REPUBLIC OF RWANDA RWANDA TRANSPORT DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (RTDA) FEEDER ROADS DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (FRDP) UPDATED ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (ESIA) FOR REHABILITATION, UPGRADING AND MULTI-YEAR MAINTENANCE WORKS OF INDICATIVE FEEDER ROADS NYAGATARE DISTRICT, 55KM (2 LOTS) NYAGATARE May 2020 RTDA/ Rwanda Feeder Roads Development Project –Project ID: P 126498, P158092 Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for selected feeder roads in Nyagatare district EXECUTIVE SUMMARY A significant proportion of Rwanda rural population whose livelihoods depend on agriculture lacks access to rural transport facilities, including feeder roads that strongly hampers the agricultural development and prevent them to increasing access to markets, enhancing their competitiveness and improve their incomes and livelihoods. The Government of Rwanda and Development Partners are intensifying their support not only to agriculture but also to feeder roads infrastructure development to reduce post- harvest loss and the high transport price in the project areas. In this regards, the Government of Rwanda launched the Rwanda Feeder Roads Development Project (FRDP) to develop agricultural marketing roads. This project got funds from IDA to rehabilitate, upgrade and maintain 500 km of indicative feeder roads in Rwamagana, Gisagara, Karongi and Nyamasheke Districts. The Government of Rwanda also applied for additional funding for the rehabilitation of 1,200 km of feeder roads in other six districts, namely Gatsibo, Nyagatare, Gakenke, Nyaruguru, Rutsiro and Nyabihu Districts. To overcome the above and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals Specifically Goal 9 which is about “to build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation”, Rwanda Vision 2020, the Government of Rwanda launched the Rwanda Feeder Roads Development Project (FRDP) to develop agricultural marketing roads and reduce transport cost in the areas. Therefore, The Government of Rwanda (GoR) in partnership with International Development Association (IDA), acting as an Administrator of the Rwanda Feeder Road Development Multi-Donor Trust Fund (MDTF) has received a grant toward development of feeder road in six districts including Nyagatare. In this regards Nyagatare District has signed the contract with CHICO towards the Design, upgrading, rehabilitation and multi-year maintenance of indicative feeder roads 55km (Lot1 with 38 km and Lot 2 with 17 km respective project components). The project will link Nyagatare-Kanyinya- Kagitumba for Lot1 and Rurenge-Bushara-Kabuga for Lot2 as well as connecting with two Ugandan borders. The Roads are expected to facilitate trade and transport through seven sectors of Nyagatare District namely Nyagatare, Musheri, Matimba and Rwempasha for Lot 1; Rukomo, Karama and Tabagwe for Lot 2. The upgrading, rehabilitation and maintenance works of proposed 55km feeder road project will require different construction materials (hardcore, gravel, sand and soil) which fulfill the required standards for quality assurance. These constitute the project subcomponents which are borrow pits, quarries, dumping sites and campsites. The exploitation of identified sites must be economically viable, socially acceptable and environmentally sound. Although most project impacts are expected to be beneficial in terms socio economic development, there is a growing concern for both national and global level that many forms of development activities may lead to some adverse impacts to existing biophysical and social environment through the potential damage to natural resources upon which the economies are based. The major challenge is how to attain sustainable development. In order to comply with the Organic law 04/2005 of 08/04/2005 determining the modalities of protection, conservation and promotion of environment in Rwanda and Ministerial Order N° F i RTDA/ Rwanda Feeder Roads Development Project –Project ID: P 126498, P158092 Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for selected feeder roads in Nyagatare district 004/2008 of 15/08/2008 establishing the list of works, activities and projects that have to undertake an environmental studies and the Ministerial Order No 003/MINIRENA/2015 of 24/04/2015 determining modalities for application, issuance and use of mineral and quarry licenses, an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment/ Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESIA/ESMP) was prepared to ensure that the planned activities are environmentally and socially implemented in full compliance with Rwanda's and the World Bank's environmental and social policies and regulations. This Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Report was prepared following the environmental assessment of the proposed Design, upgrading, rehabilitation and maintenance of indicative feeder roads (Lot1&2) and respective project components in Nyagatare District, planned by Government of Rwanda for appraisal and funding by the World Bank for its implementation. This report is prepared to present the identified environmental and social issues and the respective mitigation measures applicable to the proposed feeder roads project together with the project Environmental and Social Management Plan of the exploitation of the proposed project subcomponents that will be conducted in accordance with the requirements of: (i) Article 67 of the Organic Law N° 04/2005 determining the modalities of protection, conservation and promotion of environment in Rwanda, (ii) Ministerial Order No 003/MINIRENA/2015 of 24/04/2015 determining modalities for application, issuance and use of mineral and quarry licenses. (iii) General guidelines for Environmental and Social Impact Assessment in Rwanda. It is proposed that road construction materials be sourced from existing borrow pits located in the vicinity or new construction materials should be created. As mentioned previously, the utilization of the materials sources required for the project will be undertaken in accordance with environmental organic law. In terms of the exploitation of these subcomponents an ESMP for the utilization of quarries, borrow pits, dumpsite and campsite will be compiled in accordance with the mentioned laws and regulations. The purpose of this report is to apply for the ESIA which will identify and assess both social and environmental potential impacts associated with 55km feeder road project through a process of stakeholders and public consultation and environmental investigation. It also aimed at to provide sufficient detail on the project subcomponents to Rwanda Development Board department of investment promotion (in charge of environmental studies) in order to allow RTDA and construction contractor to make an informed decision on the project subcomponents, whereby 36 sites had been identified. The methodology adopted for the preparation of this report includes the review of feasibility reports and detailed designs, national and international regulations related to environmental and social safeguards, district reports and field observations and measurements as well as discussions with project's experts personnel. Public consultation meetings were also conducted to explain the project and determine the beneficiaries' opinions and concerns on the environmental impacts of the rehabilitation of feeder roads in the District. The assessment done indicated that the project area is generally characterized by lowly inclined hills and flat lands separated by valleys in the F ii RTDA/ Rwanda Feeder Roads Development Project –Project ID: P 126498, P158092 Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for selected feeder roads in Nyagatare district North, East, West and South East and high mountains in the South West and with a very limited hydrographic network. The findings of the ESIA study revealed that the feeder roads project in Nyagatare has both positive and negative impacts. The positive impacts include increased road capacity and improved pavements can reduce travel times and lower the costs of vehicle use, while increasing access to markets, education, health services and reducing transport costs for both freight and passengers, employment opportunity, skill transfer, enhanced economy in rural areas, increase in social and industrial activity, improved transport system, saving in travel time, reduction in accidents, better drainage system, reduction in fuel consumption and greenhouse gases. Given that the main activity and cause of all impacts is the upgrading, rehabilitation and maintenance of proposed feeder road, it is hard to isolate or purely separate impacts specific to road construction from those inherent to activities or components related to this project which considered as auxiliary or associated facilities. Hence, most of the environmental and social impacts common to the road and all other components in the phases of construction and operation, are referred to as road impacts, and wherever there is an impact specific to only one or two subcomponents, precision shall be given. The potential negative impacts include loss of land, trees, houses and other structures (like water points); increase in erosion rates, soil pollution due to spill of oil, grease and other chemical/ material on road, disruption of natural drainage, water pollution due to construction in water front structures or disposal of waste; increase in water demand and water use conflict, risk to health due to poor waste disposal and outside labor; increase in noise and air pollution in the