Attachment J.3 - Initial Environmental Examination (IEE).pdf

TRACKING ID: LAC-IEE-20-39.

DEFERRAL OF THRESHOLD

DETERMINATION

PROJECT/ACTIVITY DATA

Project/Activity Name: Project: Food and Economic Security Advanced:

New Food Security and Resilience Activity and Pitimi Lakay Activity – Global Development Alliance (GDA).

Geographic Location(s) (Country/Region): Haiti Implementation Start/End Date (FY or M/D/Y):

FY2020-FY 2023

Solicitation/Contract/Award Number: TBD Implementing Partner(s): TBD Bureau Tracking ID: LAC-IEE-20-39 Tracking ID of Related RCE/IEE (if any):

Tracking ID of Other, Related Analyses:

ORGANIZATIONAL/ADMINISTRATIVE DATA

Implementing Operating Unit(s):

(e.g. Mission or Bureau or Office)

LAC Haiti Mission

Other Affected Operating Unit(s):

Lead BEO Bureau: LAC Funding Account(s) (if available):

Original Funding Amount: $ 25,750,000 Prepared by: Abdel Abellard, Mission Environmental Officer Date Prepared: 12/16/2019

ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE REVIEW DATA

Analysis Type: Deferral Environmental Determination(s): Deferred per 22CFR216.3(a)(7)(iv) Expiration Date of Deferral: 04/30/2021 Additional Analyses/Reporting Required: Yes Climate Risks Identified (#): TBD Climate Risks Addressed (#): TBD

LAC/HAITI/Food and Economic Security Advanced

USAID 216 DEFERRAL TEMPLATE VERSION 2, MARCH 2018

DEFERRAL OF THRESHOLD DETERMINATION AND SUMMARY OF

FINDINGS

PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF THE DEFERRED INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION

USAID environmental procedures require analysis of potential impacts of USAID programs prior to a final decision to provide USAID funding for an action. Under certain situations, such as with Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Contracts, or Leader with Associate Awards, or other situations where USAID may not have sufficient information for meaningful environmental analysis and therefore a Threshold Determination cannot be reached. This document, in accordance with §216.3(a)(1), provides the required information necessary to issue a deferral of a Threshold Determination. Further, it provides direction to the responsible USAID awarding officer and implementing partners on the steps necessary to complete an Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) and obtain a Threshold Determination prior to implementation of USAID funded activities. This document provides:

(i) an explanation indicating why the IEE cannot be completed;

(ii) an estimate of the amount of time required to complete the IEE; and

(iii) a recommendation that a Threshold Determination be deferred until the Initial Environmental Examination is completed.

PROGRAM/PROJECT/ACTIVITY OVERVIEW

The table below summarizes two new Food and Economic Security activities for which a Deferral will be issued.

NEW

PROCUREMENT Start Date End Date Projected TEC Description

Food Security and Resilience Activity TBD TBD $25,000,000

Building off the planned pilot resilience activity above, a food security and resilience activity will be designed and procured. Using a market system approach, this activity will connect smallholder farmers to markets and focus on strengthening selected value chains and identifying market opportunities. Efforts will focus on crop productivity and diversification, livestock production, poultry and marketing. This activity will also support the national research and extension systems to identify improved climate tolerant crop varieties and extension packages to help farmers be better prepared against climate impacts.

Global Development Alliances/Ag Sector TBD TBD $750,000

The Pitimi Lakay Activity:

Agriculture is central to the Haitian economy, generating nearly 25 percent of GDP and employing more than sixty percent of the population. The Mission has identified an opportunity to engage and partner with the private sector to increase the incomes of rural households. Using an enterprise and market-led approach, the Pitimi Lakay Global Development Alliance will build upon USAID’s recent partnership with a local brewery to support smallholder sorghum farmers to leverage extensive private sector resources and expertise in order to increase food security in the sorghum value chain. Using a blend of technical assistance, training, business development services and applied research, this partnership will leverage private sector resources to boost the productivity of locally-grown sorghum. ($750,000).

JUSTIFICATION FOR WHY AN IEE CAN NOT BE COMPLETED

In accordance with §216.3(a)(1)(i), the explanation indicating why an IEE cannot be completed at this time is provided below:

1. The definition of the type of activities and implementation sites are not yet defined for this project, therefore, it is not possible to establish an adequate environmental threshold determination. In particular, while the funds for these projects are being obligated at this time into the bilateral agreement, the details are still in design, and additional work is required to identify the specific activities and analyze their potential environmental impacts prior to sub-obligation;

2. At this point, it is not clear if the project will be developing on-the-ground or construction activities which might result in potential environmental impacts. Considering the full extent of activities is critical for developing a comprehensive IEE and determining if additional assessment would be required before initiating the project.

TIMING AND APPROACH FOR COMPLETION OF IEE

The Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) is planned to be completed before September 30, 2020. The completion of this IEE will result from developing the following steps:

a) Review and complete the Program Description for New Food Security and Resilience Activity and Pitimi Lakay Activity – Global Development Alliance (GDA).under the Food and Economic Security activities. ;

b) Discuss with the MEO about next steps;

c) Determination of the expected environmental impacts and climate risks associated with the project;

RECOMMENDATION TO DEFER THRESHOLD DETERMINATION

At this time, there is insufficient information to adequately assess the potential environmental impacts of planned USAID activities and assign appropriate mitigation measures. Furthermore, the EGAD team does not have sufficient information to undertake the Climate Risk Management (CRM) screening.

A deferral of a Threshold Determination is recommended.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS DEFERRAL

1. The responsible program office will clear this deferral with the cognizant BEO prior to making a decision to proceed with funding of activities.

2. The Office of Acquisitions and Assistance (OAA) will not authorize disbursement of USAID funds for any program activities which have not received a Categorical Exclusion or received a Threshold Determination stemming from an Initial Environmental Examination approved by the cognizant BEO.

3. For deferrals issued for a multiple award mechanism, (e.g. IDIQ or LWA), the program office will prepare Initial Environmental Examination or Categorical Exclusion for BEO approval for individual awards stemming from the mechanism (incremental funding, Task Orders, Associate Awards etc.) prior to issuance of the award by OAA.

CLIMATE RISK MANAGEMENT

CRM screening will be undertaken as part of the clearance of this deferral.

BEO SPECIFIED CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL

None

IMPLEMENTATION

In accordance with 22CFR216 and Agency policy, the conditions and requirements of this document become mandatory upon approval.

USAID APPROVAL OF DEFERRAL OF THRESHOLD DETERMINATION

PROJECT/ACTIVITY NAME: Food and Economic Security Advanced: New Food Security and Resilience Activity and Pitimi Lakay Activity – Global Development Alliance (GDA).

Bureau Tracking ID: LAC-IEE-20-39

Recommendation

Christopher Cushing, Mission Director

Date

Clearance Cleared 04/16/2020 J.W. Camilien Saint-Cyr, EGAD Office Chief

Cleared via e-mail 4/16/2020 Clearance Abdel Abellard, Mission Environmental Officer/ Climate Integration Lead Date

Clearance: Cleared via email 4/16/2020 Bethzaida Colon Regional Environmental Advisor

Date

Clearance: Martha Dye 4/15/2020 Date

Clearance: _4/16/2020

Martha Dye, Resident Legal Officer

__Cleared by email______________________________ Karen d’Aboville, Deputy Mission Director

Date

Concurrence Diana Shannon, Bureau Environmental Officer

Date

DISTRIBUTION: Mission personnel