Environmental, Social and Economic Review Note (ESERN)
I. Project Overview
Identification | 9860 |
Project Title | Creation of additional biosafety capacities that lead to a full implementation of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety in Cuba |
Managing Division | Ecosystems division |
Type/Location | National |
Region | Latin America Caribbean |
List Countries | Cuba |
Project Description | The thrust of this initiative is to build capacity in unexplored areas and which will provide the necessary elements to meet the requirements of the Protocol, such as trade in goods, customs operations, monitoring and surveillance, detection of LMOs and liability and redress. To achieve the goals already stated, this initiative has the following components: Creation of necessary capacities for the identification and detection of living modified organisms (LMOs), Creation of necessary capacities for monitoring and surveillance of Living Modified Organisms (LMOs), Identification of relevant socio-economic considerations for Cuba, according to Article 26 of the Cartagena Protocol, Strengthening national awareness on liability and compensation, with a view to the future ratification of the Nagoya - Kuala Lumpur Supplementary Protocol of Cartagena and Incorporate the Biosafety knowledge in the official education programs. |
Estimated duration of project: | 2017 - 2022 (60 months) |
Estimated cost of the project : | GEF Grant: 1,826,484 Co-finance: 1,920,443 |
| Funding Source: | GEF |
II. Environmental Social and Economic Screening Determination
Summary of the Safeguard Risks Triggered
Safeguard Standard Triggered by the Project | Impact of Risk (1-5) | Probability of Risk (1-5) | Significance of Risk (L, M, H)* |
SS 1: Biodiversity, natural habitat and Sustainable Management of Living Resources | 3 | 1 | L |
SS 2: Resource Efficiency, Pollution Prevention and Management of Chemicals and Wastes | 3 | 1 | L |
SS 3: Safety of Dams | N/A | N/A | N/A |
SS 4: Involuntary resettlement | N/A | N/A | N/A |
SS 5: Indigenous peoples | N/A | N/A | N/A |
SS 6: Labor and working conditions | N/A | N/A | N/A |
SS 7: Cultural Heritage | N/A | N/A | N/A |
SS 8: Gender equity | 1 | 1 | L |
SS 9: Economic Sustainability | 1 | 1 | L |
Additional Safeguard questions for projects seeking GCF-funding (Section IV) | NA | NA | NA |
*Refer to the UNEP ESES Framework (Chapter 2) and the UNEP’s ESES Guidelines
ESE Screening Decision
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Development of ESE Review Note and Screening Decision
| ESERN Prepared by: | Name: Lenia Arce Hernández | Date: 25/01/2017 |
| Conforms to ESES Framework | Name: Yunae Yi | Date: 15/06/2017 |
| Accepted by Project Manager: | Name: Juan C. Menéndez de San Pedro | Date: 31/01/2017 |
Recommended further action from the Safeguard Advisor
I agree that it is likely to be a low safeguard risk project. While the project itself may not have direct safeguard risks in environment and socioeconomic dimensions, the action taken by the government following this project will. This is a potential cumulative effect of anticipated future projects. The project started out by saying that “the use of LMO has been controversial … since they have the potential to contribute to human wellbeing in fields like agriculture, bioremediation, and climate change, amongst others. However their safe use is imperative to minimize possible risks to the environment and human health.” Therefore, consider potential issues in developing the guidance materials, training sessions and guiding M&E.
Precautionary approach based on the best and latest scientific knowledge should be applied. It is good to see that socioeconomic analysis is included as a key deliverable of the project. This should be human rights-based, meaning the emphasis should be given in identifying who are the most susceptible people to LMOs and how to identify their needs, roles and responsibilities and how to engage them in capacity building and M &E.
The project talked about monitoring of the trades of LMOs. It also plans to carry out in-depth analyses of socio-economic (SE) aspects. But it is mainly on the impacts of LMOs. Then, how will it deal with (or curve) the interests of the pharmaceuticals and agriculture industry that play the role in these trades?