J.3 Initial Environmental Assessment.pdf

AMENDMENT #1

TO THE PROGRAMMATIC FEED THE FUTURE INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL

EXAMINATION (IEE)

PROGRAM/ACTIVITY DATA:

Project/Activity Name:

1.FTF Sustainable Agriculture and Land Tenure (SALT) 2.FTF Sustainable Water in Tajikistan (SWIT) 3.FTF New Maternal and Child Health Activity and Nutrition (MCH)

4. Any other Feed the Future Activity within the IEE approved budget ceiling, duration, scope, nature and type of work

Country /Region: Tajikistan /Central Asia

F Objectives: Objective 1: Economic Growth

Objective 2: Governing Justly and Democratically Objective 3: Investing in People

Objectives: DO1: Expanded diverse and competitive trade and markets DO 3: More effective and inclusive governance institutions that serve the public good

Program Areas: SALT: EG 3 Agriculture

SWIT: HL.8.0, DR.2

MCH and Nutrition: HL.6 and HL.9 Original IEE funding amount $60 million1 New activities Funding: $75 million Amended IEE funding amount $175 million Funding Period: FY2020 – FY2027 IEE Prepared by: USAID/CA/Tajikistan Country Office:

Mukhiddindzhon Nurmatov, Economic Development Project Management Specialist

Munisa Abrori, Governance Project Management Specialist Malika Makhambaeva, Health Project Management Specialist

Date: 10/17/2019

IEE Amendment? Yes☒ No ☐ Date of Original FTF Programmatic IEE December 10, 2014 (Asia 15-010)2

Additional references: Tajikistan PERSUAP Update3 Fall ArmyWorm Global PERSUAP 4

1Note: Through the end of FY2020 USAID obligated est.$80 million for Tajikistan FTF activities 2 ECD link to the programmatic FTF IEE: https://ecd.usaid.gov/repository/pdf/42251.pdf 3 ECD link to 2019 Tajikistan PERSUAP Update (Asia-17-022-MTF-2): https://ecd.usaid.gov/repository/pdf/52121.pdf 4 ECD link to 2019 FAW PERSUAP: https://ecd.usaid.gov/repository/pdf/52069.pdf

Asia 20-004 https://ecd.usaid.gov/repository/pdf/42251.pdf https://ecd.usaid.gov/repository/pdf/42251.pdf https://ecd.usaid.gov/repository/pdf/52121.pdf https://ecd.usaid.gov/repository/pdf/52121.pdf https://ecd.usaid.gov/repository/pdf/52069.pdf https://ecd.usaid.gov/repository/pdf/52069.pdf

ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION RECOMMENDED: (Place X where applicable)

Categorical Exclusion (CE): ☒ Deferral (D): ☐ Positive Determination (PD): ☐ Negative Determination (ND): ☐ Negative Determination With Conditions (NDC): ☒

Exemption (E): ☐

CLIMATE RISK RATING(S): (Place X where applicable)

Low: [X] Medium: [X] High: [-] Adaptation /Mitigation Measures: Applicable

CONSTRUCTION: Will this project/activity involve construction5 as defined by ADS 201 and 303?

Yes [X ] No ☐ Implementing partners will have to conduct construction risk assessment in accordance with ADS 201 requirements

1.0 PURPOSE :

The purpose of this programmatic Feed the Future (FTF) IEE (P-IEE) Amendment #1 is to timely and duly:

● Reflect on the FTF LOP extension from FY2021 to FY 2027.

● Account for the increase of the total Life of Program (LOP) funding of the P-IEE from $60 mil, to

$175.000 mil.

● Account for three new activities: Sustainable Agriculture and Land Tenure (SALT) activity;

Sustainable Water in Tajikistan (SWIT) and Maternity Child Health and Nutrition (MCH)6; and for any other future FTF activities in Tajikistan for a period of up to seven years within IEE budget ceiling, scope, nature and type of work.

● Confirm that the scope, nature and type of proposed projects and activities is consistent with those of regional and country-specific activities described in the original FTF P-IEE.

● Stipulate that all previously approved Threshold Decisions and related conditions and limitations shall fully apply to new activities.

● Conduct the first review of climate risk screening and management (CRS) for SALT, SWIT and MCH activity as required by the ADS 201mal and stipulate that prior to commencement of projects and activities with approved Negative Determination with Conditions (NDC) the implementing partner(s) (IP) shall conduct CRS for all sectoral and sub-sectoral activities with the approved NDC (see: https://www.usaid.gov/ads/policy/200/201mal).

● Stipulate that CRS for projects/ activities shall be presented in Environmental Review Checklist (ERC, see template in Annex 4) and appropriate commensurate mitigation and adaptation measures shall be developed and presented in integrated Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring plans (EMMP), as part of the ERC. ERCs shall be reviewed and approved by the Regional Mission

5 Construction, as defined by ADS 201maw and 303maw, includes: construction, alteration, or repair (including dredging and excavation) of buildings, structures, or other real property and includes, without limitation, improvements, renovation, alteration and refurbishment. The term includes, without limitation, roads, power plants, buildings, bridges, water treatment facilities, and vertical structures. In the box below, describe any construction planned for this project/activity. Required Construction Risk Management procedures are available in ADS 201 maw.

6 Note: All these activities, except for drinking water construction, are not “new” activities rather change of name of earlier existing programs operating under original FTF IEE. It is also expected that the awards might be issued with other names.

https://www.usaid.gov/ads/policy/200/201mal https://www.usaid.gov/ads/policy/200/201mal about:blank

Environmental Officer (RMEO), Climate Integration Lead (CIL) and Agreements/Contracting Officer Representative (A/COR);

● Stipulate that construction risk screening and management shall be conducted for all small construction activities as required by ADS 201 maw and ADS 303.

● Stipulate that all approved Threshold Decisions, conditions, including limitations and revisions, shall be fully transposed into procurement instruments;

● Stipulate that at the post-award conference, the A/COR together with the RMEO and CIL shall explain to the implementing partner(s) approved Threshold Decisions, conditions and limitations in force as provided in this P-IEE Amendment #1; and

USAID/Central Asia (CA) Mission and Tajikistan Country Office A/CORs shall regularly check, including site visits and engaging RMEO/CIL on implementation of activities and shall seek to ensure that all activities are in full compliance with the environmental conditions approved in the original and amended IEEs.

2.0 BACKGROUND AND NEW ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION

The three new FTF activities (SALT, SWIT and MCH/Nutrition) will further the U.S. FTF strategy7 in Tajikistan, initiated in 2012 and extended for the period of 2017 – 2021 based on U.S. Government Food Security Strategy (GFSS)8. This strategy is helping the Government of Tajikistan (GOT) to reduce hunger, malnutrition and poverty of smallholder farmers. FTF assistance targets the Zone of Influence (ZOI) in 12 of the 24 districts of Khatlon Region, located in southwestern Tajikistan, bordering Afghanistan and Uzbekistan (see Figure 1 below).

Figure 1. 12 ZOI districts in Khatlon province of Tajikistan

Relative to other areas in the country, Khatlon is a key region for agricultural production, and it also has the highest rate of undernutrition and the largest number of people living below the poverty line in the

7 Tajikistan Feed the Future Strategy, 2011- 2015

8 https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1867/USG-Global-Food-Security-Strategy-2016.pdf https://www.usaid.gov/what-we-do/agriculture-and-food-security/us-government-global-food-security-strategy https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1SMGn5LExJLi3JYpu2baFRc0gmxV6hx4V https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1SMGn5LExJLi3JYpu2baFRc0gmxV6hx4V https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1867/USG-Global-Food-Security-Strategy-2016.pdf https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1867/USG-Global-Food-Security-Strategy-2016.pdf https://www.usaid.gov/what-we-do/agriculture-and-food-security/us-government-global-food-security-strategy https://www.usaid.gov/what-we-do/agriculture-and-food-security/us-government-global-food-security-strategy country. Khatlon’s irrigated lands, which have been dominated by cotton production since the Soviet era, are promising places to demonstrate the effects of water and land reform and the economic and health benefits of producing higher value, nutritious fruits, vegetables, and dairy products. Farming households in the ZOI have greater potential to increase incomes through agricultural production activities. Under this IEE amendment USAID will continue working on three Multi-Year FTF strategy pillars:

●Pillar One: To assist household and small commercial farms to increase income and food for home consumption, and provide support to improve nutritional and health outcomes.

●Pillar Two: To build the capacity of local institutions and community-based organizations. Support public and private agricultural extension agents to share modern technologies, food utilization, and assist producer groups to facilitate access to markets and inputs. This will support village organizations to help rural residents tackle local development problems themselves, and it will assist local governments to become more effective, thus supporting and expanding community-based health efforts.

●Pillar Three: To complete effective agrarian reform in selected districts of Khatlon Province. Agrarian reform includes changes in land and water regulations and rights, institutions, policies, and incentives.

Results reached so far in FTF sector might be found in various documents, e.g. in 9. Relationship of new FTF activities to other USAID and donor programs is shown in Annex 5.

2.1 SALT:

Goal: SALT activity will assist the GOT to sustainably reduce hunger, malnutrition and poverty of smallholder farmers by developing more productive and efficient agriculture systems, building the resilience of smallholders, improving the enabling environment to facilitate sustainable and long term ag-led growth, increasing off-farm employment opportunities and diversifying livelihoods. Collectively these interventions will increase household resilience to shocks and stressors in vulnerable communities, further advancing Tajikistan on its pathway to self-reliance. SALT contributes to USAID GFSS top-line goals of accelerated agricultural growth, better nutritional outcomes, improved food security, greater resilience, and better water security. The interventions are designed to ensure long term sustainability and ongoing progress.

SALT will contribute to all three pillars of the Tajikistan FTF Strategy. In addition, SALT will support the Regional Development Cooperation Strategy (RDCS)10 Development Objective 1, “expanded diverse and competitive trade and markets,” particularly IR 1.2, “enhanced agricultural competitiveness and food security.” SALT will also support the Tajikistan FTF PAD with the following objectives, “The completion of effective agrarian reform in selected districts of Khatlon province includes changes in land and water relations and rights, institutions, policies and incentives."

The activity components and illustrative activities are presented below and in Annex 1.

Component 1: Enhance productive agriculture systems Subcomponent 1.1 Increase productivity and expand access to markets of existing and newly organized value chains The Activity will increase efficiency and productivity of market driven value chains through introduction of new production methods including new technologies that extend production through the lean season. The Activity will provide support to the organization of producers groups or similar organization and their apex organizations and strengthen existing value chains. Through working with producer groups the Activity will improve access to sustainable agricultural extension services and nutrition-sensitive agriculture by strengthening existing service providers; creating new sustainable

9 https://www.usaid.gov/tajikistan/agriculture-and-food-security.

10 RDCS CAR Final June 2014.pdf https://www.usaid.gov/tajikistan/agriculture-and-food-security https://www.usaid.gov/tajikistan/agriculture-and-food-security models of service provision; building collaborative research opportunities; and promoting nutrition-sensitive agriculture.

Subcomponent 1.2 Increase availability and consumption of diverse and nutritious foods This Activity will seek to increase access to quality nutrition information and education so that ZOI households know what and how much to eat, how to safely prepare and preserve nutritious foods, how to feed and care for children, how to ensure maternal nutrition, and how to reduce environmental or agricultural-related risks that can lead to illness and hamper nutrition. The Activity should strive to facilitate the market’s ability to promote good health by offering a diverse set of nutritious and safe foods year round that are affordable and convenient for local consumers. The activity will consider the most successful agricultural and environmental management best practices (including natural resource management and climate smart agriculture increasing homestead availability).

Component 2: Strengthen the resilience of vulnerable smallholders Sub component 2.1 Improve adaptation to and recovery from shocks and stresses through diversification of livelihoods. Diversifying livelihood risk is a critical adaptive strategy and source of resilience. This Activity will promote alternative livelihood strategies by analyzing household economic assets and prospects and working with members of these households to diversify livelihoods through non-farm employment and entrepreneurship options; sustainably strengthen marketing groups and cooperatives, and facilitate market linkages where appropriate; address asset accumulation, protection, and management within the drought cycle and before and during other shocks in order to avoid the downward spiral of divestment during the lean season. This includes implementing good agricultural practices which reduce risks, including water conservation and the critical role of vaccination and animal health and crop protection services in protecting the asset base.

Subcomponent 2.2 Reduce vulnerability through strengthened institutions and improved natural resource management Tajikistan is the most climate vulnerable country in Central Asia11. More than one million individuals are consistently food insecure and exposed to recurrent climate shocks. In addition to the cumulative effects of repeated climate related disasters, Tajikistan faces extreme seasonal climatic changes. This activity will work closely with extension service providers to introduce sustainable agriculture practices, improved land use and natural resource management practices; continue to increase access to sustainable sources of water for farmers by strengthening existing local institutions providing services to farmers and households including the Water Users Associations and their Federations; collaborate with USAID energy activities with a purpose to gain considerable energy savings; consider threats such as agricultural pests and diseases which cause major shocks and potential for backsliding. Simple measures will be put into place to create access to the most disease and climate resistant seeds along with implementation of integrated pest management strategies that reduce the exposure and impacts to pests and disease.

Subcomponent 2.3: Develop a more inclusive nutrition-sensitive agriculture systems The Activity will support the development and expansion of micro-, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) that provide off-farm economic opportunities in agricultural value chains, particularly for women.

The Activity will proactively plan interventions and build partnerships that promote inclusion of program participants who are poor and marginalized. Similarly, the Activity will include a focus on youth who face tremendous barriers to finding employment in the ag-sector and who are the most likely to migrate to Russia.

These value chains will align with nutrition-sensitive agriculture practices to support better nutrition in the family and the community. These interventions should also add value or provide services to rural agriculture communities and help the sector move beyond primary agriculture production. On-farm diversification is critical for resilience too. The key for the Activity is to ensure these various options are more accessible and competitive in the ZOI.

11 https://www.osce.org/secretariat/355471?download=true https://germanwatch.org/sites/germanwatch.org/files/Global%20Climate%20Risk%20Index%202019_2.pdf https://www.osce.org/secretariat/355471?download=true https://www.osce.org/secretariat/355471?download=true

Component 3: Improve the Enabling Environment Subcomponent 3.1: Improve the land governance enabling environment at national and local levels Without an improved agricultural and land governance enabling environment, farming households in the ZOI, particularly those supported by female farmers, will be unable to improve their productivity, incomes, nutrition, and food security. USAID projects have significantly advanced agricultural and land governance laws and policies in recent years. National laws expected to be passed by the end of LMDA include: Regulation regarding the right of alienation; Rules regarding transacting with land use rights in the land use rights market; Appraisal Law; amendments to the Land Appraisal Law; and amendments to the Mortgage Law. In addition, GOT currently has before it drafts of a Long-Term Land Policy Concept and a Short-Term Land Strategy. Collectively these laws and policies will be the culmination of a market-driven reform process, which started in earnest in 2003. Once passed, they will provide a clear legal path for smallholder farmers to obtain individualized household rights to use land as collateral, and transfer through lease, sale, gift, or inheritance. Once these reforms take hold current trends will accelerate.

Sub component 3.2: Increase access to, and use of, high quality agronomic and land use information for government, smallholder farmers, and the private sector Improved agronomic and land use information will contribute to improved productivity, incomes, nutrition, and food security for smallholder farming households in several ways. Such information will allow governmental agencies to improve coordination, further reducing the cost and time required for smallholder farmers to obtain and register their land share. Local government authorities will also more effectively manage public land and more efficiently allocate lease rights to those lands, as land management and allocation will be based on land quality and vulnerability to climate change, among other factors. In addition, improved agronomic and land use information is of critical importance to smallholder farmers. SALT will leverage activist networks, agricultural extension services, and other local partnerships to get the best available agronomic and land use information to smallholder farmers.

Subcomponent 3.3: Strengthen the agriculture policy environment A stronger agriculture policy environment is necessary not only to generate adequate income and jobs for Tajiks but also to implement the policy reforms required by various commitments to national and international agreements. Tajik's current policy environment inhibits their ability to generate higher productivity, investment, trade and employment. The potential benefits resulting from the implementation of various laws and policies will not be realized without some external assistance. At present, budget, effective coordination and leadership, and human resource constraints inhibit actual implementation.

Grants management: The Activity will provide grants for various purposes under the Activity components. Whenever possible, the program will link existing suppliers with buyers. Small grants will be utilized when there is a demonstrated willingness to change and improve practices that facilitate sustainable Activity outcomes.

2.2. SWIT:

Goal: The overall intent of this activity is to support the Government of Tajikistan, specifically local governments, in providing safely and efficiently managed drinking water services. While the program proposes to address drinking water needs in targeted communities, its key aim is to identify successful implementation models that ensure the viability of the water service delivery beyond the life of the project.

In support of RDCS DO3 More effective and inclusive governance institutions that serve the public good, and at the country level, Tajikistan’s Feed the Future Strategy: IR 5 - Nutrition improved, through IR5.2 Access to potable water in villages increased, Sustainable Water in Tajikistan is to provide a range of long- and short-term technical assistance, along with funding for small and medium scale construction and rehabilitation of drinking water systems. This activity supports the GOT, specifically local governments, in providing sustainable drinking water services in unserved and underserved rural areas. While the activity proposes to address drinking water needs in targeted communities, its key aim is to identify successful implementation models that ensure the viability of the water service delivery beyond the life of the project.

This activity is designed to contribute to two of the four Development Results of the USAID Water and Development Plan in the U.S. Government Global Water Strategy 16: Strengthen Sector Governance and Financing (Development Result 1); Increase Sustainable Access to Safe Drinking Water (Development Result 3). This activity also supports the implementation of Tajikistan’s National Water Strategy (for the period to 2030). Improving life in rural areas, including increasing and improving the availability of drinking water with a focus on the needs of women and children in rural areas is stated as one of the top priorities in this strategy.

To contribute to a more equitable access, the activity will focus on unserved and underserved rural and peri-urban areas, and encourage women and youth to participate in all aspects of implementation. To ensure that access improvements are sustained, the activity will be guided by the theory of change, requiring activities which contribute to the achievement of three mutually reinforcing intermediate results.

These results include:

● Improved drinking water supply and treatment infrastructure in target communities, with co-financing by the water operators

● Improved management capacity for rural and peri-urban drinking water services among both subnational government entities and water operators

● An enabling environment that includes an engaged and mobilized civil society that advocates for safely managed drinking water services and holds local government and service providers accountable

The activity components and illustrative activities are presented below and in Annex 1.

Objective 1: Increase access to safely managed drinking water in rural Tajikistan through the rehabilitation/construction of small and medium scale infrastructure projects.

To continue USAID’s long-standing efforts to increase access to a sustainable, safe drinking water supply in rural Tajikistan, this activity will provide financial resources, through flexible, transparent and competitive contracts with local construction companies, to fund new or rehabilitation of existing water supply and sanitation infrastructure investments. The activity will expand access to safe drinking water to 150,000 -200,000 citizens within targeted districts through the rehabilitation/construction of 25 small and medium scale infrastructure project in 20 selected districts over the life of the project, with an estimated value of $150,000-$200,000 per project.

Objective 2: Establish reliable and commercially viable drinking water services through improved governance and blended finance instruments. To ensure long term sustainability and financial viability of water infrastructure that the activity invests in target districts, (Objective 1) the implementing partner (IP)(s) will build water operators’ capacity to plan, finance, and manage the assets over time. To meet bigger water and sanitation needs and use USAID limited funds strategically, this activity will seek opportunities for blended financing, including USAID grants, local governments’ resources and investment from the private sector, wherever possible. The project will identify small-scale drinking water providers, particularly community-based organizations and local small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which hold a comparative advantage and can play a key role in reaching underserved groups of rural households and will assist local governments in the selection of appropriate contractual arrangements that are compatible with local socioeconomic constraints and objectives and address the specific needs of poor consumers.

Objective 3: Engage and mobilize community with a focus on reducing gender disparities in the sustainable management of drinking water service delivery. For the purpose of continuity of work force and to ensure sustainability of drinking water management, engaging women and youth in the decision making and management process is strategically important. Especially because youth of this generation are influenced heavily by new technological advances and can better utilize available means of communication with consumers.

Rural areas in Tajikistan are defined more by lack of public institutions and services than by population density. The water service level in these areas is characterized by piped networks with standpipes, in transition to household connections. Service providers range from single or combined system community-based management (Mahalla committees or water users associations), with some small scale private providers, and state owned enterprises. The geographic coverage will depend on identified gaps in coordination with other donor agencies and government counterparts. Criteria for final selection of geography include lack of significant engagement by USAID or other partner in drinking water sector;

size and density of rural unserved population; potential for financial viability (population density, willingness and ability to pay); potential for private sector engagement as investors/operators; existence of a pool of interested private sector entrepreneurs;

district Government support for delegated management of services under different business models.

Grants under Contract (GUC). The Contractor will award grants where appropriate, in combination with technical assistance, training, and/or other inputs toward achievement of specific objectives that respond to expressed local needs and contribute to the achievement of stated Contract Results. In keeping with the principles of the USAID’s Journey to Self-Reliance, Contractors are encouraged to leverage funding from other non-USG resources, e.g. as a “matching grant” for a local organization or private sector activity. Illustrative examples of Small Grants include: Information/education/communications campaigns by local organizations, such as mahalla committees, civil society or the private sector to promote water services improvement. Activities, equipment, materials to develop citizen-based mechanisms for monitoring performance of water service.

There are only a limited number of donor agencies working in rural drinking water sector. While major international financial institutions, such as the World Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development are focused in major urban cities, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (through OXFAM and the United National Development Program (UNDP) and USAID have been continuously working in rural drinking water services. However, until now, the main focus of those activities was mainly on increasing access to water in rural districts; rather ensure financial viability of the services. Therefore, with this activity, USAID will explore ways of covering the financial gap in this particular service, by exploring various business models, including public private partnership.

2.3 MCH AND Nutrition:

The remote Khatlon Oblast -- FTF Zone of Influence -- has some of the country’s poorest agricultural and maternal and child health statistics. The region has the highest under-five mortality rate in the country (40 per 1,000 live births), nearly four times as high as in the capital, Dushanbe. Nearly one-fifth of children in the oblast are stunted. Stunting, measured as height for age, is the impaired growth and development that children experience from poor nutrition, repeated infection, and inadequate psychosocial stimulation.

Stunting in early life, particularly the first 1000 days from conception until the age of two, has adverse functional consequences in the child, which include poor cognition and educational performance, low adult wages, lost productivity, and when accompanied by excessive weight gain later in childhood, an increased risk of nutrition-related chronic diseases in adult life.

The new MCH and Nutrition activity will align with multiple USAID and Republic of Tajikistan priorities. This activity is fully aligned with USAID’s Journey to Self-Reliance, where all objectives support improving both commitment and capacity of the Government to improve the nation’s health and nutrition. The new activity aligns with USAID Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Strategy 2014-2025, Global Health Bureau priority Preventing Maternal, Newborn, and Child Deaths, and with the Global Food Security Strategy (GFSS). This activity will be principally implemented in GFSS Feed the Future ZOI in the Khatlon region of Tajikistan with the ability to expand as needed. In addition, this aligns with the Tajikistan Multi-Year Feed the Future Strategy and the Central Asia RDCS.

More importantly the activity will address the priorities of the Republic of Tajikistan’s National Health Strategy (current and new) and the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement Strategic Priorities as well as the Republic of Tajikistan Country Strategic Review of Food Security and Nutrition. This activity should also be in alignment with and address all other Republic of Tajikistan policies and strategies related to MCH and nutrition that are already approved or are approved over the life of the activity, including the pending Food Fortification Law.

The Goal of this new activity is to improve the nutritional status and prevent morbidity and mortality of mothers and children under two as well as improve the quality and availability of lifesaving, evidence-based health interventions for women and children in the FTF ZOI, Khatlon Province. This new activity will intentionally build upon Tajikistan Health and Nutrition Activity (THNA) successes and incorporate lessons learned.

The activity components and illustrative activities are presented below and in Annex 1.

Objective 1: Support the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of Population in scaling-up and institutionalizing quality health and nutrition services to mothers, newborns and children.

While the current USAID MCH and nutrition activity has brought about quality improvements in health facilities in the ZOI, more work is necessary to continue to improve the quality of care provided by health workers. Utilization of maternal and child health services is reasonably high, particularly for antenatal care and facility deliveries, but as the quality of care increases, demand for and use of health services is likely to also increase.

Objective 2: Support the Scaling up Nutrition Movement and Republic of Tajikistan’s national strategies.

(i.e. New Health Strategy, 1000-day Communication Strategy, Nutrition and Physical Activity Strategy, Food Fortification Action Plan, SUN Common Results Framework-SUN Multisectoral Action Plan, plus others in development).

Objective 3: Implement SBC activities to improve nutrition and maternal and child health practices

The Government of Tajikistan has demonstrated their commitment to maternal and child health and nutrition through the number of high quality national strategies and policies they have enacted. Their capacity to fully implement these strategies and policies still requires strengthening. This activity should support the Government of Tajikistan to roll out nutrition and MCH-related strategies within the ZOI.

2.4 Lessons learned

During implementation of FTF activities launched under the FTF P-IEE, it became clear that some activities have potential for negative environmental and social impacts, including due to climate change, and are prone to failure if proper design and environmental monitoring and mitigation measures are not in place. The activities included: Agribusiness Competitiveness Activity in Tajikistan (ongoing through 2023); Tajikistan Agriculture and Water Activity (runs through March 2020); Family Farming Activity (closed); Women’s Entrepreneurship for Empowerment Project (closed), Tajikistan Land Market Development Activity (runs through August 2020); Tajikistan Health and Nutrition Activity (THAN, runs through September 2020).

All of them had activities qualifying for a Negative Determination with conditions and included along with conducting training courses, workshops, and awareness campaigns, multiple demonstrations, voucher programs, purchasing agricultural inputs, procurement of equipment and agricultural machineries, dealing with agrochemicals such as fertilizers and pesticides, food additives, drip irrigation, procurement and feeding livestock, improvement of cold storages, procurement of fruit and vegetable processing equipment, small rehabilitation activities during installation of small water storages, rehabilitation of water pipelines and other water systems. Implementing partners in practically all cases reported to USAID in accordance with FTF P-IEE requirements. More than 300 environmental review checklists with EMMPs have been submitted for the A/COR and MEO/CIL approval. Overall, all activities have been in full compliance with USAID requirements established in IEE, Framework Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plan and other USAID acceptable recommendations. CORs and MEO visited multiple project sites and conducted environmental compliance monitoring of these activities.

The following findings and recommendations have been made as a result of screening of the above activities for improvement of environmental compliance and sustainability of the activities:

● Drinking water meters are usually not installed in piped systems, so there is little or no data available for managing performance of water operators, leaving no incentives for households to use water efficiently. With a flat tariff, many households underpay for the amount of water they actually consume. Water fees are usually well below cost-recovery, yet still collections rates are low due to lack of communication and lack of trust between the service providers and water users regarding the actual costs of providing water services.

● Community based drinking water management models, with consumers’ monetary and in-kind contributions, did not demonstrate long term financial viability. International organizations, with community support, established various forms of water operators, such as community action groups, water boards, and water consumer associations, all of which have either in-kind contributions or financial investments into water systems. In the past, the interest of such small scale, informal water operators were not protected by legal agreement or contract. With local government turn over, any state-owned enterprise, may take over the business. If such businesses are registered under the PPP unit of the State Committee for Investment and Property Management, the water operator’s interest is protected in terms of revenue.

● The role of women as key agents of change is critical in building institutional knowledge and their participation and decision-making processes are critical for securing access to clean, safe and affordable water and sanitation for all and for ensuring sustainable development. However, because of established gender roles which do not associate women with technical work, this has not been taking place widely enough. In order to involve women in effective management, women need access to training related to management financial literacy.

● Even very small construction activities such as installation of latrines at rural medical facilities, or farmer’s greenhouses require well justified design, high-quality materials, planning in clean-up and application of disinfection maintenance. In number of USAID sites, these requirements were not followed and correction actions had to be undertaken at some point.

● For drip irrigation installation IPs were supposed to follow a set of requirements though this didn’t happen in most cases. This relates to correct displaying of hosts, using only clean water for irrigation and in case of fertigation, water cisterns were supposed to be cleaned up from polluted water spilled off into specially designated ground pits. The use of pesticides along with drip irrigation (chemigation) was practically not practiced, but in several cases when it was used, PERSUAP requirements were not pursued. Overall drip irrigation in USAID-assisted greenhouses didn’t replace furrow irrigation, as farmers didn’t trust drip irrigation and continued practicing routine types of irrigation along with or instead of drip one.

● Despite many years of USAID trainings of pesticide application, targeted farmers in ZOI continue having low culture and knowledge in doing that correctly. All farmers should go through multiple basics trainings in integrated pest management and national agrochemical laws and sub-laws and requirements of USAID’s Pesticide Evaluation Report and Safer Use Action Plan.

● Demonstration plots and pilots for growing various nutritious crops or demonstrating innovative technologies continued being organized by USAID IPs without passport data recorded to reflect environmental, soil, water, agronomy and other factors. Having information on this data allows to avoid cases which may result in obtaining un-representative results and poor crop yields.

The above and various other good practices should be reinforced by new FTF activities, and corrective actions shall be promptly taken by IP(s) for any non-compliance identified by A/COR and MEO/CIL and reported back to USAID.

3.0 ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE SCREENING OF NEW ACTIVITIES

3.1 Environmental compliance screening

It is expected that up to 30-50 % of new FTF activities will fall under the Negative Determination with Conditions (NDC) and will require further environmental screening, monitoring and reporting to USAID.

They may potentially directly, indirectly or cumulatively affect the environment, including social life or have the potential to do so through small construction/renovation activities; procurement of electric and electronic and/ or professional equipment; developing demonstration and piloting agricultural activities, introduction of new technologies, irrigation and drinking water supply in rural areas. All these impacts, mitigation, monitoring and reporting measures, and corresponding environmental actions needed are discussed in the original FTF P-IEE. If IPs work on such NDC activities they shall provide environmental management in accordance with the terms established in this parent document.

Environmental compliance screening of new SALT, SWIT and MCH and Nutrition activities is available in Annex 1. Illustrative mitigation measures for Water and Sanitation activities not included in FTF P-IEE are available in Annex 2.

3.2 Climate Risk Management Analysis (CRM)12

This IEE amendment presents a targeted climate risk analysis that focuses specifically on proposed agricultural and agriculture policy reform sectors in Tajikistan. To provide context for how projected climate change may impact the long-term benefits of proposed activity components, Climate Risk Profile (CRP)13 for Tajikistan and Central Asia14 outlines mid-term and long-term climate change scenarios in Central Asia. Based on these profiles, and multiple other climate change reviews such as Third National Communication for Tajikistan (TNC)15, projected change in Central Asian countries includes likely increases in average annual temperature of about 2°C across the region by 2050, and by 5-6 °C by the end of century; high variability and uncertainty of projected changes in precipitation across the region; and a higher frequency of heavy rain events along with the increased concentration of rainfall in winter months.

The region will experience a hotter and drier climate overall, and will particularly experience change in water resources – including an increase in water resource levels until 2020-2030 and then a decrease in water resource availability by the end of XXI century because of exhaustion of glaciers due to accelerated melting. Noted should be that in small river basins, the flow decrease has already started taking place. In addition, changes in climate may increase the frequency and intensity of extreme weather and natural

12 Links to climate change reviews:

http://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/env/epr/epr_studies/ECE.CEP.180.Eng.pdf;

http://www.carpathianconvention.org/tl_files/carpathiancon/Downloads/04%20Publications%20-%20Press%20- %20Gallery/CAsia_Summary_screen.pdf;

https://www.e3g.org/docs/Central_Asia_Report_Expert_Working_Group_on_Climate_related_Security_Risks_Final.pdf;

https://idea.usaid.gov/cd/tajikistan/environment-and-global-climate-change;

https://zoinet.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/CC-Tajikistan-web-2016.pdf;

https://www.climatelinks.org/sites/default/files/asset/document/2018-April-30_USAID_CadmusCISF_Climate-Risk-Profile- Central-Asia.pdf;

https://www.climatelinks.org/sites/default/files/asset/document/2019_USAID_Tajikistan%20Factsheet.pdf;

https://zoinet.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/WB_Presentation_CentralAsiaWaterSecurity.pdf;

https://www.gfdrr.org/en/tajikistan;

https://zoinet.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/CCCA_dec2009_0.pdf;

13 Reference to Tajikistan CRP: https://ecd.usaid.gov/document.php 14 Reference to Central Asia CRP: https://www.climatelinks.org/sites/default/files/asset/document/2018-April- 30_USAID_CadmusCISF_Climate-Risk-Profile-Central-Asia.pdf.)

15 Third National Communication under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), 2014 http://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/env/epr/epr_studies/ECE.CEP.180.Eng.pdf http://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/env/epr/epr_studies/ECE.CEP.180.Eng.pdf http://www.carpathianconvention.org/tl_files/carpathiancon/Downloads/04%20Publications%20-%20Press%20-%20Gallery/CAsia_Summary_screen.pdf http://www.carpathianconvention.org/tl_files/carpathiancon/Downloads/04%20Publications%20-%20Press%20-%20Gallery/CAsia_Summary_screen.pdf http://www.carpathianconvention.org/tl_files/carpathiancon/Downloads/04%20Publications%20-%20Press%20-%20Gallery/CAsia_Summary_screen.pdf http://www.carpathianconvention.org/tl_files/carpathiancon/Downloads/04%20Publications%20-%20Press%20-%20Gallery/CAsia_Summary_screen.pdf https://www.e3g.org/docs/Central_Asia_Report_Expert_Working_Group_on_Climate_related_Security_Risks_Final.pdf https://www.e3g.org/docs/Central_Asia_Report_Expert_Working_Group_on_Climate_related_Security_Risks_Final.pdf https://idea.usaid.gov/cd/tajikistan/environment-and-global-climate-change https://idea.usaid.gov/cd/tajikistan/environment-and-global-climate-change https://zoinet.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/CC-Tajikistan-web-2016.pdf https://zoinet.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/CC-Tajikistan-web-2016.pdf https://www.climatelinks.org/sites/default/files/asset/document/2018-April-30_USAID_CadmusCISF_Climate-Risk-Profile-Central-Asia.pdf https://www.climatelinks.org/sites/default/files/asset/document/2018-April-30_USAID_CadmusCISF_Climate-Risk-Profile-Central-Asia.pdf https://www.climatelinks.org/sites/default/files/asset/document/2018-April-30_USAID_CadmusCISF_Climate-Risk-Profile-Central-Asia.pdf https://www.climatelinks.org/sites/default/files/asset/document/2018-April-30_USAID_CadmusCISF_Climate-Risk-Profile-Central-Asia.pdf https://www.climatelinks.org/sites/default/files/asset/document/2019_USAID_Tajikistan%20Factsheet.pdf https://www.climatelinks.org/sites/default/files/asset/document/2019_USAID_Tajikistan%20Factsheet.pdf https://zoinet.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/WB_Presentation_CentralAsiaWaterSecurity.pdf https://zoinet.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/WB_Presentation_CentralAsiaWaterSecurity.pdf https://www.gfdrr.org/en/tajikistan https://www.gfdrr.org/en/tajikistan https://zoinet.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/CCCA_dec2009_0.pdf https://zoinet.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/CCCA_dec2009_0.pdf https://ecd.usaid.gov/document.php https://ecd.usaid.gov/document.php https://www.climatelinks.org/sites/default/files/asset/document/2018-April-30_USAID_CadmusCISF_Climate-Risk-Profile-Central-Asia.pdf https://www.climatelinks.org/sites/default/files/asset/document/2018-April-30_USAID_CadmusCISF_Climate-Risk-Profile-Central-Asia.pdf https://www.climatelinks.org/sites/default/files/asset/document/2018-April-30_USAID_CadmusCISF_Climate-Risk-Profile-Central-Asia.pdf https://www.climatelinks.org/sites/default/files/asset/document/2018-April-30_USAID_CadmusCISF_Climate-Risk-Profile-Central-Asia.pdf events such as heavy rainfalls, floods, flash floods, mudflows, land-slides, avalanches, droughts, heat waves, wildfires, pest and disease infestations, increase in duration of extremely hot summer periods with air temperature above 40°C.

These predictions suggest that potential impacts of climate change on the FTF near to medium efficacy may include extreme events that could lead to loss of agricultural production, reduction of drinking water availability from various springs, challenges in transporting agricultural production to markets and possible businesses failure. The FTF sector is exposed to numerous direct and indirect impacts from climate change in CA. As temperatures rise, the cropping pattern of many crops, specifically vegetables, are changing. In Khatlon region, vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and melons are drying up earlier creating gap in availability of nutritious vegetables. Heat waves are increasing amount of water demand by crops putting more pressure on already depleted irrigation and drainage systems. Irregular rainfalls are causing floods and local droughts in some areas. Rising temperatures will also worsen a post-harvest handling of perishable produces increasing percentage of decayed fruits and vegetables.

Currently, rising temperature and pest invasion are becoming severe challenges for local farmers to be productive and sustainable.

Cumulatively, the proposed FTF potential to accelerate development of climate resilient crops and development of sustainable activities far outweighs the relatively low to medium climate risk that climate poses to the activity components in the region. These risks are acceptable, however the contractor will have to take into account adaptation measures suggested in the Climate Change National Communications, National Action Plans for Climate Change Mitigation, FAO and other donors recommendations available in various internet and literature sources. Under SWIT, Contractor will utilize country lead Integrated Water Resources Management tools, through coordination with other key stakeholders. It will improve overall water governance and establish water safety plans, including mitigation measures, such as controlling of water losses and maximization of water use efficiency. It will explore available technologies to recycle grey water and reuse of wastewater, and where possible, advance appropriate water catchment and storage technologies.

Based on the results of EC screening available in the referenced profiles and fact sheets, CRM table in Annex 3 outlines some Climate Change risks to the activity components, and opportunities that exist for integrating climate resilience or mitigation measures. All new activity components are rated as Low or Moderate Climate Risk. Though there is a moderate or sometimes high risk of negative climate change to agricultural and water supply systems and construction process, the climate risk to the achievement or sustainability of planned USAID activities will be presumably low, or sometimes moderate, not higher due to multiple risks addressed at the planning stage. Additional climate risk screening should be conducted for all NDC activities by the IP (s) as required by ADS 201mal.

3.3 Threshold Determinations and recommended environmental actions

a) Recommended Action: Categorical Exclusion (approximately 50-70% of funding) for actions specified in the Table 3, Section I of the P-IEE (Asia15-010) that are not expected to have direct, indirect, cumulative or induced adverse environmental and social effects. No reporting is required. The originator of the proposed action has determined that the proposed activities are fully within the following classes of actions:

-Education, technical assistance, or training programs except to the extent such programs include activities directly affecting the environment (such as construction of facilities, etc.) [22 CFR 216.2(c)(2)(i)];

-Analyses, studies, academic or research workshops and meetings [22 CFR216.2(c)(2)(iii)];

-Document and information transfers [22 CFR 216.2(c)(2)(v)]; and

-Studies, projects or programs intended to develop the capability of recipient countries to engage in development planning, except to the extent designed to result in activities directly affecting the environment (such as construction of facilities, etc). [22 CFR 216.2(c)(2)(xiv)].

b) Recommended Action: Negative Determination with Conditions (approximately 5-10% of all funding) for activities related to the development of policy recommendations, strategic plans and regulatory and legal changes.