Environmental and Social Due Diligence of the Bakuriani Municipal Project
Client:
The project was aimed at improving the center of Bakuriani and ensuring sustainable mobility to support the local tourism-based economy, particularly in preparation for hosting the 2023 Freestyle Ski and Snowboard World Championships. As part of a broader city improvement program, the project envisaged the procurement of modern passenger buses, as well as equipment for solid waste management and specialized municipal works (trucks, loaders, and snow groomers).
Analyze the client’s performance in the fields of environmental protection, road safety, occupational health and safety, human resources, and public engagement policies, as well as management systems and procedures, and assess their compliance;
Conduct an environmental and social audit of existing operations and facilities and analyze the environmental, health, and safety performance and management procedures applied at the operational level;
Identify existing and project-related environmental and social impacts and risks;
Determine the project’s GET (Green Economy Transition) potential;
Describe and characterize the environmental and social context and risks related to current site activities and the project;
Develop a draft Environmental and Social Assessment Report in line with EBRD requirements, as defined in the ESP;
Prepare an impact assessment with consideration of gender equality and inclusion, as well as identify the project’s economic inclusion potential (with a focus on women, persons with disabilities, and youth);
Prepare a Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP), Environmental and Social Action Plan (ESAP), and Non-Technical Summary (NTS);
Determine the need for further additional studies to provide more detailed coverage of other aspects (e.g., biodiversity, resettlement, workforce reduction, etc.).
The outcome of the work was a comprehensive assessment and documentation of the client’s policies, management systems, and operational procedures, ensuring compliance with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) requirements. This included a review of existing reports and environmental and social due diligence (ESDD) action plans, conducting an environmental and social audit of ongoing operations, identifying existing and project-related environmental and social impacts, and developing an Environmental and Social Assessment Report. In addition, a gender and inclusion impact assessment, a Stakeholder Engagement Plan, an Environmental and Social Action Plan, and a Non-Technical Summary were prepared, along with identifying the need for additional studies.
