it is available, such as specific names of media and websites. If locations and dates of meetings are not known, the SEP should provide a general idea of the number of consultations that will occur and the way they will be conducted.41 i. For projects with high and substantial environmental and social risk ratings, there should be “several formal points of engagement, as well as ongoing information dissemination.”42 j. Borrowers should develop lists of projectaffected and other interested parties at the beginning of environmental and social assessments for projects, and should pay “special attention to identifying disadvantaged or vulnerable groups.”43 k. It is advisable to “conduct discussions with representatives of the stakeholders identified.”44 4. Environmental Standard 1 (ESS1): Assessment and Management of Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts As noted above, ESS10 must be read in conjunction with ESS1, which establishes the Borrower’s responsibility for “assessing, managing, and monitoring environmental and social risks and impacts associated with each stage of the project.”50 Within this broad responsibility, ESS1 sets forth several objectives that involve identifying environmental and social risks, minimizing them, and mitigating them. Stemming from these objectives to manage potential project risks and to engage with stakeholders that are “disadvantaged and vulnerable,” ESS1 details the following requirements that relate to undertaking stakeholder engagement more broadly: a. Environmental and social assessment requirements l. Depending on the context of the society, “women, children, youth, and the elderly, or other groups may need to be considered as stakeholder groups of their own” and may need to be engaged using “separate consultation formats.”45 i. Borrowers will carry out environmental and social assessments based on current information and “will include stakeholder engagement as an integral part” of them.51 ii. For High and Substantial Risk projects, Borrowers will “retain independent specialists to carry out the environmental and social assessment” for projects.52 m. Various strategies can be used to mitigate barriers to engagement by “focusing on issues of accessibility, communication, empowerment, and/or confidentiality.”46 n. Drafts of SEPs should be “made available to stakeholders in accessible formats and through channels that are appropriate for them,” and they should be notified of their publication through various channels.47 iii. The assessments will take into account “any prejudice or discrimination toward individuals or groups in providing access to development resources and project benefits” especially to “those who may be disadvantaged or vulnerable.”53 o. Borrowers should indicate the resources they will devote “to managing and implementing” the SEP, in particular that there is “an adequate budget...allocated toward stakeholder engagement” and the people that are in charge of the SEP.48 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 iv. When individuals or groups are identified as “disadvantaged or vulnerable,” Borrowers will “propose and implement differentiated measures” so that these individuals or groups do not experience disproportionate adverse impacts and so that they share any development benefits that result from the project.54 p. Borrowers should require “require all grievances to be treated confidentially, impartially, objectively, and in a timely manner.”49 Ibid. “Guidance Note: ESS10,” 2, GN6.1. “Guidance Note: ESS10,” 4, GN10.1(a). “Guidance Note: ESS10,” 4, GN10.1(c). “Guidance Note: ESS10,” 4, GN10.2. “Guidance Note: ESS10,” 4, GN11.1. “Guidance Note: ESS10,” 5, GN13.3. “Template for ESS10,” 5 sec. 5.1. “Guidance Note: ESS10,” 9, GN27.5. BANK INFORMATION CENTER | MAR 2021 50 51 52 53 54 b. Stakeholder engagement and information disclosure requirements “Environmental and Social Framework,” 15, par. 1 “Environmental and Social Framework,” 18, par. 24. “Environmental and Social Framework,” 19, par. 25. “Environmental and Social Framework,” 19, par. 28(b) “Environmental and Social Framework,” 20, par. 29. 25