The Sustainable Forests and Livelihoods (SUFAL) project is not expected to necessitate any land acquisitions and resettlement, this Resettlement Policy Framework (RPF), nevertheless, has been prepared to address any involuntary resettlement impacts of the proposed SUFAL project in compliance with the national regulatory as well as WB policy requirements OP/BP 4.12. Similarly, a separate Process Framework (PF) has also been prepared in anticipation of possibility that during the project’s implementation, access to land and forest-based natural resources by some forest-based communities and households could be restricted, with adverse impacts on their livelihoods. Finally, a Small Ethnic Community Development Framework (SECDF) is also prepared in compliance with World Bank’s OP/BP 4.10 on Indigenous Peoples.
Objectives of the Resettlement Policy Framework (RPF)
This RPF overall will serve as the guideline for BFD to oversee and monitor the social safeguards compliance on resettlement of the project components coming under their implementation responsibility. The specific objectives will be the following:
- Social screening for identifying implications of project interventions on involuntary resettlement;
- Carry out social impact assessment and community consultation;
- Inventory of loss of assets and impacts
- Preparation and implementation of resettlement action plans (RAP)
- Provision resources and institutional arrangement including grievance redress; and
- Measures for monitoring of involuntary resettlement.
Project interventions and potential resettlement impacts
The project interventions involve both afforestation and reforestation, repair or upgrade of infrastructure works as well as certain alternative livelihoods interventions with the target communities. There is no land acquisition, hence above interventions have no adverse social impacts including loss or diminished means of livelihoods, as a result of displacement. Possible social risks and impacts foreseen for the Project activities are based on preliminary ideas and as well as feedback received from community level consultations and field observations. None of this suggests that any land acquisition is required under the project. Nevertheless, as a precautionary measure, this resettlement policy framework (RPF) has been prepared for implementation level guidance in assessment of impacts, preparation of resettlement action plan and implementation of the same.
Following basic categories of involuntary resettlement impacts may take place under this project, though acquisition of resources, structures, land and large-scale loss of livelihood are highly unlikely as there will be no new land acquisition and no loss of public infrastructure. Potential resettlement and livelihood impact under each of the component activities have been anticipated to be minimum. Component specific social impacts including involuntary resettlement and livelihoods impacts have been summarized below:
Component wise impact
Component activities and Sub-Components | Potential Impacts |
Component 1: Strengthening Institutional Development, Information Systems and Training | |
1.1 Strengthening Organizational Capacity 1.2 Applied Research and Training 1.3 Strengthening Information Management Systems and Forest Inventory 1.4 Communications & Outreach | This component will be helpful for involuntary resettlement screening, gender based disaggregated data collection, appropriate beneficiary selection, skills development, alternative income generation, decision-making, knowledge management, assessment and management. Adequate staff resources will be ensured with BFD for social safeguards management in project cycle. |
Component 2 : Collaborative Forests and Protected Areas Management | |
2.1 Institutionalizing Collaborative Forest Management (CFM) 2.2 Restoration of Degraded Forests, Plantations & Coastal Green Belt 2.3 Improving Protected Areas and Wildlife Management | No land acquisition but construction of small-scale infrastructure may induce involuntary displacement of formal and informal users of existing land. There may also be issues of inclusion of small ethnic community, gender, public health risks and labor influx associated with the activities No involuntary displacement issues will be associated. There may also be issues of inclusion of small ethnic communities, gender, vulnerable groups, public health risks and labor influx associated with the activities. |
Component 3: Alternative Income Generating Activities (AIGAs) | |
3.1 Community Mobilization and organization 3.2 Community Livelihood Grants for AIGAs 3.3 Extension Services for Trees Outside Forests | Alternative livelihoods improvement program – no involuntary resettlement issues are expected. Small infrastructure construction may be involved on existing available land upon confirmation of negative social attributes. The program will follow all-inclusive selection and placement approach. |
Component 4: Project Management and Monitoring | |
4.1 Project Management 4.2 Project Monitoring | This component will be conducive for involuntary resettlement screening, transparency and accountability, measuring the result of performance against the target, assessment and management. Adequate staff resources will be ensured with BFD for social safeguards management in project cycle. |
To minimize impacts, the SUFAL project will promote Community Based Forest Management (CFM) by involving the communities and the stakeholders in forest management. PAPs whose livelihood are based on the forest resources will also be provided new income opportunities that are non-land-based and guarantee incomes through alternative income generation activities (AIGAs). The project will also support the communities with small infrastructure development works in an effort to mitigate the potential negative impacts.
Bengali 