Leading social and environmental assessment experts from the AfDB and its peer institutions will meet on March 21, 2011 in Tunis, to identify ways to strengthen environmental governance and institutions in Africa through assessment tools.
One of the landmarks in the Bank's efforts to carry out more environmentally and socially sustainable programs - and support Africa's transformation to green growth - is the update of its Integrated Safeguards System. The focus of Monday's discussion, Strategic Environmental and Social Assessments (SESA) for policy-based lending, is a core element in the system's design.
The SESA will enable the Bank to consider environmental and social changes and opportunities upstream in the design and implementation of sector policies and programs instead of downstream at the project level. The consultative meeting will help identify current best practices in mainstreaming SESA and explore them in the African context.
It is also an important opportunity to enhance the principles of harmonization and alignment on safeguard systems. As President Kaberuka said at the Bank's Aid Effectiveness Conference in February 2011, "We need to give meaning to the Paris Declaration...that would have real development impact on the ground."
Contacts
Ernest Achonu
