The WINNER program is a broad-scale investment in sustainable natural resource management in the Cul-de-Sac, Cabaret/Arcahaie, Gonaives, and Mirebalais/Saut d’Eau watersheds in Haiti. The program aims to reduce environmental, infrastructural, and economic vulnerability in these watersheds through investments in sustainable natural resource management. The WINNER program is implemented by the USAID/Haiti Watershed Initiative for National Natural Environmental Resources (WINNER).
The program consists of five components: Component 1 focuses on improving the livelihoods of people living in the watershed through increased agricultural productivity and alternative income generation. Activities include improving the sustainability of agricultural practices, providing technical assistance, training, physical infrastructure rehabilitation, and procurement of agricultural inputs. Component 2 focuses on rebuilding and improving critical infrastructure and reducing the threat of flooding. Activities include rehabilitation and extension of key watershed and livelihood improvement infrastructure, including erosion control structures, flood control structures, groundwater recharge infrastructure, and roads. Component 3 focuses on strengthening watershed governance by developing and/or strengthening institutional structures to support long-term and sustainable management of watersheds. Component 4 establishes Public-Private-Producer Partnerships to support watershed management and enterprise development initiatives that improve livelihoods. Component 5 enhances earthquake recovery through job creation in rural areas and assistance to small businesses.
The Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) recommended a Positive Determination for certain infrastructure activities to be implemented by WINNER. The IEE and the PEA Scoping Statement recommended a PEA because it is best suited to the “rolling design” of WINNER. A PEA makes sense at this stage in the project, with over one year of implementation experience and several environmental management reports, environmental mitigation plan and reports, and Environmental Assessments completed. Scoping activities in preparation for this PEA took place between December 2009 and January 2010.
The PEA will assess the environmental consequences of the proposed WINNER program and identify potential environmental impacts and mitigation measures. The assessment will focus on the physical, biological, and human environment in the proposed WINNER intervention zones. The PEA will also identify institutional and legal frameworks that may affect the implementation of the WINNER program.
The WINNER program will be implemented in four watersheds: Cul-de-Sac (Riviere Grise and Riviere Blanche), Cabaret/Arcahaie (Matheux, Courjolle, Torcelle, and Bretelle rivers), Gonaives (La Quinte river), and Mirebalais/Saut d’Eau (La Tombe, Gascogne, Janleba, Fer-a-cheval rivers of the Artibonite river system). The program will focus on improving agricultural productivity, rebuilding and improving critical infrastructure, strengthening watershed governance, establishing Public-Private-Producer Partnerships, and enhancing earthquake recovery.
The PEA will provide a comprehensive assessment of the environmental consequences of the proposed WINNER program and identify potential environmental impacts and mitigation measures. The assessment will inform the development of an Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plan (EMMP) to ensure that the WINNER program is implemented in an environmentally sustainable manner.