Fidelity Bank And DEG Hold Environmental And Social Risk Management Workshop For Staff

Fidelity Bank in partnership with Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH (DEG) has organised

 a four (4) day workshop on  the implementation of  Environmental and Social Risk Management strategy for a cross-section of the Bank’s  staff.

The training  is a further demonstration of the Bank’s commitment towards risk management best practices, and in particular supporting environmental protection and social responsibility.

The program which was attended by representatives from the various Departments within the Bank was opened by the Deputy Managing Director of the Bank,  Mr. Jim Baiden and facilitated by Melissa Makwarimba of InnovativKonzept (IK), with Sebastian Spitzer, ESMS Manager for DEG, and Kristin Sjoblom, Senior Manager for Swedfund in attendance.

The objective of the workshop was for participants to familiarize themselves with Environmental and Social Risk Management Tools and Procedures  in preparation for its adoption in all Corporate Credit Analysis. Other highlights such as trends in Environmental, Health and Safety Standards as well as  DEG and IFC peformance standards were introduced to the workshop participants for adoption.

The highlight of the workshop was a site visit by participants to Woodfields Energy Resources in Tema. The visit to the Tank Farm provided a practical assessment of the application in the field and was much appreciated by the partcipants. 

Mr. Jim Baiden, who closed the proceedings, reiterated to the participants the importance in implementing the ESRM strategy within the Bank. He added that having benefited significantly from the workshop, the participants should become the ESRM Champions within the Bank by sharing and leading their colleagues to enrich the Bank’s overall credit analysis.

Mr. Baiden made the point that it was very important for the Bank to only lend to Businesses whose operations and practices do not damage or pollute the environment or impair the health of people in the project locations. He added that there is therefore the need for the Bank to always ensure sound environmental practices by Industries.