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Consultation Workshops on the Second Draft of the Safeguard Policy Statement for ADB's Safeguard Policy Update

• Consultation with Indigenous Peoples (Manila, 18 November 2008)
• Consultation with Multistakeholders (Manila, 19-20 November 2008)

ADB has three safeguard policies: Policy on Involuntary Resettlement (1995), Policy on Indigenous Peoples (1998), and Environment Policy (2002). The ongoing Safeguard Policy Update was initiated to improve the effectiveness of these policies and enhance their relevance to changing client needs and new lending modalities.

The update will:

• articulate the safeguard requirements to improve their clarity, coherence and consistency
• balance a front-loaded procedural approach with one more focused on results during implementation
• make policy implementation more adaptable in practice to match an evolving range of lending products and innovative financing modalities
• work towards greater harmonization with safeguard practices across multilateral financial institutions and tailor safeguard approaches to different clients with different capacities
• improve internal processes and resource allocation

Subsequent to a Discussion Note [ PDF ] in 2005, which summarized the key issues for the SPU, a consultation draft of the Safeguard Policy Statement [ PDF ] was posted on ADB's website on 12 October 2007 until 30 April 2008 for comment. From November 2007 until April 2008, ADB engaged extensively with stakeholders, organizing fourteen workshops worldwide. Through these workshops and submitted written comments, ADB has received widespread feedback and detailed suggestions.

In order for the new safeguard policy to be responsive to a wide range of views, ADB Management has decided to hold another consultation workshop in Manila 18-21 November 2008, for stakeholders to have an opportunity to review the revised documents.

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To review a second draft of the safeguard policy statement in its entirety, with emphasis on ADB’s response to stakeholder comments on the consultation draft.

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The multistakeholder workshop consisted of 73 stakeholders including representatives of project-affected communities, government agencies, CSOs, businesses, academia, and other international, multilateral and bilateral organizations. As was the case for workshops organized on the consultation draft of the SPS, the following guided the process of selecting invitees:

• prioritize those who have direct and recent experience/exposure to safeguard issues in developing member countries
• exercise care in ensuring that the groups to be consulted represent affected people
• provide a balanced representation of various stakeholders from the region, and a balanced distribution of participants among the three safeguard policy areas - Environment, Involuntary Resettlement, and Indigenous Peoples
• prioritize those who have the interest and commitment to contribute constructively during the consultation workshop

The separate 1 day session for Indigenous Peoples included 19 participants, providing them with a dedicated forum to review the second draft of the SPS and related documents. This workshop recognizes the unique nature of Indigenous Peoples and acknowledges the value of their involvement in SPU.

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Summary reports were prepared to reflect participants' views, including the following:

• comments, observations, and recommendations on key elements of the Second Draft of the Safeguard Policy Statement
• other relevant concerns and suggestions articulated by the participants

Draft consultation reports were circulated to the participants for their review. The final consultation reports were posted on the SPU website on 19 January 2009 for broader circulation.