ATTACHMENT J.3+J.4+J.5+J.6+J.7+J.8.pdf

File Number/Document Control Number (DCN): [as assigned by BEO]

Feed the Future Bangladesh - Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) Amendment No 3

Program/Project/Activity Data:

Activity/Project Title: Sustainably Reduce Global Hunger, Malnutrition, and Poverty

Solicitation #: [As assigned by contracting office]

Contract/Award Number (if known): N/A

Geographic Location: Bangladesh

Originating Bureau/Office: The Bureau for Resilience and Food Security

Supplemental IEE: ☐Yes ☒ No Amendment: ☐Yes ☒ No Programmatic IEE: ☒Yes ☐ No

DCN and date of original document:

Asia 12-291 - 2011- September 2015

DCN and ECD link(s) of Amendment(s):

Asia 14-0192 - FY 2011 - FY 2017 Asia 17-0783 - 10/01/2017 - 09/30/2022 Please also refer to the Bangladesh PPERSUAP4 and Manual.5

Amendment No.: 3

Funding Amount: $400M Life of Project Amount: $400M

Implementation Start/End: October 1, 2022 – September 30, 2028

Prepared By: Muhammad Nuruzzaman, EG Office Date Prepared: July 6, 2022

Expiration Date (if any): September 30, 2028 Reporting due dates (if any): N/A

1 https://ecd.usaid.gov/repository/pdf/38057.pdf 2 https://ecd.usaid.gov/repository/pdf/39563.pdf 3 https://ecd.usaid.gov/repository/pdf/50277.pdf 4 https://ecd.usaid.gov/repository/pdf/45501.pdf 5 https://ecd.usaid.gov/repository/pdf/50669.pdf

Asia 22-104

ATTACHMENT J.3 INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION (IEE)

USAID/Bangladesh RFP # 72038824R00001: Feed the Future (FtF) Bangladesh Sustainable Aquaculture Activity https://ecd.usaid.gov/repository/pdf/45501.pdf https://ecd.usaid.gov/repository/pdf/50669.pdf

Environmental Media and/or Human Health Potentially Impacted (check all that apply):

None ☐ Air ☐ Water ☒ Land ☒ Biodiversity ☒ Human Health ☒ Other☒

Recommended Threshold Determination:

☒ Negative Determination ☒ with conditions ☒ Categorical Exclusion ☐ Positive Determination

☐ Deferral ☐ Exemption ☐ USG Domestic NEPA action

Climate Change:

☐GCC/Adaption ☐GCC/Mitigation ☒ Climate Change Vulnerability Analysis (included)

Adaptation/Mitigation Measures: The Climate Risk Screening Analysis that was done for the Feed the Future (FTF) portfolio for the USAID/Bangladesh Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) is presented in Table 5 of this document.

1.0 Background and Activity Description

1.1 Purpose and Scope of IEE:

This Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) document will cover the activities under the Mission IEE Asia 17-078 and subsequent Memo to the Files (MTFs) to the IEE. This IEE duly reflects on the threshold determinations and compliance status of current activities, identifies potential threshold determinations of new activities, and descopes activities that have been completed. This IEE shall be reviewed and amended as warranted to align with new/revised CDCS.

1.2 Background:

The U.S. government demonstrated its commitment to reducing global hunger, malnutrition, and poverty through the approval of the Global Food Security Act of 2016 (GFSA) and further approval of the accompanying 2022 Global Food Security Strategy (GFSS). The GFSS serves as an integrated whole-of-government strategy, with an overarching goal to sustainably reduce global hunger, malnutrition, and poverty. The GFSS builds on the successes of the Feed the Future (FTF) Presidential Initiative, in which Bangladesh has been a focus country since 2010. Therefore, the Mission has a well-established and highly successful FTF program. In addition, At the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Germany, President Biden announced that the United States is expanding Feed the Future, the U.S. government’s global hunger and food security initiative, to reach new countries and intensify efforts to directly address and mitigate the impacts of recent shocks to global food security and nutrition.6 The activities will contribute to the GFSS Results Framework (RF) Goal to sustainably reduce global hunger, malnutrition, and poverty by accomplishing its three main Objectives and nine Intermediate Results (IRs):

I) Inclusive and sustainable agriculture-led economic growth: Investing in inclusive, agriculture-led economic growth is a long-term, comprehensive approach to ending poverty, hunger, and malnutrition.

Growth in the agriculture sector is more effective at reducing poverty in developing countries. Rural, 6https://www.usaid.gov/liberia/press-releases/jun-27-2022-president-biden-announces-expansion-feed-future-response urban, coastal, and inland communities participate in agriculture and food systems. They produce, process, transport, trade, market, consume, and use products derived from aquaculture, farming, wild fisheries, forestry, and pastoralism. Resilient, competitive, inclusive, and sustainable agriculture and food systems drive increased productivity and profitability for producers and enterprises and lower the cost of safe and nutritious foods. Increased incomes and economic opportunities in the agriculture and food system spill over into other sectors, creating opportunities for the poor. The activities will seek to promote agricultural sector growth as well as off-farm economic opportunities, which are inclusive of smallholders and the landless, to enable households to lift themselves out of poverty and reduce their vulnerability to economic shocks.

IR1: Strengthened inclusive food and agriculture systems that are productive and profitable IR2: Strengthened and expanded access to markets and trade IR3: Increased employment and entrepreneurship IR4: Increased sustainable productivity (also contributes to Objective 2)

II) Strengthened resilience among people, communities, countries, and systems: Building resilience helps people, households, communities, systems, and countries mitigate risk and manage shocks and stresses without compromising their food security, nutrition, livelihoods, and well-being, especially among marginalized and underrepresented groups. Resilience investments strengthen risk-mitigation and management systems, shock-responsive mechanisms, and social-protection systems that reduce vulnerability and exposure to shocks and stresses, prevent loss of assets during an emergency, and lead to a stronger recovery. Programs also integrate multi-sectoral strategies to build a range of resilience capacities and productive assets that strengthen financial, social, physical, environmental, and political capital. It is also important to reinforce, grow, and protect the resilience capacities and productive assets to prevent people and households from backsliding into poverty.

IR1: Improved proactive risk reduction, mitigation, and management IR2: Improved adaptation to and recovery from shocks and stresses

III) A well-nourished population, especially among women and children: Nutrition is central to sustainable development and is required to make progress on issues such as health, education, employment, reduction of poverty and inequality, and the empowerment of girls and women. Malnutrition and chronic disease risk are interrelated: poor nutrition in early life is associated with greater susceptibility to non-communicable diseases later in life. Further, the lack of availability of or access to enough affordable, safe, and nutritious foods can be a destabilizing factor in countries that do not have the financial or technical abilities to solve their own food security and nutrition problems. FTF provides an essential, but not sufficient, contribution to achieving nutritional goals, which depend on multisectoral gains. Affordable high-quality diets are critical to achieving GFSS goals, complemented by safe drinking water and improved hygiene and sanitation, alongside nutrition-specific interventions that promote good health and best practices in childcare and nutrition.

IR1: Increased consumption of safe and nutritious foods IR2: Increased use of direct nutrition interventions and services IR3: More hygienic household and community environments

In addition to the three Objectives and nine IRs, there are ten Cross-Cutting Intermediate Results that are foundational to all areas of food security and nutrition and contribute to achieving all three Objectives and overarching GFSS Goal:

1. Strengthened global commitment to investing in food security

2. Increased gender equality and female empowerment

3. Increased youth empowerment and livelihoods

4. Enhanced climate change adaptation and mitigation

5. Improved natural resource management

6. Improved water resources management

7. More effective governance, policy, and institutions

8. Improved human, organizational, and system performance

9. Enhanced integration of conflict sensitivity, peacebuilding, and social cohesion

10. Enhanced integration of digital technologies

Five Complementary Results have been identified from other USG investments that benefit from and contribute to our global food security and nutrition investments:

1. Inclusive economic growth in complementary sectors

2. Healthy ecosystems and biodiversity

3. Stable, democratic societies that respect human rights and the rule of law

4. A reduced impact of disease

5. Well-educated populations

These results are not only necessary for food security and nutrition, but they also benefit from improved food security, creating a mutually reinforcing relationship across government policies and implementation.

1.3 Geographic Coverage

The FTF efforts covered in this IEE will continue to be country-wide, specifically regarding research and policy activities, but the programs primarily focus on the 21 south central and southwest districts of the country, which is called FTF Zone of Influence (FTF ZOI) and two districts in the southeast part of the country which is FTF Zone of Resilience (FTF ZOR). These regions include areas with some of the highest poverty and malnutrition rates, in addition to coastal areas vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Priority has been given to areas where activities can be integrated with ongoing food security and other USAID programs. In addition, the program and activities will primarily target small farmers and the food-insecure poor. The FTF efforts are designed while keeping in mind the various other donors that are active in the field. The FTF portfolio operates on the principle of adding value to the existing donor engagement, and in cases, leading the efforts.

2.0 Country Environmental Information

Bangladesh has made significant progress over the past years. Following 10 years of sustained Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of over six percent annually, Bangladesh crossed the lower-middle income threshold for the first time in July 2015.7 It has progressed from being one of the poorest countries at independence in 1971, to reaching lower middle-income status in 2015, and being on track to graduate from the UN’s Least Developed Countries list in 2026. In the last decade, Bangladesh’s average GDP growth rate has been one of the fastest in the world. Per capita incomes have also risen, from $543 in FY 2005-2006 to $2,227 in FY 2021. According to provisional estimates by the Bangladesh Bureau of statistics in May 2022, the agriculture sector is estimated to grow 2.2 percent, industry sector by 12.31

7 Country Partnership Strategy, Bangladesh 2016-2020. Asian Development Bank, September 2016, 2.

http://bit.ly/2ig7bW0.

percent and the Service sector is estimated to grow by 8.72 percent.8 This growth has been due to a demographic dividend, strong ready-made garment exports, remittances, and stable macroeconomic conditions. Bangladesh has also made a strong economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.9

Figure 1: Feed the Future Activity Area in Bangladesh

8 The Business Standard 2022. https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/bbs-projects-75-gdp-growth-fy21-22-capita-income-hit-2824-416766?fbclid=IwAR3zk9ul3Hxp-v61Sae8onzS0NAsIsBb9e1UgR0AdGg9FV1BL_NnP-5foPM 9 World Bank Press Release on COVID-19 recovery, April 2022. https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2022/04/13/bangladesh-economy-shows-resilience-amid-global-uncertainty

Bangladesh’s development gains have not been without its environmental challenges. Bangladesh is geographically located in the world’s largest and most dynamic delta, is rife with rivers, and is also mostly made up of low-lying plains. Together this makes it one of the world’s most climate vulnerable countries.10 While its geographic bounty has contributed to securing development gains and provided people with their livelihoods, the environmental features and climate challenges pose serious threats.

Bangladesh is one of the world’s most densely populated countries with a population of about 160 million living in 1,47,570 km2 including rivers. Bangladesh has been ranked as the 6th most vulnerable country in the world in terms of risks from natural hazards. The biggest threats to development and livelihoods are tidal surge, salinity, flooding, river erosion and cyclones, which are unfortunately regular features that pose challenges to food and nutritional security for a large part of the rural areas. Bangladesh also faces other challenges from growing urbanization, declining land availability, infrastructure shortages, energy supply constraints, governance issues, etc.

Floodplains constitute one of the nation's most valuable natural resources. Fish supply 60 percent of Bangladesh's animal protein consumption and are of particular importance to the poor. Capture fisheries have been in decline for some time, because of physical obstructions, overfishing, pollution and inadequate management policies and institutions.

Bangladesh has limited remaining natural forest cover, at about 10 percent of land area, and almost all that area is now seriously degraded, because of extreme population pressure for fuel wood and other forest products, as well as inadequate management. In addition, Rohingya refugee settlements have severely damaged biodiversity and depleted over 8,000 acres of reserved forest in Cox’s Bazar district.11

Nevertheless, over the past decades, the Government of Bangladesh (GoB) has invested over $10 billion to make the country less vulnerable to natural disasters. These investments (supported by development partners), include programs for flood management, construction of coastal polders, cyclone, and flood shelters, raising roads above flood level and installing warning systems. However, addressing climate change adaptation and mitigation will require scaling up of investments and sound environmental management, including natural ecosystems management. The GoB developed the Forest Investment Plan (FIP, 2017-2022) to identify future investment opportunities to increase the forest cover, reduce deforestation and forest degradation and improve the livelihoods of the forest-dependent people through the implementation of participatory/social forestry. The GoB has also formulated the Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100, a comprehensive 100-year strategic plan aimed at gradual sustainable development through adaptive delta management process. The Delta Plan acknowledges the ever-present challenge to maintain food security in the face of increasing population and decreasing agricultural land as well as the threat posed by climate change. Going forward Bangladesh requires coordinated policy and ground level actions involving agriculture, environment, forests and climate change, land, fisheries and livestock, water resources, disaster management and relief, as well as climate finance and planning.

The USAID/Bangladesh FTF portfolio integrates climate smart agriculture (CSA) practices to sustainably increase agricultural productivity and incomes; to adapt and build resilience to climate change; and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, where appropriate. The FTF activities build the capacity of farmers to adopt climate smart technologies and practices: soil fertility and organic matter management, use of integrated pest management (IPM) technologies, efficient fertilizer and water management, ruminant

10 https://climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org/sites/default/files/country-profiles/15502-WB_Bangladesh%20Country%20Profile-WEB.pdf 11 The Business Standard 2022. https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/bbs-projects-75-gdp-growth-fy21-22-capita-income-hit-2824- 416766?fbclid=IwAR3zk9ul3Hxp-v61Sae8onzS0NAsIsBb9e1UgR0AdGg9FV1BL_NnP-5foPM management, and biogas from manures, reduce post-harvest loss, and application of digital devices to disseminate weather/climate information, etc.

2.1 National Agricultural and Environmental Policies

Since the last FTF IEE, dated 2017, the GoB has not updated the main environmental rules or laws. The GoB formulated an Environment Policy in 1992, the objectives of which are to:

● Maintain ecological balance and overall development through protection and improvement of the environment;

● Protect the country against natural disasters;

● Identify and regulate activities which pollute and degrade the environment;

● Ensure environmentally sound development in all sectors;

● Ensure sustainable, long term and environmentally sound use of all national resources; and,

● Actively remain associated with all international environmental initiatives to the maximum possible extent.

The GoB has also adopted several supplementary policies where environment and development issues have been addressed. Important policy documents in this respect are the Forest Policy (1994), Fisheries Policy (1998), Water Policy (1998), Agriculture Extension Policy (2020), the Energy Policy (1995), National Seed Policy (2020), etc. Besides these sectoral policies, the National Conservation Strategy (NCS) and especially the National Environment Management Action Plan, 1995 (NEMAP) have been formulated to provide action plans to respond to environmental issues and promote sustainable development. The GoB also developed the Country Investment Plan for Environment, Forestry and Climate Change (2016-2020) (EFCC CIP) that emphasizes the importance of managing climate change and indicates the priorities for implementing the Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (BCCSAP), released in 2009. Climate adaptation measures are a priority in Bangladesh's climate and development strategies such as the National Adaptation Programme of Action 2005 (NAPA), the Nationally Determined Contributions 2015 (NDC) and the upcoming National Adaptation Plan (NAP).

The Standing Orders on Disasters (SOD) of 2010, which were updated in 2019, the Climate Change and Gender Action Plan (ccGAP) of 2013, the National Disaster Management Policy of 2015, the National Disaster Management Plan for the years 2021 to 2025, the Eighth Five Year Plan 2020-2025, the Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100 of 2018, and the Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan (MCPP) of 2021 are also significant.

The Bangladesh Environmental Conservation Act (1995) established the Department of Environment (DoE) and signaled a move towards ecosystem approaches and regulation of developments harmful to those ecosystems, particularly pollution control and mitigation and requirements for Environmental Impact Assessments. Under it, the Environmental Protection Regulations (1998) cover regulations, compliance, and enforcement. The Act includes provisions for declaring Ecologically Critical Areas (ECAs) to restrict potentially harmful activities in these areas. Ten such areas have since been declared.

The Forest Act of 1927 sets the frame for forest management and vests considerable power in the hands of the Chief Conservator of Forests to determine the use of forest lands and to penalize illegal users. The Bangladesh Wildlife (Preservation) Order of 1973 (later amended and gazette as the Bangladesh Wildlife (Preservation)(Amendment) Act of 1974) is mainly concerned with regulating hunting but also sets out the scope for declaring protected areas as wildlife sanctuaries or national parks; notably, these are not limited to forests, nor is the Order limited to Forest Department implementation. New rules for management of Protected Areas (PAs) and for social forestry now under discussion should go a long way to institutionalizing the concept of co-management.

The Protection and Conservation of Fish Act, 1950, and related Protection and Conservation of Fish Rules, 1985, which cover not only fish but also amphibians and aquatic reptiles, prohibit fishing by harmful methods, pollution, and other activities detrimental to fisheries, and enable declaration of closed seasons and other rules. More recently, the Conservation, Restoration and Filling Control Act of 2003 aims to address problems of siltation, encroachment, and pollution of surface waters (rivers, canals, beets, floodplains) as well as aquifers.

Bangladesh has ratified several international environmental conventions including Convention on Biological Diversity, CITIES, Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, Ramsar Convention, UN FCC and others. These binding agreements are indirectly supported by the FTF interventions, as all activities are in support of host government regulations and obligations.

The FTF team has been following the mandatory environmental compliance requirements during the design and implementation of its activities. The Deputy Mission Environmental Officer has been working closely with the A/CORs/AMs on ensuring that compliance is addressed all through the life cycle. So far, all the activities that are supposed to have environmental and climate plans have approved documents in place. A/CORs/AMs are following up with implementing partners in compliance reporting.

3.0 Activity Description of the Feed the Future Portfolio

Table 1: List of Mission Managed Ongoing Activities

Activity Data Description Effect on Environment Threshold Decisions and required Reg. 216 actions

Activity #1: FTF Bangladesh Improving Trade and Business Enabling Environment (Trade Activity)

Implementer: International Development Group

Life of Activity (LOA):

Nov 15, 2019- Nov 14, 2024

LOA Budget: $20.07M

Award Number: 72038820F00002

Procurement Instrument:

Task Order Contract

The Trade Activity partners with the GoB to create greater efficiencies in international trade, with a special emphasis on cross-border agriculture trade that will reduce the time and cost of importing and exporting goods. The activity provides technical assistance to the GoB and other stakeholders to improve the business enabling environment, customs administration, and operations and policies by enhancing access to agricultural trade and other trade-related information, improving risk management, advancing regional connectivity, and increasing awareness and transparency of trade policies and procedures.

Technical Assistance (TA) – no effect, except to the extent such programs include activities directly affecting the environment (such as construction, demo of pesticide use, advisory services on pesticides during training and policy development support, etc.)

The activity is covered under MTF 19 to Asia 17-078.

As per the MTF: Categorical Exclusion (CE) for TA, no action required.

Negative Determination with Condition (NDC) for procurement of equipment- insignificant effect.

EMMP and CRM – n/a

Activity Data Description Effect on Environment Threshold Decisions and required Reg. 216 actions

Activity #2: FTF Bangladesh Aquaculture and Nutrition Activity

Implementer: WorldFish

Life of Activity: Feb 6, 2018- Feb 5, LOA Budget: $28.4M

Award number: 72038818IO00002

Procurement Instrument: PIO Grant

The Aquaculture and Nutrition Activity strengthens the aquaculture market system by connecting key aquaculture market actors along with the fish value chain to increase the availability of quality fish feed and fish fingerling (baby fish), fish production and productivity, processing, transportation, and consumption. Increased adoption of best aquaculture management practices and technologies will enhance the production of quality fish products for domestic, regional, and global markets, which will result in increased rural household income and improved nutrition. The activity increases awareness and adoption of nutrition-enhancing behaviors by smallholder aquaculture households through targeted messaging and technical assistance on diversification of household production.

TA - no effect, except to the extent such programs include activities directly affecting the environment (such as construction, demo of pesticide use, advisory services on pesticides during training and policy development support, etc.)

Introduction of new varieties of species - potential for minor to moderate effect

The activity is covered under MTF 2 to Asia 14-019 .

As per the MTF: CE for TA, no action required.

NDC for development and dissemination of improved fish/ shrimp species. Actions specified in Table 4 Section 3 to be followed.

EMMP and CRM are in place.

Activity #3: FTF Bangladesh Livestock and Nutrition Activity

Implementer: ACDI/VOCA

The activity aims to increase livestock productivity, marketability, and consumption of livestock products within the FTF Zone of Influence (ZOI) and Zone of Resilience (ZOR). The activity

TA- activities related to training and capacity building- No effect.

Procurement of equipment -insignificant effect.

Multiplication and dissemination of improved high yielding

This activity is covered under MTF 12 to Asia 17-078.

As per the MTF: CE for TA, no action required.

Reg. 216 actions

Life of Activity (LOA): Sept 15, 2021-Sept 14, 2026

LOA Budget: $19.5 M

Award number: AID-388-CA-21- 00005

Procurement Instrument:

Cooperative Agreement will facilitate productivity enhancing technologies and practices; support enhanced dairy processing and preservation into diversified nutritious products to increase consumption of dairy products; and promote nutrition education and messaging for consumption of diversified and safe livestock products.

varieties of saline tolerant, flood tolerant and pest-resistant fodder seeds- potential for minor to moderate effect.

NDC for multiplication and dissemination of improved high yielding native varieties of saline tolerant, flood tolerant and pest-resistant fodder seeds- potential for minor to moderate effect.

EMMP and CRM are in place.

Activity #4: FTF Bangladesh Horticulture, Fruits, and Non-food Crops Activity

Implementer: Chemonics

Life of Activity (LOA): July 15, 2020-July 14,2025

LOA Budget: $17.7M

Award number: 72038820C00002

Procurement Instrument: Contract

The activity supports the GoB’s food security objective by increasing the private sector’s capacity to increase productivity and production of quality horticulture, fruits, and non-food crops that meet international standards. The activity will also strengthen the value chain, linking Bangladeshi smallholder commercial farmers and other value chain actors, thereby increasing the efficiency of the market system to meet domestic and international market demands. This will result in a more competitive private sector and efficient market systems that will increase farmers’ income and

TA - no effect, except to the extent such programs include activities directly affecting the environment (such as construction, demo of pesticide use, advisory services on pesticides during training and policy development support, etc.).

Small grants - potential for minor to moderate effect if not

CE.

This activity is covered under MTF 8 to Asia 17-078.

As per the MTF: CE for TA, no action required.

If electronic equipment is procured, then IP will ensure disposal in accordance with GoB regulations.

NDC- multiplication of improved crop varieties - potential for minor to moderate effect.

Reg. 216 actions improve food security of Bangladesh.

Activity #5: FTF Bangladesh Agricultural Infrastructure Development Activity (BAIDA)

Implementer: Pacific Architects and Engineers (PAE)

Life of Activity (LOA): May 28, 2021 - May 27, 2026

LOA Budget: 12.7 M

Award number: 72038821C00002

Procurement Instrument: Contract

The activity will construct union-and village-level roads, agricultural market centers and collection centers. It will also rehabilitate farm-level irrigation and drainage systems, as well as flood protection. The activity will also provide capacity building and technical assistance to the GOB’s Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) in strategic planning, construction oversight, procurement, environmental standards, and private sector engagement, with an emphasis on post-construction management.

TA - No effect.

Procurement of equipment -insignificant effect.

Small scale Construction/Rehabilitation-minor to moderate effect if special mitigation measures are followed to prevent unintended impact.

This activity is covered MTF 13 to Asia 17-078.

As per the MTF: CE for TA, no action required.

NDC for small scale construction/rehabilitation-minor to moderate effect if special mitigation measures are followed to prevent unintended impact.

EMMP and CRM are in place.

Activity #6: FTF Bangladesh Nutrition Activity (BNA)

Implementer: Abt. Associates Inc.

Life of Activity (LOA): Oct 1, 2018-Sept 30, 2023

LOA Budget: $23M

Award number:72038818CA00005

The activity aims to improve nutritional outcomes of children under five, pregnant and lactating women, and adolescent girls in the southwest region of Bangladesh and Cox’s Bazar. The activity’s interventions will increase consumption of nutritious and safe foods by rural households, increase social and economic empowerment of women and girls, and enhance access to and

TA - no effect, except to the extent such programs include activities directly affecting the environment (such as construction, demo of pesticide use, advisory services on pesticides during training and policy development support, etc.).

Small grants- potential for minor to moderate effect if not CE.

This is covered under Asia-17-078-

MTF-5.

As per the MTF: CE for TA, no action required.

NDC for small grants, if not CE.

Actions specified in Table 4 Section 3 to be followed.

Reg. 216 actions

Procurement Instrument:

Cooperative Agreement utilization of improved water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) products and practices.

EMMP will be updated. CRM is needed.

Activity #7: FTF Bangladesh Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Activity

Implementer: Virginia Tech

Life of Activity: July 25, 2021- July 24, 2024 LOA Budget: $3M Award number:

72038821LA00001

Associated Cooperative Agreement

The activity strengthens the capacity of Bangladesh’s agricultural sector stakeholders to control and prevent the spread of current and emerging threats to ensure more efficient, profitable, and environmentally safe agricultural production and productivity. It has three interconnected objectives: increase the availability and affordability of integrated pest management (IPM) measures; increase the capacity of Bangladesh agricultural stakeholders to implement IPM measures; and increase the adoption of IPM measures by smallholder farmers.

TA related to training and capacity building. No effect.

This is covered under Asia 17-078.

CE for TA, no action required.

EMMP and CRM – n/a

Activity #8: Bandarban Agriculture and Nutrition Initiative (BANI) Activity

Implementer: Helen Keller International Inc.

The activity improves incomes and nutrition in the Bandarban region of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, working with poor and extremely poor populations by strengthening gender-equitable food security. It aims to increase the nutritious food

TA related to training and capacity building. No effect.

NDC for helping farmers adopt improved agricultural technologies and diversified

This activity is covered under: Asia- 14-19-MTF-8 and Asia-17-078-

MTF-20

As per the MTF: CE for TA, no

Reg. 216 actions

Life of Activity: May 19, 2020- May 31, 2023

LOA Budget: $7.9M

Award number:

72038821LA00001

Cooperative Agreement

(This was previously managed by

HAO.)

intake of the targeted population by focusing on pregnant and lactating women and children under five-years-old. The activity will continue to improve agricultural production to bolster incomes through strengthening production techniques and diversifying crop varieties.

production through linking to relevant public and private sector actors.

NDC for adoption of improved agricultural technologies, demonstration, etc.

Table 2: List of Ongoing Field Support Activities

Activity Data Description Effect on the Environment Threshold Decisions and required Reg. 216 actions

Activity #1: FTF Bangladesh Cereal Systems Initiative in South Asia - Mechanization and Extension Activity (CSISA-

MEA)

The Activity builds the capacity of farm machinery manufacturers to produce quality and affordable machinery and spare parts. It supports firms and entrepreneurs that provide farmers with mechanization services that increase profitability. The Activity

TA- no effect.

Procurement of equipment -insignificant effect.

This activity is covered under IEE Asia 17-078.

Global IEE # BFS-17-05-001 to be referred to for compliance with approved conditions.

CE for TA, no action required.

Reg. 216 actions

Implementer: International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT)

Life of Activity: Oct 1, 2019- Sept 30, 2024

LOA Budget: $21.4 M

Award number: BFS-OI-17-

00005 CGIAR2 2017

Procurement instrument: Grant also creates linkages between agriculture-based light engineering firms and financial institutions to grow their businesses.

NDC for procurement of equipment.

Actions specified in Table 4 Section 2 to be followed.

Activity #2: FTF Bangladesh IRRI Rice Breeding Public- Private Partnership Platform Activity.

Implementer: International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)

Life of Activity: Sept 4, 2020- Sept 3, 2025

LOA Budget: $8.3 M

Award number: BFS-OI-17-

00005 CGIAR2

The activity provides technical assistance to five private sector partners committed to investing to improve their rice breeding program and related facilities. The activity will make available selected elite germplasm to enable private companies to breed improved and high yielding rice varieties and increase the dissemination of quality seeds among farmers, enabling the private sector to play a vital role in improving food security in Bangladesh.

TA- No effect.

This activity will provide technical expertise and germplasm to enable private companies to breed their own rice varieties and will address the critical bottleneck in the seed supply system through several field demonstrations- minor to moderate effect.

This activity is covered under IEE Asia 17-078.

This is covered through CGAIR Fund II IEE. Copies are in file with the Mission Environmental Office and Climate Integration Lead

(MEO/CIL).

CE for TA, no action required.

NDC for field demonstrations.

Actions specified in Table 4 Section 3 and in Annex 3 to be followed.

Reg. 216 actions

Procurement instrument: Grant

NDC for procurement of equipment. Actions specified in Table 4 Section 2 to be followed.

Activity #3: FTF Bangladesh Agricultural Policy Activity Implementer: DAI Global, LLC

Life of Activity: Sept 4, 2020- Sept 3, 2025

LOA Budget: $15 M Award number:7200AA19CA00019

Procurement instrument: Grant

This activity supports the GoB in its policies and policy-making processes to advance agriculture, food security, and nutrition. It will enhance food security leadership and management capacities; strengthen communication, coordination, and cooperation among institutions; increase the power of local actors and communities to influence food security policy and governance decisions; and increase participatory policy learning and knowledge-sharing practices at national and sub-national levels. The focus of the activity will be in four key pillar areas: seed sector;

food safety; social safety net system;

and nutrition.

TA – no effect, except to the extent such programs include activities directly affecting the environment (such as construction, demo of pesticide use, advisory services on pesticides during training and policy development support, etc.)

This activity is covered under Asia

17-078-MTF 10.

As per the MTF: CE for TA, no action required.

If equipment is purchased, NDC for procurement of equipment. Actions specified in Table 4 Section 2 to be followed.

Activity #4: FTF Bangladesh Digital Agriculture Activity Implementer: DAI Global, LLC

Life of Activity: Oct 1, 2020- Sept 31, 2022

LOA Budget: $3.7M

Award Number: AID-OAA-A-

The Digital Agriculture activity seeks to enhance the sustainability and impact of FTF activities through the efficient, effective, and demonstrable use of digital tools to expand the reach of FTF activities and to ensure the sustainability of these interventions beyond the period of activity implementation. The activity will promote and strengthen the efficient

TA- no effect. Activities related to digital agriculture tools development, capacity building of the value chain actors and facilitating the use of the digital tools.

This activity is covered under Asia

17-078-MTF 11.

As per the MTF: CE for TA, no

Reg. 216 actions

17-00033

Procurement instrument: Grant and effective use of digital agricultural tools and technologies to build the capacity of value chain actors, who will then build the capacity of their customers during and beyond the period of activity implementation.

Activity #5: Feed the Future Insect-Resistant Eggplant Partnership Activity

Implementer: Cornell University

Life of Activity: Sept 30, 2021- Sept 29, 2026

LOA Budget: $1.25 M (Mission Contribution) Global TEC: USD 9.9 M

Award number:

7200AA21CA00022

Procurement instrument:

Cooperative Agreement

The FTF Insect-Resistant Eggplant Partnership develops transgenic eggplant varieties and builds research capacity of the scientific community.

The activity focuses on importation, greenhouse testing, and field trials of transgenic crops – eggplant and delivers transgenic seeds to the farmers to enhance productivity.

TA – no effect, except to the extent such programs include activities that directly affect the environment (such as construction, demo of pesticide use, advisory services on pesticides during training and policy development support, etc.)

Potential for adverse effects for adaptive research and dissemination of transgenic crop varieties, if certain mitigation measures are not followed.

Global IEE # RFS-21-08-005 to be referred to for general guidance.

CE for TA, no action required

NDC for adaptive research and dissemination. Actions specified in the IEE shall be followed.

Activity #6: Feed the Future Global Biotech Potato Partnership Activity

The activity will work on development of transgenic Potato crop varieties, research, dissemination, and regulatory capacity building efforts for regulatory

TA – no effect, except to the extent such programs include activities that directly affect the environment (such as

This activity is covered under the IEE on Feed the Future Global Biotech Potato Partnership for

Reg. 216 actions

Implementer: Michigan State University

Life of Activity: Sept 24, 2021- Sept 23, 2026

LOA Budget: $0.75 M (Bangladesh Mission Contribution)

Award number:

7200AA21CA00018

Procurement instrument:

Cooperative Agreement approval. The activity will focus on importation of genetic materials, conduct greenhouse testing, field trials, varietal performance evaluation, facilitate the approval of transgenic potato varieties and commercialization of the developed products at farmers’ fields.

construction, demo of pesticide use, advisory services on pesticides during training and policy development support, etc.)

Potential for adverse effects for adaptive research and dissemination of transgenic crop- Potato varieties, if certain mitigation measures are not followed.

developing a three gene Late Blight Resistant Potato variety in Asia.

Global IEE # RFS-21-08-004 to be referred to for general guidance.

CE for TA, no action required.

NDC for adaptive research and dissemination. Actions specified in the IEE to be followed.

Table 3: List of Proposed/New Activities Please Note: Proposed determinations and actions are based on best available knowledge. As precise SOW, location and nature procurement instrument was not known at the time of preparing the IEE, a MTF or a supplemental IEE will be prepared, reviewed and concurred to by BEO/Asia when activity details are finalized. If there are no changes, then an MTF/supplemental MTF is not needed.

Activity Data Description Effect on environment PROPOSED Threshold Decisions and required Reg. 216 actions

Activity #1: Feed the Future Bangladesh Agricultural Infrastructure Support Activity

Implementer: TBD

The activity will provide technical and monitoring support to USAID’s Agricultural Infrastructure Development Activity, so it is cost effective and compliant with national

TA - no effect. This activity will provide technical and monitoring support to Agricultural Infrastructure Development Activity.

This proposed activity is covered through an amendment of current Mission IEE- Asia 17-078-MTF 16, 18, 21 and 24.

Activity Data Description Effect on environment PROPOSED Threshold Decisions and required Reg. 216 actions

Life of Activity: 2023-2026

LOA Budget: $4.12M

Award number: TBD

Procurement Instrument: TBD or international engineering standards and best practices.

Activity #2: The FTF Bangladesh Shamortha (Capability) Plus Activity

Implementer: HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation

Life of Activity: 2022-2025

LOA Budget: $2.23M

Award number: TBD

Procurement Instrument:

Cooperative Agreement

To combat the challenges linked to COVID-19, the activity will work with two private companies to create a skilled workforce that will increase the business resilience of these companies and the food processing sector, as well creating employment opportunities for the COVID impacted people.

TA - no effect from activities related to training and capacity building.

The training will be disseminating instructions on food processing might have some environmental impacts that must be mitigated.

This activity is covered under Asia

17-078- MTF 14.

CE for TA, no action required.

NDC- training related to food processing might have some environmental impacts that must be mitigated. The implementing partner will incorporate environmental safeguarding messaging in the training curriculum.

Activity #3: USDA Food Safety Net Activity (follow on)

Implementer: USDA

Life of Activity: 2022-2025

The activity will provide support to the GoB to strengthen its institutional capacity in Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) systems, with an emphasis on a broad range of food safety measures.

TA – no effect, except to the extent such programs include activities directly affecting the environment (such as construction, demo of pesticide use, advisory services on

CE for TA, no action required.

NDC for upgradation of food safety lab, however, due to the nature of the upgradation, environmental impacts are and required Reg. 216 actions

LOA Budget: TBD

Award Number: TBD

Procurement Instrument:

Participating Agency Program Agreement (PAPA) pesticides during training and policy development support, etc.)

expected to be insignificant. If labs are upgraded actions specified in Table 4 Section 3 to be followed.

EMMP and CRM are needed.

Activity #4: New Nutrition Activity

Implementer: TBD

Life of Activity: 2023-2028

LOA Budget: $25M

Award number: TBD

Procurement Instrument: TBD

The activity will improve the nutritional status of households in the southwest region of Bangladesh, Cox’s Bazar and Bandarban. The activity’s interventions will increase consumption of nutritious and safe foods by the households, enhance women and adolescents social and economic empowerment, and increase access to and utilization of improved water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) products and practices.

TA – no effect. This activity will improve nutritional status of rural household by promoting consumption of nutritious foods, hygiene education and practices, etc.

Small grants may be funding activities that might have potential for minor to moderate effect, if not CE.

CE for TA, no action required.

NDC for small grants if not CE.

Actions specified in Table 4 Section 3 to be followed.

EMMP and CRM are needed.

Activity #5: Aquaculture Development Activity

Implementer: TBD

Life of Activity: 2023-2028

LOA Budget: $25 M

The purpose of this activity is to increase aquaculture productivity for better income and nutrition of rural households by adopting technologies and improved management practices on aquaculture; strengthening market linkages by engaging market actors;

and adoption of nutrition related behaviors for better consumption of fish products.

TA – no effect, except to the extent such programs include activities directly affecting the environment (such as construction, demo of pesticide use, advisory services on pesticides during training and policy development support, etc.).

CE for TA, no action required.

NDC for development and dissemination of improved fish species.

Actions specified in Table 4

EMMP and CRM are needed.

and required Reg. 216 actions

Award number: TBD

Procurement Instrument: TBD

Introduction of new fish species -potential for minor to moderate effect

Activity #6: Inclusive Access to Finance Activity

Implementer: TBD

Life of Activity: 2023-2028

LOA Budget: $35M

Award number: TBD

Procurement Instrument: TBD

The activity will improve access to financial products and services for agro-based entrepreneurs and businesses that would inspire economic growth by leveraging agriculture-related investments in Bangladesh, especially within the FTF Zone of Influence (ZOI) and USAID/Bangladesh Zone of Resilience (ZOR).

TA – no effect.

The activity might be giving grants to banks and other financial institutions.

Beneficiaries might purchase agricultural inputs with loaned funds, which may have negative impacts on the environment unless due diligence is followed.

NDC for follow up from grants given, and possible purchases by the beneficiary.

Actions specified in Table 4

EMMP and CRM will be needed.

Activity #7: Climate Smart Agriculture Activity

Implementer: TBD

Life of Activity: 2023-2028

LOA Budget: $30 M

Award number: TBD

Procurement Instrument: TBD

The purpose of this activity is to assist farmers, firms, and public sector actors to build a more resilient and socially inclusive agri-food system by increasing the sustainable productivity and diversity of smallholder farms through improved seed systems, better performing market functions, and the adoption of Climate Smart Agriculture.

Some of the activities under the Climate Smart Agriculture Activity will be TA in nature and will impart no negative impact on the physical or natural environment. These TA activities qualify for a CE. However, NDC is recommended for possible purchases to improve seed varieties, and when the technical assistance leads to (non USAID funded) actions by stakeholders that may have negative impacts on the environment unless due diligence is followed. This

CE for TA, no action required.

NDC for TA advisory follow up, and possible purchases by the activity.

Actions specified in Table 4 Section 3 to be followed.

EMMP and CRM will be needed.

Environmental responsibilities of the IP which are encapsulated through this IEE, will be explained to the IP by the AOR, DMEO and and required Reg. 216 actions applies particularly with respect to improved use of agricultural inputs and the management of soil and water, etc.

MEO/CIL, at the post award meeting.

Activity #8: Private Partnership for Sustainable Livelihood Activity (PPSLA)

Implementer: Aranya

Life of Activity: 2022-2025

LOA Budget: $1.1M

Award number: TBD

Procurement Instrument: Fixed Amount Award

The activity aims to strengthen the handicraft sector artisan’s capacity to increase export and improve livelihood. Interventions will improve training materials, including introduction of e-commerce facilities.

The activity will be engaged in training women and youth, promoting the use of natural dye, and training on the use of clean energy in design factories.

TA – no effect, except to the extent such programs include activities directly affecting the environment (such as construction, demo of pesticide use, advisory services on pesticides during training and policy development support, etc.).

The activity might be setting up design studio machinery, organic textile dying equipment, and small-scale building modifications or repairs. This will have negative impacts on the environment unless due diligence is followed.

CE for TA, no action required.

NDC for setting up organic textile dying, and possible small scale building modifications or repairs, etc.

Actions specified in Table 4 Section 3 to be followed.

EMMP and CRM will be needed.

Activity #9: New Integrated Host Community Activity

Implementer: TBD

The influx of Rohingya refugees has created social and economic burden for local communities in Cox’s Bazar and Bandarban districts. Access to jobs, finance, drinking water, and government services, for example, have all been strained due to the crisis.

The challenges are most acute in the

TA activities related to training and capacity building. No effect.

The activity will promote adopting technologies, multiplication and dissemination of improved high yielding crop

CE for TA, no action required.

NDC for adoption of technologies, crop multiplication and demonstration, etc.

Actions specified in Table 4 and required Reg. 216 actions

LOA Budget: TBD communities directly responsible for hosting the refugee camps but can also be felt in the region surrounding the Rohingya camps. Through this activity, USAID will engage local partners to address the major social and economic challenges facing communities impacted by the Rohingya crisis. This is based on past experience working with these communities.

varieties- which will have potential for minor to moderate effect on the environment unless due diligence is followed.

EMMP and CRM will be needed.

Activity #10: Government-to- Government Rural Infrastructure Activity

Implementer: Local Government Engineering Department, GoB

LOA Budget: $20M

This activity will increase the provision of rural infrastructure, including rural roads, markets, and collection centers, while at the same time strengthening local systems.

TA activities related to training and capacity building. No effect.

Small scale construction/rehabilitation may be done which will cause minor to moderate negative effect on the environment if…