Policy on Environmental and Social Safeguards for Sub-National Democratic Development.

This Policy on Environmental and Social Safeguards for Sub-National Democratic Development is a multi-sectoral policy document. It is developed to ensure the sustainability of the eco-system, natural resources, cultures, traditions, customs, indigenous peoples, gender equality, safety and social welfare at the sub-national level. The policy target is to avoid any harmful impacts on the society and environment which may arise out of projects for development at the sub-national level.
In order to achieve the policy goal and target, eight strategies have been identified in the Policy: (1) assessment and management of environmental and social risks and impacts, (2) labor and working conditions, (3) resource efficiency and pollution management, (4) health safety and welfare of the community, (5) land acquisition and involuntary resettlement, (6) biodiversity conservation and sustainability management of living natural resources, (7) indigenous peoples and (8) cultural heritage. The project implementation manual for the Capital, Provinces, Municipalities, Districts, Khans, Commune, and Sangkat shall be used to instruct on the priorities which must be considered ahead of the actual project preparation. These priorities include: Analysing and evaluating the harmful effects on society and the environment; Studying the efficiency of the resources and preventing and managing pollution; Studying labour and working conditions; Analysing and evaluating harmful effects on the health and safety of the community; Analysing and evaluating harmful effects of land acquisition, land use and involuntary resettlement; Analysing and evaluating impact on the conservation of biodiversity and the management of living natural resources; Analysing and evaluating impact on indigenous peoples; Analysing and evaluating impact on cultural heritage; etc. The project implementation manual of Capital, Province, District, Municipal, Khan, Commune, and Sangkat shall focus on labor and working conditions between employer and employee for the project implementation at the sub-national level to ensure job safety and worker’s welfare, and focus on acting on the basis of gender equality and equity. To ensure the effective use of the resource by the communities and project implementation with no harmful effects on the environment, the sub-national administrations must: Use of water, air, land, and other contraction material for the local development on the basis of sustainability and within a highly effective and efficient scope; Use water for the purpose of project implementation in an appropriate amount and with no harmful effects on water quality and the sustainability of water source used by the communities. All project implementations at sub-national level must be studied, and action will be taken to put the adverse effects on the biodiversity, ecological system, rare species and the living things at a minimal risk level. The project implementation at sub-national level shall be in close cooperation with the representative of the indigenous peoples, and discussions with the local indigenous people shall be made. The practices which must be performed include: Identifying the identity of the indigenous peoples, natural resources and the area in which they suffer from the negative impacts of the project implementation and ensuring that the project will benefit them; Avoiding all negative effects on the cultures of the indigenous peoples. If such effects are unavoidable, make sure that the effects will be put at a minimal level and then restored; or compensation will be made for such effects on their cultures.