Financial Institution Sustainability for Commercial Banks
Below are guidance notes, resources and tools to support the successfully implement of a Social and Environmental Management System (SEMS). The SEMS link provides a list of guidance documents to faciliate the initial drafting of your organization's SEMS. Specific guidance documents are also available for the various steps of the SEMS process including: categorization, social and environmental due diligence and supervision. The tools provide support for implementation of the entire SEMS process.
If your organization is involved in leasing or microfinance, additional resources are available: Leasing | Microfinance [pdf]
Social and Envrionmental Management Systems (SEMS)
SEMS 101 - As you initiate the planning for development of a Social and Environmental Management System (SEMS), this presentation will provide information on the core elements of the SEMS and how to customize an SEMS to fit within your bank's operating procedures.
SEMS Outline – This SEMS template should be used in conjunction with the SEMS 101 presentation.
Environmental Officer Job description – When hiring an environmental officer to oversee the operation and management of your organization's SEMS, reference this document to get suggested qualifications and experience of an environmental officer.
Indicative FI Client Covenants – When requiring clients to integrate social and environmental considerations into business operations, banks can reference this document which provides suggested language for including social and environmental covenants in loan agreements.
Leasing SEMS Guidelines - If your organization is in the leasing business, this document will provide guidelines on how to develop an SEMS tailored to leasing operations.
Guidance Note Categorization & Assessment – When assessing the level of social and environmental risks associated with lending, banks can implement project categorization procedures into credit operations. This note provides guidance on categorization procedures to ensure that the extent of the Social and Environmental review is commensurate with the nature of risk.
SEDD Guidelines for High Risk projects- This guidance note suggests a social and environmental due diligence checklist for banks to review high risk projects
SEDD Report Outline – This document provides Banks with a suggested Social and Environmental Due Diligence report outline for medium and high risk projects.
FI SEMS Questionnaire – This is the IFC's Supervision questionnaire template that must be completed by FI clients and reported to IFC on an annual basis.
Performance Standard 2 Labor Questionnaire – IFC's Performance Standard 2 Labour questionnaire can be used as a reference for banks that want to assess labour issues at project appraisal.
Environmental & Social Assessment Tool (ESAT) - This tool provides sector specific guidelines that outline the key social and environmental issues associated with various sectors and provides technical guidance to credit officers and engineers involved in the appraisal of industrial and other facilities. To request a CD of the ESAT tool be mailed to you, please contact fmsustainability@ifc.org.
IFC's Sustainability Training & E-learning Program (STEP)
