Department to launch Technical Handbook on Issuance of Sustainable Municipal Bonds in South Africa

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment and the National Treasury will be launching a Technical Handbook on the Issuance of Sustainable Municipal Bonds in South Africa on 23 March 2022 in Kirstenbosch, Cape Town.

The Technical Handbook was developed in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme(UNDP)- (United Nations Environment Programme)UNEP Poverty-Environment Action and the International Climate Initiative (IKI) project “Green Economy Transformation” which is implemented by the German Technical Agency (GIZ) and UNEP on behalf of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) and the Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE).

Sustainable Bonds are bonds where the use of the proceeds from the financial instrument have positive environmental and social impact or meet certain green and social key performance indicators. The Handbook aims to help South African municipalities determine whether a Sustainable Bond is a suitable tool for financing their climate change and environmental projects. It provides decision-making guidance and outlines a step-by-step process of preparing for, issuing, and managing a Sustainable Bond.

The Handbook has been tested in two municipalities including the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, and eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality. The trial process included an in-depth, demand-driven and practical capacity building in the two principal municipalities to advance their readiness for green bond issuance and support decision-making concerning a prospective bond. The next steps will include disseminating the handbook at a local and national level in South Africa as well as at an international level to enhance sharing of lessons learnt and best experiences.

Source: Government of South Africa