A six-day training programme on the Essentials of Environmental and Social Risk Management (ESRM) has concluded in Accra, with a resounding call on participants to prioritize environmental management in development projects.
Organized in collaboration with the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) and the Regional Transport Research and Education Centre of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), the programme was funded by the World Bank Group.
This fourth session of the programme saw the participation of 35 professionals from various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, as well as local government and public service entities in Ghana. Previous courses have drawn participants from countries including Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Uganda.
The primary objective of the training was to equip participants with the necessary skills to manage environmental and social risks associated with development projects, ultimately aiming for sustainable development across the continent.
Ms. Nneka Okereke, Senior Social Development Specialist at the World Bank Office in Accra, commended the expertise of GIMPA and KNUST, expressing confidence in the training's ability to enhance participants' capacities for the benefit of development outcomes.
She emphasized the importance of mainstreaming environmental and social risk management practices in World Bank-funded projects, highlighting the requirement for environmental and social frameworks before project financing.
The comprehensive training covered various modules, including stakeholder mapping, sustainable procurement, conflict management, grievance redress, environmental impact assessment, social inclusion, and gender considerations.
Mr. Paul Rex Danquah, Senior Consultant at GIMPA Training and Consulting, stressed the importance of incorporating these modules into participants' project planning and design for improved outcomes.
Professor Helen Essandoh, Director of the Regional Transport Research and Education Centre at KNUST, encouraged participants to form networks to share best practices for enhancing environmental and social risk management activities.
Participants, including Mr. Usama Iddrisu Samu and Madam Gloria Akoto Bamfo, expressed gratitude for the knowledge gained, highlighting its relevance to their respective roles in project evaluation and implementation.
The training programme underscored the collective commitment to fostering sustainable development practices and ensuring environmental and social considerations are integrated into project management efforts in Ghana and beyond.
