Guidance Note UNDP Social and Environmental Standard 5: Displacement and Resettlement

This Guidance Note is part of a set of operational guidance materials related to the UNDP Social and Environmental Standards (SES). UNDP’s SES seek to (i) strengthen quality of programming by ensuring a principled approach; (ii) maximize social and environmental opportunities and benefits; (iii) avoid adverse impacts to people and the environment; (iv) minimize, mitigate, and manage adverse impacts where avoidance is not possible; (v) strengthen UNDP partner capacities for managing social and environmental risks; and (vi) ensure full and effective stakeholder engagement, including through mechanisms to respond to complaints from project-affected people.
The SES guidance notes follow a similar structure to assist users in finding specific information or guidance (however the SESP Guidance Note focuses on the steps of the screening process). The set of guidance notes will develop over time to include specific guidance on each of the SES Programming Principles, Project-level Standards, and elements of the Social and Environmental Management System (see Key Elements of the SES). The SES Toolkit is an on-line resource for the guidance notes and supporting materials.

The target users for the SES guidance notes are staff, consultants, stakeholders and partners who are involved in developing, assessing and implementing projects that invoke UNDP’s SES. To facilitate use of the overall package of SES guidance, users should understand that the guidance notes:
• Are structured around the process of screening, social and environmental assessment, and management (including monitoring).
• Assist in determining the applicability of relevant SES requirements in the screening process for all projects.
• Provide additional guidance for projects that require assessment and development of management measures (i.e. projects with Moderate, Substantial or High Risks related to a certain Principle or Standard).
• Provide a practical resource for implementing SES requirements to address potential social and environmental impacts within the context of the project cycle. Users do not necessarily need to read them in full but rather may select information that is specific to their needs.
• Complement and elaborate on the SES, which must be read in conjunction with the guidance notes (SES language is generally not repeated in the notes).
• Will continue to be developed as lessons are derived from implementation. Feedback is always welcome and can be sent to [email protected]