In August 2025, Tashkent hosted a specialized training organized by NBT Group under the Asian Development Bank (ADB) project on implementing an Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS) for microfinance institutions (MFIs).
The project aims to equip financial institutions with a comprehensive approach to identifying, assessing, and managing environmental and social risks among clients and investment recipients.
Participants included representatives from the Entrepreneurship Development Company JSC, Xalq Bank, BRB Bank, as well as specialists responsible for ESMS implementation within MFIs.
The training program covered:
• introduction to ESMS standards and their role in sustainable development
• ADB requirements and national legislation on environmental and social safeguards
• project screening and categorization procedures for sub-loan approvals
• monitoring and reporting systems
• grievance redress mechanism (GRM) operations
• building organizational structures with dedicated environmental and social specialists
• staff capacity-building programs
According to NBT Group experts, ESMS adoption offers key advantages for financial organizations:
• early identification of potential risks
• effective risk management without increasing staff size
• seamless integration into existing business processes
• compliance with international standards, enabling cooperation with leading multilateral development banks
A dedicated session focused on practical case studies, covering sub-loan due diligence steps, socio-environmental risk assessment, compliance checks with Uzbekistan’s legislation and exclusion lists, project classification by impact level, and preparation of documents for state environmental expertise.
Today, ESMS is not just a formal requirement—it is a strategic tool for strengthening business resilience, reducing reputational and operational risks, and supporting socially responsible and environmentally safe projects.
As a result of the training, participants will receive ready-to-use guidelines, reporting templates, and practical workflows, enabling them to implement ESMS in their organizations without additional time or resource costs.
NBT Group views this as an important step in advancing international sustainable finance standards within Uzbekistan’s financial market.
We extend our sincere gratitude to ADB Uzbekistan Resident Mission for their hospitality, support, and the opportunity to host this training at the ADB URM office. We value our collaboration and believe that joint initiatives contribute to developing professional competencies and promoting international standards in our industry.
