initial environmental examination · initial environmental examination ... section 3 of the iee...

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INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION

FACESHEET

Activity/Project Title: Alliance for Year-Round Resilience in

Tahoua and Maradi (GDA with Lutheran World Relief)

Solicitation #: [As assigned by contracting

office]

Contract/Award Number (if known): TBD

Geographic Location: Niger/Sahel

Originating Bureau: Africa Bureau

Supplemental IEE: Yes No

Amendment: Yes No

Programmatic IEE: Yes No

DCN and date of Original document:

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

Amendment No.:

Funding Amount:

USAID: $5,000,000

Private Sector: $28,046,156

Life of Project Amount: $33,046,156

Implementation Start/End:

Prepared By: Abdourahmane Ndiaye,

Regional Environmental Specialist/MEO

Jenna Diallo, Regional Field Investment

Officer

IEE Submitted by: Abdourahmane Ndiaye

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

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

Environmental Media and/or Human Health Potentially Impacted (check all that apply):

None Air Water Land Biodiversity Human Health Other

Recommended Threshold Determination

(check all that apply):

Negative Determination

with conditions

Categorical Exclusion

Positive Determination

Deferral

Exemption

USG Domestic NEPA action

Additional Elements

Conditions EMMP WQAP Pesticides Deferred Other: ESF/ERR

DCA

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Summary of findings and recommended determination

Scope: USAID/Senegal will launch a new GDA in 2017. The purpose of this IEE, in accordance

with 22CFR216, is to provide the first review of the reasonably foreseeable effects on the

environment, as well as recommended Threshold Decisions, for activities under the Alliance for

Year-Round Resilience in Tahoua and Maradi which is a Global Development Alliance (GDA)

signed between USAID/Senegal/Sahel Regional Office and Lutheran World Relief (LWR).

This IEE provides a brief statement of the factual basis for a Threshold Decision as to whether an

Environmental Assessment or an Environmental Impact Statement are required for the activities

managed under this program. In addition, this IEE sets out project-level implementation

procedures intended to ensure that conditions in this IEE are translated into project-specific

mitigation measures, and to ensure systematic compliance with this IEE during project and

program implementation.

Recommended Determinations: This IEE recommends the determinations summarized in the

following table. Section 3 of the IEE provides a full analysis of each intervention category,

including activity descriptions, analysis of potential environmental impacts, and explanation of

determinations and conditions.

Intervention Category Categorical

Exclusion

Negative

Determination

Positive

Determination

Deferral

Diversify economic

opportunities

Intensify production and

marketing for high-potential

crops

Intensify production and

marketing for livestock

Construction or repair of

warehouses

Increased access to financial

services

Climate Change:

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

Adaptation/Mitigation Measures: See Climate Risk Management Screening in Section 3.2. A CRM screening for

warehouse construction was completed using the CRM Matrix Tool for Activity Design (Matrix Template). This is

an initial assessment, and suggests a High risk. The responsibility for assessing and addressing climate risk lies with

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

engineering design.

Other Relevant Environmental Compliance Documentation:

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

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Intervention Category Categorical

Exclusion

Negative

Determination

Positive

Determination

Deferral

Enhance market infrastructure

(Expand Airtel’s

telecommunications networks)

Strengthen organizational,

technical and management

capacity of farmer and tailor

associations

Strengthened disaster risk

management capacity:

- Strengthened informal

social safety nets

General Implementation and Monitoring Requirements: In addition to the specific conditions

listed in section 3, the negative determinations recommended in this IEE are contingent on full

implementation of a set of general monitoring and implementation requirements specified in

section 4. These include the following:

Briefings for implementing partners on environmental compliance responsibilities.

Development, integration, and implementation of an Environmental Mitigation and

Monitoring Plan (EMMP) by each implementing partner.

Integration of environmental compliance responsibilities in prime and sub-contracts and

grant agreements.

Assurance of sub-grantee and sub-contractor environmental compliance.

Environmental monitoring responsibility of the USAID/Senegal/Sahel Regional Office and

Niger Field Office.

Amending this IEE to reflect new or substantially modified activities

Additionally, it is essential that AOR/CORs and IPs screen all project-specific activities against

the intervention categories established in this IEE. For any project-specific activities not

sufficiently covered by the analysis in this IEE, the AOR/COR and USAID/Senegal MEO should

be consulted to determine whether an IEE-amendment, or project-specific IEE, is required.

- - - - - - ---- - - -

APPROVAL OF ENVIRONMENT AL ACTION RECOMMENDED:

Alliance for Year-Round Resilience in Tahoua and Maradi IEE

CLEARANCE:

Mission Director:

CONCURRENCE:

AFR/BEO: Brian Hirsch

Approved: _x ...... · _ _ Disapproved: _ _ _ _

ADDITIONAL CLEARANCES:

Regional Environmental Officer (REO):

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~. ~·~ ~[li./ '2.0t1-

Date: 63\24 '2£:> \ /

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INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION

PROGRAM/ACTIVITY DATA:

Program/Activity Number:

Country/Region: Niger/Sahel

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

1.0 BACKGROUND AND PROJECT DESCRIPTION

1.1 Background

Niger’s recent food and nutrition crises have been caused by a complex combination of

drought/irregular rainfall, high cereal prices, environmental degradation and conflict/population

displacements coupled with chronic poverty and limited recovery from previous shocks.

Households in agro-pastoral and marginal agriculture livelihood zones in Tahoua and Maradi are

among those most vulnerable, with some of the nation’s highest recurring rates of malnutrition

and food insecurity. Gender and physical ability influences sensitivity to disturbances and the

skills, strategies and mechanisms individuals use to cope with and adapt to hazards. Despite a

more favorable food security outlook in Tahoua and Maradi in 2016, vulnerable yet viable

households remain unable to absorb or adapt to new hazards.

This Alliance represents an opportunity to leverage $28,046,156 in new private-sector

investment from Airtel, Ecobank, Société Henry Biaugeaud, Margaret A. Cargill Foundation,

and others and layer strategies for resilience and inclusive growth on USAID’s prior investments

in early recovery, effectively filling a gap in current RISE coverage. By deepening market-driven

solutions to household livelihoods diversification; improved productivity and margins from dry

cereals, small ruminants, cowpeas and onions; stronger and more accountable member services

by local farmer associations; and better access to financial, market and knowledge systems, the

Alliance will help 12,760 households and 102,080 people in Tahoua and Maradi—in four

departments, 10 communes and 115 villages not reached by RISE—become more resilient to

climate shocks and stressors all 12 months of each year.

1.2 Purpose and Scope of IEE

The purpose of this IEE, in accordance with 22CFR216, is to provide the first review of the

reasonably foreseeable effects on the environment, as well as recommended Threshold

Decisions, for activities under the Alliance for Year-Round Resilience in Tahoua and Maradi

which is a Global Development Alliance (GDA) signed between USAID/Senegal/Sahel Regional

Office and Lutheran World Relief (LWR). This IEE provides a brief statement of the factual

basis for a Threshold Decision as to whether an Environmental Assessment or an Environmental

Impact Statement are required for the activities managed under this program. In addition, this

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IEE sets out project-level implementation procedures intended to ensure that conditions in this

IEE are translated into project-specific mitigation measures, and to ensure systematic compliance

with this IEE during project and program implementation.

Although a stand-alone IEE, it is nevertheless not totally independent from the JPC IEE

ref: BEO_Sahel JPC REGIS ETD+ IEE 2012-2017- . This present IEE shall be viewed as an addendum to

the HJPC IEE.

1.3 Climate Risk Management

An initial Climate Risk Management (CRM) screening for warehouse construction, as required

by ADS 201, has been included in this IEE Amendment in section 3.2. This review was completed using the CRM Matrix Tool for Activity Design (Matrix Template). This is an initial

assessment. The responsibility for assessing and addressing climate risk lies with the engineer-

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

1.4 Description of activities

Objective 1: Increase and sustain household incomes, assets, adaptive capacity and access

to nutritious food. The project will analyze and use local supply chains (seed, tools, inputs or

live animals) to generate demand for upstream suppliers/entrepreneurs; market needs and

interests will be analyzed to maximize household returns on surplus production. For collective

farmer association–level business services, the project will provide startup inputs and develop

processes, systems and management approaches for sustainability, while activities targeting self-

selected individuals will require upfront investment. Based on Tahoua and Maradi’s different

agro-ecological and socioeconomic environments and LWR’s previous value chain and market

assessments, target farm products and value chains are outlined in Figure 2, below:

Location Target Value Chains

Dakoro (Maradi region) millet cowpea sheep Moringa oleifera

Iléla (Tahoua region) millet cowpea sheep Moringa oleifera

Konni (Tahoua region) millet cowpea sheep Moringa oleifera onions

Malbaza (Tahoua region) millet cowpea sheep Moringa oleifera onions

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

IR 1: Diversified economic opportunities: Food and income alternatives will help offset rain-

fed production shocks, so the project will provide inputs (seeds, fertilizers) to women’s groups

for micro-irrigated Moringa oleifera that can be grown at the household or in small garden plots.

Producers Enterprises Agents (PEAs) will demonstrate technical innovations and simple business

planning, marketing strategies and record keeping. LWR will also pilot its experience with

annual concerted household food and entrepreneurship planning to identify strategies to offset

shocks for applicability in Niger and promote seasonal functional literacy training using new or

existing village-level literacy agents.

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

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

IR 2.1: Improved yields: PEAs will map suppliers of equipment, tools and other quality inputs;

these suppliers will be linked to Farmer Associations (FAs) for collective procurement, like high-

yielding (and/or drought/striga–tolerant) seed for dry cereals and cowpeas. LWR will apply its

experience in improved onion (violet de Galmi) multiplication to meet Société Henri Biaugeaud

(SH) Biaugeaud’s specifications. Inputs such as foundation bulbs, pumps and watering cans will

be provided; multipliers will be trained by the Department of Agriculture; and seed will be

purchased from multipliers, deducting input costs, and sold to other association members. PEAs

will train men and women on improved production techniques, like timing (interpreting weather

forecasts and local rainfall for decisions), adequate spacing, soil fertility management (using

manures, parcage, compost, crop rotation, and planting cereals and legumes in association) and

integrated pest management using ICT-assisted extension and field school approaches for

farmers to apply new techniques and learn about input costs, expected yields and potential

margins. The project will also expand soil and water conservation (tassa, stone contour bunds

and farmer-managed natural regeneration) through demonstrations and technical support. Where

appropriate, FAs will lend tools and carts to transport stones for contour construction and help

leaders manage community environmental resources, like grazing areas previously recovered

from marginal land.

IR 2.2: Increased animal productivity: Gains in small ruminant productivity will focus on

linking animal fatteners with quality live animals, improved animal husbandry and animal health.

PEAs will train men and women on timing lambing operations to supply live animals and

synchronize with animal fattening operations for highest returns. Farmer associations will help

women acquire (20% is paid upfront) sheep (brebis bicolore, Balami) from local markets, fatten

them over several months, and repay, with modest interest, at the time of sale. Association

leaders will be trained on the animal-fattening business plan (including profit projections and

repayment schedules) and policies, roles, procedures and documentation. While some

communities in Maradi and Tahoua do have a service vétérinaire privé de proximité (SVPP),

LWR will contract services from the Ministry of Livestock where this does not yet exist to

provide technical assistance from animal selection through care. All animals selected for

fattening will be vaccinated for pox and pasteurellosis, dewormed, tagged and temporarily

quarantined. The Ministry (or agreed private veterinarian) will also train PEAs on animal care

techniques (feeding, watering, and use of vitamins and supplements) and basic animal health

monitoring (wound care, deworming and epidemic monitoring). PEAs will be equipped with

basic supplies and will provide village-level technical support on animal care, feeding practices

and disease recognition using this training and ICT-assisted content.

IR 2.3: Increased marketing capacity: For targeted value chains, LWR will meet with local

authorities, government and private-sector service providers, buyers, financial service providers

and other chain actors to understand specific needs and opportunities. For selected crops—like

Galmi onions, wheat and cowpeas—FAs will organize market-oriented production planning and

manage transportation, quality control, collective warehousing (and construction or repair, where

needed) and marketing operations at scale. LWR will support market identification and planning

for warehouse financing (or warrantage) and provide technical support to the FAs’ business plan

development, negotiation and contracting. PEAs will inform these plans with farm-level

production estimates. They will also provide technical support to men and women producers on

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post-harvest management practices (harvesting, drying and storage) to meet the specifications of

identified markets. Where needed, LWR will help FAs set up and document their collective

marketing system (quality controls and stock management processes) and provide additional

training and mentoring for warehouse management committees.

IR 3: Increased access to financial services: Given the need for safe and accessible savings to

help households withstand stresses, PEAs will raise awareness on the importance of savings at

the household level, educating members on options for safe, mobile e-savings. Given the wide

adoption of informal financial mechanisms in target communities (tontines and other village

banks), PEAs will help strengthen these groups’ management, planning and record-keeping

capacity; members will also be invited to participate in functional literacy training and use

mobile micro-credit. In addition, the project will educate FA leaders on savings and credit/loan

options (loan products, credit lines and interest rates) and policies to help leaders decide if

external credit for collective procurement of production inputs or collective marketing fits their

needs. Farmer associations will access collective input or warehouse credit lines (using member

contributions or a stored crop as collateral for warrantage) from Ecobank. For collective input

procurement, PEAs will record individual farmers’ input needs to inform FA planning; the credit

is repaid once the product is sold. For warehouse/trade financing, advance payments are issued to

the farmer upon receipt of a quality product; products are stored in the warehouse until delivery

to the buyer, deducting the costs of operations, loan capital and interest. LWR will provide

technical support to loan operations to help ensure timely and complete repayment and raise

awareness on use of e-payments for prepayments, sales and profit sharing.

IR 4: Increased (physical) market infrastructure: A new warehouse is planned in Iléla to

increase market access, and repairs will occur at existing warehouses in Dakoro. Airtel was

initially planning construction of new cell towers, however, redirection of antennas to increase

signal strength will instead take place.

Objective 2: Strengthen the organizational capacity, integration and sustainability of

farmer associations to help households manage risk and leverage opportunities. LWR works

with farmer associations through its model of “accompaniment”—jointly assessing strengths and

weaknesses; developing strategies for greater accountability, transparency and sustainability; and

coaching and mentoring organizational changes. This process aims to shape farmer associations

into transparent, financially strong and technically competent organizations that represent (and

advocate for) the real interests of men and women members. This includes helping associations

understand the different ways men and women participate, then helping to design approaches to

address barriers to full participation and decision-making. Association-managed informal social

safety nets and early warning protocols will help further identify and mitigate community risks.

IR 1: Strengthened organizational, technical and management capacity

IR 1.1: Improved organizational capacity: In Tahoua, all LWR’s planned partners are

registered FAs that have received capacity-strengthening support. LWR will help each assess

remaining gaps and develop a tailored capacity-enhancement plan targeting services that are

member-focused (organizational governance, financial management, business planning and

communication) and market-focused (collecting and bulking, marketing and negotiation and

market information exchange). In Maradi, however, partner CEB works with herder and agro-

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pastoral groups that are not all formally registered and do not currently conduct collective action.

The project will survey these groups during startup and help leaders reflect on the need (or not)

for a more federated structure; if so, the project will help leaders determine optimal structures,

roles and responsibilities and help develop organizational documents, policies and procedures for

formal registration. Training, technical support and mentoring for men and women members and

elected leaders will consider the same key performance and capacity areas.

IR 1.2: Strengthened private extension capacity: The project’s ICT bundle will enable private

extension capacity via PEAs as a sustainable business service embedded within each farmer

association using existing extension training content from the Ministries of Agriculture, Animal

Husbandry, the Environment, Functional Literacy and other sources, and complementing that

with simplified training content and audio or video and links to existing market and weather

information. To help ensure that the extension package meets men and women users’ needs,

LWR will work with Airtel and IT service providers to: a) design, reconfigure or adapt

components of the platform, b) identify and link existing and new content, c) field-test the

system in each project site with men and women users to incorporate adjustments, d) work with

key stakeholders to validate any new content, e) roll out the system and train end users and f)

provide ongoing technical troubleshooting.

IR 2: Strengthened disaster risk management capacity

IR 2.1: Strengthened informal social safety nets: Several of LWR’s implementing partners

implement informal social safety net schemes like cereal reserves (abintchimou), animal feed

banks, restocking initiatives (habbanayé) or seed banks to support their membership and other

vulnerable community members. Where these informal mechanisms exist, the project will assist

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

learning and potential replication among other groups when promising practices are identified.

IR 2.2: Early warning protocols implemented: Current coverage with early warning systems

(EWS) in Tahoua and Maradi is minimal, but coverage could expand rapidly through use of

ICTs. The project will work with community, FA and government leaders to design a rapid

mechanism to identify hazards, using village-based PEAs as the first point of contact. Once a

PEA verifies a hazard, s/he will communicate with the relevant actor—for example, locust

threats to the Ministry of Agriculture’s Office of Crop Protection, animal disease outbreaks to

the Ministry of Animal Husbandry or health outbreaks to the Ministry of Health. These actors

will confirm receipt of the information and share any steps taken for the PEA to complete the

feedback loop.

2.0 COUNTRY AND ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION (BASELINE

INFORMATION)

2.1 Locations Affected

The project will be implemented in two regions of Niger: Maradi and Tahoua. The Republic of

Niger is a landlocked country in West Africa bordered by Libya to the northeast, Chad to the

east, Nigeria and Benin to the south, Burkina Faso and Mali to the west, and Algeria to the

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

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northwest. Niger covers a land area of almost 1,270,000 km2, making it the largest country in

West Africa, with over 80 percent of its land area covered by the Sahara Desert.

The Region of Maradi is one of eight Regions in Niger. It is in south-center Niger, east of the

Region of Tahoua, west of Zinder, and north of Nigeria's city of Kano. The administrative center

is at Maradi. The population of the Region is majority Haoussa.

Most of the 35,100 km of land is classified as "Sahel", though the northern parts head toward

desert, and the very southern edges along the border with Nigeria get almost 600 mm a year in

average rainfall, with some areas receiving as much as 650–700 mm in better years.

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

capital of the Region is the Commune of Tahoua.

Niger is an under developed country, and is consistently one of the lowest-ranked in the United

Nations' Human Development Index (HDI); it was ranked last at 188th for 2014. Much of the

non-desert portions of the country are threatened by periodic drought and desertification. The

economy is concentrated around subsistence and some export agriculture clustered in the more

fertile south, and the export of raw materials, especially uranium ore. Niger faces serious

challenges to development due to its landlocked position, desert terrain, high fertility rates and

resulting overpopulation without birth control, poor education and poverty of its people, lack of

infrastructure, poor health care, and environmental degradation.

Nigerien society reflects a diversity drawn from the long independent histories of its several

ethnic groups and regions and their relatively short period living in a single state. Historically,

what is now Niger has been on the fringes of several large states. The majority of the population

live in rural areas, and have little access to advanced education.

Climate

Niger's subtropical climate is mainly very hot and very dry, with much desert area. In the

extreme south, there is a tropical climate on the edges of the Niger River basin. The terrain is

predominantly desert plains and sand dunes, with flat to rolling savanna in the south and hills in

the north.

Demography

As of 2011, the population of Niger was 15,730,754. Expanding from a population of 1.7 million

in 1960, Niger's population has rapidly increased with a current growth rate of 3.3% (7.1

children per mother).

This growth rate is one of the highest in the world and is a source of concern for the government

and international agencies. The population is predominantly young, with 49.2% under 15 years

old and 2.7% over 65 years, and predominantly rural with only 21% living in urban areas.

Gender and education in Niger

The gender survey conducted in 2014 by Mercy Corp (MC), Save the Children (SC) and

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in Niger has shown that the number of reproductive activities

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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mobilizing the women and the young girls are more important than the ones mobilizing men and

boys.

Women and young girls are busy cleaning, washing, cooking meals, and pounding, washing the

dishes, rope and mat weaving. Those tasks are exclusively devoted to them. The other household

activities such as household fuel supply, wild fruit collection, water chores and hulling, are

women’s responsibility but young boys and men take part in it, mainly during the «rani» when

they are less busy. About water chores, in many sites men and boys involve in such task only if

the household has a horse cart, otherwise it remains an activity exclusively reserved for women.

Such situation explains the girls are less possibilities to attend school than boys. That were

confirmed by the national gender policy document of Niger that reveals that 88% of the women

are illiterate against 72% of men, with huge disparities between rural and urban areas where less

than (1) woman out of twenty (20) is illiterate.

2.2 Applicable Host Country Environmental and Social Laws, Regulations and

Policies

Niger environmental Policy is defined in the National Environment Plan for a Sustainable

Development, which was adopted by the Government in April 2000. The objective is to

systematize the management of the environmental concerns in all the decisions related to the

development of the country. It consists in taking the environmental concerns into consideration

from the very step of the planning and definition of the intervention (program, project or

activities). Thus, it relies on a certain number of practical tools among which the environmental

evaluation (EE) and the impact study on the environment (ISE).

The local governance of natural resources is well-defined in the Government of Niger “Strategy

for the Accelerated Reduction of Poverty (2008) and the Rural Development Strategy”. In

addition, The Government of Niger has enacted different laws governing the natural resources

management and environmental protection:

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

conservation;

The executive convention to fight against desertification;

The law for the protection of fauna and the management of wetlands;

The Environmental Code;

Law 1971 017 governing fishing;

Law 2004-040 governing forestry; and

“Executive Order no 93-014 governing water systems.

The National Council for Sustainable Environmental Development (CNDD), a Ministry-level

agency in charge of environment, a permanent secretariat for the rural code and its decentralized

services, has oversight of natural resources management and environmental regulation.

Niger is also member of and implementing the United Nations Framework Convention on

Climate Change, the protection and conservation of water and water resources and maintaining

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environmental health, as well as the prevention of natural disasters. Niger is also member of

other regional and sub-regional agreements on environmental protection and the fight against

desertification.

3.0- Discussions of potential environmental impacts:

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

Activities to boost crop productivity and profitability include increased use of inputs including

seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides. Mishandling, misuse, or misapplication of pesticides presents

profound risk to human and environmental health.

Misuse of fertilizers could cause:

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

term),

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

after rains or

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

run-off.

The use of mechanization can cause soil erosion if this is not done adequately it could cause soil

depletion, erosion, and silting.

Using seed not adapted to climate or soils can result in crop failure/food insecurity. Exotics

(including tissue cultures) can bring new pests or cause native resilient varieties to disappear.

2. Construction/rehabilitation of warehouses and other infrastructures

Construction or operation may result in sedimentation or other contamination of water

Construction may interfere with drainage of upstream lands

Biodiversity or other ecosystem services can be disturbed or damaged by construction

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

and unusable.

Strongly sloped sites present high risks for erosion that can permanently degrade the site

and runoff that can add sediment load to nearby surface waters and result in gullying on

adjoin lands and roads

Displacing inhabitants or depriving owners or users of agricultural and other uses of land,

can be significant social impact if not addressed via compensation, resettlement, or

negotiation

Standing water breeds insect diseases vectors, particularly mosquitoes

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Erosion, runoff from the site can degrade nearby surface waters and damage adjoining

lands.

Fill, sand or gravel extracted from waterways or ecological sensitive areas can degrade

water quality, ruins critical habitat, alters drainage and flow, and can create standing

water.

Demolition debris or construction waste disposal can pose physical hazards or toxic

hazards (leaded paint) and can create breeding habitat for diseases vectors

If the site is open to public, children and bystanders can be exposed to injury

Possible injury or accidents if workers are not well protected

In the absence of latrines, workers are likely to practice open defecation which

substantially increases community risks of oral-fecal route disease

Demolition and construction can produce dust and noise and disturb neighbors

3. Increased productivity of small ruminants

Environmental impacts associated with livestock rearing can include generation of waste and

pollution of water bodies, overgrazing, and incorrect handling of animal products for the market.

When livestock product enterprises are developed, guidelines for cleaner production (CP) will be

developed for the specific enterprises to reduce waste and assure sanitation

Vaccination and other healthcare operations: Disposal sites and particularly dumps become

dangerous with needles and expired drugs are tossed in an uncontrolled manner

4. Increased marketing capacity

Three activities will be done by the project under this:

support market identification and planning for warehouse financing (or

warrantage) and provide technical support to the FAs’ business plan

development, negotiation and contracting

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

harvest management practices

provide additional training and mentoring for warehouse management

committees.

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

environment.

5. Increased access to financial services

educate Farmers Associations members on options for safe, mobile e-savings

strengthen saving groups in management, planning, record-keeping, functional literacy

and use of mobile micro-credit

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environment.

6. Increased (physical) market infrastructure

The project will simply take advantage of the extension of the mobile phone network to develop

the mobile financial system.

Then, the project activities are not anticipated to have adverse impacts on the physical, social and

biological environment.

7. Strengthen organizational capacities

- Assess Farmers Associations

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

elected leaders in Farmers Organizations


environment

8. Strengthened private extension capacity

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

business service embedded within each farmer association using existing

extension training content

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

components of the platform


environment.

9. Strengthened informal social safety nets

Assist informal social safety nets with business, operations and management planning to help

ensure sustainability and promote learning and potential replication among other groups when

promising practices are identified.

Possible negative social impacts if communities are not fully involved in the process:

- The social cohesion could be threatened if the training and principles applied are not

adapted to the culture and local traditions.

- Gender inequality could also be created if a gender assessment is not done before

introducing new concepts and new social safety nets.

10. Early warning protocols implemented by:

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- The use of ICTs to expand coverage of the existing early warning systems (EWS) in

Tahoua and Maradi regions.

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

environment.

16

3.1 POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND RECOMMENDED DETERMINATIONS INCLUDING CONDITIONS

Proposed Activities Potential Adverse Impacts Recommended Determinations Objective 1: Increase and sustain household incomes, assets, adaptive capacity and access to nutritious food IR1: Diversify economic opportunities

IR2: Intensified production and

marketing for livestock and high-

potential crops

IR2.1: Improved productivity of

agriculture productions (crops, vegetable)

Activities:

- map suppliers of equipment, tools

and other quality inputs

These activities are not anticipated to have any

adverse impacts on the physical and biological

environment.

Categorical Exclusion pursuant to 22CFR 216.2(c)(1)(i) for action not

having an effect on the environment and 22CFR 216.2(c)(2)(i) for

education, technical assistance or training programs.

- link suppliers to FAs for

collective procurement



environment.




- Development of small irrigation

activities

Using small motor pumps at

existing, shallow wells

Each pump covers a few

hectares

Several irrigation sites across

project area

Water pulled from different

sources

Irrigation schemes present several distinct

environmental risks. Stagnant water can create

breeding habit for disease vectors. Excess

withdrawals to serve the irrigation schemes can

result in insufficient water for downstream

ecosystems and users. Poorly managed irrigation

schemes can result in permanent adverse effects to

soil quality (e.g., salinization); they also pose a

high risk of contaminating shallow groundwater

and downstream surface waters with agricultural

chemicals.

Experience shows that these impacts can be

controlled with a combination of siting, design and

operating practices.

A negative determination is recommended pursuant to 22CFR

216.3(a)(3)(iii) subject to the following conditions:

Monitor closely the quantity and quality of available water and prevent

overuse of groundwater by matching the size of the irrigation system to

the availability of groundwater and to the real needs of the plots.

Monitor and mitigate the potential environmental impacts of irrigation

activities on soil quality by using efficient and adapted irrigation

technologies to the soil texture.

17

- Provide inputs (seed, fertilizers) to

women’s groups for micro-

irrigated Moringa oleifera

Misuse of fertilizers could have negative impact in

soil and water.

Non-indigenous seed or plants may overtake areas

populated by indigenous species that are better

adapted to soils, climate, and water regime in the

long term.

New pests may inadvertently be introduced.

New varieties may result in producers having no

access to seed unless purchased through corporate

representatives.



Women should be trained on agriculture best practices

incorporating and promoting sound management practices in

conformity with relevant chapters of USAID’s Sector

Environmental Guidelines at:

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

They should be also trained on Clean Production Process to

avoid misuse of fertilizers and other chemicals.

- train seed multipliers in the

legislation of seed sector

(production and purification

technique)



environment.




- train farmers on improved

production techniques

Introduction of technologies that encourage use of

fertilizers, non-adapted irrigation technics,

pesticides, and exotic seeds can result in adverse

environmental impacts:

Degradation of natural habitat.

Production of greenhouse gasses

Soil erosion

Reduction in soil fertility

Soil compaction

Reductions in surface & groundwater

quality

Non-indigenous seed or plants may overtake areas

populated by indigenous species that are better

adapted to soils, climate, and water regime in the

long term.

New pests may inadvertently be introduced.

New varieties may result in producers having no

access to seed unless purchased through corporate

representatives.



The introduction of technologies for improving agriculture production

technics will not encourage the use of fertilizers, pesticides (without an

approved PERSUAP), or non-approved or GMO seeds; also, that best

practices in the use of these inputs are promoted during introduction of

the technologies.

Directly operated demonstration activities, irrigation activities and

activities that promulgate agricultural practices must:

Establish demonstration plots in conformity with sustainable

agricultural practices.

Include environmental risk and mitigation in training and

technical assistance.

Incorporate and promote sound environmental management

practices in general conformity with relevant chapters of

USAID’s Sector Environmental Guidelines at:

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

Conform to fertilizer good environmental practices as per the

USAID/AFR Fertilizer Factsheet (available at

www.encapafrica.org/egssaa/AFR_Fertilizer__Factsheet_Jun0

4.pdf)

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


http://www.encapafrica.org/egssaa/AFR_Fertilizer__Factsheet_Jun04.pdf

http://www.encapafrica.org/egssaa/AFR_Fertilizer__Factsheet_Jun04.pdf

18

Substantially conform to good agricultural and irrigation

practices as set out in USAID’s Sector Environmental

Guidance for Irrigation and Agriculture

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

Promote long-term sustainability of water resources in balance

with community and ecosystem needs by maximizing water

use efficiency and minimizing water quality impacts from

wastewater discharges and erosion and nutrient/agrochemical

runoff.

https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1865/Safe

guarding%20the%20World's%20Water_FY14_USAID_FINA

L.pdf

Identify and promote Climate-Smart Agriculture practices

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

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

- train farmers on integrated pest

management using ICT-assisted

extension and field school

approaches

If the training contains use of pesticides, an

improper training may result in significant

environmental impact due to an improper use of

pesticides as:

- Intrinsic danger to all living creatures,

including humans

- Resistance developed by pests

- Environmental accumulation of residues


216.3(a)(3)(iii) and (§216.3(b)(l)(i) subject to the following

conditions: If the project plans the assistance for procurement or use of pesticides,

a Pesticide Evaluation Report and Safer Use Action Plan should be

prepared and submitted for USAID approval. The project is

encouraged to be part of the PERSUAP of REGIS-ER and AG in the

process of elaboration.

Reference for IPM: http://www.usaidgems.org/Sectors/ipm.htm

- Construction or repair of

warehouse

Construction projects may cause both direct and

indirect potential adverse environmental impacts


216.3(a)(3)(iii) and (§216.3(b)(l)(i) subject to the following

conditions:

1) Construction Screening must be done for each activity and

address conformance with, or variation from, each of the principal

elements within USAID’s preferred approach to construction (i.e.,

Construction Risk Mandatory Reference). These principal elements

are:

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


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



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

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

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

19

b) Engage a USAID qualified engineering when available

and where appropriate for project management;

c) Complete the engineering design by a licensed

engineering firm;

d) Integrate operations and maintenance considerations

in the project planning;

e) Use a Design-Bid-Build project delivery approach;

f) Establish appropriate minimum qualifications and

experience for construction contractors;

g) Use a firm fixed price contract for construction;

h) Put performance bonding, guarantees, and warranty

requirements in construction contract;

i) Contract an independent engineering firm for quality

assurance; and,

j) Use fully-funded contract mechanisms for construction

related activities.

2) Construction will be undertaken in a manner generally consistent

with the guidance for environmentally sound construction,

provided in the Small-Scale Construction chapter of the USAID

Sector Environmental Guidelines

(http://www.usaidgems.org/sectorGuidelines.htm). At a minimum,

(1) During construction, prevent sediment-heavy run-off from

cleared site or material stockpiles to any surface waters or fields

with berms, by covering sand/dirt piles, or by choice of location.

(Only applies if construction occurs during rainy season.); (2)

Construction must be managed so that no standing water on the

site persists more than 4 days; (3) IPs must require their general

contractor to certify that it is neither extracting fill, sand, or gravel

from waterways or ecologically sensitive areas, nor is it knowingly

purchasing these materials from vendors who do so; and (4) IPs

must identify and implement any feasible measures to increase


20

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

sources.

IR2.2: Increased productivity of small

ruminants

Activities:

- train Association leaders on the

animal-fattening business plan



environment.




- link animal fatteners with quality

live animals



environment.




- improve animal husbandry and

animal health

Environmental impacts associated with livestock

rearing can include generation of waste and

pollution of water bodies, overgrazing, and

incorrect handling of animal products for the

market.



Animal fattening: feed management and pasture improvement,

growing nutrient-rich crops just for animals, and storing fodder and hay

for dry season use

Storage units: constructed in a safe and site-adapted manner.

Production of livestock-based goods to be sold in public markets:

follow health and hygiene practices and guidelines for disposal of

waste and use of chemicals (found in USAID EGSSAA

documentation, specifically Livestock Production, Leather Processing,

and Food Processing)

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

Animal health activities (vaccinations): guidelines in EGSSAA

Livestock Production and Medical Waste documentation

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

- contract with Ministry of

Livestock to provide technical

Training farmers in animal health can include

generation of waste. If these wastes are not

properly managed they could have negative





21

assistance and training to farmers

in animal health and animal care

technics

impacts in environment and human health Farmers should be trained in Environmental Sound management

practices of medical wastes and environmentally sound best practices

on animal care

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

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

- equip Producers Enterprise

Agents (PEAs) with basic

supplies and will provide village-

level technical support on animal

care, feeding practices and disease

recognition

Mismanagement of veterinary wastes (syringes,

nodules …) could be harmful to human and

environment.



PEAs should be trained in Environmental Sound management practices

of medical wastes before receiving veterinary equipment.

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

They should also be trained on best management of livestock projects:

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

IR2.3: Increased marketing capacity

Activities:

- support market identification and

planning for warehouse financing (or

warrantage) and provide technical

support to the FAs’ business plan

development, negotiation and contracting



environment.




- provide technical support and training to

men and women producers on post-harvest

management practices



environment.








22

- provide additional training and mentoring

for warehouse management committees.



environment.




IR3: Increased access to financial

services

Activities:

- educate of Farmers Associations

members on options for safe,

mobile e-savings



environment.




- strengthen saving groups in

management, planning, record-

keeping, functional literacy and

use of mobile micro-credit



environment.




- Facilitate access to finance with

through partners Bank (Ecobank)



USAID, including the MEO and REO, will evaluate the financial

Institution’s environmental policies for sufficiency to ensure

compliance with the environmental provisions of the standard language

in the Guarantee Agreement.

The partner financial institution will determine, assess and manage

environmental and social risk in project finance. It is primarily

intended to provide a minimum standard for due diligence to support

responsible risk decision-making.

The USAID Sector Environmental Guidelines for Micro and Small

Enterprises (http://www.usaidgems.org/sectorGuidelines.htm) and the

Environmental Guidelines for Small Scale Activities in Africa

(http://www.encapafrica.org/egssaa.htm), specifically Section I on


23

Agriculture and Irrigation, and Section XI Livestock production, will

inform compliance with these conditions, and should be considered for

use in training of the lender (Guaranteed Party) and appropriate parties.

Also, principals of Equator Protocol should be followed:

http://www.equator-

principles.com/resources/equator_principles_III.pdf

IR4: Increased (physical) market

infrastructure

Activities

- Increase mobile coverage to underserved

communities in the project zone to enable

ICT-assisted activities (activity planned by

the Telephone Company)



environment.




Objective 2: Strengthen the organizational capacity, integration and sustainability of farmer associations to help households manage

risk and leverage opportunities IR 1: Strengthened organizational,

technical and management capacity

IR1.1: Strengthen organizational capacities

Activities

- Assess Farmers Associations



environment.




- Provide training, technical support

and mentoring for men and

women members and elected

leaders in Farmers Organizations



environment.




http://www.equator/

24

IR 1.2: Strengthened private extension

capacity

Activities:

- Enable private extension capacity

via Private Enterprise Agents as a

sustainable business service

embedded within each farmer

association using existing

extension training content



environment.




- work with Airtel and IT service

providers to design, reconfigure or

adapt components of the platform



environment.




IR 2: Strengthened disaster risk

management capacity

IR 2.1: Strengthened informal social safety

nets

Activities: - Assist informal social safety nets

with business, operations and

management planning to help

ensure sustainability and promote

learning and potential replication

among other groups when

Possible negative social impacts:

- The social cohesion could be threatened if

the training and principles applied are not

adapted to the culture and local traditions.



- Communities should be involved in the process

- consider of feasible environmentally and socially preferable

credit and loan options

25

promising practices are identified.

IR 2.2: Early warning protocols

implemented

- use of ICTs to expand coverage of

the early warning systems (EWS)

in Tahoua and Maradi regions



environment.




26

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

ACTIVITY CRM TOOL OUTPUT MATRIX: CLIMATE RISKS, OPPORTUNITIES, AND ACTIONS

* = A required element, per the Mandatory Reference # Project elements may include Purpose / Sub-purpose, Areas of Focus, or Activities / Mechanisms, etc.

1.1:

Defined or

Anticipated

Tasks or

Interventions*

1.2:

Time-

frame

1.3:

Geo-

graphy

2:

Climate Risks*

3:

Adaptive

Capacity

4:

Climate

Risk

Rating*

5: Opportunities

6.1:

Climate Risk

Management

Options

6.2:

How Climate

Risks Are

Addressed in

the Activity*

7:

Next Steps for

Activity

Implementation*

8:

Accepted

Climate

Risks*

Construction

of a new

warehouse,

and

rehabilitation

of existing

warehouses

The

planned

life of the

building.

Likely at

least 30

years and

potentially

much

more.

New

warehouse:

Lléla

Rehab of

existing

warehouse:

Dakoro

Temperature

Temperatures in

West Africa

Sahel are

expected to

increase by 3-6°

C by 2100

(Climate

Change Risk

Profile: West

Africa Sahel

climatelinks.org) Increased

temperatures

could lead to:

Increased cost of

cooling

Deterioration of

construction

materials due to

thermal stress.

Both surface and

groundwater

decreased

availability due

Capacity to build

on:

Government:

The Government

of Niger has a “3N

initiative” known

as “Nigeriens feed

Nigeriens”; this

initiative is aimed

at improving food

and nutritional

security while

promoting

sustainable

agriculture.

Plans and

Strategies:

There are several

climate related

projects and plans,

including a Food

Security and

Development

Support Project in

the Maradi Region,

and a USAID

High

Use the most up-

to-date

information

about how the

climate is

changing over

the long-term to

make

construction site

decisions.

Use locally

sourced material

that can

withstand local

climate

conditions now

an in the future.

Use

recommendations

from design

firms about

disaster risk

reduction.

Consider how

flooding at local

sites has

historically

Conduct

Construction

Risk Screening.

Follow good

practice and

design standards

for water and

sanitation,

consider future

climate impacts,

such as increased

temperatures and

increases

intensity of

storms, when

designing water

and sanitation.

Include CRM in

Environmental

Compliance

documents and

implement the

projects EMMP.

Ensure

construction

firms are aware

of climate risk

Engineer-of-

record will

include CRM

as part of

engineering

design.

Construction

will follow

engineering

design.

Follow good

practice and

design

standards for

water and

sanitation,

consider future

climate

impacts, such

as increased

temperatures

and increases

intensity of

storms, when

designing

water and

sanitation.

Ensure engineering

design contract

includes the

following

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

None

27

1.1:

Defined or

Anticipated

Tasks or

Interventions*

1.2:

Time-

frame

1.3:

Geo-

graphy

2:

Climate Risks*

3:

Adaptive

Capacity

4:

Climate

Risk

Rating*

5: Opportunities

6.1:

Climate Risk

Management

Options

6.2:

How Climate

Risks Are

Addressed in

the Activity*

7:

Next Steps for

Activity

Implementation*

8:

Accepted

Climate

Risks*

to

evapotranspirati

on, this could

especially

impact kitchen,

borehole, and

laboratory

construction and

function.

Increased stress

and demands on

water resources,

including

potable water,

because of

demands from

other sectors,

mainly

agriculture.

report: Climate

Change and

Conflict in the

Sahel: Findings

from Niger And

Burkina Faso

(March 2014;

http://www.fess-

global.org/Publicat

ions/Other/FESS%

20Sahel_Case_Stu

dy.pdf).

Gaps in Capacity

There is a lack of

weather and

climate related

monitoring

stations.

There is a need to

include climate

change

information and

adaptation

techniques across

national strategic

planning, including

for education and

construction.

There is a need for

skills and

resources at the

local level to

prepare for future

climate change.

impacted access

to services.

prior to

construction, and

follow practices

that are suitable

for local weather

and climate

conditions.

Meet minimum

Disaster Risk

Reduction

standards in

terms of

structural

integrity,

particularly

considering

future climate

projects.

Evaluate sites for

potential

flooding and

water issues due

to droughts.

Continue to

build climate

awareness and

local capacity to

adapt to climate

change.

Consider water

availability, and

future use,

during site

selection.

Include CRM

in

Environmental

Compliance

documents and

implement the

projects

EMMP.

Ensure

construction

firms are aware

of climate risk

prior to

construction,

and follow

practices that

are suitable for

local weather

and climate

conditions.

Meet minimum

Disaster Risk

Reduction

standards in

terms of

structural

integrity,

particularly

considering

future climate

projects.

Continue to

build climate

awareness and

local capacity

to adapt to

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

Design will

include, amongst

other things: 1)

evaluation of sites

for potential

flooding, water

issues due to

droughts and

increased

temperatures, 2)

analysis of how

climate change

will impact

construction

design, including

material selection,

and long-term use

of buildings.

28

1.1:

Defined or

Anticipated

Tasks or

Interventions*

1.2:

Time-

frame

1.3:

Geo-

graphy

2:

Climate Risks*

3:

Adaptive

Capacity

4:

Climate

Risk

Rating*

5: Opportunities

6.1:

Climate Risk

Management

Options

6.2:

How Climate

Risks Are

Addressed in

the Activity*

7:

Next Steps for

Activity

Implementation*

8:

Accepted

Climate

Risks*

There is an overall

lack of funding in

the government to

address national

climate change

priorities.

climate change.

Consider water

availability,

and future use,

during site

selection.

Rainfall and

extreme

weather and

climate

Niger is likely to

experience a

later beginning

and earlier end

to the rainy

High

See above See above Changes in

food and

water

security, as

well as

health, due

to climate

change

impacts

throughout

29

1.1:

Defined or

Anticipated

Tasks or

Interventions*

1.2:

Time-

frame

1.3:

Geo-

graphy

2:

Climate Risks*

3:

Adaptive

Capacity

4:

Climate

Risk

Rating*

5: Opportunities

6.1:

Climate Risk

Management

Options

6.2:

How Climate

Risks Are

Addressed in

the Activity*

7:

Next Steps for

Activity

Implementation*

8:

Accepted

Climate

Risks*

season. In

addition,

rainfall events

are likely to be

more severe, but

less frequent.

Increased

number dry and

hotter days

could lead to

increased

drought.

Potential

impacts include:

Building

functions and

services, such as

providing water,

getting rid of

waste, or food

storage,

disrupted due to

flooding and

heat waves.

Ground and

surface water

availability and

quality

decreased during

droughts and

floods.

Increased

damage to

building

infrastructure

due to flooding.

Niger.

30

1.1:

Defined or

Anticipated

Tasks or

Interventions*

1.2:

Time-

frame

1.3:

Geo-

graphy

2:

Climate Risks*

3:

Adaptive

Capacity

4:

Climate

Risk

Rating*

5: Opportunities

6.1:

Climate Risk

Management

Options

6.2:

How Climate

Risks Are

Addressed in

the Activity*

7:

Next Steps for

Activity

Implementation*

8:

Accepted

Climate

Risks*

Lack of drainage

for

infrastructure, or

building sites, in

extreme

flooding events.

Changes in food

and water

security, as well

as health, due to

climate change

impacts

throughout

Niger.

31

4. RESTRICTION, IMPLEMENTATION, AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS

4.1.GENERAL RESTRICTIONS: PESTICIDES

This IEE does NOT authorize support for pesticides, including their procurement, use, transport,

storage or disposal. Any pesticide activity proposed under this program would necessitate an

amended IEE, including all elements of analysis required by 22CFR216.3 (b) under USAID

Pesticide Procedures.

4.2. GENERAL PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION AND MONITORING

REQUIREMENTS

In addition to the specific conditions enumerated in the table above, the negative determination

with conditions recommended in this IEE are contingent upon full implementation of the

following general monitoring and implementation requirements.

In addition:

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

this IEE; the IP shall be briefed on its environmental compliance responsibilities by the

cognizant C/AOR. During this briefing, the IEE conditions applicable to the IP’s

activities will be identified.

2. Development of EMMP. The IP shall develop and provide for C/AOR review and

approval an Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plan (EMMP) documenting how

the project will implement and verify all IEE conditions that apply to its activities.

This EMMP shall identify how the IP shall assure that IEE conditions that apply to

activities supported under subcontracts and sub-grants are implemented. (In the case of

large sub-grants or subcontracts, the IP may elect to require the sub-grantee/subcontractor

to develop their own EMMP.)

(Note: The AFR EMMP Factsheet provides EMMP guidance and sample EMMP

formats: http://www.usaidgems.org/Documents/lopDocs/ENCAP_EMMP_Factsheet_22Jul2011.pdf )

3. Integration and implementation of EMMP. The IP shall integrate the EMMP into the

project work plan and budget, implement the EMMP, and report on its implementation as

an element of regular project performance reporting.

The IP shall assure that subcontractors and subgrantees integrate implementation of IEE

conditions, where applicable, into their own project work plans and budgets and report on

their implementation as an element of sub-contract or grant performance reporting.

4. The cognizant USAID team will also ensure that provisions of the IEE concerning

mitigative measures and the conditions specified herein along with the requirement to

monitor be incorporated in all implementation instruments and sub-agreements issued

under these instruments. IP shall assure that sub-contracts and sub-grant agreements

reference, and require compliance with, relevant elements of these conditions.

http://www.usaidgems.org/Documents/lopDocs/ENCAP_EMMP_Factsheet_22Jul2011.pdf

32

Any grants or fund transfers from organizations receiving USAID funds to other

organizations must incorporate provisions that the activities to be undertaken will be

within the scope of the environmental determinations and recommendations of this IEE.

If any ongoing activities fall outside the scope of the approved Regulation 216

environmental documentation, the activities shall be halted until an amendment to the

documentation is submitted and written approval is received from USAID.

Grant proposals will be evaluated using the Environmental Review Form (ERF) see

annex 1. An ERF and EMMP will be completed by the implementing partner and

approved by the A/COR before any commitment of resources to the interventions in

question. Any mitigation measures or design conditions specified by the approved ERF

must be implemented by the partner/grantee; these measures and conditions will be

informed by and substantially conform to best practices outlined in the USAID‘s Sector

Environmental Guidelines available at http://usaidgems.org/sectorGuidelines.htm .

5. Assurance of sub-grantee and sub-contractor capacity and compliance. IPs shall assure

that sub-grantees and subcontractors have the capability to implement the relevant

requirements of this IEE. The IP shall, as and if appropriate, provide training to sub-

grantees and subcontractors in their environmental compliance responsibilities and in

environmentally sound design and management (ESDM) of their activities.

As required by ADS 204.5.4, the USAID team must actively monitor activities for

compliance with approved IEE conditions for implementation, and modify or end

activities that are not in compliance.

6. Private sector partners (Ecobank, Airtel, Société Henri Biaugeaud, Margaret A. Cargill

Foundation, Ron Frehner and Deb Murray) shall provide for review by USAID/Senegal’s

Mission Environmental Officer (MEO) and the Regional Environmental Officer (REO) a

copy of their environmental policies and procedures as a condition precedent to this

Guarantee Agreement and ensure compliance with Niger environmental law and the

environmental conditions of the agreement, as required under the agreement.

7. If USAID or the Implementing Partners plan any new activities or substantial

modifications to existing activities outside the scope of the approved Regulation 216

environmental documentation, an amendment shall be prepared to the documentation for

USAID review and approval. No such new activities shall be undertaken prior to

receiving written USAID approval of environmental documentation amendments. The

conditions in this section shall be incorporated into the contract language for each

mechanism working under the project. The management team should consult the paper

“Environmental Compliance: Language for use in solicitations and awards” for

guidance.

8. Nothing in this IEE substitutes for or supersedes IP, sub-grantee and subcontractor

responsibility for compliance with all applicable host country laws and regulations. The

IP, sub-grantees and subcontractor must comply with host country environmental

http://www.encapafrica.org/

33

regulations unless otherwise directed in writing by USAID. However, in case of conflict

between host country and USAID regulations, the latter shall govern.

9. If activities are carried out in areas of the country that USAID staff cannot visit because

of security concerns, every effort will be made to provide acceptable monitoring and

evaluation for environmental compliance. An appropriate plan for monitoring and

evaluation will be agreed upon by the A/COR and the Mission Environmental Officer

before implementation of activities in insecure areas or within a reasonable amount of

time in areas where activities are already being implemented.

ANNEX 1:

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

A. Applicant information

Organization Parent grant or project

34

Individual contact

and title

Address, phone &

email (if available)

Proposed subproject

/subgrant

(brief description)

Amount of funding

requested

Period of performance

Location(s) of proposed

activities

B. Activities, screening results, and findings

Screening result

(Step 3 of instructions)

Findings

(Step 6 of instructions. Complete for all

moderate/unknown and high-risk

activities ONLY)

Proposed activities

(Provide DESCRIPTIVE listing.

Continue on additional page if necessary)

Ver

y L

ow

Ris

k

Hig

h-R

isk

*

Mod

erat

e or

un

kno

wn

ris

k*

sig

nif

ican

t ad

ver

se

imp

acts

are

ver

y

un

lik

ely

Wit

h s

pec

ifie

d

mit

igat

ion

,

sig

nif

ican

t ad

ver

se

imp

acts

are

ver

y

un

lik

ely

Sig

nif

ican

t

Ad

ver

se i

mp

acts

are

po

ssib

le

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

*These screening results require completion of an Environmental Review Report

35

C. Certification:

I, the undersigned, certify that:

1. The information on this form and accompanying environmental review report (if any) is correct and complete.

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

3. All mitigation and monitoring measures specified in the Environmental Review Report will be implemented in

their entirety, and that staff charged with this implementation will have the authority, capacity and knowledge

for successful implementation.

(Signature) (Date)

(Print name) (Title)

Note: if screening results for any activity are “high risk” or “moderate or unknown risk,” this

form is not complete unless accompanied by an environmental review report.

BELOW THIS LINE FOR USAID USE ONLY

Notes: 1. For clearance to be granted, the activity MUST be within the scope of the activities for which use of the ERF is authorized in the

governing IEE. Review IEE before signature. If activities are outside this scope, deny clearance and provide explanation in comments

section. The Partner, C/AOTR, MEO and REA must then confer regarding next steps: activity re-design, an IEE or EA.

2. Clearing an ERF containing one or more findings that significant adverse impacts are possible indicates agreement with the analysis

and findings. It does NOT authorize activities for which “significant adverse impacts are possible” to go forward. It DOES authorize

other activities to go forward. The Partner, C/AOTR, MEO and REA must then confer regarding next steps: activity re-design, an IEE or

EA.

Clearance record

C/AOTR

Clearance given

Clearance denied

(print name) (signature) (date)

USAID/Senegal MEO

Clearance given

Clearance denied


Regional Env. Advisor (REA)

Clearance given

Clearance denied


C/AOTR, MEO and REA clearance is required. BEO clearance is required for all “high risk” screening results and for findings of

“significant adverse impacts possible. The BEO may review”

Note: if clearance is denied, comments must be provided to applicant

(use space below & attach sheets if necessary)

36

Supplement to the Environmental Review Form

for Natural Resources Activities Additional Screening Criteria for Democracy, Human Rights, and

Governance Project –Senegal

Purpose

This is a supplement to the “Instructions for environmental review of Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance

Project activities.” It is to be used for natural resources-based activities, including:

Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM)

Ecotourism

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

This supplement provides additional questions to ascertain whether these proposed activities should be categorized

as “very low risk:”

If the answers to ALL the questions that follow are “NO,” then the proposed natural resource-based activity

is considered “very low risk.”

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

Screening criteria

Will the activities… YES NO

Natural Resources

Accelerate erosion by water or wind?

Reduce soil fertility and/or permeability?

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

Potentially contaminate surface water and groundwater supplies?

Involve the extraction of renewable natural resources?

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

Involve the extraction of non-renewable natural resources?

Restrict customary access to natural resources?

Reduce local air quality through generating dust, burning of wastes or using fossil fuels and other

materials in improperly ventilated areas?

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

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

Ecosystems and Biodiversity

Drain wetlands, or be sited on floodplains?

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

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

Promote in-forest bee keeping?

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

Increase the risks to endangered or threatened species?

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

37

Will the activities… YES NO

Lead to road construction or rehabilitation, or otherwise facilitate access to fragile areas (natural

woodlands, wetlands, erosion-prone areas)?

Cause disruption of wildlife migratory routes?

Agricultural and Forestry Production

Have an impact on existing or traditional agricultural production systems by reducing seed

availability or reallocating land for other purposes?

Lead to forest plantation harvesting without replanting, the burning of pastureland, or a reduction

in fallow periods?

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

of pests?

Affect domestic livestock by reducing grazing areas, or creating conditions where livestock

disease problems could be exacerbated?

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

Community and Social Issues

Have a negative impact on potable water supplies?

Encourage domestic animal migration through natural areas?

Change the existing land tenure system?

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

Increase in-migration to the area?

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

Lead to the generation of non-biodegradable waste?

Involve the relocation of the local community?

Potentially cause or aggravate land-use conflicts?