ADB Safeguards Policy Update

In July 2005, the ADB announced it would update its three safeguard policies : Environment Policy (2002), Policy on Involuntary Resettlement (1995), and Policy on Indigenous Peoples (1998). According to ADB, the objective of the Safeguard Policy Update is “to enhance the effectiveness of its [ADB’s] safeguard policies, and ensure the relevance to changing client needs and new lending modalities and instruments.” In October 2005, the ADB issued a Discussion Note outlining key policy considerations for public review and comment. After a request from a number of civil society organizations, the ADB also agreed to commission an evaluation of the safeguard policies to be conducted by the Bank’s Operations Evaluation Department (OED). A Consultation Draft of the draft Safeguard Policy Statement was released by the ADB on October 11, 2007 for a 90 day comment period.

It is expected that the ADB’s Safeguard Policy Update will result in social and environmental frameworks that closely mirror those recently established at the World Bank Group. Specifically, the ADB is considering the use of a “country systems approach” for some of its public-sector project financing and has expressed support for the IFC’s new Performance Standards (PS) for private-sector lending. In general, the ADB hopes to “improve [policy] coherence and consistency”; shift from a “procedural approach to one focused more on results during implementation”; improve policy “flexibility in application” to match “lending modalities and frameworks/capacities of its borrowing countries”; and improve internal processes and resource allocation through the Safeguard Policy Update.

Timeline (updated 05/13/08)

July 18, 2005: ADB posts an announcement to inform stakeholders about the safeguard policy update.

October 26, 2005 –February 28, 2006: ADB posts a Discussion Note on the update for public comment. While the formal deadline for submitting comments has pasted, ADB continues to accept inquiries and suggestions regarding the safeguard policy update.

January 2006 – January 2007: ADB's Operations Evaluation Department (OED) undertakes an independent evaluation of the safeguard policies as an input to the safeguard policy update.

September 2006: Web posting of ADB's Special Evaluation Study of Environmental Safeguards and Management's Response.

September-October 2006: Web posting of ADB's Special Evaluation Study of Involuntary Resettlement Safeguards and Management's Response.

January 2007: Expected web posted of ADB's Special Evaluation Study of Indigenous Peoples and Management's Response.

October 11, 2007: ADB releases consultation draft of Safeguard Policy Statement for a 90 day comment period.

January-April 2008: Dates for regional face-to-face consultations announced in two installments.

TBD: Web posting of 2nd draft Safeguard Policy Statement

TBD: Consultation Workshop on 2nd draft Safeguard Policy Statement in Manila

TBD: Web posting and circulation to the Board of the draft W-Paper.

TBD: Commenting period on draft W-Paper.

TBD: ADB Board consideration of draft W-Paper.

TBD: ADB submits a final paper to its Board of Directors for approval.

Timeline for Subregional Consultations for the Safeguard Policies Update

 ** Working papers and restricted papers are draft policy documents prepared at certain stages of ADB's policy formulation cycle.