Our mission at the IDB is to improve lives through the projects we finance, the technical assistance we provide and the knowledge we share. To achieve this, all our partners need to understand the environmental and social risks and impacts to which development projects are exposed and the best ways to address them.
The IDB’s Environmental and Social Policy Framework (ESPF) seeks to improve the environmental and social sustainability of development projects, reducing their negative impacts and increasing their chances of improving lives. As there are many people involved in a project, everyone must know how best to ensure its social and environmental sustainability. Here are 8 questions on topics related to the IDB’s Environmental and Social Performance Standards (ESPS). Answer them and check below if you got them right (no cheating!).
1. A labor management procedure (LMP) is:
a) A set of country-specific public policies regarding work and employment
b) An instrument to manage project-specific risks associated with employment
c) An international standard mentioned in ESPS 2
d) A document issued by professional associations or unions to regulate the relationship with employers and contractors
2. In a project, when should opportunities and methodologies be identified to avoid and/or reduce greenhouse gases (GHGs)?
a) During project design and then reviewed throughout the project life cycle
b) During project implementation, which is when GHGs can be accounted
c) During preparation, which is when the materials for construction are being purchased
d) They can be identified at any point during the project life cycle
3. The following are long-term goals that can be achieved with proper disaster risk management, EXCEPT one.
a) Ensuring the economic sustainability of the entities that support infrastructure projects
b) Contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals
c) Improve the quality of public investments
d) Prioritize the safety and well-being of the local population
4. When would be the best moment to start engaging with potentially project-affected people?
a) When the project is being designed, so that the stakeholders’ points of view can be included in the design
b) As early as possible. If feasible, during the identification stage of the project
c) During project construction
d) During project operation, which is when the effects can actually be measured
5. The best definition of ecosystem services is:
a) The services that businesses can provide to the community from the use of ecosystems
b) The benefits that people, businesses, and communities obtain from ecosystems
c) The means that communities use to earn their livelihood from the ecosystem
d) The Bank’s advisory services aimed at assessing the risk of projects on the ecosystem
6. Within a project’s indirect area of influence, the territory of an Indigenous community in voluntary isolation has been identified. What measures could be taken as part of the project to avoid unwanted contact with Indigenous Peoples in isolation and initial contact?
a) Include land security and protection measures and protocols in the Indigenous Peoples Plan (e.g., buffer zones, limited access to the territory, monitoring and emergency response measures)
b) No project can have Indigenous Peoples in isolation and initial contact in its area of influence. This is the only way to avoid any risk of unwanted contact
c) It is not necessary to prevent it or to include measures; they will be defined in case such contact exists
d) The same requirements as for any other Indigenous Peoples must be met, with no particular considerations
7. Thomas is the legal owner of a house where he lives with his partner, Daniel. They will be resettled due to a project, and Thomas wants the new home in both their names. What do you think? Is it possible to include Daniel?
a) It is not possible. The project must respect national laws, and Daniel and Thomas are not married.
b) There is no need. The house will be titled in Thomas’ name, but nothing prevents them from changing ownership later. If they have been in a relationship for 10 years, they will surely come to an agreement between themselves.
c) Yes. Daniel and Thomas are both affected parties and heads of the household. The Resettlement Plan must guarantee the rights of both, regardless of their gender or sexual orientation.
d) It’s not possible. The Resettlement Plan is already approved and cannot be changed. When responding to the census, they should have declared that they were domestic partners.
8. What is the main component to consider when establishing the social baseline of a project?
a) Understand the gaps between national legislation and the environmental and social policies of financial institutions.
b) Understand how to monitor project implementation.
c) Examine the organization of all communities and groups and understand how the levels and types of opportunities and risks apply to different groups.
ANSWERS
1. A labor management procedure (LMP) is:
Answer: An instrument to manage project-specific risks associated with employment
Learn more: Workers are one of the most valuable assets of any project and key drivers of efficiency and productivity. Learn how to protect their rights and ensure a safe and favorable working environment in our free course “ESPS 2 – Labor and Working Conditions”. Available in English, Spanish and Portuguese.
2. In a project, when should opportunities and methodologies be identified to avoid and/or reduce greenhouse gases (GHGs)?
Answer: During project design and then reviewed throughout the project life cycle.
Learn more: Greenhouse gas reduction and other actions associated with climate change mitigation, pollution prevention and resource efficiency are some of the topics covered in our ESPS 3 course. Available in Spanish and English.
3. The following are long-term goals that can be achieved with proper disaster risk management, EXCEPT one.
Answer: Ensuring the economic sustainability of the entities that support infrastructure projects.
Learn more: Our ESPS 4 course on disaster risk will provide you with valuable information on this topic so that you can adequately address the potential impact of extreme natural events that can jeopardize the sustainability of projects. Available in Spanish.
4. When would be the best moment to start engaging with potentially project-affected people?
Answer: As early as possible. If feasible, during the identification stage of the project.
Learn more: Open and meaningful stakeholder engagement is key to any project, but even more so when the project involves involuntary resettlement. Understand the complexities of resettlement and learn strategies to mitigate its social and economic impact in this course, available in Spanish and English.
5. The best definition of ecosystem services is:
Answer: The benefits that people, businesses, and communities obtain from ecosystems.
Learn more: Our course “ESPS 6: Biodiversity and Sustainable Management of Natural Resources” will allow you to discover that the natural environment is involved in your projects in ways you had not suspected. Learn how to preserve the region’s biodiversity and protect natural resources for future generations. Available in Spanish and Portuguese.
6. Within a project’s indirect area of influence, the territory of an Indigenous community in voluntary isolation has been identified. What measures could be taken as part of the project to avoid unwanted contact with Indigenous Peoples in isolation and initial contact?
Answer: Include land security and protection measures and protocols in the Indigenous Peoples Plan (e.g., buffer zones, limited access to the territory, monitoring and emergency response measures).
Learn more: Projects involving Indigenous communities require special measures to promote development that respects the traditions and rights of these ancestral peoples. Our ESPS 7 course will give you the tools to carry out projects that respond to these needs. Available in Spanish, English, y Portuguese.
7. Thomas is the legal owner of a house where he lives with his partner, Daniel. They will be resettled due to a project, and Thomas wants the new home in both their names. What do you think? Is it possible to include Daniel?
Answer: Yes. Daniel and Thomas are both affected parties and heads of the household. The Resettlement Plan must guarantee the rights of both, regardless of their gender or sexual orientation.
Learn more: Gender equality is not only a matter of justice and human rights, but also a driver of sustainable development. In this “escape room” course on ESPS 9 you will have to solve challenges that will lead you to promote gender equality and address the risks of sexual violence and discrimination in projects. Available in Spanish and English.
8. What is the main component to consider when establishing the social baseline of a project?
Answer: Examine the organization of all communities and groups and understand how the levels and types of opportunities and risks apply to different groups.
Learn more: Social Impact Assessment (SIA) refers to the set of processes for analyzing, monitoring and managing the social consequences of planned interventions and any social change process invoked by those interventions. In this course, you will learn about the ten elements of an SIA and how to use them during the preparation and implementation of your project. Available in Spanish and English.
You can find these courses and more information about them in our website: www.iadb.org/esgcourses
The IDB’s commitment to environmental and social sustainability shines through its comprehensive policies and courses. A vital step towards a more inclusive and responsible development approach.