CI-GEF PROJECT AGENCY SCREENING RESULTS AND SAFEGUARD ANALYSIS Prepared/Updated: June 12, 2015 I. BASIC INFORMATION A. Basic Project Data Country: Global GEF Project ID: CI Project ID: Project Title: Enabling the use of global data sources to assess and monitor land degradation at multiple scales Executing Entity: Vital Signs/Conservation International GEF Focal Area: Land Degradation GEF Project Amount: US$2,000,000. Other financing amounts by source: ~ US$10,002,640: NASA $9,300,000; Vital Signs- Conservation International $600,000; and Lund University $102,640 Reviewer(s): Ian Kissoon of Review: June 12, 2015 Comments: B. Project Objectives: The project will develop and provide guidance, methods and tools for monitoring and assessing status and trends in land degradation using remote sensing technology, which can be employed to inform land management and investment decisions, as well as to improve reporting to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the GEF. C. Project Description: The threat to food security represents a planetary emergency that demands a variety of creative solutions and policies at global, regional, national, and local levels. One of the most urgent responses to mitigate this situation is development of measures to halt and reverse land degradation. Such solutions are currently hampered by a lack of reliable data, as well as by a lack of cost effective methods for collecting and analyzing such data. The project aims to fill this gap. The project has 3 components: (1) Methods for assessing and monitoring status and trends in land degradation; (2) Demonstration of recommended methods and platforms to enable widespread adoption; and (3) Gender appropriate capacity development in the application of tools and recommended approaches for estimating status and trends in land degradation using remote sensing. The main activities include a comparison of coarse, medium and fine-resolution data sets, development and testing of new analytical methods, deriving a tool for use by stakeholders to assess land degradation, and building capacity among stakeholders to use the tool. 1
D. Project location and physical characteristics relevant to the safeguard analysis: The project is global, with 3 pilot countries: Senegal, Tanzania and Uganda. The proposed project is a global research project involving development of scientific methods for analyzing data and will work directly with national governments (no local communities expected to be involved). E. Executing Entity s Institutional Capacity for Safeguard Policies: Vital Signs, the executing entity for this project is hosted by Conservation International and has policies and guidelines in place to ensure project review compliance with GEF Minimum Standards for environmental and social safeguards and gender mainstreaming policies of the GEF, including environmental and social impact assessments of potential projects, gender mainstreaming, Institutional Review Board and Free Prior Informed Consent policy. II. SAFEGUARD AND POLICIES Environmental and Social Safeguards: Safeguard Triggered Yes No TBD Completed Environmental & Social Impact X June 12, 2015 Assessment (ESIA) determined that this project will not cause adverse environmental impacts. Natural Habitats X June 12, 2015 determined that this project will not cause or facilitate any significant loss or degradation to critical natural habitats, and their associated biodiversity and ecosystem functions/services. Involuntary Resettlement X June 12, 2015 determined that this project will not involve the voluntary resettlement of people and/or direct or indirect restrictions of access to and use of natural resources. Indigenous Peoples X June 12, 2015 determined that this project does not plan to work in lands or territories traditionally owned, customarily used, or occupied by indigenous peoples. Pest Management X June 12, 2015 determined that this project does not plan to implement activities related to agricultural extension services including the use of approved pesticides (including insecticides and herbicides) or invasive species management. Physical & Cultural Resources X June 12, 2015 determined that this project does not plan to remove, alter or disturb any physical cultural resources. 2
Other relevant policies and best practices Triggered Yes No TBD to be Completed Stakeholder Engagement X To be completed 30 days after start of the project implementation phase Justification: The project plans to consult with the following stakeholders: international community, the GEF, STAP, European Space Agency (ESA), UNCCD Secretariat, Vital Signs, GEF Food Security Integrated Approach Pilot (IAP) project partners, and relevant national agencies and GEF Operational Focal Points in the three pilot countries: Senegal, Tanzania, and Uganda. Gender mainstreaming X To be completed during PPG phase Justification: Component 3, the capacity building component of the project, will have special focus on developing gender appropriate training materials and ensuring delivery of training to women. In addition, using Vital Signs socioeconomic data in Tanzania and Uganda, the project will conduct analyses at sub-national scales to evaluate the extent to which women are impacted by land degradation and to provide insights that will help enable countries to target land improvement activities that will benefit women. III. KEY SAFEGUARD POLICY ISSUES AND THEIR MANAGEMENT 1. Describe any safeguard issues and impacts associated with the proposed project. Identify and describe any potential large scale, significant and/or irreversible impacts: The Safeguard Screening process indicates that two CI-GEF Project Agency Environmental and Social Safeguards will be triggered by this project: a) Stakeholder Engagement, and b) Gender mainstreaming. In addition, it is possible that CI s Research Ethics Policy could be triggered as some aspects of the research might involve local human subjects. This is specifically for the component that will conduct analyses at sub-national scales to evaluate the extent to which women are impacted by land degradation and to provide insights that will help enable countries to target land improvement activities that will benefit women. The Executing Agency should therefore screen the project to determine if this institutional safeguard will be triggered, and to take appropriate actions as necessary. This review has also determined that the project s activities will not cause or enable to cause significant negative environmental and social impacts. The measures recommended in section 4 (below) should be enough to properly avoid, mitigate or compensate the negative impacts generated by this project. 3
2. Describe any potential indirect and/or long term impacts due to anticipated future activities in the project area: No indirect and/or long term impacts due to future activities in the project area can be anticipated. 3. Describe any project alternatives (if relevant) considered to help avoid or minimize adverse impacts: No project alternatives are necessary for this project. 4. Describe measures to be taken by the Executing Entity to address safeguard policy issues: a) Stakeholders engagement: to ensure that the project meets CI-GEF Project Agency s Stakeholders Engagement Best Practice, the Executing Agency will develop and submit, within 60 days of the beginning of the implementation phase, a Stakeholders Engagement Plan, SEP for the Project Agency s approval. The purpose of the SEP is to: Identify and prioritize key stakeholder groups that might not be listed and described in this project document; Describe the consultation process and methods, especially regarding the activities to be implemented under Components 2 and 3 of the project; Provide a strategy and timetable for sharing information and consulting with each of these groups; and Describe the process by which people affected by the project can bring their grievances to the Executing Entity for consideration and redress. The Project Agency will provide the terms of reference for the SEP and oversee the implementation of this plan throughout the duration of the project. b) Gender mainstreaming: to ensure that the project meets CI-GEF Project Agency s Gender Mainstreaming Policy #8, the Executing Agency will prepare and submit for approval, along with the Year 2 Workplan, a document detailing: How gender issues will be effectively incorporated into capacity building guidelines and manuals (Outputs 3.1.1.); and The measures that will be put in place to ensure the equitable participation of women and men in in national and regional training workshops (Output 3.1.2.). The Project Agency will provide the terms of reference for the document mentioned above and oversee the implementation of this plan throughout the duration of the project. 5. Identify the key stakeholders and describe the mechanisms for consultation and disclosure on safeguard policies, with an emphasis on potentially affected people: 4
The consultation mechanisms by each type of major stakeholder will be designed and implemented by the Executing Agency at the beginning of the project implementation phase, and approved and monitor by the Project Agency. IV. PROJECT CATEGORIZATION PROJECT CATEGORY Category A Category B Category C Justification: The review of the Project Safeguards Screening Form indicates that this project will not cause or enable to cause any major environmental or social impacts. X V. EXPECTED DISCLOSURE DATES Safeguard CI Disclosure In-Country Disclosure Environmental & Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) Natural Habitats N/A N/A Involuntary Resettlement N/A N/A Indigenous Peoples N/A N/A Physical Cultural Resources N/A N/A Pest Management N/A N/A N/A N/A VI. APPROVALS Signed and submitted by: Vice President GPP: Approved by: CI-GEF Technical & Safeguards Coordinator: Comments: Account Manager: Comments: Name Lilian Spijkerman Name Miguel A. Morales Name Ian Kissoon June 12, 2015 June 12, 2015 5
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