ABOUT

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is conducting a comprehensive review and update of the 2009 Safeguard Policy Statement (SPS, or the Policy). Stakeholder engagement is seen by ADB as a critical element in the update process and will be guided by a Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP). This will be implemented over three phases. Phase I was recently concluded with initial stakeholder outreach. Phase II will involve discussion on technical topics related to the policy architecture and standards, as well as lessons from past implementation. During Phase III, comments on the draft policy will be solicited prior to policy finalization.

ADB will launch Phase II starting with a series of regional consultation events on key thematic areas related to environment and social safeguards. These areas are being examined through technical and analytical studies that look at implementation challenges and good practices, and recommendations to strengthen the safeguard policy. Based on feedback from regional consultations, subsequent country-level dialogue and focus group discussions on key technical areas will be designed. Together, these series of consultations will help ADB design its new safeguards policy.

PURPOSE

The objective of Phase II consultations is to obtain a better understanding of the views of stakeholders on safeguards implementation challenges and good practices, as well as recommended policy directions.

TARGET AUDIENCE

Stakeholders include ADB developing member countries (DMCs) and other ADB regional and non-regional members, as well as civil society organizations, private sector representatives and clients, and other international organizations. Special sessions targeting project-affected people will also be organized.

APPROACH
  
Given the constraints imposed by COVID-19, regional consultations will, for the time being, take place online through videoconferencing and the schedule will be announced on the main ADB website. Background materials prepared for each event will be released on the Safeguard Policy Review webpage two weeks prior to the actual consultation date. Invitations with registration links will be emailed to pre-registered stakeholders. Simultaneous interpretation facilities will be provided for each event for selected languages such as Bahasa Indonesia, Chinese, Russian, Hindi, Khmer, Tieng Viet, Urdu and Lao.

TIMEFRAME
  
The regional consultations will take place from November 2021 until March 2022. The consultation topics and indicative schedule for the regional consultations is provided in the table below. Each regional consultation will be organized for two to three time zones to allow more flexible participation. The timing of additional consultations and focus groups sessions will be scheduled separately.