project/activity data · web viewagribusiness enterprises, particularly agricultural processing,...

INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATIONPROJECT/ACTIVITY DATAProject/Activity Name: Feed the Future and Water, Sanitation and

Hygiene (WASH) portfoliosGeographic Location(s) (Country/Region):

Zambia / Southern Africa

Amendment (Yes/No), if Yes indicate # (1, 2...):

No

Implementation Start/End Date (FY or M/D/Y):

2020 - 2026

If Amended, specify New End Date:Solicitation/Contract/Award Number: MultipleImplementing Partner(s): MultipleBureau Tracking ID: Zambia FtF & WASH IEE

https://ecd.usaid.gov/document.php?doc_id=52572

Tracking ID of Related RCE/IEE (if any):Tracking ID of Other, Related Analyses:

Zambia Mission-Wide PERSUAPhttps://ecd.usaid.gov/repository/pdf/51808.pdfEconomic Development (EDEV) Portfolio (611-DO2-2): https://ecd.usaid.gov/repository/pdf/44571.pdfAgriculture SME Development Credit Authority (Ag DCA) Loan Portfolio Guarantee -- ZANACO DCA Agreement: https://ecd.usaid.gov/repository/pdf/45151.pdf

ORGANIZATIONAL/ADMINISTRATIVE DATAImplementing Operating Unit(s): (e.g. Mission or Bureau or Office)

USAID/Zambia

Other Affected Operating Unit(s):

USAID|ZAMBIA FEED THE FUTURE AND WATER, SANITATION AND HYGIENE (WASH) PORTFOLIO 1

https://ecd.usaid.gov/repository/pdf/45151.pdf





Lead BEO Bureau: AFR BEOFunding Account(s) (if available): MultipleOriginal Funding Amount: $180 million If Amended, specify funding amount: If Amended, specify new funding total:Prepared by: Mlotha Damaseke – Agriculture Specialist

Mundia Matongo - WASH AdvisorDate Prepared: January 2020

ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE REVIEW DATAAnalysis Type: Environmental

ExaminationDeferral

Environmental Determination(s): Categorical Exclusion(s)NegativePositiveDeferred (per 22 CFR 216.3(a)(7)(iv)

IEE Expiration Date (if applicable) :Additional Analyses/Reporting Required:

PERSUAP, EMMPs, WQAP reports and EPB report

Climate Risks Identified (#): Low ___7___ Moderate ___9___ High ___1___Climate Risks Addressed (#): Low ___1___ Moderate ___9___ High ___1___


C:\\Users\\jploetz\\Desktop\\CCG_Global_Development\\GEMS II\\TEMPLATES\\templateedits\\EC_Template_IEE_v4.0_Feb2019.docx

THRESHOLD DETERMINATION AND SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

PROJECT/ACTIVITY SUMMARY The purpose of this Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) in accordance with 22 CFR 216, is to provide an initial review of the reasonably foreseeable effects on the environment, as well as to provide threshold determinations of environmental impacts and conditions for risk mitigation for activities under USAID/Zambia Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS). The Portfolio will however have an increased focus on private sector engagement and building partnerships for improved natural resource management in support of Zambia’s Journey to Self-Reliance.

ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATIONS Upon approval of this document, the determinations become affirmed, per Agency regulations (22CFR216). Drawn from tables in Section 4 of this IEE, the following table summarizes the recommended environmental determinations applicable to the specific projects and the 6 intervention categories identified in section 1.3.

TABLE 1: ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATIONSProjects/Activities Categorical

Exclusion Citation (if applicable)

Negative Determination

Positive Determination1

Deferral2

Enterprise Development Growth Enhanced Enhancing Natural Resources, Agri-business, Land and Environment Partnerships

216.2(c)(2)(iii)

Feed the Future Zambia Policy Strengthening Project

216.2(c)(2)(iii)

Zambia Trade Facilitation Support Program

216.2(c)(2)(xiv)

Mawa WASH – Health and Nutrition Status

1 Positive Determinations require preparation of a Scoping Statement and Environmental Assessment.2 Deferrals must be cleared through an Amendment to this IEE prior to implementation of any deferred activities.


Improved DCA ZanacoDCA MadisonSUN TASUN LE 216.2(c)(2)(iii)New WASH Activity


CLIMATE RISK MANAGEMENT The purpose of this Climate Risk Management screening is to identify climate related risks associated with ongoing and planned activities and interventions under USAID/Zambia CDCS Document. The project is very sensitive to climate vulnerabilities as it involves some aspects of agricultural production and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services delivery. Both agricultural productivity and WASH services delivery are sensitive to changes in rainfall and temperature and contribute to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Among the measures to address climate change risks are inclusion in design, design and workplans of measures to address climate change, studies to further understand climate change and its impacts. Further, climate smart crop and livestock production, irrigation, climate information and early warning systems and insurance. Other measures are raising awareness on the risks associated with groundwater depletion and pollution, and integrated water resources management.

All construction activities that require an engineer or design firm, or a Mission engineer, will go through a process of climate risk management screening that is approved by the corresponding construction or design firm, or Mission engineer.

BEO SPECIFIED CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL

1. Reporting Conditions: As is becoming standard throughout the region, the AFR BEO requests that the activity managers/AORs/CORs provide access to the Regional Environmental Advisor (REA) and to the AFR BEO Team to review (not approve) the Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plans/Reports (EMMPs/EMMRs) that will be written to implement the findings of this IEE. These should be uploaded into the appropriate sub-folder(s) of this Google Drive folder: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1q7HGMzgopJ-MuKxkQEJ4GSPp9R7Qzv-5?usp=sharing. This will facilitate access by all parties who need these documents, including the Mission Environmental Officer and the AOR/COR. This will allow the REA and the BEO Team to spot-check and review these documents to confirm that the mitigations seem appropriate and are cognizant of the specific design of the activities.

The negative determinations recommended in this IEE are contingent on full implementation of specified conditions and a set of general monitoring and implementation requirements specified in this “BEO Conditions” section as well as Section 5 of the IEE. Some specific conditions to highlight include:

New activities and those revised to incorporate a change in scope or nature will require an IEE amendment to identify and address potential environmental impacts. This condition is mentioned again in Section 7 of this IEE.

As there are WASH activities covered under this IEE, the AFR BEO requires that a water quality assurance plan (WQAP) is prepared according to the WQAP Template


(https://www.usaid.gov/environmental-procedures/environmental-compliance-esdm-program-cycle/special-compliance-topics/water): o Complete a WQAP for WASH-related activities under this IEE, and request and

receive AFR BEO review and approval of WQAP.o Clearly link the WQAP to this IEE o The review results should be written and on record in the Signing Statement of

the WQAP.

IMPLEMENTATIONIn accordance with 22CFR216 and Agency policy, the conditions and requirements of this document become mandatory upon approval. This includes the relevant limitations, conditions and requirements in this document as stated in Sections 3, 4, and 5 of the IEE and any BEO Specified Conditions of Approval.

In accordance with 22 CFR 216 and Agency policy, the conditions and requirements of this document become mandatory upon approval. This includes the relevant limitations, conditions and requirements in this document as stated in Sections 3, 4, and 5 of the IEE and any BEO Specified Conditions of Approval.


USAID APPROVAL OF INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATIONPROJECT/ACTIVITY NAME: __ Feed the Future and WASH ___________________________

Bureau Tracking ID: https://ecd.usaid.gov/document.php?doc_id=52572

Approval: __________________________________________________ Sheryl Stumbras, USAID/Zambia Director

___________Date

Concurrence:

__________________________________________________Brian Hirsch, USAID/Africa Bureau Environmental Officer

___________Date

Clearance: __________________________________________________Adam Norikane, USAID/Zambia Economic Development Office Director

___________Date

Clearance: __________________________________________________Zdenek Suda, USAID/Zambia Supervisory Program Officer

___________Date

Clearance: __________________________________________________Mark Hyland, USAID/Zambia Resident Legal Officer

___________Date

Clearance: __________________________________________________Mohib Ahmed, USAID/Zambia Supervisory Contracting Officer

___________Date

Clearance: __________________________________________________Thomas Crubaugh, USAID/Zambia Deputy Director

___________Date

Clearance: __________________________________________________Jeanette Normand, Regional Environmental Advisor

___________Date

Clearance: __________________________________________________Colin Quinn, Agency Climate Integration Lead

_____________Date



INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION

ContentsTHRESHOLD DETERMINATION AND SUMMARY OF FINDINGS...............................3

PROJECT/ACTIVITY SUMMARY 3

ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATIONS..............................................................................3CLIMATE RISK MANAGEMENT 4

IMPLEMENTATION 5

USAID APPROVAL OF INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION..........................61.0 PROJECT/ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION..............................................................................8

1.1 PURPOSE OF THE IEE 8

1.2 PROJECT/ACTIVITY OVERVIEW 8

1.3 PROJECT/ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION 8

2.0 BASELINE ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION.......................................................142.1 LOCATIONS AFFECTED AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTEXT (ENVIRONMENT, PHYSICAL, CLIMATE, SOCIAL, THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES) 14

2.2 APPLICABLE AND APPROPRIATE PARTNER COUNTRY AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS (E.G. WHO), ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL LAWS, POLICIES, AND REGULATIONS 15

3.0 ANALYSIS OF POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL RISK............................................214.0 ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATIONS.....................................................................294.1 RECOMMENDED ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATIONS...................................294.2 CLIMATE RISK MANAGEMENT...................................................................................305.0 CONDITIONS AND MITIGATION MEASURES.........................................................315.1 CONDITIONS....................................................................................................................315.2 AGENCY CONDITIONS..................................................................................................335.3 MITIGATION MEASURES.............................................................................................346.0 LIMITATIONS OF THIS INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION............447.0 REVISIONS....................................................................................................................44ATTACHMENTS:.....................................................................................................................45


1.0 PROJECT/ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION

1.1 PURPOSE OF THE IEE The purpose of this document, in accordance with Title 22, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 216 (22CFR216), is to provide a preliminary review of the reasonably foreseeable effects on the environment of the USAID intervention described herein and recommend determinations and, as appropriate, conditions, for these activities. Upon approval, these determinations become affirmed, per 22CFR216 and specified conditions become mandatory obligations of implementation. This IEE also documents the results of the project/activity level Climate Risk Management process in accordance with USAID policy (specifically, ADS 201mal).

The purpose of this IEE is to cover existing and new activities, and to provide geographic coverage for the activities. This IEE only covers Feed the Future (FTF) and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) activities and from the date it is approved up to November 2026.

This IEE is a critical element of USAID’s mandatory environmental review and compliance process meant to achieve environmentally sound activity design and implementation. Potential environmental impacts should be addressed through formal Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plans (EMMPs) and/or Environmental Assessments (EAs), if needed.

1.2 PROJECT/ACTIVITY OVERVIEW FTF and WASH contribute to Development Objective (DO)2 and DO3, respectively, of the Country Development Cooperation Strategy by furthering the Intermediate Result (IR)2.1 focusing on reducing policy barriers to rural investment and trade; and IR2.2 increasing rural enterprise investment capacity to advance Zambia’s self-reliance. In addition, it supports IR3.1 Utilization of quality health, water and sanitation services and prevention practices increased and IR3.2 Health, water and sanitation systems’ effectiveness, capacity and sustainability strengthened.

Resources for the project come primarily from FTF and WASH. FTF seeks to promote inclusive and sustainable agricultural–led economic growth, strengthened resilience among people and systems, and a well-nourished population especially among women and children. WASH seeks to increase the availability and sustainable management of safe water and sanitation for the underserved and most vulnerable.


The purpose of this IEE is to provide the necessary environmental review and documentation to permit the implementation of Feed the Future and WASH activities.

1.3 PROJECT/ACTIVITY DESCRIPTIONActivities that have been covered under this IEE include: Enterprise Development Growth Enhanced; Enhancing Natural Resources, Agri-businesses, Land and Environment Partnerships (ENABLE); Feed the Future Zambia Policy Strengthening Activity; Zambia Trade Facilitation Support Program; Mawa WASH – Health and Nutrition Status Improved; DCA ZANACO; DCA Madison; Scaling Up Nutrition Technical Assistance; Scaling Up Nutrition Learning and Evaluation activities, and; a planned WASH activity.

TABLE 2: DEFINED OR ILLUSTRATIVE PROJECTS/ACTIVITIES AND SUB-ACTIVITIESActivity 1 — Enterprise Development Growth Enhanced (EDGE)The Enterprise Development Growth Enhanced (EDGE) Activity contributes to USAID/Zambia FTF goals of sustainably reducing global hunger, malnutrition, and poverty through inclusive and sustainable agricultural-led economic growth, strengthened resilience among people and systems and a well-nourished population, especially among women and children.

The EDGE activity will promote rural enterprise particularly facilitating access to finance, providing training to improve business management skills and facilitating access to markets for selected value chains. The implementation of these activities is expected to contribute to rural poverty reduction. The project will focus on Eastern Province and peri-urban Lusaka which has been FTF’s zone of influence in the past. This activity will build and expand FTF’s successful models including the facilitation of access to financing for agribusinesses, agricultural producers and agricultural cooperatives. Activity 2 — Enhancing Natural Resources, Agri-Businesses, Land and Environment Partnerships (ENABLE)

The purpose of USAID’s Enhancing Natural Resources, Agri-Businesses, Land and Environment Partnerships (ENABLE) Activity is to contribute to improved architecture for policy formulation and implementation in order to increase private sector investments in agriculture and tourism. The activity will focus on creating an enabling environment for private sector investment by introducing reforms to legal frameworks and regulations that impinge upon investment decisions including commercial codes, labor market concerns, land ownership and use and taxation measures specific to livestock, crops and aquaculture. Activity 3 — Feed the Future Zambia Policy Strengthening Project


The Feed the Future Zambia Policy Strengthening Project tackles rural poverty and hunger through sound research, policy analysis, outreach, and capacity building. The project builds on the prior work of USAID’s Food Security Research Project through the Zambia Indaba Agricultural Policy Research Institute (IAPRI), a Zambia-based think tank dedicated to agricultural policy research and advocacy.The activity enables IAPRI to contribute evidence-based recommendations that facilitate the growth of the agricultural sector and contribute to sustainable environmental management.Activity 4 - Zambia Trade Facilitation Support Program The scope of this activity is to enhance the Zambian Government’s efforts to implement the World Trade Organization Trade Facilitation Agreement (WTO-TFA). The objective of this project is to improve Zambia’s trade facilitation and border management procedures, which will expedite the movement, release and clearance of goods by aligning its trade procedures with selected measures of the WTO TFA. It will also improve transparency by supporting the strengthening of entry points for trade related information, as well as strengthening Private Public Dialogue mechanisms to support private sector consultation and dialogue with trade-related agencies. It is expected that the time taken to import goods will be reduced as a result of a more streamlined processing environment, enhanced risk management and post clearance audit procedures. The interventions of this activity are in the form of technical assistance provided through trainings to the trade related agencies of the Government of Zambia and private sector organizations and are not expected to have environmental impact.Activity 5 – Mawa WASH – Health and Nutrition Status ImprovedMawa WASH is an activity to sustain the improvements in health and nutrition status of the people in Mawa villages in Chipata and Lundazi districts by improving access to good and safe drinking water, hygiene and sanitation. The project is an extension of the initial five (5) years Feed-the-Future agricultural, nutrition, economic strengthening and gender integration project. With this modification, CRS and sub-recipient Caritas Chipata will construct new water points, rehabilitate and repair broken down boreholes, promote positive sanitation and hygiene practices through the CLTS approach and protect the watershed and environment in Lundazi and Chipata districts in the Eastern Province of Zambia.

Mawa WASH Mawa project aims to sustain the improvements in health and nutrition status of the people in targeted villages in Chipata and Lundazi districts by improving access to good and safe drinking water, hygiene and sanitation. Activity 6 – DCA ZANACO


Agricultural development is often limited by access to credit. This activity is used to develop a Development Credit Authority (DCA) guarantee with a Zambian financial institution to promote sustainable access to capital for agricultural sector activities by buying down the risk of the financial institution through a guarantee. It is likely that this guarantee will work in conjunction with the Zambian agricultural commodity exchange (ZAMACE) to deepen the market capital for traders buying crops from smallholder farmers, thus strengthening the commodity exchange itself, as well as the agricultural value chain as a whole.

The Development Credit Authority (DCA) loan guarantee financing with Zambia National Commercial Bank Plc. (“ZANACO”) to support loans to the agriculture sector, including the construction of agricultural warehouses by agribusinesses or third-party players. Activity 7 – DCA Madison Agricultural development is often limited by access to credit. This activity is used to develop a new Development Credit Authority (DCA) guarantee with a Zambian financial institution to promote sustainable access to capital for the agricultural and energy sectors. Supports Zambian farmers and small businesses purchase and utilize renewable energy technologies such as biodigesters, solar pumping and irrigation kits and solar home systems. The guarantee provided to the financial institution buys down their risk for onward lending to individuals and businesses for both agricultural production and renewable energy sources. It is likely that this guarantee will work in conjunction with the Zambian agricultural commodity exchange (ZAMACE) to deepen the market capital for traders buying crops from smallholder farmers, thus strengthening the commodity exchange itself, as well as the agricultural value chain as a whole.Activity 8 - Scaling Up Nutrition Technical Assistance The Scaling Up Nutrition Technical Assistance (SUN TA) is part of a cross-ministry and multi-donor program to reduce stunting in Zambia through implementation of the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) 1,000 Most Critical Days Program. The first phase, referred to as SUN 1.0 was funded by several donor organizations and significant lessons were learned regarding coordination and implementation. In order to achieve the stated success of this activity, USAID has identified two main objectives that address stunting:1. Adequate Quantity and Quality of Dietary Intake among Target Groups; and,2. Adequate Health Conditions for Biological Utilization of Nutrients.Activity 9 - Scaling Up Nutrition Learning and Evaluation SUN LE provides survey, research, evaluation, and dissemination services to the GRZ Scaling Up Nutrition program and the USAID/Zambia Scaling Up Nutrition – Technical


Assistance (SUN TA) activity. SUN LE is tasked with producing high quality data for SUN 2.0 program decision making, especially around key indicators and around program implementation at district and sub district level in the 30 priority districts. Toward this end, SUN LE will carry out 3 surveys over the life of the project – a baseline survey in Year 1 (2019), a midline survey in Year 3 (2021), and an end line survey – to track key SUN indicators, with a focus on tracking changes in the prevalence of stunting in children under 2 years of age.Activity 10 – New WASH activityThe goal of this proposed activity is to achieve transformational change in WASH service delivery and governance in Zambia leading to improved and sustainable access to improved WASH services for economic development and health.

Key interventions will include water supply activities (borehole and/or shallow well drilling and rehabilitation) have the potential to affect the environment. Potential adverse impacts from water supply activities include: depletion of water resources (surface and groundwater), chemical degradation of the quality of potable water sources (surface and groundwater contamination), creation of stagnant (standing) water, degradation of terrestrial and aquatic environments, and human health risks from a water source that becomes biologically or chemically contaminated.

For the purposes of this environmental review, the FTF and WASH IEE is organized in the following intervention categories. Each intervention category has distinct interventions described below which will be implemented via the projects described above.

Agricultural ProductionIllustrative actions include:

● Emphasizing and promoting climate-smart agricultural practices for water use and integrated soil fertility management.

● Piloting and demonstration plots

● Promoting crop diversification through pilot and demonstration plots

● Introducing drought tolerant crop varieties

● Promote climate smart water use and soil fertility management – may include green manure, cover crops, chemical or organic fertilizer application.

Agribusiness enterprises support/development


Illustrative actions include:

● Supporting the development or operation of post-harvest activities

● Supporting small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) involved in processing and agribusinesses,

● Investing in efforts to diversify smallholders’ livelihoods including off-farm and nonfarm enterprises including (i) beekeeping; and (ii) agribusiness commodity production; and

● Providing technical assistance and/or specialized training, and cost share or otherwise buy down risk for product development, for ii) upgrading existing facilities and processes.

Livestock activities and aquaculture Illustrative actions include:

● Support for livestock, poultry, dairy, and butcheries and abattoirs are possible as outputs of support to SMEs, policy development, and livelihood diversification.

● Development of aquaculture actions under livelihood diversification, NRM, nutrition and off-farm economic development.

Policy formulation and review Illustrative actions include:

● Reforms to legal frameworks and regulations that impinge upon investment decisions including commercial codes, labor market concerns, land ownership and use and taxation measures specific to livestock, crops and aquaculture

● Sound research, policy analysis, outreach, and capacity building

Small-scale construction/rehabilitation and operation Illustrative actions include:

● Infrastructure construction and rehabilitation may be included in the small-scale interventions for latrines, water provision, postharvest storage structures, warehouses, and irrigation schemes etc


● Construction of wells, boreholes and water supply systems including communicating, training, and capacity building on the planning, design and siting of boreholes, as part of health and nutrition efforts;

Will this project/activity involve construction3 as defined by ADS 201 and 303? Yes No

3 Construction, as defined by ADS 201 and 303, includes: construction, alteration, or repair (including dredging and excavation) of buildings, structures, or other real property and includes, without limitation, improvements, renovation, alteration and refurbishment. The term includes, without limitation, roads, power plants, buildings, bridges, water treatment facilities, and vertical structures. In the box below, describe any construction planned for this project/activity. Refer to ADS 201maw for required Construction Risk Management procedures.

USAID|ZAMBIA FEED THE FUTURE AND WATER, SANITATION AND HYGIENE (WASH) PORTFOLIO

If yes, describe in the space below:

● Construction of agricultural warehouses by agribusinesses or third-party players supported through financing supported by the DCAs with ZANACO and Madison Financial Services.

● Construction of latrines, domestic water provision wells, boreholes and water supply systems.

● Construction of postharvest storage structures, warehouses, and irrigation schemes etc

15

https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1865/201maw.pdf

2.0 BASELINE ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION

2.1 LOCATIONS AFFECTED AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTEXT (ENVIRONMENT, PHYSICAL, CLIMATE, SOCIAL, THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES) Zambia is endowed with a rich diversity of ecosystems, including vast areas of wetlands, albeit amidst numerous and intense threats to their sustainability. The ecosystems are home to a wide variety of flora and fauna that provide an important source of protein for many Zambians. Some of the species are known to be endemic to Zambia alone; for instance, the Black Lechwe, that thrives in swampy areas. The country has diverse landscape formations ranging from valleys, rivers, lakes, swamps and plateaus to escarpments and mountains. The scenic and aesthetic values these areas present offer an attraction and appreciation to Zambians and visitors alike. This varied landscape has also given rise to a wide diversity of habitats.

Deforestation as a result of agriculture expansion, mining and urban expansion. To facilitate the expansion of mining and farming blocks the government has de-gazetted a further 280,000 ha of forest reserves from the country’s forest network.

Forest Degradation – The drivers of forest degradation in Zambia include, shifting cultivation, uncontrolled bushfires, charcoal production, and commercial timber extraction. Zambia has lost much of its primary forest cover, largely due to shifting cultivation. Shifting cultivation is a major cause of forest degradation in the northern parts of Zambia. The northern parts of the country account for the highest tree species diversity as well as the highest species density of miombo genera. Uncontrolled bushfires also contribute to forest degradation in Zambia. Most wildfires that damage forests and woodlands in Zambia are caused by human activity. Timing and frequency of fires determine the effect of fire on the ecosystem. Severe fires, caused by late dry season burning, are destructive to forests. It is estimated that 80 percent of Zambia’s largest National Park, the Kafue burns annually. Thus, deforestation and forest degradation are major threats to plant biodiversity in northern Zambia. In the east, central and southern Zambia, conversion of forest land to permanent crop agriculture is the main driver of forest cover loss.

A number of important timber trees species are locally threatened due to overexploitation that has caused mature tree individuals to become rare. Currently 17 species of trees are reserved under the Forest Law and can therefore only be cut under license although in practice this is difficult to enforce.


Data on deforestation rates are poor. The current annual deforestation rate is 250,000 to 300,000 ha/year (UN-REDD Program Zambia, 2010). This is lower than previous estimates of 445,000 ha/year (Campbell et al 2007) or 850,000 ha/year (FAO 2005). Previous estimates had placed Zambia as the fourth highest country globally, behind Brazil, Indonesia, and Sudan, for percentage rate of area deforested. Zambia’s high rate of deforestation negatively impacts upon wildlife diversity through the destruction of necessary habitat. The loss of Zambia’s wildlife habitats stems from land-use changes, deforestation, and overall land degradation.

Water resources management - Zambia generates an estimated 100 Km3 per year of surface water and an estimated annual renewable groundwater potential of 49.6 Km3 per year (DWA/JICA, 1995). In view of changing climate and high dependence on hydropower generation, however, Zambia has experienced water stress. There is therefore a need to develop and manage water resources to meet present and future demands for various uses such as irrigation, domestic water supply and hydropower generation. Currently there is inadequate data to make an accurate assessment of the ground and surface water availability. Most people in Zambia, especially those living in rural and peri-urban areas still do not have access to improved water supply and sanitation facilities. This has contributed to outbreaks of water related diseases.

2.2 APPLICABLE AND APPROPRIATE PARTNER COUNTRY AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS (E.G. WHO), ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL LAWS, POLICIES, AND REGULATIONS

Zambia has a number of national legislative instruments that cover environmental, health, and safety laws and regulations, as well as those pertaining to land tenure, relevant to the proposed and ongoing activities under the Economic Development Office of USAID Zambia. This section endeavors to outline the applicable permit requirements, policies, and regulations, including whether partner country Environmental Impact Assessment requirements apply. A list of some host country relevant regulations, laws and conventions include:

The Zambian Constitution

The Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) No. 2 of 2016, Part 19 sections 253 to 257 address issues of Land, Environment and Natural resources. Section 253 states that land shall be held, used and managed in accordance with the following principles:

● Transparent, effective and efficient administration of land;


It further provides for equitable access to river frontages, islands, lakeshores and ecologically and culturally sensitive areas by prohibiting these areas from being leased, fenced or sold; and to be maintained and used for conservation and preservation activities.

The Zambian constitution recognizes that Natural resources have an environmental, economic, social and cultural value and benefits accruing from the exploitation and utilization of the environment and natural resources shall be shared equitably amongst the people of Zambia, and endeavors to eliminate unfair trade practices in the production, processing, distribution and marketing of natural resources.

It further mandates the State to protect genetic resources, biological diversity and enhance the intellectual property in, and indigenous knowledge, biodiversity and genetic resources of local communities. It also directs the state to establish and implement mechanisms that address climate change, in the utilization of natural resources and management of the environment.

History of the Environmental Regulatory Framework in Zambia

The Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) adopted the National Conservation Strategy (NCS) in 1985. This was due to the need for balancing environmental requirements, economic activities and social needs. The NCS was upgraded to the National Environmental Action Plan (NEAP) in 1992 with the aim of fostering sustainable economic and environmental development. The NCS facilitated development of the Environmental Protection and Pollution Control Act (EPPCA) in 1990 which also facilitated formulation of the Environmental Council of Zambia (ECZ) in 1992. The EPPCA was repealed in 2011, paving the way for the enactment of the Environmental Management Act No. 12 of April 2011.

The Environmental Management Act, No. 12 of 2011

The Environmental Management Act provides for integrated environmental management and the protection and conservation of the environment and the sustainable management and use of natural resources. It also provides for the preparation of the state of the Environment report, Environmental strategies and other plans for environmental management and sustainable development for the prevention and control of pollution and environmental degradation. Applicable Regulations under the Environmental Management Act No. 12 of 2011 include;


● Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, SI No. 28 of 1997 – These Regulations provides the main framework under which EIAs are conducted, submitted to ZEMA and considered for either approval or rejection.

● Statutory Instrument No.112 of 2013–Environmental Management (Licensing) Regulations - These Regulations provide standards and guidelines for mitigating air, wastewater, hazardous waste, pesticides and toxic substances and ozone depleting substances.

The Water Resources Management Act of 2011

The Water Resources Management Act of 2011 among other requirements provides for the:

1. The establishment of a Water Resources Management Authority that controls and manages water resources directly or through Catchment Councils and catchment management plans, and otherwise has responsibility for the management, development, conservation, protection and preservation of the water resources and ecosystems;

2. Equitable, reasonable and sustainable utilization of the water resource;

3. Constitution, functions and composition of catchment councils, sub-catchment councils and water user associations; and

4. For international and regional cooperation in, and equitable and sustainable utilization of shared water resources.

The Forest Act No. 4 of 2015

The Forest Act No. 4 of 2015 concerns the management and conservation of forest resources and, to some extent, the protection of biological diversity and generally the environment. The Act replaces and repeals the Forest Acts of 1973 and 1999 (which was not actualized). It provides for the establishment and declaration of National Forests, Local Forests, joint forest management areas, botanical reserves, private forests and community forests; provide for the participation of local communities, local authorities, traditional institutions, non- governmental organizations and other stakeholders in sustainable forest management; provide for the conservation and use of forests and trees for the sustainable management of


forests ecosystems and biological diversity; establish the Forest Development Fund. The Forest Act of 2015 made provisions for community involvement in forest management through S.I No. 11 of 2018.

● Forests (Community Forest Management) Regulations, 2018 (S.I. No. 11 of 2018) - These Regulations concern management of forest areas by local communities. They specify that Community forest management may be applied in (a) open areas; (b) local Forests; and (c) Game Management Areas.

The Zambia Wildlife Act No. 14 of 2015

The Zambia Wildlife Act No. 14 of 2015 provides for the establishment of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW). DNPW is mandated under the Wildlife Act to manage and conserve Zambia’s wildlife, which covers 31 percent of the country’s land mass.; Specifically the Act provides for the establishment of the Wildlife Management Licensing Committee; provide for the establishment, control and management of National Parks, bird and wildlife sanctuaries and for the conservation and enhancement of wildlife ecosystems, biological diversity and objects of aesthetic, prehistoric, historical, geological, archaeological and scientific interest in National Parks; provide for the promotion of opportunities for the equitable and sustainable use of the special qualities of public wildlife estates; provide for the establishment, control and co-management of Community Partnership Parks for the conservation and restoration of ecological structures for non-consumptive forms of recreation and environmental education.

The National Heritage Conservation Commission Act CAP 173 of 1989

The National Heritage Conservation Commission Act CAP 173 of 1989 stipulates preservation and protection of ancient cultural and natural heritage resources and objects of aesthetic, historical and archaeological value. In this Act, “Ancient Heritage is defined as being among other things, any structure, settlement previously inhabited, landmark, burial place or any other item designated by the commission which is known or believed to have been erected, constructed or used before 1st January 1924. The Act also provides for the formation of the National Heritage and Conservation Commission which is the responsible institution.

The Water Supply and Sanitation Act No. 28 of 1997

The Water Supply and Sanitation Act provides for the regulation and standards applied in the provision of public water and sanitation services. It also provides for permitting of water supply and sanitation service provision through the National Water and Sanitation Council (NWASCO) to service providers. This Act establishes


NWASCO and defines its functions; to provide for the establishment, by local authorities, of water supply and sanitation utilities; to provide for the efficient and sustainable supply of water and sanitation services under the regulation of NWASCO under the Ministry of Water Development, Sanitation and Environmental Protection. Latest regulation issued by NWASCO is for onsite sanitation provision. The National Water Supply, Sanitation and Solid Waste Management policy is still under development. All water supply and sanitation planning is aligned to the sustainable development goals and Zambia’s vision 2030.

The Fisheries Act, No. 22 of 2011

The Fisheries Act promotes the sustainable development of fisheries and a precautionary approach in fisheries management, conservation, utilization and development; establish fisheries management areas and fisheries management committees; provide for the regulation of commercial fishing and aquaculture; establish the Fisheries and Aquaculture Development Fund; repeal and replace the Fisheries Act, 1974; and provide for matters connected with, or incidental to the foregoing. The implementing institution for this Act is the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock. The Act regulates all fishing activities in Zambia undertaken in any kind of aquatic ecosystem. This includes lakes, rivers and streams. It also regulates activities that may interfere with fisheries.

Lands Act Cap 184 of 1995

The Lands Act controls all matters pertaining to the management/use of land and land tenure systems. The Act provides for the recognition of customary tenure as a form of landholding in the country. It provides that; “…every piece of land in a customary area which immediately before the commencement of the Lands Act was vested in or held by any person under customary tenure [Reserves and Trust land] shall continue to be so held and recognized and any provision of the Lands Act or any other law shall not be so construed as to infringe any customary right enjoyed by that person before the commencement of the Lands Act.” The Act further provides that; “the rights and privileges of any person to hold land under customary tenure shall be recognized and any such holding under the customary law applicable to the area in which a person has settled or intends to settle shall not be construed as an infringement of any provision of this Act or any other law except for a right or obligation which may arise under any other law.”

Other relevant pieces of legislation include; the National Heritage Conservation Commission Act CAP 173 of 1989; Noxious Weeds Act, Cap 231 of 1994; Plant, Pests


and Diseases Act Cap 233; Bio-Safety Act No. 10 of 2007; Urban and Regional Planning Act No. 3 of 2015 and the Local Government Act, No. 13 of 2010.

The Noxious Weeds Act, Cap 231 of 1994

The Noxious Weeds act gives provisions for the regulation of weeds declared noxious in an area or agricultural lands.

The Plant, Pests and Diseases Act Cap 233

The plant, pests and diseases act cap 233 has provisions for eradication and prevention of spread of pests, control of importation of growing media, injurious organisms, invertebrates and plants, cured tobacco and miscellaneous.

Plant Variety and Seeds Act No. 21 of 1995

The plant, pests and diseases act gives provisions on administration, registration of seed importation and cleaning, seed certification, inspection of seeds, prescribed seeds, import and export of seed, offences related to seeds and miscellaneous issues regarding seeds.

Agriculture (Fertilizers and Feed) Act 13 of 1994

The act provides for the regulation and control of the manufacture, processing, importation and sale of agricultural fertilizers and farm feed. It also provides for minimum standards of effectiveness and purity of such fertilizers and feed.

Bio-Safety Act No. 10 of 2007

The Biosafety Act of 2007 regulates the research, development, application, import, export, transit, contained use, release or placing on the market of any genetically modified organism whether intended for use as a pharmaceutical, food, feed or processing, or a product of a genetically modified organism; ensure that any activity involving the use of any genetically modified organism or a product of a genetically modified organism prevents any socio-economic impact or harm to human and animal health, or any damage to the environment, and provide for matters connected with or incidental to the foregoing.

The Urban and Regional Planning Act No. 3 of 2015

This Act provides for development, planning and administration principles, standards and requirements for urban and regional planning processes and systems; provide for a framework for administering and managing urban and


regional planning for the Republic; provide for a planning framework, guidelines, systems and processes for urban and regional planning for the Republic; establish a democratic, accountable, transparent, participatory and inclusive process for urban and regional planning that allows for involvement of communities, the private sector, interest groups and other stakeholders in the planning, implementation and operation of human settlement development; ensure functional efficiency and socio-economic integration by providing for integration of activities, uses and facilities; establish procedures for integrated urban and regional planning in a devolved system of governance so as to ensure multi-sector cooperation, coordination and involvement of different levels of ministries, provincial administration, local authorities, traditional leaders and other stakeholders in urban and regional planning; ensure sustainable urban and rural development by promoting environmental, social and economic sustainability in development initiatives and controls at all levels of urban and regional planning; ensure uniformity of law and policy with respect to urban and regional planning; repeal the Town and Country Planning Act, 1962, and the Housing (Statutory and Improvement Areas) Act, 1975; and provide for matters connected with, or incidental to, the foregoing.

Local Government Act, No. 13 of 2010

In its Preamble it declares that it seeks to provide for the establishment of Councils or Districts, the functions of local authorities and the local government system. Some of these functions relate to pollution control and the protection of the environment in general. Enacted and implemented in 2010, the Act provides for the establishment of Councils or Districts, the functions of local authorities and the local government system. Some of these functions relate to pollution control and the protection of the environment in general.

The Public Health Act of 1996

The Act empowers a Council to prevent unhealthy activities at the project site. It provides for the prevention of disease and provision of drainage, latrine and disposal of sewerage and treatment systems.

International Conventions

At the international level, Zambia is a party to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and several other biodiversity-related international conventions including the Ramsar Convention, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), Convention on Migratory Species and the African – Eurasian Water-bird Agreement, and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Zambia is also a member of


the Lusaka Task Force Agreement, an intergovernmental organization that facilitates cooperation among its seven member-nations to investigate the illegal wild fauna and flora trade.


3.0 ANALYSIS OF POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL RISKThis section summarizes potential adverse environmental and social impacts of the activities identified in section 1.3 of this IEE. The information supports analysis sufficient to identify the appropriate mitigation measures and monitoring indicators necessary to avoid or sufficiently reduce impacts of the project activities.

1. Agricultural production activities Loss of biodiversity: Agricultural activities, including the promotion of home gardens, may lead to the expansion or creation of additional agricultural lands, potentially through the clearing of forests or brush. Clearing of pristine or fully-grown forest can result in increased erosion, loss of biodiversity, decreased rainwater infiltration into aquifers, and increased soil temperatures. Where agricultural lands are expanded, vegetative strips may be destroyed or eliminated. Vegetative strips offer significant ecosystem benefits to farm systems especially in reducing wind erosion, serving as barriers to pests, capturing overspray of pesticides, and creating buffers to capture fertilizer, pesticides, and irrigated water runoff near receiving surface water systems. Further, the use of some herbicides and pesticides could reduce vegetation, pollinators, terrestrial and aquatic life forms.

Soil erosion: Unsustainable practices—such as poorly managed open-furrow agriculture, poor crop cultivation techniques and crop location, deforestation, or the draining of wetlands can all cause soil erosion. As the soil erodes, less rainfall is absorbed, and the excess runs off. This runoff removes the fertile topsoil necessary for crop production and can have serious off-site consequences, including gully formation, landslides, siltation and sedimentation of water bodies, downstream flooding, and damage to productive infrastructure. In Zambia, wind erosion is also a significant issue in many areas.

Reduction in soil fertility: Soil fertility is dependent on three major nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium), various trace elements, and organic matter content. A productive soil contains sufficient quantities of each of these elements, which are slowly removed by repeated cropping without adding fertilizers; leaching due to rainfall; short fallow periods; and burning of crop residues. The subsequent decline in soil fertility often occurs in conjunction with soil erosion, with each problem exacerbating the other.

Siltation of water bodies: Eroded topsoil is carried by runoff into water bodies. Once in the slower-moving water, the soil settles, altering the terrain, water depth


and water clarity, which can harm fish and bottom-dwelling aquatic life. Siltation can intensify downstream flooding by reducing channel capacity and can fill the upstream areas behind a dam. Siltation in wetlands and coastal areas can reduce productivity and marine populations. Large-scale siltation impairs shipping and river transport, flood control, the efficiency of dams, fisheries and aquaculture, urban sewage treatment, and drinking water supplies.

Reduction in water quality: Incorrect application of agrochemicals, fertilizers or manures can migrate from a farmer’s field to local water sources, causing environmental harm and adversely affecting human health. Nutrients from fertilizers can also cause nutrient loading in local water bodies, resulting in degraded water quality and reduced biodiversity. Moreover, reductions in water quality can impact other uses of water, including sources for drinking water, sanitation, fishing, aquaculture, recreation and tourism, and irrigation at other farms.

Depletion of water resources: Excess extraction of water for irrigation from shallow or deep wells, or from river diversion can reduce the quantity and quality of surface or groundwater, with adverse impacts on ecosystems, downstream users, and other users of the aquifer.

Pilot studies and demonstration plots: Certain pilot studies may have limited environmental impact due to the controlled scale and monitoring of the activity. However, demonstration sites, or pilots for the broad dissemination of new practices, can have far-reaching, cumulative impacts. If the potential impact of the pilot study is not carefully identified and measures are not taken to transfer the skills to mitigate impact in translation projects, there can be increased environmental damage. Additionally, the inappropriate siting of pilot studies or demonstration projects can lead to significant adverse impacts. Siting near streams or water bodies increases substantially the risk of contaminating surface water resources with agrochemicals. While unlikely to be significant at small scale, these impacts can scale up as the physical size of these facilities increase.

Greenhouse gas emissions: Fertilizer mismanagement can also contribute to greenhouse gas emissions as soil microbes in areas of application produce nitrous oxide. Manure used as fertilizer also releases gases continuously into the environment; however, in under fertilized areas, fertilizer may contribute little to emissions.


2. Agribusiness and Enterprises Development

Agribusiness enterprises, particularly agricultural processing, post-harvest operations and associated small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can be the source of significant adverse environmental impacts. Assistance that increases the scale or number of such enterprises in the absence of mitigation will tend to result in/increase these adverse impacts.

Solid waste generation: Processing will likely result in the generation of organic wastes and potentially inorganic wastes. Hulls from shelling or off-casts from milling are solid wastes that must be handled appropriately. Additionally, spoiled products may need to be disposed off, in which case, the spoiled products could be hazardous for human or animal consumption (e.g., aflatoxin contamination).

Storage of chemicals: The storage and sale of agricultural post-harvest treatments pose a hazard to workers and consumers. Post-harvest treatments pose a direct health threat during application, potentially to the consumer if waiting periods are not observed. Adverse impacts are associated with improper disposal of containers (including chemical contamination of soil, ground and surface waters), as well as the worker and customer hazards.

Financing: The provision of credit for enterprise development could lead to construction, storage of chemicals, increased processing and waste production all of which have potentially significant negative effect on the environment.

3. Livestock Activities, Animal Husbandry and Aquaculture

Livestock activities, in general, have the following potentially associated environment impacts:

Land degradation: Adverse impacts of livestock are associated with overgrazing and use of marginal lands, soil erosion and compaction, land degradation and diversification. Intensification of livestock production can promote a system of mono-cropping for feed production

Water pollution: Contamination may occur if nutrients from manure enter the water table because they are either improperly used or disposed of. Water pollution can also be associated with improper processing and disposal of dead animals that release nutrients into the groundwater as they decompose. Animal manures


transported from fields, pens or feedlots into water bodies through rainfall, runoff or irrigation can pollute local drinking water sources and spread human and animal diseases.

Air pollution: Livestock production can increase greenhouse gas emissions from enteric fermentation, from livestock manure and burning of animal carcasses.

Social impacts: When policies do not consistently address the land tenure issue for farmers and pastoralists, livestock keepers may potentially increase animal stock beyond land carrying capacity, thus contributing to enhanced competition for resources and, eventually, to conflicts that can become violent.

Loss of biodiversity: Breed has a strong influence on disease susceptibility and therefore on disease management. Systematic livestock production may result in loss of genetic diversity in livestock species and subsequent susceptibility to disease outbreaks.

Zoonotic diseases transmission: A zoonotic disease is an infectious disease that is transmitted between species from animals to humans (or from humans to animals). Animal transmitted diseases such as Brucellosis, Giardiasis and Ringworm (dermatophytosis) that are transmitted from animals to people are widespread in Africa.

Use of veterinary pharmaceuticals and associated waste: Livestock operations typically involve periodic use of injectable pharmaceuticals, resulting in small quantities of hazardous medical waste; and topical use of pesticides to control parasites which present risks specific to the products being used. Veterinary pharmaceutical waste may lead to contamination of air, water, and soil which may affect all forms of life including human life.

Dairy product support: If hygiene practices are poor for milking activities and subsequent transfer and processing of milk, the product presents risks to public health, even when pasteurized.

Aquaculture at a small-scale presents a small to moderate risk. Key among the risks are: disruption of sensitive habit (e.g. locating ponds near lakeshores or creation by damming small streams), overdrawing of water sources, and sediment-laden and high-BOD discharge to receiving surface waters.

4. Policy formulation and analysis


Policy work has no significant adverse impacts on the biophysical environment. It aims at policy improvement which could enhance the biophysical environment.

5. Small-scale Construction/Rehabilitation and Operation

Construction has potential adverse impacts, which spans across nearly all types of construction and rehabilitation. Experience has shown that these impacts are controllable below the level of significance with basic good construction management practices, including occupational safety and health practices.

Construction typically necessitates clearing, grading, trenching and other activities that can result in near-complete disturbance to the pre-existing landscape/habitat within the plot or right-of-way. If the plot or right-of-way contains or is adjacent to a permanent or seasonal stream/water body, grading and leveling can disrupt local drainage.

The construction process and construction sites present a number of hazards: fall and crush injuries, hazards from hand or power tools and equipment used in construction, and exposure to hazardous substances, such as solvents in paint, cement dust, etc.

Increased Air and Noise Pollution can result during construction or rehabilitation from the actions of construction equipment and workers.

Construction requires a set of materials often procured locally: timber, fill, sand and gravel, bricks. Unmanaged extraction of these materials can have adverse effects on the environment. For example, stream bed mining of sand or gravel can increase sedimentation and disturb sensitive ecosystems; purchase of timber from unmanaged or illegal concessions helps drive deforestation.

The operation of wells, boreholes and small water supply systems for supporting agricultural related activities could lead to:

Groundwater depletion: Deplete the groundwater aquifer when withdrawal exceeds the sustainable yield of the groundwater resource.

Disease transmission: Create stagnant (standing) water near the water supply point from leaks and spills, which becomes a disease vector breeding site (for mosquitoes), increases the risk of contamination of collected water, of foot infection of water point users, of seepage into the wells, and of contamination of the wells.


Contamination: Create human health risks from provision of biologically or chemically contaminated water. Although the potable water may not be contaminated initially, it can become contaminated via flooding, failure to exclude livestock from the water point, use of contaminated containers to draw water from hand-dug wells, and other factors.

Material sourcing and construction: Even the small-scale use of burnt brick for water supply (e.g. well enclosures, water towers, etc.) can contribute to local deforestation.

Sanitation projects may contaminate or degrade the quality of surface water, ground water, soil, and food, which may result from improper siting of sanitation facilities, improper disposal of excreta or wastewater, improper operation of sanitation facilities, among other causes.

During operation, latrines can contaminate high water table, and wells if located in their vicinities, and, when poorly maintained or of an open-pit design, can be the source of proliferation disease vectors such as flies, mosquitoes, spread of diseases, and foul odors. More specifically, poorly designed sanitation facilities can lead to insect-borne diseases, including culex mosquitoes, which do not transmit malaria but can transmit filariasis, breed extensively in septic tanks and flooded latrines. Secondly, flies and cockroaches often thrive on excreta and have been implicated in some transmission of fecal-oral disease. Mosquitoes, flies, and cockroaches all constitute a great nuisance, and poor urban households have consistently been shown to spend substantial amounts of their limited household income on diverse methods for pest control, some of which have health implication of their own.

6. Strengthen legal, policy and regulatory framework and institutional capacity building

Strengthen legal, policy and regulatory framework and institutional capacity building has no significant adverse impacts on the biophysical environment. It aims at policy improvement which could enhance the biophysical environment.

TABLE 3A. POTENTIAL IMPACTS – PROJECT/ACTIVITY 1Project/Activity Potential environmental and social

impactsEnterprise Development Growth Enhanced (EDGE)

Supporting the development or operation of post-harvest activities.

Possible contamination of water if effluent/waste from processing is not properly disposed off

Human health hazards from chemicals


Supporting small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) involved in processing and agribusinesses. Investing in efforts to diversify smallholders’ livelihoods including off-farm and nonfarm enterprises including (i) beekeeping; (ii) agribusiness commodity production; and (iii) promoting alternative cooking energy sources, andProviding technical assistance and/or specialized training, and cost share or otherwise buy down risk for product development, for ii) upgrading existing facilities and processes.

storage, agro-processing

Water contamination due to irrigation backflow

Solid waste generation

Introduction/spread of Invasive species

Seed-borne fungal pathogens can cause important diseases of crops

Pesticide use in seed treatment

Disturbance/alteration of high ecological value wetland areas

Enhancing Natural Resources, Agri-business, Land and Environment Partnership

Support development of relevant policy and legal framework to enhance communitycapacities in natural resource management, agri-business, land, water sanitation and hygiene, energy and rural development. Policy analysis, meetings and conferences.

None, since the intervention category does not have significant direct, adverse impacts on the biophysical environment.Policy improvement could protect and/or enhance biophysical environment.


Policy analysis, research, surveys, meetings and conferences.

None, since the intervention category does not have significant direct, adverse impacts on the biophysical environment


None, since the intervention category does not have significant direct, adverse impacts on the biophysical environment

Mawa WASH – Health and Nutrition Status Improved

Water Supply and Sanitation that include shallow well construction/rehabilitation,

Ground water contamination due to poor siting of pit latrines and boreholes (water points) and/or inadequate sanitary seals for both water points and household latrines.

Deforestation and or disturbance/alteration


borehole drilling, latrine construction/rehabilitation, and environmental sanitation improvement around schools and households.

of high ecological value wetland areas or other land degradation or alteration due to latrine construction - some pit latrine structures are built with fire cured (burnt) bricks using tree logs or charcoal furnaces/kilns.

Increased access to sanitation may lead to increased deforestation and land degradation.

Contamination of ground and surface water through diesel/oil spills associated with construction equipment.

Create stagnant (standing) water in the vicinity of the water supply point and creation of diseases vectors breeding sites (mosquitoes, risks of contamination of fetched water, foot infection of water point users, seepage in and contamination of the wells, etc.)

Latrines can contaminate high water table, and wells if located in their vicinities, and, when poorly maintained or of an open-pit design, can be the source of proliferation disease vectors such as flies, mosquitoes, spread of diseases, and foul odors.

DCA Zanaco

Support loans to the agriculture sector.

Solid waste generation through the construction of agricultural warehouses by agribusinesses

Construction of new facilities in which the total surface area disturbed is more than 1000m2 and there are no complication factors.

DCA Madison

Support access to capital for the agricultural and energy sectors

Ground water contamination due to poor construction of biodigesters which could result in groundwater contamination

Land alteration and/or degradation due to installation and use of solar pumping and irrigation kits

SUN TA Use of pesticides and sprayers could have adverse impacts e.g. effects on human


Activities to Provide Direct Technical Assistance for Agricultural Producers and Small-Holder FarmersActivities to disseminate/ increase access to improved agricultural technologies and inputs (seeds, fertilizers, pesticides)

Production of high energy protein supplements

Demonstrate improved cooking practices

Water Supply and Sanitation that include shallow well construction/rehabilitation, borehole drilling, latrine construction/rehabilitation, and environmental sanitation improvement around schools and households.

health and the environment.

Fertilizer use for enhancing crop productivity: If the excess fertilizer is disposed of in an environmentally unsound manner could result in contamination of water and altering soil conditions for other organisms.

Some value chain systems may require food processing plants that may have oil leaks, use too much water causing shortages in surrounding communities, inadequate waste disposal systems (potentially hazardous waste in unlined pits that may leach into aquifers and affect the quality of groundwater), and noise pollution.

Ground water contamination due to poor siting of pit latrines and borehole drilling sites (water points) and inadequate sanitary seals for both water points and household latrines.

Deforestation or disturbance/alteration of high ecological value wetland areas or other land alteration and/or degradation due to land being opened up for agricultural productivity, latrine construction - some pit latrine super-structures are built with burnt bricks using tree logs or charcoal furnaces/kilns.

Increasing access to sanitation may lead to increased deforestation and land degradation.

Introduction/spread of Invasive species

Seed-borne fungal pathogens can cause important diseases of crops

Pesticide use in seed treatment

SUN LE No potential environmental and social



impact.

New WASH Activity


Ground water contamination due to poor siting of pit latrines and boreholes (water points) and/or inadequate sanitary seals for both water points and household latrines.

Deforestation or disturbance/alteration of high ecological value wetland areas or other land alteration and/or degradation due to land being opened up for agricultural productivity, latrine construction - some pit latrine super-structures are built with burnt bricks using tree logs or charcoal furnaces/kilns.

Increased access to sanitation may lead to increased deforestation and land degradation.

4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATIONS

4.1 RECOMMENDED ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATIONSThe following table summarizes the recommended determinations based on the environmental analysis conducted. Upon approval, these determinations become affirmed, per 22 CFR 216. Specified conditions, detailed in Section 5, become mandatory obligations of implementation, per ADS 204.

TABLE 4: ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATIONS FOR INTERVENTION CATEGORIESProjects/Activities Categorical Exclusion

Citation (if applicable)Negative Determination

Enterprise Development Growth Enhanced

Enhancing Natural Resources, Agri-business, Land and Environment Partnerships

No potential environmental and social impact. Reg. 216, 22 CFR 216.2(c)(1), provides Categorical Exclusions in 216.2(c)(2)(iii) and (xiv)

Feed the Future Zambia No potential environmental


Policy Strengthening Project

and social impact. Reg. 216, 22 CFR 216.2(c)(1), provides Categorical Exclusions in 216.2(c)(2)(xiv)


No potential environmental and social impact. Reg. 216, 22 CFR 216.2(c)(1), provides Categorical Exclusions in 216.2(c)(2)(x)

Mawa WASH – Health and Nutrition Status Improved DCA Zanaco

DCA MadisonSUN TA

SUN LE No potential environmental and social impact. Reg. 216, 22 CFR 216.2(c)(1), provides Categorical Exclusions in 216.2(c)(2)(x)

New WASH Activity

TABLE 5 : APPLICABLE INTERVENTION CATEGORIES FOR FTF AND WASH

Activities Intervention categoryEnterprise Development Growth Enhanced (EDGE)

1. Agricultural production activities

2. Agribusiness and enterprise development

3. Livestock activities, animal husbandry and aquaculture

4. Policy analysis, research, surveys, meetings and conferences

Enhancing Natural Resources, Agri-business, Land and Environment Partnerships

4. Policy analysis, research, surveys, meetings and conferences 6. Strengthen legal, policy and regulatory framework

and institutional capacity building





4. Policy analysis, research, surveys, meetings and conferences6. Strengthen legal, policy and regulatory framework

and institutional capacity building

Mawa WASH 5. Construction and Infrastructure development efforts

DCA ZANACO 1. Agricultural production activities

5. Construction and Infrastructure development efforts

DCA Madison 1. Agricultural production activities


SUN TA 1. Agricultural production activities

3. Livestock activities, animal husbandry and aquaculture



SUN LE 4. Policy analysis, research, surveys, meetings and conferences

New WASH Activity 4. Policy analysis, research, surveys, meetings and conferences


4.2 CLIMATE RISK MANAGEMENTThis section summarizes the methodology used and findings of the CRM Screening, in accordance with ADS 201mal. The project design team, in consultation with the CIL, considered the potential effect of climate risks/stressors on the sustainability of the project (changing precipitation patterns, rising temperature, floods, droughts, fires, landslides, etc.) in addition to the impact of project activities on the climate (increased greenhouse gas emissions, land use changes, etc.). See Annex 1 for the compete CRM table. There is also a need to include in the activity CRM in the


design, solicitation and workplans of measures to address and respond to or further the understanding of climate change and its associated impacts.


5.0 CONDITIONS AND MITIGATION MEASURES

5.1 CONDITIONSThe environmental determinations in this IEE are contingent upon full implementation of the following general implementation and monitoring requirements, as well as ADS 204 and other relevant requirements.

5.1.1 BEO Specified Conditions:

1. Reporting Conditions: As is becoming standard throughout the region, the AFR BEO requests that the activity managers/AORs/CORs provide access to the Regional Environmental Advisor (REA) and to the AFR BEO Team to review (not approve) the Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plans/Reports (EMMPs/EMMRs) that will be written to implement the findings of this IEE. These should be uploaded into the appropriate sub-folder(s) of this Google Drive folder: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1q7HGMzgopJ-MuKxkQEJ4GSPp9R7Qzv-5?usp=sharing. This will facilitate access by all parties who need these documents, including the Mission Environmental Officer and the AOR/COR. This will allow the REA and the BEO Team to spot-check and review these documents to confirm that the mitigations seem appropriate and are cognizant of the specific design of the activities.

The negative determinations recommended in this IEE are contingent on full implementation of specified conditions and a set of general monitoring and implementation requirements specified in this “BEO Conditions” section as well as Section 5 of the IEE. Some specific conditions to highlight include:

New activities and those revised to incorporate a change in scope or nature will require an IEE amendment to identify and address potential environmental impacts. This condition is mentioned again in Section 7 of this IEE.

As there are WASH activities covered under this IEE, the AFR BEO requires that a water quality assurance plan (WQAP) is prepared according to the WQAP Template (https://www.usaid.gov/environmental-procedures/environmental-compliance-esdm-program-cycle/special-compliance-topics/water): o Complete a WQAP for WASH-related activities under this IEE, and request and

receive AFR BEO review and approval of WQAP.o Clearly link the WQAP to this IEE o The review results should be written and on record in the Signing Statement

of the WQAP.

5.1.2 During Pre-Award:

5.1.1.1 Pre-Award Briefings: As feasible, the design team and/or the cognizant environmental officer(s) (e.g., MEO, REA, BEO) will provide a pre-award


https://www.usaid.gov/environmental-procedures/environmental-compliance-esdm-program-cycle/special-compliance-topics/water

https://www.usaid.gov/environmental-procedures/environmental-compliance-esdm-program-cycle/special-compliance-topics/water

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1q7HGMzgopJ-MuKxkQEJ4GSPp9R7Qzv-5?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1q7HGMzgopJ-MuKxkQEJ4GSPp9R7Qzv-5?usp=sharing

briefing for potential offerors on environmental compliance expectations/responsibilities at bidders’ conferences.

5.1.1.2 Solicitations: The design team, in coordination with the A/CO, will ensure solicitations include environmental compliance requirements and evaluation criteria. A/CO will ensure technical and cost proposal requirements include approach, staffing, and budget sufficient for complying with the terms of this IEE.

5.1.1.3 Awards: The A/COR, in coordination with the A/CO, will ensure all awards and sub-awards, include environmental compliance requirements.

5.1.3 During Post-Award:

5.1.2.1 Post-Award Briefings: The A/COR and/or the cognizant environmental officer(s) (e.g., MEO, REA, BEO) will provide post-award briefings for the IP on environmental compliance responsibilities.

5.1.2.3 Workplans and Budgeting: The A/COR will ensure the IP integrates environmental compliance requirements in work plans and budgets to comply with requirements, including EMMP implementation and monitoring.

5.1.2.4 Staffing: The A/COR, in coordination with the IP, will ensure all awards have staffing capacity to implement environmental compliance requirements.

5.1.2.5 Records Management: The A/COR will maintain environmental compliance documents in the official project/activity file and upload records to the designated USAID environmental compliance database system.

5.1.2.6 Host Country Environmental Compliance: The A/COR will ensure the IP complies with applicable and appropriate host country environmental requirements unless otherwise directed in writing by USAID. However, in the case of a conflict between the host country and USAID requirements, the more stringent shall govern.

5.1.2.7 Work Plan Review: The A/COR will ensure the IP verifies, at least annually or when activities are added or modified, that activities remain with the scope of the IEE. Activities outside of the scope of the IEE cannot be implemented until the IEE is amended.

5.1.2.8 IEE Amendment: If new activities are introduced or other changes to the scope of this IEE occur, an IEE Amendment will be required.


5.1.2.14 USAID Monitoring Oversight: The A/COR or designee, with the support of the cognizant environmental officer(s) (e.g., MEO, REA, BEO), will ensure monitoring of compliance with established requirements (e.g., by desktop reviews, site visits, etc.).

5.1.2.16 Environmental Compliance Mitigation and Monitoring Plan: The A/COR will ensure the IP develops, obtains approval for, and implements Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plans (EMMPs) that are responsive to the stipulated environmental compliance requirements.

5.1.2.17 Environmental Compliance Reporting: The A/COR will ensure the IP includes environmental compliance in regular project/activity reports, using indicators as appropriate; develops and submits the Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Reports (EMMRs); and completes and submits a Record of Compliance (RoC) describing their implementation of EMMP requirements in conjunction with the final EMMR or at the close of sub activities (as applicable). And where required by Bureaus or Missions, ensure the IP prepares a closeout plan consistent with contract documentation for A/COR review and approval that outlines responsibilities for end-of-project operation, the transition of other operational responsibilities, and final EMMR with lessons learned.

5.1.2.18 Corrective Action: When noncompliance or unforeseen impacts are identified, IPs notify the A/COR, place a hold on activities, take corrective action, and report on the effectiveness of corrective actions. The A/COR initiates the corrective action process and ensures the IP completes and documents their activities. Where required by Bureaus or Missions, ensure Record of Compliance is completed.

5.2 AGENCY CONDITIONS5.2.1 Sub-award Screening: The A/COR will ensure the IP uses an adequate

environmental screening tool to screen any sub-award applications and to aid in the development of EMMPs.

5.2.2 Programmatic IEEs (PIEE): PIEEs stipulate requirements for additional environmental examination of new or country specific projects/activities. The A/COR of any project/activity being implemented under a PIEE will ensure appropriate reviews are conducted, typically through a Supplemental IEE, and approved by the cognizant BEO.

5.2.3 Supplemental IEEs (SIEEs): An SIEE will be prepared for any new project/activity being planned which fall under a PIEE. The SIEE will provide more thorough analysis of the planned activities, additional


geographic context and baseline conditions as well as specific mitigation and monitoring requirements.

5.2.4 Other Supplemental Analyses: The A/COR will ensure supplemental environmental analyses that are called for in the IEE are completed and documented.

5.2.5 Resolution of Deferrals: If a deferral of the environmental threshold determination was issued, the A/COR will ensure that the appropriate 22CFR216 environmental analysis and documentation is completed and approved by the BEO before the subject activities are implemented.

5.2.6 Positive Determination: If a Positive Determination threshold determination was made, the A/COR will ensure a Scoping Statement, and if required an Environmental Assessment (EA), is completed and approved by the BEO before the subject activities are implemented.

5.2.7 Compliance with human subject research requirements: The AM, A/COR shall assure that the IP and sub-awardees, -grantees, and -contractors demonstrate completion of all requirements for ethics review and adequate medical monitoring of human subjects who participate in research trials carried out through this IEE and ensure appropriate records are maintained. All documentation demonstrating completion of required review and approval of human subject trials must be in place prior to initiating any trials and cover the period of performance of the trial as described in the research protocol.

5.3 MITIGATION MEASURES The mitigation measures presented in this section constitute the minimum required based on available information at the time of this IEE and the environmental analysis in Section 4. These measures shall provide general direction for completing the project/activity Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plan (EMMP) and/or the EA and PERSUAP, if required and must follow best guidelines as established by USAID’s Sector Environmental Guidelines.

1. Agricultural Production Activities

The implementing partners for agricultural production activities will be required to promote:

● Potential deforestation by agricultural land expansion, use of fire cured bricks for latrines and other constructions will be mitigated through awareness raising, promotion of re-afforestation and intensification of production to increase yields without increasing the amount of land under cultivation.


● Sustainable Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) are promoted through all agricultural production actions.

● Land preparation and cultivation activities shall integrate best management practices reflecting local soil conditions, climate, and hydrology to reduce erosion (wind and water) and limit potentially nutrient-rich agricultural run-off and water pollution.

● Best management practices must be consistent with the principles of environmental management as detailed in the USAID Sector Environmental Guideline for agriculture, available at: https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1865/CropProduction_SEG_25Mar2019.pdf

● The selection and introduction of new crops for cultivation must be consistent with sound agricultural practices and reflect local environmental conditions, with emphasis on the quality and quantity of water and soil resources to prevent or minimize soil erosion and siltation of water bodies.

● Soil fertility management will avoid spreading animal waste near surface waters and the burning vegetation on fields.

● Improve or conserve soil fertility through optimal nutrient inputs, with organic fertilizers being the first choice.

● Any training, capacity building, or organizational capacity-building will integrate and promote general awareness of the environmental, health and safety risks presented by agriculture, or livestock activities, and appropriate choices and measures to manage these risks.

● The use of pesticides and other chemicals in crop and livestock production and processing will be regulated and follow all the requirements and guidance in the Zambia PERSUAP. For more information on USAID environmental compliance policy requirements related to pesticides and PERSUAPs, see the Special Topic Presentation https://www.usaid.gov/environmental-procedures/environmental-compliance-esdm-program-cycle/special-compliance-topics#Pesticides%20and%20PERSUAPs

● Implementing partners staff applying fertilizers must implement mitigation measures to address potential runoff into surface waters, and potential greenhouse gas emissions. Fertilizer application must also avoid drinking water sources and well heads with application being more than 30 meters from drinking water sources.


https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1865/CropProduction_SEG_25Mar2019.pdf


● Any irrigation from shallow or deep wells, river diversions will be undertaken with full consideration of the water resources management Act, with full regard for both environmental and domestic water requirements.

● Support for/Procurement of Seeds and Planting Materials should not introduce invasive species, only use seeds and planting materials that meet host country sanitary and phytosanitary standards, and use only species/varieties known to be appropriate for the agro-climatic zone and educate producers regarding safe handling of treated seed.

2. Agribusiness and enterprise development For financial support of SMEs, USAID will support business service and credit

providers in the screening of their activities to categorize the SME’s work to the types and seriousness of environmental impacts they generate. An SME partner or credit provider needs to ensure that assistance for the SME complies with local, national, USAID, and its own organizational environmental policies. The goal of the screening phase is to determine quickly and easily if an assistance request from an SME will need environmental review before it can be approved.

The supported grant-making organization or on-lending financial institutions (FIs) will have the capacity to and will fully implement an environmental due diligence process which:● identifies loan applications for environmentally sensitive activities;● bars funding to activities for which funding is prohibited under the Sections 118 & 119 of the Foreign Assistance Act;● bars funding for “classes of action normally having a significant effect on the environment (per 22 CFR 216.2.d) pending an EA acceptable to USAID and USAID’s approval of that assessment, and● ascertains compliance with Zambian environmental statutes/regulations as a condition for loan/grant making.

Credit enhancement must be paired with capacity-building for the agro-input sector, as well as for small-holder farmers, in fertilizer and pesticide safer use, and all practicable efforts made to promote and enforce safe stocking/storage practices. These guarantees will be subject to the provisions of the Zambia PERSUAP.

Wastewater from processing facilities will not be discharged directly into surface waters without treatment. Processing activities dependent on water use, water availability must be assessed. Sustainable use as the basis for water resource allocation and management will be strengthened, including consideration of both ecosystem and human demands on water resources.



For direct support in animal husbandry or livestock rearing, the implementing partner will consider land tenure issues through stakeholder consultations associated with free range livestock actions so as to avoid overstocking and related overgrazing and land degradation.

Training related to veterinary vaccines or treatments techniques or care situations being addressed would generate and require disposal of veterinary-medical wastes (sharp items, afterbirth, sputum and blood samples, gloves), the training, curricula, supervision must address appropriate management practices concerning the proper handling, use, and disposal of medical waste.

The implementing partner directly supporting livestock activities will reference the USAID Sector Environmental Guideline for livestock, available at: https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1860/SectorEnvironmentalGuidelines_Livestock_2015.pdf and integrate applicable best management practices into the EMMP to mitigate among other potential risk of surface and groundwater and air pollution from animal manure/excreta and disease transmission.

If schemes will necessitate additional livestock in household compounds, these must not increase disease risk to households.

Support for erosion control and water management systems should include best practices in flood control measures and construction as well as specific best practices for aquaculture and fishponds per the USAID Sector Environmental Guidelines: https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1860/SectorEnvironmentalGuidelines_FishAqua_2018.pdf. At a minimum, aquaculture actions must:

● Locate fishponds to avoid impacting the natural environs;● Train, build capacity, and share information with beneficiaries on how to

incorporate environmental and social safeguards and considerations into fisheries management;

● Ensure that technical assistance which introduces the use of new equipment or harvesting techniques evaluates and analyzes the potential to generate shifts in ecosystem functions and services; and

● Develop a decommissioning plan prior to close out and train the beneficiaries on environmentally sound decommissioning.

5. Water supply, small-scale construction, rehabilitation and operation


https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1860/SectorEnvironmentalGuidelines_FishAqua_2018.pdf

https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1860/SectorEnvironmentalGuidelines_FishAqua_2018.pdf

https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1860/SectorEnvironmentalGuidelines_Livestock_2015.pdf


All water supply activities will develop and follow Water Quality Assurance Plans (WQAPs) and USAID-funded water supplies, including point of use treatment, provide safe drinking water, defined as meeting local and United States Environmental Protection Agency water quality standards. Development of the WQAP must be consistent with USAID’s WQAP Template: https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1860/Africa_Bureau_WQAP_Template_Final.docx

Siting of latrines and water sources will consider the potential for surface and groundwater contamination.

Any activity promoting sanitation, including training, will integrate and promote general awareness of the environmental, health and safety risks presented by sanitation activities and measures to manage these risks, and follow good construction practices as per https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1860/SectorEnvironmentalGuidelines_Water_San_2015.pdf

Erosion control methods around construction sites must be implemented.

Construction sites will be properly labelled to minimize the likelihood of injuries to the beneficiary communities.

Disease vector control by managing water pools during construction.

The activity shall be designed and implemented using the principles and good construction practices provided in USAID’s Sector Environmental Guidelines for Small-Scale Construction https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1860/SectorEnvironmentalGuidelines_Construction_2017.pdf

All construction must, at a minimum, 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.

Construction must be managed so that no standing water on the site persists more than 4 days; fill, sand and gravel must not be extracted from waterways or ecologically sensitive areas, nor knowingly purchased from vendors who do so; implementing partner must identify and implement any feasible measures to increase the probability that timber is procured from legal, well-managed sources.


https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1860/SectorEnvironmentalGuidelines_Construction_2017.pdf


https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1860/SectorEnvironmentalGuidelines_Water_San_2015.pdf


https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1860/Africa_Bureau_WQAP_Template_Final.docx


The use of fire cured (burnt) bricks should be avoided wherever possible in construction or rehabilitation.

Implementing partner staff and contractors will be sensitized about the social impacts such as the spread of HIV/AIDS, substance abuse and sexual misconduct.

All construction activities that require an engineer or design firm, or a Mission engineer, will go through a process of climate risk management screening that is approved by the corresponding construction or design firm, or Mission engineer.

TABLE 6A. SUMMARY OF MITIGATION MEASURES PER ACTIVITY

Intervention Category

Mitigation Measure(s)

1. Agricultural Production Activities

The implementing partners for agricultural production activities will be required to promote:

● Potential deforestation by agricultural land expansion, use of fire cured bricks for latrines and other constructions will be mitigated through awareness raising, promotion of re-afforestation and intensification of production to increase yields without increasing the amount of land under cultivation.

● Sustainable Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) are promoted through all agricultural production actions.

● Land preparation and cultivation activities shall integrate best management practices reflecting local soil conditions, climate, and hydrology to reduce erosion (wind and water) and limit potentially nutrient-rich agricultural run-off and water pollution.

● Best management practices must be consistent with the principles of environmental management as detailed in the USAID Sector Environmental Guideline for crop production, available at agriculture: https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1865/CropProduction_SEG_25Mar2019.pdf

● The selection and introduction of new crops for cultivation must be consistent with sound agricultural practices and reflect local environmental conditions, with emphasis on the quality and quantity of water and soil resources to prevent or minimize soil erosion




and siltation of water bodies.

● Soil fertility management will avoid spreading animal waste near surface waters and the burning vegetation on fields.

● Improve or conserve soil fertility through optimal nutrient inputs, with organic fertilizers being the first choice.

● Any training, capacity building, or organizational capacity-building will integrate and promote general awareness of the environmental, health and safety risks presented by agriculture, or livestock activities, and appropriate choices and measures to manage these risks.

● The use of pesticides and other chemicals in crop and livestock production and processing will be regulated and follow all the requirements and guidance in the Zambia PERSUAP.

● Implementing partners staff applying fertilizers must implement mitigation measures to address potential runoff into surface waters, and potential greenhouse gas emissions. Fertilizer application must also avoid drinking water sources and well heads with application being more than 30 meters from drinking water sources.

● Any irrigation from shallow or deep wells, river diversions will be undertaken with full consideration of the water resources management Act, with full regard for both environmental and domestic water requirements.

● Distribution or increased access to irrigation must be paired with capacity building for the agro-input sector and smallholder farmers in water management techniques and irrigation best practices, per USAID’s Environmental Guidelines for Small-Scale Activities in Africa EGSSAA (Agriculture and Irrigation), available https://www.usaid.gov/environmental-procedures/sectoral-environmental-social-best-practices/sector-environmental-guidelines-resources.

● Support for/Procurement of Seeds and Planting Materials should not introduce invasive species, only use seeds and planting materials that meet host country sanitary and phytosanitary standards, and use only species/varieties known to be appropriate for the


https://www.usaid.gov/environmental-procedures/sectoral-environmental-social-best-practices/sector-environmental-guidelines-resources



agro-climatic zone and educate producers regarding safe handling of treated seed.

● That any seed which has been treated or coated with a pesticide must have that specific pesticide listed in the applicable PERSUAP.

These activities will conform with and will seek to institutionalize safe pesticide use in conformity with the USAID/Zambia mission-wide PERSUAP as well as the fertilizer use and management good practices per the USAID/AFR Fertilizer Factsheet (available at www.encapafrica.org/egssaa/AFR_Fertilizer__Factsheet_Jun04.pdf) and EGSSA Chapter 12 “Pest Management I: Integrated Pest Management”

2. Agribusiness and enterprise development

The supported grant-making organization or on-lending financial institutions (FIs) will have the capacity to and will fully implement an environmental due diligence process which: identifies loan applications for environmentally sensitive

activities; bars funding to activities for which funding is prohibited

under the Sections 118 & 119 of the Foreign Assistance Act;

bars funding for “classes of action normally having a significant effect on the environment (per 22 CFR 216.2.d) pending an EA acceptable to USAID and USAID’s approval of that assessment, and

ascertains compliance with Zambian environmental statutes/regulations as a condition for loan/grant making.

Credit enhancement must be paired with capacity-building for the agro-input sector, as well as for small-holder farmers, in fertilizer and pesticide safer use, and all practicable efforts made to promote and enforce safe stocking/storage practices. These guarantees will be subject to the provisions of the Zambia PERSUAP.

Wastewater from processing facilities will not be discharged directly into surface waters without treatment. Processing activities dependent on water use, water availability must be assessed. Sustainable use as the basis for water resource allocation and management will be strengthened, including consideration of both ecosystem and human demands on water resources.


If one or more of the participating grant-makers or FIs have robust environmental due diligence procedures that nonetheless do not meet these requirements in full, the mission may consult with the REA to determine if the existing procedures substantially satisfy the intent of this condition and are acceptable.

Environmentally Sensitive Activities are defined as: Activities listed in 22 CFR 216.2.d “Classes of actions

normally having a significant effect on the environment.” Activities prohibited or limited by Sections 118 and 119 of

the Foreign Assistance Act:

Activities identified by host country environmental regulations as requiring environmental review, licensing or permits.


For direct support in animal husbandry or livestock rearing, the implementing partner will consider land tenure issues through stakeholder consultations associated with free range livestock actions so as to avoid overstocking and related overgrazing and land degradation.

Training related to veterinary vaccines or treatments techniques or care situations being addressed would generate and require disposal of veterinary-medical wastes (sharp items, afterbirth, sputum and blood samples, gloves), the training, curricula, supervision must address appropriate management practices concerning the proper handling, use, and disposal of medical waste.

The implementing partner directly supporting livestock activities will reference the USAID Sector Environmental Guideline for livestock, available at: https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1860/SectorEnvironmentalGuidelines_Livestock_2015.pdf and integrate applicable best management practices into the EMMP to mitigate among other potential risk of surface and groundwater and air pollution from animal manure/excreta and disease transmission.

If schemes will necessitate additional livestock in household compounds, these must not increase disease risk to households.

Choose species/breeds that are well suited to the local




ecology and current and future climate. Choose species that produce less GHG emissions.

Support for erosion control and water management systems should include best practices in flood control measures and construction as well as specific best practices for aquaculture and fishponds per the USAID Sector Environmental Guidelines: http://www.usaidgems.org/sectorGuidelines.htm. At a minimum, aquaculture actions must:

● Locate fishponds to avoid impacting the natural environs;

● Train, build capacity, and share information with beneficiaries on how to incorporate environmental and social safeguards and considerations into fisheries management;

● Ensure that technical assistance which introduces the use of new equipment or harvesting techniques evaluates and analyzes the potential to generate shifts in ecosystem functions and services; and

Develop a decommissioning plan prior to close out and train the beneficiaries on environmentally sound decommissioning


No mitigation measures required

5. Water supply, small-scale construction, rehabilitation and operation

● All water supply activities will develop and follow Water Quality Assurance Plans (WQAPs) and USAID-funded water supplies, including point of use treatment, provide safe drinking water, defined as meeting local and United States Environmental Protection Agency water quality standards. Development of the WQAP must be consistent with USAID’s WQAP Template https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1860/Africa_Bureau_WQAP_Template_Final.docx

● Siting of latrines and water sources will consider the potential for surface and groundwater contamination.

● Any activity promoting sanitation, including training, will integrate and promote general awareness of the environmental, health and safety risks presented by sanitation activities and measures to manage these risks, and follow good construction practices as per https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1860/SectorEnvironmentalGuidelines_Water_San_2015.pdf






● Erosion control methods around construction sites must be implemented.

● Construction sites will be properly labelled to minimize the likelihood of injuries to the beneficiary communities.

● Disease vector control by managing water pools during construction.

● The activity shall be designed and implemented using the principles and good construction practices provided in USAID’s Sector Environmental Guidelines for Small-Scale Construction https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1860/SectorEnvironmentalGuidelines_Construction_2017.pdf

● No complicating factors. The site is not within 30m of a permanent or seasonal stream or water body, will NOT involve displacement of existing settlement/inhabitants, has an average slope of less than 5% and is not heavily forested, in an otherwise undisturbed local ecosystem, or in a protected area. Sites violating one or more of these criteria are subject to the determinations and conditions relating to construction, water supplies and waste handling.

● All construction must, at a minimum, 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.

● Construction must be managed so that no standing water on the site persists more than 4 days; fill, sand and gravel must not be extracted from waterways or ecologically sensitive areas, nor knowingly purchased from vendors who do so; implementing partner must identify and implement any feasible measures to increase the probability that timber is procured from legal, well-managed sources.

● The use of fire cured (burnt) bricks should be avoided wherever possible in construction or rehabilitation.

● All construction activities that require an engineer or design firm, or a Mission engineer, will go through a process of climate risk management screening that is approved by the corresponding construction or design





firm, or Mission engineer.

Implementing partner staff and contractors will be sensitized about the social impacts such as the spread of HIV/AIDS, substance abuse and sexual misconduct.

Water Supply and Sanitation: Follow environmentally sound practices as outlined in the USAID Sector Environmental Guidelines – Water Supply and Sanitation. This document can be found at: https://www.usaid.gov/environmental-procedures/sectoral-environmentalsocial-best-practices/sector-environmental-guidelines-resources#w, and the IP should:

● Calculate yield and extraction rates in relation to other area water uses and available supply;

● Design improvements with an appropriate scale and capacity;

● Assess water quality to determine if water is safe to drink at pump testing or after equipping water points and to establish a baseline so that any future degradation can be detected. At a minimum, arsenic and/or fecal coliform, nitrates and fluoride tests should be conducted;

● Maintain periodic testing. Ongoing testing is the only way to determine if a water supply is or has become contaminated (other than by observing dramatic and sustained increases in water-borne disease);

● Minimize downstream effects of intervention, perhaps by establishing some form of communication with downstream parties. Preventing microbial contamination of groundwater sources from sanitation activities depends on several factors: Type of latrine; Water table; Soil type; Distance to nearest water source.

● Balancing these factors to determine the best combination of siting and sanitation technology should involve input from engineers and/or hydrologists.

6. Strengthen legal, policy and regulatory framework and institutional

No mitigation measures required


https://www.usaid.gov/environmental-procedures/sectoral-environmentalsocial-best-practices/sector-environmental-guidelines-resources#w



capacity building


6.0 LIMITATIONS OF THIS INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION The determinations recommended in this document apply only to projects/activities and sub-activities described herein. Other projects/activities that may arise must be documented in either a separate IEE, an IEE amendment if the activities are within the same project/activity, or other type of environmental compliance document and shall be subject to an environmental analysis within the appropriate documents listed above.

Other than projects/activities determined to have a Positive Threshold Determination, it is confirmed that the projects/activities described herein do not involve actions normally having a significant effect on the environment, including those described in 22 CFR 216.2(d).

In addition, other than projects/activities determined to have a Positive Threshold Determination and/or a pesticide management plan (PERSUAP), it is confirmed that the projects/activities described herein do not involve any actions listed below. Any of the following actions would require additional environmental analyses and environmental determinations:

Support project preparation, project feasibility studies, or engineering design for activities listed in §216.2(d)(1);

Affect endangered and threatened species or their critical habitats per §216.5, FAA 118, FAA 119;

Provide support to extractive industries (e.g. mining and quarrying) per FAA 117;

Promote timber harvesting per FAA 117 and 118; Lead to new construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, or renovation work

per §216.2(b)(1); Support agro-processing or industrial enterprises per §216.1(b)(4); Provide support for regulatory permitting per §216.1(b)(2); Lead to privatization of industrial facilities or infrastructure with heavily

polluted property per §216.1(b)(4); Research, testing, or use of genetically engineered organisms per §216.1(b)

(1), ADS 211 Assist the procurement (including payment in kind, donations, guarantees of

credit) or use (including handling, transport, fuel for transport, storage, mixing, loading, application, clean-up of spray equipment, and disposal) of pesticides or activities involving procurement, transport, use, storage, or disposal of toxic materials. Pesticides cover all insecticides, fungicides, rodenticides, etc. covered under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act per §216.2(e) and §216.3(b).

7.0 REVISIONS


Per 22 CFR 216.3(a)(9), when ongoing programs are revised to incorporate a change in scope or nature, a determination will be made as to whether such change may have an environmental impact not previously assessed. If so, this IEE will be amended to cover the changes. Per ADS 204, it is the responsibility of the USAID A/COR to keep the MEO/REA and BEO informed of any new information or changes in the activity that might require revision of this environmental analysis and environmental determination.

ATTACHMENTS: Annex 1: Climate Risk Management Summary Table for Projects ANNEX 2. Strategy CRM Summary ANNEX 3: Planned/Current Activities Covered Under this IEE


ANNEX 1. ACTIVITY CLIMATE RISK MANAGEMENT SUMMARY TABLE Tasks/Defined or Illustrative Interventions

Climate Risks4 Risk Rating5 How Risks are Addressed6

Opportunities to Strengthen Climate Resilience7

Enterprise Development Growth Enhanced

Access to financing: The success of alternative financing in agriculture are at risk from unpredictable extreme weather events.

Generally, weather extremes could affect loan recoveries from crop and livestock loans.

Low

Moderate for crop and livestock loans

Designs and solicitations should include support to crop and livestock insurance and provision of grants/loans for climate smart technologies too (seed varieties, irrigation, etc.)

Promoting crop diversity mitigates the risk of individual crops failing to adapt to new climate conditions.

Enhancing Natural None Low N/A

4 List key risks related to the defined/illustrative interventions identified in the screening and additional assessment.5 Low/Moderate/High6 Describe how risks have been addressed in activity design and/or additional steps that will be taken in implementation. If you choose to accept the risk, briefly explain why.7 Describe opportunities to achieve multiple development objectives by integrating climate resilience or mitigation measures


Resources, Agri-business, Land and Environment Partnership

Feed the Future Zambia Policy strengthening Project

None Low N/A


None Low N/A


Climate variability is already affecting Zambia, and projected climate changeimpacts include rises in temperature, shifts in precipitation, and possibleincreases in the frequency and intensity of weather events. Changes in climate may exacerbate pre-existing socio-economic development challenges, with

Moderate: Zambia has a relatively abundant supply of surface water and groundwater. However, surface water is unevenly distributed throughout the country, and the southern region often experiences water shortages

Designs, solicitations and workplans should include support to raise awareness on the risks associated with groundwater depletion andsupport communities to develop action plans on integrated resources management (IWRM).

Solicitations and workplans should include plans to conduct studies to examine local or regional effects of climate on ecosystems of interest and on the potential implication of reduced surface water availability on health, nutrition and wellbeing.


implications for Zambia’s most vulnerable sectors, including food security, human health, water resources, and forestry.

Projections for Zambia vary across models on location though most climate change models suggest: Annual temperature increases, above the 1970-1999 average, of 1.2-3.4°C by the 2060s and 1.6-5.5°C by the 2090s.

An overall decrease in annual rainfall, and an increase in the frequency and intensity of heavy rainfall events during the rainy season


DCA ZANACO Increased changes in rainfall events may affect the borrowers capacity to liquidate the loan, particularly for agriculture and renewable energy sectors. For agriculture, persistent drought or flood conditions may affect agricultural production resulting in decreased harvests. For the renewable energy, flood may affect the installation and effective functioning of biodigesters, ultimately affecting the performance of renewable energy loans.

Low to Moderate Insurance is included as part of the loan package to take care of unforeseen losses in case of extreme climate events, such as floods and/or droughts.

DCA Madison Increased changes in rainfall events may affect the borrowers capacity to liquidate the

Low to Moderate Insurance is included as part of the loan package to take care of unforeseen losses in case of extreme


loan, particularly for agriculture and renewable energy sectors. For agriculture, persistent drought or flood conditions may affect agricultural production resulting in decreased harvests. For the renewable energy, flood may affect the installation and effective functioning of biodigesters, ultimately affecting the performance of renewable energy loans.

climate events, such as floods and/or droughts.

SUN TAClimate variability is already affecting Zambia, and projected climate changeimpacts include rises in temperature, shifts in precipitation,

Moderate: Zambia has a relatively abundant supply of surface water and groundwater. However, surface water is unevenly distributed

Workplans should include raising awareness on the risks associated with groundwater depletion andsupport communities to develop action plans on integrated

Workplans should include plans to promoting crop diversity mitigates the risk of individual crops failing to adapt to new climate conditions.


and possibleincreases in the frequency and intensity of weather events. Changes in climate may exacerbate pre-existing socio-economic development challenges, with implications for Zambia’s most vulnerable sectors, including food security, human health, water resources, and forestry.

throughout the country, and the southern region often experiences water shortages

resources management (IWRM).

Agricultural productivity in general can also be impacted by variable temperatures and rainfall or extreme weather events. Adoption of climate-smart production technologies such as conservation farming, climate resistant varieties and small-scale irrigation. Promote crop and livestock insurance. Use climate information and early warning systems.

SUN LENone Low N/A

New WASH ActivityClimate variability is already affecting Zambia, and projected climate change impacts include rises in temperature, shifts in precipitation, and possible

Moderate: Zambia has a relatively abundant supply of surface water and groundwater. However, surface water is unevenly distributed

Design, solicitation and workplans should include plans to raise awareness on the risks associated with groundwater depletion andsupport communities to develop action

Solicitation and workplans should include plans to conduct studies to examine local or regional effects of climate on ecosystems of interest and on the


increases in the frequency and intensity of weather events. Changes in climate may exacerbate pre-existing socio-economic development challenges, with implications for Zambia’s most vulnerable sectors, including food security, human health, water resources, and forestry.

throughout the country, and the southern region often experiences water shortages

plans on integrated resources management (IWRM).

potential implication of reduced surface and groundwater availability on health, nutrition and wellbeing.

Construction Activities

High All construction activities that require an engineer or design firm, or a Mission engineer, will go through a process of climate risk management screening that is approved by the corresponding construction or design firm, or Mission engineer.


ANNEX 2. STRATEGY CRM SUMMARY STRATEGY CRM TOOL OUTPUT MATRIX, PART 1: CLIMATE RISK - DO 2: Rural Poverty Reduced through Enterprise-driven Inclusive Economic Growth - Agriculture

Timeframe

Geography

Climate Risks

Adaptive Capacity

Climate Risk Rating of DO or IR

Opportunities

Climate Risk Management Options

How Climate Risks Are Addressed in the Strategy

Next Steps for Project and/or Activity Design*

Accepted Climate Risks

Current

Future

5- 20 years

Nation-wide

- Increases in temperature,

- The GRZ - with support

Moderat

High

- Strengthen linkages

- Negative climate change

The Mission will

- Using the strategy

Risks will be addressed


rainfall variability (droughts and floods) are likely to result in low agricultural productivity. - Changing climate may result in an increase in pests and diseases that may negatively impact both crop and livestock production, e.g., fall army worm, aflatoxin.- Increased rainfall variability may result in lower recharge rates in underground aquifers, compromising water

from donors - is promoting climate smart agriculture approaches to increase resilience and agricultural productivity, including crop diversification and a maize/legume cropping system.- Extension support is limited which hampers the ability to scale up new climate smart

e with private sector companies.- Promote reforestation and agroforestry activities. - Promote regional seed harmonization to improve seed trade among countries.- Assist the GRZ to promote “Scaling Up Nutrition” (SUN) and support the decentralization of funding so districts can make

impacts on agricultural productivity can be mitigated by investing in research and extension.- Assist the GRZ to improve the enabling environment for private sector investment at the national and provincial levels, e.g., remove restrictions for exports. - Support local food production to help with resilience, nutritional outcomes - As climate risks to the agriculture

consider monitoring this IR for potential future climate risk throughout the Program Cycle, as appropriate, to ensure that new projects and activities are sensitive to any potential impacts and will actively seek to mitigate those impacts.

screening as a reference, USAID/Zambia will screen all new projects and activities for climate risks to ensure that development investments are sensitive to potential impacts and are designed to mitigate those impacts when necessary. - Solicitatio

during design or implementation (work plan, MEL plan, EMMP)


access, which may impact smallholder agricultural productivity.- Increased incidences of forest fires.- Lower agricultural productivity as a result of climatic changes is likely to result in higher rates of malnutrition, stunting, and child morbidity.- Engagement and participation in value chain advisory services may be hampered due to flooding,

approaches. - UNZA, Zambia Agriculture Research Institute (ZARI), seed companies and other institutions are involved in research to develop technologies that address climate related risks. -The Zambia Meteorological Department is being supported by UNDP through the Global Environment Facility

decisions based on the needs of their district.- Encourage farmers to take advantage of changes in temperature or precipitation that will extend the growing season and allow for additional harvests. - Increase training and investment in more sustainable agricultural practices.

portfolio may not fully manifest during the period of the strategy, project and activity MEL plans should be sensitive to the onset of future climate impacts.- At the project and activity level, specific risks will be identified and addressed through the development of the work plan, MEL plan, and Environmental Mitigation and

ns developed for individual activities will contain language that requires implementing partners to address specific climate risks as part of their work plan, MEL plan, and EMMP development.


road washouts, or more frequent storms.- Access to markets may hampered due to flooding or road washouts.- The GRZ may redirect resources away from the agricultural sector if it is required to respond to negative consequences of more frequent/stronger weather events or short-term crises.- Reduced surface water will make small scale

to implement an Early Warning Systems project that supports small holder farmers to improve their yields.

- Promote new public-private partnerships that will strengthen agriculture value chains. - Promote programs to improve the security of property rights and land tenure in order to incentivize agricultural investment, including climate-smart agriculture (CSA). - Train farmers to

Monitoring Plans (EMMP) under Reg. 216.


farming even more difficult as small holder farmers have no technologies for groundwater extraction. - Reduced surface water and groundwater availability for domestic use and agriculture production. - Contamination of water sources during floods (decrease in water quality). - Flooding and storm-water infrastructure damage and physical damage to

optimize irrigation through enhanced storage and access to irrigation water; more efficient water delivery systems; improved irrigation technologies such as deficit irrigation; more effective water harvesting; and agronomy that increases soil water retention through practices, such as minimum


structures

- Increased public health risks due to inundation and overflow of latrines and septic systems caused by increased precipitation and storm events.

tillage and canopy management. - Encourage adoption of innovations in food processing, packaging, transport, and storage - Build institutional capacity in local governments


Annex 3: Planned/current activities covered under this IEEImplementing Partner

Activity Name Start date

End date

Life of Project funding

TBD Enterprise Development Growth Enhanced (EDGE)

Supporting the development or operation of post-harvest activities. Supporting small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) involved in processing and agribusinesses. Investing in efforts to diversify smallholders’ livelihoods including off-farm and nonfarm enterprises including (i) beekeeping; (ii) agribusiness commodity production; and (iii) promoting alternative cooking energy sources, andProviding technical assistance and/or specialized training, and cost share or otherwise buy down risk for product development, for ii) upgrading existing facilities and processes.

2020 2024 TBD

TBD Enhancing Natural Resources, Agri-business, Land and Environment Partnerships

Support development of relevant policy and legal framework to enhance communitycapacities in natural resource management, agri-business, land, water sanitation and hygiene, energy and rural development. Policy analysis, meetings and conferences.

2021 2025 TBD

IAPRI Feed the Future Zambia Policy Strengthening Project


2016 2020 6,174,873


World Bank Zambia Trade Facilitation Support Program

Activities to determine market competitiveness of key agricultural value chains and trade generally.

2016 2021 1,700,000

Catholic Relief Services



2017 2020 4,500,000

ZANACO DCA ZANACOSupport loans to the agriculture sector.

2015 2023 35,000,000

Madison DCA MadisonSupport access to capital for the agricultural and energy sectors.

2015 2022 8,000,000

DAI SUN TAActivities to Provide Direct Technical Assistance for Agricultural Producers and Small-Holder FarmersActivities to disseminate/ increase access to improved agricultural technologies and inputs (seeds, fertilizers, pesticides)

Production of high energy protein supplements

Demonstrate improved cooking practices


2019 2026 71,000,000


Khulisa SUN LEPolicy analysis, research, surveys, meetings and conferences.

2018 2026 15,900,000

TBD New WASH ActivityWater Supply and Sanitation that include shallow well construction/rehabilitation, borehole drilling, latrine construction/rehabilitation, and environmental sanitation improvement around schools and households.

2021 2026 TBD


project/activity data · web viewagribusiness enterprises, particularly agricultural processing,...

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