Community Development Fund Project(CDF) Sudan

Community Development Fund Project(CDF) – Sudan

Environmental Guidelines

Table of Contents

1. Introduction to Environmental Issues

Summary and Main Findings

1.1 Background

1.2 Use of the Environmental Guidelines

2. Overview of Environmental Impacts

2.1 Positive Environmental Impacts

2.2 Negative Environmental Impacts

2.2.1 Overview of Negative Environmental Impacts

2.2.2 Potable Water Supply Sub-projects

2.2.3 Wastewater Collection and Sanitation Subprojects

2.2.4 Irrigation and Drainage Schemes and Water Harvesting

2.2.5 Rural and Agricultural Roads

2.2.6 Small Construction Subprojects

3. Policy, Legal and Institutional Environmental Framework for Sudan

3.1 Regulatory Framework for Environmental Assessment (EA)

3.2LandRegulations

3.3 Customary Land Tenure

3.4 International Agreements

3.5 Institutional Arrangements: National and Local Levels

3.6 World Bank Requirements

3.7 Other Existing Legislation

3.8 Permit Procedures

4. Environmental Assessment and Incorporation into the Program Cycle

4.1 Program Cycle

4.2 Environmental Screening at the Program Level

4.3Priliminary Classification of CDF Projects

4.4 Promotion of Subprojects within the Regional Program

4.5 Preparation of Subprojects

4.6 Appraisal and Approval of Proposed Programs

4.6.1 Desk Review

4.6.2 Field Appraisal

4.6.3 Approval of Program

4.7 Implementation and Supervision

4.8 Monitoring & Evaluation

4.9 Institutional Arrangements

4.10Reporting

4.11 Consultation and Participation

5. Environmental Assessment

5.1 Environmental Impact Assessment Objectives

5.2 Environmental Assessment Requirements

6. Environmental Management Plan (EMP)

6.1 Objectives and Structure of the EMP

6.2 Implementation of Mitigation Measures

6.3 Environmental Monitoring

6.4 Training Program and Capacity Building

7. Management Challenges

7.1 Background

7.2 Coordination

7.3 Limitations and Constraints

7.4 Emerging and Critical Issues

7.5 Organizational Challenges at Locality & Village Levels

Appendices

Appendix A: Existing Legislations

Appendix A1: List of Environmental Legislation in Sudan

Appendix A2: List of Protected Areas According to Ecological Zones

Appendix A3: Standards for Drinking Water – Bacteriological Value Limits

Appendix B: Environmental Impacts and Good Practice Procedures

Appendix B1: Good Practice Environmental Procedures

Appendix B2: Typical Construction Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures

Appendix C: Environmental Screening

Appendix C1: Environmental Checklist

Appendix C2: Environmental Data Sheet for Proposed Program

Appendix C3: Environmental Appraisal Form

Appendix C4: World Bank Safeguard Policies

Appendix D: Environmental Impact Assessment

Appendix D1: General Content of EA Report

Appendix D2: Sample TOR for EA for a New Road or Agricultural Road

Acronyms / Abbreviations

CBOs / Community Based Organizations
CDF / Community Development Fund
CSOs / Civil Society Organizations
CPA / Comprehensive Peace Agreement
EA / Environmental Assessment
EDS / Environmental Data Sheet
EIA / Environmental Impact Assessment
EMP / Environmental Management Plan
HCENR / Higher Council for Environment and Natural Resources
LIU / Locality Implementation Unit
LM / Locality Manager
LSC / Locality Steering Committee
MEPD / Ministry of Environment and Physical Development
MDTF / Multi – Donor Trust Fund
MFG / Ministry of Federal Government
MFNE / Ministry of Finance and National Economy
MQC / Minimum Qualifying Criteria
NGOs / Non – Governmental Organizations
OM / Operational Manual
PIU / Project Implementation Unit
PSC / Project Steering Committee
PMU / Project Management Unit

Glossary

Nazir / Paramount tribal leader
Omda / Head of tribal clan
Sheikh / Village head
Dar / Tribal homeland
Murhal / Corridors for nomads to avoid agricultural areas
Hafir / Excavated pond to collect water for human and animal use
Trus / Traditional small embankment to collect runoff for cultivation

1. Introduction to Environmental Issues

Summary and Main Findings

1. This report provides guidance in identifying environmental assessment and management needs for the various subprojects that are supported by the CDF through funding from the MDTF managed by the World Bank. It gives an overview of the types of subprojects to be supported and steps for the incorporation of safeguards. These safeguards are based on national legal instruments and World Bank policies. Hence, a review is made of Sudan's legal and institutional environmental framework with emphasis on regulations pertaining to land acquisition, pollution control, water quality as well as an outline to the institutional arrangements in environmental decision – making.
2. The report also provides an outline of the World Bank policies governing environmental / social safeguards as the Operational Policy (OP 4.01) and its updates.
3. The guidelines provide steps to be followed for the incorporation of safeguard concerns in the project cycle by communities, local authorities and review authorities that clear subproject applications for approval by approval authorities that make final decisions.
4. An important tool for consideration of safeguards is Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Hence, the guidelines provide information on EA requirements and the level of coverage of such assessments.
5. Most CDF subprojects are classified as category (B) which requires environmental assessment.The scope of such EA is to examine the project's potential negative and positive environmental impacts and recommends any measures needed to prevent, minimize, mitigate or compensate for adverse impacts and improve environmental performance, while category (C) is applied to projects where there are no environmental impacts.
6. The guidelines also provide an outline of a training program to build capacities of executing agencies, local authorities and communities.
7. There are a number of challenges that face the implementation of CDF projects in the Sudan. An outline of these challenges and constraints are discussed providing some recommendations to remove these constraints.
8. The appendicesprovide more details on issues covered in the main text.

1.1 Background

The main development objectives of the Community Development Fund (CDF) project is to meet the urgent community driven recovery and development needs in the war affected and underdeveloped areas of North Sudan including the "Three Areas"(1) by providing social and economic services and infrastructure. The CDF project also intends to consolidate peace, enhance good governance, economic recovery and social stability. By capturing the peace dividend, the government intends to address the prevailing regional disparities in the country through the creation of CDF to serve as one of the main avenues for donor funding during the recovery period. The CDF would complement the government programmes by providing an efficient and effective alternative for the delivery of urgently needed basic social, economic and infrastructure services targeted at deprived communities. The project would generate support to the government’s reconstruction efforts and establishes partnerships with States, Localities and local community groups and organizations.

This Report has been prepared to help develop and implementEnvironmental Guidelines (2) for the Community Development Fund (CDF) aimed at raising living standards in targeted poorer communities of all Northern States of the Sudan. Phase 1 (years 1 - 3) will start in States of Blue Nile, Kassala, South Kordofan and North Kordofan, and will target 10 Localities.

The priority areas selected include the following localities:

• Southern KordofanState: Abu Gubeiha, Al Rashad and Kailak localities;
• NorthKordofanState: Sodary, Jabrah and Wad Banda localities;
• Blue NileState: Al Roseiris and El Damazeen localities;
• KassalaState: Kassala Rural and Hamashkoraib Localities.

The report provides guidance in identifying environmental assessment and management needs for the various subprojects that are supported by the CDF through funding from the MDTF management by the World Bank. Funded subprojects subject to environmental and social protection measures fall under two categories:

Component (1) Community Development Subprojects

This component would serve to address pro-poor community development priorities as laid out in the Peace Protocols, with particular emphasis on access and quality of basic education, health and water services. The component would target areas with low relevant per capita indicators and gender inequity to improve the access and, over time, quality of basic social services. It will build and renovate basic education and health facilities, promote adult literacy and child immunization campaigns, launch rapid vocational training programs for school-drop-outs, facilitate the creation of youth centers, launch revolving textbook projects and other social services directed at the poor. Programs to facilitate the social integration and inclusion of vulnerable groupswill also be emphasized. Gender and conflict-sensitive analysis will guide the allocation of resources among these vulnerable groups. This component would also concentrate on the provision of small rural infrastructure including access and rural roads and environmental protection activities including community potable water, wells and spring protection, small wastewater treatment schemes that use appropriate technologies, improved solid waste collection, treatment and disposal and reforestation and protection of natural sites. Communities and the organizations that represent them would take the lead in implementation under this window. Localities and other development partners, UN agencies and the private sector, would support communities in this process. The maximum size of a typical subproject under this component is $100,000 equivalent. All subproject proposals have to satisfy specific selection and eligibility criteria as stipulated in the project’s Operational Manual (OM) and be subject to the adoption of environmental management provisions in contract documents.

Component (2) Capacity Building, Monitoring and Evaluation, and Project Management

Training, technical assistance and capacity building would be provided to localities, NGOs and local communities to improve their technical skills in the identification, planning, programming, management and delivery of social programs. In addition, this component would establish the eligibility of target localities to receive funds from the project through conducting a training program aimed at building their capacity in the areas of project management (e.g., transparency, accountability, financial management, procurement), and community participation and empowerment (e.g., participatory planning process and inclusion of marginalized segments of the population in decision-making). Once the project validates the attainment by these localities of the above Minimum Qualifying Criteria (MQC), they will be eligible for receiving funds under the project, which they would then channel to service providers for the benefit of the target beneficiary communities using NGOs, CBOs, private sector, and sector ministries.

1.2 Use of the Environmental Guidelines

Environmental Guidelines are a safeguard instrument prepared to be used by communities and local authorities while developing their subprojects for appraisal and approval according to World Bank policies and procedures. They are prepared to fit within the organization of the Multi Donor Trust Fund (MDTF) implementation framework. The Ministry of Finance and National Economy (MFNE) would have overall oversight on the MDTF Funded Projects through an inter – ministerial committee chaired by the undersecretary, MFNE. The Ministry of Federal Government (MFG) will oversee CDF implementation through a Project Steering Committee (PSC) established for the purpose and chaired by the Secretary General MFG. The MFNE will delegate overall project execution to Project Implementation Unit (PIU) established as an independent unit with administrative and financial autonomy. The PIU delegates day – to – day operations to localities or NGOs based on the implementation of project activities in rural areas. Among its mandates, the PIU will ensure that any sponsored subproject is environmentally sustainable. The PIU shall ensure the following:

-Environmental considerations are included as criteria for selecting activities to be supported by the project;

-Environmental assessment would become an integral part of the project cycle of any subproject;

-Environmental guidelines are followed and used.

The execution of the CDF projects will be undertaken by eligible localities through the establishment within each locality of a Locality Implementation Unit (LIU), while the community based subprojects will be implemented under the supervision of eligible Community Based Organizations (CBOs) or selected NGOs. The LIU shall ensure the following:

-Environmental guidelines are followed and used through out the project cycle;

-Environmental issues are introduced to beneficiaries through education and promotion of environmentally beneficial subprojects.

The report is structured as follows:

• Chapter (1)–Introduction to Environmental Issues

• Chapter (2) – Overview of Environmental Impacts and Good Practice Mitigation Measures

• Chapter (3)–Policy, Legal and Administrative Environmental Framework for Sudan

• Chapter (4) – Environmental Assessment and Incorporation into the Program Cycle

• Chapter (5) –Environmental Assessment

• Chapter (6)–Environmental Management Plan

• Chapter (7) – Management Challenges

2. Overview of Environmental Impacts

2.1 Positive Environmental Impacts

Most subprojects financed by CDF will have positive impacts on the surrounding environment if they were well designed and properly implemented. The provision of adequate potable water supplies through boreholes or hand pumps, if linked to sanitation and health education, will improve health and socio – economic conditions of local communities. The implementation of appropriate water – harvesting techniques and Wadi irrigation will have positive impacts on water and soil conservation and the enhancement of soil fertility leading to improvement of crop productivity and the generation of employment opportunities. Furthermore, such activities, if combined with forest protection, can lead to the protection of watershed areas.

Beside the above, other environmentally beneficial subprojects that will be financed by CDF in the selected localities include:

-Community forests to provide energy and building materials.

-Reforestation of desertified areas.

-Soil erosion control.

-Protection of range lands and forests through construction of fire lines.

-Protection of cultural heritage.

-New rural roads

The CDF will also generate environmental benefits through a variety of other mechanisms among which are:

-Generation of environmental assessment guidelines that can be used by other organizations or ministries, or could be adopted by the Ministry of Environment and other sectors for more general use;

-Training of government staff, NGOs and local community officials;

-Training of environmental specialists, thus increasing the number of environmental professionals in the country;

-Improved environmental awareness in the local communities.

2.2Negative Environmental Impacts

2.2.1Overview of Negative Environmental Impacts

The CDF will finance a considerable number of different types of subprojects throughout much of Northern Sudan. An important percentage of the funding will be allocated for: infrastructure and social development including community potable water supply, wells and surface water protection; small wastewater collection, treatment and disposal schemes; rural and agricultural roads; small irrigation and drainage schemes; rehabilitation and upgrading of schools and health centers, and creation of youth, cultural and sports centers. Though intended to improve environmental and social conditions, these subprojects can generate a variety of negative environmental impacts during the construction and/or the operation.These impacts may be direct or indirect or cumulative. However, subprojects that may have considerable irreversible negative impacts will not be approved for funding.

A brief description of the different types of subprojects, the most common negative environmental impacts that might arise and possible mitigation measures are discussed in the following Sections.

2.2.2Potable Water Supply Sub-projects

Rural water supply sub-projects funded by the CDFmay include the provision of community water distribution systems, house connections, well pumps and improvement of shallow hand dug wells. The most important environmental considerations associated with water supply subprojects include proper allocation and use of water resources, control and prevention of water contamination and adequate operation and maintenance of the system. Hence, it will be necessary to take the necessary measures to ensure adequate water quantity and quality at the source.

During the operation of the system, attention should be given to the proper prevention of contamination from livestock, solid wastes, agricultural practices, and human settlements. Testing of the water supply as required in each subproject monitoring plan should be performed on a regular basis to detect any contamination and to ensure the adequacy of the water quality. An operation and maintenance program should be also included as part of the subproject.Training of community operators is an important measure to ensure sustainable Operation and Maintenance (O/M). It is important to link water supplies with sanitation and health education to change the behavior of water users in favor of sustainable development.

2.2.3Wastewater Collection and Sanitation Subprojects

Typical wastewater sub-projects for rural communities include septic tanks and small scale sewage collection systems not exceeding a total cost of US$ 100,000. The execution of wastewater treatment and disposal is not common in community subprojects, yet under certain circumstances such type of subprojects could be executed, particularly in small towns.

In most rural areas of the selected localities, the appropriate means of excreta disposal is through the construction of Ventilated Improved Pit latrines (VIP) as advocated by UNICEF and various other international organizations. The VIP is found to be the most economic way to improve sanitation and to improve health conditions by linking it to programs of health education. However, special attention should be given to siting requirements as not to be close to shallow hand – dug wells to avoid contamination of water table. Construction of VIPs at homes or in schools and other public buildings can have positive beneficial impacts, provided that mitigation measures are taken to avoid pollutingthe shallow water tables.

Under certain conditions, the execution of a wastewater treatment and disposal subprojects could be justifiable particularly, in small towns. Though this subproject is intended to improve health and environmental conditions, it might have important negative impacts including, change in land use, pollution of natural resources from poorly treated wastewater, un-proper disposal and reuse of the treated effluent, etc. For such subprojects, an environmental assessment study will be required that addresses site analyses, type of treatment technology, operation and maintenance, etc (Appendix D).

2.2.4Irrigation and Drainage Schemes and Water Harvesting

Irrigation and drainage subprojects are designed to manage water for improving agricultural production. Irrigation and drainage subprojects may include a variety of structures such as dams, ponds, reservoirs, wells, pumping stations, canals, ditches and pipelines.