INTEGRATED SAFEGUARDS DATASHEET APPRAISAL STAGE I. Basic Information Date prepared/updated: 12/22/2010 Report No.: AC5824 1. Basic Project Data Country: Afghanistan Project ID: P120398 Project Name: On-Farm Water Management (OFWM) Task Team Leader: Johannes Georges Pius Jansen Estimated Appraisal Date: December 2, Estimated Board Date: January 11, 2011 2010 Managing Unit: SASDA Lending Instrument: Specific Investment Loan Sector: Irrigation and drainage (100%) Theme: Other rural development (100%) SPF Amount (US$m): 0.00 GEF Amount (US$m.): 0.00 PCF Amount (US$m.): 0.00 Other financing amounts by source: Borrower 0.00 Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund 41.00 41.00 Environmental Category: B - Partial Assessment Simplified Processing Simple [] Repeater [] Is this project processed under OP 8.50 (Emergency Recovery) Yes [X] No [ ] or OP 8.00 (Rapid Response to Crises and Emergencies) 2. Project Objectives The development objective of the project is to assist farmers to adopt improved farm practices that increase agricultural production and productivity. 3. Project Description The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan has requested ARTF funds for supporting the following three components of On-Farm Water Management project: Component A: Establishment of 5 OFWM project areas comprising in total some 50,000 ha. This component contains three sub-components: i. Establishment of Irrigation Associations (IAs) through strengthening of existing traditional Mirab System in order to enable or strengthen them to assume their role in O&M. ii. Improvement of the physical irrigation infrastructure (water courses) to reduce system water losses and facilitate equitable water distribution. iii. Dissemination of improved water saving techniques including (i) more efficient irrigation methods, (ii) more efficient water distribution systems, and (iii) agronomic water saving measures. Component B: Strengthening MAIL#s and other relevant organizations# (River Basin and Sub-basin Organizations RBOs) capacity in OFWM at the national level as well as at the provincial and district levels in the project areas. Component C: Project management, implementation and coordination. 4. Project Location and salient physical characteristics relevant to the safeguard analysis The project will select 5 project areas. These areas may consist of small scale irrigation projects or tertiary units in medium and large scale irrigation schemes. In each project area, five demonstration farms will be established where improved irrigation practices will be demonstrated. The project areas will be selected prior to project implementation and according to the following criteria: demand of local communities and their willingness to share costs; existing state of water losses; accessibility in terms of security and physical access; synergy with other projects such as IRDP, HLP and other non-Bank funded projects; and representativeness in terms of agro-ecological zones and cropping systems. The project involves the rehabilitation of the existing canals and watercourses including related structures and construction of any new canals or watercourses is not anticipated. Therefore, no land acquisition is expected in the project; in case of any, all land transaction will be based on willing buyer-willing seller. In exceptional cases, minor voluntary land donation may occur in certain sub-projects, but only provided that there are no structures or assets on the land, the livelihood impact of the donation on the land owner will be insignificant and the voluntary nature of the donation is fully documented and independently verified. Selection of sub-projects will also be screened for land and water disputes in order to avoid that investments in irrigation would fuel such disputes. The social and environmental impacts of the project are expected to be small and overall positive. The project will build social capital by organizing and training IAs which will contribute to improved irrigation efficiency and reduced water losses. The nature of the projects# activities is such that they will not lead to significant deforestation; however, in case there would be a need for some tree felling, new trees would be planted in a nearby location. The project will ensure uninterrupted traffic of humans and animals by building bridge structures (culverts) where appropriate. The project will also respect the use of watercourses as laundry basins, water collection and ablution places by the local populations through the construction of small diversions. Insofar improved water efficiency would lead to changes in cropping patterns and/or crop management methods, the agronomic training provided by the project will include judicious use of chemical fertilizer and pesticides. Moreover the project sites will be a subset of those of the IRDP project (and may partially overlap with the HLP project) both of which already have provided some training in sustainable crop production and O&M of the irrigation schemes. The ESMF has been developed to mitigate negative impacts of the project. These measures include: (i) safe disposal or recycling of silt for agricultural purposes and construction of washing bays and cattle baths to avoid polluting water; (ii) setting specifications for the quality of borrow earth to avoid deterioration in the quality of existing soil; (iii) implementing a pest management plan; (iv) avoiding cutting of trees as far as possible, and where essential, planting at least double the number of cut trees as replacement; (v) enhancing the skills and abilities of farmers, through trainings in appropriate technologies, improved water management practices, (vi) empowering communities, including women, through improved participation opportunities, (vii) incorporating mechanisms that recognize and pay for labor contributed by sharecroppers; (viii) strengthening the institutional capacity of IAs, (ix) reducing conflict and improving social relationship between farmers at the head and tail-ends of canals and watercourses; and (x) improving networking among IAs, government local irrigation department, PIU, CDCs, River Basin Organizations (RBOs) and supporting NGOs/FPs. On the other hand, it is predicted that the use of pesticides in the project area could increase as project interventions improve availability of water with corresponding increase in cropping intensity. A Pest Management Plan (PMP) has therefore been included in the ESMF to rationalize the use of pesticides in the project area. The main activities under the PMP would be training of farmers in IPM practices, and introduction a system of monitoring of pesticide residues in selected areas. 5. Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialists Ms Asta Olesen (SASDS) Mr Mohammad Arif Rasuli (SASDI) Mr Abdul Mohammad Durani (SASDI) 6. Safeguard Policies Triggered Yes No Environmental Assessment (OP/BP 4.01) X Natural Habitats (OP/BP 4.04) X Forests (OP/BP 4.36) X Pest Management (OP 4.09) X Physical Cultural Resources (OP/BP 4.11) X Indigenous Peoples (OP/BP 4.10) X Involuntary Resettlement (OP/BP 4.12) X Safety of Dams (OP/BP 4.37) X Projects on International Waterways (OP/BP 7.50) X Projects in Disputed Areas (OP/BP 7.60) X II. Key Safeguard Policy Issues and Their Management A. Summary of Key Safeguard Issues 1. Describe any safeguard issues and impacts associated with the proposed project. Identify and describe any potential large scale, significant and/or irreversible impacts: The project involves the rehabilitation of the existing canals and watercourses including related structures and construction of any new canals or watercourses is not anticipated. The social and environmental impacts of the project are expected to be small and overall positive. An Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) for OFWM project has been developed to ensure compliance with the World Bank#s Safeguard Policies. The ESMF prescribes guidelines and procedures that allow the proposed Afghanistan OFWMP to avoid, mitigate, or minimize adverse environmental and social impacts of supported activities and interventions. The ESMF was prepared by the GoA in accordance with definitions provided in the World Bank Operational Manual and relating to the triggered operational policy on Environmental Assessment (OP 4.01), OP 4.9 on Pest management and involuntary resettlement (OP4.12) as well as relevant national laws and legislations. Summaries of the ESMF in English, Dari and Pashto were disclosed by MAIL on November 11, 2010. The proposed OFWMP covers a range of activities anticipated under the overall categorization of environment category #B#, and no involuntary land acquisition is expected. The project will appoint a Safeguard coordinator in the PMU to ensure the application of the projects# safeguards framework, initial capacity building of MAIL staff, regular reporting, monitoring and sharing of good lessons learnt across the project staff. During preparation of the present ESMF, the implementation of ESMFs in the NSP, NERAP, HLP and EIRP WB funded projects in Afghanistan also have been reviewed, identifying good practices and areas in need of strengthening. Lessons learned have been incorporated into the present ESMF including guidelines regarding dispute resolution mechanisms and community consultations. The project has also developed a comprehensive matrix of all anticipated adverse environmental and social impacts of supported activities, monitoring and mitigation measures. 2. Describe any potential indirect and/or long term impacts due to anticipated future activities in the project area: No indirect and/or long term impacts have been identified because of the OFWM activities. However, in order to mitigate against unforeseen risks, the ESMF has prepared a list of ineligible subprojects. The ESMF also provides a framework for controlling negative impacts that may arise as a consequence of specific subprojects. It is expected that the use of pesticides in the project area could increase as project interventions improve availability of water with corresponding increase in cropping intensity. A Pest Management Plan (PMP) has therefore been prepared to rationalize the use of pesticides in the project area. The main activities under the PMP would be training of farmers in IPM practices, and introduction a system of monitoring of pesticide residues in selected areas. 3. Describe any project alternatives (if relevant) considered to help avoid or minimize adverse impacts. The potential environmental and social issues in the project (with particular reference to the OP/BP 4.01 Environmental Assessment, OP/BP 4.12 Involuntary Resettlement and OP 4.09 Pest Management) will be considered on scheme by scheme basis. Potential impacts are addressed through ESMF for the project. 4. Describe measures taken by the borrower to address safeguard policy issues. Provide an assessment of borrower capacity to plan and implement the measures described. Recognizing the current social and environmental management capacity constraints, in the country while at the same time ensuring due diligence in managing environmental and social risks, the framework approach adopted under OFWM will be continued. ESMF provides for early identification of potential adverse impacts, without the requirement of rigorous analysis through quantification, and also provides broad guidance for their effective mitigation. As the Project involves interventions in existing schemes no significant involuntary resettlement or land acquisition is anticipated. If any minor areas of land would be needed for construction activities, such land could only be obtained through either private voluntary donation, compensation paid by the community or by the Government. Private voluntary donations and community purchases would be fully documented as required by the Framework, and in accordance with the provisions of Afghanistan#s Expropriation Land Law, enacted in 2000 revised in 2005, the Land Policy (2007) and Law on Managing Land Affairs (2008) and compliant with the World Bank OP/BP 4.12 on Involuntary Resettlement. For government land, documentation would be needed that the land is free of encroachments, squatters or other encumbrances, and has been transferred to the project by the authorized government authorities. 5. Identify the key stakeholders and describe the mechanisms for consultation and disclosure on safeguard policies, with an emphasis on potentially affected people. The overall responsibility of the project implementation rests with the Ministry of Agriculture Irrigation and livestock (MAIL). The MAIL will act through the General Directorate of Programs (GDP) which is headed by a manager who will be responsible to the Minister of MAIL for the overall Project monitoring and coordination. To implement the Project, a Project Implementation Unit (PIU) has been established within the MAIL. The PIU consists of a core team at the national level, five Area Teams and an Implementation Support Consultants Team. The PIU has a Project Director who reports to the Irrigation Director as well as to the Director of the GDP. The GDP is responsible for general monitoring of MAIL-executed projects and reports in the weekly Coordination Meetings chaired by H.E the Minister of MAIL. The PIU will be responsible for the planning, implementation and monitoring of the project. The PIU will supervise and coordinate the five Area Teams. The Area Teams will be attached to the provincial Departments of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (DAIL). The PIU has a certain level of institutional capacity for dealing with safeguards issues built through previous WB funded projects. However since new staff may be added, the staff of the PIU will additionally receive trainings on Bank's safeguard policies during the early stages of the Project implementation. Consultation should be initiated as early as possible, and should be an ongoing process throughout the implementation and monitoring phases of the project. In all community consultations, measures will be taken to ensure gender segregated consultations/information sharing to ensure that women (incl. female land owners) will be fully informed and their concerns heard. During the duration of the project, a campaign of public awareness will be undertaken to inform communities of their legal entitlements, rights, and responsibilities in respect of water resources management at community level. Training at the community level will include awareness of the financial, material and technical resources available to the community to enable them to effectively manage their own water resources. It will also include training on basic technical concepts as well as principles of fair and equitable social organization. The ESMF was developed on the basis of an overall Framework for World Bank-funded reconstruction operations which was prepared in consultation with the principal NGOs and development partners participating in reconstruction activities in Afghanistan. In addition to disclosure of the ESMF by the Government in English as well as its executive summary in both official languages Dari and Pashto, it will also be made available at the World Bank#s Infoshop before appraisal. It is worth noting that the Government of Afghanistan intends to make all project documentation publicly available through the Afghan Information Management System (AIMS). B. Disclosure Requirements Date Environmental Assessment/Audit/Management Plan/Other: Was the document disclosed prior to appraisal? Yes Date of receipt by the Bank 11/11/2010 Date of "in-country" disclosure 11/11/2010 Date of submission to InfoShop 11/12/2010 For category A projects, date of distributing the Executive Summary of the EA to the Executive Directors Resettlement Action Plan/Framework/Policy Process: Was the document disclosed prior to appraisal? N/A Date of receipt by the Bank Date of "in-country" disclosure Date of submission to InfoShop Indigenous Peoples Plan/Planning Framework: Was the document disclosed prior to appraisal? Date of receipt by the Bank Date of "in-country" disclosure Date of submission to InfoShop Pest Management Plan: Was the document disclosed prior to appraisal? Yes Date of receipt by the Bank 11/11/2010 Date of "in-country" disclosure 11/11/2010 Date of submission to InfoShop 11/12/2010 * If the project triggers the Pest Management and/or Physical Cultural Resources, the respective issues are to be addressed and disclosed as part of the Environmental Assessment/Audit/or EMP. If in-country disclosure of any of the above documents is not expected, please explain why: C. Compliance Monitoring Indicators at the Corporate Level (to be filled in when the ISDS is finalized by the project decision meeting) OP/BP/GP 4.01 - Environment Assessment Does the project require a stand-alone EA (including EMP) report? No If yes, then did the Regional Environment Unit or Sector Manager (SM) N/A review and approve the EA report? Are the cost and the accountabilities for the EMP incorporated in the N/A credit/loan? OP 4.09 - Pest Management Does the EA adequately address the pest management issues? Yes Is a separate PMP required? No If yes, has the PMP been reviewed and approved by a safeguards specialist or N/A SM? Are PMP requirements included in project design? If yes, does the project team include a Pest Management Specialist? OP/BP 4.12 - Involuntary Resettlement Has a resettlement plan/abbreviated plan/policy framework/process No framework (as appropriate) been prepared? If yes, then did the Regional unit responsible for safeguards or Sector N/A Manager review the plan? The World Bank Policy on Disclosure of Information Have relevant safeguard policies documents been sent to the World Bank's N/A Infoshop? Have relevant documents been disclosed in-country in a public place in a Yes form and language that are understandable and accessible to project-affected groups and local NGOs? All Safeguard Policies Have satisfactory calendar, budget and clear institutional responsibilities Yes been prepared for the implementation of measures related to safeguard policies? Have costs related to safeguard policy measures been included in the project Yes cost? Does the Monitoring and Evaluation system of the project include the Yes monitoring of safeguard impacts and measures related to safeguard policies? Have satisfactory implementation arrangements been agreed with the Yes borrower and the same been adequately reflected in the project legal documents? D. Approvals Signed and submitted by: Name Date Task Team Leader: Mr Johannes Georges Pius Jansen 11/11/2010 Environmental Specialist: Mr Mohammad Arif Rasuli 11/11/2010 Social Development Specialist Ms Asta Olesen 11/09/2010 Additional Environmental and/or Mr Abdul Mohammad Durani 11/11/2010 Social Development Specialist(s): Approved by: Regional Safeguards Coordinator: Mr Sanjay Srivastava 12/22/2010 Comments: revised ISDS cleared. Sector Manager: Mr Simeon Kacou Ehui Comments: