U.S. National Laws

• International Financial Institutions (IFI) Act, Title XIII - The Environment (especially 1303)
  Title XIII of the IFI Act sets out guidelines for the U.S. Departments of Treasury and State and USAID to review and evaluate assistance proposals of multilateral development banks (MDBs) to promote sustainable use of natural resources and the protection of the environment/natural resources, public health, and the status of indigenous peoples in developing countries. Per Section 1303 of Title XIII, USAID, in consultation with Treasury and other U.S. Government agencies, leads in-depth field-based reviews of selected MDB proposals and projects.
   
• 101(3) of the Continuing Appropriations for 1988 (Public Law 100-202), Sec. 537(h)
  USAID, in consultation with Treasury and State, shall instruct overseas missions to analyze the impacts of MDB loans well in advance of a loan's approval. Such reviews shall address the economic viability of the project; adverse impacts on the environment, natural resources, public health, and indigenous peoples; and recommendations as to measures, including alternatives, that could eliminate or mitigate adverse impacts. USAID shall compile a list of proposed MDB loans likely to have adverse impacts on the above, and report to Congress semiannually, and create a cooperative mechanism for sharing information.

Appropriations

• Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015 (re: USAID and MDB reviews, see page 128 STAT. 2671, 2672)
  The Appropriations Act of 2015 mandates the Administrator to designate additional personnel to carry out USAID's Title XIII analytical, investigative, and reporting responsibilities, as well as monitoring of ongoing MDB projects, to determine the degree of incorporation and effectiveness of USG recommendations and the adequacy of safeguard policies.

Reports to Congress

• USAID Reports to Congress on MDB Projects Likely to Have Adverse Impacts on the Environment, Natural Resources, Public Health, and Indigenous Peoples (USAID, semi-annual 2008-2016)
  Semi-annual reports to Congress on MDB reviews based on Title XIII of IFI Act and the 2015 and 1987 appropriations acts cited above.

Implementation Guidelines, Tools, and Other Resources

• International Finance Corporation (IFC) Environmental and Social Performance Standards
  IFC's Environmental and Social Performance Standards define IFC clients' responsibilities for managing their environmental and social risks. The 2012 edition of IFC's Sustainability Framework, which includes the Performance Standards, applies to all investment and advisory clients whose projects go through IFC's initial credit review process after January 1, 2012. Some international development organizations (EXIM, MCC) have adopted these standards.
   
• World Bank Environmental and Social Framework
  The Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) will apply to all new Bank investment projects when it launches in 2018 (exact date TBD). The Bank’s current safeguards will run in parallel to the new ESF for about seven years to govern projects approved before the effectiveness date of the new ESF. Guidance notes to support Borrowers in implementing the new Environmental and Social Standards are currently being drafted.
   
• Independent Accountability Mechanism Network (IAMnet)
  IAMnet is a virtual network of dedicated practitioners who contribute to the regular exchange of ideas and assist with institutional capacity building in accountability and compliance as components of corporate governance. It provides links to all MDB independent accountability mechanisms and their policies and procedures.
   
• World Bank Group Environmental, Health, and Safety Guidelines
  Sector-specific World Bank Group Environmental, Health, and Safety Guidelines (“EHS Guidelines”) are technical reference documents with general and industry-specific examples of Good International Industry Practice (GIIP). Relevant sectors for this section include: airlines, airports, crude oil and petroleum product terminals, gas distribution systems, health care facilities, ports, harbors and terminals, railways, retail petroleum networks, shipping, telecommunications, toll roads, tourism and hospitality, waste management facilities, water and sanitation, mining, liquefied natural gas facilities, onshore and offshore oil and gas development, electric power transmission and distribution, geothermal power generation, thermal power, and wind energy.
   
• The World Bank Inspection Panel Emerging Lessons Series No. . 4: Consultation, Participation and Disclosure of Information
  This 2017 report on consultation, participation and disclosure of information is the fourth in a series of publications by the World’s Bank Inspection Panel drawing on the main emerging lessons from its caseload of 23 years. The report highlights areas in which continued improvements can enhance the Bank’s and its member countries’ (and the larger development community’s) overall approach to consultation, participation and disclosure of information as tools to empower affected persons and communities to participate in development projects affecting their lives.

Number of USAID Missions implementing

• DC-based

Related studies and analyses

• International Environmental Oversight: U.S. Agencies Follow Certain Procedures Required by Law, but Have Limited Impact (GAO 2008) 
  The GAO was asked to assess the U.S. government’s international environmental oversight efforts by examining how U.S. agencies implement legislative requirements to review the potential environmental concerns associated with proposed World Bank Group projects, as well as agencies’ ability to identify and address these concerns. As a result, GAO recommended that the Secretary of the Treasury routinely identify all proposals of concern in advance of interagency working group meetings. Treasury agreed with the recommendation, whereas USAID suggested that it might warrant further guidance to more clearly address short lead times.
   
• Multilateral Development Banks' Environmental Assessment and Information Policies: Impact of the Pelosi Amendment (CRS 1998) 
  A Congressional Research Service report to Congress that evaluates the environmental assessment and information disclosure policies of the multilateral development banks that have been in effect since 1991 when the Pelosi Amendment became law (which requires U.S. Executive Directors at the World Bank and all the regional multilateral development banks (MDBs) to abstain or vote against any proposed action with significant environmental effects if it has not received an appropriate environmental assessment, or if the assessment has not been available to the Executive Directors and the public for 120 days before a vote), and actions taken by the U.S. Government to implement it.
   
• Multilateral Development Banks: How the United States Makes and Implements Policy (CRS 2015) 
  This report analyzes how the United States makes policy towards the multilateral development banks (MDBs) and identifies ways by which Congress can shape U.S. policy and influence the activities of the MDBs themselves.
   
• World Bank Independent Evaluation Group Evaluations
  The World Bank Independent Evaluation Group Evaluations (IEG)’s evaluation products provide impartial, evidence-based assessments of World Bank Group activities. Some recent topics include climate change adaptions, managing forest resources for sustainable development, environmental sustainability, urban transport and women’s empowerment in rural development.

Agency POC

• Agency Environmental Coordinator, Victor Bullen, E3/MDB Team
• USAID MDB Database