UKEF: Environmental, Social and Human Rights risk management
We support exporters and project developers in receipt of UK exports to manage project-related environmental, social and human rights risks and impacts.
Environmental, Social and Human Rights policy
As part of our support to UK exporters and in line with our international commitments, we identify and, where appropriate, conduct due diligence to assess the Environmental, Social and Human Rights (ESHR) risks and impacts of projects we are asked to support overseas.
The Policy and Practice on ESHR Due Diligence and Monitoring statement informs exporters, banks, project sponsors and other interested parties on our arrangements for:
- identifying ESHR risks and impacts and carrying out due diligence to be satisfied that, as far as practically possible, we support projects which should be constructed and operated in line with relevant standards
- monitoring alignment of projects with relevant ESHR standards over the life of UKEF support
Our note on Human Rights and Social Risks and Impacts describes UKEF’s approach to identifying and managing social and human rights risks and impacts of projects we are asked to support overseas.
The ESHR flowchart shows the processes we follow when considering environmental, health, safety, social and human rights impacts.
The Export Guarantees Advisory Council advises the Secretary of State for International Trade on our operations, including ESHR risks.
UKEF is also part of the OECD Export Credit Agency (ECA) Environmental and Social Practitioners group, which developed and maintains a guidance note on good practice in the use of consultants by ECAs.
The Equator Principles
We adopted the Equator Principles in 2016. We are currently implementing Equator Principles 4. This is a global framework for ESHR decision-making in financing projects.
- UKEF’s implementation of the Equator Principles (1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021)
- UKEF’s implementation of the Equator Principles (1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020)
- UKEF’s implementation of the Equator Principles (1 November 2018 to 31 March 2019)
- UKEF’s implementation of the Equator Principles (1 November 2017 to 31 October 2018)
- UKEF’s implementation of the Equator Principles (1 November 2016 to 31 October 2017)
- UKEF’s implementation of the Equator Principles (1 April 2016 to 31 October 2016)
- UK Export Finance joins Equator Principles steering committee
- UKEF adopts Equator Principles
Our announcements
UKEF supports UK companies export all over the world.
Category A projects
Category A projects are those with the potential to have significant adverse environmental and/or social impacts.
We publish details whenever a Category A project is under consideration, and we publish additional information when a Category A project is supported.
Category B projects
Category B projects are those where potential environmental and social impacts are few in number and site-specific. Public disclosure of Category B projects is not required by the OECD Common Approaches, but UKEF has pledged to disclose all new Category B cases for which we have provided support.
ESHR risk and impact categorisations
We publish data on new and existing ESHR risk and impact categorisations and contingent liabilities as part of our Annual Report and Accounts:
- Environmental, Social and Human Rights risk and impact categorisations 2020 to 2021
- Environmental, Social and Human Rights risk and impact categorisations 2019 to 2020
- Environmental, Social and Human Rights risk and impact categorisations 2018 to 2019
- Environmental, Social and Human Rights risk and impact categorisations 2017 to 2018
- Environmental, Social and Human Rights risk and impact categorisations 2016 to 2017
Last updated 19 January 2021 + show all updates
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Edited links to collections for Category A projects under consideration and Category A projects supported. Added Category B notices paragraph and link to Category B projects supported notices collection.
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Updated to include link to report on UKEF's implementation of the Equator Principles (1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020)
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First published.