Environmental Handbook for Community Development Initiatives

Second Edition of the Handbook on Environmental Assessment of Non-Governmental Organizations and Institutions Programs and Projects

Acronyms
Foreword
1. CIDA and the Environment
2. CIDA's Environmental Requirements and Procedures
3. Environmental Tools
References
Glossary
Annex A-Exercise: What Is a "Project" Under the CEAA?

Accompanying Document: Additional Resources

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Acronyms

CCIC

Canadian Council for International Co-operation

CEAA

Canadian Environmental Assessment Act

CIDA

Canadian International Development Agency

CPB

Canadian Partnership Branch

EMS

Environmental Management System

NGO

Non-governmental Organization

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Foreword

This handbook is intended to outline the environmental requirements for small-scale community development initiatives, including humanitarian assistance, funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). All initiatives supported by CIDA are subject to the same environmental requirements, which are based on CIDA's Policy for Environmental Sustainability and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. This handbook recognizes the specific challenges of incorporating environmental considerations into community development initiatives and provides assistance to organizations involved in these types of initiatives. This handbook is primarily targeted to voluntary sector organizations (non-governmental organizations, institutions, professional associations, universities, colleges, and so on), but may also be useful for private sector organizations involved in small-scale community development initiatives. Private sector organizations seeking funding through the Canadian Partnership Branch's Industrial Cooperation Program should refer to the Handbook on the Integration of Environmental Considerations into Proposals Submitted to CIDA's Industrial Cooperation Program.

During the past 15 years, CIDA has undertaken various initiatives to help voluntary sector organizations consider the environmental implications of their activities. For example, in the late 1980s, the Agency funded a series of manuals, entitled "Environmental Screening of NGO Development Projects," which was produced by the Canadian Council for International Co-operation (CCIC). Workshops on environmental issues were also held for voluntary sector organizations across Canada in 1989, 1990-1991, 1997 and 2003.

Although not intended to provide an exhaustive account of approaches and situations, this guide is part of this ongoing support process and is the second edition of the Handbook on Environmental Assessment of Non-Governmental Organizations and Institutions Programs and Projects, which was originally published in 1997. There are two major differences between the first and second edition of the handbook.

1. This second edition places greater emphasis on the identification of environmental benefits and opportunities, as well as on environmental follow-up and monitoring aspects.
   
   
2. This edition introduces a change in terminology to reflect a streamlined approach within CIDA and to be more consistent with internationally recognized environmental tools and processes. Specifically, a "program environmental analysis" is now referred to as a "strategic environmental assessment." The "environmental assessment" tool is explicitly seen as an overarching tool that addresses both a Canadian legal requirement (the CEAA) and CIDA's Policy for Environmental Sustainability. The term "project environmental analysis" is no longer used to refer to a specific tool with predetermined content elements, since it essentially stems from environmental assessment practices, and any analysis will vary according to the nature of an initiative. For organizations that have developed internal tools or procedures reflecting the first edition's terminology, there is no obligation to change existing internal documentation to adopt the terminology used in the second edition.

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1. CIDA and the Environment

1.1 Environment and Development Linkages

Reducing poverty and addressing local, regional, and global environmental issues are important present-day challenges. Populations around the world are facing various socio-economic and environmental issues associated with inequitable access to potable water, soil degradation, and climate change, for example. Although poverty does not necessarily lead to environmental degradation, the two are interrelated. In addition, each has the potential to exacerbate the other. Poorer populations are often the most affected by environmental degradation (for example, having to obtain drinking water from polluted water bodies or to farm on marginal lands). They are also the most vulnerable to environmental risks (for example, weather- or geology-related phenomena and conflicts that have natural resource implications).

The environmental tools presented in this handbook recognize this interrelatedness and consider the environment to include both biophysical and socio-economic aspects. Their aim is not only to prevent environmental damage, but also to enhance environmental benefits. These tools can therefore help in developing more effective, better adapted, and contextually relevant development and poverty reduction initiatives, which have better chances of success and of long-term sustainability. Initiatives that integrate environmental considerations and optimize environmental benefits in their design, implementation, and monitoring ascribe to good development practice. Such initiatives can achieve the following:

• promote sustainable development;
• multiply the beneficial effects on the environment, health, and society;
• promote participation by the local population early in the planning process;
• be more acceptable to local populations and various stakeholders;
• clarify linkages between ecosystems, society, and economics;
• clarify environmental and social problems at the outset, thereby making it possible to alleviate or solve them, while avoiding delays and additional costs; and
• enhance the environmental awareness and management skills of Canadian and host country partners.

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1.2 Environmental Policy and Regulatory Context

The international community recognizes the interrelatedness of poverty and the environment, and views environmental quality as a key factor for achieving sustainable development. For example, goal number seven of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (2000) highlights the need to ensure environmental sustainability to efficiently combat poverty and support sustainable development. Many linkages can also be made between the environment and the other Millennium Development Goals. Furthermore, developing and industrialized countries have ratified various multi-lateral environmental agreements, recognizing the need for transboundary cooperation on regional and global environmental issues. Examples of such agreements include the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Convention on Biological Diversity, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, and so on. Beyond these international commitments, a growing number of both industrialized and developing countries are strengthening their environmental policies and legislation to address environmental concerns at the national level. For example, many countries have developed environmental assessment legislation, and the majority of international aid donor countries and institutions have adopted environmental guidelines and environmental assessment requirements.

The Canadian government's and CIDA's commitment to the environment is reflected in Canada's foreign policy statement, Canada in the World (1995). CIDA must comply with the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA). One key purpose of the CEAA is "to ensure that projects are considered in a careful and precautionary manner before federal authorities take action in connection with them, in order to ensure that such projects do not cause significant adverse environmental effects" [article 4(1), CEAA]. In addition, in accordance with the 1999 Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals, CIDA must conduct and apply strategic environmental assessments on its proposed policies, plans, and programs.

CIDA's Policy for Environmental Sustainability and CIDA's Sustainable Development Strategy emphasize that the environment is both a programming priority and an issue that needs to be integrated in all Agency plans, policies, programs, and activities. Finally, CIDA's commitment to environmental concerns is also reflected in the CIDA document entitled Policy Statement on Strengthening Aid Effectiveness (2002) and in CIDA's Key Agency Results (published in 2002).

When considering its support for development initiatives, CIDA takes into account the international, Canadian, and host country regulatory environmental frameworks. CIDA is committed to working with its partners to ensure that initiatives are planned, implemented, and monitored in a socially, environmentally, and economically sustainable manner. This handbook, although not intended to provide an exhaustive account of approaches and situations, aims to outline CIDA's environmental requirements and to provide assistance in integrating environmental considerations. The first section of this handbook presents the rationale for environmental integration, as well as the policy and regulatory context associated with this crosscutting theme. Section 2 provides information on the procedures associated with CIDA's environmental requirements for the Canadian Partnership Branch, the Multilateral Programs Branch and the bilateral branches. Section 3 presents environmental tools for meeting CIDA's environmental requirements and enhancing the environmental sustainability of initiatives. Finally, the handbook's accompanying document, entitled "Additional Resources", provides a variety of supporting materials to assist organizations in their efforts to integrate environmental considerations.

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