Post on 27-Dec-2019
SEA for the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy
Ineke SteinhauerThe Netherlands EIA
Commission2004 PEP Berlin
The Commission for EIA Was invited by Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) in Ghana and the Royal Netherlands Embassy
To draft ToR for the SEA for the GPRS, to monitor and coach the undertaking of the SEA and to perform a final review of the SEA.
Several documents have been released by the Commission: www.eia.nl
Objective of the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS) Overall framework for Ghana economic policy and
development assistance to Ghana
Policies in 5 priority sectors for poverty alleviation: ‘macro-economy’, ‘production and gainful employment’, ‘human resource development and basic services’, ‘special programmes for the vulnerable and excluded’ and ‘governance’
Main basis for implementation of policies in sectors and district levels
Why SEA The initial draft of the GPRS (2003-2005) was
criticised because environment was not treated as a ‘cross-cutting issue’
Therefore environmental consequences of policy interventions were not sufficiently assessed
The Ghanaian government decided to undertake SEA
Purpose of SEA
1. Identification of environmental issues, risks and opportunities of the existing GPRS 2003 - 2005
2. Identification of ‘win-win-options’ for environment and poverty alleviation and a list of ‘do’s and dont’s’ to be included in the new GPRS 2006-2008
3. Assessment of compliance of District Plans with GPRS 2003 – 2005, as main mechanism for practical implementation of GPRS objectives
Management of the SEAThe SEA team: 6 members:
3 from Environmental Protection Agency 3 from National Development Planning
Commission
Support: 1 Ghanaian consultant 1 UK consultant Netherlands EIA Commission
Steering Committee
Management of the SEA
SEA team carried out SEA
All (27) Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) involved
Involvement of (108 out of 110) districts
Funded by Netherlands Embassy
Decision making process & SEA
GPRS 2003 – 2005 already developed
SEA to influence the GPRS 2006 – 2008
SEA finalised at start of development of new GPRS
SEA methodology for GPRS
Assessment of all policies in GPRS 2003: Consistency analysis:
Between objectives of agencies within a Ministry Between objectives of Ministries
Poverty/environmental appraisal: Checklist Expert judgement by SEA team 3 point scale Reviewed by Ministry experts
Poverty-environmental appraisal GPRSAspects:
Livelihood of the poor Health of the poor Vulnerability of the poor Institutional support Natural resources Social cultural aspects Local economy
Poverty-environmental appraisal GPRSIndicators per aspect
Livelihood of the poor: Access to water Access to land Access to timber resources Access to wild life Access to non timber forest products
Poverty-environmental appraisal GPRS
Health of the poor Water quantity and quality Sanitation Air quality Medicinal plants
Poverty-environmental appraisal GPRS
Vulnerability of the poor Drought Bush fires Floods Land degradation Crisis and Conflict Epidemics
Poverty-environmental appraisal GPRS
Institutional support Adherence to democratic principles Human rights Access to information
Natural resources Protected areas Raw materials Pollution Energy
Poverty-environmental appraisal GPRS Social cultural:
Local communities protected Women empowered Equity
Local economy: Encourages growth Uses local goods and services Promotes local investment
Alternatives
For the most risky policies, the SEA team formulated alternative options
Options were discussed with appropriate ministries
Result: per ministry recommendations endorsed by both SEA team & ministry in ‘advisory notes’
Comparison of alternatives not documented in SEA
Public participation GPRS SEA: January 2003 – August 2004
October 2003: NGOs participated in national workshop to assess policies in the GPRS
February 2004: NGO workshop on review of first draft SEA report
Both occasions: private industry invited, but did not show up
SEA methodology for District Plans
Sustainability appraisal: Checklist Expert judgment: Plans assessed by District staff,
after appropriate training 6 point scale
Cost and duration of the SEA
800.000 USD
Mainly because of assessments of 108 District Plans
Duration: 1,5 years
Results of the SEA
Assessment led to clear recommendations for more sustainable new GPRS 2006-2008
SEA is input for 5 cross sectoral planning groups formulating new GPRS (ready March 2005)
In each planning group a member of the SEA team
Results of the SEA
Better insight in sustainability of District Plans; however, in most cases not yet recommendations for new District Plans
Many products: manuals, guidelines, checklists etc.
Training on the job
Broad awareness raising in public sector
Quality reviewConclusions independent EIA Commission
Negative
Costs not assessed Expert judgment not transparent, not
reproducible, not substantiated enough Relationship assessment and recommendations
not clear Not enough involvement of private sector No monitoring plan
Quality reviewConclusions independent EIA Commission
Positive
Broad awareness raising of environmental and social issues (all ministries; all districts)
Clear recommendations for GPRS NGOs involved Good basis for phase III: selection and in depth
analysis of selective sectoral and district SEAs Ghana ‘owned’ Good spin off
Results of the SEA: spin offIn a number of ministries:
SEA approach copied to redefine budgets, existing and new policies and make these more sustainable
New budget lines for environmental objectives
Strengthened role for EPA in ministries priority setting
Set up of environmental units
Influence on final decision
Not yet clear: new GPRS in development Some district plans improved; most pending
Optimism: Implementation of SEA recommendations
made a conditionality by donors for new funding (multi donor budget support)
How further? Phase III (2004 – 2008):
GPRS: inclusion of the recommendations in new GPRS
Sustainability of District plans improves, trough translating assessment results in new district plans and SEA pilots for districts
SEA pilot for sectors, coupled to on-the-job training in pilots (rather than general training)
Institutionalize SEA (make it independent from donors)
Update national environmental action plan as framework for new GPRS
Organise SEA experiences workshop in Africa in 2006