ANNEX 4 LINEAR INFRASTRUCTURE PRE-FEASIBILITY SCREENING CHECKLIST

The purpose of this checklist is to support key decision-makers and other stakeholders with the identification of information and issues that should inform pre-feasibility consideration of options for linear infrastructure projects. The process of completing this checklist should, along with other inputs (including commercial considerations), assist with:

1. Identifying and selecting appropriate concepts for linear infrastructure projects that would progress to subsequent stages, including more detailed design and finance exploration;

2. Identifying and prioritizing issues for more detailed risk assessment as part of subsequent stages of concept development.

The comments column in the checklist encourages users to explain responses to questions and/or identify further information or follow-up actions that may be required to further consider the issues involved:

A. Strategic Planning Context

B. Biodiversity and Heritage Risk

C. Climate and Disaster Risk

D. Resettlement and Tenure

E. Gender and Inclusion

F. Peace and Conflict

ISSUE A: STRATEGIC PLANNING CONTEXT

A.1. Is there a strategic plan at the landscape level that contemplates development of the type under consideration?

A.2. If the answer to A.1 is “no” or “not known”, is there another strategic assessment of the development needs and capacity of the region?

A.3. If the answer to A.2 is “no” or “not known”, is there an assessment of existing infrastructure of the type contemplated for development that could be used to consider the cumulative impacts of development?

A.4. Is the development under consideration contemplated by a medium- or long-term socio- economic development plan for the country/region?

ISSUE B: BIODIVERSITY AND HERITAGE RISK

B.1. Would the project pass through or near areas of high conservation value (including designated protected area, public forest, marine park, a scientific reserve, wildlife sanctuary, key biodiversity area)?

B.2. Is there a national or sub-national biodiversity conservation strategy in place for the location in which the project is proposed?

B.3. Would the project pass through or near a cultural heritage area, an archaeological area or an area of historical significance?

B.4. Is there a national or sub-national cultural heritage strategy in place for the location in which the project is proposed?

B.5. Has consideration been given to the proximity of an area identified in B.1 or B.3 in the identification of the proposed project?

B.6. Has consideration been given to strategies identified in B.2 or B.4 in the identification of the proposed project?

B.7. Has avoidance of potential impacts on biodiversity and cultural heritage been a consideration in identification of the proposed project?

ISSUE C: CLIMATE AND DISASTER RISK

C.1. Has the relevant country’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) been considered in the identification of the proposed project?

C.2. Are there any national or sub-national climate mitigation or adaptation strategies in place for the location where the project is proposed?

C.3. Are there any national or sub-national disaster risk reduction strategies in place for the location in which the project is proposed?

C.4. Has a multi-hazard risk assessment, or other identification of potential disaster risks, been prepared for the for the location in which the project is proposed?

C.5. Has a vulnerability assessment been undertaken for the for the location in which the project is proposed?

C.6. If the answers to C.3 and C.4 are “no” or “not known”, is there existing information about the potential risk of natural hazards in the location in which the project is proposed (including, for example, flooding, storm surges, cyclones, landslides)?

C.7. Is all data necessary for a vulnerability assessment identified and available, and considered as part of project identification/selection?

C.8. Has the potential for project design incorporating NBS been considered as part of project identification/selection?

ISSUE D: RESETTLEMENT AND TENURE

D.1. Is there a clear, legally recognized land tenure system that applies in the location in which the project is proposed?

D.2. Has the tenure over all land in the location in which the project is proposed been identified (including land adjacent to the proposed location)?

D.3. Is there any information available on customary land use and tenure in the location in which the project is proposed?

D.4. Has a “no-resettlement” or “minimal resettlement” alternative been considered in the identification of the proposed project?

D.5. Is there a process for obtaining free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) from indigenous people with an interest in the location in which the project is proposed?

ISSUE E: GENDER AND INCLUSION

E.1. Have relevant government gender strategies been considered in the identification of the proposed project?

E.2. Have the potential positive and negative impacts, both direct and indirect, of the project on women been considered?

E.3. Is there any information available on the needs of the local communities in the location in which the project is proposed—both directly and indirectly in relation to the type of project?

E.4. Have local community needs been identified and considered in the identification of the proposed project?