Public Notice

PDF Version 91 KB

Document reference number: 1

Community One Health Empowerment in Rwanda and Senegal – Public Comments Invited

March 07, 2025 – The Global Affairs Canada must determine whether the proposed project Community One Health Empowerment, located in Rwanda is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

To help inform this determination, the Global Affairs Canada is inviting comments from the public respecting that determination. All comments received will be considered public and may be posted online.

Written comments must be submitted by April 07, 2025 to:

Environment Specialists

Global Affairs Canada

200 Promenade du Portage
Gatineau (QC) J8X 4B7
Email: CommentsIAARegistry-CommentairesRegistreLEI@international.gc.ca

 

 

The Proposed Project

This project aims to improve health outcomes in rural communities, and especially among marginalized women and girls, by applying a One Health approach to preventing and responding to zoonotic diseases. Project activities include: (1) increasing the capacity of One Health actors to improve local cross-sectoral coordination, referral and reporting of zoonoses; (2) increasing access to needed resources for zoonoses control, including vaccines, testing supplies and treatments; (3) strategic recruitment of women to fill gaps in human and health personnel; (4) development of climate-resilient water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure for prevention and control of zoonoses; (5) strengthening the capacity of communities, especially women and girls, to prevent and respond to zoonoses; and (6) undertaking research to strengthen the evidence base for, and integration of, effective gender-responsive One-Health approaches in marginalized communities.

This project is being implemented by Veterinarians Without Borders in collaboration with WaterAid Canada, the University of Guelph, the Institute of Health Economics, and various local partners including the University of Global Health Equity and WaterAid Rwanda.

To improve sanitation at community level, the 1,000 domestic latrines will be built for vulnerable households across the 20 villages located in three sectors in Rwanda – Nyamagabe District - Cyanika sector (10), Kibumbwe sector (2), and Tare sector (8). These latrines are improved pit latrines, a widely used and effective sanitation solution consisting of a single pit for both urine and feces, covered by a strong, durable, and smooth slab. When built and sited correctly, they offer a safe and environmentally friendly option. The latrines will adhere to the design and siting guidelines provided by the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Infrastructure, and the Ministry of Environment of Rwanda.

One public latrine facility will be constructed on the site of the slaughterhouse in Kiminazi village, Tare sector. This latrine facility will have separate cabins for male, female and disabled users (including a handwashing station and a menstrual hygiene room with water and dustbin for waste disposal). The construction site is located on the plot of the slaughterhouse, in a public space and semi-urban area, 30 m from the building and where it can be accessed by the public. The construction site is more than 30m away from the nearest source of water and is not used for agriculture or recreation. There is existing vegetation (grass, brush and trees) around the slaughterhouse, but an open site for the latrine is available and the vegetation will not be disturbed by the construction activities.

The footprint of each latrine is 1.96m^2. and the footprint of the public latrine facility is 46.125m².

The project could potentially have the following negative environmental effects:

1. Ground water contamination
2. Surface water contamination
3. Risk to public health

To minimize the risk to human health and environment, project proponent will conduct an environmental assessment, develop appropriate mitigation measures and environment management plan that will include monitoring of selected mitigation activities.