Environmental and Social Safeguards (ESS) Policy.

This Environmental and Social Safeguards (ESS) Policy Framework prepared by the Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE) is a nation-wide sectoral policy document, aiming to ensure that, in implementing development programs, positive environment and social impacts are maximized while negative ones are minimized or avoided.
The Water and Environment Sector encompasses managing water as a resource, establishing water infrastructure for development, harnessing weather and climate and promoting ecosystems and biodiversity resiliencies. This Environment and Social Safeguards Framework is to be used by the Ministry to ensure that all environmental and social safeguards are adequately addressed as required by the Adaptation Fund. The goal is to avoid unnecessary environment and social harm as a result of implementation of Adaptation Fund projects by the ministry which is a key requirement of the fund. To achieve the goal, the Document proposes specifically the following targets: i. To ensure integration of environmental and social concerns in all stages of project development and all levels including national, district and local levels, with full participation of the people as means of minimising environmental and social impacts ii. To identify key environmental and social issues/aspects that will affect or will be affected by the projects/programmes and ensuring that risks are screened against Adaptation Fund 15 principles; iii. To specify appropriate roles and responsibilities, and outlining the necessary reporting procedures, for managing and monitoring environmental and social concerns including compliance; and iv. To establish institutional capacity building requirements to successfully implement the ESS, with particular focus on monitoring framework for its implementation and compliance. According to the Document, experience has shown that different Entities encounter risks therefore the appropriate social safeguards should always be incorporated in their programmes. The Ministry shall ensure that its projects and programmes are designed and implemented in a way that promotes soil conservation and avoids degradation or conversion of productive lands or land that provides valuable ecosystem services and avoid imposing any disproportionate adverse impacts on marginalized and vulnerable groups including children, women and girls, the elderly, indigenous people, people living with disabilities; both women and men (a) have equal opportunities to participate; (b) receive comparable social and economic benefits; and (c) do not suffer disproportionate adverse effects during the development process. Projects and programmes implemented or supported by the Ministry shall provide fair and equitable access to benefits in a manner that is inclusive and does not impede access to basic health services, clean water and sanitation, energy, education, housing, safe and decent working conditions, and land rights. All projects and programmes shall be designed and implemented in a way that avoids any significant or unjustified reduction or loss of biological diversity or the introduction of known invasive species. The activities designed and implemented in a manner that will protect and conserve biodiversity and critical habitats, maintain the benefits of ecosystem services, and promote the sustainable use and management of living natural resources.
According to the Document, during preparation of projects and programmes implemented or supported by the Adaptation Fund, Green Climate Fund and other Donors, the Ministry shall ensure that projects do not result in any significant or unjustified increase in greenhouse gas emissions or other drivers of climate change. This includes fully complying with relevant national legislation including, National Climate Change Policy (2015), and National Forestry and Tree Planting Act 2003 among other.
In terms of the Governance, the Ministry of Water and Environment shall take the responsibility of ensuring that environment and social issues are mainstreamed in all its projects. The permanent Secretary of MWE with the support of the various Directors and Heads of Departments has the overall duty of ensuring that ESS are mainstreamed in all its projects/programmes implemented by the MWE and other executing agencies. The Ministry at the same time will ensure transparency and accessibility of information, in addition to facilitating the resolutions of disputes with respect to environmental and social risks. All proposed MWE projects and programmes will be subject to review and screening during preparation, and they will be fully assessed, designed, implemented, monitored and reviewed accordingly to ensure that all environmental and social issues are adequately addressed.