J.8 - IEE.docx

INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION

Activity Data

If Amended, specify New End Date:

Tracking ID of Related RCE/IEE (if any):

Tracking ID of Other, Related Analyses:

Organizational/Administrative Data

Other Affected Operating Unit(s):

If Amended, specify funding amount:

If Amended, specify new funding total:

ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE REVIEW DATA

☒Negative (with conditions) ☐Positive ☐Deferred (per 22 CFR 216.3(a)(7)(iv)

IEE Expiration Date (if applicable):

1.0 ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION

1.1 PURPOSE OF the IEE

The purpose of this document, in accordance with Title 22, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 216 (22 CFR 216), is to provide a preliminary review of the reasonably foreseeable effects on the environment of the USAID intervention described herein and recommend determinations and, as appropriate, conditions, for further supplemental analyses as the activity is developed. Upon approval, these determinations become affirmed, and specified conditions become mandatory obligations of implementation.

This document provides an initial analysis for known activities and instructions for implementation. As applicable, requirements are specified for supplemental analyses and screening when context and activity specific information become available.

This IEE is a critical element of USAID’s mandatory environmental review and compliance process meant to achieve environmentally sound design and implementation.

It also documents the results of the Climate Risk Management process in accordance with USAID policy (specifically, ADS 201mal).

1.2 ACTIVITY OVERVIEW

The USAID Syria Transition Assistance Response Team (START) will identify innovative creative approaches to implement development objective activities to support the agriculture sector in Northern Syria (including northwest and northeast), through solicitation of a new Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee contract.

The Growing Agriculture and Incomes in Syria (GROW) project will focus on household resilience and transition from reliance on humanitarian assistance to greater resilience, expanded household production, and increased household assets as well as enhancing private sector and market systems in agro-processing and agro-input supply. Activities will also focus on viable farmers and agricultural value chain actors (agro-processors, buyers, agro-supply stores, aggregators etc) to more quickly expand agricultural production, markets, and incomes with potentially larger impacts on market, finance, and value chain development and expansion.

1.3 ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION

USAID intends to award one contract to an eligible and qualified offeror with a base period of three years with two optional years based on availability of funds and project performance. The contract will be awarded in accordance with 48 CFR 37.6, Performance-Based Acquisition, whereupon USAID will issue a Statement of Objectives and Offerors will prepare Performance Work Statements.

While the conflict in Syria has moved towards deadlock, with ceasefires and lines of control holding steady, the economic crisis continues to deepen creating the most dire humanitarian conditions of the decade long conflict. More than 60 percent of Syrians are considered food insecure, and living conditions are falling due to rising inflation, shortages, and erosion of state services and subsidies. Regime-held Syria is quickly turning into a narco-state, reliant on drug trafficking as a main source of hard currency.

Besides that, climate-related droughts are becoming more frequent and severely affecting the agricultural sector across the country, directly affecting farmers and livestock owners and threatening food security and the livelihoods of the populations all over Syria. The GROW contract will be solicited with a Statement of Objectives (SOO) that describes the objectives of an activity that will support the agricultural sector through a market-led approach in non-regime-held areas in Syria, including the support to agricultural value chains and household resilience to enhance food security, create sustainable employment opportunities, support private sector-led growth, and address climate-related constraints in agriculture. The SOO does not state how the work is to be accomplished but provides potential offerors with the flexibility to develop creative, cost-effective, and innovative approaches to meet the stated objectives and results. Based on this SOO, offerors will submit a Performance Work Statement (PWS) which describe the specific approach and activities to achieve the main GROW objectives.

It is anticipated that the final approved PWS will include interventions conforming to all or some of the following categories of work:

Category 1: Technical Assistance and Capacity Building Specific interventions may include:

· Supporting local research capabilities and information management systems to generate knowledge about high-valued and drought-resistant crops

· Market and value chain research and analysis for essential agricultural products and extension services

· Provision of technical assistance to agricultural authorities and private agro-businesses on climate-smart agriculture Category 2: Provision of Equipment, Livestock, and Other Agricultural Inputs Specific interventions may include:

· Supply and delivery of livestock and fodder

· Supply and delivery of foundation seed to support local seed multiplication

· Provision of agricultural input such as quality seeds, fertilizer, and irrigation equipment.

· Supply and delivery of wheat seeders, planters, and agricultural machinery Category 3: Provision of Agriculture Support Services Specific interventions may include:

· Provision of veterinary services and vaccinations

· Provision of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) extension services, such as direct support to improve food safety, environmental management, production quality, and worker health and safety

· Support to improve agricultural processing and increase value of production Category 4: Small Scale Construction and Rehabilitation of Agriculture Infrastructure Some activities under this award may include minor ancillary and incidental construction and rehabilitation of agricultural facilities and other infrastructure to support the accomplishment of broader program objectives. Specific construction related interventions could include small scale work such as:

· Supply and installation of pumps, irrigation equipment, solar power systems, and supporting infrastructure

· Construction and rehabilitation of irrigation canals and pumping stations

· Construction and rehabilitation of agricultural storage facilities and repair/installation of cold chain equipment

TABLE 2: ILLUSTRATIVE ACTIVITIES AND SUB-ACTIVITIES

Category 1 — Technical Assistance and Capacity Building

Activity 1.1: Supporting local research capabilities and information management systems to generate knowledge about high-valued and drought-resistant crops

1.2: Market and value chain research and analysis for essential agricultural products and extension services

1.3: Provision of technical assistance to agricultural authorities and private agro-businesses on climate-smart agriculture

Category 2 — Provision of Equipment, Livestock, and Other Agricultural Inputs

Activity 2.1: Supply and delivery of livestock and fodder

2.2: Supply and delivery of foundation seed to support local seed multiplication

2.3: Provision of agricultural input such as quality seeds, fertilizer, and irrigation equipment.

2.4: Supply and delivery of wheat seeders, planters, and agricultural machinery

Category 3 — Provision of Agriculture Support Services

Activity 3.1: Provision of veterinary services and vaccinations

3.2: Provision of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) extension services, such as direct support to improve food safety, environmental management, production quality, and worker health and safety

3.3: Support to improve agricultural processing and increase value of production

Category 4 — Small Scale Construction and Rehabilitation of Agriculture Infrastructure

Activity 4.1: Supply and installation of pumps, irrigation equipment, solar power systems, and supporting infrastructure

4.2: Construction and rehabilitation of irrigation canals and pumping stations

4.3: Construction and rehabilitation of agricultural storage facilities and repair/installation of cold chain equipment

Will this Activity involve construction[footnoteRef:0] as defined by ADS 201 and 303? Yes ☒ No ☐ [0: Construction, as defined by ADS 201 and 303, includes: construction, alteration, or repair (including dredging and excavation) of buildings, structures, or other real property and includes, without limitation, improvements, renovation, alteration and refurbishment. The term includes, without limitation, roads, power plants, buildings, bridges, water treatment facilities, and vertical structures. In the box below, describe any construction planned for this Activity. Refer to ADS 201maw for required Construction Risk Management procedures.]

Some incidental and ancillary small scale construction activities to support the overall objectives of this award may include construction and rehabilitation of irrigation canals and pumping stations; installation of pumps, irrigation equipment, solar power systems, and supporting infrastructure; and construction and rehabilitation of agricultural storage facilities and repair/installation of cold chain equipment.

2.0 BASELINE ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL INFORMATION

2.1 LOCATIONS AFFECTED AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTEXT

The Syrian Arab Republic covers over 185,000 square km and is located on the east coast of the Mediterranean Sea in western Asia. It is bordered by five countries: Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Lebanon and Israel and the Palestinian territories to the west and southwest. GROW will focus on the governorates of northern Syria , an area consisting of the governorates of northern and western Aleppo, northern Hama, western Latakia, Idlib, Raqqa, Hasakah, and eastern Deir ez-Zour. These inland governorates typically have an arid subtropical climate with moderately cold winters and scorching, sunny summers.

Water Resources in NES: There are seven hydrological basins in Syria, namely: Barada and Awaj, Al-Yarmouk, Orontes, Khabour, Euphrates and Aleppo, Desert, and the Coastal Basin. Each basin has its own geological, meteorological, hydrological, and demographic characteristics.[footnoteRef:1] In NES, the Khabour and Euphrates basins are present in the Hasakah governorate. The Khabur River is the largest river in Hasakah and is considered as the most important water source for agriculture in NES. The river originates in Turkey and is one of the major tributaries to the Euphrates River. Khabur River joins the Euphrates River at Deir ez-Zour governorate before entering the Iraqi borders. The Syrian part of Khabur basin area is divided in two zones: The Upper Khabur area north of Hasakah, and the Middle and Lower Khabur area between Hasakah and Busayrah. The annual flow of the river has decreased dramatically over recent decades from 2,120 Billion Cubic Meters (BCM) before 1980, to 924 Million of Cubic Meters (MCM) around 2000, with values consistently decreasing since then. The Khabour River dries up seasonally at several locations as a result of intensive irrigated agriculture in Syria and Turkey.[footnoteRef:2] Three dams are built in the Khabur Basin mainly for irrigation purposes including: Hasakah West, Hasakah East, and Hasakah South. The Tigris River is another shared basin between Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Turkey. Only 0.2% of the total basin area is located within Syrian lands, while the rest area of the basin is shared between Turkey, Iraq and Iran.[footnoteRef:3] [1: Khaldoon A. Mourad and Ronny Berndtsson (2011)] [2: https://waterinventory.org/surface_water/shared-tributaries-euphrates-river] [3: FAO. Food and Agriculture Organization. Aquastat database: Syria Arab Republic (2016)]

Another major source of water in Syria is groundwater, however no data is available on the main aquifers. The FAO estimated that groundwater flow is about 1200 MCM and 130 MCM annually entering Syria from Turkey and Lebanon, respectively. On the other hand, about 90 MCM and 250 MCM annually leave Syria to Jordan and the Occupied Lands, respectively.[footnoteRef:4] Most of the groundwater aquifers are heavily overexploited in almost all northeast governorates. The Hasakah governorate has only one centralized wastewater treatment plant with hydraulic capacity of 5000 m3/day.[footnoteRef:5] Cesspools are used intensively in many areas for wastewater disposal, which, as a result, has created significant impacts on water quality.[footnoteRef:6] [4: FAO. Food and Agriculture Organization. Aquastat database: Syria Arab Republic (2016). ] [5: https://water.fanack.com/syria/watermresources/#targetText=Groundwater,rate%20in%20almost%20all%20areas.] [6: Shahin M. Water Resources and Hydrometeorology of the Arab Region (2007)]

Climate Change Impacts: Over the last decade, Syria has been affected by abnormal rainfall, drought cycles, fluctuations in temperature, and a decline in available water resources. Several studies have concluded that climate change will have a significant effect on Syrian water resources,[footnoteRef:7] and that climate change will negatively impact the flow of the Euphrates River and its attributes. The reduction in river flow is estimated to be 29% to 73%.[footnoteRef:8] [7: Khaldoon A. Mourad and Ronny Berndtsson (2011)] [8: Trondalen MJ. Climate Changes, Water Security and Possible Remedies for the Middle East (2011)]

Solid Waste Management: Due to years of political instability, solid waste management is an established environmental problem. As in many parts of Syria, waste management services have also collapsed in many north east governorates of Deir ez-Zour and Hasakah, where large quantities of municipal waste remain in the streets without proper collection.[footnoteRef:9] Additionally, many municipalities have resorted to measures such as burning or uncontrolled dumping of solid waste, which creates significant threats to human health and the surrounding environment. [9: PAX Amidst the debris – a desktop study on the environmental and public health impact of Syria’s conflict (2015)]

Agricultural Resources: Agriculture is one of the most important economic sectors of Syria with a 26% contribution to GDP. According to the FAO, communities in rural areas still depend on agriculture as their main livelihood, with around 80% involved in annual crop production, 60% in perennial crop production, and 60% in livestock rearing.[footnoteRef:10] NES is situated around the two major surface water sources in Syria, the Euphrates and Khabour Rivers. Both rivers are considered as vital sources for irrigated agriculture in NES. It is estimated that about 60% of the total cultivated areas are located in the northern governorates Aleppo, Raqqa, and Hasakah.[footnoteRef:11] Agriculture is considered the main water-consuming sector in Syria with 87% of all water use.[footnoteRef:12] Hasakah is one of the most active governorates in agricultural production, with a total cultivated area of about 987,000 ha in 2017 of which irrigated area forms 13.4% of the total cultivated land and 85% are under rain-fed agriculture.[footnoteRef:13] [10: FAO (2017)] [11: PAX Amidst the debris – a desktop study on the environmental and public health impact of Syria’s conflict (2015)] [12: K4D helpdesk service (2017) ] [13: Syrian Center of Statistics (2017)]

Biodiversity: Syria is home to a wide range of organisms. The list includes (as of the Fourth national report in May 2009): 641 fungi, 55 bacteria, 754 algae, 10 gymnosperms (8 threatened), 3100 angiosperms (330 endemic species), 1439 insects, 452 fishes, 16 amphibians (3 threatened), 127 reptile (31 threatened), 360 birds (15 threatened), and 124 mammals (most of which are threatened).

Threats to the existing biodiversity include agricultural and urban expansion, forest fires, deforestation, climate change, desertification, soil erosion, depletion of water resources, and the ongoing political conflict. These threats are prevalent due to a lack of adequate laws and the lack of application of existing laws.

2.2 APPLICABLE AND APPROPRIATE PARTNER COUNTRY AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS (E.G. WHO), ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL LAWS, POLICIES, AND REGULATIONS In absence of the ability for USAID to coordinate with host government (Syrian Arab Republic Government) institutions, this activity was designed in accordance with existing USG foreign policy and assistance priorities, including the Syria Stabilization Assistance Strategy objectives of 1) alleviation of human suffering and 2) regime accountability and countering Iranian influence in Syria through providing assistance to emergency services.

2.3 COUNTRY/MINISTRY/MUNICIPALITY REGULATORY CAPACITY ANALYSIS

In 2011, protests erupted in Syria against the Syrian Arab Republic Government (SARG). The protests quickly spread across the country, challenging the authority of the SARG. The SARG responded with overwhelming force, resulting in the deaths of thousands of protestors. Supporters of the protest movement also picked up arms, transforming an initially peaceful movement for change into a violent civil war. The conflict touched all parts of Syria, resulting in hundreds of thousands of deaths and millions of IDPs and refugees. The conflict continues with the SARG in control of most of the country, but with pockets in the northwest, northeast, and southeast beyond its control.

The violence created an unprecedented humanitarian emergency, which was exacerbated by the SARG’s withdrawal of government services from areas it no longer controlled. Millions of civilians no longer had access to basic services such as water, electricity, health, or education that were delivered by government entities. In response, local humanitarian organizations attempted to fill the gap with the support of international donors, but they faced the challenges that come with attempting to deliver humanitarian assistance to millions of individuals in a conflict zone.

Following a decade of conflict, Syria remains one of the largest and most complex humanitarian emergencies and civil conflicts in the world. The scale, severity, and complexity of needs across Syria remains overwhelming. Civilians continue to bear the brunt of this conflict. Northwest Syria is home to more than 4.1 million residents. Once known as the bastion of revolutionary forces fighting against the Assad regime, the region is critical to the stability of Syria and its neighboring countries. The delivery of essential services in this conflict-prone area is necessary to alleviate human suffering and reduce the possibility of further displacement in a very fragile region. However, the operating environment is extremely complex. The SARG has made its intentions for the region clear in its statements and actions, regularly launching offensives into the region to recapture territory with the support of the Russian Armed Forces and Iranian militias from the extremist groups. In addition, the Russian Armed Forces and Turkish Armed Forces both maintain a presence to enforce a ceasefire between the SARG and the opposition. The SARG continues to withhold services from the region, and violence regularly erupts between the warring sides, often leading to the damage and destruction of civilian and humanitarian infrastructure. Thus, even when the SARG and its allies are not making significant advances on the ground, they are constantly contributing to destabilizing the region, especially within the communities alongside the frontlines.

Implementing sustainable solutions requires the engagement of all diverse segments of the community to represent the needs of the most vulnerable and the most affected by the prolonged conflict. This is challenging however given the existence of conservative socio-economic and cultural norms. For example, women in particular have been excluded from participating in economic and political decision-making. There was also a crackdown on activists and CSOs working on gender issues. Moreover, the growing influence of extremists and local militia groups (i.e. Hayat Tahrir Alsham (HTS) and its affiliated Syrian Salvation Government (SSG)) also places pressure on service providers and local governing bodies.

3.0 ANALYSIS OF POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL RISK

Due to the nature of the APS procurement process that will be utilized for the Growing Agriculture and Incomes in Syria (GROW), the specific detailed scopes of work for individual activities under this program will not be known until evaluation of applicant proposals and subsequent award of cooperative agreements to selected applicants. Therefore, the following analysis of potential environmental and social impacts under this program is based on the below illustrative categories of interventions that are anticipated to result in individual awards under the APS procurement process.

CATEGORY 1: Technical Assistance and Capacity Building

TABLE 3A. POTENTIAL IMPACTS – CATEGORY 1

Category 2: Provision of Equipment, Livestock, and Other Agricultural Inputs

TABLE 3B. POTENTIAL IMPACTS – CATEGORY 2

· Degrade large areas by opening new areas to grazing, creating dominance by low-utility plant species, soil compaction, and erosion

· Damage habitat and reduce biodiversity by overgrazing and imbalanced foraging

· Contribute to Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions

· Damage habitat and reduce biodiversity by competition with wildlife for fodder or water, increased killing of wildlife to “protect herds”, and spreading disease to wildlife Other impacts could potentially include the following:

· Improperly maintained trucks and equipment could result in unhealthy levels of emissions and air pollution

· Improperly sourced and managed livestock could result in spread of disease

· Improperly stored and handled fodder could attract and breed vermin, insects, and other pests risk degradation of fodder and spread of disease

· Improperly maintained delivery trucks could result in unhealthy levels of emissions and air pollution

· Pesticide treated and genetically modified seeds could post negative health risks to workers and negatively impact surrounding ecosystems if not properly selected and managed

· Improperly stored and handled seeds could attract and breed vermin, insects, and other pests risk degradation of fodder and spread of disease

· Improperly maintained delivery trucks and equipment could result in unhealthy levels of emissions and air pollution

· Pesticide treated and genetically modified seeds, and chemical fertilizers could post negative health risks to workers and negatively impact surrounding ecosystems of not properly selected and managed

· Improperly stored and handled seeds and fertilizer could attract and breed vermin, insects, and other pests risk degradation of fodder and spread of disease

· Improper or unmanaged irrigation could result in excessive drawdown or depletion of groundwater resources

· Operation of equipment by untrained individuals could result in injury or death

· Improperly maintained delivery trucks and equipment could result in unhealthy levels of emissions and air pollution

· Contamination of soil and water sources could occur from spills or disposal of fuel and lubricants due the use and maintenance of equipment

CATEGORY 3 — PROVISION OF AGRICULTURE SUPPORT SERVICES

TABLE 3C. POTENTIAL IMPACTS – CATEGORY 3

· Contamination of soil and water sources from improper disposal of veterinary pharmaceuticals and expired vaccines

· Propagation of resistant bacteria due to overuse of antibiotics

· Risk to human health and excessive wastage if food safety interventions are not properly planned and executed

· Risk of contamination of air, soil, or water if proper environmental management processes are not adopted

· Risk of injury or death for workers I proper safety measures are not put in place

· Health and safety risks if proper standards are not maintained

· Negative financial and social impacts on neighboring farmers if their products are not also considered

· Environmental impacts if volumes of waste are increased and not properly managed

Category 4 — Small Scale Construction and Rehabilitation of Agriculture Infrastructure

TABLE 3B. POTENTIAL IMPACTS – CATEGORY 4

· Improper or unmanaged irrigation could result in excessive drawdown or depletion of groundwater resources

· Improperly designed and managed wellheads could result in contamination of groundwater sources

· Improper disposal of used or obsolete equipment (eg. expired batteries) could cause contamination of soil and water sources

· Improperly designed irrigation canals could reduce flows due to excessive siltation. Very low flows and stagnant water can become breeding ground for insects

· Lack of proper slope stabilization and trench safety measures could result in injury or death for work in excavations deeper thank 1.5 meters

· Improperly maintained delivery trucks and equipment could result in unhealth levels of emissions and air pollution

· Exposed, unmarked canals pose safety (eg. drowning) risks to children

· Lack of proper safety measures and equipment could result in injury to construction workers

· Banned or non-compliant refrigerants could release chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) or other gasses that contribute to Ozone Layer depletion. Procurement of outdated cooling equipment with coolants that will be placed on the banned list during the life of the equipment could create an unsustainable burden for the beneficiaries to operate and maintain the equipment

4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATIONS

4.1 RECOMMENDED ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATIONS

The below determinations are based on examination of the illustrative activities anticipated under this award and relevant impacts and appropriate mitigation measures.

The following table summarizes the recommended determinations based on the environmental analysis conducted. Upon approval, these determinations become affirmed, per 22 CFR 216. Specified conditions, detailed in Section 5, become mandatory obligations of implementation, per ADS 204.

TABLE 4: ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATIONS

Category 1 — Technical Assistance and Capacity Building

22 CFR 216.2 (c)(2)(iii) 22CFR 216.2 (c)(2)(v)

22 CFR 216.2 (c)(2)(iii) 22CFR 216.2 (c)(2)(v)

22 CFR 216.2 (c)(2)(iii) 22CFR 216.2 (c)(2)(v)

Category 2 — Provision of Equipment, Livestock, and Other Agricultural Inputs

Activity 2.1: Supply and delivery of livestock and fodder

2.2: Supply and delivery of foundation seed to support local seed multiplication

2.3: Provision of agricultural input such as quality seeds, fertilizer, and irrigation equipment.

2.4: Supply and delivery of wheat seeders, planters, and agricultural machinery

Category 3 — Provision of Agriculture Support Services

Activity 3.1: Provision of veterinary services and vaccinations

3.2: Provision of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) extension services, such as direct support to improve food safety, environmental management, production quality, and worker health and safety

3.3: Support to improve agricultural processing and increase value of production

Category 4 — Small Scale Construction and Rehabilitation of Agriculture Infrastructure

Activity 4.1 Supply and installation of pumps, irrigation equipment, solar power systems, and supporting infrastructure

4.2 Construction and rehabilitation of irrigation canals and pumping stations

4.3 Construction and rehabilitation of agricultural storage facilities and repair/installation of cold chain equipment

4.2 CLIMATE RISK MANAGEMENT

This section summarizes the methodology used and findings of the CRM Screening, in accordance with ADS 201mal. The project design team, in consultation with the CIL, considered the potential effect of climate risks/stressors on the sustainability of the project (changing precipitation patterns, rising temperature, floods, droughts, fires, landslides, etc.) in addition to the impact of project activities on the climate (increased greenhouse gas emissions, land use changes, etc.).

Before the drought of 2006-2011, agriculture accounted for 25 percent of Syria’s GDP, 32 percent of its land use, and 90 percent of its water use. Most crops are rain-fed, with about two thirds of farmers relying exclusively on rainwater to water their crops, with the rest irrigating from rivers or, more commonly, groundwater. Government-subsidized water-intensive crops, such as wheat and cotton, are not well suited to Syria’s changing precipitation patterns. Decades of unsustainable agricultural policies have resulted in overexploitation of water and soil resources. As a result, water scarcity and high temperatures, exacerbated by acute pressure from the ongoing conflict, have resulted in a near collapse of the Syrian agricultural system. Due to drought-induced crop failures between 2006 and 2011, an estimated 1.5 million people abandoned their lands and livelihoods to move to urban areas, frequently leading to unemployment. Small and medium-scale farmers and pastoralists have suffered significantly, with extremely low or nonexistent levels of production and complete or near-complete death of herds. Climate forecasting suggests that rains will become less frequent, and groundwater will become more limited and contaminated. With a reduction in rainfall and decreased mountain runoff, rivers will flow at lower levels, leaving even less water available for agriculture.

Climate change and poor agricultural policies have created a water resource crisis in Syria. In 2011, Syria’s annual water withdrawal was 160 percent of its internal renewable water resources, markedly higher than other in-region countries such as Iraq (80 percent) and Turkey (20 percent). Additionally, an estimated 78 percent of all groundwater use was deemed unsustainable in 2012, most of which was used for agriculture. Agricultural reliance on rain and groundwater have left Syria vulnerable to drought, compared to its neighbors. For example, over-withdrawal of groundwater in Syria’s northeast has resulted in the drying up of the Khabur river, which in turn has created an even greater reliance on groundwater.

In the future, Syria is expected to experience a long-term drying trend as a result of climate change, with less precipitation, lower groundwater levels, and a decline in levels of vegetation. Expected salinization of fields and groundwater will make local wells unfit for drinking and decrease agricultural productivity. Studies have shown that severe, multi-year droughts, such as the one that occurred during the lead-up to the civil war, are now two to three times more likely due to climate change drivers. The anticipated reduction in precipitation and snow in the Syrian and Turkish mountains, and the resulting decrease in runoff, are projected to further threaten river resources in Syria, likely increasing dependence on groundwater and rainwater.

Climate Risk Management, mostly through adaptation will be central to the success of GROW. As GROW will be issued as an SOO, it is incumbent on theIP to incorporate climate considerations and solutions into their PSW.

See Annex 1 for the complete CRM table.

5.0 CONDITIONS AND MITIGATION MEASURES

5.1 GENERAL CONDITIONS

The environmental determinations in this IEE are contingent upon full implementation of the following general implementation and monitoring requirements, as well as ADS 204 and other relevant requirements.

5.1.1 During Pre-Award:

5.1.2 During Post-Award:

5.2 AGENCY CONDITIONS

5.3 ACTIVITY SPECIFIC CONDITIONS

5.3.1 The IP will ensure compliance with all host government and USAID requirements for disease prevention and ensure its staff and volunteers receive appropriate and timely guidance and training on the latest mitigation measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. This includes, but is not limited to proper hygiene, use of masks and gloves, cleaning/disinfecting, and social distancing, as appropriate.

5.4 MITIGATION MEASURES

The mitigation measures presented in this section constitute the minimum required based on available information at the time of this IEE and the environmental analysis in Section 4. These measures shall provide general direction for completing the Activity Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plan (EMMP).

Category 2: Provision of Equipment, Livestock, and Other Agricultural Inputs

TABLE 5A. POTENTIAL IMPACTS – CATEGORY 2

CATEGORY 3 — PROVISION OF AGRICULTURE SUPPORT SERVICES

TABLE 5B. POTENTIAL IMPACTS – CATEGORY 3

Category 4 — Small Scale Construction and Rehabilitation of Agriculture Infrastructure

TABLE 5C. POTENTIAL IMPACTS – CATEGORY 4

6.0 LIMITATIONS OF THIS INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION

The determinations recommended in this document apply only to activities and sub-activities described herein. Other activities that may arise must be documented in either a separate IEE, an IEE amendment if the activities are within the same activity, or other type of environmental compliance document and shall be subject to an environmental analysis within the appropriate documents listed above.

Any of the following actions would require additional environmental analyses and environmental determinations:

· Support project preparation, project feasibility studies, or engineering design for activities listed in §216.2(d)(1);

· Affect endangered and threatened species or their critical habitats per §216.5, FAA 118, FAA 119;

· Provide support to extractive industries (e.g. mining and quarrying) per FAA 117;

· Promote timber harvesting per FAA 117 and 118;

· Lead to new construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, or renovation work per §216.2(b)(1);

· Support agro-processing or industrial enterprises per §216.1(b)(4);

· Provide support for regulatory permitting per §216.1(b)(2);

· Lead to privatization of industrial facilities or infrastructure with heavily polluted property per §216.1(b)(4);

· Research, testing, or use of genetically engineered organisms per §216.1(b)(1), ADS 211

· Assist the procurement (including payment in kind, donations, guarantees of credit) or use (including handling, transport, fuel for transport, storage, mixing, loading, application, clean-up of spray equipment, and disposal) of pesticides or activities involving procurement, transport, use, storage, or disposal of toxic materials. Pesticides cover all insecticides, fungicides, rodenticides, etc. covered under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act per §216.2(e) and §216.3(b).

7.0 REVISIONS

Per 22 CFR 216.3(a)(9), when ongoing programs are revised to incorporate a change in scope or nature, a determination will be made as to whether such change may have an environmental impact not previously assessed. If so, this IEE will be amended to cover the changes. Per ADS 204, it is the responsibility of the USAID A/COR to keep the MEO/REA and BEO informed of any new information or changes in the activity that might require revision of this environmental analysis and environmental determination.

USAID APPROVAL OF INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION

ACTIVITY NAME: GROWING AGRICULTURE AND INCOMES IN SYRIA (GROW)

BUREAU TRACKING ID: ME 22-53

5/23/2022

Dianna Darsney de Salcedo, Deputy Director, Syria Transition Assistance Response Team (START)

Date

05/17/2022

Joshua Smith, Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR)

Date

Amy McQuade

5/17/2022

Clearance:

Amy McQuade, Contracting Officer (CO)

Date

5/17/22

Randy Flay, MERP Supervisory Program Officer

Date

18-May-22

Christopher Frey, Regional Environmental Advisor

Date

6/13/2022

Jeff Ploetz, ME Bureau Environmental Officer [required]

Date

BEO Specified Conditions of Approval (if applicable)

DISTRIBUTION: Award Files, Environmental Compliance Database

ATTACHMENTS:

Annex 1: Climate Risk Management Summary Table for Activity

ME 22-53

Annex 2: Environmental Review Checklist

ME/START/ GROWING AGRICULTURE AND INCOMES IN SYRIA (GROW)

Annex 1. Activity Climate Risk Management Summary Table

Risk Rating[footnoteRef:15] [15: Low/Moderate/ High]

How Risks are Addressed[footnoteRef:16] [16: Describe how risks have been addressed in activity design and/or additional steps that will be taken in implementation. If you chose to accept the risk, briefly explain why.]

Opportunities to Strengthen Climate Resilience[footnoteRef:17] [17: Describe opportunities to achieve multiple development objectives by integrating climate resilience or mitigation measures]

The IP will incorporate climate considerations into their design and decision making processes.