ESSD Page 1 of 9 23126 IFC I MIGA I IDA I ICSID I WB External Site April 2000 World Bank GlroupE Regions I Sectors I VPUs; ESSD Network g5~~5~C_, 1* S8 4 C~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~N The monthly newsletter of the Environmentally and Socially Sustainable Development Network Vol 3 no 2, April 2000 FEATURE STORIES ESSD's Annual Gathering Staff and experts from around the world converged to discuss the World Bank and environmentally and socially sustainable development, March 20-31, in three separate but linked retreats on the Bank's environmental, social, and rural agendas. Staff from headquarters and the field were joined by outside experts for an in-depth look at how the Bank is integrating social and environmental concerns into its activities. The ESSD forum also included a "Bridging Day" on March 22 at which all three ESSD families -- social, environment, and rural -- met for a day of cross-boundary discussion. The forum was attended by more than 1,000 staff, including field staff. For more information on the ESSD forum, see the Today coverage on March 20, 2000. The environment forum was webcast live and can be found on the environment website at www. worldbank.orglenvironment The Hague World Water Forum The Second World Water Forum was held in The Hague, March 17-22. It was a huge event, with about a hundred formal sessions, and many times that number of parallel events and meetings. About 4,500 people attended, including about 140 ministers and about 20 Bank staff. "The engagement of so many people in formulating visions for the water sector was extraordinary," says John Briscoe who led the Bank delegation. The Bank was a central actor at the Forum and source of ideas in the multitude of debates about water. According to Briscoe, it was clear that the Bank needs to continue to move forward on critical issues like private sector involvement in urban water. It also needs to redouble its efforts at communication and dialogue to explain why this is so central. Of concern to Briscoe was the relative lack of discussion about the big water http://essd.worldbank.org/essd/in ../. F60EB7843E9298085256A620052BDBA?OpenDocumen 11/6/01 ESSD Page 2 of 9 resource issues -- irrigation, groundwater, river basin management, and integrated water resource management. For more information on the Second World Water Forum, see the Today coverage on March 22, 2000 and the website www.worldwaterLorum.org Contact: John Briscoe NEWS WB/NGO Activities during the Spring Meetings Given the high profile of this year's World Bank/IMF Spring Meetings (April 16-18), the NGO meetings that are normally held every Spring and Annual Meetings are receiving more attention than usual. The following activities have been organized to facilitate broad and open discussion with NGOs: . Wednesday, April 12, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. CDF and PRSP: Progress and Linkages with John Page, PRSP director, World Bank and Pablo Guerrero, CDF secretariat, World Bank VENUE: InterAction offices, 1717 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Seventh Floor. . Thursday, April 13, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Update on the HIPC Initiative with Tony Boote, IMF HIPC Unit Manager and Axel Van Trostenberg, WB HIPC Unit Manager VENUE: Overseas Development Council offices, 1875 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 1012. . Thursday, April 13, 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. Selected Country Cases on PRSP and CDF with WB country directors and IMF country mission chiefs from Bolivia, Ghana, Tanzania and Uganda VENUE: Overseas Development Council offices, 1875 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 1012. . Tuesday, April 18, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. Poverty and Growth Join World Bank authors Deepa Narayan on "Voices of the Poor", and David Dollar and Aart Kraay on "Growth IsGood for the Poor" for a roundtable discussion of their recent research findings. VENUE: World Bank, 1800 G Street NW, Eleventh Floor, Room U11-078. Contact: William Reuben UN Commission on Sustainable Development to focus on land and agriculture Land and agriculture is the focus of the High Level segment of this year's session of the Commission on Sustainable Development, which meets in New York, April 26-27. Other themes on the agenda are preparations for the tenth anniversary of the Rio Earth Summit which takes place in 2002, successor arrangements for the Intergovernmental Forum on Forests, as well as finance and trade. The Bank's delegation will be led by Ian http://essd.worldbank.org/essd/in .../lF60EB7843E9298085256A620052BDBA?OpenDocumen 11/6/01 .ESSD Page 3 of 9 Johnson (ESDVP). This is the eighth session of the CSD since it was setup to carry the torch of Rio into the regular deliberations of the UN. This year's Chairman, Colombia's Minister of Environment Juan Mayer of Colombia, a former NGO activist, is determined to breathe new life into what had become a rather staid and lackluster forum. His plans are to keep formal statements to a minimum and, instead, to push for a real debate of the issues. Simon Upton, who as New Zealand's Minister of Environment chaired CSD7, attempted a similar approach with some success last year and hopes are high that Minister Mayer will be able to make further progress. Contact: Nick van Praag ESSD European Forum The annual ESSD European Forum will take place in Paris, June 5-6. Ian Johnson will host senior European government officials and representatives from the OECD and the European Commission. Discussion will focus on the Bank's new environment strategy, the Bank's rural development strategy, and the social side of the agenda with specific reference to the role of community-driven development in driving social transformation. Future directions and potential areas for cooperation will also be on the agenda. Contact: Nick van Praag WB/WWF High Level Meeting Senior members and thematic experts of the World Wildlife Fund and ESSD met on March 16th to compare strategies on environmental issues, to examine partnerships that currently exist between the two institutions, and to explore opportunities for future collaboration. Particular attention was paid to the Forest Alliance, looking at experience to date, how the Alliance's objectives fit into the CDF, and how to move forward. Suggested areas of future collaboration include fisheries, environmental indicators, water, disaster management and climate vulnerability, and toxics. Contact: Kristyn Ebro World Commission on Dams report On April 5, a meeting took place between World Commission on Dams (WCD) Chair Kader Asmal, Mr. Wolfensohn, and IUCN Director General Maritta Koch-Weser for for an update on what direction the Commission's recommendations are taking. The final report of the WCD is due out in November 2000. Contact: Tor Ziegler Forest Policy Consultation meetings The World Bank's forest strategy is being examined in a series of nine regional consultation meetings taking place around the world, February - May, to develop ideas for the future role of the Bank in the forest sector. Recent meetings to discuss the Forest Policy Implementation Revision and Strategy were held for ECA countries in Joensuu, Finland; for Brazilians in Brasilia, Brazil; and for Western Europeans in Zurich, Switzerland. In Finland, 65 participants from 21 countries were involved, and more than 60 people representing 39 different organizations met in Brasilia. Apart from Finland, Brazil, and Switzerland, regional consultations have already been held in Tunisia and Washington, DC. Future sessions are taking place as follows: . SAS meeting - Dhaka, Bangladesh - April 17-19 . EAP meeting - Singapore - April 26-28 . LAC meeting - Quito, Ecuador - May 3-5 . AFR meeting - Johannesburg, South Africa - May 3-5 http://essd.worldbank.org/essd/in .../lF60EB7843E9298085256A620052BDBA?OpenDocumen 11/6/01 ESSD Page 4 of 9 For more information, please see the forest policy website at http:llwbinQO 18.worldbank.orqlessdlforestpol-e.nsfMain View Contact: Mariam Sherman Social Summmit website The Social Development Department's new website, "World Summit for Social Development: the World Bank's Role," is now up and running (http://www.worldbank.org/socialsummit), and showcases the Bank's work toward the UN-sponsored Social Summit to be held in Geneva from June 26-30, 2000. The new Summit website features a section on the Bank's progress on each of the 10 Copenhagen Commitments, highlighting, for example, the institution's work in creating an enabling environment for social development, reducing poverty, promoting gender equity, and fostering social integration. The site, designed for use by Bank staff, partner agencies, and civil society, also includes information on how the Bank is preparing for the Summit, as well as links to Summit partners. Contacts: Judith Edstrom or Bonnie Bradford Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSP): Special link for civil society The Bank's NGO/Civil Society Unit has created a special link from several places on the Bank's external website (including the NGO/CS website) to provide civil society with critical information about the implementation of the PRSP framework. The "Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSP): Special Link for Civil Society" reports on civil society involvement in PRSP processes at the country level. It aims to bring the voices of civil society from around the world into a single virtual space connected to the global PRSP discussion. Contact: Carmen Monico International Development Goals As concerns mount about lack of progress towards meeting the International Development Goals, discussions continued in Paris, March 9-11, on a core set of indicators to monitor performance and adjust development strategies. This work is on- going. For more information about this collaborative initiative, please visit http://www.oecd.org/dac/indicatorsI Contact: Lisa Segnestam CGIAR annual report and PCF logo The 1998 CGIAR annual report -- The Impact of Knowledge -- has won an award from the Printing Industries of America. The plaque reads: "The Premier Print Award goes to those firms who demonstrate a unique ability to create visual masterpieces." The award sponsors include Kodak Polychrome Graphics and Xerox Corporation. Meanwhile, the Prototype Carbon Fund's logo was awarded inclusion into the ADCMW (Art Director's Club of Metropolitan Washington) Annual Show. This is a prestigious exhibit juried by nationally reknowned designers. Congratulations to both! Rural family members win at Development Marketplace 2000 Congratulations to Panos Varangis and Don Larson (ESSD-Rural), Vijay Kalavakonda (FPSI), and Peter Hazell (IFPRI) for their winning proposal in Development Marketplace 2000, "Weather-Based Index Insurance: Can World Financial Markets be Tapped to Help Poor People Cope with Natural Disasters?" Farmers in many developing countries are exposed to severe income losses due to weather calamities, and government-initiated crop insurance programs have often failed because of high costs and mismanagement. http://essd.worldbank.org/essd/in .../lF60EB7843E9298085256A620052BDBA?OpenDocumen 11/6/01 ESSD Page 5 of 9 The study will be undertaken in four countries (Ethiopia, Morocco, Nicaragua, and Tunisia). It will explore the potential demand for weather insurance and the feasibility of supplying the insurance in terms of a) the existence of insurable weather events that correlate highly with the income risks of rural people, and b) the capacity of local institutions to provide the insurance. Call for Environment Matters submissions In the next Environment Matters Annual Review the Environment Department would like to include real stories of how our activities have brought positive changes to the lives of people in Bank project areas. The stories should reveal how individuals' well-being has improved because of the Bank's work in environment -- through increased livelihoods, better health, reduced vulnerability, or in a host of other ways. Environment Matters is soliciting articles about a person or people you've met in the field that you would like to share. Stories and pictures must be submitted by July 24. Selected stories will be published with accompanying photos in the 2000 Annual Review. Contact: Jim Cantrell Useful tool to help you evaluate project impact on poverty BilLions of dolLars are spent each year on development projects, but very little is known about their impact on the poor. Evaluating the Impacts of Development Projects on Povert provides policy makers, analysts, and project managers with the necessary tools for carrying out such analysis, with specific examples from a range of development projects. The book is available either on the web at httP:-//---www.worldbank.orgtpovertv/libray/ impact.htm or printed copies from Tania Gomez (email or ext. 32127). The book officially comes out in June. Contact: Judy Baker, LAC PREM APPOINTMENTS Quality Assurance and Compliance Steven Lintner has been appointed to the position of Senior Technical Adviser, Quality Assurance and Compliance, in the new Quality Assurance and Compliance Team (QACT), under the management of Kristalina Georgieva, effective March 1, 2000. Staff exchange opportunity The UK Commonwealth Secretariat is looking for an environment expert to work on policy issues with them for two years. They are looking for someone with a broad knowledge of environment, who can provide general policy support to the Secretariat management. Contact: Andrew Rogerson REGIONAL NEWS Africa Brookings mission Nat J. Cottetta (SDVPC), Mats Karlsson (EXTVP), and Brian Ngo (AFTM5) represented the World Bank on a joint high-level mission with UNHCR and UNDP to Sierra Leone and the sub-region on February 1-7. The mission explored and proposed commonly-agreed operational responses to strengthen security, humanitarian assistance, and earLy reconstruction and development. For more information on the TOR for the Brookings Process, Sierra Leone, please visit the Global Peacebuilding Network website at h ttp:/lwww. worldbank. org_peacebuilding East Asia and Pacific Social Cohesion and Conflice Management Consultation in Manila http://essd.worldbank.org/essd/in ../. F60EB7843E9298085256A620052BDBA?OpenDocumen 11/6/01 ESSD Page 6 of 9 The "Asian Regional Consultation on Social Cohesion and Conflict Management" was held March 16-17 at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Manila. Jointly organized by the ADB and the World Bank, it brought together sixty five participants to analyse the underlying social cleavages (ethnic, religious, age, gender, spacial, etc.) as potential and real sources of violent conflict in the region. Contact: Nat Colletta and Frode Davanger Eastern Europe and Central Asia Bulgaria receives the Bank's first environmental adjustment operation The Bank's Board approved the Bulgaria Environmental and Privatization Support Adjustment Loan (EPSAL) -- the Bank's first environmental adjustment operation -- on February 24, 2000. The Bulgaria EPSAL provides support for integrating environmental issues into the large scale privatization of enterprises. The EPSAL is a good example of "mainstreaming" environment, optimizing the environmental benefits of privatization, and harnessing the role of the private sector in pursuing sustainable development. Contact: Magda Lovei Latin America and Caribbean LAC regional consultations with civil society around WDR in Guatemala David de Ferranti (LACVP) headed the Bank's delegation that engaged in a consultation with regional civil society leaders on the draft World Development Report 2000/01, in Antigua, Guatemala, on March 13-14. The gathering -- organized by WBI, the Regional Civil Society Team, and the World Bank Office in Guatemala -- allowed the exchange of views and experiences on the new challenges the Bank and civil society face when aiming at reducing poverty and fostering growth and sustainable development in the 21st century. More than 40 civil society participants provided feedback to Bank and WDR staff that included LAC's chief Economist Guillermo Perry and WDR sub-director Nora Lustig. Contact: Roby Senderowitsch Regional Unit of Technical Assistance (RUTA) in Central America After 16 years of providing technical assistance to the countries of Central America, RUTA's 9 sponsoring agencies (WB, IDB, FAO, IFAD, DFID, IICA, UNDP, and other bilateral agencies) and 7 governments have agreed on a four-year extension of the program. The final project document was discussed and approved at a joint meeting of the Ministers and the agencies in Nicaragua on March 10. There are presently five World Bank people on RUTA's staff -- M. Raine (RUTA's director), C. Trapman, J. Smyle, J. Martinez, J. Kellenberg -- as well as staff from the other agencies. Contact: Martin Raine Participatory CAS in Argentina More than 4,000 people representing NGOs and other civil society organizations have participated in five regional forums to discuss the Bank's Country Assistance Strategy which will guide the Bank's actions in Argentina over the next four years. This was the first time that the Bank consulted such a range of civil society including NGOs, trade unions, community-based organizations, academicians, research centers, religious groups, the business community, and private foundations about its strategy for Argentina. Participants focused on 25 sector papers prepared by the Bank. On March 13, a National Forum was organized in Buenos Aires, where high governmental authorities http://essd.worldbank.org/essd/in.../lF60EB7843E9298085256A620052BDBA?OpenDocumen 11/6/01 ESSD Page 7 of 9 attended the working sessions. Contact: Roby Senderowitsch Research on Civil Society The LAC-Regional Civil Society Team has included a comprehensive list of books, articles, and papers in its web page: www.worldbank.org/laccs. The list is an annotated bibliography of civil society, nonprofit management, and international development organizations. In addition, the list provides a "shortlist" of key readings on the topic. Contact: Roby Senderowitsch OP/BP NEWS OP/BP 2.30 on Development Assistance and Conflict The Post-Conflict Unit presented the draft OP/BP 2.30 on Development Assistance and Conflict to the OPC February 23. The draft wilt shortly be posted on the Unit's website at http://www.worldbank_org/postconflict for comments. Contact: Frode Davanger WB Policy on Involuntary Resettlement A draft policy that was internally agreed upon was posted on the Bank's external website (www.worldbank.org) for consultations with civil society and NGOs between August and November 1999. Consultations were also held with fourteen national governments. Based on the comments received, the draft policy documents have been modified and are proposed to be discussed at the OPC on April 13. The draft is expected to be submitted to the Board for their consideration and approvaL by June 2000. Contact: Maninder Gill or Kenn Rapp SEMINARS/TRAIN ING/WORKSHOPS Safeguards training ESSD and WBIEN are nearing completion of the first phase of the training package on the Bank's Safeguard Policies for TTLs of 'A' and 'B' projects. The teaching materials aim at standardizing the content and delivery format of the safeguards training. The 'package' of resource materials comprises PowerPoint visuals describing the rationale for the Bank's environmental, social, rural and legal policies -- areas each of the ten policies address -- and the 'trigger' points which may warrant scrutiny of projects and programs in respect of their compliance with specific policies. A detailed case study and an interactive session help to reinforce some of the points made in the training. Work is also well underway to produce a 'distance' learning module, a CD ROM, and a video resource. In addition WBIEN is working on a client safeguards training scheme with representatives from the regions. Contact: Monica Hale Workshop on indigenous peoples and social sector projects A workshop entitled "Indigenous Peoples and Social Sector Projects", cosponsored by the World Bank, the IDB, and PAHO, was held April 11-12, 2000, at PAHO headquarters in Washington, DC. It focused on strategies and tools for incorporating social and cultural dimensions into project design, targeting, and implementation of human development and poverty reduction projects for indigenous peoples and other ethnic groups in Latin America. The workshop included specialists from other international and government agencies, as well as indigenous professionals in the fields of education, health, and social protection. Contact: Ximena Traa or Karen Ravenelle ESSD CALENDAR http://essd.worldbank.org/essd/in .../lF60EB7843E9298085256A620052BDBA?OpenDocumen 11/6/01 ESSD Page 8 of 9 16-18 WB/IMF Spring Meetings Washington, DC 22 Earth Day 24-27 8th UN Commission on Sustainable Development and High-level Segment New York, NY Sponsor: The United Nations 15-26 Convention on Biological Diversity Nairobi, Kenya Sponsor: The World Bank 21-26 CGIAR Mid-Term Meeting Dresden, German Sponsor: CGIAR 5 World Environment Day Sponsor: The United Nations 5-6 ESSD European Forum Paris, France Sponsor: The World Bank 17 International Day to Combat Desertification and Drought Sponsor: The United Nations | 26-30 World Summit for Social Development and Beyond Geneva, Switzerland Sponsor: The United Nations Contributors: Bonnie Bradford, Peter Brandriss, Jim Cantrell, Frode Davanger, Shirley Geer, Monica Hale, Caryl Jones-Swahn, Mario Marroquin, Judith Moore, Alex Norsworthy, Martin Raine, Roby Senderowitsch, Lisa Segnestam, Mariam Sherman, Ricardo Tarifa, Pietronella Van Den Oever, Nick van Praag, Melissa Williams, Tor Ziegler "ESSentials" is the monthly internal electronic newsletter of the Environmentally and Socially Sustainable Development Network of the World Bank Group. Its purpose is to unify the 800 network staff, including 100 in field offices and share important news on sustainable development with network staff and interested Bank colleagues. Please send ideas or articles to Kristyn Ebro, editor, MC4-119, x82736. To obtain prior issues of "ESSentials" or more information on ESSD, check our website: http://essd http://essd.worldbank.org/essd/in .../1/F60EB7843E9298085256A620052BDBA?OpenDocumen 11/6/01 - .ESSD Page 9 of 9 http://essd.worldbank.org/essd/in... ./lF60EB7843E9298085256A620052BDBA?OpenDocumen 11/6/01