MOVING TO SUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE MEKONG

How to Navigate Environmental & Social Considerations in Project Development & Financing

With the objective to help “demystify” the importance of environmental and social (E&S) considerations, and their integration into the project development process and financing timeline of infrastructure projects in the Mekong subregion, this Tutorial is a simple and accessible guide that aims to familiarize stakeholders of varying backgrounds with supporting sustainable infrastructure development.

This is especially relevant for the Mekong subregion with infrastructure playing a central role in economic, social and environmental development. To facilitate an understanding of terms used in this document, there is a glossary at the end to provide further context. In the following sections, key E&S issues are described in the context of infrastructure development projects and with reference to the Mekong subregion.

In this Tutorial, infrastructure covers the following types of (non-exhaustive) developments: (i) power generation and transmission; (ii) transport (including railroad, ports, and airports); (iii) water and sanitation (including water treatment, wastewater treatment and pipelines, storm water management, and flood defenses); and (iv) communications (including fiber optic cables and data centers).

A key objective of this Tutorial is to illustrate why and how E&S considerations should be incorporated at different stages of project development in parallel with the timeline of financing infrastructure. Common challenges and lessons learned are highlighted and illustrated through case studies.

The Tutorial also describes existing standards and frameworks, introduces emerging “labels”, and concludes with important issues for consideration.

Source : USAID