On June 4, 2018, a regional workshop to support the implementation of the new World Bank Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) has kicked off in Tbilisi. The workshop, which will run through June 6, brings together senior government officials, civil society representatives and other stakeholders from Georgia, as well as project implementation staff from Armenia and Georgia. A series of sessions aimes to provide a comprehensive understanding of the new environmental and social requirements the World Bank will be applying to the investment projects it finances starting October 2018. The ESF is the result of the most extensive consultations ever conducted by the World Bank, with nearly four years of analysis and engagement around the world with governments, development experts, and civil society groups, reaching nearly 8,000 stakeholders in 63 countries. The new framework provides a broad coverage of environmental and social issues, including important advances on transparency, non-discrimination, social inclusion, public participation and accountability. The ESF also places more emphasis on building Borrower governments’ own capacity to deal with environmental and social issues. The World Bank’s environmental and social policies aim to ensure that the people and the environment are protected from the potential adverse impacts of the projects it finances — such as building a road, connecting people to electricity, or treating waste water. The policies help identify, avoid, and minimize harm to people and the environment. They require the borrowing governments to address certain environmental and social risks in order to receive World Bank support for investment projects. The ESF is expected to go into effect October 2018, and will progressively replace the World Bank’s current Safeguards policies.
