Environmental Integration Process – Development Programming

In May 2014, Global Affairs Canada adopted a new Environmental Integration Process (EIP) applicable to development assistance initiatives. The new process integrates and streamlines the department's environmental policy and legal requirements into a single process. The process changes should have minimal implications for Global Affairs Canada's development partners. Global Affairs Canada's fundamental requirements for integrating environmental considerations remain the same. The EIP does not affect contracts, agreements and arrangements signed prior to May 12, 2014.

The changes include:

• A new Environmental Screening Tool (to be used by partners when designing an initiative)
• Updates to the environmental sustainability sections of Global Affairs Canada's application form and assessment criteria

Partners should continue to refer to the Department's existing environmental resources, noting the caveats about details specific to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act.

The Environment Handbook for Community Development Initiatives and its accompanying Additional Resources provide general information on how to integrate environmental considerations into an initiative (including information on site-specific environmental assessments, strategic environmental assessments (SEAs), and environmental management plans). In addition, partners required to provide Global Affairs Canada with an SEA can consult the Strategic Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan, and Program Proposals Handbook.