¹Designated Countries are those countries deemed to have robust environmental and social governance, legislation systems and institutional capacity designed to protect their people and the natural environment. For the list of Designated Countries, go to: https://www.equator-principles.com/index.php/ep3/designated-countries

UKEF’s Environmental Social and Human Rights (ESHR) Policy sets out how UKEF implements the Equator Principles alongside the OECD Common Approaches during pre-issue stages (scoping, screening, and due diligence review), which satisfies Equator Principles 1 – 8, and for post-issue monitoring, to satisfy Equator Principle 9. UKEF published a Note of Human Rights and Social Risks and Impacts in support of its ESHR Policy in March 2017. Further information can also be found in UKEF’s Annual Report and Accounts 2019/20.

UKEF’s Environmental & Social Risk Management Team (E&S Team), is responsible for carrying out the implementation of UKEF’s ESHR Policy. The E&S Team’s staff are professionally qualified and directly undertake and/or manage the necessary ESHR due diligence and liaise with project sponsors and/or exporters and UKEF decision-makers. The E&S Team has approximately 8 full time equivalent staff and reports directly to the Head of Business Group and the Chief Executive. The E&S Team continues to provide internal training to UKEF’s Business Group (including underwriters), and wider staff, to raise awareness of the requirements of the OECD Common Approaches, the EPs, and general ESHR risk management.

Further information about UK Export Finance’s implementation of the EPs can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ukefs-implementation-of-the-equator-principles-1-april-2019-to-31-march-2020