The Board of Directors of the of the African Development Bank (AfDB), on December 17 2013, in Tunis, adopted the Integrated Safeguards System - a cornerstone of its Ten-Year Strategy for the period 2013-2022 - to promote growth that is socially inclusive and environmentally sustainable.

Safeguards are a powerful tool for identifying risks, reducing development costs and improving project sustainability, thus benefiting affected communities and helping to preserve the environment.

With this Integrated Safeguards System (ISS) the AfDB will be better equipped to address emerging environmental and social development challenges. The ISS not only promotes best practices in these areas but also encourages greater transparency and accountability. It upholds the voices of people who are affected by Bank-funded operations, especially the most vulnerable communities. It does so by providing, for example, project-level grievance and redress mechanisms - a structured, systematic and managed way of allowing the voices and concerns of affected people to be heard and addressed during project planning and implementation.

The AfDB, in accordance with its mandate, views economic and social rights as an integral part of human rights, and accordingly affirms that it respects the principles and values of human rights as set out in the UN Charter and the African Charter of Human and Peoples' Rights. These were among the principles that guided the development of the ISS.

Extensive consultations

The AfDB encourages member countries to observe international human rights norms, standards, and best practices on the basis of their commitments made under the International Human Rights Covenants and the African Charter of Human and Peoples' Rights.

The ISS has been developed through extensive consultations. In particular, five regional workshops-- Nairobi, Lusaka, Libreville, Abuja and Rabat - provided the AfDB with an opportunity to listen to and address concerns raised by stakeholders and civil society organizations. This has contributed to what the AfDB believes is an unusually strong and well-considered policy package - one that is built on broad experience, embodies today's cutting-edge thinking, and will serve the institution and Africa for many years to come.

The adoption of the ISS puts the AfDB in the forefront of multilateral development banks, with a clear, integrated package of policies and procedures to address the safeguards issues that arise in development. The AfDB believes the ISS will strengthen its ability to carry out its mandate and help increase the effectiveness and development impact of its operations.

Moreover, the Integrated Safeguards System will be one of the strongest tools in the hands of the AfDB to promote the well-being of African populations.