Africa Bureau IEE Facesheet and text format as of Jan. 5, 1995

...\AFR-IEE.FRM INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION

OR

CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION

AMENDED

PROGRAM/ACTIVITY/PROJECT DATA:

Program/Activity Number: (TBD)

Country/Region:Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

Program/Project Title:SO2-IR2: Good Governance

Subactivity:Psychosocial support for victims of Gender-Based Violence

Funding Begin:May 15, 2001 Funding End:May 14, 2006

Subactivity Funding Begin:October 1, 2003SA Funding End: November 1, 2004

LOP Amount: $ 32,874,653Sub-Activity Amount: $410,000

Amended IEE Prepared By:Mary Louise Eagleton, USAID/DRC

IEE Amendment (Y/N):Y If «yes”, Number and date of original IEE: Categorical Exclusion 32 DRC1 SO2-IR2 Good Governance Current Date: September 10, 2003

ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION RECOMMENDED: (Place X where applicable)

Categorical Exclusion:_ X Negative Determination:______

Positive Determination:______Deferral:______

ADDITIONAL ELEMENTS: (Place X where applicable)

CONDITIONS: PVO/NGO: X .

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS: The purpose of this amendment is to include an additional project under the Categorical Exclusion which falls under SO2-IR2: Psychosocial Support for Victims of Gender-Based Violence (GBV). The original Categorical Exclusion provides environmental determinations for all activities of Intermediate Result 2: USAID/DRC Democracy and Governance (DG) program. The purpose of the USAID/DRC DG Program is to support the nascent justice, political, electoral and legislative reforms and institutions now being developed in order to realize a successful transition from conflict to sound governance based on democratic principles of participation, representation, and accountability. This is realized through training, seminars, workshops and dissemination of printed materials. Priority interventions include mobilization support for rule of law, strengthening civil society organizations, facilitating access to information on democracy, human rights, rule of law and elections, and improving participation of civil society in the Congolese political transition.

This project involves only training, capacity building, technical assistance, and information transfer as per the attached description in the Request for Amendment to the Categorical Exclusion (Annex 1). A Categorical Exclusion is recommended for all of the GBV activities under the USAID/DRC DG Program, per 22 CFR 216.2 (c)(1)(i) because the actions have no foreseeable effect on the biophysical environment, and per 22 CFR 216.2(c)(2) subparagraphs (i), (iii) and (v), because these activities involve only education, technical assistance, training, seminars, workshops and information transfer, respectively.

As required by ADS 204.5.4, the SO team responsible for this activity will actively monitor and evaluate whether the activities remain consistent with the approved Categorical Exclusion, and whether they are being implemented effectively. If there are new or unforeseen consequences arising during implementation that were not identified and reviewed in accordance with 22 CFR 216, then amended or new environmental documentation will be prepared.

APPROVAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION RECOMMENDED: (Type Name Under Signature Line)

CLEARANCE:

Mission Director: ______/S/______Date: 9/10/03

Anthony W. Gambino

CONCURRENCE:

Bureau Environmental

Officer:______/S/______Date: _9/22/03______

Carl M. Gallegos Approved: _X .

Disapproved: ______

File No:33DRC4_SO2-IR2_Good_Governance_amend.doc (USAID/AFR BEO)

ADDITIONAL CLEARANCES: (Type Name Under Signature Line)

Mission Environmental

Officer:______/S/______Date: 9/10/2003

Raymond Lumbuenamo

Project Manager:______/S/______Date: 9/10/2003

Mary Louise Eagleton

Regional Environmental Officer: ______/cleared/______Date: 9/10/2003

Walter I. Knausenberger
Annex 1.

REQUEST FOR CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION - AMENDMENT

PROGRAM/ACTIVITY/PROJECT DATA:

Program/Activity Number:TBD

Country/Region:Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

Program/Project Title:USAID/DRC Democracy and Governance Program

Sub-activity: Support to victims of GBV (Gender Based Violence)

BACKGROUND AND ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) today stands at a crossroads, in a period of transition between war and peace. For the past few years, the DRC has been attempting to emerge from a decade of political instability and conflict. War and civil disturbances, compounded by government mismanagement and corruption, have taken a heavy toll on the DRC and its citizens. Millions of people are reported to have died or had their lives uprooted. As a result the DRC suffers today from extensive physical damage, social turmoil, underdeveloped political institutions and a collapsed economy.

Fortunately, the past few years have been marked by progress as well. International support for a cease-fire and the Congolese peace process known as the Inter-Congolese Dialogue (ICD) has led to agreements with Rwanda and Uganda, in Pretoria and Luanda respectively, followed by the withdrawal of foreign armies from the DRC. This has opened new opportunities for improved security, human rights protection, and justice sector development. In the political arena, the ICD has led to a power-sharing agreement known as the Global and Inclusive Accord signed by all of the main domestic belligerents, the unarmed political opposition and civil society representatives in December 2002. The Accord provides a legal framework and lays out the roles and responsibilities of the Transitional National Government, which was finally promulgated in August 2003. Its mandate is for 24 months, with the possibility of an additional year depending on progress towards promulgation of the DRC’s new constitution and administration of elections that will end the transition period.

Specifically, the Global Accord creates five main institutions of transition: The Presidency (including the President of the Republic and four Vice-Presidents); the Government, comprising 36 Ministries; the National Assembly; the Senate; and the Courts and Tribunals. In addition, the Accord creates five “Democracy Support Institutions” including the Independent Election Commission, the National Human Rights Observatory, the High Authority for the Media, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission. The Transitional National Government and the institutions it comprises will now be the primary conflict mitigation and management tool at work in the DRC during the transition period, making the sound functioning and transparency of these institutions the key to a successful transition.

In light of the opportunity that now exists to support these institutions as well as the obstacles faced by the people of the DRC, there is much to be done. Pockets of acute social, political and economic crises persist throughout each of the DRC’s eleven provinces that will continue to block a successful transition at the provincial level until the issues that underlie these isolated conflicts such as resource competition are resolved. Of equal importance, the transition period and hence the government’s mandate will end in three years if the Accord is respected, at which point Congo’s current political leaders will be elected or replaced through national elections. The quality and meaning of these elections will depend on what has happened in the interim during the official 36-month transition period. Moreover, a successful transition from conflict to stable, effective governance now depends on the successful implementation of the Accord and accompanying Constitution of the Transition. Future conflict and crises in the DRC will be managed, resolved and prevented to the extent that all parties to the Accord participate, in good faith, in the transition process. Progress in these areas in turn depends largely on the extent to which the international community together with Congolese religious, civil society and business leaders work together to support the transition through active participation and assistance. The goal of USAID’s Democracy and Governance program is therefore to support the nascent justice, political, electoral and legislative reforms and institutions now being developed in order to realize a successful transition from conflict to sound governance based on democratic principles of participation, representation, and accountability.

PROJECT SUMMARY FOR THE ADDITIONAL ACTIVITY IN DEMOCRACY, GOVERNANCE AND HUMAN CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT

This additional activity to the original Democracy and Governance SO2-IR2 involves Supporting Victims of GBV in Eastern DRC. This activity aims to strengthen the capacity of civil society to decrease and prevent cases of GBV and to respond to the psychosocial needs of GBV victims in Maniema Province. The partner for this activity is Cooperazione Internationale (COOPI).

Project Title: Psychosocial Support for Victims of GBV in Maniema Province, DRC

Project Number: n/a

Grantee/Recipient:Cooperazione Internationale (COOPI)

LOP Amount: $410,000

Cumulative Obligations: $0

Completion Date: November 1, 2004

Beneficiaries: 1,200 victims of GBV, 2 local NGOs and the local community

Project Manager: Mary Louise Eagleton

Objectives:

1)Capacity: To improve the technical and managerial capacity of local associations to provide services to survivors of GBV.

2)Recovery: To provide mechanisms for psychosocial, physical and economic recovery for victims of GBV to enable them to recover their status as mother, or child, and active member of their community.

3)Prevention: To create and reinforce mechanisms for community-based protection of women and children who are potentially vulnerable to GBV.

Expected Results:

  • More effective local NGOs working on GBV issues.
  • Collection of data for international human rights NGOs and judicial programs.
  • Decreased number of victims of GBV.
  • Increased number of GBV victims who benefit from medical care.
  • Improved psychological well-being of GBV victims.
  • Reduction of the number of raped children who are abused and rejected by their families.
  • Reduction of the number of girls and women who are rejected by their families and communities following GBV.
  • Increased number of girl victims of GBV who return to school.
  • Decreased number of GBV victims who are infected with HIV.
  • Development of protective strategies by the local communities.
  • Increased knowledge of rights of women and children by the local authorities and the communities.
  • Increased number of abducted women and children who are freed from captivity.

Activities under the USAID/DRC DG program that has an approved Categorical Exclusion involve only technical assistance, seminars and training and the activities do not have any potential environmental impact. This additional activity for support to victims of GBV involves the same type of activities (training, technical assistance, etc.) and therefore does not have any potential environmental impact.

No mitigation measures are recommended apart from the expected good practices in connection with this democracy and governance program. No biophysical activities are expected to be carried out within the current development assistance portfolio.

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