South Asia Regional Consultation
22-23 February 2024 | New Delhi, India
ABOUT
The regional consultation will take place on 22-23 February 2024 in New Delhi, India. It will focus on the governments’ feedback on the draft policy including the 10 Environment and Social Standards (ESSs) as well as Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) implementation challenges. The government representatives are expected to articulate their respective country’s official comments or feedback on the draft ESF.
Participants will be coming from the following countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka. Participation is by invitation only.
REGISTRATION
PROVISIONAL AGENDA
| Day 1 22 February 2024, 10:00 - 6:00 PM I New Delhi, India | ||
| Time | Activity | Resource Persons |
| 10:00 – 10:10 am (10 min) | Acknowledgement of Participants and Meeting Reminders | Overall Facilitator: Jelson Garcia, Stakeholder Engagement Specialist (Consultant), ADB |
| 10:10 – 10:15 am (5 min) | Welcome Remarks | India Resident Mission |
| 10:15 – 10:20 am (5 min) | Opening Message | Nianshan Zhang, Head, Office of Safeguards (OSFG), ADB |
| 10:20 – 10:50 am (30 min) | Session 1: Overview of ESF and ESP | Bruce Dunn, Director, Office of Safeguards (OSFG), ADB Takako Morita, Principal Counsel, Office of the General Counsel (OGC), ADB |
| 10:50 – 11:30 am (40 min) | Plenary Discussion | Moderator: Ricardo Barba, Principal Safeguards Specialist, OSFG, ADB |
| 11:30 – 11:40 pm (40 min) | Session 2: Overview of ESS 1 (Assessment and Management of Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts) and ESS 10 (Stakeholder Engagement and Information Disclosure) | Zehra Abbas, Principal Environment Specialist, OSFG, ADB Madhumita Gupta, Principal Social Development Specialist (Safeguards), OSFG, ADB |
| 11:40 – 12:00 pm (20 min) | Group Photo and Coffee Break | |
| 12:00 – 12:50 pm (50 min) | Presentation of Feedback on Session 2 (6 DMCs – 7-8 min per DMC) | Delegates from BAN, BHU, IND, MLD, NEP, SRI |
| 12:50 – 1:30 pm (40 min) | Plenary Discussion | Moderator: Ricardo Barba, Principal Safeguards Specialist, OSFG, ADB |
| 1:30 – 2:30 pm (60 min) | Lunch Break | |
| 2:30 – 2:40 pm (10 min) | Session 3: Overview of ESS 2 (Labor and Working Conditions) and ESS 4 (Health, Safety, and Security) | Felix Oku, Senior Social Development Specialist (Safeguards), OSFG, ADB |
| 2:40 – 3:30 pm (50 min | Presentation of Feedback on Session 3 (6 DMCs – 7-8 min per DMC) | Delegates from BAN, BHU, IND, MLD, NEP, SRI |
| 3:30 – 4:10 pm (40 min) | Plenary Discussion | Moderator: Ricardo Barba, Principal Safeguards Specialist, OSFG, ADB |
| 4:10 – 4:20 pm (10 min) | Session 4: Overview of ESS 5 (Land Acquisition and Land Use Restriction) | Irina Novikova, Principal Social Development Specialist, OSFG, ADB |
| 4:20 –5:10 pm (50 min) | Presentation of Feedback on Session 4 (6 DMCs – 7-8 min per DMC | Delegates from BAN, BHU, IND, MLD, NEP, SRI |
| 5:10 – 5:50 pm (40 min) | Plenary Discussion | Moderator: Ricardo Barba, Principal Safeguards Specialist, OSFG, ADB |
| 5:50 – 6:00 pm (10 min) | Synthesis and Announcements | Overall Facilitator: Jelson Garcia, Stakeholder Engagement Specialist (Consultant), ADB |
| Day 2 23 February 2024, 10:00 - 6:00 PM | ||
| Time | Activity | Resource Persons |
| 10:00 – 10:05 am (5 min) | Meeting Reminders | Overall Facilitator: Jelson Garcia, Stakeholder Engagement Specialist (Consultant), ADB |
| 10:05 – 10:15 am (10 min) | Session 5: Overview of ESS 7 (Indigenous Peoples) | Tulsi Bisht, Senior Social Development Specialist (Safeguards), OSFG, ADB |
| 10:15 – 11:05 am (50 min) | Presentation of Feedback on Session 5 (6 DMCs – 7-8 min per DMC) | Delegates from BAN, BHU, IND, MLD, NEP, SRI |
| 11:05 – 11:45 am (40 min) | Plenary Discussion | Moderator: Ricardo Barba, Principal Safeguards Specialist, OSFG, ADB |
| 11:45 – 12:00 pm (15 min) | Coffee Break | |
| 12:00 – 12:10 (10 min) | Session 6: Overview of ESS 3 (Resource Conservation and Pollution Prevention) and ESS 9 (Climate Change) | Zehra Abbas, Principal Environment Specialist, OSFG, ADB |
| 12:10 – 1:00 am (50 min) | Presentation of Feedback on Session 6 (6 DMCs – 7-8 min per DMC) | Delegates from BAN, BHU, IND, MLD, NEP, SRI |
| 1:00 – 2:00 pm (60 min) | Lunch Break | |
| 2:00 – 2:40 pm (40 min) | Plenary Discussion | Moderator: Ricardo Barba, Principal Safeguards Specialist, OSFG, ADB |
| 2:40 – 2:50 pm (10 min) | Session 7: Overview of ESS 6 (Biodiversity and Sustainable Natural Resources Management) and ESS 8 (Cultural Heritage) | Zehra Abbas, Principal Environment Specialist, OSFG, ADB |
| 2:50 – 3:40 pm (50 min) | Presentation of Feedback on ESS 6 and 8 – 6 DMCs (10 min per DMC) | Delegates from BAN, BHU, IND, MLD, NEP, SRI |
| 3:40 – 4:20 pm (40 min) | Plenary Discussion | Moderator: Ricardo Barba, Principal Safeguards Specialist, OSFG, ADB |
| 4:20 – 4:35 pm (15 min) | Coffee Break | |
| 4:35 – 4:45 pm (10 min) | Session 8: Overview of E&S Requirements for Financing Modalities and Products and Prohibited Investment Activities List | Takako Morita, Principal Counsel, Office of the General Counsel (OGC), ADB |
| 4:45 – 5:25 pm (40 min) | Plenary Discussion | Moderator: Ricardo Barba, Principal Safeguards Specialist, OSFG, ADB |
| 5:25 – 5:35 pm (10 min) | Synthesis and Next Steps | Bruce Dunn, Director, OSFG, ADB |
| 5:35 – 5:40 pm (5 min) | Closing Message | Nianshan Zhang, Head, Office of Safeguards (OSFG), ADB |
| 5:40 – 5:50 pm (10 min) | Session Evaluation and Announcements | Overall Facilitator: Jelson Garcia, Stakeholder Engagement Specialist (Consultant), ADB |
CONTACT
For concerns and queries, email the Safeguards Policy Review and Update Secretariat (SPRU) at safeguardsupdate@adb.org.