A reservoir or highway financed by the World Bank or the Asian Development Bank in Armenia has two environmental and social gatekeepers. The state needs an EIA and a positive state expertise conclusion under Armenian law. The lender needs an assessment that meets its own standard, such as the World Bank Environmental and Social Framework or the ADB Safeguard Policy Statement.
Where the two overlap
Both need a description of the project and its alternatives, baseline conditions, impact assessment, mitigation and a monitoring programme. Both involve public consultation. Fieldwork for air, noise, water, soil and biodiversity can serve both documents if it is designed to the stricter requirement.
Where they differ
Lender standards go further on social topics: land acquisition and resettlement, livelihoods, labour and working conditions, community health and safety, and stakeholder engagement and grievance mechanisms. They also set their own disclosure rules and review process.
How we approach it
We scope both documents together at the start, design one programme of baseline surveys and consultations, and keep the national EIA and the lender ESIA consistent as the design changes. The national report then goes through state expertise while the ESIA goes through the lender's safeguard review.