The International Development Department of the Canadian Co-operative Association (CCA) promotes sustainable development by strengthening co-operatives internationally. Within its projects and with its partners, CCA actively engages in environmental protection, awareness raising and environmentally sustainable activities. CCA acknowledges that environmental, social, and economic sustainability are integrally linked and must be considered together to make lasting positive impacts. Environmental risks are assessed and mitigation strategies developed prior to the commencement of all international activities.

Partner Selection

All potential projects shall be assessed under the LEVEL 3 OR 4 Environmental Analysis, or the CEAA. Should any cause for concern arise from this analysis, and the partner be unwilling to address this concern adequately, that party may be disqualified from partnership with CCA until such time as it demonstrates that it has made sufficient attempt to resolve the issue or issues.

CCA gives preference to partners who have shown commitment to environmental responsibility when more than one potential partner are otherwise comparable.

Project / Programme Design

All potential projects shall be assessed under the LEVEL 2 Environmental Analysis. Should any cause for concern arise from this analysis, the project must address these concerns to the satisfaction of the Peer Review Committee, having been informed by the Environmental Review Committee. If a project shows potential for significant environmental impact, the Environmental Review Committee will lead the implementation of a LEVEL 4 Environmental Analysis or CEAA during the course of the project. Should the result of Environmental Analysis show that a project has too great an environmental risk or has not made an effort address environmental concerns brought about by analysis, it is expected that the project will not move forward until acceptable modifications are made to it.

Project / Programme Monitoring & Evaluation

Although verification will be made in all project monitoring, only LEVEL 4 Analyses and CEAA must include an evaluation framework for environmental impacts. Projects requiring LEVEL 4 may use comparable instruments for pre and post-test for environmental impact. Should the project warrant it, these tests may include, but are not exclusive to soil sample, water quality testing, and treatment of physical waste. In all cases the primary source of data collection for LEVEL 4 Analyses is participatory enquiry with those for whom the impacts are perceived to be greatest. Projects with less risks may include only social survey on environmental impacts and implications. All projects that reach LEVEL 4 Environmental Analysis or CEAA must include environmental indicators within their LFA.