@ ~T~~~,~ AFGHANISTAN Office of Afghanistan & Pakistan Affairs (OAPA) C ~~~ REQUEST FOR CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION

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II lt/117 PROGRAM/ACTIVITY DATA

Country Code: Program Area: Assistance Objective: Intermediate Results:

306-002 Health Outcomes Improved Investing in People Health

Country or Region: Afghanistan Activity Name: Health Sector Resiliency (HSR) Funding Period: 09/28/2015 to 09/27/2020 Life of Project Amount: $ 26,585, 743 IEE Prepared by: Husnia Sadat Date: 10/25/2017 IEE Amendment (YIN): N, but HSR was previously covered under the IHSSSP IEE:

• Original IEE: OAP A-13-APR-AFG-0033, 4/3/2013 • Amendment #1 OAPA-14-JAN-AFG-0019, 117/2014 • Amendment #2 OAPA-14-SEP-AFG-0064, 9/8/2014 • Amendment #3 OAPA - 15 -AUG - AFG-0031, 7/13/2015

ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION RECOMMENDED:

Categorical Exclusion Positive Determination Negative Determination With Conditions

[X] [ ] [ ]

Defetrnl Negative Determination Exemption

] ] ]

Climate Change Vulnerability Risk None [X] Low[] Medium [ ] High [ ]

1.0 PURPOSE AND ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION

1.1. Purpose

The purpose of this RCE for Health Sector Resiliency (HSR) is to:

l. Document the de-scoping of ce11ain activities under the HSR component; 2. Provide a refined description of the HSR activities, including those that are being de­

scoped, to clearly demonstrate that these qualify for Categorical Exclusion as this description was lacking in the IEE for IHSSSP;

3. Document the reduction in Life of Project funds ofHSR with $11 ,350,726 from $37,936,470 to$ 26,585,743

HSR was previously covered under the IEE for IHSSP. Because there has been some misunderstanding regarding the environmental requirements ofHSR, the MEO recommended that a stand-alone Request for Categorical Exclusion is issued with a refined description of activities.

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1.2. Activity Description

The following activities are dropped from HSR's Scope of Work:

l) Strengthen sub-national governance. 2) Increase efficiency and transparency of fiduciary systems and internal processes in the

Ministry of Public Health (MoPH. 3) Strengthen capacity and perception of Afghan citizens and civil society to participate

in meaningful engagement with the MoPH. 4) Improve transparency and accountability ofMoPH financial management systems 5) Institutionalize high-functioning in-service training (IST) systems within the MoPH 6) Institutionalize leadership and governance-strengthening activities within the MoPH

2.0 RECOMMENDED THRESHOLD DECISIONS AND MITIGATION ACTIONS

Below are the recommended actions for the activities that remain under HSR, their impacts on the environment and recommended Threshold Determinations and Conditions, if any:

Activity Effects on natural or Recommended Threshold physical environment Determination

USAID Program Arca 1 (off-budget): Support to the Governance

l. Improve access to and use of health sector data through supporting MoPH and health partners to upgrade the health management information system (HMIS) to DHIS2.

Categorical Exclusions, no 2. In the private sector, create an No effect on the natural or

enabling environment for the action required per private sector involvement,

physical environment 22 CFR 216.2( c )(2)(i), (iii), investment and growth and (v) and (xiv) improving collaboration between the public and p1ivate sectors by strengthening the organizational ci:pacity of the key government units

USAID Program Arca 2 (off-budget): No effect on the natural or Categorical Exclusions, no Health Financing physical environment action required per

22 CPR 216.2(c)(2)(i), (iii), I. Boost countty-led systems to (v) and (xiv)

increase domestic health funding, use resources more efficiently, and foster transparency and accountability through technical assistance to implement increased funding through MoPH initiatives, such as user fees, global budgeting.

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2. Institutionalize the resource tracking system which will promote evidence-based planning, monitoring and advocacy in use of financial resources and improving transparency and accountability, by increasing access to financial '

data and efficiency in health spending.

USAID Program Area 3 (off-budget): Human Resources

I. Develop and institutionalize Human Resource Management ' l11fonnation System (HRMIS) in the health sector of Afghanistan. This system will allow MoPH staff, Provincial Health Offices (PHOs), and managers to track data on staffing, health Categorical Exclusions, no professional graduates, in- No effect on the natural or action required per service training, and continuing physical environment 22 CFR 216.2(c)(2)(i), (iii), professional development that align with the evolving (v) and (xiv) regulatory system and licensing ofGolRA.

2. As part of the HRMIS system, HSR will work with MoPH to develop an electronic filing system for the personnel records of approximately 18,000 civil ' servants to facilitate easy access to personnel data

Tablel. Proposed activities and recommended threshold decisions for theremaining activities under HSR.

3.0 ENViRONMENT AL RECOMMENDATIONS

Recommended Action: Categorical Exclusions

HSR activities for: improving health sector governance and accountability, increasing domestic financing for priority health services and strengthening human resources systems and operations at the Ministry of Public Health, do not have an effect on the natural and physical environment fit within the categories listed in 22 CFR 216.2 (c)(2) and are categorically excluded from any further environmental review requirements. The originator of the proposed action has determined that the proposed activities are within the following classes of actions:

• Education, technical assistance, or training programs, except to the extent such programs include activities directly affecting the environment (such as constmction , of facilities, etc.). [22 CFR 2 16.2(c)(2)(i)];

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• Analyses, studies, academic or research workshops and meetings. [22 CFR 216.2( c)(2)(iii)];

• Document and information transfers. [22 CFR 216.2(c)(2)(v)]; and • Studies, projects or programs intended to develop the capability ofrecipient

countries to engage in development planning, except to the extent designed to result in activities directly affecting the environment (such as construction of facilities, etc.). [22 CFR 216.2(c)(2)(xiv)].

4.0 REVISIONS

Pursuant to 22 CFR 216.3(a)(9), if new information becomes available which indicates that activities to be funded by the project might be "major" and the project's effect "significant,"

or if l:l.dditional activities are proposed that might be considered "major" and their effects

significant, this RCE will be reviewed and revised by the originator of the project and

submitted to the BEO/OAP A for approval and, if appropriate, an environmental assessment

will be prepared. It is the responsibility of the USA.ID CORI AOR to keep the Mission

Environmental Officer, USAID/Afghanistan and the BEO/OAPA infonned of any new

information or changes in scope and nature of the activity that might require revision of the

IEE.

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APPROVAL OF RECOMMENDED ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIONS

Request for Categorical Exclusion, Health Sector Resiliency (HSR)

Date:

A/COR II/ / (~Ir Hu

Office Director fl W 1 'an Slater

Mission Environmental Officer ~ I fjt / 1 Off · Iaff)IBOtte11be

Regional Environ.mental Advisor/Asia & OAPA cleared by email 11/1/2017 Andrei Barannik

Regional Legal Advisor

ll(v/ ( r Deputy N,1ission Director

Mission Director

Approval: , Date:

Bureau Environmental Officer/OAP/\. 11//¥/l/ rrr ?

DISTRIBUTION: MEO, COR/AOR. OAA, RLA

Harry Bottenberg <hbottenberg@usaid.gov>

Re: for REA review: RCE Health Sector Resiliency (HSR) 1 message

Andrei Barannik <abarannik@usaid.gov> Wed, Nov 1, 2017 at 5:59 PM To: Harry Bottenberg <hbottenberg@usaid.gov> Cc: Mohammad Ismail lbrahimi <miibrahimi@usaid .gov>

Harry -

Reviewed - looks OK - two aspects you may consider:

1. as project activities seem to be under implementation for quite a while, A/COR may provide a few para on environmental compliance lessons learnt

2. as project seems to seek more private sector engagement and strengthening MOPH capabilities, you may wish to have a "condition" in this RCE stipulating MEO and A/COR review and concurrence on the SOW to ensure that it duly captures/addresses climate change impacts on communal and other diseases.

Otherwise, I clear - pis have it duly signed in the Mission and send to Chris Payne, BEO/OAPA (cc Annalie) for his review and concurrence. W/r, Andrei

On Wed, Nov 1, 2017 at 1 :28 AM, Harry Bottenberg <hbottenberg@usaid.gov> wrote: Andrei, see attached for your review.

---------- Forwarded message ----------' From: Harry Bottenberg <hbottenberg@usaid.gov>

Date: Wed, Nov 1, 2017 at 9:57 AM Subject: Re: RCE for HSR To: Husnia Sadat <hsadat@usaid.gov>

Hi Husnia, I made some final edits, see attached. I wi ll send this to Andrei Barannik, the REA, for his clearance . When he is OK with it we will start mission clearances; we'll prepare a folder with a hard copy document for you and Bill to

1 sign.

• harry

· On Wed, Nov 1, 2017 at 9:05 AM, Husnia Sadat <hsadat@usaid.gov> wrote: One was the clean version after incorporating your comments. The second one contained your questions and my answers. Anyhow, please find attached the clean and final version for your action .

On Wed, Nov 1, 2017 at 8:59 AM, Mohammad Ismail lbrahimi <miibrahimi@usaid.gov> wrote: Good Morning Dr. Husnia, Thanks for sending the final draft. your e-mail has two attachment of the same doc, I am wondering which one would be the final draft. can you please resend to us the final version.

1 1 Mohammad Ismail Ibrahimi