World Bank Development Projects Quiz

The World Bank Environmental and Social Framework

• This framework outlines the World Bank's commitment to sustainable development.
• It comprises a vision for sustainable development, a policy for investment project financing, and environmental and social standards.
• The policy for investment project financing sets out mandatory requirements for projects the Bank supports.
• The environmental and social standards provide requirements for borrowers relating to environmental and social risks and impacts.

Overview of the World Bank Environmental and Social Framework

• The framework aims to reduce poverty and increase prosperity by identifying and managing environmental and social risks.
• It supports borrowers in achieving good international practice, fulfilling national and international obligations, and enhancing nondiscrimination, transparency, participation, accountability and governance.
• The framework comprises a vision for sustainable development, a policy for investment project financing, and environmental and social standards.
• The ten environmental and social standards are designed for the entire project lifecycle.
• A Bank Directive will address risks and impacts on disadvantaged or vulnerable individuals or groups.
• An environmental and social procedure will outline how the Bank conducts its due diligence on proposed Bank-supported projects.
• The framework includes non-mandatory guidance and information tools.
• The World Bank Access to Information Policy applies to the entire framework.
• The framework will replace some operational policies and procedures.

Borrower Requirements - Environmental and Social Standards 1-10

• Environmental and Social Standard 1: Assessment and Management of Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts
• Environmental and Social Standard 2: Labor and Working Conditions
• Environmental and Social Standard 3: Resource Efficiency and Pollution Prevention and Management
• Environmental and Social Standard 4: Community Health and Safety
• Environmental and Social Standard 5: Land Acquisition, Restrictions on Land Use and Involuntary Resettlement
• Environmental and Social Standard 6: Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Natural Resources
• Environmental and Social Standard 7: Indigenous Peoples/Sub-Saharan African Historically Underserved Traditional Local Communities
• Environmental and Social Standard 8: Cultural Heritage
• Environmental and Social Standard 9: Financial Intermediaries
• Environmental and Social Standard 10: Stakeholder Engagement and Information Disclosure

Assessment and Management of Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts

• This standard sets out borrower responsibilities for assessing, managing, and monitoring environmental and social risks and impacts.
• It aims to achieve environmentally and socially sound and sustainable projects.
• The borrower will manage risks and impacts throughout the project lifecycle.
• Borrowers will conduct assessments proportionate to the risks and impacts, which will inform project design and mitigation measures.

Labor and Working Conditions

• This standard sets out the importance of fair treatment, nondiscrimination, and equal opportunity for all project workers.
• Specific conditions for child labor are included.
• The standard includes a focus on occupational health and safety for project workers.

Resource Efficiency and Pollution Prevention and Management

• This standard focuses on sustainable resource usage and minimizing pollution.
• It requires the avoidance and minimization of adverse impacts from pollution.
• The project will adopt the mitigation hierarchy and the precautionary approach wherever possible.

Community Health and Safety

• This standard aims to protect community health and safety from project activities, including climate change impacts.
• Measures for safety and health issues related to traffic, diseases and hazardous material will be included.
• Emergency procedures are a key element of this standard.

Land Acquisition, Restrictions on Land Use and Involuntary Resettlement

• This standard outlines the impacts related to land acquisition, use restrictions or displacement and outlines the importance to mitigate adverse social and economic impacts.
• The Borrower will try to avoid or minimize displacement.
• Compensation and benefits to those affected are required.
• The scope of application is related to project displacement.

Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Natural Resources

• Protecting biodiversity and sustainably managing living natural resources are crucial to sustainable development.
• The standard addresses protecting habitats and the mitigation hierarchy for biodiversity and habitat.
• Measures for avoidance, minimization, and resto- ration of affected biodiversity are required.

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

• This standard ensures that projects supported by the bank enhance opportunities for these groups.
• The standard acknowledges that there are differences in needs across specific countries.
• Obtaining free, prior, and informed consent is mandatory for certain projects.

Cultural Heritage

• This standard addresses the protection of cultural heritage, tangible and intangible, and is designed to protect it throughout the project lifecycle.
• Risk identification and mitigation measures are expected to be proportionate to the nature of the impacts.

Financial Intermediaries

• This standard requires FIs to manage environmental and social risks and impacts on a portfolio basis.
• It entails an environmental and social management system (ESMS).
• Reporting requirements for FIs are detailed .

Stakeholder Engagement and Information Disclosure

• This standard emphasizes transparency and engagement with stakeholders (affected parties and other interested parties/groups.)
• Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) development to guide engagement with stakeholders is required.
• Project-relevant information must be disclosed.
• Documentation regarding risks and mitigation of their impacts related to projects is required.