THE GOVERNMENT OF LIBERIA (GOL)/WORLD BANK
LIBERIA EDUCATION FOR ALL, - FAST TRACK INITIATIVE (EFA – FTI)
CATALYTIC FUND PROJECT –
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK (ESMF)
FIRST DRAFT REPORT
BY
ERNEST TOM NDOMAHINA
CONSULTANT
INSTITUTE OF MARINE BIOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY (IMBO)
FOURAH BAY COLLEGE
UNIVERSITY OF SIERRA LEONE
FREETOWN
DECEMBER 2009
TABLE CONTENTS
Page
List of Abbreviations………………………………………………………………………3
1.0Introduction and ProjectBackground …………………………………………….5
1.1Preparation of Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF)..5
1.2Methodology………………………………………………………………….5
1.3Project Background……………………………………………………………5
1.4Higher Level Objective………………………………………………………..5
1.5The Purpose and Requirement of the Environmental and Social Management
Framework (ESMF)……………………………………………………………5
2.0Project Context……………………………………………………………………….7
2.1Project Components……………………………………………………………7
3.0Description of Area of Influence…………………………………………………….8
3.1The Bio-Physical Environmental Features…………………………………….8
3.2Social Environmental Features…………………………………………………10
4.0Description of the Legal, Regulatory and Administrative Framework……………12
4.1Institutional Framework………………………………………………………..12
4.2Some Ministries and Agencies Related to Environmental Management……….17
4.3International Conventions and Protocols……………………………………….18
5.0World Bank Environmental and Safeguard Policies……………………………….19
5.1Environmental Assessment (OP4.01, BP4.01, GP4.01)……………………….19
5.2Involuntary Resettlement (OP/BP4.12)………………………………………..19
5.3World Bank Screening Process…………………………………………………20
5.4Gaps between Liberia Legislation and Bank Policies…………………………..20
6.0The Education for All – Fast Track Initiative (EFA – FTI) Catalytic Fund
Project Overview……………………………………………………………………….22
6.1Brief Overview…………………………………………………………………..22
6.2Project Implementation…………………………………………………………..22
6.3Activities that may Impact on the Environment…………………………………23
7.0Environmental and Social Impacts of the EFA – FTI Catalytic Fund Project……..24
7.1Potential EFA – FTI Project – Environmental Concerns………………………..24
7.2Potential Environmental Impact of Civil Works………………………………..26
7.3Mitigation Measures……………………………………………………………..31
7.4Analysis of Alternatives………………………………………………………….38
7.5Environmental and Social Management Plan of Civil Works…………………..38
8.0Environmental and Social Planning, Review and Clearing Process………………..41
9.0Implementation Responsibilities……………………………………………………….43
10.0Capacity Building and Training……………………………………………………….45
10.1Project Activities…………………………………………………………………45
10.2Proposed Capacity Building and Training Budget……………………………45
11.0Monitoring Plan and Supervision Arrangements…………………………………48
11.1Institutional Roles and Responsibilities………………………………………50
ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS
CECCounty Environment Commission
CEOCounty Environmental Officer
CFCounty Facilitator
DECDistrict Environmental Committee
DEODistrict Environmental Officer
EAEnvironmental Officer
EBAEnvironmental Baseline Assessment
ECEnvironmental Committee
EFAEducation for All
EIAEnvironmental Impact Assessment
EMMEnvironmental Mitigation Measures
EPAEnvironment Protection Agency
EPUEnvironment Protection Unit
ESMFEnvironmental Social Management Framework
FTIFast Track Initiative
GOLGovernmentof Liberia
ITCZInter-Tropical Convergence Zone
LACELiberia Agencyfor Community Empowerment
MoEMinistryof Education
MoPWMinistryof Publicworks
NECOLIBNational Environment Commissionof Liberia
NEPNational Environment Policy
PAPProject Affected Persons
PRSPPoverty Reduction Strategy Paper
PMC Project Management Committee
RPF Resettlement Policy Framework
TOR Terms of Reference
USAID U S Agencyfor International Development
1.0INTRODUCTION AND PROJECT BACKGROUND
1.1Preparation of Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF)
In line with the guidelines provided in the Terms of Reference (TOR) Appendix I, the Government of Liberia (GOL) has received funds from various donors including the USAID and EC to be managed by the World Bank (WB) toward the cost of the Education for All – Fast Track Initiative (EFA – FTI) Catalytic Fund Project (Here after may be referred to as EFA – FTI).
The project is to be implemented through the Ministry of Education (MOE). The Government of Liberia (GOL) through the World Bank (WB) has appointed a consultant (E.T. Ndomahina) for the elaboration of the Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) which will provide technical guidance to the stakeholders on complying with Environmental and Social Safeguards (as part of the project cycle) in the implementation of the Liberia EFA – FTI Catalytic Fund Project.
1.2Methodology
This report is based largely on study of available literature and interviews conducted with many stakeholders especially in Monrovia including officials of the World Bank, Ministry of Education (MOE), Liberia Agency for Community Empowerment (LACE), Ministry of Public Works (MPW), USAID, Environmental Protection Agency, Civil Servants, Contractors and some Project Affected Persons (PAPs).
Visits were made to certain project sites where similar activities are ongoing involving the stakeholders who will participate in the EFA – FTI. The interviews and site visits took place between 19th November, 2009 – 25th November, 2009. The report of those interviews and site visits are attached as Appendix II.
1.3Project Background
During the civil unrest (1990-2004) the country’s physical infrastructure, particularly power, water and sanitation, Health, Education, Road networks suffered widespread destruction and lack of maintenance. The sparse coverage and unreliability of infrastructural services are recognized as major impediments to sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction.
It has been estimated (2007) that 75% of all educational infrastructure (nationwide) was destroyed during the civil conflict. The illiteracy rate among the ages 15 and above is 44%.
1.4.Higher Level Objective
The higher level objective of the project is to respond to the aspiration of the Government of Liberia (GOL) Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) framework by ensuring effective functioning of government machinery for the efficient delivery of services. The PRSP aims to revive the economy through implementation of sector programs, among there education. Part of the social sector development program focuses on increasing access to quality education nationwide.
1.5The Purpose and Requirement of the Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF)
The Liberia EFA – FTI Catalytic Fund Project is designed to address the urgent needs of the communities through the provision of an efficient service delivery system in the education sector. All subcomponents seek to provide quick win initiatives as well as pilot programs that will lay the ground work for larger service delivery.
Project Scope
The scope of the study will include but not necessarily be limited to the following:
-Review of the existing policy, legal and administrative framework for environmental and social management particularly related to the provision of educational infrastructure.
-Identify activities from the subproject that could have environmental and social implications and impacts at each phase of project implementation.
-Identify general baseline conditions as applicable to project sites; (i) assess potential positive and negative impacts; (ii) identify possible alternative; (iii) recommend mitigation or enhancement measures and (iv) prepare Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMF) based on consultations with stakeholders. Establish a schedule of public disclosure of the environmental documentation. The information shall be summarized in a matrix which spells out details on responsibilities and tools;
-Propose a targeted training/sensitization program for each person or group assigned responsibilities in the ESMPs as part of the disclosure program.
-Estimate any additional costs of implementing the ESMP as part of the disclosure program.
-Estimate any additional costs of implementing the ESMP during preconstruction, construction and operational periods and propose means of covering these costs.
Main Objectives
The main goal of this project is to increase access to quality education at primary and secondary levels through:
-Increase access and equity;
-Improving the quality of teaching and learning; and
-Strengthening management capacities and developing a framework for institutional capacity building at central and country levels.
Objectives
The objectives of the Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) study for the EFA – FTICatalytic Fund Projects are to;
-Assess potential and social impacts and propose mitigation measures of the proposed interventions;
-Confirm the environmental screening category of the project;
-Propose Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) which will include mitigation; and monitoring measures in conformity with relevant World Bank Safeguard Policies.
2.0PROJECT CONTEXT
2.1Project Components
According to the interviews and the Terms of Reference (TOR) the EFA – FTI Catalytic Fund Project for which the ESMF is being prepared has the following components;
Component 1:Increasing access and equity. The project would finance the construction and rehabilitation of classrooms while taking into consideration the special circumstances of remote and hard to reach areas and provision of school uniform for children entering primary school at appropriate age (piloting in 3 counties).
Component 2:Improving the quality of teaching and learning. This component would include provision of learning materials to both students and teachers, support for in – service teacher training and school-level pedagogic support in complementarily with the USAID and EC financed projects; support for early childhood development models including systems development; and school health including de-worming of children in four counties.
Component 3:Strengthening management capacities and developing a framework for institutional capacity building at central and county levels. Under this component, support would be provided for monitoring and evaluation systems including the design of a national assessment and implementation of learning assessments instruments as a monitoring tool for reading and math performance; and for sector reforms in terms of teacher and financial management in coordination with the EC TA project. The central administration and the deconcentrated services will benefit from training, technical assistance and provision of equipment.
The activities in components 1 will involve civil works that is construction and/or rehabilitation of structures and equipment, thus triggering the environmental assessment policy (OP 4.01). The impacts here are likely to be small-scale and site-specific typical of category B projects. At this instance, the appropriate instrument to use here is the Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF).
3.0DESCRIPTION OF AREA OF INFLUENCE
COUNTRY PROFILE
3.1The Bio-Physical Environmental Features
Liberia is situated along the Atlantic Ocean in West Africa. It lies between latitudes 4o20΄N and 8o30΄N and between longitudes 7o81΄W and 11o20΄W with the total land area of 111,370km2.
Liberia is bounded on the West by Sierra Leone, on the North by Guinea, on the East by Côte d΄Ivoire and on the South by the Atlantic Ocean. The coastline stretches to about 360km. Liberia has the largest fraction of the tropical rain forest in the Upper Guinea Forest Region of West Africa.
The climate is closely related to the movement of the air masses. The pattern of seasonability is controlled by the North and South oscillations of the Inter-tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ).
There are essentially two seasons; rainy season (April-October) and dry season (November-March). Average annual rainfall along the coastal belt is over 4000mm and declines to 2300mm in the interior of the country. The relative humidity is generally high throughout the year. Along the coast it does not drop below 80% and on the average is above 90%. There is a wider variation in the interior and may fall below 40% during the harmattan period.
A relative humidity of 90% to 100% is common during the Rainy Season. During the dry season it decreases to as low as 65%. The temperature over the entire country ranges from 27oC to 32oC during the day and from 21oC to 25oC at night. The average temperature in Monrovia is about 26oC in January and 24oC in July. From the Atlantic Ocean, the entire coastline is characterized by lagoons, mangrove swamps, and river estuary-deposited sandbars. Liberia lies between the Mano and Cavalla Rivers on the West and East respectively. The Mano River forms the border between Sierra Leone and Liberia, and the Cavalla River borders Côte d΄Ivoire.
The major river basins drain – Liberia in a general northeast-southwest direction. There are six major rivers which drain the country with a north-south dendritic pattern. They are:
Mano, St. Paul, Lofa, St. John, Cestos, and Cavalla. These rivers have many tributaries including Po, Du, Timbo, the Farmington and Sinoeriver. These rivers are not navigable and therefore do not support water transport and industrial fishing.
The two (2) major lakes in Liberia are Lake Shepherd in Maryland County, southeastern Liberia, and Lake Piso in the Southwest. Lake Pisowhich is larger, with a surface area of 76,091ha. It is an open lagoon west of Monrovia. Lake Piso is surrounded by forested hillsides and fed by a number of creeks and rivers that drain vast expanse of wetland is one of six proposed protected areas in Liberia. Small lakes occur with the Blue Lake in Tubmanburg West of Monrovia being most popular. The internal renewable surface water resources are estimated to be 200km3/yr and internal groundwater is estimated to be 60km3 year. The renewable water resource per inhabitant is estimated to be 71,000m3/yr.
The geology of Liberia are characterized by a series of rocks. The rocks of Northern Liberia generally form part of the West Africa Cretan, recognized by its stability and general absence of tectonic activity during the last 2.5 billion years. The old and stable base was subsequently penetrated by younger rocks and then covered by meta sedimentary and meta-volcanic rocks of at least two younger tectonic events. From the point of stratigraphy, Liberia Rocks have been classified into four (4) categories.
-Liberia Age, characterized by Metamorphic and igneous rocks is between 2500-3000 million years;
-Eburnean Age is characterized by Metamorphic and Igneous rocks of between 2,150-2,250 million years;
-Pan African Age is also characterized by Metamorphic rocks 600-700 million years old; and
-Post pre-cambrianunmetamorphoied sedimentary rocks and Igneous Intrusive Rocks are less than 600 million years old.
The rocks of Liberia Age extend into neighboring Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Côte d΄Ivoire and are said to be highly foliated granite gneises exhibiting a regional foliation and structural alignment in a northeasterly direction. Within the Liberia Age Province are meta-sedimentary rocks, technically referred to as Barite.
Rocks of Eburnean age are restricted to southeast Liberia where they extend into the Côte d΄Ivoire. Rocks of the Pan-African Age are found along the coast from northwest of Greenville in the Southeast to Sierra Leone.
The Post pre-cambrian rocks in Liberia outcrop principally along the low-lying coastal area between Monrovia and Buchanan.
The coastal plains are characterized by a relatively straight coastline with sand bars and long beaches with a nearly unbroken sand strip, salt and freshwater lagoons and a few promontories like Cape Palmas, Cape Mesurado and Cape Mount. The coastal plains have an average elevation of soft (15.24m) above the sea level.
The Dissected plateau and the northern highlands are behind the belt of Rolling Hills. The Belt of Rolling Hills has an average elevation of 300ft (91.44m) above sea level. It comprises many dwarf mountains including Bomi Hills, Mount Barclay, and Mount Gibi. The dissected Plateaux reach an average elevation of 600ft (182.88m) above sea level, while the Northern Highlands have an average elevation of about 1000ft (305m) above sea level. Important ranges in the dissected Plateaux are Mount Mano, the Bea, Kpo, Putu and the Tiampo Ranges. The greatest width of the dissected plateau is about 130km between the Lofa and St. Paul Rivers. The Northern Highlands comprise of Wologist Mountain ranges with a height of 4350ft (1,326m) and the Nimba ranges with an average elevation of 4,185΄ (1276.43m) above sea level. The Nimba Ranges are shared by Liberia and Guinea.
Four (4) soil types can be distinguished in Liberia. They are the Latosols, or Lateritic soil, Regosals or sandy soil, Lithosol or gravel soils and Alluvial soils or humus soils. Latosols (lateritic soils) cover about 75% of the country. Latosols are not well suited for agriculture due to their low humus contents. However they provide valuable materials for road construction.
Rogosols or sandy soils constitute only five percent (5%) and contain high percentage of clay. The Rogosols pre-dominates the coastal plains. It contains little humus and minerals nutrients. It is also high acidic and porous and very suitable for pasture, oil palm and coconuts production.
Lithosols are found mainly in hilly and mountainous regions and constitutes 17% of the soil cover of the country. It has high gravel content and low moisture retention.
The Alluvial Soil has high agricultural potentials because they are found mainly in flood plains along the banks of rivers. This soil covers only three percent (3%) of the soil cover of the country. Liberian soils are characterized by a shallow layer of humus, a low humus content and high acidity as a result of deficiency in magnesium and calcium.
The three main vegetation zones of Liberia include, the coastal vegetation (Savannah woodland), the Tropical rainforest and the Northern Savannah. The coastal vegetation consists of mangrove swamps, savannah woodland and patches of forests scattered in fields of grassland. The Northern Savannah is found in Lofa and Nimba counties. The Northern savannah is densely covered with elephant grass with scattered trees and patches of forest. The savannah vegetation is secondary in nature.
Liberia contains about forty-two percent (42%) of the upper Guinean forest of West Africa, the largest portion possessed by a single country in the region. The Republic of Guinea has eight percent (8%), Côte d΄Ivoire twenty-eight (28%), Ghana sixteen percent (16%), Sierra Leone five percent (5%) and Togo one percent (1%). The two remaining dense forest blocks are now found in the North West and South East of the country separated and isolated from each other by a corridor extending from Montserrads to Nimba County.
The forests of Liberia have been classified from two points of view:-
Taxonomically the forest of Liberia are classified as follows:
- Coastal mangrove swamps
- Tropical evergreen forest
- Fringing forest and
- Deciduous forest
Liberia’s forest ecosystem is divided into the following classes:
- Primary dense forest
- Climax secondary forest
- Secondary forest which has not reached climax and
- Other mixed vegetations.
The forest ecosystem is a major component of the biodiversity hot spots. Liberia forest are dominated by caesalpintaceae species. Biologically, Liberia’s forests are exceptionally diverse, with high rates of endemism and harboring many more species that are nearly extinct outside the country. Liberia is home to over 2000 flowering plants including 240 timber species, and approximately 125 mammal species, 590 bird species, 74 known reptiles and amphibians and over 1000 described insects. Notable fauna include a few of the significant populations of forest elephants (Loxodontaafricanacyclotis) in West Africa and several viable populations of the pygmy hippopotamus (Hexaprotodonsliberiensis), as well as jentink’sDuider (Cephalophusjentinki), the Zebra Duiker (C. zebra) and the Liberian mongoose (Liberiictis Kuhn). Dozens of endangered bird species have also been recorded.