Acknowledgments
This course is adapted from training materials first developed for USAID’s Bureau for Africa. Many individuals and institutions assisted in its design. Eric Loken and Rich Tobin helped conceive this training concept and supported it through their respective offices at REDSO/ESA and the Environmental and Natural Resources Policy and Training Project (EPAT). Walter Knausenberger, now the USAID Regional Environmental Officer in Kenya, played essential coordination and cross-fertilization roles, providing many of the materials that shaped the course. John Gaudet, also of the Africa Bureau, provided important comments and suggestions. Idi Samba (former USAID Regional Environmental Officer for West Africa), prepared and delivered modules of the course.
As REDSO/ESA's Environmental Advisor, Charlotte Bingham (now the Africa Environment Sector Manager at the World Bank) provided expert editing and technical contributions to the modules, significantly improving the quality of the sourcebooks with each re-drafting. Since 1996, a version of the course has been given over 16 times in 13 countries. Charlotte was a trainer and facilitator for 13 of these courses, and her contributions to refining the actual course presentation deserve special recognition from all of us who have been associated with her.
Peter Croal of the Canadian International Development Agency and Patrice LeBlanc of the Canadian Federal Environmental Assessment Review Office followed the development of the course and supplied a number of very useful supporting documents. The US Environmental Protection Agency provided copies of its Environmental Assessment course materials. The Centre for Our Common Future is gratefully acknowledged for allowing reproduction of sections of its layperson’s version of Agenda 21.
Thanks must also go to Bob Winterbottom of International Resources Group Limited as Project Manager for the refinement of the course under the Environmental Policy and Institutional Strengthening Indefinite Quantity Contract (EPIQ) Environmental Capacity Building Program (ENCAPIV). Lastly, Ben Campbell of World Vision has played a significant role in modifying the course for presentation to future CS Trainers in USAID’s Environmental Procedures and deserves our gratitude.
Wes Fisher
Michael Lazarus
Tellus Institute
Boston, MA
September 2000
Table of Contents
A. About the Course...... A-1
Course Description and Objectives...... A-1
Background...... A-1
Course Objectives...... A-2
History of the Course...... A-3
The Course Materials...... A-6
B. Preparing for the Course...... B-1
Selecting the Course Venue...... B-1
Identifying the Course Participants...... B-1
Logistical and Other Advance Arrangements...... B-1
Who Should Attend? Participants, Facilitators, and Course Size...... B-1
Advance Visits to the Host Country...... B-2
Choice of Local Resource Persons and Presenters...... B-4
Field Trip Preparations...... B-4
Invitations...... B-5
Sourcebook Reproduction and Assembly...... B-5
Student Assistant(s)...... B-6
C. Designing the Course Program...... C-1
Generic Course Program...... C-2
D. During the Course...... D-1
Assigning Responsibilities, Presenters, and Synthesis Group...... D-1
Setting Up Working Groups...... D-1
Definition of Roles...... D-1
Notes for Facilitators and Chairs...... D-2
Notes for Presenters...... D-4
E. Module Guides...... E-1
1. Introductory Session...... E-1
2. Regulation 216 and DAP Guidance...... E-3
3. Environment, Development and Sustainability: Global and Regional Issues...... E-4
4A. Environmentally-Sound Design: Principles and Practice...... E-5
4B. Environmentally Sound or Unsound? Participant Experiences in Design and
Implementation (Optional, Depending on Time Available)...... E-7
5A. Introduction to the Environmental Documentation Manual and Use of
The Environmental Decision Guide...... E-9
6. Basic Concepts for Assessing Environmental Impacts...... E-12
7A. Sustainability In the Host Country and Host Country Issues...... E-13
7B. National Policies and Experiences with Environmental Impact Assessment...... E-15
8. Preparing and Submitting Regulation 216 Environmental Documentation...... E-16 9. Information Requirements for Screening and Preliminary Assessment...... E-17
10A. Introduction to Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring...... E-18
10B. Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring: More on Issues and Methods...... E-19
10C. Working Group: Developing Plans for Mitigation, Monitoring and Evaluation
for Case Studies...... E-21
11. Writing the IEE...... E-22
12A. Field Trip Presentations And Working Group Preparations...... E-24
12B. Drafting IEEs From Case Studies, Presentations, and Discussion...... E-29
13A. The Environmental Assessment Process in More Detail...... E-30
13B. Preparing the Environmental Status Report...... E-32
13C. Working Group: Analysis of Participants' DAP/PAA Environmental
Documentation Submissions...... E-33
14. Environmental Assessment of Pesticide Use in USAID Activities: Issues and
Methods...... E-34
15. Course Evaluation, Synthesis, and Recommendations for Follow-up
Activities...... E-35
16. Closing...... E-38
Appendices
A. Text of Regulation 22 CFR Part 216 (Reg. 216)
B. Background Reading on Environmental Assessment
C. Background Reading on Global and Regional Environmental Issues
D. References
E. Presentation Transparencies
F. List of Electronic Files and File Titles
FACGUIDE.*: September 6, 2000
A. About the Course
Course Description and Objectives
The Africa Regional Environmental Assessment Training course has been developed to promote the timely incorporation of sound environmental management principles into the design and implementation of activities, projects and programs sponsored by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The primary target audiences for this course are the Private Voluntary Organizations (PVOs), Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and their host country collaborators that are increasingly responsible for implementation of USAID activities in Africa.
The course is designed to increase the ability of these PVOs and NGOs to design and implement environmentally sound and sustainable activities, and to follow USAID environmental assessment and review procedures in doing so. In addition to USAID procedures, the course covers topics of general interest to a wider audience, such as host government personnel, local environmental organizations and experts, and local USAID mission staff. These topics include: the principles and practice of environmental assessment, environmentally-sound design, review of local and global environmental issues, mitigation strategies, and environmental monitoring and evaluation methods.
The course is designed to be an interactive learning experience, with an emphasis on local case studies and participant working groups and presentations. Participants are encouraged to share their own experiences and insights and to ask a lot of questions throughout the week. While the course will be organized around a set of specific case studies, participants are encouraged to bring their own case studies, and there are scheduled opportunities for these experiences to be presented and discussed.
Background
USAID funds development activities throughout Sub-Saharan Africa. In recent years, collaboration between USAID and PVOs/NGOs has grown substantially. Presently, a sizable proportion of USAID programs consists of grants or agreements with PVOs, since PVOs/NGOs are increasingly supporting effective relief, rehabilitation and development activities at the local level, often under extremely trying conditions. The increase in USAID funding to PVO and NGO programs, projects and activities has recently prompted the need to ensure that these organizations also comply with USAID environmental regulations.
All USAID activities must adhere to the environmental procedures that are defined in Regulation 216 (22 CFR Part 216, commonly referred to as “Reg. 216”). These procedures define the analysis and documentation needed for approval of project activities. Required analyses can range from simpler Environmental Reviews and Initial Environmental Examinations (IEEs) to more complete Environmental Assessments (EAs) and, in special or unusual circumstances, Environmental Impact Statements (EISs)[1]. In contrast, some activities, such as education or disaster relief, are excluded or exempted from environmental analysis requirements.
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To comply with USAID environmental procedures -- indeed to design and implement environmentally-sound activities generally -- project implementers require familiarity not only with the procedures themselves, but with the broader principles and practices of environmental assessment and project design. They must be capable of anticipating "reasonably foreseeable impacts" and of designing alternative actions, companion projects, mitigation measures, monitoring plans, or other steps to ensure that these impacts are minimized.
Inadequate familiarity and experience with these procedures and principles frequently result in significant delays in project design and implementation. This problem is particularly evident in the case of PVO/NGO “umbrella” projects, which are approved before many of the specific “sub-project” activities are well-defined. Once defined, each sub-project activity may be subject to environmental review prior to implementation, should incorporate practical and effective environmental design considerations, and should be monitored to ensure that mitigation steps are followed and environmental damage does not occur. This course is specifically designed to assist project implementers in completing these tasks.
Course Objectives
The Africa Regional Environmental Assessment Training has four primary objectives, assisting PVOs, NGOs, USAID Missions, contractors, host governments and other entities to:
1) Design and implement environmentally-sound activities. This is the overriding goal of the course, as well as of the environmental methods and procedures that will be taught. The course will help participants develop deeper understanding and awareness of how environmental concerns can affect the sustainability of development programs, projects and activities, and thus to appreciate the role for environmental assessment, monitoring and evaluation.
2) Identify and assess reasonably foreseeable environmental impacts. The course will familiarize participants with the basic principles and practice of environmental assessment, and provide them with practical experience in the application of simple assessment tools and approaches.
3) Mitigate, monitor, and thereby avoid unnecessary adverse environmental impacts. USAIDs Environmental Guidelines for Small Scale Activities in Africa: Environmentally Sound Design for Planning Implementing Humanitarian and Development and other reference materials will be introduced to participants for use in identifying options to minimize negative environmental impacts.
4) Follow USAID procedures in the context of evolving local policies and needs, using local expertise where possible to do so, and thereby avoiding unnecessary delays in activity approval and implementation.
The bulk of USAID activities in Africa require only an Initial Environmental Examination, with follow-up reviews and monitoring arrangements, rather than more sophisticated Environmental Impact Assessments and detailed Environmental Mitigation, Evaluation, and Monitoring Plans. For some larger USAID "umbrella projects", it is likely that an "umbrellatype IEE" will have already been prepared. In such cases, specific grants or subgrants will not require a full IEE, but rather a more brief environmental review or screening of the specific, proposed activities.
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Therefore, the course focuses on developing participants’ capability to: a) prepare an environmental review and relevant supporting material; and b) designing a monitoring and evaluation process for project components with potential negative impacts. While participants will gain knowledge of the other procedural requirements of Reg.216 and the logical progression of required documentation and analysis, less emphasis is placed on more complex environmental procedures and documents. The course relies heavily on case studies and participant working group exercises to achieve these objectives.
History of the Course
As of September 2000, the course has been given at (or is planned for) the following venue(s):
Kadoma, Zimbabwe, July 31 - August 4, 1995. The initial course was for a group of over 40 participants, all associated with the CAMPFIRE project (a community-based natural resources management project).
Beira, Mozambique, March 13-17, 1996. This course was held at the Hotel Embaixador in Beira for over 20 PVO/NGO participants under USAID/Mozambique's new PVO Support II Project.
Kabale, Uganda, July 21-27, 1996. This course was held at the White Horse Inn in Kabale for PVO/NGOs and Government representatives under USAID/Ugandas Action Program for the Environment (APE) Project.
Morogoro, Tanzania, September 9-13, 1996. For PVOs/NGOs and government staff to be stakeholders in USAID/Tanzanias Participatory Environmental Resources Management (PERM) activity.
Fianarantsoa, Madagascar, October 14-19, 1996. Conducted for USAID/Madagascars Sustainable Approaches to Viable Environmental Management Project and others.
Thies, Senegal, January 6-10, 1997. For USAID/Senegal Partners.
Mekelle, Ethiopia, February 24-28, 1997. Held for PVO/NGOs involved in PL 480 Title II Food Aid as Cooperating Sponsors.
Segou, Mali, September 23-27, 1997. Presented for USAID/Mali partners.
Naro Moru, Kenya, November 10-15, 1997. Provided for the Kenya Wildlife Service and USAID/Kenyas COBRA and Micro-Ped projects.
Tamale, Ghana, December 8-12, 1997. This course was for PL 480 Title II Cooperating Sponsors coming into compliance with Regulation 216 for the first time. ADRA/Ghana served as the in- country sponsor for the course. Participants were primarily from the African region, but also included representatives from Bangladesh and Peru.
Praia, Cape Verde, March 3-7, 1998. Also a regional course for Title II Cooperating Sponsors. ACDI/VOCA served as the in-country coordinator. Representatives from CARE Honduras were present who subsequently adapted the course in Spanish. CARE Honduras then co-sponsored regional courses in 1998 with CRS in Juicer Galan, Honduras and FHI in Cocochamba, Bolivia.
Mamou, Guinea, February 15-19, 1999. For USAID/Guinea Partners. OICI/Guinea served as the sponsor for the course, and facilitation support was provided by Guinee Ecologie.
Maputo, Mozambique, March 22-26, 1999. World Vision/Mozambique had the lead coordination role for this regional course for Title II Cooperating Sponsors. Several countries in the region sent CSs representatives, including USAID Partners from Angola. Save the Children in Luanda subsequently became the lead sponsor for the EA course planned for Sumbe, Angola in October 2000.
Gaborone, Botswana, August 1-6, 1999. Organized primarily for USAID Partners working on programs under the direction of USAID’s Regional Center for Southern Africa, but with PVOs in attendance from Kenya, Angola and Madagascar as well.
Tarangire, Tanzania, October 4-8, 1999. Training primarily for USAID/Tanzania partners, but with representatives present from Ethiopia, Mali, Rwanda and Senegal.
Additional courses are now planned for:
Washington, D.C., September 11-14, 2000. A Title II Cooperating Sponsors Training of Trainers EA Course. The Food Aid Management (FAM) Environmental Working Group (EWG) is the sponsor, with the Chairperson of the EWG, Ben Campbell of World Vision, playing a major role as both a trainer and organizer, and logistic support from Steve Zodrow of FAM. Counterpart International is providing the venue.
Sumbe, Angola, October 16-20. A course organized for USAID/Angola Partners and co-sponsored by SAVE/USA Angola. Sashi Chanda of SAVE/USA Angola is providing key logistics coordination, with support from Jim Jackson and Gomes Cambuta of USAID/Angola.
Segou, Mali, October 30-November 3, 2000. This will be the first regional course for Title II Cooperating Sponsors given in French and will be followed by a five day thematic workshop on Integrated Pest Management, also to be given in French. Africare is the sponsor for both courses. Technical Support for the IPM course is being provided by CARE’s Mario Pareja. Guinee Ecologie’s Mamadou Saliou Diallo is provided pre-planning and organizational, while in country logistics is being coordinated by Africare/Mali’s Amanda Childress.