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The Bureau for Global Health (GH) environmental program has recently implemented digital signatures for environmental compliance documents requiring GH Bureau Environmental Officer (BEO) clearance. This includes Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) documents, Requests for Categorical Exclusions (RCEs), Environmental Assessments (EAs), and Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plans (EMMPs). The use of digital signatures is intended to simplify and increase the efficiency of the document clearance process.

Per Title 22 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 216 (22 CFR 216), approval and clearance of environmental compliance documentation is critical to the overall environmental management of USAID projects during planning, implementation, and monitoring. The GH environmental program has recognized that printing, signing, and scanning paper copies of required 22 CFR 216 documents can cause complications and result in delays to the process. The use of digital signatures through Adobe Acrobat XI (already installed and available on USAID computers) will help remedy these issues and support timely approval and clearance of GH documents.

To assist with the transition to digital signatures, the GH environmental program has developed resources and training tools, which are available via the GH Environmental Compliance Document Submission Portal. On the Portal, users will find step-by-step instructions on “How to Use Digital Signatures,” as well as an instructional video. The Document Submission Portal is only available to USAID staff and may not be accessed by Implementing Partners. If you have any questions, please contact GH Support at ghcompliancesupport@usaid.gov.