Environmental, Social and Economic Review Note (ESERN)
I. Project Overview
Identification | |
Project Title | Project preparation proposal for Building resilience of coastal communities in Mozambique through Ecosystem Based Adaptation (EbA) approaches |
Managing Division | UN Environment DEPI |
Type/Location | National |
Region | Africa |
List Countries | Republic of Mozambique |
Project Description | The primary objectives of the project are to improve the climate resilience of the most vulnerable coastal communities in Mozambique, and develop alternative livelihood opportunities with them. To ensure comprehensive and long-term sustainability these are addressed through two component outputs integrated across community, district and national level: Output 1: Ecosystem Based Adaptation activities implemented to support climate-smart livelihoods, reducing vulnerability to climate impacts among coastal communities and increasing ecosystem resilience. Output 1 directly addresses the most vulnerable communities in coastal areas. Coastal districts face some of the greatest threats to livelihoods and the ecosystems that support them. Interventions identified focus on improved resource management for loca consumption, scaling-up successful pilots and ongoing projects within each coastal region. This approach aligns with national priorities of poverty reduction and district adaptation plans (where they exist). Sustainable maricuture presents a unique livelihood alternative in this approach, as it is less prone to climate shocks from droughts than livestock and freshwater fisheries. Output 2: Technical support for educational institutions to strengthen and sustain government and community capacity in the management of coastal resources considering climate change and related disasters. Output 2 reinforces long-term and sustained national capacity to address climate change adaptation. This requires targeted short and long-term training interventions at community, district and national levels, supporting interventions in the first output of the project, achieved through gender-balanced strengthening of higher education and research institutions to mainstream climate adaptation. Furthermore, this requires the expansion of district level capacity to implement adaptation plans in all target coastal districts. |
Estimated duration of project: | 84 months (7 years) |
Estimated cost of the project : | |
| Funding Source: | GCF |
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 | 2 | M |
SS 2: Resource Efficiency, Pollution Prevention and Management of Chemicals and Wastes | 3 | 1 | L |
SS 3: Safety of Dams | 1 | 1 | L |
SS 4: Involuntary resettlement | 1 | 1 | L |
SS 5: Indigenous peoples | 1 | 1 | L |
SS 6: Labor and working conditions | 2 | 1 | L |
SS 7: Cultural Heritage | 1 | 1 | L |
SS 8: Gender equity | 2 | 1 | L |
SS 9: Economic Sustainability | 1 | 1 | L |
Additional Safeguard questions for projects seeking GCF-funding (Section IV) | 1 | 1 | L |
*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: Musonda Mumba | Date: |
| Conforms to ESES Framework | Name: Yunae Yi | Date: |
| Accepted by Project Manager: | Name: Musonda Mumba | Date: |
Recommended further action from the Safeguard Advisor
According to the Safeguards Advisor, the project has potential negative impacts in SS1 and SS2. But they are likely to be reversible and remediable to manage using standard mitigation measures and application of good practice.
In response to such concerns, the project team is committed to take following mitigation measures: With regard to SS1, planned mangrove rehabilitation cannot perfectly replicate pristine natural environments. There would be ecosystem, habitat and biodiversity restoration at large but would never come to what it was in a non-human intervention situation. The mariculture activities, though proposed to be undertaken in a sustainable and climate smart way without invasive species from outside of Mozambique, can potentially change and impact endemic, local, species composition. These risks will be mitigated by: (i) reforesting local mangrove species, (ii) cultivating species endemic to Mozambique, and considering the uses of geographically local species where possible, and (iii) complying with the guidelines on invasive alien species.
With respect to SS2, although the maricuture in cages is to be undertaken in a well ventilated and flashed environment, there is a danger for eutrophication and anoxic conditions to occur, if carrying capacity, in terms of stocking density, and feeding quantities are not observed. This is a minor risk that is naturally mitigated by efficient flushing mechanism of the large tides existing at each site proposed. However, the following caution will be taken: (i) modelling of flushing time and carrying capacity in terms of fish density and feed used in mariculture, (ii) regular monitoring of water quality in mariculture, and (iii) establishment and compliance of guidelines with respect to maintenance of water quality in mariculture system.
These are some low risks worth addressing here so the project management team can monitor and assure that they do not evolve into moderate risks. These potential SS risks are related to SS6, with regard to employing under age personnel or labor exploitation, and SS8, regarding gender equity. Given the poverty levels and critical employment opportunities, there might be some people under age attempting to be employed in the mangrove rehabilitation or mariculture activities. The team will get advice from ILO or UNICEF country offices for the most contextually appropriate labor standards to apply for the project. The project management team should observe and apply strictly the rules, observing the age of all people employed in the project (e.g. through review of birth certificates/national documents). Furthermore, measures should be taken in the project to assure gender equity in all the project activities and benefits, respecting the local traditions. It should be mentioned that there are marked differences with regard to gender relations between southern and northern Mozambique along the coast. Extra attention should be taken in factoring gender dynamics within the socioeconomic contexts of different communities in terms of their needs and roles and engage them accordingly to strengthen community ownership and sustainability.
Not the least, SS9, although the activities proposed in the present project enables the creation of sustainable economy for the local people, it potentially boost the livelihoods of the fisherman, through mariculture. The project will ensure that such economic benefits are shared across without discriminating communities (intentionally or blindly) in terms of their religions, age, region, gender, socioeconomic or any other status.
A final project validation and proposal development workshop which included plenary discussion on project risks and potential areas for improvement of project design (9 of September, at the Polana Hotel, Maputo, attended by 36 participants; see the stakeholder appraisal report, Annex IV, for further details) Improvements to the planned project communication and dissemination strategy and activities were discussed, and a series of workshop recommendations were agreed towards this:
- The workshop identified the need to strengthen the mechanisms for communication/dissemination involving specific institutions. These included the Ministry of Education (Ministério da Educação), Ministry of State Administration (Administração Estatal), community councils, schools and community broadcasting media, where appropriate. Institutions identified where those that might contribute to interpreting information and results, and make information more accessible to communities.
- It was agreed that all project information and resulting analysis should also be available to a wider audience, e.g. made available in a less analyzed form through a web platform. This will enable a wider group of stakeholders than currently identified to access information, and further enable the development of tailored products specific to their needs.
- The mechanisms for the dissemination of project information and documentation to key stakeholders should include a designated web-portal clearing house mechanism within the project office. The clearing house must ensure open access to all in a timely fashion.