35086 - Africell

Who We Are
Who We Are

IFC is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in developing countries. By encouraging growth, IFC advances economic development, creates jobs and improves the lives of people.
More About Us
About IFC

Our Leadership

Development Partners
Accountability

Learn more about accountability
Annual Report

Download the Report
What We Do
What We Do

IFC advances economic development and improves the lives of people by encouraging the growth of the private sector in developing countries. We achieve this by investing in impactful projects, mobilizing other investors, and sharing expertise.
What We Do Overview
SOLUTIONS

Our products and services
OUR PRIORITIES

Climate Business

Fragile & Conflict Afflicted Situations

Gender

Mobilizing Private Capital

Sustainability
SECTORS & EXPERTISE

Agribusiness & Forestry

Creative Industries

Education

Financial Institutions

Funds

Health

Infrastructure

Manufacturing

Public-Private Partnerships

Tourism, Retail & Property

Trade & Supply Chain Finance

Venture Capital

Working Upstream
Where We Work
Where We Work

As the largest global development institution focused on the private sector, IFC operates in more than 100 countries around the globe. We apply lessons learned in one region to solve problems in another.
Overview
By Region

Africa

East Asia and Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

Middle East and Central Asia

South Asia
Our Impact
Our Impact

Our impact improves lives. IFC brings a clear set of advantages to the world’s most challenging markets. Including a history of innovation, a global mandate, and a determination to achieve measurable development impact.
Our Impact Overview
PRINCIPLES & MEASUREMENT

Impact Investing at IFC

Measuring and Monitoring (AIMM)

Evaluation

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Owned by 186 member countries and consistently rated AAA/Aaa. IFC aims to achieve our mission of promoting development by providing debt and equity to the private sector, through a range of benchmark and bespoke products.

For Partners

For Investors

Get in Touch

Environmental & Social Review Summary

Project Number

35086

Company Name

AFRICELL HOLDING LIMITED

Date ESRS Disclosed

Apr 9, 2015

Country

Africa Region

Region

Africa

Last Updated Date

Jun 12, 2021

Environmental Category

B - Limited

Status

Completed

Previous Events

Approved : May 21, 2015
Signed : Jul 16, 2015
Invested : Sep 18, 2015

Sector

Mobile Telephony

Industry

Telecommunications and Technology

Department

Gbl Infrastructure & Natural Resources

Project Description

The review of this project consisted of various meetings with management of Africell Holding (“Africell” or the “company”), the latest of which was in London in March 2015, to obtain an understanding of its proposed operational activities. IFC also appraised an Africell procedural document on working at heights; a sample site appraisal report; and a technical and commercial due diligence assessment from a qualified consulting firm.

IFC’s appraisal considered environmental and social management plans for the Project and gaps if any between these plans and IFC requirements. Where necessary, corrective measures, intended to close these gaps within a reasonable period of time, are summarized in the paragraphs that follow and in the agreed Environmental and Social Action Plan (ESAP) disclosed in this review summary. Through implementation of these management plans and the ESAP the Project is expected to be designed and operated in accordance with Performance Standards objectives.

Overview of IFC's Scope of Review

The Project involves a loan by IFC of up to $39 million to Africell for the company to improve its capital structure and support its expansion plans in Gambia, Sierra Leone, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Africell’s headquarter offices are in Beirut, Lebanon.

In each country in which Africell has operations, it operates a head office site where the main switch is located, warehouses for technical equipment, and points of service mostly in major cities. Africell has a tower network infrastructure that includes operations in Gambia, Sierra Leone, Uganda, and DRC, with a total of 1083 towers. Some of those towers are operated by Helios Towers and Eaton Towers, both IFC clients, while some of its other towers are operated by American Tower.

E & S Project Categorization and Applicable Standard

While all Performance Standards are applicable to this investment, IFCs environmental and social due diligence indicates that the investment will have impacts which must be managed in a manner consistent with the following Performance Standards. If IFCs investment proceeds, IFC will periodically review the the project’s ongoing compliance with the Performance Standards

PS 1 – Assessment and Management of Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts
PS 2 - Labor and working conditions
PS 3 - Resource Efficiency and Pollution Prevention
If IFC’s investment proceeds, IFC will periodically review the the project’s ongoing compliance with the Performance Standards
PS4: Community health, safety and security issues are not expected to arise in this project, as no armed security guards will be used.
PS5: Involuntary resettlement issues are not expected to arise in this project, as sites will not be developed if they would involve physical or economic displacement of people.
PS6: Biodiversity conservation and natural habitat issues are not expected to arise in this project, as sites are chosen only in already-developed areas.
PS7: Indigenous peoples issues are not expected to arise in this project, as no local community members around sites will be from peoples defined as indigenous under PS7.
PS8: Cultural heritage issues are not expected to arise in this project, as sites will not be developed where such issues would arise.

Nevertheless, a condition of IFC’s investment will be that Africell’s operations shall consider all relevant E&S risks and impacts, including issues covered in all IFC PSs.

This project involves the construction and operations of telecommunications towers and the ancillary facilities of a full-service mobile telecommunications operator. The key environmental and social (“E&S”) issues associated with the project are in the construction of towers; labor and working conditions (including employee and contractor occupational health and safety); and pollution prevention and abatement. The nature of the company’s operations is such that no major adverse environmental or social impacts are expected to result from the project, and that it will be possible to avoid or mitigate any limited adverse impacts that might result. As a result, it has been classified as a Category B project according to IFC’s Procedure for Environmental and Social Review of Projects.

Environmental and Social Mitigation Measures

Where Africell’s tower network infrastructure is managed by Eaton Towers and Helios Towers, both IFC clients, E&S policies and procedures have been implemented with satisfactory overall E&S performance over time. American Tower, as a company headquartered in an OECD country, is well-known to have developed and implemented E&S policies and procedures consistent with IFC standards, and Africell will monitor American Tower’s compliance with IFC standards.

Africell’s own E&S management system include a staff manual that covers issues such as life and fire safety. As a condition of IFC’s investment, Africell’s E&S management system will be improved, to include the development and implementation of a comprehensive set of E&S policies and procedures consistent with IFC’s Performance Standards 1 through 8 and with IFC’s Telecommunications Guidelines, with tailoring to the circumstances of each country operations as needed.

Africell’s E&S management system will provide for E&S review to be performed prior to the development and management of all sites and facilities, commensurate with the nature of each site or facility, and the level of E&S risks and impacts at each site/facility.

Under IFC’s investment, Africell will appoint at least one qualified person at its headquarters to be an E&S coordinator, responsible for implementing the company’s improved E&S management system. One of those officers will oversee the improvement the E&S management system.

Africell will not proceed with the development of any site that cannot be expected to comply with applicable E&S standards, or before all relevant local permits are obtained. Africell will supervise E&S risks and impacts as they unfold in all of its operations for the duration of its involvement.

Africell will screen potential key suppliers, key vendors, and key contractors and sub-contractors (i.e., those that perform work that involves core business processes of Africell for a substantial duration, or provide goods or materials essential for core business processes of Africell on an ongoing basis) to ensure that they are well-established companies with solid track records in quality management and labor compliance. Africell will engage with only those of the aforementioned entities that can use documented procedures consistent with IFC and local standards.

Africell will include E&S terms in its agreements with core contractors, vendors, and suppliers. Those terms will be consistent with IFC and local E&S standards, and will cover topics including labor and working conditions, and materials and waste management. In the case of existing agreements in which E&S terms do not comply with IFC Performance Standards, Africell will ensure that appropriate new E&S terms are included as soon as any agreement can be renewed or rewritten. Africell will monitor compliance with E&S terms in its agreements with contractors, and will require improvement in the event that non-compliance is ident
ified.

Stakeholder Engagement

The company is committed to complying with IFC Performance Standards on disclosure and stakeholder engagement.

As a condition of IFC’s investment, Africell will develop policies and procedures to cover public disclosure prior to the construction of any new Africell tower or any other free-standing facility. Those policies and procedures will provide for Africell to post at least one sign at each new site at least three days prior to the start of work.

Africell’s new E&S policies and procedures will also include a community grievance procedure to follow up on any complaints from community members until they are resolved. If a substantial number of community members complain about the same issue, and circumstances indicate that a meeting for Africell to engage with community members may be useful, then Africell will organize such a meeting.

Africell will continuously make available information to local community members on electromagnetic radiation from tower sites as needed, consistent with IFC’s Telecommunications Guidelines.

Africell implements a wide range of social programs for local communities for the benefit of community members.

Broad Community Support

Environmental & Social Action Plan

Title	Anticipated completion Date
PS2: Africell will provide documentation of HR policies and procedures consistent with PS2	07/01/2015
PS1: Africell will appoint at least one qualified person at its headquarters to be an E&S coordinator.	07/01/2015
PS1: Africell’s E&S policies and procedures will be improved to provide for documentation of the following to be made available to all relevant Africell workers, all according to IFC Performance Standards and IFC Telecommunications Guidelines: E&S review to be performed prior to the acquisition, development, and/or management of all sites and facilities, commensurate with the nature of each site or facility, and the level of E&S risks and impacts at each site/facility; management of core contractors (n.b., Africell will either provide a set of E&S terms satisfactory to IFC for inclusion in Africell’s agreements with core contractors, or Africell will provide a copy of any such contractor’s E&S policies and procedures for review and approval by IFC); pollution prevention and abatement, including secondary containment around all Africell’s fuel tanks, with secondary containment to provide at least 110% of the capacity of the tanks (n.b., this can be provided via either a berm or a double hull/skin around each tank); and public disclosure via signage or similar method at each relevant Africell site at least 3 days prior to construction at all such sites.	07/01/2015

**Information on IFC's Policy and Performance Standards on Environmental and Social Sustainability can be found at www.ifc.org/sustainability

IFC supports its clients in addressing environmental and social issues arising from their business activities by requiring its real sector clients to set up and administer appropriate grievance mechanisms and/or procedures to address complaints from Affected Communities in relation to environmental and social issues arising from IFC's clients' business activities. Since 2012, IFC's Financial Intermediary clients applying the Performance Standards are required to develop External Communications Mechanisms to receive and review inquiries or complaints from any interested party regarding the E&S risks and impacts of their operations.

For IFC projects that are active or under consideration, individual(s), or their authorized representative(s), who allege they have been or will be adversely affected by E&S risks or impacts arising from IFC's clients' business activities, may submit a complaint to IFC directly for consideration. When receiving an E&S complaint, IFC engages with complainants and works with its clients to find solutions to E&S concerns as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Complaints can be submitted to IFC online at www.ifc.org/escomplaints or by email to EScomplaints@ifc.org.

IFC complaint response is separate from and complementary to IFC’s clients’ project level grievance mechanisms and IFC’s Independent Accountability Mechanism (CAO). Lodging a complaint directly with IFC does not, at any time, restrict access to CAO.

Affected communities have unrestricted access to the Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO), the independent accountability mechanism for IFC and MIGA. CAO facilitates the resolution of complaints related to IFC and MIGA projects and sub-projects, undertakes reviews of IFC’s and MIGA’s environmental and social compliance, fosters public accountability for their commitments, and enhances the environmental and social performance of IFC and MIGA.

Independent of IFC and MIGA management and reporting directly to the IFC and MIGA Boards of Executive Directors, CAO helps resolve issues raised about the environmental and social impacts of projects through a neutral, collaborative, problem-solving approach via its Dispute Resolution function. It also reviews IFC’s and MIGA’s compliance with environmental and social policies, assesses related harm, and recommends remedial actions through its Compliance function. Additionally, CAO provides advice to IFC, MIGA, and their Boards to enhance environmental and social sustainability performance and minimize the risk of harm.

Complaints may relate to environmental and social harm regarding any aspect of the planning, implementation, or impact of a project or sub-project, and can be made by any individual, group, community, entity, or other party affected or likely to be affected by the environmental or social impacts of an IFC- or MIGA-financed business activity.

Complaints can be submitted by any of the following methods:

Online form: available at https://www.cao-ombudsman.org/
Mail/Hand Delivery to: 2121 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20433, USA
Voice mail: +1 202 458 1973
Email: cao@worldbankgroup.org
SMS, WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal: +1 202 650 2627

CAO receives and addresses complaints in accordance with the CAO Policy, which can be accessed at: https://www.cao-ombudsman.org/policies-guidelines.

This Environmental and Social Review Summary (ESRS) is prepared by IFC to disclose its findings and recommendations related to environmental and social considerations regarding potential investments. Its purpose is to enhance the transparency of IFC's activities. For any project documentation or data included or attached herein, whether prepared by the project sponsor or otherwise, authorization has been given for public release by the project sponsor. IFC considers that this ESRS is of adequate quality for release to the public, but has not necessarily independently verified all of the project information therein.
It is distributed in advance of IFC Board of Directors' consideration and may be periodically updated thereafter. Board dates are estimates only and this document should not be construed as presuming the outcome of the Board Directors’ decision. The following ESRS is disclosed in accordance with IFC's Access to Information Policy (AIP).

The map is for illustrative purposes and does not imply the expression of any opinion on the part of the World Bank, concerning the legal status of any country or territory or concerning the delimitation of frontiers or boundaries. Country borders or names do not necessarily reflect the World Bank Group's official position. In some cases, available project location information is limited to the country of the project's activities. Locations are approximate.

Projects

Environmental & Social Review Summary

Project Description

Overview of IFC's Scope of Review

E & S Project Categorization and Applicable Standard

Identified Applicable Performance Standards

Environmental and Social Categorization and Rationale

Environmental and Social Mitigation Measures

Environmental and Social Mitigation Measures

PS 1: Assessment and Management of Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts

PS 2: Labor and Working Conditions

PS 3: Resource Efficiency and Pollution Prevention

Stakeholder Engagement

Stakeholder Engagement

Local Access of Project Documentation

Broad Community Support

IFC's Determination of BCS

Environmental & Social Action Plan

Environmental & Social Action Plan

Press-Release

Related SII

Similar Projects

Information on E&S Complaints and Grievance Mechanisms

Disclaimer