DCN: 2017-BYE-004

United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

for Ukraine, Belarus, and Moldova

Request for Categorical Exclusion (RCE)

Activity Data:

Activity Name: / Creating Sustainable Infrastructure to Support Start-ups and Small Business Development in the Regions of Belarus
Assistance Objective: / Economic Growth
Program Area: / EG.5: Private Sector Productivity
Country(ies) and/or Operating Unit: / Belarus
Originating Office: / USAID/Belarus / Date: June 19, 2017
PAD Level RCE: Yes No
RCE/IEE Amendment: Yes No
Supplemental RCE: Yes No / DCN of Original RCE/IEE: / 2014-BYE-003
DCN of Amendment(s):
If Yes, Purpose of Amendment:
DCN(s) of Related EA/IEE/RCE/ER(s): / DCN: 2015-BYE-015 (PAD IEE)
Implementation Start/End: / AMD: FY2018-FY2020 / LOP: June 2014-FY2020
Funding Amount: / AMD: $ 550,000 / LOP Amount: $800,218
Contract/Award Number (if known): / n/a
Recommended Determination: Categorical Exclusion
Additional Elements:
Government to Government: / Local Procurement: Donor Co-Funded:
  1. Project and Activity Description

1.1Purpose and Scope of RCE

This RCE has been prepared as a Supplemental RCE to the Belarus PAD IEE, DCN: 2015-BYE-015 and as an amendment to DCN: 2014-BYE-003. The subject of this Supplemental RCE and amendmentis the three-year, $550,000“Creating Sustainable Infrastructure to Support Start-ups and Small Business Development in the Regions of Belarus”follow-on activity. The follow-on activity will be implemented by the Society for Innovative Business Support (SIBS),a local NGO, under a new award.

The current activity ends in September 2017 and is implemented under DCN: 2014-BYE-003. This supplemental RCE reviews the “Creating Sustainable Infrastructure to Support Start-ups and Small Business Development in the Regions of Belarus”follow-on activity elements to ensure they remain consistent with the types of activities which qualify as Categorical Exclusions per 22CFR216.2(c).

1.2Activity Overview

The follow-on activity aims to expand the network of organizers of startup support activities in the regions of Belarus, help them build and develop sustainable business infrastructure models, and expand support to younger populations by piloting asystem of informal entrepreneurship education for high school students. The activity objectives are as follows:

(1) Expand and strengthen the network of local organizers of startup development activities; and

(2) Create a system of informal entrepreneurship education and business career orientation for high school students.

  1. Activity Description and Climate Risk Screening

The implementer, local Belarusian NGO Society for Innovative Business Support (SIBS), will continue transferring its experience supporting startups and innovative businesses in Minsk to the regions of Belarus. This experience isstructured inthe SME Grow-up Toolkit, developed during the previous activity, which includes materials and a step-by-step approach to be used for organizing startup and small business support activities. Startups and small businesses will receive entrepreneurship training and mentoring at Startup Schools; they will also receive advice and coaching from business experts duringExpert Days; and country-wideInvest Day competitions will attract entrepreneurs with viable business ideas and link them to the best Belarusian and international business experts and investors.

SIBS will also support up to five local initiatives on a competitive basis. To be supported, local initiatives should have experience working with the activity’s target audience and motivation to expand entrepreneurship support infrastructure.It is expected that local initiatives will deliver similar types of assistance: development of training materials, training of instructors, training of startups and small business representatives, mentorship support, organization of competitions and similar public events, and providing experience exchanges.

The activity will also pilot a program of informal entrepreneurship education for high school students, with the aim of building their entrepreneurship and leadership skills, basic economic and business knowledge, and growing a new cadre of future business leaders. The implementer will launch Startup School Junior, consisting of extracurricular classes to be delivered for a modest fee, where possible to be covered by parents. High schools often face a lack of professionals capable of delivering entrepreneurship education and career orientation. SIBS will attract motivated teachers, instructors of outside institutions and administrators, and deliver trainings to them on how to launch Startup School Junior with the involvement of business experts from the SIBS network. SIBS will equip teachers and instructors with the methodologies and training materials, and maintain contact with them throughout the program to continuously upgrade the materials based on their needs. SIBS will also attract business experts from its network to deliver select classes at Startup School Junior, which will increase the motivation of students to become entrepreneurs. The target audience of Startup School Junior is students in grades 9-11.

To contribute to the activity goals, SIBS will also support up to five local initiatives that seek to expand informal entrepreneurship education for high school students. This will strengthen the local capacity of service providers of entrepreneurship education for youth and expand activity reach, sustainability, and impact. It is expected that local initiatives will deliver similar types of assistance: the development of training materials, training of instructors, training of high school students, organization of competitions and similar public events, and experience exchanges.

Climate Risk Screening for this activity, as presented in Annex 1, indicates a low risk of any impact on the activity nor is there any indication of project activities posing any risk to exasperating the impacts of climate change.

Defined or illustrative activities under Objective One— Expand and strengthen the network of local organizers of startup development activities / Potential Climate Risk / Climate Risk Rating*
1.1 Updatematerials and step-by-step approach to be used by SIBS local partners for organizing startup and small business supportevents. / N/A / Low
1.2 Develop educational materials and deliver training programs for startups and small businesses in business management topics. / N/A / Low
1.3 Develop educational materials and deliver training programs for startup and small business support infrastructure organizations. / N/A / Low
1.4 Help local partners attract target audiences, strengthen teams of experts and business angels, and build local partnerships through networking events and dedicated workshops and seminars. / N/A / Low
1.5 Assist local partners in the organization of Startup Schools, ExpertDays and Invest Days. / N/A / Low
1.6 Expand the team of local experts and business angels involved in the activity, train them in best practices of providing assistance to startups. / N/A / Low
1.7 Upgrade activity websites. / N/A / Low
Defined or illustrative activities under Objective Two— Create the system of informal entrepreneurship education and business career orientation for school children. / Potential Climate Risk / Climate Risk Rating*
2.1 Develop the methodology of entrepreneurship education and training materials for high school students. / N/A / Low
2.2 Develop educational materials and train school teachers and/or instructors at out-of-school institutions on delivering entrepreneurship classes. / N/A / Low
2.3 Train school students in entrepreneurship, provide them with business career orientation, and conduct competitions of entrepreneurship ideas. / N/A / Low
2.4 Pilot a network of Startup Schools Junior. / N/A / Low
2.5 Convene local stakeholders and help them conduct awareness-raising activities and advocate for introducing entrepreneurship education for school children into formal and non-formal educational curricula. / N/A / Low
  1. Justification for Categorical Exclusion Determination

The activities under the “Creating Sustainable Infrastructure to Support Start-ups and Small Business Development in the Regions of Belarus”follow-on activity will not have an effect on the natural or physical environment and are among the classes of activities listed in 22 CFR 216.2(c)(2). Therefore, under §216.2(c)(1), neither an IEE nor an EA will be required for these activities. Instead, a categorical exclusion threshold determination is recommended for the following identified activities under 22 CFR 216.2(c)(2):

  • A Categorical Exclusion pursuant to 22 CFR 216.2(c)(2)(i) for education, technical assistance, or training programs except to the extent such programs include activities directly affecting the environment (such as the construction of facilities, etc.) is recommended for activities 1.2-1.6 and 2.1-2.5.
  • A Categorical Exclusion pursuant to 216.2(c)(2)(iii) foranalyses, studies, academic or research workshops and meetings for activity 2.5; and
  • A Categorical Exclusion pursuant to 216.2(c)(2)(v) for document and information transfers is recommended for activities 1.1-1.3, 1.7, 2.1-2.2 and 2.5.
  1. Limitations of the Categorical Exclusion Determination:

This categorical exclusion does not cover classes of actions normally having a significant effect on the environment under §216.2(d):

  1. Programs of river basin development;
  2. Irrigation and water management;
  3. Agricultural land leveling;
  4. Drainage projects;
  5. Large scale agricultural mechanization;
  6. Resettlement projects;
  7. New land development;
  8. Penetration road building and road improvement;
  9. Powerplants;
  10. Industrial plants; and
  11. Potable water and sewerage projects

In addition, this categorical exclusion does not cover activities that:

  • Support project preparation, project feasibility studies, or engineering design for activities listed in §216.2(d)(1);
  • Affect endangered species;
  • Provide support to extractive industries (e.g. mining and quarrying);
  • Promote timber harvesting;
  • Lead to construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, or renovation work;
  • Support agro-processing or industrial enterprises;
  • Provide support for regulatory permitting;
  • Lead to privatization of industrial facilities or infrastructure with heavily polluted property;
  • 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; and/or
  • Procure or use genetically modified organisms.

Any of these actions would require a Europe and Eurasia Bureau Environmental Officer (BEO) approved amendment to the categorical exclusion.

  1. Mandatory Inclusion of Environmental Compliance Requirements in Solicitations, Awards, Budgets, and Work Plans
  • Appropriate environmental compliance language, including limitations defined in Section 4, shall be incorporated into solicitations and awards for categorical exclusions.
  • The implementing partner shall ensure annual work plans do not prescribe activities that are defined as limitations in Section 4.
  1. Revisions

Under §216.3(a)(9), if new information becomes available that indicates that activities covered by the categorical exclusion might be considered major and their effect significant, or if additional activities are proposed that might be considered major and their effect significant, this categorical exclusion determination will be reviewed and, if necessary, revised by the Mission Environmental Officer (MEO) with concurrence by the BEO. It is the responsibility of the USAID Contract Officer’s Representative (COR)/Agreement Officer’s Representative (AOR) to keep the MEO and BEO informed of any new information or changes in the activity that might require revision of this determination.

  1. Recommended Determination for Categorical Exclusion:


Approval: / ______
Susan K. Fritz, Mission Director / ______
Date
Clearance: / ______
David Hatch, Acting Deputy Mission Director / ______
Date
Clearance: / ______
Laura Gonzales, Regional Legal Officer / ______
Date
Clearance: / ______
Ann Hopper, Program Officer / ______
Date
Clearance: / ______
Tatiana Kistanova, Mission Environmental Officer / ______
Date
Clearance: / ______
Matthew Sumpter, Belarus Office Director / ______
Date
______
AnastasiyaGlambotskaya, Originator/Preparer / ______
Date
Clearance: /
______
Mark Kamiya
E&E Bureau Environmental Officer / _7/5/2017______
Date

Distribution:

IEE File

Mission Environmental Officer

USAID/Belarus

Attachments: Annex A Climate Risk Screening and Management Tool for Activity/Project/Strategy Design

Belarus/Creating Sustainable Infrastructure to Support Start-ups and Small Business Development in the Regions of Belarus follow-on activity Supplemental RCE 1

DCN: 2017-BYE-004

SIIBS- Climate Risk Screening and Management Tool for Activity Design
ACTIVITY CRM TOOL OUTPUT MATRIX: CLIMATE RISKS, OPPORTUNITIES, AND ACTIONS
* = A required element, according to the Mandatory Reference
1.1: Defined or Anticipated Tasks or Interventions* / 1.2: Time-frame / 1.3: Geo-graphy / 2: Climate Risks* / 3: Adaptive Capacity / 4: Climate Risk Rating* / 5: Opportunities* / 6.1: Climate Risk Manage-ment Options / 6.2: How Climate Risks Are Addressed in the Activity* / 7: Next Steps for Activity Implementa-tion / 8: Accepted Climate Risks*
1.1 Update materials and step-by-step approach to be used by SIBS local partners for organizing startup and small business support events. / 0-3 years / Nation-wide / No risks associated with this component / N/A / Low / N/A / N/A / N/A / N/A / N/A
1.2 Develop educational materials and deliver training programs for startups and small businesses in business management topics. / 0-3 years / Nation-wide / Severe weather events / Participation in training programs may be impacted by severe weather events caused by climate change. / Low / Trainings should be scheduled to avoid severe weather and contingency dates should be reserved in case rescheduling is needed. / Consult weather forecasts and plan trainings when no severe weather is expected. / N/A / Yes, because
training sessions
are essential
and outweigh the risk
of climate-related
challenges
1.3 Develop educational materials and deliver training programs for startup and small business support infrastructure organizations. / 0-3 years / Nation-wide / Severe weather events / Participation in training programs may be impacted by severe weather events caused by climate change. / Low / Trainings should be scheduled to avoid severe weather and contingency dates should be reserved in case rescheduling is needed. / Consult weather forecasts and plan trainings when no severe weather is expected. / N/A / N/A / Yes, because
training sessions
are essential
and outweigh the risk
of climate-related
challenges
1.4 Help local partners attract target audiences, strengthen the teams of experts and business angels, and build local partnerships through networking events and dedicated workshops and seminars. / 0-3 years / Nation-wide / No risks associated with this component / N/A / Low / N/A / N/A / N/A / N/A / N/A
1.5 Assist local partners in the organization of Startup Schools, Expert Days and Invest Days. / 0-3 years / Nation-wide / Severe weather events / Participation in meetings may be impacted by severe weather events caused by climate change. / Low / Meetings should be scheduled to avoid severe weather and contingency dates should be reserved in case rescheduling is needed. / Consult weather forecasts and plan meetings when no severe weather is expected. / N/A / N/A / Yes, because
meetings
are essential
and outweigh the risk
of climate-related
challenges
1.6 Expand the team of local experts and business angels involved in the activity, train them in best practices of providing assistance to startups. / 0-3 years / Nation-wide / No risks associated with this component / N/A / Low / N/A / N/A / N/A / N/A / N/A
1.7 Upgrade activity websites. / 0-3 years / Nation-wide / No risks associated with this component / N/A / Low / N/A / N/A / N/A / N/A / N/A
2.1 Develop the methodology of entrepreneurship education and training materials for high schoolstudents. / 0-3 years / Nation-wide / No risks associated with this component / N/A / Low / N/A / N/A / N/A / N/A / N/A
2.2 Develop educational materials and train school teachers and/or instructors at out-of-school institutions on delivering entrepreneurship classes. / 0-3 years / Nation-wide / Severe weather events / Participation in training programs may be impacted by severe weather events caused by climate change. / Low / Trainings should be scheduled to avoid severe weather and contingency dates should be reserved in case rescheduling is needed. / Consult weather forecasts and plan trainings when no severe weather is expected. / N/A / N/A / Yes, because
training sessions
are essential
and outweigh the risk
of climate-related
challenges
2.3 Train students in entrepreneurship, provide them with business career orientation, and conduct competitions of entrepreneurship ideas. / 0-3 years / Nation-wide / No risks associated with this component / N/A / Low / N/A / N/A / N/A / N/A / N/A
2.4 Pilot a network of Startup Schools Junior. / 0-3 years / Nation-wide / No risks associated with this component / N/A / Low / N/A / N/A / N/A / N/A / N/A
2.5 Convene local stakeholders and help them conduct awareness-raising activities and advocate for introducing entrepreneurship education for school children into formal and non-formal educational curricula. / 0-3 years / Nation-wide / Severe weather events / Participation in meetings may be impacted by severe weather events caused by climate change. / Low / Meetings should be scheduled to avoid severe weather and contingency dates should be reserved in case rescheduling is needed. / Consult weather forecasts and plan meetings when no severe weather is expected. / N/A / N/A / Yes, because
training sessions
are essential
and outweigh the risk
of climate-related
challenges

Belarus/Creating Sustainable Infrastructure to Support Start-ups and Small Business Development in the Regions of Belarus follow-on activity Supplemental RCE 1