Annex_J.5_IEE.pdf

INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION

(IEE)

PROJECT/ACTIVITY DATA

Project/ Activity Name: Malawi Secondary Education Expansion for Development

(SEED)

Amendment (Y/N): N

Implementation Start/End: FY 2018 – FY 2022

Solicitation/Contract/Award Number: to be inserted by Mission

Implementing Partner(s): TBD

Geographic Location(s): Phase 1: Urban Centers of Blantyre, Lilongwe, Mzuzu and Zomba Phase 2: All 28 districts

Tracking ID/link: ECD Permalink Malawi Secondary Education Expansion for Development (SEED) IEE, approved 12/18/2017:

http://gemini.info.usaid.gov/document.php?doc_id=50453

Tracking ID/link of Related RCE/IEE (if any): AMAA IEE Amendment #1 E3-18-03 (DOC) (PDF)

Tracking ID/link of Other, Related Analyses: IEE Malawi Health IEE 090913 http://gemini.info.usaid.gov/document.php?doc_id=39384 and IEE for Apatseni Mwayi Atsikana Aphunzire (AMAA) (Let Girls Learn) E3-17-46

ORGANIZATIONAL/ADMINISTRATIVE DATA

Implementing Operating Unit(s):

(e.g. Mission or Bureau or Office)

USAID/Malawi

Funding Operating Unit(s):

(e.g. Mission or Bureau or Office)

USAID/Malawi, Bureau for Africa

Funding Account(s): GHP and DA

Funding Amount: $90 million (GHP $50 million and DA $40 million)

Amendment Funding Amount

NA

Other Affected Unit(s): USAID/Global Health (GH)

Lead BEO Bureau: USAID/Africa (AFR) Bureau Environmental Officer (BEO):

Brian Hirsch

Prepared by: Robert Matengula, USAID Malawi MEO.

(rmatengula@usaid.gov) drawing on the AMAA IEE

Amendment #1 IEE (see below) http://gemini.info.usaid.gov/document.php?doc_id=50453 javascript:%20f_open_document('50503');

http://gemini.info.usaid.gov/repository/doc/50503.doc http://gemini.info.usaid.gov/repository/pdf/50503.pdf http://gemini.info.usaid.gov/document.php?doc_id=39384 javascript:%20f_open_document('50345');

mailto:rmatengula@usaid.gov

Malawi Secondary School Education Expansion for Development IEE & EMMP/ESMP Template

Date Prepared: November 20 th

, 2017

ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE REVIEW DATA

Analysis Type: IEE & EMMP/ESMP

Environmental Determination(s): Categorical Exclusions; Negative Determinations with Conditions

Climate Risk Management Analysis: A moderate risk for construction and building use due to increased temperatures, and a high risk for building functions due to extreme weather events and possible flooding events (Section 4.2 and Annex A.)

Additional Analyses/Reporting Required: Environmental Monitoring and Mitigation Plans (EMMPs) or Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs) for Malawi Environmental Affairs Department (EAD)

Analysis Expiration Date: 31 September 2022

Key reference document 2017 Apatseni Mwayi Atsikana Aphunzire

(AMAA) Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) Report http://gemini.info.usaid.gov/egat/envcomp/document.php?doc_id=50345

THRESHOLD DECISION MEMO AND SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF THE INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION

PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF THE INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION AMENDMENT

The purpose of this IEE is to review the reasonably potential environmental impacts of planned secondary school construction activities that will be implemented by the Secondary Education Expansion for Development (SEED) with matching Global Health Program (GHP) funds from the Presidential Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and

Development Assistance (DA) from USAID (most notably Basic Education and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene). The mission adopted the name SEED not to reflect any funding sources but rather main objective of increasing girls’ access to secondary schools through expansion of existing or construction of new schools in urban and rural areas nationwide, bringing secondary schools closer to where the most vulnerable girls live. The IEE recommends threshold decisions for activities not limited to construction activities under the SEED project. Construction of secondary school infrastructure generate moderate environmental and social impacts, as such a site-specific Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plan (EMMP) will be prepared to describe how identified environmental impacts will be managed. A categorical exclusion is recommended for all studies, procurement of text books and learning materials, and procurement of furniture.

The IEE discusses potential environmental impacts related to installation of classroom units in up to 34 existing urban community day secondary schools (CDSSs) with the expectation that each school will be provided up to two classroom blocks; each block consisting of two classrooms. The IEE will also discuss potential impacts generated by construction of new CDSSs in approximately 200 or more rural sites (with the expectation that each school will consist of one classroom for each of the four grades, one science laboratory and one administrative room), together with school furniture, latrines, a borehole, a start-up set of textbooks and a mobile laboratory kit). The units in greenfield rural sites will be constructed from either prefabricated materials or a hybrid of prefab, concrete blocks and

Let Girls Learn

Improved Soil Stabilized Blocks (ISSBs). The activity will be implemented in all 28 districts in Malawi. However, the total number of schools to be expanded and constructed could be up to 250 depending on design option and funding availability. Potential impacts proposed in this IEE are generic but typical for construction and installation of prefabricated blocks or a hybrid of prefab, concrete blocks and ISSBs. It is anticipated that once sites for the activities have been identified and agreed upon with local communities and Ministry of Education Science and Technology

(MoEST), environmental management and mitigation plans or appropriate environmental reviews will be undertaken prior to implementation of construction activities. For any subsequent construction of schools not covered in this IEE and different from the proposals made herein, site-specific amendments to this IEE must be prepared. This IEE only compiles potential environmental impacts for the activity and establishes conditions for implementation that will be operationalized via the project EMMPs/ESMPs.

Brief Activity Description:

The SEED activity will involve installation of up to two classroom blocks, each block consisting of two classrooms in up to 34 existing urban secondary schools for the first year and construction of approximately 200 or more new

CDSSs in rural areas during second and third year of the activity. Installations of additional two classroom blocks in urban secondary schools will be in the cities of Blantyre, Zomba, Lilongwe and Mzuzu. The new schools will be located in rural parts of the country with priority to PEPFAR scale up districts. This IEE covers analyses of potential environmental impacts for installation and construction of classrooms blocks, WASH facilities, administration block and another block that could be used as a science laboratory under the earmarked funding stream. The competitive procurement process for the installation/ construction will begin upon completion and approval of all required pre-implementation environmental reviews.

PROJECT/ACTIVITY SUMMARY

ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATIONS

The following table summarizes the recommended determinations based on the environmental analysis conducted for

SEED activities. Climate risk analysis is drafted separately and categorized as high, moderate, or low risk; threshold determinations are described separately from climate risk.

The recommended threshold determination is recommended using the following logic:

Categorical Exclusions: Actions with no foreseeable direct or indirect environmental impact and falling within the activities detailed as those qualifying for a pre-threshold determination of a categorical exclusion (22 CFR 216.2I).

Where identified, these actions will not be considered further. However, monitoring of activities for changes or unforeseen impacts must still be in place.

Negative Determinations with Conditions: Those actions which, based on the impacts analysis, have low or moderate potential for environmental impact. With mitigation measures in place, those impacts are expected to be minimal, and therefore, these actions are assigned a negative determination with conditions, as noted. Conditions are those requirements or specific mitigation measures applicable to the activity planning, implementation, and operation.

Conditions are detailed for these activities in Section 5.

Upon approval, these determinations become affirmed, per 22CFR216. Specified conditions, detailed in Section 5, become mandatory obligations of implementation per ADS 204.

TABLE 1: ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATIONS

Projects/Activities Categorical Exclusion

Negative Determination

Positive Determination Deferral

Project/Activity 1:

Activity 1.1: School Construction (classrooms, administration block, library and laboratory)

X

(w/ conditions)

Project/Activity 2:

Activity 2.1: Construction of sanitation facilities such as latrines and boreholes.

Activity 2.2: Capacity building for WASH equipment/system maintenance

Project/Activity 3:

Land Acquisition

Project/Activity 4:

Activity 4.1: Education, technical assistance, and training programs

BEO SPECIFIED CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL

Recommended Actions

The conditions required of this action are:

1. Mission Activity Manager Role. Should the activity, as observed by the Mission Activity Manager or the

Contract Officer’s Representative (COR) (or their designee) identify potential adverse impacts not previously identified, the Activity Manager will notify the MEO and COR will cease operations until the appropriate environmental analysis can be completed.

2. Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plans (EMMPs)/Environmental and Social Management

Plans (ESMPs). All construction activities, except for studies and planning, will need to be assessed for environmental risks and impacts. Construction activities deemed to generate moderate risks will require preparation of site specific management plan for potential environment and social impacts. These should provide sufficient information for meaningful monitoring of efforts to reduce foreseen environmental impacts including but not limited to 1) description of activities which are moderate and high risk; 2) description of environmental characteristics of the site(s) where the proposed activities will take place; 3) an account of all regulatory licenses and approvals required for the activity to ensure that the activity will be in line with sound environmental management practices 4) an evaluation of activities and issues with respect to potential negative environmental impacts; and an environmental mitigation action which includes mitigation measures, monitoring, responsible parties and other information such as site maps, plans and site drawings. The implementing entity will submit the draft EMMP/ESMP to the COR, MEO and REA for review and concurrence. The implementing entity will also submit 5 copies of each site specific ESMP to Environmental

Affairs Department (EAD) for review and approval. The IP will pay required fees for review of the ESMPs by EAD. The EMMP/ESMP must be approved by USAID (COR and MEO) and EAD before construction may begin. These EMMPs/ESMPs must identify how the implementing entity will assure that IEE conditions indicated in the IEE will be implemented. In the case of a subcontract, the contractor may elect to require the subcontractor to develop their own EMMP/ESMP. The AFR EMMP Factsheet provides guidance and sample

EMMP formats: http://www.usaidgems.org/mitMonRep.htm. However, for SEED activities an

EMMP/ESMP model has been developed and added in Annex B following Environmental and Social

Management Plan (ESMP) format agreed with (EAD). This EMMP/ESMP can be adapted and adjusted accordingly to suit site-specific conditions.

3. Climate Risk Management (CRM). Activities that have not already been determined to be low risk are required to undergo climate risk assessment. An initial CRM screening, as required by ADS 201, has been completed for school construction and has been included in this IEE in section 4.2. This review was completed using the USAID Climate Risk Screening and Management Tool for Activity Design (Matrix

Template), and a summary of the CRM process and key findings and recommendations is provided in Annex

A. This is an initial CRM assessment. The responsibility for assessing and addressing climate risk lies with the engineer-of-record. Thus, CRM will be a component of the engineering design and the results will have to be included in the EMMP/ESMP.

4. Compliance Documentation and Reporting. The implementing entity or contractor or firm will be responsible for submitting to the COR and MEO an Environmental Management and Mitigation Report

(EMMR) documenting compliance with conditions of the IEE mitigation measures described in EMMP. The

EMMR will be submitted periodically, preferably before construction, during construction and before operation. The EMMR must contain sufficient evidence demonstrating compliance of both IEE and EMMP.

5. Water Supply and Sanitation: Good-practice design standards will be specified in the EMMP/ESMP and must include siting of new wells far from groundwater contamination sources (e.g., latrines, cesspits, dumps), exclusion of livestock from water points, prevention of standing water at water supply points, the provision of latrines with handwashing stations especially at sites where people are expected to spend significant portions of their time. This must be consistent with USAID’s Sector Environmental Guidelines: Water

Supply & Sanitation:

http://www.usaidgems.org/Documents/SectorGuidelines/Wat%20San%20Guideline%20Final_w_GCC_Addi tion__May11.pdf.

A Water Quality Assurance Plan (WQAP) must be a part of the EMMP and approved by the Mission

Environment Officer (MEO). The WQAP ensures that all new and rehabilitated USAID-funded water supplies provide safe drinking water, defined as meeting local and WHO water quality standards. The SEED activity could adapt the recently approved WQAP for Organized Network of Services for Everyone’s

(ONSE) Health activity that presents recommended USAID, Malawi and World Health Organisation drinking water quality standards to be adhered to. Critical parameters to be tested include Arsenic, fecal

Coliform, Fluoride, Nitrate, Electrical Conductivity, Total Dissolved Solids, pH and Turbidity. These parameters will be analysed during commissioning and at least twice within the first year of commissioning.

The WQAP template can be found here: http://www.usaidgems.org/wqap.htm

6. Construction Risk Screening must be done for each activity and address conformance with, or variation from, each of the principal elements within USAID’s preferred approach to construction (Construction Risk

Mandatory Reference https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1865/201maw.pdf). The screening http://www.usaidgems.org/mitMonRep.htm https://www.climatelinks.org/sites/default/files/CRM%20Activity%20Tool%20Matrix%20Template%201.25.17.xlsx https://www.climatelinks.org/sites/default/files/CRM%20Activity%20Tool%20Matrix%20Template%201.25.17.xlsx http://www.usaidgems.org/Documents/SectorGuidelines/Wat%20San%20Guideline%20Final_w_GCC_Addition__May11.pdf http://www.usaidgems.org/Documents/SectorGuidelines/Wat%20San%20Guideline%20Final_w_GCC_Addition__May11.pdf http://www.usaidgems.org/wqap.htm should be organized to describe actions taken, or planned, to mitigate construction risk at different stages of activity implementation: Planning, Engineering Design, Construction Procurement, and Implementation.

7. Land Tenure & Land Use Rights. As USAID proposes supporting the construction of schools in urban and rural Malawi, it is important to ensure appropriate land ownership documentation of existing schools and new rural sites for complete new installation or construction. The schools in urban areas would have some sort of documentation of land ownership since the land is either under city councils, Malawi Housing

Corporation, or Department of Lands. Preliminary site visits to community day secondary schools in urban centres of Blantyre, Zomba, Lilongwe and Mzuzu show that the schools are either located on land donated by primary schools, churches, community leadership, Malawi Housing Corporation, Department of Lands and city councils. To establish legitimate land ownership, the activity will require land ownership, transfer, or donation certification for urban schools prior to commencement of construction work and these should be annexed in the site-specific EMMP. Most of the land in rural areas is customary and land ownership would have to be verified through a formal process with traditional leaders. However, some pockets of land in rural areas are owned by churches and individuals who have title deeds and may donate section of their land for construction of schools. Documentation of such land donations or transfers should be submitted to USAID prior to construction works. The focus of the inquiry on displacement and compensation issues should be on legitimate landholders, including secondary or informal occupants and users of the land. This is consistent with good practice found in, e.g., the World Bank Operational Policy, the Voluntary Guidelines on

Responsible Governance of Tenure, and USAID’s Guidelines on Compulsory Displacement and

Resettlement. “Ownership” and tenure type is only part of this analysis. The key is determining who is currently using the land in a way considered legitimate by the local community, and consistent with the

Malawi’s 2016 Land Law that implements the 2002 Land Policy. The preferred means of compensation, if called for, is comparable land, not cash. This is the World Bank’s approach to displacement in Malawi and consistent with USAID’s Guidelines on Displacement. The site specific EMMP will clearly document the consultative process followed with stakeholders, including government officials, community leaders, relevant community association representatives, and potentially project affected people. Annex F provides samples of land tenure documents that could be adapted for assessing land ownership for both urban and rural sites.

8. Protection and Sustainable Use of Natural Resources. Extraction and harvesting of sand for construction works must be done in approved waterways. Mitigation measures against adverse environmental impacts from sand extraction must be developed. USAID funds will not be used to purchase sand from local vendors who are not licensed by Malawi Government. In the event the Contractors will be extracting sand from waterways and onshore sites, applicable permission from city, municipal, town and district councils will be acquired before sand extraction. Timber will be sourced from licensed vendors and USAID funds will not be used to procure timber from unsustainable sources.

9. Building materials. Construction activities for the superstructure will not include use of burnt bricks as the current curing of burnt bricks is exacerbating wanton cutting down of trees which is unsustainable.

Improved Soil Stabilizing Blocks (ISSBs), Prefabricated SIPS panels and/or Cement Concrete Blocks (CCBs) will be used for construction of superstructures.

10. Environmental Monitoring Responsibilities. As required by ADS 204.3.4, the Education Office and the implementing entity or Contractor will “actively monitor ongoing construction activities for compliance with approved IEE recommendations, conditions, and mitigation measures.” If new or unforeseen environmental consequences arise during implementation the COR will suspend the activity and initiate an appropriate further review in accordance with 22 CFR 216. USAID monitoring shall include regular site visits, at times with the MEO accompanying the COR or designate in the field, and the regular review of reported environmental monitoring indicators from the IP or Contractor (often synchronized with the reporting of performance indicators). Specifically, the implementing entity or Contractor shall engage the services of full time Environmental Compliance Officer responsible for monitoring and ensuring compliance of all activities construction works with the IEE and EMMP/ESMP.

11. Compliance with Host Country Requirements. Nothing in this IEE substitutes for or supersedes implementing entity or Contractor responsibility for compliance with all applicable host country laws and regulations. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a statutory requirement in Malawi and the

Environment Management Act (EMA) provides for penalties for non-compliance. Construction of secondary school infrastructure does not fall in the mandatory list of EIA projects stipulated in the EIA guidelines.

However, as the construction of secondary schools does not fall on categories exempted for EIA as such, EAD has provided a framework for preparing environmental and social management plan for individual site for AMAA activity which is similar to SEED activity. USAID has adopted EAD framework with some adjustments to ensure the ESMP framework satisfies both USAID and EAD requirements. The contractor or implementing partner will have to submit site specific ESMP to USAID and EAD and get clearances/approval before proceeding with construction works.

IMPLEMENTATION

In accordance with 22CFR216 and Agency policy, the conditions and requirements of this document become mandatory upon approval. This includes the relevant limitations, conditions and requirements in this document as stated in Sections 3, 4, and 5 of the Environmental Analysis, and any BEO Specified Conditions of Approval.

USAID APPROVAL OF INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION –

PROJECT/ACTIVITY NAME: Secondary Education Expansion for Development (SEED)

File Name: Malawi Secondary Education Expansion Development (SEED) IEE, and ECD Permalink:

http://gemini.info.usaid.gov/document.php?doc_id=50453

Approval:

_____________________/s/______________________________

Littleton Tazewell, Mission Director

____11/17/2017___ Date

Concurrence:

_______________________/s/____________________________

Brian Hirsch, AFR/SD/EGEA Bureau Environmental Officer

12/18/2017

Clearance:

____________________/s/_______________________________

Walter Knausenberger, AFR/SD, Deputy Bureau Environmental Officer

_12/11/2017____

Clearance

Roopa Karia, AFR/SD, Africa Region Climate Integration Lead

___12/12/2017___

Clearance __________________n/a_________________________________

Rachel Dagovitz, Global Health Bureau Environmental Officer

______n/a_______

Peter Trenchard, Deputy Mission Director

Brian Frantz, Supervisory Program Officer

Michelle Chen, Education Office Team Leader

Peter Halpert, Health Office Team Leader

Radhan Cumaraswamy, Contracts Officer Representative

Robert Matengula, Mission Environmental Officer/CIL

Mark Hyland, USAID/Regional Legal Officer

Aaron Bennett, USAID/Regional Engineering Officer

Aaron Brownell, Southern Africa Regional Environmental Advisor http://gemini.info.usaid.gov/document.php?doc_id=50453

DISTRIBUTION:

USAID/Malawi ED Team COR and Activity Managers

USAID/Malawi Office of Acquisitions and Assistance

USAID/Malawi Program Office

MEO

REA, Aaron Brownell

AFR BEO

GH BEO

1.0 PROJECT AND ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION

1.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF IEE

The purpose of this document, in accordance with Title 22, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 216 (22CFR216), is to provide a review of the reasonably foreseeable effects on the environment of USAID SEED activity which aims at increasing secondary classroom space for adolescent girls and women (AGYW). The project will increase girls’ access to secondary schools through expansion of existing or construction of new schools in urban and rural areas nationwide, bringing secondary schools closer to where the most vulnerable girls live and improving adolescent girls and young women’s’ health outcomes as a result (most notably HIV incidence). Upon approval, these determinations affirmed, per 22CFR216 and specified conditions become mandatory obligations of implementation.

This analysis also documents the results of the activity level Climate Risk Management process in accordance with

USAID policy (specifically, ADS 201 mandatory reference located at:

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

This environmental analysis is a critical element of USAID’s mandatory environmental review and compliance process meant to achieve environmentally sound activity design and implementation. Potential environmental impacts or climate risks should be addressed through formal EMMPs/ESMPs.

The IEE discusses only environmental impacts related to the installation and construction activities associated with expansion of approximately 34 urban secondary schools and installation of an estimated 200 or more new rural secondary schools. The scope of this IEE is for all districts in Malawi using a tiered approach over five years.

School expansions in the cities of Blantyre, Zomba, Lilongwe and Mzuzu will occur in Phase 1. Installation of new schools in rural areas in all 28 districts will continue in phases 2-3. This document compiles typical potential environmental impacts for construction activities, and lays the groundwork for EMMPs/ESMPs.

1.2 ACTIVITY OVERVIEW

USAID’s primary focus in the Malawi Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) is improving the quality of lives of Malawians with a specific development objective to improve social development by improving access and quality of quality essential social services (in this instance secondary education).

The HIV Prevention PAD aims to prevent HIV infections among targets populations, notably among adolescent girls and young women (15 – 24 years old) (AGYW). Recent data reaffirm the PAD’s original identification of adolescent girls aged 15 to 24 as a target population given the heavy HIV burden within this segment of the population. Specifically, HIV prevalence is approximately among 15- to 19-year-olds is over three times higher among young women as young men and over six times higher among 20- to 24-year-olds . At the time the PAD was written, AGYW accounted for approximately half of all new HIV infections in Malawi. Today, HIV incidence among AGYW is dramatically higher than among adolescent boys and young men.

These sets of AGYW activities contribute to HIV Prevention PAD Result 2 “Positive health behaviors adopted,”

Intermediate Result (IR) 2.1 “Individual ability to reduce HIV risk enhanced” and the identified input that aims to

“create safe community and school environments for girls” and IR 2.2 “Adoption of Social Norms to Reduce HIV

Vulnerability”, in this case staying in school.

Demographic and Health Survey, 2015/16.

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

In Malawi, AGYW face daunting challenges. A girl in Malawi is 50 times more likely to be married at age 18 than enter university. Thirty percent of girls give birth by their 18th birthday. Violence against women is pervasive with one in five females sexually abused before age 18. Less than 20% of girls who complete primary schooling enter secondary schools due to limited classroom space and unaffordable school fees.

The rationale of the activity is that there is growing evidence that keeping AGYW in school can help reduce HIV incidence by delaying sexual debut, preventing child marriage, reducing risk of sexual abuse, and increasing independence from patriarchal power structures.

In Botswana, an observational cohort study showed that adding an average of one additional year of secondary schooling was associated with a 36% reduced lifetime HIV acquisition risk.

The activity will increase access to secondary schools through the installation of an estimated 250 secondary schools providing approximately 19,000 new seats for girls each year following the completion of the initiative. Based on the research available, this investment will have corresponding impact on the reduction of HIV incidence among

AGYW with secondary reductions anticipated in early marriage and pregnancy, and gender based violence.

IMPLEMENTATION FRAMEWORK AND STRATEGY

USAID Malawi will implement the SEED initiative using a tiered approach over five years, prioritizing school installation in PEPFAR scale-up districts.

The first pre-fab installations occurring in Phase 1 of the activity are proposed urban school expansions to leverage existing infrastructure and resources to have an immediate impact in high burden HIV sites. The roll out plan will prioritize expansion of existing CDSSs in 4 urban areas of Blantyre, Zomba, Lilongwe and Mzuzu. Approximately, 34 secondary schools in these urban areas will have their schools expanded in the first year. In Phases 2-3, the roll out will target installation of schools in rural areas. It is estimated that approximately 5,500 additional seats for girls will be created in the second year. Installation of new schools will continue in the third year and the target will be in PEPFAR scale up districts where an estimated 9,600 additional seats for girls will be created (Figure 1.1). At a minimum, for new rural sites, each school will have a six-room unit, comprising one classroom for each of the four grades, one science laboratory and one administrative room), together with school furniture, latrines, a borehole, teacher housing, a start-up set of textbooks and a mobile laboratory kit depending on need and space.

De Neve JW, Fink G, Subramanian SV, Moyo S, Bor J. Length of secondary schooling and risk of HIV infection in Botswana: evidence from a natural experiment. Lancet Global Health. 2015;3:e470–477.

Districts with highest burden of people living with HIV (prevalence) prioritized (MPHIA, 2016), targeting urban areas for immediate impact

Figure 1.1 PEPFAR Map of Priority Districts

1.3 ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION

The primary goal of SEED is to increase secondary classroom space for AGYW in Malawi by over 25% and thereby reduce HIV incidence among AGYW with secondary reductions anticipated in early marriage and pregnancy, and gender based violence (GBV).

The IEE will address the installation of prefabricated and/or a hybrid of prefab and traditionally constructed secondary school for expansion of existing secondary schools in four urban areas, and new secondary schools in all

28 districts. The preferred method of installation will depend on the design, biophysical conditions and cost to be determined by the Architecture and Engineering (A&E) firm to be engaged by USAID. The following criteria, presented in Annex C, will be used in selecting schools or sites that will benefit from SEED:

❖ Performance overview for each of the 28 districts based on Primary School Certificate Leaving

Examination (PSCLE) pass rates and capacity at the existing CDSS in the area;

❖ For every district, calculate and rank the selection rate of successful Standard 8 graduates from feeder primary schools by existing CDSSs, highlighting the schools with the lowest selection rates;

❖ Highlight high performing primary schools (to determine potential sites of new SEED secondary schools) with large enrollments and high Standard 8 PSLCE pass rates in overcrowded education clusters;

❖ Mapping of all existing CDSSs for every district and the accompanying primary schools that feed into each of them to analyze travel distances; and

❖ Propose sites for construction of new CDSSs; including at least 1 alternative site for each proposed location.

Expansion of up to 34 existing community day secondary schools. Phase 1 of the roll out plan will see approximately 34 secondary schools in cities of Blantyre, Zomba, Lilongwe and Mzuzu benefitting from initial installations of additional classrooms. Each allocation will receive up to four pre-fabricated classrooms; one for each of the four grades. In some schools, depending on the need, WASH facilities will be installed to cater for the increased enrollment numbers that could be triggered by the additional space created.

Construction of up to 200 or more new community day secondary schools. Phases 2-3 of the activity includes installation of hybrid prefabricated and traditional secondary schools in rural areas. Installation of the new schools

(including WASH and school housing facilities (to be built concurrently by the community)) will begin in rural areas.

1.4 DESIGN DESCRIPTION

In Phase 1, USAID will perform site assessments to determine space availability and other key data that will inform development of site specific design at the 34 existing urban school locations. This data will inform development of a solicitation document for design-build services for the classrooms. USAID will hire local A&E firms to provide site supervision and quality control (QC) using standard procurement processes. After satisfactory completion of construction, the classrooms will be officially handed over to the school management committee or an entity identified as appropriate by the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology (MoEST), such as Education

Division Managers.

Phase 2 of the activity will commence simultaneously through the identification of an A&E firm to perform comprehensive site assessments of the rural new-school sites and develop a conceptual design that includes 5 classrooms of which the fifth classroom will be used as a laboratory with mobile laboratory kit to be provided by the activity, an administration block, latrines and borehole, and community built staff housing, including site specific variations within the brief. This data will be included into a solicitation document for design-build turn-key construction of the schools.

Phase 3 of the activity will be a continuation of installations focusing on Rural Sustained Districts, using systems developed in phases 1 & 2. Phase 3 could also include provision of grant to Malawi Government using approach and lessons learnt in phases 1 and 2.

The activity will mobilize the community for critical pieces of construction such as teacher housing. Communities will be asked to make in-kind contributions, such as labor, to ensure community ownership. Similarly, the community will be mobilized to create a committee that will monitor construction, safeguard the environment and children, and monitor related activities in addition to monitoring by SEED activity staff employed by the implementing partner. The school committee shall also establish maintenance regimes for both the new infrastructure and the immediate environment. Training and capacity building will be provided to committees on construction processes to be used at each specific site. Any grievances brought to the contractor by the communities will have to be properly recorded and escalated to the implementing partner for resolution.

The designated construction contractors will follow best standards on child safeguarding policy that prohibits contractors’ representatives from engaging in any activity that may result in any kind of child abuse.

USAID’s policy also ensures compliance with host country and local child welfare and protection legislation, or international standards.

Key to the implementation of the installation and construction of classrooms is close coordination with the MoEST, especially during design and planning phase of the activities. The design will meet minimum Disaster Risk

Reduction standards in terms of structural integrity, particularly considering the hazards of earthquake, localized flooding, and high winds.

http://www.savethechildren.org/atf/cf/%7B9def2ebe-10ae-432c-9bd0-df91d2eba74a%7D/SCUS%20CHILD%20SAFEGUARDING%20POLICY%20(W-

ATTACHMENTS)%20(11%2005%2015)%20DOC.PDF

http://www.savethechildren.org/atf/cf/%7B9def2ebe-10ae-432c-9bd0-df91d2eba74a%7D/SCUS%20CHILD%20SAFEGUARDING%20POLICY%20(W-ATTACHMENTS)%20(11%2005%2015)%20DOC.PDF http://www.savethechildren.org/atf/cf/%7B9def2ebe-10ae-432c-9bd0-df91d2eba74a%7D/SCUS%20CHILD%20SAFEGUARDING%20POLICY%20(W-ATTACHMENTS)%20(11%2005%2015)%20DOC.PDF http://www.savethechildren.org/atf/cf/%7B9def2ebe-10ae-432c-9bd0-df91d2eba74a%7D/SCUS%20CHILD%20SAFEGUARDING%20POLICY%20(W-ATTACHMENTS)%20(11%2005%2015)%20DOC.PDF

2.0 BASELINE ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION

2.1 SUMMARY OF GENERAL CONDITIONS IN MALAWI

SOCIOECONOMIC CONDITIONS

Malawi has a growth rate of 3.3 percent with a 2016 estimated population of over 18.5 million. About 84 percent of the people live in rural communities and are engaged in agriculture. Two-thirds of the population is under 25 years of age and has a life expectancy of 61 years. One-third of the population is from the ethnic group Chewa while the

Lomwe, Yao, and Ngoni ethnicities combined make up nearly half of the population.

Malawians have good access to improved drinking water sources with over 95 percent and 89 percent in urban and rural communities, respectively. Access to sanitation is limited with about 47 percent and 40 percent for urban and rural communities, respectively. Malawi has a high degree of infectious diseases with HIV/AIDS prevalence over nine percent and malaria, dengue fever, diarrhea, hepatitis A, typhoid, and schistosomiasis being prevalent. In 2015, it was estimated that there was 1 physician per 50,000 inhabitants.

Malawi’s economy is reliant on agriculture with it contributing 90 percent of export revenues and 32 percent of the country’s GDP. The majority of agricultural exports come from tobacco. Other agricultural products of importance are sugarcane, cotton, tea, and corn. GDP per capita has been estimated to be stable for at least three years at $1,100, whereas the inflation rate is slowly growing with a 2016 estimate at 23.5 percent.

Malawi ranks 173 out of 187 countries in the 2015 UN Development Program Human Development Index. High maize prices, widespread crop failures, and reduced income generating opportunities has increased food insecurity among vulnerable households.

Malawi is a source country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking. Most

Malawian trafficking victims are exploited within the country, with victims generally transported from the southern part of the country to the central and northern regions. Children are subjected to forced labor in the agricultural sector (predominantly in the tobacco industry, but also on tea, coffee, and sugar plantations), goat and cattle herding, and brickmaking. Reports indicate one-third of Malawian children are involved in labor activities; most cases of child labor outside the family involve fraudulent recruitment and physical or sexual abuse, conditions indicative of forced labor.

People with albinism are targeted for their body parts by those who believe that they contain magical powers and bring good luck. Women and children with albinism are particularly vulnerable to abductions and killings by criminal gangs, who see them as easier targets.

The Government of Malawi does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so. In

February 2015, the government passed anti-trafficking legislation, establishing a comprehensive legal framework to address trafficking in persons.

GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE VULNERABILITIES

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mi.html https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mi.html https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mi.html https://www.usaid.gov/malawi/food-assistance https://www.state.gov/j/tip/rls/tiprpt/countries/2015/243484.htm https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/AFR3641262016ENGLISH.PDF https://www.state.gov/j/tip/rls/tiprpt/countries/2015/243484.htm https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mi.html https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mi.html https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mi.html https://www.usaid.gov/malawi/food-assistance https://www.state.gov/j/tip/rls/tiprpt/countries/2015/243484.htm https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/AFR3641262016ENGLISH.PDF https://www.state.gov/j/tip/rls/tiprpt/countries/2015/243484.htm

Climate variability and change are already affecting Malawi. Cycles of floods and droughts have increased in the last two decades, accompanied by an increased incidence of dry spells, intense rainfall events, and pest and disease outbreaks, as well as a poor inter-annual distribution of rainfall. Observational data indicate that the temperature has warmed by 0.9°C from 1960 to 2006, with an average rate of increase per decade of 0.21°C.

Temperatures are expected to rise by 1-3 °C by 2050. Wet season rainfall is increasing, but the onset of the season is trending later and likely to end earlier, which has implications for cropping seasons in a country where 90 percent of agriculture remains rain fed, smallholder activity practiced by the 85 percent of Malawians living in rural areas. Figure 2:1 provides climate projections for Malawi from USAID Climate Change Risk Profile for Malawi.

Figure 2:1 Climate Projections for Malawi from USAID Climate Change Risk Profile for Malawi, January 2017

Two different models project that Malawi will experience a decreased number of rainfall episodes – possibly reduced by 15-20 percent – with significant increases in the intensity of each episode.

High emissions scenario models consistently predict increasing percentage of the rainfall occurring as extreme rain events.

This projected impact is occurring already in Mulanje according to field staff of MOBILISE during interviews by the USAID

Environmental Threats and Opportunities Assessment Team. Increased severity for precipitation extremes will have a measurable impact on agriculture, food security, soil erosion and water resources.

The projected climate change will impact the construction sector as increased rains could flood areas where proposed SEED activities will be implemented. Temperature rises could have effects on construction material selection for school blocks to be constructed out of prefabs. Availability of water resources for construction works could be affected by increasing temperature limiting water availability.

See USAID Malawi Country Vulnerability report and Adaptation Fact Sheet for more information

(footnote above). Below is a tabular summary of climate impacts and vulnerabilities.

C McSweeney, M New, G Lizcano, UNDP Climate change country profiles: Malawi, 2008 https://www.climatelinks.org/resources/climate-change-risk-profile-malawi

Rocha, A., P. Melo-Gonçalves, C. Marques, J. Ferreira, and J.M. Castanheira. 2008. High-frequency precipitation changes in southeastern Africa due to anthropogenic forcing. International Journal of Climatology 28: 1239-1253.

C McSweeney, M New, G Lizcano, UNDP Climate change country profiles: Malawi, 2008

USAID Malawi Environmental Threats and Opportunities Assessment, 2012 (ETOA 1202)

Source: Malawi Let Girls Learn IEE. DCN: E3-17-17, approved 12/14/2016. ECD link:

http://gemini.info.usaid.gov/repository/doc/49766.docx http://gemini.info.usaid.gov/repository/doc/49766.docx

Summary of Climate Impacts and Vulnerability in Malawi Historic Weather and Climate

● Observations indicate that average annual temperatures have risen 0.9°C since 1960, an average rate of 0.21°C per decade.

● Changes in patterns of El Niño, associated with low rainfall and droughts, and La Niña, associated with intense rainfall and floods, have increased climate variability and reduced predictability.

● Long-term precipitation trends have been difficult to establish for Malawi given the high degree of intra- and inter-year variability in rainfall.

● There has been a noted increase in the frequency of flooding and drought events.

Projected Weather and Climate

While projections for Malawi vary across models depending on assumptions, most climate models suggest:

● An increase in average annual temperatures from the 1970-99 average of 1.1-3.0°C by the

2060s, and of 1.5-5.0°C by the 2090s.

● Projected changes in annual precipitation for the 2030s range from a decrease of 13 percent to an increase of 32 percent from the 1970-99 average.

● Even with an estimated increase in total annual rainfall, the number of rainfall events is likely to decrease, with significant increases in the intensity of each episode.

● There will be an increase in the frequency of droughts and floods.

● There will likely be a later beginning and earlier end to the rainy season.

Key sectoral impacts and vulnerabilities

● Agriculture and Food Security: 95 percent of Malawi’s agriculture is rain fed, making this sector extremely vulnerable to climate change. Climate impacts could lead to decreased yields, decreased export opportunities, shifts in planting and growing seasons, and food shortages.

● Water Resources: Increasing temperature could limit water availability due to evapotranspiration, increase in floods and droughts could decrease both water availability and quality, and decreased water availability could decrease hydropower potential.

● Fisheries: Climate change stressors could lead to ecosystem degradation and reduced habitat for fish, reduction of fish populations, and overall reduced productivity of fisheries.

● Ecosystems: Climate change will likely decrease ecosystem services, such as access to clean water, alter animal distributions and health, and have large impacts in biodiversity hotspots, such as wetlands. -

● Human Health: Increases temperatures will likely change distribution of diseases, for example malaria will likely migrate to higher elevations. Malnutrition will likely increase because of decreased agricultural productivity, and increase incidents of water borne diseases, particularly cholera, during flooding events.

WATER RESOURCES

Water resources and their status are vitally important in a country where surface waters (rivers and lakes) comprise

22 percent of the surface area.

A Water Department investment plan cited a water scarcity of less than 1,000 m of water per capita, comparing the level of inflow with water needs for household, irrigation, and commercial uses.

Many river basins in the country are under severe pressures due to deforestation, unsustainable agriculture, settlements, mining, industry, commerce, tourism, and climate change. These activities have influenced changes in

Environmental Affairs Department (EAD), 2010a: Malawi Fourth Country Report to the Convention on

Biological Diversity (CBD). Lilongwe, Malawi: Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy and Environment http://www.esi-africa.com/Malawi/plans/multi-purpose/water/infrastructure/investment/strategy http://www.esi-africa.com/Malawi/plans/multi-purpose/water/infrastructure/investment/strategy water quality especially due to sediment loads, industrial wastes, chemicals from agricultural lands, and the proliferation of aquatic vegetation.

VEGETATION

Vegetation is a key resource in Malawi as over 50% of the population relies on biomass for cooking and heating. In

Malawi, vegetation types are diverse. Dry Savannah Woodland dominates within the rift valley region where a large part of SEED will be. In most areas, the common trees of economic values found in this vegetation type include:

Adansonia digitata, Faidherbia albida, Khaya anthotheca, Sterculia Africana; Acacia nigrescens, Pterocarpus brenanii Comretum ghasalense, Acacia tortilis to mention but a few. Some of the vegetation in Malawi is composed of predominantly grass species and shrubs. According to International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

Red List, the following plant species Breonadia microcephala, Colosphospermum mopane, Pterocarpus angolonsis, Afzelia quanzensis, Khaya nyasica, and Terminalia sericea found in some parts of Malawi, are endangered and therefore protected by international law. There are a number of gazetted forest reserves and community owned forests or woodlots throughout the country. Figure 1.2 shows spatial distribution of vegetation in Malawi.

The status of protection of these Forest Reserves is variable. Some are reasonably intact, despite a fairly low level of management; for example the 88,966 hectares Namizimu Forest Reserve between Lake Malawi and the border with

Mozambique is relatively intact – perhaps due to isolation. Likewise, distance from major cities is likely to be one reason that the 14,007 ha of Kaning’ina Forest Reserve in Nkhata Bay District enjoy lower levels of pressure than other reserves. By contrast, Thuma Forest Reserve – a 15,767 ha reserve straddling the highway between Lilongwe and Salima – is threatened by charcoal makers and other wood harvesters, as are the Dzalanyama Forest Reserve and

Zomba-Malosa Forest Reserve, among others.

WILDLIFE

In Malawi, there are nine protected wildlife reserves all together. These are Nyika National Park and Vwaza

Wildlife Reserve in Rumphi, Kasungu National Park in Kasungu, Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve in Nkhotakota, Lake

Malawi National Park in Mangochi, Liwonde National Park in Machinga, Majete Wildlife Reserve and Lengwe

National Park in Chikwawa and Mwabvi Wildlife Reserve in Nsanje. Mammal and bird species in Malawi are threatened and or endangered largely because they have significant economic value. Wildlife populations generally have been dwindling in these protected reserves since the 1980s.

While each of these protected areas has a management plan, implementation is constrained by budget by limitations and uneven skills sets among field personnel of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife. The SEED activity should endeavor to protect wildlife resources by ensuring that construction activities are not implemented within the vicinity of the protected areas.

Laisi, E. 2010. Chapter 9: Water Resources, in EAD 2010b. Malawi State of Environment and Outlook:

Environment for Sustainable Economic Growth. Lilongwe, Malawi: Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy and

Environment.

USAID Malawi Environmental Threats and Opportunities Assessment, 2012 (ETOA 1202)

USAID Malawi Environmental Threats and Opportunities Assessment, 2012 (ETOA 1202)

Figure 1:2 Spatial Distribution of Vegetation

Figure 1.3: Protected areas of Malawi

LAND USES

Land in Malawi covers a total area of 94,080 km , representing about 80 percent of the total country’s area.