Federal Republic of Nigeria Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Staple Crop Processing Zones Support Project (scpz)

6.3.6 Chance Find Protocols

During the project site induction meeting, all contractors will be made aware of the presence of an on-site archaeologist who will monitor earthmoving and excavation activities.

The following procedure is to be executed in the event that archaeological material is discovered. Annex 14 describes the procedure in detail:

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  All construction activity in the vicinity of the find/feature/site will cease immediately;
  
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  Delineate the discovered find/ feature/ site will be delineated;
  
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  Record the find location, and all remains are to be left in place;
  
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  Secure the area to prevent any damage or loss of removable objects;
  
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  The on-site archaeologist will assess, record and photograph the find/feature/ site;
  
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  The on-site archaeologist will undertake the inspection process in accordance with all project health and safety protocols under direction of the Health and Safety Officer; and
  
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  In consultation with the statutory authorities the on-site and Project Archaeologist will determine the appropriate course of action to take.
  

CHAPTER SEVEN PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT /CONSULTATION

One key factor that exists in all successful approaches to project development and implementation is participation by all stakeholders. The more direct involvement of the local level people in the planning and management processes, the greater the likelihood that resource use and protection problems will be solved as well as the likelihood of development opportunities occurring in a balanced way and to the broad benefit of all communities in the project.

The second phase was the combined World Bank and FMARD mission which took place from October 13^th to October 17^th 2014, and provided a platform to validate earlier data and deepened discussions and engagement with the relevant stakeholders, especially Federal Ministry of Environment, Forestry Dept, etc. on essentially safeguard concerns of the project.

The third phase of the consultation at this stage captured four other LGAs and affected groups and communities within the 280,000Ha of ABIR catchment from 27^th to 3^rd November 2014. These communities and LGAs visited are Iwaa and Oshokosho in Lokoja LGA, Iresuare/Osara-Gada in Adavi LGA, Ohu and Irukura in Okehi LGA and Iyara in Ijumu LGA.
7.1 Objectives of Public Involvement/Consultations

Specifically, the objectives included:

1. 
   Canvass stakeholders’ inputs, views and concerns; and take account of the information and views of the public in the project design and in decision making.
   
2. 
   Obtain local and traditional knowledge that may be useful for decision-making;
   
3. 
   Facilitate consideration of alternatives, mitigation measures and tradeoffs;
   
4. 
   Ensure that important impacts are not overlooked and benefits maximized;
   
5. 
   Reduce conflict through the early identification of contentious issues;
   
6. 
   Provide an opportunity for the public to influence the designs and implementation in a positive manner;
   
7. 
   Improve transparency and accountability in decision-making; and
   
8. 
   Increase public confidence in the project.
   

1. 
   Managing two-way communication between the project proponent and the public.
   
2. 
   Building understanding and improving decision-making by actively involving individuals, groups and organizations with a stake
   

In this regard it makes sense, at this juncture in this ESMF, to understand the following concepts: public involvement, consultation and communication that are frequently confused with each other and that should be kept separate.

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  Public involvement here includes public consultation (or dialogue) and public participation, which is a more interactive and intensive process of stakeholder engagement.
  
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  Consultation is basically a two-way process in which the ideas and concerns of stakeholders and the subproject designers are shared and considered.
  
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  Communication involves dissemination of information from the subproject proponents to the concerned public.
  

For this ESMF and subsequent safeguard instruments to be prepared, public participation strategy for the project revolves around the provision of a full opportunity for involvement of all stakeholders, especially the direct stakeholders. Therefore, as a matter of strategy, public consultation will be an on-going activity taking place throughout the entire project cycle. The consultation process will ensure that all those identified as stakeholders are consulted.

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  Meetings, filling in of questionnaires/ application forms, public readings and explanations of project ideas and requirements making public documents available at the national, local and community levels at suitable locations like the official residences/offices of local elders, announcement
  
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  In various media, newspaper announcements placement in more than one paper, preferably all local papers , notice board near project site, posters located in strategic locations and many public places frequented by community and radio and local television
  

Any of these means to use must take into account the low literacy levels prevalent in the rural communities by allowing enough time for responses and feedback and putting messages in the language readily understood by such people. Ideas and complaints coming from the population must be documented and utilised in decision making.

Stakeholders for the purpose of this project shall be defined as all those people and institutions that have an interest in the planning and execution of the project, farmers, potentially affected communities; traditional rulers/ Religious leaders; NGOs/CBOs; Local Government officials; State MDAs; Local social and professional groups e.g., farmers, market women, etc. Below an outline is indicated of the key stakeholders identified at present which will be updated during project execution: Stakeholders for the purpose of this project shall be defined as all those people and institutions that have an interest in the planning and execution of the project, potentially affected communities; traditional rulers/ Religious leaders; NGOs/CBOs; Local Government officials; State MDAs; Local social and professional groups e.g., farmers, market women, road transport workers, International organization such as the World Band, FAO etc. While the ESMF consultations and stakeholders engagement provide stakeholders, the general understanding of the whole project and the opportunity to contribute to the process as well as expressing the community concerns and issues on the project, the future ESIAs/ ESMPs consultation and stakeholders engagement on the other hand addresses same issues in detail with respect to individual sub-projects and ancillary facilities. Below an outline is indicated of the key stakeholders identified for ESMF and the list will be updated for ESIAs/ESMPs sub-projects during project execution:

In the course of the preparation of this ESMF relevant stakeholders considered as key were met and consulted. The record of consultation is outlined in Table 7.1 and Annex 7 contains Plates of some of the stakeholders met with the highlight of meetings. It is considered the public involvement initiated will be built upon at the various sub-project levels in the SCPZ and ABIR.

Through this, the PMUs will be able to:

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  clarify the project's objectives in terms of stakeholders‟ needs and concerns
  
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  identify feasible alternatives (in particular alternative locations) and examine their relative merits in terms of environmental, social and economic factors
  
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  identify and prioritise environmental and social issues and establish the scope of future studies and/or site specific management plan
  
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  Identify processes for continued stakeholders‟ involvement.
  

Generally, with regard to perceptions about the project, there was a general acceptance and buy-in to the project across the locations and groups visited. The farmers, youths, women and Fulani herdsmen were appreciative of being consulted and expressed optimism that the project will positively impact their livelihoods. In Alape, Kabba-Bunu and Oshokosho, Lokoja the traditional council were satisfied with the process of consultations and stated that they have never seen it in that extensive manner before, and were convinced that the proponent will fulfil its covenant of compensating for their lost assets. Other areas such as Adavi, Okehi and Ijumu knew little about the project before now but were happy to embrace the project which they said will make a difference.

The ESMF Communication Plan refers to specific guidelines and protocols consistent with the principles of participation that will govern the project and which will be reflected in the Communication Plans, including the Communication Plans of the Social Safeguard Frameworks of the Project.

They are:

1. 
   establishment of feasible participation mechanisms ,
   
2. 
   establishment of participation mechanisms prepared with the basic objectives of transparency, responsibility of delivery of public service and an anti-corruption approach;
   
3. 
   promotion of arenas of dialogue based on realistic and objective data avoiding the creation of expectations that cannot be met;
   
4. 
   Non-discrimination for the most vulnerable groups, such as women, young persons, older persons and indigenous communities.