Assessment of influence of environmental and social risks on project financing: a case of TIB development Bank

Assessment of influence of environmental and social risks on project financing: a case of TIB development Bank Godfrey Valerian Master of Arts in project Planning and Management (MA.PPM) University of Dar es Salam, College of Social Science, 2020 The general objective of this study was to assess the influence of environmental and social risks on project financing. The study employed a case study design and qualitative approach. Forty seven participants were selected by using purposive and simple random sampling techniques. The data were collected using in-depth interview, structured interview, observations and documents review, Microsoft excels were used to analyze the data. The study revealed projects that were being financed by TIB included agro processing, gas, mining, tourism hotels and restaurants, real estate, electricity, education, transportation and communication, financial intermediaries, leasing and fishing sector. The study also revealed that not all projects that were being funded by TIB required environment impact assessment (EIA). The effects of environmental and social risks of the projects financed by TIB included liability, financial, liquidity, reputational, credit and market risk. Others were the increased cost, closure threats of projects and adverse effect on health and safety hazard. The responses included conducting environmental and social risks assessment, developing policies, procedures and guidance regarding the establishment of the projects, strictly adhering to common protocol, integrating human rights obligations; and putting health and safety measures in place. The study concludes that the environmental and social risks of projects were mainly influenced by relocation or resettlement of people, human health and safety, effect on livelihood, project location, water infrastructure, air pollution and soil degradation and vulnerability of communities. However, these were cushioned by conducting EIA; developing policies, procedures and guidance; adhering to UNEP-F1 and Equator principles and integration of human rights obligation. Other measures were health and safety measures and involving the private sector and community in decision making. It is recommended the Bank should implement and environmental and social risks management system and conform to section 81 of the environmental management Act (EMA) Cap 191 of 2004 and subsequent Environment Impact Assessment and Audit Regulations of 2005. Further studies on environmental and social risks may assess compatibility of UNEP-F1 protocol and the Equator principles in the management of environment and social risks.