Data Room: Safeguard Policy Review and Update
30 January 2025
Environmental and Social Framework
Approved by ADB’s Board of Directors in 22 November 2024, the Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) builds on the findings and recommendations of ADB’s corporate evaluation of its 2009 Safeguard Policy Statement (SPS), detailed analytical studies, and extensive engagement with diverse stakeholders during the safeguard policy review and update. The ESF is expected to become effective 1 January 2026, or at a later date as determined by ADB Management. The SPS will continue to apply to projects that have an approved concept note prior to the effective date of the ESF.
Safeguard Policy Review and Update
In May 2020, ADB’s Independent Evaluation Department (IED) completed a corporate evaluation of the SPS and recommended revisions to the policy and associated business processes and implementation requirements. ADB commenced a comprehensive SPS review and update (SPRU) process, considering the changing development context and evolving challenges and capacities of ADB’s developing member countries (DMCs) and clients.
The main objectives of the SPRU are to (i) modernize the policy and apply good practices; (ii) harmonize with other MDBs; (iii) adapt to regional needs and financing modalities; and (iv) enhance business processes and efficiency. These objectives are aimed at improving the implementation and outcomes for project-affected persons and the environment.
Stakeholder Engagement
The review included a series of internal and external stakeholder consultations with member countries, development partners, governments, the private sector, civil society organizations, project affected people, indigenous peoples, and vulnerable groups.
Stakeholder engagement was conducted in three phases:
- Phase 1: Launch the policy review; draft and share Stakeholders Engagement Plan, (SEP) preliminary information sessions
- Phase 2: Undertake stakeholder consultations on analytical and benchmarking studies and policy recommendations and their implications on policy revision.
- Phase 3: Disclose draft safeguards policy and the final stage of consultations
This data room contains resources that were prepared during the Safeguard Policy Review and Update.
Program and Learning Materials:
| Date | Session / Activity | Presentation Material | Speaker(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 Jan 2025 | Initial Consultation and Stakeholder Outreach | ||
| 01 Jan 2025 | 27 November 2020 | Background Information Paper for SPRU (English) | |
| 01 Jan 2025 | 27 November 2020 | Background Information Paper for SPRU (Bahasa Indonesia) | |
| 01 Jan 2025 | 27 November 2020 | Background Information Paper for SPRU (中文) | |
| 01 Jan 2025 | 27 November 2020 | Background Information Paper for SPRU (हिन्दी) | |
| 01 Jan 2025 | 27 November 2020 | Background Information Paper for SPRU (Русский) | |
| 01 Jan 2025 | 27 November 2020 | Brochure on the Background Information Paper on the Safeguard Policy Review | |
| 01 Jan 2025 | 7 April 2021 | Draft Stakeholder Engagement Plan | |
| 01 Jan 2025 | 12 April - 19 May 2021 |
Online Preliminary Information Session ADB conducted a comprehensive review and update of its Safeguard Policy Statement (SPS) approved in 2009, as part of its commitment to continue supporting... |
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| 01 Jan 2025 | 12 April - 19 May 2021 |
Written Feedback from Stakeholders The Asian Development Bank (ADB) initiated an update of its 2009 Safeguard Policy Statement (SPS) in August 2020 following a corporate evaluation by ADB... |
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| 01 Jan 2025 | 11 October 2021 | Preliminary Information Session Summaries |
| Date | Session / Activity | Presentation Material | Speaker(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 02 Jan 2025 | Consultations on Studies, Experiences and Policy Directions | ||
| 02 Jan 2025 | 28 July 2021 | Updated Stakeholder Engagement Plan (English) | |
| 02 Jan 2025 | 28 July 2021 | Updated Stakeholder Engagement Plan (Bahasa Indonesia) | |
| 02 Jan 2025 | 28 July 2021 | Updated Stakeholder Engagement Plan (中文) | |
| 02 Jan 2025 | 28 July 2021 | Updated Stakeholder Engagement Plan (हिन्दी) | |
| 02 Jan 2025 | 28 July 2021 | Updated Stakeholder Engagement Plan (Русский) | |
| 02 Jan 2025 | June 2021 - 31 March 2023 |
ADB Safeguard Policy Review and Update: Phase 2 Consultations The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is conducting a comprehensive review and update of the 2009 Safeguard Policy Statement (SPS). Stakeholder engagement ... |
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| 02 Jan 2025 | 9 November 2023 |
Summary of Phase 2 Stakeholder Consultations |
| Date | Session / Activity | Presentation Material | Speaker(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 03 Jan 2025 | 7 September 2023 | Draft Environmental and Social Framework | |
| 03 Jan 2025 | 6 October 2023 | Environmental and Social Framework (W-Paper) | |
| 03 Jan 2025 | 2 November 2023 - 10 May 2024 |
ADB Safeguard Policy Review and Update: Phase 3 Consultations The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is conducting a comprehensive review and update of the 2009 Safeguard Policy Statement (SPS). The SPS review adopted ... |
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| 03 Jan 2025 | 25 September 2024 | Revised Environmental and Social Framework | |
| 03 Jan 2025 | 25 September 2024 | Revised Environmental and Social Framework (Redline Version) | |
| 03 Jan 2025 | 26 September 2024 | Summary of changes between ESF draft 1 and ESF draft 2 | |
| 03 Jan 2025 | 2 October 2024 | Summary of Phase 3 Stakeholder Consultations | |
| 03 Jan 2025 | 2 October 2024 |
Civil Society Stakeholder Comments and Feedback on the Draft ESF Received through Feedback Form and Email The Asian Development Bank (ADB) initiated an update of its 2009 Safeguard Policy Statement (SPS) in August 2020 following a corporate evaluation by ADB... |
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| 03 Jan 2025 | 31 October 2024 | Environmental and Social Framework: Policy Paper | |
| 03 Jan 2025 | 31 October 2024 | Environmental and Social Framework |
| Date | Session / Activity | Presentation Material | Speaker(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 04 Jan 2025 | Policy Documents | ||
| 04 Jan 2025 | 7 September 2023 | Draft Environmental and Social Framework | |
| 04 Jan 2025 | 25 September 2024 | Revised Environmental and Social Framework | |
| 04 Jan 2025 | 25 September 2024 | Revised Environmental and Social Framework (Redline Version) | |
| 04 Jan 2025 | 26 September 2024 | Summary of changes between ESF draft 1 and ESF draft 2 | |
| 04 Jan 2025 | 31 October 2024 | Environmental and Social Framework: Policy Paper | |
| 04 Jan 2025 | 31 October 2024 | Environmental and Social Framework | |
| 04 Jan 2025 | Stakeholder Engagement | ||
| 04 Jan 2025 | Phase 1 | ||
| 04 Jan 2025 | 7 April 2021 | Draft Stakeholder Engagement Plan | |
| 04 Jan 2025 | 11 October 2021 | Preliminary Information Session Summaries | |
| 04 Jan 2025 |
Written Feedback from Stakeholders The Asian Development Bank (ADB) initiated an update of its 2009 Safeguard Policy Statement (SPS) in August 2020 following a corporate evaluation by ADB... |
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| 04 Jan 2025 | Phase 2 | ||
| 04 Jan 2025 | 28 July 2021 | Updated Stakeholder Engagement Plan | |
| 04 Jan 2025 | June 2021 - 31 March 2023 |
Summary of Phase 2 Stakeholder Consultations |
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| 04 Jan 2025 | Phase 3 | ||
| 04 Jan 2025 |
Civil Society Stakeholder Comments and Feedback on the Draft ESF Received through Feedback Form and Email The Asian Development Bank (ADB) initiated an update of its 2009 Safeguard Policy Statement (SPS) in August 2020 following a corporate evaluation by ADB... |
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| 04 Jan 2025 | 2 October 2024 | Summary of Phase 3 Stakeholder Consultations | |
| 04 Jan 2025 | Independent Evaluation Department evaluation reports | ||
| 04 Jan 2025 | 15 May 2020 | Corporate Evaluation on the Effectiveness of the 2009 Safeguard Policy Statement | |
| 04 Jan 2025 | 16 October 2014 | Safeguards Operational Review: ADB Processes, Portfolio, Country Systems, and Financial Intermediaries | |
| 04 Jan 2025 | 18 December 2014 | Learning Lessons: ADB's Safeguard Policy | |
| 04 Jan 2025 | Technical Assistance projects supporting the review and update | ||
| 04 Jan 2025 | 12 December 2019 | Technical Assistance Report for KSTA (53125-001)-REG: Strengthening Safeguards Implementation in ADB Projects | |
| 04 Jan 2025 | 14 July 2020 | Technical Assistance Report KSTA (54203-001)-Reg: Strengthening ADB's Safeguard Policy Provisions and Procedures |