Environmental Safeguard Conference and Environmental and Social Framework Orientation Workshop for Central and West Asia, and East Asia Regions 29 September to 2 October 2025 Tbilisi, Georgia ADB hosted the Environmental Safeguard Conference and Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) Orientation Workshop for Central and West Asia, and East Asia Regions on 29 September – 2 October 2025 in Tbilisi, Georgia. This initiative aligns with ADB’s broader goal of enhancing safeguards policy implementation and improving the effectiveness of safeguards measures and systems across the region. The event facilitated regional knowledge exchange by highlighting key successes and challenges in implementing the Safeguard Policy Statement (SPS, 2009) and introducing the new Environmental and Social Framework (ESF). It served as a platform for practical learning, peer dialogue, and strategic alignment toward more adaptive, risk-based safeguards implementation. See more in the photo and video gallery. Program and Learning Materials 29 September 2025 30 September 2025 01 October 2025 02 October 2025 Session / Activity Title Speaker(s) Presentations Day 1 Presentations Case Study Presentations Session 1 TA 10110 in Review: Milestones, Challenges, and Lessons in Safeguards Practice Ninette Pajarillaga, Principal Safeguards Specialist (Environment), OSFG, ADB Session 2 Safeguards by Design: Embedding Environmental Compliance and Accountability into Procurement GEO Livable Cities Investment Project (LCIP) Presenter: Beka Toria, ADB Program Manager, Municipal Development Fund (MDF) PAK Karachi Bus Rapid Transit Red Line Project Presenter: Attaullah Athar, Manager ESS/HSE, TransKarachi (IA) Moderator: Nurlan Djenchuraev, Principal Safeguards Specialist (Environment), OSFG, ADB Session 3 Operationalizing EMPs: Budgeting, Monitoring, and Shared Accountability in Implementation GEO road projects (F2 and F4) - Urban Infrastructure Projects, relationship and links between EMP requirements, project complexity and monitoring requirements and cost implications Presenters: Tamar Nasuashvili, Environmental Specialist, Roads Department of Georgia Luisa Bubashvili, Environmental Specialist, Roads Department of Georgia ARM Early Risk Screening in Procurement (CAFSEP Safeguards embedded in bidding and site selection Presenter: Ruzanna Voskanyan, Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialist UZB H&S in Energy Project (56231-001) Health and Safety in Distribution Network Digital Transformation and Resiliency Project Presenter: Azizbek Batirov, PIU Environmental Specialist, Unit Head Moderators: Armine Yedigaryan, Safeguards Specialist (Environment), OSFG, ADB Jonibek Sokhibov, Safeguards Officer (Environment), OSFG, ADB Session 4 Making Grievance Redress Work: Strengthening Risk-Based Approaches Across ADB funded Projects GEO GRM-Driven Design Change (Gudauri WWTP) Presenters: Salome Mosidze, Head of the Environmental Protection and Social Affairs Division, Department of Permits, Environmental Protection and Social Affairs, United Water Supply Company of Georgia (UWSCG), LLC; Ketevan Chomakhidze, USIIP Environmental Consultant, United Water Supply Company of Georgia (UWSCG), LLC Moderator: Ninette Pajarillaga, Principal Safeguards Specialist (Environment), OSFG, ADB Session / Activity Title Speaker(s) Presentations Day 2 Presentations Case study presentations Session 5 Resilient and Nature-Positive Design: Enhancing Safeguards Implementation in Challenging Project Environments ARM Armenia-Georgia Border Regional Road (M6 Vanadzor-Bagratashen) Improvement Project Presenter: Inesa Zargaryan, PIU Environmental Specialist TAJ Biodiversity Conservation in Road Design (CAREC Corridors 2, 5, 6) Presenter: Eraj Abduvohidzoda, Coordinator on Social and Environmental Issues Moderators: Genevieve O'Farrell, Senior Safeguards Specialist (Environment), OSFG, ADB Firuz Safarov, Associate Safeguards Officer (Environment), OSFG, ADB Session 6 Driving Shared Responsibility: Managing Cross-Cutting E&S Risks and Building a Culture of Compliance PAK Karachi Bus Rapid Transit Red Line Project Presenter: Abdul Jabbar Mazari, Assistant Manager, TransKarachi UZB Railway Electrification and ESMP Monitoring Presenter: Guzal Khojamyarova, PIU Environmental Specialist KGZ Asbestos Management in Toktogul Rehabilitation Project Toktogul Hydropower Plant (HPP): Practical Management of Legacy Asbestos in an HPP Rehabilitation Project Presenter: Burul Alymkulova, PIU Environmental Officer Moderators: Nurlan Djenchuraev, Principal Safeguards Specialist (Environment), OSFG, ADB Lizandro Racoma, Safeguards Specialist (Environment), OSFG, ADB Session 7 Strengthening Institutional Arrangements for Effective Safeguards Implementation UZB - Institutional Arrangements Across Five WSS Projects Consolidated PIU model for multi-loan management Presenter: Abboskhon Tillakhujayev, Environment and Social Safeguards Specialist Moderator: Genevieve O'Farrell, Senior Safeguards Specialist (Environment), OSFG, ADB Session / Activity Title Speaker(s) Presentations Day 3 Presentations ESF Presentations Course objectives and agenda overview Key objectives and requirements of the ESF Darshani De Silva, Principal Safeguards Specialist (Environment), OSFG, ADB ESF value proposition and key features The importance of sustainability and E&S risk management Mark Kunzer, Consultant, OSFG, ADB Risk classification Introduction to risk classification Felix Oku, Principal Safeguards Specialist, OSFG, ADB Darshani De Silva, Principal Safeguards Specialist (Environment), OSFG, ADB Risk factors: A case study Discussion of E&S risks and stakeholder views Darshani De Silva, Principal Safeguards Specialist (Environment), OSFG, ADB Editha Aguilar, Associate Safeguards Officer, OSFG, ADB Overview of the ten E&S Standards Objectives and key requirements Mark Kunzer, Consultant, OSFG, ADB Environmental and Social Assessment process Emphasis on integrated risk management as an ongoing, iterative process with different deliverables and milestones both during project preparation and implementation Darshani De Silva, Principal Safeguards Specialist (Environment), OSFG, ADB Takako Morita, Principal Safeguards Specialist, OSFG, ADB Procurement and contractor management Bidding documents, contractual requirements, works performance and contract enforcement Mark Kunzer, Consultant, OSFG, ADB Felix Oku, Principal Safeguards Specialist, OSFG, ADB Session / Activity Title Speaker(s) Presentations Day 4 Presentations ESF Presentations ESS10 Stakeholder Engagement and Information Disclosure Zaruhi Hayrapetyan, Principal Safeguards Specialist (Social), OSFG ESS4 Health, Safety and Security Felix Oku, Principal Safeguards Specialist, OSFG, ADB ESS2 Labor and Working Conditions Felix Oku, Principal Safeguards Specialist, OSFG, ADB Introduction to Management-led Grievance Redress Service Introduction to Management-led Grievance Redress Service Felix Oku, Principal Safeguards Specialist, OSFG, ADB ESS9 Climate Change Mark Kunzer, Consultant, OSFG, ADB Takako Morita, Principal Safeguards Specialist, OSFG, ADB ESS6 Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Natural Resources Management Mark Kunzer, Consultant, OSFG, ADB Darshani De Silva, Principal Safeguards Specialist (Environment), OSFG, ADB ESS3 Resource Conservation and Pollution Prevention Mark Kunzer, Consultant, OSFG, ADB ESS8 Cultural Heritage Darshani De Silva, Principal Safeguards Specialist (Environment), OSFG, ADB Closing Ceremony Closing Remarks and Awarding of Certificates Darshani De Silva, Principal Safeguards Specialist (Environment), OSFG, ADB Reden John Barloso, Senior Safeguards Specialist (Environment), OSFG, ADB Disclaimer The views expressed on this website are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) or its Board of Governors or the governments they represent. ADB does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this publication and accepts no responsibility for any consequence of their use. By making any designation of or reference to a particular territory or geographic area, or by using the term “country” in this document, ADB does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area. Related Full Agenda Group Photo Day 2 Group Photo Day 3 ADB Organizer/s Office of Safeguards Read Also TA 10491-REG: Improving the Readiness and Implementation of Safeguards in ADB Financed Projects TA 10500-REG: Strengthening Capacity of Developing Member Countries for Implementation of ADBs Environmental and Social Framework TA 10110-REG: Sustainable Safeguard Policy Applications in the Central and West Asia Region Topics Environment