Review of The Environmental Impact Assessment Guideline of Ethiopia

This Guideline issued in 2000 and revised in 2003, is prepared to fulfill the
responsibility of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) which is stated under
sub article 3 of article 8 of The Environmental Impact Assessment Proclamation of
Ethiopia (Proc. No. 299/2000). The sub article requires the authority to provide a
guideline that determines the elements necessary to prepare as well as evaluate an
environmental impact study report.
The main purposes of this guideline are the following:
1. As a reference material - to assist proponents and consultants in carrying
out their environmental assessment related tasks by giving out the necessary
information and by portraying the process flow.
2. providing a consistent and good practice approach to EIA in Ethiopia
3. Providing background information for the context of EIA in Ethiopia
4. Assisting the authorities in determining their roles and responsibilities as
decision-makers in the EIA process
5. Assisting community and NGO groups in realizing their environmental rights
with regard to EIA
To fulfill the above purposes the guideline embodies the following contents:
Chapter 1 describes the purpose and aims of the document
Chapter 2 provides a background to EIA in Ethiopia through describing the
need for an integrated process and the legislative requirements. This sections
includes an overview of the responsibilities of the Competent Agency and
identifies those projects that must be subjected to an EIA.
Chapter 3 describes the Ethiopian approach to EIA. It is a comprehensive
description of each of the phases within an EIA process and identifies the roles
and responsibilities of each party engaging in the EIA process.
Chapter 4 provides an overview of environmental standards that may be
applied in Ethiopia and details how these standards and guidelines may be
established.
Chapter 5 identifies the issues and impacts that may be associated with
development in some of the key sectors in Ethiopia.
Review of CHAPTER 2: Environmental Assessment and Management in
Ethiopia
As a background the document states that past developmental projects didnt
include environmental concerns in their planning and operation which has led to a
seriously degraded environment in the country; and to ensure sustainable
development in the future - environmental assessment and management has been
recognized as an effective tool which is to be included in future development
proposals.

In its Legislative and Policy Context topic of this guideline it briefly discusses the
following:

The Constitution of the FDRE

o Article 43: The Right To Development
o Article 44: Environmental Rights , and
o Article 92: Environmental objectives it is declared that

Environmental
Protection
organs
Establishment
proclamation
(proc.no.295/2002)
Environmental Impact Assessment Proclamation (Proc. no. 299/2002)
Environmental Pollution Control Proclamation (Proc. no. 300/2002)
Environmental Policy of Ethiopia (EPE, 1997)

Chapter 2 of the guideline also include the objectives, core values and the principles
of EIA.
The primary objective of EIA is to ensure that impacts of projects, policy and
programs, etc. are adequately and appropriately considered and mitigation
measures for adverse significant impacts incorporated when decisions are taken.
The four core values of EIA are:

Sustainability - the EA process should result in sustainable development by

establishing long-term environmental safe guards.
Integrity - the EIA process will confirm to agreed and established
requirements.
Utility - the EIA process will provide balanced, credible information for
decision making.
Equity - that EIA ensures fairness in the distribution costs or benefits.

And the guiding principles of EIA are:

Early application - proactive consideration and integration of environmental

concerns at the earliest stages of the conceptualization of the projects,
programs or policies.
Participation - appropriate and timely access and opportunity to the
process for all interested and affected parties.
Issues based - the focus of an EA is on the resolution of major issues of
significant impacts.
Consider alternatives: all feasible options to a project, policies, programs
or its components like site, processes, products, raw materials etc. including
the no go option should be considered.
Accountability - refers to answerability of a proponent, consultant and
environmental agencies for their respective roles and responsibilities.
Flexibility - the assessment process should be able to adapt to deal
efficiently with changing circumstances and decision making situation.
Credibility - assessments and reviews are undertaken with professionalism
and objectivity.

Time and Cost-effectiveness - the assessment process, its outcomes and

decision taking will ensure environmental protection at the least cost and
within reasonable time to society and developer alike.
Transparency - all assessment decisions, and their basis, should be open
and accessible to the public.
Supportive - the review and decision making process should enhance and
support sustainable development and environmentally friendly investment
efforts.
Conservation based- the EA process should strive to promote conservation
based development. Integrating conservation elements in the development
planning that extend beyond conventional impact fixation approach can do
this.
Practicality - the information and outputs provided by the assessment
process are readily usable in the decision -making and planning.

Operating Principles of the EIA

EIA is undertaken to:

modify and improve design,

ensure efficient resource use,
enhance social aspects,
identify measures for monitoring and managing impacts,
promote sustainable productivity within the natural and social system
capacity,
meet environmental requirements and make continuing improvement in
environmental performance,
provide accurate and appropriate information for sound decision,

BENEFITS OF EIA INCLUDES:

more environmentally sustainable design,

better compliance with standards,
saving in capital and operating costs,
reduced time and costs for approval,
avoids later plan adaptations,
reduces health costs,
increased project acceptance,

Review of Chapter 3: The Environmental Impact Assessment Process