Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized I. Basic Information Date prepared/updated: 09/06/2006 INTEGRATED SAFEGUARDS DATASHEET APPRAISAL STAGE Report No.: AC2393 1. Basic Project Data Country: Africa Project ID: P096058 Project Name: West Africa Regional Biosafety Task Team Leader: Jean-Christophe Carret GEF Focal Area: Biodiversity Global Supplemental ID: Estimated Appraisal Date: November 6, Estimated Board Date: December 19, 2006 2006 Managing Unit: AFTS4 Lending Instrument: Adaptable Program Loan Sector: Crops (50%);Agricultural extension and research (50%) Theme: Biodiversity (P);Other environment and natural resources management (S) IBRD Amount (US$m.): 0.00 IDA Amount (US$m.): 0.00 GEF Amount (US$m.): 5.40 PCF Amount (US$m.): 0.00 Other financing amounts by source: BORROWER/RECIPIENT 2.10 2.10 Environmental Category: B - Partial Assessment Simplified Processing Simple [] Repeater [] Is this project processed under OP 8.50 (Emergency Recovery) [ ] No [ ] 2. Project Objectives The global environment objective of the project is to protect regional biodiversity against the potential risks associated with the introduction of living modified organisms (LMOs) in West Africa. This will be achieved through the development of common science-based risk assessment and management methods for the approval process of LMOs, in compliance with international standards. The project s development objective is to accompany the ongoing LMO development dynamic in the agriculture sector by preparing and implementing a Regional Biosafety Framework (RBF) that will ensure safe confined field trials and commercial release, if proven safe, of transgenic crops and crop products, starting with cotton. This objective will be achieved through the establishment and implementation of a regional regulation on biosafety, capacity building, and public outreach, in line with the requirements of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (CPB), which has been ratified by the five beneficiary countries of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) grant (Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali, Senegal, and Togo), and other international obligations relevant to biosafety. The project will also build a regional observatory and Biosafety Clearing House (BCH) on modern biotechnologies to monitor the impacts of the introduction of transgenic cotton. If the adoption of a regional regulation is successful, the observatory has the potential to
become an operational and decisional body, responsible for LMO approvals that were previously handled at the national level. Since the RBF will most likely be operational only after the mid-term of the project, the project will support, as an intermediary measure, implementation of the existing National Biosafety Frameworks (NBFs) in the countries that have already started field trials, or about to do so. 3. Project Description The project includes three components: (a) a technical component, which will adapt and disseminate regional common methodologies to assess and manage risks, in compliance with international standards; (b) a regulatory and institutional component, which will build a regional biosafety framework and implementation structure in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) space; and (c) an implementation component, which will support the implementation of the regional regulation at the national level, as well as any intermediary measures needed until the regional framework comes into effect. Component A: Adapt and disseminate regional methodologies to assess and manage risks (Estimated total: US$9.5 million; GEF contribution: US$1.9 million) Component A will produce operationally and regionally harmonized methodologies, consistent with international standards, such as guidelines, technical documents, forms, and checklists for risk assessment and management of LMOs and LMO products. At this initial stage, the project will focus on transgenic cotton, extending to other crops in the future, according to the priorities and outputs of the biotechnology research institutions. The existing tools in the countries and in the sub-region will be assessed and strengthened, consistent with international standards on risk management developed by specialized organizations, such as the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). The products of this component will be disseminated via workshops and specific trainings to the regional and national stakeholders. The four subcomponents related to risk assessment are: (i) inventory and evaluate existing tools and guidelines used or in preparation in the WAEMU countries for risk assessment and management, and compare them to recognized international methodologies; (ii) identify and get accreditation for a regional reference laboratory and two secondary laboratories; (iii) consolidate these tools and develop regional common approaches that meet recognized international standards in risk assessment and management, inspection, and monitoring and evaluation of LMOs. Prepare a regional manual of procedures; and (iv) disseminate the manual of procedures in the WAEMU region through the regional BCH. Component B: Elaborate and implement the Regional Biosafety Framework (Estimated total: US$6.4 million; GEF contribution: US$1.9 million) Component B will complement WAEMU s effort to integrate an economic and political area through harmonization of sector policies related to biosafety. This regulatory and institutional component will consist of producing a functional Regional Biosafety Framework for the WAEMU space. The Regional Framework will be based on WAEMU s key principles of subsidiarity, where member states subjugate their power to WAEMU in order to pursue common objectives.
The four subcomponents are: (i) prepare a regional law on biosafety according to WAEMU procedures; (ii) facilitate the political process for adoption of the regional law and its decrees; (iii) create an institutional framework to accompany the dissemination and implementation of the regulation in the eight countries of WAEMU; and (iv) project coordination and monitoring and evaluation. The institutional framework of subcomponent three will consist of an observatory on modern agricultural biotechnology that will monitor the impact of such technology on the environment, food and feed safety, and socioeconomic issues, in accordance with a set of key indicators developed by WAEMU and its stakeholders. If the adoption of a regional regulation is successful, the observatory has the potential to become an operational and decision-making body, responsible for LMO approvals that are currently handled at the national level. Component C: Implement the Regional Biosafety Framework at the national level (Estimated total: US$7.4 million; GEF contribution: US$1.6 million) This component will focus on implementing the RBF at the national level, strengthening the capacities of all relevant national institutions involved in RBF implementation, and increasing public awareness and the participation of various stakeholders, especially producer organizations. Since the RBF will most likely be operational after the mid-term of the project, the project will support, as an intermediary measure, implementation of the existing National Biosafety Frameworks in the countries that have already started field trials, or are about to do so. The three subcomponents are: (i) strengthen human, institutional and regulatory capacities to enable the countries to implement the RBF and intermediary measures up to the effectiveness of the RBF; (ii) inform and sensitize the major stakeholders, especially producer organizations, about the regional regulation and its implications for the environment and socio-economic development; and (iii) strengthen the regulatory and policy environment related to intellectual property rights on transgenic plants. 4. Project Location and salient physical characteristics relevant to the safeguard analysis The beneficiaries of the project are the eight WAEMU member States (Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali, Senegal, Togo, Cote d Ivoire, Niger, and Guinea Bissau). Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali, Senegal, and Togo are eligible to GEF funds. Senegal, Mali, and Burkina Faso already have a relatively advanced program on agricultural biotechnology in place and have indicated strong interest in the project, as they feel an appropriate safeguard framework is needed. They have also demonstrated a keen interest in moving forward with a harmonized biosafety framework at the regional level. All GEF beneficiary countries have participated in the National Biosafety Framework projects, which were funded by GEF and implemented by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). Cote d Ivoire and Guinea Bissau have not yet ratified the Cartagena Protocol and are not eligible to GEF. Niger is not a part of the cotton belt, and does not have an urgent need to implement a biosafety framework. However, these three countries are included in the project, primarily to facilitate the establishment of the regional biosafety regulation. Their participation will be financed through other contributions (most likely from IDA and WAEMU).
5. Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialists Mr Thomas E. Walton (AFTS1) Ms Yvette Laure Djachechi (AFTS3) Mr Amadou Konare (AFTS1) 6. Safeguard Policies Triggered No Environmental Assessment (OP/BP 4.01) Natural Habitats (OP/BP 4.04) Forests (OP/BP 4.36) Pest Management (OP 4.09) Physical Cultural Resources (OP/BP 4.11) Indigenous Peoples (OP/BP 4.10) Involuntary Resettlement (OP/BP 4.12) Safety of Dams (OP/BP 4.37) Projects on International Waterways (OP/BP 7.50) Projects in Disputed Areas (OP/BP 7.60) II. Key Safeguard Policy Issues and Their Management A. Summary of Key Safeguard Issues 1. Describe any safeguard issues and impacts associated with the proposed project. Identify and describe any potential large scale, significant and/or irreversible impacts: The project will not finance infrastructure, field trials, or the introduction of any living modified organism. The main objective of the project is to establish and implement a regulatory framework on biosafety that will ensure prevention and management of risks related to the use and handling of LMOs. The regulatory environment established by the project will ensure that future field trials are conducted safely as opposed to the haphazard situation that would occur without the project. 2. Describe any potential indirect and/or long term impacts due to anticipated future activities in the project area: The potential introduction of LMOs in the beneficiary countries may pose an environmental threat or create adverse socioeconomic impacts, and the project shall take this into account in designing the regulatory framework on biosafety. As a result of the potential for risk, the project has been classified category B and OP 4.01 and OP 4.09 are triggered to ensure that adequate measures are included in the forthcoming regional framework and during its implementation at the regional and national levels. 3. Describe any project alternatives (if relevant) considered to help avoid or minimize adverse impacts. Most of these countries are Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, and therefore have an international legal obligation to comply with the protocol requirements in areas such as risk assessment, public participation, socioeconomic consideration, and monitoring and evaluation. The forthcoming regional framework will include the requirements of the Cartagena Protocol, and resources will be provided to help the countries to comply with these requirements. Other safeguards will be considered during
project implementation and included in the design of the framework as needed. The design, scope, and detailed content of the future regulation will be discussed thoroughly with the major stakeholders at the national level during the first year of project implementation. 4. Describe measures taken by the borrower to address safeguard policy issues. Provide an assessment of borrower capacity to plan and implement the measures described. WAEMU has prepared, in partnership with major stakeholders in the beneficiary countries, an Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF). This framework takes into account the minimal requirements of the Cartagena Protocol, as well as the local potential risks that were identified during the process of public consultation with national stakeholders. The ESMF includes a description of institutional arrangements for its implementation. Capacity in the beneficiary countries is weak and the purpose of the project is to provide training and technical assistance to the national competent authorities in each country, as well as to the regional institutions in charge of biosafety. Adequate funds for capacity building have already been designated in the project design, which will enable the beneficiary countries to carry out their responsibilities under the ESMF. 5. Identify the key stakeholders and describe the mechanisms for consultation and disclosure on safeguard policies, with an emphasis on potentially affected people. As a part of the communication strategy of the project, a team of communications specialists were hired with the PDF-B grant. In June 2006, they conducted consultations with major stakeholders, including civil society and producer organizations, in the five countries eligible to GEF funds, and presented the key project features to them. In addition to presenting the project objectives, components, costs, and institutional arrangements, they also presented the draft ESMF to the stakeholders. A draft final report of the consultations will be submitted by WAEMU to the Bank before July 15rd, 2006, and will be disclosed through Infoshop and in the countries, by July 30th, 2006. B. Disclosure Requirements Date Environmental Assessment/Audit/Management Plan/Other: Date of receipt by the Bank 07/17/2006 Date of "in-country" disclosure 08/21/2006 Date of submission to InfoShop 08/01/2006 For category A projects, date of distributing the Executive Summary of the EA to the Executive Directors Pest Management Process: Date of receipt by the Bank Date of "in-country" disclosure Date of submission to InfoShop * If the project triggers the Pest Management and/or Physical Cultural Resources, the respective issues are to be addressed and disclosed as part of the Environmental Assessment/Audit/or EMP.
If in-country disclosure of any of the above documents is not expected, please explain why: C. Compliance Monitoring Indicators at the Corporate Level (to be filled in when the ISDS is finalized by the project decision meeting) OP/BP/GP 4.01 - Environment Assessment Does the project require a stand-alone EA (including EMP) report? If yes, then did the Regional Environment Unit or Sector Manager (SM) review and approve the EA report? Are the cost and the accountabilities for the EMP incorporated in the credit/loan? OP 4.09 - Pest Management Does the EA adequately address the pest management issues? Is a separate PMP required? If yes, has the PMP been reviewed and approved by a safeguards specialist or SM? Are PMP requirements included in project design? If yes, does the project team include a Pest Management Specialist? The World Bank Policy on Disclosure of Information Have relevant safeguard policies documents been sent to the World Bank s Infoshop? Have relevant documents been disclosed in-country in a public place in a form and language that are understandable and accessible to project-affected groups and local NGOs? All Safeguard Policies Have satisfactory calendar, budget and clear institutional responsibilities been prepared for the implementation of measures related to safeguard policies? Have costs related to safeguard policy measures been included in the project cost? Does the Monitoring and Evaluation system of the project include the monitoring of safeguard impacts and measures related to safeguard policies? Have satisfactory implementation arrangements been agreed with the borrower and the same been adequately reflected in the project legal documents? No
D. Approvals Signed and submitted by: Name Date Task Team Leader: Mr Jean-Christophe Carret Environmental Specialist: Mr Amadou Konare Social Development Specialist Ms Yvette Laure Djachechi Additional Environmental and/or Social Development Specialist(s): Approved by: Regional Safeguards Coordinator: Comments: Sector Manager: Comments: Mr Warren Waters Ms Mary A. Barton-Dock