From a passion for nature to a vocation in development | African Development Bank

“I have made my passion my calling. Every day I think how lucky I am to be able to work in a respectful relationship with nature,” says Mohamed Adnene Bezzaouia. An avid hiker and walker since childhood, Adnene is now Senior Environmental Officer at the African Development Bank.

“Trekking is a state of mind, a desire to discover and share unforgettable moments with others. It is discovering the world by adapting to circumstances, enabling encounters that respect people and their environment,” explains Adnene, whose values naturally led him to progress into the development profession.

His career has included working at various institutions promoting inclusive, green growth in Africa to improve people’s lives in safe, sustainable environments. Wherever he worked, he was attentive to the actions taken to manage the potential social and environmental impacts of projects. This is the fundamental purpose of the African Development Bank Group’s Integrated Safeguards System, one of the cornerstones of its security strategy.

Years ago, environmentalist Adnene, who works as a consultant for a major development agency, was sent to an African country to assess the environmental and social impacts of a road project originally planned to traverse hundreds of acres of virgin forest and preserve protected species and the culture of people in endanger. legacy.

“As always in our business, we faced a dilemma: on the one hand, we had to support project managers for the rapid and effective deployment of operations, and on the other hand, ensure that operations respected the environment and population in the project area. it’s all about finding the center point, the point of equilibrium,” Adnene continued.

In order to exclude misunderstandings in this kind of situation, an advisory and supportive attitude is required instead of controlling and controlling. In this case, it was difficult to convince stakeholders of the need for a road that bypasses the forest, as the alternative would lead to delays and additional costs that could jeopardize the success of the project. It was all about detailed negotiations, including balancing competing demands. Adnene succeeded in satisfying all stakeholders: the developer, the government, environmental NGOs and the public. The road is built on the edge of the forest.

At the African Development Bank, the Results Measurement Framework, designed to measure and amplify the Bank’s impact on development, is an important indicator of the social and environmental footprint of its activities. In practice, it is about finding the approach that balances the interests of all stakeholders – including public and private donors – so that a project is as sustainable and inclusive as possible. There are three keywords: advise, anticipate and operate – all working in the interest of people and their environment.

Faced with the effects of climate change, Africa must rise to the challenge of environmentally sound development. At last December’s COP15 on Biodiversity in Canada, the African Development Bank used a report co-launched with the Global Fund for Nature to highlight the vital role of multilateral development banks in achieving biodiversity goals: providing advisory services, building capacity , conducting market research and building relationships with other relevant partners. Adnene supports these proposals, saying that “preserving the environment is everyone’s business. Through their actions, everyone contributes in their own way every day.”