Guidelines of Good Environmental and Social Practices (GGESP) for the Water and Sanitation Sector.

These Guidelines of Good Environmental and Social Practices (GGESP) were created to ensure proper environmental and social standards for all water and sanitation projects under Tanzania's Water Sector Development Programme (WSDP). Despite the program's focus on water resource management and service delivery, many projects have fallen short of environmental compliance due to contractors' insufficient knowledge and inadequate oversight. The GGESP aims to rectify this by promoting sound environmental and social practices across the entire project lifecycle, from design through decommissioning, for all initiatives supported by the Ministry of Water. In streamlining and enhancing environmental and social best practices in water and sanitation projects, the GGESP's specific objectives are to (i) provide a general description of water and sanitation projects; (ii) outline the national legal and institutional framework relevant to environmental and social considerations in the water supply and sanitation sub-sectors; (iii) detail the main potential environmental and social impacts of these projects, including aspects related to climate change adaptation; (iv) present key actions and measures for good environmental and social practices throughout the project cycle (design, construction, operation, and decommissioning), based on national and international standards, to ensure project sustainability; (v) define the primary responsibilities of key stakeholders (contractors, implementing agencies, and supervisors for large projects requiring external environmental and social oversight) during project design, construction, and operation.
To achieve the main objectives of the Guidelines of ensuring the environmental and social sustainability of water and sanitation projects, protecting public health, and complying with regulatory requirements, the following key actions should be undertaken (i) Environmental and Social Management: Develop and implement Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs) for all water and sanitation projects, and ensure compliance with national laws and international standards, including the World Bank Safeguards Policies; (ii) Stakeholder Engagement: Conduct public participation and consultation processes with affected communities and stakeholders, and establish grievance mechanisms to address concerns and complaints from the community; (iii) Training and Awareness: Provide environmental and social training and awareness programs for contractors, workers, and implementing agencies, and educate workers on safety, health, and environmental protection measures; (iv) Monitoring and Reporting: Implement regular monitoring and reporting of environmental and social impacts during the project cycle, and use tools to document compliance and performance; (v) Waste Management: Develop and implement waste management plans for solid, hazardous, and chemical wastes generated during construction and operation, and ensure proper disposal and treatment of wastewater and sludge; (vi) Health and Safety: Implement health and safety measures to protect workers and communities from accidents, injuries, and exposure to hazardous substances, provide personal protective equipment, and ensure safe working conditions.