Safeguards
Updated: 7 July 2008

Policy Update Timeline

ADB's safeguard policies are central to achieving sustained development impact and poverty reduction. The objective of these policies is to avoid, minimize or mitigate adverse environmental impacts, social costs to third parties or marginalization of vulnerable groups that may result from development projects. Safeguard policies prescribe "do no harm" requirements that must be met for all ADB projects.

ADB has three safeguard policies:

• Environment Policy (2002)
• Indigenous Peoples (IP) Policy (1998)
• Involuntary Resettlement (IR) Policy (1995)

The Operations Evaluation Department has completed evaluations for ADB's safeguard policies:

• Indigenous Peoples (2007)
• Environmental Safeguards (2006)
• Involuntary Resettlement (2006)

Operations Manual Sections are available to guide implementation of these policies:

• OM section F1 on environment (2006)
• OM section F2 on involuntary resettlement (2006)
• OM section F3 on indigenous peoples (2006)

Further guidance on application of safeguards in ADB projects is provided in the:

• Environmental Assessment Guidelines (2003)
• Handbook on Involuntary Resettlement (1998)
• Indigenous Peoples Handbook (forthcoming)

View the types of safeguard documents in ADB:

• Indigenous peoples plans
• Resettlement plans
• Summary environmental assessment reports

ADB has initiated a regional technical assistance (TA) on Strengthening Country Safeguard Systems. The TA will define ADB's corporate approach on country safeguard systems and will require detailed assessments of safeguard systems in selected developing member countries (DMCs). These assessments will identify commonalities and gaps that will require capacity building, policy adaptation, and procedural clarity and definition. For more information, read the TA paper.

Read the overview on ADB's Safeguard Policies [ PDF: 11kb | 2 pages ] .