INTEGRATED SAFEGUARDS DATA SHEET CONCEPT STAGE Public Disclosure Copy Report No.: ISDSC1225 Date ISDS Prepared/Updated: 16-Oct-2012 I. BASIC INFORMATION A. Basic Project Data Country: Algeria Project ID: P128082 Project Name: Improving Desert Ecosystems and Climate Resilient Oases Project (P128082) Task Team Li Song Leader: Estimated 29-Mar-2013 Estimated 30-Oct-2013 Appraisal Date: Board Date: Managing Unit: MNSEN Lending Specific Investment Loan Instrument: Focal Area: Land degradation Sector: Irrigation and drainage (70%), General water, sanitation and flood protection sector (30%) Theme: Land administration and management (60%), Environmental policies and institutions (20%), Water resource management (20%) Financing (In USD Million) Financing Source Amount Public Disclosure Copy BORROWER/RECIPIENT 10.00 Global Environment Facility (GEF) 8.00 Total 18.00 Environmental B - Partial Assessment Category: Is this a No Repeater project? B. Global Environmental Objective(s) The project’s PDO is to pilot, in selected and representative oases, the integrated management of desert ecosystems (IMDE), thereby reinforcing the resilience of those communities to climatic and social changes, with the intent of replicating successful initiatives across major Government investments in agriculture and rural development. C. Project Description There is a clear need to improve the livelihoods of people living in rural (desert) areas to help them utilize scarce natural resources in a more sustainable and profitable manner and to facilitate adaptation to both climate and social changes likely to put even great demands for resource use efficiency into play in the future. This is expected to result from leverage of successful pilot participatory development activities that support environmentally and socially sustainable livelihood improvement in a small number of communities that represent different types of oases in the Public Disclosure Copy Algerian desert. A powerful tool for the sustainable and fruitful management of the sensitive ecosystems of desert regions is called “integrated management of desert ecosystems�, or IMDE. For the purposes of this project, IMDE is defined as an integrated approach to management focusing on enabling economic opportunities specific to deserts that integrate the health and diversity of the desert biome with the vast potential for innovative livelihood opportunities that also sustain valuable repository knowledge linked to adaptive practices. It is intended that such an approach ultimately enhance desert livelihood opportunities and increase the resilience and adaptation responses of desert communities and ecosystems to projected pressures, in particular climate change impacts. IMDE provides a methodology in which all relevant government sectors work together, in a transparent and decentralized way, and in close cooperation with desert residents and stakeholders. The objective of this locally based management is to ensure that any development that occurs in this sensitive area does so in an environmentally and socially sustainable fashion. It is an approach which links development to sustainable management of ecologically sensitive and protected/ conservation areas, promotes co-management of resources between government and local stakeholders, and integrates management by government through cooperation of sectors. Because of the fragility of desert ecosystems generally, IMDE requires that all development sectors (e.g. agriculture, tourism, public works, local government, etc.) plan and integrate their annual work programs to be complementary and to recognize the very real possibility of unintended consequences across sectors. Presently, the existing 5 year plan of the Ministry of Agriculture, SNAT, and other sector plans follow basically traditional processes requiring little local participation in development. The process appears to have limited impacts of Government investment in the South. As such, “business as Public Disclosure Copy usual� will not be sufficient to deliver what is needed to address environmental, social and development issues in the South over the long run, and the current system is deeply engrained in the Government and will not be easy to change. What the project can do to leverage a change to this top-down approach to development planning is to present real examples of the potential benefits of combining environmental and social protection into the agriculture and rural development sector planning model. It can also introduce an element of local stakeholder participation in the prioritization of sector development investment in their localities. Existing government and community systems necessary to support a program of integrated desert management are in place, but there is a strong need for capacity building, particularly in support of spatial planning at the local level and on specific management methodologies. Project financing will complement existing government programs in the pilot areas, making them more environmentally and socially sustainable. The project will be supported by an US$8 million grant, comprising US$5 million from GEF and US$ 3 million from the Special Climate Change Fund. It will finance activities that complement existing Government programs that reduce environmental degradation and improve rural livelihoods in the country’s South. The Project concentrations on two broad agendas. These are: (i) capacity building (training, legislative support, equipment) in the integrated management of desert ecosystems (IMDE) for all concerned stakeholders (e.g. central governments, wilayas, managers, development agents, researchers, local beneficiaries, associations); and (ii) pilot investments to the IMDE in selected demonstration areas. Based on the above, the project includes the following components: Public Disclosure Copy Component 1. Strengthening capacity for integrated management of desert ecosystems (IMDE). Component 2. Piloting the IMDE approach in investment. Component 3. Project management. D. Project location and salient physical characteristics relevant to the safeguard analysis (if known) The selected project sites represent different types of oases in the South. Four sites were selected as particularly representative of arid zones in the Algerian Sahara: - Taghit (wilaya of Bechar), - Tamentit (wilaya of Adrar), - Tinerkouk (wilaya of Adrar) and - In Guezzam (wilaya of Tamanrasset). The sites are located in wilayas that host important biodiversity (date varieties, plants with high level of endemism, endangered wildlife), traditional values (ksour, artisanat), and an exceptional endowment with renewable energy (solar, wind). They are representative for different irrigation sources (surface water, groundwater) and methods (foggaras, wells) used in the South. E. Borrowers Institutional Capacity for Safeguard Policies The Borrower (MATE) has no previous experience in implementing Bank safeguards. However, MATE has qualified staff who are experienced in applying national environmental protection legislation and can successfully apply all relevant safeguard policies when supplied with the necessary capacity support from the Bank team. This will be a learning experience for MATE staff, Public Disclosure Copy but given their strong capacity and availability of ministry staff at the regional level who know the issues on the ground in affected communities, it is expected that MATE will move quickly up the learning curve. F. Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialists on the Team Djibril Doucoure (MNSEN) Andrew Michael Losos (MNSEN) II. SAFEGUARD POLICIES THAT MIGHT APPLY Safeguard Policies Triggered? Explanation (Optional) Environmental Assessment OP/ Yes Planned interventions could include modifying BP 4.01 agricultural or drinking water systems. Some activities may include construction of works, though likely on a small scale limited to small municipal infrastructure. Natural Habitats OP/BP 4.04 TBD Project may include activities in a protected area. To be confirmed during preparation of the Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF). In addition, preparation will determine if Public Disclosure Copy activities in non-protected areas have substantial impact on naturalhabitat, in which case this policy will apply. In all cases, the ESMF will include measures to determine whether there is a risk to natural habitats in any given site and will prescribe the enactment of appropriate mitigating measures. Forests OP/BP 4.36 No No foreseeable significant conversion or degradation of forests resulting from the project. Pest Management OP 4.09 No No purchase of pesticides or vector controls. No indirect increase in pesticide use expected. However, the ESMF will include measures to determine whether there is a risk from pest management products in any given site and will prescribe the enactment of appropriate mitigating measures. Physical Cultural Resources OP/ TBD Project activities in proximity of ancient BP 4.11 settlements (ksours) may require action under this policy. This will be settled during the background investigation required for the development of the Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF). Indigenous Peoples OP/BP 4.10 TBD The task team is investigating the possible status of the Touaregs as indigenous people within the Public Disclosure Copy definition of OP 4.10. This will be resolved and safeguards measures taken as appropriate before appraisal. Involuntary Resettlement OP/BP Yes Resettlement Policy Framework will likely be 4.12 needed in case of land acquisition for agricultural or water management works. Process Framework may be needed if activities take place in protected areas. Safety of Dams OP/BP 4.37 No The project will not finance new dams or modifications of existing dams. Projects on International Yes The project will involve the small-scale taking Waterways OP/BP 7.50 of groundwater from an aquifer which straddles the Algeria-Niger border at In Guezzam. In addition, activities in other sites may draw irrigation groundwater from the north-western Sahara aquifer system (NWSAS), which is a transboundary resource shared with Tunisia and Libya. Preparation will determine whether these activities will be of sufficient scale to warrant requiring official notification of these countries as detailed in OP 7.50. Public Disclosure Copy Projects in Disputed Areas OP/BP No No project activities will occur in disputed 7.60 areas. III. SAFEGUARD PREPARATION PLAN A. Tentative target date for preparing the PAD Stage ISDS: 01-Jan-2013 B. Time frame for launching and completing the safeguard-related studies that may be needed. The specific studies and their timing1 should be specified in the PAD-stage ISDS: Preparation of Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) begun August 2012, with completion expected in November 2012. Preparation of Resettlement Policy Framework to proceed concurrently. Individual Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMP)to be prepared for each project site containing Category B activities as soon as possible following project appraisal, in early 2013. IV. APPROVALS Task Team Leader: Name: Li Song Approved By: Regional Safeguards Name: Maged Mahmoud Hamed (RSA) Date: 17-Oct-2012 Coordinator: Sector Manager: Name: Hoonae Kim (SM) Date: 12-Oct-2012 Public Disclosure Copy 1 Reminder: The Bank's Disclosure Policy requires that safeguard-related documents be disclosed before appraisal (i) at the InfoShop and (ii) in country, at publicly accessible locations and in a form and language that are accessible to potentially affected persons.