US Agency for International Development Office of Sustainable Development
Bureau Environmental Officer's Action Tracker
Africa Bureau - Office of Sustainable Development
US Agency for International Development

Tools & References for Preparing Environmental Reviews

Search BEO Actions Tracker
 for past IEEs to reference
(FY96 to present)

ENCAP Website
the Africa Bureau's environmental review training program site, with extensive technical and procedural guidance for conducting USAID environmental reviews and designing environmentally sound progams.

Environmental Regulations
& Procedures:
  22 CFR 216
  ADS 204

Key Documents:
  IEE/CE Template
  Key Publications
  Glossary

Questions or Comments

Photographer: Richard Ruggiero

Development projects may threaten the gentle lowland gorilla with extinction. Its forest habitat is turning into farms, villages and towns. New roads open forests to hunters who slaughter gorillas for illegal "bush meat," while improved market infrastructure makes it easier to sell the meat. Environmental examinations can help protect gorillas and other endangered species by requiring actions that combat habitat destruction and illicit trade.

BEO Actions Tracker

The Bureau Environmental Officer's (BEO) database of Initial Environmental Examinations (IEEs)
and other environmental assessment documentation for USAID programs in Sub-Saharan Africa

Federal law requires USAID missions and cooperating sponsors to find out whether their programs and activities will affect the natural or physical environment. To help meet this important legal requirement USAID conducts environmental reviews (or "assessments") of USAID activities, the most common review type being an Initial Environmental Examination (IEE). See this Reg. 216 Process Diagram for an overview of the environmental review process.

This Web site:

  • gives an overview of USAID procedures for conducting environmental reviews
  • enables retrieval of approved IEE documents for USAID projects in Africa, using the BEO Actions Tracker
  • gives access to other tools and references of use when preparing IEEs (see sidebar).

It's essential that environmental reviews take place early in the activity-planning process. This allows time to conduct more detailed investigations if necessary, and to build actions into program design that avoid or mitigate any negative environmental effects.

Development aid aimed at raising farm yields may unintentionally lead farmers to overwork marginal land. On steep terrain, such heavy use can trigger highly destructive erosion.

An IEE makes a threshold decision as to whether the proposed program or program activity will have a significant impact on the environment.

USAID units must prepare an IEE for
all programs and activities unless they are exempted, are categorically excluded or trigger an a priori positive determination. IEEs should be prepared along with an initial proposal, so that any modifications can be made to the activity design with minimum delay or difficulty.

IEEs must be prepared in compliance with Title 22 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 216, commonly known as 22 CFR 216, or simply "Reg 216."

In Madagascar, a farmer stands by his son before their flourishing farm. A USAID project has helped him boost yields here while reducing soil damage. He terraces his hillsides, combines rice growing with fishpond culture, and harvests forest products sustainably instead of felling more trees.

IEEs are prepared
in the field by USAID staff or consultants and approved by
the field mission and the Regional Environ-
mental Officer (REO). Then, they are for-
warded to Washington for approval by the Bureau Environmental Officer (BEO) and clearance by the General Counsel's office.