Environmental and social risk management and the design and implementation of an Environmental and Social Risks Management System (ESMS) are crucial steps for a financial institution during the transition to a sustainable financial sector. This document offers financial institutions in Latin America and the Caribbean a guide with real examples, models and tools to help them design each element and component of their own ESMS. The guide enables them to manage these risks more efficiently and tailored to the profile of their credit portfolio. It is based on the lessons from “Managing Environmental and Social Risks: A Roadmap for National Development Banks in Latin America and the Caribbean”, a document published in 2014 by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). This publication is primarily aimed at national development banks (NDBs), as they play a unique role in promoting sustainability. Due to their public mandate and their role in local credit markets, NDBs are not only well positioned to support sustainable and low-carbon investments, but also to mobilise private capital towards these public goods. However, it also applies to commercial banks, microfinance institutions and investment funds, among others.

Available in Spanish only.