The OECD Recommendation on Environmental Assessment of Development Assistance Projects is a formal guidance adopted by the OECD Council (originally in 1985 and later updated in 2020) to encourage countries that provide development aid – referred to as Adherents – to systematically consider environmental impacts when planning and implementing development assistance projects and programmes.
Key Points:
1. Purpose:
To ensure that development assistance projects do not cause significant harm to the environment or society and that environmental considerations are integrated into decision-making from the earliest stages.
2. Scope:
Applies to projects and programmes that could have significant environmental or social effects, especially those involving sensitive locations or potentially hazardous substances.
3. Requirements for Adherents:
- Conduct early and in-depth environmental assessments for high-risk projects.
- Consider specific project types listed in OECD guidance.
- Promote best practices in prevention, protection, and safe industrial processes.
- Develop and formalize internal environmental assessment procedures.
- Assign responsibility and provide adequate human and financial resources for environmental assessments.
- Support developing countries in improving their environmental assessment capacities.
- Provide tools like an Environmental Checklist to decision-makers and encourage its use.
4. Dissemination and Follow-up:
- Encourage sharing the recommendation with international organizations and other donors.
- OECD committees are tasked with monitoring implementation, providing guidance, and reporting on progress.
5. Objective:
To mainstream environmental considerations into development assistance, prevent or mitigate negative environmental impacts, and promote sustainable development.
The Recommendation includes a provision for the DAC and the Environment Policy Committee (EPOC) to monitor its implementation and report thereon to the Council no later than five years following its adoption and at least every ten years thereafter.