Workshop on the Environmental and Social Framework of the World Bank

Program Introduction

Safeguards Policies are indispensable instruments while attempting to intercept unmerited harm to the community and the surrounding environment throughout the development process. Safeguards Policies support the assessment of anticipated risks on the initial stage of project identification and designing. These instruments enable us to gauge the positive and negative impacts linked with any given development intervention. On the later stage of project implementation, safeguards ensure more effective management of risks and magnify constructive influence.

An increasing number of countries are ratifying the application of safeguards through a range of investment planning, policies and regulations targeting to attain sustainable development. Therefore, more professionals are needed with a thorough understanding of environmental and social safeguards associated with development projects. This workshop has been designed specifically to address the stated need and support its participants with necessary skills and knowledge to meet with the requirements of the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework.

Target Audience

This Workshop on the Environmental and Social Framework of the World Bank is the best suit for:

• Members of focal agencies involved in development planning at provincial, national and sub-regional levels
• Employees at energy, transport, planning, finance and provincial government offices
• Middle-Level or Senior Government Officials
• Regional Forest Officers & Conservators
• Environment and Social consultants and Practitioners
• Safety officers
• Project Managers & Project Implementation Team Members
• NGO Members interested in Environmental & Social Safeguards Policies.

Program Objectives

Upon the successful completion of this intensive training course, the participants will gain a quality understanding of:

• The role and the importance of environmental safeguards for the investment performance
• Environment and Social Assessment requirements and procedures of major international organizations and donors for development projects
• The roles of different stakeholders in the implementation of Environment and Social Mitigation Measures
• Safeguards Best practices, Effectiveness monitoring and Reporting procedures.

Program Contents

First Day

• Linkages between Development, Environment & Society
• Overview of Major Contributors to Development Field
• Defining Environmental and Social Safeguards
• Discussing the role and the importance of Environmental and Social Safeguards for Development Projects
• The concept of – DO NO HARM!
• Introduction to World Bank Environmental & Social Safeguards; Comparing the Policies of Major Development Agencies

ESS1 – Assessment and Management of Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts

• Environmental and Social Screening, Monitoring and Project Risk Classification
• Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) – its role, components and structure
• Principles of Social and Environmental Assessment Good Practice

Second Day

ESS 2 – Labor and Working Conditions

• Working Conditions and Management of Worker Relationships
• Workforce Protection and Grievance Mechanism
• Occupational Health and Safety
• Contracted, Community and Primary Supply Workers

ESS 3 – Resource Efficiency and Pollution Prevention

• Energy, Raw Material and Water Use
• Air Pollution and Hazardous & Non-Hazardous Waste Management
• Management of Chemicals, Hazardous Materials, Pesticide Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Third Day

ESS 4 – Community Health & Safety

• Infrastructure & Equipment Design and Safety
• Safety of Services; Traffic and Road Safety
• Community Exposure to Health Issues
• Emergency Management and Response
• Safety of Dams

ESS 5 – Land Acquisition, Restrictions on Land Use and Involuntary Resettlement

• Physical and Economic Displacement
• Technical and Financial Assistance of Displaced Persons
• Instruments of Involuntary Resettlement: Resettlement Plan, Resettlement Framework and Process Framework

Fourth Day

ESS 6 – Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Natural Resources

• Conserving Biodiversity and Habitats
• Types of Habitats
• Legally Protected and Internationally Recognized Areas of High Biodiversity Value
• Invasive Alien Species
• Requirements for Primary Suppliers

ESS 7 – Indigenous Peoples/ Sub-Saharan African Historically Underserved Traditional Local Communities

• Inclusion of Indigenous Peoples while Planning for Development
• Circumstances Requiring Free, Prior and Informed Consent

Fifth Day

ESS 8 – Cultural Heritage

• Stakeholder consultation and identification of cultural heritage
• Legally protected cultural heritage areas
• Provisions for specific types of cultural heritage
• Commercial use of cultural heritage

ESS 9 – Financial Intermediaries

ESS 10 – Stakeholder Engagement and Information Disclosure

• Engagement during project preparation, implementation and external reporting
• Grievance mechanism
• Organizational capacity and commitment
• Integration of environmental and social safeguards into Transport & Energy projects

Sixth Day

• Considering Intended and Unintended Consequences
• Criticism of World Bank Environmental and Social safeguards – What can be improved?
• Gender and other Cross-Cutting Issues
• Legal Literacy and Advocacy
• Principles of International Environmental Law
• Brief Overview of relevant International Conventions
  • Emerald Network – Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats
  • Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
  • Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer
  • Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals
  • Agreement on the Conservation of Bats in Europe
  • Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Water birds
  • UN (Rio) Convention on Biological Diversity
  • Paris Convention on the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage
  • European Convention on the Protection of the Archaeological Heritage
  • Standards of International Labor Organization (ILO)
• Ensuring Development Project Benefits Sharing
• Strengthening Project Safeguard Performance
• Align projects to national plans and signed country agreements
• Learning from international and regional experience in identifying key and recurrent issues.

Program Methodology

Workshop on the Environmental and Social Framework of the World Bank has been designed with a highly practical focus. The presenter will apply modern adult-learning techniques to maximize the effectiveness of session delivery and achieve successful results. The methods deployed will include open presentation, group discussions, individual assignments, practical exercises, case studies, and topic-related field visit. At the end of each session participants will be requested to submit their feedback. This arrangement serves to improve knowledge delivery and ensure the maximum understanding of material covered by the delegates.