WATERSHED MANAGEMENT FAST TRACK PROJECT, SUDAN DETAILED PROJECT PREPARATION STUDY

Abstract

Introduction This environmental baseline assessment and social analysis for the watershed management interventions focus in particular on: • Identification of potential positive environmental and social impacts of the watershed management activities and measures to improve these. • Identification of potential environmental and social risks and measures to mitigate these. The social and environmental was conducted through field surveys, Participatory Rural Appraisals (PRAs) and stakeholder consultations in selected focus study areas. The social and environmental assessment findings will feed into the Operational Manual and the Environmental and Social Management Framework. The social assessment deals with the social dynamics and social key issues in the three project areas using five conceptual entry points1 for analysis: social diversity and gender; Institutions, rules and behaviour; Stakeholder interests; and Social risks/exclusion in line with the WB understanding of social assessment. The purpose is primarily to inform project design on social dynamics, conflicts and risks that should be addressed and later monitored to avoid detrimental effects on the project outcome. The purpose is also to ensure inclusiveness, i.e. that all key stakeholder and beneficiaries are considered and biases against more vulnerable beneficiary groups ruled out. Elements of the social assessment are already contained in various documents drafted by the Consultant Team (CT) and this report should be read with reference to these, i.e. the inception report and annexes, the stakeholder data base, the interim technical report, and the interim institutional report. The present report draws together the social assessment elements contained in the various consultancy reports and supplements with additional findings from desk reviews of existing documentation and findings from varies field visits.