The Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) was approved by the Board of Executive Directors on August 4, 2016. It consists of a Vision for Sustainable Development; ten Environmental and Social Standards (ESSs), which set out the requirements that apply to Borrowers; an Environmental and Social Policy for Investment Project Financing (IPF), which sets out the requirements that apply to the Bank; and an Environmental and Social Directive/Procedure for Investment Project Financing (IPF) and a Directive on Addressing Risks and Impacts on Disadvantaged or Vulnerable Individuals or Groups. It applies to all IPF projects initiated on or after October 1, 2018.
The ESF supports green, resilient and inclusive development by strengthening protections for people and the environment and making important advances in areas such as labor, inclusion and non-discrimination, gender, climate change, biodiversity, community health and safety, and stakeholder engagement. It uses a risk-based and proportionate approach that applies increased oversight and resources to complex projects and allows for greater responsiveness to changes in project circumstances through adaptive risk management and stakeholder engagement. It promotes integrated environmental and social risk management.
The ESF places an emphasis on strengthening national environmental and social management systems and institutions, and supporting Borrower capacity building. It promotes enhanced transparency and stakeholder engagement through timely information disclosure, meaningful and ongoing consultations throughout the project life cycle, and responsive grievance mechanisms to facilitate resolution of concerns and grievances of project-affected parties.
The Environmental and Social Standards (ESS):
