Tanzania has taken a significant step toward advancing sustainable development by strengthening the capacity of project implementers to apply environmental and social safeguards effectively. More than 80 participants from government ministries, project teams, environmental agencies, and development partners, including the World Bank, attended a week-long training in Arusha on the African Development Bank’s Updated Integrated Safeguards System (ISS), held from 15–19 September.
Organized by the Bank’s Environmental and Social Safeguards and Compliance Department, the training focused on practical applications of the ISS. Participants engaged in sessions covering risk screening, impact assessments, resettlement planning, stakeholder engagement, and strategies to address gender-based violence and human rights issues. The program also highlighted methods to improve project readiness, reduce implementation delays, and enhance overall quality and sustainability.
Representing the African Development Bank, Tanzania country economist Duncan Ouma emphasized that the institution’s goal is not only to deliver quality operations but to ensure every investment creates lasting benefits for people, communities, and economies. He underlined that strengthening the application of environmental and social safeguards is essential to achieving this mission across Africa.
The training also placed strong emphasis on accountability and transparency, introducing participants to the Bank’s Independent Recourse Mechanism as a key tool for monitoring and ensuring compliance. Attendees expressed that the hands-on approach of the training provided greater clarity on how to implement safeguards in real-world projects, enabling them to design initiatives that balance development goals with environmental and social responsibility.
The Updated ISS, which took effect in May 2024, sets higher standards for development projects, aiming to better protect people and the planet. With Tanzania managing an active African Development Bank portfolio worth about $4 billion—81 percent of which is invested in infrastructure sectors like energy, transport, and water—the training’s lessons will be instrumental in ensuring that ongoing and future projects contribute to sustainable and inclusive growth.
Closing the workshop, a government representative highlighted the broader significance of the training, noting that protecting people and the environment is central to building national resilience. The initiative, participants agreed, marks a vital investment in ensuring that Tanzania’s development efforts remain sustainable, equitable, and responsive to community needs.
