Master Plan on Logistics in the Northern Economic Corridor

The Northern Economic Corridor

The Northern Economic Corridor (NEC) is a multi-modal corridor, consisting of road, rail, pipeline, and inland waterways transport, and is recognized as a significant corridor for logistics in East Africa. The main road network runs from Mombasa Sea Port through Kenya and Uganda to Rwanda and Burundi and to Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The road network also links Kenya and Uganda to Juba in South Soudan.

There are some obstacles in the NEC such as: inadequate infrastructure; poor connectivity of modes; long delays of cargo at the port and boarder post; and lack of goods to transport for the return trip from the inland area to Mombasa port. These obstacles have led to an increase in transport costs within the NEC and have hindered the economic development of the region, specifically inland areas.

The Governments of Uganda and Kenya therefore requested the Government of Japan to implement a project to formulate a master plan on logistics in Northern Corridor in order to promote regional development. In response to these requests, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) dispatched a ‘Detail Design Formulation Team for the Project’ in October and November 2014. The Team proposed to develop a concept that would cover not only logistics, but also regional development along the NEC. The Governments of Kenya and Uganda agreed with the concept and signed the Record of Discussion with JICA for the implementation of the Project for Formulation of the Master Plan on Logistics in the Northern Economic Corridor (also known as the Master Plan Study).

Objective of the Master Plan Study

The objective of this Project is to formulate a Master Plan on Logistics for the NEC, along with integrated regional development strategy consistent with sub-regional development plans and national development plans. The target year of this Master Plan is 2030.

Owners of the Master Plan

The government organizations responsible for the Project are as follows:

  • In Kenya, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, and
  • In Uganda, the Ministry of Works and Transport.

Target Area

The target area of the Master Plan study covers the following routes and surrounding areas (seeFigure 1):

  • Main route
  • Mombasa – Nairobi – Tororo –Kampala – Katuna – Kigali (Rwanda)
  • Sub-routes
  • Eldoret – Nadapal – Juba (South Sudan)
  • Tororo – Gulu – Elegu – Juba
  • Kampala – Gulu – Elegu – Juba
  • Mbarara – Mpondwe – Kisangani (DRC)

Figure 1:Routes of the Northern Economic Corridor

Source: JICA Study Team (JST), 2015

Work Plan

The JICA Study Team (JST), consisting of 16 experts employed by JICA, is currently undertaking the Master Plan study as per the following schedule:

Figure 2:Work Plan

Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)

SEA is defined as an environmental and social assessment of policy, plans and programme (PPP) proposals. SEA is different from Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in that SEA is used at the PPP levels, while EIA is used to identify impacts of a proposed project, (seeFigure 3).

Figure 3:Tiers of EIA and SEA

The aim of the SEA will be to integrate environmental and social considerations into the Master Plan on Logistics in the NEC and the final outputs SEA Reports submitted to the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) in both Kenya and Uganda for approval.

The SEA Process

The proposed ESIA Processes are outlined below (seeFigure 4)

Screening: to decide whether an SEA is appropriate and
relevant to the development of a policy, plan or programme. In Kenya, a PPP Brief was submitted to NEMA by JST.

Scoping: to determine whether significant environmental and social considerations are likely to arise from implementing the Master Plan. The focus will be on identifying strategic considerations at a conceptual level, rather than evaluating quantitative, detailed environmental and social impacts, as in a project-level assessment

Detailed SEA Study: to collect baseline data; identify alternatives; determine whether the Master Plan is likely to have significant effects on the environment; and identify measures to enhance opportunities and mitigate adverse impacts.

SEA Validation: to present the outcomes of the SEA.

Figure 4:SEA Process

The SEA will be undertaken in full compliance with the following:

  • In Kenya, the Environmental Management and Coordination Act 1999 (EMCA), Environmental (Impact Assessment and Audit) Regulations, 2003, as well as the National Guidelines for SEA in Kenya, 2012,
  • In Kenya and Uganda, JICA’s Guidelines for Environmental and Social Considerations, 2010, and
  • In Kenya and Uganda, International Regulations such as the UNFCC, EAC Protocol on Environment, United National Convention on Biological Diversity, EAC Protocol on Environment.

The Consultants

In Kenya, the SEA and associated Stakeholder Engagement processis being undertaken by Environmental Resources Management East Africa Consulting Limited (ERM). More information on ERM can be found at:

In Uganda, the SEA and Stakeholder Engagement is being undertaken by ERM in association with Atacama Consulting(Atacama). More information on Atacama con be found at:

Stakeholder Engagement

Talking to or engaging stakeholders is carried out to:

  • Give information about the Master Plan;
  • Give an opportunity for stakeholders to give their opinions and raise their concerns; and
  • Give stakeholders regular feedback about the proposed Project.

ERM and Atacama are independent consultants who will run the SEA and stakeholder engagement process. The team commits to talking to people and engaging stakeholders according to the following principles:

  • Free: Stakeholders are free to express their real opinions and concerns without being influenced by other stakeholders;
  • Prior: Stakeholders are given information before any important decisions are made on the Master Plan. It also allows stakeholders enough time to consider information that they are receiving; and
  • Informed: Stakeholders are given enough of the right information at the right time to make sure they are able to engage in a meaningful way.

SEA Schedule

Table 1: SEA Schedule

Date / Activity
October 2015 / -Desk Study and Literature Review
-Scoping Study (including development of a Stakeholder Engagement Plan)
November 2015 / -First Round of Stakeholder Meetings
-Review of Legal/Institutional Framework
-Continuation of Scoping Study
December 2015 / -Submission of Scoping Reports
-Launch of Websites
December 2015 – May 2016 / Detailed SEA Study:
-Baseline,
-Situation Analysis,
-Impact Identification,
-Comparison of Alternatives
-Impact Mitigation
April/May 2016 / Second Round of Stakeholder Meetings
March-May 2016 / Preparation of Draft SEA Reports
June 2016 / Submission of Final SEA Reports

How can you be involved?

-By attending workshops and public meetings held during the SEA process(these will be advertised on the website);

-By contacting ERM, Atacama or the respective Ministry for further information(details below); and

-By registering an interest in the Master Plan. Registration will allow you to receivefurther communication about the SEA process and the Master Plan

ERM

Email:

Phone: + 254 20 49 38 113/4

Atacama

Email:

Phone: +256-751-090752

Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, Kenya

Engineer Francis Gitau, State Department of Infrastructure

Ministry of Works and Transport, Uganda

Mr. Mutemo Charles, Principal Environment Officer