SFG1567 Revised Final Report Smallholder Commercialization and Agribusiness Development Project Additional Financing (SCADeP-AF) Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) Freetown, Sierra Leone World Bank Support April 2019 CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION DISCLAIMER Title: Smallholder Commercialisation Agribusiness Development Project Additional Financing (SCADeP-AF): Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) Client(s): Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) - Sierra Leone Confidentiality, This document has a restricted distribution and may be used by recipients only Copyright and in the performance of their official duties. Its contents may not otherwise be Reproduction: disclosed without World Bank authorization. File Reference: Reference PROJ-ESIA-2019/WB-SCADeP-2 Number: Prepared By: Integrated Geo-information and Environmental Management Services (INTEGEMS) Updated By: SCADeP Project Coordination Unit Date: April 2019 2 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 TABLE OF CONTENT Revised Final ReportCONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION DISCLAIMER ................................................... 2 LIST OF TABLES .................................................................................................................................. 5 ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ..................................................................................................... 6 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ..................................................................................................................... 9 0.1 Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) ................................................. 10 0.2 Environmental and Social Screening of Sub-Projects ............................................................. 12 0.2.4 Public communication and consultation mechanism/plan throughout the project lifecycle .. 13 0.2.5 Institutional Capacity ............................................................................................................. 13 0.3 Monitoring of the Environmental and Social Risk Management .............................................. 14 0.3.1 Performance indicators for the monitoring of the framework ESMP ..................................... 14 1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................ 15 1.1 Background .............................................................................................................................. 15 1.2 The Objective of the ESMF ...................................................................................................... 15 1.3 Scope of Work.......................................................................................................................... 16 2 DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT ....................................................................................................... 17 2.1 Rationale for the Development of the Project .......................................................................... 17 3 POLICY, LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK ............................................................. 19 3.1 National Legislation and Regulatory Framework ..................................................................... 19 3.2 International Legislation ........................................................................................................... 23 3.3 Institutional Framework for the ESMF Implementation ............................................................ 25 3.5 Relevant international agreements to which Sierra Leone is party ......................................... 30 4 BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT AREA .................................................................................. 33 4.1 Land Resources ....................................................................................................................... 34 4.2 Agro-Ecological Zones ............................................................................................................ 34 4.3 Physiography ........................................................................................................................... 35 4.4 Climate ..................................................................................................................................... 36 4.5 Vegetation ................................................................................................................................ 37 4.6 Soils ......................................................................................................................................... 37 4.7 Socio-Economic Baseline ........................................................................................................ 38 5 ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN THE PROJECT AREAS ............................................................. 43 5.1.1 Predicting and Characterizing the Magnitude and Importance of Impacts ........................... 43 5.1.2 Evaluating and Assessing the Significance of Impacts ........................................................ 47 5.2 Description of Potential Environmental and Social Impacts .................................................... 50 5.3 Impacts of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) Epidemic .............................................................. 70 5.4 Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Violence against Women ................................................ 70 Mitigation Measures ....................................................................................................................... 71 6 PROCEDURES FOR SUB-PROJECT PREPARATION AND ASSESSMENT ............................. 72 6.1 Environmental Screening under OP 4.01 Environmental Assessment ................................... 72 6.2 Environmental and Social Assessment Process in Sierra Leone ............................................ 72 6.3 Other Safeguard Documents ................................................................................................... 74 3 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 7 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN AND MONITORING TO MITIGATE NEGATIVE IMPACTS........................................................................................................................................... 75 7.1 Management Plan .................................................................................................................... 75 7.2 Monitoring Procedure ............................................................................................................... 87 7.3 Institutional Capacity Strengthening Programme .................................................................... 87 8 CONSULTATION, ESMF DISCLOSURE AND GRIEVANCE MECHANISM ................................ 89 8.1 Stakeholder Consultation ......................................................................................................... 89 8.2 ESMF Disclosure ..................................................................................................................... 90 8.3 Mechanism for Resolving Grievance and Complaint ............................................................... 90 9 ESMF IMPLEMENTATION COST ................................................................................................. 97 10 CONCLUSIONS ........................................................................................................................... 98 11 REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................. 99 12 APPENDICES ............................................................................................................................ 100 12.1 Appendix A Summary of World Bank Environmental and Social Safeguard Policies ......... 101 12.2 Appendix B Stakeholders Consultation List for the ESMF .................................................. 103 12.4 Appendix C - Proposed Waste Management Strategy ........................................................ 106 12.5 Appendix D - Physical Cultural Resources Plan .................................................................. 108 12.6 Appendix E – EPA-SL Screening Project Form for ESIA .................................................... 112 12.7 Appendix F – Environmental and Social Screening Checklist ............................................. 118 12.8 Appendix G – ESIA and ESMP Outline ............................................................................... 121 12.9 Appendix H – Examples of Environmental Clauses in Contracts ........................................ 123 12.10 Appendix I – Terms of Reference for ESSS role ............................................................... 127 12.11 Appendix J – Scoping of Services for SLADF Consultant .......................................... 129 12.11 Appendix K – Profile of Consulting Firm, the Economic Forum .................................. 131 4 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 LIST OF TABLES Table 3-1: World Bank Policies triggered by the Project ........................................................................ 7 Table 3-2: International Agreements and Conventions ratified by Sierra Leone. ................................... 9 Table 4-1: Physiographic land areas covered by the different plains. .................................................. 14 Table 4-2: Proximate lengths and catchment areas for rivers in Sierra Leone ..................................... 15 Table 5-1: Evaluation of Importance of the impacts ............................................................................. 25 Table 5-2: Evaluation of Importance (in context of Magnitude and Likelihood) of the impacts ............ 26 Table 5-3: Evaluation and assessment of significance of impacts ....................................................... 26 Table 5-4: Potential impacts, significance and mitigation measure ...................................................... 29 Table 7-1 : Environmental and Social Management Plan ..................................................................... 52 Table 7-2: Budgetary provisions for Capacity Building ......................................................................... 59 Table 7-4: Summary of Cost of Implementation of ESMF (US $) ......................................................... 60 Table 12-1: Types of wastes for the crops and poultry and some possible re-use .............................. 76 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 3.1: SCADeP Implementation and Partnership Arrangements …………………………………….8 Figure 4-1: Commodities per Agricultural Districts of Sierra Leone ..................................................... 12 5 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS AF Additional Finance AfDB African Development Bank ASMG Agricultural Services Matching Grant CAADP Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme CBD Convention on Biological Diversity CBOs Community Based Organisations CDAP Community Development Action Plan CEC Cation Exchange Capacities CEC-A Community Education Centre – A CHEC-SIL Commonwealth Human Ecology in Sierra Leone CITES Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora CSSL Conservation Society of Sierra Leone DAO District Agricultural Officer DCU District Coordinating Unit DHMT District Health Management Team EIA Environmental Impact Assessment EFA Environmental Foundation for Africa EMP Environmental Management Plan EPA Environmental Protection Agency ESIA Environmental and Social Impact Assessment ESMF Environmental and Social Management Framework ESMP Environmental and Social Management Plan EVD Ebola Virus Disease FBOs Farmers Based Organisations GBV Gender Based Violence GDP Gross Domestic Products GoSL Government of Sierra Leone PMP Integrated Pest Management IVS Inland Valley Swamps JSS Junior Secondary School LC Local Council LWDD Land and Water Development Division M&E Monitoring and Evaluation 6 Submitted by Integrated Geo-information and Environmental Management Services (INTEGEMS) August 2015 MAF Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry MDG Millennium Development Goal MEST Ministry of Education, Science and Technology MFMR Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources MLCPE Ministry of Lands, Country Planning and the Environment MLGRD Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development MTI Ministry of Trade and Industry NEP National Environmental Policy NEPAD New Partnership for African’s Development NOC National Oversight Committee NSADP National Sustainable Agriculture Development Programme OP Operational Policy ORIENT Organisation for Research and Extension of Intermediate Technology PCU Project Coordination Unit PIU Project Implementation Unit PMP Pest Management Plan POPs Persistent Organic Pollutants PRSP Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper RAP Resettlement Action Plan RPSDP Rural and Private Sector Development Project SCP Smallholder Commercialization Programme SCADeP Smallholder Commercialization and Agribusiness Development Project SLARI Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute SL-DHS Sierra Leone Demographic Health Survey SLECAD Sierra Leone Chamber for Agribusiness Development SLIEPA Sierra Leone Investment and Export Promotion Agency SMEs Small and Medium Enterprise SSL Statistics Sierra Leone SSS Senior Secondary School TOR Terms of Reference UNCCD United Nation Convention to Combat Desertification UNCLOS United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea UNDP United Nations Development Programme UNFCC United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change 7 Submitted by Integrated Geo-information and Environmental Management Services (INTEGEMS) August 2015 WAAPPSL West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme in Sierra Leone WHO World Health Organisation 8 Submitted by Integrated Geo-information and Environmental Management Services (INTEGEMS) August 2015 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Government of Sierra Leone, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, has been implementing the Smallholder Commercialization and Agribusiness Development Project (SCADeP) with an initial IDA credit of US$40 million and a grant of the equivalent of US$15 million from United Kingdom Department of International Development (DfID). The project development objective is to promote smallholder commercialization by fostering productive business linkages between smallholder farmers and selected agribusiness firms and other commodity off-takers in Sierra Leone. This objective is to be achieved through support for interventions aimed at improving agricultural productivity and access to markets as well as development of inclusive smallholder farmer-agribusiness linkages in the targeted project areas of Sierra Leone. The Government of Sierra Leone in support of the Smallholder Commercialization and Agribusiness Development Project (SCADeP) has requested additional financing in an amount of US$30 million and an extension of the Closing Date by twelve (12) months from November 30, 2021 to November 30, 2022. The proposed additional finance (AF) would address the project’s financing gap for its feeder roads sub-component due to: (a) the withdrawal of United Kingdom Department of International Development (DfID) from the financing of the project and (b) higher costs than anticipated at appraisal for this sub-component. The proposed additional financing would be accompanied by a Level 2 restructuring to enhance the achievement of the Project Development Objective (PDO) and strengthen the development impact of SCADeP. This would be the second restructuring of the project, and it would include the following changes: (i) modification of the Agricultural Loan Scheme sub-component, (ii) changes to some outcome indicators and targets in the Results Framework and (iii) reallocation of the IDA credit’s proceeds. The SCADeP was approved by the Board of the World Bank on February 18, 2016, signed on March 15, 2016 and it became effective on November 30, 2016. The Project was originally financed by an International Development Association (IDA) credit of SDR 28.9 million (US$40 million equivalent) and a co-financing by DfID for a total amount of the equivalent of US$15 million to support the feeder roads sub-component of the project under Component 2 (Market Access Improvement). On October 10, 2018, DfID notified the Government of Sierra Leone that it was withdrawing its commitment to the co-financing of the IDA credit with the closing date of the DfID Trust Fund fixed on May 30, 2019. The closing date of the IDA Credit is November 30, 2021. The budget for the ESMF implementation under the additional finance is $600,000. The proposed AF is consistent with Sierra Leone’s goal of achieving inclusive growth which is one of the key pillars of the country’s Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PSRP-III) - (2013-2017). It continues to be with the new Mid-Term National Development Plan (2019–2023). This is to be achieved through the promotion of agribusiness development as a basis for the commercialization of smallholder farmers. Furthermore, the proposed project is aligned to the new National Agricultural Transformation Agenda (NAT) 2023. The project is also consistent with the new Country Partnership Framework for 2018 –2022, under preparation, that reiterates the important role of agriculture for inclusive growth and development is well aligned with the World Bank’s twin goals of reducing extreme poverty and promoting shared prosperity. The project development objective (PDO) is to promote smallholder commercialization by fostering productive business linkages between smallholder farmers and selected agribusiness firms and other commodity off-takers in Sierra Leone. The project has four components: Component A: Support for Agri-business-farmer Linkages and Small and Medium Scale Enterprises along selected agricultural value chains (US$19.00million). This is to strengthen linkages between agribusiness firms and farmers and promote producer associations and SMEs linkages operating in selected agricultural value-chains. The project will address the various financing needs of value chain actors through the design and implementation of proven agribusiness financing instruments that meet actors’ specific financing needs. Sub-component A.1. promotes an out-grower model for value chain financing to agribusinesses linked to out-growers, while Sub-component A.2. provides support for farmer aggregation to facilitate inclusion of farmers who produce for the market but do have structured linkages with off-takers; Component B: Market access improvement (US$26.00 million). This component seeks to 9 Submitted by Integrated Geo-information and Environmental Management Services (INTEGEMS) August 2015 address market access and coordination issues that constrain smallholder productivity and market efficiency. Sub-component B1 supports the rehabilitation and maintenance of feeder roads that link agribusinesses to smallholder producers and markets, while sub-component B2 provide aggregation centres for farmers as well as simple market coordination (through Information, Communication Technologies (ICT) or cell-phone based price information systems); Component C: Capacity building support for state and non-state institutions and producer organizations. This component focuses on addressing the skills and organizational challenges that affect smallholder farmers’ inclusion into organized supply chains. The project will provide technical assistance to farmers’ producer organizations, strengthen the capacity of state and non- state institutions responsible for the provision of services relevant for smallholder commercialization and agribusiness development; and Component D: Project coordination, monitoring and evaluation. Caters for the day-to-day management of the project. The SCADeP aims at supporting sub-projects that could lead to an increase in farmers’ productivity, commodity sales and incomes and ultimately the aggregate value added for key agricultural value chains. The project will support: (i) production of commodities such as rice, oil palm, cocoa and poultry (eggs and meat); (ii) processing of agricultural and poultry products; (iii) trading and marketing of these commodities; (iv) rehabilitation and maintenance of feeder roads to facilitate smallholder access to markets; and capacity building of farmers and agribusinesses operating along the four selected value- chains. 0.1 Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) This ESMF has been developed as a guideline that will be used as a decision-making tool to ensure that all the subprojects selected and implemented under the SCADeP are environmentally and socially responsive and sound. The ESMF demands that each subproject will require environmental and social assessment that covers (i) legal and regulatory mechanisms, (ii) institutional arrangements, (iii) environmental management, and (iv) social assessment. The ESMF will be reviewed and approved for disclosure before project appraisal. It is also planned that the ESMF will be regularly updated to respond to changing local conditions. The Environmental Category assigned for the SCADeP is B (Partial), since it is expected that environmental and social impacts will be moderate and, in most cases, manageable. The likely environmental and social impacts as well as the mitigation measures have been discussed through this detailed ESMF, which has been undertaken as part of project preparation. As required additional safeguard instruments, such as environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) and environmental and social management plan (ESMP) will be prepared for sub-projects to address any potential negative social and environmental impacts. The project has triggered the following environmental and social safeguard policies: OP4.01 (Environmental Assessment); OP4.04 (Natural Habitats); OP4.09 (Pest Management); OP4.11 (Physical Cultural Resources); OP4.12 (Involuntary Resettlement) and OP 4.36 (Forests). As an agricultural project, most activities to be undertaken by the out-growers and agribusinesses will bring about some environmental issues related to crop production. As such, both OP4.01 and OP4.09 have been triggered to put in place appropriate risk management plans. Even though the project will not support any activities that will result in resettlement of people, OP4.12 has been triggered to ensure that an appropriate Resettlement Policy Framework (RPF) is put in place to guard against any unexpected effects on people or their livelihoods as a result of the project. OP4.36 has also been triggered even though all production activities, including replanting will occur on existing farms and plantations. However, it is likely to anticipate that may extend to secondary forests, given that shifting cultivation is still prevalent in Sierra Leone. Similarly, the project has triggered OP4.11 (Physical Cultural Resources) out of precaution in order to have a management framework in place in case of chance- finds during project implementation. The objective of this assignment is to undertake a detailed Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) focusing on key activities outlined under the project components. The ESMF 10 Submitted by Integrated Geo-information and Environmental Management Services (INTEGEMS) August 2015 provides the safeguard instruments decision support tool and guides to inform the Environmental, Social and Health Impact Assessment (ESHIA), Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP), Resettlement Action Plans (RAPs), and other safeguard instruments (if applicable) during subproject feasibility and design phase. The ESMF will inform and guide the Ministry of Agriculture (MAF), Ministry of Works, Housing and Infrastructure (MWHI), Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) and their respective Agencies involved in the implementation of the project and EPA (SL-EPA 2008 (as amended) for ensuring safeguard requirements of proposed subproject investment initiatives and activities are in compliance with policies, legal, principles, institutional framework and procedures to assess the environmental and social risks and impacts and propose preventive and mitigation measures to enhance sustainability of the project. 0.1.1 Potential Environmental Risks This ESMF, conducted as part of project preparation, has identified the following environmental issues for which environmental management plans have been developed to avoid the likely environmental risks: • Chemical pollution impacting natural resources and human health due to excessive and improper use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers, and pesticide residues; • Adverse impacts on land and forests including land degradation and deficiency in soil nutrients, soil erosion/slope instability, and loss of topsoil due to faulty farm practices and improper use of chemical fertilizer, as well as improper cultivation on slopes/marginal lands, and construction of infrastructure such as feeder roads; • Localized air and odor pollution arising from activities such as burning of firewood for cultivation, ammonia/methane/nitrous oxides emission from poultry production and emission from processing activities, and dust from feeder roads construction activities; • Water pollution due to mismanagement of wastes from processing units, laboratories, agricultural waste/crop residues, livestock/poultry waste, wastewater from cleaning, washing, waste from slaughter houses, untreated dairy effluents, wastewater from milk processing, and laboratory wastes. • Impacts on forest and forest resources. These may include forest depletion or degradation due to increased use of firewood for agro-processing, site clearance for infrastructure construction; and project-induced encroachment into secondary forest areas. • Adverse impacts on biodiversity, native species, and non-timber forest products (NTFPs) including medicinal and aromatic plant species growing in natural habitats, due to unregulated or increased encroachment on the primary and secondary forests as a result of the proposed re-planting of old plantations with improved planting materials; • Health and occupational safety related issues resulting, for example, from the use of chemicals to protect finished products from pests, exposure to harmful chemical at works or due to unsafe disposal of chemicals or during pesticide application, unsafe disposal of crop residues from processing (e.g. oil palm kernel, rice husks etc.), other waste containing pathogens, exposure to polluting emissions, risk of accidents (fire, explosion, traffic), and so forth. 0.1.2 Social Assessment This ESMF has carefully assessed all the potential adverse social impacts that are likely to occur during the implementation of subprojects. These have broadly been identified as follows: • Land acquisition by the agribusinesses that will participate in the project and the risk this might pose to the project; • Short-term loss of income and livelihood due to the proposed replanting of the old plantations with high yielding planting materials; • Possible exclusion of marginalized farmers, women and youth; 11 Submitted by Integrated Geo-information and Environmental Management Services (INTEGEMS) August 2015 • Possible use of child labour in agribusinesses and out-grower schemes’ activities; • Potential risk of spreading communicable diseases such as STDs and HIV/AIDS due to increased labor force • An increase of GBV and SEA risks: The project will bring job opportunities to the local community and potentially increase their purchasing power, exacerbating, at the same time, income differences. The already present risks for women and girls could be aggravated 0.2 Environmental and Social Screening of Sub-Projects 0.2.1 Environmental screening criteria The ineligibility criteria include known environmental sensitivities such as activities in protected areas, known high-risk zones including landslides, flooding, and significant erosion zones; slopes greater than 45 degrees; heritage sites and primary forests. The level of environmental assessment required is determined by considering potential impacts on forests and biodiversity (including Non-Timber Forest Products - NTFPs), as well as size of the road rehabilitation projects, size of agro-based and other industries, risk of chemical pollution, and the need for planned pest and nutrient management. Projects that will be deemed risky on the basis of the environmental screening criteria will be considered ineligible for support under the project. See Appendix F for the Environmental and Social Screening Checklist. 0.2.2 Social screening criteria A set of criteria will be developed for the project by taking into account the possible adverse social impacts and their magnitude. The criteria that will be used for social screening of the subprojects that will be considered ineligible include: (i) high degree of negative impacts on the livelihood systems; (ii) loss of common property resources affecting livelihood systems; (iii) subprojects leading landlessness, shelter loss, unemployment, marginalization, and food security; (iv) activities that require relocation of households, acquisition of lands, and other properties; (v) subprojects that promote or involve child labor; and (vi) subprojects that are likely to have adverse impacts on women, youth and vulnerable groups. Once the subprojects are screened against these criteria they will be classified into three different categories as per the nature and magnitude of impacts: • Category I: Negative list of subprojects (these are ineligible for funding under the project); • Category II: Subprojects requiring specific Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) based on threshold criteria as per GOSL’s Environmental and Social Management Policy; • Category III: Subprojects that do not require formal ESIA, but need well planned and regular monitoring during implementation. 0.2.3 Resettlement Policy Framework (RPF) Even though it is not envisaged that the project will support any activities that will entail resettlement of people, the project has updated the existing RPF as per the World Bank policy guidelines (OP4.12) and the Additional Finance requirements, in order to have a framework in place to deal with an unforeseen circumstance which may arise as a result of project implementation. The framework has clearly defined different groups of potentially affected people with varied eligibility criteria. These constitute Project Affected People (PAP), Project Affected Families (PAFs), Significantly Project Affected Families (SPAFs), marginal farmers, displaced families, squatters, encroachers, and vulnerable groups. Based on the eligibility criteria and type of losses, the affected families/people will be provided compensation as well as resettlement and rehabilitation assistances. An entitlement policy matrix to this effect has been developed as a safeguard measure to mitigate the losses by types of categories of affected people—that is, owners, tenants, encroachers, squatters, communities, and so forth. Specific Resettlement Action Plans (RAPs) will be defined where necessary. 12 Submitted by Integrated Geo-information and Environmental Management Services (INTEGEMS) August 2015 0.2.4 Public communication and consultation mechanism/plan throughout the project lifecycle The objectives of stakeholder engagement and consultation are to keep all stakeholders informed of the project activities, the potential beneficial and adverse impacts and to ensure that stakeholders actively participate at all levels of the project/subproject life cycles. The mechanisms of stakeholder engagement in the ESMF will include: (i) public meetings in the subprojects’ influence area; (ii) information/awareness campaigns through engaged locally formed groups and NGOs/CBOs; (iii) interviews/surveys in project affected households; (iv) focus group discussions. (v) formation of committees and/or groups including at various stages of the project; (vi) development of grievance redress mechanism for project affected and beneficiary communities and other stakeholders; (vii) disclosure/dissemination of project information including decision making process and how the grievance of Affected Persons (APs) will be addressed; and (viii) mitigation of environment and social/resettlement impacts in an effective manner. 0.2.5 Institutional Capacity Capacity building and training is necessary for key stakeholders to ensure that they have the appropriate knowledge and skills to implement the environmental and social management framework. To enhance the respective roles and collaboration of the relevant stakeholders and further strengthen their capacity for planning, management and overall regulation of the transport sector, the following broad areas of capacity building needs and technical support required have been identified in the implementation of the ESMF requirements of this Project and future projects: • Strengthening the ministry’s and departments’ capacity to develop a long -term vision and regulatory framework to support effective management of the urban transport system; • Developing a comprehensive strategy to improve public transport services incorporating different sectors of the population needs and requirements; • Conducting a public relations/communication campaign to educate stakeholders, schoolchildren and the public about road-space management and road safety; • Developing a road-safety database; • Supporting climate-resilient activities, for example by developing guidelines to incorporate climate and disaster resilience into road design by providing specific cost-effective requirements and good practices for slope stabilization in mountain areas of Freetown; • GBV prevention and response in infrastructure projects. Training workshops on the ESMF/RPF and the World Bank safeguard policies of OP 4.01, OP 4.12 and OP 4.11 would be organized for MoTA and its respective related agencies. The following additional training areas have been identified: • Environmental and social screening checklist • Completion of EPA EA Registration forms • Preparation of Terms of Reference for ESIA Environmental and social clauses in contractors’ contract and bidding documents 0.2. Grievance Redress Mechanism The project implementation is likely to be affected by, and subject to complaints and grievances. As per the experiences from the Rural and Private Sector Development Project (RPSDP), some of these complaints and grievances may be justified while others are not; some may be captured by the regular M&E system while others may not; and some may be directly or indirectly related to project implementation while others may not be related to the project at all. In order to be able to address grievances and complaints in a more structured and pro-active manner, the project has developed an 13 Submitted by Integrated Geo-information and Environmental Management Services (INTEGEMS) August 2015 inclusive, well-designed, and effective Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) which is meant to help the project implementation team be more responsive to beneficiaries, thereby increasing trust and confidence among project stakeholders. The GRM has the following building blocks and characteristics: (i) multiple grievance uptake locations and multiple channels for receiving grievances; (ii) service standards for grievance resolution; (iii) clear processing guidelines; and an effective and timely grievance response system to inform complainants of the action taken. The GRM is based on the following six core principles: (i) Fairness; (ii) Objectivity and Independence; (iii) Simplicity and Accessibility; (iv) Responsiveness and Efficiency; (v) Speed and Proportionality and (vi) Participatory and Social Inclusion. The GRM has been developed as a separate instrument under the ESMF and its implementation will be informed by the lessons from the implementation of similar tools implemented under RPSDP and WAAPP. 0.3 Monitoring of the Environmental and Social Risk Management The monitoring of project compliance with the environmental and social safeguards will be undertaken by the Sierra Leone Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) following the environmental and social safeguard management tools developed through the Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) study. Under the project, resources will be provided to enable the Environmental Protection Agency-Sierra Leone (EPA-SL) to undertake periodic monitoring of project implementation to ensure compliance with the identified and/or other safeguards. In addition, the project has developed the management tools to mitigate against potential social risks. For example, even though the project will not involve any involuntary resettlement of people, the project has triggered the OP 4.12 and as a result, the relevant Resettlement Policy Framework (RPF) has been developed. The Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) has also been developed in order to establish a framework for dealing with grievances which may potentially arise as a result of the project or its implementation. The World Bank’s implementation support arrangements will include a team of environmental and social safeguards who will provide advice to the EPA-SL and project implementation institutions on a regular basis. Periodic environmental and social audits will be undertaken by the World Bank team to ensure that the project is fully compliant at all times during its implementation. 0.3.1 Performance indicators for the monitoring of the framework ESMP To ensure effective implementation of ESMF, the environmental and social safeguard compliance monitoring will be conducted internally based on the following performance indicators and benchmarks for achievement of the objectives: • Proposed indicators, indicating project inputs, expenditures, staff deployment, etc. • Output indicators, indicating results in terms of numbers of affected People compensated and assisted, training held, details of disbursements, etc. • Impact indicators related to the longer-term effect of the project on communities. • Number and type of grievances and GBV cases reported, including legal actions arising from expropriation. • Number of GBV cases received by the GRM and the effectiveness of referral system, confidentiality of the process, empathetic and non-judgmental listening. The Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialist of SCADeP with support from Implementing agencies will be responsible to carry out, monitoring during different stages of the project cycle, that is, construction and operational phase of subproject. Environmental monitoring will be carried out to ensure that the project activities will not create adverse impacts. The Project Implementing Agencies will be responsible for preparing quarterly progress report, annual monitoring report and end-term monitoring and submit to SCADeP for submission to the World Bank. The World Bank will be responsible to conduct periodic review missions, which will include a review of safeguard implementation issues. 14 Submitted by Integrated Geo-information and Environmental Management Services (INTEGEMS) August 2015 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background The agricultural sector in Sierra Leone has been seriously affected by the Ebola pandemic which is at its tail end. This pandemic also affected neighbouring Guinea and Liberia. Food production and the agribusiness sub-sectors have been negatively impacted. In order to redress and/or minimize the impact and ensure the sectors’ recovery from the effects of the Ebola epidemic, the World Bank and the Government of Sierra Leone are developing a new project, viz the Smallholder Commercialization and Agribusiness Development Project (SCADeP). The outputs of these subsectors are dependent to a large extent on the activities of farmers with small holdings and small to medium scale agribusinesses. The project with its huge socioeconomic potential is aligned to the economic growth pillar of the Government’s Agenda for Prosperity upon which the Bank’s Program of support will be anchored. Building upon the support to the agricultural sector provided by the World Bank and other development partners since the end of the recently concluded civil war, this project will also help in the sector’s medium to long-term growth by increasing farmers’ productivity and value chain addition of selected food crops and livestock by increasing the volume of marketed commodities; supporting the growth of small and medium agribusiness firms, including inputs suppliers supported to engage in production and/or supply contracts with farmers and/or local Farmers Based Organisation (FBOs) and Cooperatives. Specifically, the project will be expected to support the following: • Market access improvement through the continued rehabilitation and maintenance of feeder roads and other rural access infrastructure linking high production areas to markets; • Building agribusiness-farmer linkages to facilitate the production and marketing of selected agricultural commodities with significant potential to increase farmers’ income; • Building the capacity of Government institutions responsible for agribusiness development. Agribusiness firms will be selected on the basis of their innovative plans and experience working with organized farmers’ groups or cooperatives. The project will work with selected private agribusiness firms that incorporate productive linkage arrangements with smallholder farmers, as part of their overall long-term business plan. The project will aim at supporting a few commodity value-chains with significant potential for enhancing competitiveness and jobs creation. While many projects have focused primarily on addressing production constraints, this project will focus primarily on constraints affecting the overall value-chain performance, such as high aggregation costs, high processing and marketing costs, as well as quality issues. Furthermore, the project will support public-investment type activities aimed at building the capacity of smallholder farmers to meet the volumes and quality targets specified by agribusiness firms. This support will also include building the policy and institutional capacity of government institutions responsible for providing public sector services and policy environments conducive for agribusiness development. The proposed project will aim to promote smallholder commercialization by fostering productive business linkages between smallholder farmers and selected agribusiness firms. 1.2 The Objective of the ESMF The ESMF was prepared because the location, design and magnitude of impacts of the eventual sub- projects would not be known at project appraisal stage, even though the types of potential sub-projects would be fairly well defined. This ESMF will therefore serve as a guide to ensure that all the subprojects selected and implemented under the SCADeP are environmentally and socially responsive and sound. The ESMF demands that each subproject will require environmental and social assessment that covers (i) legal and regulatory mechanisms, (ii) institutional arrangements, (iii) environmental management, and (iv) social assessment. The ESMF will be reviewed and approved for disclosure before project appraisal. It is also planned that the ESMF will be regularly updated to respond to changing local conditions and new project activities. 15 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 The ESMF is expected to cover the project duration, which was initially 5 years starting from 2016 and ending 2021 and has now been extended by 1 year to 2022. 1.3 Scope of Work The preparation of this ESMF for the SCADeP includes the following: • Detailed Desk Review of all existing documentation including consultancy reports such as previous ESMF, EIA, RAP, PMP, EMPs and ESMP for the concluding Rural and Private Sector Development Project (RPSDP). Key in reviewing these is to identify and suggest areas for improvement in view of the World Bank’s safeguard policies to be triggered during the proposed Project implementation. • Detailed study on the key production activities and agricultural inputs necessary so as to inform the preparation of appropriate plans for environment risk management (i.e. sustainable soil fertility, integrated pest management etc.). • Description of the baseline environment of the country covering relevant information on the environmental characteristics. These include the physical environment, biodiversity and socio - cultural activities. • Procedures by which farmer-based organizations and agribusinesses can acquire lands to cultivate or occupy, pay adequate compensations to communities and/or land owners and redress for conflict situations. • Identify and describe the pertinent regulations and standards - both local and international, governing environmental quality, health and safety, protection of ecologically important and culturally sensitive areas, sustainable land use and furtherance of socio-economic activities. To describe how the project activities would comply with the identified regulations. • Analysis and description of all possible environmental, ecological and social impacts, both positive and negative, that are likely to bring about changes in the baseline environmental and social conditions as a result of the proposed interventions. These will include gender, climate change and disaster related impacts. • Identify and differentiate between short, medium, long-term and cumulative impacts during the project implementation and developing a prototype ESMP that will be compliant to the dictates of the relevant authorities. • Identify occupational health and safety concerns to be brought about by the activities to be undertaken during the different phases of the project and proffer recommendations on corrective and remedial measures to be implemented under the Environmental and Social Management Plan. • Identify other potential negative impacts and developing a comprehensive Environmental Management Plan to mitigate via monitoring and institutional measures to ensure that they are minimized or reduced to acceptable levels and/or maximize socio-economic benefits. • Develop a monitoring plan for both ESMP and RAP that will ensure that the World Bank safeguard policies are followed within a given time frame, implementation mechanism, staffing requirements, training and cost outlays. 16 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 2 DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT The proposed project has four (4) main components with indicative IDA costs of USD45 million: Component A: Support for Agri-business-farmer Linkages and Small and Medium Scale Enterprises along selected agricultural value chains (US$19.00million). This is to strengthen linkages between agribusiness firms and farmers and promote producer associations and SMEs linkages operating in selected agricultural value-chains. The project will address the various financing needs of value chain actors through the design and implementation of proven agribusiness financing instruments that meet actors’ specific financing needs. Sub-component A.1. promotes an out-grower model for value chain financing to agribusinesses linked to out-growers, while Sub-component A.2. provides support for farmer aggregation to facilitate inclusion of farmers who produce for the market but do have structured linkages with off-takers; Component B: Market access improvement (US$26.00 million). This component seeks to address market access and coordination issues that constrain smallholder productivity and market efficiency. Sub-component B1 supports the rehabilitation and maintenance of feeder roads that link agribusinesses to smallholder producers and markets, while sub-component B2 provide aggregation centres for farmers as well as simple market coordination (through Information, Communication Technologies (ICT) or cell-phone based price information systems). The proposed additional grant will finance: (i) the rehabilitation and maintenance of approximately 516km of priority rural roads linking productive areas to markets, using the Output and Performance-based Contract (OPRC) methodology for 200km and Traditional Contract (FIDIC) for 300km, for which the engineering designs and bidding documents have already been prepared; (ii) Spot Improvement, including the construction of priority bridges, culverts and other critical structures to link difficult to access, but high agricultural production areas with markets; and (iii) the training of rural youth in road maintenance brigades in labor-based road maintenance to provide road maintenance services; and (iv) construction of strategic bridges, the Government of Sierra Leone has proposed the construction of concrete bridges at the 14-ferry river crossings to replace the current unmotorized cable ferry being used to cross the river. In their current state, the ferries are unsafe, unreliable and do not provide all year-round access. This mode of operation limits connectivity and economic opportunities. Farm produce cannot get to market on time, while access to social services are limited by lack of regular crossing. On the basis of the strategic importance of the connectivity of these ferry crossings, the AF will be used to construct bridges in priority locations. Component C: Capacity building support for state and non-state institutions and producer organizations. This component focuses on addressing the skills and organizational challenges that affect smallholder farmers’ inclusion into organized supply chains. The project will provide technical assistance to farmers’ producer organizations, strengthen the capacity of state and non -state institutions responsible for the provision of services relevant for smallholder commercialization and agribusiness development; and Component D: Project coordination, monitoring and evaluation. Caters for the day-to-day management of the project. The project will receive additional resources from the AF to enhance safeguards implementation and monitoring through the recruitment of a Social Safeguards Specialist and to improve the project’s social accountability, gender strategy and support training and capacity building activities on safeguards and gender mainstreaming, including Gender Based Violence (GBV). 2.1 Rationale for the Development of the Project The proposed project will be designed to mitigate the adverse effect of EVD in a post Ebola recovery programme; with specific focus in the areas of rice, cacao, oil palm and poultry production and marketing within the agricultural sector. The Agricultural sector like other economic sectors was severely hit by the Ebola pandemic which restrained farmers from carrying out their productive activities. Farms were abandoned or neglected due to restriction of movement under the public health emergency, some farmers and farm labour lost their lives to the disease while the in area of infrastructure, feeder roads connecting farms and market outlets were left unattended and in ruins, as well as some rural infrastructure for processing, marketing and distribution being grounded nearly to a halt and capacities severely diminished as a result of mortal fear, human debility and reduced activities/near closure of the agricultural enterprises/ agribusinesses. While the Ebola epidemic is not the only justification for this 17 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 project, the epidemic put a strain on a sector which is riddled with low productivity and competitiveness. As such, the incidence of the epidemic makes this project intervention much more urgent as it will partly contribute towards the country’s Ebola recovery. Thus, to restore, enhance and continue with gains achieved under the former World Bank funded project; namely the ‘Rural and Private Sectors Development Project’ (RPSDP), the predecessor to this proposed project; a number of international and local laws and policies germane to its success will be invoked and addressed for smooth implementation. These would include institutional arrangements for implementation, monitoring of safeguards, issues of compliance and grievance address mechanisms. The finances sought will focus on four key areas to promote productivity, efficiency and increased farmers’ and business promoters’ earnings through enhanced feeder roads maintenance and access to markets, support to agribusiness through farmers linkages and SMEs for value chain addition, building institutional and personal capacities and strengthened project coordination, management and monitoring and evaluation. To strengthen the project implementation, discussions with key stakeholders like MAF, the Programme Coordination Unit (PCU), the Human Rights Commission, Local Councils and relevant selected NGOs will be undertaken to ensure that existing laws and policies likely to have impact are fully understood, negotiated and complied with. An Environmental and Social Impact Assessment study, where required in selected project areas/communities, will be undertaken to obtain the necessary EPA categorization and license for project implementation. This will also enhance environmental protection and sustainability and identify and propose remedies for potential conflicts to ensure social harmony within and between communities. These informed the development of the ESMF. 18 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 3 POLICY, LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK 3.1 National Legislation and Regulatory Framework 3.1.1 National Constitution of Sierra Leone 1991 The Constitution of Sierra Leone is the overarching legal instrument that provides for the protection of the rights of individuals, private property, and also sets principles under which citizens may be deprived of their property in the public interest as described in Section 21 of the Sierra Leone Constitution. It also makes provision for the prompt payment of adequate compensation and access to the court or other impartial and independent authority for the determination of the land owner’s interest or right, and the amount of any compensation to which he/she is entitled and for the purpose of obtaining prompt payment of that compensation. Relevance to the Project: this project is a central development activity that makes use of the human and biophysical environment. As such, an EMP procedure will be implemented to address these issues. 3.1.2 The National Environmental Policy and Culture Heritage Issues The National Environmental Policy (1994) seeks to achieve sustainable development in Sierra Leone through the implementation of sound environmental management systems which will encourage productivity and harmony between man and his environment. It also promotes efforts which will prevent or eliminate damage to the environment and biosphere and stimulate the health and welfare of nationals, and serves to enrich the understanding of ecological systems and natural resources which are important to the country. Also, it seeks to promote socio-economic and cultural development through the preservation of biological diversity for the sustainable utilization of natural resources. There are references to the preservation and/or respectful removal (taking into consideration cultural sensitivities) of “society bushes� for large-scale agribusiness and other purposes in various regulations. 3.1.3 The Draft Forestry and Wildlife Sector Policy for Sierra Leone, 2003 This draft policy document is still under review and awaiting parliamentary approval. The goal of the document is to support the development and exploitation of forests and wildlife of Sierra Leone in a sustainable manner for the material, cultural and aesthetic benefit of the people of Sierra Leone. The main objectives of the forestry policy are to: • Promote best practices in forest management so as to develop an environmentally friendly, self- sustaining forestry sector that is sensitive and responsive to the economic, social and cultural needs of those who live adjacent to or are dependent on the forest; • Foster enabling environments for supervised production of sustainable volumes and quality of forest products that will create national wealth and contribute to food security; and • Encourage the private sector to create employment opportunities for local populations thereby reducing rural poverty 3.1.4 National Lands Policy, August 2015 As provided in the Constitution, the 2005 National Land Policy makes provision for the compulsory acquisition of land in the public interest. The principles of the land policy include among others: • Land as a common national or communal property resource held in trust for the people and which must be used in the long-term interest of the people of Sierra Leone. • Compensation for lands acquired through compulsory government acquisition will be fair and adequate and determined, among other things, through negotiations that take into consideration government investment in the area. • Local Authorities (City and District Councils) may negotiate for land for project development purposes, but all such grants should be properly documented and processed. 19 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 • No interest in or right over any land belonging to an individual or family can be disposed off without consultation with the owner or occupier of the land. • No interest in or right over any land belonging to an individual or family can be compulsorily acquired without payment, in reasonable time, of fair and adequate compensation. 3.1.5 The Environment Protection Agency Act, 2008 (amended 2010) This Act established the Environmental Protection Agency of Sierra Leone (EPA-SL), to provide for the effective protection of the environment and for other related matters. It mandates the EPA among others to: • Advise the minister on the formulation of policies on all aspects of the environment; • Issue environmental permits and pollution abatement notices for controlling the volume, types, constituents and effects of waste discharges, emissions, deposits or other sources of pollutants of substances which are hazardous and dangerous to the quality of the environment; • Prescribe standards and guidelines relating to ambient air, water and soil quality, air pollution, water, land and other forms of environmental pollution including discharge of waste and the control of toxic substances; • Ensure compliance with any environmental impact assessment procedures laid down in the planning and execution of development projects; and • Impose and collect environmental protection levies in accordance with this Act or regulations made under this Act. The Environmental Protection Agency (amendment) Act 2010 gave executive powers to the board. 3.1.6 Forestry Act 1988 The Forestry Act of 1988 contains special protection provisions under which the minister is empowered to declare any area to be a protected area for the purpose of conservation of soil, water, flora and fauna. The legislation stipulates that ‘no person may cut, burn, uproot or destroy trees that are in protected areas or trees that have been declared as being protected.� It also states that the Chief Conservator/Director of forest may issue a license or concession to fell and extract a protected tree. 3.1.7 Local Government Act 2004 The Act establishes the Local Council (LC) as the highest political authority in the locality and confers legislative and executive powers to be exercised in accordance with this Act. This Act in its First Schedule under Section 2 establishes the localities, namely: districts, towns and cities. Part II of this schedule also establishes the number of Paramount Chiefs in each LC. The Third Schedule establishes the functions devolved to the LCs. The Fourth and Fifth Schedules establish departments under each LC, and a Valuation List and Rate Books respectively. Relevance to the Project: Public consultation and community involvement constitute a core element of MAF operations. The implementation of the SCADeP will be done in collaboration with the local council. 3.1.8 The Wildlife Act, 1972. The Wildlife Conservation Act of 1972 was enacted to help regulate the utilization and protection of wildlife resources. However, the bill is characterized by inadequate capacity for implementation and enforcement and insufficient and unsustainable sources of funding. The bill is also out dated and merits review and update to reflect current trends in wildlife protection. The Wildlife Conservation Act of 1972 saw minor amendment in 1990 (known as the Wildlife Conservation Amendment Act), which included redefinition of terms, and other modifications and qualifications. For example, the prohibition of hunting of elephants which was limited to protected areas in the 1972 Act was extended to include all forests. The Wildlife Regulations of 1997 however makes provision for the acquisition of licenses or permits for hunting in such designated areas and for other purpose as may be prescribed. Such license and permits 20 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 can be revoked by the Chief Conservator of Forest if the holder fails to comply with related provisions made in the regulations. 3.1.9 The Draft Plant Protection Policy, 2014 The Government of Sierra Leone has the autonomous right to regulate pesticides import to achieve the appropriate level of protection for cultivated, wild flora, human, livestock and the environment for food production and productivity, and in a way that is compatible with its international obligations. Currently, there is no legal framework to regulate the importation, registration, distribution, use and application of pesticides in Sierra Leone. The types and quantities of pesticides entering Sierra Leone needs to be known for their effectiveness and their safety for human, livestock and the environment. Because of this, two policy documents for pesticides management have been drafted, viz: the Plant Protection Policy document (2014) funded by WAAPP-1C for the establishment of a Plant Protection and Regulatory Services Division (PPRSD), charged with Phytosanitary Inspection, Control and Certification; Policies, Regulations and Standards, and Diagnostics and Laboratory Services; and through funding by WHO, a draft National Integrated Pesticides Management Policy document are available awaiting parliamentary enactment into national law. 3.1.10 Food Security Policy (FSP), 2007 The Food Security Policy (FSP) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) is based on the following pillars: (a) Agricultural Intensification which underscores the need of cultivating improved varieties through appropriate agronomic practices, including the use of fertilizers and pesticides to ensure increased yields; (b) Crop Diversification which promotes the cultivation of improved varieties of other crops other than rice through sensitization and awareness raising of their nutrient value to reduce the dependence and demand for rice; (c) Natural Resource Conservation which encourages the prudent use of water and watershed resources in an effort to increase agricultural land resources; and (d) Food Safety Nets which provides food aid support to farmer and their dependents during hunger seasons to prevent them from eating seed rice and vulnerability to sicknesses. The specific objectives are to: increase diversified agricultural production and food availability, raise rural incomes and employment while ensuring adequate protection of the environment, maximize foreign exchange earnings from agriculture and ensure balance regional growth and equitable distribution of income. 3.1.11 The Child Rights Act, 2007 Sierra Leone is a signatory to the Convention on the Rights of the Child since 1990. A few laws and acts outline the protection of children and young persons and the prevention of child labour. In this Act, Part 8 Employment of Children states that a “child� means a person below the age of eighteen and the minimum age for the engagement of a person in hazardous work as eighteen years old. Hazardous work is when it poses a danger to the health, safety or morals of a person as outlined by the Act. This project will not allow child labour and sensitizes Contractors, implementing partners and stakeholders on preventing child labour during project implementation. 3.1.12 Laws related to GBV and Sexual Exploitation and Abuse At a national level, a number of legislative and policy frameworks have been established to provide supportive and conducive environment to stem and reduce incidents of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) and punish perpetrators. The passage of the three Gender Acts (the Domestic Violence Act (2007), the Devolution of Estates Act (2007) and the Registration of Customary Marriage and Divorce Act (2007) in 2007 provided concrete legal pronouncements on the rights of women and children which could be drawn on to prevent SGBV and seek redress in the event of occurrence. The Gender acts indicated a sea change to attitudes towards gender equity and gender equality and were a core part of the post reconstruction agenda to create a new social order. The Domestic Violence Act ‘situates domestic violence as a criminal act in and of itself and uses a broad definition of domestic abuse which includes physical and sexual abuses, economic abuses, verbal, emotion and psychological abuse’ (Swaine, 2012: 8) perpetrated against an individual in a domestic setting. The 21 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 Registration of Customary Marriage Act raises the legal marriageable age and requires customary marriages to be registered under Customary, Muslim, Christian and civil laws. The Devolution of Estates Act aims to address issues of women’s inheritance rights by allowing men and women to inherit equally and abolishing customary practices whereby widows were often required to marry a member of her deceased husband’s family. A child rights was also passed in 2007. Despite the plethora of laws and apparent institutional commitment to address SGBV, the committee remains limited in its ability to effectively coordinate activities, largely due to lack of funding. It is also detached from key government networks, including district coordinating bodies and ministries responsible for addressing SGBV (MSWCA, 2012). In 2012, these Gender Acts were complemented by the Sexual Offences Act, which criminalizes rape (with marriage explicitly denied as a defense), indecent assault and harassment and imposes a maximum 15-year sentence for cases of rape. It also entitles victims of sexual offences to free medical treatment, as well as a free medical report (necessary for prosecution). This was designed to protect women and girls from rape and abuse from people in authority; bans rape in marriage, provided greater powers to Family Support Unit (FSU) to investigate and prosecute cases of sexual abuse. The mandate is to receive cases of SGBV, provide assistance to victims, investigate crimes and prepare a case for prosecution, as well as increase public awareness. NGOs and service providers have also contributed efforts in stemming the problem by raising awareness on the issues, advocating increased access to services for victims – or in some cases providing those services- and promoting attitudinal change about women’s status, women’s rights and gender power relations within the society. These policy and legislative changes are clearly important in criminalizing VAW, building greater respect for women’s rights, and demonstrating how seriously the government takes issues of women’s security, owing in no small part to ongoing advocacy by women’s organizations and activists (UN Women, 2011). The Prevention and Control of HIV/AIDs Act (2007) enacted to provide a legal framework for the prevention, management and control of HIV and AIDS, for the treatment, counselling, support and care of persons infected with, affected by or at risk of HIV and AIDS infection. It urges the government to assume to responsibility for educating and providing information to all citizens on HIV and AIDS, safe practices and procedures, testing, screening and access to healthcare facilities within the country. It prescribes safe practices and procedure to enhance prevention of transmission and prohibits compulsory testing. The law also prohibits discriminatory policies in the work place and schools, restriction of movement based on HIV status, and denial of burial rites. 3.1.12 Factories Act, 1974 This Act became effective on 30th May 1974 and deals with the occupational health and safety of workers in their work environments. The Act provides for the protection of the workers by their employers in aspects, such as cleanliness of work environment, handling of all injuries, accidents, diseases and death during work. Whereas the name of the Act denotes “Factory based�, its provisions cut across spheres of work, including infrastructure and agriculture. The safety and welfare of the road workers are the responsibility of their employers, i.e. road contractor(s). For purposes of grievance redress, the Act provides for the creation of a Factories Appeal Board whose duty is to handle and determine appeals submitted by the parties (workers and owners of employers). Also, under the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, the International Labour Standards (ILO) apply and are enforced by this Ministry including the local laws and regulations. Other pertinent regulations on occupational health and safety include the Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Act 2012 and the National HIV and Aids Commission Act 2011 to protect against hazards. 22 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 3.2 International Legislation 3.2.1 The World Bank Safeguard Policies The World Bank environmental and social safeguard policies seek to address potential environmental risks and benefits associated with Bank lending operations. These safeguards policies are designed to avoid, mitigate or minimise adverse environmental and social impacts of projects supported by the Bank. The screening of each proposed project is carried out to determine the appropriate extent and type of Environmental Assessment to be undertaken and whether or not the project may trigger other safeguard policies. The Borrower is responsible for any assessment required by the Safeguard Policies, with general advice provided by the WB staff. The World Bank operational policies are presented in Appendix A. The safeguard policies triggered by the project include OP 4.01, OP 4.09 and OP 4.12. The precautionary policies triggered are OP 4.04, OP 4.36 and OP 4.11. The summary of the safeguard policies triggered by the SCADeP are presented in the table below: Table 3-1: World Bank Policies triggered by the Project Safeguard Policies Triggered? Explanation (Optional) Environmental Yes The project triggers OP/BP 4.01 from the expected impacts Assessment OP/BP from the rehabilitation and routine maintenance of the 300km 4.01 feeder Roads in the high agricultural productive areas for which an ESMF has been prepared with guidelines to prevent as a first option or mitigate any adverse impact. Natural Habitats OP/BP Yes The project triggers OP/BP 4.04 as a result of the activities of 4.04 farming, road rehabilitation and maintenance affecting land and water resources. Forests OP/BP 4.36 Yes OP4.36 has also been triggered even though all production activities, including replanting will occur on existing farms and plantations. However, it is likely to anticipate that production activities may extend to secondary forests, given that shifting cultivation is still prevalent in Sierra Leone. Pest Management OP Yes The project has triggered OP 4.09 from the likely use of 4.09 pesticides as a result of the agricultural production. Physical Cultural Yes The project has also triggered OP4.11 (Physical Cultural Resources OP/BP 4.11 Resources) out of precaution in order to have a management framework in place in case of chance-finds during project implementation. Indigenous Peoples No This policy is not triggered since no indigenous peoples as OP/BP 4.10 defined in OP 4.10 are present in the project area. Involuntary Yes Even though the project will not support any activities that will Resettlement OP/BP result in resettlement of people, OP4.12 has been triggered to 4.12 ensure that an appropriate Resettlement Policy Framework is put in place to guard against any unexpected effects on people or their livelihoods as a result of the project. Safety of Dams OP/BP No This policy is not triggered since it is not envisaged that 4.37 streams or rivers will be dammed for irrigation. Projects on International No This policy is not triggered since the project is not likely to Waterways OP/BP 7.50 impact any international waterway. Projects in Disputed No This policy is not triggered since lands within the 13 rural Areas OP/BP 7.60 districts are not in dispute as defined in OP 7.60 23 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 Current Safeguards Status The safeguards risk rating of the parent project was moderate. However, the Project safeguards risk has currently been rated Substantial due to lapses in the implementation of the safeguards frameworks for Sub-Projects under the Sierra Leone Agribusiness Development Fund (SLADF) sub-component, revealed through a E&S safeguards review mission in February 2019. The mission noted that Safeguards due diligence have not been properly followed due to lack of adequate safeguards capacity within the SLADF implementation agency, KPMG, and the Economic Forum, local consultancy firm to which KPMG had outsourced the safeguards implementation and monitoring functions, The mission revealed that the in addition to the weak safeguards capacity, the ToR for the Economic Forum’s assignment were not explicit on specific safeguards under outlined in the ESMF of the parent project. Subsequently, affected sub- projects are be retrofitted to with all meet all safeguards requirements before any further supported could be provided. With technical support from the World Bank, Environmental and Social Safeguards clinics have been conducted to enhance safeguards capacities of the safeguards focal persons of the Beneficiary Grantees, KPMG and Economic Forum. The scope of work for the Economic Forum’s assignment has been augmented, while the recommendation to beef up the environmental and social safeguards capacity is been followed (See Appendices I and J for the revised scope of work and ToR additional safeguards staff and the Profile of The Economic Forum). Moreover, environmental screening and assessment process and responsibilities have elaborated more under section 3.3.2 of this framework to forestall future lapses in its implementation. 3.2.2 World Bank Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) Guidelines The World Bank Environmental, Health and Safety Guidelines are technical reference documents with general and industry-specific examples of Good International Industry Practice (GIIP). The applicability of the EHS Guidelines should be tailored to the hazards and risks established for each project on the basis of the results of an environmental assessment, in which site-specific variables, such as host country context, assimilative capacity of the environment, and other project factors, are taken into account. The EHS guidelines are outlined on the website link below. https://www.ifc.org/wps/wcm/connect/topics_ext_content/ifc_external_corporate_site/sustainability-at- ifc/policies-standards/ehs-guidelines. 3.2.3 Comparison of Sierra Leonean Regulations and World Bank Policies There are gaps between the Sierra Leonean EPA-SL and World Bank policy on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). These are summarized in Table 3-2. Table 3-2: Comparison between GoSL and WB requirements on EIA No. WB Requirements Sierra Leone EPA Proposed Gaps Filling requirements Procedures and Responsible Entity 1 The WB requirements on The Social and Environmental Include safeguard studies in the social and environmental Safeguard policies are partially TORs, once the classification of safeguards policies are included in the EIA process, and the project is determined. fully included in the ESIA in most cases, are not required Determine the social and process to be considered in detail in EIA environmental safeguard studies requirements from the Scoping stage. PCU 2 WB Category B project SL category B implies a PCU Safeguards Specialist shall has potential screening assessment ‘Form B’ consult with EPA-SL to ensure environmental impacts which defines that a project has the proper categorization of the on human populations or moderate environmental impact. proposed project. Once the environmentally In case the project is not project category is nationally important areas, which included in the ESIA indicative determined, there should be an lists in the EPA Act 2008 (as agreement among all parties on 24 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 are less adverse than amended in 2010), consultation the process for obtaining no those of category A with EPA-SL is undertaken using objections from both the World the criteria described in the ESIA Bank and EPA-SL. Guidelines identifying the category of the project. The Bank safeguard policies remain when there is discrepancy in project EA classification. 3 Environmental Sierra Leones legislation No contradiction between the SL Management Plans are consider the EMP as a chapter of and WB requirement. required as part of the ESIA ESMP will be included in the ESIA instruments used contractor’s Contracts and the in cases of category B contractors will be required to projects such as this develop and include a site one. specific ESMPs and budget in their bid at PCU. 4 Scoping is part of the Scoping is carried out during the PCU to define responsibilities, early feasibility stage first phase of a full-blown EIA or time frame, project technical in the preliminary phase data, project stages etc. 5 Under OP 4.01, social Social safeguard policies are not The social safeguard policies assessment includes properly developed developed by the WB will be screening for OP 4,12 adopted in this project. Involuntary A standalone ARAP or RAP will Resettlement, OP 4.10 be prepared depending on the Indigenous number of PAPs that will need Peoples, and OP 4.11 to be relocated or compensated. Physical Cultural Also, the Chance Find Resources. Procedure from project ESMF can be included to comply with the WB requirements. 6 Invitation to the Only registered consulting firms No action required preparation of EIA and individual consults are entitled to prepare the EIA studies 7 Public disclosure needs Public hearing is required mainly Arrangements for the Public a public hearing to be for all categories especially, hearing and consultations that announced at least 1-2 Category C projects and should are meaningful in terms of weeks in advance be announced 2 weeks in stakeholder’s participation and advance engagement shall be agreed upon between PCU and EPA-SL 3.3 Institutional Framework for the ESMF Implementation The ESMF implementation will be the responsibility of the SCADeP Project Coordinating Unit (PCU) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) in collaboration with multiple ministries and agencies, including MAF, Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, SLRA, EPA-SL and other implementing partners. In reference to the Project Implementation Manual (PIM), the SCADeP implementation and operating framework to deliver the objectives of its components are captured in Figure 3.1 below and comprise of the following implementation and support structures: Steering, advisory and technical committees; Implementing partners made up of ministries, state and non-state Institutions; Partnership arrangements; and Project Coordination Unit. Figure 3.1: SCADeP Implementation and Partnership Arrangements 25 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 Source: Updated from SCADeP Project Implementation Manual (PIM) The ESMF provides the Environmental and Social Safeguards for SCADeP, that cuts across all project components and sub-projects (highlighted in green in Figure 3.1) to ensure project safeguard policies and mitigation measures are implemented and are in full compliance. The successful implementation of the ESMF depends largely on the key stakeholder institutions. The National Project Steering Committee (NPSC) was established to provide policy guidance, oversight and play an advisory role with the following responsibilities: (i) endorse annual work plans prior to approval by the IDA; (ii) endorse annual (updated) procurement plan prior to approval by the IDA; and (iii) review implementation progress of work plans and other aspects of project performance, and ensuring policy and implementation coordination, not only between sub-components of the project, but also among all the project implementing institutions. The two other committees involved in component technical oversight are the Funds Advisory Committee (FAC), established to provide appropriate governance and oversight over the management and administration of the Sierra Leone Agribusiness Development Fund (SLADF), under component 1; and the National Feeder Roads Committee (NFRC), which is responsible for oversight and coordination of the rehabilitation and maintenance of feeder roads in accordance with the National Feeder Roads Policy, under component 2. Effective implementation of this ESMF will require technical capacity in the human resources of implementing institutions as well as logistical facilitation. Sufficient understanding of the mechanisms for implementing the ESMF will need to be provided to the various stakeholders implementing the SCADeP components. The Bank will provide training to the PCU staff in World Bank Safeguard Policies, Environment and Social Management Plans and roles and responsibilities. The PCU is responsible for coordinating and supervising the day-to-day implementation of the project, including implementation and monitoring the performance of this ESMF and its provisions. The Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialist (ESSS) is the main staff member responsible for implementing, monitoring and reporting on the ESMF with tasks including screening subprojects, creating a terms of reference (TORs) for subprojects ESHIAs, reviewing and approval of consultant’s ESHIAs and ESMPs, training implementing partners safeguards focal persons and conducting ESMP monitoring and visits to subproject sites. Within each sub-project under SCADeP, safeguards focal persons will be appointed, trained and responsible for regularly reporting to the PCU ESSS either directly or via the implementing partner, such 26 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 as SLARI or the supervising consultant, on their environmental and social management plan (ESMP) or other related safeguards instruments, including a grievance redress mechanism (GRM) appropriate for the project activity and labour influx management plan (LIMP). These safeguards focal persons appointed by the implementing partners (IPs) and private sector, are existing staff paid by the IPs or business, who are trained by the PCU ESSS and World Bank staff on the World Bank Safeguard Policies. Once training is complete, there task is to manage and regularly report on safeguards related to their sub-project. Under Component 1, SLADF have hired an external Consulting Firm to manage their safeguards requirements by providing up to two environmental specialists that report to the Fund Manager. The specific roles and responsibilities of the Consulting Firm are outlined in Appendix J and include, conducting an Environmental Audit Report highlighting the environmental risk and impact of supported agribusiness activities and performing quarterly and annual environmental reports on the grantees. A World Bank Safeguards Training was conducted in February 2019 by the ESSS and World Bank Safeguards Team, for the first round 9 grantee focal persons. After the training, the focal persons were tasked with submitting monthly safeguards reports, that highlight their monthly activities and mitigation measures. Within the Fund Manager team, one staff member is responsible for liaising with both PCU ESSS and the Consulting Firm to ensure safeguards are adequately managed. The Fund Manager reviews and submits the monthly safeguard reports from the agribusiness focal persons to the PCU ESSS. After reviewing the reports, the ESSS and the Fund Manager arrange site visits to verify the reports and to provide advice to the focal persons on how to improve their safeguards management. A due diligence Environmental Audit Report is conducted by a consultant to provide clear sub-project environmental and social impacts and the required mitigation measures. The Environmental Audit Report created outlines the reporting requirements of the implementing partners safeguards focal person. Further information on specific institutional arrangements is provided in Chapter 7. 3.3.1 The Roles of Key Stakeholders and Institutions in the ESMF Implementation 3.3.1.1 Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) is mandated with the implementation of government’s agricultural, forestry and food security policies. The mandate of the Ministry spreads across crops, livestock and forest development and improvement policies, and related services. The Ministry exercises its mandates over the environment through such Departments as Agriculture, Forestry, Land and Water Development, Planning, Evaluation, Monitoring and Statistics and the Livestock Unit. The current policy of the ministry includes higher productivity, self-sufficiency in staples and other products, diversified production, increased incomes, maximization of foreign exchange through export promotion and import substitution, increased rural employment, improved nutrition and soil fertility etc. 3.3.1.2 Environmental Protection Agency – Sierra Leone This Act (2008; Amended 2010) establishes the Environment Protection Agency, defines its functions and powers, provides for its organization and administration and provides rules for various matters regarding the environment in Sierra Leone. The Agency is established as a corporate body managed by Board of Directors and an Executive Director. Part IV of the Act exclusively deals with the activities requiring a full Environmental and social impact assessment and describes the permitting processes leading to the acquisition of an environmental licence. The EPA-SL Board of Directors comprises the Executive Chairperson and Representatives drawn from the following ministries and the private sector: • Ministry of Lands Country Planning and the Environment • Ministry of Local Government • Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources 27 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 • Ministry of Marine resources • Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry • Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs • Ministry of Trade and Industry • Ministry of Transport and Aviation • Ministry of Health and Sanitation • Petroleum Unit • Three persons from the private sector (commerce, finance and law). The EPA-SL has a wide range of environmental management functions including coordination of the activities of government agencies and other agencies on matters relating to environmental protection and management. The EPA is also responsible for ESIA compliance and licensing (see section 3.1.3 for further details) At present, the Executive Board serving as the governing body of the Agency, provides general policy guidance and advice as well as supervises the work of the Agency. The Executive Chairperson, who is responsible to the Office of the President, executes the Board policies and oversees the day-today- professional and administrative activities of the Agency. The Executive Chairperson is assisted by the Executive Director and three Deputy Directors. The three Deputy Directors are: • Deputy Director, Policy, Planning and Research • Deputy Director, Field Operations and Extension, working in partnership with District and Local Councils • Deputy Director, Finance and Administration 3.3.1.3 Ministry of Lands, Country Planning and the Environment The Ministry’s central role is to ensure the sustainable management and utilization of the nation’s lands, proper planning and environmental management of the nation’s natural resources for the country’s socioeconomic growth and development. The ministry’s policies and programs are designed to contribute towards the realization of the national goals of wealth creation, revenue mobilization and employment generation within the framework of the poverty reduction. The Ministry’s programs and projects are implemented by three in house Departments; viz: Surveys and Lands, Country Planning and Environment. 3.3.1.4 Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD) through the Paramount chiefs holds control over lands in the provinces. Land is owned collectively by the community with the paramount chief as the sole custodian. The Director of Forests is the head of the Forestry Division and is responsible for the management and protection of forest reserves, game reserves and national parks. The communal forests, though they remain in the hands of the chiefdoms are also managed by the Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF). However, the Division lacks the capacity to perform its duties and as a result the forests are exploited without attention to sustainable management. 3.3.1.5 Other Relevant National Institutional Framework • Sierra Leone Investment and Export Promotion Agency (2007) • Sierra Leone Chamber for Agribusiness Development (SLECAD) • Land and water development division (LWDD) • Sierra Leone Roads Authority • Human Rights Commission • PKMG – Fund Manager for SLADF 28 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 3.3.1.6 Non-Governmental Organisations Several Non-Governmental Organisations in Sierra Leone are involved in governance and utilization of natural resources in the country. Principal of them is the Conservation Society of Sierra Leone (CSSL), which advocates and promotes the conservation and sustainable use of Sierra Leone’s natural resources through research, education, advocacy and support to site management groups. CSSL also undertake campaigns for the protection of wildlife, parks and sanctuaries. The Environmental Foundation for Africa (EFA) is also actively involved in promoting environmental and social agenda and has acquired experience in operation in conflict zones, humanitarian and refugee operations, post-conflict reconstruction and rehabilitation. The Commonwealth Human Ecology Council (CHEC-SIL) is another NGO that promotes conservation of the ecology through education and dissemination of environmental information via mass media. It also supports the Government of Sierra Leone (GOSL) in promoting, through education, policy implementation and project execution. The Organization for Research and Extension of Intermediate Technology (OREINT) focuses on self- sustaining rural development through the promotion of agriculture and appropriate technology to enhance and improve the socio-economic status of people in rural areas. These and several other organisations augment the efforts of the government and will serve as key stakeholders on the implementation of the SCADeP. 3.3.2 Environmental screening and assessment process and responsibilities A screening process, selection, assessment, approval and evaluation of sub-project activities are required to manage environmental and social aspects of these activities. The PCU will use the screening and assessment process provided below for all subprojects under SCADeP. Summary of Environmental Screening and Assessment Process and Responsibilities Stage Institutional Implementation responsibility responsibility 1 Preliminary screening of infrastructure sub-projects PCU-MAF/SLRA/ Environmental and and others, to determine their safeguard SLeCAD/NaFFSL/K social safeguards requirements and also to assist in project PMG-Grantees specialist (ESSS)/ formulation using checklist: KPMG/SLeCAD/ SLRA/NaFFSL SLADF KPMG-Grantees KPMG ASMG PCU-MAF Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialist (ESSS) Feeder Roads PCU-MAF/SLRA PCU (ESSS)/ SLRA Support to state and non-stage actors SLeCAD/NaFFSL/S PCU (ESSS)/ LARI SLeCAD/NaFFSL 2 Advise on which SCADeP subprojects to register EPA EPA with the EPA following preliminary screening 3 Statutory environmental registration of SCADeP PCU/KPMG PCU-ESSS/KPMG subproject 4 Determination of appropriate environmental EPA EPA assessment level/category 5 If ESHIA is necessary EPA/PCU/KPMG/ PCU/PKMG SLeCAD/NaFFSL 6 Preparation of terms of reference PCU ESSS 7 Validation of ESHIA/ESMP TOR EPA/World Bank - 8 Selection of consultant PCU ESSS/Procurement Specialist 9 Preparation and publication of scoping reports Consultant - 10 Preparation of ESIA report Consultant - 11 Review and approval of ESIA/ESHIA PCU/EPA/ World PCU/ESSS Bank 29 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 12 Issuance of environmental permit for project EPA - implementation 13 Public Consultation and Disclosure PCU/EPA/ World ESSS/Contractor/C Bank onsultant 14 Implementation of ESHIA/ESMP PCU/ ESSS/Project Contractor/SLADF Implementers/KPM Grantee G 15 Surveillance and monitoring PCU/EPA/ World ESSS, M&E Bank Specialist, EPA 3.4 Strengthening of project capacity for implementing the ESMF One of the project components of SCADeP is to strengthen the capacity of State and non-state institutions to responsible for the provision of services relevant to for smallholder commercialization and agribusiness development. The component supports the capacity building support to state and quasi- state institutions responsible for providing public services, including the policy environment for promotion of agribusiness development in the country, and will also enhance capacities in the implementation of the ESMF requirements of this Project and future projects. The environmental and social trainings include providing basic knowledge and information on the key environmental and social issues associated with the project interventions to the key project stakeholders and project personnel including the safeguards focal persons. Additional capacity building requirements may be included in the ESMPs of the subprojects. 3.5 Relevant international agreements to which Sierra Leone is party Sierra Leone has endorsed and signed several International Conventions and Protocols. These Conventions and Protocols are at different stages of implementation but in general Implementation is slow as many have not been ratified or harmonised with the laws, policies and programmes of Sierra Leone. As a result, Sierra Leone trails far behind in the implementation of the provisions of these conventions. Table 3-2: International Agreements and Conventions ratified by Sierra Leone. Agreement Adoption Ratification Focal Point Focus Area Date Date UN Convention on Law of Fisheries and the Sea (UNCLOS) Fisheries dept. continental shelf UN Convention on Biological Diversity 12th Dec., Forestry Biodiversity June 1994 (UNCBD) 1994 Department Conservation. Cartagena Protocol on Bio Protection from safely. to the Convention on Forestry and effects of modern Biological Diversity Jan, 2000 2003 Wildlife technology (Cartagena Protocol) Management Convention on Wetlands of Forestry and International Importance June 2005 wildlife Wetlands (RAMSAR Convention) management Convention on International trade in Endangered Forestry and Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Wildlife species Flora (CITES) Management 30 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 Agreement Adoption Ratification Focal Point Focus Area Date Date Convention on the Conservation of migratory Forestry and Migratory Species of wild Animals Wildlife species (CMS Convention) Management 25th Lands, country UN Convention to Combat and the June 1994 September Desertification Desertification (UNCCD) environment 1995 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Meteorological May 1992 April 1996 Climate change (UNFCC) department Kyoto Protocol to the UN Convention on Climate Advanced Meteorological Dec. 1997 Climate change Change (Kyoto Protocol) stage department Bamako Convention on the ban of the Import into Africa Trans-boundary and the Control of Movement and Transboundary Movement Management of Jan 1991 April 1993 EPA and Management of Hazardous Hazardous Wastes within Wastes within Africa. Africa (BAMAKO Convention) Convention for Cooperation of the Protection of the Marine and Coastal Marine and Environment of West and 7th June 2005 EPA Coastal Central Africa region. Management (ABIDJAN Convention) Basel Convention on the Control of Trans-boundary Trans-boundary Movements of Hazardous Movements of Mar. 1989 April 1993 EPA wastes. (BASEL Hazardous Convention) wastes Agreement Adoption Ratification Focal Point Focus Area Date Date Convention on the Prior informed Consent procedure for Certain Hazardous Hazardous Chemicals and EPA Chemicals and Pesticides in International Pesticides trade. (Rotterdam (PIC) Convention.) Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. Persistent (Stockholm (POPs) 9th Sept. 2003 EPA Organic Convention) Pollutants. 31 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 Agreement Adoption Ratification Focal Point Focus Area Date Date Convention on the Protection of the Protection of Stratospheric Ozone Layer. Sept 1987 April 1993 EPA Ozone Layer (Vienna Convention) Montreal protocol on Substances that Deplete the Protection of Ozone Layer Sept 1987 April 1993 EPA Ozone Layer (MONTREAL Convention) Convention on the Protection of Cultural and National Council Protection of Natural Heritage (World of Arts and Heritage sites Heritage Convention) Culture 32 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 4 BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT AREA The Project Area, for the purpose of this SCADeP, will cover the thirteen agricultural districts of Sierra Leone which were also covered in the existing project (RPSDP). The exact location of these subcomponent investments will not be identified before bank appraisal of the project, as such the EA process calls for the Project Proponent to prepare an Environmental and Social Management Framework that will establish a mechanism to determine and assess future potential environmental and social impacts during implementation of the SCADeP activities, and then to set out mitigation, monitoring and institutional measures to be taken during operations of these activities, to eliminate adverse environmental and social impacts, offset them, or reduce them to acceptable levels. This section therefore discusses the country’s physical, biological, social and cultural environments as it currently obtains. A map of Sierra Leone showing the agricultural districts and the selected commodities they can accommodate is shown in Figure 4-1. Figure 4-1: Maps of Sierra Leone (A) New map of Sierra Leone, showing 16 administrative districts and 190 chiefdoms 33 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 (B) Commodities per Agricultural Districts of Sierra Leone Based on the previous country district boundaries. Since mid-2018, two new districts were established in the Northern Region – Falaba from Koinadugu and Karene from Bombali and Port Loko. 4.1 Land Resources Sierra Leone lies between latitude 60 00’ and 100 0’ N and longitude 100 16’ W and 130 18′ W on the West Coast of Africa with a north-south distance of 331 km and an east-west distance of 326 km. The total land area of the country is approximately 72,000 km 2. Nested within the Upper Guinean Rainforest, Ecoregion, it is recognized as one of the hotspots for biodiversity conservation. About 60.000 km 2 has been classified as upland and 11.000 km 2 as low lands. Out of the total land area, 53,620km 2, (5.36m ha) has been estimated as suitable for crop production. Non-arable land which includes hills, rocky land, roads, rivers and creeks account for the rest of the land resources of the country. Land in Sierra Leone is divided into arable agricultural land (60%), pastural (18%), mangrove and inland swamps (8%), and forest under protection and management (4.5%) and others (9.75%). About 6.57m ha (90%) of the land is owned privately by families, 360,000ha by communities and families and only 285, 000ha (4%) are held by Government in the form of forest reserves. The lands belonging to families are small and fragmented, restricting effective planning and management. 4.2 Agro-Ecological Zones Sierra Leone has five distinct agro-ecological zones identified as: • Uplands: These are moderately well-drained sandy loamy soils of varying depth. The uplands cover about 6.1 m ha or 84% of the land area of the country. Uplands are found everywhere and can support rice, cacao, oil palm and poultry farming amongst others. They are usually poor in native soil fertility, are rain-fed and prone to both water and wind erosions when left exposed. Slash and burn with bush fallow lasting 3 to 5 years is the common farming practice. • Inland Valley Swamps (IVS): These are fairly flat, poorly drained depressions between adjacent uplands mostly of sandy loamy to clayey soils. The land area covered by this agro ecological zone is approx. 675,000 ha (9% of the land mass). Inland valley swamps with standing water during the rainy season are found mostly in Bo, Kenema, Kailahun, Kono, Pujehun and parts of 34 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 Moyamba Districts. They are usually prone to iron and aluminium toxicities and minor health hazards arising from leech bites and water borne diseases. This ecology supports rice farming in the wet season and tuber crops and vegetables in the dry season. If properly managed it can support two crops of rice in a year. • Mangrove Swamps: These are lands adjacent to the coast and/ or along estuarine rivers subject to daily tidal inundations with brackish water. The land area covered by this agroecological is . 215, 000 ha (3%of the land mass). This ecology is found along the Great and Little Scarcies Rivers of Kambia and Port Loko Districts, the coastal areas of Western Urban and Rural Districts and Bonthe District. The environment is prone to salinity and crab damage problems during the cropping season. There are associated swamps around the fringes which may suffer from iron and aluminium toxicities. The soils are clayey and have modest native soil fertility. This environment supports rice farming during the wet season. • Boli lands: These are saucer like wide expanse of low-lying inland depressions subject to run off flooding during the wet season. The land area covered by this ecology is approx.120, 000 ha (2% of the land mass). This agro-ecosystem is found mostly in the Northern Province in the Bombali and Tonkolili Districts. They are prone to heavy weeds infestation and aluminium and iron toxicities. Rice is supported during the wet season and vegetables and tuber crops are supported during the dry season. The soils are sandy loam and clayey. • Riverine Grassland/Flood plains: These are located mainly in Torma Bom in the Bonthe District and Gbondapi in the Pujehun District along the major rivers. They are heavily flooded during the wet season. The land area covered by the flood plains is approx.120, 000 ha (2% of the land mass). The flood plains support cultivation of tall rice varieties, but crops are prone to serious lodging because of the plant heights attained. 4.3 Physiography The country is divided into three distinct physiographic regions running from the north –east to the south west viz: the coastal plains, interior plains and the interior plateau. The coastal plains are low lying areas comprising mostly of swamps and extending 30 km inland from the coast. The interior plains region is 80 to 100 km wide and the topography is undulating with a hard pan soil structure of an old peneplain continental land mass. Altitudes within this plain range from 40m in the west to 200m high in the east. It is in this region that the saucer-like land depressions and low terraces which are flooded during the rains by runoff and overflow from rivers and streams known as bolilands are found. Flooding is as a result of poor drainage and the clayey nature of the soil. The interior plateaux are highlands with altitudes ranging 300 to 700m above sea level. The land areas covered by the three physiographic regions are given in Table 4-1. Table 4-1: Physiographic land areas covered by the different plains. Region Area (Sq.km) Land cover (%) Coastal Plains 10,444 15 Interior Plains 31,418 43 Interior Plateau 30,464 42 Source: ESMF for RPSDP additional financing, April 2011. 35 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 4.4 Climate Sierra Leone has a tropical climate with daily humidity on average ranging between 40 to 90% depending on the season. There are two distinct seasons, namely the wet season starting from April/ May and ending October/November and the dry season starting November/December and ending April. Diurnal temperatures vary from 25 degree at night to 34 degree Celsius during the day. Temperatures could fall as low as 16 to 25 degree Celsius during the harmattan period (December to February). The average monthly temperatures are around 30 degree Celsius. During the heavy rains (June to August), rivers overflow their banks but these flash floods are greatly reduced during the dry season (November to March). • The mean annual rainfall recorded in the different regions are as follows: • The coastal areas including the capital Freetown – 3,000 to 5000mm. • The north-central, southern and eastern regions – 2500 to 3000mm. • The north region- <2000 to 2500mm. It should be noted that distinctly higher rainfall values different from other parts in the Northern region (above 3000 mm) are usually recorded around Makeni, Mabonto and Bumbuna areas presumably due to the relief influence of the Sula Mountain scarp in the east. Similarly, the Western area records up to 5000mm annually, Sunshine hours vary with the season. It is on average 7 hours during the dry season falling to about 3 hours during the wet season. 4.4.1 Evaporation and Water Balance The annual evapo-transpiration range from 1300 to 1600 mm. This translates to a daily rate of 4.5 mm in the dry season and as low as 3.5mm in the wet season. The higher dry season evapo-transpiration rate is as a result of ambient high air temperatures, low moisture contents (relative humidities) and high sunshine hours. Conversely the lower rates in the wet season are the result of the lower ambient air temperatures, high relative humidities and low daily sunshine hours. ‘Water Surplus’ of 1200 to 2600 mm usually occur during the wet season as against a deficit of 240 to 610 mm above the assumed soil water storage of 100 mm. 4.4.2 Drainage and Hydrology There are nine major river basins providing most of the drainage system in Sierra Leone. These are the Great Scarcies, Little Scarcies, Rokel/Seli in the northern region; Pampana/Jong, Sewa and Waanje in the Southern Region; Moa and Mano in the Eastern region and the Coastal Creeks/Peninsula streams in the Western Area. Five of these, viz: Rokel, Pampana/Jong, Sewa, Waanje and the Coastal creeks and Peninsula streams originate from in – country; whilst the Great and Little Scarcies and the Moa rivers have their origins from the Fouta Djallon plateau in Guinea. The Mano River originates in Liberia. All of these rivers flow in an almost linear pattern; viz: north-east to south- east. The proximate lengths of these rivers and the sizes of their catchment areas are presented in Table 4-2. Table 4-2: Proximate lengths and catchment areas for rivers in Sierra Leone Catchment Area River Basin Region Length (km) (%) Area (km2) Great Scarcies Northern 160 3,115 4.3 Little Scarcies Northern 280 13,000 17.9 Rokel/Seli North/Western 380 10,620 14.8 Pampana/Jong Southern 300 7,511 10.4 Sewa Southern 430 14,140 19.7 Waanje Southern 200 4,510 6.2 Moa Eastern 320 9,220 12.7 Mano Eastern 180 2,530 3.4 Coastal Streams/ Western 120 6,960 9.6 Creeks Source: ESMF for RPSDP additional financing, April 2011. 36 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 4.5 Vegetation As discussed in subsection 4.1, the country covers a total land area of 72 325 km 2 of which 75% is arable. Approximately 56% of the land is below 150 m asl while upland and lowland ecologies make up 78% and 22% respectively of the arable land area. The uplands are composed of forest, savannah woodlands and grasslands while the lowlands comprise approximately 675 000 hectares (ha.) of inland valley swamps, 145 000 ha of ‘bolilands’ (or large, saucer -shaped basins), 130 000 ha of riverine grasslands; and 200 000 ha of mangrove swamps. 4.5.1 Primary Forests and Secondary Forests The forest ecosystems can be divided into closed forests and transition or secondary forests. The closed forests can further be sub-divided into evergreen and semi-deciduous forests. The evergreen forest is characterized by trees about 30 m tall with a closed canopy growing in areas with abundant rainfall of at least 3 000 mm per year which is well distributed throughout the year. The semideciduous forest has similar characteristics to the rain forest, but with a greater proportion of deciduous forest trees. Herbaceous layers which may include a few specialized grasses occur over a variable portion of the forest floor. A number of timber trees are present in the rain forest, such as the African mahogany (Khaya ivorensis and K. grandifoliola), the scented sapele wood (Entandrophragma cylindricum) and iroko (Chlorophora excels). There are also economic cash crops such as oil palm (Elaeis guineensis), cocoa (Theobroma cacao) and rubber (Hevea brasiliensis). The area of forest in the country has been reduced considerably, with less than 5% of the original forest remaining in isolated reserves. Most of the closed forest has been converted into secondary forest and forest regrowth or ‘farmbush’ as a result of clearing for use in ‘slash -and-burn’ or shifting cultivation farming and for firewood. The secondary forest has a closed canopy with trees 10-30 m tall, most of it consists of re-growth often from farming. Forest re-growth is by far the largest type of forest in Sierra Leone. Generally, farming is done in cleared sites for 2-3 years before it is abandoned for a fallow period of 4 to 5 years. Shortening of the fallow period leads to a decrease in tree species, loss in soil productivity, and increase in the number of herbaceous plants. This leads to a change from the secondary forest or ‘farmbush’ state to predominantly grass/shrub or grass/herb mixture referred to as derived or transitional savannah. With more disturbances from man, the derived savannah gives way to a fire tolerant tree species with closed canopy in a tall grassy cover referred to as the Guinea Savannah. As the amount of rainfall reduces, and frequency of burning and intensity of grazing and cultivation increase, the Guinea Savannah vegetation changes to the Sudan Savannah. 4.5.2 Savannah Lands This is mostly found in the Northern Province towards Guinea, especially in Koinadugu, Bombali and Kono Districts. There is also a strip of savannah along the coast of Bonthe and Pujehun Districts. It is comprised of the derived Guinea and the Sudan savannah zones. In the northern region where 60% of the cattle and small ruminant populations are concentrated, over 9 000 km 2 of land has been left bare due to overgrazing. Bush fires continue to affect about 200 000 hectares of savannah woodlands annually. 4.5.3 Mangrove Swamp Forests The mangrove swamp forests contain mostly stunted shrubs and some trees up to 10-20 m tall. Mangrove woodlands occupy 47% of the Sierra Leone coastline, covering a total area of approximately 200,000 ha. Mangroves are halophytic, woody seed-bearing plants. They have unique adaptation features, which contribute to their survival in their relatively stressful environment. Mangroves are distributed in the four main estuaries that fringe the coastline of Sierra Leone. The predominant mangrove plant spp. Found in Sierra Leone is Rhizophora sp. They are important habitats for diversity of migratory water fowl and water dependent amphibians and mammal species, and grazing lands for buffalo and waterbuck. 4.6 Soils The soil resources of Sierra Leone can be categorised into five orders (and several series): Oxisols, Inceptisols, Entisols, Ultisols and Spodosols. Oxisols are the most widespread followed by Inceptisols 37 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 and Entisols. Ultisols and Spodosols are also present but are rare. The soils can also be generally classified into three main groups: lithosols, ferrallitic and hydromorphic or swamp soils Oxisols (or Ferralsols): are the common soils on the gently undulating uplands and in the inland swamps. They are strongly weathered and leached soils with low ability to supply nutrients to plants and capacity to retain nutrients (cation exchange capacities, CEC). Due to their low CEC, inorganic fertilizers, especially nitrogen is required in small amounts to avoid leaching because the soils occur in high rainfall regions. They contain free iron and aluminium oxides that fix phosphate fertilizers. Other constraints of oxisols include: deficiency in calcium, magnesium and potassium; presence of aluminium which can be toxic to many plant species, and deficiency of molybdenum required for the growth of legumes. They are usually deep, well-drained red or yellow soils with good structure, and deep profile, and uniform properties with depth. Inceptisols: are also widespread and occur on steep slopes where erosion is active and in areas of recent alluvium. They are slightly more developed than the entisols and are less strongly weathered and leached than oxisols. The subsoil contains some weatherable materials. Inceptisols are richer in plant nutrients and have higher CEC than Oxisols. They include some poorly drained clay soils without well-developed horizons. Entisols: are common on some sandy beach ridges and in poorly drained swamps or lagoons that are waterlogged throughout the year. They are sandy, young soils, limited in minerals in which the horizons are only slightly developed or undeveloped. They include recently deposited alluvial materials and some young soils on inert and resistant parent materials. Ultisols or acrisols: have a high water holding capacity, but the higher density of the second horizon may limit biological activity and root penetration. Although these soils are less weathered than ferralsols, mineral reserves are low. Leaching is a problem in these soils and boron and manganese are also deficient. High aluminum content may lead to phosphate fixation. The structure of the surface soil is weak and internal drainage may be hampered by the compact texture of the horizon below the surface soil. Hydromorphic or swamp soils: the most frequent of the swamp soils are the water-logged, gray hydromorphic soils. They are found in the floors of valleys, which are flooded in the rainy season. They are extremely deficient in plant nutrients, and are among the least productive soils in Sierra Leone. However, if drained and fertilized, they can be used for producing rice and other crops. 4.7 Socio-Economic Baseline Sierra Leone is divided into Northern, Southern, Eastern Province and the Western Area. The regions are sub-divided into 14 districts which are further divided into 394 wards managed by district councillors, and 149 chiefdoms which are managed by paramount chiefs. The Western Area, which houses the national capital Freetown, is an exception; it does not operate a customary legal system present and thus has no chieftaincy or chiefdoms. The history of Freetown as a Crown Colony has led to privately held land tenure, while in other parts of Sierra Leone; the chiefs are still responsible for managing land issues. Sierra Leone, before the EVD outbreak, had risen in the UNDP Human Development Index from an index of 0.329 in 2005 to 0.379 in 2013. The country, however still ranks among the world’s least developed countries, with a life expectancy at birth at 48.8 years; under-five mortality at 157.9 per 1,000 live births one of (one of the highest in the world), and adult literacy of about 42 percent. About 70 percent of its population (5.5 million) falls below the national poverty line of US$ 2 a day. Sierra Leone has a very youthful population, with about half of all Sierra Leoneans being under the age of 18 and population growth estimated at 2.5 per cent. The country’s maternal mortality rate is considered one of the highest in the world and the poverty rate is still over 60%. The country is challenged in reaching all the Millennium Development Goals except for parts of MDG 3 (gender parity) and MDG 6 (HIV/AIDS). To reverse these negative trends, economic growth rate should reach 10% from its 6.5% level, according to the second PRSP (UNDP Country assessment report, 2008-2010). 38 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 4.7.1 Population The population of Sierra Leone was reported, from 2004 Population and Housing Census, as 5,997,500 persons and projected to have risen to 6.2 million by 2014. This population was said to be distributed as 38% in the urban are while the majority of the population still resided in rural areas (62%). A typical household, which is defined as a person or group of persons (related or unrelated) who live together and make common cooking arrangements (i.e. sharing a cooking pot), averages 5.9 people. Approximately 75% of households are headed by men and 25% by women. 4.7.2 Education and Literacy In 2012 the 6-3-4-4 system of education was implemented by the Ministry of Education i.e. six years of primary education, three years of junior secondary education, four years of senior secondary school education and four years of tertiary/university training. This system was created to allow access to nine years of comprehensive basic education and to promote technical and skills training post basic education. Primary education is free but payment of various fees is required from junior school onwards. Although education is compulsory up to junior secondary school, the proportion of the population that has received formal education is relatively low. The 6-3-4-4 system is comprised of the following (Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, 2007): • Age 3-5:pre-primary schooling (optional); • Age 6-11:six years of primary schooling / community education centre A (CEC-A) (compulsory); • Age 12-14:three years of junior secondary school (JSS) / community education centre C (CEC- B) (compulsory); and • Age 15+:four years of senior secondary school (SSS), four years of tertiary education and above (optional). Overall, literacy rates in Sierra Leone are 36% for women and for 54% men (SL-DHS, 2013). Literacy rates are higher for younger women and men compared with the older population. Nationally, the adult literacy rate for those aged 15 and above is 40.9% (UNDP, 2011). 4.7.3 Livelihoods and Economy Sierra Leone is still highly dependent on foreign aid, which contributed 30-40%of GDP between 2000 and 2009, although additional revenue streams are now opening up (African Development Bank, 2011). GDP continues to rise and is currently at USD734 per capita (UNDP, 2011). In terms of government expenditure, 13.1% of GDP is spent on healthcare and 4.3%is spent on education. Rural areas in the country and its economy are dominated by small scale agriculture. For nearly half of Sierra Leoneans of working age, family farming is a way of life and the main source of livelihood. Agriculture, most of it is smallholder, accounts for nearly 57.0 percent of the country’s GDP. During the 1970s and 1980s, the country was 80-90% self-sufficient in rice production which is its staple food. Agricultural production plummeted just before and during the war years, but has been rising again steadily in the past decade or so. Sierra Leone however, remains a country plagued by food insecurity and malnutrition, largely due to poverty. The mining sector accounted for 12 percent of GDP in 2012 but increased to about 16 percent in the period before the EVD outbreak, mainly due to the discovery and mining of iron ore starting 2011 in the Northern region. Coffee, cocoa, and fish are the major agricultural exports of the country. The civil war significantly affected the mining sector and large-scale rutile and bauxite operations were abandoned in 1995 (African Development Bank, 2011). New mining policies were adopted in 1995 and 1998 to attract investment in operations and the industry has since grown. GDP growth averaged nearly 8% per annum for the period 2003 to 2006 and is forecast by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to continue at over 6 per cent per annum in the medium-term. The IMF predicted a 51.4% increase in total GDP in 2012 due primarily to iron ore resource development. The employment to population ratio has remained constant at 40% to 45%, with the majority working for smallholdings or in the informal sector (mainly farming), indicating that the absorptive capacity of labour by the labour market in Sierra Leone is very limited due to low investment levels in 39 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 labourintensive economic activities and the fact that many of the people seeking jobs lack relevant education and/or skills. 4.7.4 Health Healthcare in Sierra Leone is variously delivered by Government departments, religious organisations and non-government organisations. In addition, there is a growing private health sector, mainly in urban areas, that operate under the authority of private owners or boards of directors. The provision of healthcare is overseen by the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, which is represented by the District Health Management Teams (DHMT) at the district level. The major focus of the health sector, aligned with the country’s socio-economic development objectives as articulated in the PRSP I & II, is on reducing infant and maternal mortality, resulting in the priority provision of services, such as immunization, utilisation of treated bed nets for the prevention of malaria, promotion of early and exclusive breastfeeding, and promotion of hygiene practices as well as making available minimum maternal and neonatal health care systems. In l ight of the country’s high maternal mortality rate, the government introduced free medical care for pregnant women and children under five years in early 2010. The prevention of HIV/AIDS and mitigating its effects also remains a priority of the government. A medium-term approach is a health insurance scheme that would help improve the quality of life of the population. Health care is of particular concern in rural areas, which often face challenges such as supply of drugs and medicines, blood transfusion services, equipment supply and laboratory services. Additionally, there is a lack of health care professionals in Sierra Leone which has been exacerbated by the EVD epidemic that claimed the lives of over 300 health workers. Nationally there are only 0.2 physicians and 1.7 nurses and midwives per 10,000 people. This is below the African regional average of 2.2 physicians and 9.0 nurses and midwifes per 10,000 people. Malaria accounts for over 40% of outpatient morbidity in Sierra Leone. Children under five, pregnant women and refugees count amongst the most vulnerable to this disease. Malaria also contributes to malnutrition. 4.7.5 Energy The energy sector is the lifeline in the development of any nation and therefore, access to reliable and affordable energy supply on a sustainable basis, particularly by industry, agriculture and the commercial sectors, is an important catalyst for achieving high economic growth thus reducing poverty. Developing the energy sector has been quite challenging, in spite of high potential for hydropower development on the many rivers traversing the country. The country currently produces (15 kWh/a to be scaled up to 35% of total need by 2015) far less energy than meets its needs to drive industry or service sector. The energy access (about 12%) is lowest in world compared to 49% in Ghana, 46% in Nigeria, 96% in North Africa, 73% in Asia, 99% in China and 76% global average. Only around 1% of the total rural population in Sierra Leone has access to electricity. 4.7.6 Road infrastructure Of the 11,300km of roads in the country, 8,148km are classified in the national road system. The remaining roads consist of urban roads, community roads, local roads and farm tracks. With respect to the regional distribution of roads, the Northern Province accounts for 41% of the roads followed by the southern province with 33% and the Eastern Province with 23%. The Western Area accounts for only 3% (PRSP III, 2012). 4.7.7 Land Ownership and Rights Land tenure in Sierra Leone is characterised by a dual ownership structure. In the Western Area including Freetown, private ownership of land also known as freehold tenure is recognised. Land in the rest of the country (i.e. the Provinces) is held in communal ownership under customary tenure and is controlled by traditional chiefs who administer it on behalf of their communities in accordance with customary principles and usage. Generally, land is considered a divine heritage, which the spirits of the deceased ancestors expect that it will be preserved and handed over to future generations. The absolute authority in the community’s land is vested in the entire community. 40 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 In the communal land system practiced in the provinces, land is allocated to individuals within the village by the Paramount and his council. These serve as the custodians and are responsible for resolving land disputes. Ownership is customary and is not formal (i.e. involving title deeds). In most cases, land that is individually ‘owned’ is located relatively close to the village while lands further away from the village centre tend not to be farmed and are used communally for grazing, hunting and the collection of firewood and non-timber forest products. Generally, only natives of the village are allowed to ‘own’ (freehold) land that they can pass onto their children. ‘Strangers’ or non -indigenes have to lease land to farm, either from individuals or the chief’s council. Four principles form the basis for customary law with regard to land allocation and land use; • No member of a family can usurp the right of another member to the land; • Every member of the family is entitled to a portion of the land to cultivate to feed himself and his family; • No member can dispose of any portion of the land without the consent of the Paramount Chief; and • Land cannot be sold. Within this framework there are variations in the rights of allocation and usage of land. The community represented by the Paramount Chief exercises the rights of allocation and usage over all its lands. In most chiefdoms, extended family groups have effectively acquired permanent right of use of land allocated to them by the community. This has led to a form of restrictive individual ownership. Land use rights stand as long as the land is tended. There are three types of tenure affecting arable land, which apply to members of a landowning group: • Traditional communal, practiced by the Kono, Koranko and Susu ethnic groups, where paramount chiefs are custodians of the land. Individuals request land and are granted user rights until cultivation ceases. At this point the land can be returned to a communal pool and reallocated when cultivation starts; • Semi-communal, among the Kissi, Limba and Sere-Gbema ethnic groups, where individual villages establish boundaries and rights limited to land within the boundary. The village chief is the custodian of the land and allocation is carried out as in (i) above; and • Family, practiced by Temne, Mende and Sherbro ethnic groups; in which land belongs to a group formed of descendants of the individual who first obtained the land. The current family head acts as a trustee or caretaker and he is responsible for land distribution. Individual members are either allocated land annually or land is allocated to sub-groups then to individuals. The land will then belong to the individual unless it is left undeveloped, then it returns back to the communal pool and reallocated. There are many variations of the above systems, some, though communal, offer sufficient security for an individual to be willing to make long term investments on the land. Among the Mende and Limba ethnic groups, tree tenure is distinct from land tenure. The individual who planted the trees owns them even though someone else may own the land. The permission of the family head may be required to plant trees on land allocated to an individual. In all systems, the Paramount Chief is the ultimate custodian but would only intervene when land disputes involve outsiders. The Provinces Land Act of 1927, Cap 122 governs the occupancy of land in the provinces by nonnatives, who are defined as “any person who is not entitled by customary law to right in land in the provinces�. According to the Act, non-natives are unable to purchase land. Land may be leased with the consent of the Paramount Chief. Tenancy leases may only be approved for up to a maximum of 50 years, with the possibility of a 21 year renewal. 4.7.8 Agricultural Development Issues The Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) is at the heart of efforts by African governments under the African Union’s New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AU/NEPAD) agenda to accelerate growth and eliminate poverty and hunger among African countries. The main goal of CAADP is to help African countries reach a higher path of economic growth through agricultural-led 41 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 development, which eliminates hunger, reduces poverty and food and nutrition insecurity and enables the expansions of exports. As a programme of the African Union, it emanates from and is fully owned and led by African governments. In the case of Sierra Leone, the National Sustainable Agriculture Development Plan (NSADP), which also reflects the Agenda for Change and the agenda for Prosperity (PRSP I & II), has been adopted. Thus, the NSADP provides the broad framework for putting the objectives of the Government’s Agenda for Change into action in agriculture. The NSADP provides the roadmap for moving agriculture forward to achieve CAADP’s target of an annual growth rate of a minimum 6%, to address Sierra Leone’s growing needs due to population growth and to create additional income to the national economy. A major stocktaking exercise was conducted to identify, among others, sector growth opportunities and potentials, as well as challenges. The process included six thematic group studies, policy reviews, chiefdom surveys, and in-depth stakeholder consultations with District Councils, with support from more than fifty national experts backed by international experts. The six thematic areas cover the following: • Sustainable land and water management systems; • Rural infrastructure and trade related capacities for improved market access; • Improved food production to reduce hunger, including emergencies and disasters that require agricultural support; • Agricultural technology development, dissemination and adoption; • Sustainable use of forestry, fisheries and livestock resources; and • Cross-cutting issues involving policy formulation and review, agricultural statistics, M&E, women in agriculture, youth in agriculture and farmer health. The Smallholder Commercialization Programme (SCP) was born as the output of this process. The SCP was developed to operationalise the NSADP/CAADP’s strategic priorities with the overall development objective of increasing agriculture sector growth from a level 4.2% to 6% per annum over a five-year period (to approach the 7.1% required to meet MDG-1). The programme seeks to contribute substantially to increased wealth, employment, raw materials to trigger industrialization, to promote food security and eradicate poverty in line with the targets of the first Millennium Development Goal and the World Food Summit. The Programme (NSADP) has four major sub-programmes: • Commercialization of Key Commodities through Small-Holder Commercialization Scheme and Medium and large-scale Farmers Promotion Scheme. • Agricultural Infrastructure with focus on the Rehabilitation, Development and Upgrading of Feeder Roads, the Development of Irrigable Swamps, • Rehabilitation and Modernization of Post-harvest Technology such as Storage and Processing Facilities and • Rehabilitation and construction of Research Centres and MAF/MFMR Facilities. • Private Sector Promotion through the formulation of policies and legislation that will encourage sustainable domestic and international investments in the agricultural sector. • Efficient and Effective Management that will ensure, among others, coordination, transparency and mutual accountability. 42 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 5 ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN THE PROJECT AREAS This section discusses the potential environmental and socio-economic impacts that may result from the Project sub-components of the SCADeP. For the purpose of the ESMF and the resulting ESIAs, an impact is any change to a resource or receptor brought about by the presence of the Project or by the execution of the Project’s related activities. It is important to clearly identify and characterise the potential environmental issues and concerns, both positive and negative, to be elicited by the Project sub-components. Hence, the potential impacts on environmental and socio-economic resources and receptors will be described as below, where appropriate: • Direct/Primary – Impacts that result from the direct interaction between the Project ’s activities and the receiving environment (such as between effluent discharge and receiving water). • Indirect/Secondary – Impacts that follow from primary interactions between the Project ’s activities and the environment as a result of subsequent interactions within the environment (such as soil loss as a consequence of land clearing affecting downstream aquatic habitats) • Cumulative Impacts- acting together to affect a particular environmental resource or receptor. Several types of cumulative impacts can be defined: • Temporal – A series of impacts, in themselves not significant, occurring repetitively to build to the point that they become significant. • Accumulative – The overall effect of different types of impact (such as air pollution and noise and traffic) on a single receptor (such as a community or a habitat) where each single impact may not be significant, but combined they are. • Additive – Where impact from the Project occurs at the same time as impact from activities being undertaken by other parties. • Interactive – Where two different types of impact (which may not in themselves be significant) react with each other to create a new impact (that might be significant). • Synergistic – Where two impacts together (e.g., changes in water quality with respect to two different pollutants) to create an impact that is greater than the sum of their parts. • Induced – Impact originating from other projects or activities that are encouraged to happen as a consequence of the original project (such as the mill development stimulates a requirement for improved site access leading to an increased local population and traffic). • Non-Normal/Accidental – Impacts that result from un-planned events (incidents- within the Project (such as breakdowns, failures, or human error) or in the external environment affecting the Project (such as floods, landslides), taking into consideration the probability (or likelihood) of the event becoming important. The categorisation and characterisation of potential impacts into positive (beneficial) or negative (adverse) impacts is not necessarily simple as the potential impacts may have both positive and negative effects; For example because one group may benefit while another is disadvantaged or the impact may be positive socio-economically but not environmentally. The focus of the ESMF is to highlight the positive impacts of the Project, while suggesting measures for minimizing negative impacts during the construction, operational and closure phases of the Project. 5.1.1 Predicting and Characterizing the Magnitude and Importance of Impacts Characteristics of environmental impacts vary and the main parameters to be used in characterizing, predicting, assessing and evaluating potential impacts are described in terms of: • Nature (Direction) – The most obvious impacts are those directly related to the project and can be directly attributed in space and time to the causal action. Indirect or secondary impacts generally cause less obvious changes occurring later and far from the source of impact. In general, cumulative effects are caused by the amplification of an impact when combined with the impacts of other projects completed recently or underway. Considered individually, these impacts may be insignificant, but together, they become important by virtue of their concentration 43 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 in one place and frequency. The effects may be cumulative through the addition or interaction of different impacts such that the overall effect is greater than the sum of individual effects. • Geographic Extent/Spatial Scale – The geographic extent is defined as how far an effect propagates and it takes into account the extent to which adverse effects, caused by the project, may occur in areas far removed from it, as well as how they may contribute to any cumulative environmental effects. Depending on the type of impact, it is possible to predict the extent or geographical area of impact for each site and evaluate variation in magnitude. Thus, an impact may be: • Local: Impact that occurs in the vicinity of the project and affects a locally important environmental resource (in contrast, an impact on a nearby conservation area, even restricted spatially, would constitute an international impact) • Regional: Impacts that affects regionally important environmental resources or is felt at a regional scale as determined by administrative boundaries, habitat types • National: Impacts that affect nationally important environmental resources or affects an area that is nationally important or protected. • International: Impacts that affects internationally important environmental resources such as areas protected by International Conventions. • Trans-boundary: Impact that is experienced in one country as a result of activities in another (greenhouse gas, river pollution). • Duration/Temporal Scale – Duration refers to the period over which an effect occurs: • Short-term: impact predicted to last only for a limited period (such as during construction phase) but will cease on completion of the activity, or as a result of mitigation measures and natural recovery. An impact may last for a short term; in this case, less than a year. A temporary impact may span several days, weeks or months. However, it must be reversible. For species, impact occurs for less than one generation. • Medium-term: Impact that will continue over a period (i.e., one to five years), continuous, intermittent, or repeated. For species, impacts occur for more than one generation. • Long-term: Impact that will continue over an extended period (i.e., more than five years), continuous, intermittent, or repeated. For species, impacts occur for more than two generation. • Permanent: When an impact lasts for a very long term and is irreversible, it is referred to as a permanent impact. Closely related to the duration of the effect is its frequency. The frequency of effects and the potential of the environment to recover from these effects are considered important. They can be described as- • Once: Occurs only once • Continuous: Occurs on a regular basis and regular intervals • Sporadic: Occurs rarely and at irregular intervals Long-term environmental effects may be significant and consideration should be given to negative impacts that may develop over time. • Reversibility or irreversibility – Reversibility refers to the environmental recovery once an impact has occurred. Irreversible environmental impacts are considered more significant than those that are reversible. Thus for : • Reversible impacts: Environmental component recovers to pre-project level. The rate of recovery is important for this level of classification. • Irreversible impacts: Impact that causes a permanent change in the affected receptor or resource (e.g., the felling of old growth forest as a result of occupation of site, landscape changes caused by project). • Likelihood – Likelihood is defined as the probability of an impact occurring, taking into account two criteria: (1) Probability of occurrence – if there is a high, medium or low probability that a 44 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 particular significant environmental impact will occur. (2) Certainty of significance – there will always be some uncertainty (‘confidence limit’) associated with an ESIA. An impact is thus described as: • Likely: There is a high probability (>50%) that impact will occur, or high certainty that impact will be significant • Unlikely: There is a low probability (<50%) that impact will occur, or high uncertainty in significance prediction. • Magnitude – Magnitude measures the severity of environmental effects, including perception. In general, magnitude is expressed in terms of severity (major, moderate, minor or negligible). Magnitude, as opposed to the importance, also takes into account other aspects of the magnitude of impact, including its reversibility or irreversibility. Magnitude Local – impacts that affect the project area only. Regional – impacts that affect the region as determined by administrative boundaries. Extent (Spatial National – impacts that affect important environmental resources across Scale) the national boundary International/Trans-boundary – impacts that affect internationally important resources such as areas protected by international conventions or across national boundaries of two or more boundaries. Temporary – impacts are predicted to be of short duration and occasional Short-term – impacts that are predicted to last less than one year Medium-term – impacts that are predicted to last one to five years Duration (Temporal Scale) Long-term – impacts that will continue for the life of the Project (mostly greater than five years) Permanent – impacts that cause a permanent change in the affected receptors or resources (e.g. removal or destruction of ecological habitat) that endure substantially beyond the Project lifetime. Reversible – environmental component recovers to pre-project level. The rate of recovery is important. Reversibility or Irreversibility Irreversible – impact that causes a permanent change in the affected receptor or resource 45 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 The rating of the Magnitude matrix is outlined below: Negligible The impact on the environment is not detectable or there is no perceptible change to the receptor or resource. Low The impact affects the environment in such a way that natural functions and processes are not affected much and/or the communities are able to adapt easily. MAGNITUDE Medium Where the affected environment is altered but natural functions and processes continue, albeit in a modified way and/or the communities are able to adapt with some difficulties High Where natural functions or processes are altered to the extent that it will temporarily or permanently cease and/or the communities affected will not be able to adapt to changes. • Importance – For the purpose of this ESIA, the importance of an impact is evaluated in terms of: • Value – tangible and intangible worth • Vulnerability – the likelihood (or risk) of an effect interacting with (or affecting) the receptor. • Sensitivity/Intolerance – the sensitivity (level of intolerance) of the receptor to the effect being considered and standards or criteria (e.g., IFC, WHO, e.g.,) for determining what is tolerable. • Recoverability – how long/quickly does it take for the receptor to recover to its pre-impact state following exposure to an effect (distinguishing between partial and full recovery)? The evaluation of the importance of the impacts depends on the characteristics of the expected impact and its importance in decision-making. Table 5-1: Evaluation of Importance of the impacts Attributes of Importance Reversibility Value Vulnerability Sensitivity Negligible/ Negligible/ Low Negligible/ Negligible Low Low High Low/ Low/ Low/ High/ Moderate Low Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate/ Moderate/ Moderate/ Medium High High High Moderate/Low Moderate/ Moderate/ Moderate/ Low/ High High High High Negligible 46 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 Table 5-2: Evaluation of Importance (in context of Magnitude and Likelihood) of the impacts IMPORTANCE (in context of Magnitude and Likelihood) LIKELIHOOD Unlikely Likely Definite The Impact is The Impact is likely to occur The impact will unlikely to occur under most occur conditions Negligible Negligible Negligible Minor Low Negligible Minor Minor MAGNITUDE Medium Minor Moderate Moderate High Moderate Major Major The importance of impact is evaluated according to three criteria: Negligible Importance The magnitude of impact is almost nil (negligible). It is far below the prescribed standards or laws and regulations in force. The effects are temporary and mostly remain at the level of natural variation. Minor Importance The magnitude of impact is low. It is below the prescribed standards or laws and regulations in force. The effects are temporary and remain at the level of natural variation. Moderate Importance The magnitude of impacts is moderate span a wide spectrum of impacts, from the point where the impact is considered as minor to the point where the magnitude of impact is close to exceeding an established (legal) standard or limit. Reversibility is only possible over a period of several years. Major Importance The impact is above the prescribed standard limits and is mostly irreversible. 5.1.2 Evaluating and Assessing the Significance of Impacts Once an assessment is made of the magnitude and importance of Project impacts, the relative significance of a predicted impact is rated through a matrix process as shown below. 47 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 Table 5-3: Evaluation and assessment of significance of impacts IMPORTANCE Negligible Minor Moderate Major Low Moderate High High High Significance Significance Significance Significance Medium Insignificant Low Moderate High Significance Significance MAGNITUDE Significance Low Insignificant Insignificant Low Moderate Significance Significance IMPORTANCE Negligible Minor Moderate Major Negligible Insignificant Insignificant Insignificant Low Significance High/ Positive Medium The significance of an impact is evaluated according to the scale description criteria outlined below: Insignificant • Small localised impact • Low probability of occurrence • Impact is reversible These impacts fall within the acceptable limits of the impact of a project on the environment, and mitigation in desirable if they occur but not necessary. This does not preclude ‘Best Practice’ as a means of avoiding cumulative impacts. Low Significance • Moderate impact occurring over a short period of time • Environment has time to recover • Project benefits are limited to few people • Abnormal operating conditions would cause breach of legislation • Impact and probability of occurrence are both small • Emissions are within statutory threshold These impacts though important, are of less serious nature; in such a case, the Best Available Technology (or Practice) Not Entailing Excessive Cost (BATNEEC) should be employed. Such impacts alone are usually not significant enough to prevent a project from commencing or proceeding. Moderate Significance • Project activity has an irreversible impact, but impact is moderate 48 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 • Project activity results in a breach of legislation under abnormal operating conditions • Conflict with established recreational, agricultural or other established uses of the project area • Effect and probability of occurrence are moderate • Project benefits entire community These impacts are significant, meaning that if effective mitigation measures are not taken, a project may be hindered from commencing or continuing. Such an option would require effective management and monitoring, or abandoned altogether for other options. High Significance • High likelihood of catastrophic failure and/or loss of life • Impacts on nationally/internationally recognised environmental protection areas/heritage areas • Impact is irreversible affecting a high number of people • Impact causes resettlement of more than 200 households • Impact exceeds legal threshold • Disrupts or adversely affects a property of cultural significance to a community or social group • Project induces substantial growth or concentration of population • Project converts prime agricultural land to non-agricultural land Very significant action would be required to avoid or reduce these impacts. In certain instances, such impacts would prevent the action or option concerned from being taken or approved; and alternatives would have to be considered. Positive • Impacts are beneficial to the relevant communities and valued ecosystem components. 49 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 5.2 Description of Potential Environmental and Social Impacts The table below gives an indication of the potential impacts and the mitigative measures from implementing the activities under the SCADeP. Table 5-4: Potential impacts, significance and mitigation measure Environmental and/or Environmental and/or Potential Impacts Mitigation Measure Social Parameters Social Significance Rehabilitation and provision of new feeder roads Construction phase Sprinkling of water to minimize dust Impacts due to emissions generated by pollution construction machinery Ensure vehicles conveying materials Air Quality Moderate Fugitive emissions from various sources are covered Dust pollution (PM10, PM2.5) Use of converters to minimize emissions Materials should be temporarily Solid waste generated from construction stored before final disposal Solid Waste materials Moderate At the end of construction of work, Solid waste from workers sites to be cleaned with proper disposal of waste Water extraction i.e. exploitation of water for Exploitation of water to be done with construction purposes consent of local community Reduced water quality due to siltation Avoid/control spilling of oil, grease and Ground & Surface Water paints Loss of surface water bodies • Moderate • Major Silt catch basins or Silt traps shall be Water logging put along drainage systems 50 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 Environmental and/or Environmental and/or Potential Impacts Mitigation Measure Social Parameters Social Significance Contamination by fuel and lubricants Proper disposal of construction waste and prevent wastewater entering waterways Contractor to consider use of sound barriers or other measures as required Increase noise levels due to construction Community awareness raising machinery Noisy activities to be scheduled to Increase in noise levels due to human activity occur within prescribed normal Noise Levels Increased noise from blasting activities Moderate working hours Limit quarrying near communities Store top soil and replace on completion of works Create contour drains during construction; Potential loss of arable land Soil Erosion Management strategies Erosion and loss of top soil to including-vegetation and bunds Compaction of soil Avoid/control spilling of oil, grease Soil Pollution due to oil spills and other pollutants Moderate and paints Avoid heavy machinery on agriculture / productive soils; 51 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 Removal of forest trees Undertake compensatory Flora and Fauna Loss of habitat and feeding grounds for fauna Moderate reforestation Loss of migratory corridors Crossing work for wild life and indicators for drivers for wildlife Environmental and/or Environmental and/or Potential Impacts Mitigation Measure Social Parameters Social Significance zones; no horn zones Priority to be given to existing farms/plantations, no new farmlands/plantations to be supported under the project; no resettlement of people expected under the project; Potential resettlement of communities • Moderate Compensate for loss of land if Land Use & Land Take Change of land use pattern • Minor applicable (unlikely); All affected families will be compensated based on the plan highlighted in the RPF. Change in natural drainage pattern Provide cross drains Drainage Disruption of drainage due to improper waste Moderate Backfilling and levelling to prevent disposal water Percolation and accumulation Identify raw materials well in advance Exploitation of raw materials such as sand Raw Material Usage Moderate and consult with community for mining, stones, etc. sustainable use 52 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 Environmental and/or Environmental and/or Potential Impacts Mitigation Measure Social Parameters Social Significance Raise awareness on safety Occupational Health and Risks from the use or handling of machinery procedures Moderate Safety including risks from noise, vibration etc Provide adequate and easily understood signs Direct employment opportunities for Promote recruitment of locals for Socio-Economic Moderate labour force construction workers from local communities Proper Sanitation, Health Care, Solid Labour influx and potential increase in GBV and SEA incomes could aggravate the risk for women Raise awareness and girls Provide access to GBV/SEA services Environmental and/or Environmental and/or Potential Impacts Mitigation Measure Social Parameters Social Significance waste disposal, adopt disease control Indirect income opportunities to local measures and employ local man suppliers power Skills transfer to local workers Transmission of communicable diseases Increased in-migration into communities Operational phase Exhaust emissions due to traffic Promote education on regulations for Air Quality Moderate SO2 & NOx air pollution 53 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 Environmental and/or Environmental and/or Potential Impacts Mitigation Measure Social Parameters Social Significance Avoid/control spilling of oil, grease Contamination of water bodies from road and paints Water Quality surface run-off Moderate Silt catch basins or Silt traps shall be put along drainage systems The use of sound barriers or other measures should be considered Increased noise levels due to increased where warranted. Noise Levels traffic Moderate The public will be educated about the regulations of noise from vehicles Soil contamination due to road surface runoff Soil Minor Develop proper drains Sign posting of animal crossing Fauna and Flora Collision with fauna Moderate Environmental and/or Environmental and/or Potential Impacts Mitigation Measure Social Parameters Social Significance Degradation due to road runoff • Provide cross drains Ground & Surface Water Moderate • Backfilling and levelling to prevent water Percolation and accumulation 54 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 Environmental and/or Environmental and/or Potential Impacts Mitigation Measure Social Parameters Social Significance Change in natural drainage pattern The roads cross and side drainage systems shall be periodically checked Drainage Disruption of drainage due to improper waste Moderate and cleared so as to ensure adequate disposal storm water flow • Ensure proper disposal of waste Improper disposal waste disposal resulting in breeding of disease vectors • Provide adequate and easily understood Public Safety Moderate signs Increased accident risks from traffic • Signs for slow driving to be put up Continued use of Availability of and use of funds for Make provision for funds to maintain Major infrastructure maintenance roads Potential impacts from provision of rural markets & storage infrastructure Construction phase • Hazardous and non-hazardous waste materials shall be segregated and disposed according to EPA-SL regulations Waste from bush clearing and removal of Solid Waste trees Moderate • At the end of construction of work, sites to be cleaned with proper Solid waste from construction disposal of waste 55 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 Environmental and/or Environmental and/or Potential Impacts Mitigation Measure Social Parameters Social Significance Exploitation of water to be done with Sediment laden runoff from exposed areas consent of local community mainly due to vegetation clearing during Avoid/control spilling of oil, grease and construction; paints Surface and Ground Water Improper use of waste oils from construction Moderate Silt catch basins or Silt traps shall be equipment; put along drainage systems Improper disposal of sanitary waste from work Proper disposal of construction waste camps and prevent waste water entering waterways Contractor to consider use of sound barriers or other measures as required Community awareness raising Noise Levels Use of heavy machinery and vehicles Moderate Noisy activities to be scheduled to occur within prescribed normal working hours Exposed land surfaces from cleared Soil Erosion Management strategies Soil Moderate vegetation may induce erosion to including-vegetation and bunds 56 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 Environmental and/or Environmental and/or Potential Impacts Mitigation Measure Social Parameters Social Significance Undertake compensatory Flora & Fauna Loss of flora and fauna due to land clearance Moderate reforestation Ensure proper disposal of waste Badly managed work activity/ site within Public Safety Moderate community Awareness raising Poor housekeeping leading to stagnant Provide adequate and easily Environmental and/or Environmental and/or Potential Impacts Mitigation Measure Social Parameters Social Significance water as breeding grounds for insect vectors understood signs (causing malaria etc) Movement of heavy trucks and equipment and road safety Conflicts with incompatible activities and land Land Use Minor Consult with community uses Priority to be given to alternative land The facility (i.e. poultry house and agricultural to prevent resettlement store etc.) will occupy some space in the Compensate for loss of land; Land Take Moderate community. It may either be private or public land for which compensation may be required All affected families will be expropriated according to Resettlement Action Identify raw materials during ESHIA Exploitation of raw materials i.e. Timber, studies or ESMP preparation and sand, stones from local and external sources include community consultation Raw Material Usage (quarries etc) Moderate 57 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 Environmental and/or Environmental and/or Potential Impacts Mitigation Measure Social Parameters Social Significance Encourage recycle and reuse Raise awareness on safety Hazards from handling heavy equipment, procedures Occupational Health and including noise, ergonometric stress, lifting Moderate Safety Provide adequate and easily heavy materials etc understood signs Promote recruitment of locals for labour force Proper Sanitation, Health Care, Solid waste disposal, adopt disease. Use of local labour and therefore income Consult with farmers if crop is earning; temporary and will be harvested Socio-Economic Major before construction and if possible, Destruction of property- farm delay start until after harvest to avoid crops, structures; damage and economic loss. Community convenience vs Consultant’s Alternatively, provide compensation technical judgment for chosen sites for the loss or damage to farm crops. Visual intrusion by heavy trucks and Control measures and employ local equipment; man power 58 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 Environmental and/or Environmental and/or Potential Impacts Mitigation Measure Social Parameters Social Significance Operation phase Emissions from vehicles transporting agricultural goods Ensure vehicles conveying materials Odours from poorly disposed are covered Air Quality Moderate waste food/crops Use of converters to minimize emissions Silt catch basins or Silt traps shall be put along drainage systems Water Quality Sediment laden storm runoff Moderate Proper disposal of waste and prevent waste water entering waterways Materials should be temporarily stored before final disposal Solid Waste Market refuse and other waste Moderate Sites to be cleaned with proper disposal of waste Proper Sanitation, Health Care, Solid Health risks and aesthetic problems from poor waste disposal,, adopt disease Sanitary Waste Moderate sanitary conditions control measures and employ local man power Environmental and/or Environmental and/or Potential Impacts Mitigation Measure Social Parameters Social Significance 59 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 Community awareness raising Noisy activities to be scheduled to From the movement of heavy vehicles carting occur within prescribed normal Noise Pollution Moderate food stuff, etc. working hours Undertake strategies including Soil Erosion & Erosion may be induced or enhanced by vegetation and bunds Moderate Contamination vegetation clearing Avoid/control spilling of oil, grease and paints Proper disposal of waste and prevent waste water entering waterways Surface and Ground Water Avoid/control spilling of oil, grease Quality Sediment laden storm runoff Moderate and paints Silt catch basins or Silt traps shall be put along drainage systems Ensure proper disposal of waste Public health risks may arise from poor facility Public Nuisance & Health Provide adequate and easily maintenance leading to breeding of rodents Moderate Risks understood signs and poor hygienic conditions Signs for slow driving to be put up Continued use of Availability of, and accessibility Make provision for funds to maintain Moderate infrastructure to maintenance funds roads 60 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 Potential impacts from use of improved agricultural technologies Environmental and/or Environmental and/or Potential Impacts Mitigation Measure Social Parameters Social Significance Negative Impacts Training in the use of agro-chemicals Improper disposal of packaging materials Promote use of protective wears resulting in environmental pollution and during use Use of fertilizers/pesticides health concerns for farmers Moderate Develop management plan for the Poor training in use of pesticides may result in safe disposal of empty containers/ health problems packaging, expired fertilizers and pesticides Dispose of this waste as outlined in Crop pest and diseases Problems may increase due to the crop Majority the Waste Management Strategy problems residues left in the field Appendix C Natural or Semi Natural Awareness raising New farming practices could encourage Habitats Moderate conversion of natural or semi natural habitats Promote use of existing farming sites Exposed land surfaces from cleared Undertake strategies including Soil Erosion vegetation may induce erosion from rain Moderate vegetation and bunds Compensatory events reforestation Flora/ Fauna Loss of flora & fauna from land clearing Moderate Compensatory reforestation 61 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 Exploitation of water to be done with consent of local community Potential increased use of agro-chemicals resulting in point & non-point pollution of Training in water water bodies management practices Improved agricultural systems could increase Silt catch basins or Silt traps shall be Water Use water demand Moderate put along drainage systems Proper disposal of construction Environmental and/or Environmental and/or Potential Impacts Mitigation Measure Social Parameters Social Significance waste and prevent waste water entering waterways Conflicts with incompatible activities and land Land Use Minor Consult with community uses safety Hazards from handling agro- chemicals and Occupational Health and Raise awareness on presence of dangerous reptiles (snakes) and Moderate Safety procedures other animals Positive Impacts Optimal and stable crop yields and reduced Crop Yields Major Positive impact commercial inputs Profits Increased profit Major Positive impact Security Improved food security Major Positive impact 62 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 Land Use Continuous use of same piece of land Moderate Encourage fallow periods Encourage vegetative Erosion Reduced erosion Moderate cover to minimise loss Reduced shifting cultivation and Encourage intercropping to promote Land Degradation Moderate land degradation local nutrient deposition Environmental and/or Environmental and/or Potential Impacts Mitigation Measure Social Parameters Social Significance Poverty Reduction in rural poverty and hunger threats Moderate Positive impact Use of local labour and therefore income earning; Socio- Economic Majority Positive impact Improved standard of living of farming households Potential impacts from provision of rural agro-based processing facilities Construction phase • Materials should be temporarily stored before final disposal Waste from bush clearing and removal of Solid Waste Moderate • At the end of construction of work, trees sites to be cleaned with proper disposal of waste 63 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 • Exploitation of water shall be assessed during the site-specific ESIA/ESMP and any water Sediment laden runoff from exposed areas exploitation shall be done with mainly due to vegetation clearing during consent of local community construction; • Avoid/control spilling of oil, grease Water Pollution Improper use of waste oils from construction Moderate and paints equipment; • Silt catch basins or Silt traps shall be Improper disposal of sanitary waste from work put along drainage systems camps • Proper disposal of construction waste and prevent waste water entering waterways Noise Pollution Movement of heavy vehicles Moderate Contractor to consider use of sound barriers or other measures as Environmental and/or Environmental and/or Potential Impacts Mitigation Measure Social Parameters Social Significance required Community awareness raising Noisy activities to be scheduled to occur within prescribed normal working hours Limit quarrying near communities Store top soil and replace on completion of works Exposed land surfaces from cleared Soil Erosion Management strategies vegetation may induce erosion from rain to including-vegetation and bunds Soil Erosion events Minor 64 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 Avoid heavy machinery on agriculture / productive soils; Undertake compensatory reforestation Loss of flora and fauna due to loss of Flora/ Fauna Moderate Crossing work for wild life and vegetation indicators for drivers for wildlife zones; no horn zones Badly managed work activity/ site within community Poor housekeeping leading to stagnant water Training in facility management Public Safety as breeding grounds for insect vectors Moderate Encourage and promote maintaining (causing malaria etc.) sanitary environment Movement of heavy trucks and equipment and road safety Environmental and/or Environmental and/or Potential Impacts Mitigation Measure Social Parameters Social Significance Conflicts with incompatible activities and land Consult with community on potential Land Use Minor uses use Priority to be given to alternative land to prevent resettlement The facility will occupy some space in the Land Take community. It may either be private or public Moderate Compensate for loss of land; land for which compensation may be required All affected families will be expropriated according to Resettlement Action Plan 65 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 Raise awareness on safety Occupational Health and Hazards from handling heavy equipment, procedures Moderate Safety including noise, lifting heavy materials etc Provide adequate and easily understood signs Use of local labour and therefore income Promote recruitment of locals for earning; labour force Socio- Economic Visual intrusion by heavy trucks and Moderate Proper Sanitation, Health Care, Solid equipment; waste disposal,, adopt disease control measures and employ local Disruption of social activities man power Operation phase Avoid/control spilling of oil, grease and Sediment laden storm runoff; paints Water Quality and Pollution Moderate Disposal of process wastewater Silt catch basins or Silt traps shall be put along drainage systems Environmental and/or Environmental and/or Potential Impacts Mitigation Measure Social Parameters Social Significance Proper disposal and prevent waste water entering waterways • Materials to be properly stored Solid Waste Disposal of wastes Moderate • Sites to be cleaned with proper disposal of waste 66 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 • Ensure routine maintenance of facilities From the poorly maintained processing Noise Pollution Minor • Noisy activities to be scheduled to facilities occur within prescribed normal working hours Odour from organic process waste not • Promote good sanitary environment Odour Management Minor suitably disposed of • Promote proper disposal Availability of, and accessibility Continue provision of funds for Continued use of facility Major to maintenance funds maintenance of facilities Potential adverse social impacts/issues from feeder roads construction No farmers are expected to lose parts of their farmlands due to feeder roads because • Provision of livelihood assistance rehabilitation works will be done on already based on crops affected in existing rural roads and foot-paths. accordance with the Resettlement Employment and loss of Otherwise, no person will lose employment or Moderate Policy Framework (RPF) livelihood livelihood from the project. Rather there will • Job opportunities for the youth, be job opportunities for the youth, local food women food vendors and income for vendors and communities who will be community members who will serve supplying contractors with sand and stones as local contractors or labour force Environmental and/or Environmental and/or Potential Impacts Mitigation Measure Social Parameters Social Significance and also project beneficiaries. 67 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 Land compensation (where necessary) to be based upon current New feeder roads to be rehabilitated may take Deprivation of use of land Moderate market value of land in the area and up individual or community land in accordance with the resettlement policy framework (RPF). Appropriate compensation should be paid for any damaged or destroyed Roads to be rehabilitated have been crops and propriety that belongs to demarcated already and free from any the affected persons. Loss of crops/properties Moderate encumbrance. No new roads will be rehabilitated. All compensation process should satisfy the RPF developed for the project. No negative impacts on vulnerable groups in the society (such as the elderly, disabled, women, children and minority groups) will Impact on vulnerable occur as a result of the proposed Positive impacts groups development. The Project has no inherent negative impact or bias towards any vulnerable group. The Project will have positive impacts on social and cultural structures as the Project Impact on Social and activities will bring together persons from Positive impacts Cultural Structures different communities and interact for their common good. Impact on Cultural Heritage/ Archaeological Positive Impacts There are no known sites of significant 68 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 Environmental and/or Environmental and/or Potential Impacts Mitigation Measure Social Parameters Social Significance interest cultural heritage or archaeological interest in the vicinity of the projects. The risks to cultural heritage would be on buried resources encountered during excavation on land. Ensure vehicles conveying materials have appropriate covers (a tarpaulin or other such material) to prevent Human health and safety could be emissions and all trucks carrying compromised through road traffic accidents materials/ equipment have to affix involving construction vehicles/equipment. reflective tapes at the front and rear for easy detection at night Occupational injury associated with construction activities will be limited to the Promote use of protective wears work force only. Ensure appropriate and easily Impacts on Human Health/ understood signs Indiscriminate disposal of human waste or Major Safety and sanitation free-range defecation by project workers Promote speed limits in sensitive could create environmental health problems locations for local communities Promote good housekeeping and Indiscriminate disposal of litter at the project sanitary conditions sites and work camps will create unsightly conditions and pose safety and health risks Provision of mobile toilet facility at working sites. Ensure back-filling of dugout areas to reduce risks of disease or accidents 69 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 5.3 Impacts of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) Epidemic Agriculture supports over 80 percent of the rural population in Sierra Leone; however, low levels of agricultural productivity render the sector less competitive and depress rural wages, discouraging employment among youth who are the most non/under-employed in the country. The EVD epidemic has also negatively affected the operations of agribusinesses, farmer-based organizations and the stakeholders along the agricultural value-chains. Many markets for agricultural produce have been disrupted due to the restricted movement of goods. This has created a dampening effect on prices in the production areas while creating an upward pressure on prices in the supply constrained areas. The EVD epidemic has had a heavy toll on the social services, particularly health and education. Health services were stretched to the limit, and the epidemic has worsened the capacity situation with the EVD- related death of doctors, nurses and other health personnel. The education sector has been affected because of the closure of all schools as a preventive measure to curb the spread of the epidemic (currently schools have since been opened). The economic sectors such as mining, tourism and agriculture have also been hard-hit by the epidemic. The disruption to mining activities (due to the departure of expatriate staff), the significant reduction in tourism (due to travel bans and the withdrawal of airlines), and the negative effect on agricultural production due to labor constraints arising from EVD- related deaths, morbidity, fear and panic, and market distortions (due to quarantines) will all affect the country’s economic prospects. Various assessments on the impact of EVD on agriculture indicate a reduction in food and cash crop production attributed to the epidemic. Food production is likely to be reduced due to labor-related production constraints during the 2014/15 cropping season, a result of higher mortality and/or morbidity and self-imposed restrictions due to the general sense of fear and panic associated with the epidemic, particularly in hard-hit districts (Kenema and Kailahun, Port Loko, Moyamba and Bombali) where quarantines had been enforced since May 2014. The two initial Ebola epicenter districts (Kailahun and Kenema) are considered the bread-basket for the country producing over 20% of the national food supply. 5.4 Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Violence against Women The prevalence of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) incidences in Sierra Leone poses a serious challenge in the advancement of women’s rights. SGBV issues such as rape, wife beating, sexual harassment and molestation, forced marriages and wife inheritance continue to be a daily occurrence. A number of strategies have been embarked on by government and various organizations, notably, the Family Support Unit of the Sierra Leone Police, Rainbow Homes for Survivors, Irish Aid, IRC, ActionAid and UN agencies like UNICEF, UNFPA and many others are providing important support to enable us confront the problem of SGBV. In the SCADeP, GBV and SEA related impacts are potential issues during the construction phase of the feeder roads activities. During the construction and operational phase, the project will attract men and women looking for employment, as well as local vendors and sellers. This will most likely increase project-related risks such as mount of works, impact of having workers earning relatively more than the people around the area, closeness to women and girls in situation of poverty and the prevalence of child labor. Also working in close proximity of local communities inevitably creates opportunities for social interactions. Some of these interactions may lead to insensitive behavior and relationships, including some that are disrespectful of local bylaws and others fostering and/or directly resulting in gender-based violence (GBV, sexual harassment, etc.) Avoiding such adverse social impacts is a shared responsibility with the Contractor having the onus of ensuring employees are sensitive to and respectful of local cultures and upholding an acceptable standard of behavior when interacting with outsiders and local communities. S ierra Leone’s obligations as a party to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the Convention for Eliminating Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), requires that acceptable standards of behavior are made 70 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 understood by all parties involved, encouraged through various ways with enforceable measures for ensuring accountability for non-compliance agreed to. IRUMP will address GBV and VAW issues through mainstreaming of GBV and VAW codes of conduct and training to increase the protection of women and children. Mitigation Measures • Shall maintain gender equity in providing employment • Codes of Conduct for contractors and workers on their obligations regarding SEA and SH, trainings for construction workers on their obligations and behaviours on these topics to be signed by workers and contractors, • awareness raising to communities on SEA risks and the different entry points to provide support to potential survivors of SEA and SH derived from the project, and development of GBV Action Plan by the IA, including a response and accountability framework, • mapping of GBV prevention and response actors in the project area with a response and accountability framework (in case the risk goes above low), • Prohibit recruiting child labour 71 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 6 PROCEDURES FOR SUB-PROJECT PREPARATION AND ASSESSMENT 6.1 Environmental Screening under OP 4.01 Environmental Assessment The classification of each subproject under the appropriate environmental category will be based on the provisions of the World Bank Operational Policy on Environmental Assessment (OP 4.01). The environmental and social screening of each proposed sub project will result in its classification in one of the three categories i.e. A, B or C, depending on the type, location, sensitivity and scale of the subproject and the nature and the magnitude of its potential environmental and social impact. The existing Project was assigned an Environmental Category B, as is similarly expected for the proposed project. It is possible that no sub-project is will fall under an Environmental Assessment (EA) Category A. The following is a description of various EA categories that subprojects may be grouped into - • Category A: Impacts are expected to be ‘adverse, sensitive, irreversible and diverse with attributes such as pollutant discharges large enough to cause degradation of air, water, or soil; large-scale physical disturbance of the site or surroundings; extraction, consumption or conversion of substantial amounts of forests and other natural resources; measurable modification of hydrological cycles; use of hazardous materials in more than incidental quantities; and involuntary displacement of people and other significant social disturbances. The impacts under this category affect broader areas than the sites or facilities subjected to physical works. Such subprojects would require a full ESIA. • Category B: A project which is likely to have fewer and less adverse potential environmental and social impacts (which are less adverse than those of category A projects), on human populations or environmentally important areas including wetlands, forests, grasslands and any other natural habitat fall within this category. The impacts are usually site specific, few or none of them are irreversible, and most of them are mitigated more readily than impacts from category-A sub projects. Although an ESIA is not always required, some environmental analysis is necessary. Such subprojects would require an ESMP. • Category C: A project which is likely to have minimal or no adverse environmental and social impacts would fall into this category. Beyond screening no further Environmental and Social Assessment action is required. Typical projects include education, family planning, health, and human resource development. 6.2 Environmental and Social Assessment Process in Sierra Leone The key regulations for environmental and social assessment in Sierra Leone is the Environment Protection Agency Act, 2008 (amended 2010) as discussed in Section 3.1.5. The section below illustrates the steps involved during environmental and social assessment and management process as per Sierra Leone regulations that will lead to the review and approval of subprojects under the SCADeP. 6.2.1 Key Steps 6.2.1.1 Stage One – Registration 1. Project Proponent/Developer is required to register the project proposal through an application process. The letter is addressed to the EPA-SL Executive Chairperson and copied to the Director for the attention of the EIA Committee. 2. EIA Application and Screening Forms are issued to the Proponent/Developer after a payment of two hundred thousand Leones (Le 200,000) at an account designated for EIA’s application fees. 3. The Proponent is required to return duly completed forms to the EPA-SL office. 72 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 6.2.1.2 Stage Two – Project Screening 1. Project proposal and Screening Forms are screened to determine whether or not the development proposal should be subject to an EIA and, if so, the level of detail required. 2. This stage of the EIA licensing process is expected to be completed within two weeks. 6.2.1.3 Stage Three – Scoping This is to determine the depth of the environmental assessment, i.e. the scope of factors to be considered, the parties involved and their interest and concerns, the appropriate level of efforts and analysis, and to prepare guidelines for the conduct of the EIA. 1. After the project has been classified and a determination is made that the activity requires an EIA Licence, the Proponent will be required to submit an ESIA Scoping Report on the project. 2. The EPA-SL and the Project Proponent will agree on the Terms of Reference (ToR) before the commencement of the ESIA studies. 3. Upon receipt of the EIA Scoping Report, the process for the determination of the ToR shall be within two weeks. 4. EPA-SL staff will visit the location of the project before approval of the ToR. 6.2.1.4 Stage Four – Environmental and Social Impact Studies and Preparation of the Report 1. Upon approval of the ToR the Proponent undertakes the ESIA studies. 2. The ESIA report must document clearly and impartially the project's impacts, the proposed measure for mitigation, the significance of effects and impacts on the environment, and the concerns of the interested public and the communities affected by the project. In this regard, management plans including the environmental and social management plan (ESMP), community development and action plan (CDAP), resettlement action plans (RAP), etc., must be clearly articulated in the document. 3. Upon completion of the ESIA studies, the Proponent should submit eighteen (18) hard and soft copies of the ESIA report to the EPA-SL for circulation to the EPA-SL's Board members and other relevant professional bodies. 6.2.1.5 Stage Five – Review of the ESIA Report 1. The EPA-SL will determine whether the ESIA report meets the terms of reference and provides a satisfactory assessment of the proposed project and contains the information required for decision making. 2. The ESIA report will be publicised in gazette and circulated to professional organisations by the EPA-SL for comments. The Proponent will have to disclose the ESIA report through publication of dates for disclosure in newspapers, and hold two or more public hearing meetings for public participation in the decision –making process. The placement of the ESIA report in specific places will enable the affected or interested persons to make comments on the ESIA studies and submit to the EPA-SL for decision making. The EPA-SL staff will also visit the site or operational areas of the project to ascertain the component and content of the ESIA report in the review stage. 3. Depending on the location of the project the proponent will be required to make announcements over the media in the local languages. 6.2.1.6 Stage Six – Decision Making 1. This is the stage where the ESIA report is approved or rejected. 2. The EPA-SL Board is vested with the power to approve or reject an application for an EIA Licence. If an application for an EIA Licence is approved, it will be subjected to the terms and conditions, provided by the Board and is issued for twelve (12) months and subjected to renewal annually. Also licence fees must be paid as prescribed by the EPA-SL. 73 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 3. When an application has been rejected by the EPA-SL Board, the proponent has the right to seek legal redress. 6.2.1.7 Stage Seven – Compliance and Enforcement This is the implementation stage; environmental monitoring and auditing of the project activities will be undertaken to ensure compliance with the terms and conditions of the EPA Act 2008 (as amended in 2010). 6.3 Other Safeguard Documents 6.3.1 Pest Management Plan The Pest Management Plan is meant to enhance integrated pest management within the project areas and to ensure a guided acquisition, storage, handling and application of pesticides. The plan includes development of comprehensive strategies for handling, transportation, application and disposal of pesticides in compliance with national and international requirements relating to different agrochemicals. The PMP addresses relevant stakeholder concerns about pests and pesticides. It stresses the need to monitor and mitigate negative environmental and social impacts of the SCADeP and emphasizes the need for an integrated approach to the management of pests. The PMP will be reviewed by implementing partners, including MAF Crops Protection Unit and EPA- SL. The final PMP document (after review and clearance by both GoSL & World Bank) will be disclosed both in-country (e.g. National MAF office, EPA offices and SCADeP PCU), national newspapers and on the World Bank and SCADeP websites. 6.3.2 Resettlement Policy Framework The project will support a range of sub-components, some of which may require minor land acquisition which could potentially lead to involuntary resettlement and/or restrictions of access to resources or livelihoods. The Bank's Policy on Involuntary Resettlement (OP/BP 4.12) maybe triggered and a Resettlement Policy Framework will be prepared to mitigate any associated risks. RPF/RAPs will be used as planning and monitoring tools for addressing all land acquisition issues. To identify all risks associated with land acquisition, the project will undertake a land acquisition audit as part of its due diligence before agribusinesses will become eligible for support under the project. 74 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 7 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN AND MONITORING TO MITIGATE NEGATIVE IMPACTS 7.1 Management Plan This section provides the Environmental Management Plan (EMP), which has been developed in order to address the environmental concerns discussed in Section 6. It also gives procedural frameworks to ensure that all mitigation measures and monitoring requirements listed in the ESMF report will actually be carried out in different stages of the project design, construction, operation and maintenance. 7.1.1 Objective of EMP Environmental management/monitoring is essential for ensuring that identified impacts are maintained within the allowable levels, unanticipated impacts are mitigated at an early stage (before they become a problem), and the expected project benefits are realized. The objective of the EMP is to provide a mechanism to manage the environmental issues that may arise during the proposed activities, particularly the design, construction and operation of the project. The EMP defines the roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders in the environmental management of the project and also provides guidelines to be followed during program implementation. The EMP will ensure that the beneficiaries and their communities are provided for and developed to meet the needs of all stakeholders, and safeguard the national interest. 7.1.2 Management approach The overall responsibility of the EMP implementation and for environmental performance of the program would rest with the National Project Steering Committee (NPSC) under the Chairmanship of MAF and Deputy Chairmanship of MTI. There will be a Project Coordinating Unit (PCU) answerable to the NPSC. A District Coordinating Unit (DCU) answerable to the PCU would also be put in place. MAF/PCU/MTI would among its staff designate an environmental coordinator or a member of site management team for all matters relating to the environmental issues of the program. The implementation of the EMP will involve rolling down the requirements of the EMP to contractors and NGOs/Local Councils that will be involved in certain activities. A designated environmental coordinator or member of the site management team will oversee the implementation of the EMP. In addition, staff training will be required as part of the EMP to ensure compliance to the environmental guidelines. The NPSC under the chairmanship of MAF and PCU should implement the EMP mitigation measures during operation. Relevant Government authorities (MTI and Local Government Administrators) will be involved in auditing project performance and will receive copies of monitoring reports. 7.1.3 Roles and Responsibilities of Key Stakeholders in the ESMF Implementation The ESMF provides the Environmental and Social Safeguards for SCADeP, the successful implementation of the ESMF depends largely on the key stakeholder institutions and their appointed safeguards focal persons. As mentioned earlier, within each sub-project under SCADeP, safeguards focal persons will be appointed, trained and responsible for regularly reporting to the PCU ESSS either directly or via the implementing partner such as SLADF or a supervising consultant, on their environmental and social management plan (ESMP) or other related safeguards instruments, including a grievance redress mechanism (GRM) appropriate for the project activity and labour influx management plan (LIMP). A due diligence Environmental Audit Report is conducted by a consultant to provide clear sub-project environmental and social impacts and the required mitigation measures. The Environmental Audit Report created forms part of the reporting requirements of the implementing partners safeguards focal person. The roles and responsibilities of these institutions and implementing partners (IPs) safeguard focal persons is listed in the table below. 75 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 Table 7.0: The role of key stakeholders and implementing partners in the ESMF implementation Implementing Responsibilities Safeguard Focal Safeguards Partner Person(s) or Instrument Required Safeguards Specialist SLADF Team ▪ Liaise closely with Agribusiness ▪ Environmental the PCU ESSS safeguards focal Audit Report and EPA person ▪ Land Acquisition ▪ Provide External Consulting Report safeguards due Firm to report on ▪ Grievance diligence on Redress agribusiness grantees Mechanism safeguards ▪ Collate baseline requirements and structure to fit into data on relevant the existing conduct quarterly site environmental and SCADeP structure visits to social ▪ Monthly and agribusinesses and as characteristics of Quarterly required. the selected Safeguards grantees Report ▪ Ensure grantees prepare the required safeguard documents (ESHIA/ESMP) based on National regulations and World Bank Safeguard Policies ▪ Monitor the mitigation measures and the impacts of grantee projects during implementation ▪ Provide regular safeguard reports to the PCU ESSS ASMG Team ▪ Liaise closely with FBOs and SMEs ▪ Environmental (Agricultural Services the PCU ESSS safeguards focal Audit Report Matching Grant) and EPA persons ▪ Land Acquisition ▪ Provide SCADeP Value Chain Report safeguards due Promotion Officers ▪ Grievance diligence on Redress (located in the field grantees Mechanism and working directly ▪ Collate baseline with FBOs and SMEs structure to fit into data on relevant the existing environmental and SCADeP structure social ▪ Monthly and characteristics of SCADeP ESSS Quarterly the selected Safeguards grantees Report ▪ Ensure grantees prepare the required safeguard 76 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 Implementing Responsibilities Safeguard Focal Safeguards Partner Person(s) or Instrument Required Safeguards Specialist documents (ESHIA/ESMP) based on National regulations and World Bank Safeguard Policies ▪ Monitor the mitigation measures and the impacts of grantee projects during implementation ▪ Provide regular safeguard reports to the PCU ESSS Supervising ▪ Liaise closely with Supervising ▪ Environmental, Consultant the PCU ESSS Consultant’s Social and Health and EPA Environmental Officer Impact ▪ Collate baseline and Engineers Assessment data on relevant (ESHIA) and Contractor’s environmental and Environmental and Environmental Officer social Social characteristics of EPA-SL (3rd party Management Plan the project sites monitoring and EIA (ESMP) ▪ Ensure License agreement) ▪ Labour Influx Contractors Management Plan prepare the (LIMP) required ▪ Grievance safeguard Redress documents (ESMP Mechanism and LIMP) based structure to fit into on National the existing regulations and SCADeP structure World Bank Safeguard Policies ▪ Monthly and Quarterly ▪ Monitor the Safeguards mitigation Report measures and the impacts of Contractors during construction ▪ Provide regular safeguard reports to the PCU ESSS Works Contractor ▪ Develop a site Contractor’s ▪ ESMP specific ESMPs Environmental Officer ▪ Occupational and Occupational Health and Safety Health and Safety Plan Plan ▪ Labour Influx ▪ Carry out Management Plan HIV/AIDs (LIMP) sensitization and control amongst the workforce. 77 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 Implementing Responsibilities Safeguard Focal Safeguards Partner Person(s) or Instrument Required Safeguards Specialist Especially, a HIV/AIDs prevention campaign at every construction camp ▪ Hire Environmental Officer and Health and Safety Officer responsible for the ESMP implementation ▪ Submit monthly reports to the Supervising Consultant that shares it with the SCADeP PCU. Joint IPs monitoring ▪ Liaise closely with SLRA Environmental ▪ Site visit reports the ESMP for Feeder the PCU and PCU Officer and Engineer and Roads ESSS recommendations District Council ▪ Attend regular site Environmental Officer visits to assess and Engineer safeguards conditions EPA-SL (3rd party ▪ Monitor the monitoring and EIA implementation of License agreement) the ESMP and Ministry of Labour and impacts of Social Security (3rd Contractors during construction party to assess safety in workplace and labour laws) IPs Appointed ▪ Liaise closely with Site Manager ▪ ESMP Safeguards Focal the PCU ESSS Contractor’s ▪ Grievance Person ▪ Implement the Environmental Officer Redress sub-project ESMP Mechanism ▪ Ensure structure to fit Contractors into the prepare the existing required SCADeP safeguard structure documents (ESMP ▪ Monthly and and LIMP) based Quarterly on National Safeguards regulations and Report World Bank Safeguard Policies ▪ Monitor the mitigation measures and the impacts of 78 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 Implementing Responsibilities Safeguard Focal Safeguards Partner Person(s) or Instrument Required Safeguards Specialist Contractors during construction ▪ Provide regular safeguard reports to the PCU ESSS Environmental ▪ Responsible for - ▪ Environmental Protection Agency reviewing and Impact approving ESHIAs Assessment (EIA) ▪ Monitoring License implementation of ▪ Environmental, the Environmental Social and Health Management Impact Plans Assessment ▪ Assist with training (ESHIA) and and capacity Environmental and building of other Social institutions Management Plan ▪ Assist with (ESMP) external monitoring and evaluation of RPF implementation and social impacts ▪ Provides advice and technical support, where possible The main roles and responsibilities of the different parties/stakeholder at various stages of the project implementation (EMP) are briefly summarized in the table below 79 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 Table 7-1: Environmental and Social Management Plan Impacts Responsible Monitoring Indicators Identified Mitigation/Enhancement Measures Project phase Institution • Number and variety of terrestrial flora and fauna prior to land clearing for each planting phase • Biodiversity assessment and monitoring and evaluation of fauna and flora species • Habitat surveys, including areas suitable • Ensure re-vegetation of the proposed project for protected areas, site ecological corridors and Loss of fauna buffer zones within the Construction and MAF, PCU, and and flora plantation; use of • Clearing of natural vegetation shall be kept to a operational phase Contractors species available remote minimum sensing materials and • Provide landfill requirements in design of field surveys. subprojects and contracts Avoid highly sensitive areas • Biodiversity Management Plan, including delineation of important habitats to be left outside of plantation areas Dust from the transporting and handling of construction works will be minimised by watering Monitor/measure emissions Increase in and other means such as enclosure of construction of particulate matter (PM), Dust/Noise sites. CO, SO2 and NOX on an due to Construction and MAF, PCU and annual basis to confirm if rehabilitation Adopt routine safety measures for construction operational phase Contractors of activities emissions from the project infrastructure are within the guideline limits Noise generation activities to be relegated during the set by relevant standards. daytime Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 Impacts Responsible Monitoring Identified Mitigation/Enhancement Measures Project phase Institution Indicators Ensure noise level complies with the Noise Monitor/measure Prevention and Control Rules concentrations of dust and gaseous emissions at selected locations surrounding the project area, so that the results can be assessed in relation to relevant international air quality standard. Noise levels have to be taken on a monthly basis to ensure that noise levels do not exceed the applicable standards. 81 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 Waste Management Plan, including responsibilities, and supervision of landfills. All the waste formed at the mill will be utilised, either as fuel or as soil All debris, construction and wood waste will be conditioner in the stored within the work site. plantations. Contamination Open burning and illegal dumping will not be Construct and monitor permitted. from landfill for all wastes, construction Proper sites for earth/clay and sand disposal will be including construction waste determined Construction phase Contractors waste. No-burning policy to be implemented and monitored at the plantations. Impacts Responsible Monitoring Identified Mitigation/Enhancement Measures Project phase Institution Indicators Prepare, implement and monitor an erosion Soil and land Appropriate containment measures for all Construction and MAF, PCU and and sediment control degradation operational areas and proper disposal of used operational phase Contractors plan. The plan should lubricants include measures appropriate to the Soil erosion control measures (re-vegetation, situation to intercept, reseeding of grasses, land preparation, terracing divert, or otherwise etc.) reduce the storm water Restoration of borrow pits, sand and quarry stone runoff from exposed abstraction sites and brick moulding sites soil surfaces. Integrate vegetative and non-vegetative soil Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 stabilization measures in the erosion control plan Wastes from MAF, PCU, processing or Provide for proper waste disposal Operational phase District Agric. leftover crop Officer, NGOs Monitor/measure pH, Seek guidance of local environmental officers to Conductivity, TDS, identify acceptable disposal sites Chlorine, Nitrate, Waste from agricultural activities can be further Coliforms, Colour, processed into other uses e.g. organic manure. PCU, Local Odour, Turbidity, Effluent and Reuse and recycling must be preferred over Environmental Salinity, BOD, COD, solid waste disposal of the waste. Operational phase Officer Oil/Grease Design and construction of the waste water treatment system mechanical- biological treatment. Impacts Responsible Monitoring Indicators Identified Mitigation/Enhancement Measures Project phase Institution Exposure to Encourage organic farming and limit the use of Integrated Pest agrochemicals agro-chemicals like inorganic fertilizers Management Plan to be Operational phase MAF, PCU, implemented to minimise Use Integrated Pest Management approaches to Management the use of pesticides. minimize pesticide use Committee Proper chemical storage Conduct awareness training and workshops on to be constructed for safe handling of chemicals and IPM approach plantation chemicals, including pesticides and fertilisers, to minimise risks for human health 83 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 and the environment, including chemical book- keeping. Monitor and review periodic assessments of job opportunities/employment of local residents and the effectiveness of the environmental management programme and relevant plans (CDAP, ESAP etc.) as well as unusual events that have occurred and The contractor should give priority to local people to have resulted in Employment cover manual (unskilled labour) Construction and PCU, Contractors environmental and or opportunities In case of technical positions, the contractor operational phase social impacts (some should give priority to local experts unusual events may require immediate notification). Prepare a Labour Influx Management Plan (LIMP) to monitor number of local and imported workers employed and strategies to encourage local employment. Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 Impacts Responsible Monitoring Identified Mitigation/Enhancement Measures Project phase Institution Indicators Annual reports are provided for the affected communities on issues that are of concern to those communities. Grievance PCU will establish grievance mechanism that will Construction, PCU/community Regular consultations mechanism specify procedures for lodging and registering operation and closure affairs with local communities; complaints – by external parties, employees and use of a grievance contractors. The grievance mechanism will be system. applicable to all project phases and any areas of operation Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of recruitment policy to give preference to local residents. Keep track of planned and implemented plantation areas, and to secure that enough land is left for agriculture and collection of forest/garden products in the concession area; linked to the plantation 85 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 Impacts Responsible Monitoring Identified Mitigation/Enhancement Measures Project phase Institution Indicators management and environmental monitoring systems. Regular consultations with local communities; use of a grievance system. Monitoring of the land use situation, the disbursement and distribution of the lease payments, and the operation of the grievance system by an independent actor. Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 7.2 Monitoring Procedure Environmental monitoring will be designed to ensure that mitigation measures are implemented. The EMP should demonstrate that all identified impacts are matched with mitigation measures and monitoring plans. The monitoring plan will use the findings of existing baseline data, as the means to measure the progress in compliance with the EPA and the World Bank Safeguard Policies. Implementation of the ESMF will include both internal monitoring and reporting and external monitoring and evaluation. 7.2.1 Internal Monitoring and Reporting At local level, the respective project management team members in the different agencies, local government and local communities will be responsible for monitoring to ensure that all required environmental and social mitigation measures for each project component are being implemented satisfactorily. Information collected from various stakeholders together with observations of project activities will be reported quarterly to WAAPPSL. Quarterly monitoring reports will include: • List of consultations held, including locations and dates, name of participants and occupations • Main points arising from consultations including any agreements reached • A record of grievance applications and/or grievances redress dealt with • Monitoring data on environmental and safety parameters • Trainings conducted 7.2.2 External Monitoring and Evaluation External assessment of compliance with mitigation measures will also be carried out on a regular basis by an external agency/independent party to be appointed by NOC and the results communicated to MAF and the World Bank. Government agencies and stakeholders will be critical in external monitoring as below: Agency Roles Implementation of environmental and social mitigations through EPA-SL compliance audits in addition to inspections Third Party Valuer Review and approve compensation rates and reports MWR Monitor water contamination Monitor the impact of Project activities on wetlands and other MAF agro-ecosystems in terms of degradation SLECAD Monitor the presence of fake pesticides on the market Collect information on farmers’ awareness and practices Monitor gender related issues to ensure that vulnerable women, NGOs the poor and elderly etc. are compensated adequately and equitably. 7.3 Institutional Capacity Strengthening Programme Institutional capacity challenges have been identified in the various institutions and other potential partners that would be involved in the implementation of this ESMF. For the development of skills and understanding of the ESMF process the key handicap at the national and regional levels in the implementation of the ESMF is the inadequate expertise in environmental management and low capacity of the EIA Working Group at both national and regional levels. Competence of the EIA Working Group and other government institutions will, to a large extent, determine the success and sustainability or otherwise of the smallholder commercialisation projects ESMF and subsequently the sub project 87 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 EMPs. Therefore, addressing the challenges and gaps identified will go a long way to enhance the capacity of the relevant stakeholders. These experts trained will contribute to the objectives of the project, which include: • Preparing, together with the implementing entities, of annual work programs and budgets; • Monitoring project progress as it relates to compliance with the ESMF guidelines, resolving implementation bottlenecks, and ensuring that overall project implementation proceeds smoothly; • Collecting and managing information relevant to the project and accounts (i.e., environmental monitoring and audit reports); and • Ensuring that the implementing bodies are supported adequately and that they adhere to the principles of the project, specific to compliance with ESMF guidelines. Other forms of capacity building will include sustained sensitization programs on education, awareness on issues of development, environment, health and safety to be carried out for the other stakeholders to facilitate the implementation of this ESMF. These include members of the Regional DAOs, and farmer groups as well as members of the village communities. Knowledge and understanding of the implementation of the World Bank policies (OP 4.01, OP 4.09, and 4.12) would help to make them more effective. 88 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 8 CONSULTATION, ESMF DISCLOSURE AND GRIEVANCE MECHANISM 8.1 Stakeholder Consultation 8.1.1 Introduction The implementing agency, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security (MAF) through the West African Agricultural Productivity Programme in Sierra Leone (WAAPPSL), has the responsibility to effectively engage stakeholders in achieving the project objectives for the benefit of all. The public consultation plan forms part of the environmental plan ESMP and is the same for all categories of agricultural projects. It is for use during public consultation in the screening processes for every programme funded under the sub-project. 8.1.2 Objectives This plan provides a framework for achieving effective stakeholder involvement and promoting greater awareness and understanding of issues so that the project is carried out effectively within the budget limits and on time to the satisfaction of all concerned. To ensure effective implementation of this plan, the MAF/WAAPPSL shall be committed to the following principles: • Promoting openness and communication channels; • Ensuring effective stakeholder involvement • Evaluating the effectiveness of the engagement plan in accordance with the expected outcomes 8.1.3 Stakeholder Consultation Stakeholders for the purpose of this project shall be defined as all those people and institutions that have an interest in the successful planning and execution of the project. This includes those likely to be positively and negatively affected by the project. The key stakeholders consulted in relation to Component 2: Market Access Improvement, included implementing partners, project beneficiaries and project affected persons: • Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry • Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development • Ministry of Lands, Country Planning and the Environment • National Federation of Farmers in Sierra Leone (NAFFSL) • Sierra Leone Women Farmers Forum (SLeWoFF) • Road Maintenance Fund Administration (RMFA) • Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA) • EPA-SL • City and District Councils • Communities along the feeder roads. The PCU engaged key stakeholders and implementing partners on April 5th, 2019, to discuss the Additional Finance of $30 million from the World Bank to SCADeP under Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) for additional activities under Component 2: Market Access Improvement. As part of the process leading to the disbursement, SCADeP was required to update its existing Resettlement Policy Framework (RPF) and Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) and conduct stakeholder engagements to disclose the updated documents and project activities to stakeholders for discussion and comments before finalising the documents. 89 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 Both the RPF and ESMF were discussed and key stakeholders related to Component 2 shared their comments and concerns. The key stakeholders in attendance were both national farmer organisations, National Federation of Farmers in Sierra Leone (NAFFSL), the Sierra Leone Women Farmers Forum (SLeWoFF), Road Maintenance Fund Administration (RMFA), Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA), Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) and Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD). The outcome of the consultation meeting is provided in Appendix B. The Consulting firm for 500km Feeder Roads project conducted extensive stakeholder consultations in thirteen districts across Sierra Leone over a period of three weeks to cover all the local communities along the project roads in February 2018. Meetings were held with the various stakeholders along the project feeder roads and with District and City Councils. The findings from these consultations are in Appendix B. Stakeholder consultation or engagement is a continuous process and SCADeP PCU will continue with the engagement throughout the project implementation phase in collaboration with MAF (District/National Offices), as well as other state and non-state institutions. Consultations during project planning and preparation for ESIAs are conducted with stakeholders on different levels from national level Ministries to District Councils and the local communities within the project area. A stakeholder analysis will be carried out during the preparation of the sub-projects ESIA/ ESMP to ensure all relevant stakeholders are engaged and aware of the project activity and process of consultation. A formal public consultation on the draft ESIA or ESMP of subprojects will be undertaken with all concerned stakeholders. 8.2 ESMF Disclosure For projects such as the SCADeP, the World Bank procedures require that an ESMF be prepared and publicly disclosed prior to project appraisal and granting additional finance. This allows the public and other stakeholders to comment on the possible environmental and social impacts of the project, and also enable the appraisal team to strengthen the frameworks as necessary, particularly in measures and plans to prevent or mitigate any adverse environmental and social impacts. The findings of the Consultant was disclosed to a wide spectrum of the stakeholders as well as other project interested/affected parties i.e. FBOs, CBO, women’s groups etc in the selected representative communities. Copies of the document will be made available to communities and interested parties in project locations through local government authorities (local councils, district offices). Copies of the ESMF will also be provided to the implementing agencies and the World Bank. T 8.3 Mechanism for Resolving Grievance and Complaint Grievance redress mechanisms provide a way to provide an effective avenue for expressing concerns and achieving remedies for communities, promote a mutually constructive relationship and enhance the achievement of project development objectives. Grievance redress mechanisms are increasingly important for development projects where ongoing risks or adverse impacts are anticipated. They serve as a way to prevent and address community concerns, reduce risk, and assist larger processes that create positive social change. The management of grievances is therefore a vital element of stakeholder management and an important aspect of risk management for the Project. 8.3.1 Grievance Redress Procedure The Grievance Redress Procedure will support the long-term goal of building strong and effective relationships with all those to be directly impacted by project activities. The procedures for the SCADeP Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) will be as described below. 90 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 The SCADeP GRM is organized into four Grievance Redress Committees (GRC) at the Sectional (community), Chiefdom, District and Project levels. The membership of each committee is comprised of various key stakeholders, including local/traditional leaders, religious leaders, local government representatives, implementing partners and PCU. A complaint is raised with the relevant GRC for assessment and can be escalated to a higher level if the complainant believes their issue has not been adequately handled or resolved. Every GRC has a registrar who is the focal person for receiving, registering, processing and providing feedback to the affected person(s). The general steps of the grievance process comprise of: • Uptake • Processing • Resolving • Monitoring and Evaluation and Feedback Uptake The grievance /complaints will be made by an individual, household or as a community depending on the type of complaint that they are facing. First the complainant will go to the appointed grievance registrar to explain their problem and get it documented. The receipt of complaints will include its logging and registration as this will help with monitoring the status of the grievances and ease reporting on them. The existence and conditions of access to this register (where, when, how) will be widely disseminated within the project community/town as part of the consultation undertaken for the project in general. Processing When a grievance/dispute is recorded as per above-mentioned registration procedures, the relevant Grievance Redress Committee (GRC) will be called into action, and mediation meetings will be organized with interested parties. Minutes of meetings will be recorded. The GRC will first investigate the eligibility of the grievance and then determine the redress action in consultation with the complainant and concerned party if necessary. Otherwise, the grievance redress committee will communicate to the complainant on the acknowledgement of the grievance, the redress action proposed and the timeframe for implementation. The proposed redress action and the timeframe in which it is to be implemented will be discussed within 7 working days of receipt/registration of the grievance. The grievance issue should be resolved within 14 working days of receipt of complaints. Resolving 91 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 The grievance redress committee will visit the affected site or get in touch with the complainant to confirm that the redress action is carried out. If the complainant is dissatisfied with the outcome of the redress proposal or action, additional steps may be taken to resolve the issue or reach an amicable agreement. Verification should be completed within one week of execution of the redress action. Monitoring and Evaluation The GRCs have the responsibility of tracking and monitoring the process of grievance redress and the implementation of the decisions made, while ensuring redress is granted to the complainant in a timely and efficient manner with regular feedback on the process. All grievances and the decision-making process should be documented. The PCU Monitoring and Evaluation Team should monitor the activities of the Grievance Redress Committees to ensure that complaints and grievances lodged by PAPs are followed-up and resolved amicably as much as possible. Also, annual evaluations of the GRMs overall effectiveness and impact should be performed to contribute to improving the performance of the different committees and provide valuable feedback to project management. Dissatisfaction and Additional Steps If the complainant is not satisfied with the decision of the grievance redress committee, he/she can bring it to the attention of the PCU Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialist (ESSS) to draw the attention of the PCU and Project GRC to the unresolved grievance. Otherwise, the relevant GRC should forward the issue directly to the PCU for further action. The PCU in consultation with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) safeguards representative, who is also the Chair of the Project GRC, will set up an appropriate mediation team to resolve the issue within 2 weeks from the date of receipt of the complaint. If such a time line is not possible, the PCU should inform the GRC and the complainant accordingly giving reasons and possible new date. Appeal to Court If the complainant remains dissatisfied with the mediation effort of SCADeP PCU and MAF safeguards representative, the complainant has the option to pursue appropriate recourse via judicial process in Sierra Leone. The Constitution allows any aggrieved person the right of access to a Court of Law. The Court of Law will be a “last resort� option, in view of the above mechanism. 8.3.2 Anticipated Grievances Under the project some of the potential grievances envisaged include: • Conflicts over ownership of farmlands and/ or communal access for other uses such as livestock grazing, watering animals, etc. • Loss of livelihoods such as food including bush meat, medicinal plants etc. during land clearing • Conflicts over water resources • Potential displacement of sacred bushes and sites • Cutting down of economic trees and deforestation • Issues relating to compensation and restoration of borrow pits • Distribution of agro-chemicals 92 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 • Location of community access roads 8.3.3 Grievance Prevention There are ways to proactively solve issues before they even become grievances. Project implementers should be aware and accept that grievances are likely to occur, that dealing with them is part of the work, and that they should be considered in a work plan. Project implementers should do the following: • Provide sufficient and timely information to communities • Conduct meaningful community consultations involving all stakeholders • Build capacity for project staff, particularly in community facilitations and other field related issues 8.3.4 Time Frame There is no ideal model or one size fits all approach to grievance resolution. The best solutions to conflicts are generally achieved through localized mechanisms that take account of the specific issues, cultural context, local customs, and project conditions and scale. In its simplest form, a grievance mechanism can be broken down into the following primary components: • Receipt and register of a complaint. • Formulate a response. • Select a resolution approach, based on consultation with affected person/group. • Implement the approach. • Settle the issues. • Track and evaluate results. • Learn from the experience and communicate back to all parties involved. The table below presents a summary of the grievance redress procedure with institutional roles and responsibilities. Table 2.1: Timeline for Grievance Redress Steps Process Description Time frame 1. Grievance receipt -Face to face; phone; letter, recorded during public/ 1-2 Days and registration/ community meetings; recorded from Sectional logging Committee, Chiefdom Committee or District Committee etc. -Significance assessed and grievance recorded or logged using the model complaint form and filed. 2. Development and -GRC meets or takes a decision on the grievance 5-14 Days implementation of -Grievance assigned to appropriate party for resolution if response necessary -Response development with input from relevant stakeholders -Redress response/action approved by GRC and logged -Redress response/update of progress on resolution communicated to the complainant -Start implementing redress action 3 Verifying the -Redress action implemented and verified by GRC. 7-14 Days 93 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 Steps Process Description Time frame implementation of -GRC satisfied with implementation of redress action redress action 4 Close grievance or -Completion of redress action recorded or logged 15-25 Days escalate to higher -Confirm with complainant that grievance can be closed level GRC or determine what follow up is necessary -Record final sign off of grievance If grievance cannot be closed, escalate to higher level GRC or with PCU Project level GRC directly 5 Court of Law -if escalation to higher GRC does not address dispute, Unknown complainant can resort to court of law 6 Monitoring and Grievance Redress Mechanism Process is documented - Evaluation and and monitored by GRC and PCU M&E Team reporting 8.3.5 Current Status of SCADeP GRM SCADeP has Grievance Redress Committees (GRCs) set up and active on all four levels including Project, District, Chiefdom and Sectional levels. The District level GRCs have been established in 13 out of 15 districts, excluding Western Area Urban where the project does not operate. The remaining two new districts Falaba and Karene were established in mid-2018 and will have GRCs set up once all required staff positions have been filled, such as Civil Works Engineer and Environmental and Social Officer. The Chiefdom and Sectional level GRCs created during the GAP roads implementation, from October 2017 to August 2018, are now inactive as project activities in the area are complete and the rehabilitated feeder roads have been handed over to the communities and respective District Councils. New project areas will go through a similar process of setting up a local GRC and receiving support and continuous engagement throughout the project activity. Closer attention is required during the initial step of ‘Uptake’, as not all grievances are logged or documented due to a variety of reasons. Some issues are solved through undocumented discussions between the aggrieved person and community elders, traditional leaders or Contractors. Gaps in consistently logging all grievances (resolved or unresolved) in the project GRM would make the project GRM ineffective. Solutions to overcome this should aim at improving the uptake of grievances and ensuring the GRM is adequately utilized. 8.3.6 Identification of Vulnerable Groups The aged, women, children and youth make up the majority of vulnerable people in communities across the country. This is particularly seen in farming communities which are mostly patriarchal with regards land ownership, expenditure of household income etc. even though women are crucial in food production systems in the country. Vulnerable people also include elderly people, those who are sick, disabled and those who are part of any ostracised or disempowered minority. The construction and operation of the project could affect vulnerable people differently to others as whilst employment opportunities will be made equal between racial and religious groups, but sick and heavily disabled persons may be unable to work. Accessibility to credit facility has been a challenge because of lack of clear guidelines and conditions which favor only large-scale farmers and not small farmers, the majority of whom are women. 8.3.6.1 Gender Issues Women in governance is still a challenge; there are very few female paramount chiefs in the 16 Districts of Sierra Leone while the number of female councillors is also insignificant. The culture of the project area is based on patrilineal tendencies where the males are dominant. This male dominance phenomenon always places women as second-class citizens. 94 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 8.3.6.1.1 Women in development Women provide more than 65% of the work force in food and agricultural production in Sierra Leone. The contributions of women to agriculture have nevertheless often been under represented, a major reason for their neglect by most agricultural development programmes in the country over the years. Thus, women are marginalized and constrained in their access to production resources and extension services, which adversely affects their farming activities. In order to redress this situation, women and their needs must be mainstreamed in development, not only because of equity concerns but also from the realization that sustainable development cannot be achieved if the women are left in the fringes of development efforts. As is common in Sierra Leone there is a complete division of labour between men and women: women are engaged in all aspects of agriculture and cultivation except for the more energy demanding jobs such as land clearing and digging. In addition to this, women are dominant players in the cultivation of vegetables and other crops. Women also have additional responsibilities in the preparation of food for the family and also caring for the younger members of the family. Food preparation is tedious and time consuming and involves the collecting of wood, water and vegetables. Women encounter a number of constraints which can best be explained in terms of the dominant culture and religious milieu of the proposed project region. 8.3.5.1.2 Gender division of roles during farming There is complete division of labour based on gender during the various stages of the farming calendar, especially rice cultivation. Rice cultivation in the project area entails a series of activities, which include brushing, burning, digging and channel construction. During this stage men are the key players while women help play prominent roles in planting, weeding and harvesting. These role divisions are only customary, but in actual fact women do assist the men whenever and wherever it is physically expedient. For example, both men and women may carry out the burning and levelling activities, even though men dominate in these operations. The second stage of rice cultivation is the nursing of seed rice, up-rooting and transplanting of the uprooted rice and weeding. Men and the women share in the rice nursing activity, while mainly the women do the up-rooting of the nursed rice. The men dominate the transplanting, but the women help when and as necessary. Weeding is done entirely by the women. The third stage of the rice production process involves activities such as bird scaring, harvesting, and conveying the harvested bundles of rice to threshing sites, threshing, winnowing and transporting the winnowed rice to storage places. The women and children do the bird scaring, while harvesting is a combined responsibility of the men and women. The women and older children carry the harvested rice to threshing sites while the men do the threshing. The women do the winnowing and carry the winnowed rice to storage places. The women have the important and additional responsibility of preparing food for the family and any hired labour during the farming period and beyond. This activity is tedious and involves collection of fuel wood and water (sometimes from faraway places) as well as obtaining vegetables from back gardens. Gender-based Violence and Violence Against Women The prevalence of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) incidences in post conflict Sierra Leone poses a serious challenge in the advancement of women’s rights. SGBV issues such as rape, wife beating, sexual harassment and molestation, forced marriages and wife inheritance continue to be a daily occurrence. A number of ongoing interventions by government and various organizations, notably, the Family Support Unit of the Sierra Leone Police, Rainbow Homes for Survivors, Irish Aid, IRC, ActionAid and UN agencies, like UNICEF, UNFPA and many others are providing important support to address the problem of SGBV. In SCADeP, GBV and VAW related impacts are potential issues during the construction phase affecting vulnerable groups, such as female farmers and girls. During the construction and operational phase, the project will attract men and women looking for employment, as well as local vendors and sellers. This will most likely increase project-related risks, such as the impact of having higher earnings by 95 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 workers relative to people around the area, women and girls exposed to risky activities due to extreme poverty and the prevalence of child labor. Also, working in close proximity with local communities some of the interactions may lead to insensitive behaviour and relationships, including some that are disrespectful of local culture and others fostering and/or directly resulting in gender-based violence (GBV, sexual harassment, etc.). Avoiding such adverse social impacts is a shared responsibility of both the contractor and supervising consultant. The Contractor has the onus of ensuring employees are sensitive to and respectful of local cultures and upholding an acceptable standard of behaviour when interacting with outsiders and local communities; and the Supervising Consultant and Engineers need to be vigilant and report any cases of GBV, sexual harassment and child labour during construction. Sierra Leone’s obligations as a party to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the Convention for Eliminating Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), requires that acceptable standards of behaviour are made understood by all parties involved, encouraged through various ways with enforceable measures for ensuring accountability for non-compliance agreed to. SCADeP will address GBV and VAW issues through mainstreaming of GBV and VAW codes of conduct and training to increase the protection of women and children. By training the relevant implementing partners and works supervisors, the occurrence of GBV if observed during construction and project activities will reduce. This is outlined in the RPF. 96 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 9 ESMF IMPLEMENTATION COST SCADeP will receive an additional finance of $30 million to address the funding gap under Component 2: Market Access Improvement. Actions to be taken under the ESMF will be mainstreamed into SCADeP activities. Screening procedures will be an integral part of the participatory planning processes for each type of activity. Training on awareness of environmental and social issues and community engagement will be part of the preparation for participatory planning activities, and their implementation will be overseen by the project Safeguards Specialists and District Environmental Officers. Training on specific approaches to mitigate potential environmental or social impacts, such as IPM in relation to activities promoting agricultural intensification, will be conducted as part of the capacity for those activities. In the event that screening reveals needs to conduct specific additional EIA studies, the costs of conducting them will have to be found from the contingency within the budget for the concerned subcomponent. The budget for the ESMF implementation is $600,000 and the summary of activities are listed below in Table 9.1. Currently, the PCU has one Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialist (ESSS) and trains sub- project safeguards focal persons to assist with the implementation and monitoring of safeguards. However, at PCU level there is need to complement the capacity of the existing ESSS with additional staff capacity due to the increasing requirements and challenges on addressing social issues. Thus, the employment of a Social Safeguards Specialist under the AF is vital to enhance effective management of the project’s environmental and social risks and impacts. The additional safeguards capacity is required to support the preparation, implementation and monitoring of social and environmental safeguards instruments and broader social issues on gender, social inclusion and citizen engagement. The ESMF budget will finance a gender analysis to update the gender strategy, improve the project’s social accountability and Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) and support training and capacity building activities on safeguards and gender mainstreaming, including Gender Based Violence (GBV). The capacity building for participating institutions will consist of World Bank Environmental and Social Safeguards Policies, gender mainstreaming and other topics based on a needs assessment analysis. The training will be as and when required with a minimum of two per year. All new safeguards focal persons must participate in safeguards training before the start of the sub-project activity to ensure adequate safeguards management and reporting. Table 9-1: Summary of Cost of Implementation of ESMF (US dollars) Indicative Cost Activity (US $) Employment of PCU Social Safeguards Specialist 100,000 Capacity Building for Participating Institutions 80,000 Preparation of sub project ESHIAs/ESMPs 50,000 Implementation of Social Accountability Framework and GRM 150,000 Implementation of Gender Strategy and GBV awareness training and GRM 80,000 Implementation of the project monitoring indicators 60,000 Implementation of the Resettlement Policy Framework (RPF) excluding 80,000 compensation Total Cost 600,000.00 97 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 10 CONCLUSIONS This Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) has been prepared in order to guide project planners, implementers and other stakeholders to identify and mitigate environmental and social impacts under the SCADeP. This framework will apply to any project activity within the SCADeP. It is also to be appreciated that the project sites proposed for the SCADeP are dynamic and not prone to any environmental and social impacts that may be generated from activities of other future development projects. These impacts may affect the project locations for the SCADeP. Successful implementation of this ESMF will depend to a large extent on the involvement and participation of local communities. Specifically, it is recommended that: • Environmental and Social awareness and education for the key stakeholders and affected communities must be an integral part of the ESMF implementation. • District and local community structures should be adequately trained to implement the screening process, and where required to develop and to implement appropriate Environmental and Social Management and Monitoring Plans. • This ESMF should be regularly updated to respond to changing local conditions. It should also go through the national approval processes, reviewed and approved. It should also incorporate lessons learned from implementing various components of the project activities. 98 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 11 REFERENCES African Development Fund. (2004). Agricultural Sector Rehabilitation Project Appraisal Report. Climate Innovations Centre Kenya. (2014). Environmental and Social Management Framework : Kenya Climate Venture Facility. Government of Guinea Bissau. (2014). Environmental and Social Management Framework/Plan: Private Sector Rehabilitation and Agribusiness Development Project. Government of Sierra Leone. (2011). Environmental and Social Management Framework for the Rural and Private Sector Development Project: Additional Financing. Government of Sierra Leone. (2014). The Economic and Social Impact of the Ebola Virus Disease in Sierra Leone: Joint Preliminary Assessment Report. Freetown: Government of Sierra Leone. Koroma, B. (2014). Improving the living conditions of communities and ecosystems facing land degradation and climate change: United Nations Convention on Combat Dessertification and Drought; Sierra Leone National Programme 2014-2018. Unpubished. Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. (2014). Vietnam Sustainable Agriculture Transformation Project: Environmental and Social Management Framework . Munro, P., van der Horst, G., Kebbay, M., Kembay, A., Kondeh, S. M., Kpagoi, G., et al. (2013). The domestic trade in timber and fuelwood products in Sierra Leone: current dynamics and issues. UNDP. (2014). Socio-Economic impact of the Ebola Virus Disease in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. UNDP. 99 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 12 APPENDICES 100 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 12.1 Appendix A Summary of World Bank Environmental and Social Safeguard Policies • Environmental Assessment (OP 4.01) requires environmental assessment (EA) of projects proposed for Bank financing to help ensure that they are environmentally sound and sustainable, and thus to improve decision making. The EA is a process whose breadth, depth, and type of analysis depend on the nature, scale, and potential environmental impact of the proposed investments. The EA process takes into account the natural environment (air, water, and land); human health and safety; social aspects (involuntary resettlement, indigenous peoples, and cultural property) and trans-boundary and global environmental aspects. • Natural Habitats (OP 4.04). The conservation of natural habitats, like other measures that protect and enhance the environment, is essential for long-term sustainable development. The Bank does not support projects involving the significant conversion of natural habitats unless there are no feasible alternatives for the project and its siting, and comprehensive analysis demonstrates that overall benefits from the project substantially outweigh the environmental costs. If the environmental assessment indicates that a project would significantly convert or degrade natural habitats, the project includes mitigation measures acceptable to the Bank. Such mitigation measures include, as appropriate, minimizing habitat loss (e.g. strategic habitat retention and post-development restoration) and establishing and maintaining an ecologically similar protected area. The Bank accepts other forms of mitigation measures only when they are technically justified. Should the sub-project-specific EMPs indicate that natural habitats might be affected negatively by the proposed sub-project activities with suitable mitigation measures, such sub-projects will not be funded under this project. • Pest Management (OP 4.09). The policy supports safe, affective, and environmentally sound pest management. It promotes the use of biological and environmental control methods. An assessment is made of the capacity of the country‘s regulatory framework and institutions to promote and support safe, effective, and environmentally sound pest management. This policy was not triggered by the proposed project. • Physical Cultural Resources (OP/BP 4.11). The policy is triggered by projects which, prima facie, entail the risk of damaging cultural property (e.g. any project that includes large scale excavations, movement of earth, surface environmental changes or demolition). The policy is not directly triggered by the project, but lessons learned from other projects in Sierra Leone have shown that in some of the districts in which the project will be implemented. The project will prepare a Cultural Resources Management Plan in readiness for opportunistic finds during the implementation of the project. • Involuntary Resettlement (OP 4.12). This policy covers direct economic and social impacts that both result from Bank-assisted investment projects, and are caused by (a) the involuntary taking of land resulting in (i) relocation or loss of shelter; (ii) loss of assets or access to assets, or (iii) loss of income sources or means of livelihood, whether or not the affected persons must move to another location; or (b) the involuntary restriction of access to legally designated parks and protected areas resulting in adverse impacts on the livelihoods of the displaced persons. The project did not trigger this policy. • Indigenous Peoples (OD 4.20). This directive provides guidance to ensure that indigenous peoples benefit from development projects, and to avoid or mitigate adverse effects of Bankfinanced development projects on indigenous peoples. Measures to address issues pertaining to indigenous peoples must be based on the informed participation of the indigenous people themselves. Sub-projects that would have negative impacts on indigenous people will not be funded under the proposed project. • Forests (OP 4.36). This policy applies to the following types of Bank-financed investment projects: (a) projects that have or may have impacts on the health and quality of forests; (b) projects that affect the rights and welfare of people and their level of dependence upon or interaction with forests; and (c) projects that aim to bring about changes in the management, protection, or utilization of natural forests or plantations, whether they are publicly, privately, or communally owned. The Bank does not finance projects that, in its opinion, would involve significant conversion or degradation of critical forest areas or related critical habitats. If a project 101 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 involves the significant conversion or degradation of natural forests or related natural habitats that the Bank determines are not critical, and the Bank determines that there are no feasible alternatives to the project and its siting, and comprehensive analysis demonstrates that overall benefits from the project substantially outweigh the environmental costs, the Bank may finance the project provided that it incorporates appropriate mitigation measures. Subprojects with likelihood of having negative impacts on forests will not be funded under the project. • Cultural Property (OPN 11.03). The term ―cultural property‖ includes sites having archaeological (prehistoric), paleontological, historical, religious, and unique natural values. The Bank‘s general policy regarding cultural property is to assist in their preservation, and to seek to avoid their elimination. Specifically, the Bank (i) normally declines to finance projects that will significantly damage non-replicable cultural property, and will assist only those projects that are sited or designed so as to prevent such damage; and (ii) will assist in the protection and enhancement of cultural properties encountered in Bank-financed projects, rather than leaving that protection to chance. The management of cultural property of a country is the responsibility of the government. The government‘s attention should be drawn specifically to what is known about the cultural property aspects of the proposed project site and appropriate agencies, NGOs, or university departments should be consulted; if there are any questions concerning cultural property in the area, a brief reconnaissance survey should be undertaken in the field by a specialist. The proposed project will not fund sub-projects that will have negative impacts on cultural property. • Safety of Dams (OP 4.37). For the life of any dam, the owner is responsible for ensuring that appropriate measures are taken and sufficient resources provided for the safety to the dam, irrespective of its funding sources or construction status. The Bank distinguishes between small and large dams. Small dams are normally less than 15 m in height; this category includes, for example, farm ponds, local silt retention dams, and low embankment tanks. For small dams, generic dam safety measures designed by qualified engineers are usually adequate. This policy does not apply to the proposed project. • Projects on International Waterways (OP 7.50). The Bank recognizes that the cooperation and good will of riparian’s is essential for the efficient utilization and protection of inte rnational waterways and attaches great importance to riparian’s making appropriate agreements or arrangement for the entire waterway or any part thereof. Projects that trigger this policy include hydroelectric, irrigation, flood control, navigation, drainage, water and sewerage, industrial, and similar projects that involve the use or potential pollution of international waterways. The proposed project did not triggered this policy • Disputed Areas (OP/BP/GP 7.60). Project in disputed areas may occur in the Bank and its member countries as well as between the borrower and one or more neighbouring countries. Any dispute over an area in which a proposed project is located requires formal procedures at the earliest possible stage. The Bank attempts to acquire assurance that it may proceed with a project in a disputed area if the governments concerned agree that, pending the settlement of the dispute, the project proposed can go forward without prejudice to the claims of the country having a dispute. This policy is not expected to be triggered by sub-projects. This policy is unlikely to be triggered by sub-projects to be funded by this project. 102 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 12.2 Appendix B Stakeholders Consultation List for the ESMF Key Issues Raised in the Meeting held at SCADeP PCU on April 5th, 2019: 1. Provision of Maintenance and the Role of Road Maintenance Fund Administration (RMFA). The issue of maintenance of feeder roads as one of the challenges facing beneficiaries was discussed. The project team assured participants that the design of the project includes maintenance to ensure sustainability and the RMFA is on-board to ensure continuity once the project fades out. 2. Project life time. Participants raised concern on whether the activities under the additional financing will be completed by the end of the project life such that uncompleted activities will not become environmental and social burden. The project team assured that carefully planning and effective implementation plan have been developed to ensure delivery of project out put on time. 3. Gender and GBV-. The gender representatives from MAF noted that practical steps must be taken to ensure gender participation in the road works and maintenance. Furthermore, mechanism should be put in place to ensure GBV issues are not experienced during implementation. Therefore, provision should be made in the budget for training of rural women to enhance their participation and also on GBV issues. 4. Revision of MAP. The map of Sierra Leone used in the ESMF is the old one. This should be replaced by the new map. 5. Positive Impacts of Feeder Roads Rehabilitation and Maintenance . The document should state clearly the potential positive impacts of the road construction and maintenance in the Impact Identification and Mitigation Section of the ESMF. Attendance: The consultation meeting was attended by all the major stakeholders and implementing partners of the road project as per the attached attendance register. Name Designation Institution Brima Babo National Coordinator & Focal NaFFSL Person Manjay Sankoh Director RMFA Mohamed Bah Deputy Director RFMA Alie Forna Senior Civil Engineer RFMA Mariama M. Turay Head, Gender in Agric. & Nutrition MAF Oya Josehine Kargbo President SLeWoFF Jesse O. John President NaFFSL Addul N. Fofanah Engineer SLRA/SCADeP Adolphus Jackson Technical Adviser SCADeP Usif R. Sesay Project Accountant SCADeP Tamba Kanje Civil Engineer MAF Michael A. Samia Director of Rural Development MLGRD 103 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 Alimamy Kargbo Grants Manager SCADeP Photos of the Consultation OUTCOMES OF STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION PROCESS (Source: Final ESHIA Report for 500km feeder roads) Employment It was the wish of the stakeholders that priority of employment opportunities for skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled labour be given to the local residents. However, the locals were informed that if the local residents do not have adequate or none at all of the skilled labour, then these can be sourced from outside their district or region. Moreover, they should know that priority for labour intake will be given to them but they should accept Sierra Leoneans from other regions with prerequisite skills that will be employed on the project since they are one people. Potential for increased economic activities The residents are optimistic that upon completion of the project roads, more opportunities for business will be realized. Completion of the project will attract more investors/ traders and increase in business activities among the residents because it will be easy to transport goods from villages to other villages/ towns in their Region /districts. This means that the returns from sales of agricultural goods to the residents will be higher than the current case. Reduction of travel time Another additional benefit will be improved transport services as improvement of the selected roads will increase attraction of the nearby settlements to use the project roads to get to different destinations and districts headquarter towns. This in return, will ensure that people save time and it also means that costs of travel from remote settlements to the other settlements will be lowered because of shorter time taken to travel and improved road network. Long-term sustainability Most of the stakeholders requested that the proposed project should not lead to environmental degradation (e.g. hard wood cutting in Koinadugu District) and require that comprehensive assessment of potential impact areas be carried out. Moreover, they were concerned about the maintenance regime of such roads once they were completed. However, in addressing this issue the study him informed participants that they still have an opportunity to incorporate this into the CDAP for their respective areas once the contractors have been commissioned and there is an allocation for capacity building which will ensure that the local youths take over the maintenance of these project roads. Poor drainage and flooding 104 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 The stakeholders raised issue of poor drainage in the area due to heavy trucks plying their routes in search of agricultural goods and hard wood especially in Koinadugu, Kailahun and Pujehun districts respectively. This situation resident noted that the culvert points flood during heavy rains and makes crossing such sections impossible. They proposed that the project should address the poor drainage facilities in their areas to allow accessibility throughout the year and reduce flooding issues in the affected sections of the roads. The stakeholders were informed that the issue of drainage has been addressed in the design. Health and Safety The stakeholders were concerned about safety hazards related to operation of construction equipment and machinery, which could lead to injuries or loss of life for the workers. The stakeholders were informed that measures to mitigate potential health and safety hazards has been provided in the ESMP which include enforcing speed limits, inspection of machinery, training of machinery safety, provision of adequate safety signage and wears among others. Photos from Consultations Public Consultation with residents along the feeder road in Kambia Residents in Kowubu village Consultation with locals at JormuKafeibu along the Combema 105 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 12.4 Appendix C - Proposed Waste Management Strategy The principal issue of waste management relates primarily to the lack of existing treatment and disposal facilities in Sierra Leone. In order to minimize the impact on the limited local waste infrastructure, the top priority for the project will be waste recycling, re-use and reduction and where unavoidable final disposal in designated land fill sites. The most significant risks associated with waste management are the handling of hazardous wastes (i.e. chemical pesticides and fertilizers) used mainly in crop management including weed control and the diminished aesthetic values of the farming and agribusiness environments. These will have to be mitigated using appropriate technologies including training of staff on safe use and disposal. The project waste management practices will comply with the relevant national and International regulatory requirements including the World Bank’s Safe Guards to be triggered. The typical waste products of the selected agricultural crops/livestock of the SCADeP and some of their possible re-use are given in Table 1. For meaningful benefits to be derived from the suggested re-use, appropriate cottage industries/enterprises would have to be developed, supported and encouraged throughout an initial incubation period. This initiative have the potential to reduce waste, increase productivity, cut down costs in some instances and increase farmers income; thus minimizing rural poverty. Table 12-1: Types of wastes for the crops and poultry and some possible re-use Crop/ Waste Possible reuse livestock Products Incorporation into the soil for nutrient recycling. Dried and used as animal feed. Thatching materials in house construction to keep house cool in Stubbles/straws warm season and hot in old season. Used bedding for livestock. Fuel for burning mud bricks to strengthen them. Burned to ash and used as bonding material with cement (1:1 ratio) Rice in low cost house construction. Ash used as excellent binding material with ceramic in improved stove fabrication. Making of briquettes (clean energy) to be used as an alternative to Husks charcoal. Soil I incorporation to amend Fe and Al toxicities in rice farming and to improve soil organic matter content. Straws and Mulching materials for small scale vegetables production i.e. helps Husk to conserve soil moisture, moderate soil temperature, suppress weeds, control erosion and when it decomposes add organic matter to improve soil quality. Incinerated and ash used with Potash to produce soft soap (black soap) Incorporated into soil for soil amendments, nutrient recycling and mulching purposes Used in making cocoa butter pomade Husks Cacao Dried shell milled in powder containing Theobroma, fat and vitamin D which can be used as substitute to maize in feeds for poultry, Pigs and cattle (up to 35% of their rations). Milled shell can also be used as crop fertilizer. 106 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 Pulp juice/ Used in preparing alcoholic beverages, pectin, jelly, jam, Sweating marmalade, vinegar and soft drinks Crop/ Waste Possible reuse livestock Products Palm fronds Used in making brooms, brushes, mats and materials for shading. Fronds and Constituents in animal and Poultry feeds. Kernel Fronds, empty Used to fire boilers in oil extraction. fruit bunches, Oil Palm kernel shells and fibres Effluent from Used to produce methane and biomass gas to generate electricity. mill Shells (kernel) Used for hardening roads and buildings under construction. Manure for vegetable gardening. Poultry Feed for aquaculture and fish farming. Droppings Biogas production for cooking and electricity generation. 107 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 12.5 Appendix D - Physical Cultural Resources Plan Cultural heritage resources are normally not fully known during project preparation, but some road works may be located in the influence area of some sites. Graves for instance, could be located along road project sites. Construction and rehabilitation operations may require borrow pit excavations or some limited movements of earth. Such activities may have potential impacts on previously unidentified physical cultural resources through chance finds of an archaeological nature. Physical Cultural Resources (OP/BP 4.11) policy requires that whenever physical cultural resources are encountered an investigation and inventory of cultural resources potentially affected need to be carried out. Mitigation measures will be included where there are adverse impacts on physical cultural resources. This ESMF provides a clear procedure for identification, protection and treatment of archaeological artefacts discovered; these procedures will be included in the environmental and social management plan and in standard bidding documents. The environmental and social screening tool will include the identification of chance finds. The project will be reviewed for potential impact on physical cultural property and clear procedures will be required for identification, protection of cultural property from theft, and treatment of discovered artefacts will be included in standard bidding documents. While not damaging cultural property, sub-project preparation may identify and include assistance for preservation of historic or archaeological sites. There is a possibility that project activities may result in damage to physical cultural property unless these are identified early on. The World Bank will not fund any activity that involves the removal, alteration or disturbance of any physical cultural resources (defined as movable or immovable objects, sites, structures, and natural features and landscapes that have archaeological, paleontological, historical, architectural, religious, aesthetic, or other cultural significance). Recognizing that physical cultural resources may be present in projects areas, the screening criteria and review process aims to ensure that they are identified and adverse effects are avoided and/or mitigated. Project proposals with activities that may occur in areas with possible physical cultural resources will specify procedures for identifying physical cultural property and for avoiding impacts on these, including: • Consultations with the appropriate authorities and local inhabitants to identify known or possible sites during project planning (Stakeholder Engagement Plan; • Siting of project activities to avoid identified sites (including identifying such areas in • protected and natural resource management planning and zoning); • “Chance finds� procedures will include cessation of work until the significance of a “find� has been determined by the appropriate authorities and local inhabitants, and until fitting treatment of the site has been determined and carried out. • Construction contracts will include the same procedures for dealing with “chance finds;� • Buffer zones or other management arrangements to avoid damage to cultural resources such as “sacred� forests and graveyards. Indigenous Peoples and local c ommunities to which these areas belong should decide access procedures and should not be excluded from accessing these areas. The ESMF highlights the importance of community participation (noted in the Involuntary Resettlement and Indigenous Peoples safeguards) since local and traditional knowledge is important in identifying, designing and planning the implementation of practical mitigation measures. It is especially important where the success depends on community support and action, both in implementing mitigation measures and in monitoring their success. 108 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 12.5.1 CHANCE FINDS PROCEDURES 1.0 Definition of Physical Cultural Resources (PCR) These are defined as movable or immovable objects, sites, structures or group of structures having archaeological, paleontological, historical, architectural, religious, aesthetic or other cultural significance. Under the Monuments and Relics Ordinance, 1946 the following definitions are given and applicable under the SCADeP: No. Item Definition 1 Ancient monument Any building, ruin, remaining portion of building or ruin, stone circle, pillar, statue, tumulus, grave, cave, rock shelter, kitchen midden, earthwork, iron-smelting site, underground cistern, shell mound or other site or thing of similar kind, of archaeological, ethnographical, historical or other scientific interest, but does not include any ancient working; 2 Ancient working Any shaft, cutting tunnel or stope which was made for mining purposes and which has been proclaimed as such by the Government 3 Ethnographical article Ceremonial insignia and includes any other article of archaeological, ethnographical, historical or other scientific interest which has been proclaimed as such by the Governor under the provisions of section 9 4 Monument • Any ancient monument; • Any area of land which is of archaeological or historical interest or contains objects of such interest; • Any waterfall, cave, grotto, avenue of trees, old tree or building; and • Any other object (whether natural or constructed by man) Of archaeological, ethnographical, historical or other scientific interest; 5 Relic • Any fossil of any kind; • Any ancient drawing, engraving or painting on stone or 109 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 petroglyph; • Any ancient implement, article or ornament; and • Any archaeological or ethnographical contents of any ancient monument or ancient working. 2.0 Ownership The Monuments and Relics Commission is the main statutory body responsible for the protection of cultural heritage in Sierra Leone. In 1946 an ordinance was passed 'to provide for the preservation of Ancient, Historical, and Natural Monuments, Relics, and other objects of Archaeological, Ethnographical, Historical or other Scientific Interest'. This ordinance set up the Monuments and Relics Commission as a corporate body. 3.0 Recognition The project areas are not known to be PCR- sensitive hence a specialist may not necessarily be hired by the project to be a full time member of the contractor’s team. The bidding documents for construction work will however make reference to the Monuments and Relics Ordinance, 1946. As part of the ESMP implementation training programme, contractors will be taken through the types of PCR that could be found during works, and will be provided with contact information for the appropriate persons at the Monuments and Relics Commission. The Commission will be invited to provide the training. 4.0 Procedure Upon Discovery Suspension of Work If PCR is discovered during the execution of works, the works should be stopped immediately and the supervising engineer immediately notified. Where large buried structures are expected, the supervising engineer should inform the Monuments and Relics Commission who may instruct to what distance all works should be stopped. The contractor may not be entitled to claim compensation for work suspension during this period. The supervising engineer may be entitled to suspend work and to request from the contractor some excavations at the contractor’s expense if he thinks that a discovery was made and not reported. Demarcation of the Discovery site The supervising engineer may instruct the contractor to temporarily demarcate, and limit access to the site. Non- suspension of work In the situation where a single isolated object is discovered, the supervising engineer may decide whether the PCR can be removed and the work to continue. In cases of large finds, that decision should be made on the advice of the Monuments and Relics Commission. Chance Find report The supervising engineer may request the contractor to produce a report within five (5) days of the chance find. The report will provide: • Date and time of discovery • Location of the discovery (including GPS location) • Description of the PCR • Estimated weight and dimensions of the PCR • Temporary protection implemented • Site photographs showing the state of the PCR and its surroundings The report will be approved by the supervising engineer and submitted to the Monuments and Relics Commission within ten (10) days of the Find. Arrival and Actions of the Monuments and Relics Commission 110 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 The Monuments and Relics Commission will send a representative to the site within 24 hours of the Find and give instructions on actions to be taken. Such actions will comprise: • Removal of the PCR deemed to be of significance • Execution of further excavation within a specified distance of the discovery point • Extension or reduction of the area demarcated by the contractor All these actions must be carried out within seven (7) days. The contractor may be entitled to claim compensation for work suspension during this period. Further suspension of work The Commission will be entitled to request temporary suspension of work at or in the vicinity of the discovery site, if deemed necessary for proper treatment of the PCR. The contractor may be entitled to claim compensation for work suspension during this period. However, the contractor will be entitled to establish an agreement with the Commission for additional services or resources during the further period under a separate contract with the Commission. Summary of procedure to be followed in the event of a Chance Find 111 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 12.6 Appendix E – EPA-SL Screening Project Form for ESIA APPLICATION FORM FOR THE ACQUISITION OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA) LICENCE • NAME OF INSTITUTION/COMPANY: • TYPE OF BUSINESS: • BUSINESS REGISTRATION NO: • CONTACT ADDRESS: • E-MAIL OR TEL NO: • NATIONALITY: • PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT: • (ATTACH PROPOSAL) • PROPOSED LOCATION: (INCLUDE RELEVANT MAP) COST OF PROPOSAL: • ESTIMATED DURATION OF DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES: • STATE THE IMPACT OF ACTIVITIES OF THE FOLLOWING: TICK THE APPROPRIATE COLUMNS Positive Negative SUBSTANTIAL IMPACT ON ECOSYSTEM OF THE LOCALITY SOCIAL AESTHETIC SCIENTIFIC HISTORICAL STATE OTHER IMPORTANT ENVIRONMENTAL PARAMETERS Signed:…………………………………….. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/HEAD 112 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 EIA Screening Form Serial No ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT SCREENING FORM Please type or print clearly, completing this form in its entirety. You may provide additional information on a separate sheet of paper if necessary. Kindly note that the information you are to provide is required by the National Environment Protection Act of 2000 for the insurance of an EIA License. (See Section 15 (2) SECTION 1: INFORMATION ON THE CONTACT PERSON Name: Institutional Affiliation: Business Title/position: Business Address: Telephone: Email: SECTION 2: DESCRIPTION OF THE EXISTING COMPANY/PROJECT Name of Project: Date expected to start construction: Proposed location of project: Land Area: Current Land Use (Describe how the land is being used at present): Describe any possible alternative Site (s): Describe other types of industries or facilities (including health centres and school) which are located within 100 metres of the site, or the proposed to be located near the proposed facility. Indicate the proximity of the proposed industrial site to residential areas, national parks or areas of ecological, historical or cultural importance Indicate whether adequate infrastructure exists at the proposed location, or whether new buildings, road, electricity and water lines, or drainage systems will need to be constructed as a part of the proposed project. SECTION 3. EMPLOYEES AND LABOURERS Number of people employed or to be employed: 113 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 Employees and During Construction During Routine Labourers Operation Indicate whether you plan to construct housing/sanitation facilities for temporary or permanent workers. SECTION 4: DESCRIPTION INDUSTRIAL PROCESS Briefly describe the type and nature of industrial processes to be conducted at the installation State the type and quantity of energy to be used (including the origin of the energy, i.e. public utility, on –site generator, wood, solar, wind, etc.) Type(s) Quantity Period (per day & per week) Estimate the quantities of water to be used for the following: Use (s) of water Quantity Period Source List the type and quantity of raw materials to be used per year in the production process (including soil, Sand, cement, aggregates, wood, animals, etc.). Identify the sources of all raw materials. Type Quantity Source List all of the chemicals used or expected to be used for an aspect of the Production process (A separate list may be attached with more detailed information) Name/Type Description Source SECTION 5 PRODUCTS Briefly state the nature of the produce (s) or output of the proposed facility, and the expected quantities on a quarterly or annual basis. Indicate the intended uses of the product (s). 114 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 Name of Product/Output Description of Uses Anticipated Output per Qtr/yr SECTION 6: BY PRODUCTS, WASTE MANAGEMENT AND DISPOSAL Specify the nature of each waste or by-product and the quantity to be generated Type Description Quantity in Kg per wk/month Proposed method of disposal or management of wastes (e.g. burning, bury, etc.) Type of Waste Method of Disposal/Management Indicate sources of noise pollution, the type/quantity of noise (i.e. machine/repetitive pounding, etc.) Sources of Noise Type of Noise SECTION 7 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT Please indicate environmental impacts that may occur as a result of the proposed project. Nature of Impact Y/N Brief Description of the Anticipated Impacts 115 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 SECTION 8 PROPOSED MITIGATION MEASURES Indicate whether measures are being considered to mitigate against damage likely to be caused by the proposed project to human and/or the environment. Briefly describe these measures. No. LIKELY DAMAGE TO MITIGATION MEASURES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Others State any and all experience you have with implementing the above mentioned mitigation measures. If you do not have prior experience, what skills do you possess to implement these mitigating measures? What staff training will be provided to ensure compliance with health and environmental safety standards? SECTION 9 TESTIMONY I confirm that the information provided herein is accurate to the best of my knowledge. I will also endeavor to provide additional information and facilitate a site visit if required. Signed: Developer Date 116 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 For Official Use Only Received by: Date: Classified A B C Reasons for the Classification Endorsed By: Date: Approved by Director Date: 117 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 12.7 Appendix F – Environmental and Social Screening Checklist A PROJECT NAME: 1 Project Location (Province, District, Town) 2 Safeguard officer filling Form 3 Date of Screening B DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITY 1 Type of Activity (including objectives and outputs) 2 Land area to be taken by project activity, in ha 3 Any existing property to be affected, and by how much (total, partial demolition etc.) 4 Any plans for construction, movement of earth, changes in land cover 5 Date of commencement and expected completion date and estimated cost C PRELIMINARY ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION YES NO COMMENT 1 Is there adjacent/nearby critical natural habitat? 2 Are there activities at the project site? 3 What is the current land use 4 Will the proposed activities have any impact on any ecosystem services, biodiversity issues or natural habitats? 5 Will there be restrictions or loss of access to public facilities or resources? 6 Will there be restrictions or loss of access to public facilities or resources? 7 Will there be water resource impacts? 8 Will there be vegetation and soil impacts? 9 Will the air quality or noise impacts? 0 Are there any new or changing river basin management planning or activities? 1 Any cultural heritage/sacred sites in project area? D PRELIMINARY SOCIAL INFORMATION YES NO COMMENT 1 Has there been litigation or complaints of any environmental nature directed against the proponent or subproject? 2 Will the subproject require the acquisition of land? 3 What is the status of the land holding required by the project (customary, lease, community lands, etc.)? 4 Is there evidence of land tenure status of landowners and/or occupants 118 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 (affidavit, other documentation)? 5 Are there outstanding land disputes? 6 Has there been proper consultation with stakeholders? 7 Is there a grievance process identified for PAPs and is this easily accessible to these groups/individuals? 8 Will there be any changes to livelihoods? 9 What are the main issues associated with community benefits? 0 Will any restoration or compensation be required with Affected persons? E IMPACT IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION Choose COMMENT L, M or H 1 Natural LOW (No natural habitats present of any kind) habitats MEDIUM (No critical natural habitats; other natural habitats occur) HIGH (Critical natural habitats present; within declared protected areas) 2 Water LOW (Water flows exceed any existing demand; low Resources intensity of water use; potential water use conflicts expected to be low; no potential water quality issues) MEDIUM (Medium intensity of water use; multiple water users; water quality issues are important) HIGH (Intensive water use; multiple water users; potential for conflicts is high; water quality issues are important) 3 Natural LOW (Flat terrain; no potential stability/ erosion hazards problems; no known flood risks) MEDIUM (Medium slopes; some erosion potential; medium risks from floods) HIGH (Mountainous terrain; steep slopes; unstable soils; high erosion potential; flood risks) 4 Land tenure LOW (No conflicts, disagreements around use of land) MEDIUM (Process of land regularization and rights to natural resources being worked out with clear communication and grievance process in place) HIGH (Land conflicts historically unresolved, community/ persons being evicted, settlers loosing rights and no transparency or grievance redress available) F SUMMARY OF SITE SENSITIVITY Tick appropriately Comment [A] HIGH [B] MEDIUM [C] LOW G IMPACT MITIGATION 119 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 Impact Identified Mitigation options H DETERMINATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL CATEGORY BASED ON SCREENING Tick COMMENT appropriately [A] REQUIRES AN ESIA [B] REQUIRES PREPARATION OF ADDITIONAL E&S INFORMATION TO SUPPORT ESMF [C] DOES NOT REQUIRE FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL OR SOCIAL DUE DILIGENCE – REFER TO ESMF PREPARED BY: DATE: 120 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 12.8 Appendix G – ESIA and ESMP Outline The EA report should include the following items: (a) Executive summary. Concisely discusses significant findings and recommended actions. (b) Policy, legal, and administrative framework . Discusses the policy, legal, and administrative framework within which the EA is carried out. Explains the environmental requirements of any co- financiers (if any), the World Bank policy requirements and national safeguard regulations. Identifies relevant international environmental agreements to which the country is a party that is relevant to the project. (c) Project description. Concisely describes the proposed project and its geographic, ecological, social, and temporal context, including any offsite investments that may be required (e.g., dedicated pipelines, access roads, power plants, water supply, housing, material extraction sites, and raw material and product storage facilities). Indicates the need for any resettlement plan or indigenous peoples’ development plan (see also subpara. (h)(v) below). Includes a map showing the project site and the project's area of influence. (d) Baseline data. Assesses the dimensions of the study area and describes relevant physical, biological, and socioeconomic conditions, including any changes anticipated before the project commences. Also takes into account current and proposed development activities within the project area but not directly connected to the project. Data should be relevant to decisions about project location, design, operation, or mitigatory measures. The section indicates the accuracy, reliability, and sources of the data. (e) Environmental impacts. Predicts and assesses the project's likely positive and negative impacts, in quantitative terms to the extent possible. Identifies mitigation measures and any residual negative impacts that cannot be mitigated. Explores opportunities for environmental enhancement. Assess cumulative impacts. Identifies and estimates the extent and quality of available data, key data gaps, and uncertainties associated with predictions, and specifies topics that do not require further attention. If there are any associated facilities/linked activities, an audit need to be undertaken to ensure these facilities/activities are being managed that is acceptable manner using the Annex 14. (f) Analysis of alternatives.3 Systematically compares feasible alternatives to the proposed project site, technology, design, and operation--including the "without project" situation--in terms of their potential environmental impacts; the feasibility of mitigating these impacts; their capital and recurrent costs; their suitability under local conditions; and their institutional, training, and monitoring requirements. For each of the alternatives, quantifies the environmental impacts to the extent possible, and attaches economic values where feasible. States the basis for selecting the particular project design proposed and justifies recommended emission levels and approaches to pollution prevention and abatement. (g) Environmental management plan (EMP). Covers mitigation measures, monitoring, and institutional strengthening. (h) Appendixes i. List of EA report preparers--individuals and organizations. ii. References--written materials both published and unpublished, used in study preparation. iii. Record of consultation meetings, including consultations for obtaining the informed views of the affected people and other stakeholders. The record specifies any means other than consultations (e.g., surveys) that were used to obtain the views of affected groups and stakeholders. iv. Tables presenting the relevant data referred to or summarized in the main text. v. List of associated reports (e.g., resettlement plan or indigenous peoples’ development plan). 121 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 ESMP Outline Project Potential Proposed Indicators Institutional Cost Activity Environmental Mitigation Responsibility Estimates Impacts Measures(s) (including (including enforcement/ legislation/ coordination) regulations) 1) 2) 3) 1) 2) 3) 1) 2) 3) 122 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 12.9 Appendix H – Examples of Environmental Clauses in Contracts LABOUR STANDARDS Labour standards included in this contract should not be regarded merely as protection for employees, but as a way of improving the workers welfare and hence their productivity. The Contractor shall fully comply with the following requirements: Freedom of Association by workers Equity of treatment – the contractor shall afford equal opportunity for women to perform any site task including those of a supervisory nature. The contractor shall ensure that prompt and full payment of remuneration is made directly to the individual. Protection of the environment (a) Method statement The contractor shall identify and prepare written method statements for each of the principal activities comprising the works. These principal activities shall include but not be limited to: • The Contractors establishment on site • Site clearance and demolition • Excavation of side drains and turnouts • Shaping to camber and compacting excavated material from side drains on road formation • Construction of concrete box culverts • Embankment construction and earthworks • Opening, operating and reinstating borrow areas Each method statement shall include: • A general description of the principal activity • A breakdown of each principal activity into a logical sequence of discrete tasks • A detailed schedule of resources (Personnel, Materials and Equipment) required to complete each task. • A programme setting out the time required to complete each task with the resources allocated. • A list of potential environmental and health and safety risks associated with each task. • The contractor’s proposals to minimize the risks identified above. • The identity of the person responsible (e.g. the name of the concrete foreman) for carrying out each task. Following review by the Project Manager and the incorporation of any necessary amendments, changes or additions required, the Contractor shall execute the Works in accordance with those revised Method Statements. Labour Standard included in this contractor should not be regarded merely as protection for employees but as a way of improving the worker’s welfare and hence their productivity. Labour Standards are included in the Conditions of contract Part 11, Conditions of Particular Application. Specific Bill of Quantities items covered some of the requirements in respect of Labour Standards, the remainder are deemed to be included as overheads in the Contract’s general rates. The Contractor shall fully comply with the following requirements in respect of Labour Standards the majority of which are already in force and embodied in the labour laws of Sierra Leone References to various laws, statutes, decrees legal instruments and other ordinances are given for information purposes and the Contractor shall ascertain for himself his obligations in respect thereof including those arising from any subsequent legislation. Compliance with this list of Labour Standards shall in no way absolve the Contractor of any of his obligations in respect of any of the labour laws in force in Sierra Leone. 123 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 • Freedom of Association and collective bargaining : The contractor shall adopt a co-operative attitude towards officers and members of registered trades unions in accordance with the provisions of the Industrial Relations Act of the country. • Equity of treatment: The Contractor shall comply with any legal instrument that provides that males and females shall receive equal pay work. As requirement of this contract the contractor shall afford equal opportunity for women to perform any site task including those of a supervisory nature. • Payment of Remuneration: The contractor shall ensure that prompt and full payment of remuneration shall be made directly to individual workers. • Hours of work: Normal working hours as set out in the country’s Laws shall be complied with but shall not exceed 40 hours in any week worked from Monday to Friday. Time worked in excess of the normal working hours shall be taken as overtime and will be paid at the following rates: Monday – Friday Normal hourly rate x 1.25 Saturday Normal hourly rate x 1.50 Sunday Normal hourly rate x 2.00 Workers shall be given a rest period of 36 consecutive hours in every 7 days of normal working hours. Where work is allocated on a task basis, a task should be capable of being completed by an average worker within an 8hours working day. It is an infringement for an employer to fail to provide necessary protective clothing and equipment. It is an infringement for an employee having been provided with protective clothing and equipment to fail to use them, the contractor shall stringently ensure that any safety equipment provided for his workforce is effectively utilized. The Contractor’s attention if drawn to the fact that different sizes of clothing will be required to meet individual needs and that non-standard sizes e.g. safety boots for women may need advance ordering from suppliers the Contractor shall do so.. Separate payment shall be made under the Provisional sum items in the Bills of Quantities. A percentage adjustment on those provisional sum items is included as items in the Bills of Quantities. SECTION 10 SAFETY: The contractor shall nominate and train one employee per lot as safety officer. The contractor shall establish a safety committee during the mobilization period comprising the contractor’s safety officer, the project manager’s representative and one worker’s representative from each site. The committee shall meet monthly to discuss the promotion of safe working practices, the prevention of accidents and other safety issues and shall report to the monthly progress meetings. The contractor shall nominate and train one employee per site to be responsible for first aid. The contractor shall organize and pay for the first aid training of his nominated employee with the Red Cross Pursuant to the factories, offices and shops Act the contractor shall provide and place under the charge of the person responsible for first aid, a first aid kit at each site. That person shall be responsible for managing the first aid and informing the contractor from time to time of any first aid items that have expired or been consumed. The contractor shall immediately arrange for the replacement of such items. 124 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 10.01 The first aid kit shall include; Bandages Surgical Blade Crepe Bandages Scissors Triangular bandages Sterilized needles Cotton Wool Measuring cup Plasters Eye Rinsing bath Lint Washing bowl & soap Cause Gentian violet Safety pins Hydrogen peroxide Surgical gloves Iodine Disinfectant Antiseptic cream Tweezers The contractor while in employment shall provide free medical attention including drugs to his employees. The contractor shall establish emergency evacuation procedures to enable rapid response to accident viz. establish prior contact with local clinics, health centres and district hospitals, make prior arrangements for transport, etc. Separate payment will be made for the provision of a first aid kit and training of a first aider under the Provisional Sum Item in the Bills of Quantities. 10.02 Employment of Youth: The contractor shall keep a register of young person’s employed including their dates of birth or, If unknown, their apparent age. Should avoid use of child labour, below 16 years of age. 10.03 Forced labour: The forced use of labour by the Contractor is prohibited. SECTION 11 HIV/AIDS Awareness: The contractor shall display appropriate health education materials at the site concerning the dangers and impact of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) in general and HIV/AIDS in particular. Suitable materials are available from the Ministry of Health and the Aids Commission. The contractor shall also facilitate local Ministry of Health staff to conduct consultation visits to each site at least once a month during construction for the benefits of site staff and labour. The contractor shall throughout the contract (including the Defect Liability Period if workers are on site) also facilitate local Ministry of Health staff to operate on STD clinic on site periodically or make arrangements for workers to visit suitable local clinics. All the above provisions shall be provided free of charge to staff and labour. The contractor shall make condoms freely available to the entire workforce free of charge. No separate measurement and payment shall be made for the provision of condoms the costs of which shall be deemed to have been covered elsewhere in the contractor’s rates and prices. Separate payment for the education for workers and local communities in STDs and HIV/AIDS awareness shall be made under the Provisional Sum Item in Bill No. 1 of the Bills of Quantities “Provide assistance to and facilitate site visits by MOH personnel to educate workers and local communities in STDs HIV/AIDS awareness and consultation meetings� A percentage adjustment on that Provisional sum item is included as an item in the Bills of Quantities. 125 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 12 IMPLEMENTATION OF APPROVED ESIA PLAN The works contractors are also principal stakeholders in the project whose roles and responsibilities are to identify and mitigate the adverse impacts of project activities on the physical and human environment right from the beginning. Therefore, Contractors are required to fully comply with site specific ESMP for each of the project roads. As a minimum, the Contractor should adhere to the following mitigation measures: a) Use construction materials from approved site, and of standard quality, b) Reclaim the quarry site and reinstate borrow pit after the completion of the work, c) Constant spraying of the road surface with water to suppress dust, especially near villages and towns; d) Maintain health and sanitation of the labour camp, e) Provide health and safety gears to the workers, f) Keep records of periodic health check-up of workers g) Do not allow haphazard disposal of spoil along hill slopes, vegetated areas, water bodies and other environmentally sensitive areas, h) Enforce use of recommended disposal sites that are approved by project manager, i) Restrict labourers’ use of forest products, hunting and poaching, j) Hire as many local labourers as possible (priority has to be given to poor, marginalized and vulnerable persons), k) Avoid use of child labour (below 16 years age), l) Employ as many women labourer as possible in construction, m) Pay equal wage for male and female labourers for similar work and maintain a payment register. n) Contractors have to pay minimum wage fixed by the concerned district to both male and female labourers. o) Ensure insurance for personal injury or death and Third Party liability from the Start Date to the end of the Defects Liability Period. p) Put modalities in place to ensure that locals (Project affected persons) are giving preference when it comes to hiring both for skilled and unskilled workforce q) Avoid damage / disturbance to historical / cultural / archaeological sites / natural habitats, r) Relocate public infrastructure such as; electricity pole, telephone pole, taps, irrigation, etc. s) Site Reinstatement. By the end of rehabilitation and maintenance phase and prior to handover of the site, the Contractor will reinstate the site which will include clearing the site of all construction related material and waste and transportation to a disposal place. Landscaping activities include grass- seeding on slopes. Final payment to the Contractor is subject to the site being restored to satisfaction of the Employer and affected local communities. Above mentioned and additional requirements such as health & safety relevant to a sub-project activity of contractor will be supervised and monitored by the technical supervision team as well as by the environmental specialist besides district level and central level monitoring. Payment of contractor’s payment certificates will be hinge to his/her performance in the implementation of the contractual ESMP. 126 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 12.10 Appendix I – Terms of Reference for ESSS role MAIN OBJECTIVES OF THE POSITION The main objective of the position is to manage and coordinate the overall implementation and monitoring of the Project’s environm ental and social (including Gender) safeguards responsibilities. Specifically, this position will: ▪ Oversee and monitor the environmental “due diligence� of the project as detailed in the operational instruments of the Project ▪ Oversee the project’s compliance with the social safeguards tenets of the Bank and the government. ▪ Manage the overall implementation and monitoring of the Project’s Gender and Vulnerable Groups Action Plan, including gender mainstreaming of all the project ’s activities, its guiding documents and implementation of activities throughout the project cycle, in order to ensure that its objectives are met and the inclusion of vulnerable groups in the project activities is assured. SPECIFIC TASKS While working in close cooperation with the Monitoring & Evaluation and Communications Units of the project and under the direct supervision of the Project Coordinator, the Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialist shall perform the following main tasks: ▪ Provide overall policy and technical direction for safeguards management under the Project, as defined by the project environmental and social safeguards instruments; ▪ Co-ordinate closely with the Environmental and Social Officers in the implementing agencies in planning and managing project implementation as per the safeguards instruments; ▪ Ensure environmental and social due diligence is carried out for each sub-project to be funded under the Project; ▪ Liaise with Sierra Leone Environmental Protection Agency (SLEPA) to screen any sub-project requiring ESIA and to monitor the project’s compliance to safeguards; ▪ Ensure that applicable measures in the ESMPs/RAPs are included in the design, and conditions on compliance with ESMPs/RAPs is included in the bidding documents liaising closely with the procurement team of the PCU and implementing agencies; ▪ Develop, organize and deliver environmental and social training programs and workshops for the Implementing Agencies at the field level, contractors, field supervision staff and other implementing agency officials as needed, on safeguard requirements and their management; ▪ Ensure compliance with ESMPs/RAPs during the construction period and maintain close coordination with the technical teams of the IAs; ▪ Prepare additional technical guidelines, if necessary, to support the safeguards instruments in order to strengthen the implementation of environmental and social safeguards; ▪ Ensure implementation of the Project’s Grievance Redress System and ensure public complaints relating to sub-project implementation are addressed with corrective action and adequately documented; ▪ Promote community participation in the process of planning, management and monitoring of environmental/social impacts of sub-projects; provide guidelines on community participation in environmental/social monitoring to the implementing agencies ▪ Develop, oversee and ensure the implementation and monitoring of the Gender and Vulnerable Groups Action Plan at all levels; ▪ Ensure that gender, youth, and vulnerable groups’ di mensions are mainstreamed throughout the project activity implementation, capacity building activities, IEC materials, and other aspects of program implementation, and reflected accordingly in the project’s Operations Manuals; ▪ Provide and/or organize training on gender issues, gender sensitivity and analysis to project staff, implementing partners, and other stakeholders in partnership with relevant local research and training institutions and/or international experts; and ensure that project staff and other stakeholders at all levels have been concretely trained about their specific roles, responsibilities and how to implement the Gender Action Plan; ▪ Develop a handbook for Facilitators with practical guidance on how to implement the Gender Action Plan at the community level; ▪ Ensure, in collaboration with the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, that the gender and vulnerable groups-specific data is regularly collected and analyzed; 127 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 ▪ Submit quarterly reports to the PCU and the World Bank and the reports should include but not limited to the following: o List of proposed Sub-projects o List of screened and approved sub-projects o List of sub-projects registered with EPA-SL o List of consultations held, including locations and dates, name of participants and occupations o Main points arising from consultations including any agreements reached o A record of grievance applications and/or grievances redress dealt with o Monitoring data on environmental, social and safety parameters o List of occupational health and safety accidents o Trainings conducted QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCES ▪ A Masters level degree in fields related to environmental management, social sciences, community development, political sciences, or management /organizational development; ▪ At least 5 years relevant working experience in the field of rural development, working directly with communities and local authorities, with an emphasis on women and gender issues would be preferable; ▪ Experiences in project/program using participatory development tools, and community driven approaches; ▪ Experience in capacity building; ▪ Experience on donor funded projects and prior implementation of donor safeguards is an advantage. ▪ Prior experience in World Bank funded projects will be a further advantage. ▪ Excellent level of written and spoken English is essential; ▪ Comprehensive computer skills: in particular MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and basic database management. 128 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 12.11 Appendix J – Scoping of Services for SLADF Consultant MAIN OBJECTIVES OF THE POSITION The main objective of this service is to manage the implementation and monitoring of the environmental and social (including Gender) safeguards risks relating to the implementation of the Sierra Leone Agribusiness Development Fund (SLADF) under the SCADeP. Specifically, this service will: ▪ Ensure the environmental and social safeguards “due diligence� of all sub-projects implemented under the SLADF, as detailed in the operational instruments of the SCADeP (including ESMF, RPF, PMP, etc); ▪ Monitor and ensure the project’s compliance with the environmental and social safeguards tenets of the World Bank and the government in all aspects of the implementation of SLADF; SCOPE OF SERVICES The Fund Manager/consultant will work with the Environmental and Social Safeguard Specialist (ESSS) of the project to undertake the following tasks: • Support grantees to understand and operate within the legal and regulatory framework on the management of environmental and social impacts, both national and World Bank frameworks; • Identify, assess and measure the extent of positive and negative impacts and potential direct and indirect environmental and social risks for each sub-project undertaken by grantees. These risks may include the impact on the farm family, soil salinization, water scarcity, the impact on streams (quality deterioration, eutrophication by phosphates and nitrates, aquatic plants and pollution pesticides or other pollutants, livestock mortality), etc. • Provide for each value chain a checklist of types of impacts (both inductive and cumulative) that might be encountered and corrective measures to avoid and/or mitigate those impacts. • Propose, wherever applicable, actions to improve environmental and social conditions in the areas of project intervention, such as land management and enhancing infiltration of rain water for sustainable land management, etc. • Develop a framework for participatory program monitoring and evaluation to ensure effective and efficient enforcement of environmental and social issues highlighted in the ESMF. • Describe the process, mechanism and circumstances under which specific environmental and social assessments (i.e., limited or comprehensive assessment) for each infrastructure/agricultural activity takes place. • Assess the capacity of the focal persons and other technical staff by grantees involved in the implementation of the ESMF, including awareness of environmental and social issues of the project, and propose appropriate measures to raise awareness, institutional strengthening and/or strengthening the technical capacities of different stakeholders. • Develop a Monitoring and Evaluation mechanism and undertake quarterly monitoring to ensure systematic and effective monitoring of ESMF’s core recommendations. • Develop an environmental and social screening template for sub-projects, with individual environmental and social screening criteria. • Develop an Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP), along with an estimated budget and make details of all the actions and activities proposed in the ESMF. Qualification and Experience • The Consultant must have at least a Masters level degree in fields related to environmental management, sociology, community development, political sciences, or any other field related to development studies or social sciences 129 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 • He/she should have at least 5 years of experience in environmental and social impact assessment, with at least three (03) previous assignments in sub-Saharan Africa. • The consultant should be familiar with documents related to environmental and social safeguard policies of the World Bank and national laws, and should make sure that the work is carried out according to all provisions specified in these documents, specially OP 4.01 Environmental Assessment; OP 4.09 “Pest Management�; OP/BP 4.12 “Involuntary Resettlement�; OP/BP 4.11 “Physical Cultural Resources�; OP/BP 4.04 “Natural Habitats�; and OP/BP 4.36 “Forestry�. The Consultant should equally have: • a good command of operational and procedural requirements of the World Bank Policies and experience working on World Bank assignments; • considerable knowledge of environmental standards and regulations in Sierra Leone as well as knowledge of legislation of ECOWAS related to safeguards; • a knowledge of the agricultural sector, infrastructure projects and nutrition will be an advantage. 130 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 12.11 Appendix K – Profile of Consulting Firm, the Economic Forum The Economic Forum was established in 2014 and comprises a group of Professionals with extensive experience in specialty areas including but not limited to census, surveys, public policy, project design, civil engineering and architectural services, project management, research, public finance, economic policy analysis, forecasting, development planning including project implementation, monitoring and evaluation, etc. The firm was set up to contribute to capacity building of national and sub national governments, and to provide services in the areas of research, engineering, public sector financial management, modelling, budget management, planning and control, in order to address key development challenges for the country’s development agenda. We believe that having the combination of the above disciplines under the one roof gives our firm an advantage in being able to produce solutions that are practical and cost effective. The Economic Forum provides a ‘one stop shop’ for all your development needs. The Economic Forum, with its motto of “Grounded in Experience, Marked by Quality�, provides its clients with products that go beyond their expectations, at very competitive rates. With more than 50-combined years of experience in Research, Project/Programme Development and Management in several African countries, our TEAM is very well placed to help donors and governments design and manage development projects in several fields. Our services are tailored to reflect not only our clients’ needs but also those of the countries in which we provide such services. We create powerful business solutions for clients around the globe. Our global, integrated approach combines insight and innovation across multiple disciplines, pioneered by an in-house team of technical experts and associate consultants offering a broad range of skills and expertise to meet clients’ needs. The Economic Forum has abundant capacity to undertake consulting services by employing best practices in the delivery of such assignments and delivering first class outcomes. Key Staff Profile 1. Peter M. Kaindaneh, Team Leader An Economist with over 20 years experience in helping countries implement country- level strategies for reform of both the public, non-state actors and private sectors institutions and a recognized expert in development economic; gender relations, and peace and conflict issues. He has strong analytical skills; experience in collaboration with country-level counterparts; and over 10 years of managing development projects that has positively affected development. He has country experiences in Cote d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Mauritania, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Swaziland, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. 131 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 Key Qualifications: MS in Economics Overseen several Works Contracts College City/State Period Degree Louisiana State Baton 1983- MS. Economics University Rouge, 1985 Louisiana, USA Fourah Bay Freetown 1997- BSc. (Honours) Economics College Sierra Leone 1981 Carleton Ottawa, 2006 International Program for University Canada Development Evaluation Training (IPDET) organized by the World Bank and, World Bank Washington, 2004 Assuring the Quality of Bank- DC, USA Assisted Operations in Africa, organized by the World Bank 2. Osman Chris Brima: B.Sc (Hon) Env. Chemistry (NU) Mr. Osman Chris Brima is an Environmental Chemist with a specialty in Geographic information systems, data analysis and environmental monitoring of various aspects. Mr Osman Chris Brima has great skills of biophysical assessment and interpretation of environmental data. He is familiar with Health, Safety & Environmental Management having worked in the Health, consultancy and mining sectors. He has worked with a number of environmental and social data analysis programmes such as ArcGIS, Global Mapper, SPSS, Quantum QGIS and Survey CTO software. His work experience over the past six (6) years in Sierra Leone puts him in a good stead of understanding the need to maintain a balance between industrial development and environmental protection through innovative and sustainable approaches. He did his professional Job training at CEMMATS Group Ltd, a multidisciplinary firm and has sound knowledge on issues related to environmental impact studies, Safety and climate change. He was employed as the Environment Health and Safety Supervisor at Vimetco SHML. As an Environmentalist/GIS Technician his ingenuity is always tasked to solve evolving and challenging environmental problems. 3. Joseph S M Gbassa –B.sc (Hons) Environmental Sciences (Chemistry Option) Joseph is a Bachelor of Science holder in environmental sciences (Chemistry option) from Njala University, Sierra Leone. He has over five (5) years’ experience in Geographic Information system (GIS) and environmental issues. Joseph has been part of several environmental projects assessing the impact of factory products on the environment, impacts of hydro, mining on the environment etc. He is well experienced in physically analyzing soil samples using the colour book E.g. soil colour, texture and composition, soil moisture and pH. 132 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019 As an environmentalist, Joseph has got a vast knowledge in how the air quality impacts the lives of the people in an area. Parameters like wind speed, sound level and dust levels are very vital in determining the environmental status of an environment. He has attended a lot of workshops like the international standard workshop conducted by standard bureau, and had been part of many projects like ESIA for Orange SL, ESIA for Sierra Rutile Haul Road, etc. 133 Updated by the SCADeP Project Coordination Unit April 2019