RFP Attachment J-5_Programmatic IEE - GFSP.pdf

AFRICA/GHANA/GHANA FOOD SECURITY PROJECT PIEE 2019-2025

USAID 216 IEE TEMPLATE VERSION 2, APRIL 2018

PROGRAMMATIC INITIAL

ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION

PROJECT/ACTIVITY DATA

Project/Activity Name: Ghana Food Security Project Geographic Location(s) (Country/Region): Ghana Amendment (Yes/No), if Yes indicate # (1, 2...):

No

Implementation Start/End Date (FY or M/D/Y):

October 1, 2019 - September 30, 2025

If Amended, specify New End Date: N/A

Solicitation/Contract/Award Number: N/A Implementing Partner(s): TBD Bureau Tracking ID: Ghana GFSP IEE https://ecd.usaid.gov/document.php?doc_id=52648 Tracking ID of Related RCE/IEE (if any): Ghana ADVANCE II IEE Amendment 2 2017-2020, approved 12/13/2018, exp. 9/20/2020. [formerly, in part, Ghana DO2 EG Portfolio IEE] https://ecd.usaid.gov/document.php?doc_id=51736.

USAID/Ghana DO2 Economic Growth Sector Portfolio - IEE Amendment 1; approved 7/18/2018 https://ecd.usaid.gov/repository/pdf/51067.pdf

USAID/Ghana DO2 Economic Growth Sector Portfolio;

approved 7/21/2014 https://ecd.usaid.gov/repository/pdf/40696.pdf

USAID/Ghana Feed the Future Program 2011-2015, appr.

12/06/2011 https://ecd.usaid.gov/repository/pdf/51736.pdf

Tracking ID of Other, Related Analyses: Pesticide Evaluation Report and Safer Use Action Plan (PERSUAP) for the Ghana Agricultural Development and Value Chain Enhancement (ADVANCE) Program;

approved 7/18/2012 https://ecd.usaid.gov/repository/pdf/38543.pdf

Ghana ADVANCE II PERSUAP Amendment 1; approved 5/11/2017 https://ecd.usaid.gov/repository/pdf/50081.pdf

ADVANCE II PERSUAP Amendment 2: Request for Additional Insecticides for Fall Armyworm (FAW) https://nam03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fecd.usaid.gov%2Fdocument.php%3Fdoc_id%3D52648&data=02%7C01%7CCarmen.Saab%40cadmusgroup.com%7C7ee88b9b3fdc4495977d08d7b18db572%7C9775d500e49b49a79e241ada087be6ee%7C0%7C0%7C637173094510826459&sdata=qdjvrUcmizsGJSfOL88Rwr5CqaBKaeuxxgDYYCVUgZk%3D&reserved=0 https://ecd.usaid.gov/document.php?doc_id=51736 https://ecd.usaid.gov/repository/pdf/51067.pdf https://ecd.usaid.gov/repository/pdf/40696.pdf https://ecd.usaid.gov/repository/pdf/51736.pdf https://ecd.usaid.gov/repository/pdf/51067.pdf https://ecd.usaid.gov/repository/pdf/51067.pdf https://ecd.usaid.gov/repository/pdf/38543.pdf https://ecd.usaid.gov/repository/pdf/38543.pdf https://ecd.usaid.gov/repository/pdf/50081.pdf https://ecd.usaid.gov/repository/pdf/50081.pdf

Management in USAID/Ghana Feed the Future Programs;

approved 5/25/2017 https://ecd.usaid.gov/repository/pdf/50111.pdf

Pesticide Evaluation Report and Safer Use Action Plan (PERSUAP), for the USAID/Ghana Feed the Future Program, Agriculture Technology Transfer (ATT), approved 4/14/2014

Power Africa 2 PAD Programmatic IEE (PIEE) https://ecd.usaid.gov/repository/pdf/47036.pdf Approved 06/29/2015 Power Africa 2 PAD Programmatic IEE (PIEE) Details for file # USAID/NREL Partnership for Advanced Energy Systems Details for file #E3-17-32 (PDF)

ORGANIZATIONAL/ADMINISTRATIVE DATA

Implementing Operating Unit(s):

(e.g. Mission or Bureau or Of f ice)

Ghana / Economic Growth Of f ice

Other Affected Operating Unit(s): N/A Lead BEO Bureau: AFR Funding Account(s) (if available):

Original Funding Amount: $124,601,227 If Amended, specify funding amount: N/A If Amended, specify new funding total: N/A Prepared by: Gloria Odoom (Economic Growth Of f ice &

Environment POC) Date Prepared: June 17, 2019

ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE REVIEW DATA

Analysis Type: Environmental Examination

Deferral

Environmental Determination(s): Categorical Exclusion(s) Negative Positive Deferred(per 22 CFR 216.3(a))(7)(iv) – See Intervention

IEE Expiration Date (if dif ferent f rom implementation end date):

September 30, 2025

Additional Analyses/Reporting Required: EMMPs by Implementing Partners;

Climate Risk Assessment: specif ic risks and opportunities to address those risks are found in Annex 1.

Supplemental IEEs as new activities are designed.

Climate Risks Identified (#): Low _1_ Moderate _17_ High _4_ Climate Risks Addressed (#): Low ___1__ Moderate __17__ High __4_ https://ecd.usaid.gov/repository/pdf/50111.pdf https://ecd.usaid.gov/repository/pdf/47036.pdf about:blank https://ecd.usaid.gov/repository/pdf/50077.pdf

THRESHOLD DETERMINATIONS AND SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

PROJECT/ACTIVITY SUMMARY

Ghana’s Global Food Security Strategy (GFSS) Country Plan presents a five-year integrated, comprehensive government strategy as required by the Global Food Security Act of 2016. The Ghana Food Security Project (GFSP) reflects an evidence-based, integrated, interagency approach for Ghana to achieve the GFSS goal of reducing poverty, hunger, and malnutrition through the three objectives of agriculture-led growth, resilience, and nutrition while positioning the country to become self-reliant. The GFSP will cover six years of implementation July 19, 2019 (Ghana GFSP approval) to September 30, 2025.

In northern Ghana, GFSP will work in about 17 districts, reaching approximately 150,000 beneficiaries, primarily women and youth, to (1) Enhance agricultural productivity and profitability; (2) Strengthen competitive market systems; (3) Increase access to finance; (4) Promote resilience; (5) Optimize economic inclusion; (6) Improve nutrition; and (7) Advance country leadership through evidence-based policy systems and institutions. GFSP will enhance agriculture-led economic growth, resilience, and women’s empowerment by targeting improvements in maize, soybean, cowpea, groundnut, shea, and marine fisheries value chains in the coastal areas aiming to positively impact smallholder farmers. GFSP will improve nutrition by transforming key community, household, and individual practices that hinder improved nutrition, particularly during the critical 1,000 day window. It will implement a multi-sectoral approach for nutrition programming that incorporates agriculture, livelihood, and water, sanitation, and hygiene activities.

Nationwide, GFSP will accelerate trade by helping to facilitate trade and increase investments in high-value commercial horticulture and tree crops, which are critical to Ghana’s path to self-reliance. Trade acceleration activities will complement the seven components implemented in northern Ghana with a greater focus on systems changes including improved and enforced policies, standards, and practices that will attract multinational “anchor” investors and retailers to Ghana. GFSP will work with firms to capitalize on the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), African Continental Free Trade Area, the Economic Community of West African States, and other regional and international agreements that enable exporting of consumer-preferred Ghanaian fresh and processed produce that have shorter travel times to European and regional markets. The GFSP approach is expected to support Ghana in addressing its sub-national poverty and nutrition challenges, while bolstering its ability to manage and finance its strategic transition to self-reliance.

PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF THE PROGRAMMATIC INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION (IEE)

The purpose of this IEE is to provide the necessary environmental documentation for all activities under the GFSP portfolio in USAID/Ghana, pursuant to 22 CFR 216. This document will ensure environmental compliance in accordance with USAID Environmental Policies Procedure so that all activities under the GFSP portfolio sound and account for climate change risks.

Another purpose of this IEE, in accordance with 22 CFR 216, is to address the entire portfolio of activities for GFSP except that:

1. Ongoing activities operating under approved environmental mitigation and monitoring plan (EMMP) may continue operating under that EMMP. Any new or substantially modified activities, even under continuing projects, must comply fully with current IEE which expires

(as amended and extended with no change) in September 30, 2020. This IEE will take effect upon approval est. from October 1, 2019.

2. Activities funded via an existing buy‐in mechanism will be subject to and implemented in accordance with the approved IEE covering that mechanism.

As with all IEEs, and in accordance with 22 CFR 216, the reasonably foreseeable effects of each activity on the environment are reviewed. On this basis, this IEE recommends a Negative Threshold Determination conditions for these activities. In addition, this IEE sets out activity-level implementation procedures intended to assure that conditions in this IEE are translated into project-specific mitigation measures, and to ensure systematic compliance with this IEE during project and activity implementation. These procedures are themselves a general condition of approval for the IEE, and their implementation is therefore mandatory.

Activities implemented as government‐to‐government (G2G) must comply with the conditions herein enumerated, except that, per current mission practice, GoG will utilize GoG systems/processes to implement these requirements. This IEE replaces and supersedes the suite of IEEs and IEE amendments which have covered the Feed the Future (FtF) and DO2 Economic Growth Sector Portfolio since 2011, as follow (URLs listed above on Facesheet):

● Ghana ADVANCE II IEE Amendment 2_2017-2020, approved 12/13/2018, exp.

9/20/2020. [formerly, in part, Ghana DO2 EG Portfolio IEE]

● USAID/Ghana DO2 Economic Growth Sector Portfolio - IEE Amendment 1; approved 7/18/2018

● USAID/Ghana DO2 Economic Growth Sector Portfolio; approved 7/21/2014

● USAID/Ghana Feed the Future Program 2011-2015, appr. 12/06/2011

Likewise, several PERSUAPs have covered the portfolio, and henceforth will be consolidated into a single GFSP & EG Portfolio PERSUAP.

For purposes of this analysis, this IEE synthesizes anticipated GFSP activities into a set of nine overall intervention categories, each of which contains a number of entailed activities. The GFSP Project, including the organizational structure and Intermediate Results, is summarized in Section 1.3.

ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION

Upon approval of this document, the determinations become affirmed, per Agency regulations (22CFR216). Per 22 CFR 216, this IEE provides a brief statement of the factual basis for a Threshold Decision as to whether an Environmental Assessment or an Environmental Impact Statement is required for GFSP activities in Ghana. The document is a mandatory guide for environmental compliance and also permits the implementation of the program activities in accordance with USAID Environmental Policies and Procedures.

22 CFR Section 216.2 and ADS 201.3.9.3.a require that before the obligation of funds and IEE must be completed for new projects, programs, and to substantive amendments or extension of ongoing projects. Nevertheless, 22 CFR Section 216.3(a)(1) permits deferral of such requirements where USAID does not have knowledge of or control over the details of the specific activities.

Some actions are categorically excluded per 22 CFR 216.2(c)(2) as classes which are not subject to further environmental review. These include:

i) Education, technical assistance, or training programs except to the extent such programs include activities directly affecting the environment (such as construction of facilities, etc.);

(ii) Controlled experimentation exclusively for the purpose of research and field evaluation which are confined to small areas and carefully monitored;

(iii) Analyses, studies, academic or research workshops and meetings;

(v) Document and information transfers;

(vii) Institution building grants to research and educational institutions in the United States such as those provided for under section 122(d) and Title XII of Chapter 2 of Part I of the FAA (22 USCA §§2151 p. (b) 2220a. (1979));

(viii) Programs involving nutrition, health care or population and family planning services except to the extent designed to include activities directly affecting the environment (such as construction of facilities, water supply systems, waste water treatment, etc.); and

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

A Negative Determination with Conditions, per 22 CFR 216.3(a)(2)(iii), is recommended for GFSP activities that involve the procurement and provision of material the intervention categories, such as for waste management-related tools, waste collection, and dumping given that these activities could result in negative environmental impacts. The conditions presented in this IEE are intended to make certain that these activities will be implemented and monitored USAID/Ghana Economic Growth Office in a manner to ensure that they will have no significant adverse environmental impacts.

Upon approval of this document, the GFSP’s Negative Determination Threshold becomes affirmed, per Agency regulations (22 CFR 216). The following table summarizes the GFSP intervention categories, as established by this IEE for purposes of environmental review.

Table 1: GFSP Interventional Category List

Project 1: Ghana Food Security Project

Intervention Category 1: Support development of relevant policy and legal framework for private sector enabling environment, systems that enhance seed development, increase the government of Ghana’s agriculture share of its total budget

Intervention Category 2: Market systems and resilience

Intervention Category 3: Fisheries

Intervention Category 4: Business and enterprise development to grow and expand businesses, improve rural livelihoods and food security

Intervention Category 5: Improving access to agricultural credit

Intervention Category 6: Nutrition

Intervention Category 7: Research, analysis, studies, and planning (desk- or field-based)

Intervention Category 8: Development and promotion of technical resources, tools, or best practice guidance

Intervention Category 9: Construction and infrastructure development efforts, incl.

irrigation schemes under 25 ha, and structures greater than 1,000m2 in area

CLIMATE RISK MANAGEMENT (CRM)

Per ADS Chapter 201, climate change in USAID projects and activities1 implemented as of October 1, 2016 should be screened to provide a concise basis for reference of climate risk management opportunities as activities evolve. Part A, “Assessing Climate Risks”, of the CRM screening matrix was completed in accordance with the prescribed guidance ADS201mal2. Part B, “Addressing Climate Risks”, includes suggestions for consideration by the Mission when the activity design is developed. Further screening on proposals, once the request is issued, will be drafted and the CRM, particularly Part B, will be revised.

The purpose of the CRM screening is to identify climate related risks associated with ongoing and planned GFSP actions across the zone of influence. The GFSP is sensitive to climate vulnerabilities as it is the main project in USAID/Ghana focusing on agriculture, resilience and nutrition. The target outcomes bolster poverty reduction, malnutrition, hunger and adaptation to climate change.

A climate risk management matrix has been completed for the GFSP portfolio. See Annex 1.

BEO SPECIFIC CONDITIONS FOR APPROVAL

The negative determinations recommended in this IEE are contingent on full implementation of specified conditions and a set of general monitoring and implementation requirements specified in this “BEO Conditions” section as well as Section 5 of the IEE.

1. IEE Amendments to the IEE: New activities and those revised to incorporate a change in scope or nature will require an amendment to the IEE to identify and address potential environmental impacts. This condition is mentioned again in Section 7 of this IEE.

2. Reporting of Mitigation Measures: Mitigation measures need to be determined for the environmental impacts at the level of the EMMP/EMMR. These EMMPs/EMMRs will be shared with the REA and the BEO Team (and other mission stakeholders, as appropriate) in a Google Drive folder.

3. WASH: As there are WASH activities covered under this IEE, the AFR BEO requires that a water quality assurance plan (WQAP) is prepared according to the WQAP Template (https://www.usaid.gov/environmental-procedures/environmental-compliance-esdm-program-cycle/special-compliance-topics/water):

o Complete a WQAP for WASH-related activities under this IEE, and request and receive AFR BEO review and approval of WQAP.

1 Climate Risk Management for USAID Projects and Activities. A Mandatory Reference for ADS Chapter

201. Available at: https://www.usaid.gov/ads/policy/200/201mal 2 CRM Tool. Available at: https://www.climatelinks.org/sites/default/files/2017-05- 24%20USAID%20CRM%20Activity%20tool%20%2B%20Annex.pdf o Clearly link the WQAP to this IEE o The review results should be written and on record in the Signing Statement of the

WQAP.

GENERAL IMPLEMENTATION AND MONITORING CONDITIONS

In addition to the specific conditions enumerated in Section 4, the negative determinations recommended in this IEE are contingent on full implementation of a set of general monitoring and implementation requirements specified in Section 4 and 5 of this IEE.

IMPLEMENTATION

In accordance with 22 CFR 216 and Agency policy, the conditions and requirements of this document become mandatory upon approval. This includes the relevant limitations, conditions and requirements in this document as stated in Sections 4, 5, and 6 of the IEE and any BEO Specified Conditions of Approval.

Colin Quinn ----------------- Cleared via Email 2/25/2020

2/25/2020

INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION

CONTENTS

1.0 PROJECT/ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION 11

1.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF IEE 11

1.2 PROGRAM BACKGROUND: CONTEXT & BACKGROUND: CONTEXT AND

JUSTIFICATION 11

1.3 PROJECT DESCRIPTION: SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES 12

1.4 INTERVENTION CATEGORIES FOR PURPOSES OF ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW 19

2.0 BASELINE ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION 22

2.1 LOCATIONS AFFECTED AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTEXT (ENVIRONMENT,

PHYSICAL, 22

CLIMATE, SOCIAL) 22

2.1.1 LOCATIONS AFFECTED 22

Figure 1: Map of Ghana 22

2.2. Environmental Baseline 23

2.2.1 Agro‐ecological zones Characteristics 23

Figure 2: Ghana agro‐ecological zones 23

2.3. Background on Focal Technical Areas and Policy Environment 24

2.3.1 Agriculture 24

2.3.2 Fisheries 25

2.3.3 Nutrition 25

2.3.4 Climate Change Overview 26

2.4. Applicable and Appropriate Partner Country and Other International Standards, Environmental and Social Laws, Policies, and Regulations 26

3.0 ANALYSIS OF POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL RISK 27

3.1 Background: Potential General Adverse Impacts of General Agricultural and Agribusiness Development 27

3.2 Potential Adverse Impacts OF INTERVENTION CATEGORIES 29

4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATIONS 37

4.1 Recommended Environmental Determinations 38

Table 3: Recommended Conditions 38

4.2 CLIMATE RISK MANAGEMENT 43

4.2.1 SUMMARY OF CLIMATE RISK SCREENING PROCESS 43

4.2.2: SUMMARY OF CLIMATE RISKS AND GREENHOUSE GAS (GHG) CONTRIBUTIONS

5.0 CONDITIONS AND MITIGATION MEASURES 52

5.1 BEO SPECIFIC CONDITIONS 52

5.2 CONDITIONS 52

5.2.1 During Pre-Award: 52

5.2.2 During Post-Award: 52

5.3 AGENCY CONDITIONS 54

6.0 LIMITATIONS OF THIS INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION 55

7.0 REVISIONS 56

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1: Map of Ghana 16 Figure 2: Ghana agro‐ecological zones 18 Figure 3: Climate impacts for target GFSP sectors 45

1.0 PROJECT/ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION

1.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF IEE

The purpose of this document, in accordance with Title 22, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 216 (22CFR216), is to provide a preliminary review of the reasonably foreseeable effects on the environment of the USAID intervention described herein and recommend determinations and, as appropriate, conditions for these activities. Upon approval, these determinations become affirmed per 22CFR216 and specified conditions become mandatory obligations of implementation.

This IEE addresses the portfolio of activities anticipated under the USAID/Ghana food security and nutrition portfolio. The Ghana Food Security Project (GFSP) IEE when approved will replace and supersede the suite of IEEs and IEE amendments which have covered the Feed the Future (FtF) and DO2 Economic Growth Sector Portfolio since 2011 (see facesheet cover pages), including the current USAID/Ghana DO2 (Economic Growth Portfolio) IEE approved in April 2014, and amended twice. The IEE was amended (time extension only) from Sept. 2018, and September 30, 2020.

The GFSP IEE will cover the GFSP portfolio from October 1, 2019 until September 30, 2025.

The GFSP IEE also documents the results of the project/activity level Climate Risk Management process in accordance with USAID policy (specifically, ADS 201mal). This IEE is a critical element of USAID’s mandatory environmental review and compliance process meant to achieve environmentally sound activity design and implementation. Potential environmental impacts should be addressed through formal environmental mitigation and monitoring plans (EMMPs) and/or Environmental Assessments (EAs), if needed.

1.2 PROGRAM BACKGROUND: CONTEXT & BACKGROUND: CONTEXT AND JUSTIFICATION

The GFSP Country Plan for Ghana was co-written by all United States Government (USG) agencies involved in food security and nutrition work ( in reference the USG Global Food Security Strategy3), after extensive consultation with stakeholders from government ministries, private companies, universities, research institutions, international and local Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), donors and international organizations and was given extensive review and commentary by USG interagency partners in Washington, DC. As a living document, it is intended to be updated as needed in consultation with those parties over time.

The GFSP serves as an overarching framework for integrated food security and nutrition programming. The plan is intended to describe the key drivers of food insecurity, malnutrition and poverty. These key drivers stem from a complex set of underlying conditions that exist at the individual, household, community and system level. At the design and procurement stages, the targeting, results framework and program components will need to be refined further to operationalize integrated and holistic approaches. Interventions at all levels will need to complement each other to sustainably address food insecurity, malnutrition and poverty. In particular, the most vulnerable and poor populations do not have sufficient assets, skills, and capabilities to participate in market activities. These populations will need to be supported to develop capacity over time to participate in value chains, so they become a viable livelihood option. As GFSP programming is refined through the design, procurement and implementation processes, selected value chains will explicitly prioritize inclusive growth. Interventions will include support to the most vulnerable and poor populations to enable them to graduate into

3 U.S. Government Global Food Security Strategy FY2017-2021 https://www.feedthefuture.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/USG_Global_Food_Security_Strategy_FY2017-21.pdf https://www.feedthefuture.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/USG_Global_Food_Security_Strategy_FY2017-21.pdf https://www.feedthefuture.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/USG_Global_Food_Security_Strategy_FY2017-21.pdf https://www.feedthefuture.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/USG_Global_Food_Security_Strategy_FY2017-21.pdf selected value chains and benefit from the GFSP supported livelihoods and market development.

Nationwide, GFSP will accelerate trade by helping to facilitate trade and increase investments in high-value commercial horticulture and tree crops, which are critical to Ghana’s path to self-reliance. Trade acceleration activities will complement the activities implemented in the North of Ghana with a greater focus on systems changes including improved and enforced policies, standards, and practices that will attract multinational “anchor” investors and retailers to Ghana.

GFSP will work with firms to capitalize on the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), African Continental Free Trade Area, the Economic Community of West African States, and other regional and international agreements that enable exporting of consumer-preferred Ghanaian fresh and processed produce that have shorter travel times to European and regional markets.

To achieve the desired outcomes from this Country Plan, the U.S. Government will work in partnership with the GoG, private sector, civil society, and academia to assure Ghana has the capacity and commitment to sustain its development progress and breakthrough to self-reliance.

1.3 PROJECT DESCRIPTION: SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES

The program areas supported by the GFSP are summarized under the three objectives of the program. In all, there are a total of eight intermediate results (IRs) and seven cross cutting intermediate results (CC IRs) for the program. Below are the objectives, IRs and CC IRs of

GFSP:

Objective 1: Inclusive and sustainable agriculture-led economic growth

GFSP IR 1: Increased agricultural productivity and profitability To increase agricultural productivity and profitability, farmers must use improved agronomic practices to increase yields and quality of maize, soybean, groundnuts, and cowpea production. GFSP will adopt a systems approach to increase smallholder farmer productivity of these target crops and will partner with farmers who have already or desire to transition from subsistence to commercial production. Strategic investments along the seed value chain will increase the availability of certified seeds and ensure appropriate soil-specific, crop-specific fertilizers are available and utilized. GFSP will target improved productivity through the adoption of appropriate climate-smart technology packages. GFSP will also encourage adoption of improved practices that reduce the impact of pests, including Fall Armyworm, the prevalence of toxins in groundnut and maize, and improve resilience in the face of changing weather patterns.

Lastly, GFSP will identify creative and affordable ways, including through digital technologies, to increase farmer access to extension information, especially by women farmers and illiterate farmers. Through GFSP, USAID/Ghana will support rural households to diversify their income sources through a variety of means, including dry- season cultivation of high-value crops, to sustainably exit poverty and increase their resilience (contributes to Objective 2). USAID will partner with the private sector to enable farmers to grow high-value nutritious crops, including those that can be biofortified, as part of their mixed farming practices. Water management technologies will be introduced to increase farm productivity, support high-value crop production, diversify and increase income for those households with access to water. GFSP will also work to change household behaviors to further diversify their diets to obtain improved nutrition outcomes. GFSP will partner with Power Africa to increase the use of reliable electricity- dependent agriculture production and postharvest technologies and practices to improve productivity and profitability.

To ensure a lasting marine fisheries stock that will contribute protein to the diets of Ghanaians nationwide, USAID/Ghana will help the small pelagic fishing industry (fisher-folk, processors, and traders) to use improved management and commercial practices. It will strengthen governance by expanding the new fisheries co-management policy, strengthening resource-tenure to protect livelihoods from encroachment by trawlers and illegal fishing practices, and building partnerships with U.S. public and private institutions to apply science and technology for evidence-based policies.

GFSP IR 2: Strengthened markets and trade GFSP seeks to build a resilient, sustainable and inclusive market system in which private and public actors collaborate, coordinate, participate, and compete for the efficient production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services at local, regional, and international levels.

To increase household incomes and contribute to Ghana’s economic transformation, GFSP will partner with agribusinesses to sell their products into new markets. USAID/Ghana’s support of improved post-harvest handling will reduce the prevalence of toxins and maintain nutrients in the target crops. By linking farmers to markets and creating additional income through value addition, GFSP can contribute to poor populations realizing their economic and social potential.

GFSP’s investments will be in line with other USG initiatives to level the playing field, develop and deepen markets, and facilitate transactions for high-value horticulture and tree crops in Ghana. These investments will also contribute to Ghana’s self-reliance by increasing trade freedom, improving the business environment, and diversifying exports.

GFSP will focus on market systems as well as policy at a national level in support of increasing trade and private investment. GFSP seeks a behavioral outcome whereby the GoG improves and streamlines procedures and controls while fostering trade policy coherence to efficiently move goods across national borders. Trade activities will include assisting Ghana to improve grades and harmonize standards for selected commodities as well as to enforce Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures. GFSP will continue to promote international science-based trade standards and expand traceability systems for fruits and vegetables, required for food safety in many importing countries. Collaborating with our regional programs, GFSP will include support for intra-regional and international trade and will leverage other initiatives for traceability in the fisheries sector.

The local “Green Label” certification program, influenced by international standards and promoted by Ghana’s Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) and the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MoTI) to assure the domestic availability of locally produced high quality, safe, and affordable fresh fruits and vegetables on the Ghanaian market, could be supported with significant civil society, agribusiness, and producer associations’ buy-in. Consumer standards will be explored to combat illegal unregulated and unreported fishing.

GFSP IR 3: Increased access to business development and financial services particularly for women and youth GFSP will target businesses, especially among micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), to improve the management of their businesses so they can continue to grow. The Ghana Women’s Empowerment to Food Security and Youth Assessment report4 cited several constraints faced by women and youth who are interested in developing a livelihood or starting a small business. GFSP will focus largely on women- and youth-owned businesses and skill development to enable these entities to grow. Strengthening the ability of women and youth to actively participate throughout the value chain by tailoring technologies and delivery systems, increasing access to credit, and building leadership and entrepreneurship skills are central to transforming agriculture in the project’s zone of influence.

The GFSP will work to increase MSMEs’ use long-term financing to grow their business, explore equity financing and non-traditional financing options, explore partnerships with the private sector, including financial institutions and multinationals with investment in both staple and higher-value commodity value chains to leverage additional funding using private capital.

GFSP will identify strategic opportunities to support the Ghana Incentive-Based Risk-Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (GIRSAL) which is designed to increase access to finance for smallholder farmers. The project will continue to support financial inclusion through village savings and loan associations (VSLAs) that have increased access to savings and credit and are outlined in Objective 2 below.

Objective 2: Strengthened resilience among people and systems GFSP IR 4: Improved risk mitigation and management The GFSP will partner with local government, civil society, and traditional structures to enable citizens to adopt mechanisms to prevent and respond to conflict, strengthen food security and resilience. It will partner with stakeholders to increase their capacity to reduce, resolve, or arbitrate on-going conflicts to ensure sustainable agricultural development. It will explore using Community Resource Management Areas (CREMAs) to partner with communities to map land, water, and other natural resources as well as denote grazing areas. GFSP will partner with local governments, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and the private sector to engage and empower citizens in government planning processes to increase government responsiveness to citizen needs, especially those of vulnerable households. It will strengthen resilient recovery planning at community, sub-national, and national levels.

The GFSP will partner with government partners, private sector, and civil society to strengthen the capacity of SPS systems to monitor and mitigate plant pests (like the Fall Armyworm) and plant and animal diseases before they cause lasting economic and food security hardships to

4 Ghana Women’s Empowerment to Food Security and Youth Assessment Feed the Future Advancing Women’s Empowerment Activity Final Report, August 2019.

vulnerable households. To reduce the decline of fisheries and its important contribution to dietary protein as well as livelihoods, the GFSP will partner with produce and community groups to develop skills that will enable them to manage fisheries and enhance natural productivity and promote a behavior shift from overfishing to a desire to protect marine fishery resources. Targeted investments will support regulatory and research institutions to apply evidence-based solutions to improve fish stock monitoring and develop policies that better regulate marine fisheries and protect the coastal habitat.

In partnership with Power Africa and the FTF Innovation Lab for Small-Scale Irrigation, the project will support activities to increase access to water for productive, income generation and household uses while also enabling actors to manage their water resources. The Project will identify the market opportunities for greater use of irrigation pumps and water distribution technologies.

GFSP IR 5: Improved adaptation to and recovery from shocks and stress The GFSP will promote economic empowerment of women and youth through layered investment in health, nutrition, and education, including demand-driven workforce development. It will identify opportunities to expand and diversify household income generated by women and youth beyond agriculture production. The GFSP will work with households and communities to structure new or expanded livelihood activities to ensure labor needs do not result in children staying home to work rather than attending school. It will partner with USAID/Ghana’s Education Office to identify opportunities to ensure vulnerable families in the ZOI use quality private education services. The project will partner with universities to improve the understanding of the impacts of changes in climate and research and develop adaptation strategies and practices. It will also support fishers and the private sector to explore alternative livelihoods and increase fishers’ access to financial products that can help mitigate the risks of economic shocks.

Objective 3: A well-nourished population especially among women and children In addition to the consumption of nutritious and safe diets, GFSP will support integrated health resources, prevention and treatment of illness to improve maternal and child nutrition outcomes. It will adopt multi-sectoral approaches using the three agriculture- nutrition pathways--food production, agriculture income, and women’s empowerment. The integration of “increased availability and accessibility of nutritious foods” from Objective 1 and “strong health systems” from Objective 3 combine to support a “well-nourished population that is more resilient” in Objective 2.

GFSP IR 6: Increased consumption of nutritious and safe diets GFSP will promote optimal Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) to prevent child malnutrition as well as complementary feeding for children 6-24 months. It will partner with service providers to scale up quality IYCF and complementary feeding programming and increase the priority of IYCF and complementary promotion among health service providers. It will also partner with mothers of children under two to adopt IYCF and complementary feeding practices with foods rich in vitamin A and iron such as animal-source foods like fish, fruits, and vegetables. To address dietary diversity challenges in the North for women of reproductive age, especially pregnant and lactating women, GFSP will work through Objectives 1 and 2 to layer dietary diversity, safe food handling and preparation, and food storage communications with crop production, harvest, and storage activities. It will also seek out private sector partners interested in expanding production, sales, and affordability of fortified foods for women and children targeting nutrients vitamin A, iron, zinc, and vitamin B.

GFSP IR 7: Increased use of nutrition specific services GFSP will partner with public and private health facilities and community outreach services to improve their capability and quality of service delivery to prevent and treat illness and malnutrition and strengthen nutrition assessment of children under two-years. Community-based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) will also be improved and expanded to prevent and monitor acute malnutrition. GFSP will and to ensure zinc and iron supplements are available and accessible to treat diarrheal episodes and anemia and improve the quality of clinical anemia prevention and control. The project will partner with the government to train health providers and community health workers on breastfeeding practices and lactation consulting.

GFSP IR 8: More hygienic household and community environments Increased availability of Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities will be paired with behavior change activities through the Ghana Mission’s Health Systems Strengthening Project.

To ensure hygienic environments, WASH interventions will use the community-led total sanitation approach to eliminate the behavior of open defecation. Where feasible, a private sector-led approach will be used to build sanitation and handwashing facilities and increase access to safe drinking water. These interventions will be implemented within the FtF ZoI, in addition to other priority geographic areas.

GFSP Cross Cutting Intermediate Results (GFSP CC IRs) Optimize Economic Inclusion (GFSP CC IRs 3,4): To sustainability reduce poverty, hunger, and malnutrition, the GFSP will intentionally focus on reducing barriers facing women and youth to fully realize their economic and social potential. It will begin with an assessment including a literature review and field studies in the ZOI to identify and prioritize behaviors that support or hinder their successful engagement in food security, agriculture, and nutrition-sensitive agriculture activities and address economic inclusion of women and youth. The final product of this assessment will be available in late June 2019.

Increased gender equality and female empowerment (GFSP CC IR 3): the GFSP will identify key behaviors during activity design in order to increase access for women to key productive resources in agriculture, specifically land, inputs, credit, and knowledge (whether from formal schooling or from extension services). The aim is to support a more inclusive, economic environment where women can gain and strengthen business management, leadership, and entrepreneurship skills. It will leverage the Women’s Global Development and Prosperity Initiative (W-GDP) and other USG initiatives and empowerment efforts so women have opportunities to achieve their full economic potential. The project will scale up the successful model under the first phase of FtF of granting women better access to land certificate or other legal document from her husband giving her the right to plant crops on part of the land owned by the male. These medium-to-long term leases be expanded to include male to female siblings or chief to female-headed households so longer-term crops, such as moringa, can be planted or small-scale irrigation systems constructed on land with greater certainty the land will continue to be accessible to women farmers.

Increased youth empowerment and livelihoods (GFSP CC IR 4): The GFSP will select key behaviors informed by an assessment to increase youth empowerment and livelihoods prioritize behaviors that empower youth to choose their own self-reliance journey. It will work to engage youth based on their developmental stages, educational levels, and on their sex to support the youth to identify necessary resources and skills and devise ways to help them access these resources. The project will enable youth to employ their assets and to act upon those decisions in order to achieve desired outcomes without fear of retribution. It will look for behavior change opportunities with heads of households, community leaders, and government actors to emphasize the skills, creativity, and perspectives offered by youth and elevate the need to include them in decision making. It will encourage food security stakeholders to engage youth as a source of change for their own and their communities’ positive development. It will look for opportunities to increase youth contributions to agriculture and promote youth-led community service. It will identify strategic opportunities to increase interest and investment in youth entrepreneurship and youth owned enterprises.

Advance Country Leadership through Evidence-based Policy Systems and Institutions (GFSP CC IRs 1,5,6,8): Country leadership is a necessary ingredient for Ghana to move along the journey to self-reliance. The project will collaborate with the government, private sector, civil society, and citizens to increase their commitment and capacity to improve food security.

Strengthened commitment to investing in food security and self-reliance (GFSP CC IR 1):

GFSP will work to improve the private sector enabling environment to increase domestic and foreign direct investment, with an emphasis on attracting investment from U.S. firms and other firms interested in exporting Ghanaian agricultural products. It will promote the prioritization of nutrition among health, agriculture, and social welfare ministries to promote investment of public and private resources in

More effective governance, policy, and institutions towards self-reliance (GFSS CC IR 5):

GFSP will continue to partner with government partners to progress towards fully decentralized local governments key to ensure citizen needs are heard and addressed during planning processes, revenue is generated at a local level, and quality services are delivered. It will also partner with the GoG to increase the quality and quantity of services by sub-district structures Area Councils increase revenue through internally generated funds (IGF). It will strengthen systems and local governing structures responsible for planning, executing, and coordinating agricultural, nutrition, and resiliency measures at the local level. USAID will work with the GoG, private sector, civil society, and local and international research institutions to continue to improve food security policies and their implementation (see GFSS Policy Priority Matrix Annex F). It will support domestic resource mobilization activities and public financial management activities enable the government to fulfill their commitment to invest in food security.

Improved human, organizational, and system performance to increase self-reliance (GFSP CC IR 6): USAID will provide targeted human, organization, and system performance capacity building to develop the capacity of local actors to take advantage of and exercise ownership over opportunities, respond effectively to shocks and stresses, and solve their own problems. It will partner with select government and research partners to improve system performance to improve efficiencies and allow organizations to change as development challenges evolve. It will identify opportunities for executive leadership training that enable technical experts to effectively lead adaptive organizations partner with key civil society actors to increase their capacities in these areas increase financial sustainability. It will target vocational skills development for women and youth. These new skills will be paired with leadership training and targeted behavior change approach that improves the individual’s self-confidence and transition from dependence to independence. It will strengthen the U.S.

university partnerships with Ghanaian research institutions and universities to not only address technology needs, but also to help address institutional human capacity challenges faced by the Ghanaian counterparts.

Enhanced monitoring and evaluation and data driven decision-making (GFSP CC IR 7):

USAID will strengthen public and private monitoring and evaluation systems coupled by an effort with all stakeholders to change behavior around decision-making to include data analysis.

It will strengthen institutional architecture by partnering with stakeholders to analyze and communicate monitoring and evaluation data to decision makers.

1.4 INTERVENTION CATEGORIES FOR PURPOSES OF ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW

Neither the intermediate results (IRs) or cross cutting intermediate results (CC IRs) listed, nor the intervention program areas listed in Section 1.3 constitute optimal activity categories for environmental review. Organizing environmental analysis either by IRs or program areas would entail significant repetition of analysis for similar activities in different categories, and thus a long and unwieldy document.

Accordingly, for purposes of environmental review and compliance, this IEE organizes interventions in the USAID/Ghana GFSP portfolio into nine intervention categories. Each has activities from one or more IRs:

For purposes of this environmental review and compliance document, this IEE organizes activities/interventions constituting the GFSP portfolio into the following nine categories. Each intervention category has within it distinct activities that are described below.

1.4.1 Intervention Categories

1. Support development of relevant policy and legal framework for private sector enabling environment, systems that enhance seed development, increase the government of Ghana’s agriculture share of its total budget:

As a key activity to streamline and improve agricultural policy under the GFSP, USAID/Ghana will buy in to the Partnership for Inclusive Agricultural Transformation in Africa (PIATA) at an estimated cost of $5 million over three years. PIATA is managed by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA). This activity will leverage PIATA’s influential relationships and capacity for the purpose of strengthening the Government of Ghana’s (GoG’s) strategic planning and accountability under the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP). It will focus on the Ministry of Food and Agriculture’s (MoFA) capacity and institutional architecture to meet GoG commitments under CAADP and the Malabo Declaration to invest in and grow the agriculture sector.

Planned interventions will improve the enabling environment for private sector investment in agricultural inputs - improved seeds and fertilizer - to increase productivity, food production and incomes. An improved enabling environment is the foundation for the private sector-led agricultural sector transformation emphasized in the GFSP including, strengthened market systems, increased trade, and investment. Specifically, PIATA will focus on i) supporting the growth of foundation/certified seed companies; ii) development of infrastructure (irrigation and development, construction or rehabilitation of warehouses), and iii) use of pesticides.

2. Market systems and resilience: The primary activity for this intervention category is the Market Systems and Resilience Activity. The activity will focus on holistically identifying the binding constraints of the market systems and unlocking the potentials of systems to sustain economic growth. Systems such as input distribution and network, supply chain management, support services, financial/business services, and interconnected systems will be areas of focus for this activity.

3. Fisheries: The aim of this activity is to prevent the collapse of the small pelagic fishery sector in Ghana, while improving livelihoods and food security. Key areas of implementation will include: 1) Reducing overfishing and illegal fishing in industrial and artisanal fleets, 2) Prioritizing management actions needed to avert the collapse of the small pelagic fish stocks, 3) Improving market linkages for high-quality nutritious fish, 4) Empowering key stakeholders (fisher associations, CSOs, the media) to effect change,

5) Empowering women and youth in fishing communities with alternative livelihood options , and 6) Improving decision-making processes through increased participation, inclusivity, transparency, and accountability that reflects the best available science.

4. Business and enterprise development to grow and expand businesses, improve rural livelihoods and food security: The primary activity for this intervention category is the Trade and Investment activity. The activity is to facilitate growth in export-oriented trade and catalyze investments in private enterprises operating in the high-value commercial crops sector in Ghana. This is expected to result in increased access to revenue mainly foreign exchange for Ghana, as these exports generate the third-highest source of export income in Ghana.