Safeguards Overview
Our Environmental and Social Safeguard System
Conservation International is committed to funding and implementing programs that improve the lives of people by protecting nature. At the outset of each project, we work to analyze, minimize and mitigate any potential adverse impacts on people or the environment.
Guiding our efforts is Conservation International's Environmental and Social Safeguard System (CISS), which provides staff and partners with the policies, standards, procedures and guidance to ensure projects are effective, efficient and equitable. The CISS is designed to avoid or mitigate adverse environmental and social impacts and enhance the project’s overall benefits for people and nature. To promote human rights, the CISS works to reduce equity gaps, promote gender equality, and improve social and environmental sustainability.
The CISS relies on four operational policies and 10 standards with corresponding procedures and requirements, all of which are detailed within the Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF).
Read the full ESMF: English | Español | Português | Français
Safeguard steps
1
Screen project
Screening helps us understand potential risks to people and nature that may be present in the project and prepare to avoid or mitigate those risks during project implementation. The screening produces an environmental and social (E&S) risk rating — low, medium, or high — and indicates the type of impact assessment and safeguard plans needed.
2
Design Safeguard Plans
Risk rating and the scope and complexity of a project are considered when developing and budgeting for safeguard plans. At a minimum, all projects require a stakeholder engagement plan, gender mainstreaming plan, and accountability and grievance plan. Safeguard plans are cleared by an independent review.
3
Monitor compliance
Conservation International carefully monitors the performance of E&S risk management to ensure accountability and timely adaptive management. Safeguard plans, risk ratings, monitoring reports, and clearances are tracked and fed back into the project, so that they can guide future program decision-making.
4
Evaluate compliance
As part of overall project evaluation, Conservation International assesses and reports if E&S risk and impact mitigation objectives have been implemented or achieved.
Safeguard Workflow per risk category
* Other plans may include an Indigenous Peoples Plan, Resettlement Plan, Community Health Safety & Security Plan, Pest Control Plan, etc.