Policy Documents

Abstract: The IESIA Guidelines are tools used in the implementation of the Bank’s Environmental and Social Assessment Procedures. The major objective of the IESIA Guidelines is to provide guidance to the staff of the Bank and RMCs on how to adequately consider cross-cutting themes while assessing the environmental and social impacts of a project. These guidelines present the most frequent potential impacts and enhancement/mitigation measures for the considered sub-sector. They also provide a brief summary of external factors and the main hazards that can influence sectoral projects. The guidelines also outline indicators that could be useful for monitoring the considered project as well as series of references for further readings. There are presently nine guidelines covering different operational sectors of the Bank, these include: Agriculture; Irrigation; Fisheries; Forestry; Livestock and Rangeland Management; Crop Production Infrastructure; Water Supply; Roads and Railways; Hydropower Production, Transportation and Distribution; Dams and Reservoirs.

Abstract: The Environmental Policy sets out the broad strategic and policy framework under which all Bank Group lending and non-lending operations will be made to promote environmentally sustainable development in Africa. Its overall goals are two-fold: firstly, to help improve the quality of life of the people of Africa; and secondly, to help preserve and enhance the ecological capital and life-support systems across the continent of Africa. The development of the policy has been driven by a number of factors, including: the recognition and acceptance of sustainable development as the dominant development paradigm for the 21st century; the need for a greater focus on pro-poor growth policies and programs to counter unacceptable impoverishment rates; the rapid progress in the inevitable integration of Africa in the globalization process; and the need for an improved governance with a clearer commitment of the majority of African governments to provide the necessary leadership for sustainable development. The policy recognizes the considerable constraints facing Africa, but also its endowment with minerals, rich flora and fauna as well as large tracts of rainforest. To help implement the policy, the Bank will leverage the considerable progress made in developing appropriate tools for effective mainstreaming of environmental sustainability issues in its operations. This includes using a set of approaches and developing/strengthening procedures and guidelines, with particular focus on the full enforcement of the Environmental and Social Assessment Procedures for all lending operations of the Bank.