afghanistan combating land degradation and biodiv …...sustainable rangeland management and...

5/13/2019 Global Environment Facility (GEF) Operations

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Project Identi�cation Form (PIF) entry – Full Sized Project – GEF - 7

Combating land degradation and biodiversity loss by promoting sustainable rangeland management and biodiversity conservation inAfghanistan

Part I: Project Information

GEF ID10169

Project TypeFSP

Type of Trust FundGET

Project TitleCombating land degradation and biodiversity loss by promoting sustainable rangeland management and biodiversity conservation in Afghanistan

CountriesAfghanistan,

Agency(ies)FAO,

Other Executing Partner(s) Executing Partner Type

Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL) Government



GEF Focal AreaMulti Focal Area

TaxonomyBiodiversity, Focal Areas, Desert, Biomes, Grasslands, Agriculture and agrobiodiversity, Mainstreaming, Land Degradation, Food Security, Sustainable LandManagement, Ecosystem Approach, Sustainable Agriculture, Sustainable Pasture Management, Community-Based Natural Resource Management, Restoration andRehabilitation of Degraded Lands, Sustainable Livelihoods

Rio MarkersClimate Change MitigationClimate Change Mitigation 1

Climate Change AdaptationClimate Change Adaptation 0

Duration60 In Months

Agency Fee($)561,150

Submission Date4/5/2019



A. Indicative Focal/Non-Focal Area Elements

Programming Directions Trust Fund GEF Amount($) Co-Fin Amount($)

BD-1-1 GET 2,385,000 12,000,000

LD-1-1 GET 3,521,850 18,000,000

Total Project Cost ($) 5,906,850 30,000,000



B. Indicative Project description summary

Project Component FinancingType

Project Outcomes Project Outputs TrustFund

GEFAmount($)

Co-FinAmount($)

1. National andprovincial capacity,coordination andplanning mechanisms

TechnicalAssistance

Outcome 1:

National and provincialcapacity and coordinationmechanisms in placesupporting integrated landuse planning forsustainable rangelandmanagement andbiodiversity conservation.

Indicators:

· Number of nationaland provincial levelplanning, coordination andmonitoring mechanisms inplace.

Target: at least 4.

· Number ofstakeholders withincreased capacity toapply integrated planningmechanisms forsustainable rangelandmanagement andbiodiversity conservation.

1.1 Cross-sectoral coordination mechanismestablished at national and provincial levels tosupport integrated land use planning andbiodiversity conservation.

1.2 Capacity building programme on integrated landuse planning, sustainable rangeland managementand biodiversity conservation developed andimplemented for national and provincialstakeholders from relevant sectors[1].

1.3 National database on land degradation andassociated biodiversity loss developed in aconsultative process using LADA-WOCAT tools[1],building on existing national databases/data centresestablished in MAIL and NEPA.

1.4 Policy recommendations formulated onintegrated land use planning and biodiversityconservation, including on LDN target setting.

1.5 Indicators and monitoring system on landdegradation and biodiversity developed andincorporated into the National ‘Centre of Excellence’(including socio-economic and gender indicators).

GET 900,000 6,000,000

Project Objective

To combat land degradation and biodiversity loss by promoting sustainable rangeland management and biodiversity conservation in vulnerable landscapes ofeastern Afghanistan (Khost, Laghman, Nuristan).

[2]



Target: 100 (of which atleast 25% women).

· University curriculum/program formally adoptedby major university.

Target: by year 4.

1.6 University curriculum/degree program on landrestoration and biodiversity conservation developedand implementation supported at one majoruniversity.

[1] Land Degradation Assessment in Dryland Areas(LADA) – World Overview of ConservationApproaches and Technologies (WOCAT). This refersto a set of tools and methodologies developed forassessing and mapping land degradation andSustainable Land Management (SLM) at differentspatial and temporal scales. See alsohttp://www.fao.org/3/a-i3241e.pdf.

[2] Land Degradation Neutrality.

[1] Such as MAIL, NEPA, MRRD, MEW, provincialgovernment, universities and other stakeholders.

2. Integratedmanagement andrestoration ofdegraded landscapesfor biodiversityconservation andsustainable rangelandmanagement

Investment

Outcome 2:

Local stakeholders intarget landscapes applyimproved rangelandmanagement practices toenhance biodiversity,increase productivity andrestore/rehabilitatedegraded land.

Indicators:

Area of degradedlandscapes underrestoration/ rehabilitation

2.1 Detailed spatial analysis of land degradation,water resources and biodiversity in targetlandscapes conducted to inform cross-sectorallandscape management and biodiversityconservation.

2.2 CBNRM plans and district/provincial land-useplans developed through gender-sensitivecommunity consultations, promoting landdegradation neutrality and conservation of globallysigni�cant biodiversity in the target landscapes.

2.3 Implementation of community-based sustainable pasture management practicessupported in target districts, including through

GET 4,270,000 17,800,000

[1]

http://www.fao.org/3/a-i3241e.pdf



and improvedmanagement based onSLM[1]

· best practices andtraditional knowledge,bene�ting biodiversity andlocal livelihoods.

Target: 140,000 ha.

· Area of critical habitatfor targeted species inproduction landscapesincluded in CBNRMplans .

Target: to be de�nedduring PPG.

· Number ofhouseholds with increasedincome from value chainsdeveloped by the project.

Target: 450 households.

[1] Details to be assessedduring PPG.

[1] Sustainable LandManagement.

sustainable and climate-resilient fodder productionand sustainable water capture and managementthat bene�t both livestock production and wildlife.

2.4 Rehabilitation/ restoration of priority landdegradation hotspots and biodiversity areas inrangelands and adjacent forest areas supported.

2.5 Community-based associations and enterprisesstrengthened that enhance local capacity forprocessing and value-adding of sustainablerangeland products (such as medicinal plants andlivestock products).

2.6 Community-based conservation of criticalbiodiversity and habitat in the target landscapesimplemented.

[1] Community-based natural resourcesmanagement.

[1]



3. Capacity buildingand knowledgemanagement tosupport projectimplementation,replication andscaling up

TechnicalAssistance

Outcome 3:

Key national and localstakeholders haveimproved knowledge andcapacity to implementsustainable rangelandmanagement andbiodiversity conservation.

Indicators:

· Number ofstakeholders (women andmen) with increasedknowledge and capacity toapply sustainable grazingpractices.

Target: 1,000 (at least 25%women).

3.1 Farmer-/pastoralist-centric, gender-sensitive �eldschools implemented on sustainable rangelandmanagement and biodiversity-friendly practices,such as improved grazing management, animalhealth, and avoiding high biodiversity areas whileenhancing productivity on existing pastureland.

3.2 Knowledge products developed anddisseminated on sustainable rangelandmanagement, restoration best practices andbiodiversity conservation through the National‘Centre of Excellence’ at MAIL as well as through useof innovative information and mobile technology.

3.3 NEPA’s institutional capacity strengthened tosupport policy recommendations, knowledgesharing and project monitoring and evaluation.

[1] National Environmental Protection Agency.

[1] Such as posters, digital stories, publications, bestpractice documents and guidelines.

GET 455,571 5,000,000

Sub Total ($) 5,625,571 28,800,000

Project Management Cost (PMC)

GET 281,279 1,200,000

Sub Total($) 281,279 1,200,000

Total Project Cost($) 5,906,850 30,000,000

[1]

[1]



C. Indicative sources of Co-�nancing for the Project by name and by type

Sources of Co-�nancing Name of Co-�nancier Type of Co-�nancing Investment Mobilized Amount($)

Government MAIL In-kind Recurrent expenditures 11,000,000

Government National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA) In-kind Recurrent expenditures 5,000,000

Government Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD) In-kind Recurrent expenditures 4,700,000

Donor Agency FAO-GCF Grant Investment mobilized 5,300,000

GEF Agency FAO In-kind Recurrent expenditures 2,000,000

Private Sector Local private sector Grant Investment mobilized 2,000,000

Total Project Cost($) 30,000,000

Describe how any "Investment Mobilized" was identi�edThe investment mobilized was identi�ed during the EOI and PIF formulation (November 2018 – March 2019) through consultations with partners and keystakeholders. Recurrent expenditure refers to operating expenditures and applies to all indicated in-kind co-�nancing. Investment mobilized is used for grant co-�nancing that is mobilized during project preparation or implementation and excludes recurrent expenditures.



D. Indicative Trust Fund Resources Requested by Agency(ies), Country(ies), Focal Area and the Programming of Funds

Agency Trust Fund Country Focal Area Programming of Funds Amount($) Fee($) Total($)

FAO GET Afghanistan Biodiversity BD STAR Allocation 2,385,000 226,574 2,611,574

FAO GET Afghanistan Land Degradation LD STAR Allocation 3,521,850 334,576 3,856,426

Total GEF Resources($) 5,906,850 561,150 6,468,000



E. Project Preparation Grant (PPG)

Agency Trust Fund Country Focal Area Programming of Funds Amount($) Fee($)

FAO GET Afghanistan Biodiversity BD STAR Allocation 80,754 7,672

FAO GET Afghanistan Land Degradation LD STAR Allocation 119,246 11,328

Total Project Costs($) 200,000 19,000

Please provide justi�cationAdditional costs required to be compliant with the UNDSS measures.

PPG Amount ($)

200,000

PPG Agency Fee ($)

19,000



Core Indicators

Indicator 3 Area of land restored

Ha (Expected at PIF)Ha (Expected at CEOEndorsement) Ha (Achieved at MTR) Ha (Achieved at TE)

40000.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Indicator 3.1 Area of degraded agricultural land restored


10,000.00

Indicator 3.2 Area of Forest and Forest Land restored


10,000.00



Indicator 3.3 Area of natural grass and shrublands restored


20,000.00

Indicator 3.4 Area of wetlands (incl. estuaries, mangroves) restored


Indicator 4 Area of landscapes under improved practices (hectares; excluding protected areas)


200000.00 0.00 0.00 0.00



Indicator 4.1 Area of landscapes under improved management to bene�t biodiversity (hectares, qualitative assessment, non-certi�ed)


Indicator 4.2 Area of landscapes that meets national or international third party certi�cation that incorporates biodiversity considerations (hectares)


100,000.00

Type/Name of Third Party Certi�cation

Indicator 4.3 Area of landscapes under sustainable land management in production systems




100,000.00

Indicator 4.4 Area of High Conservation Value Forest (HCVF) loss avoided


Documents (Please upload document(s) that justi�es the HCVF)

Title Submitted

Indicator 6 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Mitigated

Total Target Bene�t (At PIF) (At CEO Endorsement) (Achieved at MTR) (Achieved at TE)

Expected metric tons of CO₂e (direct) 1600000.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Expected metric tons of CO₂e (indirect) 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00



Indicator 6.1 Carbon Sequestered or Emissions Avoided in the AFOLU (Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use) sector


Expected metric tons of CO₂e (direct) 1,600,000.00

Expected metric tons of CO₂e (indirect)

Anticipated start year of accounting 2021

Duration of accounting 20

Indicator 6.2 Emissions Avoided Outside AFOLU (Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use) Sector


Expected metric tons of CO₂e (direct)

Expected metric tons of CO₂e (indirect)

Anticipated start year of accounting

Duration of accounting



Indicator 6.3 Energy Saved (Use this sub-indicator in addition to the sub-indicator 6.2 if applicable)

Total Target Bene�tEnergy (MJ) (AtPIF)

Energy (MJ) (At CEOEndorsement)

Energy (MJ) (Achieved atMTR)

Energy (MJ) (Achieved atTE)

Target Energy Saved(MJ)

Indicator 6.4 Increase in Installed Renewable Energy Capacity per Technology (Use this sub-indicator in addition to the sub-indicator 6.2 if applicable)

TechnologyCapacity (MW) (Expected atPIF)

Capacity (MW) (Expected at CEOEndorsement)

Capacity (MW) (Achieved atMTR)

Capacity (MW) (Achieved atTE)

Indicator 11 Number of direct bene�ciaries disaggregated by gender as co-bene�t of GEF investment

Number (Expected atPIF)

Number (Expected at CEOEndorsement) Number (Achieved at MTR) Number (Achieved at TE)

Female 25,000

Male 25,000

Total 50000 0 0 0



Provide additional explanation on targets, other methodologies used, and other focal area speci�cs (i.e., Aichi targets in BD) including justi�cationwhere core indicator targets are not provided



Part II. Project Justi�cation

1a. Project Description

1) Global environmental and/or adaptation problems, root causes and barriers that need to be addressed

Afghanistan is a landlocked, mountainous country located in the arid sub-tropics of South Central Asia. It has an area of 647,500 km², making it the 41largest nation in the world. The climate is arid and semi-arid with cold winters and hot summers that vary substantially from one region to another due to thedramatic topography. The wet season, including the snow season, usually runs from winter through early spring, but the country on the whole is dry, and isclassi�ed as having a Desert or Desert Steppe climate . With a population of about 35 million[2], Afghanistan is the 39 most populous nation in the world.According to the Human Development Index for 2018, Afghanistan is ranked 169 among 193 United Nations member states[3]. Afghanistan also ranksamong the countries most vulnerable to climate change, and among the most food insecure countries in the world[4]. In addition, up to 80% of the Afghanpopulation depend on natural resources and associated biological diversity for their livelihoods[5].

Population growth is estimated at 2.03% based on population estimates in 1979 as compared to today , and the estimated urban population is 23.6%, asigni�cant rise from 20% in 2004 . Urban population growth is largely driven by rural to urban migration, forced internal displacement and returningrefugees . In addition to rural and urban dwellers, an estimated 6% of the population are nomadic kuchi herders . Decades of armed con�ict havedestroyed the country’s infrastructure, damaged its institutions, and led to widespread poverty and underdevelopment, which collectively underpinAfghanistan’s vulnerability and lack of adaptive capacity.

Large parts of Afghanistan are affected by land degradation and deserti�cation. Most of the country has been classi�ed as having ‘degraded soil’ , and it isestimated that 80% of the land area is at risk of soil erosion . Land degradation is mainly caused by overgrazing and deforestation, which in turn is one ofthe largest contributors to deserti�cation in Afghanistan. The Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL) reported that deserti�cation inAfghanistan currently affects over 75% of the land area in the northern, western and southern regions . Degradation and deserti�cation present a signi�cantrisk to livestock grazing. Livestock products from rangelands form the basis of livelihoods for more than 80% of Afghan households and contribute more than50% to the agricultural GDP . Current rates of land degradation and deserti�cation will be exacerbated by climate change, which is predicted to causedecreases in mean annual rainfall and increased temperatures .

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Despite increasing droughts and pervasive water-scarcity issues, the country is not considered water-poor. Between its �ve major river basins, indicatorssuggest Afghanistan has an overall surface water availability of 2,775 cubic meters per capita per year . However, the water availability varies widely withinand across river and sub-river basins, and this distribution of water does not always correspond with the location of irrigable land and populations. Forexample, the Northern River Basin holds 20% of all irrigated land, but only 3% of the country’s total water resources �ow within the basin’s hydrologicalborders. This amounts to less than 700 cubic meters per capita per year, which is very close to absolute water scarcity . The Kabul River Basin is alsoextremely water-stressed, and both drought and �ood events pose a severe threat to agricultural production, rural livelihoods, and poverty reduction.

At present, the rangelands of Afghanistan occupy about 30 million hectares, representing roughly 45% of the country’s territory. However large areas which areconsidered ‘barren land’ or ‘waste land’ are also used for grazing, particularly in winter. The total grazeable area is therefore much larger, estimated at 70-85%of the total land area, providing habitat and forage for nearly 35 million livestock as well as numerous wild animals. Indirectly rangelands have signi�cantexport potential and generate income for the rural population via livestock sub-products such as carpets and rugs, wool, and medicinal plants (Ferrula,Bunicum, Rosa, etc). Regrettably the country’s many rangelands are in poor condition, with overgrazing a common problem, while competition betweenfarmers for the use of scarce productive rangelands is increasing. The key characteristics of most rangelands in Afghanistan are those of shared, freeresources in which the quantity and quality of the pasture in any one year is governed primarily by the rainfall and snow in that year. The lack of long-termmanagement agreements means there is no incentive for herders to conserve or invest in pastureland. Moreover, grazing patterns have changed ascon�ict, land claims and drought have affected traditional grazing routes.

In addition, vegetation cover has reduced as shrubs and trees are cut for fuel, wheat straw is removed for animal feed and construction, lands are overgrazedand over cultivated, rangelands are exploitatively cultivated for rainfed wheat production (and thereafter left degraded), and human settlements encroach onproductive agricultural land. These reductions in vegetation cover increase the rate of soil-moisture evaporation, reduce water in�ltration, resulting in runoffand erosion.

A few centuries ago, deciduous and evergreen forests covered 5% of Afghanistan’s current land area, including one million hectares of oak and two millionhectares of pine and cedar growing mostly in the eastern part of the country[21]. Open woodland dominated by pistachios, almonds and junipers occupied anadditional 33% of the land area. This is no longer the situation today. Natural forests now occupy less than one million hectares (1.51% of total land area)[22],with nearly half of those forests having less than 10% crown density[23]. The largest forested areas are located in a few of the eastern provinces, but remotesensing of these provinces in 1977 and 2002 showed forest cover in them had been reduced by more than 50%[24]. From 2000 to 2005, the forest declined ata rate of 3%, or 30,000 hectares, a year[25]. This forest decline has implications for groundwater tables which appear to be precipitously declining[26], and forsoil erosion, which currently affects over 80% of Afghanistan’s land[27]. The primary factors causing this forest and woody cover loss are overgrazing and theunsustainable collection of fuelwood. Woody cover has been extensively degraded in some areas where communities are now making use of economicallyvaluable species such as pistachios and almonds for fuelwood. Although there have been several initiatives implemented in degraded forest and woodlandareas to reduce deforestation over the years , con�ict has slowed the development of large‑scale restoration projects and has hindered the bene�ts forcommunities.

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All of the environmental decline noted above has unsurprisingly threatened much of Afghanistan’s wildlife. For example, �amingos have not bred successfullyin Afghanistan for about ten years; Siberian cranes have not been observed for over 20 years. Several mammalian species, such as the Caspian tiger (Pantheratigris virgata) or cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus ventucus), are on the verge of global extinction and have not been seen in Afghanistan for decades. Otherthreatened species include the markhor (Capra falconeri), which is endemic to Afghanistan and adjacent territories. Much of Afghanistan’s biodiversity ishighly dynamic with cross-border and seasonal migration being the norm. As entire ecosystems disappear and or degrade, these migration routes disappearwith them. The Wakhan Corridor in the east is one of the few intact high mountain ecosystems, home to populations of endangered snow leopards and othermammals, including the Marco Polo sheep[29].

Target landscapes

The target provinces have been selected based on the following criteria, in consultation with relevant stakeholders:

· Evidence of environmental threats and land degradation from unsustainable agricultural and livestock production.

· Provinces that are particularly vulnerable to food insecurity and climate shocks, in particular based on latest IPC[30] report.

· Presence of globally important biodiversity and habitats.

· Presence of co-�nancing and partners.

· Accessibility but also balance with other investments.

· Balance of different ethnic groups.

· Potential for applying an integrated landscape approach generating multiple global environmental bene�ts.

Khost, Laghman, and Nuristan Provinces in eastern Afghanistan are among the most vulnerable provinces of the country[31]. The three provinces areparticularly prone to natural disasters such as landslides, erosion and drought. This affects both livestock as well as rain-fed and irrigated agricultureproduction. The three provinces are also affected by con�ict and internal displacement. In addition, the eastern provinces are projected to experience thehighest increase in average temperatures in the country due to climate change[32]. Nuristan is also among the provinces most affected by soildegradation[33], while Khost and Laghman are moderately affected.

The three target provinces are among the most biologically diverse areas of Afghanistan[34]. They host globally signi�cant biodiversity, among which are �veglobally‐threatened large mammal species: snow leopard, markhor, urial, musk deer Moschus cupreus and Asiatic black bear Ursus thibetanus, as well asmigratory birds and endemic plant species . The three provinces are partially located in the vulnerable Hindu Kush Alpine Meadow, East Afghan MontaneConifer Forests, and Baluchistan Xeric Woodlands ecoregions. Although increasingly under threat from illegal logging, large tracts of natural conifer forest canstill be found in the less accessible parts of Nuristan Province[36]. The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) has undertaken wildlife studies in Nuristan andhas con�rmed the identity and distribution of mammal species in the area[37]. Nuristan National Park along the border between Badakhshan and Nuristan

[35]



Provinces is among the proposed protected areas in Afghanistan. Nuristan also hosts the Pech and Waygal valleys Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA),which has a typical and representative west Himalayan breeding avifauna, with at least 53 breeding species.[38] Forest and shrubs cover 28% of Khost, 25.5%of Laghman, and 25.8% of Nuristan[39], and rangelands represent the largest land cover category in all three provinces.

Khost has a population of about 546,800, with Pashtun people representing the majority of the population. The total area of the province is 4,151 km andapproximately 63% of the province is mountainous. Fruits and nuts represent the largest share in crop production (53%). Other important crops include wheat,maize, alfalfa, and clover. Most farmers have livestock such as poultry, cattle, goats, and sheep. Opportunities for agricultural improvement include, amongothers, grazing management and pasture improvement, postharvest, value adding and processing, and irrigation.[40]

Laghman has a population of about 445,600, which is multi-ethnic and mostly a rural society. The province has a total area of 3,843 km². More than half of theprovince is mountainous (55%). Laghman is also a Kuchi (nomadic herdsmen) pastoral destination. Unlike other provinces, Laghman has a large number ofvillages that grow one industrial crop or another: cotton, sugar, sesame, tobacco, and olives. However, the majority of these villages (47%) grow cotton. Fruitand nuts (37%) make up the biggest share in total crop production. The most important �eld crops grown in Laghman are wheat and rice. Most farmers havelivestock; sheep and goats are the most prevalent. Financial services for farmers, animal husbandry, pasture improvement, horticulture and nurseryimprovement, value adding/processing, and irrigation are some potential areas for development.[41]

Nuristan is one of the poorest and most remote provinces of Afghanistan. It has a total area of 9,225 km and a total population of 140,900, mostly of theNuristani ethnic group. Nuristan is also one of the most impassable regions. Most of the province is mountainous (99%), while just 1% is made up of �at landtowards the Kabul River Basin. Crops and livestock are the main source of income for households in Nuristan (88%). The agriculture sector suffers due to thelack of su�cient technology and infrastructure for water and irrigation systems. Farmers produce cheese, butter, and milk and also export goats and cows toother provinces in the country. Agriculture is mainly based on crops like maize, wheat, beans, walnuts, mulberries, potatoes, and animal products such aseggs, milk, cheese, yogurt, butter, and wool. Handicrafts and small industries include rug and honey production. Irrigation system improvement, �nancialservices for farmers, animal breeding, veterinary services, value adding/processing, and post-harvest technology have been noted as potential areas forimprovement.

The Government of Afghanistan has made sustainable agriculture and livestock production and natural resources management a top priority in the country’sdevelopment, with a particular focus on Community-Based Natural Resources Management (CBNRM). Notably, MAIL has formulated a NationalComprehensive Agriculture Development Priority Program (2016-2020), a National Natural Resource Management (NRM) Strategy (2017-2021), and a NationalDry Lands Agriculture Policy (2018) in support of sustainable production and natural resources management.

The proposed GEF intervention aims to support government efforts aimed at addressing the environmental problems above by promoting sustainablerangeland management and biodiversity conservation in vulnerable landscapes of eastern Afghanistan. In order to do so, the following barriers to effectivelycombating land degradation and biodiversity loss need to be addressed.

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· Barrier 1. Limited national and landscape-level planning mechanisms to support sustainable rangeland management and biodiversity conservation

Although CBNRM and integrated watershed management are key approaches of Afghanistan’s NRM Strategy and its Water Sector Strategy, there is still limitedcapacity for integrated planning and management at the national and landscape level. Interventions are often sector-based, i.e. they are focused on eitherwater, forests, rangelands, or agriculture. Integrated planning, taking a watershed or landscape approach, is critical to holistically address the challenges ofunsustainable agriculture and livestock production and associated land degradation and biodiversity loss. For an integrated and strategic planning of land andwater resources, there is a need for linking both spatial analysis and participatory planning involving several government agencies including MAIL, NEPA, theMinistry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD), the Ministry of Energy and Water (MEW), local government, but also civil society, universities and theprivate sector.

Much of Afghanistan’s land is currently under communal land tenure. Consequently, various stakeholders have access to resources for both legal and illegalexploitation. These users have few incentives for ensuring the sustainability of resource consumption or for the conservation of resources and biodiversity. Asa result, short‑term interests are prioritised at the expense of long‑term bene�ts. In addition, these resource users often have a limited understanding of theimpacts of land and forest degradation on the sustainable production of ecosystem goods and services. An improved understanding of resource availability,along with enhanced, participatory planning mechanisms, would result in bene�ts of resource conservation being recognized and greater incentivisation ofsustainable land use practices.

· Barrier 2. Lack of experience, capacity, education and best practices for sustainable rangeland management, land restoration and biodiversityconservation

Despite numerous government and donor-funded initiatives on CBNRM, sustainable land and water management, and resilient livelihoods, there is still a lackof experience and best practices for mainstreaming sustainable rangeland management, land restoration and biodiversity conservation at scale, leading to thesustainable use of Afghanistan’s production landscapes. In addition, low productivity and unsustainable practices are often due to a lack of knowledge andcapacity among farmers, pastoralists, extension workers and other actors involved in the agriculture and livestock sectors. There are also no formal university-level degree programs in country that focus on the environment and natural resource management, though there are isolated courses. As a result of this, asmentioned above, there is a dearth of professionals with fundamental skills in these areas who are able to pass their knowledge on to resource users and on-the-ground practitioners. Where skills exist, it is often picked up piecemeal through on-the-job training and is insu�cient to thoughtfully and sustainablyimplement natural resource management projects. Moreover, there is limited capacity for processing and value-adding of sustainable rangeland products.Several donor-funded projects have focused on developing value chains and increasing farmer/herder incomes. However, they are generally not part of anintegrated approach linking production with sustainable natural resource management.

· Barrier 3. Insu�cient data and knowledge, and management and sharing of these data to inform appropriate decision making and planning



There is currently a lack of data on the status of land degradation and biodiversity loss. There is also a lack of information and knowledge on current andproposed interventions to address unsustainable production practices, mainstream biodiversity and restore degraded land, and a lack of knowledge ofintegrated, holistic approaches to sustainable rangeland management, linking biodiversity, land and water resources conservation, food security, resilience,and sustainable livelihoods of farmers and pastoralists. There is a need to compile and update data in order to mobilize support for the most critical areas andinterventions. Further, as noted above, a pervasive problem is the lack of education about these issues. A strong theoretical foundation and the ability tounderstand and research NRM issues is key to better NRM and climate response. An NRM- and environmentally-trained cadre of professionals are needed toimplement GEF and related programs and build a strong knowledge base within the country.

2) Baseline scenario and any associated baseline projects

Government plans and programmes

As highlighted above, the Government of Afghanistan has made sustainable agriculture and livestock production and natural resources management a toppriority in the country’s development. It has issued a National Natural Resource Management Strategy (2017-2021), promoting the concept of Community-Based Natural Resources Management (CBNRM). It has also formulated a National Comprehensive Agriculture Development Priority Program (2016-2020)and associated Interministerial Implementation Plan (2019-2023). Furthermore, the government has issued a National Dry Lands Agriculture Policy in 2018. Ithas also formulated a National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) under the Convention on Biological Diversity in 2014, and a NationallyDetermined Contribution (NDC) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in 2015.

An amendment of the existing Rangeland Law was drafted by MAIL in 2007 (pending approval), aiming to provide an enhanced framework for theadministration, management, and use of rangelands and rangeland resources in Afghanistan. Its purpose is to recognize and formalize the custodianship,management and use rights of communities and other users, to establish a legal framework for bringing all rangelands under community custodianship, andto de�ne the regulatory, advisory and mediating role of the Government of Afghanistan in relation to pastures. The draft includes detailed provisions for theadministration of rangelands, including ownership and user rights, con�ict resolution and rationalization of access rights of private, community, and publicrangelands. In addition to the Rangeland Law, MAIL developed a Rangeland Management Policy in 2012 in order to provide a framework and roadmap for therehabilitation and protection of the country’s rangelands to ensure that they are used in a productive, sustainable, and equitable manner by both sedentary andmigratory populations.

Importantly, the government has also recently undertaken efforts for establishing Community Development Councils (CDCs), Provincial and DistrictDevelopment Committees (PDCs and DDCs), Forest Management Associations (FMAs), as well as Rangeland Management Associations (RMAs). MRRD hasestablished mechanisms for engagement with communities under the Citizen Charter Programme (CCP) and detailed district pro�les and resource maps havebeen developed in a participatory process. The CCP supports decentralised planning and engagement with communities, civil society and public institutions. Itrepresents an important mechanism for mobilising stakeholders and catalysing change at the local level.

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MAIL’s Natural Resource Management Directorate (NRM) is implementing several projects in support of the NRM Strategy. Its Deserti�cation control andgreenery project aims to improve rangeland management in 30 target provinces through the provision of �ve project interventions, namely: i) establishinglivestock reproduction centres; ii) providing water provisions; iii) planting for rangeland restoration; iv) establishing windbreaks for sand dunes; and v) plantingand promoting medicinal plants. The Forest restoration and protection project is implemented across 20 provinces in Afghanistan and aims to improveconservation and management of forest ecosystems. This will be done by: i) reforestation of pistachio and pine forest; ii) protection of forests; iii) monitoringforest resource use; iv) establishing forest management associations; v) developing alternative income‑generating projects; and vi) raising public awarenessabout forest protection and forestry laws. The Community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) project aims to strengthen community‑basedmanagement of natural resources across more than 10 provinces in the country, including interventions such as i) raising public awareness to reduce pressureon natural resources; ii) establishing woodlots for alternative sources of fuelwood; iii) constructing ‘check dams’ to reduce soil erosion; iv) constructingnurseries; and v) constructing deep‑wells to improve water supply.

Baseline projects

The proposed project also builds on the following baseline investments.

· USAID SERVIR Hindu Kush-Himalaya (2015-2020)

SERVIR is part of a worldwide program that aims to build capacity for analysis of satellite data for various needs in the agriculture, forestry and other land usesector. SERVIR is developing an integrated environmental database and portal for the Hindu-Kush Himalayan region. In Afghanistan, SERVIR is currentlyworking on watershed characterization and on updating the 2010 land cover map. SERVIR is also developing tools and training for stakeholders to improvetheir capacity for data analysis and decision making, and establishing a data management unit within MAIL to sustain a data management portal. SERVIR hasnot yet generated comprehensive data on land degradation, erosion and deserti�cation, but there is potential to develop this in collaboration with the proposedproject.

· IFAD Agricultural Development: Community Livestock and Agriculture Project (CLAP) and Support to National Priority Programme 2 (SNaPP2) (2012-2021)

The goal of IFAD’s CLAP project is to increase agricultural and livestock productivity, and improve food security, for almost 170,000 rural households inselected districts of Kabul, Parwan and Logar provinces. The project also aims to reduce gender disparities by increasing the social and economic status ofwomen. The goal of the SNaPP 2 project is to contribute to improving the food security and economic status of poor rural households in the three selectedprovinces (Balkh, Herat and Nangarhar). The programme has two objectives: (i) institutional development and capacity-building of community organizations,public extension services and relevant private sector entities; and (ii) sustained increased incomes for small farmers and herders fostered by improvements inproductivity and output, infrastructure and market linkages. Moreover, a concept for a new IFAD programme is currently under development. The proposedproject will coordinate closely with IFAD in order to explore synergies and enhance impact across the food value chain.



· World Bank National Horticulture and Livestock Productivity Project (2013-2020)

The aim of this World Bank project is to promote adoption of improved production practices by target farmers, with gradual rollout of farmer-centricagricultural services systems and investment support. The project supports the government’s efforts to restore the agricultural sector’s productive capacityfrom the negative effects of over 20 years of con�icts. The project promotes increased adoption of improved technologies through interventions in the area of(1) horticultural production, (2) animal production and health, and (3) implementation management and technical assistance support. The project isimplemented in Laghman, Nangarhar, Nuristan, and Kunar Provinces. Additionally, the World Bank is currently developing a project on integrated landscapemanagement for restoration of degraded landscapes, including through social mobilization. The proposed project will coordinate closely with the World Bankto enhance capacity and knowledge of the landscape approach for resilience and productive landscapes in Afghanistan.

· SDC-funded Rangeland Management project (RAMA) (Phase 1, 2018-2022)

The goal of this Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)-funded project is for poor families in the Central Highlands of Afghanistan to improvetheir livelihoods through sustainable natural resource management. This goal will be advanced through two outcomes: 1) women and men make sustainableuse of rangeland resources to improve production and food security and 2) community-based governance institutions improve and manage rangelands in aninclusive and sustainable way. Because this is a pilot phase, a particular emphasis will be on research, documentation, and dissemination of learning from theproject. The project will establish and work with 30 Rangeland Management Associations and 4’500 rural households in 6 target districts of DaykundiProvince. The project will also engage with national, provincial and district level government authorities, notably from the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation andLivestock. The proposed project will aim to exchange lessons learned with this project with regard to rangeland management and CBNRM.

· FAO Country Support Programme

FAO is implementing several programmes and projects in Afghanistan in the areas of agricultural production, livestock, irrigation, emergency assistance,resilience and capacity building. In particular, FAO is implementing the European Union-funded “Strengthening Afghanistan Institutions capacity for theassessment of agriculture production and scenario development” (2016-2019) and has supported Afghanistan in developing a Land Resources InformationManagement System (LRIMS) for monitoring and analysis of agricultural production systems. FAO and MAIL are also currently developing a Soil Map andNational Agro-Ecological Zoning. Furthermore, FAO has introduced the Farmer Field Schools approach to provide training to farmers, develop value chains, andto perform extension activities in collaboration with agricultural technology transfer centres located in each agro-ecological zone.

· Green Climate Fund (GCF) project on Integrated Climate-resilient Watershed Management in the Kabul River Basin (in preparation)

FAO and MAIL have developed a GCF project on Integrated Climate-resilient Watershed Management in the Kabul River Basin, which will be implemented in 10selected districts of Kunar, Kabul, Logar, and Khost Provinces. The project will take a holistic watershed-based approach to build community resilience,improve returns on agricultural investment and reduce the hazards from known and projected climate risks. The �nancing from the GCF will play a critical rolein introducing the watershed approach to climate resilience. The project will address climate change stresses in the water and agriculture sectors in one of themost stressed river basins in the country. Furthermore, the project aims to alter the current farming system by introducing climate-resilient agricultural



practices and crop varieties based on the climate and hydrological information in the project area. It will also build local capacity in community-based forestand rangeland management. The proposed project will work closely with this project to further promote the integrated landscape management approach andscaling interventions for sustainable production systems and restoration.

· Land Degradation Assessment in Dryland Areas (LADA) – World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies (WOCAT)

LADA-WOCAT is a set of tools and methodologies for assessing and mapping land degradation and Sustainable Land Management (SLM) at different spatialand temporal scales, developed under the GEF-funded, FAO-led Land Degradation Assessment in Drylands project (LADA). The proposed project will build onthese tools to develop a national database on land degradation and associated biodiversity loss.

3) Proposed alternative scenario with a brief description of expected outcomes and components of the project

The proposed project will build on the above-mentioned, ongoing efforts to enhance natural resources management, livestock production and livelihoods inorder to achieve a systemic change for global environmental bene�ts. The objective of the proposed project is to combat land degradation and biodiversityloss by promoting sustainable rangeland management and biodiversity conservation in vulnerable landscapes of eastern Afghanistan. The improved practicesof conservation, sustainable management and land restoration resulting from this project will help to reduce pressure on natural habitats and ecosystemsfrom unsustainable production systems. The project will help to restore productivity in degraded pasture systems in Afghanistan’s high-altitude, arid and semi-arid drylands, while generating global environmental bene�ts in the area of biodiversity and land degradation and co-bene�ts in the area of climate change.While the project interventions will not directly target protected areas, the policy recommendations as well as land use plans will also take existing andproposed protected areas into account, in particular the proposed Nuristan National Park and opportunities for enhancing habitat connectivity in the widerlandscape through community-based approaches. The project will be divided into three components as follows (see also Theory of Change in Annex 2).

Component 1. National and provincial capacity, coordination and planning mechanisms

Outcome 1:

The project will develop national and provincial capacity and coordination mechanisms supporting integrated land use planning for sustainable rangelandmanagement and biodiversity conservation. To achieve this, Outcome 1 will be composed of the following outputs.

· Output 1.1 Cross-sectoral coordination mechanism established at national and provincial levels to support integrated land use planning and biodiversityconservation.



· Output 1.2 Capacity building programme on integrated land use planning, sustainable rangeland management and biodiversity conservation developedand implemented for national and provincial stakeholders from relevant sectors. This will include stakeholders such as MAIL, NEPA, MRRD, MEW, provincialgovernment, universities and other stakeholders.

· Output 1.3 National database on land degradation and associated biodiversity loss developed in a consultative process using LADA-WOCAT tools,building on existing national databases/data centres established in MAIL and NEPA. This database will be used for planning and decision making by MAIL,NEPA and other relevant institutions with regard to the project interventions under Component 2, as well as future planning and decision making to supportreplication and scaling.

· Output 1.4 Policy recommendations formulated on integrated land use planning and biodiversity conservation, including on LDN target setting.

· Output 1.5 Indicators and monitoring system on land degradation and biodiversity developed and incorporated into the National ‘Centre of Excellence’(including socio-economic and gender indicators).

· Output 1.6 University curriculum/degree program on land restoration and biodiversity conservation developed and implementation supported at onemajor university.

Component 2. Integrated management and restoration of degraded landscapes for biodiversity conservation and sustainable rangeland management

Outcome 2:

Based on the capacity and coordination mechanisms developed under Outcome 1, the project will aim to bring 140,000 hectares of degraded landscapesunder restoration/rehabilitation and improved management by local stakeholders in the target landscapes to enhance biodiversity, increase productivity andrestore/rehabilitate degraded land. Outcome 2 will be composed of the following outputs.

· Output 2.1 Detailed spatial analysis of land degradation, water resources and biodiversity in target landscapes conducted to inform cross-sectorallandscape management and biodiversity conservation.

· Output 2.2 CBNRM plans and district/provincial land-use plans developed through gender-sensitive community consultations, promoting landdegradation neutrality and conservation of globally signi�cant biodiversity in the target landscapes. The project will make use of existing mechanisms forparticipatory planning, such as the Community Development Councils (CDCs) and Provincial and District Development Committees (PDCs and DDCs). Risks ofleakage or spillover effects (effects on land uses outside the boundaries of the project) will be taken into account in the design of the CBNRM plans and land-use plans.

· Output 2.3 Implementation of community-based sustainable pasture management practices supported in target districts, including through sustainableand climate-resilient fodder production and sustainable water capture and management that bene�t both livestock production and wildlife. Improved grazingmanagement may include measures such as rotational grazing or seasonal enclosure, among others. These measures will be designed based on SLM bestpractices and traditional knowledge. This output will also include supporting climate-smart livestock practices and animal health to increase productivity,enhance resilience and reduce GHG emissions, where relevant. Activities under this output may also involve resolving land tenure issues where relevant.



· Output 2.4 Rehabilitation/restoration of priority land degradation hotspots and biodiversity areas in rangelands and adjacent forest areas supported.

· Output 2.5 Community-based associations and enterprises strengthened that enhance local capacity for processing and value-adding of sustainablerangeland products (such as medicinal plants and livestock products).

· Output 2.6 Community-based conservation of critical biodiversity and habitat in the target landscapes implemented.

Component 3. Capacity building and knowledge management to support project implementation, replication and scaling up

Outcome 3:

This outcome will aim to build capacity of local stakeholders, enhance knowledge sharing and dissemination, and enhance NEPA’s capacity to support projectimplementation and replication and scaling up of sustainable rangeland management and biodiversity conservation. Outcome 3 will be composed of thefollowing outputs.

· Output 3.1 Farmer-/pastoralist-centric, gender-sensitive �eld schools implemented on sustainable rangeland management and biodiversity-friendlypractices, such as improved grazing management, animal health, and avoiding high biodiversity areas while enhancing productivity on existing pastureland, aswell as climate-smart livestock practices.

· Output 3.2 Knowledge products developed and disseminated on sustainable rangeland management, restoration best practices and biodiversityconservation through the National ‘Centre of Excellence’ at MAIL as well as through use of innovative information and mobile technology.

· Output 3.3 NEPA’s institutional capacity strengthened to support policy recommendations, knowledge sharing and project monitoring and evaluation.

4) Alignment with GEF focal area and/or Impact Program strategies

By promoting landscape-level approaches to reduce negative impacts of the livestock sector on ecosystems and biodiversity, the proposed project is alignedwith BD Objective 1, Mainstream biodiversity across sectors as well as landscapes and seascapes. The project applies spatial and land-use planning tools toensure that land and resource use maximizes production without undermining or degrading biodiversity. It incorporates sustainable rangeland managementand biodiversity conservation into provincial, district and community-level plans, thereby contributing to the conservation of globally important biodiversity inthe target landscapes such as the markhor, urial, and musk deer, as well as vulnerable forest and rangeland ecosystems and endemic plant species (includingmedicinal plants) . As mentioned above, while the project interventions will not directly target protected areas, the policy recommendations as well as landuse plans will also take existing and proposed protected areas into account, in particular the proposed Nuristan National Park and opportunities for enhancinghabitat connectivity in the wider landscape through community-based approaches. By promoting land restoration and the sustainable management ofrangelands, the project is further aligned with LD Objective 1, Support on the ground implementation of Sustainable Land Management to achieve LandDegradation Neutrality. The project contributes to avoiding further degradation of land and ecosystems through the sustainable management of production

[2]

[3]



landscapes, addressing the complex interactions between local livelihoods, land degradation, climate change, and environmental security. It also contributesto a resilient, diversi�ed agro-ecological food production system and to land degradation neutrality in the target landscapes. In addition, the project aims tomitigate GHG emissions and increase carbon storage in rangelands.

5) Incremental/additional cost reasoning and expected contributions from the baseline, the GEFTF, LDCF, SCCF, and co-�nancing

The proposed project builds on signi�cant baseline investments by the government and international donors in support of agricultural productivity, naturalresources management, food security, and value chain development for sustainable livelihoods. The targeted GEF intervention will contribute to generatingglobal environmental bene�ts in the area of ecosystem goods and services, land restoration, biodiversity, and GHG emissions reduction. It will speci�cally helpto address barriers with regard to national and landscape-level planning mechanisms, best practices for the large-scale implementation of restoration andsustainable management of degraded landscapes, biodiversity conservation, capacity development for sustainable production, as well as knowledgemanagement and sharing. Without the GEF intervention, Afghanistan’s production landscapes will continue to be degraded, biodiversity will be lost and GHGemission reduction targets will not be achieved.

6) Global environmental bene�ts (GEFTF) and/or adaptation bene�ts (LDCF/SCCF)

The project is expected to generate multiple global environmental bene�ts as well as socio-economic bene�ts. In particular, it will contribute to Afghanistan’scommitment to restore 5.35 million hectares of rangelands and to decrease the rate of biodiversity loss and degradation of natural habitats. The project willaim to mainstream biodiversity in provincial and district-level land use plans while enhancing livelihoods and food security in one of the countries mostvulnerable to climate change and most food insecure in the world. It will, thereby, contribute to the conservation of globally important biodiversity such as themarkhor, urial, and musk deer, as well as vulnerable forest and rangeland ecosystems and endemic plant species (including medicinal plants). By supportingrestoration and sustainable management of rangelands, it is anticipated that the proposed project will generate global environmental bene�ts in the area ofecosystem goods and services (including through improved soil and water management), land restoration, biodiversity, as well as GHG emissions reduction asa co-bene�t. It will also lay the foundations for generating global environmental bene�ts beyond the project duration by introducing national level planning onland degradation, biodiversity and sustainable rangeland management and by supporting knowledge management and sharing for appropriate decisionmaking and planning. Moreover, socio-economic bene�ts will result from reversing land degradation, improved rangeland management and from increasedfood security and resilience. The project area is extremely water-stressed and affected by frequent droughts and �oods, posing a threat to agricultural andlivestock production and rural livelihoods. It is, therefore, anticipated that this project will not only improve resilience and food security, but will also contributeto reducing con�ict and fostering peace.

7) Innovation, sustainability and potential for scaling up



The project is innovative by using a system-wide, national and landscape-level approach to land restoration, sustainable rangeland management andbiodiversity conservation in Afghanistan. This spatial and land-use planning approach, combined with targeted interventions on the ground, is new toAfghanistan. The project is also innovative by combining best practices and traditional knowledge, as well as innovative information and mobile technology forknowledge dissemination, for greater impact within the landscape. Furthermore, it applies an integrated approach of biodiversity conservation, sustainableproduction systems and landscape restoration, supporting both environmental and food security, and introduces the concept of Land Degradation Neutrality insupport of SDG 15.3 as well as national restoration targets. MAIL and NEPA, as well as provincial and local stakeholders, will have a key role in sustaining andreplicating project interventions. Accordingly, institutional capacity building, monitoring and coordination mechanisms, including a university curriculum, havebeen incorporated into the project design in order to build long-term capacity for sustainable rangeland management and biodiversity conservation inAfghanistan and in the target landscapes. Through capacity building at the national and landscape level, a comprehensive knowledge management andplanning approach, and by promoting community-based approaches that bene�t local livelihoods, it is anticipated that the project interventions will besustained and replicated after the project ends.

] Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock. National Natural Resource Management Strategy (2017-2021).

] Such as posters, digital stories, publications, best practice documents and guidelines.

] Details to be assessed during PPG.

] Afghanistan Initial National Communication to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). 2013. Islamic Republic of Afghanistanational Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA).

] O�cial UN population estimates as of February 2018. These exceed o�cial Government estimates, which indicate a population of 31.6 million in 2018-19ttp://cso.gov.af/en/page/demography-and-socile-statistics/demograph-statistics/3897111).

] UNDP Human Development Indicators: http://hdr.undp.org/en/countries/pro�les/AFG, accessed 08/2018.

[4] DARA Climate Vulnerability Monitor (2012); GermanWatch Global Climate Risk Index (2013); Notre Dame Global Adaptation Index (2014);http://www.ipcinfo.org/.

] UNEP and NEPA, 2008. Biodiversity Pro�le of Afghanistan: An Output of the National Capacity Needs Self-Assessment for Global Environment Management (NCSA)r Afghanistan.

] Afghanistan Statistical Yearbook 2016/17, Central Statistics Organization, Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

[7] Afghanistan Statistical Yearbook 2016/17, Central Statistics Organization, Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

] Majidi, N. 2011. Urban Returnees and Internally-Displaced Persons in Afghanistan. Middle East Institute Fondation pour la Recherche Strategique.

] Afghanistan Statistical Yearbook 2016/17, Central Statistics Organization, Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

http://cso.gov.af/en/page/demography-and-socile-statistics/demograph-statistics/3897111

http://hdr.undp.org/en/countries/profiles/AFG

http://www.ipcinfo.org/



0] GRID Arendal. 2001. Land degradation. Available at: http://www.grida.no/publications [accessed 14.02.2017].

1] Saba DS. 2001. Afghanistan: Environmental degradation in a fragile ecological setting. International Journal of Sustainable Development and World Ecology279–289.

2] National Report of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan on the Implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Deserti�cation (UNCCD). 2006. Theinistry of Irrigation and Agriculture of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Kabul.

3] Afghanistan Initial National Communication to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). 2013. Islamic Republic of Afghanistanational Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA).

4] Ali & Shaoliang 2013 Highland rangelands of Afghanistan.

5] A volume of 1,700 cubic meters per capita per year is considered to be su�cient to satisfy the water demands of a population for domestic, agricultural, industrial,nergy and environmental needs. Chenoweth, J. 2007. Minimum water requirement for social and economic development.tp://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/7676/49/minimum_water_requirement7.pdf

6] Water Resources Potential, Quality Problems, Challenges and Solutions in Afghanistan. 2013. DACAAR, Kabul, Afghanistan.

7] Afghanistan Initial National Communication to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). 2013. Islamic Republic of Afghanistanational Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA).


9] UNEP and NEPA, 2008. Deserti�cation, Rangelands and Water Resources Working Group, Final Thematic Report. National Capacity Needs Self-Assessment forobal Environment Management (NCSA) for Afghanistan.

0] National Dry Lands Agriculture Policy. Towards Climate Resilient Agriculture in Afghanistan: A 2030 Vision. MAIL, 2018.

1] Shirzai, A. 2017. Baseline country context – Afghanistan. Published by the UNEP and NEPA with support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grantogram (SGP).

2] FAO, The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Land Cover Atlas, 2016.

3] Afghanistan’s Environment 2008. UN Environment Programme and the National Environmental Protection Agency of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

4] Delattre, E. and H. Rahmani. 2007. A Preliminary Assessment of Forest Cover and Change in the Eastern Forest Complex of Afghanistan. The Wildlife Conservationociety and the US Agency for International Development.

5] State of the Environment Report, 2008.

6] According to anecdotal reports from landowners nationwide, they have been digging wells deeper every year.


http://www.grida.no/publications



8] For example, the Green Afghanistan Initiative (GAIN), which ended in 2010.

9] State of the Environment Report, 2008.

0] Integrated Food Security Phase Classi�cation Assessments. http://www.ipcinfo.org/

1] IPC Acute Food Insecurity Analysis, October 2018.

2] Aich, V. et al. 2017. Climate Change in Afghanistan Deduced from Reanalysis and Coordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment (CORDEX)—South Asiamulations. Climate 5(2): 38-42.

3] https://fscluster.org/sites/default/�les/documents/Level_DegradedLand_AFG2011.pdf

4] Johnson, M.F., et al. Setting priorities for protected area planning in a con�ict zone – Afghanistan’s National Protected Area System Plan. Biol. Conserv. (2012),oi:10.1016/j.biocon.2012.01.021.

5] Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock. National Natural Resource Management Strategy (2017-2021). A more detailedssessment of the biodiversity in the target landscapes and opportunities for conservation will be conducted during the project preparation phase.

6] UNEP and NEPA, 2008. Biodiversity Pro�le of Afghanistan: An Output of the National Capacity Needs Self-Assessment for Global Environment ManagementCSA) for Afghanistan.

7] WCS, 2008. Wildlife Surveys and wildlife conservation in Nuristan, Afghanistan.

8] BirdLife International (2018) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Pech and Waygal valleys. Accessed at http://www.birdlife.org on 07/12/2018.

9] FAO, The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Land Cover Atlas, 2016.

0] UC Davis, 2011. Afghanistan Provincial Agriculture Pro�les. Khost.

1] UC Davis, 2011. Afghanistan Provincial Agriculture Pro�les. Laghman.

2] UC Davis, 2011. Afghanistan Provincial Agriculture Pro�les. Nuristan.

http://www.ipcinfo.org/

https://fscluster.org/sites/default/files/documents/Level_DegradedLand_AFG2011.pdf

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2012.01.021

http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/pech-and-waygal-valleys-iba-afghanistan



1b. Project Map and Coordinates

Please provide geo-referenced information and map where the project interventions will take place.

See maps attached in uploaded documents section, as well as the Annex A of the PIF.

1135022 Laghman, 1444362 Khost, 1444363 Nuristan



2. Stakeholders

Select the stakeholders that have participated in consultations during the project identi�cation phase:

Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities

Civil Society Organizations Yes

Private Sector Entities

If none of the above,please explain why:

In addition, provide indicative information on how stakeholders, including civil society and indigenous peoples, will be engaged in the project preparation, andtheir respective roles and means of engagement.

CONSULTATIONS HAVE BEEN HELD DURING PROJECT IDENTIFICATION WITH GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS. DETAILED CONSULTATIONS WILL BE HELD DURING THE PROJECT

PREPARATION PHASE WITH VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS AT THE NATIONAL AND LANDSCAPE LEVEL, IN PARTICULAR WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND ESPECIALLY WOMEN, TO REFINE THE DETAILED PROJECT

INTERVENTIONS. THE MAIN STAKEHOLDERS AND THEIR POTENTIAL ROLE IN PROJECT DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION ARE SUMMARIZED BELOW.

Name of Institution Role

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

As the GEF Implementing Agency, FAO is responsible for coordinating and ensuring quality control in the design and implementation of the project in line with FAO and GEF requirements.

Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL)

Lead Executing Partner, linking closely with national and landscape-level stakeholders on project implementation, knowledge management, and upscaling and replication. Hosts UNCCD focal point.

National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA)

In charge of policy making. Will be engaged in national and landscape-level planning and knowledge management, as well as capacity building. Hosts UNFCCC and CBD focal points and GEF Operational Focal Point.

Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD)

In charge of rural development. Will be closely involved in the project implementation, in particular for engagement with local communities through the Community Development Committees (CDCs).

Ministry of Energy and Water (MEW) In charge of energy and water infrastructure development. Will be closely involved in project implementation.

Provincial and District Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock Departments (PAIL and DAIL)

In charge of agricultural extension at the provincial and district level.Will be leading project interventions at the landscape level.



Universities, colleges and research institutes Will be involved for knowledge sharing, monitoring and evaluation for LD, CC and BD impacts.

Other relevant national sectors (e.g. Energy, Industry, Transport, Health, Women’s Affairs, Afghanistan Independent Land Authority, Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority)

Will be involved for integrated landscape-level planning and sustainability of project interventions.

Donors, international agencies, Food SecurityCluster of Afghanistan (FSAC) members

Collaborate to maximize use of expertise and experience, and increase awareness, collaboration and replication.

Civil society Engage in national and landscape-level planning, as well as implementation of restoration and sustainable management initiatives and capacity building.

Private sector Engage in value chain development for sustainable food productionsystems.

Local communities (women and men) Consult and engage closely in project design and implementation asthe local stewards of natural resources and bene�ciaries of project interventions.



3. Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment

Brie�y include below any gender dimensions relevant to the project, and any plans to address gender in project design (e.g. gender analysis).

Equality between men and women in Afghanistan is emphasised in national plans and strategies, in particular in the Afghanistan National Strategy on Womenin Agriculture (2015-2020). The National Development Strategy and the National Action Plan for the Women of Afghanistan emphasise the importance ofgender-sensitivity in planning and implementing project activities. The proposed project will closely involve women in the design phase and will further engagethem during the project implementation to ensure that project priorities are gender sensitive. The Ministry of Women’s Affairs and the Provincial Departmentsof Women’s Affairs will be engaged and involved in the project design and implementation. At the local level, women will be involved in decision makingthrough Community Development Councils (CDCs), Rangeland Management Associations (RMAs) and other community-based associations.

Women are key players in agricultural production and natural resources management. They are the primary caretakers of the country’s livestock, the primarywood and water gatherers and are therefore highly impacted when these resources are depleted and land is degraded. Women account for one third (32.8%)of the agricultural workforce; the percentage is as high as 58.6% in the livestock production sub-sector.[1] 70% of rural women are involved in farming,processing or livestock care. It is, therefore, essential to engage women in capacity building and in the implementation of restoration and sustainablemanagement of degraded landscapes.

] Afghanistan Living Conditions Survey 2016-2017. Central Statistics Organization, Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

Does the project expect to include any gender-responsive measures to address gender gaps or promote gender equality and women empowerment? Yes

closing gender gaps in access to and control over natural resources;

improving women's participation and decision-making; and/or Yes

generating socio-economic bene�ts or services for women. Yes

Will the project’s results framework or logical framework include gender-sensitive indicators?

Yes



4. Private sector engagement

Will there be private sector engagement in the project?

Yes Please brie�y explain the rationale behind your answer.

The private sector, in particular small and medium enterprises (SMEs) will be closely involved in the project design and implementation. In particular, privatesector partners will play an important role for developing capacity for processing and value-adding of sustainable rangeland products in the target landscapes.This is important to achieve a transformation of the livestock sector and to ensure the sustainability of the project interventions.



5. Risks

Indicate risks, including climate change, potential social and environmental risks that might prevent the Project objectives from being achieved, and, if possible,propose measures that address these risks to be further developed during the Project design (table format acceptable)

The risks identi�ed are summarized below.

No. Description of risks Type of risk

Probability/

impact

(low 1 - high 5)

Measures to address the risks

1 Security preventing project implementation

Political P=5

I=3

In all projects in Afghanistan, FAO and government partners work to the extent possible in both secure and less secure areas. Agreements with local political leaders and talented national staff ensure largely successful results.

2 Lack of will to work on environmental issues given the other major civil instability concerns of the country

Political P=4

I=4

Afghanistan is fully committed to implementing the Rio Conventions. The value of sustainable landscapes and food production systems as a foundation for social, cultural, and environmental resilience will be emphasized regularly.

3 Lack of coordination among concerned ministries and localgovernment authorities

Political P=3

I=4

Clear project institutional arrangements that specify roles and responsibilities.

4 Gender mainstreaming hindered by cultural norms which expect women to stay at homeor be unpaid laborers

Cultural P=1

I=4

There will be clear communication on gender equality as a key monitoring element of the project,and information on the value of women to the project interventions will be frequently disseminated.

5 Limited capacity of decision-makers to understand the depth/ breadth of global environmental issues

Organizational

P=1

I=4

The project will aim to build the capacity of decision-makers, technical staff and civil society for integrated landscape-level planning and restoration.



6. Coordination

Outline the institutional structure of the project including monitoring and evaluation coordination at the project level. Describe possible coordination with otherrelevant GEF-�nanced projects and other initiatives.

FAO will be the GEF Implementing Agency for this project. The Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL) will act as the main executing agency of theproject with the support of national, provincial and district level government o�ces. A Project Steering Committee (PSC) chaired by MAIL will be established toensure coordination and provide guidance to the project. The National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA) will support MAIL in the formulation of policyrecommendations, knowledge sharing and in project monitoring and evaluation, in order to ensure that lessons learned of the project will be incorporated intofuture policies and projects. Roles and responsibilities will be further de�ned at the early stages of the project formulation stage. Other stakeholders will beclosely involved in the project implementation as described in section 2. Coordination with other GEF and non-GEF interventions will be ensured through thecoordinating role of FAO, MAIL and NEPA. These interventions are described below.

GEF and non-GEF interventions Areas of complementarity with this project

Community-based sustainable land and forest management in Afghanistan GEF-TF/FAO, 2018-2023

This project is supporting integrated, sustainable community-based approaches for promoting biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation and rangeland productivity. To achieve this, it will build capacityof government institutions for sustainable NRM approaches, it will helpcommunities develop CBNRM plans, it will improve management of forests and improve management degraded rangelands in order to reduceland degradation, conserve biodiversity and sequester CO e, and improve knowledge to inform sustainable NRM practices. The project will beimplemented in Badghis, Bamyan, Ghazni, Kunar and Paktya Provinces.

The proposed project will build on the outcomes and lessons learned of this GEF-6 project. In particular, it will use the Centre of Excellence for NRM that will be established under this project, to share and replicate best practices on SLM/SFM at all levels. The proposed project will add new aspects on system-wide, landscape-level planning, policy recommendations and establishing a database on land degradation and biodiversity.

· Climate-induced Disaster Risk Reduction Project (CDRRP) (Adapting Afghan Communities to Climate-Induced Disaster Risks) GEF-LDCF/UNDP, 2017-2022

·

· This project is aimed at insulating vulnerable Afghan communities from the worst impacts of climate change, by promoting community-

The proposed project will seek to build on lessons learned and experiences from thisproject will regard to community-level planning and resilience building.

2



based preparedness and adaptation in the highly vulnerable provincesof Jawzjan and Nangarhar. MAIL is leading implementation of the fourpillars: gender-sensitive disaster risk reduction; establishing community-based early warning systems; promoting climate-resilient agriculturalpractices and livelihoods; and working with national to district institutions to integrate climate change into planning.

· Conservation of Snow Leopards and their Critical Ecosystem in Afghanistan GEF-TF/UNDP, 2018-2022

This project aims to strengthen conservation of the snow leopard and its critical ecosystem in Afghanistan through a holistic and sustainablelandscape approach that addresses existing and emerging threats. Theproject will be executed by WCS, and will focus on the snow leopard landscape of the Wakhan Corridor in Badakhshan Province.

The proposed project will coordinate closely with this project with regard to biodiversity conservation efforts in Nuristan and Laghman Provinces.

Building Resilience of Communities Living Around the Northern Pistachio Belt (NPB) and Eastern Forest Complex (EFC) of Afghanistan through an EbA Approach GEF-LDCF/UN Environment, 2014-2018

· This project has a focus on restoration of watersheds following an Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) approach to ensure greater availability and sustainability of water resources under future climate scenarios. The project aims to i) strengthen institutional and technical capacities for planning and implementing adaptation measures; ii) increase the ability of local communities living in watersheds within the NPB andEFC forest regions to adapt to climate change through demonstrationof EbA approaches; and iii) build the knowledge base on climate change and adaptation measures.

The proposed project will aim to build on lessons learned of this project with regard tocommunity-based forest and watershed management and resilience building.



· Climate Change Adaptation Project (CCAP) (Strengthening the Resilience of Rural Livelihood Options for Afghan Communities in Panjshir, Balkh, Uruzgan and Herat Provinces to Manage Climate Change-induced Disaster Risks) GEF-LDCF/UNDP, 2014-2019

·

· This project is building government capacity to integrate risk andimpact assessments into development plans at the local level. The government is learning to study climate change scenarios and assess alternatives for the agriculture sector, Community Development Councils are being trained to integrate climate change risk into planning, climate-resilient livelihoods are being developed for women, and land issues arebeing addressed through rangeland rehabilitation, reforestation and improved water storage and transport infrastructure.

·

The proposed project will aim to build on lessons learned of this project with regard torural livelihoods and resilience building.

· Reducing GHG Emissions Through Community Forests and Sustainable Biomass Energy in Afghanistan GEF-TF/FAO, 2015-2019

This project, which is ending in 2019, had two main goals: promoting the use of low emissions cooking and heating technologies (biogas digesters, solar cookstoves, etc.) and training communities in CBNRM principles in two districts where forests remain and such actions could havea positive impact. The project has also introduced the FAO EX-ACT GHG accounting tool to government partners. This tool is helping them estimate emissions reductions from project interventions for this project as well as any future GHG reduction projects.

The proposed project will aim to build on lessons learned of this project with regard toCBNRM and GHG emissions reduction.

· Developing Core Capacity for Decentralized MEA Implementationand Natural Resources Management in Afghanistan GEF-TF/UN Environment, 2014-2018

The proposed project will build on severalmechanisms established under this project, in particular the national MEA taskforce and capacity building on ecosystem management biodiversity monitoring environment



The aim of this project was to strengthen Afghanistan’s capacity to implement the Rio Conventions and other Multilateral Environmental Agreements MEAs). UN Environment, NEPA, and other key partners collaborated to improve inter-ministerial coordination on MEA objectives, build stakeholder participation in MEA implementation, support institutions totranslate MEA commitments into practice, and strengthen national �nancial and execution mechanisms for the Rio Conventions.

ment, biodiversity monitoring, environmental valuation, gender and MEA implementation.

· Establishing Integrated Models for Protected Areas and their Co-management GEF-TF/UNDP, 2015-2019

The aim of this project, implemented in collaboration with NEPA and MAIL, was to establish a national system of protected areas to conservebiodiversity and mitigate land degradation pressures on habitats in keybiodiversity areas, initially centered in Bamyan Province and the Wakhan corridor.

The proposed project will aim to build on lessons learned of this project with regard tobiodiversity conservation.

Building Adaptive Capacity and Resilience to Climate Change in Afghanistan GEF-LDCF/UN Environment, 2012-2018

· This project had a major component on capacity building and awareness raising on climate change impacts and adaptation. Trainings were designed for policy-makers, international negotiators and senior o�cials in line ministries, as well as community-level trainings on community-based adaption measures in selected provinces. A notable achievement of the project was that the National Climate Change Committeewas revitalized and the INDC was completed. Pilot climate change adaptation projects were also implemented in Bamyan and Daykundi Provinces, where valley and village management plans were developed anda range of infrastructures and planting activities for resilience, disasterrisk reduction and livelihoods diversi�cation were built or implemented.

The proposed project will aim to build on lessons learned of this project with regard tocapacity building and resilience building.



·

· USAID Regional Agricultural Development Program-East (2016-2021)

The main objective of the Regional Agricultural Development Program-East is to foster the expansion of sustainable agriculture-led economicgrowth in eastern Afghanistan to contribute to the development of avibrant and prosperous agriculture sector in the region. The project provides technical services to increase the competitiveness of selected value chains (such as for grape and raisin, melon, dried fruits and nuts), expand the number of enterprises that can compete and upgrade their products and services in selected markets, and improve relationships and linkages between those �rms and other market participants throughout the value chain.

The proposed project will incorporate lessons learned of this project with regard to promoting sustainable production systems and value chains.

· ADB Horticulture Value Chain Development Sector Project (in preparation)

The proposed project will help strengthen the horticulture value chain in Afghanistan by (i) improving the processing e�ciency and marketingcapacity of domestic agro-business enterprises; (ii) modernizing crop production through better planting material, trellising, modern greenhouses, and on-farm facilities; and (iii) contributing to the national effort inestablishing internationally recognized brands of Afghan horticultural produce. It will increase value addition for horticultural commodities produced in 11 provinces in the central, southern, and eastern parts of Afghanistan. As such, the project will contribute to increasing the supplyof fresh and processed fruit and vegetables, and expanding exports ofhigh-value fruit, vegetables, and nuts in which the country has a comparative advantage.

The proposed project will aim to exchange lessons learned with this project with regard to promoting sustainable production systems and value chains.

Integrated Pest Management in Afghanistan

The proposed project will build on the lesso

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MAIL, in collaboration with FAO, has been implementing an IntegratedPest Management (IPM) Project in Afghanistan since 2010. The projectsupports capacity building of various Directorates of MAIL – especiallyPlant Protection and Quarantine Directorate and the General Directorate of Extension – to establish IPM as an overall strategy for sustainablecrop production and protection in Afghanistan. The project has conducted four season-long “training-of-trainers” on IPM and sustainable agriculture, and trained 116 plant protection and extension o�cers from MAIL. Over the last four years, these trained facilitators have conducted 556 FFSs on wheat, rice, melon and potato crops and trained 12,029 farmers to learn how to improve the productivity of their crops using more sustainable agriculture practices, while addressing the pest problems more effectively. Technologies introduced to the FFS have been proven highly effective not just to improve the productivity of their crops but tomake their agriculture more resilient to the adverse impact of climate change. As a result, the requirements for water use in rice, melon, potatoand wheat crops have reduced by 25-70%. Similarly, chemical fertiliseruse has been reduced by 50% while pesticides use reduced to zero percent. These technologies tested over the last four years have prepareda strong ground for new projects on climate-resilient agriculture.

ns learned and methodologies, including the FFS and IPM strategies, to develop capacity on sustainable food production systemsand land management.

Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund

The Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF) was established in2002 to provide a coordinated �nancing mechanism for the Government of Afghanistan’s budget and priority national investment projects. It is the largest single source of on-budget �nancing for Afghanistan’s development and is delivering important results within key sectors including education, health, agriculture, rural development, infrastructure, and governance.

The proposed project will build on the workof this initiative to encourage farmers to adopt sustainable approaches to livestock management and animal husbandry. Lessonslearned from this initiative on the facilitation of farmer �eld schools will inform the community-based rangeland management planning under this project.

·



· Comprehensive Agriculture and Rural Development Facility (CARD-F), 2014-2019

· This DFID and DANIDA-funded initiative is one of the key agricultural and rural development programs of the Government of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GoIRA). CARD-F aims to increase employment, income and business opportunities for rural masses through the design, facilitation and implementation of commercially viable agricultural value chains supplemented with rural infrastructure projects in the target provinces of Afghanistan. The target provinces include Nangarhar, Kunar,Laghman, Khost, Logar, Kabul, Parwan, Kapisa, Balkh, Badakhshan, Takhar, Herat, Helmand, Kandahar. Among others, the project has supported investments in agricultural value chains for vegetables, poultry, dairy,honey, and cotton production.

The proposed project will seek synergies and complementarities for collaboration with this project, especially in Laghman and Khost.

· Green Initiative for Afghanistan’s Agriculture (GIAA) Project, 2015-2028

This project funded by the Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC) aimsto upscale the professional and institutional capacity for sustainable land and water management to prevent further degradation, improve production and reduce disaster risks, especially in mountainous areas. Itwill contribute to improved food security and better livelihoods for poorrural families. Poor families in rural areas improve their livelihoods thanks to enhanced Afghan professional and institutional capacity for sustainable management of land and water resources. Through a cascadetraining and coaching process of Afghan professionals, the project willenable rural community members to manage their natural resources more sustainably. In parallel, by being provided with and experiencing evidence from the �eld, decision-makers will improve policies on natural resource management (NRM) and their implementation. A special focus is placed on family farming and resource protection in mountainousareas. It is envisioned that at the end of the project, NRM is institutionally anchored and there is a critical mass of well-quali�ed NRM professionals in the country.

The proposed project will seek synergies and collaboration with this project with regard to NRM and capacity building.



Australia Afghanistan Community Resilience Scheme (AACRS), 2014-2018

The AACRS aims to improve the resilience of rural Afghan communities by promoting innovative solutions to livelihood challenges. Target communities and families bene�t from more and better agricultural production, institutions that are more aware of people’s needs and rights, and higher incomes. The AACRS focuses on helping the most vulnerable in communities, particularly women, to access more economic opportunities. AACRS NGOs are working with at least 95,000 men, women andchildren throughout ten provinces in the central highlands, and north and west Afghanistan.

The proposed project will aim to build on the experience of this project with regard to rural development and community resilience.

Afghanistan-ICARDA partnerships

The Government of Afghanistan collaborates closely with the CGIAR centres on agricultural research for sustainable food systems, in particular with the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) on livestock and dryland agriculture. ICARDA and MAIL collaborate on projects in several provinces. Ongoing projects in Afghanistan cover crop improvement (wheat, barley and legume crops), seed systems, water management, pest and disease management, livestock production, and market-oriented diversi�cation of farming systems. For example, collaboration in Nangarhar Province began in 2002, resulting innew crops and varieties providing substantially higher yields and farm incomes; as well as the cultivation of medicinal plants; village-based seed enterprises (VBSEs) to produce high-quality seed at affordable prices; and new technologies for goat husbandry and dairy processing. A special focus has been placed on empowering women to enhance agricultural productivity, and on crop and forage value chains and rural development for post-con�ict rebuilding.

The proposed project will build on the experience from ICARDA in the �eld of livestockand dryland agriculture, sustainable agricultural development, value chain development, as well as women’s empowerment.



Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWSnet)

FEWSnet is a leading provider of early warning and analysis on food insecurity. It was created to help decision-makers plan for humanitarian crises, and uses satellite-based data and teams of experts to estimate food availability based on crop coverage patterns and reported local needs. FEWSnet supports the yearly Integrated Food Security Phase Classi�cation Assessments (IPC) in Afghanistan, which inform food disasterresponse actions.

The proposed project will coordinate closelywith FEWSnet, in particular with regard to data on agricultural production, food security and resilience.

Food Security and Agriculture Cluster (FSAC) in Afghanistan

FSAC in Afghanistan was established in 2008, is co-led by WFP and FAO with Welthungerhilfe as NGO in a co-chair role. FSAC’s main aim is toprovide an action-oriented forum for bringing together national and international humanitarian partners to improve the timeliness and effectiveness of humanitarian assistance on the lives of crisis-affected population in Afghanistan. Over 167 partner organizations country-wide are active in the FSAC, including 62 international NGOs, 69 national NGOs, 3 Red Cross/Crescent related organizations, 9 state-level line ministries, 13 UN agencies, 2 research institutes, 4 donors and 3 embassies.

The proposed project will build on the FSAC platform to disseminate lessons learned, approaches and methodologies for sustainable agriculture and livestock production and rangeland management in Afghanistan.

Forest Restoration for Enhancing Ecosystem Services in Afghanistan(FREESIA)

Funded by the Korean Embassy and implemented by UN Environment in collaboration with MAIL, this project will work on forest restoration inAfghanistan’s Central Region.

The proposed project will exchange lessons learned with this project with regard to restoration and NRM.



Nangarhar, Logar, Laghman, Kapisa, Parwan, Wardak, Ghazni and Kabul Provinces.

Bamyan, Ghazni, Kabul, Khost, Kunar, Laghman, Logar, Nangarhar, Paktya, Paktika, Wardak Provinces.



7. Consistency with National Priorities

Is the Project consistent with the National Strategies and plans or reports and assesments under relevant conventions

Yes If yes, which ones and how: NAPAs, NAPs, ASGM NAPs, MIAs, NBSAPs, NCs, TNAs, NCSAs, NIPs, PRSPs, NPFE, BURs, INDCs, etc

The project is in line with the following national plans, strategies and priorities.

Afghanistan’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) 2014-2017

The project directly contributes to the implementation of Afghanistan’s commitments under the CBD by contributing to the conservation of globally signi�cantbiodiversity and ecosystems in the target landscapes. In particular, it supports the following targets set out in Afghanistan’s NBSAP:

· Target 5: Rate of loss and degradation of natural habitats decreased

Strategy 5.1: To prevent the illegal or unsustainable use of biodiversity resources.

Actions: Prohibit grazing in areas that are undergoing managed regeneration; develop effective plans for preserving and recovering remnant pistachio and juniperforests in northern Afghanistan, and monsoon-dependent forests in eastern Afghanistan.

· Target 7: Resilience of the components of biodiversity to adapt to climate change maintained and enhanced; pollution and its impacts on biodiversityreduced.

Strategy 7.1: To control impacts on biodiversity resources resulting from climate change, deserti�cation and pollution.

Actions: Restore degraded lands: stabilize sand dunes and soils; reseed highly degraded rangeland; reduce grazing and dry land cultivation in vulnerable areas;map areas vulnerable to deserti�cation; and establish representative rangeland areas where grazing is excluded or experimentally controlled.

· Target 8: Capacity of ecosystems to deliver goods and services maintained; biological resources that support sustainable livelihoods, local food security andhealth care, especially of poor people, maintained.

Strategy 8.1: To develop and implement mechanisms and plans for maintaining goods and services obtained from critical ecosystems, focusing on forests andwoodlands.

Actions: Develop/rehabilitate rangelands.

Afghanistan’s National Report to the UNCCD, 2018 and Sustainable Development Goals

The proposed project also directly contributes to the implementation of the UNCCD and related SDG targets. The project will support planning and coordinationmechanisms that strengthen Afghanistan’ capacity to implement its commitments under the UNCCD, in particular through the establishment of a nationaldatabase on land degradation and by introducing the concept of land degradation neutrality. Speci�cally, it supports the restoration targets set out in



Afghanistan’s National Report to the UNCCD in 2018 (based on the NRM Strategy) in some of the areas most affected by land degradation and soil erosion.

It also contributes to the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targets highlighted in the UNCCD National Report:

· 2.3 By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers, in particular women, indigenous peoples, family farmers,pastoralists and �shers, including through secure and equal access to land, other productive resources and inputs, knowledge, �nancial services, markets andopportunities for value addition and non-farm employment

· 2.4 By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that helpmaintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, �ooding and other disasters and that progressivelyimprove land and soil quality

The project further contributes to the following SDGs and related indicators in Afghanistan: SDG 1 on Eradicating Poverty, SDG 2 on Zero Hunger, SDG 5 on GenderEquality, SDG 12 on Responsible Consumption and Production, SDG 13 on Climate Action, and SDG 15 on Life on Land.

Afghanistan’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), 2015

The project also contributes to the following adaptation and mitigation targets of Afghanistan’s NDC:

· Planning for proper watershed management and promoted through community-based natural resources management.

· Regeneration of at least 40 percent of existing degraded forests and rangeland areas (232,050 ha of forests; and 5.35 million ha of rangelands)

· GHG emission mitigation in the Land Use, Forests and Rangelands sector through afforestation and reforestation, natural forests, fuelwood from forest andorchards, rangelands rehabilitation.

National Capacity Needs Self-Assessment for Global Environmental Management (NCSA), 2009

The project is aligned with the following actions of the NCSA Action Plan:

· Food security improved

· Development and implementation of range management systems

· Rehabilitation of areas affected by drought, deserti�cation and �oods

o Identi�cation of priority degraded areas to be rehabilitated

o Government facilitates community rehabilitation of targeted degraded areas



National Comprehensive Agriculture Development Priority Program (NCADPP)

The proposed project is in line with the NCADPP by supporting CBNRM approaches to sustainable production and landscape restoration. In particular, itcontributes to the following priorities and objectives:

· Strategic Priority 5: Climate-Sensitive Natural Resource Management

· Strategic Priority 6: Food and Nutrition Security, and Resilience Building

National Dry Lands Agriculture Policy: Towards Climate Resilient Agriculture in Afghanistan. A 2030 Vision (2018)

The project also supports the implementation of the National Dry Lands Agriculture Policy, in particular the policy objectives below:

Policy Objective 1: Increase the reliability and overall productivity and pro�tability of cereal grain production.

· Promote an integrated crop-livestock system among dryland farming communities that involves cereal crops, cover crops including forage crops, shrubs andtrees to ensure su�cient fodder is available for livestock throughout the year.

Policy Objective 2: Increase the climate resilience and diversity of rainfed farming systems, including integrated crop-livestock systems, so that communitiesliving in dryland environments are better able to withstand climate shocks.

· Promote diversi�cation of rainfed farmlands through the planting of forage crops, legumes and pulse crops, oil seed crops, root crops, shrubs, and medicinalplants.

· Establish resilient and integrated crop-livestock systems at the community level in dryland areas that are better able to withstand climate shocks.

· Identify appropriate drought tolerant crops and promote their use in dryland areas. This includes, for example, the use of indigenous oil seed crops such assa�ower, sesame and �ax; drought-tolerant legumes including pulses, and forage crops (e.g. Atriplex spp); cover crops such as vetches, ryegrass, red clover,yarrow, radishes; and horticulture initiatives including rainfed grapes and rainfed potatoes.

· Support land restoration through individual and community-led mechanisms that increase on-farm and community managed tree plantations such aspistachios, almonds, walnuts, olives, red dates, acacia, and selected fruit trees; reforest exposed hills; and introduce cover crops.

Policy Objective 3: Improve water capture and management across critical dryland, small-scale watersheds in targeted provinces.

· Establish and support implementation of a plan to improve water capture and management in critical dryland areas through community-led water capture andwater harvesting initiatives that can deliver water for human consumption, livestock and crop production and diversi�cation.



Policy Objective 5: Ensure the sustainable management of natural resources, including agro-forestry, through long-term planning and community-based decisionmaking.

· In collaboration with Natural Resources Management (NRM) Associations, promote understanding among dryland farming communities on the essential rolethat deep-rooted perennial shrubs and trees play in soil regeneration, soil health, slope stabilization, and enhanced nutrient cycling. In collaboration with NRMAssociations, promote the cultivation of perennials shrubs and trees that can provide food for humans and feed for animals, such as crops (mulberries, pistachio,and almonds) and forages (eg. Atriplex).

· In collaboration with Forestry Associations, promote agro-forestry among dryland farming communities on contoured slopes in conjunction with the plantingof perennials that can �x nitrogen and strengthen the root system.

National Natural Resource Management Strategy (2017-2021)

The proposed project directly contributes to the restoration and sustainable management targets set out in the NRM Strategy, including the conservation offorests and development of agroforestry, and the conservation and restoration of rangelands and medicinal plants.

Afghanistan National Peace and Development Framework (ANPDF, 2017-2022)

The proposed project is also aligned with the ANPDF, which accords high priority to water resources management and resilience building, as well as agricultureand rural development. In particular, the ANPDF aims to create the enabling environment for sustainable management and use of Afghanistan’s natural resources,to strengthen rural livelihoods and food security, and to reduce gender disparity.

FAO Country Programming Framework (CPF) 2017-2021

Additionally, the project is in line with FAO’s Country Programming Framework for 2017-2021. It contributes to the following priority areas:

· Priority area 1. Better governance through improved capacity for policy planning, land reform, decentralization, management of common natural resources.

o Sustainable Management of Common Resources.

· Priority area 3. Intensive Agriculture for Commercialization, Value Chains Development, and Job Creation.

o Developing Value Chains through Public-Private-Partnerships.

· Priority area 4. Supporting Vulnerable Farmers for Improved Food & Nutrition Security, Resilience and Emergency Response to Natural and Man-madeDisasters and Climate Change.

o Protection of Farmers and Pastoralists from Shocks Affecting their Food Security and Nutrition.



8. Knowledge Management

Outline the Knowledge management approach for the Project, including, if any, plans for the Project to learn from other relevant Projects and initiatives, to assessand document in a user-friendly form, and share these experiences and expertise with relevant stakeholders.

Knowledge management and sharing will be a key element of the proposed project and is integral part of Component 3. The project will develop and implementan effective knowledge management strategy, to support maximum outreach and replication of project interventions. Outreach to smallholder farmers,pastoralists, community associations, local government, civil society and private sector will be conducted strategically and with a view for long-term sustainabilityof project interventions. The project will ensure the documentation of traditional knowledge and best practices. It will also formulate policy recommendations tosupport replication of best practices at the national level.



Part III: Approval/Endorsement By GEF Operational Focal Point(S) And Gef Agency(ies)

A. RECORD OF ENDORSEMENT OF GEF OPERATIONAL FOCAL POINT (S) ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT(S): (Please attach the Operational Focal Point endorsement letterwith this template).

Name Position Ministry Date

Mr. Schah Zaman Maiwandi Director General NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (NEPA) 4/3/2019



ANNEX A: Project Map and Geographic Coordinates

Please provide geo-referenced information and map where the project intervention takes place