the challenge

A joint venture in the construction sector has asked Ksapa to assist in the definition of a health, safety and security plan for the surrounding communities in the context of the construction of a major energy infrastructure located in a cross-border region in West Africa.

The project, which will produce clean energy for the benefit of several countries, is financed by international banks with strict ESG clauses. The plan must therefore be aligned with the best international frameworks, including the IFC Performance Standards.

OUR APPROACH

Ksapa has developed its own in-house tools that take into account the best standards on the market as well as regulatory developments in order to offer its clients compliant and actionable deliverables over time.

In this specific case, Ksapa has mainly based itself on the SFI 4 standard, which sets out the specific expectations of a health, safety and security plan for the surrounding communities.

The activities, equipment and infrastructure associated with a project can increase the risks and impacts to which communities are exposed.

While recognising the role of public authorities in promoting the health, safety and security of populations, Performance Standard 4 covers the client’s responsibility to prevent or minimise risks or impacts on the health, safety and security of communities that may result from its project activities, with particular attention to vulnerable groups.

The development of this plan took into account the fact that the project was still awaiting confirmation of investment from banks and that some procedures were foreseen. 

• Identification of key construction site risks from the perspective of local communities

Ksapa first elaborated an exhaustive review of the existing and planned processes of the client on the construction site, in order to identify all the elements (infrastructures, equipment, products used, access…) that could affect the affected communities, those around the delimited construction site.

This was done through a document review and discussion with the different professions working on the construction site.

It should be noted that Ksapa has already worked on this project in the context of other ESG assignments. Its good knowledge of the project’s perimeter, of the actors and stakeholders involved and of the expectations surrounding the project enabled it to take a holistic approach to identifying the risks for the local communities.

• Highlighting of adapted procedures

Once the risks had been prioritised, Ksapa reviewed existing and/or planned procedures to assess the proper management of its risks beyond the protection of assets, taking into account the needs and impacts on communities.

This review considered how well risks were being managed and where additional actions and commitments were required to ensure that the impact was minimised while engaging with stakeholders

RESULTS & NEXT STEPS

The document produced by Ksapa outlines the methodology, findings and recommendations to ensure the client’s responsibility to prevent and/or minimise risks or effects on the health, safety and security of communities that may result from its project activities.

This document was reviewed and discussed with key internal stakeholders in a spirit of continuous improvement, and then forwarded to banks for evaluation. Indeed, proper compliance with and management of ESG clauses will enable the release of funds and the official launch of the construction of this infrastructure.