Country Safeguard Systems Regional Workshop Proceedings: Towards Common Approaches and Better Results
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The Asian Development Bank's (ADB) Safeguard Policy Statement (SPS) (2009) affirms ADB's commitment to help its developing member countries (DMCs) strengthen their country safeguard systems.
As an integral part of efforts to enhance aid and development effectiveness, there is a growing global emphasis on the need to broaden the vision and mission of development to strengthen country safeguard systems and harmonize safeguard policies and approaches among development partners.
This is expected to enhance countries' ownership, extend development impacts, make more efficient use of countries and their development partners' resources, and promote cooperation among international financial institutions.
ADB convened the first Regional Workshop on Country Safeguard Systems: Towards Common Approaches and Better Results at ADB headquarters in Manila on 18-19 April 2012.
The Workshop fulfilled three objectives in that it:
- was a venue to learn about the current status of safeguards, the progress made to strengthen country safeguard systems, and the emerging approaches in addressing environmental and social risks;
- was an opportunity to gain greater insight into DMCs' own capacity needs so that development partners can better aim their support; and
- sought to promote the ongoing dialogue on country safeguard systems and explore partnerships for knowledge sharing, including South-South cooperation.
The workshop brought together experts and practitioners on environmental and social safeguards from 15 DMCs, 10 international financial institutions,2 civil society, the private sector, and ADB. A total of 168 participants attended the workshop.
