Integrated safeguards datasheet appraisal stage I. Basic Information

The Project Development Objective is to restore and improve productivity and value addition for selected value chains.

Project activities will be organized around the following four components:

Component 1. Adoption of Improved Technologies and Restoration of Productivity (US$27.3 million; of which IDA support of US$10.0 million and GFRP support of US$11 million). Under this component the Project will finance the adoption of improved technologies for the development of the food security and export-oriented value chains (aquaculture, maize, rice, cashew and pineapple). It will also support the restoration of the means of production of households affected by the flood, particularly the productions of cereals (maize and rice), aquaculture, and livestock.

Component 2. Development/rehabilitation of Irrigation and Market Infrastructures (US$17.7 million of which IDA support of US$9 million and GFRP support of US$4 million). The component will finance the rehabilitation and development of small scale irrigation infrastructures to improve productivity and reduce output variation, and the construction and rehabilitation of market and storage infrastructures, some of which were destroyed by the recent floods.

Component 3. Value Chain Coordination and Agricultural Financing (US$8.2 million of which IDA support of US$5.6 million and GFRP support of US$0 million). This component aims to improve the coordination of targeted value chains and to help improve access to financial services for project beneficiaries. It will provide business development services to help address critical supply and demand constraints to the provision and access to credit and financial services in agriculture. It will also support building value chain institutions through the organization of value chain participants into a well structured inter-professions and the organization of producers around structuring activities, such as rice milling, fingerlings and fish feed production.

Component 4. Sector Program Coordination and Project Management (US$8.1 million of which IDA support of US$6.4 million and GFRP support of US$0 million). This component will help strengthen the capacity of the Ministère de l#Agriculture, de l#Elevage et de la Pêche (MAEP) to effectively coordinate the implementation of the sector program (including PADA) and to manage and monitor the Project.

The Project activities will be carried out nationwide, with focus on areas with natural proclivity toward the targeted value chains. Therefore, pineapple production activities will be confined in the South, particularly in the Atlantique-Littoral and in the Mono-Couffo regions. Cashew nuts activities will be concentrated on the Central part of the country, whereas maize-related activities are expected to be carried out all over the country (with first interventions in the lowlands that have been severely affected by the recent flood). Rice production will be concentrated in Malanville, Glazoué, Ouémé and Tangiéta river basins.

Mr Abdoul-Wahab Seyni (AFTCS)

Mr Africa Eshogba Olojoba (AFTEN)

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 is expected to have a positive environmental impact through its support for agricultural technologies that promote the better use of land and water resources. From an environmental and social safeguard standpoint, the proposed project is a Category B project. However, all activities must be screened to determine the need to carry out an Environmental and/or Social Assessment, and when applicable an Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs) and/or Environmental and Social Management Plans (EMP or ESMP) will have to be prepared and cleared by the Bank and the ABE.

This suggests that environmental and social impacts of the project, for the most part, will be moderate, site-specific and manageable to an acceptable level. Potential environmental risks could include point and nonpoint pollution of water sources, and other issues associated with the use of agricultural chemicals (fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides), and negative environmental impacts associated with the rehabilitation of irrigation or small-scale civil works, such as storage facilities.

The Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF), the Pest Management Plan (PMP) and the Population Resettlement Policy Framework (RPF) were prepared and disclosed both in-country and in Infoshop prior to appraisal. Furthermore, with regards to the policy OP7.50 Projects on International Waterways, the Niger River Basin Authority has been notified of the proposed project and the non-objection letter from the Authority has already been received by the Bank.

It is anticipated that project activities will not lead to major land acquisition or major restriction of access to sources of livelihood. Nevertheless, the fact that the project will involve development of private irrigation lands and community irrigation infrastructure, and as some land acquisition and/or restrictions of access to resources and/or livelihoods could take place during implementation this triggers the OP/BP 4.12 Involuntary Resettlement Policy. However, since specific irrigation sites are not yet known by the borrower, as due diligence, a Resettlement Policy Framework (RPF) has been prepared for the Project. In the event that people are physically or economically displaced because of the Project#s activities, a Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) will be prepared in accordance with the requirements of OP4.12, before the commencement of any relocation activities. This plan will be subject to Bank approval, consulted upon, and disclosed. The RPF has been disclosed in country and at the InfoShop prior to appraisal.

The Project is classified as environmental category B because no activity funded under the Project is expected to have a significant negative environmental or social impact.

There is no major indirect and/or long-term impact due to anticipated activities in the project area.
3. Describe any project alternatives (if relevant) considered to help avoid or minimize adverse impacts.

N/A
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.

The Borrower knows and has experience with Bank safeguard policies with other Bank-funded projects in the agriculture and rural development sector. Through the implementing agencies of the ongoing projects, the Country has relatively reasonable capacity to implement safeguards measures within project activities. The Coordination Unit of PADA will be in charge of the implementation of the project activities, including safeguards-related measures. The project will sign a MoU with the ABE, which is the Government Agency responsible for reviewing Environmental and Impact Assessments (EIAs), supervising implementation compliance of the Environmental and Social Management Plans and RAPs.

Nonetheless environmental and social assessments undertaken for project activities will determine the needs for additional capacity building on safeguards as necessary.

A stakeholder workshop was organized involving representatives of professional organizations, farmers' organizations, civil society and NGOs to discuss the results of the safeguards documents.