Environmental and Social Impact Assessment

Environmental and Social Impact Assessment, as one of the most important components of the MCA-Armenia Program, implements the following functions:

- Oversights Environmental and social data collection process;
- Works out Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) reports;
- Works out, implements and oversights Environmental Management Plans (EMP) and Resettlement Action Plans (RAP);
- Ensures that the mentioned reports correspond to RA legislation, WB and MCC environmental, social and resettlement guidelines and requirements;
- Monitors timely and appropriate implementation of the activities in the EMPs.

According to the Consulting Contract signed on October 4, 2007 "Mott MacDonald" LLC acts as the Consultant for the Environmental and Social Assessment and Oversight. The functions and activities of the Consultant, including report drafting, implementation of public consultations on social impact and resettlement issues, as well as other issues, are coordinated by the MCA-Armenia Environmental and Social Impact team.

Since the Program inception the following achievements have been accomplished by May 2010:

Infrastructure Projects

1. Integrated Environmental and Social Assessments and Management Plans

- Roads: 3 package-level EAs; 54 EMPs for individual segments
- Irrigation: 22 EIAs; 45 EMPs; public consultations with 3185 participants in 143 communities


2. Resettlement Planning and Implementation for Project Affected Persons (PAPs)

- Resettlement Policy Framework
- Development and implementation of 4 Resettlement Action Plans for IAP



Water-to-Market Activity

Environmental and Social Analysis (annually updated)
- Environmental Management Plan
- Social Analysis
- Gender Analysis


Training
Training modules on such topics as reduction of negative impact of pesticides, integrated pest management, organic agriculture, etc. have been developed and presented to farmers. Twice a year environmental part of HVA training is being updated.


Publications
"HVA with Environmental Approaches" manual, "Reduction of Negative Impact of Pesticides" brochure, "Pest Management without Pesticides" brochure, "Our friend Compost" booklet, Go Green bags and leaflets.


Video Materials
During HVA training the participants are provided with DVD which includes nine films on such topics as Two-layer plastic greenhouses, Grape cultivation agro-technologies, Seedling production technologies, Apple pruning, Pesticides' burial place, bio-humus production, etc.


Assistance to demo farmers
Demo-farmers have been provided with personal protection equipment (gloves, glasses, respirator, uniform, boots, as well as first-aid kit), liquid Bio fertilizer "Azovovit 1", etc.