AUTORITE DU BASSIN DU NIGER

Secrétariat Exécutif

B.P 729, Niamey (Niger)

NIGER BASSIN AUTHORITY

Executive Secretariat

P.O.Box 729, Niamey (Niger)

Niger Basin Water Resources Development and Sustainable Ecosystems Management Program

ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK –

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

REVISED FINAL REPORT

January 2012

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Elaboré par :

LI0062A

Février 2007

Révisé par : L’Unité de Gestion et Coordination du Projet – DREGDE / ABN B. P. :729, Niamey - Tél. : (227) 20 31 50 36/37 - Fax : (227) 20 31 50 09 E-mail : sec-executif@abn.ne - http:// www.abn.ne (1ère révision Janvier 2012)

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The developmental objective of the project is to achieve a sustainable increase in the overall

productivity of water resources so as to facilitate economic development in the countries of the

River Niger Basin. To achieve this objective, the Water Resources Development and

Sustainable Ecosystem Management (WRD-SEM) will focus on (i) institutional capacity building

for the NBA and its national focal structures; (ii) the rehabilitation of the existing hydraulic

infrastructure; and (iii) the restoration of the environment seriously degraded in the targeted

regions, with the understanding that all these three things affect the natural resources of the

basin.

The Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) serves as a screening tool to

screen , in a large and prospective manner, each sub-project for its environmental and social

impacts and to decide on follow up actions: i) no action; ii) preparation of an Environmental and

Social Impact Assessment (ESIA); iii) Preparation of an Environmental and Social Management

Plan (ESMP). The ESMP includes for this purpose a screening form, a project assessment grid

as well as mitigation or compensation measures. The ESMF will be of national scope, with a

particular focus on the rehabilitation of water reservoirs, the development of irrigated perimeters,

forest development, koris rehabilitation, the rehabilitation and management of water catchment

areas and re-afforestation in order to protect watersheds and targeted economic activities so as

to valorize the infrastructure.

The political and legal context of the environmental sector and the intervention sectors of the

WRD-SEM is characterized by the existence of documents of strategic planning as well as

pertinent texts at the legislative and regulatory level. All the countries have legislative texts

governing the study and mitigation of environmental and social impacts of projects as well as

serving as an informed decision making tool. But the texts of the Niger Basin countries are not

meant for sub-projects for which the location is unknown. The various texts do not make

reference to a requirement to prepare environmental and social management framework (EMSF)

at the project preparation stage. At the institutional level, in all the Niger Basin countries,

shortcomings are noted in terms of capacity., coordination, synergy in project implementation

and monitoring. Capacity building shall be therefore be part of the present project.

The WRD-SEM comprises 3 components which will support poverty reduction and reinforce cooperation and economic growth in the region, (i) assistance and institutional reinforcement, (ii) rehabilitation and upgrading of the existing infrastructures and (iii) restoration and preservation of the degraded zones. Components 2 and 3 of the WRD-SEM, for which this ESMF is prepared, covers Benin, Guinea, Mali, and Niger. In addition to these first three components, in the context of the World Bank’s preparation of a project to support the program for Ecosystem Regeneration and Development of the Niger valley (Kandadji program), for an amount of 150 million USD, three potential components, for which description will be refined, were identified as part of that funding under preparation: (i) Component 1 on institutional strengthening, (ii) Component 2 on the financing of the power station, and (iii ) Component 3 on the development of irrigation (including rehabilitation of

irrigation schemes) and local community development. The area affected by the sub - projects of WRD-SEM the project currently under preparation for the contribution to Kandadji program covers 58% of the total area of the Niger Basin.

With a length of about 4.200 km, the River Niger takes its source in Guinea, in the Daro Massif,

at an altitude of 1,068m in the village of Farokoniah in the sub-district of Kobokoro (District of

Faranah), at the border of Sierra Leone. It goes North- East and, during the rainy season, forms

a vast flood plain in Mali, the Inner Delta or the lacustrian basin. At the exit of the Inner Delta,

the river takes the form of a loop in Mali, then goes south-East down to Nigeria where it receives

the Benue river before pooring into the Atlantic Ocean. Its drainage basin covers a surface area

of about 2,170,500 km² including 1,500,000 km² of active basin. It is composed of vast desert

zones, flood plains and swampy zones, characterized by the presence of big valleys which

gradually dry up because of the climatic risks, presently increasingly severe because of the

persistence of the bad weather and the degrading actions of man on nature.

The River Niger basin countries are basically composed of poor countries forming part of the

less developed countries (LDC) countries in Africa. Some of them are Sahelian, landlocked and

have a tropical Sudano-Sahelian climate characterized over the last few decades by repeated

droughts and an increasing desertification. In addition to this physical environment which is one

of the most austere environments in the Africa region, these countries evolve in a difficult

economic context with an economy dominated by agriculture and animal rearing. Theses

activities generate 40 to 60% of the export income and are performed by 80 to 90% of the active

population. The other remaining countries are not part of the LDC but they nevertheless remain

poor despite the existence of resources other than agricultural but insufficiently or poorly

exploited (mines gold, oil, etc.).

The social conflicts associated with the exploitation of the natural resources of the basin are

frequent enough and most often oppose farmers to herders or autochthons to migrants. Besides

these recurrent social aspects, the economy of the basin is facing the weakness and

insufficiency of socio-economic infrastructure and equipment (drinking water supply, sanitation,

water reservoirs and hydro-agricultural systems, livestock wells, electric and sanitary equipment,

roads, etc..). All these shortcomings have negative consequences and increase the poverty of

these populations.

Several activities conducted in the basin directly depend on the exploitation of natural resources

(water, soils, fauna and flora). Apart from the development of irrigation systems and hydraulic

infrastructure, these activities (agricultural, pastoral and mining in particular) are conducted in an

extensive or handicraft manner. As such, the rural economy remains largely dependent on the

natural environment. Forests are cleared at rates much higher than those of the natural

regeneration and the degraded environment offers less resources to the poor whose population

is increasing one day after the other.

The consequences of the economic imbalances and environmental degradation are felt

especially through:

The attraction of the rural populations towards the cities, which leads to settlement in

the marginal peripheral zones of urban areas and the adoption of an urban living

mode, i.e. an urbanized life style essentially based on the resources of the rural zone;

An urban population growth and high demand for energy which is generally satisfied

through the utilization of firewood and charcool, contributing thus to the degradation

of the vegetative cover and the erosion of the lands of the nearby exploitation zones.

The main potential impacts of the project on the bio-physical environment are classified as

follows :

1. Pollution of water resources: whose main source would be the irrational utilization of

fertilizers and pesticides.

2. Degradation of lands : through salinization at the level of the Delta which leads to a reduction

of land fertility and a gradual decline of the outputs and through alkalinization due to a high

pH likely to cause the blockage of some trace elements (zinc) and the volatilization of

nitrogen and some fertilizing elements. The sodization through the increase of the sodium

exchange at the level of clays (at the expense of calcium) is likely to lead to a subsidence of

the soil structure and its imperviousness to both water and air. The highly alkanized and

sodized land become improper to agriculture.

3. Degradation of forest resources : The gallery forests which used to border the banks of the

river disappeared with the development of its banks. The Benin, Mali, Guinea and Niger

zones present protected forests and other gallery forests to be taken in to consideration in

the definition of the activities of the program in order to reduce as much as possible such

effects on forest resources.

4. Fauna regression: Today, most of the original fauna has disappeared from the Niger Niger

valley. The developments planned under the project are likely to contribute to the

modification of the ecosystem which already began with the construction of dams and

reservoirs and the economic developments of the last 50 years.

5. Pullulation of granivorous birds : The granivorous birds constitute at the level of the Niger

River valley one of the great plagues of irrigated crops, especially rice. With the extension of

the irrigated zones planned under this project, these plagues shall take a larger scope.

6. Impacts onfisheries resources : Fisheries resources have substantially regressed since the

last droughts and the construction of dams which seriously modified the water flows. The

project activities shall have to remedy some problems of the fishing sector, especially the

proliferation of invading plants.

7. Potential impacts on climatic change : As this relates to a project of development of water

resources and development of the multiple utilizations of water resources, it participates at

the same time in a positive and negative manner in the climatic changes processes. In fact,

through the second component, it will promote the creation of some minor sources of

emissions of greenhouse gases and therefore contribute to worldwide climatic change, which

might also affect the Niger Basin countries.

The major human and socio-economic impacts of the project can be summarized as follows :

8. Negative impacts limited to persons an goods : Considering that the project and its

activities relate to small scale irrigation, the necessity of expropriation of lands remains

limited. The impacts shall be limited to the necessity to occupy temporally land during the

construction period and the acquisition of land for the newcomers. The project will thus

require a slight displacement of population.

9. Alleviation of rural poverty and enhancement of agricultural production: The

diversification of agricultural production is an orientation retained in the various strategies

governing the agricultural sector in the NBA member States. The rehabilitation of the

infrastructure and developments planned by the project shall mainly induce the increase

in the agricultural income and the creation of jobs for the target population.

10. Increase in cultivated surface areas and enhancement of food security : The extension

of the planted surface areas and the increase in land productivity which shall result from

irrigation and the enhancement of cropping techniques shall lead to a substantial gain at

the level of the agricultural production and are therefore likely to contribute to food

security in the member States.

11. Reduction of the rural exodus and reconstitution of the family relationship : Migration and

rural exodus represent one characteristics of the dynamics of the populations of some

countries of the Niger River basin. The consequence of this mobility is to change the

geographical distribution and concentration of the populations and to influence the

conditions of success of development projects whose implementation requires an

important contribution of the village based man-power. With the job opportunities and the

enhancement of the incomes of the target population, the project shall make it possible to

limit the rural exodus and contribute to to the reconstitution of the family relationship.

12. Development of associative life: The development of associative life constitutes one of

the key elements of the project especially as its implementation must make it possible to

ensure a greater sustainability and integrity of all the actions of the project. The activities

of the farmer’s organizations will be very diversified. They mainly relate to the

development and improvement of agro-pastoral production systems, market gardening,

fruit tree planting, fishing, commercialization and handicraft, exploitation and processing

of forest products, actions aimed at the management of natural resources and

environmental protection.

13. Revitalization of fishing activity.: The implementation of the project hall make it possible

to contribute to the revitalization of fishing activities through the promotion of a

sustainable development and management fisheries resources plan while taking in to

consideration the imperative of a better integration of fisheries production in the

agricultural systems.

14. Enhancement of women situation : The rural woman’s contribution to agricultural

production and to the commercialization of fishing products is taken a greater scope with

the changes facing the rural world through rural exodus, emigration or the multi-activity of

their husbands, children’ schooling, and the increasing demand for manpower generated

by the development of the intensive systems in agriculture. In that respect, the project

activities shall be beneficial for women at the economic and social level.

15. Social Conflicts : Access to land constitutes a source of social conflicts which prohibit an

efficient and sustainable utilization of lands, threaten socio-economic relationships and

reinforce the resistance of a large portion of the populations against any intervention of

land reform. The land management system in force is not beneficial to the small farmer

and to the vulnerable groups, in particular to rural woman. Considering the inter-sectoral

nature of these problems, the project shall make sure to mitigate the scope of these

conflicts by adopting an intervention approach based on historical management rather

than an approach exclusively concentrating the measures directly relating to natural and

water resources.

16. Impacts on human and animal health

o Development of waterborne diseases from which the zone is largely suffering.

o Impacts of pesticide utilization on human and animal health.

The development of the Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) was

conducted in close collaboration with the NBA’s national structures, the populations benefiting

from the project and in conformity with operational policies and directives in force at the level of

the World Bank. The conditions of the successful implementation of the project pointed out by

the actors :

1) Involvement of the populations in all the phases of the identification and implementation

of the sub-projects

- To sufficiently inform the populations so that they can formulate their sub-projects

with full knowledge of the facts and ensure their implementation.

2) Technical support to the populations

- To proceed to capacity building for the service providers and the population

- To avoid that the costs of these supports become a handicap for the populations

in the formulation of the sub-projects.

3) The displacement of the populations because of the implementation of the sub-projects

- To initiate a compensation procedure which leads to legal acts, in conformity with

the national regulation in force and O.P 4.12 the Involuntary Resettlement

Safeguard Policy of the World Bank for an adequate compensation of the

prejudices.

- To encourage community solidarity.

4) Capacity building for the actors

- To proceed to capacity building for all the actors involved or concerned

- To develop for each category of actors an appropriate program of Information,

Education and Communication (IEC).

5) The process of selection, approval and monitoring of the execution of the sub-projects

- To develop the structures of selection of the sub-projects, monitoring and control

of the implementation taking in to account the needs of the populations.

- To set up a mechanism of selection and technical analysis of procedures which is

simple and friendly to the populations.

6) Funding of surveillance and monitoring actions

- To develop a policy to monitor the adequate functioning of the sub-projects,

ensure that the right equipment will be provided and to make them more

operational and efficient.

7) Support measures

- To ensure that each sub-project developed includes a component on income

generating activities in order to have the means to ensure the maintenance of the

infrastructure constructed.

The ESMF includes an Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP). The ESMP

identifies the mitigation measuresfor the potential impacts of the future interventions of sub-

projects taking into account national priorities of environmental and social management and the

requirements of the safeguard policies of the World Bank. The PDREGDE/BN triggers the

following safeguard policies, as indicated in the table below.

Safeguard policies triggered Applicable

4.01 – ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Yes

4.04 – Naural habitats Yes

4.09 – Pest management Yes

4.11 – Physical cultural Resources Yes

4.12 – Involuntary Resettlement Yes

4.36 –

Forests

Yes

4.37 – Dam Safety Yes

7.50 – International Waterways Projects Yes

In order to eliminate or at least mitigate the potential impacts of the Project andto improve its

positive impacts, several environmental and social measures are suggested:

1. Water resources protection measures: the first measure shall be the respect of the water

codes of the four member States involved in the Project. To remedy the pollution of

water by fertilizers and pesticides, the following mitigation measures are recommended:

To ensure efficient and controlled drainage systems;

Rigorous enforcement of the norms of rejection of waste water in the main river and

its tributaries;

Regular monitoring by the competent services of the level of water pollution;

The development of irrigated perimeters must take into account the technical

feasibility and environmental soundness of collective drainage in order to minimize

impacts such as the rejection into the river and its tributaries.

2. Measures to protect the sub-projects against outside influences and to minimize flood

risks : development of green belts and wind breaks around the irrigation perimeters and

the hydro-agricultural infrastructure, reforestation and sowing of zones with low irrigation

aptitude for pastoral purposes, implantation of live fences for the protection of crops

against cattle straying, creation of animals corridors and delimitation of pastoral surface

areas, etc.

3. Environmental protection measures during the execution of the works : Selection of the

date of commencement of the works right after the end of the rainy season after the

cessation of every agricultural activity during the cropping season before the works can

start, limitation of deforestation activities (clearing off scrub, uprooting and grubbing up of

trees in the right of way of the development perimeter) especially with regard to useful

and precious species, conservation of the top soil layer in the event of intervention large

machinery, valorization of the products of the land clearing and deforestation into fire

wood, consultation with the population with regard to sacred locations not to be

disturbed, rational management of site waste, enforcement of environmental and social

clauses included into the contractors contracts, etc,

4. Vegetative resources protection measures: Preservation of the existing vegetation and

their regeneration by protecting them (fence) and by afforesting the degraded zones,

protection and regeneration of forests, definition of models for the development of

classified forests, development of irrigated agro-forestry as an integrated technology

meant for ensuring soils protection, taking into account and enforcement of the aspects

of “vegetation protection” in the development of land and occupancy plans, rigorous

enforcement of the provisions of the forestry codes of the member countries, etc.

5. Fauna resources protection measures : A better integration of fisheries production into

agricultural production by developing the recycling of nutrients into integrated agricultural

- aquaculture systems, promotion of pisciculture in irrigrated perimeters, creating integral

natural habitat protection zones in classified forests, providing access to adequate

equipment for pisciculture, intensification of control of illegal fishing activities in natural or

artificial water bodies, to uniformize and apply rigorously the fishing codes of the four

member States and to promote and assist in the development of sustainable fishing

activities.

6. Pests and pesticides management : Sensitization/extension of good practices on the

utilization, storage and disposal of pesticides, extension on integrated pest management

in agricultural production systems so as to limit the utilization of pesticides.

7. Preparation of Resettlement Action Plans if needed : A Resettlement Policy Framework

for guidance on eventual resettlement of displaced people was prepared for this program

(as a separate document).

8. Measures of management of conflicts associated with access to lands : Consultation with

the users and sensitization in order to limit conflicts, to adopt a participatory approach

which must enable the management of conflicts generated by the presence of the

irrigable areas in the Niger River Valley still characterized by a given mode of living and

traditional cultural practices and to reinforce the complementarity between the activities

generated in the irrigable area and rain fed agriculture, animal rearing, forestry, fishing,

hunting, ecotourism,...).

9. Waterborne diseases control measures: Control of the development of the vectors of

these diseases, epidemiological tracking and treatment. Especially with regard to

intestinal and urinary bilharzia and malaria.

10. Sensitization campaigns on the STDs/AIDS

11. Measures of control of farmers / herders conflicts: To create management committees for

the infrastructure financed by the project, to develop livestock corridors, creation of buffer

zones between the agricultural zones and the grazing lands and introduce sustainable

management methods in the exploitation of classified forests.

12. Measures of adaptation of the project to climatic change : Promotion of sustainable

methods of management of forests, afforestation and deforestation, measures aimed at

increasing the infiltration rates of water in order to restore groundwater resources,avoid

deforestation and encourage reforestation, create water reservoirs for dry spell periods,

measures for the management and the rational utilization of water resources, etc. These

measures must be taken into account during the preparation of the technical and

environmental studies for the sub-projects , as well capacity building measures,

information and sensitization of communities so as to promote new technologies, know-

how, ecologically sustainable practices and procedures in order to adapt to changing

climatic conditions.

13. Measures of surveillance and environmental monitoring: These measures relate to:

The monitoring of the execution of the environmental measures.

The program of environmental surveillance which shall include :

a. The indicators of monitoring per component or per activity;

b. The monitoring of ground and surface water quality;

c. The monitoring of land degradation;

d. The biological monitoring of fisheries resources, including eco-toxicological

analysis campaigns.

e. The selection of epidemiological monitoring sites for waterborne diseases.

14. Measures for institutional support and capacity building: Reinforcement of the

intervention capacity of the national coordination agencies of the project and the various

technical structures involved in the project in the area of development of environmental

management as well as environmental and social monitoring measures (logistic and

human means), reinforcement of the consultation among the various interveners, training

of the health agents in epidemiological surveillance of waterborne diseases, sensitization

of the riparian populations grouped in associations with regard to the environmental and

health impacts of the project activities, support to the existing laboratories in the area of

monitoring of land and water quality and the aquatic ecosystems with respect to human

use and the provision of sampling and analysis equipment, etc.

The monitoring of the execution of the environmental measures shall be conducted by the Project Coordination and Management Unit (PCMU) and the national and local structures. The WRD-SEM structure will sign a sub-contract with the decentralized services of the State and the other structures which are active in the zone. The environmental surveillance relates to the phases of preparation, construction and exploitation of the components of the project. The PMCU Environmental Expert shall work in collaboration with the environmental focal points based in the countries for the monitoring activities. In each country, the national environmental focal point shall rely on the proximity actors, i.e. the regional environmental focal points as well the beneficiary communities.

The implementation of the environmental and social management plan requires the mobilization

of consequent financial resources. The budget to be allocated is estimated to US $2 295 000 to

be included in the overall budget of the project.

EIES des trois sites d’accueil des populations déplacées de la vague 1

4

1.2 ENGLISH VERSION

The resettlement program of the people from the Kandadji, Sanguile and Alsilamey villages conducted in the context of the Kandadji program has among other objectives the security of affected people. Given its importance and to address various concerns of different stakeholders and partners, this study on environmental and social impact was requested, which is part of the scope of work to update the Environmental Management Plan and Social Program Kandadji conducted by the Consortium BRLi and BERD. The main objective of this study is to ensure the socio-economic and environmental feasibility of the proposed project in light of available information on both the project itself and the recipient environment. The study was conducted according to the laws and regulations of Niger, and the requirements of the partners including the World Bank. This helped taking into account issues of sustainable management of the integration of the project at both the biophysical and human levels, especially in relation to the impacts generated by this project. Thus it has been analyzed and assessed the economic and social impacts and also the environmental impacts of the project.

Works to be done involve various activities, most of which are small. They consist mainly of building infrastructure and social community and individual facilities (schools, health centers, mosques, market, Mini-water supply facilities, roads, etc.). It is worth noting that this study occurred at a time when the selection of host cities has been completed and work began. This meant that the analysis of alternatives and variants has been very limited. However, the study proposed an alternative in the choice of building materials, with the aim to avoid increasing pressure on scarce wood resources in the area. On another level, the three sites were studied from maps, which helped highlight their main features. In addition, it was conducted several field visits. Thus, overall, the three sites optimize the conditions to conduct the project while avoiding physical obstacles.

En rapport avec la description de l’état initial de l’environnement de la zone d’étude, il ressort que cette dernière a été fortement modifiée par les activités anthropiques. Dans ces conditions, la faune et la flore n’y présentent plus qu'un intérêt très fort limité à cause d’un niveau de dégradation très poussé et soutenu. Globalement, le milieu ne présente aucune particularité dans les zones d’implantation du projet. Les trois sites sont du domaine agropastoral, secteur qui occuperait près de 85% des actifs. With regard to the description of the initial state of the environment of the study area, it appears that the latter has been heavily modified by human activities. Under these conditions, the flora and fauna are limited due to already existing high level of degradation. Overall, the study area, where the project will be implemented, does not include areas of special inters from an environment stand point. The three sites are from the agro-pastoral domain, a sector that covers nearly 85% of assets.

The major identified impacts

Positive impacts

In addition to the compensation to be paid for the benefit of affected populations, the contribution of the resettlement program would be mainly:

Job creation during the construction of infrastructure and basic social amenities, the additional revenue will be a major financial source for low-income households;

Improved sanitation and living conditions of the affected people;

. 5

The revival of economic activities (increased agro-products production and their selling);

Improving living conditions of local residents including women (increased value of tree products and increase sale of agricultural products).

Temporary adverse impacts

During construction, leakage of oil can occur on construction equipment and can be a source of a limited point-source pollution on the ground. Compaction of land fill can lead to a localized reduction of soil permeability and channel and surface runoff. At the reverse, loose earth used for filling can increase the vertical permeability of the soil and bring polluted surface water (effluent from the contractor housing development, for example) into groundwater. The air may be polluted by slightly off-gas construction equipment as well as noise. These temporary effects due to construction will be very localized in space and will be on a short-term.

The local fauna and flora can be disrupted by the construction activities and noise caused by works during the construction phase. However, after these works, wildlife and vegetation will come back. It should also be mentioned the risk of poaching by construction workers. Also, the agricultural and pastoral activities will be impacted since the host sites are mainly dedicated to these vocations.

Permanent negative impacts

On agro economic activities

The losses for agricultural land will be at the following levels:

temporary loss of use related to the opening of tracks and installation of building sites;

loss of use of land associated with the construction of infrastructure and equipment.

Mitigation measures for the permanent impacts

Construction sites will be located away from sensitive sites (slopes, woodlands, etc.). They will be marked and denied access, the contractor’s housing development will have adequate sanitation; effluent from the contractor’s housing development as well as the various solid waste will be collected to be adequately discharged.. The extraction sites for materials will be rehabilitated at the end of the works.

Environmental and Social Management Plan

Design and work phase

During construction, the project manager and representatives of relevant ministries and their regional and departmental directions will ensure that legal provisions are implemented: protection of biophysical and human environments. Construction should be done as part of a management plan with reference to measures presented in the Environmental and Social Management Plan. The contractors responsible for conducting the works must provide their Environmental and Social Management Plan prior to commencement of work, demonstrating their knowledge of environmental and social issues.

Operational phase

As part of the participatory approach, a register for grievances will be made available in the municipalities affected by the various project components. People will be invited to make their remarks in this register. The Monitoring Committee including BEEEI will be responsible for responding to complaints issued and to take all necessary steps to remedy them.

EIES des trois sites d’accueil des populations déplacées de la vague 1

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Mechanisms for information and public consultation Populations and regional authorities have been consulted on the project during the preliminary identification of sites. This consultation is ongoing with the completion of the study to minimize the negative impacts at all levels.

Development of the construction site monitoring program The proposed compensation measures must be integrated into an environmental monitoring plan that takes into account detailed construction program. For the implementation of this program the following points are important:

Definition of guidelines for environmental management of construction sites: As a first step there is a need to collect, analyze existing legislation and to precisely define the standards required and must be respected. In a second step it is necessary to define the broad guidelines for the management of sites (strict compliance) based on the work program and planned budget.

Monitoring work for different areas. The monitoring team should ensure that regulatory requirements are met and set the compensation measures considered. It will constantly monitor the progress of work and anticipate problems to take into account social and environmental aspects. Experience shows that many problems can be avoided or significantly reduced (costs) if identified and processed in a timely manner.

Site rehabilitation, the team will ensure the completion of a detailed plan for site rehabilitation. This plan should incorporate the broad guidelines proposed at the level of compensation measures in a more precise manner and improve them where necessary.

Le coût total de la mise en œuvre du PGES et du suivi est estimé à qui se décomposent comme suit :

The total cost of the implementation of the ESMP is estimated at 100,399,195 F CFA, as follows: Costs of implementation of mitigation measures

Designation Amount (FCFA)

Communication and awareness campaign (before the works) on the schedule (administrative, customary, local, etc.).

1,673,700

Kandadji Componen 34,820,000

Sanguile Componen 23,620,000

Alsilamey Componen 26,220,000

Total 86,333,700

Contingency (5%) 4,316,685

Total 90,650,385

. 7

Cost of monitoring and environmental monitoring

Désignation Montant total (FCFA)

Monitoring DDE/Tillabéri 4,770,000

Regional monitoring 2,107,400

National monitoring 2,454,800

Total 9,332,200

Contingency (5%) 466,610

Total 9,748,810

.

Mise à jour de l’EIES pour les 2000 ha de périmètres irrigués

10

2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

2.1 INTRODUCTION

The proposed development of 2,000 ha of irrigated areas is a compensation measure for people displaced by the construction of the Kandadji dam in Niger. The dam project is located in the north east, in the region of Tillaberi. Irrigated areas will be located in the township of Dessa, located in department of Tillaberi. They will be built downstream of the dam, on the left bank of the Niger and South of the National road No. 1, between the villages of Gabou and Famalé.

The development of 2,000 ha is jointly funded by the West African Development Bank (BOAD) and the Government of Niger and has had an initial Environmental Impact and Social Assessment (ESIA), when the detailed design study was carried out by the group Cira Ltd / Techni-Consult Consulting Engineers.

A l‟heure actuelle, dans le cadre du Projet de Développement des Ressources en Eau et de Gestion Durable des Ecosystèmes dans le Bassin du Niger (PDREGDE/BN), la Banque Mondiale a également décidé de financer des activités complémentaires visant à améliorer la préparation et la mise en œuvre du Programme « Kandadji ». La Banque Mondiale a recommandé une mise à jour de l‟EIES de 2006.

Currently, under the Niger Basin Water Resources Development and Sustainable Ecosystems Management Project (WRD-SEM), the World Bank has funded complementary activities to improve preparedness and the implementation of the “Kandadji program”. The World Bank has recommended an update of the 2006 ESIA. This report is the update of the ESIA for the 2000 ha of irrigated schemes.

2.2 INSTITUTIONNAL FRAMEWORK The development of 2,000 ha downstream of Kandadji Dam, like the dam itself, is under the responsibility high Commission for the Development of the Niger Valley (Haut Commissariat à l’Aménagement de la Vallée du Niger, HCAVN). The HCAVN is complemented by the Program Implementation Unit (PIU), which is the operational structure on the ground. It is responsible for overseeing the operational works.

2.3 LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL SECTOR AND THE ESIA

In Niger, the protection of the environment is one of the priorities of the policies to achieve sustainable development. Thus, any project must comply with international conventions ratified and the provisions and national legislation on the environment. Laws and Orders cover many topics related to the development of irrigated schemes and the environment such as the impact on the environment, environmental management, the Rural Code, water law, wildlife, forest tenure, fishing, plant protection, pesticide use, etc.

2.4 DOCUMENTS RELATED TO AGRICULTURE

Niger has priority policies and strategies related to agriculture: the Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS), the Rural Development Strategy and Policy for farming. The development of 2,000 ha of irrigated schemes involves the implementation of these strategies and policies.

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2.5 BIOPHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

Hydrography and some key hydrological data

The Niger River is the main source of permanent surface water in the study area and across Niger. It is observed that its minimum flows during low flow fell sharply from 1970. Flows during the driest month of an average year used to reach 70 m

3/s, but since 1970 they are usually no more than 20 m

3/s.

Water quality of the Niger River Near the Project, Ayorou currently does not have a sewerage system and sewage flow in large part directly into the river. Another source of pollution of the river comes from farms that use pesticides and fertilizers. Fortunately, the water quality is not conducive to the development of eutrophication in the river. Its low concentrations of nitrates and phosphates can indicate significant dilution of the river. On the other hand, there has not been a monitoring of pesticides in the Tillaberi region.

Silting of the river

The siltation of the river is due to the combined action of human activities creating erosion (extend of the cultivation to the floodplain of the river, deforestation, extraction of building materials, overgrazing) and drought.

Groundwater

Groundwater is the main water resource of Niger and, therefore, the primary source of drinking water. it falls into two major basins, namely the Western Niger basin, which includes the sub-basin Ouilliminden, and the eastern Niger Basin. Groundwaters in the region are of bicarbonate type, ranging from calcium to sodium.

Climate The climate of the Niger River Basin is governed by movement of the Inter Tropical Front, which results from the interaction of two air masses:

Continental tropical air hot and dry, from the Northeast to the East, called "Harmattan";

Maritime equatorial air, moist and unstable, a native of St. Helena anticyclone, called'' Monsoon''.

Precipitation

The Project area has a Sahelian climate with a rainy season from June to September. Rainfall is low (average 320 to 430 mm / year), unevenly distributed in time and very random.

Temperature, evaporation and winds

In the Project area, average temperatures range between 43°C in April-May and 16°C in December.

Geology

In geological terms, the Project area is dominated by sand dunes and koris deep into the ground.

Soil type of the future irrigation schemes Most soils of the Project area are characterized by temporary water logging. The texture ranges from sandy loam to clay and clay loam. The organic matter and nitrogen contents are generally low.

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Soil erosion

In the Project area, there are two types of soil erosion:

Wind erosion. West and North of the Project area (northern Sahel), soils with coarse sand and devoid of vegetation are very vulnerable to wind erosion.

Water erosion. The land areas affected are mainly located in the koris.

Fertility and land suitability

Near the Project site, the soils are generally acidic with variable content of organic matter. Most soils encountered are of low fertility due to insignificant levels of organic matter and an average mineral fertility. To obtain good yields of irrigated intensive agriculture, an important contribution in mineral fertilizer, primarily nitrogen and phosphate is recommended.

Salinization and alkalinization/sodification

This phenomenon was not observed at the future site of the irrigation scheme. However, any irrigated crop involves risk of salinization and alkalinization / sodification in the long term.

Vegetation

The vegetation of the Project area includes the following groups:

Domaines / occupations Formations / types

Forest

Park of Acacia albida

Park of Balanites aegyptiaca

Steppe of Anogeisus leiocarpus

Steppe of Acacia nilotica

Steppe of Acacia raddina

Park of Leptadenia pyrotecnica

Ticket of prosopis juliflora

Meadow and steppe grassland

flood plain of ipomeae

flood plain of Cyperaceae

Bare Soil

Sand dune

Bare glacis

Bare shelves

Arrangements of dune fixation

Rockland

Agricultural occupation Rainfed and irrigated crops, fallow

Occupation by surface water: ponds and streams

Anthropogenic occupation (human settlements)

In the Project area, there is no reserved forest or protected area. Aquatic vegetation is mostly composed of water lilies, Typha australis, Azolla africana, Typha domengensis, Pistia stratiotes, and Eichhornia crassipes (water hyacinth). The semi-aquatic species such as Ipomea aquatica, Vetivera nigritana, Cyperaceae, Echinochloa stagnina, and Echinochloa Colona (bourgou) for the herbaceous and woody species as Minosa pigra, etc.., are locally abundant in depressions and along the water course.

Fauna

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The Project area, was once rich in large terrestrial mammals, but is now characterized by the absence of such wildlife. The common jackal, warthog, squirrels and hares are common in the present project area. In Niger, the reptiles are represented by more than 150 Saharan and Afro-tropical species, many of which can be found in the Project area. It can also be noted the presence in the Project area of turtles, lizards, amphibians, mollusks, crustaceans, etc. The manatee and hippopotamus are concentrated in the upstream sectors of the future dam. The Nile crocodile, very rare in the region, is found in many types of habitats: lakes, rivers and freshwater marshes. Spotted-necked otter and clawless cape otter are rare in the Project area.

Fishes The fish diversity of the Niger River has been significantly affected over the last thirty years following the deterioration of aquatic ecosystems. Several species have become rare in the catches; others have simply disappeared because of lower water levels resulting from the drought conditions. In 2001, there were 95 species distributed in 23 families including 10 specific mono.

Birds

Bird species diversity of the project area is very important. It would contain more than a quarter of the species listed in Niger. A total of 173 bird species (aquatic and terrestrial birds) have been identified. The diversity of aquatic species and the large number of waterfowl (including the crowned crane) enabled Birdlife International to identify a site near Ayorou as an Area of importance for the conservation (Zone

d’Importance pour la Conservation des Oiseaux, ZICO).

2.6 DESCRIPTION OF HUMAN ENVIRONMENT

Population and demographics

The population density of Tillaberi (25 inhabitants / km 2) is among the highest in Niger, ranking second

after Maradi. It is far greater than the national density estimated at 11.9 people / km2.

The plain is sparsely populated. Hamlets (or villages) present in the 2,000 ha of irrigated schemes are related to the villages of Kandadji, Goigorou, Famalé, Dessa, Tomaré, Alsilamey, Gabou, Issilé, and Sanguilé. In the region, two social groups can be distinguished: sedentary and nomadic. Ethnicity Djerma - Songhai dominates the Tillaberi is sedentary and is the largest group, three other ethnic groups also occupy the territory to a lesser extent: the Hausa, the Fulani, and Tuareg. The Fulani, the Tuareg, and Bellah are in the nomadic and/or semi-nomadic groups.

With regard to conflicts, some conflict have been recorded in the Project area between farmers and herders (mainly nomadic herders). These conflicts are generally resolved by customary authority.

Management of timber resources

Over 95% of households in the project area use wood as main energy source for cooking. That is why uncontrolled exploitation is very high. After clearing the intended irrigation scheme, 151 cubic meters of wood will be made available to local people.

Community facilities and infrastructure

Several primary schools, literacy center, Koranic schools, college and madrasas are located in the Project Area. The township of Dessa (the Project township) includes three boreholes with pumps (two of which are non-functional), a modern cemented wells and a traditional well.

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Near the site, there is an Integrated Health Centre (ISC) at Gabou, Famalé, and Diomona and a dispensary in Dessa and Haoussa-Djébou.

In the department of Tillaberi, the gross scholl enrollment rate is increasing for girls and boys. However, women are less educated than men. The situation for literacy is identical, and is exacerbated in rural areas. The most common types of habitat in the Project area are the traditional housing and improved traditional housing improved. Apart from the paved roads Niamey-Tillaberi-Ayorou, roads to Tillabéri and Ayorou (the largest agglomerations) are formed by unpaved streets and sandy tracks. At Tillabéri Ayorou and, as elsewhere in the villages, there is no sewer system and wastewater are neither collected nor processed. Pits are used in rural areas in the Project area. With regard to solid waste, lack of private initiatives and organized collection and disposal services, hamper the sanitary conditions in the Project area‟s settlements.

Health The epidemic diseases like cholera and some cases of meningitis occasionally appear in the Project area. Malaria is the main water-borne disease. The mortality rate remains the highest compared to other diseases. Other waterborne diseases are: diarrhea, dysentery, skin diseases and urinary schistosomiasis. Intestinal schistosomiasis has been eradicated from the Project area. No- waterborne communicable diseases are: urethral discharge, HIV/AIDS and other STIs, cough, and simple conjunctivitis.

Agriculture In addition to the planned irrigation scheme of 2,000 ha with traditional rice, rainfed fields and fallow land are about 600 ha. In Tillaberi, the most important crops are millet, sorghum, rice, sesame and peanut. In agriculture, chemicals control is the most used in agriculture. The main products applied in the program area are mainly insecticides used against pest of rain-fed crops, vegetable crops and rice. In addition, some of these products are sometimes not authorized. In the agricultural cooperatives, very few have special warehouses for pesticides. They are most often stored with rice and fertilizer, in a shop that also serves as an office to the storekeeper and director of the scheme.

Livestock

Livestock affect a large proportion of the rural population of the Project area - over 80% of families own livestock (cattle, sheep, goats). Feeding availability for livestock is the major constraint. Indeed, the cattle must face each year at a particularly difficult lean season (April to end of June) characterized by the general emaciation of the animals, decreased production and a high mortality rate. Despite the experience of Niger on the culture of bourgou (a plan for livestock), practiced mainly in the Ayorou area, food needs are not covered in the Project area.

The under-equipped health protection services of livestock, inadequate veterinary infrastructure, frequent breakdown in veterinary products, are the cause of sometimes poor health of the animals.

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Fishing Fishing is active during periods of low water (April-June). Yields are high because of the concentration of the fish stock in a small area, which is limited to the riverbed of the river. However, during periods of high water, the large volume of water makes inefficient use of fishing gear in the riverbed. Fishing is then carried out mostly in the floodplain, where the search for spawning and breeding and feeding forces fish to entrench.

Shops and transport

Given their geographical position, settlements of the project area are at important intersections (border zone between Mali and Burkina Faso). However, despite its importance in the local economy, the transport sector is not well organized.

Craft

The craftsmanship of the Project area, with its blacksmiths, potters, basket makers, helps to diversify local economic activities. Fine craftsmanship and utilitarian crafts can be found.

Archaeological sites

The future development of 2,000 ha includes archaeological sites in the village of Gabou.

Living conditions of vulnerable groups

Women and children are considered vulnerable for three fundamental following reasons:

First, the changes experienced by traditional systems tend to increase pressure on women and children, who generally do not have access or control over economic resources.

Second, the maintenance of social structures and traditional systems of farming weigh heavily on rural women.

Finally, children are also marginalized and used as labor.

Credit

With no agricultural bank, credit sources are very diverse and often informal in rural areas.

Poverty

In Tillaberi, in 2005, 68.9% of the population lived below the poverty line. In 2008 the situation worsened with 71.7% of the population below this threshold.

2.7 DESCRIPTION OF THE LANDSCAPE

In the direction transverse to the river, changes in the landscape in some places are quite pronounced. Indeed, from the river upstream to the terraces and slopes, one finds an area ofrice paddies in the river banks, and then follows a range of thorny in the basins and progressively as one ascends, vegetation is scarce to make room for glazes or bare sand dunes (encountered at about twenty kilometers Ayorou.)

In the longitudinal direction, following the linear change of landscape and visual features are remarkable, from Sahelian formation (mainly composed of thorny steppes), North-Sahelian formation (consisting of Asclepiadaceae such as Leptadenia pyrotechnica) and small gallery forests in Koris.

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2.8 NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF THE PROJECT AND RECOMMENDED MITIGATION

MEASURES

This is an overview of the main negative impacts of the Project on the environment and the measures recommended to mitigate or to offset these impacts. Impacts of minor importance are not listed.

During construction:

Vegetation will be almost completely destroyed in the area of irrigated scheme:

To compensate for this destruction, planting trees along the canals will be undertaken, and

The chopped woodfuel will be distributed to local people

The landscape will be profoundly influenced by the site and generate a negative visual impact:

Development of irrigation scheme will restore a green aspect to the site.

Archaeological sites will be lost at Gabou:

Program for emergency excavation of the floodplain dam Kandadji (Phase I) is on-going in Gabou and is conducted by the Institute for Human Sciences Research (Institut de Recherche en Sciences Humaines, IRSH) to recover and enhance the archaeological objects.

Activities and Excavating will update the archaeological sites and lead to looting and trafficking of archaeological objects:

Training will be provided to workers on respect to the archaeological heritage and the measures put in place in case of accidental discoveries.

The work will encroach on private property however without resulting in expropriation:

A Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) for the populations affected by the development of 2,000 ha of irrigated areas has been prepared to compensate the owners.

In the operational phase:

The river waters will be polluted by pesticides and fertilizers in the drainage water from irrigated schemes:

Training to farmers on the use and management of pesticides will optimize their use and reduce the use of illegal pesticides. Monitor the water quality is recommended to know the evolution of the water quality.

Soil characteristics are totally altered by the impoundment of perimeters:

This impact can not be mitigated.

In the long term, soils may lose their fertility:

Training to farmers on the soil improvement and use of farming techniques will allow keeping the soil fertile.

In the long term, the soil may experience salinity.

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Drainage of rice paddies and water discharge to the river will be effective in limiting the evaporation of standing water and thus increasing soil salinization. Soil improvements may be made to reduce the effects (gypsum, phosphate). Groundwater will be used to avoid salty outcrops.

In the long-term, siltation will affect crop yields:

Two programs are recommended to fight against desertification: These programs provide for stabilization of banks koris, planting of windbreaks and plantations to stabilize the soil.

Pollution of river water by pesticides and fertilizers will affect wildlife:

Many measures on the management, use and storage of pesticides will allow minimizing impacts. Monitor the water quality is recommended to know the evolution of the water quality.

The natural flooded zone of the floodplain of the river will be destroyed by the development of the perimeter scheme with a consequent of loss of nesting sites and habitats:

Planting of 100 ha of bourgou pastures is provided in the ESMP for the Kandadji dam to offset losses.

An exceptional flood, breach of the protection system of the dam and poor operation of the intake could destroy some crops in irrigated areas:

In case of catastrophic failure of the dam, a breach will be open from the main channel of Kandadji (500 m from the outlet) and a drain will be connected to the main drain to allow water to flow to the river and to low points rather than the irrigated schemes.

The presence of large amounts of standing water will cause the incidence of malaria and other waterborne diseases and Acute Respiratory Infections:

Treated mosquito nets and water filters will be distributed in large quantities,

Training and awareness sessions will be provided to local people and to health services,

Health workers will be trained on the adequate management of diarrheal diseases, schistosomiasis and intestinal urinary and other waterborne diseases.

Education about the importance of the health of newborns will reduce the mortality rate of this age group due to acute respiratory infection.

Locally, a Public Health Plan will be established. This plan includes actions at the population level, health district and other health facilities.

Overall, the health system in the region will be supported through the Health Development Plan for the country to deal effectively with different diseases.

Irrigated schemes will create barriers to movement of cattle, affecting their diet. If no movement corridor is built, the passage of livestock in the schemes can generate conflicts between farmers, and deterioration of canals and drains because of the encroachment of cattle:

The establishment of corridors for livestock in irrigated areas, and the local production and distribution of feed to farmers for the livestock feed industry at a subsidized cost will mitigate this impact.

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2.9 POSITIVE IMPACTS OF THE PROJECT

The project has many positive impacts:

It will enrich the diversity of flora,

It will improve the habitat for many wetland species,

It will transform the dry and arid landscape in a green area,

It will assure easy access to diverse food sources and health care,

It will create jobs,

It will increase agricultural production in the region including cultivating rice,

It will increase production of livestock,

It will allow development of fishing activities in the canals,

It will allow the development of commercial activities,

It will improve the living conditions of women and children.

To ensure these positive impacts, enhancement measures are recommended in this ESIA and in the Local Development Plan of the Kandadji dam project.