up due to increased precipitation and flooding

- Little or nothing rain water may have harvested in the check dam reservoir due to scanty precipitation

- Loss of harvested water because of high evaporation resulted from increase in temperature

Moderate risk

- Catchment areas are treated with physical and biological measures to minimize soil erosion and its on-site and off-site impacts

- Climate smart approaches considered during planning, design and implementation of water harvesting check dams

- Weather information’s considered during planning, design and implementation of water harvesting check dam ponds

- Help Farmers who have land near to water harvesting check dam ponds to anticipate the risks due to failure of water harvesting check dam ponds because of increase in rainfall intensity and flooding

- May increase availability of surface water due to increase in precipitation. This help farmers to boost


- Provided training to water user associations and other stakeholders to operate and maintained water harvesting check dam ponds in a sustainable manner.

their livelihood base via sowing and planting of water logging tolerant crops and fruits.

River diverting system

- Reduced amount of river water flow due to low precipitation and then resulted to social conflict among upstream and downstream river water flow beneficiaries. Moreover, reduce crop yield due to limited irrigation water flow, flood damage and recurrent drought. - Reduced water due to increased intensity of temperature (high evaporation) and low precipitation - Disruption of structures due to increased precipitation and flooding - Deterioration of structures due to minimum and maximum temperatures - Agronomic yield can reduce or fail due to high temperature, low precipitation, drought, pests,

Moderate risk

- Aware beneficiaries to use and grow environmentally sound, drought and pesticide resistant crops and vegetables during the hard time, to enhance crop yield and social conflicts for irrigation water use.

- Stabilize river banks with multipurpose and drought resistance biological soil and water conservation measures to minimize river bank erosion and widening problem related to failure of structure.

- Changes to the low flow regime may have significant negative impacts on downstream users, whether they abstract water (irrigation schemes, drinking supplies). Minimum demands from both existing and potential future users need to be clearly identified and assessed in relation to current and future low flows.

- May increase availability of surface water and then reduce social conflicts among upstream and downstream river water beneficiaries

- Farmer may give more focus to agroforestry practices in irrigable land than they do, to enhance soil fertility and then water holding capacity of the soil

-

Under ground check dams

- May reduced water availability due to increased lowering of ground water table related to low precipitation and high extraction for irrigation during the dry seasons.

- Physically failure of underground check dam ponds because of high boulders and large sediments came along with the flood and gets a rest upon the water pond

Moderate risk

- Similarly, treat upper catchment of underground checkdams with biological and physical soil and water conservation measures to enhance amount of surface runoff intercepted in the catchment and to reduce the volume and seeped of excess surface runoff and the sediments came along with it.

- May help experts and farmers to have a future plan based on the forecasted future climate trends and weather related information’s during planning stage of development activities, in which farmers and experts may be in full of


information to look other appropriate water harvesting technologies and practices

Spate irrigation/flood diverting

- Reduced runoff due to low precipitation - Disruption of structure due to

increased precipitation and uncontrolled floods - Raise local water table

(waterlogging) due to increase in precipitation. The groundwater level rise can be spectacularly fast in flat areas where the water table has a low hydraulic gradient. This may lead to many environmental problems. For instance, in arid and semi-arid areas with major salinity problems; groundwater rising under capillary action will evaporate, leaving salts in the soil. A high water table also makes the soil difficult to work and an increase in the salinity of the groundwater.

Moderate risk

- Spate irrigation structures are nowadays being made with gabion meshes to have strength to tolerate the force of spate floods and are made with spill ways to reduce the force of the floods. - Spate irrigation user beneficiaries are aware of consequences of high floods and do assessment and maintenances. Flood control is therefore often an added social and environmental benefit of reservoirs built to supply irrigation water. However, flood protection works, although achieving their purpose locally, increase flooding downstream, which needs to be taken into account. - An appropriate and well-maintained drainage network , efficient and effective use of irrigation water may minimize salinity of ground water table .

- Increase in precipitation may reduce high demand and computation among farmers for spate irrigation use.

- May help experts and ultimate spate irrigation users, to give more focus to flood control system during design and implementation stage of spate irrigation.

- When annual precipitation of the local area increased due to climate change, farmers may not be interested to spend their time and resource in construction of spate irrigation, rather they may request a help/support to government and donors for upper natural resource management measures and construction of in-situ moisture harvesting structures on their farm lands.

Spring development - Reduced yield of springs due to increased intensity of precipitation - Damage /failure of spring development physical structures due to increase in precipitation

Moderate risk

- Catchment treatment with physical and biological measures and construction of water harvesting structures (gully check dams, percolation structures, etc.) is practiced to enhance underground

- May increase production of agricultural crops due to increase in precipitation - May reduce social conflicts

among downstream and upstream side spring water

http://www.iisd.org/cristaltool/documents/BFA-Ethiopia-Assessment-Report-Eng.pdf


and floods water recharging beneficiaries

Electrical pump irrigation

- Physically damage electric pump house due to increase in precipitation and floods

- May reduce availability and flow volume of rivers due to low precipitation, this farther resulted to social conflict among the lower and upstream side river water beneficiaries and dryness of fruits and agricultural crops before their maturity and harvesting stages.

- Electric power interruption due to high precipitation, winds and floods

Moderate risks

- Reduce speed and volume of surface runoff generated from the source of water for electrical pump irrigation catchment areas via implementing integrated natural resource management measures.

- Install electric pump house at a suitable site

- Train and aware farmers to plant and sow climate smart (drought and pesticides) resistant crops and fruits and to sustainably operate and maintain pump house and main canals

- Increase in precipitation may reduce water scarcity for irrigation, social conflict and farmers monthly fee for electric pump consumption. Furthermore, farmers may not be interested to spend their time in construction of electrical pump irrigation, rather they may want support from government and interested donors on improved agricultural technologies, techniques and inputs to boost their livelihood base in a sustainable manner.

Open hand dug well

- Reduced water availability due to increased intensity of temperature and low precipitation resulted to lower well yields - Unexpected intense

precipitation resulted to High surface runoff containing many unforeseeable debris, chemicals may get inter in to the well. This could have resulted to contamination of well water and then the ground water table and silting up and failure of wells

Moderate risk

- Generally, catchment treatment has a multidimensional advantage: Reduced runoff and flood and Structures collect soil & water and facilitate percolation and rehabilitation (rejuvenation, etc.)

- Monitor level of ground water table

- A possible advantage of reducing the water table level prior to the rainy season is that it may increase the potential for groundwater recharge. Lowering the water table by the provision of drainage to irrigation schemes with high water tables brings benefits to agriculture.

- Is the annual precipitation of local area increased, farmers may have interest to plant water logging tolerant crops and fruits, construction of in-situ moisture harvesting on their farm land and soil fertility management practices, rather to dug out hand dug wells on their farm

https://www.climatelinks.org/sites/default/files/asset/document/2016%20CRM%20Factsheet%20-%20Ethiopia_use%


land. 20this.pdf

Livestock water point development

- Reduced runoff and water due to low precipitation and high temperature intensity (evaporation) - Destruction of structures due to

high precipitation and floods - Pond reservoir Silt up due to

high flooding and the sediments came along with it

Moderate risk

The problem with rainfall in the region is it is erratic. Sometimes the precipitation is minimal, at other times it is high/torrential. That is, the amount of precipitation received by an area in short period of time can be enough for a season but the shower can fall in short period of time and in between it can secede. Such situation ultimately results in failure of crops or reduction of yields. But runoffs collection in well-designed structures may not have so pronounced problem with erratic rainfall. Enough water can be collected and reserved for some months from a single rain shower. Therefore, more emphasis should be given to collect runoff in livestock ponds during low precipitation seasons. But harvesting of runoff during high precipitation seasons is also equally important. Hence, - Canals are designed to harvest

runoffs and directed towards livestock watering ponds.

- Regular maintenance and operation of livestock watering points may create local Job opportunity - Increase in annual

precipitation may reduce women and children walking longer distance in searching of water for livestock.


- Silt traps are also designed and performed above the ponds to minimize silt.

- Livestock watering ponds are made with spillways to protect destruction from flooding.

Purchase and provision of improved and local seeds of fruits and vegetables and inputs

- Quality of seedlings can be lower due to high evapotranspiration, low precipitations, droughts and hailstorms

- Establishment of seedlings, survival rate, growth and production can be reduced due to low precipitation, high temperature intensities, drought, hailstorms, pests

- Reduce source and availability of quality local seeds due to low precipitation and increase in temperature

- Biological degradation: Temperature, precipitation and vegetation changes considerably influence biological soil processes and then may affect the germination, growth and yield of fruits.

Moderate risk

- To reduce evapotranspiration and hail storms sheds made of local materials are used during fruit seedlings raising,

- Beneficiaries are initiated and followed up to prepare proper planting pits,

- Use of decomposed manure - Use mulches to protect evaporation, - Assisted by agronomists for good

management and pests attack, - Access to disseminated climate

information, - Provision of environmentally sound,

high yielding, early maturing and drought and pesticide tolerant improved fruit varieties/ species,

- More focus to effective and efficient water utilization and management

- May create an opportunity to give focus on agroforestry practice to enhance soil cover and its moisture content.

- Knowledge and skill transfer among farmers

http://careclimatechange.org/?option=com_content&view=article&id=25&Itemid=30

Production and distribution of improved fruit seedlings to beneficiaries

- Quality of seedlings can be affected due to high intensity of temperatures (evapotranspiration), low precipitations, droughts and hailstorms

- Establishment of seedlings, survival rate, growth and production can be reduced due to low precipitation, high

Moderate risk

- To reduce temperature intensity and hail storms sheds made of local materials such as reed grasses, thatching grass, etc. are used in nursery sites during fruit seedlings raising,

- Beneficiaries are initiated and followed up to prepare wider and deeper planting pits to collect rain water for fruit seedlings during


temperature intensities, drought, hailstorms, pests

- Lower fruit yield due to increase in Salinization/sodification

planting, - Apply decomposed manure in to the

pits - Use mulches to protect evaporation - Assisted by agronomists for good

management and pests attack, - Provision of high yielding, early

maturing and drought tolerant varieties/ species

- Access to disseminated climate information

- Provision of high yielding and early maturing varieties

Over sowing of improved & local forage seeds on degraded enclosure areas and grazing areas

- Low germination of seeds and low growth and endurance of grasses due to high temperature intensity, low precipitation, drought, erratic rainfall, flood.

Moderate risk

- Sites for over sowing of grasses are treated with various physical structures to increase moisture availability to enhance germination and growth,

- Good performing and moisture tolerating grass types are selected

- Moisture enhancement and underground water recharging from catchment treatment and grasses development, - Stabilizes bunds and

reduces erosion, - Increases forage

development,

Establishment and management of forage seed multiplication centers

- Germination and growth of sown forage seeds from multiplication centers can be lower due to low precipitations, drought, extreme heat,

- Low production and sustainability due to increase in incident of pesticides because of increase in extrema heats

- Damage due increase in precipitation and flooding

Moderate risk

- Similarly, forage seeds are sown on treated sites that have the ability to collect moisture useful to overcome high temperature intensities, low precipitation and drought,

- Stabilize forage multiplication centers through plantation of biological soil and water conservation measures to protect forage seedlings from adverse of impacts of the scorching form above sun and warming from the land surface and rain drop detachments

- Job opportunity - Increases forage

production, - Transferring of

knowledge & skill to local people,

https://www.climatelinks.org/sites/default/files/asset/document/Ethiopia%20

Planting of grass cuttings and splits, sowing of improved and local grass seeds

- Low establishment and thriving ability of planted grasses due to high temperature intensity, low precipitation, drought, flood,

Moderate risk

- Moisture harvesting structures are prepared (gully check dams, trenches, etc.)

- Flood protection structures are made

- May reduce problem of surface water and soil moisture content

- May increase income


on physically treated gullies and catchments

- Management of planted grasses until they establish is practiced by communities

source from carbon sequestration

Climate%20Info%20Fact%20Sheet_FINAL.pdf

Purpose-3: Improved sustainable livelihood of vulnerable women, men and youth groups Livelihood asset transfer to asset poor PSNP beneficiaries ( on –farm (livestock rearing, poultry production, fattening)

- Increase in extreme heat and frequency of recurrent drought may increase death of livestock, decreased livestock productivity (meat, milk), reduced income, increased conflict over scares forage resources, decreased livestock price, increase women and children walking longer distance in searching of water for livestock, decreased livestock disease resistance, poor condition of livestock and weight loss

- Death of livestock due to Increase in precipitation and hail storms and flooding

Moderate risks

- Prepared to have reserved feeds - Access to veterinary services,

treat diseased animals and protect deaths,

- Stall feeding to avoid unnecessary energy wastage, animal disease transmission and exposure to direct sun heat

- Physical and biological treatment of catchments and grazing lands to enhance forage and fodder production,

- Integrate agroforestry practices - Link beneficiaries with village

economic saving associations and credit activities to reduce risks associated with climate change

- Knowledge and skill

transfer among beneficiaries and the community at large

- May increase availability of animal feed source if annual precipitation of the local area has increased. So farmers may have interest in fattening of small ruminants. Accordingly, close technical and input support to the targeted beneficiaries may be critical to boost the livelihood base of the farmers in a sustainable manner.

Construction of rural access roads (community road)

- Access roads can be destructed or become out of use due to high precipitation that causes flooding

-

Moderate

- Ditches preparation to convey runoff without affecting roads, - Maintenances carried out by communities, - Construction of quality culverts and fords to minimize widening and deepening of cross cutting waterways,

- Job opportunity - Access to market and use

of transportation of: Delivery mothers, Health and agricultural

extension workers, Input transportation, etc.

Purpose4: Reduced malnutrition among CU5, Pregnant and lactating mothers


Micro-garden management

- Yield or production of micro garden (vegetables) can fail due to high temperature intensity, low precipitation, drought, hailstorms, pests

Moderate Risks

- Provision of high yielding, early maturing, and drought tolerant species/varieties,

- Provision of inputs such as watering canes to water vegetables,

- Approval and support from agronomists in case of pests’ attack,

- Initiated to fetch water during low precipitation/drought,

- May reduce problem of water for micro garden development

REST Initial Environmental Examination Title II TPSNP4 FY2016/FY2020

Annex 3: Budget narrative for Environmental Safe guard plan

This budget narrative describes the expenses and the costs to be incurred to execute the ESP, which comprises the subsequent activities that help to carry out the proposed IEE for Title II Development Food Security Activity (DFSA). The requested budget for the Environmental Safe guard Plan (ESP) over LOA is estimated $US525,210 which comprises two funding sources: i) Section 202e $US512,812 and ii) ITSH $US12,812. The budget will cover the following expenses: Salary, Fringe Benefit, Travel and Transport, Program Supplies, Wage and Training.

I. SALARY

The total salary budget requested over the LOA is $US 113,806. Out of which, $US29,518 is budgeted under 202(e) and $US 9,839.28 is budgeted under ITSH. The budget for salary is prepared based on REST’s Human Resource manuals/personnel policy.

ESP Budget Summary

Staffing

Number of Staff

Average Annual Salary

$US

Number of Program

Years

Average % of Staff

Time

Total Salary $US

REST Woreda Coordination Office Level

Public Work Infrastructure Officer 12 $4,745.9 5 Years 8.33% $23,720 Biological Conservation Officer 12 $4,7435.9 5 Years 8.33% $23,720 Disaster Risk Management Officer 12 $4,745.9 5 Years 8.33% $23,720 Head Office Level – Makelle Environmental officer) 1 $7,871.42 5 years 100% $39,357 Driver 4 $3,289.0 5 years 5% $3,289

Total $113,805.76

Responsibilities and level of efforts

Environmental officer

A full time environmentalist is needed to meet the environmental compliance of the program. This staff will be responsible to monitor the overall environmental aspect of the program and support project staff on the preparation of Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plans (EMMP) for the proposed development activities, and ensure that the EMMP is put in place. In addition, the environmentalist will supervise the implementation of Public Work as per EMMPs (irrigation, community roads and NRM activities); ensure Food Commodity Protection as per the PERSUAP; conduct Programmatic Environmental Assessment; produce Environmental Status Reports (ESR); participate in regional, national environmental forums; and provide training to woreda staff on environmental compliance. The estimated LOA budget for the proposed position is $39,357. The woreda REST coordination staffs (public work and infrastructure officer, biological conservation officer and disaster risk management officer): the level of effort of these positions are 100% LOA for the Title II DFSA (at annual salary rate of $4,745.9/position). However, only 8.33% their effort or time will be put for the environmental requirements. Their contribution will be on planning designing, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of proposed EMMP to ensure environmental issues are addressed. As program support, four drivers with full time are required for the DFSA Title II program activities. However, only 5% of the


drivers’ time that is intended to give service to environmental officer and other woreda level staffs to perform the EMMP plan on timely base including for monitoring, programmatic environmental assessment and joint supervisions. II. FRINGE BENEFITS

The Fringe Benefits budget contains benefits as per the REST personnel policy. The costs are categorized as a) a monthly Provident Fund which is a private retirement account to which the organization contributes at 12% of the basic salary paid by REST to each regular staff per month; b) medical benefits at a rate of 5% of a staff salary; c) insurance at a rate of 5% of a staff salary; and d) severance pay, which together constitute an equivalent of 26% of a permanent staff salary. A total of $US 29,591is required for these benefits and will be charged to section 202(e) $US 22,193 and ITSH $US 7,398. The detailed description of the fringe benefits is as follows:

- Provident fund 12% of salary = 12% x $US 113,805 = $US 13,657 - Medical 5% of salary = 5% x $US 113,805= $US 5,960.25 - Insurance 5% of salary =5% x $US 113,805= $US 5,960.25 - Severance pay 4% of salary = 4% x $US 113,805 = $US 4,552.2

III. TRAVEL AND TRANSPORT

This travel and transport budget is to cover costs associated with expenses that will be incurred during travel and site visits required for oversee the implementation of Public Work as per EMMPs (irrigation, community roads and NRM activities); site visit to commodity distribution points to ensure Food Commodity Protection as per the EMMP/PERSUAP; conduct Programmatic Environmental Assessment and monitoring and evaluation and the required lubricants and oil for transportation purpose. The total cost is $US 61,451 of which $US 61,451 is allocated to section 202(e) and $US 0 to ITSH.

In-country Per Diem

- Programmatic Environmental Assessment: LOA estimated cost is $30,148 (Funding source: Section 202 (e) $US 30,148 and ITSH $0). While implementing program activities, REST will give more emphasis to ensuring they are environmentally friendly in accordance with GoE directives and USAID Environmental Compliance requirements. Thus, a Programmatic Environmental Assessment will be performed jointly with regional stakeholders on a quarterly basis to monitor and evaluate the performance achievement of the proposed EMMP. Accordingly, over the LOA, at least 20 assessments will be conducted at a rate of 4 per year x 5 years.

- Regional joint supervision (government and REST staff): LOA estimated cost: $7,022 (Funding source: Section 202 (e) $US 7,022 and ITSH $0). A total of 40, regional technical team members form government and REST staffs, while monitoring and evaluating the overall performance achievement of the Title II DFSA development activities, the technical team members will also evaluate and monitor their environmental compliance with USAID environmental regulations as well as the impact of climate change upon them at a rate of 8 technical persons per year x 5 years. The level of effort and contribution of the technical team members to the environmental safe guard plan implementation, monitoring and evaluation will be 12.5%.

- Woreda PSNP Food Security Task Force / Sector Office staffs: LOA estimated cost is,

$12,484 [Funding source: Section 202 (e) $US 12,484 and ITSH $0]


During the LOA, a total of 480 woreda public work technical team members will conducted field visit to a selected program area to monitor and evaluate the overall performance achievement of program activities and their compliance with USAID environmental requirements at a rate of 96 technical team members per year x 5 years. The level of effort and contribution of the technical team members to the environmental safe guard plan implementation, monitoring and implementation will be 2%.

- REST Woreda Project coordination office staffs: LOA estimated cost is $11,797 [Funding source: Section 202 (e) $US 11,797 and ITSH $0] During the LOA a total 36 public work and infrastructure officers, Biological conservation officers and disaster risk management officers, in coordination with respective woreda stakeholders and the community at large will be responsible to implement, monitor and evaluate the overall performance achievement of environmental safe guard plan (IEE/EMMP) at a rate of 36 persons per year x 5 years. The level of effort and contribution of the technical team members to the environmental safe guard plan implementation, monitoring and evaluation will be 8.33%.

IV. PROGRAM SUPPLIES

The requested budget for program supplies is $US 125,025 (Section 202 (e) $US 125,025 and ITSH $US 0). This budget will be used for purchasing and transportation of the following construction material and gabion mesh boxes used to perform environmental safeguard mitigation measures of open hand dug well fencing, construction of protection walls/retain wall adjacent to farmlands where irrigation infrastructures put in place, road side water harvesting and water logging drainage works such as construction of over nigh reservoir near to water logged areas and main canals.

1) Different sized gabion mesh boxes: LOA estimated cost $US 63,029 [Funding source: 202 (e) $US 63,029 and ITSH $US 0]

2) Construction Materials (cement, Barbed wire Ø 2.5mm(8km/1roll), Eucalyptus Ø 6-12cm, Nail number 6-12, gravel, sand, gabion tying wire Ø 2.4mm, Reinforcement bar Ø 6-14 and tying wire Ø 1.5mm): LOA estimated cost $US 47,148 [Funding source: Section 202e $US 47,148 and ITSH $0].

3) Material transportation cost: LOA estimated cost $US 9,685 [Funding source: Section 202e $US 9,685 and ITSH $0].

4) Stationery to the supportive divisions and woreda coordination staffs: LOA estimated cost $US 926 [Funding source: Section 202e $US926 and ITSH $0].

5) Fuel, oil and lubricant requirement for EMMP Operations - Light Vehicles: LOA estimated cost $US 4,237 [Funding source: Section 202e $US 4,237 and ITSH $0].

V. OTHER DIRECT COST

Wage for Environmental Mitigation Measures: LOA $71,942(Funding sources: Section 202e $71,942 and ITSH $0) The requested budget for Environmental Safeguards (wage cost): construction of protection walls adjacent to farmlands where irrigation infrastructures put in place and safe disposal interventions. Aaverage unit rates have been used for estimating and budgeting purposes based on past experience and ongoing practices. Wage for skilled and semi-skilled labor =2,264PD X average wage rate $US 6 / PD x 5 years = $71,942


VI. STAFF TRAINING

Staff Training Cost: LOA $122,891(Funding sources: Section 202e $122,891 and ITSH $0). The TPSNP capacity development is designed in alignment with PSNP4 Capacity Development Strategies and will focus on the following training titles:

- TOT on environmental compliance (PERSUAP and EMMP) to Woreda REST Project Staffs and Sector office experts: LOA estimated cost is: $6,226 [Funding source: section 202e$6,226 and ITSH $0).

a) Cost for Woreda REST Project staffs and sector office experts=120-person X $66.65/person X 4 years = $31,992

b) Cost for Trainers = 12-person X $46.51 /person x 4 years =$2,232.48 c) Cost for stationery = 132 Pcs X $0.89 / 1 unit of stationery X4 years = $469.92 d) Cost for hall rent and refreshment = 132 persons’ X $6.65/person X 4 years =

$3,511.2 - ESMF and IEE training for community level environmental screening core teams and

development agents. LOA estimated cost is: $84,685 [Funding source: section 202e $84,685 and ITSH $0).

a) Development agents =304-person X $54/person X 3 years = $49,248 = 276- person X $56/person X 1 year = $14,904

b) Cost for Trainers = 72-person X $45 /person X 3 years =$10,368 = 12-person X $45 /person X 1 year =$576

c) Cost for stationery = 328 Pcs X $0.89 /1 unit of stationery X 3 years = $875.76 = 288 Pcs X $0.89 /1 unit of stationery X 1 year = $256.32

d) Cost for hall rent and refreshment = 328 persons’ X $6.65/person X 3 years = $6,543.6 = 288 persons’ X $6.65/person X 1year = $1,915.20

VII. Detail list of Materials and services needed to implement EMMP

This section describes the detail list of materials and services needed to achieve the EMMP that have a cost. Considering the mitigation measures shown in the EMMP of Annex-1, the following materials and services are requested for implementation of the specific mitigation measures enquire environmental cost.

Potential Environmental Impact Materials and Services Needed for EMMP Implementation (Environmental Costs)

- (a)Improperly designed and, implemented and managed Water harvesting check dam pond construction may cause overflow of flood in to a nearby farmland, resulted to an expected soil erosion and crop damage.

- Site visits for monitoring (Regional joint supervision, woreda PSNP food security task force, REST woreda coordination office staffs)

- Materials required to construct stone fill gabion protection walls/retain wall adjacent to farmlands where irrigation infrastructures put in place (6m3 per year) ▪ Purchase of gabion boxes (3m*1m*1m ,2m*1m*1m

,2m*1m*0.5m and 1m*1m*1m) ▪ Purchase of gabion tying wire with 2.4 diameter

- Material Transportation cost - Lubricant and oil for transportation (vehicle) use - Wage for skilled and unskilled labor participate during

protection wall construction


- (b)Improperly designed, constructed and managed open hand dug well may cause death for animals and kids.


- Requested construction materials to fence open hand dug wells (500 hand dug walls per year)

▪ Barbed wire Ø 2.5mm(8km/1roll), ▪ Eucalyptus Ø 6-12cm ▪ Nail number 6-12, gravel ▪ Material transportation cost

- Lubricant and oil for transportation (vehicle use) - Material transportation cost - Wage for skilled and unskilled labor participate during

hand dug well fencing - (c)Improperly designed, implemented

and managed river diversion may cause overflow of flood into a nearby farmland, resulted in soil erosion and crop damage.


- Requested construction materials to construct stone fill gabion protection walls/retain wall adjacent to farmlands where irrigation infrastructures put in place (7m3 per year)

▪ Gabion boxes (3m*1m*1m ,2m*1m*1m ,2m*1m*0.5 and 1m*1m*1m)

▪ Gabion tying wire with 2.4 diameter - Material transportation cost - Lubricant and oil for transportation (vehicle) use - Wage for skilled and unskilled labor participate during

protection wall construction

- (d)In efficient use and management of irrigation water from mini-dams may cause water logging and soil salinity problem on irrigable land and then resulted to crop failure etc.


- Requested construction materials to construct overnight water reservoirs near to tertiary and farm canals and logged areas to serve as sub-surface water drainage. The water gets collect on the farm land will be diverted to the ponds. The harvested water will help to farmers as source of irrigation water to irrigate their land located out of the gravity canal, with the aid of motor pump (1 overnight reservoir per year)

▪ Cement (PPC) ▪ Gravel ▪ Sand

- Material transportation cost (cement, gravel and sand) - Lubricant and oil-for transportation (vehicle) use - Wage for skilled and unskilled labor participate during

construction of overnight reservoir - (e)When the drainage structures of a

roads located in hilly areas not properly constructed and maintained, a large amount of surface runoff generated from the upper part of the road may affect downstream part via sedimentation and water lagging


- Requested construction materials to construct underground road side rain water harvesting ponds to reduce volume of surface runoff generated from the road side ditches. Harvested water will be used to water road


side out planted tree seedlings (1 underground road side rain water harvesting pond per year). ▪ Cement (PPC) ▪ Sand ▪ Gravel ▪ Reinforcement bar Ø 6-14 ▪ Tying wire Ø 1.5mm

- Material transportation cost - Lubricant and oil for transportation (vehicle) use - Wage payment for skilled and unskilled labor participate

during road side underground rain water harvesting ponds. The above table shows specific mitigation measures and associated costs including environmental budgeting and staffing: (i) Overall management of environmental compliance; (ii) Reporting on environmental compliance, implementation and monitoring results to USAID; (iii) General environmental compliance trainings; (iv) Complying with national laws, including obtaining permits; and (v) Programmatic environmental assessment. The comprehensive and detail budget of these list of environmental costs and their Integration into standard FFP budget categories and funding sources is presented in Annex-3 of the REST Title II RFA detail budget plan.

End

May 22, 2017 REST

ATTACHMENT 1 Note: The following provides detailed explanations supporting the required Conditions for

the Initial Environmental Examination Report (IEE) approval by the DCHA Bureau Environmental Officer. The AOR will ensure that the awardee responds to the BEO

Conditions, as described. DETAILS FOR BEO CONDITIONS : Issue 1: Correction for the record. Irrigation activities that do not consider cumulative effects have the potential for significant negative environmental impacts. Discussion: Based on the BEO review of the submitted IEE, there is a lack of sufficient information on the scale of proposed activities. Therefore, the BEO has assumed a higher level of potential risk. As such, a Positive Determination classification has been assigned to these activities, pursuant to 22 CFR 216.3(a)(2)(iii), and an Environmental Assessment (EA) is required. The BEO is aware that the FFP Ethiopia partners have begun formalizing this analysis through a joint EA process. This joint EA builds off of the following three analyses developed under previous FFP projects: 1) the approved Scoping Statement of the predecessor Ethiopia DFAP projects; 2) the initial draft EA developed by previous implementing partners; and the 3) 1999 USAID/Ethiopia Small-scale irrigation PEA. This Irrigation and Watershed Rehabilitation EA must also provide details (namely size, scale, nature, scope, location etc.) and mitigation measures for planned watershed management structures, including check dams, given the dependence of these structures on the availability of scarce water resources. As such, this EA must also include a water-level mapping of existing water resources, in order to determine the long-term sustainability of planned water extraction activities. In addition, the BEO is requiring copies of environmental flow assessments from REST. The BEO expects that the REST staff Environmental Specialist has been and will remain highly involved in this EA process, and that planned irrigation and check dams are designed and implemented by certified engineers with expertise in climate risk management. The involvement of qualified engineers in the construction and operation of these check dams and irrigation projects will reduce the risk of dam failure, and enable the sustainable operation and maintenance of these irrigation schemes.

Condition 1: REST irrigation activities have been reclassified as a Positive Determination and hence

must re-submit the Environmental Assessment (EA) for irrigation activities (incl. watershed

rehabilitation like check dams).

_________________________________________________________________________

3

http://gemini.info.usaid.gov/repository/pdf/43306.pdf

http://gemini.info.usaid.gov/repository/pdf/43306.pdf

http://encapafrica.org/meo_course/Course_Materials/Module9--Special_Topics/Agriculture_Irrigation_Pest_Pesticide_Management/PEA_irrigation_Ethiopia.pdf



Issue 2: Pesticide description in the IEE is inaccurate and incomplete. a. The lack of a SUAP can lead to the misuse of pesticides and unsafe application practices. b. Improper fumigation practices can have detrimental effects on human health, as well as lead

to increased pest resistance.

Discussion: The BEO recognizes that there is a repeated technical error in the IEE that confuses the term “pest” with “pesticide.” According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), a pesticide is:

● Any substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating any pest.

● Any substance or mixture of substances intended for use as a plant regulator, defoliant, or desiccant.

● Any nitrogen stabilizer. The BEO will not require changes to the IEE, but is requiring high-quality and comprehensive oversight of field uses, applications, and promotion of pesticides.

a. The submitted IEE provides conflicting information on pesticide use. REST may not implement activities involving the use or promotion of chemical and organic pesticides for both agricultural, construction, health, and livestock activities, including trainings, without the development and DCHA BEO clearance of a PERSUAP or SUAP tiering off of an existing PERSUAP, fulfilling all analytical elements required by 22 CFR 216.3(b), USAID’s Pesticide Procedures. The BEO specifically notes that REST has a particular responsibility if it is aware of pesticide use by beneficiaries (even without specific USAID procurement) in a sector receiving USAID program support. To be clear, the distinction that USAID did not “procure” the pesticide will be inconsequential should a fatal accident occur. REST is reminded that even trainings on the risks of pesticides require a PERSUAP to ensure that training content does not inadvertently provide incomplete or incorrect information on pesticide risks and safety. REST may may tier off an an existing PERSUAP. REST should coordinate with the USAID Ethiopia Mission Environmental Officer (MEO) to determine which PERSUAP to adapt. Adaptation may take the form of developing a Safer Use Action Plan (SUAP) tiering off of an existing and still valid Ethiopian PERSUAP whose agricultural activities are relevant to those planned by REST. Please see a SUAP-tiering example from Bangladesh here. The BEO expects that the Environmental Specialist is highly involved in this SUAP tiering process. REST must hire an entomologist and pest management expert to assist in the development of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plan for planned project activities, as well as to assist the Environmental Specialist in management this aspect of the agricultural portfolio.

b: REST has mentioned the need to fumigate large quantities of food commodities, and will need to adhere to their existing PERSUAP and the guidance of the USAID Programmatic Environmental

4

http://gemini.info.usaid.gov/egat/envcomp/document.php?doc_id=49862

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


Assessment for Agricultural Commodity Protection by Phosphine Fumigation. Phosphine fumigation of stored food commodities can have significant impacts on the environment and on human health if not adequately conducted and monitored. The BEO reminds REST that the USAID Fumigation PEA requires that each implementing partner to utilize the Fumigation Management Plan (FMP) with each fumigation event. The Fumigation PEA, as well as tools and templates for the Fumigation FMP, are available online at: http://www.usaidgems.org/fumigationpea.htm. It should also be noted that there are strict equipment requirements for the use of fumigants: Fumigation Monitoring Equipment Requirement: Abundant evidence demonstrates that gas monitoring devices are critical to verify that phosphine concentrations are sustained at high enough levels to provide an effective “kill” treatment of the commodities. Equally, gas monitors are needed to ensure the safety of warehouse personnel and fumigators. Without these monitors, the fumigant applicator has absolutely no knowledge of the gas concentrations. At phosphine concentrations where one can smell the gas, the gas is toxic to human health. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Requirement: All fumigation PERSUAPs developed by USAID implementing partners in must provide detailed guidance on the types of PPE that fumigation applicators will be will be required to use during fumigation. PPE requirements for fumigation include half-face respirators with eye protective gear or full-face respirators, gloves, coveralls and closed-toed shoes with socks. Gas Impermeable Tarps (e.g. vinyl coated nylon tarping): Stacks in warehouse are to be enclosed with gas impermeable (e.g. vinyl coated nylon) tarps when fumigating with phosphine. Warehouse doors and vents, must be sealed during fumigation because gaps can result in gas to leak from the warehouse. In addition, fumigation tarps must not be re-used too often as this may weaken the tarps or result in torn tarps and, therefore, would not create a gas tight seal. The warehouse compound must not remain open during fumigation, as well, as this potentially exposes workers in adjacent warehouses, office workers, and others working on-site to phosphine gas. Placarding and other measures should be taken to ensure that no entry will occur in warehouses that are being fumigated. The implementing partner should reference the Annexes of the Fumigation PEA for solicitation and contracts language when contracting a Fumigation Service Provider. If and when Fumigation Service Providers do not have the required fumigation equipment, then REST is prohibited from contracting with these Fumigation Service Providers. Alternatively, REST may make a proposal to their FFP AOR to procure only essential fumigation equipment as described above.

Condition 2: REST must reallocate TPSNP4 resources in the project to ensure effectiveness and

efficiency of the pest management and pesticide utilization, as are currently deficient.

5



__________________________________________________________________________

Issue 3: Water quality and quantity assurance is not sufficiently addressed throughout related activities in the IEE.

Discussion: The BEO notes REST has made a brief mention about quality testing in the narrative of the IEE. However, the BEO notes that there is a lack of an integrated Water Quality Assurance Plan (WQAP). While water quality concerns are noted in the narrative, the EMMP also does not reference testing. Also, given reports of high levels of fluoride in drinking water sources in parts of Ethiopia, leading to an increasing prevalence of dental and skeletal fluorosis, water quality testing should also ensure fluoride levels are within WHO recommended standards of 1.5 mg/litre. The BEO wishes to remind REST that water quality levels must also meet USAID and WHO standards for all activities. More information is found in the USAID Sector Environmental Guidelines for Water Supply and Sanitation. Initial water quality testing is the responsibility of REST, but REST should also set in place measures to provide reasonable assurance that ongoing water quality monitoring occurs. A WQAP also develops a response protocol in case contamination is detected. In addition, REST must ensure they work closely with local water resource bureaus and water user organizations for any spring development. Condition 3: REST must develop a Water Quality Assurance Plan (WQAP), including fluoride, to

address water contamination concerns.

__________________________________________________________________________

Issue 4: Corrections required to CRM screening.

Discussion: Thank you for providing an initial Climate Risk Management (CRM) screening. To finalize, please conduct a CRM screening for the activities outlined in this IEE based on USAID guidelines and best practices. The guidelines to follow to conduct CRM Screening for FFP activities can be found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XfUYA0wXEkz-Ck0qdYLyat3zt-0e2MVyGRdOVcyJWt0/edit. Please complete the CRM by within 4 weeks from this decision memo, and submit to the DCHA Climate Integration Lead (CIL), Kyle Rearick, [email protected], and copy the support team, [email protected] for approval. Activity implementation may continue while you complete the CRM screening. In addition, please do not revise the IEE, the final CRM will be submitted separately from the IEE. Specific suggestions to complement the above guidance are provided below.

Suggestions: ● Include summary of CRM. The IEE should include a summary of the CRM screening process

and major results. From ADS 201 reference, “The Activity Environmental Compliance Analysis

6

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

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

http://www.cabnr.unr.edu/saito/Classes/nres400/readings/kloos1999.pdf

http://www.cabnr.unr.edu/saito/Classes/nres400/readings/kloos1999.pdf

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



https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XfUYA0wXEkz-Ck0qdYLyat3zt-0e2MVyGRdOVcyJWt0/edit

mailto:[email protected]

(e.g., IEE) must include a summary of the approach to activity-level CRM and major results, as well as a completed version of the summary table below.”

● Use most up to date CRM table, called a matrix, which can be found here. ● Use up to date references to identify climate impacts. For the “Climate Risks” column in the

table, use up to date resources about climate impacts that may lead to risks for each activity. A few good resources are:

○ The Climate Risk Profile for Ethiopia ○ The Ethiopian Climate Vulnerability Profile ○ The Climate Variability and Change in Ethiopia

● Improve screening of construction activities. CRM Screening of construction activities is not complete. REST should provide greater detail on the climate risks to road construction and construction of social infrastructure. Additionally, please note that all interventions related to construction should be categorized as High Risk and must be assessed, addressed, and approved by the Engineer of Record (confirmed by his or her signature).

● More detailed description of opportunities: For the “Opportunities” column, consider what are the opportunities to achieve multiple USAID objectives by addressing climate risks, either across the projects or working with other projects. Also, consider what are the opportunities to advance development based on climate change (e.g. include climate change related information in trainings).

● Funding: Ensure REST has funds allocated to incorporate results of CRM Screening.

Condition 4: REST must update their Climate Risk Management (CRM) screening based on

suggestions provided. _________________________________________________________________________

Issue 5: Environmental budgeting may be insufficient.

Discussion: The DCHA BEO wants to remind REST to appropriately budget funds for environmental assessments, training, activities, etc. It appears that only $30,000 is allocated for something called “PEAs” that will be done quarterly. The BEO assumes by quarterly PEAs that the project really means to say quarterly “EMMP” monitoring. The budget overall does not seem sufficient to meet all requirements. For direction and guidance in developing a budget for environmental compliance and management activities within a development program, USAID has developed an Environmental Compliance Budgeting Toolkit. This toolkit has sections to assist both budget developers and selection committee members who review proposal budgets.

Condition 5: REST must ensure that sufficient funds are allocated in order to ensure environmental

compliance and completion of assessments; the REST environmental budget will need to be

updated during annual reporting.

_________________________________________________________________________

7

https://www.climatelinks.org/resources/climate-change-risk-profile-ethiopia

https://www.climatelinks.org/resources/ethiopia-climate-vulnerability-profile

https://www.climatelinks.org/resources/ethiopia-climate-vulnerability-profile

https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1866/12.22.15%20-%20ClimateVariabilityChange_Ethiopia_Dec2015%20%281%29.pdf

https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1866/12.22.15%20-%20ClimateVariabilityChange_Ethiopia_Dec2015%20%281%29.pdf

http://www.fsnnetwork.org/sites/default/files/EnvBudgettingToolkit.pdf

http://www.fsnnetwork.org/sites/default/files/EnvBudgettingToolkit.pdf