Environmental and Social Impact Assessment - Gibe III

Gibe III – Environmental and Social Impact Assessment 300 ENV R CS 002 C - A9003099
overall goal. The policy contains sectoral and cross-sectoral policies and also has provisions required for the
appropriate implementation of the policy itself.
The section of the EPE concerning ESIA sets out a number of policies, key elements of which may be
summarised as follows:
• recognition of the need for ESIA to address social, socio-economic, political and cultural impacts, in
addition to physical and biological impacts, and for public consultation to be integrated within ESIA
procedures;
• incorporation of impact containment measures within the design process for both public and private
sector development projects, and for mitigation measures and accident contingency plans to be
incorporated within environmental impact statements (EISs);
• creation of a legal framework for the ESIA process, together with a suitable and co-ordinated
institutional framework for the execution and approval of ESIAs and environmental audits;
• development of detailed technical sectoral guidelines for ESIA and environmental auditing;
• development of ESIA and environmental auditing capacity and capabilities within the Environmental
Protection Authority, sectoral ministries and agencies, as well as in the regions.
The thorough and holistic approach taken to development of the policy and, in particular, recognition of the
importance of addressing cross-sectoral environmental issues, has led to a national approach to
environmental management, which is not only comprehensive, but also provides a sound and rational basis
for addressing the environmental problems faced by the country now and those which are anticipated over
the next decade.
Implementation of the EPE is still very much in its early stages, but a number of key elements either has
been or are in the process of realisation. Some of these are referred to in the following sections.
2.2.4 Ethiopian Water Resources management Policy
The Ministry of Water Resources has formulated the Federal Water Resource Management Policy (WRMP)
for a comprehensive and integrated water resource management. The overall goal of the policy is to enhance
and promote all national efforts towards the efficient, equitable and optimum utilisation of the available
water resources of the country for significant socio-economic development on sustainable basis. The specific
objectives of the policy include:
• Promote the development of the water resources of the country for economic and social benefits of
the people, on equitable and sustainable basis;
• Allocate and apportion the water, based on comprehensive and integrated plans and optimum
allocation principles that incorporate efficiency of use, equity of access, and sustainability of
resources;
• Manage and combat drought as well as other drought associated impacts, and disasters through
efficient allocation, redistribution, transfer, storage and efficient use of water resources; and
• Conserve, protect and enhance water resources and the overall aquatic environment on sustainable
basis.
The policy requires water resources schemes and projects to have “Environmental Impact Assessment and
Evaluation”.
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