OPID 48414 Morocco - Saïss Water Conservation Project Environmental and Social Appraisal and Action Plan Saïss Water conservation Project – Environmental and social appraisal and action plan 1 Cover picture : Drip irrigated citrus in Saïss Plain Contents: 1 BACKGROUND ........................................................................................................................................ 6 1.1 Project Description ................................................................................................................................... 6 1.2 Project Objectives ..................................................................................................................................... 6 1.3 Transition Impact ..................................................................................................................................... 6 1.3.1 Improved resource efficiency ......................................................................................................... 6 1.3.2 Increased private sector participation ............................................................................................ 6 1.3.3 Public Participation Programme focusing on economic inclusion and gender ............................... 7 1.4 Client Information .................................................................................................................................... 7 2 ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL BASELINE ............................................................................................... 8 2.1 Sebou basin .............................................................................................................................................. 8 2.1.1 Physical context: Sebou basin ......................................................................................................... 8 2.1.2 Climate ............................................................................................................................................ 9 2.1.3 Natural environment .................................................................................................................... 10 2.1.4 Population ..................................................................................................................................... 10 2.1.5 Economic activities ....................................................................................................................... 11 2.2 Project area ............................................................................................................................................ 11 2.2.1 Physical frame ............................................................................................................................... 11 2.2.2 Protected areas ............................................................................................................................. 15 2.2.3 Biodiversity outside protected areas ............................................................................................ 16 2.2.4 Population and socio-economic activities .................................................................................... 21 3 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ......................................................................................................................... 24 3.1 Project rationale ..................................................................................................................................... 24 3.2 M’Dez dam ............................................................................................................................................. 24 3.3 The project: water transfer to Saïss Plain ............................................................................................... 25 4 INSTITUTIONAL AND REGULATORY CONTEXT ....................................................................................... 28 4.1 Institutional context ............................................................................................................................... 28 4.2 Regulatory framework............................................................................................................................ 29 4.2.1 Moroccan Legal Framework ......................................................................................................... 29 4.2.2 Donors’ environmental and social policies ................................................................................... 30 5 SCREENING OF THE PROJECT AND SCOPING OF THE ASSESSMENT ....................................................... 31 5.1 Associated facilities ................................................................................................................................ 31 Saïss Water conservation Project – Environmental and social appraisal and action plan 2 5.2 "B" Categorization .................................................................................................................................. 31 5.3 Scoping of the assessment ..................................................................................................................... 32 6 EXAMINATION OF ALTERNATIVES......................................................................................................... 33 6.1 No-Project alternative ............................................................................................................................ 33 6.2 Alternatives to preserve the Saïss Plain aquifer ..................................................................................... 33 6.2.1 Master Plan of the Sebou basin .................................................................................................... 33 6.2.2 Selected alternative for Saïss Plain conservation ......................................................................... 34 7 ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL ASSESSMENT AND MITIGATION MEASURES ........................................ 36 7.1 Environmental and Social Impact/Issues of the Project ......................................................................... 36 7.1.1 Physical impacts of the Project ..................................................................................................... 36 7.1.2 PR 1: Assessment and Management of Environmental and Social Impacts and Issues ............... 36 7.1.3 PR 2: Labour and Working Conditions .......................................................................................... 38 7.1.4 PR 3: Resource Efficiency and Pollution Prevention and Control ................................................. 39 7.1.5 PR 4: Health and Safety ................................................................................................................ 41 7.1.6 PR 5: Land Acquisition, Involuntary Resettlement and Economic Displacement ......................... 41 7.1.7 PR 6: Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Natural Resources ...... 44 7.1.8 PR 7: Indigenous Peoples .............................................................................................................. 47 7.1.9 PR 8: Cultural Heritage .................................................................................................................. 47 7.1.10 PR 10: Information Disclosure and Stakeholder Engagement ................................................. 47 7.2 Mdez dam E&S risks and impacts ........................................................................................................... 48 8 STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT ............................................................................................................... 50 8.1 Stakeholder identification ...................................................................................................................... 50 8.1.1 Identification of main stakeholders .............................................................................................. 50 8.1.2 Key stakeholders identified during the development of this plan ................................................ 50 8.2 Ministry of Agriculture and Maritime Fisheries stakeholder relations and approach ............................ 55 8.2.1 Overview of existing stakeholder and community relations ........................................................ 55 8.2.2 Documenting future engagement activities ................................................................................. 56 8.3 Public consultation programme ............................................................................................................. 57 8.3.1 Disclosure of information ............................................................................................................. 57 8.3.2 The future programme ................................................................................................................. 57 8.4 Grievance mechanism ............................................................................................................................ 64 8.4.1 Grievance mechanism general principles ..................................................................................... 64 8.4.2 Timescales in addressing grievances ............................................................................................ 64 8.4.3 Registering of grievances .............................................................................................................. 66 8.4.4 Mediation Committee 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