At A Glance
Businesses that implement sustainable practices and manage environmental and social risks responsibly are more likely to succeed.
Companies with clean, efficient operations and strong relationships with stakeholders, including local communities, are positioned to reduce operational costs, avoid fines or penalties, boost their reputation, maintain a social license to operate and increase their market share. Similarly, lenders with such companies in their portfolios are more likely to manage environmental and social risks more effectively, prevent credit risks, have a strong bottom line and attract funding on the international market.
Our
Strategy
Throughout the life of every project, we focus on the most relevant environmental and social aspects and systematically address risks.
We work with our clients to implement measures to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change, as well as identify and manage the risks of natural disasters. We also promote practices and strategies to adequately identify and assess the environmental and social impacts and manage them through a systematic approach, with sufficient resources, to reduce waste and pollution, protect and conserve biodiversity, and sustainably use natural resources. When we invest in a project, we also require our clients to put in place certain practices to uphold human rights and promote strong social values. These practices include, but are not limited to:
- robust public consultation, communication and outreach to affected communities
- adequate labor relations, including mechanisms to redress worker grievances
- good working conditions and high standards for occupational health and safety
- gender equality and diversity
- participation and inclusion of indigenous peoples and other vulnerable groups, and prevention of adverse impacts on them
- preservation of cultural heritage
Whether we are making a direct investment, investing indirectly through financial intermediaries such as banks or providing technical assistance, we conduct due diligence reviews to understand the potential environmental and social risks and impacts involved. We evaluate the client’s ability to comply with our Environmental and Social Sustainability Policy and with the host country’s institutional regulatory framework. The level of evaluation and oversight varies, depending on the potential risks and impacts of each project.
For a direct investment, for example, we would do an appraisal that includes reviewing available information, records and documentation related to risks and impacts; conduct a site visit and interviews with client staff and relevant stakeholders; evaluate the project’s environmental and social plans or, if it is already in an operational phase, its performance; identify any gaps or areas of non-compliance with IDB Invest’s Sustainability Policy and with local standards, guidelines and regulations; and develop an Environmental and Social Action Plan to close any gaps. Once IDB Invest and the client agree on such a plan, it becomes part of the legal agreements between them.
We also have procedures in place that apply to indirect investments made through financial intermediaries and to technical assistance activities. We monitor the environmental and social performance of all our investments as part of our portfolio management program.
Engagement and Response Platform
IDB Invest aims to foster a proactive dialogue with those seeking information about our projects or interested in filing a grievance.
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Knowledge
Sustainability Week goes digital!
The Sustainability Week Platform was developed by IDB Invest as a virtual space to share knowledge and expertise on environmental, social and governance (ESG) best practices and to provide our clients and other stakeholders with a repository of resources as we pave the way to our next Sustainability Week.
Resources
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Meet
the
Experts
EXPERT
Environmental,SocialandCorporateGovernance
Luiz Gabriel Azevedo
EXPERT
Environmental,SocialandCorporateGovernance
Angela Miller
EXPERT
EnvironmentalandSocial
Juan Carlos Páez