Equator Principles Project Lender ESDD Consultant | SLP Cambodia
Environmental & Social Due Diligence for Cassava Processing in Cambodia
SLP Environmental conducted environmental and social due diligence (ESDD) for a cassava processing facility in Battambang, Cambodia, on behalf of an Equator Principles Financial Institution considering investment in the facility’s expansion. The assessment reviewed the project against Cambodian environmental and social requirements, the Equator Principles, IFC Performance Standards and relevant World Bank Group Environmental, Health and Safety Guidelines. SLP identified and prioritised compliance gaps and prepared an Environmental and Social Action Plan (ESAP) to support the client’s investment assessment and guide corrective actions.
The compliance framework for the assignment included national E&S requirements and international financial institution standards and guidelines including:
- The Equator Principles;
- International Finance Corporation Performance Standards; and
- World Bank Group Environmental, Health, and Safety General and Sector Specific Guidelines.
The primary objectives of the Environmental and Social Due Diligence were to:
- Assess the Projects conformance status with respect to applicable requirements specified in the Compliance Framework;
- Clearly identify any gaps and prioritise them in terms of significance;
- Recommend appropriate corrective actions (CA’s) to close gaps and align Project E&S performance with Compliance Framework requirements;
- Set timelines for implementation of CA’s based on assigned priority and specify appropriate Completion Indicator to verify gap closure;
- Prepare a bespoke Environmental and Social Action Plan (ESAP) for the Project for inclusion in the ESDD report,
- Based on study findings determine likely categorisation of the Project under the Equator Principles; and
- Assess the capacity and resources of the Sponsor to implement the Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS) and ESAP requirements.
SLP specialises in performing ESDD on behalf of project lenders and project developers and has completed over one hundred due diligence assignments across multiple business sectors and ASEAN jurisdictions.