Strategic Environmental and social impact assessments for a Multi-lateral Bank’s Development Initiatives, LATAM and Caribbean Region

The InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) engaged Acorn International to perform a series of Strategic Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (SESA) to support accelerated review and financing of dozens of pending development projects held up by the COVID pandemic. IDB’s Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) unit turned to Acorn International to perform a series of sector-specific SESAs due to our broad experience in strategic environmental and social assessment, deep experience and networks throughout the LATAM region, and standing as one of IDB’s few pre-qualified ESG Framework Agreement partners. The timing of these reviews is complicated by the simultaneous roll-out of the IDB’s new Environmental and Social Performance Standards (ESPS) planned for October 2021.

Each SESA focuses on the various activities and typical impacts of developments in IDB’s main investment sectors (infrastructure, agriculture, health care, etc.) and highlights the plans and actions needed to address these impacts and meet the emerging ESPS requirements. In each case, our multi-disciplinary team is developing clear Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMP) for IDB’s use in guiding its accelerated investment decisions and review for the large wave of investments that have been delayed due to COVID restrictions.