Page 1 INTEGRATED SAFEGUARDS DATASHEET APPRAISAL STAGE I. Basic Information Date prepared/updated: 12/13/2009 Report No.: AC2147 1. Basic Project Data Country: Afghanistan Project ID: P098256 Project Name: Afghanistan: Horticulture and Livestock Productivity Project Task Team Leader: Usman Qamar Estimated Appraisal Date: March 20, 2006 Estimated Board Date: May 25, 2006 Managing Unit: SASDA Lending Instrument: Specific Investment Loan Sector: Central government administration (32%);Crops (23%);Animal production (19%);Agricultural marketing and trade (16%);Agricultural extension and research (10%) Theme: Other rural development (25%);Conflict prevention and post-conflict reconstruction (25%);Export development and competitiveness (24%);Rural services and infrastructure (13%);Gender (13%) IBRD Amount (US$m.): 0.00 IDA Amount (US$m.): 20.00 GEF Amount (US$m.): 0.00 PCF Amount (US$m.): 0.00 Other financing amounts by source: BORROWER/RECIPIENT 0.00 Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund 11.00 Financing Gap -11.00 0.00 Environmental Category: B - Partial Assessment Simplified Processing Simple [] Repeater [] Is this project processed under OP 8.50 (Emergency Recovery) or OP 8.00 (Rapid Response to Crises and Emergencies) Yes [X] No [ ] 2. Project Objectives The revised project objective is to assist producer households in adopting improved practices so as to increase horticulture and livestock productivity and production in focus areas. 3. Project Description Revised Project Description Part 1: Horticulture Development (a) Rehabilitation and expansion of perennial and annual horticulture crop cultivation through: (i) the provision of training and extension support to farmers for the rehabilitation of existing orchards; (ii) the provision of seedlings and other inputs to farmers, provision of technical advisory services and training in integrated pest management, on-farm water management, farm planning and orchard management, and Page 2 the provision of In-kind Grants to support the establishment of new orchards; and (iii) provision of technical advisory services for establishment and training of farmer groups and developing linkages with horticulture input and output markets. (b) Establishment of the Horticulture Development Council of Afghanistan for: (i) the provision of policy guidance and support to Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL); and (ii) the carrying out of activities such as training and research to support the development of the horticulture sector . Part 2: Livestock Development (a) Strengthening the capacity of the General Department of Livetock Production (GDLP)to supervise and regulate animal husbandry services, through the provision of technical advisory services and training to staff at district offices, development of livestock extension service packages, acquisition of equipment and software, carrying out of infrastructure rehabilitation and upgrading of offices. (b) Development of livestock production and marketing initiatives for improving domestic food supplies and reducing imports, including: (i) establishment of a village- based poultry industry through the provision of In-kind Grants to Beneficiaries, the provision of training and technical advisory services, supply of initial stock, the acquisition of equipment and the carrying out of small works; (ii) carrying out of a comprehensive study of the dairy sector in the country; and (iii) carrying out of a comprehensive study into the value chain for cashmere in the country. (c) Promoting public-private partnerships for the delivery of veterinary services, including: (i) provision of training and enhancing the capacity of veterinarians; (ii) harmonizing the privatized veterinary field units clinical services system; (iii) establishing sanitary mandates through private-public partnership; and (iv) provision of vaccines, disease surveillance equipment and supplies for conducting sanitary mandates. Part 3: Project Management and Implementation (a) Strengthening MAIL's administrative capacity including development of its human resource functions and rehabilitation of its offices, through the provision of training, technical assistance, acquisition of equipment, carrying out of small works and provision of operating costs. (b) Provision of training, technical assistance, goods, equipment and operating costs for the establishment of IMST and for the implementation, monitoring and supervision of the Project. 4. Project Location and salient physical characteristics relevant to the safeguard analysis The project will cover the following 11 districts that MAIL has selected based on carefully considered criteria, however, some activities (e.g. privatization of veterinary clinics) and orchard rehabilitation would continue outside these districts as well where these activities are already ongoing: Following is the list of certain districts in few provinces of the country: 1. Mir Bachakot (Kabul), 2. Shaikh Ali (Parwan), Page 3 3. Muhammad Raqi (Kapisa), 4. Bazarak/Rokha/Onaba (Panjsher), 5. Farkhar (Takhar), 6. Imaam Sahib (Kundoz), 7. Aybak (Samangan), 8. Khulm (Balkh), 9. Shebergan (Jawzjan), 10. Sozma Qalla (Sari Pul), 11. Pul-e-Kumri (Baghlan) 5. Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialists Ms Asta Olesen (SASDI) 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: II. Key Safeguard Policy Issues and Their Management An Environmental and Social Safeguard Framework (ESSF) for the original HLP project was developed to ensure compliance with the World Bank's Safeguard Policies. Environmental and Social Management Framework: Recognizing the emergency nature of the reconstruction operation in Afghanistan, while also ensuring due diligence in managing potential environmental and social risks, an ESSF has been prepared. The intention of this framework is to : (i) prevent the execution of subprojects that might cause significant and irreversible negative impacts; (ii) decrease or manage potential adverse impacts through modifications to subproject design, location or execution; (iii) prevent or mitigate cumulative impacts of small scale investments; (iv) enhance positive environmental and social impacts of subprojects; and (v) prevent additional stress on environmentally sensitive areas. Page 4 The ESMF includes: (a) tools for screening of subprojects, including negative lists of characteristics that would preclude project funding for these activities; (b) screening, assessment and clearance procedure; (c) capacity building to ensure effective implementation of the ESMF at the various implementation levels; and (d) requirements of supervision of implementation, monitoring of environmental and social conditions, and independent audits of performance. Also, the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach for the control of pests has been adopted and work is going on to update the original Pest Management Plan (PMP). The restructured project would remain in Environmental Category B as originally envisaged. The restructured HLP project activities will not have any large scale, significant and/or reversible impacts. HLP will help to promote IPM approach and create capacity in the country especially in the Ministry of Agriculture to regulate the importation, storing and use of pesticides and this will have a positive impact on the environment. Key issues at hand include: (i) finalizing the project's pest management plan in accordance with the standard outline included in Environment and Social Safeguard Management Framework (ESMF); (ii) carrying out survey and analysis of the pesticide subsector in the country; (iii) integrating the ESMF fully in project implementation, training and capacity building activities and including IPM in all aspects of horticulture development; and (iv) appointing a focal person in the IMST for overseeing compliance with environmental and social safeguards. Successful implementation of the IPM program envisaged under the project would be critical not only for the protection of the environment and the food chain in the country but also for Afghanistan's horticulture products to enter the world market. Social Safeguards. No Social Safeguards Policies will be triggered. There will be no land acquisition under the restructured project, but in case land acquisition becomes unavoidable during implementation of one of the sub-projects, the ESMF provides the necessary guidelines and procedures. Regional Equity: The restructured project will primarily be implemented in 11 focus districts across 11 provinces in the northern and eastern parts of Afghanistan. The selection of districts is based on objective and transparent criteria formulated by MAIL plus security considerations as to where the project is physically implementable. Beneficiary selection for the various sub-components would also be based on relevant, transparent criteria and processes and be monitored to ensure that nobody are left out based on the basis of ethnic/religious/gender basis. Gender Mainstreaming. The HLP has been actively promoting gender mainstreaming and trained over 7000 women in semi-intensive poultry, and mobilized 107 female groups within the l horticulture and livestock component. NGOs working on the poultry component have been successful in identifying, training and employing women. Similarly, the NGOs assisting with mobilization of producer groups have also successfully employed women.. Recently, a draft gender mainstreaming strategy has been prepared for HLP. Under the restructured project, MAIL/IMST would adopt an improved Page 5 strategy for recruiting women at all levels in the project, learning from the experience of NGOs. Privatization: MAIL/IMST will send a written confirmation to the Bank that staff of the government veterinary clinics (including veterinarians and support staff) that do not opt for privatization will continue to retain their jobs with MAIL after the transfer of these clinics. Counter-narcotics (CN). The 11 focus districts in which HLP operates are reportedly free of poppy cultivation. In terms of CN, the restructured project will continue to follow the strategy of improving the economic returns of licit higher value crops and input and marketing facilities. Training and extension messages would continue to include CN issues. 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: Given the nature of proposed project activities, no significant adverse cumulative impacts are anticipated. Moreover, no potential large scale, significant and/ or irreversible impacts are expected under the HLP. Any potential cumulative impacts would be recognized by detailed monitoring that would be carried out to identify any potential concerns and changing conditions. On the positive side, the horticulture component of the project will help improve the quality of orchards in the country and will have positive impact on the local environment as well as on the nutrition side of the diet of the communities involved in the project. To mitigate against unforeseen risks, the ESSF has prepared a list of ineligible subprojects. Examples of such ineligible subprojects include: # Subprojects requiring pesticides that fall in WHO classes IA, IB or II; # Subproject requiring new or expanded irrigation schemes; # Subprojects requiring involuntary acquisition of land, or the resettlement or compensation of more than 200 people; # Subprojects that affects water in riparian neighbors. Small scale impacts may arise inadvertently, in the unlikely event that the selection, planning, and implementation of the subproject interventions and demonstration sites are inadequate. Although, specific subproject intervention are not known at the beginning (but will be known when locations of subprojects are selected), attention in the selection of subprojects should focus on the following potential threats: # Use of pesticides and insecticides that may cause harm to natural resources and human health; # Unsustainable grazing causing land degradation (causing erosion); # Possible effluents from the diary units; Page 6 # Limited construction activities. The ESSF provides guidelines for controlling of negative impacts that may arise as a consequence of specific subprojects. 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 HLP activities. However, to mitigate against unforeseen risks, the ESSF has prepared a list of ineligible subprojects. The ESSF also provides a framework for controlling negative impacts that may arise as a consequence of specific subprojects. HLP has also adopted and is promoting the IPM approach to controlling pests and diseases in the livestock and horticulture sectors in the project areas. HLP is updating the Pest Management Plan (PMP) when properly applied will strengthen the use of the IPM approach and will prevent the potential negative impact on the local environment as well as on the local community. 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 and OP 4.09 Pest Management) should be considered on a case by case basis. Potential impacts are addressed through and Environmental and Social Safeguard Framework (ESSF) 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 HLP will be continued. The ESSF 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. Responsibilities for Safeguard Implementation, Screening Impacts and Mitigation as well as Reporting Sound design will if not eliminate, at least diminish to the extent possible, most of the potential adverse impacts of project activities. The overall responsibility of project implementation rests with the Ministry of Agriculture Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL). The MAIL will act through an Implementation and Management Support Team (IMST) which will be headed by a Manager who will be responsible for overall Project Implementation. A qualified Environmental and Social Safeguards Focal Officer will be assigned reporting to HLP Team Leader and will be responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Environmental and Social Safeguards Framework as well as the proper and result Page 7 based application of IPM approach in HLP. In fact, the direct responsibility of the safeguards implementation will be with the implementation partner staff but the Safeguard Focal Officer will facilitate and contribute to capacity building, lessons learned in IPM, good practices, case studies, collect and compiles reports about the progress or the lack of it and will get feedback from the stakeholders including the World Bank. The Safeguard monitoring capacity will be gradually transferred to relevant MAIL staff to ensure continuity in safeguard application after project completion. During the operation stage, the M&E Unit will carry out the monitoring of the operations also. It will confirm (from anecdotal evidence and, if required, laboratory testing) that the water quality in the project area is not adversely impacted due to agrochemicals, soil conditions are conducive for growth of crops normally grown in the region, and pathogens and vectors are under control. In case of incidence of water related or water-transmitted disease, it will co-ordinate with the local health department to ensure that the situation be brought under control in the shortest possible time. The Safeguards Focal Officer will be coordinating efforts, of Pest Management Plan (PMP), regulations regarding pesticide importation, use, storage and etc. He/she will also ensure and facilitate the studies whether there is any pesticide residues in the food chain and horticulture and livestock components of the HLP or not and would take needed measures. Environmental and Social Focal Point(s) will help in mainstreaming environmental and social issues in the program. This has been found necessary due to limited human capacity at the national and district level. 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 an Implementation and Management Support Team (IMST) which is headed by a manager who will be responsible to the Minister of MAIL for the overall Project Implementation. The ESSF 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. Prior to approval of the HLP it was disclosed by the Government in both Dari and Pashto, as well as in English, and also made available at the World Bank#s Infoshop. The updated version of the ESSF and the updated version of the Pest Management Plan (PMP) will again be disclosed in the country by the government to all stakeholders in the local languages and format they can use as well as the English version will be send to WB InfoShop prior to Appraisal mission for the restructuring of HLP. 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: Page 8 Was the document disclosed prior to appraisal? Yes Date of receipt by the Bank 10/25/2009 Date of "in-country" disclosure 10/26/2009 Date of submission to InfoShop 11/23/2009 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? 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 10/17/2009 Date of "in-country" disclosure 10/17/2009 Date of submission to InfoShop 11/23/2009 * 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) review and approve the EA report? N/A Are the cost and the accountabilities for the EMP incorporated in the credit/loan? N/A OP 4.09 - Pest Management Does the EA adequately address the pest management issues? Yes Is a separate PMP required? Yes If yes, has the PMP been reviewed and approved by a safeguards specialist or SM? Are PMP requirements included in project design? If yes, does the project team include a Pest Management Specialist? N/A The World Bank Policy on Disclosure of Information Have relevant safeguard policies documents been sent to the World Bank's Yes Page 9 Infoshop? Have relevant documents been disclosed in-country in a public place in a form and language that are understandable and accessible to project-affected groups and local NGOs? Yes All Safeguard Policies Have satisfactory calendar, budget and clear institutional responsibilities been prepared for the implementation of measures related to safeguard policies? Yes Have costs related to safeguard policy measures been included in the project cost? Yes Does the Monitoring and Evaluation system of the project include the monitoring of safeguard impacts and measures related to safeguard policies? Yes Have satisfactory implementation arrangements been agreed with the borrower and the same been adequately reflected in the project legal documents? Yes D. Approvals Signed and submitted by: Name Date Task Team Leader: Mr Usman Qamar 11/23/2009 Environmental Specialist: Mr Mohammad Arif Rasuli 11/23/2009 Social Development Specialist Ms Asta Olesen 11/23/2009 Additional Environmental and/or Social Development Specialist(s): Mr Abdul Mohammad Durani 11/23/2009 Approved by: Regional Safeguards Coordinator: Mr Sanjay Srivastava 11/24/2009 Comments: cleared on the understanding that no land acquisition will take place. Sector Manager: Mr Simeon Kacou Ehui 12/13/2009 Comments: Cleared