The Asian Development Bank (ADB) environment specialist and consultants invited personnel from ADB-funded projects across the country to attend a three-day training session that focused mainly on advanced environment and safeguards. The training program provided participants with the opportunity to enhance their skills and understanding of the environment and social safeguards in accordance with ADB standards. Among many participants from the Ministries and ADB-funded projects across the country, Mandus Boselalu, Roland Pharkatonu, and Daniel T. Saomatangi of the Tina River Hydro Development Project (TRHDP), Project Office (PO), and Environment and Social Safeguards team (ESS) actively participated in the three-day program.
The initial days of the program covered the roles and responsibilities of an environmental specialist, focusing on how they ensure the effective implementation of Environmental and Social Management Plans, especially during construction. Topics included pre-construction planning, updating the Environment and Social Management Plan (ESMP), and detailed design. The program also discussed the roles played during the bidding process, as well as reviewing and approving contractors' Construction Environment and Social Management Plans (CESMPs). The second part of the program covered key elements of ESMPs, Specific Environment and Social Management Plans (SESMPs), loans, tenders, and contracts, including bid evaluation. Participants were also expected to understand and identify key requirements to be included in loan documents (covenants) and tender/contract documents. The facilitators introduced the final topic for the day, which was an introduction to risk assessment and how risk assessment can be used to identify and eliminate on-site risks.
Photo 1 – Participants during the pre-workshop evaluation.
Day two covered the remaining topic of risk assessment (likelihood and consequences) with different case studies of projects across the Pacific. The participants were divided into groups, where they practically developed effective risk assessments and provided feedback based on their own experiences. Furthermore, the facilitators outlined step-by-step procedures of a proper SESMP, as it is an important part of a CESMP. Day two concluded with the participants also discussing the importance of communication, information disclosure, and health and safety. The objective was to help all participants working on ADB-funded projects to understand the significance of project communication and to explain the basic requirements for consultation and effective information disclosure, linking them with the grievance redress mechanism (GRM). Additionally, the aim was to enhance participants' capacity to incorporate health and safety into risk assessments.
Photo 2 – Participants during the risk assessment group presentation
The final day of the training covered the importance of monitoring, inspection, and audit. It aimed to improve the participants' understanding of good environmental monitoring, including examples of monitoring techniques. To further understand why inspection and audits are important, identify organisational responsibilities for inspection and audit and useful procedures or tools to facilitate the effectiveness of inspections, audits and reporting. The final day ended with a post-workshop evaluation to help improve the training for future engagements.
Photo 3 – Daniel T. Saomatangi (Monitoring Officer-Project Office) interacting in the training session
Photo 4 – Representative of the Project Office (PO) E&S team (Mr. Roland Pharkatonu) and CBSP- 2 (Ms Xavie Vaisekavea) during the post-workshop evaluation
For more information, contact:
Communications Officer: Jeanine Gadepeta email: jeanine.gadepeta@tina-hydro.com
Tina Hydropower development project
+677 25133
About Tina River Hydro Development Project (TRHDP)
The first large scale renewable energy project for the Solomon Islands delivering benefits such as more affordable electricity and improved accessibility to cleaner, more reliable energy sources for communities now and in the future. It is being implemented by the Solomon Island Government with financing and support from the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, the Asian Development Bank, the Government of Australia, the Green Climate Fund, Korea EX-IM Economic Development Cooperation Fund, and the World Bank.
Find out more on www.tina-hydro.com
A National Project of Solomon Islands | Tina River Hydropower Tina River Hydropower is a National Project of Solomon Islands and has as its objective to provide more affordable and reliable energy options to Honiara. www.tina-hydro.com |
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