The World Bank Environmental and Social Safeguard Training

The Training was facilitated by the World Bank Environmental & Social Safeguards Training: Ms. Bonnie Cavanough (WB Environmental Specialist) and Ms. Anika Fletcher (WB Social Specialist) with the asistance of Ms. Andrea Tora (CSU Environmental and Social Specialist) aiming at raising awareness on the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework which is the policy and mechanism in place enforced for protecting people and the environment in investment projects.

In the CEO’s keynote remark, he stated that, “it is very important and significant that we manage our resources a small island state – our environment, our people, our workers, our communities and their livelihood. We are fortunate for the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Safeguards Policies for enforcing and supporting efforts towards safeguarding our island, not only how critical they are for the World Bank Projects, but also its potential to influence and lead the way in how Tonga approaches, address, and mitigate Environmental and Social Issues in our other development works.”

“We greatly appreciate World Bank’s efforts in ensuring that activities funded by World Bank and implemented by Government falls within the guidelines established under the Environmental Assessment Act 2003. Tonga is also a party to international obligations on: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, and Ship Pollution.”

“Today’s Training event also marks the Launch of the Tonga Environmental and Social Network (TESN), an initiative of the Central Services Unit and World Bank E&S Team to provide support for World Bank Projects on E& S Risks and Impacts in Tonga. This Network aims to complement current capacity building program and share lessons learnt for Environmental & Social Risk Management and Assessments in Aid Development Projects in Tonga through supporting and providing guidance and share lessons learnt to government officials, Contractors & NGO who conduct, assess, implement, monitor and review Environmental & Social Issues and measures required and documented for development in Tonga. I believe that this is a very much needed training with more opportunities to explore in the future to build the capacity in country on Environmental & Social Management.”

The World Bank Liaison Officer in Tonga, Mrs. Natalia Latu highlighted that “currently eight projects under implementation financed by the World Bank with a total funding envelope combined to over US$100 million.” She stated that this Environmental and Social Safeguard Training was fundamental for success implementation of the World Bank projects and their sustainability.

“The training today aims to add value to both our knowledge, share lessons learnt, to build knowledge and capacity of key stakeholders as well as raise awareness on the E&S responsibilities and requirements for the WB investments in Tonga. The World Bank has these mechanisms for addressing environmental and social issues at different stages of the project management – from planning, design, implementation and closure.

“This Training builds on the continuous efforts of the Government of Tonga, Ministry of Finance CSU/ MEIDECC & the World Bank and to create awareness and effectively build local capacity in understanding, not only, the World Bank ESF and Safeguards measures but also a broader knowledge of environmental and social performance in Tonga.”

The Training was attended by representatives from the World Bank Projects, World Bank Project Management Units (PMU), contractors, Government Ministries, Social sectors, and Private Sector officials.