Socio-Environmental Socio-Environmental Impacts of Ecosystem Impacts of Ecosystem

Projects in AfricaProjects in Africa

CaseCase StudiesStudies

The ARES Region & World BankThe ARES Region & World Bank

ARES region comprises nearly ARES region comprises nearly all of Sub-Saharan Africaall of Sub-Saharan Africa

682.1 million people682.1 million people Economic growth and Economic growth and

livelihoods are contingent on livelihoods are contingent on the provision of natural the provision of natural resources such as land, water resources such as land, water and forests. and forests.

African ecosystems are a key African ecosystems are a key source of water supply for source of water supply for agro-developmentagro-development

ARES ecosystem absorbs ARES ecosystem absorbs large amounts of carbon large amounts of carbon emissionsemissions

Mismanaged environment has Mismanaged environment has negative impacts on health, negative impacts on health, economic growth, and the economic growth, and the global environment.global environment.

World Bank Key ARES GoalsWorld Bank Key ARES Goals

Ensure Sustainable LivelihoodsEnsure Sustainable Livelihoods Improve Environmental HealthImprove Environmental Health Reduce Vulnerability to Natural Reduce Vulnerability to Natural

Disasters and Extreme Climate Disasters and Extreme Climate EventsEvents

Maintain Global Ecosystems and Maintain Global Ecosystems and ValuesValues

Key ARES ChallengesKey ARES Challenges

High population growthHigh population growth Widespread povertyWidespread poverty HIV-AIDS HIV-AIDS Political fragmentation and instabilityPolitical fragmentation and instability Low levels of investment in human resources and Low levels of investment in human resources and

developmentdevelopment ImmigrationImmigration Rapid and unplanned urbanizationRapid and unplanned urbanization Extreme climate variationsExtreme climate variations Deteriorating natural eco-systemsDeteriorating natural eco-systems

Environmental Resource Environmental Resource ManagementManagement

ObjectivesObjectives MethodologiesMethodologies StrategyStrategy ImplementationImplementation Performance Indicators & Performance Indicators &

AssessmentAssessment

Zimbabwe Community Action ProjectZimbabwe Community Action ProjectObjectiveObjective: : Poverty Reduction Poverty Reduction Complete the macroeconomic agenda for reform and private sector Complete the macroeconomic agenda for reform and private sector

development in order to foster sustained growth development in order to foster sustained growth Strengthening rural development and natural resources management Strengthening rural development and natural resources management

including empowerment of local communities to manage economic including empowerment of local communities to manage economic and social developmentand social development

Promote poverty reduction through human resources investments, Promote poverty reduction through human resources investments, effective social safety nets, improved targeting and regular monitoring effective social safety nets, improved targeting and regular monitoring of welfare indicators.of welfare indicators.

Methodology:Methodology: Community sub-projects (including social mobilization, infrastructure, Community sub-projects (including social mobilization, infrastructure,

improved natural resources management, training and capacity improved natural resources management, training and capacity building for local communities)building for local communities)

Poverty monitoring and analysis (technical assistance, study fund, Poverty monitoring and analysis (technical assistance, study fund, survey enhancement, training and capacity-building, workshops, survey enhancement, training and capacity-building, workshops, dissemination); and dissemination); and

Community Action Project (CAP) institutional support (administration Community Action Project (CAP) institutional support (administration and operating costs, beneficiary assessments, Environmental Impact and operating costs, beneficiary assessments, Environmental Impact Assessment, training and capacity building for CAP staff).Assessment, training and capacity building for CAP staff).

Zimbabwe Community Action ProjectZimbabwe Community Action ProjectStrategy:Strategy: Channel of financial resources directly to the beneficiary Channel of financial resources directly to the beneficiary

communities.communities. Targeted 26 of the poorest districts of Zimbabwe and is support of Targeted 26 of the poorest districts of Zimbabwe and is support of

Government of Zimbabwe's Poverty Alleviation Action Plan (PAAP) Government of Zimbabwe's Poverty Alleviation Action Plan (PAAP) Empowerment of poor communities and monitoring of povertyEmpowerment of poor communities and monitoring of poverty Objective and design were consistent with Zimbabwe's Country Objective and design were consistent with Zimbabwe's Country

Assistance Strategy (CAS 1997) on poverty reduction.Assistance Strategy (CAS 1997) on poverty reduction.

Implementation:Implementation: CAP became effective in 1998 but 18 months later, disbursements CAP became effective in 1998 but 18 months later, disbursements

to the project were suspended because the Government of to the project were suspended because the Government of Zimbabwe defaulted on its loans to the Bank and other Zimbabwe defaulted on its loans to the Bank and other international financial institutions.international financial institutions.

In 2000, the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare In 2000, the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare (MPSLSW) gave CAP an additional loan, but the project had to be (MPSLSW) gave CAP an additional loan, but the project had to be significantly scaled down and project employees released. the significantly scaled down and project employees released. the local level also released the officers responsible for CAP.local level also released the officers responsible for CAP.

In October 2000, the Bank cancelled the project because of In October 2000, the Bank cancelled the project because of Zimbabwe’s default on international loansZimbabwe’s default on international loans

Zimbabwe Community Action ProjectZimbabwe Community Action Project

Outcome:Outcome:

The design of the project was appropriate for The design of the project was appropriate for achieving the objective and outputs.achieving the objective and outputs.

Project was unable to achieve its objectives in its Project was unable to achieve its objectives in its shortened timeframe.shortened timeframe.

All structures were dismantled and work All structures were dismantled and work suspendedsuspended

Financial default was the primary reason for Financial default was the primary reason for failure. failure.

Final assessment is Final assessment is unsatisfactoryunsatisfactory

Mauritania Rainfed Natural Resource Mauritania Rainfed Natural Resource Management Project (NRMP)Management Project (NRMP)

ObjectivesObjectives:: To break the poverty cycle by improving basic ecological functions To break the poverty cycle by improving basic ecological functions

(water and mineral cycles, ecological succession) and managing (water and mineral cycles, ecological succession) and managing resourcesresources

Sustainable yield increases in crops and livestockSustainable yield increases in crops and livestock Increased incomes for participating communitiesIncreased incomes for participating communities

Methodology:Methodology: Financial investments in 250 villages chosen from representative Financial investments in 250 villages chosen from representative

agro-ecological zones in the country’s rainfed areaagro-ecological zones in the country’s rainfed area Strengthen government services to support community Strengthen government services to support community

organization, improve the legal framework for local empowerment, organization, improve the legal framework for local empowerment, and finance government's technical support to beneficiaries and finance government's technical support to beneficiaries

Enhance skills, including developing and disseminating required Enhance skills, including developing and disseminating required technologies (research, short- and medium-term technical technologies (research, short- and medium-term technical assistance)assistance)

Mauritania Rainfed Natural Resource Mauritania Rainfed Natural Resource Management Project (NRMP)Management Project (NRMP)

StrategyStrategy:: Empower local communities and decentralize services of the Ministry of Empower local communities and decentralize services of the Ministry of

Rural Development and Environment (MDRE); Rural Development and Environment (MDRE); Implement recommendations of the country environmental strategy Implement recommendations of the country environmental strategy

paper (CESP) concerning more efficient management of natural paper (CESP) concerning more efficient management of natural resourcesresources

Coordinate with existing extension services, devising a domestic Coordinate with existing extension services, devising a domestic energy strategy, and cooperating with the Mauritanian Integrated energy strategy, and cooperating with the Mauritanian Integrated Development Program of Irrigated Agriculture (PDIAIM)Development Program of Irrigated Agriculture (PDIAIM)

Implementation:Implementation: Sought to address rural development in an integrated approachSought to address rural development in an integrated approach Combat the underlying causes of environmental degradation (i.e., Combat the underlying causes of environmental degradation (i.e.,

mainly the overuse of resources)mainly the overuse of resources) Used a bottom-up, participatory approach that empowered Used a bottom-up, participatory approach that empowered

communities to determine their own development needs. (d) carried communities to determine their own development needs. (d) carried out in close coordination with ongoing programs and projects to avoid out in close coordination with ongoing programs and projects to avoid duplication of efforts; and duplication of efforts; and

Supported Mauritania’s existing communal development policySupported Mauritania’s existing communal development policy

Mauritania Rainfed Natural Resource Mauritania Rainfed Natural Resource Management Project (NRMP)Management Project (NRMP)

OutcomeOutcome:: In the 295 villages, 120,000 people affected by NRMP. In the 295 villages, 120,000 people affected by NRMP.

Investments in soil and water conservation (e.g., aerial tree Investments in soil and water conservation (e.g., aerial tree seeding, rehabilitation and protection of retention dams) visibly seeding, rehabilitation and protection of retention dams) visibly improved the re-growth of natural vegetation and soil fertility, improved the re-growth of natural vegetation and soil fertility, resulting decreased rate of degradatio.resulting decreased rate of degradatio.

Increased the available natural resource base. Fencing of crop Increased the available natural resource base. Fencing of crop area against animal intrusion cut production losses by 30%. area against animal intrusion cut production losses by 30%.

Yield from livestock increased, new crops were planted.Yield from livestock increased, new crops were planted. Empowerment of village communities through participatory Empowerment of village communities through participatory

approach has had a positive impact on social organization and approach has had a positive impact on social organization and

change in attitudes among rural communities.change in attitudes among rural communities. Project received overal rating of Project received overal rating of satisfactory satisfactory in achieving its in achieving its

development objective of sustainable yield increases and development objective of sustainable yield increases and increased incomes for participating communities.increased incomes for participating communities.

Social objective of empowerment was rated Social objective of empowerment was rated Highly SatisfactoryHighly Satisfactory

Conclusions & RecommendationsConclusions & Recommendations

Close monitoring of multiple participants and Close monitoring of multiple participants and agencies is necessary to avoid duplication of workagencies is necessary to avoid duplication of work

Local participation and decentralization critical Local participation and decentralization critical success factorssuccess factors

Government and agency financial stability is Government and agency financial stability is necessarynecessary

Flexible, community level programs that can be Flexible, community level programs that can be adapted to local situations increase probability of adapted to local situations increase probability of successsuccess

Long-term commitment instead of short-term Long-term commitment instead of short-term projects.projects.