For six years, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) financed a training program for bank specialists on the environmental audit procedure. Branan Environment employees, together with PricewaterhouseCoopers consultants, participated in the preparation of the training program for financial intermediaries on the EBRD’s environmental requirements and conducted a series of seminars as trainers.

Seminars were held in the following countries and cities:

• Russia: Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Izhevsk;
• Ukraine: Kiev;
• Belarus: Minsk.
• Kazakhstan: Almaty;
• Uzbekistan: Tashkent.
• Kyrgyzstan: Bishkek.

Branan Environment specialists delivered the training in Russian and English.

The seminars included consideration of the following main topics:

• Overview of national legislation in the areas of environmental protection, occupational health and safety, and industrial safety;
• Overview and analysis of environmental, social, and reputational risks associated with non-compliance with legislation;
• EBRD environmental requirements.

The main purpose of the trainings was to teach financial intermediaries the procedures for assessing environmental and social risks when providing services to small and medium-sized businesses. Within the framework of the training, visits to small and medium-sized business enterprises were also organized to assess compliance with requirements in the areas of environmental protection, occupational health and safety, and the social sphere.