The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Ethiopia Forest Development (EFD) Oromia Environment Protection Authority (OEPA) OROMIA FORESTED LANDSCAPE PROGRAM-EMISSION REDUCTION PROJECT (OFLP-ERP) (P151294) STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL ASSESSMENT (SESA) UPDATED August 2022 Addis Ababa i Table of contents Acronyms ............................................................................................................................ viii Executive Summary .............................................................................................................. 12 1. Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 1 1.1. Background .............................................................................................................. 1 1.2. Objectives of the SESA ............................................................................................ 2 2. REDD+ Mechanism and Ethiopia’s Initiative ................................................................ 4 2.1. REDD+ under the UNFCCC Negotiations .............................................................. 4 2.2. REDD+ Initiative in Ethiopia................................................................................... 5 2.3. The Oromia REDD+ Project .................................................................................... 6 2.4. Drivers of Deforestation and Major Sources of GHGs in the Oromia region.......... 7 2.4.1. Drivers of Deforestation and Forest Degradation ............................................. 7 2.4.2. Main Sources of GHGs from AFOLU ............................................................ 10 2.4.3. Mitigating actions ........................................................................................... 13 3.1. OFLP-ER Project Beneficiaries ................................................................................. 16 4. Approach and Methodology ............................................................................................. 18 4.1. Approach .................................................................................................................... 18 4.1.1. SESA process ...................................................................................................... 18 4.1.2. Updating the SESA ............................................................................................ 18 4.1.3. Scoping ............................................................................................................... 18 4.1.4. Identifying and Mapping of Stakeholders........................................................... 19 4.1.5. Collecting and analyzing baseline data ............................................................... 19 4.2. Methodology .............................................................................................................. 21 4.2.1. Secondary and Primary Data Collection Methods .............................................. 21 4.2.2. Secondary data review .................................................................................... 21 4.2.3. Primary Data Collection ..................................................................................... 23 4.2.4. Criteria for sample sites selection ................................................................... 24 5. Oromia Region Baseline Situation.................................................................................... 25 5.1. General Description ................................................................................................... 25 5.2. Social context: cultural and beliefs systems .............................................................. 25 5.3. Traditional governance .............................................................................................. 27 5.4. Traditional resource management system and conflict resolution ............................. 27 5.5. Institutions in Resource Management and Conflict Resolution ................................ 28 5.6. Most Vulnerable and Underserved Groups in Oromia region ................................... 29 5.7. Overview of forest resources base and land degradation in the region ..................... 32 5.8. Forest Related Social Situation in Oromia................................................................. 33 ii 5.8.1. Key Social Issues in the Forest Sector ................................................................ 33 5.8.2. Forests and Livelihoods in Oromia ..................................................................... 34 5.8.3. Women Entitlement to Land and Forest Resources ............................................ 34 5.8.4. Women involvement in the forestry education ................................................... 36 5.8.5. Gender Equality of Oromia ................................................................................. 37 5.8.6. Gender and ERP: Issues for consideration.......................................................... 37 5.8.7. Review of Community Attachment to the Forest Resource ............................... 38 5.8.8. Livestock Seasonal Migration to Forests ............................................................ 38 5.8.9. Ethno-botany ....................................................................................................... 39 5.8.10 Forest as a Household Food Security Source .................................................... 39 5.8.11. Forest as Cultural and Symbolic Values ........................................................... 39 5.8.12. Forest and Forest Product Uses......................................................................... 40 5.8.13. Forest and Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP) ............................................. 40 5.8.14. Settlements within the Forest ............................................................................ 40 5.8.15. Grievance Management Mechanism................................................................. 40 5.8.16. Forest Related Grievances ................................................................................ 41 5.8.17. Cause of the Grievance ..................................................................................... 41 5.9. OFLP-ERP Geographic Location: Physical Characteristics .................................. 42 6. Stakeholder Identification and Analysis Process .............................................................. 44 6.1.Stakeholder Engagement Plan ...................................................................................... 44 6.2. Objectives of the Stakeholder Engagement Plan ....................................................... 44 6.3. Procedures of the Stakeholder Analysis .................................................................... 44 6.4. Identification of the Potential Stakeholders ............................................................... 45 6.5. Analysis of the identified stakeholders and prioritization ......................................... 66 7. Grievance Redress Systems .......................................................................................... 68 7.1. ERP Grievance Redress Mechanism ..................................................................... 69 7.2. Recommended Grievance Redress Timeframe for Resettlement/ Compensation Issues ............................................................................................................................. 69 7.3. Dispute Resolution ................................................................................................. 71 7.4. Addressing GBV/SEA Complaints ........................................................................ 71 7.5. Traditional Dispute Resolution Mechanism for HUTLCs .................................... 72 7.6. World Bank Group Grievance Redress Service ................................................. 73 8. Legal, institutional and policy framework ........................................................................ 74 8.1. International Conventions .......................................................................................... 74 8.1.1. United Nations Framework Conventions on Climate Change (UNFCCC) ....... 74 8.1.2. United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) .................... 74 8.1.3. United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) .............................. 75 iii 8.1.4. CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) ........... 75 8.1.5. Convention for the Safeguards of Intangible Heritage ....................................... 76 8.1.6. The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity ....................................................................................................................................... 76 8.1.7. Pan African Agency for the Great Green Wall (PAGWW) ................................ 76 8.2. National Laws, strategies and policies ....................................................................... 76 8.2.1. The Rural Development Policy and Strategy, 2001............................................ 77 8.2.2. Forest Development, Conservation and Utilization Proclamation (1065/2018) . 77 8.2.3. Forest Conservation and Utilization Policy and Strategy, 2007 ......................... 78 8.2.4. Environmental Policy of Ethiopia (EPE), 1997 .................................................. 78 8.2.5. Environmental Impact Assessment Proclamation (EIA) No. 299/2002 ............. 79 8.2.6. Biodiversity Conservation and Research Policy (1998) ..................................... 80 8.2.7. National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (2005) ..................................... 80 8.2.8. Productive Safety Net and Sustainable Land Management Project.................... 81 8.2.9. The Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP-II) and the CRGE Strategy .......... 81 8.2.10. National Energy Policy -1994 ........................................................................... 81 8.2.11. Ethiopian Water Resources Management Policy-1999 .................................... 82 8.2.12. Ethiopian Water Resources Management Proclamation, No. 197/2000........... 82 8.2.13. Regulation for Wildlife Development, Conservation and Utilization (Regulation no. 163/2008) ............................................................................................ 83 8.2.14. Expropriation of landholding for Public Purposes, Payment of compensation and Resettlement of Displaced People (Proclamation No 1161/2019) ......................... 83 8.2.15. Regulation for Payment of Compensation for Property Situated on Landholding Expropriated for Public Purposes (Regulation No. 472/2020) ................ 84 8.2.16. Access to Genetic Resources and Community Knowledge, and Community Rights Proclamation No. 482 /2006 .............................................................................. 84 8.2.17. Gender Mainstreaming Policies and Strategy ................................................... 85 8.2.18. Legal Framework for Underserved and Vulnerable Groups meeting ESS7 requirements .................................................................................................................. 86 8.3. Oromia regional laws and institutional framework ................................................... 87 8.4. World Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) .................................... 88 9. Institutional review ....................................................................................................... 95 9.1. Ethiopia Forest Development (EFD) ..................................................................... 95 9.2. The National REDD+ Secretariat .......................................................................... 95 9.3. Ministry of Agriculture .......................................................................................... 96 9.4. Ministry of Finance ................................................................................................ 96 9.5. Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute ............................................................................. 97 9.6. Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority (EWCA) ........................................... 97 iv 9.7. Executive of the Oromia Regional State (Vice President’s Office) ...................... 97 9.8. Oromia REDD+ Steering Committee (ORSC) ...................................................... 97 9.9. Oromia Environment Protection Authority ........................................................... 98 9.10. Oromia REDD+ Coordination Unit (ORCU) ...................................................... 98 9.11. Oromia Forest and Wildlife Enterprise (OFWE) ................................................. 99 9.12. Regional Agriculture Bureaus.............................................................................. 99 9.13. Regional Rural Land Administration Bureaus ................................................... 100 9.14. Women and Social affair Bureau ....................................................................... 100 9.15. Ethiopian Cooperative Commission .................................................................. 100 9.16. The Oromia REDD+ Technical Working Group ............................................... 101 9.16.1. Zone Level Organizations ............................................................................... 101 9.16.2. Woreda/District Level Government Organizations ........................................ 102 9.17. ERP Institutional and Implementation Arrangements ......................................... 102 10. Analyses of the Potential Impacts, Risks and Mitigation Measures of the OFLP strategic options ................................................................................................................................. 106 10.1. Review of the Proposed OFLP Strategic Options to Address the Drivers of Deforestation and Forest Degradation in the Oromia region .......................................... 106 10.2. Direct Drivers of Deforestation and Forest Degradation ................................... 106 10.3. Underlying causes of Deforestation and Forest Degradation ............................ 108 10.4. Proposed Strategic options to address the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation in the Oromia region ................................................................................... 112 10.5. Strategic Options to address the direct drivers of Deforestation and Forest Degradation ..................................................................................................................... 116 10.4. Strategic Options to address Underlying causes of Deforestation and Forest Degradation ..................................................................................................................... 119 10.5. Potential Environmental and Social Benefits of the Proposed OFLP Strategic Options ............................................................................................................................ 123 10.6. Potential Environmental and Social Risks of the Proposed REDD+ Strategic Options and the Mitigation Measures ............................................................................. 135 11. OFLP-ERP Potential Environmental and Social Benefits, Risks and Mitigation Measures ............................................................................................................................. 153 11.1. OFLP-ERP Potential Environmental and Social Benefits ......................................... 153 11.2. OFLP-ERP Potential Negative Environmental and Social impacts, risks and Mitigation Measures ....................................................................................................... 155 11.3. Summary of the Stakeholder and Community Consultations and Mitigation measures .......................................................................................................................... 167 General level of awareness and understanding on Climate Change and OFLP-ERP . 168 12. Social Development Plan (SDP) for OFLP-ERP .......................................................... 183 13. Observations and Recommendations ............................................................................ 198 v 13.1. General ................................................................................................................... 198 13.2. Environmental ........................................................................................................ 199 13.3. Social...................................................................................................................... 199 14.4. Legal, Institutional and Policy ............................................................................... 200 References ........................................................................................................................... 203 Annexes............................................................................................................................... 212 Annex 1: Terms of Reference (ToR) .............................................................................. 212 Annex 2: Stakeholder and Community Consultation Interview Guides ......................... 224 Annex 3: Stakeholder Analysis Checklist....................................................................... 234 Annex 4: Lists of Participants -2021 and 2022 ............................................................... 236 List of Figures Figure 1: Flow of methodological steps followed in the updating of the SESA .................. 20 Figure 2: procedures of stakeholder indentification ............................................................. 45 List of Tables Table 1: Summary of drivers of deforestation and impacts .................................................. 10 Table 2: tools used, the levels at which the tools used and the stakeholders addressed by the particular PRA tools .............................................................................................................. 23 Table 3: List of selected sample Woredas for the stakeholder and community consultations ............................................................................................................................................... 24 Table 4: Identified Potential Stakeholders and their level of influence ................................ 46 Table 5: Stakeholder prioritization........................................................................................ 66 Table 6: Grievance Redress procedures at the different levels of administration ................ 70 Table 7: Description of the anthropogenic and natural direct drivers of deforestation and forest degradation in the Oromia region ............................................................................. 106 Table 8: Description of direct drivers of deforestation and forest degradation................... 107 Table 9: Description of the root factors and underlying causes of deforestation and forest degradation in Oromia region ............................................................................................. 108 Table 10: -Description of the underlying causes of deforestation and forest degradation in Oromia region ..................................................................................................................... 109 Table 11: The proposed strategic options and the identified activities under each strategic option .................................................................................................................................. 112 Table 12: Analysis of the strategic options vis-à-vis the direct drivers of deforestation and forest degradation................................................................................................................ 116 Table 13: Analysis of the strategic options vis-à-vis the underlying causes of deforestation and forest degradation ......................................................................................................... 119 Table 14: Analyses of environmental and social benefits of the proposed strategic options ............................................................................................................................................. 123 vi Table 15: Analyses of environmental and social risks of the proposed strategic options and the mitigation measures ...................................................................................................... 135 Table 16: Summary of Consultation Conducted at East Wollega Zone ............................. 168 Table 17: Summary of Consultation Conducted at West Wollega Zone ............................ 169 Table 18: Summary of Consultation Conducted at Buno Bedele Zone .............................. 170 Table 19: Summary of Consultation Conducted at Illibabor Zone ..................................... 171 Table 20: Summary of Consultation Conducted at Jimma Zone ........................................ 171 Table 21: Summary of Consultation Conducted at Bale Zone ........................................... 172 Table 22: Summary of Consultation Conducted at West Hararghe Zone .......................... 173 Table 23: Summary of Consultation Conducted at East Hararghe Zone ............................ 175 Table 24: Summary of Consultation Conducted at Arsi Zone ............................................ 175 Table 25: Social Development Plan (SDP) for OFLP-ERP ................................................ 183 vii Acronyms AAU Addis Ababa University ADLI Agriculture Development-Led Industrialization AEZ Agro-ecological Zone AfDB African Development Bank AFOLU Agriculture, Forest and Other Land Use AGP Agricultural Growth Project A/R Afforestation / Reforestation BGRS Benishangul Gumuz Regional State BERSM Bale Eco-region Sustainable Management Project BioCF BioCarbon Fund BoA Bureaus of Agriculture BoL Bureau of Land BoWWRD Bureau of Water, Energy Resources Development BSP Benefit Sharing Plan CALM Climate Action through Landscape Management CBFM Community Based Forest Management CBO Community Based Organization CDM Clean Development Mechanism CER Certified Emission Reductions CFC Collaborative Forest Committee CIF Climate Investment Fund CIFOR Center for International Forestry Research COP Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC CREMA Community Resource Management Area CRGE Climate Resilient Green Economy CSA Central Statistics Agency DD Deforestation and forest Degradation DFID Department for International Development (UK) EDRI Ethiopian Development Research Institute EFAP Ethiopian Forestry Action Pogram EBI Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute EIA Environmental Impact Assessment EF Emission Factors EFD Ethiopia Forest Development EFY Ethiopian Fiscal Year EGSII Ethiopian Geospatial Information Institute EMP Environmental Management Plan EPA Environmental Protection Agency ER Emission Reduction ERC Emission Reduction Credits ERP Emission Reduction Project ERPA Emission Reductions Purchase Agreement ERPD Emission Reduction Project Document ESIA Environmental and Social Impact Assessment ESCP Environmental and Social Commitment Plan ESF Environmental and Social Framework ESIF Ethiopian Strategic Investment Framework ESMF Environmental and Social Management Framework viii ESS Environmental and Social Standards EU European Union EWCA Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority FAO Food and Agriculture Organization FDRE Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia FASC Federation of African Societies of Chemistry FASDEP Food and Agricultural Sector Development Policy FCPF Forest Carbon Partnership Facility FDMP Forest Development Master Plan FGD Focus Group Discussion FRL Forest Reference Level FREL Forest Reference Emission Level GDP Gross Domestic Product GEF Global Environment Facility GECS Green Environment Consultancy Service GHG Green House Gas GIS Global Information System GIZ German Development Corporation GLI Green Legacy Initiative GOE Government of Ethiopia GRM Grievance Redress Mechanism. GRS Grievance Redress Services GTP Growth and Transformation Plan GTP2 Growth and Transformation Plan Ha Hectare HAPPI Horn of Africa Press Institute HFPAs High Forest Priority Areas HoARECN Horn of Africa Regional Environment Centre and Network IAPD Integrated Agriculture Development Project IBC Institute of Biodiversity Conservation Ethiopia (now EBI) ICCO Inter-Church Cooperation Organization IGES Institute for Global Environmental Studies IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate IPO Implementing Partner Organizations ISFL Initiative for Sustainable Forest Landscapes ISLA Initiative for Sustainable Landscapes ISP Implementation Support Plan IT Information Technology IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature JFM Joint Forest Management JICA Japan International Cooperation Agency JIIE Joint Implementation and International Emissions Trading LED Low Emission Development LFRDA Livestock and Fisheries Resource Development Agency LFSDP Livestock and Fisheries Sector Development Project LIFT Land Investment for Transformation LLRP Lowland livelihood Resilience Project LULC Land Use Land Cover MEFCC Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change ix M&E Monitoring and Evaluation MoA Ministry of Agriculture MoCE Norway Ministry of Climate and Environment MoF Ministry of Finance MoUDI Ministry of Urban Development and Infrastructure MoWE Ministry of Water and Energy MRV Monitoring Reporting and Verification MW Mega watts NAMA Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Action NFF National Forest Forum NFI National Forestry Inventory NGOs Non-Governmental Organizations NPV Net Present Value NFPA National Forest Priority Areas NTFPs Non-Timber Forest Products NRS National REDD+ Secretariat OEFCC Oromia Environment, Forest and Climate Change OEPA Oromia Environmental protection Authority OFLP Oromia Forested Landscape Project OFWE Oromia Forest and Wildlife Enterprise ORCU Oromia REDD+ Coordination Unit ORS Oromia Regional State PAD Project Appraisal Document PAGWW Pan African Agency for the Great Green Wall PASDEP Plan for Accelerated and Sustainable Development to End Poverty PDD Project Design Document PF Process Framework PFM Participatory Forest Management PIM Project Implementation Manual PLC Private Limited Company PPE Personal Protective Equipment PROC. Proclamation PSNP Productive Safety Net Project REDD Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation REL Reference Emission Level RF Resettlement Framework RIP REDD Investment Project RL Reference Level RLLP Resilience Landscapes and Livelihoods Project RLMRV Reference Level Measurement Reporting and Verification R-PIN REDD+ Project Idea Note RPP Readiness Preparation Proposal SDP Social Development Plan SEA Strategic Environmental Assessment SEP Stakeholder Engagement Plan SESA Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment SFM Sustainable Forest Management SLMP Sustainable Land Management Project SOs Strategic Options x SNNPRS Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Regional State tCO2 Tons of Carbon dioxide TA Technical Assistance TF Task Force ToR Terms of Reference TWG Technical Working Group UK United Kingdom UNDP United Nations Development Program UNECA United Nations Economic Commission for Africa UNEP United Nations Environment Program UNCCD United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification UNFCCC United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change UNHCR United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees URRAP Universal Rural Road Access Project USD United States Dollar VCS Voluntary Carbon Standards VPA Voluntary Partnership Agreement WaBuB Walda Bulchiinsa Bosonaa (afaan Aromoo) Forest Management WB World Bank WBISPP Woody Biomass Inventory and Strategic Planning Project WRI World Resources Institute WoANR Woreda Office of Agriculture and Natural Resources WoEP Woreda Office of Environmental of Protection WoF Woreda Office of Finance WoL Woreda Office of Land WoWERD Woreda Office of Water and Energy Resources Development ZoANR Zone administration office of Agriculture and Natural Resources ZoEP\ Zone office of Environmental Protection ZoL Zone office of Land ZoWERD Zone office of Water and Energy Resources Development xi Executive Summary Background This Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment (SESA) was updated for the Oromia Forested Landscape Program -Emission Reductions Project (OFLP-ERP) by building on the existing “SESA For The Implementation of REDD+ In Ethiopia Including Oromia Forested Landscape Program Social Assessment” that has been prepared under old safeguards policies for the National REDD+ Strategy commissioned by the former Ministry of Environment and Forestry (MoEF), but now the forest sector is managed under Federal Ethiopia Forest Development (EFD). It was updated along with other Environmental and Social Risk Management (ESRM) instruments such as the Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF), Process Framework (PF), and Resettlement Framework (RF). Also, new ESRM instruments (Environment and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP), Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP), Labor Management Procedures (LMP) and Security Risk Assessment and Management Plan (SRS&MP) prepared for OFLP-ERP. This SESA was updated to guide the implementation of the OFLP-ERP in the Oromia region. Further, this SESA is a critical requirement for the process of the OFLP-ERP and to guide decision making for its successful implementation in a manner consistent with the national and regional environmental and social policies, laws and regulations and the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework (ESF). This SESA also includes sections on vulnerability assessment, specifically focusing on impacts on vulnerable groups meeting the ESS7 and proposes measures for providing culturally appropriate economic and social benefits and/or avoiding, minimizing, mitigating, or compensating adverse impacts; and the process used to conduct free, prior, and informed consultations with beneficiaries/ or project affected peoples, consistent with the ESS7 requirements and the outcome of the consultations informs the decision/design process for the Emission Reduction Project (ERP) There are already pilot REDD+ projects and Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects in the country and in the Oromia region, where experience has been built on. Hence, the national REDD+ implementation and the OFLP-ERP implementation have good ground and several projects of emission reduction activities have been implemented in different parts of the Oromia region. Some of the pilot REDD+ and CDM projects in the Oromia region include the Bale Mountain Eco-region REDD+ Project the Nono Sele Participatory Forest Management REDD+ project, the Yayu REDD+ Project and the Oromia Forested Landscape Project (OFLP) grant and, currently, the new Emission Reduction Project (ERP) which is described in this SESA. Baseline situation Ethiopia’s largest forested landscapes are found in Oromia National Regional State (covering close to 52 percent of national forest resources), which provides critical ecosystem services to the country and the region. Forest cover of the region is estimated approximately at 9 million ha in total. According to the national forest definition, most of Oromia’s rural woredas possess some amount of forest cover within their borders. Most of Oromia’s high forests (moist montane forests) are found in the Bale landscape in the southeast and the Jimma/ Wollega/Ilubabor landscapes in the west. Bale serves as the water tower for Ethiopia’s eastern dry lands in Oromia and the Ethiopia Somali Regional State as well as the Federal Republic of Somalia. Oromia contains globally important biodiversity with endangered xii endemic species such as the Abyssinian wolf and the mountain nyala. Oromia’s western forests are home to endemic coffee (Coffea arabica) that has high potential as a value-added export and harbour wild varieties of the species. Important rivers also originate in or are affected by Oromia’s forests, including those flowing into the new Renaissance Dam, which is under construction. Oromia is also home for the most productive rural landscapes in Ethiopia. Apart from the forest, agriculture, livestock and settlement mosaics are the dominant characteristic feature of these landscapes. More than 88% of the human population of the region makes a living from the land in rural areas. The Oromia region is also home for the largest livestock population in Ethiopia (24.4million) CSA, 2018. However, the practice of unsustainable management of land resources in Oromia has resulted in changes in land use and affects the livelihoods and welfare of the local community. Empirical evidence on forms of land degradation in the Oromia region reveals that soil erosion is the most widespread form of land degradation. The average erosion rate for agricultural land has been estimated at about 40 t/ha but there is wide variation between different parts of the region and between production systems. Several factors contributing to erosion include rugged topography with steep slopes and a thin soil layer accelerated by increased agricultural activities; and high amount of rainfall concentrated in a limited period during the year, which also contributes to erosion as rainfall intensity is a more important factor which has been exacerbated by traditional cultivation practices in which land is tilled before and left bare and loose during the main rainy season. Loss of forest and other vegetation cover over time due to population pressure and expansion of farmland has also contributed greatly to enhance erosion rates over a large part of the region. Forest degradation (emissions from the forestland remaining forestland) is the highest source of emissions in the forest sector. Together with deforestation (forestland being converted into cropland or grassland), they represent about two thirds of the emissions from the rural sector. Enteric fermentation and manure management from dairy and non-dairy cattle are the largest non- forest related sources of emissions in Oromia (ERPD, 2021). Methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) are the primary greenhouse gases emitted because of agricultural activities. High methane emission occurs mainly as a result of enteric fermentation, whereas agricultural soil management contributes with nitrous oxide (N2O) emission. Domestic livestock is the major source of CH4 emissions from agriculture, both from enteric fermentation and manure management. From the estimated total cattle population of 24.4 million in the region, 45 % is estimated to be dairy animals. The key driver of GHGs emission in this sub-category rests on cattle population combined with low efficiency and relatively high emission intensity (i. e. emissions per unit of product) specially in dairy cattle. Average GHG emissions estimation is 19 kg CO2 eq/kg milk among mixed crop‐livestock systems in Ethiopia against an average of ca. 9 kg CO2 eq./kg milk in Sub‐Saharan Africa. Causes of the low efficiency include inadequate supply of quality feed, poor animal health due to disease prevalence, low livestock genetic make‐up, poor manure management, low reproductive efficiency and weak herd management, limited adoption of improved livestock practices and poor provision of livestock support services and Low commercial market off‐take due to inadequate processing and marketing infrastructure (FAO, 2017). Forests have significant social role in the region. A key social issue is the relationship between people and forests which are marked in ways such as forest areas are the base of the livelihoods of people who xiii have adopted agriculture and livestock-rearing as their primary livelihood strategy. Given this, the way they interact with forests has a major influence on their level of poverty. Forest-dependent communities face considerable issues concerning their rights to access forest areas and use forest resources. Both formal and informal social institutions have been established for forest management. Any form of grievances related to forest resource use and access are addressed through the traditional social conflict resolution and in some cases through agreed upon bylaws. Forestry sector generally has a significant social development role in the region. Legal, Policy and Institutional Framework International Multilateral Environmental Agreements, national strategies and policies, regional policies and the Word Bank Social and Environmental Frameworks (ESF) guide the implementation of OFLP-ERP and other forest related projects. The 1995 Ethiopian constitution is the umbrella supreme law of the land that has laid out the foundations for Ethiopia's commitment to ensure sustainable development, environmental and social safety. As a result, Ethiopia has given due attention to protect the environment and natural resources by ratifying international agreements and preparing national legal frameworks pertinent to environment and natural resources protection. The summary of the legal, policy and institutional frameworks is presented below including international conventions relevant to generally for the implementation of the national REDD+ project, and particularly for the OFLP-ERP implementation. Detailed discussions are provided under section 6: 1. Ethiopia participated on the Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 and ratified the UNFCC convention in 1994 and became a party to it. 2. Ethiopia signed in 1997 and become a party to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) 3. Ethiopia signed United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in 1993 4. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) 5. Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, Ethiopia ratified the convention in 1977 and become a party to it. 6. Pan African Agency for the Great Green Wall (PAGWW) Project, Ethiopia became a member in 2014. The forest sector in Ethiopia has received considerable attention in the policy and development strategy of the country over the last two decades. The previous national forest policy and strategy formulated in 2007 has been revised in 2015 bringing in broader forest sector functions in terms of policy and strategy coverage. Furthermore, the Ministry of Environment and Forest has finalized reviewing the “Forest Development, Conservation and Utilization Proclamation which was expected to be ratified when new National Parliament resumed its legislation work at the beginning of October 2015. Though not directly related to the forest sector and to the issues of OFLP-ERP, there are also policies and strategies formulated in other sectors that influence the protection and conservation of forests. The national legal and policy frameworks that are relevant for the OFLP-ERP implementation include: 1. National Forest Sector Development Project, Ethiopia (2018) 2. Forest Conservation and Utilization Policy and Strategy (2015) 3. Environmental Policy of Ethiopia (EPE) (1997) 4. National Energy Policy (1994) 5. Water Resources Management Policy (1999) xiv 6. The National Social Protection Policy (NSPP) and Strategy (NSPS) (2014) 7. Gender mainstreaming strategy and guideline (2010) 8. Climate Resilient Green Economy Strategy (CRGE) (2011 -2030) 9. National Policy of Women (1993) 10. Biodiversity Conservation and Research Policy (1998) 11. Construction industry policy (2012) 12. Health policy (1993) 13. The national HIV/AIDS policy (1998) 14. The National Policy on Women (1993) 15. Environnemental Impact Assessment Proclamation (EIA) (No.299/2002) 16. Development, Conservation and Utilization of Wildlife proclamation (2007) 17. Proclamation No. 1161/2019: Expropriation of Land for Public Purposes, Payments of Compensation and Resettlement of Displaced People 18. Regulation No. 472/2020 on Expropriation and Valuation and Compensation and Resettlement 19. Rural Land Administration and Land use proclamation (2005) 20. Proclamation No. 209/2000 Research and Conservation of Cultural Heritage 21. Proclamation on Access to Genetic Resources and Community Knowledge, and Community Rights Proclamation (2007) 22. The labor Proclamation No. 1156/2019 23. Gender Based Violence Proclamation No. 1097/2018 24. Action on Health response to Gender Based Violence/Sexual Violence (2020-2025 25. Public Health Proclamation No.200/2000 26. The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopian MoH Protocol for COVID-19 27. Protocol on Workplace Response to COVID-19 in Ethiopia National development strategy initiatives include: 1. Climate Resilient Green Economy Strategy (CRGE) 2. Second Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP) for the period 2015/16-2020/21 3. The Updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC-Update, 2021), 4. Lowlands Livelihood Resilience Project (LLRP 2019-2025) 5. Sustainable Land Management Project (SLMP 2) 6. The Productive Safety Net Project (PSNP)-4 7. RLLP (Extension of SLMP 2 - Resilient Landscape and Livelihood Project) 8. Ten Years Development Plan-2021-2030 9. The Low Emission Development Strategy 2050 (LEDS-2050) 10. REDD+ Joint Forest Management in Five Woredas in Illu Ababora Zone Oromia regional state laws and institutional framework include: 1. Oromia Regional State Constitution 2. Oromia forest proclamation no 72/2003, 3. Regulation to Provide for the Establishment of the Oromia Regional State Forest Enterprises Supervising Agency, No 84/2007. World Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) 1. ESS1: Assessment and Management of Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts xv 2. ESS 2: Labor and Working Conditions 3. ESS3: Resource Efficiency and Pollution Prevention and Management 4. ESS 4: Community Health and Safety 5. ESS 5: Land Acquisition, Restrictions on Land Use and Involuntary Resettlement 6. ESS6: Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Natural Resources 7. ESS7: Indigenous Peoples/Sub-Saharan African Historically Underserved Traditional Local Communities 8. ESS8: Cultural Heritage 9. ESS 10: Stakeholder Engagement and Information Disclosure Analysis of drivers of deforestation and forest degradation in Oromia region The primary drivers of deforestation and forest degradation in Oromia region can be categorized into direct and indirect drivers. The former includes small-scale conversions for agricultural expansion and wood extraction for firewood and charcoal production that are carried out by investors and small-scale farmers/pastoralists. The indirect drivers include ineffective land-use planning and enforcement at micro-level, and inadequate cross-sectoral policy and investment coordination. The main direct driver, small-scale and commercial/large- scale agriculture, account for 85 % and 15 % of the total forest loss, respectively. In terms of degradation, wood fuel is the main driver affecting forests, with roughly 68% of degradation emissions attributed to wood fuel collectors/producers. Extensive extraction of fuel wood for both commercial and subsistence energy is a driver of degradation nationally and throughout the region. For instance, more than 40% of the annual charcoal supply to Addis Ababa comes from the Rift Valley areas (Benzin & Serk, 2013). The activity is aggravated by inefficient traditional charcoal production technologies. Fuel-wood extraction is most prominent in surrounding urban areas, as these areas have high demand for fuelwood. The extent of biomass scarcity is exemplified by the long travel distances currently required for wood collection. Most charcoal and wood fuel production are conducted informally without any license. The main underlying causes of deforestation and forest degradation in the Oromia region are population growth and migration; ineffective land-use planning; and inadequate cross-sectoral policy and investment coordination; and specifically changes in policies linked to land tenure and agricultural intensification, market drivers, environmental degradation, poverty, food insecurity and infrastructure development. As well as issues of rule of law, law enforcement and government capacity on-the-ground, land tenure and the delays in land licensing and certification process, and government policies related to the Growth and Transformation Plan and Master Land Use Planning for the Oromia region. List of direct drivers of deforestation and forest degradation • Small-scale agriculture • Large-scale agriculture • Fuel wood extraction • Charcoal production • Logging (legal and illegal, Construction wood extraction • Forest coffee planting • Livestock grazing xvi • Mining (small artesian and large scale industr Anthropogenic • Roads and infrastructure • Invasive alien species • Fires/human caused including fires Direct driver • Wildfire • Climate change/Droughts • Pests and diseases Natural • Floods The underlying causes are those factors rooted in the economic, social, institutional, political, cultural, and governance layers with a complex cause-and-effect interaction and operating at different scales. The factors and underlying causes listed below are identified as applicable to the reality in forest loss and degradation conundrum in the Oromia region. This host of factors requires further structural and intuitional adjustments in order to bring tangible changes in curbing deforestation and forest degradation. List of indirect drivers of deforestation and forest degradation Root factors Underlying causes of deforestation and forest Economic • Degradation Commodity markets/prices • Commodity markets • Investment • Urbanization • Unemployment Social • Poverty • Livelihoods • Conflicts • Gender • Awareness/Education Political • Equity (fair distribution of resources) • Resource allocation Demographic • Population • Migration • Resettlement Cultural • Attitudes • Values and beliefs Governance and institutional • Policy (land and forest) • Institutional structure • Law enforcement • Benefit sharing • Tenure and use rights • Corruption • Sectoral Synergy • Capacity xvii Analysis of the drivers of Agriculture, Forest and other Land Use (AFOLU) Emissions and Removals The drivers of AFOLU emissions and removals in Oromia National Regional State are multi sectoral and multi-dimensional. The main drivers are Agricultural land expansion, increase in production, synthetic fertilizer use, fuel wood demand, forest coffee plantation & management, unsustainable logging & overgrazing, high demand for forest products (construction materials including furniture), ecosystem restoration (removal), lack of livestock value chain improvement, poor livestock management and weak extension services. Other drivers are a complex combination of economic issues, ineffective land-use planning and enforcement and inadequate cross-sectoral policy and investment coordination, technological & climate change factors; cultural or socio- political concerns; and demographic factors. At the regional scale, AFOLU sectors represent an important source of emissions, being forestland remaining forestland (forest degradation), enteric fermentation from cattle, forestland converted to grassland and forestland converted to cropland (deforestation). Description of the Prioritized Strategic Options (SOs) to tackle the key drivers and to achieve the overall goal of emission reduction in the OFLP-ERP The national REDD+ Strategy identified a comprehensive range of strategic options for this SESA, broadly categorized into policy and institutional measures, targeted sector- based measures and crosscutting issues. They are inclusive of the different strategic options identified in the CRGE, the R- PP and the regional REDD+ pilots. The strategic options were assessed vis-à-vis the direct drivers and underlying causes of deforestation and forest degradation, and they are all-inclusive and responsive to the drivers with some environmental and social risks. However, based on the social and environmental situation assessment, this SESA identified some critical gaps in the strategic options and proposed what could be considered as alternative or complementary options to address the critical gaps. The proposed and the alternative strategic options are listed below. List of the strategic options (SOs) and brief description of the actions to address drivers of deforestation and forest degradation and emission reduction Proposed strategic options (SOs)Description on how the SOs address the OFLP-ERP goal SO1: Participatory Forest Support alternatives to address deforestation, reduce land-use based Management (PFM) emissions and adoption of improved technologies. including commercial sawlog production SO2: Timber production Support afforestation and reforestation (A/R) on degraded lands and through plantations participatory forest management (PFM) of natural forests including (private or joint-public livelihoods support. investment) SO3: Tree planting Through this strategy activities that encourage commercial plantation by outside of forests (e.g., farmers and individual investors as woodlots and industrial plantations large-scale reforestation for income generation can be promoted scheme by providing seedlings to communities) SO4: Area enclosure and This is a tested strategy that has worked well. Communities can be assisted natural established as forest user groups and formally register them as regeneration cooperatives and conduct restoration through natural regeneration xviii SO5: Enhancement of The strategy promotes and expands agroforestry in agricultural Forest Carbon Stock landscapes, increases application of area closure on degraded lands and promotes afforestation/reforestation by public, private and government sectors SO6: Promoting Expands forest related income generation (NTFP harvesting, PES supplementary income mechanisms, etc.), promotes forest-based enterprises based on wood generation options products; and promote other income generation activities (e.g., mushroom, poultry, silk production, etc.) other than forest SO7: Sustainable Land Promotes Climate Smart Agriculture; assisted Natural Regeneration Management Project (ANR) of degraded sites suitable for reforestation, and combines (SLMP) integration of physical and biological soil conservation measures SO8: Livestock Value Targets to increase animal value-chain efficiency through improving Chain Improvement cattle productivity (i.e., output per head of cattle via higher production project per animal and an increased off-take rate) SO9: Expansion of Adoption of climate smart agricultural practices increasing agricultural Irrigation intensification using organic farming and improved inputs such as high yielding seeds and varieties SO10: Improved Cook Promotes the dissemination and usage of fuel-efficient stoves in urban stoves dissemination and centers and forest areas/villages, and encourages to adopt energy saving reduced demand for fuel techniques for public institutions (prisons, army barracks, universities, wood and charcoal hospitals) through increased efficiency and providing alternatives SO11: Improved kilns for Introducing and promoting modern charcoal production technologies, and charcoal production promoting commercial tree planting for wood and charcoal production, increase from both sustainably managed natural forests and plantations SO12: Off-grid Use of feasible alternative energy sources (LPG, biogas, biofuel) in off- grid electrification (by areas, promoting and enhancing solar energy technologies and home solar providing sustainable systems energy sources in remote areas where grid is not viable) SO13: Formalize charcoal Encourage and promote charcoal as an export commodity, and increasing supply chain supply of wood and charcoal through increased afforestation and reforestation; and promote charcoal production and trade as alternative income source from a sustainably managed commercial forest SO14: Promoting Increase engagement in forest related income generation (NTFP supplementary income harvesting, PES mechanisms, etc.), expand and encourage forest-based generation options enterprises based on wood products; SO15: Benefit Sharing Maintain and encourage equitable distribution of the costs and benefits of forest management, solicit stakeholders to participate in REDD+ actions, and share benefit to eligible ones SO16: Capacity Building Encourage provision of material support to those engaged in OFLP-ERP activities; and provide technical training to experts in carbon business, provide local and international experience sharing to those engaged in REDD+ process SO17: Ensure full Encourage and lead main streaming of gender in REDD+ process to benefit participation and equitable women, develop women-specific knowledge on natural resource benefit sharing for women management SO18: Inter-sectoral Create and ensure strong coordination among relevant stakeholders coordination on planning and implementation xix SO19: Ensuring effective Promote effective implementation of laws and regulations, promote forest governance and law protection of natural forest, and provide adequate financing of forestry enforcement institutions. The OFLP-ERP has two major components. The first is the purchase of Emission Reduction (ERCs) and subsequent distribution by applying an agreed Benefit Sharing Plan and the second component is Comprehensive Measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) system and project management including Safeguards Management system. The first component includes purchase of the ERCs coming from the sound management of landscape as well as the distribution of the net revenues according to the BSP, while the second component is expected to provide financing for specific enabling environment activities such as (i) the finalization of the MRV system development, capacity building training on ER monitoring for the livestock sector and (ii) the operating cost related to the project management until the government receives the 1st ERC payment. The two OFLP-ERP project components have multiple environmental and social benefits that can bring significant improvement in local livelihoods and ecosystem health. Some of the potential benefits are described and summarized below: Description of the environmental and social benefits of the OFLP-ERP project Environmental benefits Social benefits The OFLP-ERP is mainly expected to promote emission The OFLP-ER Project is designed to generate revenues reductions through the underlying/planned actions and and to provide financial incentives to support sustainable measures which address the drivers of deforestation and forest management, conservation, and restoration, which forest degradation and generate benefits for local in turn enhance environmental, social and economic communities through the adoption of sustainable and benefits. productive land uses and improved forest management. ● The OFLP-ERP in general provides a wider range of In addition, the Project is anticipated to have positive interrelated co-benefits in biodiversity conservation, impacts on vulnerable and historically underserved groups climate change adaptation, and ecosystem services, and systematically excluded these groups through better social and broader economic benefits. forest governance, more inclusive decision making, and improvement of the livelihoods of people with small land holdings through income generating activities based on the criteria outlined in the BSP. ● The OFLP-ERP The project also benefits the country The sub-project activities create job opportunities for the to achieve its national ambition for green growth, as local communities living in the target or adjacent areas. articulated in the GTP-2, the CRGE strategy and the Particularly, the vulnerable groups (youth and women) recent Ten-Year Perspective Development Plan by will have the chance to be employed during the ensuring readiness to utilize financing related to implementation of the project activities. REDD+. ● ERP improves land-use and management practices, The sub-project activities will create market opportunities such as low-emissions agriculture, agroforestry and for local communities to supply inputs/raw materials to ecosystem conservation and restoration. ERP promotes contractors during construction and rehabilitation of sustainable land-use planning, and this contributes to social services centers. different health benefits and disaster prevention in the intervention areas. ● ERP improves the physical properties of soil like; The climate financing will be channeled through an improving infiltration rate, water-holding capacity, ERPA to be signed with the World Bank. The ERPA permeability, aeration, plasticity, and nutrient-supplying payments will further be distributed to beneficiary ability, are influenced by the size, proportion, communities to support their livelihoods and improve the arrangement and mineral position of the soil particles. social and environmental services. ● ERP has a significant positive impact on biodiversity ERP will contribute in reducing deforestation by conservation and restoration, livelihoods and the protecting and improving the livelihoods of forest- xx preservation and recovery of a broad range of ecosystem dependent communities, and the protection of ecosystem services provided by forests. These benefits are very servicers, including: biodiversity, improved water quality, much interlinked and can have an impact well beyond soil fertility, flood and erosion control, and habitats of the the boundaries of the forest itself. animals within the forest catchment areas. Analysis of environmental and social risks and mitigation measures of the OFLP-ERP activities Environmental Mitigation measures Social Risks Mitigation measures Risks Community and - Ensure compliance with national Social concerns -Strengthening the management occupational health OHS requirements and best related to the of social issues at the project and safety issues practice; existence of level, including screening of - Provide appropriate PPE to all underserved and risks as guided by the Social construction workers and enforce vulnerable groups Development Plan (SDP); use; in the ERP areas Strengthening community Develop agrochemical engagement and consultations; management plan describing - Strengthening the ERP’s handling, storage, use and communication and disposal of all agrochemicals used information dissemination on the schemes strategy; Disturbance of - Ensure sound design of all Lack of -Capacity building for Kebelee environmentally structures, taking into account soil Awareness, governments and facilitators in sensitive areas due susceptibility to erosion; Management participatory village planning to soil-and water - Ensure structures are Capacity and processes; conservation (SWC) continuously and routinely Participation -Regulatory support for the use activities maintenance – checking structures of Kebele funds to support the soundness (cracks, erosion around ERP; edges), desalting, etc.; - For small dams, prepare dam break analysis Contamination and Implementation of EHS guidelines on Restriction of If the procedures or standards Pollution integrated waste management at the access to natural of other responsible agencies village level through capacity building resources due to do not meet the relevant projects ERP intervention requirements of ESS 5, the -Implementation of EHS guidelines on might impose waste management through technical conflict among Borrower will prepare assistance projects traditional supplemental arrangements or seasonal migrant provisions for inclusion in the forest resource resettlement plan to address users including identified shortcomings. pastoralists The plan will also specify financial responsibilities for each of the agencies involved, appropriate timing and sequencing for implementation steps, and coordination arrangements for addressing financial contingencies or responding to unforeseen circumstances. xxi Leakages or Enforcement of the existing policies Gender Inequality The ER Project seeks to Displacements and such as forest policies and also more and Social mainstream gender-sensitive Reversals stringent procedure for licensing of Exclusion: and inclusive development approaches to address gender activities in forest areas, especially for and exclusion issues in the ERP mining and estate crops. Disturbance of soil Standards and procedures for site Loss and/or -Strengthening the capacity of through excavation, selection with full compliance to ESIA Damage of the licensing process by levelling, clearance guidelines Physical and inclusion of SDP results to of surface Cultural protect physical cultural vegetation in -Design of the infrastructure should Resources heritage construction sites provide sufficient drainage Strengthening dispute will expose soil for management options so that erosion settlement by inclusion of water and wind cannot take place. biodiversity management erosion framework and/or physical cultural resources management plan into the process Construction waste To reduce dust, use appropriate ERP The existing mechanism for (paints, cement, saw construction site management interventions may protecting and restoring dust, etc.) will affect guidelines (e.g., sprinkling the surface indirectly affect cultural heritage will be the air quality and with water to minimize dust blow areas and/or maintained and if necessary, may cause air during construction and rehabilitation) access to further strengthened to ensure pollution areas/objects the protection and avoidance of (both tangible degradation of physical cultural and intangible) resources that may include that are regarded forests themselves. Necessary as sacred sites by measures to meet the local provisions of ESS8 will be communities implemented through intensive engagement with potentially affected communities. Construction -Comply with environmental standards Inappropriate The E and S specialists should leftover materials and national guidelines on handling methods for work in collaboration with the (cement bags, and disposal of harmful waste property independent consultant, wrappings and substances from health facilities valuation and independent agency property packaging -Use recommended waste collection, administration of valuation committee, and cardboards, wood handling, transport and disposal resettlement resettlement committee, and pieces, concrete, methods assistances woreda administration in paints, etc…) including handling property valuation, carelessly disposed compensation resettlement assistance and compensation. Observations and Recommendations General Concerns ✓ OFLP-ERP may suspend the communities trust on the project, government and sectors is going to be compromised and this may lead to conflict among the community and project implementing actors. ✓ Complaint by the group who are excluded from benefiting in ERP ✓ Gaps between expected benefit and actual benefit/payment ✓ Conflict resulted due to the ownership claim of the community members and ERP ✓ Lack of proper implementation approach may lead to deforestation ✓ Land based competition and community conflict over resources allocation ✓ Over expectation on benefit sharing and undermining benefits xxii ✓ Disagreement between community and forest management actors ✓ Conflict of interest on forest management and expanding agriculture land, ✓ Variation on the expected benefit and actual payment to the community may result in conflict and lack of trust in the government ✓ Conversion of Farmland use type to forest land use type ✓ An increase in the dependency of the community on the benefits of ERP ✓ Access restrictions on the natural resources’ utilization can be a source of competition for community members and other stakeholders ✓ It can be a source of corruption for community members and other stakeholders ✓ Increase pressure on land for additional yields due to forest conservation ✓ Conflict on the members of the CBO on the implementation of benefit sharing activities ✓ Increase pressure on other areas due to the price increase in the forest products. ✓ Forced land acquisition ✓ Involuntary resettlement and loss of business and assets ✓ Compromising the rights of local community ✓ Potential risk of soil erosion, and flooding’ ✓ Potential risk on biodiversity or potential for the introduction of invasive species in the intervention areas ✓ Deforestation is due to the lack of clear boundary between farmland and forest, ✓ Loss of assets during the establishment of plantation sites ✓ Un intended impact like expansion of deforestation, ✓ Delay on benefit sharing distribution ✓ Role overlaps among the staff of different WB financed projects like; PSNP, CALM and other projects vis-à-vis the role of ORCU staff ✓ Low capacity of the hosting institutions at zone, woreda and kebele levels to execute activities and hence affects the effectiveness of project implementation ✓ Depending on few or one crop species during plantation and biodiversity loss Recommendations ✓ Mainstreaming ERP into the government’s long term development plans and strategies ensures sustainability. ✓ Multi-stakeholder consultation and local level capacity building is critical to ensure project relevance and to get buy-in from Project stakeholders. ✓ Coordination of existing ERP relevant investments could reduce the amount of actual investment required for implementing ERP. ✓ A strong cross-sectoral coordination is crucial to deliver ERP. ✓ Focusing on non-carbon benefits during community consultations can help manage expectations. ✓ It is important to issue certificate of forest title deed to organized forest beneficiaries to overcome the long-standing sense of insecurity by communal resource management group. Certificate of forest title deed and forest management plan is particularly required for patches of forest outside forest priority areas. Improving the overall information system about forest tenure rights is crucial to enhance the overall forest tenure governance system in Oromia. ✓ Address the critical challenges related to lack of clear forest boundary and criteria to enroll cooperative members. The traditional forest tenure rights held by local community and other groups as customary tenure systems need to be officially recognized and clearly aligned with the statutory framework. This includes amending the existing legal framework to recognize customary use rights and traditional institutions like Gedda system as entity to be involved in natural resource management. xxiii ✓ It is necessary to develop a comprehensive guideline that supports multiple rights to co-exist on the same plot of forest land. ✓ Government should devise alternative mechanisms for non-cooperative members such as unemployed youth and those who have lost their customary access due to the establishment of the new system. Alternative mechanisms to consider include encouraging value addition and value chain development where members and non-members are effectively linked in the commodity chains of legally harvested forest products. Further comprehensive study is also recommended to identify feasible alternative livelihood strategies for landless and unemployed youth living in and around forested areas in Oromia. ✓ Encourage and strengthen community level alternative dispute resolutions through arbitration that reduce costs and enable community members to use their time for other productive purposes. It also requires revision of the legal framework that recognizes and enforces decisions and agreements made through community level arbitration. ✓ When revising the legal framework, it should establish clear procedures to build the capacity of community-based tenure dispute resolution bodies by training expertise in alternative dispute resolution, providing legal materials and working space. For example, the capacity building efforts for the community-based dispute resolution bodies can be strengthened by linking with the legal aid centers established by various universities in the country to provide legal support for poor and vulnerable groups. ✓ During forest concession allocation and operation, it is crucial to conduct and publicly disclose social and environmental impact assessments, establish equitable social agreements with local communities, put in place appropriate avoidance and mitigation measures, regular monitoring, reporting, and take corrective measures when negative social or environmental impacts are detected. ✓ Improving the functionality of the GRC /Strengthening the functioning capacity of GRM systems that address local grievances and to operate in tandem with local institutions (Waldaa Jiraatota Bosonaa and Waldaa Bulchiinsa Bosonaa) when designing and implementing the OFLP-ERP related sub-activities, particularly for those with potential social and environmental impacts. ✓ Accurate and up-to-date information and records that contain comprehensive legal and spatial information about forest concession and their operations should be maintained centrally both at regional state and federal level and should be freely accessible by the public. ✓ Capacity building for Kebele governments and facilitators in participatory village planning processes; ✓ Regulatory support for the use of Kebele funds to support the ERP; ✓ Facilitating participatory mapping of Kebele boundaries (especially in areas with history of conflicts and/or disputes); ✓ Community capacity building (led by ORCU) on good agricultural practices, provisions of affordable technology, and technical support for sustainable business development; ✓ Strengthening community engagement and consultations; ✓ Tailoring delivery and approach for training based on local contexts; ✓ Technical facilitation for conservation partnership, including simplifying requirements for legal documentation; ✓ Strengthening the capacity of the licensing process by inclusion of SDP results to protect physical cultural heritage; ✓ Strengthening the capacity of the licensing process by inclusion of Physical Cultural Resources Management Plan of the ESMF; ✓ Strengthening dispute settlement by inclusion of biodiversity management framework and/or physical cultural resources management plan into the process. ✓ Ensure compliance with national OHS requirements and best practice; xxiv ✓ Provide appropriate PPE to all construction workers and enforce use; ✓ Develop agrochemical management plan describing handling, storage, use and disposal of all agrochemicals used on the schemes; ✓ Train beneficiaries in the handling, storage, application and disposal of all agrochemicals; ✓ Ensure sound design of all structures, taking into account soil susceptibility to erosion; ✓ Ensure structures are continuously and routinely maintenance – checking structures soundness (cracks, erosion around edges), desalting, etc.; ✓ For small dams, prepare dam break analysis; ✓ Harnessing ERP activities as proposed and effectively communicating with all community members about the benefits and components of the ERP; ✓ Establishing appropriate MRV and safeguard system before the effective implementation of the ERP; ✓ Working on capacity building and the reinforcement of all the project activities; ✓ Maintaining effective institutional responsibility and developing accountability in benefit sharing mechanisms; ✓ The FDRE shall issue a proclamation/ regulation or guideline on ERPA and mechanisms of benefit sharing in order to reduce community distrust on government and other confrontations that may arise on government sectors; ✓ Primarily focusing on voluntary land donation and communal lands; ✓ Managing human interference in the wildlife territories; ✓ Increasing forest benefits and alternative livelihood options; ✓ Working on project implementation related law enforcement and awareness creation sessions; ✓ Developing and utilizing land use planning in a view of sustainable land management; ✓ Capacity building and institutionalization of the principles of WB Environment and social safeguards on the implementation of the project; ✓ Providing enough budget and logistics for the project staff especially from the government side; as it stands the allocation is minimum or no budget at all; ✓ Increase the options for energy sources in order to reduce the pressure on the forest resources; ✓ Strengthening institutional capacity and structure of hosting and implementing institutions starting from Kebele to region levels; and ✓ Developing a detailed guideline on the management of benefits which is contextualized in line with the contexts of the local areas. xxv xxvi 1. Introduction 1.1. Background For the past decade, Ethiopian climate policy has been governed by its Climate Resilient Green Economy (CRGE) Strategy, adopted in 2011 (FDRE, 2011). Under the Strategy, Ethiopia aims to achieve middle income status by 2025 while building a green economy. The strategy identifies four key pillars to building Ethiopia’s green economy: improving agricultural production, protecting and re-establishing forests, expanding renewable energy, and using energy-efficient technologies. Initially, the strategy was not consistent with the country’s development plan, the five-year Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP-I), which had been adopted in 2010. However, it was incorporated into the country’s second Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP-II), which set objectives for the 2015-2020 periods. The CRGE Strategy is also the basis of Ethiopia’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). The NDC sets a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction target for 2030, conditional on international support. The NDC further indicates Ethiopia’s intention to achieve carbon neutrality in the long term; however, it does not indicate a target year for this goal. Ethiopia is in the process of updating its NDC and is receiving support from the NDC Partnership to do so. Ethiopia has also updated its NDC building on the 10YDP and with extensive review and participation of relevant stakeholders Very recently (July 2021), covering the period between 2020 and 2030 through building upon several national climate and development policy initiatives including the first NDC, the CRGE mid-term review, the emerging 2050 Long Term Low Emission Development Strategy (LT-LEDS), the Green Legacy Initiative, and Ethiopia’s 10YDP which considers CRGE as one of its strategic pillars for the period 2020-2030. The OFLP-ERP aims to make payments to the Program Entity for measured, reported and verified Emissions Reductions Credits (ERCs) from reduced deforestation, forest degradation, enhancement of forest carbon stocks (REDD+), Agriculture and other Land Use Sectors that meet the GHG accounting requirements of the BioCF ISFL in the Oromia State and to distribute ER payments in accordance with an agreed benefit sharing plan. The achievement of the project development objective will be measured through the indicators from (a) the volume of CO2e Emissions Reductions that have been measured and reported by the Project Entity, verified by a Third Party; (b) the payments made for CO2e Emissions Reductions generated by the Project (in USD); and (c) the ER (emission reductions) payments distributed in accordance with agreed Benefit Sharing Plan (BSP). This OFLP-ERP operation is part of the broader Oromia Forested Landscape Project (OFLP) which aims to use carbon finance to promote smarter and more integrated land use practices to minimize forest loss and greenhouse gas emission in the Oromia Regional State. This large-scale landscape- level initiative is expected to foster economic, environmental, and social development while addressing the major challenges threatening the sustainability of Ethiopia’s major forested landscapes in relation to agriculture, livestock, forest, and land-use changes. The principle of the Project is that activities related to (i) enabling investment (forest and landscape management, including soil management and livestock management), (ii) enabling environment (policies, extension services) as well as (iii) Project operating environment ((Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) system, Project coordination, Environmental and Social compliance system...)) lead to Emission Reductions (ERs) over the jurisdiction. Those ERs will be periodically measured and reported by GoE according to the ISFL methodological framework, independently verified and then issued as ISFL ERC. The purchase of those ERCs through an Emission Reduction Payment Agreement (ERPA) will be distributed based on a pre-agreed Benefit Sharing Plan (BSP). 1 SESA is a tool that uses a range of analytical and participatory approaches aiming at integrating environmental and social considerations into policies, plans, and programs and evaluates the inter- linkages with economic and institutional considerations. SESA supports the design of the national principles and practices in REDD+ implementation, role of stakeholders, benefits, risks, risk mitigation measures, carbon right/forest tenure, benefit, and cost sharing. SESA offers a platform for consultations with stakeholders from the higher to the micro-levels. SESA is complemented by an Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF), Resettlement Framework (RF) and Process Framework (PF), Environment and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP), Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP), Labor Management Procedure (LMP) and Security Management Plan which establishes the principles, guidelines, and procedures for reducing, mitigating, and/or off- setting potential adverse environmental and social impacts, enhancing positive impacts and opportunities, and otherwise guiding potential investments towards compliance with relevant safeguards. In updating this SESA, the strategic options for the OFLP, results from the national study on the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation has been used in assessing the impacts of the regional and national goals of the Climate Resilient Green Economy Strategy (CRGE), subsequent phases of the Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP), the National REDD+ Strategy and the sector strategies for forest, agriculture (livestock and crop) and renewable energy strategic options. Besides, relevant inputs were taken from the strategic options proposed in the National Forest Sector Development Project (NFSDP), national R-PP document, the draft national REDD+ strategy, strategic options proposed in the study of the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation for the Oromia Forested Landscape Project (OFLP), the study for deforestation and forest degradation for the Bale REDD+, ISFL Emission Project (EP) Project Document (PD) and Perspective Development Plan (PDP). 1. 2. 1.2. Objectives of the SESA The general objective of the SESA aims to ensure that strategic environmental and social assessment principles are applied to integrate environmental and social of the ERP through considerations of ISFL Emission reduction Project (ERP) Document, strategy action including for the OFLP in Oromia region in a manner consistent with Ethiopia’s environmental laws and regulations and the World Bank’s environmental and social framework, and associated risks are addressed from an early stage in the process of updating/formulating REDD+ Policy, PDP, CRGE, NFSDP, ISFL EP, GLI and many other projects, and incorporated throughout the process. The lessons learned can be expanded to the national strategic options and action plans such as; into the Green Legacy Initiative (GLI) and Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) strategic actions project The specific objectives of the SESA are to identify opportunities that: o Facilitate an understanding of the operating environment for SO-OFLP, ISFL EP, and NFSDP, REDD+ projects, GLI, including stakeholder analysis and the socio- environmental dimensions of the forestry sector in Oromia region and Ethiopia; o Identify potential positive and negative environmental and social impacts related to SO-OFLP, ISFL EP, REDD+ projects, GLI, in Oromia region and Ethiopia; (the SESA process should ensure full coherence and coordination with the ongoing institutional and legal assessment, including benefit sharing for REDD+, OFLP and ERP in Oromia region and Ethiopia, led by the Government of Oromia regional state 2 and Ethiopia); o Design enhanced stakeholder’s consultation and participation approach to mitigate and/or enhance the identified impacts; o Suggest methods and measures to mitigate environmental and socioeconomic risks during SO-OFLP, ISFL EP, NFSDP, REDD+ strategy and ERP implementation; o Assess key socio-economic factors that require consideration, specifically for Oromia Regional State; identify vulnerable and historically underserved groups that may be included/excluded from the OFLP and ERP, and be adversely affected as a result, and proposes necessary impact mitigating measures towards addressing World Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework requirements on social risk management consistent with ESS 1, ESS2, ESS3, ESS4, ESS5, ESS6, ESS7, ESS8 and ESS10; o Propose a set of actionable recommendations by which the identified issues, regulatory and institutional gaps can be addressed. The SESA is being carried out to ensure that the implementation of the OFLP, ISFL EP, OFLP-ERP and REDD+, mechanism contributes positively to sustainable forest management in line with the objectives of Ethiopia’s National Forest Sector Development Project (MEF, 2018) and 2012 Forest Policy (MoARD, 2012). In addition, the SESA would contribute towards Oromia regional state and Ethiopia’s overarching goal of environmental sustainability, climate change, economic growth, job creation and poverty alleviation. With this in mind, the purpose of the SESA is to ensure operational integration of environmental quality objectives, economic efficiency principles, and social and gender equity goals into the Strategic Options of the OFLP, ISFL EP, OFLP-ERP, NFSDP, REDD+, NDP, GLI and CRGE strategy options. 3 2. REDD+ Mechanism and Ethiopia’s Initiative 2.1. REDD+ under the UNFCCC Negotiations The following is a synopsis of the evolution of the mitigation mechanism for REDD+ in the context of more than 20 years of climate change negotiation under the UNFCCC. The main decision-making body of the UNFCCC, the Conference of Parties (COP), annually reviews the work of the Convention. 1. December 1997 - Under the Kyoto Protocol, the COP adopted an international agreement linked to the UNFCCC, the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) was agreed as a financial mechanism to facilitate GHG emissions reductions. At its third meeting in 1997 in Kyoto, the COP adopted the Kyoto Protocol, a legally binding international treaty aimed at reducing the signatories’ greenhouse gas emissions by 5.2% below 1990 levels by the year 2012. 2. February 2005: At COP 11 in Montreal, the proposal for a mechanism for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation in Developing Countries received a wide support from Parties and the COP established a contact group and thereafter began a two-year consultation period to explore options for REDD. 3. December 2007 (COP 13): During COP 13 in Bali, Indonesia (2007), the Bali Action Plan called for the needs of local and underserved communities to be addressed, as well as the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks, (IUCN 2009) two phrases that transformed REDD into REDD+. The same year, two multilateral fast start mechanisms namely, the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) of the World Bank and UN-REDD, were launched with the aim of providing financial and technical support to national REDD initiatives. 4. December 2008: During the COP 14 meeting in Poznan, Poland, the concept of REDD+ was adopted following pressure from countries who wished ‘conservation, sustainable management for forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks’ to be given the same level of priority in the negotiations as deforestation and forest degradation. 5. December 2009: During the COP 15 meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark, the COP 15 report states that developing countries should receive methodological and technical guidance related to REDD+ activities. And the Copenhagen Accord identified REDD+ as a critical component of a broad strategy to address the problem of climate change. 6. December 2010: During the COP 16 meeting in Cancun, Mexico, a REDD+ text was adopted on the scope, scale, national strategy, safeguards system, monitoring system and MRV. A REDD+ partnership and the 'Cancun agreements' was reached. In the same year, Brazil and Indonesia defined voluntary REDD targets. 7. December 2011: During the COP 17 meeting in Durban, South Africa, various sources of finance and 'appropriate' market-based approaches were considered, and safeguards and reference level texts adopted. 8. December 2012: During the COP 18 in Doha, Qatar, while no decisions were made related to REDD+, the issues of climate change had been discussed in depth. 9. November 2013: During the COP 19 meeting in Warsaw, Poland, the “Warsaw Framework for REDD+” was adopted to provide guidance on how countries can harvest available data to create reliable snapshots of their forests over time and to use these snapshots to create deforestation reference levels that are recognized by the UNFCCC. 10. December 2014: COP 20 was in Lima, Peru. Developed countries wanted “nationally determined commitments” to focus only on mitigation, while many developing countries pushed to include adaptation and finance too. Many developing countries insisted on 4 maintaining the stark differentiation of the past, but developed countries refused. In the end, the Lima decision largely sidestepped the issue, which is certain to be a central challenge in reaching an agreement in Paris. 11. November 30 to December 11, 2015: COP 21 the Paris Climate Accord, under Artcile 5, REDD is addressed in sub-articles 1&2. It is reiterated that “Parties should take action to conserve and enhance, as appropriate, sinks and reservoirs of greenhouse gases as referred to in Article 4, paragraph 1(d), of the Convention, including forests”. Parties are encouraged to take action to implement and support, including through results-based payments, the existing framework as set out in related guidance and decisions already agreed under the Convention for: policy approaches and positive incentives for activities relating to reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries; and alternative policy approaches, such as joint mitigation and adaptation approaches for the integral and sustainable management of forests, while reaffirming the importance of incentivizing, as appropriate, non-carbon benefits associated with such approaches. 2.2. REDD+ Initiative in Ethiopia Ethiopia has long recognized the country's vulnerability to climate change impacts and the urgency for a national adaptive response to climate change effects. As a responsible member of the global community, Ethiopia has been an active participant in international climate negotiations and initiated and implemented a number of climate-related national policies. It has ratified the UNFCCC (1994) and UNCCD (1997) and submitted its initial national communications to the UNFCCC (in 2001), and its related instrument, the Kyoto Protocol (in 2005), its second national communication in 2015 and it is preparing the third national communication. REDD+ has evolved in Ethiopia under a policy framework that encourages land rehabilitation through reforestation/afforestation. This is reflected through the national targets to increase forest cover, as in the PASDEP (FDRE 2006), and in the provision of tax incentives for farmers who plant trees on their land, as stipulated in the 2007 Forest Management, Development and Utilization Policy. The NAMA (2010) further outlines strategies for multi-sectoral projects that aim to reduce GHG emissions, mainly through the use of renewable energy resources. Under the NAMA, forestry projects aim at reducing deforestation and forest degradation and increasing carbon sequestration through reforestation of degraded areas and sustainable management of existing forests. In recent years, REDD+ policy seems to have been embedded within the wider CRGE strategy, which works together with GTP. The GTP reflects the government’s ambition to lift the country to middle income status by 2025. The CRGE strategy compliments the GTP in that it provides an ambitious cross-sectoral plan for achieving the transition, aiming to nearly triple GDP per capita by 2025 without increasing current levels of GHG emissions. Importantly, REDD+ is one of the four major initiatives of the CRGE strategy selected for fast-track implementation (FDRE 2011a). Key 5 objectives from the CRGE and the recently updated NDC 1 include the following: (a) reduction of 68.8% (-277.7 Mt CO2e) in comparison with the revised BAU emissions in 2030 through conditional pathways on international support and Ethiopia´s unconditional efforts, and (b) improve resilience to climate change. Key objectives from GTP-2 include expanding forest cover by 5 million ha nationwide. As depicted in the updated NDC, based on Ethiopia’s Forest Sector Development Long-term Plan, net emission removals in LUCF can be realized through a) massive reforestation and restoration of a total of up to 15 million hectares (ha), b) the Green Legacy Initiative and Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) strategic actions. Realizing this ambitious plan will increase forest cover to 30% of the national territory by 2030. Ethiopia considers REDD+ as an opportunity and viable source of sustainable finance for investment in forest management, forest conservation, and forest restoration to enhance multiple benefits of forests, including but not limited to biodiversity conservation, watershed management, increased resilience to climate change, improved livelihoods, and reduced poverty (Annual CountryReport,2014). In the past ten years, Ethiopia disclosed its intention to utilize climate financing related to the REDD+ initiative to achieve its national ambition for green growth, as articulated then in GTP-2 and the CRGE Strategy and help address impacts of climate change and achieve Ethiopia’s CRGE Strategy objectives on land-use change, forest, and climate action. With US$13.6 million as grant financing for REDD+ Readiness from the World Bank since 2012 through the Bio Carbon Fund (BioCF) and the FCPF, the GoE has completed its National REDD+ Readiness Project thus making the country ready for receiving and deploying climate financing and other related financing from global and local sources. In particular, the GoE has successfully implemented a set of REDD+ ‘readiness’ activities including: (a) developed a Measuring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) system that will be used for measuring the emission reduction (ER) achieved by the project, which will be used to trigger result based payments; (b) developed a systems for social and environmental risk management; © prepared the National REDD+ Strategy, and (d) established and operationalized the Oromia REDD+ Coordination Unit (ORCU), an entity to spearhead the design and development of the Oromia Forest Landscape Project (OFLP). 2.3. The Oromia REDD+ Project The Oromia REDD+ project, which was started as sustainable forest land initiative, has been developed into the Oromia Forest Landscape Program (OFLP) through successive phases. In the first phase, a mobilization grant financed by the BioCF ISFL initiative aiming to enhance the enabling environment at the state and local level was implemented by supporting actions on the ground for landscape restoration focusing on prioritized deforestation hotspot areas and improving the livelihoods of the local people. The enabling environment activities include complementary activities for improving the effectiveness and impacts of institutions, policies, marketing, BSP, and 1 The updated NDC submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in July 2021. 6 information (i. e. strategic communication and MRV), and safeguards management at state and local levels. The enabling investment activities have been implemented in parallel using the same BioCF ISFL grant to finance investments in PFM (also livelihoods support and selected nature-based community enterprise development) and reforestation in deforestation hotspots in selected sites, as well as extension services and land-use planning support at state and local levels. Additionally, two types of REDD+-relevant initiatives were implemented in the region: (a) Result-based REDD+ projects that seek to sale Emission Reduction Credits (ERCs), such as the Bale Mountains Eco- regional REDD+ Project and the REDD+ Joint Participatory Forest Management Project Phase II in the five districts of Illuu Abbaa Booraa Zone of South-West Ethiopia (REPAFMA II - SW Ethiopia); and (b) initiatives that contribute to REDD+ goals but are not seeking to account for and sell ERs, such as the Bank-financed RLLP, CALM and others. The first grant finance phase will soon be completed in 2022. In the second phase, which is the current OFLP-ERP or the results-based payments for verified emissions reductions, is going to be supported by a legal Framework agreement of an ERPA (Emission Reductions Purchase Agreement) to be signed soon, would be the first jurisdictional instrument aiming to purchase up to US$40 million of ERCs over the next eight years (2022-2029), which is considered as a major step toward large scale climate finance for nature-based mitigation in the country in general and in the Oromia region in particular. The ER payments will be distributed to beneficiaries according to the negotiated BSP and used primarily for ensuring sustainability of land-use interventions, as well as to scale up actions in other geographical areas within the Oromia region. 2.4. Drivers of Deforestation and Major Sources of GHGs in the Oromia region 2.4.1. Drivers of Deforestation and Forest Degradation The primary drivers of deforestation and forest degradation in Oromia region can be categorized into direct and indirect drivers. The former includes small-scale conversions for agricultural expansion and wood extraction for firewood and charcoal production that are carried out by investors and small-scale farmers/pastoralists. The indirect drivers include ineffective land-use planning and enforcement at micro-level, and inadequate cross-sectoral policy and investment coordination. Direct Drivers The main direct driver of deforestation is agriculture; of which small-scale and commercial/large- scale agriculture accounts 85 % and 15 % of the loss, respectively. In terms of degradation, wood fuel is the main driver affecting forests, with roughly 68% of degradation emissions attributed to wood fuel collectors/producers. Small-holder agriculture: Expansion of small-scale cultivation systems has been identified as a major driver of deforestation and forest degradation in both moist and dry forests. Subsistence agriculture is the main economic activity throughout Oromia, with farmers cultivating a diversity of crops depending on the local livelihood systems. Main crops include barley, wheat, beans, potatoes, and cabbage in the highlands and bananas, maize and teff in the lowlands. The choice of crops in smallholder agricultural production systems results in different impacts on forest cover as 7 farming techniques vary with different crop combinations. Some crops result in more forest conversion or forest degradation, such as khat (Unique, 2014). Farmers’ decision for which crops to plant is influenced by a range of factors, including agro-ecological characteristics of the land, proximity to markets, consumption preferences, and price fluctuations. For example, enset - a banana type plant that is found in southern Oromia near the border to SNNPRS - provides a higher amount of food stuffs per unit area – enset has helped to support a dense population in the southern region in general – as compared to many other crop choices, especially cereals and maize. The shift in consumption patterns in both rural and urban areas from tubers to cereal crops (often conceived as modernization) demands larger plots and is less likely to be integrated with other land uses such as forest or crops (Wakjira, 2010). Many poor farming households respond to declining land productivity by abandoning existing degraded cropland and moving to new lands for cultivation. Therefore, one of the main reasons for the destruction of natural forests are unsustainable agricultural practices which transforms forested landscapes into mosaics of managed and unmanaged ecosystems, resulting in habitat loss and fragmentation for many species of flora and fauna. Most small-scale farmers operating in Oromia’s forest landscapes are engaged in coffee production. Current coffee prices lie around US$ 8.65/kg (4 5 0 ETB) for clean coffee at the farm gate, although the response of small-scale coffee farmers to global coffee price increases is different. • Wood extraction for firewood and charcoal: Extensive extraction of fuel wood for both commercial and subsistence purposes is a driver of degradation throughout Ethiopia. The demand for wood fuel as determined for 2009 was 77 million m3 against 9.3 million m3 of sustainable supply (Beleke, 2011). More than 40% of the annual charcoal supply to Addis Ababa comes from the Rift Valley areas (Benzin & Serk, 2013). The activity is aggravated by inefficient traditional charcoal production technologies. Fuel-wood extraction is most prominent in surrounding urban areas, as these areas have high demand for fuelwood. The extent of biomass scarcity is exemplified by the long travel distances currently required for wood collection. Most charcoal and wood fuel production are conducted informally without any license. Charcoal trade is characterized by weak law enforcement as the capacity to enforce regulations and effectively collect revenue is low (Beleke, 2011). The vast majority of households depend on wood o r charcoal for domestic energy consumption, using wood for cooking, heating, and lighting. Traditional biomass (wood, charcoal, dung) accounts for roughly 90% of total primary energy use in Ethiopia and about 84% and 99% of urban and rural households, respectively, rely on biomass as their primary cooking fuel (Johnson & Mengistu, 2013). Charcoal is made using traditional earth mound kilns which incurs considerable losses, entailing four or five times as much energy input as would be required for burning wood directly. Many account the loss of acacia woodland in the Central Rift Valley area to mainly charcoal production and firewood extraction. According to Ethiopia’s recent Biomass Energy Strategy developed by the Ministry of Water and Energy (MoWE), there is a massive increase in charcoal consumption in the past 15 years due to the significant increase in rural incomes, proliferation of rural markets, improved road system and reduced transportation costs and the limited land for growing trees surrounding urban areas. Indirect Drivers The analysis on drivers of deforestation and forest degradation in the Oromia region by a consultant (Unique/Conscientia, 2014) on selected woredas, and the analysis carried out by the Climate Focus (2015), pointed that the main underlying causes of deforestation and forest degradation in the 8 Oromia region are population growth and migration; ineffective land-use planning; and inadequate cross-sectoral policy and investment coordination; and specifically changes in policies linked to land tenure and agricultural intensification, market drivers, environmental degradation, poverty, food insecurity and infrastructure development. As well as issues of rule of law, law enforcement and government capacity on-the-ground, land tenure and the delays in land licensing and certification process, and government policies related to the Growth and Transformation Plan and Master Land Use Planning for the Oromia region. Ineffective land-use planning: Land-use planning is an important tool to support REDD+ by promoting environmentally sustainable, socially sound, a n d e c o n o m i c a l l y v i a b l e l a n d u s e s , a n d by directing economic activities to where they are most suited. The Oromia Rural Land Use and Administration Proclamation provide a framework for rural land administration and mandate the Oromia L a n d Bureau (OLB) to develop a Master Plan for land- use. To-date, Oromia Land Bureau has completed the ‘land resource mapping process, which constitutes the main groundw o r k for land-use planning. The land use planning is still an ongoing process. The Oromia Forest and Wildlife Enterprise (OFWE) has demarcated large parts of the forest area under its responsibility. Some areas, however, remain either outside its concession or cannot be demarcated until the completion of OLB’s resource mapping process. There is a lack of harmonization and consistency between the various existing processes, which currently follow divergent methodologies and technologies. In the first phase of the grant-OFLP, the land use planning process has been supported and strengthened by facilitating inter-institutional dialogue and series of consultations with stakeholders. Despite this, the land-use planning in Oromia has not been completed and remains an important factor. Ineffective land tenure system: an effective land tenure system provides clarity over ownership and other land rights, allows the identification of relevant actors, and incentivizes long-term investments (financial or otherwise) in sustainable management and enables actors to successfully manage their land without interference from intruders. The Oromia Forest Proclamation recognizes, in addition to the state and private forms of forest and land-use rights recognized by the Federal Forestry Proclamation, communal administration and land-use rights over forest. Oromia legislation provides for holding certificates demonstrating proof of land-use right. Land- use rights cannot be sold or exchanged, though they may be bequeathed and up to half of the land may be leased. Several issues impair tenure security and efforts to improve it. The inability to transfer ownership creates some insecurity for private investors, which can hinder efforts to promote REDD+-related investments. There has also been limited focus on assigning land-use rights to communities. Inadequate cross-sectoral policy and investment coordination: effective REDD+ implementation depends on cross-sectoral coordination and the development of relevant capacities among institutions overseeing forest and land administration. For instance, though OFWE’s formal mandate over forests in Oromia is broad and includes commercial and non- commercial activities, its structure as a profit-oriented state enterprise made it focus on commercial activities. Coordination would only be ensured through a proposed multi-sector coordination platform such as the Oromia REDD+ Steering Committee, which is chaired by the Oromia Bureau Head, for land-use issues. Oromia through the OFWE is among the pioneers of the regional states of Ethiopia with more than eight hundred thousand hectares of forest under Participatory Forest Management. PFM presents an opportunity for REDD+ as it can facilitate forest conservation, development, and utilization through community participation. Oromia’s forest legislation provides a relatively 9 favorable legal framework, yet the success of PFM has been constrained by the lack of livelihood benefits provided to local communities. The opportunity that sustainable forest management presents for enhancing livelihoods of local communities is hardly considered and constrained by the absence of suitable local implementation structures. Table 1: Summary of drivers of deforestation and impacts Forest Drivers Impacts Agents ecosystems High Forests Small-scale Deforestation Small-holder farmer cultivation (Moist and Forest fire Deforestation / Variable agents – including dry high Degradation small- holder farmers, hunters, forests) unknown Forest-coffee Degradation Small-scale and commercial farming coffee farmers Woodlands Small-scale Deforestation Small-holder farmer (high and cultivation lowland Medium Deforestation Commercial farmer woodlands) /large-scale Commercial farming Livestock Deforestation / Small-holder farmer grazing Degradation Fuel wood Degradation Small-holder farmers (firewood and and charcoal) fuel wood sellers extraction Sectors/commodity types Deforestation / Small-holder farmers and Energy/Biomass Degradation fuel wood sellers Degradation Commercial and small-scale Livestock grazing/dairy and meat farmers Deforestation / Commercial enterprises, Wood industry/Unsustainable Degradation communities and households timber extraction Investment/Coffee Degradation Commercial and small-scale Agriculture supply chains/Khat, Deforestation Commercial and small-scale Sesame, maize, Source: Adapted from OFWE (2014) 2.4.2. Main Sources of GHGs from AFOLU In the CRGE Strategy of Ethiopia, it was estimated that in the year 2010, around 87% of GHG emission came from AFOLU sector: agriculture with roughly 50% and forestry with approximately 37%. These sectors have also the highest potential for GHG emissions reduction: they contribute around 45% and 25% respectively to projected GHG emission levels under business-as-usual 10 assumptions and together account for around 80% of the total abatement potential. The drivers of AFOLU emissions and removals in Oromia National Regional State are multi sectoral and multi-dimensional. The main drivers are Agricultural land expansion, increase in production, synthetic fertilizer use, fuel wood demand, forest coffee plantation & management, unsustainable logging & overgrazing, high demand for forest products (construction materials including furniture), ecosystem restoration (removal), lack of livestock value chain improvement, poor livestock management and weak extension services. Other drivers are a complex combination of economic issues, ineffective land-use planning and enforcement and inadequate cross-sectoral policy and investment coordination, technological & climate change factors; cultural or socio- political concerns; and demographic factors. At the regional scale, AFOLU sectors represent an important source of emissions, being forestland remaining forestland (forest degradation), enteric fermentation from cattle, forestland converted to grassland and forestland converted to cropland (deforestation); and grassland converted to crop land represents the main sources. A. Forestland Remaining Forestland Extensive extraction of fuel wood for commercial and subsistence purposes, forest coffee plantation & management, unsustainable logging and overgrazing are the major direct drivers in this sub- category. The underlining drivers being increase in population, socio-economic, ineffective policy implementation and enforcement, lack of effective land use plan & absence of clarity in forest tenure. With respect to drivers for removal in this sub-category is mainly due to ecosystem restoration activities. In standing native natural forest not only degradation but also enhancement through ecosystem restoration occurs. Interventions including participatory forest management (with enrichment planting and area enclosure), SLM initiatives and designation of forests as biosphere reserve could lead to enhancement and improved forest restoration (FARM Africa, EWNRA, OFWE, Yayu Biosphere Reserve, SLMP2, mass mobilization by the government, etc.). As a response to the decline of the natural forest area, a plantation project has been initiated on large scale to rehabilitate forested areas, for construction and fuel wood production. Plantations are mainly of exotic species with few indigenous trees in few of the NFPAs. B. Enteric Fermentation - Cattle Ethiopia has the largest livestock population in Africa and the fifth largest in the world. The Oromia Region has about 24.4 million cattle (CSA, 2018), of which 45 percent is estimated to be dairy animals. The key driver in this sub-category is increased in cattle population. This is combined with low efficiency and relatively high emission intensity (i.e emissions per unit of product) specially in dairy cattle. Average GHG emissions estimation is 19 kg CO2 eq/kg milk among mixed crop‐ livestock systems in Ethiopia against an average of ca. 9 kg CO2 eq./kg milk in Sub‐Saharan Africa (see Section 4: GHG Reporting and Accounting). Causes of the low efficiency include: Inadequate supply of quality feed, poor animal health due to disease prevalence, low livestock genetic make‐up, poor manure management, low reproductive efficiency and weak herd management, limited adoption of improved livestock practices and poor provision of livestock support services and Low commercial market off‐take due to inadequate processing and marketing infrastructure (FAO, 2017). C. Forestland Converted to Cropland and Forestland Converted to Grassland The major direct drivers of forestland conversion to cropland and to grassland in Oromia are 11 agricultural land expansion (small-scale subsistence, medium to large scale commercial) & increase in livestock population. The underlying drivers are a complex combination of socio-economic issues, ineffective land use planning, inadequate cross-sectoral policy and investment coordination, specifically changes in policies linked to land tenure and demographic factors. D. Grassland converted to forestland and Cropland converted to forestland (Removal) The major causes of grassland & cropland conversion to forest land are high demand for forest products (fuel wood & timber), high economic return from forest products and the need for restoration of degraded land. The other causes are increased emphases by policy makers for regreening and multiple benefits of forests for ecosystem services including climate change mitigation & adaptation. In Ethiopia demand for wood is increasing owing to population and economic growth. However, domestic supply continues to decline due to deforestation and low level of investment in plantation forests. The state influences the actions of these agents through its institutions and legal framework. Accordingly, the state’s policies are supportive of Afforestation/Reforestation undertakings for environmental restoration, including by NGOs, bilateral and multilateral agencies, while farmers’ A/R activities are largely for economic gains. E. Grassland converted to cropland Causes for grass land conversion to crop land in Oromia (also applies to the rest of rangelands/grass lands in Ethiopia) are many, having complex spatial and temporal patterns of LULC change varying across ecological zones of the region. The main direct drivers for emission from grass land to crop land conversion are farmland (cultivated land) expansion, increase in total crop production, growth in synthetic fertilizer use and increase in manure application in crop land (identical to abatement levers for soil as suggested in the CRGE). However, these direct drivers are highly factored by increase in demographics, unemployment/poverty, lack of proper land use planning and enforcement, government policy (commune system), climate change and others. Population growth: With more than 115 million inhabitants (2020), Ethiopia is the most populous nation in Eastern Africa and the second-most populous in Africa after Nigeria. With an annual population growth of more than 2%, Ethiopia will have more than 120 million people by 2030. Over the past 50 years poor rural families have not got sufficient social security support and turned therefore to various other kinds of social security net surrogates. These surrogates have been, for instance, large families, which provided sufficient household labour for a common family livelihood. Secondly, the families in villages and town communities have supported each other during the tough times. The third social security net surrogate has been exploitable forests, which could provide many goods and services free of charge such as wood energy, construction wood, food and fodder, new farm and housing land and drinking water. Now this path has been driven to the limit and in many regions, zones and woredas almost all available land has been taken into household use except the last remaining patches of forests, which are now under heavy pressure from desperate poor families. Such desperate poor families may not have anything to lose when they are encroaching into degraded forests to startup cultivating chat or coffee or something else, which is able to secure them a living. Factors such as overpopulation, poverty and lack of other income sources are core issues behind deforestation and degradation. 12 2.4.3. Mitigating actions Mitigation measures include creation of an enabling environment at regional (jurisdiction) level while addressing the drivers of AFOLU through targeted interventions. Major interventions to address the drivers of AFOLU include: i) agricultural intensification (CSA, irrigation, coffee plantation & management, etc.), ii) sustainable forest management (Participatory Forest Management, Afforestation/reforestation, Area enclosure, iii) sustainable livestock (cattle) production (improving rangeland management, improving quality and availability of feed resources, improving animal health extension services, improving cattle reproductive performance, improving breeds, enhancing and intensification of animal mix diversification) iv) energy efficient technology (cook stoves & biogas) and v) sound land use planning & tenure security, family planning service & increasing job opportunity, ensuring cross-sectoral coordination for improved outcomes, and effective coordination among investments. 3. OFLP-ERP Components The OFLP-ERP has two components: Component 1: Purchase of Emission Reduction and distribution following the Benefit Sharing Plan. This component includes the purchase of the ERCs coming from the sound management of landscape as well as the distribution of the net revenues according to the BSP. Sub-component 1.1: Payment for Emission Reduction Credits This sub-component represents the payments for up to US$60 million (including options and future phases) for verified carbon performance paid within a period of up to December 31, 2029. These payments will be available once the project achieves, verifies, and reports on results with regard to reduced emissions. This climate financing will be channeled through an ERPA to be signed between the FDRE and the Bank. While the expectation for OFLP is to generate up to $60 million ERCs, the World Bank initially commits to purchase up to $10 million during a first phase based on the ERCs generated by the forest sector. This is because the baseline for the emissions related to enteric fermentation as well as emission baseline under the forest degradation have not yet been defined. For this reason, the initial legal agreement for the ER payments will only cover a portion of the full envelope and the remaining portion will appear as a funding gap. The volume of ERs will be determined based on the comparison between the baseline and the volume given in the monitoring report that will specify the amount of emissions during a specific period. This monitoring report will use ISFL-approved methodologies as described in the ERPD as well as the data generated by the MRV system. After verification by a third party, the ERCs will be issued, accounted in the national system as relevant, registered in the FCPF/BioCF/ISFL registry (CATS – Carbon Assets Tracking System) and transferred to the buyer. The estimated disbursement schedule for the purchase of ERs is presented below. Given the uncertainty related to the implementation of the underlying activities, ER purchase has been set with two modalities: (i) contract ERs (about $40m), which represents the value of ERC that the Bank as a trustee and implementing agency of the ISFL, will commit to purchase if they are produced from the jurisdiction of Oromia in multiple phases. As per the ERPA, the government may still decide to keep the ERCs or sell them to another buyer for a higher price; (ii) option ERs (about 13 $20m), which represents ERCs that the Bank may decide to purchase, at its own discretion, if there are ERCs generated beyond the contract ERs. Sub-component 1.2: Distribution of ER payments as per a BSP The BSP was prepared through a highly participatory process. The BSP provides an operational solution for disbursing the performance-based ER payments equitably, effectively, and efficiently. It is guided by these principles (I.e., equity, efficiency and transparency), and defines the subcategories of beneficiaries, monitoring provisions, as well as the processes for the distribution of benefits (eligibility criteria, allocation procedures, and flow of funds). It was designed by the FDRE during the early OFLP Grant implementation period through a robust consultation process held statewide including with potential Community beneficiaries. A total of about 32 different potential activities for investment using the emission reduction payments were identified on different discussions with community across Oromia. The long list of investment options identified during the community consultations were sorted into the three subcategories: 45% would be invested on social development and livelihood improvement activities, 50% will be invested on land use and related activities that generate more ERs. And the remaining 5% of the shares received is dedicated to serve underserved social groups in the form of revolving fund. This will serve poor households or individuals and youths in the communities get their share from ER benefits. These later groups of investments should be designed carefully not to result in negative impacts, i.e., emission increase rather than reduction. Component 2: Comprehensive Measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) system and project management including Safeguards Management system This component is expected to provide financing for specific enabling environment activities such as (i) the finalization of the MRV system development, capacity building training on ER monitoring for the livestock sector and (ii) the operating cost related to the project management until the government receives the 1st ERC payment. Those activities can be financed by dedicated grants as well as, in the future, a contribution from the ERC payments. Sub-component 2.1: Project Management including safeguards and communication This subcomponent will support operation of the Oromia REDD+ coordination unit and equipment. These costs include: the time of ORCU staff (project coordinator, safeguards specialists, MRV specialists), equipment related with the OFLP execution, operational costs for the coordination unit (Safeguards supervision, field missions, MRV activity monitoring...), as well as any other operating cost as deemed necessary for the successful implementation of the project – including institutional capacity strengthening of the project implementing structures. The operating cost also includes the expenses associated with the standard administrative activities such as budgeting and planning, procurement and FM, annual audits, environmental risks management and coordination meetings at Regional or national level. In addition, it will also finance the expenses related to the Monitoring and evaluation (M&E), communication and knowledge management including: (a) meetings of the review/piloting committees; (b) implementation of the M&E framework; (c) communication and knowledge sharing; (d) planning and dissemination workshops; (e) impact assessment, midterm review, and completion evaluations. 14 This subcomponent can be financed using two modalities: • Following the arrangements described in the BSP, a portion of the ERC payments will be dedicated to the project operating costs; however, the first carbon payment may not be expected before about six months after the end of the first verification, creating a gap between the end of OFLP-grant and the first carbon payment. • To fill the budget gap to support ORCU and the project management, a grant will be provided until at least a year after the end of the first verification period. Once the payment for the first ERC purchase is received by the government of Ethiopia, this component will continue to be financed from the ER payment until the end of ERPA period following the arrangement described in the benefit sharing plan. Sub-component 2.2: Improvement of the Comprehensive Measurement, Reporting and Verification system As the requirements are not met for two eligible subcategories out of six, action plans have been established in order to improve the MRV system. This subcomponent will support the design, improvements and operation of the MRV – in particular for measuring the livestock / Enteric fermentation, for which a dedicated grant will be provided. Improvement on the MRV for land-use change (deforestation and reforestation). This MRV system is already operational for phase one and is expected to continue for phase 2. However, following the current requirements of the ISFL methodology, the ER Project design may have to be updated during the project implementation. In that case, updates on the baseline might be needed during the project lifetime. In that case, the additional work would be financed either by the ERCs payments from the previous monitoring phases or by external funds. Improvement on the MRV for forest degradation (forestland remaining forestland). A work plan to improve data and methods for this subcategory “forestland remaining forestland” has been agreed between FAO, the Norwegian Embassy and the US Silva Carbon project. The technical approach will likely involve the use of advanced image analysis algorithms, including BFast and Continuous Degradation Detection (CODED), to track changes between classes within the forestland-remaining- forestland subcategory. The agreed workplan will improve data collection on forest-remaining-forest by the end of 2023, but additional work may be needed. In that case, the additional work would be financed either by the ERCs payments from the previous monitoring phases or by external funds. Improvement on the MRV for livestock management (enteric fermentation). For the purpose of improving methods and data on enteric fermentation and to build livestock sector carbon measuring, reporting, and verification (MRV) systems in general, this subcomponent will provide a grant to finance capacity development in GHG inventory, emission reduction monitoring and reporting, and related skills both at the national and regional levels across the participating institutions. Sampling and laboratory analysis of feed and manure will also be funded to improve GHG emission factors. This grant will build on MRV development efforts implemented since 2018, aiming to develop GHG inventory tools for the livestock sector, identify data gaps, formulate data improvement plans, and develop data acquisition tools and protocols to address identified gaps. The key activities to be financed under this grant are the following: • Acquisition of MRV equipment: these could include special-purpose computers (desktop and laptops), servers, tablets, GPS, and other data-gathering instruments for the fieldwork. 15 • A series of capacity building training projects on livestock GHG data gathering, analysis, and reporting, using the expertise of specialized training institutions, livestock research organizations, and others, as appropriate • Sampling and laboratory analysis of feed and manure samples to assess parameters related to the quantification of GHG emission; and • Supervision and monitoring of livestock emission reduction by national and regional MRV personnel trained for this purpose, data analysis and reporting – until 2028. The OFLP project supports GoE to strategically mobilize, coordinate, and scale up funding from diverse sources. The success of the OFLP and the achievement of the GoE broader forest, land-use, and climate ambitions depends on the OFLP’s ability to leverage financial resources from existing and future REDD+ related initiatives (e.g., the BioCF ISFL, Nespresso-East Africa Coffee Project, Bale Mountains Eco-regional REDD+ Project, REJFMA-SW Ethiopia II Project, SLMP, PSNP, RLLP, AGP, CALM) and the private sector including the International Finance Corporation (IFC) initiative (TechnoServe), the CRGE facility and bilateral supports, private investments. 3.1. OFLP-ER Project Beneficiaries In line with the REDD+ jurisdictional approach that defines the carbon accounting area, the OFLP will cover all of Oromia’s rural woredas. In these woredas there are approximately 1.8 million people living inside or immediately adjacent to existing forests. ER payments will directly benefit communities and the government according to the rules set out in the current advanced draft Benefit Sharing Plan (BSP): 75% for community development activities, 20% to the government, 5% for activities supporting private sector development. • Beneficiaries of the ERC payment through the Benefit sharing Plan: The direct beneficiaries are smallholders and communities who will benefit from capacity building and the development/social projects to be implemented using the ER payment to be received as a result of verified emission reduction and distributed based on the BSP. Key stakeholders of the ER Project include: (a) forest dependent communities, and forest resource users, farmers, herders, and cooperatives; (b) federal institutions such as the EFD, MoF, MoA, and Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority (EWCA); (c) Oromia Regional State sector institutions such as the Vice President Office for Agriculture and Rural Development Cluster, BoF, OEPA, OFWE, BoA, Oromia Cooperative Promotion and Development Bureau, BoWERD, BoL, local government sector institution at zone and woreda levels, and other public institutions that will directly or indirectly involve in the implementation of the ER Project and/or benefit from ER proceeds; (d) community-based organizations (CBOs such as Forest Management Cooperatives- FMC) and NGOs who provide support to communities and to government agencies; and (e) the private sector entities involved in the ER Project. ER payments will promote sustainable land-use practices that will benefit all communities in these areas. In addition, 45% of the BSP payments for the community development activities will be reserved for livelihood development and social activities. Thus, a large subset of Oromia’s rural population is expected to benefit from the activities generated by the ER payments. 16 The exact number of direct beneficiaries of ER payments will be evaluated ex post, once the BSP is implemented. Moreover, these benefits will only materialize when emissions from the project area are reduced. • Beneficiaries of the grant portions: the grants will be dedicated to the improvement and the operationalization of the MRV, Safeguards management system established for the project and for the project management, M&E and communication. Thus, the grants are mostly expected to build the country’s institutional capacities within the technical ministries and agencies such as MoA, National REDD Secretariat (NRS) and EFD at federal level; OEPA- ORCU, OBoA, OBWERD, BoL and OFWE at regional level. Engagement with civil society. Partners such as NGOs are also working with relevant bureaus/authority/agencies to: (a) prepare, implement, and report on ER activities through joint annual OFLP work plans using the coordination platforms; (b) ensure consistent application of E&S safeguard rules including application of Feedback and Grievance Redress Mechanism (FGRM); (c) maintains application of standard and agreed upon MRV and BSP systems throughout and (b) ensure synergies between existing sector initiatives that affect OFLP objectives. Engagement with the private sector. Similarly, private sector businesses implementing or investing in forested landscape friendly initiatives will coordinate their work with OFLP-ERP. Such private sector entities include, those involved in commercial forest development activities; wood processing industries (small, medium and large); entities investing in commercial coffee plantations and processing (financed by DPs and other locally based firms); commercial agricultural firms including cattle husbandry (for milk and beef); commercial honey harvesters and processors; commercial gum, spice other forest product collectors and processors; improved cook stove and biogas producers and distributers. All these are located in zones and woredas of Oromia and fall in different clusters as identified by OFLP. Coordination of activities at local level will be extended to these private entities too in order these entities’ commercial activities bring in sustainability, where feasible, contributing to more ER at landscape level. 17 4. Approach and Methodology 4.1. Approach 4.1.1. SESA process The Terms of Reference (ToR) for updating SESA was prepared by the ORCU team. The ToR contains the background and purpose/objectives of the SESA for OFLP-ERP as provided in annex 1. The task encompassed the following five steps: 1. Updating the SESA; 2. Scoping; 3. Identifying and Mapping of Stakeholders 4. Baseline data collection; 5. Report writing and submission. The five stages of the SESA process have been followed in an iterative manner as deemed necessary 4.1.2. Updating the SESA SESA ToR was prepared by the ORCU. The qualified social development and environmental consultants were selected as per clause 7.38 of procurement regulation for IPF borrowers. 4.1.3. Scoping The objective of Scoping is to frame the focus, scope, content and methodology of the SESA process, with substantial stakeholder inputs, based on the consultant’s preliminary reviews of: 1) Environmental and social impact management experience in the sector; 2) The legal (national and regional), regulatory and institutional framework with which the sector operates; and 3) An overview of the environmental and social characteristics of the areas most likely to be affected by sector activities. In order to identify the relevant stakeholders, the SESA preparation and updating team in collaboration with the ORCU regional and zone safeguard coordinators has prepared a checklist (Annex 3) and conducted interviews during this process. Revision of the SESA updating work plan Comments were forwarded during the stakeholders’ workshop by the participants from the federal and regional sector offices as well as by the client team members (at the ORCU office). During the field arrangement meeting with ORCU team, the number of sample sites (Woredas) was proposed to be 9 woredas. Incorporating all the comments and the revised sample Woredas, the final inception report with field data collection checklists was submitted to the ORCU in November 2021. The Zone ORCU E&S safeguard coordinators have participated from the zone to kebele level stakeholder and community consultations. Consultation results were forwarded to the study team. Team organization The OFLP-ERP ESRM tools were prepared by two experts, a Social Development Consultant and an Environmental consultant. The two experts have prepared new ESCP, LMP and SEP instruments, and updated SESA, ESMF, PF and RF instruments for the OFLP-ERP. The zone level safeguards coordinators have supported the consultants by conducting zone to kebele level, face-to- face stakeholder and community consultations. Each consultant was in charge of developing data 18 collection tools for its respective assignment and then cross-check the compatibility and coherence of the tools with o t h e r checklists prepared for the study. The two key experts provided training to ORCU team members of the zonal safeguard coordinators (5 coordinators). Conducting field work and mobilizing the team The SESA study team mobilized five cluster safeguard coordinators from February 13 to March 16, 2022. As part of the contract arrangement the field teams have been mobilized to the selected nine zones, 9 Woredas and 14 Kebeles in their respective localities. A total of 239 people (71 women, 168 men, encompassing largely the youth and forest dependent and underserved community members) have participated in the Woreda and Kebele level stakeholder and community consultations. Stakeholder consultations at National, Regional, Zonal and Woreda level stakeholders consultation sessions were held to gather their views on the OFLP-ERP related access restrictions to forest resources; environmental and social impacts of the project components and management of the same, grievances and its management experience in the sector; legal (national and regional), regulatory and institutional framework with which the sector operates; and an overview of the environmental and social characteristics of the areas most likely to be affected by the project activities. 4.1.4. Identifying and Mapping of Stakeholders Stakeholders from different institutions and civil society at different levels were involved including: (i) communities, forest dwellers and users, farmers, herders, cooperatives, and water users who would benefit from OFLP-ERP interventions directly or downstream; (ii) federal institutions such as EPA, MoF, MoA, MoWE, National REDD+ Secretariat (NRS) and EWCA; (iii) Oromia regional state institutions such as OFWE and bureaus of agriculture, water and energy, rural land and environmental protection, local governments and other public institutions that would either directly implement ERP and/or benefit from it; (iv) other regional states that could learn from ERP as they advance their own forest projects and/or REDD+ pilots; (v) community-based organizations and NGOs delivering services to farmers; and (vi) private sector entities involved in providing services such as inputs and extension or in commercial endeavors such as coffee and other forest products. Institutional capacity is slowly strengthening; some of the main challenges include weak multi-sector coordination, overlapping mandates, and inadequate staffing at all levels. In order to ensure the acceptance of SESA by communities, Woreda, and regional governments; public consultations were conducted in nine Woredas of the OFLP-ERP in Oromia Regional State. In each Woreda the consultation covered two sample Kebeles in five of the Woredas and one sample kebele the other four Woredas. Hence, a total number of nine Woredas and 14 Kebeles were covered for the stakeholder and community consultations. The participants of the federal and regional level consultations were those relevant government institutions at the Federal level with their parallels at the regional and Woreda levels. 4.1.5. Collecting and analyzing baseline data With the understandings of the context, the study team collected and analyzed baseline information a background to the environmental and social issues related to the OFLP-SOs (OFLP-strategic options); policy and institutional gaps in relation to t h e O F L P - E R P process; and key the stakeholders that are relevant to the OFKP-ERP activities implementation. This was done by reviewing all previous studies carried out at various times (e.g., the Drivers of Deforestation and Forest Degradation, the OFLP-Strategic Options, the PAD, existing instruments, Statistical abstracts, 19 etc…) and collecting primary data from sources during the field consultations. The methodological steps followed in updating the SESA are shown in Figure 1 below. Figure 1: Flow of methodological steps followed in the updating of the SESA Step 1: Preparation of Essential Documents - ORCU team prepared the ToR for both the Environment and Social Development Consultants in October, 2021 - Inception report submitted- in October, 2021 Step 2: Revision of scope of work - Incorporated comments forwarded on the inception report including the workplan in November 2021 - Arranged a field work deployment plan with the ORCU team and mobilized five cluster safeguards coordinators- in November 2021 Step 3: Identifying and Mapping Stakeholders - Based on findings from SEP, stakeholders are identified in November, 2021 - In line with their roles and potential contribution to ERP implementation stakeholders from the government, WB implementation unit and the community are identified for consultation in November, 2021 Step 4: Baseline data collection - Conducted federal and regional level consultation in November 2021 - Conducted zone and woreda level stakeholder consultation, and Kebele Level community consultation from February 2022 to April 2022 - Analyzed OFLP strategic option - Assessed environment and social impacts of the strategic options - Proposed mitigation measures for the risks of strategic options implementation Step 5: Report writing and submission -Preparation of new instruments like ESCP, LMP and SEP -Updating SESA -Updating PF, RF and ESMF 20 4.2. Methodology 4.2.1. Secondary and Primary Data Collection Methods Primary and secondary data were collected from review of pertinent literature, published and unpublished reports and strategic documents; and from interviews, discussions, and observations in the selected study regions, Woredas and Kebeles. The following steps were followed in the data collection process. • Secondary data review • Deploying PRA • Conducting federal and regional stakeholders consultation workshop on December 23, 2021, and the agenda was focused on discussion on the difference among the WB OP safeguards policies and Environment and Social Framework (ESF); and its implication to the ERP implementation; project components description and discussion on the potential roles of the federal and regional institutions on the implementation of ERP • Spatial Analyses 4.2.2. Secondary data review A set of secondary data pertinent to the assignment (i.e., global, national, regional and local), which included the following were reviewed and analyzed. Policy, Legal Frameworks and Other Relevant Documents Review (See section 8) The following policy, legal frameworks and other relevant documents were reviewed. • Constitution of The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (Proclamation No. 1/1995) • Environmental Policy of Ethiopia (EPE, 1997) • Biodiversity Conservation and Research Policy (1998) • Forest development, conservation and utilization policy and strategy (April 2007) • Regulation to Determine the Power, Duties and Organization of Forestry Development (Regulation No 505/2022) • Forest development, conservation, and utilization (Proclamation No 1065/2018) • National Energy Policy of Ethiopia (2006) • National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (2005) • The Second Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP-II) and Climate Resilient Green Economy Strategy (CRGE) • Development, conservation, and utilization of wildlife (Proclamation No 541/2007) • Environmental Impact Assessment (Proclamation No. 299/2002) • Expropriation of landholding for Public Purposes, Payment of compensation and Resettlement of Displaced People (Proclamation No 1161/2019) • National Social Protection Policy, 2014 • The Rural Land Administration and Land Use Proclamation No. 456/2005 • Ethiopian Water Resources Management Proclamation, No. 197/2000 • Regulation for Payment of Compensation for Property Situated on Landholding Expropriated for Public Purposes (Regulation No. 472/2020) 21 • Regulation for Wildlife Development, Conservation and Utilization (Regulation no. 163/2008) • The Rural Development Policy and Strategy (2001) • Productive Safety Net Project and Sustainable Land Management • Ethiopian Water Resources Management Policy (1999) • Access to Genetic Resources and Community Knowledge, and Community Rights (Proclamation No. 482 /2006) Relevant Natural resource related document reviewed • National Forest Sector Development Project (2018) • ISFL Emission Reduction Project Document (2019) • Ethiopia’s Climate Resilient Green Economy (CRGE, 2011) • REDD+ Readiness preparation proposal (R-PP) (2011) • National REDD+ Strategy (2015) • OFLP-REDD+ project Benefit Sharing Mechanism (2017) • Strategy options for the Oromia Forested Landscape Project (2014): Analysis of causes of deforestation and forest degradation in the Oromia Regional State and identification of strategies to address those World Bank Environmental and Social Standards applicable to the implementation of OFLP- ERP • ESS1: Assessment and Management of Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts • ESS 2: Labor and Working Conditions • ESS3: Resource Efficiency and Pollution Prevention and Management • ESS 4: Community Health and Safety • ESS 5: Land Acquisition, Restrictions on Land Use and Involuntary Resettlement • ESS6: Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Natural Resources • ESS7: Indigenous Peoples/Sub-Saharan African Historically Underserved Traditional Local Communities • ESS8: Cultural Heritage • ESS 10: Stakeholder Engagement and Information Disclosure International Legal framework • International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights • United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNCRC) • Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) • Cartagena Protocol • Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) • Convention on International Trade in the Endangered Species of wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) • Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants • The Rotterdam Convention • Convention on Economic, Cultural and Social rights (UNESCO) 22 • United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) • United Nations Framework Conventions for Climate Change (UNFCCC) • Convention for the safeguards of intangible heritage • Pan African Agency for the Great Green Wall (PAGWW) 4.2.3. Primary Data Collection Deploying PRA tools Different PRA tools (Table 5), such as consultation, focus group discussion and key informant interview have been used to generate primary data. The PRA tools were administered at different levels (i.e., from Kebele to national levels) including but not limited to community, government institutions, local and international nongovernmental organizations, academia and research institutions, private sector, civil society, activist groups and development partners. Community consultations: these consultation meetings were facilitated mainly by the ORCU environmental and social safeguard cluster coordinators. The various consultations in sample Woredas of the Oromia Regional State were conducted from February 13 to April 16, 2022. The consultations covered 9 zones, 9 Woredas, 14 kebeles reaching 168 men and 71 Women. Consultations were conducted with stakeholders at different levels, communities in focus group discussions and individual interviews. Participants for consultation at national and regional levels had been drawn from a wide range of stakeholders (See Annex 4) such as representatives of government organization, major ministries federal institutions such as EPA, MoF, MoA, MoWE, NRS, and EWCA; (iii) Oromia regional state institutions such as OFWE and bureaus of agriculture, water and energy, rural land and environmental protection, local governments and other public institutions that would either directly implement OFLP-ERP and/or benefit from it. For consultations that were carried out at Woreda and Kebele or Community level, depending on the social context of the consultation area, participants had been drawn from representatives of existing ethnic groups, clan groups, social statuses, religious groups, gender groups, age groups, educational groups and, and any other walks of life that the facilitator encountered in the course of consultation and for sought its relevance. Separate consultation had been carried out with social, status, age and gender groups thinking of that opinions would be suppressed in mixed group discussion that may emanate. Local forest users associations such as PFM, JFM, and others have also got due attention in the assessment process. In the selection of the forest user communities, care had been taken to sample communities with/without piloted REDD+ projects in order to obtain balanced views. Table 2: tools used, the levels at which the tools used and the stakeholders addressed by the particular PRA tools Data collection techniques Level Consul- Focus Key Informant Others tation Group Interview National √ Discussi √ on 23 Regional √ √ Woreda √ √ Baseline Data Kebele √ √ Site Observation 14 forest sites visited Consultations were conducted at national, regional and Woreda levels. Participants included key stakeholders from government and non-government organizations. At Woreda level, stakeholders from government and community-based organizations, ethnic or clan groups, community elders, youth associations, and gender groups were involved. 4.2.4. Criteria for sample sites selection Sample sites for the preparation of the reports on ESCP, LMP and SEP and updating the existing SESA, ESMF, PF and RF are selected based on discussions with the ORCU team. Maintaining representation of OFLP cluster zones, relative peace and security condition of the Woredas and the implementation of various REDD+ projects and OFLP-ERP activities are considered as a criteria while selecting the sample woredas. Samples sites Nine Woredas from Oromia Regional State of the country with 14 Kebeles (two kebeles from 5 woredas and one kebele from the remaining 4 woredas) from 9 Woredas, were included in the study. The selection of the sample Woredas was made by considering the representation of OFLP cluster zones, relative peace and security condition of the woredas and the implementation of various REDD+ projects and OFLP activities are considered as criteria while selecting the sample woredas. The list of the selected Zones and Woredas for consultations are shown below in Table 6. Table 3: List of selected sample Woredas for the stakeholder and community consultations Region Zones Woredas Number of Kebeles Oromia Bale Agaarfaa 2 Arsi Shirkaa 2 West Hararghe Ciroo 2 East Hararghe Dadar 2 East Wollega Diga 1 West Wollega Gimbi 1 Illi Babor Aalle 1 Buno Bedele Gachi 1 Jimma Gomma 2 24 5. Oromia Region Baseline Situation 5.1. General Description Oromia is the largest region in Ethiopia in terms of land mass and population. It covers approximately 34 per cent of the land in Ethiopia and accounts for 37 per cent of the population. The population is estimated to be over 37 million people, of which 18,683,000 are males and 18,584,000 are females. The young population in the age of between 0 and 5 years account for 15 per cent of the population (51 per cent male and 49 per cent female),2while under 18 years of age account for 54 percent of the population (51 per cent male and 49 per cent female). The fertility rate in Oromia is higher than the national average, with a total fertility rate of 5.4 (age 15-49 years) compared to the national rate of 4.6. The average household size is large about 5.2 people and it is high compared to the national average of 4.8 people per household. The dependency ratio is high (97 per cent) and most dependents come from the lower end of the age distribution. The population is composed of 88 % ethnic Oromos whereas the remaining 12 % belongs to different ethnic groups (Amhara, Hadiya, Sidama, etc). About 87 % of the population is rural while 13 % are urban areas (CSA, 2017). The climate and topography of the region is very diverse. Mountainous landscapes rising above 1,500m dominate the region. The dominant features are river valleys or gorges, rolling plains and lowlands. The prevailing climatic features can be grouped into three major categories: the dry climate, the tropical climate, and the temperate climate. The mountain area in the eastern highlands (Arsi-Bale) generally receives less rainfall than the middle-highlands in the western part. Projections suggest that rising temperatures, extraordinary rainfall events and more intense and prolonged droughts will become common. The high prevalence of poverty, high rates of malnutrition, high population growth and low climate adaptive capacities increase vulnerability to climate change. 5.2. Social context: cultural and beliefs systems The Oromos have a very rich culture defined from Oromo language, religion, cuisine, social habits, music and arts. Today, the Oromo culture is influenced by the many factors of life and fostered by the size of the population and large land areas with diverse climatic conditions. One highly developed self-sufficient system which has influenced every aspect of Oromo life is the Gadaa system. It is a system that organizes the Oromo society into groups or sets (about 7-11) that assume different responsibilities in the society every eight years. It has guided the religious, social, political and economic life of Oromo for many years, and also their philosophy, art, history and method of time-keeping. The activities and life of each and every member of society are guided by Gadaa. It is the law of the society, a system by which Oromo administer, defene their territory and rights, maintain and guard their economy and through which all their aspirations are fulfilled. As to the belief system, before the expansion of Islam and Christianity, the Oromo had their own traditional religion called Waaqeffannaa, the belief in Waaq (the supreme God). The religion teaches Safuu (do's and don'ts) to help them live together in peace, prosperity and faithfulness to each other. The Kallu as ritual leader is the most senior men in the kinship system. All major conflicts will be taken to them for adjudication. 2 2017 projection based on the 2007 Census; Central Statistical Agency (CSA) 25 The Oromo people have several subgroups who vary in their cultural outlook and livelihoods, although most of them speak the East-Cushitic language Affaan Oromoo (Oromo language). More specifically, the traditional Oromo language is known as Afaan Oromo or Oromiffaa, the written form of which has recently changed to use the Roman alphabet called Qubee Afaan Oromo. Many of the Oromo groups, including the Arsi, Borana and Guji, have developed distinct sub- identities. Broadly speaking, however, there are five main groups of Oromo: 1) The Western Oromo live mainly in the Wollega area and are settled agriculturists. Many have been converted to evangelical churches and other Christian sects by missionary churches. 2) The Northern Oromo live in Shoa and some areas of Wollo are more integrated into the Amhara cultural sphere than other Oromo. The northern Oromo are generally bilingual (speak both Amharic and Oromiffa), and most of them follow Orthodox Christianity. Some pockets of Oromo are also found as far north as Tigray. 3) The Southern Oromo consist of smaller sub-groups without regional cohesion. Many are pastoralists and have a semi-nomadic lifestyle. 4) The Eastern Oromo live in the Harerge area and in the towns of Harar and Dire Dawa. They have strong links to the Arab world through ancient trade routes and the practice of Islam. Many eastern Oromo leaders are vocal supporters of political Islam. 5) The fifth Oromo grouping is the Borana, considered by many to be the ‘original’ Oromo. They live in the southernmost part of Ethiopia and across the Kenyan border. The Borana have partly kept alive the traditional Gada system – among other things, a politico- administrative system – where male age-groups hold the leadership office in the community (Abba Gada) on an eight-year rotating basis. Women are excluded from participating in the Gada, and are believed to acquire influence and privilege by virtue of their relationships with the men passing through the Gada grades. The Gada system goes beyond politico-administrative purposes, but also provides a framework for the Oromo way of life. Pastoralism is a significant socio-economic sector in Ethiopia. It is a tenure system that evolved to meet the constraints of local, often difficult, environments and to facilitate the operation of complex spatial and temporal land use patterns. The communities in the lowland areas keep livestock as a saving investment. The communities in the lowland areas are pastoralists that have a transhumance system for coping seasonal had times. The transhumance system in the lowland Oromo community is a well-known tradition known as Godaantuu (explained in detail under section three). Though sedentary agriculture is the main source of livelihood for the majority of the rural population in the region, pastoralism and agro-pastoralism livelihood system is common in low land areas. There are 33 pastoral and agro-pastoral Woredas in the region, distributed in 6 zones (Borana, Guji, Bale, East Hararghe, East Shewa and West Hararghe). The pastoral and agro-pastoral areas of 2 the region cover about 152,170 km accounting for about 37% of the total area. Its total human population size is estimated to be about three million whereas about 30% of the livestock population 26 of the region is found in pastoral and agro-pastoral areas. 5.3. Traditional governance The governance system called the “Gadaa system” is age old. It is a traditional governance system that is based on age hierarchy. For instance, to take full responsibility for a nation or society “Abbaa Gadaa” (the leader/President) reaches full leadership only at age 40 or on eighth Gadaa. (The Oromo people use base eight as opposed to the traditional Western base ten.) Oromos have a tradition of viewing long age as accumulation of wisdom gained from experience. Therefore, Oromos approach elders as students would professors, ready to learn. The elder of the village or the household is a leader of a given domain and beyond. Responsibilities, light or heavy, are assigned to persons according to how old the person is. The older the person, the less physical responsibilities, such as farming, heavy lifting, etc. are given. Physical responsibilities are usually assigned to the young, physically strong. Elders are given the task of thinking, conveying, and radiating wisdom as needed. When issues such as weddings, death, or disputes arise, the most able and senior of elders are assembled. Issues can be won or lost on the credibility and ability of the elders, much like the quality of counsel defending or prosecuting legal cases in Western cultures. 5.4. Traditional resource management system and conflict resolution Traditional resource management practices of the Borena people are based on complex customary administrative structure of the Gada system that applies the customs and laws of the Borana (Adaseera). The smallest territorial unit among the Borana is the Warra, which constitutes a Borana household. A group of Warra with associated cattle enclosures constitutes an Olla, or village. Clan affiliation is not necessary to ensure cooperation within a village where several clans may exist, and Warra members cooperate based on being Borana and sharing territory. Adjacent villages together constitute the next territorial unit, the Ardaa. At this level, a council of elders (Jarsaardaa) is nominated to deal with the management of communal pasture; and intervenes when there are signs of pasture depletion. Decisions are made at this level regarding lactating stock (Loon Warraa), which grazes around the villages, and dry stock (Loon Fooraa), which must be grazed further away to avoid pasture depletion in the vicinity. Neighboring Ardaa together constitute a Reera, with no rigid boundaries between them. At this level, there is cooperation to mobilize labor for important occasions, and cooperation on the use of ponds. The next level up is the Maddaa, which consists of several Reera and is commonly named after a permanent water point. A collection of Maddaa together makes up the largest Borana unit, the Dheedha, which together make up the entire Borana territory. The Arsi-Bale have well-instituted traditional range management systems (herd management, grazing areas, settlement stratification, management of water supply points, hierarchical cohort-based responsibilities) most of which are designed for conflict prevention and peaceful coexistence. Their views on nature and environment are instituted in their customary laws not only to protect the natural environment and eco-system, but also to reduce conflicts that may arise on over utilization and rapid depletion of resources. The communities have a customary law that prohibits cutting trees without 27 adequate reasons. Some trees are prohibited for their spiritual, economic, social and cultural values. The type of trees grown in specific areas is also an indication of the availability or shortage of ground water. The Gada system and rules allow cutting of trees only for fencing and building houses. Big trees should not be cut, and only small branches are permitted for the construction of Barns. Arsis believes that trees have and sustain life. The Guji’s are also followers of Islam and Waaqeffanna with rising number of protestant (Christianity). The Gadaa is a social and political institution providing guidance on customary practice of the Guji- Boran society to demarcate dry and wet season grazing, with a set of specific rules and regulations. Such cyclical grazing and range management is compatible to the requirements of range ecology, keeps equilibrium of vegetation dynamics by minimizing overgrazing and depletion of water. As indicated above, the grazing land and water points have their own utilization and management procedures. Grazing land is managed by the Abbaa Dheedaa, a person who administers over 15 Ollaas and monitors the utilization of large grazing areas. He demarcates the dry and wet season grazing areas, communal and individual enclosures, and plans in consultation with the heads of Ollaas the cyclical grazing and migration schedule. This system contributes to the productivity of the rangeland and animals and reduces the negative impact of drought and conflict. This approach is instituted in these customary laws not only to protect the natural environment and eco system but also to reduce conflicts that may arise over utilization and rapid depletion of resources. 5.5. Institutions in Resource Management and Conflict Resolution The Oromo people have age old traditional institutions of resource sharing and conflict resolution embedded in their life. They have a strong attachment to their respective institutions and systems, which could also boost the ERP project. These include: a) The Gada system is a political institution of the Oromo where successive generations pass through age-based leadership mentoring to assume the higher positions. It has strong unwritten customary regulations governing forest tenure, resource access, use and management. Kallu is the religious institution of the Oromo. The Kallu also handles conflicts and provides adjudication to grievances. b) Religious Institutions: churches and mosques can involve in forest protection through awareness creation in preaching. These institutions have better acceptance by the community in settling conflicts. c) Godaantuu: is a transhumance system of Oromo pastoralists, and key feature of traditional human use of forest-based resources especially in the Bale/Arsi forested landscape. In this system, livestock, particularly cattle, are sent to higher grazing grounds during the months when crops are growing in lower altitude areas or into the forest for shade during the dry season. When drought hits the pastoral and agro-pastoral areas beneath the forests of Oromia, the people move to the forests with their livestock for grazing, watering and shelter seasonally. The accession of resources during the seasonal migration of pastoralists and agro- 28 pastoralists is governed by the Gada system including, allocation of grazing, watering and shelter areas. Communities from the lowlands of Bale Zone of Oromia Region make influx into the Harenna Forest, and settle for 3-4 months in the dry season. Godaantuu system is a customary natural resource use practice regulated by the traditional institution called Abbaa Ardaa. Abbaa Ardaa regulates the opening and closing dates for seasonal livestock grazing, use area and use patterns of grazing in order to avoid degradation of particular areas, and enable particular groups to control their grazing territory. d) Qobbo: system is a forest (tree) tenure institution that grants first claimers an exclusive use right over a block of forest, usually for collection of forest coffee, hanging beehives and access to other non-timber forest products (NTFP). Once claimed, the forest block is de facto individual property, respected by fellow citizens of the area, and the owner has the right to exclude others. The system is prevalent in Western Ethiopia among people residing outside the forest, but historically have resources (beehives, coffee, spices) paying service charges for keeping and ensuring access to people. e) Waldaa Jiraatota Bosonaa (Wajib) is an acronym in Oromo language for forest dwellers association. WAJIB assists in making certain that local people can share the responsibilities and benefits of forest conservation and take decisions about forestry issues that affect their lives. The process leads to collaboration and a relationship of equals. Most importantly, it demonstrates that if people can get secure access to the forests that have long been “protected” by the state alone, there is a huge potential for forests to play a substantial role in contributing to food security and transforming people’s lives. f) Waldaa Bulchiinsa Bosonaa (WaBuB): is an acronym for in Oromo language, meaning “Forest Management Association”, originally given by a community which established the first WaBuB. The members of the WaBuB are thereby granted an exclusive right to use forest products within the demarcated forest area defined in the forest management agreements. g) Seqe-Ayoo (mother sticks) is a cultural ritual which is exercised by a group of mothers to condemn illegal and non-acceptable activities by community members, also used for forest management. The name of the traditional institution is called “Sadeta” which helps in conserving the forest. ‘Sadeta’ enforces the traditional rules on the local community not to break the traditional forest management regulation. So, anyone who does not abide by the law is pronounced guilty and will be traditionally punished. h) Awlia: is a traditional forest management practice applicable as a fear of the punishment of the ‘Awlia’ (a person believed to possess supernatural power).’ Melkamahiber (a local nongovernment organization) uses the Awlia as an opportunity to protect the forest from any harmful activities. Abakera and Arseda are another traditional believe systems found in Gera Woreda, Meo Kebele supporting activities that protect the forest. 5.6. Most Vulnerable and Underserved Groups in Oromia region Basic principles regarding vulnerable peoples are stated in the articles of the Government of Ethiopia (GoE) Constitution and various proclamations, where the most comprehensive is the Social Protection Policy, approved by the Council of Ministers in December 2014. The policy actions 29 identified vulnerable people encompassing vulnerable pregnant and lactating women, children, the elderly, people with disabilities, labor constrained individuals and households, the unemployed, those exposed to natural and human made calamities, persons living with or directly affected by HIV and AIDS and other chronic debilitating diseases, victims of social problems such as drug users, beggars, victims of human trafficking and commercial sex workers and people with difficulties in accessing basic social services. Different social assessments conducted by the GoE as part of the World Bank’s E&S standards requirement are reviewed to capture socio-cultural identity of the people of Oromia with special emphasis to underserved and vulnerable groups in the region for Projects/Projects reviewed below to capture; i. Women in male-headed and female-headed households: In many communities, women become vulnerable because of lack of education, gender bias, tradition and culture, and their reproductive and productive roles. The OFLP-ERP will mainstream gender equality in sharing project benefits and strengthen grievance redress as part of citizen engagement aimed at listening to stakeholders and seeking their consensus on ERP related activities. ERP activities would be gender sensitive, including such aspects as household energy demand management, household livelihoods support activities, community forest tenure piloting, and the scaling up of PFM structures. The OFLP-ERP benefit sharing mechanism design process, ESRM implementation, community participation and citizen engagement issues, would also include efforts to ensure and enhance female involvement. A gender assessment was conducted. Based on the findings, a gender action plan, mainstreaming guideline, and training plan are developed. ii. Polygamous households: The form of polygamy (multiple marriages; a marriage of a man to two or more women at a time) is a common practice in many parts of Ethiopia including Oromia. A woman joins her husband in his patrilineal village on his ancestral land, the characteristic of a patriarchal society. The women do not own land and other major assets; and are vulnerable to economic insecurity. iii. Pastoralists: Pastoral and agro-pastoral groups have historically been among the most underserved communities in Ethiopia. In Oromia region, pastoral and agro pastoral areas account for 33 administrative woredas and around three million people. Beset as it is by a range of adverse conditions, seasonal migratory pastoralism continues to sustain an increasing population. iv. Unemployed Rural Youth: this vulnerable segment of the population includes boys and girls who have dropped out of school for various reasons at secondary or preparatory levels. Others are youths who have returned to live in their birth villages because of not finding work after completing technical and vocational training or university/college education. v. Most Vulnerable Community Members: these group include orphans, pregnant and lactating mothers, elderly households, and other labour-poor, high-risk households with sick individuals, such as people living with HIV and AIDS, and most female-headed households with young children. vi. Occupational Minorities: These remain socially isolated and vulnerable groups, despite encouraging improvements in social attitudes and the conditions of these groups in recent 30 years. This group are underserved and excluded from different walks of life based on occupational engagements and nature of livelihoods. The people identified under this group are craft workers; potters, smiths, wood workers, tanners, weavers and basket weaving. The form and nature of exclusion varies across cultures, geography, economic status and nature of livelihood engagement, social status, decision making and participation of the political process. (Pankhurst and Freeman, 2001) Accordingly, some of the excluded in Oromia encompass, the Idig (smiths), fuga (wood workers), kallu (tanners) and potters who produce basic day to day implements to farm production and home use. The group are identified based on their food culture (eating wild games) and religious identity (conversion to Christianity or Islam) as factors determining the level of purity. vii. Street Children and Families on the Street: Considering the existing poverty status of Oromia, there are a significant number of street children and families living on the street in Oromia. The families and children on the street are forced to lead a miserable life due to lack of social capital and presence of poor social welfare system in Oromia. Most of these vulnerable groups are neglected by the conventional socio-economic system and often are not able to access public services like the other well-positioned segment of population. In most of cases they try to earn their income through gift, support and also primarily engage in begging and casual labor. Their delicate socio-economic condition left them out from benefiting from the upcoming ERP project. In most cases this segment of population area not represented on the community decision making process. This is against the principles of the ESS7 of the WB and their concerns and interests are not reflected on the community consultation sessions and community development places. Thus, there is an institutionalized stigma towards the families and children living on the street and this often limits them to participate and benefit from community development initiatives. So there should be a streamlined approach towards accommodating families and children living in the street to participate in project design and implementation of projects like ERP particularly focusing on how to consider these groups on allowing them to benefit from the same project. viii. Persons with Disabilities (PWD): Persons with disabilities are one among the vulnerable group who face multiple problems in their day-to-day life. Among others, they have limited access to basic services like; education, healthcare services and vocational training is still a major challenge. The progressively expensive rural life has forced the PWDs (Persons with Disabilities) into street beggars. There are no special welfare projects that specifically target the PWDs on benefiting them to lead a modest life that they deserve to have. The existing problems are more protracted through the cultural beliefs and socially constructed perception in relation to PWDs has resulted in stigma, leading to intensified marginalization of the group. Despite some positive changes, in most target regional states, the PWDs are viewed as outcasts and some of them are hidden from the public or people in the neighborhood due to the social definition of disability as a curse in these societies. We came to learn that all PWDs deserve affirmative intervention and in additions to that there are specific groups that suffer double marginalization like; minorities, women/girls, children, youth, elderly persons with disabilities and others. Since these segments of population are already marginalized by the virtue of their position in the community life is more difficult in the cases of these group compared to the male adult PWDs. 31 ix. Older Persons: At the wake of rural development, elderly people are feeling much pressure on their life and they are often marginalized from being benefited through public service delivery mechanism. The more traditional and unconditional support provided by the family members and relatives to the older person is now being replaced by a formal support system. But practically, elderly people are being left in rural and deep-rural areas without support and financial resources. This reality is also more observed on women. Older women are the majority in rural areas and are the most disadvantaged due to the fact that they have little control over economic resources and are not empowered on different traditional practices. Thus, we have come to understand that getting non-carbon benefit is one of the essential benefits which needs to be provided to older persons apart from financial and other basic service-related supports. In general the presence of rapid change on the social fabric of the community along with assumption that the older people are considered as a burden especially in the pastoral and communities who live in the remote areas; they are abandoned along with people who cannot walk a long distance. Hence, there should be a mechanism to integrate the interest and service demand of the older persons. 5.7. Overview of forest resources base and land degradation in the region Ethiopia’s largest forested landscapes are found in Oromia National Regional State (covering close to 52 percent of national forest resources), which provides critical ecosystem services to the country and the region. Forest cover of the region is estimated approximately at 9 million ha in total (Oromia FRL, 2018)3. According to the national forest definition4, most of Oromia’s rural woredas possess some amount of forest cover within their borders5. Most of Oromia’s high forests (moist montane forests) are found in the Bale landscape in the southeast and the Jimma/Wollega/Ilubabor landscapes in the west. Bale serves as the water tower for Ethiopia’s eastern dry lands in Oromia and the Ethiopia Somali Regional State as well as the Federal Republic of Somalia. Oromia contains globally important biodiversity with endangered endemic species such as the Abyssinian wolf and the mountain nyala. Oromia’s western forests are home to endemic coffee (Coffea arabica) that has high potential as a value-added export and harbor wild varieties of the species. Important rivers also originate in or are affected by Oromia’s forests, including those flowing into the new Renaissance Dam, which is under construction. Oromia is also home for the most productive rural landscapes in Ethiopia. Apart from the forest, agriculture, livestock and settlement mosaics are the dominant characteristic feature of these landscapes. More than 88% of the human population of the region makes a living from the land in rural areas. The Oromia region is also home for the largest livestock population in Ethiopia (24.4million) CSA, 20186. However, the practice of unsustainable management of land resources in 3 Calculated using Ethiopia’s Forest Reference Emissions Level Submission to th e UNFCCC. (3rd version, December 2016, not publicly available yet). 4 The Forest Sector Management at MEFCC defines forests in Ethiopia as ‘Land spanning at least 0.5 ha covered by trees (including bamboo) attaining a height of at least 2m and a canopy cover of at least 20% or trees with the potential to reach these thresholds in situ in due course” 5 Most of the rural woredas have at least 5 ha of forest (2013 EMA map). 6 CSA (2018) Agricultural sample survey 2017/18, Volume II report on livestock & livestock Characteristics (Private peasant holding) 32 Oromia has resulted in changes in land use and affects the livelihoods and welfare of the local community. Empirical evidence on forms of land degradation in the Oromia region reveal that soil erosion is the most widespread form of land degradation. The average erosion rate for agricultural land has been estimated at about 40 t/ha but there is wide variation between different parts of the region and between production systems7. Several factors contributing to erosion include rugged topography with steep slopes and a thin soil layer accelerated by increased agricultural activities; and high amount of rainfall concentrated in a limited period during the year, which also contributes to erosion as rainfall intensity is a more crucial factor which has been exacerbated by traditional cultivation practices in which land is tilled before and left bare and loose during the main rainy season. Loss of forest and other vegetation cover over time due to population pressure and expansion of farmland has also contributed greatly to enhance erosion rates over a large part of the region. Forest degradation (emissions from the forestland remaining forestland) is the highest source of emissions in the forest sector. Together with deforestation (forestland being converted into cropland or grassland), they represent about two thirds of the emissions from the rural sector. Enteric fermentation and manure management from dairy and non-dairy cattle are the largest non- forest related sources of emissions in Oromia (ERPD, 2021). Methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) are the primary greenhouse gases emitted because of agricultural activities. High methane emission occurs mainly because of enteric fermentation, whereas agricultural soil management contributes with nitrous oxide (N2O) emission. Domestic livestock is the major source of CH4 emissions from agriculture, both from enteric fermentation and manure management. From the estimated total cattle population of 24.4 million in the region, 45 % is estimated to be dairy animals. The key driver of GHGs emission in this sub-category rests on cattle population combined with low efficiency and relatively high emission intensity (i. e. emissions per unit of product), especially in dairy cattle. Average GHG emissions estimation is 19 kg CO2 eq/kg milk among mixed crop‐ livestock systems in Ethiopia against an average of ca. 9 kg CO2 eq./kg milk in Sub‐Saharan Africa. Causes of the low efficiency include inadequate supply of quality feed, poor animal health due to disease prevalence, low livestock genetic make‐up, poor manure management, low reproductive efficiency and weak herd management, limited adoption of improved livestock practices and poor provision of livestock support services and Low commercial market off‐take due to inadequate processing and marketing infrastructure (FAO, 20178). 5.8. Forest Related Social Situation in Oromia 5.8.1. Key Social Issues in the Forest Sector A key social issue is the relationship between people and forests which is marked in various ways: • Forest areas are the base of the livelihoods of people who have adopted agriculture and 7 OFLP Emission Reduction Project Document (ERPD), 2021 8 FAO & New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre (2017). 33 livestock-raising as their primary livelihood strategy. Given this, the way they interact with forests has a major influence on their level of poverty • Forest-dependent communities face considerable issues concerning their rights to access forest areas and use forest resources • Both formal and informal social institutions have been established for forest management • There are numerous examples of grievances that are related to forest-based issues • The forestry sector plays a key role in the social development of communities. In addressing the people-forest relationship, the status of people – whether they are locals or newcomers or from a particular ethnic group, and gender concerns are important to consider. 5.8.2. Forests and Livelihoods in Oromia The forest, as well as providing a wealth of material outputs of subsistence or commercial value, is the basis for livelihood systems based on hunting gathering, or of rotational agriculture systems that depends on the ability of bush fallow to revive the productivity of the land. The forest thus constitutes an integral part of the habitat and of the social and cultural structure of those living within it. However, rather than only evaluating the importance of forest resources based on the number of people depending on them, it is even more important to understand the dependency relationships and its dynamics. The contribution of forests to sustainable livelihoods defines forests to include all resources that can produce forest products. These comprise woodland, scrubland, bush and trees on farm, as well as forests. This definition focuses not on tenure or tree cover as the basis for defining a forest, but on the potential for producing products. Moreover, the contribution of forests is measured not only by the products they provide, but also by the non-tangible services they offer (Warner, 2000). In Oromia forest products and the benefits that they provide in the form of wood, food, income and water shed protection play a critical role in enabling people to secure stable and adequate food supply. But the economic value of Ethiopian forests in general, and that of Oromia in particular is not given the proper attention, even if they are sources of ecosystem services, including nontimber forest products that sustain rural livelihoods. The assessment of the contribution of forestry sector to the national economy needs due emphasis to propose policy recommendations for the sake of proper management of our forest products. The forest of Oromia is a source of excellent timber. As a part of developing country, people of Oromia state used forest products as raw materials for construction of houses and buildings. Timber is for construction of houses and production of home furniture. This is the second largest use of forest product in the state, in all the years under consideration. Forest products are also used as industrial raw materials in Oromia national regional state. Trees are used in industrial processing and also production of material furniture. In addition, medicinal plants and trees producing different kinds of gums and incenses grow in abundance. Forest products are also used as poles. But the use of forest for such aspects is not significant as compared to other uses. Though the monetary value of forest product as the poles, gums and incenses is very low, it shows an increasing trend each year. 5.8.3. Women Entitlement to Land and Forest Resources The land reform proclamation of 1975 abolished the various forms of tenure in the country. The 34 military government “Derg” from 1974- 1991 introduced a land reform proclamation, known as “Land to the Tiller”, which abolished the land tenure system of the imperial regime. Without any discrimination of the sexes, the 1975 land reform proclamation declared that any person who is willing to personally cultivate land shall be allotted rural land sufficient for his/her maintenance and that of his/her family. However, in his analysis Hadera (2002) has pointed out that the proclamation essentially allocated land only to those who were able to till it and totally denied the rights of children, the elderly, and those women who were unable to plough land due to cultural constraints with the common view that women must not till. The proclamation gave equal property and land ownership rights to both men and women. However, as the land distribution was on the basis of family household head, and as the majority of households are traditionally headed by male, the 1975 land reform significantly affects women’s access to land and control over land through ownership. By using the household as the unit of allocation, the proclamation assumed the households were uniform and thus failed to take intra- household distribution relations into account (Hadera, 2002). Besides being gender biased and discriminatory towards women, it also noted that women in cultures where polygamy was exercised were negatively affected since they were treated as part of a single family headed by their single husband. Critiques have indicated that the 1975 public ownership of rural land Proclamation lack clarity when it comes to the rights of women to land use. It has been emphasized that the proclamation did not put the rights of women to land use in proper perspective, that is, it does not give women direct possessor right to land use. Therefore, women’s benefit from the land has been limited and indirect. The incumbent government, the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE), declared that all land including natural resources is the common property of the nations, nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia and shall not be subject to sale or to other means of exchange and individuals shall have only usufruct right (Article (40). Although the FDRE government has maintained the mixed economy policy of the Derg (March 1990) however, it formulated articles that can address women’s rights. In general, there are much better visible articles that address women issues compared with the last two regimes (the imperial and Derg) in Ethiopia, even though its implementation on the ground was insignificant. Regarding women’s rights to land, the 1995 Constitution article (35) envisaged that: • Women shall, in the enjoyment of rights and protections provided for by this Constitution, have equal right with men • Women have equal rights with men in marriage as prescribed by this Constitution. • The state shall enforce the right of women to eliminate the influences of harmful customs. Laws, customs and practices that oppress or cause bodily or mental harm to women are prohibited. • Women have the right to acquire, administer, control, use and transfer property. In particular, they have equal rights with men with respect to use, transfer, administration and control of land. They shall also enjoy equal treatment in the inheritance of the property. • Women shall have a right to equality in employment, promotion, pay and the transfer of pension entitlements However, as Ethiopia is a country with a rich variety of traditions, norms and practices of ownership, although the legislation has affirmed women’s basic right to land, resources and employment, the customary and religious practices and laws limit women’s access to various 35 resources and employment than men for legal and cultural reasons that may vary from tradition to tradition and from place to place. For example, in the Oromia and Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ Regional State (SNNPRS), customary law prohibits women from inheriting land. The Ethiopian Constitution (Article 35) confirmed that men and women have equal rights to acquire, administer, control, use and transfer property, and more specifically they gave equal rights with men with respect to the use, transfer, administration and control of land. The Ethiopian action plan describes that: “The national constitution has been developed to protect the fundamental rights of women, their interest of access and control over resources, and equality among women and men in marriage. It recognizes the history of inequality and discrimination women suffered in Ethiopia. Ethiopian women are entitled to remedial and affirmative measures to enable them to compete and participate on the basis of equality with men in political, economic and social life.” Although the National Policy of Women is necessary to achieve gender equity and equality, it is not sufficient enough to empower women in the development programs since inadequate efforts have been made for its implementation. Much has been done about the National Policy of Women formulation but what remains is the institutional set-up, most important of which is its effective and efficient implementation. It is being realized that implementation of the Women’s Policy is extremely challenging in Ethiopia. The Ethiopian National Action Plan emphasizes that despite the fact of the political commitment, legal support and institutional arrangements, the bureaucratic resistance to accept the gender experts as equal partners and gender equitable integration of women as subject of public policy, has made it more difficult to perform effectively because of the traditional set-up of the society and thinking. Generally, the up-to date implementation of the National Policy of Women (1993) indicates that though it was a major step to achieve gender equity and equality, it is so far from the practice of gender mainstreaming in the different institutions. Therefore, policy-makers must go beyond legal and formal rights to understand the complex way that women get access to decision-making, resource management and development, education, employment and the likes. In Oromia region, discussion of rights of men versus women to land, forest and livestock animals have received a mixed reaction for the community consultation and FGD participants as land, forest and livestock animals are mainly used for common purpose of securing livelihood. The discussion starts to get hot when the issue of land, forest and animal livestock right in men-women dichotomy is presented in terms of inheritance, separation or divorce scenarios. The participants are aware of the legal property rights of women on benefiting from land, forest and livestock animals; but the social structure limits more women’s right to land, forest and livestock in the communities of Oromia. This is because in the case of land tenure system, forest and livestock ownership system are embedded in the traditional religion and cultural values which embraces taboos related to sex, marriage, and descent, norms of residence, territorialization of lineages and rules of inheritance. 5.8.4. Women involvement in the forestry education Until recently the enrollment of women in the forest academy or else is so low due to the socio- cultural factors that hindered the equal access and opportunities to education. However, on the bases of some thirty years experiences, those women who graduated from the forest academy had equal employment opportunities in the forest sectors having equal amount of salaries/payments as 36 men counterparts. The new women’s policy that has been implemented recently promotes the representation of women through affirmative actions. However, due to the organizational, cultural and value setups women forest professionals are less recognized and have lower chances to be appointed in higher positions as forest officials and managers even though they have the same levels of qualification with men. Thus, their opportunities for promotion and further education and training are insignificant and women forest professionals are under organizational and structural domination of men, in terms of their numbers and positions. Their mobility to the higher positions could be hindered by the low level of education and lack of information together with the double burden they carry as mothers and makers of home. To enhance women professionals to the higher leadership and managerial positions capacity building and professional developments are important and would promote gender balance in the forest sector. 5.8.5. Gender Equality of Oromia The Oromia regional legal framework includes various provisions that protect women’s rights and promote gender equality. Gender equality interventions, such as promoting economic empowerment of women, promoting girls’ education, etc., are integrated into Oromia’s sectoral programs. Nevertheless, there are serious concerns related to gender equality in the region. As in other regions of Ethiopia, Oromia Regional State has a patriarchal society in which men hold primary power in private and public life. This social system influences cultural norms, practices and traditions and has rooted gender stereotypes on the roles and responsibilities of women and men in the family and in society. Women and girls have traditionally performed their roles in the domestic sphere, and those activities are often considered inferior. Women and girls are labelled nurturers and carers, thus childcare responsibilities often fall exclusively to them. According to the 2016 EDHS, in Oromia 35 percent of women (aged 15-49) decide themselves on their first marriage and 61 per cent of women state that their parents made the decision for their first marriage. Both rates are the same as the national average. 9 There is a worryingly high rate of girls/women who stop attending school after marriage, coupled with a high rate of child marriage. In Oromia, 84 per cent of women (aged 15-49) stop school, which is the highest rate in the country. Of girls who were enrolled in school at the time of their marriage, only 27 per cent were still enrolled one year later. When asked what the main reason was for discontinuing school, 71 per cent of women (one of the highest rates in the country) cited that they were too busy with family life. At 17 per cent, the percentage of girls (aged 15-19) that had begun childbearing is high compared to other regions. This relatively high rate corresponds with the low rate of married Oromo women using modern contraceptive methods (29 per cent) compared to a national average of 36 per cent. Another reason women discontinued schooling was that their husbands refused to let them continue their education (19 per cent). 5.8.6. Gender and ERP: Issues for consideration ERP will mainstream gender equality in sharing project benefits and strengthen grievance redress as part of SEP aimed at listening to stakeholders and seeking their consensus on ERP-related activities. ERP activities will be gender sensitive, including such aspects as household energy demand management, household livelihoods support activities, and community forest tenure structures. The ERP BSP design process, safeguards implementation, community participation, and citizen 9 EDHS, 2016, p.278. 37 engagement issues will also include efforts to ensure and enhance female involvement. M&E indicators will be disaggregated by gender to inform the ERP’s adaptive management. The gender aspects of the ERP will address the strategic and practical needs of women while ensuring equity in the process. All proposed enabling environment and investment activities will be screened through the gender lens to test practical mainstreaming. Recognition and protection of forest tenure rights in practice: this sub-dimension assesses how well forest tenure rights are recognized and protected in practice. This, for example, includes the de facto recognition of gender equity and demarcation and enforcement of forest boundaries. Demarcation is a process of setting boundaries to an area, often to clarify land ownership and other tenure arrangements. This indicator is evaluated by interviewing government staff responsible for tenure administration and individual rights holders as well as by reviewing relevant documentation on forest tenure rights. Gender equality: All federal and regional land laws boldly recognize women’s land rights equally with that of men. However, in areas where polygamy is allowed, the right written in the legal document is not respected because only one of the partners is allowed for registration. 5.8.7. Review of Community Attachment to the Forest Resource The attachment of the communities to the forest and forest resources in Ethiopia varies from region to region depending on ecological conditions, socio-cultural values and economic factors. The agricultural communities in the Ethiopian highlands use the forest resources differently from the communities in the lowlands inhabited by the agro-pastoralists, pastoralists and hunter- gatherers. The communities living close to the forests are usually poor with limited possibilities for living and as group discussants revealed they are highly dependent on timber and non-timber forest products. This is because the local communities in the high forest and remote areas of Oromia, SNNPR, Gambela and BGRS have low access for farming, animal husbandry and to the market. As the observation in Oromia region Harana Buluk Woreda indicated most people use forest to harvest wild coffee, fuel wood, grass for thatching roofs, and to feed cattle, and to harvest honey from traditional beehives. Similar conditions have been observed in the Woredas of the Southern region and other regions. As key informant interviews further revealed the high dependency on the forest is at the time when crops and livestock are insufficient which makes the forest products the indispensable sources of food and income. Such cases indicate that forest products play a significant role as sources of income generation among many forest communities. 5.8.8. Livestock Seasonal Migration to Forests Pastoralism is a significant socio-economic sector in Ethiopia. It is a tenure system that evolved to meet the constraints of local, often difficult, environments and to facilitate the operation of complex spatial and temporal land use patterns. The communities in the lowland areas keep livestock as a saving investment. The communities in the lowland areas are pastoralists that have a transhumance system for coping with seasonal hard times. The transhumance system in the lowland Oromo community has a well-known tradition known as Godaantuu. Godaantuu is moving their livestock seasonally in order to exploit areas away from their permanent settlement sites. Communities from the lowlands of Bale Zone of Oromia Region make influx into the Harenna Forest, and settle for 3-4 months in the dry season (between the months of December and April). Godaantuu system is a customary natural resource use practice regulated by the traditional institution called Abbaa Ardaa. Abbaa Ardaa regulates the opening and closing of dates for seasonal livestock grazing, use area and use patterns of grazing in order to avoid degradation of particular 38 areas, and enable particular groups to control their grazing territory. It appears that the early godaantuu system gradually undermined and the intuition become weak. Hence, through time, the formal Abba Ardaa institution become replaced by the informal institution that leads to free to all seasonal grazing area practice. Livestock in Harena Forest for instance reported to stay longer than the traditionally known 3-4 months causing adverse impacts on the structure and composition of grazing resources and forest vegetation. It is required to support the formal Gondaantuu system by the formal government institution to restore and strengthen this traditional system before it totally disappears. 5.8.9. Ethno-botany Since ancient times, human beings have used plants for the purpose of disease control and prevention. Ethiopians have diverse culture on ethno-botany, the science and art of using plants for medicinal value. Both higher (trees) and lower forms of plants (herbs) are used to treat both human and animal diseases. Parts used for the purpose can be leaves, seeds, fruits, roots, barks and/or woods. Osmium articifolium (Demakese in Amharic) which is used to treat flue, cold and headache and Hygenia abssynica (Yekoso Zaf in Amharic) used to treat tape worm are the most herbs and trees respectively used by most Ethiopian. There are many other species mentioned during the key informant consultation, focus group discussion and household interview used as human and animal medicine. The problem with the development and use of traditional medicine is by only some community and family members that the transfer of knowledge on the species is restricted to that kinship. 5.8.10 Forest as a Household Food Security Source Rural people of Ethiopia are endowed with a deep knowledge concerning the use of wild plants which are consumed at times of drought, war and other hardship. Elders and other knowledgeable community members are the key sources or ‘reservoirs’ of plant lore. Wild-food consumption is still very common in rural areas of Ethiopia, particularly with children and it is evident that the contribution of forests in providing food for local communities is tremendous. Morninga tree is used both as food and medicine to treat a wide range of human diseases. Moringa tree is believed to have high nutritional value and used to purify water. Carissa edulis (Agam in Amharic), Rosa abssynica, Dovialis abssyica, Balaniitesa egypticus, Ziziphus spinachristy, Oputia ficus indica (Belles in Amharic), Syzygum guineasis, Ficus sycamores (shola), adansonia digitata, Cordia africana, tamarindus indica (Roka in Amharic) are some of the common plant species used as a human food in their respective ecological zones where they grow. REDD+ project needs to critically assess and address this issue before implementing its projects. 5.8.11. Forest as Cultural and Symbolic Values Forests provide the venue for many cultural events. In many parts of Ethiopia, particularly the Oromo people, forest areas and specific trees are protected and valued for particular cultural occasions and as historic symbols though each community has its own traditions associated with sacred areas and, as a result, the species that are found in them vary greatly. Sacred and grave areas are planted with trees to symbolify ancestral or family burials. Trees like the Ficus sur (Odaa in Oromo language) are used as a ‘hall’ to get assembled under it when settling grievance. The judicial function of trees and ritual function of forest (trees) include 39 area where social and political values, morals, secrets, and laws are passed on to the younger generation practiced by some of the communities in Ethiopia. 5.8.12. Forest and Forest Product Uses One of the major uses of the forest in Ethiopia is for energy purpose. The household energy requirements of this large and fast-growing population are supplied still from traditional energy sources. Woody Biomass energy at the national level provides large portion of the total domestic energy consumption. If there is imbalance of demand and supply of woody biomass energy it has severe implications on the natural resource base. In urban areas, fuel saving technology needs to be expanded and demand for wood must be reduced. Because of the scarcity of fuel wood many households burn dung and crop residues. The use of dung excludes its contribution of the soil nutrient pool, make worsening declining crop yields due to soil erosion. The burning of crop residues prevents their use as livestock feed for a livestock population. Generally, use of fuel wood requires balanced on demand and supply to have impact barely meeting its energy requirements for maintenance. The consumption of woody biomass for various purposes can be altered by external factors. In Somali Regional State, a significant quantity of wood is used for lighting fires at night to protect livestock against wild animals. Woody biomass energy required to heat houses during the wet season, especially in the Highlands, increased more than dry season. 5.8.13. Forest and Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP) The contribution of NTFP to the rural community of Ethiopia is enormous. The rural community gets ropes (hareg), water, gum and resin, fruit, coffee, wild foods and fruits, honey, spice, seed, wild-meat, grass for the livestock, wood-bark for beehive making are some of the non-timber forest products (NTFPs) the community enjoys from the forest resources. Some of the NTFP are directly used by the household while others are sold and generate income. While spice is special to the Western parts of Ethiopia’s forest, the other NTFPs are almost common to all the forests. REDD+ in its project design and implementation, needs to give due consideration to the benefits the communities are enjoying from the forest resources as NTFPs so that the well-being of the communities who depend on the forest will not be disrupted. 5.8.14. Settlements within the Forest Forests are considered as free, unoccupied area for settling by some people in Ethiopia. As a result, there are rapid illegal settlements in all the forests of the country. Bale, Borena, Illubabor, Sheka, Bonga, etc. forests are settled by people coming from the different corners of the country. The forest management practices of the settlers and the local communities in the area are quite different. The settlers directly engage in clearing the forest and use it for farming. As a result, there are often conflicts between the settlers and the local communities. REDD+ project should focus on the prevention of further settlement in the forest and if resettling of those already found in the forests is needed, it should be done as per the framework guide in the RPF. 5.8.15. Grievance Management Mechanism Some literatures identify three major grievance management mechanisms (e.g., Engel and Korf, 2005). These include customary grievance resolution comprising negotiation, mediation and 40 arbitration; national legal system that includes adjudication and arbitration; and finally alternative grievance management that mainly includes consensual negotiation. The different grievance management approaches have their own suitability and convenience for different forms of grievance. As data from different field observations indicated there are different mechanisms of grievance management and resolution in the country which are not only used for resolving forest related grievances but also for overall social, economic and political aspects of life. However, given the nature of the Ethiopian society grievance management system could be divided into two; as formal and informal or modern and traditional systems. During key informant interviews and group discussion the participants identified traditional mechanisms of grievance resolution in their respective Woredas and Kebeles. Among these for example, the informants pointed out in the Amhara region the existence of ‘Yehager Shimagile’; in Oromia around Yabello, ‘Abba Allengaa’ which is part of the Oromo Gada system; in SNNPR around Arbaminch Zuria Woreda, there is Moga and Haleqa traditional leadership which plays very vital role in grievance management and resolution. Customary grievance resolution mechanism exists in other areas where field assessment has been carried out and it is indispensable to integrate locally accepted grievance resolution mechanism with formal legal system. 5.8.16. Forest Related Grievances In general, grievances related to natural resources are common in Africa where the communities usually enter into overuse, conservation, and management of forests. However, due to its direct relationship to the livelihood of millions of Africans the forest related grievances are frequent and worth mentioning here. As field reports from different regions and Woredas indicated the forest related grievances take place among the communities, communities with guards or communities with outsiders. For example, grievance rises between guards and the community in the Amhara region, Banja Woreda; in the Somail region, Yoo’ale Woreda between the local communities and those who come from the Republic of Somalia to produce charcoal; in Oromia region, Anchar Woreda between the Communities and Oromia Forest and Wildlife enterprise; in SNNPR, in Wondogenet Woreda when the community tried to graze their livestock in the protected conservation areas. Thus, as field observation indicates forest related grievances do exist in different regions of the country in different forms and for various reasons. 5.8.17. Cause of the Grievance Literatures assert that grievance commonly arises over disagreement of tenure, access, control and distribution of forest lands or products (Mean and Josayma, 2002). The need to expand agriculture, disagreement on ownership rights and community’s dependence on forests are the principal or root causes leading to various forms of grievances. Grievances arise between the government that tries to conserve forest ecosystem and the community that is eager to use forest. There are grievance cases between the government initiative to expand agricultural activity and the need to conserve forest biodiversity at the same area. Grievance on ownership right: The grievance of ownership right is also central to the forest related grievance that can lead to deforestation in the long term. There are various problems arising from the absence of clear ownership rights or conflicting ownership rights, which serve as sources of forest related grievances. These include absence of clear ownership right, lack of awareness on legal ownership, de facto ownership of forest by the community and de jure ownership of the 41 government, inability to get certification for the agricultural lands. Local community’s dependence on forest for livelihood : Local community’s dependence on forest for livelihood and other uses mainly for construction materials is another source of grievance. Due to the absence of alternative energy sources in the area, people depend on the sale of fuel wood. The sale of timber is also a source of income, and people need forest products for agricultural tools. Poverty or absence of alternative means of subsistence also forces people to depend on forest: This breeds grievance when government authorities attempt to restrict access to the forest. Other sources of grievance in forest management include the absence of community participation during demarcation, forest management, prohibition of access to forest and non-timber forest products (NTFP), increasing population pressure, lack of grazing area, and confiscation of peoples’ land during demarcation. 5.9. OFLP-ERP Geographic Location: Physical Characteristics The OFLP-ERP geographic boundary would be the Jurisdictional boundary of the Oromia region. The region is located between 3024′20″-10023′26″ N latitudes and 34007′37″-42058′51″ E longitudes. Oromia is Ethiopia’s largest regional state in terms of land area (around 28.5 million hectares, roughly the size of Italy), population (over 30 million people) and forest cover (approximately 6.510 million ha in total). The project would monitor and account for positive and negative changes in forest cover and associated GHG emissions reduction within all 300 rural and semi-rural woredas the regional state boundaries of Oromia (i.e., the “accounting area of the Project”). Based on the national forest definition, 300 of Oromia’s rural and semi-rural woredas include some forest. Most of Oromia’s high forest (moist montane forests) is found in the Bale forested landscape in the southeast and the Jimma/Wellega/Ilubabor forested landscape in the west. Bale serves as the water tower for the eastern drylands in the Somali region and the country of Somalia, drylands where mobile pastoralism is the predominant livelihood system, and which is highly vulnerable to drought. The forests in Oromia region provide critical ecosystem services to the country and to the region. It harbors globally important biodiversity with endangered endemic species such as the Abyssinian wolf and the mountain Nyla. Oromia’s western forests are home to endemic coffee (Coffee Arabica) that has high potential as a value-added export, and harbor wild varieties of the species. Important rivers also originate in or are affected by Oromia’s forests, including those flowing into the new Renaissance Dam under construction. Forest loss and degradation are increasing in Oromia. Deforestation in Oromia has been particularly intense in western (in the Zones of West Wollega, Qeleme Wollega, Ilu Aba Bora) and eastern parts of the regional state (in the Zones of Bale and Guji). In Oromia as a whole, nearly 157,000 ha of forest was lost between 2000 and 2013, or around 12,000 hectares lost every year. This has resulted in over 46 million tons of CO2 equivalent emitted into 10 The Forest Sector Management at MEFCC defines forests in Ethiopia as ‘Land spanning at least 0.5 ha covered by trees (including bamboo) attaining a height of at least 2 m and a canopy cover of at least 20% or trees with the potential to reach these thresholds in situ in due course”. An updated map is expected from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)/Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MEFCC). 42 the atmosphere over this period, or around 3.5 million tons annually (calculated based on Hansen et al, 2013 and DetNorske Veritas, 2015). 43 6. Stakeholder Identification and Analysis Process 6.1. Stakeholder Engagement Plan As part of the ESRM preparation for OFLP-ERP, a separate Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) has already been prepared to guide participation and consultation process of stakeholders in the OFLP- ERP implementation. The SEP reviewed existing national laws and policies as well as the provisions in the Environmental and Social Standard (ESS) 10 on Stakeholder Engagement and Information Disclosure the Environmental and Social Framework (ESF)of the World Bank. The national and regional laws and policies on stakeholder engagement are short of the requirements in the ESF. Unlike stakeholder engagement throughout the project lifecycle that the ESF demands, Ethiopia’s law requires only one stakeholder engagement and consultation during the project preparation phase. Except during land acquisition, there is no legal provision of a grievance redress mechanism in the project. There are also no clear provisions for information disclosure. So, the SEP proposes various activities to help the project meet the ESF requirements. The SEP has outlined previous stakeholder engagement activities and has also categorized the identified stakeholders into various groups based on their interests and influence on the project (from high to low ratings in terms of interest and influence). The management approaches for four possible scenarios are identified (i.e., manage closely, keep informed, monitor and keep satisfied). In addition, the SEP also identified and analyzed various stakeholders, including federal and regional level government institutions, offices and agencies, development partners and project financers, communities (forest dependent rural households, non- forest dependent rural households, and forest dependent urban households), private sectors, academic and research institutions, INGOs and CSOs, ad media elected local levels, local Agro enterprises and traders, and farmers. Further, the SEP also incorporated key characteristics of vulnerable groups, including forest dependent rural households, non-forest dependent rural households, forest dependent urban household female smallholder farmers and pastoral and agro-pastoral communities. The plan for stakeholder engagement takes into considerations requirements around purpose, timing and methods of stakeholder engagement and the strategy for information disclosure to vulnerable groups and indigenous communities. In general, the SEP preparation process has used participatory research methods such as; participatory interviewing, mapping, ranking, trend and time analysis and transect walk. 6.2. Objectives of the Stakeholder Engagement Plan This stakeholder analysis process is needed for the preparation of the SEP, ESCP, LMP and in the updating process of the OFLP-ERP PF, RF, this SESA and the ESMF. This was necessary mainly for two purposes: • To identify the key stakeholders for consultations. These include those who are directly or indirectly affected by OFLP-ERP implementation process, and/or those who will be directly or indirectly affected by the enforcement of Institutional, policy and legal framework of the OFLP-ERP implementation; and • To capture the important concerns and interests of the key stakeholders in the OFLP -ERP implementation process. 6.3. Procedures of the Stakeholder Analysis 44 The identification and analysis of stakeholders was made by following the steps/procedures indicated below (Figure 2): • Identifying stakeholders • Stakeholder list by type and Level S p • Description of Stakeholders in Relation t including OFLP- S ERP • Assessing the likely impact of the REDD+ including Analysis of the identified stakeholder based on functional category S (Contributor, implementer and beneficiaries) Analysis of the identified stakeholder based on relative importance of the stakeholder to the success including OFLP-ERP (degree & type) Figure 2: procedures of stakeholder identification 6.4. Identification of the Potential Stakeholders Potential stakeholders were identified by reviewing the stakeholders list in the R-PP and other relevant documents provided by client to the consulting firms, and the stakeholders’ suggestion during the kickoff meeting on the preparation of SEP, ESCP and LMP and updating of existing PF, RF, SESA and ESMF, and by collecting information through questionnaires and interviewing project clients. The identified potential stakeholders (Table 7) are those who are directly or indirectly affected by ERP implementation process or those who will be directly or indirectly affected by the enforcement of institutional, policy and legal framework to be developed in ERP process. As shown in the list below, the identified stakeholders are categorized by type as federal, regional and Woreda; governmental, nongovernmental, community based, academia, international, religious, and cultural groups. 45 Table 4: Identified Potential Stakeholders and their level of influence Category Type Administrative Stakeholder Analysis Forms of stakeholder involvement in Influenc Manageme level based on ER e and nt functional Interest approach role Level Development Key International FAO Contributor Conduct sample analysis and land-use Interest Manage partners/project organization and land-use change Level- closely financers detection with Collect Earth; Capacity High training with external trainers; Influence Integrates the results of the National Level- Forest Monitoring and Assessment High Project; Forestland remaining forestland assessment Data collection on livestock population by species and categories; Reforming forest tenure issues; Strengthening forest tenure systems and governance; Study on factors that influence emissions and emission intensities from diary production in Ethiopia Key International WB, UN Contributor Support the sector in key Interest Manage Bilateral agencies, AFD, areas such as building institutional Level- closely partnership KfW, German capacity, promoting science and research High Government for sustainable use of forests, as well as Influence Norwegian helping expand the space for private Level- Embassy, sector involvement in forest conservation High DFID, AfDB, and development as well as EU, USAID, environmental protection; Canadian Aid, Austrian Aid, Netherlands Government, Swedish Government, Danish Government, JICA, NoRAD 46 Category Type Administrative Stakeholder Analysis Forms of stakeholder involvement in Influenc Manageme level based on ER e and nt functional Interest approach role Level Government Key Federal MoF Contributor, Approves all development projects Interest Manage Institutions at implementer including the OFLP-ERP; Level- closely Federal level and Mainstream OFLP-ERP in national High beneficiary planning and annual budget allocation; Influence In charge of funds disbursement from Level- national treasure to other federal High ministries and regional states, with a well- established, transparent and accountable system; A responsible body to sign the ERPA, receives ER funds based on verified ER amount achieved by the Project at the end of each ERP phase, and distributes ER benefits according to the BSP. Primary Federal EPA Contributor, Hosts the Secretariat for the National Interest Manage implementer REDD+ Initiative; Level- closely and Integration of operations at national scale High beneficiary and linking the OFLP-ERP with CRGE Influence and other national initiatives; Level- Landscape to harmonize efforts and High ensure ER and address drivers of degradation jointly; Oversight role of safeguards management of the ER Project; Develops and follows up on the implementation of ERP; Develops and revises forest sector policies, strategies, proclamations, regulations, and guidelines; Promotes and distributes improved stove technologies; Represents the country in forest related international forum; Strategic support on E and S safeguard adherence Key Federal MoWE Implementer Increase access to electricity; Interest Manage and Promotes efficient and environmentally Level- closely beneficiary sound energy technologies; High Facilitates energy development in rural Influence 47 Category Type Administrative Stakeholder Analysis Forms of stakeholder involvement in Influenc Manageme level based on ER e and nt functional Interest approach role Level areas; Level- Supports watershed conservation High activities with particular emphasis on the hydro-dam catchments; Establish a link between OFLP-ERP and the promotion of renewable energy and energy saving technologies Monitors sustainable use of water resources for drinking purposes. Key Federal MoA Implementer Implements sustainable land management Interest Manage and projects including ERP; Level- closely beneficiary Integrate lessons from similar climate High smart agriculture focused projects like; Influence SLMP, LIFT, AGP and its implication on Level- crop and livestock sectors High Coordinates watershed-based soil and water conservation activities and ERP on agriculture; Implements water harvesting and small- scale irrigation; Develops and provides agroforestry extension services; Intensifies and transforms agricultural development systems and practices that enhances ER. Secondary Federal MoI Contributor Promotes and supports wood-based Interest Manage industry development; Level- closely Balancing forest and livestock sector High development. Influence Level- High Key Federal NRS Implementer Leads the overall MRV undertakings of Interest Manage and the ER Project through its dedicated Level- closely beneficiary MRV Unit, including collection of High regional level ER performance data, Influence analyzing the same and reporting to the Level- WB/ISFL; High OFLP-ERP with CRGE and other 48 Category Type Administrative Stakeholder Analysis Forms of stakeholder involvement in Influenc Manageme level based on ER e and nt functional Interest approach role Level national initiatives; Landscape to harmonize efforts and ensure ER and address drivers of degradation jointly; Coordinates and influences policies and strategies through its multi-stakeholder steering committee that comprises members from relevant ministries, regional level representatives, NGOs, academia and research institutions. Secondary Federal CSA Contributor Study on The underlying drivers are a Interest Manage complex combination of socio-economic Level- closely issues, ineffective land use planning, High inadequate cross-sectoral policy and Influence investment coordination, specifically Level- changes in policies linked to land tenure High and demographic factors; Assess crop land mapping; Assess national and unique forest ecosystem inventories, analysis of forest data and forest monitoring of national forest resources; Assess on agricultural (crop production) intensification process; Collecting time series on animal numbers (disaggregated as required) necessary for the Tier 2 reporting on a regular and sustainable basis; Survey on livestock and livestock characteristics (private and peasant holding); Estimation on emissions for enteric fermentation in cattle; Estimation on Gross Energy (GE) intake of feed intake in the future; Conduct a socio-economic and demographic data collection, processing, evaluation and dissemination that are 49 Category Type Administrative Stakeholder Analysis Forms of stakeholder involvement in Influenc Manageme level based on ER e and nt functional Interest approach role Level used for the country’s socio-economic development and planning, monitoring and policy formulation; Study on GHG inventory of Ethiopia Key Federal EFWE Implementer Design and manage activities on forest Interest Manage and protected areas Level- Closely beneficiary High Influence Level- High Key Federal National Land Implementer Addressing potential conflict among Interest Manage Administration and OFLP-ERP project implementation, Level- closely and Use beneficiary resettlement and upholding land rights; High Promotes sustainable land use that Influence enhances greening projects; Level- Identifies and prepares, in collaboration High with regional states, ‘ready to invest’ land free of tenure conflict for private investors. Key Federal National Implementer Integrate lessons on implementing Interest Manage Livestock and and different climate smart livestock and its Level- closely Fishery beneficiary link to OFLP-ERP; High Resources Promotes quality based livestock Influence Development production; Level- Agency Develops livestock feedstock production High systems; Promotes cut and carry feeding system. Secondary Federal MoTL & ERA Contributor Manage issues related to infrastructure Interest Keep (road) development and prevents drivers Level- satisfied of deforestation; Low Plans and executes construction of road Influence and railways in an environmentally- Level- friendly Manner; High Creates access to production forest sites. Key Federal EBI Contributor Leads and ensures the appropriate Interest Keep 50 Category Type Administrative Stakeholder Analysis Forms of stakeholder involvement in Influenc Manageme level based on ER e and nt functional Interest approach role Level and conservation, sustainable use, and access Level- informed beneficiary and benefit sharing of biodiversity; High Handles issues related to technology and Influence techniques for improved biodiversity Level- benefit of the ERP Low Key Federal Federal Implementer Manage issues related to ensuring Interest Manage Cooperative and sustainability of forest managing Level- closely Office beneficiary cooperatives and other community-based High groups; Influence Supports community-based forest Level- management in the rural landscapes. High Key Federal EEFRI Contributor Supports the sector by adapting and Interest Manage and generation technologies relevant to sector Level- closely beneficiary development; High Transfers technologies to end users; Influence Provide technical input for the Level- implementation of ERP MRV; High Provides training and capacity building to the practitioners in the sector. Secondary Federal EIAR Contributor Contribute to provide new technology on Interest Keep agricultural improvement Level- satisfied Low Influence Level- High Secondary Federal MoTRI Contributor Facilitates the marketing and export of Interest Keep timber and Non-Timber Forest Products; Level- satisfied Low Influence Level- High Key Federal MoCS/EWCA Implementer Integrates lessons on Resettlement, PFM Interest Manage and and A/R; Level- closely beneficiary Undertakes conservation of wildlife and High its habitats; Influence Implements sustainable utilization of Level- wildlife resources. High Key Federal MoJ/Federal Contributor Provides formal legal framework in Interest Manage 51 Category Type Administrative Stakeholder Analysis Forms of stakeholder involvement in Influenc Manageme level based on ER e and nt functional Interest approach role Level Justice and Law settling disputes among sectoral Level- closely Institute institutions, client, and the community High and among the community members as Influence well; Level- Provides capacity building training to High actors involved in GRM process. Secondary Federal MoM Contributor Implement biofuel development in line Interest Keep with ERP; Level- satisfied Responsible to execute mining in Low environmentally friendly manner. Influence Level- High Secondary Federal MoR Contributor Supports private sector investors in the Interest Keep forestry sector by implementing incentive Level- Satisfied packages provided by the government; Low Monitors imports of timber and Non- Influence Timber Forest Products. Level- High Secondary Federal MoILA Contributor Supports community-based forest Interest Keep management in the lowland landscapes. Level- satisfied Monitors sustainable use of water Low resources for irrigation purposes. Influence Level- High Secondary Federal MoE Contributor Integrates forest and environmental Interest Keep education into school curriculums; Level- satisfied Promotes green schools. Low Influence Level- High Secondary Federal Universities Contributor Develop undergraduate and graduate Interest Keep projects that support sector development Level- Informed projects; High Conduct sector relevant research and Influence technology transfer. Level- Low Key Federal MoWSA Implementer Policy direction on women, children and Interest Manage and youth affairs; Level- closely 52 Category Type Administrative Stakeholder Analysis Forms of stakeholder involvement in Influenc Manageme level based on ER e and nt functional Interest approach role Level beneficiary Supports the project in enhancing gender High equality in forest and livestock-oriented Influence livelihood and participation; Level- Supports the implementation of BSP in High the view of gender equality and social inclusion; Improves women, youth and social minorities engagement along the life cycle of the ERP. Secondary Federal EIC Contributor Provides licenses and support to forest Interest Keep sector domestic and foreign direct Level- satisfied investors; Low Develops and revises incentive packages Influence for forestry sector investors. Level- High Key Federal Parliament on Contributor Contribute to the preparation of ERP Interest Manage Natural enabling environment (national policy, Level- closely Resources and strategy and plan) High Environment Influence Standing Level- Committee High Secondary Federal EMA Contributor Provides land use plan map; Interest Monitor Contribute to the implementation of ERP Level- MRV Low Influence Level- Low Secondary International, Media Contributor Disseminating information for the public Interest Monitor national and Level- local Low Influence Level- Low Government Key Regional Regional Implementer Administers land and natural resources Interest Manage Institutions at President office and including forests in accordance with laws Level- closely Regional level beneficiary enacted by the federal government; High Prepares and implements Regional ER in Influence alignment with the NFSDP; Level- 53 Category Type Administrative Stakeholder Analysis Forms of stakeholder involvement in Influenc Manageme level based on ER e and nt functional Interest approach role Level Coordinating and/or be part of inter- High sectoral planning of project implementation; Mainstreaming ERP in the respective regional development plans, annual budgeting and implementation Primary Regional OEPA Implementer Implementing project activities; Interest Manage and integrating activities at landscape scale; Level- closely beneficiary Administratively host ORCU; High Administer the technical, financial, and Influence human resources of ERP to be Level- responsible for fiduciary management of High ERP; Coordinate relevant bureaus, agencies and organizations implementing ERP activities at regional, woreda and kebele levels; Report on ERP coordination and OEPA- led activities financed by ERP. Key Regional OAB Implementer Implementing project activities; Interest Manage and integrating activities at landscape scale Level- closely beneficiary High Influence Level- High Key Regional OCPA Implementer Implementing project activities; Interest Manage and integrating activities at landscape scale Level- closely beneficiary High Influence Level- High Key Regional OWEB Implementer Implementing project activities; Interest Manage and integrating activities at landscape scale Level- closely beneficiary High Influence Level- High Key Regional OLB Implementer Implementing project activities; Interest Manage and integrating activities at landscape scale Level- closely 54 Category Type Administrative Stakeholder Analysis Forms of stakeholder involvement in Influenc Manageme level based on ER e and nt functional Interest approach role Level beneficiary High Influence Level- High Key Regional OWCAB Contributor Implementing project activities; Interest Manage integrating activities at landscape scale Level- closely High Influence Level- High Primary Regional Regional OFLP Implementer Carries out and consolidates safeguards Interest Manage and implementation and reporting (assisted by Level- closely beneficiary OEPA); High Carries out and consolidates FM and Influence reporting (assisted by OEPA); Level- Carries out and consolidates procurement High management and reporting (assisted by OEPA); Carries out and consolidates Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) for ERP (each indicator in results framework and others, as government requires, and the project team desires); Implements specific Technical Assistance (TA) activities financed by the ERP grant; Carries out joint annual work projecting and budget process (with inputs from OEPA, OFWE, bureaus and other relevant entities) and preparation of the procurement plan; Sub-state ORCU OFLP team engages with woreda- and kebele-level officials (woreda administrators and experts, DAs) and other actors to coordinate ERP interventions and related initiatives across sectors that have an impact on forests 55 Category Type Administrative Stakeholder Analysis Forms of stakeholder involvement in Influenc Manageme level based on ER e and nt functional Interest approach role Level (promoting a landscape management approach); Facilitates coordination with ERP-related initiatives (liaising with executive-level focal points and OEPA above, as needed); Ensures that ER verification is carried out through a third party; Ensures delivery, implementation, and reporting on the agreed Benefit Sharing Plan (BSP) for the ERPA; Carries out strategic communication through OEPA. Acts as secretariat for the REDD+ Steering Committee and REDD+ Technical Working Group and participates actively in meetings Primary Regional ORCU Implementer ORCU plays a leading role in Interest Manage and coordinating Environmental and Social Level- closely beneficiary Risk Management; High The ORCU shall carry out the overall Influence coordination, planning, monitoring, and Level- supervision of the Project; High Contract a competent security risk management firm to develop Project-wide and woreda-level Security Risk Assessments (SRA) and Security Management Plans (SMP) and provide updates and support throughout the Project. Key Regional OFWE Implementer Implementing part of the ERP financed Interest Manage and PFM activities (only in sites within Level- closely beneficiary OFWE concessions) in accordance with High the MoU signed between OEPA and Influence OFWE; Level- Planning, preparing, implementing, and High reporting on activities financed by ERP and reflected in the joint annual ERP work plans and budgets; 56 Category Type Administrative Stakeholder Analysis Forms of stakeholder involvement in Influenc Manageme level based on ER e and nt functional Interest approach role Level Ensuring synergies between existing sector initiatives that affect ERP and sector objectives. Key Regional LFRDA Implementer Implementing project activities; Interest Manage and integrating activities at landscape scale Level- closely beneficiary High Influence Level- High Secondary Regional Regional Contributor Implementing project activities; Interest Keep Biodiversity integrating activities at landscape scale Level- informed Center High Influence Level- Low Secondary Regional Oromia Bureau Contributor Implementing project activities; Interest Keep of Justice integrating activities at landscape scale Level- satisfied Low Influence Level- High Government Primary, Zone Relevant zone Contributor, Implementing project activities; All All Institutions at Key and level offices implementer, integrating activities at landscape scale interest manageme Zone Level Secondary and and nt beneficiary influence approaches levels Government Primary Woreda WEPA Implementer Implementing project activities; Interest Manage Institutions at and integrating activities at landscape scale Level- closely Woreda level beneficiary High Influence Level- High Key Woreda WAO Implementer Implementing project activities; Interest Manage and integrating activities at landscape scale Level- closely beneficiary High Influence Level- High 57 Category Type Administrative Stakeholder Analysis Forms of stakeholder involvement in Influenc Manageme level based on ER e and nt functional Interest approach role Level Key Woreda WLAO Implementer Implementing project activities; Interest Manage and integrating activities at landscape scale Level- closely beneficiary High Influence Level- High Key Woreda WWEO Implementer Implementing project activities; Interest Manage and integrating activities at landscape scale Level- closely beneficiary High Influence Level- High Secondary Woreda WWCAO Contributor Implementing project activities; Interest Manage integrating activities at landscape scale Level- closely High Influence Level- High Secondary Woreda WRRO Contributor Implementing project activities; Interest Keep integrating activities at landscape scale Level- satisfied Low Influence Level- High Key Woreda Park Implementer Implementing project activities; Interest Manage Administration and integrating activities at landscape scale Level- closely Office beneficiary High Influence Level- High Key Woreda Woreda Implementer Implementing project activities; Interest Manage Biodiversity and integrating activities at landscape scale Level- closely Desk beneficiary High Influence Level- High Primary Woreda W Cooperatives Implementer Implementing project activities; Interest Manage Promotion Office and integrating activities at landscape scale Level- closely 58 Category Type Administrative Stakeholder Analysis Forms of stakeholder involvement in Influenc Manageme level based on ER e and nt functional Interest approach role Level beneficiary High Influence Level- High Primary Woreda Woreda Implementer Implementing project activities; Interest Manage Administration and integrating activities at landscape scale Level- closely beneficiary High Influence Level- High Key Woreda WPDO Implementer Implementing project activities; Interest Manage and integrating activities at landscape scale Level- closely beneficiary High Influence Level- High Secondary Woreda Woreda Security Contributor Implementing project activities; Interest Keep Office integrating activities at landscape scale Level- satisfied Low Influence Level- High Secondary Woreda Woreda Office of Contributor Implementing project activities; Interest Keep Justice integrating activities at landscape scale Level- satisfied Low Influence Level- High Primary Woreda Woreda GRM Implementer Implementing project activities; Interest Manage Unit and integrating activities at landscape scale Level- closely beneficiary High Influence Level- High Key Woreda Woreda Court Contributor Implementing project activities; Interest Keep integrating activities at landscape scale Level- satisfied Low Influence 59 Category Type Administrative Stakeholder Analysis Forms of stakeholder involvement in Influenc Manageme level based on ER e and nt functional Interest approach role Level Level- High Kebele Level Primary Kebele Kebele Implementer Implementing project activities; Interest Manage Government Administration and integrating activities at landscape scale Level- closely Institutions Kebele DA beneficiary High Influence Level- High Kebele Level Primary Kebele Local Contributor, Understand the costs and benefits and Interest Manage Actors communities implementer their roles, engage in public decision- Level- closely living in and and making processes, address drivers of High around the beneficiary deforestation, ; Influence project areas. Level- These include: These are likely highly affected by the High Livestock project because they often rely on forest keepers, and tree products; Crop growers, Pastoralists, They are also the direct beneficiaries of Mixed improved management of forest but are agriculturalists, also the bearers of costs and risks of the Coffee growers project. They comprise stakeholders that Beekeepers, are highly affected (directly and Traditional indirectly) but have the least influence on healers, decision Rural dwellers that extract products from the forest for home consumption or sale (fuelwood, timber and NTPF collectors), Traditional institutions, Religious institutions, Relevant community 60 Category Type Administrative Stakeholder Analysis Forms of stakeholder involvement in Influenc Manageme level based on ER e and nt functional Interest approach role Level cooperatives Communities Primary Community Large wood Contributor, Understand the costs and benefits and Interest Manage (forest industries, implementer their roles, engage in public decision- Level- closely dependent rural Small and and making processes, address drivers of High households, non- medium scale beneficiary deforestation; Influence forest dependent wood enterprises Level- rural (wood These are likely highly affected by the High households, workshops, etc) project because they often rely on forest forest dependent Non-wood forest and tree products; urban product-based households) enterprises (e.g., They are also the direct beneficiaries of coffee, honey, improved management of forest but are spice, gum, and also the bearers of costs and risks of the resin, bamboo project. They comprise stakeholders that traders, retailers, are highly affected (directly and wholesalers, etc); indirectly) but have the least influence on Agri-business decision investors, Coffee traders (E.g., OCFCU), Coffee washing machine owners, Coffee producer cooperatives, Tour and travel (eco-tourism) operators/associat ion, Professional hunting association, Private Sectors Key All levels Private sectors Contributor, These directly or indirectly influence Interest Manage involved in forest implementer forest landscape management. They play Level- closely and NTFP and role in regulating forest products (timber High beneficiary and non-timber) harvests. Their Influence involvement and believe in the goal of the Level: project is essential to help them regulate High products they purchase and to ensure that 61 Category Type Administrative Stakeholder Analysis Forms of stakeholder involvement in Influenc Manageme level based on ER e and nt functional Interest approach role Level what they get is obtained from a sustainably managed ecosystem. Academic and Secondary International, Regional Contributor Interest Keep Research National and Environment and Research and outreach; Level- Informed Institutions Regional Forestry Generating and dissemination High Research Centres new knowledge, Influence Climate Science Participation in MRV Level: Centre Participation in C & P taskforce Low Ethiopian Panel for Climate Change (EPCC) African Centre for Disaster Risk Management Haromaya University Jimma University Addis Ababa University HoA- REC&N Wollaga University MedaWalabu University Bahir Dar University Gonder University Hawassa University, Wondo Genet College of Forestry and Natural Resources Gambella University Assosa university 62 Category Type Administrative Stakeholder Analysis Forms of stakeholder involvement in Influenc Manageme level based on ER e and nt functional Interest approach role Level International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) International Food Policy Research Institute (EFPRI) International Network for Bamboo & Rattan (INBAR) Ethiopian Academy of Science (EAS) Centre for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) Ethiopian Forestry Society Biological Society of Ethiopia Ethiopian Society Soil Science Environmental society of Ethiopia CSOs/NGOs Secondary All levels based Regional Contributor Mobilization and Advocacy for Interest Keep on their Development sustainable ERP, Support or implement Level- informed availability in Organizations project activities, High the project areas (ODA, ORDA, Participation in C & P task force; Influence REST, SEPDA, Level- 63 Category Type Administrative Stakeholder Analysis Forms of stakeholder involvement in Influenc Manageme level based on ER e and nt functional Interest approach role Level etc.,) Low Unions (e.g., Contributor Oromia Coffee Producer cooperative Union) Women Implementer Association and Youth beneficiary Association Teachers Association Biological Society of Ethiopia Chambers of commerce Environment and Coffee Forest Forum (ECFF) Farm Africa Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS) GIZ Ethio-wetlands and NRA SOS Sahel SUNARMA MELKA Mahber World Vision CARE-Ethiopia Implementer SNV and COOPI beneficiary Climate Change Forum Ethiopia Media Secondary International, Environmental Implementer Advocacy to promote ERP projects and Interest Manage 64 Category Type Administrative Stakeholder Analysis Forms of stakeholder involvement in Influenc Manageme level based on ER e and nt functional Interest approach role Level National and journalist and dissemination of emerging issues at all Level: closely Local association beneficiary levels High Private media Influence (TV, Radio, Level: Newspaper, High Magazine) 65 6.5. Analysis of the identified stakeholders and prioritization The identified stakeholders were analyzed based on their potential contribution, involvement on implementation and accruing benefits from the ERP process. Stakeholders that are identified as implementers are organizations, who are involved or will be involved in implementing and managing ERP process. Stakeholders identified as contributors are those involved in funding, sponsoring and provision of t e c h n i c a l support to the ERP process. Stakeholders in the list categorized under beneficiaries are those benefiting or have the potential to benefit from the ERP process. The identified stakeholders are further analyzed and categorized based on degree of influence and importance in ERP process and type of stake. Stakeholders who have significant power of influence to determine the direction and outcomes of the ERP process are regarded as key stakeholders. Stakeholders who gain benefits from ERP or who make direct contribution of resources or services to the ERP process are considered as primary stakeholders. Stakeholders that are intermediaries in the ERP process and who may make some gain from their involvement are taken as secondary stakeholders. Stakeholders those who may suffer material losses or loss of influence are taken as negatively affected stakeholders. Table 5: Stakeholder prioritization Stakeholder Category/Depa Interest/R Stakeholder Language Preferre Specific needs rtment ole Type needs d (accessibility) notificati on method OEPA Implementer Implement Direct Amharic & Letter, Presentation of the er English email , project, Video phone conferencing, EFD Implementer Implement Direct Amharic & Letter, Presentation of the er English email , project, Video phone conferencing, NRS Implementing Partner Direct Amharic & Letter, Workshop & video partner English email , conferencing phone MoF Implementing Partner Direct Amharic & Letter, Presentation of the partner English email , project, Video phone conferencing, MoA Implementing Partner Direct Amharic & Letter, Presentation of the partner English email , project, Video phone conferencing, MoWE Implementing Partner Direct Amharic & Letter, Presentation of the partner English email , project, Video phone conferencing, MoLIA Implementing Partner Direct Amharic & Letter, Presentation of the partner English email , project, Video phone conferencing, MoWSA Implementing Partner Direct Amharic & Letter, Presentation of the partner English email , project, Video phone conferencing, National Implementing Partner Direct Amharic & Letter, Workshop & video Land partner English email , conferencing Administratio phone n and Use 66 Stakeholder Category/Depa Interest/R Stakeholder Language Preferre Specific needs rtment ole Type needs d (accessibility) notificati on method National Implementing Partner Direct Amharic & Letter, Workshop & video Livestock and partner English email , conferencing Fishery phone Resources Development Agency Federal Implementer Implement Direct Amharic & Letter, Presentation of the Cooperative er English email , project, Video Promotion A phone conferencing, World Bank Funding Support & Direct English Letter, Presentation of the supervision email , project, Workshop, phone Video conferencing, Embassy of Implementing Technical Direct English Letter, Presentation of the Norway Partner Assistance email , project, Workshop, phone Video conferencing, FAO Implementing Technical Direct English Letter, Videoconferencing Partner Assistance email , phone National Interested Knowledge Indirect Amharic & Letter, Workshop, Video Level parties production English email , conferencing Universities phone National and Interested Informatio Indirect Amharic & Letter, Workshop, Video Regional parties n English email , conferencing Research disseminati phone on Institutes Private Interested Business Indirect English & Letter, Workshop & Video Sectors parties entities Affan email, conferencing, Oromo phone, Contribute to news subprojects letter International Interested Inputs to Indirect English, Letter, In Addis Ababa (if have NGOs, local parties ER Amharic, email, HQ in Addis Ababa) and national interventio Affan phone, and by Video for those CSOs n Oromo news operational only in operating in letter regional level ER Local Affected parties Links to Direct Amharic , Visit Accessibility may Community administrat Affan with require communication leaders/ ion & Oromo translator means that are community by field independent of locality influential leaders staff, (e.g. mobile SMS or people in local radio). ERP areas governm ent or communi ty represent ative Remote HUTLCs, Participatio Direct Amharic, Visit Accessibility may Communities Pastoral and n and Affan with require communication benefit on Oromo translator means that are 67 Stakeholder Category/Depa Interest/R Stakeholder Language Preferre Specific needs rtment ole Type needs d (accessibility) notificati on method living in ERP Agro-Pastoral and from by field independent of locality areas ERP staff, (e.g. mobile SMS or local radio). governm ent or communi ty represent ative General Affected Parties Full Direct Amharic & Word of Accessibility, Local Participatio Affan mouth Involvement in Community n, prior Oromo from community engagement information local and information in ERP areas on project authoritie dissemination benefits & s, radio, outcomes communi ty meetings Project Project staffs, Project Direct Amharic and Phone, Weekend day and worker, drivers, ER operation, Affan email, working hour. Preferred including workers, project’s Oromo formal out of office activities, meeting contracted Community health & and letter field level volunteers safety, workers GRM (Affected parties) 7. Grievance Redress Systems 68 In general, grievances related to natural resources arise due to overuse, conservation and management of forests. Forest-related grievances take place among communities, communities with guards or communities with outsiders. Largely, grievances related to forests cover issue of resource access, use and control, conflicts over tenure right, pursuing livelihoods (agricultural land expansion) and lack of alternative livelihood options with community’s dependence on forests. 7.1. ERP Grievance Redress Mechanism Ethiopian Grievance Redress Mechanisms (EGRM): As part of risk mitigation measures, the OFLP-ERP Project would support citizen‘s complaints or grievances in a formalized, transparent, cost -effective, and time bound manner. All project-affected people would be informed about how to register grievances or complaints, including specific concerns on any OFLP-ERP activities. Resolution of different types of grievances can be addressed at different levels: • Grievance Redress Mechanisms: Arbitration by appropriate local institutions such as Local Authorities, community leaders or the Gada system is encouraged. The Project would make use of the existing Kebele, Woreda, Zonal and Regional Public Grievance Hearing Offices (PGHO) in Oromia and build on the successes of those regional offices. • The Ethiopian Institute of Ombudsman (EIO): The Ethiopian Institute of Ombudsman (EIO), which reports directly to parliament and is independent of government agencies, is now implementing the EGRM with six branches at present and is responsible for ensuring that the constitutional rights of citizens are not violated by executive organs. It receives and investigates complaints in respect of maladministration; conducts supervision to ensure the executive carries out its functions according to the law; and seeks remedies in case of maladministration. OFLP-ERP would use the EIO regional branch office of Oromia. • A complainant has the option to lodge his/her complaint to the nearby EIO branch or the respective PGHO in person, through his/her representative, orally, in writing, by fax, telephone or in any other manner. Complaints are examined; investigated and remedial actions are taken to settle them. If not satisfied with the decision of the lower level of the Ethiopian GRM system, the complainant has the right to escalate his/her case to the next higher level of administration. In addition, some regions (including Oromia) have mobile grievance handling teams at Woreda level to address grievances by clustering Kebeles; and some have good governance command posts to handle cases that have not been settled by the Kebele Manager (focal person of EIO) and Woreda PGHOs. The Protection of Basic Services Project (being financed by the WB) is supporting GRM system strengthening including the opening of new EIO branches. • Where satisfactory solutions to grievances cannot be achieved, the aggrieved party may take the matter before the courts. Documentation and Tracing The sub-project grievance redress committee and the respective administrative bodies (from lower to higher) should duly document each individual PAP/PAC case and must be archived. During requests from a court of appeal, individual cases should be properly traceable and necessary timely responses should be provided. 7.2. Recommended Grievance Redress Timeframe for Resettlement/ Compensation Issues 69 The following are the recommended grievance redress timeframe for issues related to compensation payment/resettlement in the ERP project. Any person who is aggrieved by the amount of compensation shall lodge his/her complaint to the grievance redress committee or a concerned administrative organ or a court of law, as the case may be and as it may be appropriate, within 15 days from the date on which he/she is notified of the amount of compensation. The appropriate organ which received the complaint shall make its decision, after reviewing the complaint on the amount of compensation, within 7 days. Any person whose land has been expropriated is aggrieved with the process of expropriation of land and any maladministration related with expropriation can lodge his/her grievance to the Woreda grievance redress committee within 15 days from the date of expropriation decision. The Woreda grievance redress committee, after examining all the relevant legal and other documents and by consulting the key stakeholders shall give its decision within 10 days from the date of the receipt of the complaint. A person who is aggrieved by the decision of the grievance redress committee can appeal to the Woreda regular court within 15 days from the date of the decision by the Woreda grievance redress committee. The steps and procedures for Grievance Redress in the ERP project are described in Table 8 below. Table 6: Grievance Redress procedures at the different levels of administration Level Responsible Institution How Federal EFD- REDD+ Secretariat The national REDD+ Secretariat and EFD need to give Level response within one month for the grievance not responded (REDD+ steering by one region only and conflict raised on cross cutting issues committee) Federal Ombudsman‘s The Federal Ombudsman's can also give advice for Office unresolved issues before the case submitted to the court Federal Court Complainants may also pursue their cases through the court system, if they are not satisfied with the Grievance Redress System. Regional Regional EPA Office & If the grievance submitted at woreda level by the local Level Regional REDD+ Coordination community and other stakeholder did not satisfied or referred unit to the regional environment office then the regional office will give response within 10 days, Regional Stakeholders can submit their appeal to the offices Regional Ombudsman‘s Regional stakeholders can also get advice from the Regional Court Regional stakeholders affected by the implementation ERP can appeal to the court if it is not resolved at environment office Woreda Woreda Environment, Forest and For grievance not addressed at kebele level and other grievance Level Climate Change office raised at woreda level appeal can be submitted to the office and provide response after clarifying the issue within 7 days Woreda environment office If the applicant did not satisfied by the response of they can take the issue to the Regional EPA office or Woreda formal court Woreda Ombudsman‘s The affected stakeholder can also submit its apple to get Office advice to Ombudsman's 70 Woreda Court The applicant can submit the appeal to the formal court and continue with the formal process Kebele Kebele Shengo Community/person can apply for traditional leaders and/ or Level Kebele Shengo for grievance caused by ERP implementation need to get a response within 7 days 7.3. Dispute Resolution In case disputes arise on the implementation RF, preferred options of the project affected persons for settlement through amicable means should be taken as an option. This will save time and resources as opposed to taking the matter into serious litigation procedures. To ensure that the PAP have avenues for redressing grievances related to any aspect of land acquisition and resettlement, procedures for the redress of grievances are aimed to be solved based on Proclamation No. 1161/2019, Article 18,19, and 20 on Expropriation of Landholdings for Public Purpose, Payments of Compensation and Resettlement. Detail dispute resolution issues of land expropriation are also indicated on the Council of Ministers Regulation No 472/2020. World Bank Framework on ESS5 also indicates that grievance redress mechanism that could be raised related to disputes arising from displacement or resettlement should take into account the availability of judicial recourse and community and traditional dispute settlement mechanisms. An additional GRM step (using traditional dispute resolution mechanisms) has been suggested for HUTLCs in the SEP and SDP. The project will have a functional grievance redress mechanism. Project complaints committees will be strengthened or established at the woreda and city levels, comprised of staffs from respective institutions and representatives of women and youth groups and community representatives. The GRM/GRC has a mandate to receive and register complaints, convene meetings to resolve the complaints, and respond to the appeals resulting from committees’ decisions. The effectiveness of resolution of complaints and appeals will be monitored during implementation. The grievance form will be made available in the woreda, Kebele offices and on the construction sites, alongside of the description of the grievance mechanisms. 7.4. Addressing GBV/SEA Complaints Information on the complaints and appeals will be collected at the kebele/woreda and city levels, must report to cluster coordinators level, and then to the federal ORCUs. The federal ORCU in turn will be required to report information on the cases management as well. Information requirements will include registered cases, cases resolve in a timely manner and cases referred to the next level of the complaints and appeals structure. In case dispute arises between the RP Committees and PAPs the preferred option to settle the dispute will be through amicable means using traditional and cultural methods as well. To ensure that the PAPs have avenues for redressing grievances related to land acquisition and resettlement, procedures for the redress of grievances have been established for the project. One of the key issues that the GRM considers is GBV/SEA. Hence, besides the SEA/SH code of conduct, the GRM will be established in a way that it raises awareness of all stakeholders and provides a timely appropriate response to any SEA/SH cases. To this end, the GRM will be established from the PAPs consisting of 71 the 50% of the committee to be women. As part of the procedure, the GRM committee will establish separate GBV sensitive reporting channels. The activities of the GRM should go in hand with the initiatives identified in the SEA/SH action plan. For the GRM to effectively address the issues/incidents related to sexual exploitation and other forms of gender-based violence, the project in general and the Woreda level GRC must set proactive mechanism functional throughout the project cycle. In this regard, the Woreda Women and Children Affairs Office head will be the focal person on issues related with sexual exploitation and other forms of gender-based violence. The following are the working procedures of the Woreda Women and Children Affairs Office to handle GBV in the project area. • The respective Woreda Women and Children Affairs Office should get the capacity building/Training on key principles of GBV/SEA case management including confidentiality, non-judgmental, best interest of the survivor, services and referrals, • Establish a proper channel to receive reports or project-related risks of sexual harassment and GBV, i.e., the risk factors that exacerbate or expose people to GBV; • Conduct awareness raising campaign regarding the risks of GBV to both men and women in the project area; and key principles of GBV/SEA case management including confidentiality, non-judgmental, best interest of the survivor, services and referrals, • The respective Woreda Women and Children Office representative in the Woreda GRC will be the focal point who can confidentially receive complaints or reports from the survivors through various forms of uptake channels including telephone call (hot line if any), text message, email, face-to-face, and others. • The Woreda Women and Children Affairs will immediately (maximum 24 hours) communicate the complain to EFD. EFD will report the case to the World Bank • The Woreda Women and Children Office will not investigate the GBV/SEA case. Rather, maintaining the key principles of GBV/SEA case management including confidentiality, non- judgmental, best interest of the survivor will report the case to ERA, facilitate survivors to services and referrals, • The GBV/SEA case will be investigated, and further information will be collected by GBV/SEA specialists based on the scope of risk involved, • Record all the reported incidents based on the level of risks and follow-up or track the response process of the referred agency or court until the achievement of satisfactory resolution. 7.5. Traditional Dispute Resolution Mechanism for HUTLCs The main causes of conflicts among pastoral and agro-pastoral communities of the lowland areas of Ethiopia selected for this RF were: Pasture or grazing land, shortage of water, cattle raid and adultery. In all Woredas selected for this RF, drought brought scarcity of grazing land and water resources for their livestock and human being; as a result, PAP communities are forced to travel longer distance even crossing their boundaries where they can get available feeds and water. This in turn resulted in the causes of inter-ethnic conflicts that claim life and property. Pastoral and agro-pastoral communities have their own traditional conflict resolution mechanisms even if 72 the approach of solving and managing the conflict differs according to the traditional practice of a certain ethnic group. The traditional conflict management mechanism is through the traditional elders without the involvement of government officials. First, elders from the mobile community will approach the host elders and with the permission of the host elders migrating animals are allowed to graze and use the water whenever the mobility is within the same clan. The Oromo have also their own traditional conflict resolution called Jarsuma (conciliation of elderly) which is under the bigger umbrella of the Gada system. Parallel to resolving issues through the Gada system, more specifically Jarsuma, conflicts in the area are resolved through the formal government structures from Kebele to higher judiciary system. 7.6. World Bank Group Grievance Redress Service Communities and individuals who believe that they are adversely affected by a World Bank Group supported project, may submit complaints to existing project-level grievance redress mechanisms or the WBG’s Grievance Redress Service (GRS). The GRS ensures that complaints received are promptly reviewed in order to address project-related concerns. Project affected communities and individuals may submit their complaint to the WBG’s independent Inspection Panel which determines whether harm occurred, or could occur, as a result of WBG non- compliance with its policies and procedures. Complaints may be submitted at any time after concerns have been brought directly to the WBG’s attention, and WBG Management has been given an opportunity to respond. For information on how to submit complaints to the WBG’s corporate Grievance Redress Service (GRS), please visit http://www.worldbank.org/GRS. For information on how to submit complaints to the WBG Inspection Panel, please visit www.inspectionpanel.org. 73 8. Legal, institutional and policy framework 8.1. International Conventions Ethiopia is either a party or signatory of many international forestry and environment related agreements. The country ratified a range of conventions that demonstrate the country’s commitment to global climate change, biodiversity and desertification problems. The country is also an active participant in the global climate change initiatives. Selected relevant international conventions, protocols, and initiatives are summarized as follows: 8.1.1. United Nations Framework Conventions on Climate Change (UNFCCC) UNFCC is an international environmental convention negotiated at the United N a t i o n s Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), informally known as the Earth Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro from 3 to 14 June 1992. The objective of the treaty is to "stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system". The UNFCCC was opened for signature on 9 May 1992, after an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee produced the text of the Framework Convention as a report following its meeting in New York from 30 April to 9 May 1992. It entered into force on 21 March 1994. As of March 2014, UNFCCC has 196 parties. Ethiopia ratified the convention in 1994. The topic of reducing emissions from deforestation in developing countries was first introduced at the eleventh session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Montreal (December 2005). The Climate Change Conference in Bali, in December 2007, opened the possibility of developing an incentive mechanism for “reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation; and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries” (REDD+). Subsequently some REDD+ projects and OFLP-ERP orograms have been developed, which already feature in the voluntary carbon markets. 8.1.2. United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) UNCCD is established in 1994 with an aim of linking development and environment to ensure sustainable management. The fact that the Convention specifically targets arid and semi-arid areas makes it pertinent to the national goals set to the pastoral and semi-pastoral communities. In the 10- Year Strategy of the UNCCD (2008-2018) that was adopted in 2007, Parties to the Convention further specified their goals: "to forge a global partnership to reverse and prevent desertification/land degradation and to mitigate the effects of drought in affected areas in order to support poverty reduction and environmental sustainability”. The Convention’s 195 parties work together to improve the living conditions for people in dry lands, to maintain and restore land and soil productivity, and to mitigate the effects of drought. The UNCCD is particularly committed to a bottom-up approach, encouraging the participation of local people in combating desertification and land degradation. Ethiopia ratified the convention in 1997. The UNCCD invites all Parties to adopt and scale up sustainable forest management policies and practices to prevent soil erosion and flooding, to increase carbon sinks, and to conserve and sustainably use biodiversity (decision4/COP.8). The UNCCD, being the sole legally binding instrument on land and soil, recognizes the importance and potential for REDD+ in drylands to contribute to land degradation neutrality, sustainable economic growth, poverty eradication and other urgent goals 74 pledged at the Rio+20 conference. Moreover, the UNCCD is one of the founding institutions of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF), a policy forum and partnership on all types of forests, including dry forests. In collaboration with other organizations of the CPF, the UNCCD facilitates the UNFCCC, UNFF and other processes related to REDD+ and ERP. 8.1.3. United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) entered into force on 29 December 1993. It has 3 main objectives. The Convention is aimed at the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of the components of biological diversity and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources. The CBD provides a global legal framework for action on biodiversity. It brings together the Parties to the Conference of the Parties (COP) which is the Convention’s governing body. Ethiopia ratified the convention in 1994. The COP for the CBD (COP 10) in its Decision X/33 recognized the importance of REDD+ activities in developing countries in collaboration with various stakeholders, including the UN organs and the national focal points for the CBD with the participation of underserved and local communities, so that actions are consistent with the objectives of the CBD and avoid negative impacts. (Paragraph 9 (g)) It also deals with the assessment of the contribution of REDD+ in achieving the objectives of the CBD (Paragraph 13). COP 11 which took place from 8 to 19 October 2012 in Hyderabad, India conducted important negotiations on REDD+. These include: • Keeping the Convention’s implementation under review; adopting indicators on the Aichi targets; allocating financial resources for the forest biodiversity work project, rather than focusing on non-binding guidelines for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries, and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks (REDD+); • Strengthening REDD+ initiatives, geo-engineering and knowledge on linkages between biodiversity and climate change; • Focusing on safeguards, considering means of monitoring and assessing the impacts of REDD+ on biodiversity; • Understanding that the issue of forests is not reduced to REDD+; • Develop indicators to monitor compliance by developing countries with REDD+ safeguards aimed to prevent negative impacts on biodiversity and underserved and local communities; • Outlining a “roadmap” authorizing the next CBD COP to consider a progress report on REDD+ safeguards that can hopefully feed into the subsequent climate COP and allow for further review at CBD COP 13; From these COP decisions and discussions, it can be discerned that the relevance of REDD+ activities in developing countries to achieve the objectives of the CBD has been given due attention. Moreover, the issue of impacts on biodiversity and human society, particularly on underserved peoples and local communities has been repeatedly emphasized. 8.1.4. CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) CITES is an international agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. CITES is initiated because 75 of the crosses borders nature of the trade in wild animals and plants which necessitates international cooperation to safeguard certain species from over-exploitation. CITES provides a framework to be respected by each Party, which has to adopt its own domestic legislation to ensure that CITES is implemented at the national level. It has about 180 parties. Ethiopia ratified the convention in 1989. 8.1.5. Convention for the Safeguards of Intangible Heritage Intangible cultural heritage refers to traditions and living expressions that passed from one generation to the other that includes oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals and other traditional knowledge and practices concerning nature and the environment. The major purposes of the convention are to safeguard the intangible cultural heritage, to ensure respect for the tangible cultural heritage of the communities, groups and individuals concerned, to raise awareness at the local, national and international levels of the importance of the intangible cultural heritage, and of ensuring mutual appreciation thereof to provide for international cooperation and assistance. 8.1.6. The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity is an international treaty governing the movements of living modified organisms (LMOs) resulting from modern biotechnology from one country to another. It was adopted on 29 January 2000 as a supplementary agreement to the Convention on Biological Diversity and entered into force on 11 September 2003. The Protocol seeks to protect biological diversity from the potential risks posed by living modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology. It establishes an advanced informed agreement procedure for ensuring that countries are provided with the information necessary to make informed decisions before agreeing to the import of such organisms into their territory. Ethiopia ratified the convention in 2000. 8.1.7. Pan African Agency for the Great Green Wall (PAGWW) The Great Green Wall Initiative of the Sahara and the Sahel was conceived as a sound initiative towards ensuring sustainable environmental management to African countries. It is anticipated that it could help in strengthening efforts made to arrest loss of biodiversity, control desert encroachment, and improve resilience of the local community to climate change impacts. The GGWSSI is an initiative with a broader target of increasing food security; reducing poverty by diversifying livelihood opportunities through climate resilient development approaches. This initiative was emerged to protect the expansion of the Sahara Desert via planting a wall of trees which stretches from Dakar to Djibouti with a width of 15 kilometers and a length of up to 7000 kilometers. The wall envisioned by 11 African countries (Burkina Faso, Djibouti, Eretria, Ethiopia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sudan and Chad) on the southern border of the Sahara, and their international partners, is aimed at preventing the expansion of the Sahara Desert into the Sahel. Ethiopia ratified the “Convention related to the Creation of The Pan African Agency of the Great Green Wall Ratification Proclamation No. 842/2014” in July 2014. 8.2. National Laws, strategies and policies Forest sector of Ethiopia has been paid considerable national policy and strategy emphasis over the last two decades. There is a national policy and strategy document specifically formulated for this sector. There are also policies and strategy measures relevant to the forestry sectors which are 76 amalgamated into the broader rural development policy frameworks. Some policies and strategies of other sectors have also significant links to the forest sector. These policies and strategies play crucial roles that determine the extent at which the sector addresses the social, economic, and ecological needs of the community to forest goods and services. Although these policy, legal and strategy documents do not directly refer to the issues of ERP, they have provisions which are relevant for its implementation. It is important to analyze such legal frameworks in the context of understanding the existing policies, strategies, and action projects in view of social and environmental safeguards emanating from the application of ERP projects. Among others, the major policy and strategy provisions that are directly and indirectly related to the forest sector include Rural Development Policy and Strategies (RDPS), Forest Conservation and Utilization Policy and Strategy and the Forest Proclamation, the Environmental Policy of Ethiopia, Productive Safety Net Project, and Sustainable Land Management, the GTP and CRGE Strategy of Ethiopia. An overview of these legal frameworks and projects are provided below. 8.2.1. The Rural Development Policy and Strategy, 2001 The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia issued a national rural development policy and strategy in November 2001 which is an overarching policy and strategy document that comprised statements in relation to rural development, agriculture and natural resource interventions. The policy underscores agriculture-led economic development as a pathway feasible to Ethiopia in order to ensure rapid economic growth, optimize public benefits, reduce poverty and promote market economy. The major policy directions include efficient use of land resources and formulation of area-specific development packages. Under the pillar stating the need to formulate area-specific development packages, the document underscores the need to rehabilitate degraded lands and forests. The policy suggests that natural resource development and conservation interventions should also serve as a source of income for the local community. Especially it underlines the income which should be accrued from forest development and management activities. REDD+ projects are relevant with this policy statement in that one of the objectives of REDD+ is fetching additional income for the local people. It also stresses the need to promote target-oriented tree planting projects. Specifically, the policy addresses that afforestation interventions should be focused on agroforestry, which allows farmers harvest wood products and fruits that can be sold in the local market and satisfy household demands. The document further deals with increasing agricultural productivity to reduce pressure as output per landholding increases, farmers will be less likely to expand into forests. Despite these strong policy provisions successes so far are limited. Implementation of this policy is constrained, among others, by lack of implementation instruments, such as directives or sector- specific guidelines. Moreover, proper amounts of financial and human resources have not been allocated for the implementation of afforestation and reforestation projects. For example, Mulugeta Limeneh and Tadesse Weldemariam (2010) reported that forestry sector received less than 10% of the overall budgets allocated to the Ministry of Agriculture both at the federal and regional levels during the last decade. The same is true in the allocation of extension personnel and airtime and print space in the media. 8.2.2. Forest Development, Conservation and Utilization Proclamation (1065/2018) The Proclamation was issued in January 2018 for the sustainable development, conservation, and utilization of forests in order to address effects of climate change, preventing soil erosion, desertification and loss of biodiversity, sustain agricultural productivity, ensure food security, and 77 enhance other benefits from forest developments. It applies to private, community, association and state owned forests. For each sort of ownership, the proclamation, stipulates the rights and obligations in forest developments. It also provides incentives in forest development by the private and community ownerships. A provision with specific implication to the ERP involves the following. During project implementation, the government through relevant bodies will make sure to: • Protect the forest from invasive species, pests and diseases; and apply curative measures in case of the occurrence of the same; • Protect the forest resources from natural and man-made disasters; • Conserve and administer any protected forest; and • Rehabilitate and protect development plans on forest lands. 8.2.3. Forest Conservation and Utilization Policy and Strategy, 2007 The adoption of this policy by the council of ministers, which is the first in the history of the country, reflects the government’s commitment to improve the economic, social and ecological contributions of the forest resource base. The main objective of the policy and strategy is improving the economic contribution of the forest sector and meeting the communities’ demands for forest products. Moreover, the policy envisages enhancing the forest sector economic contribution by promoting the engagement of the private sector and farmers. The policy substantiates the need to certify forest use right which is an important provision to enhance the engagement of farmers, communities and the private sector. The policy also provides statements on the support that should be provided to create market opportunities for forest products. The policy statements in the document are comprehensive enough to promote sustainable forest management and enhance the social and economic contributions of the sector. This policy and strategy document can be utilized for the implementation of REDD+ as it provides for: possibilities of income generation from forests for the communities; the establishment of participatory forest management schemes by engaging the local people; issuance of forest ownership certificates for individuals, associations (e.g., forest use groups) and private investors. 8.2.4. Environmental Policy of Ethiopia (EPE), 1997 This is one of the policies developed in the country that has direct relation to forest development and conservation, approved in 1997. The policy aims at improving the quality of life of the people through sustainable development and utilization of natural resources. It also aspires to conserve traditional resource management practices. The policy included soil management and sustainable agriculture, forest and tree resource management, genetic, species and ecosystem biodiversity conservation and management. The EPE has a strong element of encouraging peoples’ participation in forest management. The policy addresses the complementary roles of communities, private investors and the state in forestry development. The policy emphasizes the need to restrict forest resources utilization to the regeneration capacity. Thus, the policy attempts to ensure sustainable supply of forest products without disrupting the social, economic and ecological services. This policy document also provides for, tenure security on land, investing in SLM technologies and conducting intensive agriculture. Moreover, the Policy stresses the uninterrupted and continuing access to the same land and natural resources (e.g., trees, water, wildlife and grazing) on the part of farmers and pastoralists. It also recognizes the customary rights of access to and use of land and natural resources which are constitutionally acceptable, socially equitable and are preferred by local 78 communities. These provisions of the Policy have shown their relevance for ERP as they underline on the security of land tenure; agricultural intensification; sustainable utilization of natural resources; traditional resource management by using local knowledge; communities’ participation in forest management; and access rights of local people to natural resources such as forests. From these policy statements it can be understood the rights of local people are not limited to only the landholdings to which they have been provided with the title deeds but could be extended to the forests. 8.2.5. Environmental Impact Assessment Proclamation (EIA) No. 299/2002 The proclamation prohibits implementation of any project that requires environmental impact assessment without authorization from the federal or regional environmental agency. The provisions of this proclamation emphasize on the importance of conducting environmental impact assessment for all development projects and projects which fall in any category listed in any directive issued pursuant to the EIA proclamation. The proclamation indicates that environmental assessment is essential to predict and manage the environmental effects of proposed developmental activities; to harmonize environmental, economic, cultural and social considerations into a decision-making process; to implement environmental rights and objectives enshrined in the Constitution; and to bring about administrative transparency and accountability. The definition of EIA in the proclamation includes both project and strategic level assessments and there is no separate law for strategic environmental assessment in Ethiopia. These features of the proclamation make it relevant for the implementation of ERP. EIA is the most significant law as far as SESA is concerned. Protecting the environment and society from the negative impacts of a proposed project or project by devising safeguard mechanisms (e.g., mitigation measures) is a major purpose of the EIA law. EIA processes hence result in environmental and social safeguards. Irrespective of its relevance for the ERP, the enforceability of EIA in Ethiopia is facing a number of challenges. The most significant challenge in the country with respect to implementation of EIA law is the disproportionate emphasis on development projects and programs as compared to their social and environmental impacts. The other challenge that needs to be mentioned is the delegation of the power of reviewing of EIA study reports by the former EPA to the sectoral ministries. The delegation of EIA report reviewing powers of EPA to sectoral agencies has been found to contradict the basic principle of avoiding conflict of interests in assigning the roles and responsibilities of regulation of environmental protection on the one hand and resources development on the other. This federal level delegation was not accepted by the regional states and in no regional state such delegation has been made. Some regional states (e.g., Oromia) have enacted their own EIA laws. The Oromia Regional State issued the EIA Proclamation No. 176/2012 on 30 November 2012. It includes both project level and strategic impact assessments. The proclamation is applicable to all projects and programs to be undertaken in the territories of Oromia Regional State. This implies that even federal projects and programs are subject to the proclamation. According to Article 5 (1) of the proclamation, no person shall commence implementation of a project that requires environmental impact assessment without authorization from the Bureau. There have been improvements in the enforcement of EIA in Ethiopia including in the Oromia Regional State since the adoption of the EIA proclamation in 2012. All projects are required to assess their potential environmental and social impacts before implementation and operation especially since 2012/13. Project proponents, both from the public and private sectors have to submit their EIA report to Oromia Bureau of Land Administration and Environment Protection for review and approval. They cannot implement projects without an EIA certificate from the Bureau. There has been attitude change 79 towards increased awareness on EIA. Irrespective of these improvements, there are still problems in enforcing EIA law in Oromia. The problems are mostly related to: • Proponents usually fail to construct/apply the proposed mitigation measures by using the technology they prescribe in the EIA study report to mitigate or eliminate the negative impacts of their projects; • As many of the federal projects are located in the territory of Oromia Regional State and as the delegated federal sectoral ministries are not actively exercising their monitoring and evaluation tasks, there is institutional gap in the effectively enforcing EIA in Oromia; • Lack of effective cooperation among the stakeholders indicated in the Oromia EIA law; • Lack of efficient mechanisms for dispute resolution and insufficient compensation payments for displacement; • Still the awareness level on EIA is small in the general public and even in the decision- making organs; • Lack of or weaknesses of sectoral environmental units in the RS; • Weak institutional capacity; • Persisting insufficiency of political willingness to EIA. This can be explained as disproportionate urge for rapid economic growth at the cost of the environment. 8.2.6. Biodiversity Conservation and Research Policy (1998) The Policy was approved in 1998 and it provides policy guidance towards the effective conservation, rational development and sustainable utilization of the country's biodiversity. The policy objectives accentuate public participation in biodiversity conservation, development and utilization, and also ensure that communities share from the benefit accrued from the utilization of the genetic resources and their traditional knowledge. The policy consists of comprehensive provisions on the conservation and sustainable utilization of biodiversity, and it underlines the requirements for implementers to adopt during planning and operational phase of projects and for those projects engaged in biological resource utilization to follow ESIA procedures. Besides the Policy, the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan provides guidance towards the effective conservation, rational development and sustainable utilization of the country's biodiversity. It also encourages and supports public participation in the conservation, development and use of biological resources. 8.2.7. National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (2005) The National Biodiversity Strategic and Action Plan (NBSAP) of Ethiopia was issued in December 2005 with the overall goal establishing of effective systems that ensure the conservation and sustainable use of the biodiversity of the country, that provide for the equitable sharing of the costs and benefits arising therefrom, and that contribute to the well-being and security of the nation (IBC, 2005). NBSAP defines the current status of, pressures on, options for, and priority action to ensure the conservation, sustainable use, and equitable share of benefits accrued from the use of biological diversity of Ethiopia. The NBSAP is prepared to serve as a roadmap for supporting the environmental component on Ethiopia's journey to sustainable development being as member parties of the CBD. The strategy recognizes that successful conservation shall be achieved by changing human attitudes, use regimes and promoting collaborative management. The policy boldly acknowledges collaborative management of biodiversity (natural resources) but never exclusive management by either communities or governments. The policy states the need for the mutual understanding between the government and 80 communities with the government recognizing the interests and rights of local communities, while communities recognize that such management to be part of a larger political and environmental framework. 8.2.8. Productive Safety Net and Sustainable Land Management Project Productive Safety Net Project (PSNP), which is an operational project targeted to ensure food security was initiated in 2005. The project is now in its fourth phase. The project aims to improve access to safety net and disaster risk management mechanisms, diversified livelihoods and nutrition support for food insecure households in the rural areas. The project recognizes the importance of tackling environmental degradation through sustainable natural resource management as a key tool of sustaining food security. The project intends to promote community based degraded lands rehabilitation initiatives through public works and direct support. Public works are labor-intensive activities that are conducted to restore degraded landscapes. The direct support scheme facilitates the flow of financial or food support to vulnerable households with no able-bodies to participate on public works. The Ethiopian government also launched Sustainable Land Management (SLM) project i n October 2008 with the aim of combating land degradation problems. It was envisioned to contribute to the UNCCD and global action against climate change. The second SLM project aims at reducing land degradation and improves land productivity in selected watersheds in six regions of the country. The watershed management component of the SLM project has been witnessed to bring commendable changes through scaling-up of best land management practices and technologies for smallholder farmers. Farmers are now realizing the benefits of conserving natural resources including forests not only in terms of sustaining increased agricultural productivity but also in terms of livelihood diversification which boosts landscape productivity and enhance resilience. Because of its participatory nature, integrating social and environmental safeguards in watershed approaches is simple. Such integration further guarantees the sustainability of degraded land restoration interventions. 8.2.9. The Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP-II) and the CRGE Strategy The GTP-II and the CRGE strategies prioritize attainment of middle-income status by 2025 and, through the CRGE Strategy, achievement of this by taking low carbon, resilient, green growth actions. Both strategies emphasize agriculture and forestry, which the CRGE Strategy reports would “contribute around 45 and 25 percent, respectively, to projected greenhouse gas (GHG) emission levels by 2030 under business-as-usual assumptions, and together account for around 80 percent of the total abatement potential.” The GTP-2 aimed to “increase socioeconomic and ecological benefits of forests through improved forestry development, conservation and utilization”, and targeted about 5 million hectares of additional forest cover during the GTP-2 period (2016-2020), in line with the CRGE ambition. In this regard, the CRGE strategy was mainstreamed into the Second Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP II) for the 2015-2020 period. Ethiopia has also updated its NDC building on the 10YDP and with extensive review and participation of relevant stakeholders Very recently (July 2021), covering the period between 2020 and 2030 through building upon several national climate and development policy initiatives including the first NDC, the CRGE mid-term review, the emerging 2050 Long Term Low Emission Development Strategy (LT-LEDS), the Green Legacy Initiative, and Ethiopia’s 10YDP which considers CRGE as one of its strategic pillars for the period 2020-2030. 8.2.10. National Energy Policy -1994 This policy targets at ensuring energy self-sufficiency or meet national energy security. The policy 81 underlines that all energy development activities should be environmentally friendly. It recognizes the promotion of alternative energy sources in order to increase energy supply that has to meet the country’s growing demand. It also accounts to the pressure on the biomass energy source and states on the need to increase the biomass energy source through afforestation, re-forestation and agroforestry schemes. The policy indicates that Ethiopia’s energy consumption predominantly based on biomass energy sources, which led to massive deforestation and the resultant land degradation in the country. To overcome these problems, the policy provides for the importance of devising mechanisms to arrest deforestation to increase the reliability of energy supply and to control environmental pollution resulting from energy use. It also emphasizes on the participation of the private sector and communities, particularly women in the development of energy and payment of due and closes attention to ecological and environmental issues during the development of energy projects. Alternative energy development from solar, geothermal, wind energy sources are among the renewable energy sources with the view to relieving pressure on wood resources. The National Energy Policy is a relevant policy instrument for the application of ERP in that it focuses on the renewable energy sources and in energy efficiency approaches. The materialization of the policy will have a positive contribution in reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. It will also contribute in the enhancement of forest development. 8.2.11. Ethiopian Water Resources Management Policy-1999 The policy states the need to ensure sustainable supply of water which necessitates natural resources development interventions in the upper catchments. In line with ensuring the sustainability of water supply the policy clearly states that “Ensure that water resources management is compatible and integrated with other natural resources as well as river basin development plans and with the goals of other sectoral developments in health, mines, energy, agriculture, etc.” In its section of the provision on cross cutting policy issues the document addresses environmental issues with two statements. Section 2.2.2-A states that: • Incorporate environment conservation and protection requirements as integral parts of water resources management. • Encourage that Environment Impact Assessment and protection requirements serve as part of the major criteria in all water resources projects. Moreover, section 2.2.2-B which deals about watershed management states that: • Promote practices of efficient and appropriate watershed management to maximize water yields and quality. • Ensure that watershed management practices constitute an integral part of the overall water resources management. Thus the water policy can be understood as well aligned with the natural resource management activities including the present massive public mobilization schemes of the government targed to implement integrated watershed management development initiatives. 8.2.12. Ethiopian Water Resources Management Proclamation, No. 197/2000 The Proclamation is decreed to ensure that the water resources of the country are protected and utilized for the highest social and economic benefits of the people of Ethiopia, to follow up and supervise that 82 they are duly conserved, ensure that harmful effects of water are prevented, and that the management of water resources is carried out properly. It proclaims that all water resources of the country are the common property of the Ethiopian people and the state. It addresses general principles of water use and management, inventory of water resources, professional engagement in water resource management and supply. Articles 24 and 25 of the Proclamation also clearly indicate the requirements on water bank management and prevention of harmful effects on water resources. 8.2.13. Regulation for Wildlife Development, Conservation and Utilization (Regulation no. 163/2008) Regulation no. 163/2008 on the Wildlife Development, Conservation and Utilization was by Council of Ministries in 2008. The regulation gives room for the community to manage and utilize wildlife conservation outside protected areas that is not administered either by the government or private concessionaire. Article 5(3b) states that persons who were inhabitants of wildlife reserve prior to the date of its establishment, to continue residing therein and article 5 (4) states that persons authorized to reside in a wildlife reserve shall have the right to cultivate their land plots without expanding, to allow their domestic animals graze and water, and to undertake bee keeping therein. But when the organ administering the wildlife reserve wishes to further develop the area, the in habitants may be resettled elsewhere. 8.2.14. Expropriation of landholding for Public Purposes, Payment of compensation and Resettlement of Displaced People (Proclamation No 1161/2019) The previous proclamation no. 455/2005 has been repealed and replaced by a new Proclamation no. 1161/2019. The new proclamation has introduced extensive improvements to the principles and provisions governing the process of expropriation of landholdings for public purposes and payment of compensation. The new legislation bases itself on the following four principles: • Principle 1: Expropriation of land for public purposes shall be made only on the basis of approved land use plan, urban structural plan; or development master plan. • Principle 2: Compensation and Resettlement Assistance Compensation for the expropriated land shall sustainably restore and improve the livelihood of displaced people. • Principle 3: The amount of compensation to be paid at Federal, or Regional or Addis Ababa or Dire Dawa level for simillar properties and economic losses in the same areas shall be simillar. • Principle 4: Where land is expropriated for public purpose, the procedure shall be transparent, participatory, fair and accountable. The new proclamation has made improvements to the amount and kind of compensation entitlements to displaced people. Landholders whose land is expropriated for public purposes are entitled for property compensation, displacement compensation, displacement assistance, economic loss compensation and social ties discontinuance and moral damage compensations as deemed appropriate. The determination of the amount of property compensation for the property on the land is improved from “replacement cost” to “replacing the property anew”. Similarly the determination of compensation for permanent improvement to land is clarified to be based on “current value of capital and labor expended on the 83 land”. Determination of displacement compensation for expropriated Land holding where equivalent substitute land is not available is improved from the previous “ten times” to “fifteen times” the highest annual income generated during the last three years preceding the expropriation of land. The new legislation has also introduced new provisions on resettlement ( i.e. livelihood restoration) and compensation for economic loss aspects. Article 16(1) of the proclamation states that “Regional states….. shall establish fund for compensation payment and rehabilitation” Moreover the next sub- article 16(2) puts a responsibility to regional states to develop a resettlement packages that enable displaced people to sustainably resettle. Subarticle 16(3) places the duty to resettle the people displaced on Urban or Woreda administrations based on the resettlement package and allocated budget. 8.2.15. Regulation for Payment of Compensation for Property Situated on Landholding Expropriated for Public Purposes (Regulation No. 472/2020) Assets will be broken down into components to assess value (Regulation No. 472/2020).Components for building costs include cost per square meter. Crops are subdivided into crops and perennial crops, and calculated based on yield per square meter of land multiplied by price per kilogram. Trees could be cut and used by owner plus payment of compensation for loss of continued income. The cost of machinery, labour for improvement, and any infrastructure as part of the improvement will be compensated based on current costs. Property relocation is based on the cost to relocate property given that it is not damaged while being moved plus cost of installation and/or connection. The amount of compensation for loss of land that is used for grazing or production of grass is based on the area of land and the current price per square meter plus cost of permanent improvement on land. Further, assets will be classified as movable and immovable. For movable assets, compensation will be paid for inconvenience and other transition costs (Regulation No. 472/2020 Article 18(1)). Urban immovable assets include residential houses, business installations, institutional structures, stores, fences and public service providing installation. In rural areas, they include seasonal crops, perennial fruit trees, timber trees and other cash crops. In addition to compensation according to Regulation No. 472/2020, a displacement compensation shall be paid equivalent to fifteen times the average annual income he/she secured during the five years preceding the expropriation of the land (Regulation No. 472/2020 Article 26). 8.2.16. Access to Genetic Resources and Community Knowledge, and Community Rights Proclamation No. 482 /2006 This proclamation deals with access to genetic resources (by communities), community knowledge and protection of these rights with the objectives to ensure the communities right to the benefits accrued from genetic resources and community knowledge. It provides communities with the right to regulate access to their community knowledge; an inalienable right to use their genetic resources from their surroundings. The proclamation addresses key issues such as access rights, obligations, and types of benefit and benefit sharing principles. The proclamation recognizes that ownership of community knowledge is vested in the concerned local community. The recognition of the right of knowledge of communities on genetic resources can also be applicable in the forest management. As at is been indicated in a number of studies, the full and effective engagement of local communities and the incorporation of their traditional forest knowledge in forest management strategies are crucial for REDD+ success in curbing climate change. It is widely accepted that local communities have developed significant bodies of knowledge on how to cope with 84 local climatic shifts including agricultural techniques for managing and conserving forests, water, and soil resources. These practices can guide the REDD+ projects and projects. 8.2.17. Gender Mainstreaming Policies and Strategy Women constitute a significant segment of the general population of Ethiopia. However, because of the socio-political oppression and the dragging cultural practice imposed upon them for centuries, they were marginalized from participating and benefiting from the economic development of the country. Nevertheless, the government has been making steady affirmative actions and achieved remarkable results. There has been made steadily be gender mainstreaming recognized as a strategy for making concerns and experiences of women and men to be an integral part of the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies and projects in all political, economic and societal spheres. Cognizant of their roles in tackling gender inequalities, The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia entered into commitments to implement different international conventions and protocols on women’s rights. It has adopted the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women /CEDAW (1979), Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women /DEVAW (1993), the International Conference on Population and Development / ICPD (1994), and the Beijing Platform for Action /BPA (1995). Moreover, broad and specific polices, legal frameworks, and strategies have been put in place along with defined objectives. The Constitution of Ethiopia states several provisions in support of gender mainstreaming. Article 25 of the Constitution states that all persons are equal before the law and discrimination on grounds of sex is prohibited. Similarly, Article 35(8) stipulates men’s and women’s equality in employment, promotion, pay, transfer, and pension entitlement. Furthermore, Article 35(3) of the constitution identified itself with women’s historical legacy of the past and clearly states the retroactive positional truth by way of prescribing an affirmative action as a remedy to the women’s discrimination. Article 42 (1) (d) of the Constitution stipulates women workers right to equal pay for equal work. The National Policy of Women which is enacted in 1993 puts multi- sectoral development strategies that address the needs of women. The policy also shows the government’s commitment to abolish all discriminatory laws and regulations as well as creating enabling environment for the full participation of all members of the society in the socio- economic and political sectors; with special focus on the subordinated position of women. The Ethiopian government has also issued several proclamations that safeguard the rights of women. For instance, the labor law proclamation N0.377/2003 has clearly stipulated different provisions to safe guard women’s right upon the formation of employment contract. The section of the proclamation that deal with working conditions of women and young workers, article 87, prohibits discrimination of women on the basis of their sex on payment and employment. Article 88 grants maternity leave without deducing her wages. The entitlement for affirmative actions and maternity leave for civil servant women is covered by the civil servant proclamation N0.515/2007. The Developmental Social Welfare Policy was formulated by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs in November 1996. The Policy acknowledges that war, famine and the economic crises of the past decades have harmed vulnerable groups, i.e., women, the elderly, children, youth and the disabled. It also explains that women are underrepresented in every sphere, including education, employment, politics and other key decision-making positions. The Policy also highlights the significance of gender mainstreaming in all projectms, projects and services. Ethiopian Women’s Development and Change Package (EWDCP) 2006 is a strategy document designed to implement the ideals provided in the FDRE constitution. The package clearly states the commitment of the government to enhance women’s socioeconomic benefits and puts that the major forces to women’s problems are women themselves. The first GTP of Ethiopia has also provided adequate provisions to address women and youth issues to accelerate gender issues. With these several policy and legal provisions to gender mainstreaming it is 85 legitimate to formulate a safeguard system that guarantee equal benefit sharing for the women and the youth from all interventions made in the forest sector. 8.2.18. Legal Framework for Underserved and Vulnerable Groups meeting ESS7 requirements The GoE, under the constitution and in the various policies and strategies stemming from these constitutional rights, including the GTP, also recognizes a number of disadvantaged groups who face particular challenges in accessing their rights and entitlements as citizens, including basic services (MoFED 2010, WaterAid, 2013). These include pastoralists and other designated disadvantaged nations and people living with disabilities or HIV/Aids. Disadvantaged Nations, Nationalities and Peoples, Pastoralists, and National Minorities: The Ethiopian Constitution recognizes the presence and rights of many ethnic groups, as well as vulnerable groups, including Nations, Nationalities and Peoples, pastoralists, and national minorities. Article 39 recognizes the rights of groups identified as “Nations, Nationalities and Peoples” and defines them as “a group of people who have or share a large measure of common culture or similar customs, mutual intelligibility of language, belief in a common or related identities, a common psychological make-up, and who inhabit an identifiable, predominantly contiguous territory.” This represents some 75 out of the 80 groups who are members of the House of Federation, the second chamber of the Ethiopian legislature. The Constitution recognizes the rights of these Nations, Nationalities and Peoples to: self- determination, including the right to secession; speak, write and develop their own languages; express, develop and promote their cultures; preserve their history; and, self-government, which includes the right to establish institutions of government in the territory that it inhabits and equitable representation in state and Federal governments. In addition, as a signatory of the African Charter of Human Rights, Ethiopia has committed to protecting the rights of all peoples to progress social, cultural and economic development of their choice in conformity with their identity (Articles 20 and 21) . A significant proportion of these groups live in the emerging regions and locations which are particularly underserved by WaSH services (NWI, 2013; Social Assessment Report for WaSH, 2014). The Government of Ethiopia recognizes another group called “national minorities”. Article 54 of the Constitution explains that: “Members of the House (of Peoples Representatives), on the basis of population and special representation of minority Nationalities and Peoples, shall not exceed 550; of these, minority Nationalities and Peoples shall have at least 20 seats.” These groups have less than 100,000 members and most live in the Developing Regional States and pastoralist areas. This is the case for the Opuo and the Komo in the Gambella region, and the Bacha and the Birale in SNNPR. The Ethiopian Constitution also recognizes the rights of pastoralist groups (Articles 40 and 41). This includes the right to “free land for grazing and cultivation as well as the right not to be displaced from their own lands” and the right to “receive fair prices for their products, that would lead to improvement in their conditions of life and to enable them to obtain an equitable share of the national wealth commensurate with their contribution. This objective shall guide the State in the formulation of economic, social and development policies.” Additionally, Article 89 of the Constitution states that the “Government shall provide special assistance to Nations, Nationalities and Peoples least advantaged in economic and social development.” This includes people in the emerging Regions, as well as the social and spatial peripheries of two developed states (SNNPR and Oromia). The pastoralists comprise approximately 12-15 million people that belong to 29 groups of Nations, 86 Nationalities and Peoples11. Pastoralist regions/areas recognized by the government are: Afar; Somali; Borena Zone and Fentele Wereda (Oromia); South Omo Zone, Bench-Maji Zone, and parts of Decha Wereda in Keffa Zone (SNNPR); and, Nuer Zone (Gambella). Whilst government policies have strengthened and resource allocations increased over the last decade12, pastoralist areas are still amongst the least served by WaSH services, as the discussion above on spatial disparities highlighted. The environmental challenges in securing water on a continuous basis are compounded by poor infrastructure and low institutional capacities. Particularly in Somali and Afar where water resources are considered the highest priority development activity, due to both the scarcity of water in the region and the importance of water to the livelihood of pastoralist communities (Nassef et al., n.d). Access to water is contentious: it can trigger or feed other conflicts such as disputes over land or grazing and can exacerbate tensions during periods of drought or water stress (McGregor et al, 2012; Social Assessment Report for WaSH, 2014). 8.3. Oromia regional laws and institutional framework Article 51 (5) of the FDRE Constitution states that the federal government shall enact laws for the utilization and conservation of land and other natural resources, historical sites, and objects. Likewise, article 52 (2) (d) states that regional states shall have the functions of administrating land and other natural resources in accordance with federal laws. Regional states can enact their own laws facilitating the administration of the natural resources. For instance, the Forest Development, Conservation and Utilization Proclamation No. 542/2005 in its Article 8(3) provides that: “The designation and demarcation of a state forest … shall be proclaimed by the legislation of the concerned regional state. “This is in addition to the power bestowed upon the regional states by the federal forest law, Article 18 (1), which states that “each Regional State shall have the power to administer any state forest in the region in accordance with this proclamation.” The FDRE Constitution also provides the regional states with the power to formulate their respective policies, raise their own revenue as well as plan and execute their own forest development activities in accordance with the framework of the overall policies of the federal government. Accordingly, some of the Oromia regional state relevant laws and regulationsi n c l u d e : Oromia Regional State Constitution The Oromia Regional State (ORS) has its own constitutions upholding the FRDE Constitution in its entirety and constituting its regional particulars. The ORS Constitution has addressed land and natural resources management and environmental protection as stated below. • The Regional Government is entrusted to administer land and natural resources in the name of the people and deploy for the common benefit of the same; • The Regional Government and all citizens of the Region are responsible for the conservation of natural resources and the environment; • Concerned communities shall be given opportunity to express their opinions in the formulation and implementation of policies in relation to the environment. Other relevant regional proclamations • Oromia forest proclamation no 72/2003, 11 Pastoralist Forum Ethiopia, http://www.pfe-ethiopia.org/about.html 12 PASDEP (2005 -2010), the previous five year poverty reduction plan to GTP promoted more targeted assistance to underserved areas – the emerging regions and pastoralist/agro-pastoralist areas (MOFED 2010). 87 • Regulation to Provide for the Establishment of the Oromia Regional State Forest Enterprises Supervising Agency, No 84/2007. 8.4. World Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) The World Banks Environmental and Social Framework (ESF), which was launched in 2018 and has been under implementation since 2019, has standardized, harmonized and transformed the Word Bank’s safeguard policies into a more broadly systematized but simplified social and environmental standards. The ESF provides more flexible and transparent approach to the borrower in order to improve the management of environmental, social risks and impacts resulting from project activities. The ESF is centered at ensuring sustainability of development outcomes. The ESF has improved a broader and systematic coverage of the environmental and social risks (in a simplified structure for monitoring and evaluation), with improved transparency, public participation, inclusiveness and non-discrimination, accountability, and expanded roles for grievance redress mechanisms. Besides, the ESF harmonizes the banks Environmental and social protections with those of other development institutions. The ESF consists of ten Environmental and Social Standards (ESSs) that Borrowers will have to comply with in order to manage the risks and impacts of a project and to improve their environmental and social performance. The new ESF requires preparing new ESRM instruments such as the ESCP, SEP and LMP for investment projects such as the OFLP-ERP. Hence, this ESMF is updated as per the new ESF of the World Bank. Among the ten ESSs, except for ESS9, all the other ESSs (ESS1-ESS10) are applicable to the OFLP-ERP and they are described below. ESS1: Assessment and Management of Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts The ESS 1 requires Borrower to undertake assessment and management of environmental and social risks and impacts. This standard aims at identifying, evaluating and managing the E&S risks and impacts, and adopting a mitigation mechanism to avoid, minimize or reduce risks and impacts to acceptable levels, where not possible, compensate or offset them when technically and financially feasible, utilizing national environmental and social institutions, systems, laws, regulations and procedures in the assessment, development and implementation of projects, and promoting improved environmental and social performance, in such a way that recognizes and enhances the capacity of the borrower. The OFLP-ERP is implemented in the entire region and the E&S risks emanate from the fragile environment with the complex social relationships in the intervention areas, from inadequate enforcement in natural resources management and inadequate cross-sectoral coordination. Besides, the fragility in security situation in the country along with instability in some parts of the Oromia region, mainly in the western Wollega cluster zone, could also adversely affect the OFLP ER Project and implementation of the ESRM activities. The sub-project activities to be financed by the BSP related to distribution of ER payments include maintenance of schools, clinics and roads, and bee keeping and cattle fattening activities, among others. Accordingly, the potential environmental risks and impacts include community and occupational health and safety issues; soil disturbances; disturbance of environmentally sensitive areas due to soil-and-water conservation (SWC) activities; contamination/pollution of soil and water resources due to the use of agrochemicals, including pesticides, in agroforestry and agricultural intensification activities; and environmental (dusts, greenhouse gas emissions and/or noise) problems related to small-scale infrastructure (e.g. SWC measures livelihoods supporting activities; etc.) construction and maintenance activities and ER payment activities. There are also potential risks of reversals and displacements/leakages (due to inadequate enforcement/coordination) under the ER Project which may impact biodiversity and forest dependent livelihoods, which will, in turn, cause pollution and harm to local communities. Overall, the environmental risks and impacts of the Project are mostly site-specific, temporary, and reversible as the 88 activities (implemented under OFLP grant, RIP, the two legacy REDD+ projects, and the Green Legacy Initiative) that will generate ERs are being safeguarded through the OFLP E&S instruments and will be sustained and monitored during this ERPA phase. ESS 2: Labor and Working Conditions The ESS2 recognizes the importance of employment creation and income generation in the pursuit of poverty reduction and inclusive economic growth. It requires borrowers to promote sound worker- management relationships and enhance the development benefits of a project by treating workers in the project fairly and providing safe and healthy working conditions. The objectives of the ESS2 are: • To promote safety and health at work; • To promote the fair treatment, non-discrimination and equal opportunity of project workers; • To protect project workers, including vulnerable workers such as women, persons with disabilities, children (of working age, in accordance with this ESS) and migrant workers, contracted workers, community workers and primary supply workers, as appropriate; • To prevent the use of all forms of forced labor and child labor; • To support the principles of freedom of association and collective bargaining of project workers in a manner consistent with national law; and • To provide project workers with accessible means to raise workplace concerns. The ESS2 requires the Borrower to develop and implement written labor management procedure (LMP) that is designed to manage worker-management relationship during the implementation of the project. These procedures will set out the way in which project workers will be managed, in accordance with the provisions of national laws and this ESS2. The OFLP-ERP employs and deploys project workers at the project office, zonal and Woreda offices and engages expert consultants, contractors, temporary workers, community workers from different segments of society. The LMP will be used to manage labor related risks and to promote sound worker management relationships during the implementation of the OFLP- ERP. Private contractors will comply with the national labor proclamation (proc.No.1156/2019) and this ESS2 requirements, which clearly spells out the (i) terms and conditions of employment; (ii) measures to ensure non-discrimination and equal opportunity; (iii) provisions to form workers’ organizations; and (iv) prevention of child and forced labor. The LMP in general will have to incorporate key aspects of conditions that will effectively address labor related risks. These include the following: • Conditions of services; • Code of conduct; • Occupational, health and safety (OHS) measures; • Covid-19 prevention measures; • Prevention of child and forced labor; • Emergency preparedness and response; • Grievance redress mechanism for project workers; • Training of project workers on key issues including OHS and GBV prevention; and • Management of labor influx. Requirements applicable to contractors and subcontractors shall be specified in each Sub-project specific contract document as part of the ESMP to be developed for each Sub- Project in accordance with the ESMF to address labor risks, including (but not limited to) requiring signature of and training on Code of Conduct, occupational, health and safety (OHS) measures, prevention of child and forced labor; 89 emergency preparedness and response, grievance redress mechanism (GRM) for Project workers, training of Project workers on key issues including OHS and GBV prevention, and management of labor influx, and Covid-19 prevention and control. The ORCU shall adopt and implement appropriate measures of protection and assistance to address the vulnerabilities of Project workers, including specific groups of workers, such as women, people with disabilities, and any other disadvantaged groups in accordance with ESS2. ESS3: Resource Efficiency and Pollution Prevention and Management The ESS3 recognizes that economic activity and urbanization often generate pollution to air, water, and land, and consume finite resources that may threaten people, ecosystem services and the environment at the local, regional, and global levels. The current and projected atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases (GHG) threatens the welfare of current and future generations. At the same time, more efficient and effective resource use, pollution prevention and GHG emission avoidance, and mitigation technologies and practices have become more accessible and achievable. ESS3 has the following objectives: • To promote the sustainable use of resources, including energy, water and raw materials; • To avoid or minimize adverse impacts on human health and the environment by avoiding or minimizing pollution from project activities; • To avoid or minimize project-related emissions of short and long-lived climate pollutants; • To avoid or minimize generation of hazardous and non-hazardous waste; and • To minimize and manage the risks and impacts associated with pesticide use. The OFLP-ERP sub-project activities may cause contamination/pollution of soil and water resources due to the use of agrochemicals, including pesticides, in nursey and agroforestry; and environmental (dusts, greenhouse gas emissions and/or noise) problems related to small-scale infrastructure (e.g. livelihoods supporting activities; etc.) liquid and solid waste from construction and maintenance activities and ER payment activities. Generally, the ER distribution related activities are not expected to generate hazardous and non-hazardous E-waste. However, where such wastes are likely to be generated, it shall be avoided, or minimized and/or mitigated as per project specific ESMP, by applying relevant measures and procedures including E&S screening proportionate to the nature and characteristics of sub-project activities, by applying ESIA and preparing ESMP. The generation and disposal of e-waste shall comply with the requirements in the existing national and regional legislations/guidelines on the handling and management of such wastes in compliance with this ESS3 requirement. ESS 4: Community Health and Safety The ESS4 recognizes that project activities, equipment, and infrastructure can increase community exposure to risks and impacts. In addition, communities that are already subjected to impacts from climate change may also experience an acceleration or intensification of impacts due to project activities. ESS4 addresses the health, safety, and security risks and impacts on project-affected communities and the corresponding responsibility of Borrowers to avoid or minimize such risks and impacts, with particular attention to people who, because of their circumstances, may be vulnerable. Generally, ESS4 has the following objectives: • To anticipate and avoid adverse impacts on the health and safety of project-affected communities during the project life cycle from both routine and non-routine circumstances; 90 • To promote quality and safety, and considerations relating to climate change, in the design and construction of infrastructure, including dams; • To avoid or minimize community exposure to project-related traffic and road safety risks, diseases and hazardous materials; • To have in place effective measures to address emergency events; and • To ensure that the safeguarding of personnel and property is carried out in a manner that avoids or minimizes risks to the project-affected communities. The OFLP-ERP sub-project activities potentially trigger community and health risks. Forest dependent communities, project affected people, and people in the surroundings of forest project areas may increase the use of agrochemicals such as herbicides and insecticides, in agroforestry and agricultural intensification activities. The ESS requires safe, effective and environmentally sound pest management. Thus, appropriate pest management measures such as IPM approaches, including biological control of pests, cultural practices, and use of crop varieties that are resistant or tolerant to pests should be used. An ESMP will be prepared as indicated in the sample in Annex 6. Community health risks may also be triggered by increased volume of traffic and movement of vehicles, influx of causal workers, contract workers in search of jobs construction and rehabilitation projects activities areas. Project affected people and local communities, project workers could be exposed to increased gender-based violence, sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, spread of COVID-19 and other STDs. ESS 5: Land Acquisition, Restrictions on Land Use and Involuntary Resettlement The ESS5 recognizes that project-related land acquisition and restrictions on land use can have adverse impacts on communities and persons. Project-related land acquisition or restrictions on land use may cause physical displacement (relocation, loss of residential land or loss of shelter), economic displacement (loss of land, assets or access to assets, leading to loss of income sources or other means of livelihood), or both. The impacts caused by such risks are referred as involuntary resettlement. Resettlement is considered involuntary when affected persons or communities do not have the right to refuse land acquisition or restrictions on land use that result in displacement. The OFLP-ERP activities may induce minor level of land acquisition and /or restriction of access to legally designated parks, protected areas, or forest management/reforestation areas. When possible, project activities must avoid land acquisition and severe restrictions that jeopardize people’s livelihoods. When not possible to avoid, appropriate mitigation measures must be laid out in a separate resettlement framework (RF) and process framework (PF) in order to minimize, reduce and mitigate risks, or provide compensatory measures according to relevant national laws and consistent with this ESS5. ESS6: Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Natural Resources The ESS6 recognizes that protecting and conserving biodiversity and sustainably managing living natural resources are fundamental to sustainable development. Biodiversity is defined as the variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are a part; this includes diversity within species, between species, and of ecosystems. Biodiversity often underpins ecosystem services valued by humans. Impacts on biodiversity can therefore often adversely affect the delivery of ecosystem services. ESS6 recognizes the importance of maintaining core ecological functions of habitats, including forests, and the biodiversity they support. Habitat is defined as a terrestrial, freshwater, or marine geographical unit or airway that supports assemblages of living organisms and their interactions with the non-living environment. All habitats support complexities of living organisms and vary in terms of species 91 diversity, abundance and importance. This ESS also addresses sustainable management of primary production and harvesting of living natural resources. ESS6 recognizes the need to consider the livelihood of project-affected parties, including Indigenous Peoples, who’s access to, or use of, biodiversity or living natural resources may be affected by a project. The potential, positive role of project affected parties, including Indigenous Peoples, in biodiversity conservation and sustainable management of living natural resources is also considered. The objectives of ESS6 include: • To protect and conserve biodiversity and habitats; • To apply the mitigation hierarchy and the precautionary approach in the design and implementation of projects that could have an impact on biodiversity; • To promote the sustainable management of living natural resources; and • To support livelihoods of local communities, including Indigenous Peoples, and inclusive economic development, through the adoption of practices that integrate conservation needs and development priorities. The OFLP-ER is expected to have significant positive impacts on natural habitats and forests, as it will support the maintenance and rehabilitation of forest areas and their function; and local communities will be involved in design, implementation, and monitoring of project activities. Activities that involve the significant conversion or degradation of critical natural habitats will not be supported. The project activities will be screened, and impacts will be avoided on natural habitats using appropriate preventive and mitigation measures identified through ESIA screening. Site specific environmental and social management plans with mitigation measures will be prepared avoid or reduce such impacts. If there are Project activities likely to cause significant conversions of forests, they will not be financed under the OFLP-ERP. ESS7: Indigenous Peoples/Sub-Saharan African Historically Underserved Traditional Local Communities The ESS7 ensures that the development process fosters full respect for the human rights, dignity, aspirations, identity, culture, and natural resource-based livelihoods of Indigenous Peoples/Sub-Saharan African Historically Underserved Traditional Local Communities. This standard is aimed at avoiding adverse impacts of projects on Indigenous Peoples/Sub-Saharan African Historically Underserved Traditional Local Communities, or when avoidance is not possible, to minimize, mitigate and/or compensate for such impacts. In Ethiopia, “Indigenous Peoples” is referred as Underserved and Vulnerable Groups. The RF included a social assessment to identify the vulnerable and underserved groups in the OFLP-ERP that meet the ESS7 requirements and mitigate any adverse impacts as well as ensure they benefit from the project in a sustainable manner. The findings of the assessment and a detailed summary of the main issues raised by the beneficiaries during the consultation process, used in fostering free, prior, and broad community support, and provision of grievance redress, benefit sharing, monitoring and proposed solutions are incorporated in consultation summary. The identified mitigation actions have been incorporated in the Project as a Social Development Plan. The Social Development Plan (SDP) is the operational equivalent of the World Bank ESS7 - Indigenous Peoples Plan. The SDP for the OFLP-ER is prepared based on the stakeholder and community consultations. The SDP sets out the measures to ensure that: (a) underserved and vulnerable groups affected by the project receive culturally appropriate social and economic benefits, and (b) any potential adverse effects are avoided, minimized, mitigated, and/or compensated. For those communities’ categorized as underserved and vulnerable groups, it is important to conduct meaningful, timely, and appropriate consultations. 92 ESS8: Cultural Heritage The ESS8 recognizes that cultural heritage provides continuity in tangible and intangible forms between the past, present and future. People identify with cultural heritage as a reflection and expression of their constantly evolving values, beliefs, knowledge and traditions. Cultural heritage, in its many manifestations, is important as a source of valuable scientific and historical information, as an economic and social asset for development, and as an integral part of people’s cultural identity and practice. ESS8 sets out measures designed to protect cultural heritage throughout the project life cycle. The main objectives of ESS8 include: • To protect cultural heritage from the adverse impacts of project activities and support its preservation; • To address cultural heritage as an integral aspect of sustainable development; • To promote meaningful consultation with stakeholders regarding cultural heritage; and • To promote the equitable sharing of benefits from the use of cultural heritage. The OFLP-ERP sub-project activities are highly likely to encounter tangible and intangible cultural heritages in some of the intervention areas (including high forest areas, biosphere reserves, and parks). Hence, the ESS8 is applicable to the sub-projects and requires avoiding or mitigating adverse impacts from development projects on physical cultural resources. Project activities should not affect or damage physical cultural assets, movable or immovable objects, archaeological and historical sites, historic urban areas, sacred sites, grave yards, burial sites, structures, paleontological, historical, architectural, religious, aesthetic, or others that have unique natural, social and cultural significance. Therefore, sub-project activities: • Will be carried out only in areas selected through a consultative process that includes prior informed consent of local communities; • Will undergo proper screening and public consultations, engagement of cultural or religious leaders, local authorities need to be conducted before decision on Project activities is made. • Project activities with potential significant adverse impacts on a known cultural heritage site will be eliminated through the ESMF screening process; and • Based on the results of project activities screening, site-specific ESSs instruments (ESIAs/ESMPs), including ESS8 requirements (accommodating chance finds procedure if there is an encounter unexpectedly with cultural heritage artefacts during implementation) will be prepared, implemented and monitored during the ER Project implementation. ESS 10: Stakeholder Engagement and Information Disclosure According to the ESS 10 Guidance Note, “stakeholders” are defined as “individuals or groups who (a) Are affected or likely to be affected by the project (project-affected parties); and (b) May have an interest in the project (other interested parties).” may be because of the project location, its characteristics, its impacts, or matters related to public interest. The ESS10 is relevant to OFLP-ERP project and stakeholder engagement and information disclosure is a priority for planning, implementing and ensuring sustainability of the proposed project. The OFLP-ERP has several stakeholders from the federal to the local communities, who are affected by the sub-project activities, i.e., local communities and/or government organizations, the private sector, civil society organizations, local administration, religious groups, academic and research institutes, traditional associations, etc. Thus, stakeholder engagement process is a requirement from the project preparation to implementation, monitoring and evaluation cycle. The ESS10 requires to prepare a stakeholder engagement plan, information disclosure and grievance redress mechanism for project affected people. 93 94 9. Institutional review Pertinent institutions that are directly or indirectly working in the OFLP-ERP implementation, particularly and have major role in implementing the Environmental and Social risk management instruments were reviewed. The reviewed institutions were from government (EFD, MoF, MoA, MoWE, MoWSA, MoTL, MoP, MoE, EBI, EWCA and EPFRI and OEPA and other corresponding regional, zone and Woreda level offices), non-government (HoA-REC&N, FARM Africa, SOS Sahel, and World Vision), and partner organizations (the Government of Norway, DFID Ethiopia and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)). 9.1. Ethiopia Forest Development (EFD) In 2021, Ethiopia Forest Development is established in 2021, replacing the former Environment, Forest and Climate Change Commission (EFCCC), which was formed in 2019. This institute is established under proclamation no. 1263/2021 under other executive organs category. Thus, EFD is assuming some of the responsibilities which were earlier assumed by the then EFCCC; which practically deals with forest development issues including overseeing the overall technical and policy dimensions of ER at the federal level. The Federal EFD is mandated to implement the Climate Resilient Green Economy strategy (CRGE) through coordination of environment and forest development projects and related issues. The CRGE strategy was mainstreamed into the Second Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP II) of the 2015-2020 period and into the current 10YDP (2021-2030). The first 20 years CRGE strategy which was prepared and deployed since 2011 by the Federal Government of Ethiopia has given a due emphasis to the reduction of greenhouse gases emission and promotion of non-carbon emitting technologies. To this effect, among others, protection of the existing natural forests and promotion and development of new forests through afforestation/ reforestation schemes and enhancing their economic and ecosystem services, including carbon stock are deploying through various means including reduce land-degradation and watershed management throughout the country. Under the parent project of OFLP, ERP is results-based payments for verified emissions reductions. This current project, supported by a legal Framework agreement called Emission Reductions Purchase Agreement (ERPA) was also selected as one of the tools designed to ensure the attainment of the desired goal (PAD, 2021). The budget should be prepared according to the government’s budget process and will be proclaimed under EFD. The budget should include activities to be carried out until the first ER payment is made. The eligible expenditure is the actual expenditure of goods, services and operating cost as to be described in the financing/grant agreement. ORCU and EFD should have the necessary finance personnel to handle the accounting and financial reporting tasks. The PIU will continue using Peachtree/ IBEX software for accounting. EFD is responsible for submitting Interim financial Reports (IFRs) on a quarterly basis within 45 days of the end of each reporting quarter. The government’s internal control systems should be used in processing project transactions. Annual audited financial statements should be submitted to the Bank within 6 months of the end of the fiscal year. As EFD and OEPA have ample experience in the current OFLP operation, IFR preparation, fund flows and audit requirements can be managed as required. 9.2. The National REDD+ Secretariat The National REDD+ Secretariat of the EFD will provide strategic and technical guidance on REDD+ issues, consolidate lessons learned from OFLP and disseminate experience in other regional states, and 95 lead the development and implementation of the REDD+ MRV system which is key for the OFLP ERPA. The secretariat will need to work at the technical level with other relevant national stakeholders such as the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority (EWCA), as needed. 9.3. Ministry of Agriculture The Ministry of Agriculture is the main institution for managing the agriculture sector. The agriculture sector is the largest sector in Ethiopia as more than 80% of the population is agrarian. MoA is well experienced on the implementation of different projects on sustainable land management projects including ERP; thus, can integrate lessons from similar climate smart agriculture focused projects like; SLMP, LIFT, AGP and its implication on crop and livestock sectors. It also coordinates watershed- based soil and water conservation activities and ERP on agriculture; implements water harvesting and small-scale irrigation; develops and provides agroforestry extension services; and intensifies and transforms agricultural development systems and practices that enhances ER. As per proclamation No. 1263/2021, article 20 sub article 1(z) it is delegated to implement the powers and duties entrusted to Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change under Forest Development, Conservation and Utilization Proclamation No. 1065/2018. Ministry of Agriculture is one of the key institutions involved in implementing the Climate Resilient Green Economy (CRGE), as agriculture and forestry are the two main sectors to be targeted by the CRGE for reducing current and future emissions levels, and for sequestering carbon emissions. As per Definition of Powers and Duties of the Executive Organs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Proclamation No.1263/2021, the Ministry, among other things, formulate policies, strategies, projects and legal framework which ensures the sustainability of agriculture and forest development and its competitiveness; implement the same upon approval by the concerned organs; follow up and support the establishment of a system for rural land management and sustainable utilization of natural grazing land; organize a national data base; and work in coordination with the concerned Federal and Regional organs in order to strengthen the linkage between agriculture and other economic sectors; devise strategy to bring about inclusive and sustainable structural change and establish a system for its implementation. Currently, the Ministry is undertaking the preparation of the national master land-use planning by establishing the national land use planning committee. The functions of the committee include formulating and updating the national land policy; preparing the national land-use master plan; coordinating land-use planning activities between and among national and regional levels; and defining land-use needs and priorities. MoA is considered as a key actor and important stakeholder for the implementation of the ERP process in Ethiopian and Oromia Regional State context as its crosscutting functions, especially its roles on enhancing land productivity, land-use planning, land certification and natural resources management such as watershed management have a direct implication on the ERP. 9.4. Ministry of Finance The Ministry of Finance is a pivotal institute mandated to govern the economic and financial sector of the country. It initiates policies strategies and laws that serve as a base for fiscal, particularly for taxes and custom duty laws; prepare detail project compatible with national development plan; follow up the proper implementation of the same. The Ministry lead and coordinate bilateral economic cooperation with other countries as well as the relationship with international and regional organizations setup to create economic cooperation; follow up the impact of such links on the performance of the country's 96 economy. (Federal Negarit gazette. Proclamation No. 1263/2021). It also administers national and international accounts, including bilateral aid funds. It is the authoring institution behind the Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP) II 2015/16-2019/20 and it developed the Climate Resilient Green Economy Strategy (CRGE) together with the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ethiopia Forest Development since October 2021. It is also mandated to administer and oversee the CRGE Facility and is a member of the REDD+ Steering Committee. The Ministry of Finance (MoF) at federal level will sign the ERPA and take the overall fiduciary responsibility. MoF will receive funds from the ERC purchase based on verified ER amount achieved by the Project at the end of each ERPA phase and distribute ER benefits according to the BSP. 9.5. Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute The Biodiversity Conservation Institute was initially established to rescue the country’s p l a n t genetic resources from adverse impacts of various human activities and natural disasters and supporting crop improvement projects. Broadening its mandate and duties reestablished to implement Ethiopia’s obligation to the CBD. As part of the CRGE Strategy, ERP is a project incentive aimed at promoting forest and biodiversity conservation and enhancing carbon stocks. Hence, the implementation of ERP in Oromia regional state help the institute to realize its target of conserving the forest genetic resources and the institute with its expertise and experience can support in capacity building and other fields. 9.6. Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority (EWCA) Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority (EWCA) is one of the stakeholders for the implementation of the ERP process in Oromia Regional State. It is a governmental organization under the Ministry of Culture and Sport (Proclamation No. 1263/2021). The Authority is given the mandate to work on conservation and sustainable utilization of wildlife in Ethiopia. Hence, EWCA works closely with national and international stakeholders on wildlife conservation. In its present form and organizational structure, the Authority was established in accordance with Ethiopian Wildlife Development and Conservation Authority Establishment Proclamation No. 575/2008. 9.7. Executive of the Oromia Regional State (Vice President’s Office) The Vice President’s Office will be the highest level institution to provide political leadership and decisions to the OFLP, in particular on multi-sector implementation, policy development and strategy. The existing “advisor designated as bureau head” is the OFLP focal point assigned by the vice president. A second advisor will serve as a secondary OFLP focal point. This team will work closely with the OEPA/ORCU to help the OEPA fulfill its mandate to coordinate across sectors and stakeholders on OFLP implementation, leveraging of existing and future initiatives, strategic planning, funds mobilization and will advise on the functioning of the ORCU. 9.8. Oromia REDD+ Steering Committee (ORSC) The ORSC will oversee and provide strategic guidance and leadership support to the OFLP, including by mobilizing sectors to coordinate and collaborate under the OFLP umbrella on “REDD+ relevant interventions” that affect OFLP goals. The ORSC will be chaired by the Oromia vice president and members will include Director General of OEPA (Member & Secretary), Director General of OFWE Head of Oromia Bureau of Agriculture and Natural Resource, Head of Oromia Public Enterprises Supervising Authority, Head of Oromia Bureau of Land Administration and Use, Head of Oromia 97 Bureau of Water & Energy Resource Development Head of Oromia Bureau of Youth & Sport’s Affairs, Director of Oromia Institute of Agricultural Research, President of Adama University, Dean of Wondo Genet College of Forestry & Natural Resources, Head of Chilimo Gaji Forest Management Union, Head of Farachu Forest Management Union (Adaba Dodola), Head of Oromia Bureau of Women’s Affairs, ORCU Coordinator, Others if deemed necessary (members). Representatives from civil societies, unions, universities, and the private sector will also participate. The coordinator of ORCU at OEPA will serve as the secretary of ORSC. The Oromia REDD+ Steering Committee will convene at least twice per year. 9.9. Oromia Environment Protection Authority The OEPA, through ORCU, will lead Statewide OFLP implementation. Specifically, OEPA will: (i) administratively host ORCU; (ii) administer the technical, financial and human resources of OFLP to be responsible for fiduciary management of OFLP; (iii) coordinate relevant bureaus, agencies and organizations implementing OFLP activities at regional, woreda and kebele levels; (iv) hire and maintain three OFLP lead facilitators and six OFLP safeguards coordinators in selected zones, and 38 OFLP woreda coordinators in selected woredas, and, and other OFLP staff with OFLP grant funds; and (v) with OFWE jointly implement grant-financed PFM and livelihoods activities in 52 deforestation hotspots woredas (sites not covered under OFWE concessions; sites are yet to be identified); and (iv) report on OFLP coordination and OEPA-led activities financed by OFLP. 9.10. Oromia REDD+ Coordination Unit (ORCU) The ORCU is OEPA`s OFLP implementing unit. In addition to implementing OFLP on a day-to-day basis, the ORCU serves as the secretariat for coordinating and aligning various sector initiatives under the OFLP umbrella. ORCU reports administratively to the OEPA, and also seeks strategic and tactical guidance from the Oromia National Regional State vice president, given the multi-sector nature of OFLP and land use challenges in the regional state. The OEPA/ORCU will be supported by the National REDD+ Secretariat at EPA which will carry out fiduciary oversight and quality assurance role, in particular on MRV, project monitoring, safeguards, financial management and procurement. Specifically, the EFD will focus on providing operational guidance to the OEPA to carry out OFLP related procurement, Financial Management (FM), and safeguards activities, quality control, guidance and assistance to resolve implementation issues. Specific accountabilities of ORCU include: As the OFLP implementing unit within OEPA, coordinates and manages of OFLP-ERP implementation including all day-to-day fiduciary requirements, regularly liaising technically with all partner agencies, NGOs and private sector actors involved in OFLP implementation. • Carries out and consolidates safeguards implementation and reporting (assisted by OEPA). • Carries out and consolidates FM and reporting (assisted by OEPA). • Carries out and consolidates procurement management and reporting (assisted by OEPA). • Carries out and consolidates Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) for OFLP (each indicator in results framework and others, as government requires, and the project team desires). • Directly implements specific Technical Assistance (TA) activities financed by the OFLP grant. • Carries out joint annual work project and budget process (with inputs from OEPA, OFWE, bureaus and other relevant entities) and preparation of the procurement plan. • Sub-state ORCU OFLP team engages with woreda- and kebele-level officials (woreda administrators and experts, DAs) and other actors to coordinate OFLP interventions and related initiatives across sectors that have an impact on forests (promoting a landscape management 98 approach). • Facilitates coordination with OFLP-related initiatives (liaising with executive-level focal points and OEPA above, as needed). • Ensures that ER verification is carried out through a third party. • Ensures delivery, implementation, and reporting on the agreed Benefit Sharing Plan (BSP) for the OFLP-ERP. • Carries out strategic communication through OEPA. • Acts as secretariat for the REDD+ Steering Committee and REDD+ Technical Working Group and participates actively in meetings 9.11. Oromia Forest and Wildlife Enterprise (OFWE) Oromia Forest and Wildlife Enterprise (OFWE) is a government enterprise which is established by Oromia Regional State Forest and Wildlife Enterprise Establishment Regulation No. 122/2009 to administer forest and wild life resources that exist in Oromia region which is the largest region in Ethiopia. The enterprise owns and manages 1,752,489.32ha of forest in 43 forest areas. It is expected that this figure will increase significantly as OFWE is currently conducting demarcation of more forests including woodlands. The forest types managed by the enterprise are both commercial/cultivated forests and natural forest. The enterprise works with communities and NGOs to make the forest resource conservation efforts more effective. The enterprise is playing significant role in implementing ERP that harmonizes community and forest enhancing the livelihood of communities in different parts of the region. Thus, the enterprise works to ensure conservation, sustainable development and the use of forest and wildlife resources in its concession areas through community participation; to ensure supply of forest products to domestic and international markets by enhancing the forest industry; and subsequently contribute to regional and national socio-economic development endeavors. The enterprise is dedicated for O F L P - ERP implementation in the Oromia a n d i t is becoming exemplary for other regions. The government of Ethiopia appreciates that the OFLP-ERP aims at incentivizing the generation of measured, reported and verified ERCs from reduced deforestation, forest degradation, enhancement of forest carbon stocks (REDD+), Agriculture and other Land Use Sectors that meet the GHG accounting requirements of the BioCF ISFL in the Oromia Regional State and to distribute payments generated from the sale of ERCs in accordance with an agreed benefit sharing plan. . The OFWE has also been selected to host the Oromia REDD+ jurisdictional project or the OFLP. In order to facilitate the implementation of the OFLP, a semi-autonomous unit, which is called the Oromia REDD+ Coordination Unit (ORCU), was established and the unit is accountable to the Office of Regional State President. By maintaining the previous structural arrangements, the OFLP-ERP implementation will be facilitated by relevant institutions at the national, state, and sub-state levels with specific accountabilities and decision-making roles based on existing mandates (See sections below). 9.12. Regional Agriculture Bureaus Regional Agriculture bureaus and the respective zonal departments are important government organization that REDD+ secretariat and the ORCU get their collaboration for the success of OFLP- ERP implementation at grassroots level. The agriculture bureau plays significant role in promotion and dissemination of agricultural inputs that enhance the livelihood of communities both encompassed in the OFLP-ERP scheme and out of the OFLP-ERP scheme. The bureau and the zonal department as well as experts at Woreda level can provide technical support and capacity building training and can 99 facilitate coordination among role players. It also plays significant role during environmental & social assessments for agricultural investment. 9.13. Regional Rural Land Administration Bureaus In most of regional structures the bureau is delegated to administer rural lands of the region and to undertake environmental protection issues in the region. Watershed management which is a priority agenda for the government of Ethiopia is implemented by these bureaus in collaboration with agriculture bureaus. Investment activities in regions require environmental and social impact assessments and the environmental impact assessment study reports need to be reviewed and endorsed by these bureaus and/or the respective zonal offices. These bureaus may be used to commence climate change mitigation and adaptation issues in the regions. Thus, the bureaus and respective offices at Woreda level play significant roles in the implementation of ERP process. Rural land administrations, including the issuance of landholding certificates are handled by the Woreda rural land administration and environmental protection offices in most regions of the country. During ERP implementation at grassroots level forests and other lands, community ownership certification is processed by the respective Woreda office. 9.14. Women and Social affair Bureau Women and children are the most vulnerable community groups especially in rural parts of the region. It has become clear that any development endeavor that doesn’t encourage women’s participation is l i kel y t o be unsustainable. Regional women and social affair bureau with its respective office at Woreda level is involved in assisting these community groups. The ERP process benefits the women and children through livelihood opportunities that will arise from the ERP implementation. Thus, the office coordinates the participation of women that involve in the ERP implementation at different level (from regional to Kebele levels). 9.15. Ethiopian Cooperative Commission The cooperatives commission is part of a key government structure in the regions. It is mandated to organize and certify cooperative societies within the respective regional states. In relation to ERP, the agency and its respective Woreda offices assist in providing technical supports including awareness creation during cooperative societies’ establishment. The office prepares cooperatives’ guidelines, issues certificates and approves bylaws. Now, most of the forest user groups organized under PFM are organized on the form of cooperative societies. 100 9.16. The Oromia REDD+ Technical Working Group The Oromia REDD+ technical working group will be responsible for providing technical guidance and support in design, implementation, and monitoring, and ensure that the OFLP and REDD+-relevant interventions under the OFLP umbrella meet REDD+ technical requirements through a transparent review and outreach process. The ORTWG will be chaired by OEPA and members include sector experts from OEPA (Chair Person), ORCU (Secretary) Oromia Vice President Office, Oromia Bureau of Agriculture, Oromia Bureau Land Administration and Use, Oromia Enterprises’ Supervising Agency, Oromia Bureau of Water & Energy resource Development, Oromia Agricultural Research Institute, Oromia Bureau of Livestock and Fishery Development, Oromia Bureau of Investment, FARM Africa, SoS Sahel, Environment & Coffee Forest Forum, Climate Change Forum – Ethiopia, Forum for Environment, Ethiowetlands and Natural Resource Association, Ethiopian Environment & Forest Research Institute, Horn of Africa Regional Centre for Environment & Networking, Wondo Genet College of Forestry and Natural Resources, Farachu Rayya Forest Union, Chilimo Gaji Forest Union, National REDD+ secretariat, Other institutions if deemed necessary (members) 9.16.1. Zone Level Organizations Zonal OEPA Office OEPA will provide administrative and technical support to respective offices at zone clusters (each cluster is composed of seven zones and will be served by one OFLP lead facilitator) and woreda level as deemed necessary and share information that will improve and ensure coordination with other entities (that is, bureaus, zone offices and NGOs) operating at regional, zone, and woreda levels. Currently, there are 20 zone offices in the region. Zone Administrations Zone administrations include the zone administration offices and sector offices such as the zone office of Agriculture (ZoA), zone office of water and and energy (ZoWE), zone office of land administration and use (ZoLAU), zone office of environment, forest and climate change authority (ZoEPA). These offices work closely together on day-to-day affairs, such as by overseeing the work of their respective woreda offices (agriculture, forests, water, household energy, and land use planning). Each office will also provide administrative and technical support to respective woreda offices who are directly implementing sectorspecific OFLP activities (some directly financed by the OFLP and some REDD+-relevant initiatives). The zone level OFLP partner sector offices and their experts will be trained on the safeguards requirement of the project to ensure understanding and consistency in all sector operations. The heads of the ZoEPAs together with OFLP lead facilitators will lead the facilitation of the inter- sectoral coordination activities. Progress will be compiled by the OFLP lead facilitators hosted at three selected ZoEFCCAs who will then aggregate the information to report to the ORCU. OFLP lead facilitators OFLP lead facilitators are already based in three selected ZoEPAs and will facilitate OFLP-ERP implementation to ensure that work on the ground is implemented as per the plan. The OFLP lead facilitators together with the heads of ZoEPAs will work closely with zone sector offices (one lead facilitator will serve zone cluster composed of seven zones) and ensure the required leadership support is being provided by the respective sector office heads to the OFLP woreda coordinators and that resources for the implementation of OFLP-ERP are provided in a timely manner. They will also provide technical and operational support to OFLP woreda coordinators and OFLP safeguards coordinators. 101 OFLP safeguards coordinators OFLP safeguards coordinators (the number of positions for the OFLP safeguards coordinators is nine) will be based in nine selected ZoEPAs and will closely work with the OFLP lead facilitators and respective zone environmental impact assessment (EIA) experts. They will all report to the heads of the ZoEPAs and ORCU’s safeguards specialists to ensure that environmental and social safeguards are implemented according to the OFLP environmental and social safeguards instruments. They will also oversee the safeguards work of the OFLP woreda coordinators. 9.16.2. Woreda/District Level Government Organizations Woreda administration is the key political government structure at district level. All the government offices serving the people of the Woredas are under the political leadership of the Woreda administration. Woreda has given decision making power on local affairs closer to the people with a view to enhance democratic participation, capacity to make development plan and administer finances. Every Woreda (district) is further divided into Kebeles/villages which is the lowest government structure at Woreda (district) level. The Kebele administration and development agent at Kebele level are the main government bodies to directly communicate with the community at grassroots level. Within the Woreda administration, the agriculture office’s natural resource management team is responsible in supporting natural resource management and development activities including forest resources. Within the same office, rural land administration team is responsible to administer and issue legal certificate including cooperative land use right certificate. Women, children and youth affair office is mandated to address gender issues. The office support women in the Woreda to participate and contribute in any development activities. With regard to the OFLP-ERP process, the office plays its role in addressing and coordinating women associations. The Woreda cooperative promotion office is an important government body in organizing cooperatives in the Woreda. The office provide trainings to cooperative members on issues related to organizing cooperatives, administration issues, privileges and diversifying income generating mechanisms and enhancing profit through value chain development. Furthermore, the office prepares cooperative guidelines, forest cooperative establishment, issue legal cooperative certificate and approve bylaws. 9.17. ERP Institutional and Implementation Arrangements The OFLP-ERP implementation arrangements include relevant institutions at the national, state, and sub- state levels with specific accountabilities and decision-making roles based on existing mandates. The Ministry of Finance (MoF) at federal level will sign the ERPA and take the overall fiduciary responsibility. MoF will receive funds from the ERC purchase based on verified ER amount achieved by the Project at the end of each ERPA phase and distribute ER benefits according to the BSP. EFD will oversee the overall technical and policy dimensions of the project at the Federal level and OEPA will have the oversight responsibility for the OFLP-ER project in subsequent phases in the jurisdiction in Oromia Regional State. OEPA was set up by Proclamation 199/2016 on July 20, 2016 (as amended recently by regional regulation no. 242/2021) and is officially mandated to oversee the forest sector in Oromia. 102 ORCU is the implementing unit for OFLP, tasked with the Project day-to-day technical and administrative management including ER monitoring, reporting and Safeguards activity supervision to ensure the project’s compliance with the ESF instruments. While ORCU reports administratively to the OEPA, it seeks strategic and tactical guidance from the Oromia Regional State Vice President, given the multi-sector nature of OFLP and land use challenges in the regional state. Below figure will indicate the institutional arrangement of the project. Figure 2. Institutional Arrangements – Project level The project implementation is split following the various segments: • The underlying activities are coordinated by ORCU but executed by various projects and projects. The regional state’s multi-sector REDD+ Steering Committee and Technical Working Group established during the grant implementation period, will continue providing strategic guidance and technical inputs, respectively, to guide OFLP ER project implementation. The OEPA and sector bureaus including the Bureau of Agriculture (BoA), Bureau of Water and Energy Resources Development (BoWERD), Bureau of Land (BoL) and OFWE will be supporting the ER project implementation and coordinating activities on the ground through their decentralized staff, particularly those activities that are potentially contributing to produce more ER and are financed from own sources or from ER proceeds. 103 i. The carbon accounting and performance verification: EFD will lead the overall MRV undertakings of the ER Project through its dedicated MRV Unit, including collection of regional level primary ER performance data, analyzing the same and reporting to the WB/ISFL; EFD is Ethiopia’s Coordinating Entity for MRV from forest sector through it s MRV Unit. The MRV Unit produces maps, collects and reports GHG inventory data and undertakes MRV tasks working in collaboration with federal and regional institutions. The OFLP-ERP will follow the same ER monitoring approach and use the same MRV institutional arrangement established at national level. Table 5 illustrates the details of MRV institutional arrangement for Oromia Forested Landscape ER Project. ii. The activities financed by the ER payments as per the BSP: The ER proceeds received as RBP will be shared among beneficiaries eligible for sharing: 20 percent for the governments (Federal and Regional), 5% to the private sector and 75% for community development projects. ER proceeds fund disbursement is to follow “Channel 1 fund transfer system”. The Ministry of Finance (MoF) receives the RBP in an independent account and keeps the 3% performance buffer for risk management and deducts the operational cost. ORCU/OEPA officially communicates the Regional Bureau of Finance (BOF) detailing the share of all eligible beneficiaries from the net payment as per the OFLP monitoring result. Accordingly, BoF transmits this disbursement request to MoF. Then MoF transfers the share of federal government to the account of EFD and the remaining net benefit and the operational cost to Oromia BoF. The BoF, based on proportion allocated for each entity and decision of the OFLP Steering Committee, will disburse ER proceeds downward to OEPA, woreda finance offices, FMCs and to the private sector accounts as appropriate. Additional details are provided in the BSP. • The activities financed by the Grants. As part of the OFLP-ERP, two grants will be provided. i. The first one, for a total amount of $750,000, will support the project management including (i) the coordination among the various projects supporting the underlying activities, (ii) the cost associated with the reporting on carbon and non-carbon benefits (coordination meeting, compiling the data, etc...), (iii) the dialog with the federal and regional institutions involved in the project as well as (iv) the support for three MRV, two MRV Assistants and four OFLP safeguard specialists (two for Social, two for Environmental safeguards).. It will finance staff cost and activities to ensure that the Environmental and Social system is in place and effective to identify and mitigate the impacts of the underlying activities. This grant will be managed by ORCU. ii. The second grant ($1.2m) will support the design and operationalization of the MRV system set-up for the emissions related to Livestock management. This will include activities to be implemented under the leadership of the existing PIU for LFSDP which is already hosted by the MoA and its subsidiary within the Oromia Bureau of Agriculture (OBoA), as well as activities to be implemented in support of related MRV activities at ORCU and EFD levels. The PIU for the LFSDP will be responsible to manage the grant (at least for coming two years until the MoA sets the right directorate responsible for livestock related MRV activities). The PIU established for the LFSDP will have the overall fiduciary responsibility for this grant and will transfer the required budget to the partner entities according to agreed work plans. 104 105 10. Analyses of the Potential Impacts, Risks and Mitigation Measures of the OFLP strategic options 10.1. Review of the Proposed OFLP Strategic Options to Address the Drivers of Deforestation and Forest Degradation in the Oromia region Forests are vulnerable to decrease in spatial coverage, selective felling, and replacement by alien species and decrease in biodiversity due to several interplaying factors or drivers, thus contributing to release of CO2 into the atmosphere. These activities or drivers of deforestation and forest degradation are classified as either direct (proximate) or indirect as described in section 2.4. After extensive review of the available literature, the most common direct and indirect drivers of deforestation and forest degradation in Ethiopia are synthesized and discussed in this SESA to effectively address them in the strategic options scenarios. Proper analysis and understanding of the drivers is crucial for designing interventions specifically to target the drivers, thereby increasing the likelihood of reducing emissions through OFLP. 10.2. Direct Drivers of Deforestation and Forest Degradation As discussed in section 2.4 above, direct drivers are human activities that directly alter or impact on forest cover leading to forest decline and loss of carbon. Unlike the indirect drivers, the direct drivers of deforestation and forest degradation can be quantified by spatial analysis. For strategic interventions, the prevalent direct drivers of deforestation and forest degradation affecting the different forest ecosystems in the country are described in Table 10 below and each of them is discussed subsequently. Table 7: Description of the anthropogenic and natural direct drivers of deforestation and forest degradation in the Oromia region Factors Types of Drivers Impacts Affected forest ecosystems Anthropogenic Small-scale agriculture Deforestation High forests and woodlands Large-scale agriculture Deforestation Woodlands and high forests Fuel wood extraction Degradation Woodlands and high forests Charcoal production Degradation Woodlands Logging (legal and Degradation High forests illegal) and Construction wood extraction Forest coffee planting Degradation High forests Livestock grazing Degradation High forest, woodlands Mining (small and Deforestation Woodlands large scale) Degradation High Roads and infrastructure Deforestation forests High Degradation forests Invasive alien species Degradation Woodlands High forests and woodlands Fires Degradation Woodlands, high forests, bush lands 106 Natural Wild Fire Degradation Woodlands, high forests, bush lands Climate change/Drought Degradation Woodlands Pests and diseases Degradation High forests, plantations Floods Degradation Woodlands Table 8: Description of direct drivers of deforestation and forest degradation Drivers Description Small-scale • Small-scale agriculture is vital for livelihoods in Ethiopia and it agriculture: accounts for significant proportion of the rural employment and food production. Deforestation is driven by permanent and shifting cultivation by smallholder farmers in high forest and woodland area Large-scale • of the country. Large-scale permanent agriculture is promoted and expanded as part permanent of the agricultural growth project of the country to increase food agriculture: production and export earnings. Foreign direct investment and local investors are main players in large-scale permanent agriculture. Although land for such investments are studied and identified, the actions in some areas aggravate deforestation in the high forests and Fuel wood extraction • woodland resources. Ethiopia is highly dependent on biomass energy that includes fuel and charcoal wood, charcoal, agricultural residues, animal dung that account more production: than 90% of the total domestic energy demand. Although electricity production dramatically increased, significant proportions of urban households use charcoal for cooking. The high biomass energy consumption, along with inefficient utilization, has Logging (legal and State forest deforestation, • aggravated biodiversity enterprises carry loss out logging in and someland degradation. natural forests in illegal) for timber the country. Private small and large wood-based industries carry out and lumber timber extraction. Squatters and trace-passers also carry out illegal production: logging in high forests. Such practices are not guided and regulated because of weak law enforcement, and thus result in forest ecosystem Forest coffee • degradation in the country. Forest plantations take place in large and small scale both plantations: legally and illegally in the high forest areas. This is done at commercial and subsistence level. Coffee trees are planted after removing the forest undergrowth in the lower strata (only leaving the high canopy shades) and cause significant loss of biodiversity and Livestock grazing: • disrupt the ecosystem Increasing number of functions, livestockservices and reduce population and the forest continued productivity. shrinking of • grazing lands promoted increased use of forestlands (high forest and woodlands) as grazing areas. Access to forests is not regulated and they are open for free grazing. This is hampering the regeneration Mining (small and • potential, The country biodiversity thehas offorest of the huge deposits and mineral exposing In resources. the surface most for cases, large scale) soil thesedegradation. deposits are buried under dense vegetation of high forests and woodlands. For instance, Gold mining, coal mining, other industrial minerals (potash, tantalum, etc.) mining are currently important drivers of deforestation in the high forest and woodland forest ecosystems. 107 Infrastructure: • The country has embarked on ambitious growth project and the road network expansion, rail network expansion, power infrastructure and industrialization are some of the important planned drivers of deforestation in high forest and woodland ecosystems. Although EIA is being done for such mega-scale projects, conversion of forestland often is unavoidable (e.g., in the case of hydro-dams). Fire (wild and human • Deliberate fire is used as a management tool in rangeland caused): ecosystems. Wild • and deliberate fires commonly rage in woodlands and high forest areas. In all cases, fire causes degradation by affecting the diversity Droughts: • and composition Droughts of species, are common structure and phenomena in primary productivity the lowland of the woodland forests. areas. • Droughts affect vegetation diversity, composition and structure. Extreme dry climate causes fires, exposes the soil for erosion and Pests and diseases: • culminates in ecosystem The experience degradation. in Ethiopia shows there have been very few incidences of • forests being massively affected by pests and diseases. However, there are historical evidences that disease attacks happened in isolated cases in high forest areas and in plantation forests (e.g., in Deforestation 10.3. Underlying causes of Cupressus Degradation and Foreststands). and Eucalyptus The underlying or indirect causes of deforestation and forest degradation are complex interactions of fundamental social, economic, political, cultural and technological. This SESA report for the implementation of the OFLP_ERP in Oromia region influences the direct drivers and the human activities- often distant from their area of impact. The indirect drivers can operate at local, national or global levels and are often difficult to assess and quantify. Drawn from the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation study report in the Oromia region (Unique, 2017) and from the consultations with stakeholders, the underlying causes are categorized under the root factors as shown in Table 18. Each of the underlying cause is discussed below. Table 9: Description of the root factors and underlying causes of deforestation and forest degradation in Oromia region Root Factors Underlying causes Scale of operation Economic Commodity markets International Investment National Urbanization National/Local Unemployment National/Local Social Poverty Local Livelihoods Local Conflicts National/ Local Gender National/Local Awareness/education National/Local Political Equity National Resource allocation National Demographic Population National Migration National/Local Resettlement National Cultural Attitudes Local 108 Values and beliefs Local Governance and Institutional Policy (land and forest) National Institutional structure National/Local Law enforcement National/Local Benefit sharing National/Local Tenure and use rights National/Local Corruption National/Local Sectoral synergy National Capacity National/Local Table 10: -Description of the underlying causes of deforestation and forest degradation in Oromia region Underlying causes Description in the Ethiopian context Economic causes Commodity market • Commodity prices for major cash crops such as coffee, khat and oil seeds affect local production systems often leading to policy adjustments at the national level and triggering land use changes at the local level, encouraging deforestation and forest degradation Investment • Favorable policies for agricultural and industrial investments are attracting foreign direct investments and boosting domestic investments increasing the demand for large tracts of land. This trigger clearing of forests in high forest and woodland areas Urbanization • Economic development in urban centers and industrial expansion in the peripheral areas of urban centers push urban limits to forest landscapes and initiate deforestation Unemployment • Extreme fragmentation of land in rural areas is causing increasing rate of unemployment. The rural unemployed youth in forest resource areas will either migrate to urban centers or resort to forest resource extraction for living or conduct deforestation to claim land. Social causes Poverty • Because of the weak state of law enforcement, access to the forest resources is open and the rural poor rely on selling of forest products for living. The poor are the landless, the unemployed, the underserved and the resource poor community members. Livelihoods • Charcoal, fuel wood, timber and non-timber forest products are main • sources of livelihoods for certain community groups in the forest areas. Forest dwellers and those who live at the forest margins heavily depend on the forest resources continue to exploit the resources, resulting in degradation and deforestation. Conflicts • Conflicts (internal and external) cause displacement of people and results in deforestation and forest degradation. This is very common in the border areas with countries that have internal conflicts. Gender • Gender disparity and resource entitlements (land, capital, and material) inequality result in increased deforestation. Women in rural Ethiopia are disadvantaged and resources ownership is entirely in the male domain. Thus, women tend to rely on free access resources such as forests for their income. 109 Awareness/education • There is awareness gap in the understanding of the inter-generational benefits of forest resources, and their role in sustaining food production in agricultural landscapes. This is largely due to the lack of education. Political causes Equity • Faire distribution of national resources is often lacking (either due to misguided policies, or for lack of impartiality or for lack of the proper political instruments), and thus significant segments of the population will be left out and remain poor. Resource allocation • Resources are allocated for sectors that are deemed essential to drive the economic development. The forestry sector is sidelined since long in allocating the necessary resources and thus, the development of forestry and the potential contribution to the national GDP is undermined. Demographic Underlying causes Description in the Ethiopian context Population growth • The Ethiopian population is growing at a faster rate, which is more than 2.9 • % per annum. This exerts pressure on the forest resource to claim more land to produce the required food. In the rural areas, population growth is driving deforestation (especially in the vast forest resource areas) Migration • Both internal and external factors are contributing to migration of people to • the forest regions. In the border areas, the woodlands are suffering extreme deforestation from migrants of neighboring countries. The south and southwest forests are under pressure from internal influx of people. Resettlement • Resettlement is still a national policy option to address food insecurity and environmental degradation. Areas where resettlements took place, deforestation is rampant due absence of proper guideline on land and forest resource use. Cultural Attitude • In some areas, people have negative attitude towards trees and forests as • being source of pests and harboring harmful animals (that attack crops). Thus, clearing the forest is seen as preventing those pests and harmful Governance and institutions animals. Policy (land and • At the national level, the land use policy and forest policy are not fully forest) implemented. Lands that are not suitable for cultivation are still being used for crop production. There is no national land use plan, which is critical for defining and allocating land according to its capability and suitability. This has hampered forest development. The forest policy lacks implementation guidelines. The proclamations decree private forest ownership but in practice, the private sector is not involved in the forest development. Investment policy encourages forestry Institutional structure • • development but due The forest sector has and the risk governance longer gone rate frequent through of return, investment structuring in and forestry is causing poor institutional memory. Though the new ministry restructuring is formed, its structure is limited at the top level. Forestry in the regional structures is treated differently. In some cases, the representation is at expert level while some have formed enterprises to harness conservation and utilization. Such structural adjustments have also created mandate overlaps and gaps, leaving the resources exposed to further destruction. 110 Law enforcement • Due to lack of implementation guidelines, absence of experience in handling criminal offenses in the sector, and sometimes due to corruption, forest law enforcement is weak. Trace-passers/offenders are not penalized as per the law. This causes precedence for increased deforestation. Benefit sharing • Local communities are natural guardians of forest resources since they have multiple attachments to the resources. Whatever forms of forest conservation or management projects are planned, it should consider possible forms of benefit sharing mechanism for local communities. There are good experiences from PFM and JFM initiatives but requires strengthening through technical support and legal frameworks. Underlying causes Description in the Ethiopian context • proven models for benefit sharing. Lack of such mechanism is contributing to deforestation and degradation. Tenure and Use rights • Forest and forestland ownership is defined as state and private in the federal • forest proclamation. Community ownership is considered as private ownership. Some regions recognize community or collective ownership separately as a third type of ownership. However, use rights are not properly defined and “owners” or users are not able to protect their user rights. There are no mechanisms to prevent non-owners. The notion that forests being “open access resources” still reigns. Clear definition of use rights with implementation/right protection instruments is necessary, especially for forest-dependent community groups so as to protect the forests. Corruption • Corruption in the sector is contributing to deforestation and forest degradation by issuing forestland for coffee plantations and agricultural investments. Illegal logging and free movement of timber products from illegal sources is carried out through corruption. Sectoral synergy • Cross-sectoral synergy in policy, joint planning and implementation is rare. • Lack of coordination among the relevant institutions (investment, agriculture, environment, energy, forestry) is contributing to increased deforestation. Capacity • Financial capacity is limited both for increased development and improving protection and conservation. There is annually meagre allocation of resources for seedling planting at small scale. However, the sector needs large-scale intervention both in plantation and protection of the same. At the local level, human and material resources are needed in the required quantity. 111 10.4. Proposed Strategic options to address the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation in the Oromia region The Oromia Forested Landscape project Emissions reduction project contributes to climate neutrality goals of the region in particular and the country in general, by implementing REDD+ in an integrated landscape approach that combines sector-based investments with cross-cutting policy reforms. OFLP provides the framework for engaging policy makers, rural land users and large- and small-scale businesses to reduce deforestation and degradation and increase the carbon stocks of forested landscapes. The OFLP-ERP is a performance-based ER payments initiative that has laid foundational activities in the past through OFLP’s enabling investment and enabling environment building activities. The overall objective of OFLP-ERP is to reduce deforestation and achieve net GHG emission reductions (ERs) from forestry, land use and other agricultural sector activities throughout Oromia. Meeting this objective will require investments that transform land use, adjustments in regional policy, and capacity building for small holder land users, cooperatives, and government institutions at the Regional and lower levels. Supporting policies and regulations to enable the ERs will be promoted at the regional level as well as through the national REDD+ project. The proposed strategic options were prioritized and ranked from a long list of preliminarily identified strategic options (SOs) (see Annex 4) based on the analysis of the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation. The SOs were grouped into four major categories of Forestry, Agriculture, Energy and Cross cutting issues. A two stage screening was adopted to prioritize and rank the SOs. The first stage was using three different criteria including GHG emission mitigation potential and scalability, abatement cost efficiency, government development priorities as defined in the CRGE (2011). The second stage of screening was using criteria of poverty alleviation impact, social acceptability/livelihood benefits private sector investment potential and the institutional readiness or implementation arrangements. . The proposed prioritized SOs are described under each category (forestry, agricultural, energy and crosscutting) and the activities for the strategic options implementation shown in Table 11 below. Table 11: The proposed strategic options and the identified activities under each strategic option Strategic options and main levers in the OFLP REDD+ strategy Strategic Main levers of the Strategic Activities of the strategic options Option Options (SO) categories Forestry • SO1: Participatory • SO1a: Increase the economic value of healthy forest Sector forest management ecosystems by improving natural forest management Strategic (PFM) including • SO1b: Promote biodiversity conservation through community participation Options commercial sawlog • SO1C: Promote utilization of non-timber forest products production SO1d: Implement forest biodiversity enhancement activities through enrichment planting or restriction of forest product extraction from conservation forests • SO1e: Optimizing outputs without compromising the biodiversity of the forest in coffee growing areas • SO1f: Prevent forest fire with the participation of relevant stakeholders and communities 112 • SO2: Timber production • SO2a: Promote commercial timber production schemes through plantations (private • SO2b: Promote large scale timber plantation by state and private actors or joint-public investment) • SO2c: Encourage and incentivize the private sector to be engaged in timber production through commercial plantations • SO2d: Develop skilled manpower in timber production (experts and coop members) • SO2e: Provide technical support through capacity building of experts and private investors for quality log production • SO3: Tree planting outside • SO3a: Encourage commercial plantation by farmers and individual investors as of forests (e.g. large-scale woodlots and industrial plantations for income reforestation scheme by • SO3b: Establish commercial private and community nurseries to cater for providing seedlings required selected timbe species to communities) • SO3c: Provide technical support in species selection and tending operations in seedling raising for timber production • SO4: Area enclosure and • SO4a: Establish forest user groups and formally register them as cooperatives assisted natural • SO4b: Conduct consensus fencing and implement bylaws to protect the area regeneration closures and facilitate regeneration • SO4c: Provide seeds, establish local nurseries and raise seedlings to be planted in open spaces in the enclosures • SO5: Enhancement of • SO5a: Promote and expand agroforestry Forest Carbon Stock • SO5b: Increase application of area closure on degraded lands • SO5c: Promote Afforestation/reforestation by public, private and government sectors • SO5d: Integrate physical and biological conservation measures with afforestation and reforestation • SO5e: Integrated carbon enhancement activities in existing watershed • SO6: Promoting areas • SO6a: Forest related income generation (NTFP harvesting, PES supplementary income mechanisms, etc.) generation options • SO6b: Promote forest-based enterprises based on wood products • SO6c: Promote other income generation (e.g. mushroom, poultry, silk production, etc.) other than forest • SO6d: Increase the product value chains of forest 113 Agriculture Sector • SO7: Sustainable Land • SO7a: Climate Smart Agriculture Strategic Options Management Project • SO7b: Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR) of degraded sites (SLMP) suitable for reforestation • SO7c: Integration of physical and biological soil conservation measures • SO8: Livestock Value Chain • SO8a: Increase animal value-chain efficiency Improvement project • SO8b: Improve cattle productivity (i.e., output per head of cattle via higher production per animal and an increased off-take rate) • SO8c: Improve the health of livestock • SO8d: Substitute meat protein consumption with protein from poultry to significantly reduce emissions from domestic animals • SO8e: Replace about 50% of animal draft power by mechanical equipment for ploughing/tillage • SO9: Expansion of Irrigation • SO9a: Adoption of climate smart agricultural practices • SO9b: Agricultural intensification using organic farming and improved inputs such as high yielding seeds and varieties • SO9c: Scaling up and promoting irrigated farming by providing water- efficient technologies Energy Sector • SO10: Improved Cook stoves: • SO10a: Dissemination and usage of fuel-efficient stoves in urban Strategic Options Reducing Demand for fuel centers and forest areas/villages wood and charcoal through • SO10b: Adopt energy saving techniques for public institutions (prisons, increased efficiency and army barracks, universities, hospitals) providing alternatives • SO10c: Provide alternative fuel sources such as briquettes, pellets, etc… • SO11: Improved kilns for • SO11a: Promote modern charcoal production technologies charcoal production • SO11b: Promote commercial tree planting • SO11c: Encourage on-farm tree planting • SO11d: Produce charcoal from both sustainably managed natural forests and plantations • SO12: Off-grid electrification • SO12a: Use of feasible alternative energy sources (LPG, biogas, biofuel) (by providing sustainable in off- grid areas energy sources in remote areas • SO12b: Promote and enhance solar energy technologies and househould where grid is not viable) solar units for lighting and charging services 114 • SO13: Formalize charcoal • SO13a: Promote charcoal as an export commodity supply chain • SO13b: Increasing supply of wood and charcoal through increased afforestation and reforestation • SO13c: Promote charcoal production and trade as alternative income source from a sustainably managed commercial forest • SO14: Promoting • SO14a: Forest related income generation (NTFP harvesting, PES supplementary income mechanisms, etc.) generation options • SO14b: Promote forest-based enterprises based on wood products • SO14c: Promote other income generation (e.g., mushroom, poultry, silk production, etc.) other than forest • • • SO11d: Increase distribution SO15a: Equitable the product value of chains the costs andof forest benefits Cross Cutting SO15: Benefit Sharing Strategic Issues • SO16b: Solicit stakeholders to participate in REDD+ actions • SO15c: Share benefit to eligible ones accrued from REDD+ action • SO15d: Assists bylaw development of CBOs for benefit share among individual members • SO16: Capacity Building • SO16a: Provide material support to those engaged in REDD+ process • SO16b: Provide technical trainings to those engaged in REDD+ process • SO16c: Provide local and international experience sharing to those engaged in REDD+ process • SO17: Ensure full participation • SO17a: Mainstream gender in REDD+ process to benefit wome and equitable benefit sharing • SO17b: Develop women-specific knowledge on natural resource for women management • SO18: Inter-sectoral • SO18a: Create and ensure strong coordination among relevant coordination on planning and stakeholders implementation • SO19: Ensuring effective forest • SO19a: Protecting natural forest governance and law enforcement • SO19b: Adequate financing of forestry institution • SO19c: Strengthening of regional and local level governance structures • SO19d: Develop skilled manpower • SO19e: Capacity building of legal practitioners at all levels 115 10.5. Strategic Options to address the direct drivers of Deforestation and Forest Degradation The analyses in Table 12 below shows that the direct drives are addressed under the different strategic options and relevant activity measures are identified. Table 12: Analysis of the strategic options vis-à-vis the direct drivers of deforestation and forest degradation Direct Drivers Strategic options Relevant activities under the strategic options Small scale agriculture SO9: Expansion of Irrigation • SO9a: Adoption of climate smart agricultural practices • SO9b: Agricultural intensification using organic farming and improved inputs such as high yielding seeds and varieties • SO9c: Scaling up and promoting irrigated farming by providing water-efficient technologies Fuel wood • SO10: Improved Cook stoves: • SO10a: Dissemination and usage of fuel-efficient stoves extraction and Reducing Demand for fuel wood in urban centers and forest areas/villages charcoal and charcoal through increased • SO10b: Adopt energy saving techniques for public production efficiency and providing institutions (prisons, army barracks, universities, hospitals) alternatives • SO10c: Provide alternative fuel sources such as briquettes, pellets, etc. • SO13: Formalize charcoal supply • SO13a: Promote charcoal as an export commodity chain • SO13b: Increasing supply of wood and charcoal through increased afforestation and reforestation • SO13c: Promote charcoal production and trade as alternative income source from a sustainably managed commercial forest Logging (illegal and SO14: Promoting supplementary • SO14a: Forest related income generation (NTFP legal) for timber and income generation options harvesting, PES mechanisms, etc.) lumber production • SO14b: Promote forest-based enterprises based on wood products • SO14c: Promote other income generation (e.g., mushroom, poultry, silk production, etc.) other than forest • SO11d: Increase the product value chains of forest 116 Forest coffee plantations SO1: Participatory forest • SO1a: Increase the economic value of healthy management (PFM) including forest ecosystems by improving natural forest commercial sawlog production management • SO1b: Promote biodiversity conservation through community participation • SO1C: Promote utilization of non-timber forest products SO1d: Implement Forest biodiversity enhancement activities through enrichment planting or restriction of forest product extraction from conservation forests • SO1e: Optimizing outputs without compromising the biodiversity of the forest in coffee growing areas Livestock grazing SO8: Livestock Value • SO8a: Increase animal value-chain efficiency Chain Improvement • SO8b: Improve cattle productivity (i.e., output per head of project cattle via higher production per animal and an increased off-take rate) • SO8c: Improve the health of livestock • SO8d: Substitute meat protein consumption with protein from poultry to significantly reduce emissions from domestic animals • SO8e: Replace about 50% of animal draft power by mechanical equipment for ploughing/tillage 117 Direct Drivers Strategic options Relevant activities under the strategic options Mining SO5: Enhancement of Forest • SO5a: Promote and expand agroforestry Carbon Stock • SO5b: Increase application of area closure on degraded lands • SO5c: Promote Afforestation/reforestation by public, private and government sectors • SO5d: Integrate physical and biological conservation measures with afforestation and reforestation • SO6e: Integrated carbon enhancement activities in existing watershed areas Fire (wild and SO1: Participatory forest • SO1fc: Prevent forest fire with the participation of human management (PFM) including relevant stakeholders and communities caused) commercial sawlog production Droughts (climate SO5: Enhancement of Forest • SO5a: Promote and expand agroforestry change) Carbon Stock • SO5b: Increase application of area closure on degraded lands • SO5c: Promote Afforestation/reforestation by public, private and government sectors • SO5d: Integrate physical and biological conservation measures with afforestation and reforestation • SO6e: Integrated carbon enhancement activities in existing watershed areas 118 10.4. Strategic Options to address Underlying causes of Deforestation and Forest Degradation The analysis in Table 1 3 below shows that although most of the underlying causes are addressed under the different strategic options, there are gaps in the strategic options in addressing some of the root factors and the underlying causes. Table 13: Analysis of the strategic options vis-à-vis the underlying causes of deforestation and forest degradation Underlying causes Strategic options Relevant activities under the strategic options Economic Commodity market SO6: Promoting • SO6a: Forest related income generation (NTFP harvesting, PES supplementary income mechanisms, etc.) generation options • SO6b: Promote forest-based enterprises based on wood products • SO6c: Promote other income generation (e.g. mushroom, poultry, silk production, etc.) other than forest • SO6d: Increase the product value chains of forest Investment SO2: Timber production • SO2a: Promote commercial timber production schemes through plantations (private • SO2b: Promote large scale timber plantation by state and private actors or joint-public investment) • SO2c: Encourage and incentivize the private sector to be engaged in timber production through commercial plantations • SO2d: Develop skilled manpower in timber production (experts and coop members) SO2e: Provide technical support through capacity building of experts and private investors for quality log production Urbanization • SO10: Improved Cook stoves: • SO10a: Dissemination and usage of fuel-efficient stoves in urban Reducing Demand for fuel centers and forest areas/villages wood and charcoal through • SO10b: Adopt energy saving techniques for public institutions increased efficiency and (prisons, army barracks, universities, hospitals) providing alternatives • SO10c: Provide alternative fuel sources such as briquettes, pellets, Unemployment SO14: Promoting • SO14a: Forest related income generation (NTFP harvesting, PES supplementary income mechanisms, etc.) generation options • SO14b: Promote forest-based enterprises based on wood products • SO14c: Promote other income generation (e.g., mushroom, poultry, silk production, etc.) other than forest • SO14d: Increase the product value chains of forest 119 Social Poverty SO14: Promoting • SO14a: Forest related income generation (NTFP harvesting, PES supplementary income mechanisms, etc.) generation options • SO14c: Promote other income generation (e.g., mushroom, poultry, silk production, etc.) other than forest • SO14d: Increase the product value chains of forest SO15: Benefit Sharing • SO15a: Equitable distribution of the costs and benefits • SO16b: Solicit stakeholders to participate in REDD+ actions • SO15c: Share benefit to eligible ones accrued from REDD+ action • SO15d: Assists bylaw development of CBOs for benefit share among individual members Livelihoods SO14: Promoting • SO14a: Forest related income generation (NTFP harvesting, PES supplementary income mechanisms, etc.) generation options • SO14c: Promote other income generation (e.g., mushroom, poultry, silk production, etc.) other than forest • SO14d: Increase the product value chains of forest Conflicts SO15: Benefit Sharing • SO15a: Equitable distribution of the costs and benefits • SO16b: Solicit stakeholders to participate in REDD+ actions • SO15c: Share benefit to eligible ones accrued from REDD+ action • SO15d: Assists bylaw development of CBOs for benefit share among SO15: Benefit Sharing individual members Gender • SO15a: Equitable distribution of the costs and benefits • SO16b: Solicit stakeholders to participate in REDD+ actions • SO15c: Share benefit to eligible ones accrued from REDD+ action • SO15d: Assists bylaw development of CBOs for benefit share among individual members Awareness/education SO16: Capacity Building • SO16a: Provide material support to those engaged in REDD+ process • SO16b: Provide technical trainings to those engaged in REDD+ process • SO16c: Provide local and international experience sharing to those engaged in REDD+ process Political 120 Equity SO17: Ensure full • SO17a: Mainstream gender in REDD+ process to benefit participation and equitable • SO17b: Develop women-specific knowledge on natural resource benefit sharing for women management Resource allocation SO14: Promoting • SO14a: Forest related income generation (NTFP harvesting, PES supplementary income mechanisms, etc.) generation options • SO14b: Promote forest-based enterprises based on wood products • SO14c: Promote other income generation (e.g. mushroom, poultry, silk production, etc.) other than forest • SO11d: Increase the product value chains of forest Demographic Migration SO19: Ensuring effective forest • SO19a: Protecting natural forest governance and law • SO19b: Adequate financing of forestry institution enforcement • SO19c: Strengthening of regional and local level governance structures • SO19d: Develop skilled manpower • SO19e: Capacity building of legal practitioners at all levels Resettlement SO19: Ensuring effective forest • SO19a: Protecting natural forest governance and law enforcement • SO19b: Adequate financing of forestry institution • SO19c: Strengthening of regional and local level governance structures • SO19d: Develop skilled manpower • SO19e: Capacity building of legal practitioners at all levels Attitude SO16: Capacity Building • SO16a: Provide material support to those engaged in REDD+ process • SO16b: Provide technical trainings to those engaged in REDD+ process • SO16c: Provide local and international experience sharing to those engaged in REDD+ process Values and Beliefs SO16: Capacity Building • SO16a: Provide material support to those engaged in REDD+ process • SO16b: Provide technical trainings to those engaged in REDD+ process • SO16c: Provide local and international experience sharing to those engaged in REDD+ process 121 Policy (land SO19: Ensuring effective forest • SO19a: Protecting natural forest and forest) governance and law enforcement • SO19b: Adequate financing of forestry institution • SO19c: Strengthening of regional and local level governance structures • SO19d: Develop skilled manpower • SO19e: Capacity building of legal practitioners at all levels Institutional structure SO18: Inter-sectoral SO18a: Create and ensure strong coordination among relevant coordination on planning stakeholders and implementation Law enforcement SO19: Ensuring effective forest • SO19a: Protecting natural forest governance and law • SO19b: Adequate financing of forestry institution enforcement • SO19c: Strengthening of regional and local level governance structures • SO19d: Develop skilled manpower • SO19e: Capacity building of legal practitioners at all levels Benefit sharing SO15: Benefit Sharing • SO15a: Equitable distribution of the costs and benefits • SO16b: Solicit stakeholders to participate in REDD+ actions • SO15c: Share benefit to eligible ones accrued from REDD+ action • SO15d: Assists bylaw development of CBOs for benefit share among individual members Corruption SO19: Ensuring effective forest • SO19a: Protecting natural forest governance and law enforcement • SO19b: Adequate financing of forestry institution • SO19c: Strengthening of regional and local level governance structures • SO19d: Develop skilled manpower • SO19e: Capacity building of legal practitioners at all levels Sectoral synergy SO18: Inter-sectoral SO18a: Create and ensure strong coordination among relevant coordination on planning stakeholders and implementation 122 Capacity SO16: Capacity Building • SO16a: Provide material support to those engaged in REDD+ process • SO16b: Provide technical trainings to those engaged in REDD+ process • SO16c: Provide local and international experience sharing to those engaged in REDD+ process 10.5. Potential Environmental and Social Benefits of the Proposed OFLP Strategic Options Table 14: Analyses of environmental and social benefits of the proposed strategic options Proposed Strategic options Environmental Benefits Social Benefits SO18: Inter-sectoral • Help for sustainable reduction of deforestation • Create coherent vision that outlines a coordination on and forest degradation path towards sustainable forest planning and Increase natural habitats for biodiversity, and protect management implementation water sources and water ways • Policy will be harmonized, and key stakeholders • strengthen sustainable forest rehabilitation will participate in implementation of the harmonized sectoral policy, • Create legal framework among key stakeholders to reduce deforestation • reduce conflict among stakeholders working on land resources • harmonize policy conflict • create linkages with different stakeholders 123 SO19: Ensuring effective • Ensure the continuous recruitment of potential • Enhance forest ecosystem service to the local forest governance and crop trees by protecting browsing & grazing in community, regional and global law enforcement - the existing forest • Increase the contribution of forestry to the total • put restriction on expansion of farmland into forest GDP • Enhance carbon sequestration/ maintain carbon stock • Enable the local community to have detailed • Improve forest fire management knowledge of the forest resource in their vicinity • Increase contributions of forests to watershed • Increase Forestry’s contribution to employment management, soil and water conservation and forest generation in Ethiopia products utilized in other economic sectors such as • Help hydro power and irrigation dams not to be health, food, and manufacturing and construction silted and make them sustainable activities • Improve incentives or abilities to invest in forest • Encourage biodiversity Conservation sector • Enhance natural resource conservation and local • Help community to use their labor, wealth, and community involvement on reduction of deforestation creativity in forest management and forest degradation • Help underserved community to access forest • Enhance sustainable forest development, resource benefits • Create sustainable forest use • Create partnership between government • Help to create healthy regeneration, Forest and community boundary respected, Enrichment plantings, Open • help to address resource use conflicts, access regulated, Re- appearance of wildlife, Democratic functioning Forest fire incidence minimized • Enhance participation of local • Help establishment of forest monitoring system community in forest management • all silvicultural treatments could take • Create partnership between state forestry place with low financial input service and organized villagers • Improve biodiversity and forest quality, • Strengthen the existing traditional community • Enhancement of ecosystems services (water based natural resource management institutions availability and other erosion control) in a such as the Gada system of Oromo pastoralist sustainable manner • Help to engage the forest dependent community to Reduce deforestation and forest degradation, participate in Forest Resource Assessment, • enable the local community to have detailed knowledge of the forest resource in their vicinity • Make sure the interventions are socially inclusive • (gender and inter generationally) of use to underserved peoples and vulnerable groups 124 • • • 125 Strategic options Environmental Benefits Social Benefits • make sustainable and long-term land improvement and management practices • 126 Proposed Strategic options Environmental Benefits Social Benefits SO5: Enhancement of • Improved soil fertility and yields • Increased income and savings Forest Carbon Stock • Reduce pressure on forest resources for fuel wood • Increased knowledge and experience • soil conservation, erosion control and water related to agroforestry conservation • Improved food security and nutritional status • trees planted in agricultural land will help as wind • Help diversification of income breaks • Increased firewood supply • It helps to hold soil in place during and after harvest • enhance ecosystem service for local community of farm crops. This allows for ground moisture • forest product provision for local levels to remain regular, reduces soil degradation community enhanced and erosion. • communities access a number of non-timber • ensure the continuous recruitment of potential forest products for household needs like crop trees by protecting browsing & grazing in grass the existing forest • Increasing local economic opportunities • Encourage regeneration of flora diversity including where possible jobs for people • Enhance biodiversity Conservation from local communities and deliberate use of • Enhance carbon stock in the forest area local services. • Help maintenance of landscapes and scenic views • The fall in prices of forest products such as • Contribute reduced deforestation, forest firewood and charcoal degradation and carbon emissions • Supply for forestry products of lignum and fodder • Natural and ecological forests will be protected from will increase destruction, and the ecological environment will be • reduce time and energy required to access forest improved and protected indirectly. product • Increase the capacity of water conservation, • improve human settlements and quality of life • Increase habitat of wildlife, form the biological • increase productivity of agricultural land corridor, be in favor of biodiversity protection. • reduce conflict between different key actors on land • Improvement in ecosystem services resource • Increase forest resource coverage • Help reduction of deforestation due to conversion of forest land into other land use. 127 SO9: • Enhanced land & crop management • reduce poverty which led forest extraction for sale Expansion • Enhance conservation of agro-biodiversity • Enhance income of the community of Irrigation • reduce expansion of agriculture into forest land • Create job opportunity • improve agricultural practices • Improved household food security and diet • Productivity of small-scale agriculture will be enhanced Proposed Strategic options Environmental Benefits Social Benefits • Reduce Expansion of small-scale agriculture into forest • The livelihood of the local area community will be enhanced • Agricultural practices will be improved • reduce expansion of agriculture • Increase crop diversification • improve agricultural practice • Reduce forest degradation pressure on forest • diversify crop production and nutrition • SO10: Improved Cook stoves: • Provide alternative energy • saves time when collecting wood, Reducing Demand for fuel wood • Reducing emissions of carbon monoxide by • saves money, and charcoal through increased more efficient burning • Create additional income for small and efficiency and providing • Reduce loss of forests and thus increase micro enterprise stove producers alternatives potential for biodiversity conservation and • reduce health impact of smoke from three stone maintenance of ecosystems services open fire stoves • Reduce environmental pollution Conserve the forest • Reduction of child labour for fuel collection • Reduce fuel expenditure • reduce exposure to indoor air pollutants (IAP) such as carbon monoxide and particulate matters which affect women and children 128 • SO13: Formalize charcoal supply • More carbon sequestration • Drive of economic development chain • Micro-climate improves • Encourages the creation of wood industries • Recurrent drought experienced by the country halt • create multiplier effects on the local economy • Reduce non-sustainable and high rates of wood fuel through creation of employment opportunities at extraction that destroy forests and woodlands and the each value chain levels environmental services these provide including soil and • improve household income and socio- water conservation economic well-being of farmers • decreases deforestation and forest degradation • Encourages the creation of wood products on other forests (such as high forest) • Improves wood self sufficiency • increase on farm species diversity • source of supplementary income or as • enhance soil fertility women’s work • avoid deforestation by overharvesting • reduce migration from rural or forested areas of charcoal production and improve people’s incomes Proposed Strategic options Environmental Benefits Social Benefits • help to conserve resources, • charcoal makers would produce charcoal as their • Reduce fuel wood consumption and then reduction of CO2 main activity emissions from biomass • Increase foreign income, • reduce impact on endangered species since it will be done on • create job opportunities for youth and invasive species like Prospois Juliflora landless people • reduce impact of invasive species on range land and farmland 129 SO8: Livestock • change impact of large crowd of livestock on regeneration or • Effective, market-oriented livestock Value Chain recruitment of seedlings by reduce number of livestock production increase output Improvement • reduce pressure on the available resources quantity, quality and prices project - • reduce poor range management • Identify opportunities for the poor, involving overgrazing practices that increase soil erosion and especially women, to participate in value added increase the amount of poor pasture and invasive plant species production of livestock and livestock on the natural pasture products, thereby capturing a greater share of • reduce loss of livestock genetic resources additional value within the livestock production • Significantly reduce emissions from domestic animals. and marketing chain • reducing the pressure on fragile ecosystems Improve livestock sector infrastructure and • reduce pressure on natural resources by keeping animal draft provide greater incentives for market for ploughing participation and productivity • increase income of the local community, • create job opportunities for landless community members • reduce farmers economic loss • Increase productivity of livestock • secure sustainable household income • increase animal protein supplies to match human needs • Since initial investment cost is small it involves young, women and other community in poultry production Proposed Strategic options Environmental Benefits Social Benefits Mechanization leads to food self sufficiency • improve livelihoods of smallholder farming communities 130 SO14: Promoting • improve the value of source of NTFP, thus reducing the risk of • substantial contributions to the security of food and supplementary income deforestation while still obtaining sustainable benefits nutrition in drought periods, and main generation options from these forests for the local communities foods and supplementary diets in normal times • Enhance sustainable management and use of NTFP source of • contribute towards food security, improving trees, health and nutrition, medicinal treatment, income • substantial amounts of carbon will be stored both in the generation, cultural heritage above ground and below ground biomass • safeguard non-timber Forest resources and user • Increase substantial amount of carbon stock sequestration, rights • forest resources will be sustainably managed • communities will be able to sustain and improve their • Soil erosions will be substantially reduced livelihoods without the destruction of the NTFP • reduce pressure on natural forest resources, water sources or ecosystems. • plantation forests will serve as a buffer zone of natural high • Improve product supply, value chain dynamics and marketing. Communities will experience increased forests and woodlands food security and household income, enabling them • Regular forest resource monitoring system will be to invest in diversification, education, healthcare and established better living conditions. • reduce pressure on natural forest, • When crops and livestock are insufficient, • reduce illegal logging in natural forests NTFP becomes essential for food and income. • help for sustainable management of the forest • The national foreign expenditure for importing wood products will substantially decrease, and this will increase the national income • The existing huge gap between demand and supply of forest products will be minimized • poor people would have increased adaptive capacity to climate shocks by increasing them Proposed Strategic options Environmental Benefits Social Benefits 131 household income from direct selling of forest products • create job opportunities for underserved community, • Enhance household income • diversify nutrition of the community • increase contribution of the forest resource for the national GDP, • increase involvement of different stakeholders in the value chain process SO16: Capacity Building • strengthen conservation and rehabilitation of forest • incentivize stakeholders to forest resource resources in a sustainable manner management and involvement of different • help to establish a strong forest administration system capable of stakeholders arresting the rapidly increasing rate of deforestation as well as • Strengthen government and community in controlling and preventing the disruption of the various ecosystems management and introducing forest and other related • forest management knowledge will be created livelihood alternatives • increase capacity to tackle technical issues related to forest resources. • share experience and help to scale up best experience of forest management • • SO7: Sustainable • enhance forest cover and conservation of the existing forest • encourage private sector to involve and invest in the Land resources sector Management • help to enhance government budget for forest governance and • policy makers give proper attention to forest Project (SLMP) establishment of better intuitional set up for the sector sector • create knowledge to be shared scale up for the sustainable benefits of the community 132 Proposed Strategic options Environmental Benefits Social Benefits • help promoting technologies of forest management, renewable • establish data base system on forest resources energy and agroforestry to meet the needs and • analyze gaps and provide solutions for sustainable implementation of REDD+ social problems • help sustainable afforestation and restoration of forest resources SO17: Ensure full • help sustainable conservation of forest resources • women participation in forest use and participation and equitable • help sustainable conservation of forest resources management will be enhanced benefit sharing for women • Women’s concerns of tree planting will be addressed • Improve security of tenure for women by planting boundary trees • it has the potential to positively affect women’s roles and status in relation to land ownership and management • Women‘s knowledge of landscapes and ecosystems can help REDD+ projects succeed • women’s inclusion exhibits the likelihood to improve forest conditions • Women’s inclusion in REDD+ is itself a crucial safeguard issue that warrants immediate attention • Help to compensate women equitably for their engagement in forest protection and carbon monitoring activities. • Women organizations may get information in all phases of REDD+ Implementation • Women can play an essential role in forest monitoring • enhance women involvement in and influence over decision-making processes that define their 133 Proposed Strategic options Environmental Benefits Social access to forest rights and resources, and rights to assets, including land and other property SO15: Benefit sharing • enhance conservation and rehabilitation of forest resources • Help to organize community groups and • enhance participatory conservation of forest resources regional government/forest services share the • ensure the participation of communities in forest protection and benefits, conservation • ensure poor and underserved/disadvantaged • help conservation of the forest resources by the forest local • groups have equal chance to participate community • Create relevant stakeholder and local community ownership to the forest • Increase off-farm income generating activities for • communities living adjacent to protected areas • Membership developed bylaw clearly specifies duties and responsibilities of the CBO members. This enables to resolve their problems themselves 134 10.6. Potential Environmental and Social Risks of the Proposed REDD+ Strategic Options and the Mitigation Measures Table 15: Analyses of environmental and social risks of the proposed strategic options and the mitigation measures Strategic options Environmental Social Risks Mitigation measures Risks Mitigation measures SO18: Inter-sectoral • Increased deforestation • Coordination unit to be • Inefficient social service • Enhance synergy coordination on and forest degradation assigned at higher (education, health, water, • Go for alternatives for the planning and due to absence of full Level (Prime Minister market information, etc.) forest product and NTFP implementation collaboration of sectoral Office) that checks from the sectoral office • Develop community institutes with OEPA synergy of the sectoral due to absence or little reporting system for the (e.g. law enforcement institutes synergy inefficient service from weakness) • Assign counterpart (focal each sectoral service person) in each sectoral office that links OEPA with them • Less likely collaboration of sectoral institutes for joint planning on forest issues 135 SO19: Ensuring • May bring increased • Avail forest products and • Restriction over • Let the community use effective forest forest degradation from non-timber forest livestock pasture grass in cut and carry governance and law organized illegal products which the resource system enforcement cuttings community depends on • Restriction over expansion • Intensify productivity per • May call for total the forest from other of farmlands unit area through improved environmental sources • Restriction over fuel, input use so that areal destruction from mass • Share benefit to the construction and farm expansion of agriculture mobilized cuttings and community from the implement forest resources land halts setting of forest fire income accrued due to the • Conflict between local • Supply improved cooking protection of forest communities and and baking stoves to the • Increase the awareness of protecting agents community which depends the community through • Restriction over members on forest for energy source training and education of communities that • Materialize the second • Law enforcement should traditionally use the forest phase growth and be in place for religious rituals transformation plan • Allow the community • Obstruction of routes that (GTP- use the resource without connect communities living II) of Ethiopia that gives cutting the trees e.g. for on either side of the forest due emphasize to ritual, cultural practices, • Hosts wild animals that renewable energy sources • Educate and train the may frequently attack • Enhance woodlots which community on the value of livestock of surrounding would increase the forest communities smallholders access to • Prepare enough through Strong institutions may wood products (in the capacity building (human override community-based medium term) institutes that protected • Ploughing system shift to forest for centuries low-tillage that is more sustainable, more resilient, more low carbon. 136 Strategic options Environmental Social Risks Mitigation measures Risks Mitigation measures & material) to suppress • Use customary conflict fire incase fire is set redress mechanism • Empower underserved • Enhance the benefit of the grievance redress community from the mechanisms enclosed area as per the PF provisions • Compensate as per the market and the RPF provisions • Allow communities to practice the ritual and religious practices in the forest as far as these do not affect the forest • Area enclosure should leave access routes for communities to move freely as per the PF • If obstruction of access route is a must, transport facility to use the other route must be arranged as per the PF 137 Strategic options Environmental Social Risks Mitigation measures Risks Mitigation measures • Strengthen CBOs like that that of government institutes SO5: • Change in land use type • Compensation planting • Loss of land ownership Adequate compensation to be Enhancement may be induced (e.g. required if change is from may be induced (e.g. from paid by Government both in of Forest from agriculture to forest forest to agricultural lands private to government or kind and other means as per the Carbon Stock or vice versa) vice versa) RPF (Note: the World Bank cannot finance land compensation) SO1: Participatory • Create economically • Hybrid of PFM and Intervention of PFM if not PFM should be supported by a Forest management driven forest Traditional Forest managed may lead to a legal framework and (PFM) including mismanagement that management with problem of acceptance by all acceptable policy as well as commercial sawlog scientific management so since the approach does not directives production 138 may lead to forest that forests utilized based have legal support under • Educate and train degradation on forest management the Ethiopian law communities in the areas • May instigate plan • PFM experiences in about PFM deforestation from • PFM should encompass all Ethiopia is mainly in a high • Assist communities in the marginalized local community members with forests this may have low land areas to carry- communities and/or little agreed benefit sharing negative impact to adapt in out experience sharing benefiting PFM members mechanism low land woodland areas visit in high land areas • Low economic value • Enhance the economic where there is different • Encourage self-reliance of forests in lowland areas value of the lowland socio-economic and the PFM groups through may not attract PFM forests through forest ecological conditions enabling them generate organization industry installation • Creates dependency their own income from the • Coffee farming in the • Strict control over the syndrome on local forest management forest has already expansion of coffee communities because of activities degraded biodiversity planting in the forest long term incentivization by • All community members and further permit of • Put in place where the implementing projects to should have a chance to be coffee farming in the undergrowth and natural protect the resource PFM members forest may worsen the regeneration of tree • Conflict over benefit • The PFM bylaw and the condition species allowed to grow sharing and marginalization legal framework should • Stakeholder and • Put in place the urges of certain segments of define the power of the community may not be maintenance of minimum local community PFM leaders mobilized as required number of indigenous • Conflict over skewed power • The leader should be sued • Tragedy of the commons tree species where coffee relationship in case of default is farmed • PFM may involve the • Equal access rights to • Build own capacity of exclusion of previous forest all members of the fire prevention system users from accessing forest community need to be • Educate people resources granted • Select appropriate species • The PFM bylaw should for the purpose ensure equal opportunity to all community members 139 Strategic options Environmental Social Risks Mitigation measures Risks Mitigation measures SO5: • Quarantined agroforestry • Establish strong • Existing fragmented land • Increase productivity per Enhancement of species may become quarantine centers at use types of an individual unit area through improved Forest Carbon invasive and damage the national and all regional household may end up in input use (seed, fertilizer, Stock natural environment government levels reduced productivity etc.). • Mono culture practices • Integrate several crops • Difficult to introduce due to • Integrate several types of may be less effective in and tree species in the long gestation period of the agroforestry crops and dissected landscapes agroforestry practices trees trees to get increased • Where the tree and crop • Integrate in the • Intensive care for the products from diversified or livestock components agroforestry system crops various agroforestry crops and trees overlap in their use of with low moisture demand practices consumes the • Opt for fast growing tree resources, competition • Harvest water during the time and energy of species may lead to reduced rainy water for dearth household members • Research centers should productivity( e.g. period use • Physical relocation of work on improving Competition for water • Firebreak structure and local communities (shortening) of the long between tree and crop equipment should be in • Restriction over gestation period of local components is likely to place livestock pasture tree species limit productivity) • Educate and enhance the resource • The agroforestry system • Aggravate environmental awareness of community • Restriction over expansion should integrate at least 2 degradation from setting • Fence to exclude of farmlands and above 2 tree species of fires, if some fire encroachment • Conflict between local with other crops susceptible tree species • Do not come close to the communities and • The household should are planted habitat/breeding place of protecting agents manage the size of the land • Aggravate illegal wildlife • Obstruction of routes that that can be managed by cuttings and destruction use to connect the family members of regenerating communities living on • Use mechanized/ improved biodiversity if not either sides of area closure technology for time and managed with the • High costs of energy efficiency reason community seedling production to • Compensate in kind or • Increase conflict between carry out plantation other means wildlife & humans relative to enrichment plantings 140 Strategic options Environmental Social Risks Mitigation measures Risks Mitigation measures • Risk of • Use integrated crop pest • Increase conflict between • Use cut and carry system monoculture management practice wildlife & humans increase crop • Share benefit from the plantation • Plant mixed species where pests (birds, mammals) wildlife hunting/ • Compromise to local monoculture stands are • Brings loss of ecotourism so that biodiversity intercropped with crop lands; economic benefits community feels • Risk of harbor of crop • Allow natural regeneration • Create access restriction ownership over the pests in reforested area under the monoculture for resource utilizations resource • Some soil impacts can be species so that the • Create land computation Proportionate the expected as a result of regenerated species number of livestock with plantation forests overtake the planation the available resource operations, including • Plant local/underserved with local community amounts erosion, decreasing tree species • Can prevent human and • Intensify productivity per surface runoff and the • Allow natural regeneration livestock mobility unit area through improved development of a under the monoculture • From previous experience input use so that areal protective forest floor species so that the of large-scale plantation expansion of agriculture • Poorly designed and mass regenerated species people feel fear of loss of land halts mobilized conservation overtake the planation land ownership • Use customary conflict measures aggravate soil Use modern silvi-culture • Fire is a concerns that fire redress mechanism erosion methods such as forest will increase and could • Enhance the benefit of the residue management, affect neighboring community from the mosaic planting, different properties enclosed area tree density on steep • Some soil impacts can be • Compensate them enough slopes, etc. expected as a result of • Area enclosure should • Use integrated crop pest plantation forests leave access routes for management practice operations, including communities to move • Allow undergrowth erosion, decreasing surface freely through wider space Run-off and the • If obstruction of access planting development of a route is a must, protective forest floor. 141 Strategic options Environmental Social Risks Mitigation measures Risks Mitigation measures • Enforce land use plan • collect seed from local to come into force sources and raise them in community owned nursery • Compensate for what the community will lose from the land that to be devoted to reforestation/ afforestation • Ensure benefit sharing from the reforestation/ afforestation through their active involvement in the activities including through out grower schemes • Allow cut and carry practice for the grass use • Allow the utilization of NTFP • Implement reforestation/ afforestation on land with no competing interest (e.g. previously forested land or marginalized land) with the community • reforestation/ afforestation should leave access routes for communities to move freely • If obstruction of access route is a must, another “reasonably convenient” route must be arranged 142 Strategic options Environmental Social Risks Mitigation measures Risks Mitigation measures • Plant mixed species to minimize the risk of fire setting naturally or deliberately • Train the community on forest fire risk and forest fire management • Construction fire break line between the forest and the properties of the community • Get prepared suppressing the fires though availing fires suppressing tools and equipment • Plant with wider spacing to allow undergrowth so that erosion will be prevented or minimal • Empower women and youth to play the role 143 Strategic options Environmental Social Risks Mitigation measures Risks Mitigation measures SO9:Expansion • Siltation of reservoirs • Implement watershed • Create farmers to depend • Encourage agriculture of Irrigation - • Fertilizer runoff and management practice to on agricultural inputs like intensification by the use of leaching; eutrophication protect reservoirs fertilizer compost than fertilizer and effect on human • Protect the farmlands with • Reduces farmers' ability to especially for smallholder health integrated soil & water use natural pest cycles, farmers • Runoff of pesticides and conservation (biological & leading to increased need • Use integrated pest similar agricultural physical) measures for pesticides management system which chemicals • Use of inputs (fertilizers • affects human health due proved best than single • Eroded agricultural and other chemicals) to agricultural chemicals types of pest management genetic resources based on soil and plant • Lack of awareness about practice essential for food security tissue analysis for appropriate use of chemical • Give awareness creation on in the future. nutrients fertilizers/pesticides due to health and safety of agro- • Increased pesticides • Treat water before using lack of education and chemicals harms animal and human • Protect the farmlands with knowledge of community, • Use of Personal health by accumulating in integrated soil & water especially women Protective Equipment soils and leaching into conservation (biological & • Limited purchasing whenever applying water bodies physical) measures capacity of inputs agro-chemicals • Stalinization and regimes • Never erode the local (improved seeds, fertilizers • Offer continuous and of underground water genetic resource; work seedlings) can limit sustained education & • Inadequate drainage and side by side on both local potential gains awareness creation on the over-irrigation cause and improved crop • CSA sometimes need appropriate use of water logging varieties to enhance food adopting new farming chemicals • Lowering of water tables security system and technology • Government needs to • Water diversions for • Use personal protective which may not be both encourage sustainable agriculture are a major equipment whenever accepted earlier and agricultural production by problem for many aquatic applying chemicals afforded financially small holder farmers and species. • Protect animal from entry respectively large holdings by into the farm area until • Only rich farmers community. the chemicals dilute and may benefit from assimilated by the crops CSA 144 Strategic options Environmental Social Risks Mitigation measures Risks Mitigation measures • Continuous leaching of the • Conflicts between • Educate and train farms with water neighboring communities community on the benefit • Irrigate the farms based over water resource of CSA on the soil water utilization • Assist poor farmers requirement analysis technically and materially • Use drip irrigation to avoid through extension services both under and over • Harvest excessive water irrigation during the high moisture • Implement practices that seasons for the later recharge ground water dearth period use (watershed management, soil & water conservation structure) • Diversion of water to only the threshold level beyond which aquatic live does not affect 145 Strategic options Environmental Social Risks Mitigation measures Risks Mitigation measures • SO10: Improved • Increased use of energy • Go for alternate energy • Incur cost to poor local • Supply of energy efficient Cook stoves: efficient stoves may sources (such as solar, communities cooking and baking gadgets Reducing indirectly lead to high wind, hydropower, • Difficult to adopt the at subsidized prices Demand for fuel biomass energy demand geothermal) technology due to cultural • Avail electricity at wood and and consumption which barriers (e.g., Preference of affordable price by the charcoal through in turn cause open over closed stoves for community increased deforestation fumigation reasons) • Encourage farmers to efficiency and • Difficult to adopt the build corrugated/bricks providing technology in abundant roof house over hatch alternatives forest resource areas houses so that there will be - • May be difficult to supply no fumigation energy efficient cooking • Educate and enhance the stoves, biogas and awareness of the electricity over short period community on modern of time style of living • May be difficult to supply • Educate and give sustained the stoves in high demand training on the relative areas due to long advantage of 146 Strategic options Environmental Social Risks Mitigation measures Risks Mitigation measures production-marketing electricity/fuel efficient chain stove over the traditional • Stoves in high demand stove areas due to long • Avail electricity and production-marketing cooking/baking stoves at chain very attractive prices • Exploitation by middlemen • Solicit fund for the soonest in the market chain project implementation • Time taking long e.g. fuel efficient awareness creation and cooking/baking stoves technology adoption catering process • Begin with the few number of farmers and gradually increase it • Build the capacity of community members for own community demand making of the stoves • Begin with the few number of farmers and gradually increase it • SO13: Formalize • Exotic species may • Researching on fast • Market problem may be a • Look for potential local and charcoal supply dominate as these are growing indigenous tree challenge overseas forest products chain fast growing than the species • high transport, operation • improve road network in indigenous • Employ semi- and maintenance costs and the coming GTP2 years • Environmental mechanized system the length of time it takes impact on forest degradation during during harvesting to reach commercial • create wood market harvesting and • Harvest based on the centers centers at optimum transporting time rotation period (do not harvest all at a time) 147 Strategic options Environmental Social Risks Mitigation measures Risks Mitigation measures • Adverse micro-climate • Sequestrate the emitted • May brings food distance from the modification after carbon by planting trees of insecurity as farmlands plantation area harvesting environmental value (e.g., devoted to plantation • Transport food from • The act induces more for carbon financing, • Labor may be a problem for surplus production area numbers of charcoal ecosystem protection) the family to harvest the • Incorporate NTFP (such users which means more • Use charcoal gadgets with forest products as honey) in the system carbon emission chimney and lid that • Transport to the market • Hand operated simple • Environmental pollution prevent entry of center may be a problem machine catering to tree by particulate matters particulate into the due to farmers' financial farmers at subsidized price from the use of charcoal environment capacity • Organize in CBO and • High calorific value • Allow natural regeneration • Loss of livestock due to pull the resource together wood plantation leads to under the plantation communal land (such as to solve financial monoculture that brings • Have different planation grazing lands) allocation problem about loss in biodiversity sites for biodiversity and for tree planting • Encourage tree plantings • Fire risks from some environmental protection • Animal protein on marginal lands and own tree species planted • Construct fire breaks malnutrition (meat & milk) plot for charcoal between blocks of forest due to loss of livestock s • Transport from meat production as they are • Build capacity (human and grazing lands go for tree and milk surplus areas susceptible to material) to suppress fire plantings • Assess the feasibility of ignition in case it sets • Charcoal market problem charcoal market before may be encountered embarking on it • Indoor air pollution that • Educate on the health may cause acute and impacts of indoor charcoal chronic respiratory pollution diseases, malignancies of • Ventilate rooms whenever the aero-digestive tract and using charcoal lungs, burns, eye diseases 148 Strategic options Environmental Social Risks Mitigation measures Risks Mitigation measures SO8: Livestock • Solid wastes expected • Use the waste for • Market problem of the Identify local and oversea Value Chain from poultry farm fertilizing soil in products of livestock may markets for the products Improvement • Nuisance odor expected farmland be a challenge • Maintain milk cows project - from poultry farm • Poultry farm to be • Milk malnutrition • Purchase and transport • Mechanization leads to performed far from the especially to the kids milk from surplus area intensive use of residential areas • Bird diseases that is • Sanitation to be maintained agricultural inputs that • Implement the EMP communicable to human 24 hours a day, 7 days a results in pollution recommended in the may be a problem week ESIA of the project • Loss of assets (livestock) • Bio-safety measures to be whenever available to be used for emergency taken • Test for soil and water case by selling • Educate farmers on saving samples regularly to check of what is earned (from the the environmental main income generating or pollution standards of alternative income sources Ethiopia not breached and activities) also rectify problems • Maintain few livestock to earlier if any be used as an asset SO14: Promoting • Large number and • Provide increased access • Conflict arise if unfair • Provide fair access to supplementary frequent entry into the to collect NTFP from the access or use right on community members, income generation forest for NTFP forest NTFP prevail within the especially the underserved options collection affects soil • Opt for/expand other community and women seed bank, regeneration sources of energy and biodiversity • Distribute fuel efficient • Fuel wood collection as cooking/baking stoves NTFP affects the carbon • Utilize the forest resource stock of the forest based on the management • Some NTFP expand at plan of the source the clearance of forest (e.g. 149 Strategic options Environmental Social Risks Mitigation measures Risks Mitigation measures coffee forest of the • annual increase in volume country) of the forest must • More number of forest matches with the harvest enterprises put the forest • Marginal profit of the under pressure participants of the value • May aggravate chain involved to be deforestation and forest determined degradation with the increase of the prices of forest products and NTFP parallel to increase in value chain SO16: • Capacity building may • Inclusion of all relevant • Participation of women and • Ensure the participation of Capacity only focus on entities that experts in the forestry wider stakeholder groups women is prioritized and all Building have direct linkage to sector at different levels may be neglected stakeholders have the REDD+ • Capacity support should • Support may be shared by opportunity to participate • Soft capacity may not include facilities and those who already have the • Support should prioritize reduce deforestation financial support to forest needed capacity those with serious capacity unless financial and sector offices problem material support is provided SO18: Inter-sectoral • Lingering decision • Put in place a workable • Stakeholders may not • Establish stakeholder coordination on making process may mechanism that facilitates collaborate as desired coordination and planning and result in further with checks and balance in mobilization unit for the implementation destruction of forest making timely decisions daily follow up resources • Increased accountability • Inaction may weaken law and transparency in the enforcement and cause decision making process loose control over uncontrolled extraction 150 Strategic options Environmental Social Risks Mitigation measures Risks Mitigation measures SO7: Sustainable • High priority • Research needs • Community needs may not • Maximize local stakeholder Land Management environmental issues may identification and be properly addressed involvement in need Project (SLMP) be neglected prioritization should be • Underserved communities identification • Research results may not carried may not benefit from the • Ensure inclusiveness lead to action on the • Academics and forestry research and extension by involving ground sector experts should underserved work together to apply communities in the research outputs research process and benefit sharing SO17: Ensure full • Loss of cultural, • Allow all community • Weak collaboration of • Build and strengthen participation and medicinal, etc. value segment (men & women, sectoral institutes in institutional capacities of equitable benefit species may occur while youth & elders, etc.,) mainstreaming gender implementing partner sharing for women disregarding others than contribute available • Disregard/ marginalize organizations (IPOs) in women knowledge for the knowledge and expertise of gender and REDD+ management of the others (other area skill & issues natural resource knowledge will be eroded • Allow all community overtime) segment (men & women, youth & elders, etc.,) contribute available knowledge for the management of the natural resource , • REDD+ implementation • Devise mechanism where • Community may refuse to • Devise mechanism where may result in more the REDD+ project accept costs that REDD+ the REDD+ project deforestation and forest absorbs its costs associated project brings to them absorbs its costs associated degradation if it carries with • Lack clear mechanisms for with its implementation cost to the community its implementation sharing benefits may result • There should be policy, • Late recognizing the • Give opportunity for the in grievances strategy and bylaw that benefit of the REDD+ late adopters to become • Overridden stakeholders define clear benefit sharing project may adversely the member and enjoy the adversely affect the mechanism benefit 151 Strategic options Environmental Social Risks Mitigation measures Risks Mitigation measures affected the implementation of • Institutionalize and REDD+ project REDD+ project implement REDD+ forest • Income difference may be grievance redress created between the mechanism REDD+ project members • Exhaustively involve and non-members stakeholders based on their • Unequal participation in degree of contribution the development of bylaw • Create alternate income may bring disparities in generating opportunities implementing the bylaw for the non-members of the REDD+ projects, e.g., by providing off job opportunities • extend membership to non members • Let all community members participate in the 152 11. OFLP-ERP Potential Environmental and Social Benefits, Risks and Mitigation Measures The OFLP-ERP activities promote development interventions that are targeted in reducing emissions and at the same time improving livelihoods for local communities. However, the small-scale construction and maintenance activities of social services might trigger some negative environmental and social impacts that require formal analysis and management measures. Based on the consultations conducted with stakeholders and local communities, the benefits, risks and mitigation measures are described below. 11.1. OFLP-ERP Potential Environmental and Social Benefits The ERP intervention will have economic, environmental and social benefits to the communities. Some of the key anticipated benefits to the community include the following: Emission reduction: The OFLP-ERP is mainly expected to promote emission reduction through the underlying/planned actions and measures which address the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation and generate benefits for local communities through the adoption of sustainable and productive land uses and improved forest management. Increasing forest cover and enhancing forest biomass conservation activities maximize sequestration and reduce emission from deforestation. Financial benefits: The OFLP-ER Project is designed to generate revenues and to provide financial incentives to support sustainable forest management, conservation, and restoration, which in turn enhance environmental, social and economic benefits. Through making payments to the Project Entity for measured, reported, and verified Emissions Reductions (ER) from reduced deforestation, forest degradation, and the enhancement of forest carbon stocks (REDD+) achieved throughout the jurisdiction of Oromia, the project will support to distribute ER payments in accordance with an agreed benefit-sharing plan (BSP) and used primarily to ensure the sustainability of land use interventions, as well as to scale up action in other geographical areas within the region. Reducing social exclusion of vulnerable groups: In addition, the Project is anticipated to have positive impacts on vulnerable and historically underserved groups and systematically excluded these groups through better forest governance, more inclusive decision making, and improvement of the livelihoods of people with small land holdings through income generating activities based on the criteria outlined in the BSP. Employment creation and income diversification: The sub-project activities create job opportunities for the local communities living in the target or adjacent areas. Particularly, the vulnerable groups (youth and women) will have the chance to be employed during the implementation of the project activities. During project implementation, women and girls will have improved income through petty trades to project employees involved in the construction and other activities. 153 Improvements in local livelihoods: The sub-project activities will create market opportunity for local communities to supply inputs/raw materials to contractors during construction and rehabilitation of social services centres. Such activities will create additional opportunities to local communities to generate income and diversify sources of livelihoods. Enhanced biodiversity conservation: The OFLP-ERP in general provides a wider range of interrelated co-benefits in biodiversity conservation, climate change adaptation, and ecosystem services, social and broader economic benefits. Forest dwellers and forest dependent communities, including downstream users, are highly dependent forest ecosystems and other natural resources for their livelihoods. The presence of such benefits enables the OFLP-ERP to have more beneficial impacts than the carbon benefits. The ER benefits play a catalytic role to ensure the sustainability and multiplier effects of the Project. Promoting green growth: The OFLP-ERP also benefits the country to achieve its national ambition for green growth, as articulated in the GTP-2, the CRGE strategy and the recent Ten-Year Perspective Development Plan by ensuring readiness to utilize financing related to REDD+. Scaling up the positive impacts: The climate financing will be channeled through an ERPA signed with the World Bank. The ERPA payments will further be distributed to beneficiary communities to support their livelihoods and improve the social and environmental services. The ER could also grow as the OFLP scope expands starting from the second phase to other eligible sectors beyond forests such as agriculture, including livestock, and generates results and as other ER buyers show interest in the OFLP. This will further benefit the environment and other significant number of beneficiary communities in the intervention landscapes of the region. Reduces Land Degradation: ERP improves land-use and management practices, such as low-emissions agriculture, agroforestry and ecosystem conservation and restoration. ERP promotes sustainable land-use planning and this contributes to different health benefits and disaster prevention in the intervention areas. ERP’s implementation approach is guided by counterbalancing responses to land degradation, it intends to ensure that degradation in a certain biome or land category is balanced with restoration actions in the same biome or land category (e.g. restore forests with forests and grasslands with grasslands). In this case, ERP is capitalizing on Sustainable Land Management initiatives and other related projects and is contributing to avoid, reduce or reverse land degradation. Restoration combats land degradation and desertification by reducing soil erosion, stabilizing soils and maintaining soil-nutrient cycling. In addition, goods and services derived from forest and terrestrial ecosystems can potentially reduce vulnerability of resource-dependent populations to impacts of land degradation and enhance their resilience to climate change. In addition, desertification, and the associated loss of vegetation, cause biodiversity loss and contributes to climate change through reduced carbon sequestration. Reduced Possible Risks of changes in physical and chemical properties of soil: ERP improves the physical properties of soil like; improving infiltration rate, water-holding capacity, permeability, aeration, plasticity and nutrient-supplying ability, are influenced by the size, proportion, 154 arrangement and mineral position of the soil particles. On the other hand, the ERP plays a vital role on maintaining the decent chemical properties of soil. Though the nature of the soli textures (clay, sandy clay, silty clay, clay loam, sandy clay loam, silty clay loam, loam, sandy loam, silt loam, silt, loamy sand and sand) and the colloids may differ, the cumulative effect of the ERP helps to maintain or improve the chemical properties of the soil. Enhanced ecosystem sustainability: ERP has a significant positive impact on biodiversity conservation and restoration, livelihoods and the preservation and recovery of a broad range of ecosystem services provided by forests. These benefits are very much interlinked and can have an impact well beyond the boundaries of the forest itself. On the one hand this underlines the high potential impact and significance of ERP, but also the massive damage that deforestation and forest degradation can cause on multiple levels and scales. By attracting revenues from carbon sequestration, ERP contributes to the conservation and enhancement of forest ecosystem services for which no market or other funding of this scale yet exists. In turn, these forest ecosystem services contribute to achieving multiple Sustainable Development Goals and targets across the 2030 Agenda. Design requirements, standards and guidance have been developed to ensure that climate and other impacts of ERP projects are real, additional and remain intact for the long term. Additionally, ERP includes safeguards to ensure that unintended leakage is accounted for and local communities and indigenous peoples are engaged and included. Thus, ERP offers a large, fast, and cost- effective means of reducing emissions while at the same time creating substantial net positive social and environmental benefits. Non- carbon benefits ERP will contribute in reducing deforestation by protecting and improving the livelihoods of forest- dependent communities, and the protection of ecosystem servicers, including biodiversity, improved water quality, soil fertility, flood and erosion control, and habitats of the animals within the forest catchment areas. Another key expected benefit of the ER Project is improved forest governance which will lead to reduced land conflict, and to an improved investment climate. Priority non-carbon benefits are those that are a direct outcome of reduced deforestation, such as the preservation of ecosystem services; and those that are aligned with government and local priorities and are therefore integral to the project design, such as those linked to improved forest governance and livelihoods. 11.2. OFLP-ERP Potential Negative Environmental and Social impacts, risks and Mitigation Measures Some of the Project activities under Component 1 may have localized but less sensitive, site specific and perhaps reversible environmental impacts if appropriate screening is not done and if such impacts are not considered with regard to their locations or in the design of project activities. The activities could potentially include construction or rehabilitation of social service structures to be funded from ER payments. The potential environmental risks and impacts include community and occupational health and safety issues; soil disturbances; disturbance of environmentally sensitive areas due to soil-and-water conservation (SWC) activities; contamination/pollution of soil and water resources due to the use of agrochemicals, including pesticides, in agroforestry and agricultural intensification activities; and environmental (dusts, greenhouse gas emissions and/or noise) problems related to small-scale infrastructure(e.g. SWC measures livelihoods supporting activities; etc.) construction and maintenance activities and ER payment activities. There are also potential risks of reversals and displacements/leakages (due to inadequate enforcement/coordination) under the ER Project which may impact biodiversity and forest dependent livelihoods, which will, in turn, cause pollution and harm to local communities. There may also be adverse environmental and social impacts, in relation to benefit 155 sharing. Despite the existence of the BSP, grievances may arise at different administrative levels of the region in relation to benefits and other issues of OFLP-ERP. Related grievances should be addressed and resolved using Grievance Redress Mechanisms designed for the OFLP-ERP implementation. Impacts on Natural habitats and biodiversity ✓ Some activities such as small-scale construction and/or rehabilitation of social services centers (schools, health centers, etc…), access roads, climate smart agriculture, planting of agricultural crops reforestation/afforestation, will cause disturbance to natural vegetation, cultivated lands and areas of significant importance for nature and biodiversity conservation. ✓ Activities might affect important flora, fauna and soil micro-organisms affecting ecosystems’ functions Mitigation Measures: ✓ Screen sub-projects in conformity with the requirements of the ESS6 ✓ Conduct careful and suitable site selection through a participatory process for sub-component infrastructures ✓ Apply site specific ESRM instrument (ESIA/ESMP) to avoid, minimize, reduce and mitigate E&S risks and impacts ✓ Ensure the negative impacts are dealt with an appropriate ESMP ✓ Ensure there are no sensitive fauna and flora species within and around the construction area ✓ Conduct planting and re-vegetation of sites to compensate loss of trees and vegetation ✓ Prioritize and minimize impacts on indigenous trees of importance, avoid cutting of mother trees Cultural/ Historic heritage sites ✓ Sub-project activities such as small-scale construction sites or access roads may cross or fall in and around areas that have cultural/religious, historic and heritage values, which will cause negative impact on such heritages/sites Mitigation Measures ✓ Activities will be carried out only in areas selected, through a consultative process that includes prior informed consent of local communities ✓ Comply with the national laws, guidelines and standards on the protection of sacred sites, cultural and heritage sites and areas of historical significance ✓ Activities will be screened and site-specific ESIAs/ESMPs will be prepared, including ESS8 requirements (chance finds procedure) ✓ Avoid or exclude activities that have adverse impact on historical, cultural and heritage values through screening process ✓ Conduct ESIA and identify areas of historical significance to avoid damage to such resources ✓ If there is an encounter unexpectedly with cultural heritage artefacts during implementation, chance finds procedure will apply Land acquisition, access restriction and involuntary resettlement ✓ Sub-project activities may induce minor level of land acquisition and /or restriction of access to legally designated parks, protected areas, or forest management/reforestation areas; activities are not expected to cause displacement and involuntary resettlements Mitigation Measures ✓ Where possible, avoid or minimize involuntary land acquisition during sub-project implementation ✓ Where land acquisition is unavoidable, prepare and implement voluntary land donation guidelines 156 ✓ VLD should not occur if physical dislocation is implied ✓ In cases where access restrictions and economic losses occur, adopt and implement procedures outlined in the PF, and compensate PAPs in accordance with the ESS5 ✓ If involuntary resettlements are unavoidable, the principles outlined in the RF should be implemented. ✓ Based on the ESIA results, a specific resettlement action plan (RAP) should be prepared and implement in accordance with ESS5, consistent with the RF Gender-based violence; Sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment ✓ Risks associated with presence of contract/construction workers and due to the high potential for labor influx ✓ Unemployed youth may be attracted to project sites in search of jobs and project benefits for their livelihoods. Hence, they will cause and be exposed to GBV and SEA/SH ✓ Women are likely to be exposed to sexual violence, abuse and exploitation, harassment from project workers Mitigation Measures ✓ ORCU and the OEPA shall ensure that site specific assessment of GBV/SEA/SH risks is conducted as part of the ESIA/ESMP and GBV action plan is prepared for prevention and response measures to be taken. ✓ A policy of zero-tolerance should be stated in worker engagements terms for sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse within the workplace ✓ Apply a strict code of conduct to manage and administer measures to avoid or minimize GBV ✓ Assign a GBV specialist to manage the risks and to closely work with relevant institutions such as Woreda Women and Social Affairs Offices ✓ The OFLP-ERP should provide training for project implementers and beneficiaries on SEA, SH and GBV and its prevention ✓ Put in place accessible GRM and adopt a systematic monitoring and reporting system to ensure safe and ethical reporting to alert cases of GBV with adequate response. ✓ Prepare GBV management plan and implement ✓ Prepare a gender management plan and implement Child Labor ✓ In construction works or other project activities, the risk of engaging child labor by contractors and other parties may be higher because of lack of awareness on the laws and proclamations of labor about child labor Mitigation Measures ✓ Adhere to the LMP of the OFLP-ERP for procedures ✓ Comply with the national labor law and ESS2 of the World Bank ESF ✓ Work in consultation with local authorities on engagement of young labor (15 years as a minimum age) if children are to be engaged in construction works; Influx of migrant workers and associated risks ✓ Migrant Laborers may be attracted by small scale construction/rehabilitation works and may interact with local communities, increasing the chances of spreading communicable diseases, (HIV/AIDS and other STDs) and COVID-19. Migrant workers could be exposed to such diseases. Mitigation Measures 157 ✓ Contractors should provide organizational code of conduct to contract workers ✓ Contract workers and local communities should be provided with training on awareness creation about HIV/AIDS and other STDs, communicable diseases; ✓ Cultural sensitization training should be given to workers on how to engage with the local community; ✓ Provide guidelines on local culture, behavior and social life to workers Occupational Health and Safety risk ✓ Construction and rehabilitation activities and other related sub-activities will have risks and impacts on the health and safety of project workers, contract workers due to unexpected accidents and/ unplanned events resulting from injuries, falls, fatal accidents, diseases both communicable and non-communicable, any related incidents Mitigation Measures ✓ Construction contractors should develop and implement occupational health and safety (OHS) measures ✓ Workers must be provided with personal protective equipment (PPE) and relevant training on the use, handling and maintenance of the PPE ✓ Enforce rules making use of PPEs as mandatory for the safety and health of workers. ✓ Provide and strictly implement government guidelines on COVID-19 protocols to prevent related risks ✓ Apply the World Bank’s ESF Interim Note, Construction Civil Works COVID, and relevant international COVID 19 protocols/measures. ✓ Conduct regular monitoring on OHS by ORCU ✓ Provide all project workers on workplace code of conduct Security risk (conflicts) ✓ There could be unexpected civil disturbances because of the on-going volatility of security conditions in some parts of the region, there is potential for social conflicts Mitigation Measures ✓ Conduct security risk assessment using ESIA and prepare ESMP for security risk management and safety ✓ Collect timely information and share security updates with staff and stakeholders Underserved communities and Vulnerable groups ✓ Forest dependent communities, forest dwellers, socially disadvantaged groups, ✓ Resource poor and the vulnerable forest-dependent communities might be excluded ✓ underserved communities including occupational and ethnic/clan minorities (e.g., smiths, potters, tanners, and pastoralist women), likely to be highly marginalized due to discriminatory acts/social norms Mitigation Measures ✓ allocate a certain proportion of ER (5 %) to support such groups as per the BSP ✓ Promote fair treatment, non-discrimination, and equal opportunity in development activities ✓ Ensure participation by preparing for the SEP ✓ Culturally appropriate GRM as per the ESS10 ✓ Provide equal opportunity and strictly observe non-discrimination of vulnerable groups from any benefits 158 ✓ Provide training and capacitate vulnerable groups to enable them develop livelihood strategies (organizing in small and medium enterprises) ✓ Due attention should be paid to the protection of vulnerable groups during implementation ✓ Exclude those activities that negatively impact underserved and vulnerable communities Grievance redress mechanism ✓ Oversight of the grievance redress mechanism ✓ Low awareness on GRM provisions and observations Mitigation Measures ✓ Strengthen and implement the existing GRM on handling of grievances PAPs ✓ Provide training to GRC members and communities on the provisions of the GRM Weak capacity to implement ESRM ✓ Government institutions may lack the required manpower, skill and knowledge to fully implement the ESRM Mitigation Measures ✓ Allocate budget for awareness and capacity building training ✓ Provide training on ESRMs and their implementation at all levels of government ✓ Building on existing knowledge on project design and implementation ✓ Establish safeguard information system at the federal EFDand synergize collection of information through hierarchy of management Inadequate coordination among sector offices ✓ Implementing Sector bureaus and partners may not smoothly coordinate the planning, implementation and monitoring of project activities at different levels Mitigation Measures ✓ Uphold the Signed MoU with the partners and adopt the communication and joint implementation provisions ✓ Work closely with the focal persons Risk of social exclusion ✓ Exclusion from PFM membership and accessing forest resources ✓ Resource poor and the vulnerable forest-dependent communities might be excluded ✓ Exclusion of PFM non-members from benefit sharing Mitigation Measures ✓ Implement the principles of equal opportunity and non-discrimination as in the LMP and ESS2 ✓ Adhere to the benefit-sharing principles defined under the ERPD and the BSP ✓ Observe and uphold provisions in the GRM Risk of elite capture of benefits ✓ Some stakeholders, particularly underserved members of the communities, be excluded from membership of project activities and sharing of benefits by some advantaged groups Mitigation Measures ✓ Uphold the principles of the ESS6, the provisions therein ✓ Adhere to the benefit-sharing principles defined under the ERPD and the BSP 159 Gender bias ✓ Operations may not be gender sensitive and women might be affected differentially ✓ Women may be discriminated Mitigation Measures ✓ Implement the principles of equal opportunity and non-discrimination as in the LMP and ESS2 ✓ Prepare and implement a gender management plan that is acceptable to the WB ESS2 and ESS5 Discrimination ✓ Unfair wages to local labor and disadvantaged groups ✓ Discrimination of vulnerable groups during labor recruitment Mitigation Measures ✓ Facilitate affirmative actions for vulnerable group in employment opportunities; ✓ Provide awareness training to project staff on the labour law, civil servant proclamation ✓ Prepare labor management procedure (LMP) and implement ✓ Monitor proper implementation of the LMP Soil erosion ✓ Disturbance of soil through excavation, leveling, clearance of surface vegetation in construction sites will expose soil for water and wind erosion. ✓ Transport of goods, equipment and materials, clearing of access roads, openings for gravel and sand mining will make the topsoil vulnerable to erosion. Mitigation Measures ✓ Make sure construction sites are selected as per existing standards and procedures for site selection with full compliance with ESIA guidelines ✓ Design of the infrastructure should provide sufficient drainage management options so that erosion cannot take place. ✓ Construction should be done in the dry season ✓ Open sites for material mining should be properly closed before abandoning them ✓ Avoid or minimize vegetation clearance, excavation and inappropriate disposal of soil ✓ Dump sites or cart away sites should be prepared ✓ Conduct reshaping and rehabilitation of excavated sites Construction site traffic and road safety ✓ Construction traffic flow is likely to increase in the construction sites and hence, increased traffic hazards/accidents to people and livestock Mitigation Measures ✓ Conduct ESIA screening and prepare ESMP ✓ Apply traffic management guidelines and plans ✓ Apply all required road safety measures including installing appropriate signs, signals and warnings ✓ Install traffic controllers in place during work hours ✓ Prepare and apply a traffic management plan detailing traffic control procedure, ✓ Train staff and personnel on traffic management procedures, travel speed limits and control measures; 160 ✓ Minimize or avoid safety hazards and inconvenience to other road users, the may result from hauling vehicles, Noise pollution ✓ Noise coming out from construction activities such as excavation, movement of vehicles and machinery are likely to cause noise pollution. ✓ The noise levels are expected to be much higher than the permissible decibel level in and around the project areas and construction sites affecting people living in close proximity to access roads and construction sites. Mitigation Measures ✓ Adhere to the environmental standards set by the relevant authority ✓ Reduce or avoid laud horns around residential areas and around clinics ✓ Reduce or avoid usage of machines for minor activities that can be done with human labor ✓ Apply or adhere to workplace code of conduct for construction workers to reduce unwanted noise ✓ Minimized the movement of vehicles around residential and commercial areas ✓ Unavoidable noise causing activities should be restricted to the daytime and working hours ✓ Machines or equipment producing high levels of noise should be avoided or screened when working within close proximity to any sensitive noise receptors; ✓ Apply installation of portable barriers and fence off the construction site to isolate the sources of noise ✓ Switching off engines of machines and equipment when not in use to avoid noise emission; Air Pollution ✓ Construction waste (paints, cement, saw dust, etc….) will affect the air quality and may cause air pollution. ✓ Generation of dust from construction sites and vehicular emissions affects community settlements and causes deterioration in air quality Mitigation Measures ✓ Conduct ESIA and adhere to the set standards ✓ To reduce dust, use appropriate construction site management guidelines (e.g., sprinkling the surface with water to minimize dust blow during construction and rehabilitation) ✓ Reduce movement of vehicles during rush hours, public events, schools hours ✓ Use manual labor to avoid use of machines for minor activities that can be done with human power ✓ Dust control and suppression measures including regular application of water on or near construction sites, settlement areas to ✓ Reduce dust generation by practicing traffic speed limits and by using water spray trucks ✓ Enforce and practice traffic speed limits Solid waste contamination ✓ Construction leftover materials (cement bags, wrappings and packaging cardboards, wood pieces, concrete, paints, etc…) carelessly disposed Mitigation Measures ✓ Comply with environmental standards and national guidelines on handling and disposal of harmful waste substances from health facilities ✓ Use recommended waste collection, handling, transport and disposal methods ✓ Collect and dispose solid wates in legally permitted dump sites, landfills 161 ✓ All contractors will be required to develop a waste management plan as per national guidelines and standards and as per the World Bank’s Environmental, Health, and Safety Guidelines. Soil and Water Contamination ✓ Use of agro-chemicals such as pesticides and herbicides, fertilizers, in agricultural intensification and agro-forestry will cause soil contamination and pollution of water bodies Mitigation Measures ✓ Use biological methods to reduce impact of pests and weeds ✓ Conduct ESIA and prepare ESMP and implement mitigation measures ✓ Prepare Integrated Pest Management plan to avoid use of hazardous chemicals Social concerns related to the existence of underserved and vulnerable groups: ✓ Underserved and vulnerable groups (UVGs) and other communities with traditional links to forests are users and managers of their forest-related traditional lands and/ or resources. They depend on the forests for their subsistence and livelihoods, i.e. for collecting food, medicine, and fuel wood, but also for the maintenance of their culture. UVGs have often conserved and sustainably managed the forests for a long time and therefore could greatly contribute to reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. They have often gained specific knowledge and practices through generations and embedded them in their culture and daily forest management. Forest dependent UVGs have an intricate relationship with forests and view forests in a more holistic way. Forests are among others also of great cultural and spiritual significance for them. Talking about forests solely in terms of carbon or emissions reductions does not make much sense to them. UVGs have often a sense of stewardship and specific knowledge for the management of their traditional lands, and it can be a cost-effective option to invest in their capacity building to enhance the conservation and livelihoods outcomes of such management whenever needed. Thus, some of the risks can be; 1) increased value of forest might lead to increased interest in forest land and consequently land grabbing and displacement of UVGs, 2) fear that if the government is compensated to protect forests, it may in consequence reinforce centralized top-down management and prevent UVGs from practicing their own traditional forest management and agro-forestry activities, which could be wrongly considered as drivers of deforestation, thus undermining UVGs rights and practice of their traditional livelihoods, 3) State and NGO zoning of forests without information and participation of forest dwellers, 4) sudden policy and law changes which may further harm UVGs if they do not participate, 5) Potential increase of conflicts – due to competing claims on ERP compensation with others, as well as conflicts among UVGs, and 6) Cultural impacts through restrictions to ERP areas and increased external influence. Mitigation Mechanism ✓ Strengthening the management of social issues at the project level, including screening of risks as guided by the Social Development Plan (SDP); ✓ Strengthening community engagement and consultations; ✓ Strengthening the ERP’s communication and information dissemination strategy; ✓ Ensuring accessibility of the GRM as well as other appropriate/ trusted local channels for filing complaints and/or grievances; ✓ Development of participatory community mapping processes; ✓ Capacity strengthening to government as well as private sector entities on community engagement, dispute settlement and consultations; ✓ Training and coaching to community mediators and paralegals; 162 Lack of Awareness, Management Capacity and Participation: ✓ Lack of awareness, management capacity and participation, particularly from among stakeholders at field level, was apparent in SESA exercises at the site-level. This becomes an important risk to address especially considering that most of ERP components require strong support from the field level such as Component 1 and 2. The ERP also necessitates government capacity in strategic engagement with key stakeholders to ensure that the GHG emission reduction consideration outweighs the economic consideration. Strategic engagement with relevant key stakeholders that pay attention to the emission reduction in their activities will need to be also strengthened as part of the mitigation actions. Mitigation Mechanisms ✓ Capacity building for Kebele governments and facilitators in participatory village planning processes; ✓ Regulatory support for the use of Kebele funds to support the ERP; ✓ Facilitating participatory mapping of Kebele boundaries (especially in areas with history of conflicts and/or disputes) ✓ Community capacity building (led by ORCU) on good agricultural practices, provisions of affordable technology, and technical support for sustainable business development; ✓ Strengthening community engagement and consultations; ✓ Tailoring delivery and approach for training based on local contexts; ✓ Technical facilitation for conservation partnership, including simplifying requirements for legal documentation; Restriction of access to natural resources due to OFLP intervention might impose conflict among traditional seasonal migrant forest resource users including pastoralists: ✓ There is potential for access restriction as concession holder permits have the legal right to limit access of local communities and/or HUTLCs entering the concession area. Access restriction may also imply on potential changes to the affected community’s livelihood induced by economic displacement. Local communities in some project areas are known to collect timber and non-timber products from the forest areas. Restricting access to forest under the concession rights, will certainly bring some changes to the livelihoods and economic displacement of the affected communities. Mitigation Mechanisms ✓ Strengthening the management of social issues at the project level, including screening of risks as guided by the ESRM tools, including the SDP, RF and PF for access restrictions and potential livelihoods displacement; Gender Inequality and Social Exclusion: ✓ Livelihood changes may impact the gender relations within households and require women to be more active in contributing to household income. In addition, women and other vulnerable and marginalized group may also experience limited participation in village planning development. This requires special attention to ensure that their voice, interests and needs are well addressed. Mitigation mechanism ✓ In addressing gender and inclusive development issues particularly for the vulnerable groups and communities, the GoE acknowledges that mainstreaming gender and social inclusion are key to ensuring ER project sustainability. Such political commitments have been translated into legal and budget commitments with the issuance of relevant regulatory frameworks and adoption of gender responsive planning and budgeting, as stipulated in the national gender policy. The ER Project seeks 163 to mainstream gender-sensitive and inclusive development approaches to address gender and exclusion issues in the ERP. These include (a) ascertaining the equal participation and active engagement of women as well as vulnerable and marginalized groups in the process of consultations and overall ERP implementation, (b) ensuring that the design and implementation of the ERP seek to promote “better off’ conditions for women as well as vulnerable and marginalized groups, (c) ensuring gender equality and social inclusion concerns are well addressed in the SDP to address Indigenous Peoples concerns as well as RF and PF to address resettlement and access restriction risks. A minimum standard for gender mainstreaming and social inclusion will be developed in consultation with all relevant stakeholders prior to ERP implementation. Loss and/or Damage of Physical and Cultural Resources: ✓ Physical cultural resources include movable and immovable objects, sites, buildings, and a group of buildings, natural facilities and landscapes that have archaeological, paleontological, historical, architectural, religious, aesthetic significance or other cultural properties. Studies of Given undiscovered cultural sites are anticipated and as such it is considered that the ER efforts of improving spatial planning and sustainable alternatives for communities may have potential impacts to the physical and cultural resources in intervention areas. Mitigation Mechanisms ✓ The existing mechanism for protecting and restoring cultural heritage will be maintained and if necessary, further strengthened to ensure the protection and avoidance of degradation of physical cultural resources that may include forests themselves. Necessary measures to meet the provisions of ESS8 will be implemented through intensive engagement with potentially affected communities; ✓ Strengthening the capacity of the licensing process by inclusion of SDP results to protect physical cultural heritage; ✓ ;Strengthening dispute settlement through the GRM; ✓ ERP activities will be carried out only in areas selected, through a consultative process; ✓ ERP activities that have potential significant adverse impacts on a known cultural heritage site will be eliminated through the ESMF Screening process. Based on the result of screening, site- specific ESSs instruments (ESIAs/ESMPs), including ESS8 requirements (accommodating chance finds procedure) will be prepared, implemented. and monitored during the ERP implementation; and ✓ If there is an encounter unexpectedly with cultural heritage artefacts during implementation, chance finds procedure will apply. Community and occupational health and safety issues ✓ Activities undertaken in all phases of the project may cause risks to workers’ and community’s health and safety. Project related incidents such as fire, structural collapse, flooding, earthquake, landslides, road accidents, exposure to workplace physical, chemical and biological hazards may pose risks to human health and safety for the worker and the community. Mitigation Mechanisms: ✓ Ensure compliance with national OHS requirements and best practice; ✓ Provide appropriate PPE to all construction workers and enforce use; ✓ Develop agrochemical management plan describing handling, storage, use and disposal of all agrochemicals used on the schemes; ✓ Train beneficiaries in the handling, storage, application and disposal of all agrochemicals; 164 Mitigation Mechanism ✓ Ensure sound design of all structures, taking into account soil susceptibility to erosion; ✓ Ensure structures are continuously and routinely maintenance – checking structures soundness (cracks, erosion around edges), desalting, etc.; ✓ For small dams, prepare dam break analysis Contamination and Pollution ✓ The use of pesticides in production forest and/or social forestry (agroforestry) initiatives may potentially cause contamination of harmful substances to the environment that may lead to pollution of soil and ground/surface water. Likewise, there are possible adverse impacts from small scale civil/construction works causing potential pollution to soil and water bodies as result of poor waste management practices of ER activities (poor waste management handling, waste oil and other hazardous wastes) Mitigation Mechanisms ✓ Implementation of EHS guidelines on integrated waste management through ERP subprojects ✓ Implementation of EHS guidelines on waste management through ERP subprojects Leakages or Displacements and Reversals: ✓ Leakages or displacements may emerge as risks are attributed mainly to governance risks (i.e., regulatory aspects) that cannot restrict the expansion of timber/mining concessions to compensate for resource allocation. Conventional practices (rather than the sustainable ones) in expansion areas of forest concessions may constitute the risk of leakages. Successes in reducing the mining and plantation industries’ impacts on forests in project areas could lead to shifting carbon emissions to other provinces. The risk of reversals describes the possibility of reversing climate benefits through the loss of forest carbon biomass, through a fire or pest outbreak that releases carbon back into the atmosphere. Reversals are sometimes categorized as “intentional vs. unintentional” referring to whether it was anthropogenic (i.e. induced by human activity, such as harvesting) or a natural disturbance. reversals may be produced as the results of governance risks such as lack of regulation enforcement to ensure sustainable forestry or plantation management, and lack of regulations on benefit sharing mechanism. Mitigation Mechanism ✓ Enforcement of the existing policies such as forest policies and also more stringent procedure for licensing of activities in forest areas, especially for mining and estate crops. ERP interventions may indirectly affect areas and/or access to areas/objects (both tangible and intangible) that are regarded as sacred sites by local communities. ✓ If these sacred sites are in protected forest areas, this project may restrict local comm unities’ access to the sacred sites and negatively impact their perception of ownership. Existing physical and cultural resources that may be affected will be further identified and explained in the SESA and ESMF. In these cases, the local community will be engaged in seeking an agreement on the use and ownership of these physical and cultural resources. Mitigation Mechanism ✓ The existing mechanism for protecting and restoring cultural heritage will be maintained and if necessary, further strengthened to ensure the protection and avoidance of degradation of physical cultural resources that may include forests themselves. Necessary measures to meet the provisions of ESS8 will be implemented through intensive engagement with potentially affected communities. 165 The GoE is committed to mainstreaming key principles of Free Prior Informed Consultation throughout the ER project that will facilitate in maintaining physical cultural resources. Inappropriate methods for property valuation and administration of resettlement assistances including compensation: ✓ Project affected people may not get their property valuated according to the procedures and guidelines provided in the relevant proclamation Mitigation Mechanism: ✓ The E&S specialists should work in collaboration with the independent consultant, independent agency property valuation committee, and resettlement committee, and woreda administration in handling property valuation, resettlement assistance and compensation. A standard methodology must be used in valuing losses to determine their replacement cost; and a description of the proposed types and levels of compensation for land, natural resources, and other assets under local law and such supplementary measures as area necessary to achieve replacement cost for them. ✓ Lack of awareness of the principle of voluntary land donation: ✓ Experts implementing the project activities may not be aware of the existence of the provisions for VLD Mitigation Mechanism ✓ In the case of voluntary land donation, the owner shall have all available information regarding the proposed Project activity and its impacts, its land requirements, and its alternative activity sites, as well as his or her rights to compensation. The owner has also been provided with sufficient time to consider his or her disposition of the property and has knowingly rejected the right to renege on his or her decision. Limited capacity to assess, develop and implement site-specific land-acquisition plan or resettlement plan or livelihood restoration plan ✓ Capacity gap by the implementing partners/institutes Mitigation Mechanism ✓ Where the capacity of other responsible agencies is limited, the Borrower will actively support resettlement planning, implementation, and monitoring. If the procedures or standards of other responsible agencies do not meet the relevant requirements of ESS 5, the Borrower will prepare supplemental arrangements or provisions for inclusion in the resettlement plan to address identified shortcomings. The plan will also specify financial responsibilities for each of the agencies involved, appropriate timing and sequencing for implementation steps, and coordination arrangements for addressing financial contingencies or responding to unforeseen circumstances. Disproportionately impact groups who are historically underserved or mostly vulnerable due to their distinct livelihood strategies, ways of living and other socio-economic dynamics ✓ Underserved communities may not be properly identified, and their needs remain unaddressed Mitigation Mechanism: ✓ For the HUTLCs, in addition to resettlement, compensation and LR packages the following additional mitigation mechanisms are required. Assistance in the compensation payment procedure, assistance in moving properties and identifying the resettlement plot, assistance in building 166 activities, assistance during the post-resettlement period and enhancing social networking, and health care if required, particularly the moving and transition periods. 11.3. Summary of the Stakeholder and Community Consultations and Mitigation measures Stakeholder consultation was conducted as part of the participatory approach aimed at gaining good knowledge of the social issues/risks associated with the project as perceived by the OFLP-ERP operation communities. . Also, it was also aimed at exploring and soliciting feedback on the operational steps; land acquisition related issues, compensation, grievance redress mechanism, benefit sharing mechanism, and broader context of implementation arrangements. The consultation was believed to promote community ownership of the OFLP-ERP, enhance sustainability and seek their board support for the project implementation in Oromia regional state. Moreover, it provided an opportunity for forest dependent communities to make contributions aimed at strengthening the development project while avoiding negative impacts as well as reducing possible conflicts. The consultations will remain open as an ongoing exercise throughout the life span of the ERP. Stakeholder and community consultation was conducted with federal and regional stakeholders and different community representatives The community consultation and participation focused on three key agendas. These were: • General discussion and information on concepts, causes, impacts and mitigation options of climate change; • Drivers of deforestation and forest degradation in Oromia and strategic options to reverse the degradation process • A brief introduction to the OFLP-ERP and the description of the project components and discussion on associated impacts/risks on people and the environment. The components discussed were the following: i) Component 1: Measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) and payment of ERs generated by the project: Deforestation and associated ERs within OFLP will be measured annually by the MRV unit. Measurement and reporting from the GoE to the BioCF Initiative for Sustainable Forest Landscapes (ISFL) will take place every year, starting in late 2022 and 2024, 2026, 2028 and 2030. The verification will take place every two years by a third party contracted by the World Bank following the submission of a monitoring report by the FDRE. Payments from the BioCF to the FDRE are expected to be made biannually upon verification of the ERs, or annually upon interim progress reports (as verification doesn’t take place annually). ii) Component 2: Distribution of ER payments as per a BSP: The BSP was prepared by the FDRE/BioCF through a highly participatory process. The BSP is guided by the principles of equity, efficiency, and transparency, and includes principles; categories of beneficiaries; processes for the distribution of benefits; and monitoring provisions, among other issues. The project will pay up to $12 million for verified emissions reductions from the forest sector in the first phase of the Emission Reduction Purchase Agreement (ERPA) (i.e: Jan 2022- Dec 167 2023) and $ 28 Million for emission reductions coming both from the forest and the livestock sector in the second phase (Jan 2024-Dec 2029). It is planned to sign the ERPA in this calendar year (2022). The project has already prepared a Benefit Sharing Plan13 for the first phase, which has been consulted widely and has been through the Bank internal review. General level of awareness and understanding on Climate Change and OFLP-ERP The consultation gauged the level of understanding by stakeholders and the perception of climate change process, through identification of key signs in their respective localities. The consultation participants identified temperature increment, rainfall variability, increasing intensity of droughts, irrespective of the efforts diminishing agricultural productivity, clearly witnessing agro- ecological changes, increasing frequency of flooding and soil erosion. The community understands that OFLP-ERP will create an opportunity to set up small forest-friendly businesses and cooperatives that provide an income stream for the local community. They understand that benefit sharing will enhance local institution capacity building to address the challenges associated with open access to forest resources. The community members understand that OFLP-ERP will help the community by involving them through tree planting which in turn can serve as an alternative measure to supply wood for construction. As reduced deforestation resulting from targeted actions in the project areas could increase deforestation elsewhere, the project incorporates actions to reduce the risk of increased deforestation in the area immediately outside the project area, referred to as the project’s “leakage” area. Conservation and development activities are designed to tackle the main drivers of deforestation in the leakage area and include the introduction of improved fuel-efficient stoves, tree planting and improved crop- livestock management practices. During the interactive consultation and discussions, the participants identified the causes for climate change including deforestation, agricultural expansion, population density, overgrazing and investment. Whereas, the impacts covered, diminishing water supply, declining agricultural productivity, flooding and higher risk of drought, health problem, and increasing social tension and conflicts. Communities and participants suggested potential mitigation options for climate change through the OFLP-ERP intervention. These include PFM, watershed management, continued consultation and awareness creation, introducing alternative energy sources, improving livelihoods through agro-forestry as prime mechanism. Below is a summary of concerns/risks raised during community consultation sessions. Concerns and Views Raised, and Suggested Mitigation Mechanisms During Stakeholder and Community Consultation at East Wollega zone- Diga Woreda and Diga Kebele Table 16: Summary of Consultation Conducted at East Wollega Zone Concerns and Views Raised Suggested Mitigation Mechanisms i. Concerns raised I. East Wollega Zone-Oromia Region -Harnessing ERP activities as proposed and - As ERP suspends the communities trust on properly communicating with all community 13 https://documents.worldbank.org/en/publication/documents-reports/documentdetail/722771624985229961/benefit- sharing-plan-for-disbursing-result-based-payments-from-biocf-isfl-project 168 the project, government and sectors are going members about the benefits and components of to be compromised and this may lead to the ERP conflict among the community and project -establishing appropriate MRV and safeguard implementing actors, system before the effective implementation of the - Complaint by the group who are excluded ERP from benefiting in ERP -Working on capacity building and the - Gaps between expected benefit and actual reinforcement of all the project activities benefit/payment -Maintaining effective institutional responsibility - Conflict resulted due to the ownership claim and developing accountability in benefit sharing of the community members and ERP mechanisms - Lack of proper implementation approach may - The FDRE shall issue a proclamation/ lead to deforestation (Zone EPA and NRM regulation or guideline on ERPA and mechanisms office experts) of benefit sharing in order to reduce community distrust on government and other confrontations that may arise on government sectors II. Diga Woreda-East Wollega Zone- -Developing an effective safeguard management Oromia Region system and implementing it at different levels - Land based competition and community -Conducting an intensive and continuous conflict over resources allocation consultation on expected benefits and managing - Over expectation on benefit sharing and them properly undermining benefits -Developing formula on benefit sharing - Disagreement between community and forest mechanism management actors (Woreda EPA and -Using traditional conflict resolution mechanism Agriculture office experts) and properly using GRM to solve conflicts at their early stages III. Diga Woreda-Diga Kebele-Community -Working on forest related livelihood activities to Consultation reduce the communities’ dependence on - Conflict of interest on forest management and agriculture expanding agriculture land, -Working on effective community consultation - As natural resources are common one, non- and capacity building activities beneficiary groups from ERP raise ownership issues - Variation on the expected benefit and actual payment to the community may result in conflict and lack of trust in the government Concerns and Views Raised, and Suggested Mitigation Mechanisms During Stakeholder and Community Consultation at West Wollega zone- Diga Woreda and Diga Kebele Table 17: Summary of Consultation Conducted at West Wollega Zone Concerns and Views Raised Suggested Mitigation Mechanisms 1.Concerns raised 1. West Wollega Zone-Oromia Region -Conducting continuous community consultation - Competing interests on using land for and awareness raising sessions agriculture and forest/plantation, -Developing an all rounded and effective - Conflict resulted due to the execution of safeguard management system and establishing benefit sharing activities among government practical and effective conflict management 169 and community and within different mechanisms community members -Equitable share of benefits based on their - Lack of proper implementation approach may contribution lead to deforestation and degradation (Zone - Using a participatory approach throughout the EPA and Agriculture office experts) life cycle of the project 2. Gimbi Woreda-Buno Bedele Zone-Oromia -Primarily focusing on voluntary land donation Region and communal lands - Community dissatisfaction due to land -Managing human interference in the wildlife acquisition and resettlement process territories - Over consumption of forest resources due to -Increasing forest benefits and alternative threat/fear they have on benefits from the livelihood options ERP -Working on project implementation related to - Conflict on forest resources utilization law enforcement and awareness creation sessions (Woreda EPA and Agriculture office - Developing safeguard instruments and experts) encouraging due diligence I. Gachi Woreda- Buno Bedele Zone-Oromia -Working on awareness raising activities Region -Including financial support as part of delivering - Potential problems on ERP implementation the benefits of the ERP - Promoting active forest-based investment Gimbi Woreda-Lalisa Yasus Kebele- -ERP should promote alternative livelihood Community Consultation options and mechanisms of diversifying them - Agro-forestry investment may lead to -Working on continuous awareness raising deforestation sessions - Conflict among different communities due to - Developing and utilizing land use planning in a natural resources utilization and benefit use view of sustainable land management competition Concerns and Views Raised, and Suggested Mitigation Mechanisms During Stakeholder and Community Consultation at Buno Bedele zone- Gachi and Bedele Woredas Table 18: Summary of Consultation Conducted at Buno Bedele Zone Concerns and Views Raised Suggested Mitigation Mechanisms 1.Concerns raised Buno Bedele Zone-Oromia Region -Establishing a responsible body at all levels to resolve social conflicts - Risk-Social conflict may arise between -A holistic and all rounded GRM needs to be individuals or groups because of benefit sharing resulted dissatisfaction ,established -Awareness raising sessions for implementing - Concern-different land use types may be institutions and communities changed due to the newly introduced forest - Developing appropriate land use plan ((Zone land use as a result of ERP (Zone EPA office head) EPA office head)) - Working on awareness raising and improving - Social conflict (Zone Land Administration and use office representative) GRM practice (Zone Land Administration and use office representative) Gachi Woreda-Buno Bedele Zone-Oromia - Working on awareness raising and improving Region GRM practice 170 - May lead to land use and other types of - Improving follow-up and monitoring activities conflict (Woreda EPA Head) (Woreda EPA head) Gachi Woreda-Buno Bedele Zone-Oromia - Awareness raising in the process of benefit Region sharing, - Conflict due to some gaps on benefit sharing - Monitoring land use system changes as a result - May cause change of other land use types in of ERP (Woreda LAU head) to forest (Woreda LAU Head) Secho Micael Kebele-Bedele Woreda- - Awareness raising in the process of benefit Community Consultation sharing, - Conflict among individuals or groups due to - Strengthening GRM system for ERP. some gaps on benefit sharing - Farming and grazing lands may change into forest land use type. Concerns and Views Raised, and Suggested Mitigation Mechanisms During Stakeholder and Community Consultation at Illibabor zone- Alle Woredas Table 19: Summary of Consultation Conducted at Illibabor Zone Concerns and Views Raised Suggested Mitigation Mechanisms 1.Concerns raised Alle Woreda-Illibabor Zone-Oromia Region - Improving follow-up and monitoring activities - Conflict among communities due to benefit (Woreda EPA head) sharing mechanism (Woreda EPA Head) Alle Woreda-Illibabor Zone-Oromia Region - Awareness raising in the process of benefit - Social conflict due to some gaps on benefit sharing, sharing - Monitoring land use system changes as a result (Woreda LAU Head) of ERP (Woreda LAU head) Janmeda Kebele-Alle Woreda-Community - Awareness raising in the process of benefit Consultation sharing, - Conflict among communities due to some - Effective law enforcement. gaps on benefit sharing Concerns and Views Raised, and Suggested Mitigation Mechanisms During Stakeholder and Community Consultation at Jimma zone- Gomma Woredas Table 20: Summary of Consultation Conducted at Jimma Zone Concerns and Views Raised Suggested Mitigation Mechanisms 1.Concerns raised Gomma Woreda-Jimma Zone-Oromia Region - - Awareness raising in the process of benefit - Conflict among communities due to benefit sharing, sharing mechanism - Improving the GRM system ERP - Land use change from other types to forest - Improving the functionality of the GRC land use type (Woreda EPA Head) (Woreda EPA head) Gomma Woreda-Jimma Zone-Oromia Region - Awareness raising in the process of benefit - Conflict among communities due to benefit sharing, sharing mechanism - Improving the GRM system ERP - Conversion of Farmland use type to (Woreda Agriculture-Office Representative) 171 forest land use type (Woreda Agriculture-Office Representative) Genji Elibu Kebele-Gomma Woreda- - Awareness raising in the process of benefit Community Consultation sharing, - Conflict among communities due to some - Strengthening the existing GRM system. gaps on benefit sharing Concerns and Views Raised, and Suggested Mitigation Mechanisms During Stakeholder and Community Consultation at Bale zone- Agaarfaa Woreda Table 21: Summary of Consultation Conducted at Bale Zone Concerns and Views Raised Suggested Mitigation Mechanisms 1.Concerns raised Bale Zone-Oromia Region -Capacity building and institutionalization of the - Risk-Social conflict may arise between principles of WB Environment and social individuals or groups because of benefit safeguards on the implementation of the project, sharing resulted dissatisfaction on the hand -Providing enough budget and logistics for the the community depends on external support project staffs especially from the government and the communities outside of the project side; as it stands the allocation is minimum or no implementation area may claim ownership of budget at all ((Zone EPA office head)) the natural resources and this also can lead to another conflict,(Zone EPA office head) Bale Zone-Oromia Region - Despite of having well established organization - Risk-Social conflict may arise between and manpower, we are not able to deliver our individuals or groups because of benefit sharing responsibilities on environmental and social resulted dissatisfaction, safeguards due to budget shortage (Zone - An increase in the dependency of the Agriculture-Natural resources team leader community on the benefits of ERP and CSA expert) - Access restrictions on the natural resources' utilization can be a source of competition for community members and other stakeholders (Zone Agriculture-Natural resources team leader and CSA expert) Bale Zone-Oromia Region - Awareness raising on the process of benefit - Risk-Social conflict may arise between sharing between the government and the individuals or groups because of benefit sharing community resulted dissatisfaction, -Intensive assessment on the community needs - An increase in the external dependency of the - Developing a detailed guideline on the community on the benefits of ERP management of benefits which is contextualized - It can be a source of corruption for community in line with the contexts of the local areas (Zone members and other stakeholders (Zone Land Land Use and Administration- team leader) Use and Administration- team leader) Agaarfaa Woreda-Bale Zone-Oromia Region - Providing training to different stakeholders on - It can increase dependency syndrome on the ERP and benefit sharing management community - Awareness raising sessions for the local - Gaps on the implementation of benefit communities on the process of benefit sharing sharing plan can lead to conflict among among cooperatives and communities 172 community members -Developing and implementing strong bylaw on - Some communities may use the payment for how benefits are shared and managed (Woreda unintended purpose (Woreda EPA- Head EPA- Head and expert) and expert) Agaarfaa Woreda-Bale Zone-Oromia Region - Providing training to different stakeholders on - It can increase the dependency of the ERP and benefit sharing management community on external support -Developing and implementing strong bylaw on - Gaps on the implementation of benefit how benefits are shared/distributed and managed sharing plan can lead to conflict among (Woreda Agriculture- Head and expert) community members - Increase pressure on land for additional yields due to forest conservation (Woreda Agriculture- Head and expert) Agaarfaa Woreda-Bale Zone-Oromia Region - Awareness raising on the process of ERP and - It can increase dependency syndrome and benefit sharing between the government and the corruption of the community on external community support -Developing and implementing strong bylaw on - Gaps on the implementation of benefit how benefits are shared/distributed and managed sharing plan can lead to conflict among (Woreda Land Administration and Use- Head community members and expert) - Restricting the expansion of agriculture production and land use expansion due to the increased ownership of the protected forest by the community (Woreda Land Administration and Use- Head and expert) Yemekona Chefa Kebele-Agaafraa Woreda- -Intensive training and capacity building support Community Consultation for community and the expert on how the ERP is - Conflict among individuals or groups due to implemented and identifying the relationships some gaps on benefit sharing between community and CBOs - Increase the dependency of the community on -Strict follow-up on the implementation of equity external support based benefit sharing as per the BSP. - Farming and grazing lands may change into forest land use type. - Conflict on the members of the CBO on the implementation of benefit sharing activities Yegalema Heabano Kebele-Agaafraa Woreda- -Intensive training and capacity building support Community Consultation for community and stakeholders on how the ERP - Conflict among individuals or groups due to is implemented and benefit sharing process some gaps on benefit sharing -Increase the options for energy sources in order - Increase the dependency of the community on to reduce the pressure on the forest resources. external support - Increase pressure on other areas due to the price increase in the forest products. Concerns and Views Raised, and Suggested Mitigation Mechanisms During Stakeholder and Community Consultation at West Haraghe zone- Ciroo Woreda Table 22: Summary of Consultation Conducted at West Hararghe Zone 173 Concerns and Views Raised Suggested Mitigation Mechanisms 1.Concerns raised West Hararghe Zone-Oromia Region -Using participatory approach starting from - Risk-Forced land acquisition planning , implementation and M and E of ERP, - Involuntary resettlement and loss of business - organizing stakeholders and community at all and assets levels of intervention, - Compromising the rights of local community - Follow-up on plantation sites and planted - Potential risk of soil erosion, and flooding’ species compatibility to minimize the risk of - Potential risk on biodiversity or potential for invasive species (Zone EPA office head)) the introduction of invasive species in the intervention areas ,(Zone EPA office head) West Haraghe Zone-Oromia Region - Acknowledging and utilizing local knowledge - Risk-deforestation due to lack of clear boundary and values of the community between farmland and forest, -Conducting intensive property/asset valuation - Loss of assets during the establishment of for compensation purposes plantation sites - Special treatment of various forest dependent - It can be a source of corruption for community communities members and other stakeholders (Zone Land -Set clear criterion of ownership of land and other Use and Administration- team leader) natural resources (Zone Land Use and Administration- team leader) Ciroo Woreda-West Haraghe Zone -Oromia - Timely distribution of benefits to different Region stakeholders - Un intended impact like expansion of - Consultation and awareness raising sessions for deforestation, technical and non-technical staffs at woreda level - Delay on benefit sharing distribution -Strengthening institutional capacity and structure - Role overlaps among the staff of different of hosting institutions (Woreda EPA- Head and WB financed projects like; PSNP, CALM and expert) other projects vis-à-vis the role of ORCU staff - Low capacity of the hosting institutions at zone, woreda and kebele levels to execute activities and hence affects the effectiveness of project implementation (Woreda EPA- Head and expert) Ciroo Woreda-West Haraghe Zone -Oromia - Working on awareness raising activities for all Region stakeholders including the GRC - Conflict of interest between stakeholders and -Reliable, good and efficient MRV system community members - Strengthening institutional capacity and - Community dissatisfaction due to the miss- structure of hosting and implementing institutions match between the community expectation starting from Kebele to region levels (Woreda and the actual payment/distribution of benefit ANR- NR team leader) - Project implementation miss-management may lead to land degradation and deforestation - Extensive climate change may lead to forest or wildfire (Woreda ANR- NR team leader) 174 Concerns and Views Raised, and Suggested Mitigation Mechanisms During Stakeholder and Community Consultation at East Haraghe zone- Dadar Woreda Table 23: Summary of Consultation Conducted at East Hararghe Zone Concerns and Views Raised Suggested Mitigation Mechanisms 1.Concerns raised East Hararghe Zone-Oromia Region -Using multiple species of plantation during tree - Depending on a few or one crop species plantation, during plantation and biodiversity loss -Conducting proper consultation of stakeholder - Poor project implementation may lead to before and during ERP implementation deforestation and asset loss (Zone EPA -Including appropriate property valuation office- unit head) estimation and compensation budget allocation (Zone EPA office- unit head) Dadar Woreda-East Hararghe Zone-Oromia - Including appropriate property valuation Region estimation and compensation budget allocation - Land acquisition related problems may occur (Woreda EPA- expert) (Woreda EPA- expert) Concerns and Views Raised, and Suggested Mitigation Mechanisms During Stakeholder and Community Consultation at Arsi zone- Shirkaa Woreda Table 24: Summary of Consultation Conducted at Arsi Zone Concerns and Views Raised Suggested Mitigation Mechanisms 1.Concerns raised Arsi Zone-Oromia Region -Provide training for community and other - The benefit sharing activities related to gaps relevant stakeholders on how the BSP is may lead to conflict among community implemented or benefits are shared and managed members (Zone EPA office- head and forest unit lead) - It may increase the dependency of the local communities on external support, (Zone EPA office- head and forest unit lead) Arsi Zone-Oromia Region - Payments should be effected as per the BSP - Risk-Social conflict may arise between -Close follow up and monitoring on the overall individuals or groups because of benefit sharing implementation of ERP (Zone Agriculture- resulted dissatisfaction, Deputy Head) (Zone Agriculture-Deputy Head) Arsi Zone-Oromia Region - Awareness raising on the process of benefit - Risk-Social conflict may arise between sharing between the government and the individuals or groups because of benefit sharing community resulted dissatisfaction, -Intensive assessment on the community needs - An increase in the external dependency of the - Developing a detailed guideline on the community on the benefits of ERP management of benefits which is contextualized - It can be a source of corruption for community in line with the contexts of the local areas (Zone members and other stakeholders (Zone Land Land Use and Administration- Deputy Head) Use and Administration- Deputy Head) Shirkaa Woreda-Arsi Zone-Oromia Region - Awareness raising on the process of benefit - Risk-Social conflict may arise between sharing between the government and the 175 individuals or groups because of benefit community sharing resulted dissatisfaction, -Developing and implementing strong bylaw on - An increase in the external dependency of the how benefits are shared and managed before community on the benefits of ERP initiating the CBOs activities - It can be a source of corruption for (Woreda EPA- Head and expert) community members and other stakeholders (Woreda EPA- Head and expert) Shirkaa Woreda-Arsi Zone-Oromia Region - Awareness raising on the process of ERP - It can increase the dependency of the implementation and benefit sharing between the community on external support government and the community - Gaps on the implementation of benefit -Capacity building for CBOs and project sharing plan can lead to conflict among implementers on how benefits are community members shared/distributed and managed (Woreda - (Woreda Agriculture- Head and expert) Agriculture- Head and expert) Shirkaa Woreda-Arsi Zone-Oromia Region - Awareness raising on the process of benefit sharing - Risk-Social conflict may arise between between the government and the community individuals or groups because of benefit -Developing and implementing strong bylaw on sharing resulted dissatisfaction, how benefits are shared and managed before - An increase in the external dependency of the initiating the CBOs activities community on the benefits of ERP -Supervision and follow-up to minimize - It can be a source of corruption for corruption practices community members and other stakeholders (Woreda Land Administration and Use- Head (Woreda Land Administration and Use- and expert) Head and expert) Yeheala Mekana Kebele-Shirkaa Woreda- -Awareness raising on the process of benefit Community Consultation sharing between the government and the - Conflict among individuals or groups due to community some gaps on benefit sharing -Strict follow-up on the implementation of - Increase the dependency of the community on equity-based benefit sharing as per the BSP. external support Solea Farqasaa Kebele-Shirkaa Woreda- --Awareness raising on the process of benefit Community Consultation sharing between the government and the - Conflict among individuals or groups due to community some gaps on benefit sharing -Strict follow-up on the implementation of - Increase the dependency of the community on equity-based benefit sharing as per the BSP. external support Issues related to Land Tenure There were no cases of land acquisition mentioned that resulted in involuntary resettlement in the selected consultation areas during this study. However, there were complaints by the local people that the forest land has been expanding into their farmlands in almost all kebeles those visited during this consultation. In West Hararghe zone, Ciroo Woreda, however, community members reported that there were cases where some farmlands were mistakenly demarcated as forestland, which in principle restrict access for any form of use by the community and some of them corrected later through the intervention of the Woreda administration. Still many households from Madhichoo Lak/2 and Tayifea kebeles of Ciroo Woreda feel insecure about their farmlands already included in the demarcated state forestland during the boundary mapping. They claim that “the plots of land for which they have land certificates 176 were designated as forest land” and hence, they are concerned that eventually the plots will be converted into forest lands. Concerns related to GRM GRM is localized and formal instrument to document, assess, evaluate and resolve complaints of project affected people during implementation. The instrument is essential to enhance transparency, fairness, and build stakeholder trust and confidence on the project activities. During the consultation, efforts were made to capture the experience on GRM implementation in the on-going OFLP-grant project. The discussion results showed that with a varying level of existence of the practice in place, there have not been filed cases or experience in the GRM implementation related to the OFLP-grant activities implementation in the visited Kebeles. Most of the community members who participated in the ESRM discussion explained no such system has been put in place by the project, may be due to absence of serious grievance cases. Instead, they expressed the role played by the indigenous institutions such as “Jaarsumma/mangudumma”, which is a traditional mechanism of conflict resolution through the mediation of selected elders on disputes and conflicts of any sort. Although the project GRM was shown on the structure, it was not operational or functional and people are not aware of it. Besides, community members rely on and prefer to use the traditional/indigenous systems of dispute settlement, which is basically logical to use it as an alternative instrument of GRM for the projects. The consultation in the Alle, Gachi and Bedele Woredas of the IluAbba Bora Zone, Jaarsumma was emphasized as a very strong and largely acceptable mechanism of local disputes settlement. Whereas, Iddir, which is another form of traditional community association for times of death, was mentioned as a functioning instrument to strengthen Jaarsumma in some Kebeles of the three Woredas. Participants also expressed that, although not designed as part of the GRM structures, often members file their complaints with the smaller structures of the local cooperative, the blocs, and when the complainants are not satisfied with the decision of the block committee, they will proceed to the executive committee of the Cooperative, and hierarchically to the Kebele administration and/or to the Woreda court if satisfactory solutions to grievances could not be achieved at the lower level structures. Other traditional institutions related to resources management and conflict resolution The Oromo people have age old traditional institutions of resource management, resource sharing and conflict resolution mechanisms embedded in their life. The Gadaa system, a complex customary administrative structure, is a social and political institution providing guidance on customary practice of the Oromo society to demarcate, among the pastoral communities of Borana and Guji, dry and wet season grazing, with a set of specific rules and regulations. Such cyclical grazing and range management is compatible to the requirements of range ecology, keeps equilibrium of vegetation dynamics by minimizing overgrazing and depletion of water. It has strong unwritten customary regulations governing forest tenure, resource access, use and management. The Kallu is the religious institution of the Oromo. The Kallu also handles conflicts and provides adjudication to grievances. The Arsi-Bale have well-instituted traditional range management systems (herd management, grazing areas, settlement stratification, management of water points, hierarchical cohort-based responsibilities) most of which are designed for conflict prevention and peaceful coexistence. Their views on nature and the environment are instituted in their customary laws not only to protect the natural environment and eco-system, but also to reduce conflicts that may arise on over utilization and rapid depletion of resources. The communities have a customary law that prohibits cutting trees without adequate reasons. Some trees are prohibited for their spiritual, economic, social and cultural values. The type of trees 177 grown in specific areas is also an indication of the availability or shortage of ground water. The Gada system and rules allow cutting of trees only for fencing and building houses. Big trees should not be cut, and only small branches are permitted for the construction of Barns. The Arsi’s believe that trees have and sustain life. Traditionally, there is an institution of Jaarsumma/Mangudmma (conflict resolution through the mediation of elders). In all the kebeles visited, Jaarsumma was stressed as the most effective traditional conflict resolution mechanism, which is not only active to date but also used by the government judiciary system to mediate complicated dispute cases between disputants from the same kebele or neighborhood. They also play important role in the establishment of cooperatives drawing on the wisdom of indigenous institutions that sustained natural resources conservation for several generations. They also play vital role in handling grievances on entitlements protected by Godaantu14(Arsi and Bale) and Goopo15 (Ilu Abba Bora) systems and a range of issues that arise between people. The wide range of issues the Jaarsumma institution handles and the level of acceptance of its decisions by all parties and the acceptance it won from the official legal system were consistently reported across the kebeles visited for this study. Godaantu and Goopo systems are used to strike a fair balance between access right and protection of the traditional user-right. Iddir–a voluntary self-help association – is also used to augment the effort of the Jaarsumma institution to handle grievances at the neighborhood levels. Concern on Benefit Sharing and Unmet Expectations Community expectations from the OFLP grant project were very high, which is now leading people to lose hope on what the government promised to deliver. In many community consultations held in OFLP area, people challenged the ESRM team saying, ‘where is the money?’ They said, ‘we are tired of people, black and white, coming every now and then telling us to conserve the forest promising the money is coming.’ They said bitterly “we waited for too long”. Used the Oromo proverb ‘dubbiin soddaa afaan guutti malee garaa hin guttu’ (contextually, the would-be in laws’ negotiations for bride wealth payment before the conclusion of the marriage is attractive [fills the mouth], but never realized [but not the stomach]). They said ‘we have done our part, protecting the forest, it is the government which failed to deliver what it has promised. If people start going to bed empty stomach, then the forest is at risk’. Regarding specific benefit sharing arrangement of carbon financing in OFLP project, the deal has been made between OFWE on behalf of the government and cooperatives on behalf of the community, that if 14 Godaantuu “is a transhumance system of Oromo pastoralists, and key feature of traditional human use of forest based resources especially in the Bale/Arsi forested landscape. In this system, livestock, particularly cattle are sent to higher grazing grounds during the months when crops are growing in lower altitude areas or into the forest for shade during the dry season. When drought hits the pastoral and agro pastoral areas beneath the forests of Oromia, the people move to the forests with their livestock for grazing, watering and shelter seasonally. The accession of resources during the seasonal migration of pastoralists and agro-pastoralists is governed by the Gada system including, allocation of grazing, watering and shelter areas…. Godaantuu sy stem is a customary natural resource use practice regulated by the traditional institution called Abbaa Ardaa. Abbaa Ardaa regulates the opening and closing dates for seasonal livestock grazing, use area and use patterns of grazing to avoid degradation of particular areas, and enable particular groups to control their grazing territory.” 15 Goopo system “is a forest (tree) tenure institution that grants first claimers an exclusive use right over a block of forest, usually for collection of forest coffee, hanging beehives and access to other non-timber forest products (NTFP). Once claimed, the forest block is de facto individual property, respected by fellow citizens of the area, and the owner has the right to exclude others. The system is prevalent in Western Ethiopia among people residing outside the forest, but historically have resources (bee hives, coffee, spices) paying service charges for keeping and ensuring access to people.” 178 the carbon financing proposal/plan materializes, from the emission reduction (ER) payments, out of the total payment 75% will be channeled for the community while the remaining 25% will go to the federal government (5%), regional government (15%) and private sector (5%). The project has already established cooperatives, designating forest boundaries, etc. in the kebeles of the intervention woredas and set the MRV system. The CSOs running these sub-projects are playing a catalyst role in realizing sustainable use of natural forest resources through participatory forest management using donor funds and there is nothing that they get in cash from the emission reduction payment. Summary of general concerns ✓ ERP may suspend the communities trust on the project, government and sectors are going to be compromised and this may lead to conflict among the community and project implementing actors. ✓ Complaint by the group who are excluded from benefiting in OFLP-ERP ✓ Gaps between expected benefit and actual benefit/payment ✓ Conflict resulted due to the ownership claim of the community members and OFLP-ERP ✓ Lack of proper implementation approach may lead to deforestation ✓ Land based competition and community conflict over resources allocation ✓ Over expectation on benefit sharing and undermining benefits ✓ Disagreement between community and forest management actors ✓ Conflict of interest on forest management and expanding agriculture land, ✓ Variation on the expected benefit and actual payment to the community may result in conflict and lack of trust in the government ✓ Conversion of Farmland use type to forest land use type ✓ An increase in the dependency of the community on the benefits of OFLP-ERP ✓ Access restrictions on the natural resources' utilization can be a source of competition for community members and other stakeholders ✓ It can be a source of corruption for community members and other stakeholders ✓ Increase pressure on land for additional yields due to forest conservation ✓ Conflict on the members of the CBO on the implementation of benefit sharing activities ✓ Increase pressure on other areas due to the price increase in the forest products. ✓ Forced land acquisition ✓ Involuntary resettlement and loss of business and assets ✓ Compromising the rights of local community ✓ Potential risk of soil erosion, and flooding’ ✓ Potential risk on biodiversity or potential for the introduction of invasive species in the intervention areas ✓ Deforestation is due to the lack of clear boundary between farmland and forest, ✓ Loss of assets during the establishment of plantation sites ✓ Un intended impact like expansion of deforestation, ✓ Delay on benefit sharing distribution ✓ Role overlaps among the staff of different WB financed projects like PSNP, CALM and other projects vis-à-vis the role of ORCU staff, ✓ Low capacity of the hosting institutions at zone, woreda and kebele levels to execute activities and hence affects the effectiveness of project implementation ✓ Depending on a few or one crop species during plantation and biodiversity loss Take-on from the consultations and recommendations ✓ Mainstreaming ERPP Projects into the government’s long term development plans and strategies ensures sustainability. 179 ✓ Multi-stakeholder consultation and local level capacity building is critical to ensure project relevance and to get buy-in from Project stakeholders. ✓ Coordination of existing ERPP relevant investments could reduce the amount of actual investment required for implementing ERP Project. ✓ A strong cross-sectoral coordination is crucial to deliver ERP. ✓ Focusing on non-carbon benefits during community consultations can help manage expectations. ✓ It is important to issue certificate of forest title deed to organized forest beneficiaries to overcome the long-standing sense of insecurity by communal resource management group. Certificate of forest title deed and forest management plan is particularly required for patches of forest outside forest priority areas. Improving the overall information system about forest tenure rights is crucial to enhance the overall forest tenure governance system in Oromia. ✓ Address the critical challenges related to lack of clear forest boundary and criteria to enroll cooperative members. The traditional forest tenure rights held by local community and other groups as customary tenure systems need to be officially recognized and clearly aligned with the statutory framework. This includes amending the existing legal framework to recognize customary use rights and traditional institutions like Gedda system as entity to be involved in natural resource management. ✓ It is necessary to develop a comprehensive guideline that supports multiple rights to co-exist on the same plot of forest land. ✓ Government should devise alternative mechanisms for non-cooperative members such as unemployed youth and those who have lost their customary access due to the establishment of the new system. Alternative mechanisms to consider include encouraging value addition and value chain development where members and non-members are effectively linked in the commodity chains of legally harvested forest products. Further comprehensive study is also recommended to identify feasible alternative livelihood strategies for landless and unemployed youth living in and around forested areas in Oromia. ✓ Encourage and strengthen community level alternative dispute resolutions through arbitration that reduce costs and enable community members to use their time for other productive purposes. It also requires revision of the legal framework that recognizes and enforces decisions and agreements made through community level arbitration. ✓ When revising the legal framework, it should establish clear procedures to build the capacity of community-based tenure dispute resolution bodies by training expertise in alternative dispute resolution, providing legal materials and working space. For example, the capacity building efforts for the community-based dispute resolution bodies can be strengthened by linking with the legal aid centers established by various universities in the country to provide legal support for poor and vulnerable groups. ✓ During forest concession allocation and operation, it is crucial to conduct and publicly disclose social and environmental impact assessments, establish equitable social agreements with local communities, put in place appropriate avoidance and mitigation measures, regular monitoring, reporting, and take corrective measures when negative social or environmental impacts are detected. ✓ Improving the functionality of the GRC /Strengthening the functioning capacity of GRM systems that address local grievances and to operate in tandem with local institutions (Waldaa Jiraatota Bosonaa and Waldaa Bulchiinsa Bosonaa) when designing and implementing the OFLP-ERP related sub-activities, particularly for those with potential social and environmental impacts. ✓ Accurate and up-to-date information and records that contain comprehensive legal and spatial information about forest concession and their operations should be maintained centrally both at regional state and federal level and should be freely accessible by the public. ✓ Capacity building for Kebele governments and facilitators in participatory village planning processes; 180 ✓ Regulatory support for the use of Kebele funds to support the ERP; ✓ Facilitating participatory mapping of Kebele boundaries (especially in areas with history of conflicts and/or disputes); ✓ Community capacity building (led by ORCU) on good agricultural practices, provisions of affordable technology, and technical support for sustainable business development; ✓ Strengthening community engagement and consultations; ✓ Tailoring delivery and approach for training based on local contexts; ✓ Technical facilitation for conservation partnership, including simplifying requirements for legal documentation; ✓ Strengthening the capacity of the licensing process by inclusion of SDP results to protect physical cultural heritage; ✓ Strengthening the capacity of the licensing process by inclusion of Physical Cultural Resources Management Plan of the ESMF; ✓ Strengthening dispute settlement by inclusion of biodiversity management framework and/or physical cultural resources management plan into the process. ✓ Ensure compliance with national OHS requirements and best practice; ✓ Provide appropriate PPE to all construction workers and enforce use; ✓ Develop agrochemical management plan describing handling, storage, use and disposal of all agrochemicals used on the schemes; ✓ Train beneficiaries in the handling, storage, application and disposal of all agrochemicals; ✓ Ensure sound design of all structures, taking into account soil susceptibility to erosion; ✓ Ensure structures are continuously and routinely maintenance – checking structures soundness (cracks, erosion around edges), desalting, etc.; ✓ For small dams, prepare dam break analysis; ✓ Harnessing ERP activities as proposed and properly communicating with all community members about the benefits and components of the ERP; ✓ Establishing appropriate MRV and safeguard system before the effective implementation of the ERP; ✓ Working on capacity building and the reinforcement of all the project activities; ✓ Maintaining effective institutional responsibility and developing accountability in benefit sharing mechanisms; ✓ The FDRE shall issue a proclamation/ regulation or guideline on ERPA and mechanisms of benefit sharing in order to reduce community distrust on government and other confrontations that may arise on government sectors; ✓ Primarily focusing on voluntary land donation and communal lands; ✓ Managing human interference in the wild life territories; ✓ Increasing forest benefits and alternative livelihood options; ✓ Working on project implementation related law enforcement and awareness creation sessions; ✓ Developing and utilizing land use planning in a view of sustainable land management; ✓ Capacity building and institutionalization of the principles of WB Environment and social safeguards on the implementation of the project; ✓ Providing enough budget and logistics for the project staffs especially from the government side; as it stands the allocation is minimum or no budget at all; ✓ Increase the options for energy sources in order to reduce the pressure on the forest resources; ✓ Strengthening institutional capacity and structure of hosting and implementing institutions starting from Kebele to regional levels; and ✓ Developing a detailed guideline on the management of benefits which is contextualized in line with the contexts of the local areas. General Agreements: 181 • There is a clear understanding by the local communities that forest improves rainfall pattern, provides clean air, and contains wild animals, birds and source of biodiversity, while boosting productivity in honey and traditional medicine. • There is a general understanding that the intervention of OFLP-ERP in Oromia regional state will help them sustain natural resources management and biodiversity (flora and fauna) of protected areas as well as increase the forest cover of the region. • Participants of the consultation provided their broad community support through willingness to participate, and commitment to protect their natural environment and address environmental problems and facilitate the implementation of OFLP-ERP. 182 12. Social Development Plan (SDP) for OFLP-ERP This Social Development Plan, as outlined below, will ensure that the OFLP-ERP implementation will respect the dignity, rights and culture of groups meeting the ESS5 and ESS7 requirements and ensure that these people benefit from the Project in a sustainable manner. The SDP could be revisited during ERP implementation and further consultation undertaken for the underserved groups to ensure their full participation. As stated in the table below, the social development plan will make certain that the Project and its implementing agencies at various levels will respect the dignity, rights and culture of groups meeting the ESS7 requirements and ensure that these people benefit from ERP in a sustainable manner. The plan could be restructured during implementation and further consultations will be undertaken for the underserved and vulnerable groups to ensure their full participation. The matrix in the following table summarizes potential opportunities, social risks and challenges along with their mitigation measures, and responsible bodies. Table 25: Social Development Plan (SDP) for OFLP-ERP Issues Risk/Potential Impact Mitigation Measures Responsible Bodies Land tenure The forest land is expanding into their - It is important to issue certificate of forest title deed to EFD, RBOEPA farmlands; some farmlands were mistakenly organized forest beneficiaries to overcome the long-standing ORCU , EPA Office and demarcated as forestland during the mapping sense of insecurity by communal resource management group. Land Administration office “lands for which they have land certificates Certificate of forest title deed and forest management plan is, and Woreda and Kebele were designated into forest land.” particularly required for patches of forest outside forest priority administration office areas. Improving the overall information system about forest tenure rights is crucial to enhance the overall forest tenure governance system in Oromia. - Address the critical challenges related to lack of clear forest boundary and criteria to enroll cooperative members. The traditional forest tenure rights held by local community and other groups as customary tenure systems need to be officially recognized and clearly aligned with the statutory framework. This includes amending the existing legal framework to recognize customary use rights and traditional institutions like Gedda system as entity to be involved in natural resource management. • ERP could face challenges related • ERP should promote PFM to address perceived lack of EFD, RBOEPA with existing weak land tenure at individual tenure security by transferring or promoting joint forest ORCU , EPA Office and and community levels due to the perception management rights to communities using defined contracts Land Administration office of land tenure insecurity, mainly in the forest • ERP as a coordination platform will complement the and Woreda and Kebele sector GoE’s effort on rural land certification by encouraging other administration office • Forest demarcation if any (as part projects to finance, outside the scope of ERP, the first steps of the Integrated Land Use Planning) may toward individual land certification in forested areas 183 Issues Risk/Potential Impact Mitigation Measures Responsible Bodies induce conflict and result in relocation of • ERP will address restriction of access through its people and restrict access to resources Process Framework EFD on the ground investments may • EFD on the ground investments should allow EFD, RBOEPA obstruct community walking routes living on communities to use the routes or establish/identify ORCU , EPA Office and either side of the forest due to ERP area Land Administration office reasonably convenient alternative routes. closure and conservation and Woreda and Kebele administration office Impacts related to land acquisition include • If the procedures or standards of other responsible EFD, RBOEPA inadequate consultation and inclusive agencies do not meet the relevant requirements of ESS 5, ORCU , EPA Office and participation, restriction of access to natural Land Administration office the Borrower will prepare supplemental arrangements or resources, involuntary resettlement and loss and Woreda and Kebele of livelihoods provisions for inclusion in the resettlement plan to address administration office identified shortcomings. • The plan will also specify financial responsibilities for each of the agencies involved, appropriate timing and sequencing for implementation steps, and coordination arrangements for addressing financial contingencies or responding to unforeseen circumstances. • Intensive and detailed community and stakeholder consultation • Identification of project beneficiaries • Conducting asset valuation based on standard asset auditing standards • Relying on the voluntary land donation as a first option and reaching consensus in the case of involuntary resettlement • Developing a comprehensive Livelihood restoration Plan Inappropriate methods for property valuation Mitigation Mechanism: EFD, RBOEPA and administration of resettlement assistance • The E and S specialists should work in collaboration with ORCU, EPA Office and including compensation: Land Administration office the independent consultant, independent agency property and Woreda and Kebele valuation committee, and resettlement committee, and administration office woreda administration in handling property valuation, resettlement assistance and compensation. A standard methodology must be used in valuing losses to determine their replacement cost; and a description of the proposed types and levels of compensation for land, natural 184 Issues Risk/Potential Impact Mitigation Measures Responsible Bodies resources, and other assets under local law and such supplementary measures as area necessary to achieve replacement cost for them. Lack of awareness of the principle of Mitigation Mechanism: EFD, RBOEPA voluntary land donation: ●In the case of voluntary land donation, the owner shall ORCU, EPA Office and have all available information regarding the proposed Land Administration office and Woreda and Kebele Project activity and its impacts, its land requirements, and administration office its alternative activity sites, as well as his or her rights to compensation. ●The owner has also been provided with sufficient time to consider his or her disposition of the property and has knowingly rejected the right to renege on his or her decision. ‘Illegal migrants’ or Squatters: ERP may Address the issue of squatters or illegal migrants as a concern EFD, RBOEPA face challenges related to illegal migrants or through the ERP RF and PF provisions: including compensation, ORCU, EPA Office and squatters in its operation area resettlement assistance, alternative livelihood support and Land Administration office rehabilitation assistance and Woreda and Kebele administration office • Incentive • Benefits associated with emissions • Implement a well-consulted and equitable BSP for for greater reductions payments may not reach the carbon payments to help incentivize forest communities conserve uptake of sustainable stakeholders (elite capture, exclusion of and rehabilitate forest land use actions some stakeholders, particularly underserved • ERP should preclude and manage safeguard risk through • Adoption and vulnerable groups) establishing a robust safeguard system in the Grant period and and • ERP during the ERPA period may strengthened during the ERPA period to ensure that the project’s implementation of a not maintain the safeguards system or BSP citizen engagement, equitable sharing of Project benefits, GRM BSP by GoE- Oromia established during the Grant period and safeguards risks management steps are sustained beyond the Government Grant period; and GoE will allocate adequate resources (human and financial) for safeguards implementation/due diligence. Conflict Resolution • Restriction of access to natural Traditionally, there is an institution of Jaarsumma/Mangudmma EFD, RBOEPA resources due to ERP intervention might (conflict resolution through the mediation of elders). The ORCU, EPA Office and inflict conflict among traditional seasonal establishment of cooperatives drawing on the wisdom of Land Administration office migrant forest resource indigenous institutions that sustained natural resources and Woreda and Kebele conservation for several generations. They also play vital role in administration office handling grievances on entitlements protected by Godaantu (Arsi and Bale) and Goopo (Ilu Abba Bora) systems and arange of issues that arise between people. The wide range of issues the Jaarsumma institution handles and the level of acceptance of its decisions by all parties and the acceptance it won from the official legal system were consistently reported across the 185 Issues Risk/Potential Impact Mitigation Measures Responsible Bodies kebeles visited for this study. Godaantu and Goopo systems are used to strike a fair balance between access right and protection of the traditional user-right. Iddir–a voluntary self-help association – is also used to augment the effort of the Jaarsumma institution to handle grievances at the neighborhood levels. Conflicts may arise between ERP and non- • Allocate quota for vulnerable and underserved groups EFD, RBOEPA ERP community members in ERP establishment ORCU, EPA Office and Ensure establishment process of ERP groups is equitable, fair and Cooperatives office participatory As the ERP is being operated in a changing • Maintain regular communication with all stakeholders, EFD, RBOEPA and fragile environment with complex social including authorities, local community, other sites and ORCU, EPA Office and relationships, the Project might exacerbate activities. Land Administration office or create likely social concerns related to and Woreda and Kebele ● Twice daily call schedule with Client Security Manager inter-tribal conflicts and other forms of administration office; client disputes, land tenure security issues, Ensure sites including plant, machinery and security manager and police equipment is secured – security protection in place. department ● Consider further increase in security controls including; further reinforcement of security guarding, (police support) and asset hardening of critical equipment and safe havens. ● Briefings to local security forces on roles and responsibilities- liaison with local commanders increased. ERP implementation may serve as a fertile • ERP should be inclusive of relevant stakeholders, EFD, RBOEPA ground for external actors and influential CBOs, GOs, NGOs, local institutions and influential ORCU, EPA Office and individuals for instigating conflict and/or individuals Land Administration office disagreement Restriction over natural resources, spiritual • ERP should allow communities to have access for EFD, RBOEPA exercise, use and ownership rights may spiritual exercise ORCU, EPA Office and create social instability Land Administration office • Use context specific conflict resolution mechanism such and Woreda and Kebele Lack of proper functionality of the GRM as, the Gadda system and/or Awlia administration office may induce conflict due to traditional ● Support traditional resource access and use mechanisms in resource access and utilization restriction different parts of the ERP operation, including Godantu, Qobbo ● Strengthening both the GRC as a structure and GRM as a system through refreshing training, budget support or institutionalization of the GRM principles ● Taking lessons from the implementation of the ERP -grant and enhancing the functionality of the GRM 186 Issues Risk/Potential Impact Mitigation Measures Responsible Bodies • Safeguarding the well- • ERP would likely face social • ERP should dedicate a subcomponent to address EFD, RBOEPA being of HUTLCs concerns related to the existence of operational risks and safeguard the livelihoods of ORCU, EPA Office, underserved and vulnerable groups HUTLCs. in its intervention areas • ERP needs to carefully design safeguards capacity • ERP may face inadequate building measures to improve their performance and understanding of relevant social support-refreshing training issues • ERP may operate in weak capacity • Ensure direct and all-inclusive community consultation and expertise within the government about ERP structures to deal with both social and Use ERP communications and participation strategies to sensitize environmental risks, properly the underserved and vulnerable groups mitigate and document the process • Communities and individuals in ERP • Community consultations and participation should EFD, RBOEPA operation sites may believe that they create awareness about the ERP Grievance Redress ORCU, EPA Office, are adversely affected by the Project Mechanism to support citizen’s complaints or • ERP might be challenged by the grievances in a formalized, transparent, cost-effective, weak institutional capacity of and time bound manner traditional grievance redress and resource management institutions Vulnerable and underserved groups • ERP will promote CDD-approach, whereby communities EFD, RBOEPA • The resource poor and the prioritize development activities and promote socially ORCU, EPA Office, vulnerable forest dependent inclusive, participatory processes for planning, sub-project communities might be excluded implementation, monitoring and learning. ERP measures might include or exclude • In this way, the people directly affected by the project certain social groups through the process activities will be treated fairly and equitably; and project funds will be shared in a socially inclusive manner among different groups within communities, particularly the underserved and vulnerable. • Use the ERP citizen engagement and participation plans to engage communities in the ERP design, implementation and follow up process Establish structures to enhance VMGs participation in the EFD, RBOEPA ORCU, EPA Office, 187 Issues Risk/Potential Impact Mitigation Measures Responsible Bodies project activities -Enhance outreach and awareness raising to ensure clarity on the project by all key stakeholders -Project implementation structures at the national, regional, zone and community levels will include representation of the Historically Underserved Traditional Local Communities (HUTLCs) - For HUTLCs that meet the ESS7 criteria, the targeted information dissemination and general communication strategies should be done in a culturally appropriate manner and through accessible channels/media that are acceptable to them. - Sensitize community members to the Project and consult the HUTLCs on the project design that it turns relevant, culturally appropriate and responsive to their needs and aspirations - Share information widely and in a timely manner. Various channels of communication will be explored including telephone, local radio stations, county and regional offices, religious places (Churches and Mosques), social halls and chiefs/assistant chiefs’ offices Recommendations for project design: EFD, RBOEPA -Based on the information obtained in this social assessment ORCU, EPA Office, and the requirements of ESS7, we recommend that consultative meetings for the design of the project should be based on prior information provided to the HUTLCs communities regarding the sub-projects proposed based on this social assessment report after its validation by the HUTLCs communities themselves and their representatives. Thus, the prioritization of the sub-projects should be carried out at these two stages. - The design of the projects and the validation process should involve the use of the identified institutions and stakeholders based on the information on stakeholder analysis to address the potential threats, interests of various institutions and stakeholders as well as properly utilize the opportunities that are within these institutions for project implementation and initial 188 Issues Risk/Potential Impact Mitigation Measures Responsible Bodies buy-in. -This social assessment has shown that there are external institutions such as NGOs that worked in the communities on a one-off basis and do not have running interests in these communities or in the projects they initiated. -There are Community Based Organizations (CBOs) operating at two levels in the society, but which have similar interests in accessing donor funds for community development and the indigenous institutions such as the village headmen and council of elders which hold traditional authority and can provide opportunities for vetting CBOs and other stakeholders in the project. They can also be instrumental in providing a monitoring and evaluation framework for the community projects. Recommendations for participating in free, prior EFD, RBOEPA and informed consultations for engaging HUTLCs in ORCU, EPA Office, the project implementation: - Based on the findings of this social assessment, it is recommended that the process for participating in free, prior and informed consultations during project implementation should be discussed at a planning workshop where the experts can provide guidance on how to prioritize the various projects by the HUTLCs representatives based on the validated contents of the social assessment report. -The HUTLCs representatives should also be guided to suggest the names of the CBOs that they would wish to work with at the community level. - The prioritized SDPs and the suggested CBOs should then be subjected to the wider community validation process in the villages where the consultative processes were done and at the venues that are suggested by the HUTLCs representatives after consulting other community members. -The larger community members should be provided with prior information regarding the prioritized plans and suggested CBOs to allow them adequate time to consult amongst 189 Issues Risk/Potential Impact Mitigation Measures Responsible Bodies themselves and to have more information regarding the intended activities so as to effectively participate in the community validation process. Development of HUTLCs focused Social Action Plans: The development plans for the HUTLCs should be based on identified activities that the EFD, RBOEPA ORCU, EPA Office, HUTLCs are involved in their suggestions of possible projects that are appropriate to their cultural conditions and an assessment of the environmental conditions. This would enable the projects proposed for these HUTLCs to be culturally appropriate to their conditions Implementation prioritized sub-projects: EFD, RBOEPA - The implementation of the prioritized projects for the ORCU, EPA Office, HUTLCs should be carried out based on the provisions of the World Bank ESS7 and as described under the section of free, prior and informed consultations in this report. - Ensure there are clear implementation mechanisms to ensure transparency and accountability in identification of subproject sites/communities and facilities that the HUTLCs will benefit from the project - The award of contracts should be done equitably, not favoring any segment of the communities while ensuring that groups of HUTLCs are not discriminated against - Officers at the national, regional and zone levels will monitor and address all cases of error, fraud and corruption - Communicate and implement strict penalties for project officers implicated in error, fraud and corruption - Include error, fraud and corruption indicators in all monitoring and evaluation Activities 190 Issues Risk/Potential Impact Mitigation Measures Responsible Bodies Gender and age differentiation: EFD, RBOEPA In order to improve and sustain the support of the project ORCU, EPA Office, particularly among the HUTLCs such as those observed during consultation process, it is recommended that the project should take into consideration the gender and age variations in the needs and development initiatives based on the opportunities, capabilities and existing resources for each of the HUTLCs. Monitoring and evaluation of project activities to be done with the lens of the HUTLCs: EFD, RBOEPA - Activities identified for implementation will be ORCU, EPA Office, clearly documented and disseminated - All meetings will be documented capturing information on attendance, people involved, and decisions made - Feedback meetings will be held regularly with community committees ERP operations may not be gender sensitive • ERP enabling environment and investment will EFD, RBOEPA and women might be affected differentially mainstream gender and be gender sensitive to address the ORCU, EPA Office, strategic and practical while ensuring equity in the ERP process and screening of subproject activities will be done through the gender lens. The ERP benefit sharing mechanism design process, safeguards implementation, community participation and citizen engagement issues, would also include efforts to ensure and enhance women’s participation. Awareness and communication • ERP would focus on increasing community engagement EFD, RBOEPA • The illiterate and disadvantaged and participation in forest management and decision- ORCU, EPA Office, groups of the community might be making of all forest dependent groups and social class. left out from the project • Boost capacity of forest dependent communities to opportunities make their own decisions about community-led • Some religious and social groups planning process might oppose the ERP operation • Support channels where citizens and various levels of Changing attitudes may antagonize local government can work together in the context of values and beliefs for some groups implementation and monitoring of community-led PFM • Support implementation with sufficient awareness creation trainings and through full participation of social 191 Issues Risk/Potential Impact Mitigation Measures Responsible Bodies groups ERP should ensure that all consultations Potential perception of linkage between ERP Ensure that the GoE apply WBG ESS in managing this and the potential involuntary resettlement in resettlement if and when it occurs. Bale Mountains National Park. ERP may face challenges in enhancing or • Provide the necessary training and awareness on EFD, RBOEPA Livelihood introducing new livelihoods as alternative enhancing existing, new livelihood and resource ORCU, EPA Office, options to forest degradation and depletion alternatives • Promote community-based tourism (where it is economically and financially viable, noting that ERP is not directly financing tourism), and other nature-based or conventional small and medium enterprises for alternative livelihoods Support the design of Forest Community based initiatives on sustainable forest management that will last beyond the grant periods Risk of involving one clan that is more • Broaden the representation of community members on EFD, RBOEPA dominant over others during targeting targeting committees with greater emphasis on the ORCU, EPA Office, process mainly among lowland communities participation of women; Increase instances of domestic violence - Ensure beneficiaries receive transfers on time by addressing EFD, RBOEPA between women and men or husband and capacity gaps and root causes, display transfer schedule in ORCU, EPA Office, wives in relation to livelihoods support or kebele interventions at household level by the • Awareness creation among the men that the women are project. In the pastoral and agro-pastoral using the support for the whole family and elders or community, it is common practice that men traditional leaders should provide awareness for the tend to grab resources or properties from women by force to meet their individual community to avoid violence against women needs 192 Issues Risk/Potential Impact Mitigation Measures Responsible Bodies Elite capture and/or different interest groups - There should be controlling mechanism of the elite capture. In EFD, RBOEPA including traditional authority structures in this respect, beneficiaries should be realistically selected in ORCU, EPA Office, influencing community’s prioritization and consultation with representatives of the community manipulation of support provided; lack of - Create awareness among traditional authority structures and transparency during selection of the undertake information campaign to ensure the purpose and beneficiaries for the financial and technical principles of ERP are understood, including targeting assistance and the exclusion of certain procedures and design targeting structures with careful groups and individuals from project benefits consideration to the balance between formal and informal in particular vulnerable people and the traditional authority structures and inclusive project target historically disadvantaged groups and other - Transparent reporting on project interventions. VMGs including women, unemployed - Affirmative action should be given for vulnerable people and youth, elderly, disabled persons, resource for the historically disadvantages regions of Ethiopia poor individuals, ethnic minorities, forest- dependent communities, of Oromia Occupational Health Lack of occupational health and safety of the - The project has prepared Labor Management Procedures EFD, RBOEPA and Safety and labor force and neighboring communities’ and needs to be properly defined and implemented during the ORCU, Contractor COVID-19 exposure to health and safety, especially implementation for the project workers in accordance with the exposure to pesticide and COVID-19 procedures. pandemic - In all activities of the project, prevention of COVID-19 should be mainstreamed, and the necessary protective equipment should be provided to all staff. Besides, social distancing should be implemented during meetings. - All sanitary material helpful for washing and disinfection should be availed. Stringent guidelines of WB should also be used. GRM Risks of project grievance redress - A rapid information dissemination campaign should be designed EFD, RBOEPA mechanism to support the systematic uptake, and disseminated to fit the local context and requirements, ORCU processing and resolution of project related including through different accessible channels including local complaints and grievances. Specifically, for radio in appropriate languages. pesticide spraying activities. - Communities should be sensitized on the techniques and timing of spraying, the chemicals used, its impacts on human health, crops and livestock, and risk mitigation instructions appropriate to the specific pesticide spraying. - All community engagements, including consultations, should be developed to minimize the risk of introducing disease – particularly COVID19 into remote communities. - The GRM developed for the project should be implemented in a proper way. - Expanding the scope of GRM to accommodate issues like forced labor and child labor, GBV, labor abuse, impacts as a result of OHS activities, marginalization and discrimination of HUTLCs 193 Issues Risk/Potential Impact Mitigation Measures Responsible Bodies and forest dependent communities Capacity building Lack of capacity in managing project at The trainings can cover an array of topics that include technical EFD, RBOEPA different levels particularly at woreda and themes, project management, monitoring and evaluation for ORCU, EPA Office, Woreda the kebele levels and there is also problem of implementer at different levels including the woreda and kebele and kebele administrations; timely allowing budget and implementing level implementers of the project. service suppliers or the activities. contractors, woreda women Inadequate awareness and capacity to • Establish, maintain and operate labour grievance and social affairs office manage relevant social issues such as forced mechanism for OFLP ER project workers (direct workers, and child labor, grievance redress community workers and contract workers) as described in the mechanism, lack of gender sensitive LMP and consistent with ESS2. It must be backed up with a more instruments effective band confidential mechanism for GBV/SEAH complaints handling. ● Awareness raising to project implementation staffs and relevant sector representatives ● Awareness raising for the communities and stakeholders on the newly introduced legal instrument on forced and child labor ●If child labor or forced labor cases are identified, the supplier will be required to take remedial measures ● The GRM should accommodate grievances related to forced and child labor and GBV. ● OEPA should develop GBV auditing tools and other gender sensitive instruments. Weak linkages and coordination among - Create linkages among institutions, sectors, projects, and institutions, sectors, projects and projects at projects at all levels. all levels. Cross-cutting Issues The risks of exacerbating gender-based - Addressing gender dimensions of the operation including EFD, RBOEPA violence and sexual exploitation and abuse gender-based violence (GBV). ORCU, EPA Office, Bureau due to labor influx are mostly associated of Woreda Women and with cash transfer activities and to a more - The project has prepared a GBV Action Plan which will be Children Affairs office limited extent with other activities that implemented and defined the potential project GBV issues involve non-local workers thus during implementation, measures should be taken in accordance with the project GBV action plan. - The project implementing teams will regularly access and Labor conditions and issues related to labor manage the risks of SEA/H and other forms of GBV influx including violence against children extending from project activities, including key infrastructure (VAC), Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and elements as well as the receipt of cash-for-work schemes by Sexual Harassment (SEA/SH) and other women and other vulnerable groups and sexual exploitation forms of Gender-Based Violence (GBV), and abuse risks such as sexual favors for registration or release of funds. - The ORCU will engage a GBV specialist dedicated to 194 Issues Risk/Potential Impact Mitigation Measures Responsible Bodies support oversight and management of these risks. - Monitoring the management of GBV risks will be an integral part of the project activities. - The project will also ensure regular consultation and engagement with women and women’s groups throughout the project to ensure equitable inclusion in project activities and to monitor potential risks that may emerge over the life of the project. Strengthening of the Woreda Bureaus of Women and Children Affairs as first contact points for GBV cases Gender Inequality and Social Exclusion: Mitigation mechanism: EFD, RBOEPA Livelihood changes may impact the gender ORCU , EPA Office, relations within households and require - In addressing gender and inclusive development issues Woreda and kebele women to be more active in contributing to particularly for the vulnerable groups and communities, adminstrations; service household income. In addition, women and the GoE acknowledges that mainstreaming gender and suppliers or contractors, other vulnerable and marginalized group social inclusion are key to ensuring ER project woreda women and social may also experience limited participation in sustainability. Such political commitments have been affairs office village planning development. This requires translated into legal and budget commitments with the special attention to ensure that their voice, issuance of relevant regulatory frameworks and interests and needs are well addressed. adoption of gender responsive planning and budgeting, as stipulated in the national gender policy. The ER Project seeks to mainstream gender-sensitive and inclusive development approaches to address gender and exclusion issues in the ERP. These include - (a) ascertaining the equal participation and active engagement of women as well as vulnerable and marginalized groups in the process of consultations and overall ERP implementation, - (b) ensuring that the design and implementation of the ERP seek to promote “better off’ conditions for women as well as vulnerable and marginalized groups, - (c) ensuring gender equality and social inclusion concerns are well addressed in the SDP to address Indigenous Peoples concerns as well as RF and PF to address resettlement and access restriction risks. A minimum standard for gender mainstreaming and social inclusion will be developed in consultation with all 195 Issues Risk/Potential Impact Mitigation Measures Responsible Bodies relevant stakeholders prior to ERP implementation. - These sections of the community should be given special EFD, RBOEPA Overlooking of historically underserved attention during the project implementation. ORCU, EPA Office regions and vulnerable community in general, and people with disability, children, - They should be benefited from the project a certain percentage women in polygamous unions and female headed households in particular Potential exacerbation of vulnerable - The project needs to include a conflict sensitivity assessment EFD, RBOEPA livelihoods of IDPs in project areas and checklist in the ESMF and also consider sensitivity of local ORCU, EPA Office, Woreda worsening of conflicts among the conflict dynamics and implement in a way to avoid escalating and kebele adminstrations pastoralists due to the damage of the pasture local tensions as the works cover IDP and refugee areas. by the locust invasion and during migration to other territories in search of grazing land - The community and the local government should put in place for their livestock appropriate mechanisms including meaningful consultation and full participation of the beneficiary communities during planning, design and implementation phases of the project. - Attempt should be made to resolve conflicts using the traditional way and if this fails to resolve the conflict, government institutions will intervene to settle these conflicts. - The project should consider the livelihoods and political vulnerability in this areas and craft communication messages in accordance with the local context. - The EPA and the ORCU should alert the Bank any incidents related to security, conflict and potential sensitivities towards conflict in the project areas. - Assist discussions between community representatives of clan leaders, Kebele chairpersons and elders to support peaceful inter-clan and inter-ethnic as well as cross-border relations by supporting regular forums and workshops that promote inter- ethnic dialogue. 196 Issues Risk/Potential Impact Mitigation Measures Responsible Bodies Loss and/or Physical cultural resources include movable Mitigation Mechanisms: EFD, RBOEPA Damage of and immovable objects, sites, buildings, and - Strengthening the capacity of the licensing process by ORCU, EPA Office, Woreda a group of buildings, natural facilities and and kebele administrations Physical and landscapes that have archaeological, including to protect physical cultural heritage Cultural paleontological, historical, architectural, - Strengthening the capacity of the licensing process by Resources: religious, aesthetic significance or other inclusion of Physical Cultural Resources Management cultural properties. Plan of the ESMF Studies of Given undiscovered cultural sites are - anticipated and as such it is considered that the ER efforts of improving spatial planning and sustainable alternatives for communities may have potential impacts to the physical and cultural resources in intervention areas. ERP interventions If these sacred sites are located in protected Mitigation Mechanisms: EFD, RBOEPA may indirectly forest areas, this project may restrict local ORCU, EPA Office, Woreda communities’ access to the sacred sites and The existing mechanism for protecting and restoring and kebele administrations affect areas and/or negatively impact their perception of cultural heritage will be maintained and if necessary, access to ownership. further strengthened to ensure the protection and areas/objects (both avoidance of degradation of physical cultural resources tangible and In these cases, the local community will be that may include forests themselves. Necessary measures to meet the provisions of ESS8 will be intangible) that are engaged in seeking an agreement on the use implemented through intensive engagement with and ownership of these physical and cultural regarded as sacred resources. potentially affected communities. The GoE is committed sites by local to mainstreaming key principles of Free Prior Informed communities. Consultation throughout the ER project that will facilitate in maintaining physical cultural resources. 197 13. Observations and Recommendations 13.1. General ERP will pay for ER results generated across Oromia and are expected to provide financial incentives to support sustainable forest management, conservation, restoration and investment, which, in turn, enhance environmental, social and economic benefits in Oromia National Regional State. The ER Project environmental and social risk rating is substantial at this stage considering the jurisdictional approach that covers the region-wide scale, the contextual risks including fragile environment with complex social relationships in the intervention areas, inadequate enforcement in natural resources management including forests, and inadequate cross-sectoral coordination. The ongoing fragility and conflicting situation in the North, North East and South West parts of Ethiopia along with the instability in some parts of ORS, mainly in the western Wollega cluster zone, could also adversely affect the ER Project, including the implementation of ESRM activities, as well as proposed activities to be financed by the BSP related to distribution of ER payments such as maintenance of schools, clinics and roads, and bee keeping and cattle fattening activities, among others. The level of awareness on ERP is generally low in the region Conducting awareness creation workshops, distributing promotional materials, and expanding support for local capacity building on forest sector development and law enforcement should be part of required more works . In line with this, those areas that require capacity building support are educating the wider community about the intergenerational significance of forests and their habitats in general and the long-term environmental stability and agricultural productivity at the local level. In addition, issues in the awareness creation and education project to educate the local governments, investors and the wider public should include the role of forests in mitigating the looming climate change impacts, in enhancing local livelihoods and on the significance of law enforcement. There is sufficient and accumulated positive experience in the region on the practices of area ex-closures for environmental rehabilitation and biodiversity restoration. In some cases, farmland ex-closures are also introduced, and successful results are reported. However, the practice of free grazing is a serious challenge for sustainability. Grazing management and control is essential to ensure sustainable forest conservation and degraded are restoration. Agricultural intensification is feasible in the current context, according to the information collected from the field observations. Nevertheless, availability of inputs and technology (equipment for line seeding or row planting and fertilizer application) are critically lacking. The other barrier will be the availability and cost of inputs, particularly improved seeds and capital. The activities under the prioritized strategic options of the agriculture sector are identified to address such driving factors by diversifying livelihoods, improving productivity, introducing technology and promoting irrigated agriculture production. Besides, the forestry sector SOs are identified to generate improved and alternative income sources to local communities to improve forest governance. As the rural mass largely depends on biomass energy sources (particularly fuel wood and charcoal) for cooking and lighting, fuel efficient improved cook stove is one of the SOs prioritized to address deforestation. Since much of the fuel wood is extracted from natural vegetation including high forests and woodlands, establishing woodlots for renewable biomass energy is one of the proposed SOs. From the regional assessment, the team has learned that there is increasing interest to initiate and be engaged in commercial tree planting such as community forests and industrial plantations, which are among the proposed strategies. However, there are challenges in management and benefit sharing in the forest sector. The crosscutting SOs address equity, participation, gender, benefit sharing and capacity building. Thus, 198 such initiatives have to start with piloting with interested groups, farmers associations and local administrations. Positive results from such pilots can be scaled up later. Alternative strategic options are proposed to address the gaps in the prioritized SOs in responding to the underlying drivers or root factors of deforestation and forest degradation. The alternative options are diversifying local Livelihoods to non-forest based Options; Promoting pro-poor development plans and targeted measures to reduce poverty (to benefit the poor segment of society); Promoting participation and empowering of underserved communities, Design strategies and revise policies to address the impacts of internal and external social conflicts on forest, resources; Ensuring fair distribution of resources among citizens through fair and balanced development; Ensuring fair and balanced allocation of resources to the sector; Implementing actions to regulate the high rate of population growth, including policy review; Implement measures that regulate in-migration to forest regions (refugees, IDPs and squatters); Ensure a well regulated and managed resettlement program; Implement measures that regulate in-migration to forest regions (refugees, IDPs and squatters); Ensuring communities have the right and positive attitude; Implement radical measures to stop the root causes of corruption 13.2. Environmental As learned from the field assessment, the views of great majority of stakeholders, road construction and mining activities are believed to have caused extensive deforestation in different parts of the country. However, there are no proper records and accounts on the magnitude and extent of deforestation caused by such activities. This requires to closely work together with the Roads and Transport Authority and the Ministry of Mines, Petroleum and Natural Gas in order to have accurate estimates of the destruction and thus, to avoid such destruction in the future. This also requires joint planning and implementation among the respective institutions. The potential environmental risks and impacts include community and occupational health and safety issues; soil disturbances; disturbance of environmentally sensitive areas due to soil-and-water conservation (SWC) activities; contamination/pollution of soil and water resources due to the use of agrochemicals, including pesticides, in agroforestry and agricultural intensification activities; and environmental (dusts, greenhouse gas emissions and/or noise) problems related to small-scale infrastructure(e.g. SWC measures livelihoods supporting activities; etc.) construction and maintenance activities and ER payment activities. There are also potential risks of reversals and displacements/leakages (due to inadequate enforcement/coordination) under the ER Project which may impact biodiversity and forest dependent livelihoods, which will, in turn, cause pollution and harm to local communities. Overall, the environmental risks and impacts of the Project are mostly site-specific, temporary, and reversible as the activities (implemented under OFLP grant, RIP, the two legacy REDD+ projects, and the Green Legacy Initiative, and the livestock projects) that will generate ERs are being safeguarded through the OFLP E&S instruments and will be sustained and monitored during the ERPA phase. 13.3. Social The potential social risks and impacts due to the project activities that require sustainable forest management (PFM, A/R, area enclosure, etc.) and small-scaled construction/maintenances for social development activities may result in impacts related to land acquisition including inadequate consultation and inclusive participation, restriction of access to natural resources, involuntary resettlement and loss of livelihoods. In addition, the social risk anticipated during the implementation of OFLP and other initiatives activities (including Participatory Forest Management (PFM), Afforestation/Reafforestation (A/R) under the existing OFLP, Existing REDD+ projects (Bale, REJFMA-SW Ethiopia II), REDD+ Initiative Project (RIP), Green Legacy Initiative and Green Corridors Practice) which will contribute to generating emissions reduction. 199 During the implementation of activities that will generate Emission Reductions, there could be risks related to limited institutional capacity for law enforcement, weak coordination among sectoral institutes for joint planning on forest issues and sustainable management of land and natural resources, access restrictions, social conflicts (regarding access to land/tenurial rights) and exclusion during PFM cooperatives formation, operation and accessing forest resources. Further, restriction of access to natural resources due to OFLP intervention might impose conflict among traditional seasonal migrant forest resource users including pastoralists. As the OFLP ER Project will be implemented throughout the jurisdiction of Oromia Regional State, its intervention may also put impact on those historically underserved (SSAHUTLCs) people including the forest- dependent and/or semi/pastoralist communities, as well as other vulnerable and marginalized groups (VMGs) in the region. Thus, there could be likelihood of social exclusion of targeting beneficiaries from participation in project opportunities (e.g. ER payment) and elite capture of the benefits exclusion of some stakeholders, particularly of those historically underserved communities and other VMGs including women, unemployed youth, elderly, disabled persons, resource poor individuals, ethnic minorities, forest-dependent communities, etc. As the OFLP is being operated in a changing and fragile environment with complex social relationships, the Project might exacerbate or create likely social concerns related to inter-tribal conflicts and other forms of disputes, land tenure security issues, forced eviction, elite captures, labor conditions and issues related to labor influx including violence against children (VAC), Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Sexual Harassment (SEA/SH) and other forms of Gender-Based Violence (GBV), other issues related to Community Health and Safety such as transmission of communicable disease such as Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs), HIV/AIDS, and COVID-19, etc. In addition, inadequate awareness and capacity to manage relevant social issues such as forced and child labor, grievance redress mechanism, lack of gender sensitive instruments and so on; weak capacity and expertise within the government structures to deal with both social and environmental risks to properly implement ESRM instruments including weak multi-sectoral coordination may exacerbate the potential social risks. Furthermore, the implementation of REDD+ legacy projects and REDD+ Investment Project (financed by Norway) activities might have associated social risks including over-expectation of financial and non-financial support from REDD+ which may create or exacerbate conflict between the local officials and communities, exclusion of forest dependent communities, weak legal enforcement on sustainable forest management endeavors, and unavailability of locally accessible grievance Redress mechanism (GRM). The project anticipated social impacts have apply ESS5 and ESS7, and the project has put in place mitigation mechanisms acceptable to the World Bank to mitigate these impacts. For impact on land and properties, the updated Resettlement Framework (RF) will be used; and for restriction of access to legally designated parks and protected areas are involved the updated Process framework will be used. The Bank’s ESS7 is applied based on the screening conducted by the World Bank and reinforced by the constitution of Ethiopia, which indicate that the majority of the target population identify themselves as having the characteristics defined under ESS7. Therefore, issues relating to PAPs meeting the ESS7 requirements is defined in detail through “Enhanced Social Assessment and Consultation,” (part of this SESA) which identified social issues and economic opportunities for the underserved groups. Key stakeholders have been consulted in the Woredas, Kebeles and communities, including identified vulnerable and undeserved groups to seek their broad support for the project and the importance of the project to themselves and their families. The findings of the enhanced social assessment and extensive consultations, including measures to ensure the provision of grievance redress, and benefit sharing issues, and the identified mitigating measures are incorporated in the design of ERP. 14.4. Legal, Institutional and Policy 200 The Federal Forest proclamation designates forest ownership as state (government) and private. Community forests are considered as part of the private forest and are not treated separately. The regional proclamations recognize community ownership separately with different provisions. Community ownership creates suitable opportunities to organize local farmers into user associations and beneficiary groups. Thus, there is a need to review the Federal Forest proclamation clearly define and recognize community forest ownership as different from private ownership, which is crucial for involvement of the community in the development of the sector and for the implementation of ERP. The GoE (2014) revised forest definition has a short coming that might instigate further deforestation in one particular vegetation type. The revised definition excludes shrubs land (less than 2 meter height), which covers quite extensive area in the country and this might instigate clearing such vegetation for other land uses or it might lead to the replacement of such natural vegetation exotic plantation forest species. Therefore, it might be beneficial if the height of a tree in the definition be lower than five meters so that important shrub vegetation species, which often have a height of less than five meter, and such vegetation types will be saved from destruction. Although ERP is recognized as an instrument in the CRGE to achieve the forestry sector emission reduction objective, other sectoral project formulations and implementations need to be aligned with the CRGE to reduce emissions and maximize a carbon neutral development gain. Review of the existing environmental instruments and discussions with stakeholders revealed that Ethiopia has no proclamation on strategic environmental and social assessment (SEA), other than the project-based EIA proclamation (Proc. No. 299/2002). This may pose a challenge in the proper implementation of the SESA/ESMF in the future. There is a need to formulate strategic environmental and social assessment policy and guidelines. This was also a concern shared by the Federal stakeholders such as the Agency dealing with issuing agricultural investment lands. Review of the national draft ESIA (Environmental and Social Impact Assessment) guideline has revealed that it has essentially missed concepts on ERP. Since EPA is currently reviewing the existing environmental law, it will be an opportunity to include concepts of ERP (e.g., the purposes and linkages of ERP to environmental sustainability) in the revised document. Based on the discussions with stakeholders and the client as well as reviewing the relevant available documents, it was learned that Ethiopia has no ESA (Environmental and Social Auditing) guidance. It is recommended the country should develop its own ESA guideline for carrying out environmental and social audit later after implementing the ERP projects. In the EIA Proclamation No.299/2002, development projects including agricultural investments that have impact on forest resources are required to undertake EIA and the EIA report to be reviewed by the competent agencies (regional or federal environment offices). The proclamation mandated the competent Federal agency and regional environment bureaus to review the EIA reports to avoid conflicts of interest. Against this legal provision, the Federal agency (now EPA) transferred its mandate to the implementing and/or investment licensing sectoral Minsters to provide environmental clearance to projects. This violation of the proclamation needs to be reviewed and corrective measures have to be taken accordingly. Proclamation No. 1097/2018 vests power to the MoA to protect natural resources and conserve biodiversity. There is no clear definition of natural resources that it is mandated to protect and conserve. This is an example of overlap in mandates with the other sectors like EPA and will create a gap in addressing key problems around the forest resources. Strong synergy is needed among the relevant institutions and organizations not only the traditional vertical relationship but also horizontal. 201 Inclusion of traditional local institutions (e.g., Aba Gadaa, in Oromia, Gepitato in Sheo) will contribute to the successful implementation of ERP project. The adoption of forest conservation experiences from the indigenous forest user associations such as WAJIB and WaBuB will significantly contribute to the successful implementation of ERP project. There is a clear gap in cross-sectoral coordination in joint planning and implementation of projects and projects. This needs to be seriously looked at and synergy coordination office should be established and be accountable to a higher level of government. The national ERP project needs to build on the experience gained by some NGOs, such as FARM Africa, SOS-Sahel and World Vision Ethiopia and Ethio-Wetlands, in preparing and implementing pilot REDD+ and CDM projects, closely work with them in future projects. In order to address the above stated risks and impacts, the client, through the OFLP grant financing, has already adopted a jurisdictional approach to Environmental and Social risk management including regional capacity building in environmental and social risks management, safeguards information system (SIS) for the collection, compilation and release of information on the compliance of OFLP implementation activities with the agreed safeguards instruments; grievance redress Mechanism; community participation and citizen engagement plan; gender focus, reaching out vulnerable groups; and monitoring, reporting and documenting the safeguards performance in the accounting areas, among others. Also, the institutional and implementation arrangement for Environmental and social risk management system which is being established during the grant period (2017-2022) will be used and strengthened during the ERP period through resources to be allocated from the proceeds of the ERP which relies on existing Government institutions both at the federal and ORS (encompassing up to kebele administration office) levels with discrete accountabilities and decision-making roles based on existing mandates. As part of this, the client has prepared, consulted on and disclosed the project ESRM instruments including updating the existing SESA including social assessment, ESMF, PF, RPF, and benefit sharing plan, and preparing Labour Management Procedures, to assess and manage the E&S risks and impacts as per the requirements of the ESF. Also, additional ESF instruments (ESCP, LMP, SEP and SRAMP) comprise proportionate mitigation measures to address the potential E&S risks and impacts of the project for the first phase. Further, these instruments will be assessed and updated if need be, before the project moves into its second phase in order to describe both (i) the system in place for the compliance of the underlying activities in the livestock and forest management sectors and (ii) the system in place for the compliance of the updated Benefit Sharing Plan, which will include the actors of the livestock sector. Tenure rights can be better ensured through strong land administration institutions that oversee equitable and transparent resource use. This requires improving the organizational structure and building the human power capacity in the fields of land registration, cadastral surveying, land laws, communications, land valuation and compensation. 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Project Background The Oromia Forested Landscape Project (OFLP) is Oromia’s strategic programmatic umbrella and coordination platform for multi-sector, multi-partner intervention on all forested landscapes in Oromia. The long-term project is contributing to a transformation in how forested landscapes are managed in Oromia to deliver multiple benefits such as poverty reduction and resilient livelihoods, climate change mitigation, biodiversity conservation, and water provisioning. The OFLP is foster equitable and sustainable low carbon development through a series of: (i) on-the- ground activities that address deforestation, reduce land-use based emissions, and enhance forest carbon stocks; and (ii) state-wide and local enhancements to institutions, incentives, information, and safeguards management to upscale investment (enabling environment), including coordinating and leveraging multiple REDD-relevant interventions across the regional state. The OFLP will help enable GoE to strategically mobilize, coordinate and scale-up funding programmatically from diverse sources. The success of OFLP and the achievement of the GoE’s broader forest, land- use, and climate ambitions depend on OFLP’s ability to leverage financial resources from existing and future REDD - relevant initiatives such as PSNP, SLMP, AGP, private sector activities, the Climate Resilient Green Economy (CRGE) Facility, bilateral support, farmers’ own investment, and government budget. REDD-relevant initiatives also include REDD+ projects that are currently seeking carbon payments, which would be aligned with OFLP, such as the Bale Mountains REDD+ project. The OFLP is designed to leverage grant resources to attract new financing, expanding the total envelope toward improved land-use, forest retention and forest gains. There is common understanding between GoE and development partners that a robust enabling environment is crucial for successfully implementing a REDD+ jurisdictional approach for ER payments and for leveraging and scaling-up action and investment on-the-ground. OFLP will therefore serve as a “scale-up engine” OFLP will establish the programmatic approach through two financial instruments that would be supported by two legal agreements: (1) a Grant Agreement for 5 years; and (2) Emissions Reduction Purchase Agreement (ERPA) of up to 10 years. i. The five-year mobilization grant will finance the establishment and initial implementation of the state-wide jurisdictional Project. The grant will finance the GoE to strengthen its state-level and local-level enabling environment and implement selected on-the-ground investment activities. The grant will facilitate the achievement of ERs (and resulting ER payments) while also leveraging greater financial resources from multiple sources. ii. ER payments for verified carbon performance paid in a period of up to 10 years (anticipated to begin in 2017 with the date of ERPA signing). These payments will be available once the Project achieves, verifies, and reports on results in terms of reduced emissions. The ER payments will be distributed according to a Benefit Sharing Mechanism and used primarily to ensure sustainability of land-use interventions, as well as to scale up action in other geographical areas within Oromia. This climate financing will be channeled through an ERPA to be signed between GoE and WBG. The envelope for these payments could grow as the OFLP becomes operational and generates results, and as other ER buyers show interest in the OFLP. The OFLP geographic boundary is all forested areas in Oromia. The OFLP will monitor and account for positive and negative changes in forest cover and associated GHG emissions reduction within all 287 rural woredas within the regional state boundaries of Oromia (i.e., the “accounting area of the Project”). The BSM provides an operational solution for disbursing the performance-based ER payments equitably, effectively and efficiently. It is designed during OFLP implementation through a robust consultation process including with local communities state-wide. The OFLP has three components. The US$ 18 million mobilization grant will finance components one and two over a 5-year period: (1) Enabling Investments; and (2) Enabling Environment. These funds 212 will be channeled to GoE as a recipient executed (RE) grant. The third component will consist of up to US$ 50 million of ER Payments for verified emissions reductions as they are delivered over a long-term period. The components overlap in time. The components are described below. Component 1: Enabling Investments Component 1 will finance investment in participatory forest management (including livelihoods support and selected nature-based community enterprise development) and reforestation in deforestation hotspots in sites to be selected, as well as extension services and land-use planning statewide at state and local levels. This component has three subcomponents including (a) Land-use planning support at woreda and community levels; (b) Investment and Extension services and (c) Forest Management Investment in Deforestation Hotspots. Component 2: Enabling Environment Component 2 will finance activities to improve the effectiveness and impact of institutions, incentives (i.e., policies, marketing, BSM), information (i.e., strategic communication, MRV) and safeguards management at state and local levels. This component will enhance the enabling environment to help scale up and leverage action on-the-ground to reduce deforestation and forest degradation. Component 3: The Emission Reduction payment project (P151294) will pay up to $12 million for verified emissions reductions from the forest sector in the first phase of the Emission Reduction Purchase Agreement (ERPA) (i.e: Jan 2022- Dec 2023) and $ 28million for emission reductions coming both from the forest and the livestock sector in the second phase (Jan 2024-Dec 2029). It is planned to sign the ERPA in this calendar year (2021), if possible. The project has already prepared a Benefit Sharing Plan16 for the first phase, which has been consulted widely and has been through the Bank internal review. A comprehensive benefit sharing plan considering the emissions coming from the livestock sector will be prepared for the second phase. Thus, the WB task team agreed to migrate the Parent OFLP (OPs standards) to the ESF roadmap. Accordingly, the client (with consultant) is expected to update and prepare the necessary Environmental and social Risk Management (ESRM) instruments based on Bank Environmental and Social Standards (ESSs). 2. ESRM instruments preparation and update The World Bank is committed to supporting Clients in the development and implementation of projects that are environmentally and socially sustainable, and to enhancing the capacity of Client institutions’ environmental and social frameworks to assess and manage the environmental and social risks and impacts of projects. Thus, the project implementer is required to update the existing OFLP ESRM instruments including ESMF, SESA, RPF and PF as well as prepare additional ESRM instruments such as Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP), Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP), and Labor Management Procedures (LMP) based on the applicable National Legislatures and the WB’s ESF requirements. To this end, the Bank’s ESF defines specific Environmental and Social Standards (ESSs), which are designed to avoid, minimize, reduce, or mitigate the adverse environmental and social risks and impacts of projects. The Bank will assist these Clients in their application of the ESSs to projects supported through Investment Project Financing in accordance with this Environmental and Social Policy for Investment Project Financing. The WB Environmental and Social Standards applicable to the project are summarized below. For details refer: http://www.worldbank.org/en/projects-operations/environmental-and-social-framework WB E&S Standards Key Focus ESS1: Assessment and Management of Sets out the Borrower’s responsibilities for assessing, Environmental and Social Risks and managing, and monitoring environmental and social risks and 16 https://documents.worldbank.org/en/publication/documents-reports/documentdetail/722771624985229961/benefit-sharing-plan- for-disbursing-result-based-payments-from-biocf-isfl-project 213 Impacts impacts associated with each stage of a project supported by the Bank through Investment Project Financing (IPF), in order to achieve environmental and social outcomes consistent with the Environmental and Social Standards (ESSs). ESS2: Labor and working conditions Recognizes the importance of employment creation and income generation in the pursuit of poverty reduction and inclusive economic growth. Borrowers can promote sound worker-management relationships and enhance the development benefits of a project by treating workers in the project fairly and providing safe and healthy working conditions. Prohibits child labor and forced labor, focus on OHS, grievance mechanism, etc. ESS3: Resource Efficiency and Recognizes that economic activity and urbanization often Pollution Prevention and Management generate pollution to air, water, and land, and consume finite resources that may threaten people, ecosystem services and the environment at the local, regional, and global levels. This ESS sets out the requirements to address resource efficiency and pollution prevention and management throughout the project life-cycle. ESS4: Community Health and Safety Addresses the health, safety, and security risks and impacts on project-affected communities and the corresponding responsibility of Borrowers to avoid or minimize such risks and impacts, with particular attention to people who, because of their particular circumstances, may be vulnerable. Focus on risks and impacts on communities through design and safety of infrastructure, equipment, products, services, traffic, and hazardous materials. ESS5: Land Acquisition, Restrictions Involuntary resettlement should be avoided. Where on Land Use and Involuntary involuntary resettlement is unavoidable, it will be minimized Resettlement and appropriate measures to mitigate adverse impacts on displaced persons (and on host communities receiving displaced persons) will be carefully planned and implemented. It also provides clarity on treatment of state land, land titling, access to common resources, voluntary land donation and forced evictions of affected persons. ESS6: Biodiversity Conservation and Recognizes that protecting and conserving biodiversity and Sustainable Management of Living sustainably managing living natural resources are Natural Resources fundamental to sustainable development and it recognizes the importance of maintaining core ecological functions of habitats, including forests, and the biodiversity they support. This ESS also addresses sustainable management of primary production and harvesting of living natural resources and 214 recognizes the need to consider the livelihood of project- affected parties, including Indigenous Peoples, whose access to, or use of, biodiversity or living natural resources may be affected by a project. ESS7: Indigenous Peoples/Sub- Ensures that the development process fosters full respect for Saharan African Historically the human rights, dignity, aspirations, identity, culture, and Underserved Traditional Local natural resource-based livelihoods of Indigenous Communities Peoples/Sub-Saharan African Historically Underserved Traditional Local Communities. It is also meant to avoid adverse impacts of projects on Indigenous Peoples/Sub- Saharan African Historically Underserved Traditional Local Communities, or when avoidance is not possible, to minimize, mitigate and/or compensate for such impacts. Provides clear definition and introduction of Free, Prior, Informed Consent (FPIC) in specified circumstances. ESS8: Cultural Heritage Recognizes that cultural heritage provides continuity in tangible and intangible forms between the past, present and future. This ESS sets out measures designed to protect cultural heritage throughout the project life-cycle. Adopt chance find procedure, enhanced consultation with affected communities. ESS9: Financial Intermediaries (FIs) Recognizes that strong domestic capital and financial markets and access to finance are important for economic development, growth and poverty reduction. FIs are required to monitor and manage the environmental and social risks and impacts of their portfolio and FI subprojects, and monitor portfolio risk, as appropriate to the nature of intermediated financing. The way in which the FI will manage its portfolio will take various forms, depending on a number of considerations, including the capacity of the FI and the nature and scope of the funding to be provided by the FI. Establish E&S procedures commensurate with FI nature, risk level and impact. ESS10: Stakeholder Engagement and Recognizes the importance of open and transparent Information Disclosure engagement between the Borrower and project stakeholders as an essential element of good international practice. Effective stakeholder engagement can improve the environmental and social sustainability of projects, enhance project acceptance, and make a significant contribution to successful project design and implementation. Consolidates WB engagement provisions meaningful consultation, access to information and grievance redress. 215 3. Objective of the Consultancy The objective of this assignment is to update the existing OFLP Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF), Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment (SESA), Resettlement Policy Framework (RPF) and Process Framework (PF) and preparation of Labor Management Producers (LMP), Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) and Environmental and social commitment Plan (ESCP) with particular focus on any risks related emissions reductions from the forest sector and the livestock sector across Oromia. Thus, to avoid, minimize and mitigate the environmental and social risks and impacts that are likely to arise during the planning, design, and implementation of sub-project level activities. The newly prepared and updated instruments would help to analyze and facilitate the potential risks management process in compliance with the relevant National Legislation, the applicable World Bank’s Safeguards Policies and other requirements for the implementation of sub-projects under the project in a coherent manner. It shall also provide clear, comprehensive, and practical guidance to the Client on integrating an environmental and social due diligence process into the OFLP AF implementation. The specific objectives for this assessment: ▪ identify all relevant potential environmental and social risks, including risks related missions’ reductions from the forest sector and the livestock sector; ▪ Prepare and update the description of relevant legal, regulatory and institutional frameworks that will allow an environmental and social risks identification, designing, implementation and monitoring of appropriate E&S risk management instruments; ▪ identify the likely positive and negative environmental impacts including cumulative impacts of the project activities and propose appropriate mitigation measures; ▪ review and update the established general procedures and processes in conducting environmental and social screening and preparation of other types of site-specific safeguards instruments; ▪ specify appropriate roles and responsibilities of the various institutions/actors in different tiers, and outline reporting procedures and mechanisms for managing and monitoring environmental and social concerns related to the sub-projects; ▪ determine and update the training, capacity building and technical assistance needed to successfully and effectively identify, develop, implement, monitor and evaluate the planned safeguards instruments of the project; ▪ update methodologies and procedures for environmental and social screening and review, approval and implementation of project activities; ▪ prescribe project arrangements for the preparation and implementation of project interventions in order to adequately address the National and World Bank operational policies; ▪ update the budget required to implement the risks and impacts mitigation measures proposed under the updated SESA, RPF,PF and ESMF; and ▪ update implementation strategies of the major issues outlined in the ESRM instruemnts; outlining the required procedures for managing, monitoring and evaluating environmental and social risks related to the project. 4. Methods 216 The preparation and updating of OFLP ESRM instruments will develop in the participatory process. The consultant is required to consult key stakeholders as relevant using techniques including focus group discussions, workshops, individual one-on-one interviews as they related to the project implementation. This will be conducted according to the COVID 19 health guidance issued by World Health Organization (WHO) and Health Guidance of Government of Ethiopia (Ministry of Health). An inception report to be developed by the Consultant will outline structure methodology, timeframe, and resources for preparing and updating the ESRM instruments. The data for preparing and updating ESRM instruments is expected to be collected both from primary and secondary sources. The data collection process will be supported by the Client following the development of a user-friendly data collection template by the Consultant. The Consultant is required to come up with data collection tool (s) that also allow producing analytical reports mainly on qualitative description. Other data collection tools as may deem necessary can be employed by the Consultant. As indicative approach, the primary data will be collected through conducting various consultations, Household Interviews or Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), Focus Group Discussion (FGD), field level observations, and others. As secondary data, relevant documents to be shared from implementing partners as reflected in the annex are considered, as well as any additional document, the Consultant’s experts may be aware of. Scope of Work The social development consultant, in coordination with the environment consultant, will be required to undertake the following tasks for updating the existing ESRM instruments including ESMF, SESA, RPF and PF: ▪ Review and update the project background information: Full understanding of the project and its various components is required, including its location, schedule of implementation arrangements, and life span. Review the socio-cultural, institutional, historical and political context. Describe the socio- cultural, institutional, historical and political contexts with respect to the OFLP based on available sources of information. ▪ Review the existing ESMF, SESA, RPF and PF and update based on the finding: evaluate risks and approaches in the existing project OFLP instruments such as COVID 19, risks and mitigation measures applicable to SEA/SH or GBV, occupational health and safety, child and forced labor, social inclusion, security related issues (like local conflicts), and stakeholder engagement and make recommendations for additions and improvements. ▪ Review relevant policy, legislative and administrative frameworks: The consultant is required to review relevant national level policies, legislative, regulatory and administrative frameworks, State level legislative and administrative frameworks and WB ESF standards. ▪ Review and update institutional and capacity building related aspects: In the instruments, there is a need to outline appropriate roles and responsibilities of various institutions/actors in different tiers, ORCU, OFCCC, REDD+, WB, community groups, A/R and PFM cooperatives and other bodies for the successful realization of the project in general and E&S risks management specifically. As part of sustaining the E&S risk management process and impacts, capacity building components (including 217 training, specific technical assistance with suggested resource requirement) at various phases of the project cycle should be outlined in the OFLP ESRM instruments. ▪ Indicate implementation strategies: In order to materialize the major issues outlined in the updated instruments, implementation strategies have considerable importance. This among others will cover components to be implemented, implementing bodies, coordination and integration of the implementing bodies, priority areas for implementation, implementation schedule, sources of budget and related matters. ▪ Update Socio-cultural context of the instruments : Describe the most significant social and cultural features that differentiate social groups in the project area, portray their different interests in the project, and their levels of influence; explain any effects the project may have on the poor and excluded; examine any opportunities that the project offers to influence the behavior of such groups and the outcomes thereof; understand any known conflicts among groups that may affect project implementation. ▪ Identifying/assessing environmental and social impacts and mitigation measures: Assessing the E&S impacts (both positive and negative) of the project interventions/ activities with potential assessment of cumulative impacts if appropriate. Update the ESMF, SESA, RPF and PF whether the project area contains any socially and environmentally sensitive areas (including Land acquisition, Labour influx, SEA/SH or GBV, occupational health and safety, child and forced labor, social inclusion, local conflicts, tensions and security issues, and stakeholder engagement) that need to be considered during project implementation. ▪ Grievance Redress Mechanism: Assess, indicate and update community grievance handling methods so as to devise mechanisms for resolving project related complaints in line with World Bank Grievance Redress mechanism and national frameworks. ▪ Information Disclosure, Stakeholder Engagement and Consultation: Point out the consultation and participation mechanisms employed and the activities to be considered for the dissemination of the project’s, environmental and social management interventions and identify issues that need to be disclosed ▪ Monitoring, Evaluating and Reporting Procedures: update the ways of monitoring, evaluating and reporting procedures and mechanisms for managing environmental and social concerns related to the project and along with its components. Further, the consultant will be required to develop LMP, SEP and ESCP. ▪ Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP): It is the document that have detailed information on the Environmental and Social agreed action i.e., the Bank will work with the Borrower to identify and agree on measures and actions to address gaps and strengthen the Borrower’s ES Framework, to the extent that such measures and actions are necessary to meet the requirement of ESSs. The agreed measures and actions, together with the timeframes for completion of such measures and actions, will be included in the ESCP. 218 ▪ Stakeholder Engagement Plan (LMP): These procedures will set out the way in which project workers will be managed, in accordance with the requirements of the applicable National Law and ESS2. The procedures will address the way in which ESS2 will apply to different categories of project workers including direct workers, and the way in which the Borrower will require third parties to manage their workers. Also, the labor management procedures will set out measures to prevent and address harassment, intimidation and/or exploitation. ▪ Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP): The Stakeholder Engagement Plan will be expected to describe the timing and methods of engagement with stakeholders throughout the life cycle of the project as agreed between Bank and OFLP, distinguishing between project-affected parties and other interested parties with consider the main characteristics and interests of the stakeholders, and the different levels of engagement and consultation that will be appropriate for different stakeholders. The SEP will also describe the range and timing of information to be communicated to project-affected parties and other interested parties, as well as the type of information to be sought from them. The SEP will set out how communication with stakeholders will be handled throughout project preparation and implementation. Further, the SEP will describe the measures that will be used to remove obstacles to participation, and how the views of differently affected groups will be captured. Duration of Assignment and Deliverables The major deliverables with coordination of Environmental specialist are indicated in the below table. SA Milestones Completion Date Inception report including research strategy 7D Draft updated ESMF, SESA, RPF and PF 15D Draft LMP, SEP and ESCP 15D Final ESMF, SESA, RPF, PF LMP, SEP and ESCP D Total working days 45 days 5. Required qualifications and experience of the consultant An individual consultant who has prior experience on a similar exercise on the World Bank financed projects and its E&S operational polices a. Education The individual consultant should have a second degree in the area of social science fields of study including Sociology, Development Studies, Social Anthropology, Social Works, or other relevant social science field of studies. b. Experience ▪ Minimum of 10 years progressive experience working in development projects. ▪ Strong analytical skills, a demonstrated ability to conduct interviews with a range of stakeholders, and experience in pulling together analysis and data into reports ▪ Experience in reviewing and compiling multiple data sets and strong understanding of quantitative and qualitative analysis with E&S issues. ▪ The consultant must have prior experience of working with complex national level ESRM or strategic plans involving multiple stakeholders, and a clear understanding of Delivering as One Principle 219 ▪ Ability to identify implementation issues and operational challenges, and provide recommendations to remedy these issues to accelerate project delivery ▪ Adequate understanding of human rights-based approach to development, gender equality, environmental sustainability, Results based management c. Language requirement ▪ Excellent proficiency in English is required ▪ Strong writing abilities is required ▪ Proficiency in Amharic and other local language skills is necessary. Terms of Reference for Environmental Safeguard support Individual Consultancy Services for Environmental Safeguards Support for: (i) updating of Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment (SESA), including Social Development Plan, and Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF); and (ii) preparing other relevant Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) documents (Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP), Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) and Labor Management Procedures (LMP)) for Oromia Forested Landscape Project (P151294) 1. Background The Oromia National Regional State, which accounts about 52% the country’s forest resources, has been selected as a pilot for the country to implement the first, large-scale emission reduction jurisdictional Project called Oromia National Regional State Forested Landscape Project (OFLP). The OFLP is a strategic project with two sequenced financing sources, a recipient executed trust fund (RETF) grant (P156475, launched in May 2017) followed by an emission reduction payment agreement (ERPA) (P151294) to be negotiated and signed by December 2020, or early 2021. The project development objective is to reduce net GHG emissions and improve sustainable forest management in Oromia. The mobilization grant finances project establishment, enhancing state-wide enabling environment for scaling up actions and implementations of selected on-the ground investment activities over a period of five years (2017-2022). The project would receive result-based financing for a net emission reduction (ER) achieved from the entire regional state coming both from the forestry and other sectors including livestock and verified against the project’s reference level in a period of up to 2029. The OFLP is Oromia’s strategic umbrella and coordination platform for multi -sector, multiparter interventions on all forested landscapes. Accordingly, the Project design contributes to a transformation in how forested landscapes are managed in Oromia to deliver multiple benefits such as poverty reduction and resilient livelihoods, climate change mitigation, biodiversity conservation, and water provisioning. It also contributes to the objectives of the World Bank’s BioCarbon Fund Initiative for Sustainable F orest Landscapes (ISFL) through (a) reducing GHG emissions from land-use change through a state-wide jurisdictional project implementation approach and sustainable land use that blends land-use planning, policies, and practices; (b) harnessing multisector and private sector engagements; and (c) leveraging initiatives and financing, including results-based ER payments. The OFLP prepared, consulted up on and disclosed the project safeguards instruments (that apply to both the grant and the ERPA) in-country and at the InfoShop in accordance with World Bank environmental and social safeguard policies requirements. The Project safeguards instruments are (a) Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment (SESA), (b) Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF); (c) Resettlement Policy Framework (RPF); and (d) Process Framework (PF). A Consultation and Participation Plan was also prepared through a consultative process. A Safeguards Operational Manual was developed as part of the Project Implementation Manual (PIM) that draws specificities from the safeguards instruments. The OLFP safeguards management system being establish during the grant period will be sustained and strengthened during the ERPA period. As the carbon financing of the Oromia Forested Landscape Project (P151294) has now migrated to the new ESF, the government will need to update some of the existing environmental and social risk management (ESRM) instruments (SESA and ESMF) and prepare new ESRM instruments (ESCP, SEP and LMP) prior to appraisal of the OFLP Emission Reduction Project Document (ERPD) as per the requirements of the new Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) of the Bank. To this end, the World Bank is seeking to hire a highly qualified environmental specialist (STC), with proven experience and good track records, to update the existing ESRM instruments and to prepare the new ESRM instruments prior to OFLP ERPD appraisal. 2. Objective and Scope of the consultancy services 220 The main objective of the consultancy is to update the existing E&S safeguards tools (SESA and ESMF) and prepare new E&S risk management tools (ESCP, SEP and LMP). The environmental STC will closely work with the social development consultant to delivery the proposed consultancy services. Thus, the scope of this consultancy covers the updating of the existing ESRM tools and the preparation of the new ESRM tools as per the ESF requirements and the updated OFLP Emission Reduction Project Document. 3. Specific Tasks of the Assignment In line with the above objectives and scope of the consultancy services, the environmental consultant will be required to undertake the following tasks. i. Prepare an inception report. Prepare a concise inception report comprising the understanding and interpretation of the ToR, the methodology, and work plan; ii. Review of documents. The consultant will compile and review all relevant background documents and secondary data and information related to the updating and preparation of the ESRM instruments, including OFLP SESA, ESMF and Consultation and Participation Plan; the new WB ESF; relevant ESF Guidance Notes for Borrowers (including labor and working conditions and stakeholder engagement plan and information disclosure); and the updated OFLP ERPD, among others. Please see http://www.worldbank.org/en/projects-operations/environmental-and-social-framework for details on the new WB ESF and ESSs. iii. Update SESA and ESMF. Jointly with the social consultant, update existing OFLP Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment (SESA) and Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF), focusing on a) the OFLP background information including components, location, biophysical and socio-economic environment, and socio-cultural and historical contexts. b) relevant policy, legal, regulatory and institutional frameworks for managing environmental and social risks and impacts of the OFLP, c) environmental and social risks and impacts (positive & negative) of the OFLP activities and propose appropriate mitigation measures, d) roles and responsibilities of the various relevant institutions at all administrative levels, including capacity building, managing and monitoring of environmental and social mitigation and enhancement measures, e) the grievance redress mechanism (GRM) for resolving project related complaints in line with World Bank GRM and national frameworks, f) the training, capacity building and technical assistance required to effectively identify, develop, implement, monitor and evaluate the planned safeguards instruments of the OFLP activities, g) the monitoring, evaluating and reporting procedures and mechanisms for managing environmental and social issues, risks and impacts of the project/project with its components, and h) the budget required to implement the risks and impacts mitigation measures proposed under the updated SESA and ESMF, among others, prior to appraisal as per the requirements of the ESF and the updated OFLP Emission Reduction Project Document. The environmental STC will lead the updating of the SESA and ESMF while the social STC will address the social issues of the two instruments, including social development part of the SESA. iv. Prepare ESF instruments. Jointly with the social consultant, prepare other relevant ESF instruments (ESCP, SEP and LMP) before appraisal. a) ESCP: It will set out the material measures and actions required for the OFLP to meet the environmental and social standards (ESSs) over a specified timeframe. The ESCP will take into account the findings of the environmental and social assessment, the Bank’s environmental and social due diligence, and the results of engagement with stakeholders. It will be an accurate summary of the material measures and actions required to avoid, minimize, reduce or otherwise mitigate the potential environmental and social risks and impacts of the OFLP. A completion date for each action will be specified in the ESCP. It will also describe the different management tools (ESMF, LMP, SEP, ESIAs, ESMPs, etc. as required) that the Borrower will use to develop and implement the agreed measures and actions. The ESCP will be agreed with the Bank, disclosed as early as possible (before project appraisal) and will form part of the legal agreement. b) SEP: A SEP, proportionate to the nature and scale of the OFLP and its potential risks, will be developed and implemented. It will describe the timing and methods of engagement with stakeholders throughout the life cycle of the OFLP, distinguishing between project-affected parties and other interested parties with consider the main characteristics and interests of the stakeholders, and the different levels of engagement and consultation that will be appropriate for different stakeholders. The SEP will also describe the range and timing of information to be 221 communicated to project-affected parties and other interested parties, as well as the type of information to be sought from them. The SEP will also set out how communication with stakeholders will be handled throughout project preparation and implementation. Further, the SEP will describe the measures that will be used to remove obstacles to participation, and how the views of differently affected groups will be captured. Please refer to the ESF and the Guidance Note for Borrowers-ESS10 (Stakeholder Engagement and Information Disclosure) for further information and other relevant documents, including the OFLP Consultation and Participation Plan and the updated draft OFLP PAD and pertinent government policies, laws and guidelines. c) LMP: The purpose of the LMP is to facilitate planning for the OFLP and help identify the resources necessary to address the labor issues associated with the OFLP. It will set out the way in which OFLP workers will be managed, in accordance with the requirements of the applicable National Law and ESS2. It will address the way in which ESS2 will apply to different categories of OFLP workers including direct workers, and the way in which the Borrower will require third parties to manage their workers. Also, the LMP will set out measures to prevent and address harassment, intimidation and/or exploitation. Please refer to the ESF and the Guidance Note for Borrowers-ESS2(Labor and Working Conditions) for further information and other relevant documents, including the updated draft OFLP PAD and pertinent government policies, laws and guidelines. v. The updated and the draft ESRM instruments will be presented on consultative meetings/workshops with relevant stakeholders to ensure acceptance of the instruments. The environmental consultant, jointly with the social consultant, will be required to revise the instruments (where necessary) to address inputs and contributions from the consultative process as well. Soft copies of all analytical background and the final document itself will be submitted to and owned by the Government and the World Bank. 4. Methodology The methodology for the assignment will follow desk reviewing of all relevant documentation related to tasks mentioned above; data collection from relevant stakeholders; preparation/updating of draft ESRM tools as per the new WB ESF requirements and the updated OFLP ERPD; and conduct consultative meetings to seek additional information and reconfirm data and analysis. The consultant may have to travel to project offices and other locations as needed to accomplish the objective and the tasks of the assignment. 5. Duration of the Consultancy The consultancy will be for a maximum of 45 working days from the date of contract signing. 6. Deliverables: The deliverables along with the estimated number of working days are outlined below. # Deliverables17 Estimated working days 1 Delivery of a concise inception report which includes at least understanding/ interpretation of 2 the TORs, the methodology of carrying out the assignment, key areas which need improvement, work plan and implementation schedule 2 Delivery of draft SEP • Submit draft SEP 4 • Resubmit updated draft SEP 1 2 Delivery of an updated SESA and ESMF (jointly with the social development consultant): • Submit updated draft SESA and ESMF 16 • Resubmit final draft SESA and ESMF 4 17 The World Bank and Oromia REDD+ Coordination Unit will provide feedback/inputs to the reports. 222 3 Delivery of the ESF instruments (ESCP and LMP) • Submit draft ESF instruments 10 • Resubmit final draft ESF instruments 3 4 Resubmit all final ESRM documents (based on feedback of stakeholders) 5 Total working days 45 7. Coordination and reporting arrangements The consultant will report to Ross Hughes, the Task Team Lead (ADM TTL), and Karin Teixeira Kaechele (Co-TTL) for the above tasks. The consultant will ensure close coordination with the Ethiopian Government counterparts, particularly the Oromia REDD+ Coordination Unit; Oromia Environment, Forest and Climate Change Authority; and Oromia Wildlife and Forest Enterprise, among others. 8. Remuneration The agreed daily rate will be provided with no further benefits up on completion of all deliverables as indicated in section 7 above. In case of missions, travel, insurance and per diems are provided. 9. Qualifications requirements • Advanced degree (PhD or Masters) degree in environmental science, environmental engineering, civil engineering, or natural sciences is required. • A minimum of 5 years of full-time relevant professional experience in environmental management sector is required. • Fluency in English is required (writing, speaking, listening, and reading). • Knowledge and experience in one or more of the following areas: environmental management, environmental sector policy, or integrated development planning or climate change mitigation or adaption, in various sectors (e.g. natural disaster management, rural development, environmental pollution and health). • Experience working with a wide range of stakeholders, NGOs, private sector international organizations, development partners and/or with the government. • Confirmed collaboration and successful experience working with multi-disciplinary teams. • A strong sense of partnership and ability to work independently with limited supervision. • Strong interpersonal and communication skills 223 Annex 2: Stakeholder and Community Consultation Interview Guides Stakeholder Consultation-Zone and Woreda Level Stakeholder STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION INTERVIEW GUIDES INSTRUCTIONS: Introduction by interviewer My name is ___________. I am working with Environmental and Social Development consultants who are employed by ORCU for Oromia Forested Landscapes Project-Emission Reduction Purchase Agreement Project (P151294) World Bank financed project. We are an independent consultants assigned to work in the Preparation of ESCP, SEP and LMP, and updating ESMF, SESA, EF and PF for OFLP-ERPA project in Ethiopia (Oromia regional state). We do not represent the government or any political party. We are gathering baseline information; physical; biodiversity; socio- cultural context; environmental; resettlement, compensation and GRM procedures, institutional arrangement and the potential social risks and impacts of the A project of the identified Woredas on the existing status of the Woreda and its surrounding area and the multi-faceted linkages of the Woreda with its rural hinterlands. Your response will be kept confidential and will not be shared with anybody other than for this project purpose. Study Contact Information If you have any questions about this assessment, you may contact consultants at: Mr. Yemane Mebrahtu +251-(0)969-116477 yemhamen@gmail.com Brief Description of the OFLP-ERPA OFLP is a nationally prioritized strategic pilot project that has been under implementation since 2017. Designed in two sequenced financing sources, a recipient executed trust fund (RETF) grant followed by an emission reduction payment agreement (ERPA). OFLP Grant Financing: 2017-2022 Phase I is under implementation until 2022 as a pilot throughout Oromia Regional State. The fund is a grant financed from the BioCF ISFL initiative to enhance the enabling environment at the state and local levels while supporting actions on the ground (enabling investment) for landscape restoration by focusing on prioritized deforestation hotspot areas and improving the livelihoods of the local people. The enabling investment activities include participatory forest management (PFM) such as livelihoods support and selected nature-based community enterprise development, and reforestation in 51 selected deforestation hotspot woredas, as well as extension services and land-use planning state-wide at state and local levels. The safeguards system which is being established during the OFLP grant period will be used and strengthened during the ERPA period through resources to be allocated from the proceeds of the ERPA. The OFLP grant financing achievements are very important to inform the National REDD+ Readiness Project and assist Ethiopia to receive and deploy results-based climate finance. 224 OFLP-ERP (2022-2029) The Emission Reduction payment project (P151294) will pay up to $12 million for verified emissions reductions from the forest sector in the first phase of the Emission Reduction Purchase Agreement (ERPA) (i.e: Jan 2022- Dec 2023) and $ 28million for emission reductions coming both from the forest and the livestock sector in the second phase (Jan 2024-Dec 2029). OFLP- ERP will pay for ER results generated across Oromia Regional State; expected to provide financial incentives to support sustainable forest management, conservation, restoration and investment, which, in turn, enhance environmental, social and economic benefits in the region. Project Components of the OFLP-ERPA Component 1: Measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) and payment of ERs generated by the project Deforestation and associated ERs within OFLP will be measured annually by the MRV unit. Measurement and reporting from the GoE to the BioCF Initiative for Sustainable Forest Landscapes (ISFL) will take place every year, starting in late 2022 and 2024, 2026, 2028 and 2030. The verification will take place every two years by a third party contracted by the World Bank following the submission of a monitoring report by the FDRE. Payments from the BioCF to the FDRE are expected to be made biannually upon verification of the ERs, or annually upon interim progress reports (as verification doesn’t take place annually). Component 2: Distribution of ER payments as per a BSP. The BSP was prepared by the FDRE/BioCF through a highly participatory process. The BSP is guided by the principles of equity, efficiency, and transparency, and includes principles; categories of beneficiaries; processes for the distribution of benefits; and monitoring provisions, among other issues. The project will pay up to $12 million for verified emissions reductions from the forest sector in the first phase of the Emission Reduction Purchase Agreement (ERPA) (i.e: Jan 2022- Dec 2023) and $ 28million for emission reductions coming both from the forest and the livestock sector in the second phase (Jan 2024-Dec 2029). It is planned to sign the ERPA in this calendar year (2021), if possible. The project has already prepared a Benefit Sharing Plan18 for the first phase, which has been consulted widely and has been through the Bank internal review. Stakeholders Interview-Zone and Woreda Levels A. Stakeholder Consultation Participants: 1. Zone Level: Head office of Oromia Environmental Protection, Head of Office of Agriculture, Head of Office of land administration and use, 2. Woreda Level: Woreda Agriculture and Head of Oromia Environmental Protection office B. Basic Information Participants: i. Name of the zone:_________________________________________________ ii. Name of Woreda:_________________________________________________ iii. Name of Office:___________________________________________________ iv. Date of consultation conducted: _____________________________________ v. Consultation Start Time:_______________________ vi. Consultation End Time: _______________________ 18 https://documents.worldbank.org/en/publication/documents-reports/documentdetail/722771624985229961/benefit-sharing-plan- for-disbursing-result-based-payments-from-biocf-isfl-project 225 vii. Venue: _______________________ viii. Name of Consultation Moderator: _______________________ S.no Name Sex Position Phone number E-mail address Signature 1 2 3 4 5 Total Discussion Points (Agendas) for Stakeholders Interview-Woreda Levels 1. General project overview: 1.1. Views &Information about the proposed (OFLP-ERPA) project _______________________________________________________________________________________ ____________ 1.2. How do you evaluate the development activities in your area? _______________________________________________________________________________________ ____________ 1.3. How do you view emission reduction practice in the area? _______________________________________________________________________________________ ____________ 2. What do you thing are the potential benefit of the project (OFLP-ERPA)? _______________________________________________________________________________________ ____________ 3. What potential adverse effects would result from the project (Risks ,Concern)? _______________________________________________________________________________________ ____________ 4. What solutions would there be to mitigate the potential adverse effects of OFLP- ERPA?_________________________________________________________________________________ ___________ 5. Discussing existing E & S Capacities and experiences in the implementing Institutions. 5.1. Describing existing E&S units/directorates, its manpower, budget, e.t.c _______________________________________________________________________________________ ____________ 5.2. Describing experiences on E & S screening, review and approval of World Bank or other projects _______________________________________________________________________________________ ____________ 5.3. Experiences on Implementing SEP and LRP on previous projects _______________________________________________________________________________________ ____________ 5.4. Experiences in handling Land acquisition & resettlement in other projects _______________________________________________________________________________________ ____________ 226 5.5. Experiences in handling property valuation and compensation _______________________________________________________________________________________ ____________ 5.6. Describing existing GRM systems to handle complaints _______________________________________________________________________________________ ____________ 6. Institutional arrangements of the ORCU at OEPA, and coordination mechanism. That is, including the roles and responsibilities of Environment and Social officer(s) in OLFP-ERPA. 6.1. Mandates-legitimate scope of engagement to deliver services _______________________________________________________________________________________ ____________ 6.2. Roles –Expected performance and function linked to mandate _______________________________________________________________________________________ ____________ 6.3. Responsibilities-moral and legal obligation to complete the task _______________________________________________________________________________________ ____________ 6.4. Reporting mechanisms/flows _______________________________________________________________________________________ ____________ 7. You are cordially invited to suggest if there is any additional idea. _______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________ Community Consultation-Woreda Level Stakeholders COMMUNITY CONSULTATION INTERVIEW GUIDES INSTRUCTIONS: Introduction by interviewer My name is ___________. I am working with Environmental and Social Development consultants who are employed by ORCU for Oromia Forested Landscapes Project-Emission Reduction Purchase Agreement Project (P151294) World Bank financed project. We are an independent consultants assigned to work in the Preparation of ESCP, SEP and LMP, and updating ESMF, SESA, EF and PF for OFLP-ERPA project in Ethiopia (Oromia regional state). We do not represent the government or any political party. We are gathering baseline information; physical; biodiversity; socio- cultural context; environmental; resettlement, compensation and GRM procedures, institutional arrangement and the potential social risks and impacts of the A project of the identified Woredas on the existing status of the Woreda and its surrounding area and the multi-faceted linkages of the Woreda with its rural hinterlands. Your response will be kept confidential and will not be shared with anybody other than for this project purpose. Study Contact Information If you have any questions about this assessment, you may contact consultants at: 227 Mr. Yemane Mebrahtu +251-(0)969-116477 taye_dugassa@yahoo.com Brief Description of the OFLP-ERPA 1. OFLP is a nationally prioritized strategic pilot project that has been under implementation since 2017. Designed in two sequenced financing sources, a recipient executed trust fund (RETF) grant (Phase I) followed by an emission reduction purchase agreement (ERPA) (Phase II). 2. Phase I: 2017-2022 Phase I is under implementation until 2022 as a pilot throughout Oromia Regional State. The fund is a grant financed from the BioCF ISFL initiative to enhance the enabling environment at the state and local levels while supporting actions on the ground (enabling investment) for landscape restoration by focusing on prioritized deforestation hotspot areas and improving the livelihoods of the local people. 3. The enabling investment activities include participatory forest management (PFM) such as livelihoods support and selected nature-based community enterprise development, and reforestation in 51 selected deforestation hotspot woredas, as well as extension services and land-use planning state-wide at state and local levels. 4. The safeguards system which is being established during the OFLP grant period will be used and strengthened during the ERPA period through resources to be allocated from the proceeds of the ERPA. The OFLP grant financing achievements are very important to inform the National REDD+ Readiness Project and assist Ethiopia to receive and deploy results-based climate finance. 5. Phase II (2022-2029) The Emission Reduction payment project (P151294) will pay up to $12 million for verified emissions reductions from the forest sector in the first phase of the Emission Reduction Purchase Agreement (ERPA) (i.e: Jan 2022- Dec 2023) and $ 28million for emission reductions coming both from the forest and the livestock sector in the second phase (Jan 2024-Dec 2029). OFLP- ERP will pay for ER results generated across Oromia Regional State; expected to provide financial incentives to support sustainable forest management, conservation, restoration and investment, which, in turn, enhance environmental, social and economic benefits in the region. Project Components of the OFLP-ERPA Component 1: Measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) and payment of ERs generated by the project Deforestation and associated ERs within OFLP will be measured annually by the MRV unit. Measurement and reporting from the GoE to the BioCF Initiative for Sustainable Forest Landscapes (ISFL) will take place every year, starting in late 2022 and 2024, 2026, 2028 and 2030. The verification will take place every two years by a third party contracted by the World Bank following the submission of a monitoring report by the FDRE. Payments from the BioCF to the FDRE are expected to be made biannually upon verification of the ERs, or annually upon interim progress reports (as verification doesn’t take place annually).. Component 2: Distribution of ER payments as per a BSP. The BSP was prepared by the FDRE/BioCF through a highly participatory process. The BSP is guided by the principles of equity, efficiency, and transparency, and includes principles; categories of beneficiaries; processes for the 228 distribution of benefits; and monitoring provisions, among other issues. The project will pay up to $12 million for verified emissions reductions from the forest sector in the first phase of the Emission Reduction Purchase Agreement (ERPA) (i.e: Jan 2022- Dec 2023) and $ 28million for emission reductions coming both from the forest and the livestock sector in the second phase (Jan 2024-Dec 2029). It is planned to sign the ERPA in this calendar year (2021), if possible. The project has already prepared a Benefit Sharing Plan for the first phase, which has been consulted widely and has been through the Bank internal review. Community Consultation-Kebele Levels A. Sample Kebeles Two Kebele will be selected from each sample woredas. The sample kebeles should be selected based on their high deforestation and degradation exposure. One community consultation will conducted in each kebeles having a total of 16 participants. The consultation should follow the COVID-19 prevention protocol. B. Community Consultation Participants: The community consultation participants will be consisting of two (2) community/clan leaders, two (2) religious leaders, two (2- 1 Male and 1 Female) elderly, two (2) women, and two (2- 1 Male and 1 Female) extremely poor pastoralist individuals. In additions to that; two (2- 1 Male and 1 Female) person with disabilities, two (2- 1 Male and 1 Female) uneducated or unemployed youths and two (2- 1 Male and 1 Female) refugees or internally displaced persons shall be included in the community consultation sessions. Hence, the total number of participants per community consultation session will be sixteen (16) and at least five (5) out of the 16 participants shall be female. C. Basic Information Participants: i. Name of the zone:_________________________________________________ ii. Name of Woreda:_________________________________________________ iii. Date of consultation conducted: _____________________________________ iv. Consultation Start Time:_______________________ v. Consultation End Time: _______________________ vi. Venue: _______________________ vii. Name of Consultation Moderator: _______________________ List of Participants S.no Name Sex Social status Village Phone number Signature 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 229 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Total Discussion Points (Agendas) for Community Consultation-Kebele Levels 1. General project overview: 1.1. Views &Information about the proposed (OFLP-ERPA) project __________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________ 1.2. How do you evaluate the development activities in your area? __________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________ 1.3. How do you view emission reduction practice in the area? __________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________ 2. What do you think are the potential benefits of the project (OFLP-ERPA)? _________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________ 3. What potential adverse effects would result from the project (Risks, Concern)? _________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________ 4. What solutions would there be to mitigate the potential adverse effects of OFLP-ERPA 5. Social Dynamics 5.1. Social structure: organization, roles, values, norms. _________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________ 5.2. Inter and intra-group relationships and dynamics __________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________ 5.3. Is there social cohesion (or lack of) among social groups in the community?________________________________________________________________________ 230 __________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________ 5.4. Are there specific groups that are likely to lose-out (not benefit) from specific types of development? __________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________ 5.5. Are there any biases against those defined as the most vulnerable in the community? What is the relationship between groups, if relevant?___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________ 5.6. What are the most significant social and cultural features that differentiate social groups and do the differences result in exclusion of vulnerable groups?____________________________________________________________________________ ___________________ 5.7. Are there any cultural factors affecting women’s access?____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________ 5.8. Opportunities and conditions for vulnerable stakeholder participation in the development process?___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________ 5.9. How do you view the benefit sharing practices in among the government and community members in the project areas?_____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________ 6. Vulnerable PAP 6.1. Who are the most vulnerable and underserved groups? [Probe for: the poor, the poorest of the poor, women, orphans, children, girls, elderly, disabled, female-headed households; polygamous households, PLHIVs, outcast and underserved occupational or livelihood groups, households facing conflicts over natural resources, particular cultural, religious groups, new residents, others…]_________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ 6.2. Do specific groups (minorities, women, FHHs, youth) are likely to lose-out from specific types of development in the intervention areas? _________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________ 7. Status and experience of conflict on forest use and management in the project areas 7.1. Stigmatization and tensions over access to resources and power _________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________ 7.2. Intra or inter-ethnic conflict _________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________ 7.3. The presence of undefined borders _________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________ 231 7.4. Information and miss-information _________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________ 7.5. High rate of IDP or refugees and conflict within the host communities _________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________ 8. Are there physical cultural resources that have or will likely to be impacted? If so, list the name, type, age, ownership, short description of the cultural resource, etc _________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________ 9. Social institutions: Are there institutions in the area; consider both the presence and function of public, private and social institutions relevant to the operation? ______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________ 10. Social problems and development issues 10.1. What is the existing status and major challenges related to water, irrigation, electricity, road, health, education, agriculture, livestock and market services in the area? _________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________ 10.2. What is forest and livestock development services related challenges faced by the community? _________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________ 10.3. Could you list down development priorities of the community? _________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________ 10.4. Are you willing to donate your land if it is needed for community development? _________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________ 10.5. How is land or other asset compensation effected? _________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________ 10.6. What development priorities do both male and female youths have? _________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________ 11. Community Experience on the implementation of similar WB financed projects 11.1. Issues in handling Land acquisition & resettlement in other projects _________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________ 11.2. Issues in handling property valuation and compensation _________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________ 11.3. Issues on the existing GRM systems to handle complaints _________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________ 11.4. Issues existing mechanisms to prevent Child Labor _________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________ 232 11.5. Issues on existing mechanisms for Gender mainstreaming and GBV/SGBV/SEA/VAW/VAC/SH prevention at work place _________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________ 11.6. Issues in relation to the effects of COVID-19 on previous WB financed project implementation _________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________ 12. You are cordially invited to suggest if there is any additional idea. _________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________ List of Abbreviations and Acronyms-linked to the interview guides: BioCF ISFL Bio-Carbon Fund Initiative Forest Landscapes BSP Benefit Sharing Plan ESCP Environmental and Social Commitment Plan E&S Environmental & Social EPA Environmental Protection Authority ER Emission Reduction ERPA Emission Reduction Purchase Agreement ESMP Environmental and Social Management Plan ESMF Environmental and Social Management Framework FDRE Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia FHHs Female Headed Households GBV Gender-based violence GoE Government of Ethiopia GRM Grievance Redress Mechanism IDA International Development Assistance IDP Internally Displaced Persons LMP Labor Management Procedure LRP Livelihood Restoration Plan OEPA Oromia Environmental Protection Authority OFLP Oromia Forested Landscapes Project OHS Occupational Health and Safety ORCU Oromia REDD+ Coordination Unit PF Process Framework PFM Participatory Forest Management PLWHIV People Living with HIV AIDS REDD Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation RETF Recipient Executed Trust Fund RF Resettlement Framework SEP Stakeholder Engagement Plan SEA Sexual Exploitation and Abuse SGBV Sexual and Gender Based Violence SH Sexual Harassment VAC Violence Against Child VAW Violence Against Women WB World Bank 233 Annex 3: Stakeholder Analysis Checklist 1. Discussing existing E & S Capacities and experiences in the implementing Institutions. - Describing existing E&S units/directorates, its manpower, budget, e.t.c - Describing experiences on E & S screening, review and approval of World Bank or other projects - Experiences on Implementing SEP and LRP on previous projects - Experiences in handling Land acquisition & resettlement in other projects - Experiences in handling property valuation and compensation - Describing existing GRM systems to handle complaints ______________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________ 2. Existing capacities and experiences in managing OHS - Presence/absence of unit or directorate related to OHS enforcement at workplace - Experiences in OHS Enforcement and existing institutional capacities - Overall Strength and weakness - Describing existing mechanisms to prevent Child Labor - Describing existing mechanisms for Gender mainstreaming and GBV prevention at work place ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ 3. Institutional arrangements of the ORCU at EPA/OEPA and coordination mechanism. The roles and responsibilities of Environment and Social officer(s) in OFLP-ERPS. -Mandates-legitimate scope of engagement to deliver services -Roles –Expected performance and function linked to mandate -Responsibilities-moral and legal obligation to complete the task -Reporting mechanisms/flows _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ Annex 4: List of preliminary strategic options identified to address drivers of deforestation and forest degradation in Oromia region N0 Strategic Options Catatory/Sectors 1 Yield-increasing Techniques for Agriculture Agriculture 2 Sustainable fire wood and (commercial) charcoal use Energy 3 Low emitting techniques for Agriculture Agriculture 4 Protected forests & participatory forest management Forestry 5 Rangeland and pastureland Management Livestock 6 Expansion of rural electrification Energy 234 7 Integrated invasive species Management Forestry/Energy 8 Enhancing and intensification of diversified animal mix Livestock 9 Small-holder and communal woodlots Forestry 10 New agricultural land in arid areas (Irrigation: small scale) Agriculture 11 Value chain efficiency improvements (Farmers) Agriculture 12 Integrated fire management Cross-sectoral 13 Value chain efficiency improvements (Pastoralists) Livestock 14 Small scale mechanization Agriculture 15 Large scale mechanization Agriculture 16 New agricultural land in arid areas (Irrigation: large-scale) Agriculture 17 Dissemination of improved energy efficiency technology Energy 18 Agricultural intensification and improving productivity Agriculture 19 Renewable energy use (solar, hydro, wind) Energy 20 Productive livestock farming (Dairy) Agriculture 21 Soft and hard capacity for effective implementation Capacity building 22 Diversifying livelihoods and alternative options Crosscutting 23 Inter-sectoral coordination and joint planning Crosscutting 24 Gender equity and benefit sharing Crosscutting 25 Area closures for degraded land rehabilitation/restoration Forestry 26 Renewable biomass energy/formal charcoal production Energy 27 Effective participation of stakeholders Crosscutting 28 Improved technology and inputs Agriculture 29 Commercial forestry plantation Forestry 30 Forest governance and law enformement Crosscutting 235 Annex 5: Lists of Participants -2021 and 2022 I. List of Participants-Federal and Regional Stakeholders Consultation Workshop- Date December 23, 2021 236 237 II. List of Participants-East Wollega Zone (February 09-15, 2022) A. List of Stakeholders for OFLP-ERPA Stakeholder Consultation at Zone and Woreda level 238 Name Administrative Gender Position Phone No. Email Address East Wollega Zone Teshale Hundun E/Wollega zone Male Zone EPA-Head 0913083401 Daniel Regasa E/Wollega zone Male Zone EPA-Expert 0930300269 Male Zone Agriculture and Asfaw Hambiso E/Wollega zone 0945019831 Natural Resources-Head Woreda Level Stakeholders Fentahun Jireta Diga Woreda Male Woreda EPA-Head 0924476404 Diga Woreda Male Gutu Merga Woreda EPA-Expert 0917648550 Diga Woreda Male Woreda Agriculture office 0917035195 Misganu Ta’a –Head Diga Woreda Male Woreda Agriculture office 0923445001 Asmara Kanei –Expert 239 B. Kebele Level Community Participants-East Wollega zone-Diga Woreda-Diga Kebele 02/15/2022 240 III. List of Participants-West Wollega Zone-02/18/2022 A. List of Stakeholders for OFLP-ERPA Stakeholder Consultation at West Wollega Zone 241 B. List of Stakeholders for OFLP-ERPA Stakeholder Consultation at West Wollega Zone- Gimbi Woreda -02/18/2022 242 C. List of Stakeholders for OFLP-ERPA Community Consultation at West Wollega Zone- Gimbi Woreda-Gimbi Kebele -02/22/2022 243 D. List of Stakeholders for OFLP-ERPA Community Consultation at West Wollega Zone- Gimbi Woreda-Lalisa Yasus Kebele -02/18/2022 244 IV. List of Participants-Buno Bedele Zone(February 15-17, 2022) A. List of Stakeholders for OFLP-ERPA Stakeholder Consultation at Zone and Woreda level Name Administrative Gender Position Phone No. Email Address Buno Bedele Zone Etafa Etana Buno Bedele zone Male Zone EPA-Expert 0920405751 Daniel Regasa Buno Bedele zone Male Zone EPA-Head 0913227106 Male Zone land Administration Fekadu Gurmu Buno Bedele zone and Use Office- 0912951887 Representative Zenebech Abdila Buno Bedele zone Female Zone EPA-Expert 0913227106 Lijalem Befkadu Buno Bedele zone Male Zone Agriculture-Expert 0941190050 Woreda Level Stakeholders Abadir Dito Gachi Woreda Male Woreda EPA-Head 0910008309 Gachi Woreda Male Woreda Land Abdurahim Ali Administration and Use- 0917159512 Head 245 B. Kebele Level Community Participants-Buno Bedele zone-Bedele Woreda-Secho Mikael Kebele 02/17/2022 246 V. List of Participants-Illibabor Zone-Feruary 17-18, 2022 A. List of Stakeholders for OFLP-ERPA Stakeholder Consultation at Woreda level Gender Email Name Administrative Position Phone No. Address Woreda Level Stakeholders Asfaw Alle Woreda Male Woreda EPA-Head 0919921781 Alle Woreda Male Woreda Land Aynadis Administration and Use- Head 247 B. Kebele Level Community Participants-Illibabor zone-Alle Woreda-Janmeda Kebele- 02/17/2022 248 249 VI. List of Participants-Jimma Zone-Feruary 22, 2022 A. List of Stakeholders for OFLP-ERPA Stakeholder Consultation at Woreda level Name Administrative Gender Position Phone No. Email Address Woreda Level Stakeholders Ahmed Bedewi Gomma Woreda Male Woreda EPA-Head 0917009897 Gomma Woreda Male Woreda Land Zekir Administration and Use- 00917026458 Representative 250 B. Kebele Level Community Participants-Jimma zone-Gomma Woreda-Genji Elibu Kebele- 02/22/2022 251 VII. List of Participants-Bale Zone-Feruary 13-17, 2022 A. List of Stakeholders for OFLP-ERPA Stakeholder Consultation at Zone and Woreda levels Name Administrative Gender Position Phone No. Email Address Woreda Level Stakeholders Getachew Yitagesu Bale Zone Male Zone EPA-Expert 0923267841 Bale Zone Male Zone Agriculture-Natural Tesfaye Olika 0912254842 Resources Team Leader Bale Zone Male Muzayen Sultan Zone CSA-Expert 0912016585 Bale Zone Male Zone Land Administration Tajebe Mekonen 0920947480 and Use-Team Leader Agaafraa Woreda Male Godsaye Adugna Woreda EPA- Head 0912823015 Agaafraa Woreda Female Bogalech Mokenen Woreda EPA- Expert 0911034940 Agaafraa Woreda Male Woreda Agriculture-Focal Kalid Mama 0967738647 Person Agaafraa Woreda Male Adem Gume Woreda Agriculture-Head 0909090908 Agaafraa Woreda Male Woreda Land Administration and Use- Hailu Tefera 0953703362 Head Agaafraa Woreda Male Woreda Land Administration and Use- Alemu Eshetu 0904481144 Expert 252 B. Kebele Level Community Participants-Bale zone-Agaafraa Woreda-Yemekona Chefa Kebele-02/17, 2022 S.no Name Gender Social status Village Phone. No 1 Tahir H/Ahmed Male Religious Leader M/Cha 0927221065 2 Arebu H/Hasan Male Religious Leader M/Cha 0920377821 3 Husen Bati Male Elderly M/Cha 0966049481 4 Tefera Bekele Male Youth M/Cha 0924572870 5 Muhammed Aman Male Youth M/Cha 0954838241 6 Tamiru Kebede Male Religious Leader M/Cha 0901875044 7 Nesha Alo Male Elderly M/Cha 0910649804 8 Umer Aman Male Religious Leader M/Cha 0987096643 9 Muhammed H/Aman Male Elderly M/Cha - 10 Yifrashawa Beliyu Male Youth M/Cha 0924600125 11 Hasen Umer Male Religious Leader M/Cha 0912980184 12 Aman Hamido Male Elderly M/Cha 0982839161 13 Mahimud Ahmed Male Elderly M/Cha 0912312619 14 Fantu Abebayehu Male PWD M/Cha - 15 Zahira Ahmed Female Elderly M/Cha 0945377100 16 Aynalem Shewa Female Youth M/Cha 0960975705 17 Zebeyida Husan Female Extension Worker M/Cha 0924941950 18 Muhammad Alo Male Elderly M/Cha 0922319232 C. Kebele Level Community Participants-Bale zone-Agaafraa Woreda-Yegalem Heabsno Kebele-02/16/2022 S.no Name Gender Social status Village Phone. No 253 1 Dinkure Muhammud Female Elderly G/Hebano 0949339883 2 Jemal Ahmed Male Kebele Leader G/Hebano 0933824095 3 A/Kadir Ibrahim Male Religious Leader G/Hebano 0927301265 4 Awel Aman Male Kebele Leader G/Hebano 0920377976 5 Muhammod Aliyi Male Kebele Leader G/Hebano 0948893827 6 Abdi Abdulaxif Female Elderly G/Hebano 0937059132 7 Gebi H/Abda Male Elderly G/Hebano 0922065900 8 A/Kerim Aman Male Religious Leader G/Hebano 0953691968 9 Kedir Ibro Male Religious Leader G/Hebano 0927572838 10 Aman Ibro Male Elderly G/Hebano - 11 Zeynab Abda Female Kebele Leader G/Hebano 0926806240 12 Abdulahi Adishu Male Religious Leader G/Hebano 0960976539 13 Bediriya Sultan Female Youth G/Hebano 0939824095 14 Ayub Abdo Male Kebele Leader G/Hebano 0910901125 15 Zaru kedir Female Youth G/Hebano 0922058616 16 Kemeru H/Abdela Female Youth G/Hebano - 17 Arabe H/Hasen Female - G/Hebano - 18 Kadija H/Hasan Female - G/Hebano - 19 Seid Bakara Male Youth G/Hebano 0937058957 20 Kadija Husa Female Youth G/Hebano - 254 VIII. List of Participants-West Haraghe Zone- Feruary 14-18, 2022 A. List of Stakeholders for OFLP-ERPA Stakeholder Consultation at Zone and Woreda levels Name Administrative Gender Position Phone No. Email Address Woreda Level Stakeholders Wendwosen Woldyes West Hararghe Zone Male Zone EPA-Head 0932174765 West Hararghe Zone Male Wase Bekele Zone Agriculture-Expert 0914978629 West Hararghe Zone Male Zone Land Administration Ibrahim Mohammad 0913294337 and Use-Expert Ciroo Woreda Male Godsaye Adugna Woreda EPA- Head 0913143748 Ciroo Woreda Male Woreda ANR- NR Team Bogalech Mokenen 0922810214 Leader 255 B. Kebele Level Community Participants-West Hararghe zone-Ciroo Woreda-Madhioo Lak/2 Kebele- 02/17/2022 S.no Name Gender Social status Village Phone. No 1 Abdella Qasim Male Ale 0985081152 2 Jemal Ahmed Male Ale - 3 A/Kadir Ibrahim Male Ale - 4 Awel Aman Male Ale 0978963577 5 Muhammod Aliyi Male Ale 0920266277 6 Abdi Abdulaxif Male Ale 0915132987 7 Gebi H/Abda Male Shenbe 0939064414 8 A/Kerim Aman Male Shenbel 0914952498 9 Kedir Ibro Male Shenbel 0922816616 10 Aman Ibro Female Ale - 11 Zeynab Abda Male Ale - 12 Abdulahi Adishu Female Ale - 13 Bediriya Sultan Male Shenbel - 14 Ayub Abdo Male Shenbel - 15 Zaru kedir Male Ale - 16 Kemeru H/Abdela Male Sham - 17 Arabe H/Hasen Female Ale - 18 Kadija H/Hasan Female Ale - 19 Seid Bakara Male G/Sham - C. Kebele Level Community Participants-West Hararghe zone-Ciroo Woreda-Tayifea Kebele- 02/18/2022 S.no Name Gender Social status Village Phone. No 256 1 Abrahim Hassen Male Poor adult D/Hore 0964784319 2 Shawa Tatek Male Elderly Momeret 0961708728 3 Dino Mohamed Male Community Leader D/Hore 0966366369 4 Chala Tesfaye Male Elderly Totehlejir - 5 Jemal Hussen Male Unemployed Momeret - 6 Abdela Hussen Male Religious Leader Momeret 0989790796 7 Luerdi Aliyi Female Community Leader Totehlejir 0949460549 8 Hamdiya Usman Female - Momeret 9 Halima Ahmed Female Unemployed Momeret 10 Zara Musa Female - D/Hore - 11 Kadiyo Mohamed Female - D/Hore - 12 Hawa Ibro Female - D/Hore - 13 Amina Musa Female - Momeret - 14 Iftu Yusuf Female - Momeret - 15 Aliyi Ibro Female - Momeret 0984894333 16 Shambel W/alemaw Male - Momeret - 257 IX. List of Participants-East Haraghe Zone-February 18-21, 2022 A. List of Stakeholders for OFLP-ERPA Stakeholder Consultation at Zone and Woreda levels Name Administrative Gender Position Phone No. Email Address Woreda Level Stakeholders Abdulaziz East Hararghe Zone Male Zone EPA-Unit Head 0902589553 East Hararghe Zone Male Ahmed Zone EPA-Unit Head East Hararghe Zone Male Zone Agriculture- CRGE Yared Abera 0938533918 Expert Dadar Woreda Male Mohamed Woreda EPA-Expert Dadar Woreda Male Woreda Agriculture- NR Kedir Dera Unit Leader 258 B. Kebele Level Community Participants-West Hararghe zone-Dadar Woreda-Babiyo Nega Kebele-02/18/2022 S.no Name Gender Social status Village Phone. No 1 Yusuf Ali Male Elderly Abdi 0932426653 2 Shawa Tatek Male Unemployed Musa 0939080353 3 Dino Mohamed Male Religious Leader Jarra - 4 Chala Tesfaye Male Elderly Gasle 0972204599 5 Jemal Hussen Male Poor Adult Gasle - 6 Abdela Hussen Female Poor Adult Gasle - 7 Luerdi Aliyi Female Poor Adult Gasle - 8 Hamdiya Usman Female Poor Adult Ahmed 0948584814 9 Halima Ahmed Female Poor Adult Gasle - 10 Zara Musa Female Women Musa - 11 Kadiyo Mohamed Male Unemployed Ahmed - 12 Hawa Ibro Male Religious Leader Ahmed 0900191290 13 Amina Musa Female Women Gasle - 14 Iftu Yusuf Male Community Leader Ahmed 0994017628 15 Aliyi Ibro Male Community Leader Ahmed 0939080194 C. Kebele Level Community Participants-West Hararghe zone-Dadar Woreda-Burqaa Gabaak Kebele-02/18/2022 S.no Name Gender Social status Village Phone. No 259 1 Nuredin Yegrem Male Community Leader Burka Geba 0974719589 2 Abdi Ahmed Male Community Leader Burka Geba 0941302903 3 Ahimedin Ahmed Male Religious Leader Burka Geba 0961078870 4 Ahmedin Usmaeil Male Religious Leader Burka Geba 0920691610 5 Sufa hassen Male Elderly Burka Geba 0965259814 6 Abdi Sufyan Male Elderly Burka Geba 0969041251 7 Zeynabea Mohammed Female Elderly Burka Geba 0920452211 8 Alifya Abdella Female Elderly Burka Geba - 9 Fiema Abdurahman Female Poor Adult Burka Geba - 10 Destu Abdi Female Poor Adult Burka Geba - 11 Bedriya Mohammed Female Poor Adult Burka Geba - 12 Furdosa muna Female Poor Adult Burka Geba - 13 Sitti Abrahim Female Poor Adult Burka Geba - 14 Jafer Ahmed Male Poor Adult Burka Geba - 15 Mohammed Bekri Male Poor Adult Burka Geba 0987331929 16 Zeyni Yusuf Female Poor Adult Burka Geba - 17 Nuredin Abdrahim Male Unemployed Burka Geba - 18 Fatuma Mume Female Unemployed Burka Geba 0973077745 19 Mohammed Abdela Male Unemployed Burka Geba 0901771841 20 Remodan Ahmed Male Unemployed Burka Geba 0940900511 260 X. List of Participants-Arsi Zone-February 07-16,2022 261 A. List of Stakeholders for OFLP-ERPA Stakeholder Consultation at Zone and Woreda levels Name Administrative Gender Position Phone No. Email Address Woreda Level Stakeholders Adem Seid Arsi Zone Male Zone EPA-Unit Head 0911704925 Arsi Zone Male Berhanu Fufa Zone EPA-Forest Unit Head 0903041802 Arsi Zone Male Zone Agriculture- Deputy Mustefa Hussien 0912737586 Head Arsi Zone Male Zone Land Administration and Aman Tunu 0912222559 Use-Deputy Head Shirkaa Woreda Male Abdella Kataboo Woreda EPA- Head 0937078482 Shirkaa Woreda Male Damisse Shiferaw Woreda EPA- Expert 0972867243 Shirkaa Woreda Male Siraj Jeru Woreda Agriculture- Head 0913194226 Shirkaa Woreda Male Fetash mamo Woreda Agriculture- Expert 0921081742 Shirkaa Woreda Male Woreda Land Administration Girma Gamachu and Use-Head 0921080326 Shirkaa Woreda Male Woreda Land Administration Abdi Ibrahim and Use-Expert 0911664073 262 B. Kebele Level Community Participants-Arsi zone-Shirkaa Woreda-Yeheala Mekana Kebele- 02/16/2022 S.no Name Gender Social status Village Phone. No 1 She/Nasir Kaso Male Religious Leader Hela Mekana 0913322940 2 Mer/Tekeste Syum Male Religious Leader Hela Mekana 0927246257 3 Hassen Gena Male Religious Leader Hela Mekana - 4 Temam Kemal Male Elderly Hela Mekana 0972911746 5 Amin Abubeker Male Youth Hela Mekana 0904027426 6 She/Mohammed Amin Male Community Leader Hela Mekana 0994811884 7 Sulxi Jema Male Community Leader Hela Mekana 0921713264 8 Umar Tese Male Community Leader Hela Mekana 0964922686 9 Abdurahman Sh/Aman Male Youth Hela Mekana 0925504539 10 Mohammed Kesso Male Unemployed Youth Hela Mekana 0927296795 11 Haji Ahimad Jawar Male Elderly Hela Mekana 0922316983 12 Mestwat Teshome Female Youth Hela Mekana - 13 Fatuima kediro Female Youth Hela Mekana 0925389359 14 Sinke Asnake Male Poor Adult Hela Mekana 0927220348 15 Zemzem Kemal Male Poor Adult Hela Mekana - 16 Kedir Ibrahim Male Elderly Hela Mekana 0937839715 263 C. Kebele Level Community Participants-Arsi zone-Shirkaa Woreda-Soolee Farqasaa Kebele- 02/11/2022 S.no Name Gender Social status Village Phone. No 1 Aman Jemal Male Community Leader Sole Ferkeso 0970356050 2 Jibril Abdela Male Community Leader Sole Ferkeso 0921102298 3 Sh/Abdrhman Sh/Bamud Male Religious Leader Sole Ferkeso 0937078154 4 Bamud Haji Male Religious Leader Sole Ferkeso - 5 Sano mohammed Male Elderly Sole Ferkeso - 6 Abudurkadir Aliyi Male Elderly Sole Ferkeso 0964437259 7 Nura Husen Male Poor Adult Sole Ferkeso 0938163661 8 Amina Musa Female Poor Adult Sole Ferkeso - 9 Sefaden Kedir Male Unemployed Youth Sole Ferkeso 0994810964 10 Jeyilan Abdulahi Male Unemployed Youth Sole Ferkeso 0992560398 11 Ibrahim Jemal Male Unemployed Youth Sole Ferkeso 0975913778 12 Nurya Sh/Mohammed Female Youth Sole Ferkeso 0972979155 13 Etete Masresha Female Poor Adult Sole Ferkeso 0997698920 14 Betule Ibrahim Female Elderly Sole Ferkeso - 15 Zenebe Jemal Female Youth Sole Ferkeso 0936577795 16 Kemal Jebril Male Youth Sole Ferkeso 0924058882 264 265 266 Annex 6: Glossary Afforestation: The act or process of establishing a forest especially on land not previously forested. Agroforestry: A dynamic, ecologically based natural resource management practice that, through the integration of trees and other tall woody plants with agricultural plants on farms and in agricultural landscape, diversifies production for increased social, economic, and environmental benefits. Benefit distribution system: A mechanism, which may be legally enforceable, which allows for the dispersal of benefits (financial or otherwise) derived from REDD+ project activities to stakeholders in these activities, i.e. to forest owners responsible for undertaking actions to reduce deforestation and forest degradation. Benefit Sharing: The action of ensuring eligible stakeholders involved in REDD+ project implementation receive an equitable portion of the non-financial and/or financial benefits derived from REDD+ project activities. Biodiversity: the variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part. Biofuel: Fuel produced from plants’ biomass, seen as replacement for fossil fuel for transportation, which is known to be a major contributor to climate change; also known as agrofuel. Carbon Credit: Part of the cap and trade carbon pricing system whereby an overall carbon emission cap is set and tradable allowances that grant businesses the right to emit a set amount of carbon are issued. Those who can reduce emission cheaply can sell their tradable allowance (carbon credit). Carbon Trade: Carbon trading is a market approach to mitigate global warming that is leading to climate change by trading carbon credits. Co-benefits: The non-carbon benefits arising from REDD+ policies and projects such as alleviating poverty, enhancing biodiversity, improving forest governance and protecting other environmental services. Community Forestry: The governance and management of forest resources in designated areas or landscapes by communities for commercial and noncommercial purposes to further their own livelihoods and development. Community forestry incorporates the practice, arts, science, policies, institutions, and processes necessary to promote and support all aspects of sustainable community-based forest management. Community-based Property Rights: The principles of land entitlement derived from and enforced by communities which often include. These rights can also encompass group- held rights to ancestral land and many traditionally used forest resources. They are not necessarily contingent on formal documentation or dependent on government creation and are seldom recognized by national or international laws. Conservation: management of natural resources substantially as well as their protection and restoration. Customary rights: Traditional entitlements, that are not always supported or recognized by national or international laws, which encompass forest resource use. They have evolved 267 SESA report for the implementation of REDD+ in Ethiopia and become established through community consensus on local usage patterns and gain authority and are enforced by locally acceptable institutions. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: A UN General Assembly Declaration for the treatment of indigenous peoples which identifies key substantive and procedural collective rights to protect indigenous peoples from discrimination and marginalization. REDD+ projectmes have an obligation to ensure that this Declaration is upheld throughout REDD+ implementation. Deforestation: Clearing of forests, or intentional destruction or removal of trees and other vegetation for agricultural, commercial, housing, or firewood use without replanting (reforesting) and without allowing time for the forest to regenerate itself. Deforestation is one of the major factors contributing to the greenhouse effect and desertification. Environment: Includes the surrounding living and nonliving things and their interactions. Equity (law):The balanced and fair distribution of the costs and benefits of REDD+ projects and activities as well as the equal opportunity for participation of all stakeholders in the decision-making process throughout REDD+ implementation. Forest Degradation: long-term changes within the forest which negatively affect the structure or function of the stand or site, and thereby lower the capacity to supply products (wood, biodiversity and other products) and/or services. Forest Tenure: The right, whether defined in customary or legal terms, that determines who can hold and use forest lands and resources, for how long, and under what conditions. Forest-dependent Communities: Communities that rely on forest resources for subsistence, medicine and livelihoods. Such communities are inextricably linked with the forest and its resources and are dependent on a healthy forest. Free, Prior and Informed Consent: A key concept in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. It refers to the obligation of outside entities to ensure that communities can grant or decline consent to a project or activity without coercion or intimidation, in advance of project planning or implementation and with access to all relevant information. Governance Safeguards: Policies and measures that aim to ensure aspects of good governance in REDD+ implementation, such as transparency, genuine participation of all state and non- state institutions and actors and effective enforcement and compliance with laws. Land Tenure: The set of laws and policies that determine locally how the land and its resources are accessed, who can hold and use its resources, and for how long and under what conditions they may be used. Land Use, Land Use Change and Forests (LULUCF): Part of the Kyoto Protocol for land-use- based activities that have the potential of impacting carbon stocks and emissions. Leakage: Any increase in GHG emissions occurring outside the project boundaries that result from project activities Livelihood: The capabilities, assets (including both material and social resources) and activities required for a means of living. A livelihood is sustainable when it can cope with and recover from stress and shocks and maintain or enhance its capabilities and assets both now and in the future, while not undermining its natural resource base. Livelihoods: The ways in which people make a living. Livelihoods contribute to human well- being, which includes spiritual and aesthetic values. 268 SESA report for the implementation of REDD+ in Ethiopia Protected Area: The International Union of Conservation of Nature defines a protected area as “an area of land and/or sea especially dedicated to the protection and maintenance of biological diversity, and/or natural and associated cultural resources and managed through legal or other effective means”. Reafforestation: The reestablishment of forest cover, either naturally (by natural seeding, coppice, or root suckers) or artificially (by direct seeding or planting) where trees were used to grow. REDD+: Reducing Emissions from Deforestation, forest Degradation, conservation of stocks, sustainable management and enhancement of forest carbon stocks. Safeguard Information System: A tool or database that collects and/or provides country-level information on how safeguards are being addressed and respected by forest carbon projects. SESA: A tool that uses a range of analytical and participatory approaches to integrate environmental and social considerations into policies, plans and projectmes and evaluates the potential risks of REDD+ interventions and other mitigation options. Social and Environmental Impact Assessment: The process of monitoring, analyzing and managing the intended and unintended social and environmental consequences of REDD+ projects and activities and any resulting social changes catalyzed by those interventions. Stakeholders: The public, including individuals, groups or communities affected, or likely to be affected, by any proposed REDD+ project activity or actions leading to the implementation of an activity. Sustainable Development: Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Traditional Knowledge: A concept that encompasses tangible and intangible creations, cultural manifestations, technologies, sciences, agricultural knowledge, designs, literatures, and visual and performance arts derived from oral and written traditions. Traditional Ownership: Informal rights to access and use forest land and resources upheld and enforced through established social structures. These rights are not necessarily contingent on formal documentation and are seldom recognized by national or international laws. Wildlife: All flora, fauna, and microorganisms existing in their natural state within a forest ecosystem. 269