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Environmental & Social

Plain-language definitions of every Environmental & Social term that shows up in government tender work.


Environmental & Social

Biodiversity Conservation

The requirements under development bank environmental standards that protect ecosystems, habitats, and species from project-related harm, including the mitigation hierarchy and offsets that contractors must apply in sensitive areas.

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Environmental & Social

Climate Risk Assessment

An analysis of how physical climate hazards and the transition to a low-carbon economy may affect a project's design, assets, communities, and long-term viability, now required by most major development banks.

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Environmental & Social

Community Health and Safety

The obligations placed on borrowers and contractors to protect the health, safety, and security of communities living near or affected by a project's construction and operational activities.

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Environmental & Social

Cultural Heritage Protection

The requirements under development bank environmental standards that prevent damage to tangible and intangible cultural heritage during project construction and operations, including chance finds procedures contractors must follow.

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Environmental & SocialESCP

Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP)

The legally binding schedule of environmental and social commitments a borrower makes to the World Bank, translating the project's assessment findings and applicable standards into time-bound, monitorable obligations.

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Environmental & SocialESF

Environmental and Social Framework (ESF)

The World Bank's overarching policy framework that sets environmental and social requirements for all investment project financing, replacing the earlier Safeguard Policies from 2018 onward.

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Environmental & SocialESF

Environmental and Social Framework (ESF), World Bank

The World Bank's 2018 policy framework that sets ten Environmental and Social Standards governing how borrowers must assess and manage environmental, social, labour, and community risks in bank-financed projects.

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Environmental & SocialESS

Environmental and Social Standards (ESS)

The ten individual standards within the World Bank's Environmental and Social Framework, each covering a specific risk area that borrowers must address in financed projects.

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Environmental & SocialEIA

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

A structured process that identifies, predicts, and evaluates the environmental consequences of a proposed project before approval, producing a report that informs financing decisions and shapes contractor obligations.

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Environmental & SocialFPIC

Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC)

The international standard requiring that indigenous peoples and local traditional communities be consulted in good faith before project activities affecting their lands, resources, or cultural heritage proceed, with the right to withhold consent.

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Environmental & Social

Gender Action Plan

A project document that identifies gender gaps relevant to the project's objectives and specifies targeted actions, indicators, and resources to address those gaps and promote equal benefits for women and men.

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Environmental & SocialGRM

Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM)

A project-level system that receives, tracks, and resolves complaints from communities and workers affected by a development-bank-financed project, providing an accessible alternative to legal action.

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Environmental & Social

Indigenous Peoples Planning Framework

A framework document that sets the principles, procedures, and entitlements governing how a project will identify and address impacts on indigenous peoples when the specific affected groups cannot be determined at appraisal.

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Environmental & Social

Labour and Working Conditions Standards

The requirements set by development bank environmental and social standards that govern wages, working hours, occupational safety, non-discrimination, freedom of association, and the treatment of migrant and child workers on financed projects.

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Environmental & Social

Land Acquisition and Involuntary Resettlement

The standard requiring development bank borrowers to compensate and assist people displaced physically or economically by a project, restore their livelihoods, and avoid or minimise displacement wherever feasible.

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Environmental & SocialOHS

Occupational Health and Safety (OHS)

The requirements governing workplace hazard identification, risk control, protective equipment, incident reporting, and worker health programmes that contractors must implement on development-bank-financed projects.

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Environmental & SocialRPF

Resettlement Policy Framework (RPF)

A framework document prepared when the exact boundaries of land acquisition are not known at appraisal, setting the principles and procedures that will govern compensation and resettlement once project sites are confirmed.

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Environmental & Social

Resource Efficiency and Pollution Prevention

The development bank standard requiring projects to minimise energy, water, and material consumption, avoid generating hazardous waste, and prevent or control pollution to air, water, and soil throughout the project lifecycle.

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Environmental & Social

Safeguard Policies

The World Bank's pre-2018 set of operational policies covering environmental assessment, natural habitats, forests, pest management, cultural property, and involuntary resettlement, still governing projects approved before October 2018.

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Environmental & SocialSIA

Social Impact Assessment (SIA)

A structured process that identifies and evaluates the social consequences of a proposed project for affected communities, informing project design and establishing the baseline for mitigation planning.

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Environmental & SocialSEP

Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP)

A project document that maps affected and interested parties, sets out how and when they will be consulted throughout the project lifecycle, and describes the grievance mechanism available to communities and workers.

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