Main Report of Environmental and Social Impact Assessment /ESIA/

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FEDERAL DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ETHIOPIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE

Drought Resilience and Sustainable Livelihood Program (DRSLP-II)

ETHIOPIA

Main Report of Environmental and Social Impact Assessment /ESIA/

study of Multipurpose Community Water Distribution System in Oromia Region

Client: Ministry of Agriculture Consultant:

Ethiopian Construction Design and Supervision Works Corporation Water and Energy Design and Supervision Works Sector

P.O.Box. 2561

Tel. + 251 11 661 45 01 Fax. + 251 11 661 08 98 Email: w.w.d.s.e@ethione.et Bob Marley Avenue,

Addis Ababa

Ethiopia

September, 2021

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

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Ethiopian Construction Design and Supervision Works Corporation

Water and Energy Design and Supervision Works Sector I September, 2021

Issues and Revision Records

Rev Date Originator (s) Checked by Approved by Revised by Document Description A October,

2018

Benti S. Selshi A.

Negussi D.

Nina K.

Feleke M.

Girma Abebe Kecha Taye, Sept, 2021

Final

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Water and Energy Design and Supervision Works Sector II September, 2021

LIST OF TABLES

Table 4.1 Project kebeles, proposed schemes and longitudinal locations ... 21

Table 5. 1: Monthly rainfall of reference stations ... 23

Table 5. 2: Mean monthly temperature of the project sites ... 24

Table 5. 3: Alona, Dawa and Genale Rivers’ water samples analysis results ... 24

Table 5. 4: Land use and land cover of representative Woredas for those data obtained. ... 28

Table 5. 5: Major tree types of representative Woreda and kebeles ... 29

Table 5. 6: Major wildlife types of representative Woreda and kebeles ... 29

Table 5. 7: Population and households’ distribution of the project Woredas ... 29

Table 5. 8: Population and households’ distribution of the project kebeles by Woredas ... 30

Table 5. 9: Health institutions ... 31

Table 5. 10: Health professionals ... 32

Table 5. 11: Ten top diseases of Arero, Dugda Dawa, Girja, Liben and Seba Boru Woredas ... 32

Table 5. 12: Livestock population of the project WoredaWoredas ... 33

Table 5. 13: Livestock population of target project kebeles by Zone and Woreda ... 34

Table 5. 14: Common livestock diseases of the areas ... 34

Table 5. 15: Major crops, area and production for 2009/10 EFY by Woreda & kebele ... 35

Table 5. 16: DRSLP-II targets WoredaWoredas water supply schemes ... 36

Table 5. 17: DRSLP-II targets WoredaWoredas water supply coverage ... 36

Table 7. 1: Potential impacts characterization and evaluation interactive matrix ... 49

Table 9. 1: Environmental and Social Impact Management Plan ... 62

Table 10. 1 Environmental and Social Monitoring Plan ... 76

Table 10. 2: Short-term Environmental Monitoring ... 79

Table 12. 1 : Environmental budget ... 81

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1.1 Sample of field survey of the sub surface water... 6

Figure 4. 1 Location Map of the water infrastructure ... 21

Figure 8. 1: Participants of few consultative meetings ... 52

Figure 8. 2 : Project GRM procedure ... 57

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Water and Energy Design and Supervision Works Sector VII September, 2021

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Water and Energy Design and Supervision Works Sector VIII September, 2021

ACRONYMS

ADLI Agriculture Development Led Industrialization AGP Agricultural Growth Program

DRSLP-EP Drought Resilience and Sustainable Livelihoods Program Ethiopia Program EFY Ethiopian Fiscal Year

EPA Environmental Protection Authority EPC Environmental Protection Council EPE Environmental Policy of Ethiopia EIA Environmental Impact Assessment ESIA Environmental Impact assessment FAO Food and Agriculture Organization FDRE Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia GDP Growth Domestic Product

GOE Government of Ethiopia

HH Household

MOARD Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development NCS National Conservation Strategy

NGO Non-governmental Organization PLC Private Limited Company

Qt Quintal

TOR Terms of Reference

URTI Upper Respiratory tract Infection

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Water and Energy Design and Supervision Works Sector IX September, 2021

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The major approaches of the ESIA study include review of relevant previous studies, policies and guideline, primary and secondary data collection. Available secondary data was also collected from relevant local Woredaoffices and line sectors at Woredalevels. Consultation was conducted with WoredaWoredasectors and project kebeles community representatives. Gathering experts’ opinion and learning from previous experiences were also among used the study approaches.

The main objective of the Oromia DRSLP-II Multipurpose Water Infrastructures Project ESIA study is to ensure environmental sustainability of the project areas through eliminating or minimizing possible negative impacts by using appropriate mitigation measures in the project design, construction and implementation phases.

Stakeholders’ consultations were conducted through consultative meetings. The consultative meetings were conducted with 95 key stakeholders and 279 community representatives in Arero, Melka Soda, Goro Dola, Girja, and Liben DRSLP-II target WoredaWoredas and representative project kebelles.

Participants of the consultative meetings have expressed major benefits of the DRSLP-II multipurpose water infrastructure projects, which includes among others, promoting community health through providing safe water supply, creating employment opportunities, beneficiaries livelihood and food security enhancement, promoting water sector development, promoting modern technology and promoting production growth and economic development of the project areas and the beneficiaries.

Generally, the project promotes socio-economic development of the areas significantly.

On the other hand, the stakeholders also expressed major threats of the projects of which the major once are vegetation clearing, excavated soil and dust impacts, soil erosion, waterlogging and salination, pollution and water quality change, disturbtion of biodiversity, waterborne and water related diseases, water table lowering, harmful plants invasion, aggravating communicable disease cases, impacts on land use rights, improper workers camping impacts, occupational health and safety problems, conflicts on resource use, water wells drilling impacts, etc are among the major adverse impacts.

To minimize and/or eliminate possible adverse impacts of the multipurpose water infrastructure projects, promoting soil and water conservation activities, reducing accident risks; optimizing vegetation clearing during and after construction activities, promoting watershed conservation, promoting stakeholders awareness creation, ensuring protection of invasive plant species, ensuring community health care and sanitation, ensuring project environmental personnel capacity building, control resources use based conflicts, strengthen local water user committee, promote gender based development activities promotion, etc.. refill the excavated soil to the canal, promoting tree planting activities, etc., are among essential environmental management activities.

Environmental achievements reports on the project environmental management and monitoring plan activities should be established. The environmental management and monitoring activities quarterly and

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Water and Energy Design and Supervision Works Sector X September, 2021

annual reports shall be reviewed and evaluated to improve effectiveness of the implementations of the planned activities on proressively in order to ensure projects harmony.

Budget needed for the environmental management monitoring and training was estimated at 40,351.32USD for the project period for the environmental management and monitoring activities implementations.

On comparing the beneficial and adverse impacts of the projects, it is concluded that the adverse impacts were found by far less compared to the socio-economic benefits of the project. The water supply for domestic and livestock activities are found environmentally feasible and socially acceptable.

Finally, it is ecommended that the mitigation measures should be implemented effectively in order to harmonize project effects with the natural resources of the project areas and ensure environmental sustainability.

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Ethiopian Construction Design and Supervision Works Corporation Water and Energy Design and Supervision Works Sector

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1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 General Background

Ethiopian pastoralists live in the arid and semi-arid areas of the country. Their livelihoods depend largely on what the nature has offers them. Pastoral and agro-pastoral communities living in low land areas of Ethiopia are vulnerable to droughts, trans-boundary animal diseases; human and livestock water supply shortage and rangeland resources-based conflicts. They rear animals that depend on pasture and water for their survival in the harsh and unpredictable environment. Pasture and water availability of the areas depend on seasonal rainfall.

As a result of the prevailing global climate change and human interferences, the survival and livelihood of the pastoral communities are becoming at risks. The natural resource bases of the area are highly subjected to the global and local climatic variability. Natural resources deteriorations and environmental hazards has resulted in droughts and sometimes floods. Due to such recurrent droughts, streams, rivers, grazing lands and vegetation are affected and natural balances become under risks.

These days, nearly 12% of Ethiopian population is pastoralists and agro-pastoralists herding their livestock in the arid and semi-arid lowland areas of the country that constitute about 63% of the country's land mass. These areas are prone to rainfall variability, extreme droughts and flash floods. The main water sources of the pastoralists and agro pastoralists areas of country include ponds, traditional wells, cisterns, hand dug wells, shallow wells and deep wells with functionality of the schemes ranging from 15% to nearly 50% which varies tremendously with the type of water source and seasonality of the potential resource. The Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) indicated that over 40% of the water schemes in the areas were not functional at all due to lack of proper organization and management (MoLF, TOR, 2016).

Groundwater studies conducted by the previous WWDSE in Afar and Somali regions indicate that there exist huge ground water potentials at deeper layers overlain by thick stratified formations. The identified water sources found fresh and sufficient reserve for domestic, livestock and irrigated pasture development. Therefore, taking experiences from these studies, the Oromia DRSLP-II project study aims at assessing existing surface and groundwater sources of the low land areas of the region and estimates available water resources in quantity & quality for the phase II Drought Resilience and Sustainable Livelihood Program. The project potential schemes types based on desk work and rapid inception phase fieldwork assessment indicates presence of underground water supply schemes for both human and livestock of the areas.

Implementation of Drought Resilience and Sustainable Livelihoods Program (DSRLP) projects in arid and semiarid low land areas of Oromia National Regional State is among such efforts of the government and financing organizations with main objective of improving water availability for human and livestock

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resources of the areas and also creating access to water supply development and management, and promoting institutional capacities.

Environmental and Social Impact Assessment is, therefore, an integral part of sectorial studies and design phase of the project by aiming at meeting the national, financer and regional legal requirement and ensuring that the proposed project is environmentally and socially sound in fulfilling the communities water supply demand and project areas sustainability. The Drought Resilience and Sustainable Livelihood Project (DRSLP-II) *Woredas of the Oromia National Regional State are often more prone to rainfall variability, extreme droughts and flash floods. Existing rivers coming from the near highland areas flow in a good quantity and gradually become dry when they enter the lowland areas. Hence, suitable headwork structures can be planned on the upper reach of the rivers and streams before the flow gets minimized and eventually percolates underground. The prevailing geological formations of the areas aggravate water flow into sub-surface.

1.2 Purpose of the ESIA Study

Considerations of interactions between development activities and their environment were started in the late 1960s. Since then, Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) has become an important environmental management tool in giving decisions regarding ecological, social, economic and technical impacts of projects. At present, therefore, in both developed and developing nations, ESIA study is seen as an ongoing interactive process, which can contribute to formulation of sound environmental management and planning strategies in achieving sustainable development.

In Ethiopia too, environmental considerations have started in every sector of development programs since the 1995 constitution which laid bases in establishing environmental policy, rules and regulations.

With this general understanding, baseline environmental conditions of the DRSLP-II EP Oromia Water Infrastructure Projects areas data was collected and potential expected environmental aspects were assessed, evaluated and included in this ESIA study report of the project.

1.3 Objectives

1.3.1 Project Objectives

The general objective of the project is to identify surface and groundwater potentials, undertake sectoral studies and engineering design of various water supply infrastructures in order to provide water access so as to meet water demands for domestic consumption, livestock and irrigated pasture development.

1.3.2 ESIA Study General Objective

The general objective of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) study of the eight Resilience and Sustainable Livelihood Project (DRSLP-II) Woredas of Oromia National Regional State in

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order create access to water supply for human and livestock project is to identify, predict and evaluate potential impacts of the project activities and recommend appropriate and feasible mitigation measures for the identified adverse impacts in order to improve the biophysical environment, wellbeing and livelihood of the local pastoral communities of the project areas.

The ESIA study is to ensure that the planning, design, construction and implementation of the project is in line with relevant national environmental and social management requirements the country as well as the financer (the African Development Bank) safeguard policies.

1.3.3 ESIA Study Specific Objectives

The specific objectives of conducting Environmental and Social Impact Assessment studies of the water supply projects in five Kebeles Associations of five Woredas of the Oromia National Regional State entailed DRSLP-II project Woredas are to:

• Ensure that environmental & social considerations are properly addressed in the project design and in decision making process

• Propose alternatives to the proposed water supply system and in way to minimal social and environmental impacts

• Strengthening the community through trainings, provide better understanding to the project and develop project ownership and ensure its sustainability.

• meet the national and financer (the African Development Bank, AfDB) environmental policy and legal requirements;

• identify, predict and evaluate adverse and beneficial environmental and social impacts of the project’s construction and subsequent operation activities;

• propose environmental and social mitigation measures for the identified adverse impacts and recommend enhancement measures for the beneficial impacts of the projects;

• develop environmental and social management and monitoring plans and define institutional responsibilities to guide implementation of the recommended remedial measures,

1.4 Scope of the Study

The geographic coverage of the ESIA study areas of the projects includes eight DRSLP-II Woredas of which three Woredas are in East Guji Zone, one Woredas is in West Guji Zone and the rest one Woredas are in Borena Zone of the Oromia National Regional State.

The technical scope of the ESIA study will include review, describing baseline conditions, assessing potential benefits and adverse impacts of the projects. Specifically, the scope of the EIA study will include, but not limited to, identifying:

• Characteristics of micro-catchments draining into each project site especially for micro-basins and possible impacts which may include land use/land cover, topography, soils types and soil erosion, climatic factors, settlement patterns, displacement and potential problems like siltation, water pollution, etc.

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• Potential impacts on terrestrial and aquatic ecology (flora and fauna) in the direct impact zone of the project activities.

• Impacts of water supply schemes particularly on epidemiology of water related diseases (malaria and bilharzias) comparing with the existing conditions.

• Project water sources baseline quality and potential effects on public health, etc.

1.5 Approach and Methodology of the Study

The overall approach and methodologies used to carry out the ESIA study is based on the ESIA guideline of the country. It was carried out by reviewing previous studies including ESIA reports of similar multipurpose community water supply projects, review of relevant policies and strategies, collecting secondary data from different sources including district sectoral offices, collecting primary data through field observations, collecting targeted water sources sample, analyzing and interpreting; undertaking stakeholders’ consultations. The specific approaches of the study are project screening, impact scoping, relevant pertinent policies, administrative frameworks, guidelines and regulations review, African Development Bank Safeguard policy review, stakeholders’ consultation, secondary and primary data collection, collected data analysis and report writing. Generally, the overall approach used to carry out the ESIA study was based on the technical proposal of the project. Based on these study frameworks;

the specific approaches used include:

• Project screening,

• Environmental scoping,

• Field observations,

• Consultations with Woreda DRSLP-II coordinators, line sectors and sampled project kebele community representatives,

• Water sources samples collection and analysis,

• Data Analysis and Report Preparation 1.5.1 Project screening

Screening of the project was made based on the environmental impact assessment procedural guideline serious of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia (EPA, Nov, 2003). The document lists types of projects which most likely require full ESIA study based on either the proposed project specific site sensitivity or the project size. Accordingly, as the projects include water supply infrastructures for human and livestock, the project undoubtedly should passes through ESIA study.

1.5.2 Impact scoping

Environmental and social issues that need considerations in ESIA study of micro dams, diversions and other water supply infrastructures, the project components, the baseline environmental conditions of the areas through inception phase field assessment was made and evaluated. Scoping of the ESIA study was made based on the guideline, professional judgments, baseline environmental conditions and

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experiences on similar projects ESIA study. Therefore, major environmental aspects that need be addressed in detail ESIA study was identified and impact scoping was made.

1.5.3 Review of relevant documents

Policies, legislation, guidelines and other documents pertinent to environmental protection and line sector development plan were gathered and reviewed for assessing relevant issues related to the environmental and social impacts of the proposed water supply infrastructure projects. Other secondary information including internet searches was also made and important information was collected, reviewed and used in the ESIA report preparation as detailed under chapter two. Accordingly,

• Environmental assessment study reports of DRSLP-I projects of Afar and Somali regions, different water supply projects studied by the Ethiopian Construction Design and Supervision Works Corporation such as water supply system of 16 kebeles of Wag-Humera Zone of Amhara National Regional State, Addis Ababa City Administration Water Supply projects, Awada Borecha water supply project of South Nations Nationalities and Peoples Regional States;

• Pertinent policies such as the Environmental Policy of Ethiopia, Water Resource Management Policy, Health Policy; Forest Development, Conservation and Utilization Policy, Biodiversity Conservation and Research Policy.

• The administrative arrangements at Federal, Regional, Zone, Woredas and project kebeles (KAs) were reviewed and included in the EIA report so as to avoid ambiguity in the implementation, monitoring and follow up of environmental matters at different phases of the project implementation.

• Pertinent environmental legislations and proclamations which are aiming at fostering the environmental protection and sustainable uses of natural as well as man-made resources of the proposed project areas outlined below were reviewed.

➢ Environmental Protection Organs Establishment Proclamation (Proc. No. 09/1995, 295/2002 and proc. No. 803/2005 as Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change),

➢ Environnemental and social Impact Assessment Proclamation (Proc. No. 299/2002),

➢ Environnemental Pollution Control Proclamation (Proc. No. 300/2002),

➢ Expropriation of Land Holdings and Payment of Compensation Proclamation (Proc. No.

455/2005),

➢ Rural Land Administration and Land Use Proclamation (Proc. No. 456/2005)

➢ Research and Conservation of Cultural Heritage Proclamation (Proc. No. 209/2000),

➢ Ethiopian Water Resources Management Proclamation (Proc. No. 197/2000)

➢ Public health Proclamation (Proc. No. 200/2000), and

➢ Water Resource Management Proclamation of March 2000 (Proc. No. 197/2000).

• Environmental impact assessment guideline of Ethiopia; the technical and procedural EIA guidelines issued in 2000 and 2003 and

• The African Development Bank Safeguard policy.

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1.5.4 Stakeholders’ consultation

In collaboration with the project socio-economist, DRSLP-II targeted district focal persons and environmental experts’ consultations were made with district sectors and sampled project kebele community and beneficiaries’ representatives’. In these consultations, attentions were given to identifying main existing and potential environmental issues that will likely arise during the proposed project construction and operation phases. The stakeholders’ consultations helped in obtaining the attitudes of the consulted groups on the proposed projects, gather essential information regarding the project benefits, expected negative impacts and their recommendations on possible mitigation measures as complete as possible.

1.5.5 Primary Data Collection

More than 90 percent of the proposed project sites and targeted water sources for the DRSLP-II Oromia National Regional State project Woredas were observed with the project study team members.

Field observation was conducted in the project sites by the environmentalist and in depth observation was conducted at the project sites. Few of the representative sites are presented in Figure1.1. Baseline information on the environmental settings of the project areas are presented under chapter 4. The environmentalist had worked closely with the socio-economist, hydrologist, soil and watershed experts of the study team. The field observation helped the environmentalist to have first-hand impression of the project areas and have collected primary environmental baseline data and identified potential environmental aspects related to the project construction and implementations.

Figure 1.1 Sample of field survey of the sub surface water

Alona micro dam site Aflata River downstream of the proposed diversion site

Genale Koricha pump site on Genale River Figure1.1: Representatives of water intakes sites of the project

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1.5.6 Secondary Data Collection

Secondary data was collected from Arero, Melka Soda, Goro Dola, Girja, and Liben districts and representative project kebeles. Accordingly, secondary data was collected from district Agriculture and pastoral development offices, health offices, water development offices, Land Use and Environmental Protection; Livestock and Fishery, Women and Children and Youth and Sport Offices and also from the project representative kebeles (Deru Denfile, Melka Guba, Kelada, Belambel, Alona, Genale Koricha and Gura Korke) using and questionnaires.

Relevant data generated and/or collected by other sectoral studies such as socio-economy, soils and land suitability, hydrology and watershed sectoral studies were collected and used to supplement the environmental data and understand the project areas so as to render the impact assessment as comprehensive as possible.

1.5.7 Data analysis and report writing

Collected data and information from all sources were evaluated, existing environmental and social aspects of the project area were described and potential positive and negative impacts of the project construction and operation were described. Following identification and analysis of significance impacts, appropriate mitigation measures were determined and environmental management and monitoring plans developed. Finally, the project environmental and social impact assessment report was prepared.

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2. LEGAL, POLICY AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORKS, 2.1 Legal Frameworks

2.1.1 The Constitution

The 1995 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia provides overriding principles and legal provisions for all legislative frameworks in the country. The document is a major binding document for all national and regional policies, laws and regulations.

Articles 43, 44 and 92 of the constitution were especially reviewed as these articles are among others, especially state the right to development, the right to live in a clean and healthy environment and also address environmental objectives, respectively. Article 44 states about provisions of “Environmental Rights” for all Ethiopians. The article indicates that all persons of the country are entitled to “live in a clean and healthy environment” and have to meet their basic needs in sustainable manner from the environment.

Article 43 of the constitution states that displaced peoples or those whose livelihood have been adversely affected have the right to compensation for property found on land but not takes into account the value of the land; as the right to ownership of rural and urban lands, as well as all natural resources, is exclusively vested in the state and in the people of Ethiopia. The constitutional provisions serve as the guiding principles for all activities with potential impacts on the environment and promote environmental protection activities.

2.1.2 Environmental Framework Legislations

There are four proclamations related to environmental protection and sustainable use of natural resources of the country, Ethiopia.

2.1.2.1 Environmental Protection Organs Establishment Proclamation

The Environmental Protection Authority, EPA, was established with Proclamation No.9/1995 and re- proclaimed under Proclamation No.295/2002 and as an autonomous Federal Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) and currently as the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change with Proclamation No.803/2005EFY. The institution is entrusted with the protection and conservation of natural resources of the country. The proclamations stipulate need to establish a system that enables to foster coordinated but differentiated responsibilities among environmental protection agencies at Federal and Regional levels.

2.1.2.2 Environmental Impact Assessment Proclamation

EPA Proclamation No. 299/2002 has made “Environmental Impact Assessment” to be a mandatory legal prerequisite for the implementation of major development projects, programs and plans. This proclamation is a proactive tool and a backbone to harmonize and integrate environmental, economic and

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social considerations into decision making process in a manner that promotes sustainable development of the country.

2.1.2.3 Environmental Pollution Control Proclamation

Environmental Pollution Control Proclamation No.300/2002 is promulgated with a view to eliminate or, when not possible, mitigate pollution as an undesirable consequence of social and economic development activities. This proclamation is one of the basic legal documents to effective Environmental Assessment undertakings.

2.1.3 Proclamation on Rural Land Administration and Land Use

The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia issued Rural Land Administration and Use with a Proclamation No. 456/2005. The proclamation came into effect in July 2005. The objective of the proclamation is to conserve and develop natural resources in rural areas of the country by promoting sustainable land use practices. In order to encourage farmers to implement measures to guard against soil erosion, the proclamation introduces rural land holding certificate, which provides a level of security of tenure.

The overall aim of the proclamation is, therefore, to conserve and develop natural resources in rural areas of the country by promoting sustainable land use practices and also encourage farmers and pastoralists to implement measures to guard against soil erosion. In addition, the proclamation introduces Rural Land Holding Certificates, which provides a level of security of tenure.

The Ministry of Agriculture is charged with executing the proclamation by providing support and coordinating activities of the regional authorities. Regional governments have obligations to establish competent organization to implement rural land administration and land use law. At regional level including Oromia, Bureau of Rural Land Administration is responsible to implement the land administration and use of the rural areas of the region including the project area.

Part three of the proclamation presents regulations relating to use of rural land, particularly as it relates to soil and water conservation and watershed management. The proclamation also addresses environmental concerns, including non-compliance with directives on environmental protection.

An important feature of this proclamation is that it stipulates rural land use and restrictions based on proper land use planning, providing for the proper use of various types of land such as slopes, gullies and wetlands, as well as utilization of rural lands for villages and social services. In addition, the proclamation creates sense of ownership in the majority of the rural population and enables them to take initiatives and collectively engage in environmental management activities.

In line with the national proclamation, the Oromia Regional State has issued the regional Rural Land Use and Administration Proclamation. The proclamation established various articles with respect to rural

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land use and administration in the region. Among others, the very important issue in this proclamation is the right to land holding, land re-distribution, land holding procedures, minimum land holding and conditions leading to deprivation of holding rights are included in the proclamation.

2.1.4 Proclamation on Public Health

The public health proclamation number 200/2000 of Ethiopia prohibits activities that disturb the health of the people. The proclamation addresses waste handling and disposal by stating as “no person shall dispose solid, liquid or any waste in a manner which contaminants the environment or affects public health”. The same proclamation also entitled that any person who happens to know existence of communicable diseases in his/her vicinity has a duty to report immediately to the nearest health service or institution. Therefore, the proclamation provides bases for protection of environmental health and sanitation of the project beneficiaries.

2.2 Policy Framework

2.2.1 Environmental Policy of Ethiopia

The Environmental Policy of Ethiopia (EPE, 1997) provides a number of guiding principles that require strong adherence to sustainable development. Article 3.1(s) of the policy, for example, indicates need for “undertaking full environmental, social and economic impact assessments of project, that needs establishing programs of correcting projects negative environmental, social and economic impacts”. In the same way, Article 3.4 of the policy indicates that “control of environmental health hazards is a necessary condition in the design, construction and use of water resource. Article 4.9 of the policy also indicates about directives on Environmental Impact Assessment (ESIA). It states as, “to create by a law an ESIA process which requires appropriate environmental impact statements and environmental audits for private and state development projects”.

2.2.2 Water Resource Management Policy

The overall goal of the Ethiopian Federal Water Resource Management Policy of 1998 addresses needs

“to enhance and promote all national efforts towards efficient and optimum utilization of water resources of the country for socio-economic development on sustainable bases”. The policy indicates environmental conservation and protection as an integral part of water resources planning and project development. One of the five general policy objectives of the policy also stated as “conserving, protecting and enhancing water resources and the overall aquatic environment on sustainable basis”.

2.2.3 Health Policy

The 1993 National Health Policy of Ethiopia was revised in April 1998. The policy gives emphasis to rural populations that constitute the overwhelming majority of the nation. The policy protects and promotes populations’ health and ensures friendly and healthy environment by controlling those environmental factors which are the direct and indirect causes for spread of environmental health related diseases. It states among others to:

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• Ensure that pesticides, fertilizers and other agrochemicals are properly stored, handled, transported, applied and disposed of in a manner that does not cause health risks,

• Establish effective monitoring mechanisms for the control of environmental pollution (water, soil, air, noise, etc.) and

• Conduct and participate actively in Environmental Impact Assessment (ESIA) of development projects, etc.

Therefore, this ESIA study is expected to address the policy in order to harmonize the DRSLP-II water infrastructures project activities with each project area the environment and public health of the project areas.

2.2.4 National Biodiversity Policy

The National Biodiversity Policy (NBP) was established in 1998 based on a holistic ecosystem approach to conserve, develop and utilize the country's biodiversity resources. Integration of biodiversity conservation and development in federal and regional sectoral development initiatives and mobilization of international cooperation and assistance, have been identified as the principal strategies for implementation of the policy. Accordingly, the government of Ethiopia has developed a National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) in 2005 as a required action under the Convention on Biological Diversity to put in practice the biodiversity policy.

The policy provides guidance towards effective conservation, rational development and sustainable utilization of the country’s biodiversity and contains comprehensive policy provisions for the conservation and sustainable utilization of biodiversity. Protection of biodiversity related to traditional indigenous knowledge and communities' benefit sharing arrangements, which are not yet effective.

Similarly, the potential of biodiversity-related opportunities has not yet been exploited to enhance sustainable livelihood to the desired level. However, there is a general understanding with respect to changing the management approach in order to bring about the desired benefits.

2.2.5 Sustainable Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy

The sustainable Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy was issued in July 2002. The program outlines fundamental development objectives of the government to build a free-market economic system that enables rapid economic development that extricates the country from poverty and dependence on food aid, where poor citizens will main beneficiaries.

The program recognizes importance of environmental protection as a prerequisite for sustainable development and addresses it as crosscutting issue. With regard to environment, it points out three priority areas for action; strengthening and expanding on-going efforts to address land degradation, deforestation, overgrazing, soil erosion, loss of soil fertility and the disruption of the hydrological cycle, by giving special attention to highly degraded, drought prone and food insecure areas; strengthening regulatory and institutional capacity; and strengthening the measures currently under implementation to preserve, develop, manage and sustainably use biodiversity resources.

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2.3 Environmental Assessment Guidelines

With a view to implement the environmental policies and strategies, environmental guidelines have been issued by the then EPA and now EFCCC. Among these, the following three (Technical ESIA Guideline, Procedural ESIA Guideline and Guideline for Reviewing ESIA Reports) are very relevant to the issue at hand. These guidelines are intended to guide developers, competent agencies, reviewers and other stakeholders in carrying out and managing ESIA endeavors.

2.3.1 The Procedural EIA Guideline

As a step forward in developing the environmental policies and legislations, the then EPA issued a procedural guideline which defines specific examinations to which a proposed project needs to be subjected in the process of environmental impact assessment. To this effect, at the project identification phase, based on EPA’s guideline, projects are categorized in one of the following three schedules.

o Schedule 1: Projects which may have adverse and significant environmental impacts, and therefore shall require full ESIA;

o Schedule 2: Projects whose type, scale or other relevant characteristics have potential to cause some significant environmental impacts, but not likely to warrant full environmental impact study; and

o Schedule 3: It includes projects which will have no impact or do have beneficial impacts and hence it doesn’t require environmental impact assessment at all.

Based on the guideline, all projects planned to be implemented at environmentally sensitive areas are treated as equivalent to Schedule 1 activities irrespective of the nature and scale of the project.

The EPA has issued several guidelines for EIA/ESIA of projects in different sectors. The guidelines provide a comprehensive statement of type of adverse impacts that may occur and set out clearly the aspects, which need to be addressed in an initial environmental examination and in an environmental and social impact assessment.

EIA guideline was issued in 2003 and provides details about the required procedures for conducting an ESIA, the permit requirements, the stages and procedures involved in EIA processes, and the roles and responsibilities of parties involved in the ESIA process. It also includes the categories of projects (schedule of activities) concerning the scale of EIA required (projects that may need Full, Partial and No ESIA at all), and list of project types under each category.

2.3.2 The Technical EIA guideline

The Technical EIA/ESIA guideline was issued in 2000 by the then EPA and specifies tools, particularly the standards and guidelines that may be considered when undertaking ESIA processes. Moreover, it provides details and key issues for environmental assessment in specific development sectors like water resources development, industries, road, and reservoirs and the like.

2.3.3 Guideline for Reviewing EIA Reports

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The Guideline for Reviewing EIA Reports was issued with other valuable documents by the then EPA which is transformed to MoEFCC in 2003 (EFCCC, since 2018) to guide and make easier the review process of EIA/EIA Reports. It is a generic guideline prepared to facilitate EIA/ESIA report reviewing and decision-making processes. It includes review approaches and outlines a minimum report structure and information requirements. It is intended to help reviewers to assess the report content, comprehensiveness, adequacy and accuracy of information, as well as its organizational and presentation qualities. The review guideline is principally meant to be used by EPA/MoEFCC and regional environmental agencies as well as by Sectoral Environmental Units and the proponents. Thus, it is believed that the guideline will help in making decisions in good time and faith, whether and under what conditions the project shall proceed.

2.4. Institutional and Administrative Frameworks

The Proclamation for the Establishment of Environmental Protection Organs, No. 295/2002, issued a series of institutional mandates that extend powers and duties of the Federal Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) and the Environmental Protection Council (EPC) beyond those defined in the enabling legislation down to lower administrative levels as indicated under the following sections.

2.4.1 National Level Institutional Arrangements

The administrative structure of the country is based on the Federal System that has nine regional states and two special city administrations. At national level, environmental protection activities are directed through three levels of institutional arrangements; the Environmental Protection Council, the Environmental Protection Authority and the Inter-ministerial Commissions coordinating mechanisms.

Environmental Protection Council: The proclamation establishes Environmental Protection Council that ensures integration of environmental concerns with development policies, strategies and plans as well as coordination among sectors. The council is composed of Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Trade and Industry, Minister of Water, Mines and Energy, Commissioner of Science and Technology and General Manager of the Environmental Protection Authority.

Federal Environmental Protection Authority: The Federal Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), proclamation No. 295/2002, is a competent environmental agency at the Federal level in Ethiopia mandated to address environmental issues. The environmental legislation gives EPA powers to fulfill its role, support all federal agencies in establishing environmental units and develop skills in strategic environmental analysis of policies and public instruments. The EPA is involved in the development of environmental policy and legislation, setting environmental quality standards for air, water and soils, monitoring pollution, establishing EIA procedures and an environmental information system and undertaking capacity development in relevant agencies to ensure integration of environmental management in policy development and decision making.

Inter-ministerial Commissions and Coordinating Mechanisms: Besides Environmental Protection Council and Environmental Protection Authority, there are a number of inter-ministerial commissions that were established in the form of standing national committees and boards to deliberate upon issues

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relevant to their functional areas. These committees and boards facilitate cooperation and coordination among different government ministries, authorities, commissions and NGOs and other relevant organizations regarding issues related to Ethiopian environmental conditions.

2.4.2 Sectoral Environmental Protection Unit

EPA proclamation, Proc.№ 295/2002, requires at the Federal level that each Sectoral ministry to establish in-house Environmental Protection Unit to ensure harmony with respect to implementation of the environmental proclamations and other environmental protection requirements. The duties and responsibilities of these Sectoral Environmental Units are to coordinate and follow up the integration of environmental requirements in a proactive manner so as to ensure environmental sustainability of sectoral development efforts. Based on this provision, the Ministry of Agriculture and others have established sectoral environmental units of which the MoEFCC)A recently delegated its power to review EIS to these institutions. To this effect, the Environment and Climate Change Directorate is established in MOA . The Federal Agricultural Land Administration and Investment Agency (before under MoARD) is currently undertaking the guiding and supporting roles in undertaking agricultural investment environmental and social code of practice in agriculture investment sector.

2.4.3 Regional Environmental Protection Agencies

The Oromia National Regional State Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bureau (EFCCB) is structured under the Regional Council. The bureau is responsible for coordinating formulation, implementation, review and revision of regional conservation strategies and undertakes environmental monitoring, protection and regulation based on powers and duties given it by the EPA establishment proclamation. Environmental Impact Assessment, EIA, Proclamation (Proc.№ 299/2002) gives also the regional environmental body the responsibility to evaluate EIA study reports on projects that are licensed, executed or supervised by the regional states.

2.4.4 Woreda Environment, Forest and Climate Change Office

Similar to the regional Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bureau, the zonal and Woreda offices are structured under each of the three zones; Borena, East Guji and West Guji Zones. In the same way, the project districts; Arero, Melka Soda, Girja, Goro Dola and Liben Woredas/districts Environment, Forest and Climate Change Offices are structured under each Woreda Council.

2.5 African Development Bank Guidelines

The purpose and procedures of the African Development Bank Guidelines are to” ensure that the Bank- financed projects and programs are environmentally and socially sustainable as well as in line with Bank’s policies and guidelines.” Based on the Bank’s screening criteria, the DRSLP-II projects are in

“category-1”, for which a full-scale environmental a n d s o c i a l impact assessments are required. The scoping of the project was also conducted in order to “clearly identify the environmental and social assessment requirements at each phase of the cycle.” The ESIA reports were t h u s prepared to fulfill the requirements.

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2.5.1 Crosscutting issues of the African Development Bank

With regard to the ESIA study of the projects, the ESIA study addresses the crosscutting issues indicated in the Bank’s guidelines which addresses issues such as poverty reduction, environment, gender, population, health and safety related issues, civil society and stakeholder participation.

2.5.1.1 Poverty

Poverty is a multidimensional concept that covers income and non-income aspects. It is a state of livelihood characterized by material deprivation, food insecurity and lack of access to productive means.

Key components that are considered under poverty in these Guidelines are the economy; information, education and communication; and access to infrastructures and services.

2.5.1.2 Environment

The environment consists of the components of the biosphere in which all life exists. It encompasses the air, water, soil and related ecosystems which includes the flora, fauna and landscape as well as the natural and cultural heritage. Mainstreaming the environment, thus, involves considering the human interactions and impacts on the biosphere, both positive and negative. All these aspects are covered in the IESIA Guidelines.

2.5.1.3 Population

As a crosscutting theme, population refers to demographics and factors influencing population growth.

In order to simplify the presentation and minimize repetitions, the IESIA Guidelines consider demographic trends, migration and resettlement, changes in natural resources and land management and quality of life.

2.5.1.4 Health

As with poverty, health is a multi-dimensional concept that is not limited to absence of disease and infirmity. Many factors influence people’s health, particularly economic opportunities, the social context and the natural environment. Impact assessment focuses primarily on prevention which is generally dealt with Health Outcomes which includes communicable diseases, non-communicable diseases, malnutrition, injuries, psychosocial disorders and well-being. These outcomes result from changes in the determinants of health, which are the product of changes in other crosscutting themes.

2.5.1.5 Gender

Integrating a gender perspective in the environmental and social assessment process implies taking into account gender differences in roles, rights, priorities, opportunities and constraints. In order to mainstream such gender issues in projects, the IESIA Guidelines cover gender inequalities or differences such as division of labor (paid and unpaid work), income-generating activities, access to and control over productive factors, and involvement in societal organization. These key areas are dealt in these guidelines.

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2.5.1.6 Participation

As a crosscutting theme, participation refers to share information and control over social, political and development initiatives, decisions and/or resources. This crosscutting theme is mainstreamed by carrying out consultations along the assessment process with the various stakeholders. In order to comply with national laws, policies and guidelines, consultations were conducted with Oromia National Regional State regional coordination unit, zone coordination and Woreda Coordination units and the project beneficiaries at project level the Carry out ESIA study along with the feasibility studies and public consultations.

2.5.2 AfDB Integrated Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Guidelines

To clearly understand and identify issues of focus areas the integrated environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) guidelines of the Bank (AfDB, 2003) main focus areas; water supply, livestock and range management, crop production, dam and reservoirs guidelines were reviewed.

2.5.2.1 AfDB Irrigation Integrated ESIA Guidelines

The integrated environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) guidelines (AfDB, 2003, page 98) cover all types of projects and consider various steps of the water cycle, including water harvesting, storage, conveyance, on-farm distribution and drainage.

2.5.2.2 AfDB Water Supply Integrated ESIA Guidelines

The integrated environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) guidelines (AfDB, 2003, page 98) focus on rural and urban water supply projects for human needs.

2.5.2.3 AfDB Livestock and rangeland management Integrated ESIA Guidelines

The integrated environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) guidelines (AfDB, 2003, page 64) cover livestock development and rangeland management projects which above all go with the drought resilience sustainable Livelihood program (DRSLP-II). Livestock development projects usually aim to produce edible products, such as meat and milk, as well as by- products, such as hides, blood, bones and wool. The processing of livestock products and by- products is not covered in these guidelines. These guidelines assist in developing livestock and rangeland management projects that can address the Bank’s priority crosscutting themes. They highlight major issues and potential impacts that should be taken into account during the preparation and assessment phases. The appropriate mitigation and enhancement measures should be integrated as early as possible, preferably in the project design as presented in the Integrated Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Guidelines.

2.5.2.4 AfDB Crop Production Integrated ESIA Guidelines

The integrated environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) guidelines (AfDB, 2003, page 79) cover food crops and export/industrial crops or cash crops. They do not consider agro-industries, nor does irrigation project which are discussed in the “Irrigation Guidelines”. Crop productions operations analyzed in these Guidelines encompass rain-fed & irrigated production process including post-harvest activities (storage, processing and commercialization). These guidelines aim to assist in developing crop

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production projects that can address the Bank’s priority crosscutting themes. They highlight major issues and potential impacts that should be taken into account during the preparation and assessment phases.

The appropriate enhancement and mitigation measures should be integrated as early as possible, preferably in the project design as presented in the Integrated Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Guidelines.

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3. IMPLEMENTATION RESPONSIBILITIES

Institutional arrangement describes the role and responsibilities of organizations that have a stake in the implementation of the ESIA. In Ethiopia, regions are independent and have the right to issue region specific laws and regulation which is more stringent than the federal one. As far as the proposed projects are concerned, Oromia regional State has an Environment, Forest and Climate Change Authority responsible to oversee environmental and social impacts of programs and projects at regional level and if the impacts beyond their boundary or more than on regions, it will be managed by the federal authorities (sector ministries).

3.1 Federal Sector Ministries

The implementation of the projects demands involvement of federal level ministries such as the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Energy, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, Ministry of peace, Ministry of Women, Child and Youth etc. Therefore, all of these stakeholders should oversee the overall implementation of this ESMP and subsequent ESIA.

Furthermore, they should ensure that adequate resource (Finance, Manpower etc.) are allocated.

3.2. Environment, Forest and Climate Change Commission (EFCCC)

The environmental and social issues of the project are given to regional Environment, Forest and Climate Change Authority, it would be duplication of the same processes and activities and there will not be consistency in the process. Therefore, EFCCC will be mandated for the execution of social and environmental issues of federal programs and projects: to review screening report, decide categorization of the project, review of the ESIA reports and approval of the reports and conduct compliance monitoring against the ESMP. EFCCC can delegate the Environment, Forest and Climate Change Authority, of the region to supervise implementation of the ESMP.

3.3. Project Implementation Unit

The main organization responsible for implementation of this ESMP/ESIA at federal level is the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA). The MoA, through the DRSLP-PCU, will play a leading role in ensuring the proper implementation of the ESMP. It will ensure that the applicable GoE rules and regulations as well as AfDB Safeguard Policies and Procedures are enforced. For DRSLP Projects, Project Coordination Unit ({UC) and Project Steering Committee are established at federal and regional levels. Technical Committees are also established at regional level. The PCU at federal level is hosted in the Ministry of agriculture is responsible to:

• Recruitment of Environmental and Social Safeguard Expert (one for federal PCU and one for regional PCU, who have adequate educational background on the subject and experience to safeguard activities.

Main Report of Environmental and Social Impact Assessment /ESIA/

FEDERAL DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ETHIOPIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE

Drought Resilience and Sustainable Livelihood Program (DRSLP-II)

ETHIOPIA

Main Report of Environmental and Social Impact Assessment /ESIA/

study of Multipurpose Community Water Distribution System in Oromia Region

Client: Ministry of Agriculture Consultant:

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Table of Contents

LIST OF TABLES

LIST OF FIGURES

ACRONYMS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 General Background

1.2 Purpose of the ESIA Study

1.3 Objectives

1.4 Scope of the Study

1.5 Approach and Methodology of the Study

2. LEGAL, POLICY AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORKS, 2.1 Legal Frameworks

2.2 Policy Framework

2.3 Environmental Assessment Guidelines

2.4. Institutional and Administrative Frameworks

2.5 African Development Bank Guidelines

3. IMPLEMENTATION RESPONSIBILITIES

3.1 Federal Sector Ministries

3.2. Environment, Forest and Climate Change Commission (EFCCC)

3.3. Project Implementation Unit